Just when you thought he could not get any more ridiculous, last week hate radio host Rush Limbaugh talked about the eruption of Eyjafjallajoekull the unpronounceable Icelandic volcano, that's affecting air travel over much of Europe, saying it was "God speaking" in response to the passage of health care reform. Getting his Pat Robertson on he said :
"You know, a couple of days after the health care bill had been signed into law, Obama ran around all over the country saying, "Hey, you know, I'm looking around. The earth hadn't opened up. No Armageddon out there. The birds are still chirping." I think the earth has opened up. God may have replied. This volcano in Iceland has grounded more airplanes -- airspace has been more affected than even after 9/11 because of this plume, because of this ash cloud over Northern and Western Europe. ... It's got everybody just in a shutdown. Earth has opened up. I don't know whether it's a rebirth or armageddon. Hopefully it's a rebirth, God speaking."

Now volcanoes have long been the source of all type of mythical notions regarding the wrath of God or Jesus or whoever, but to advance the notion that this volcano erupting is a punishment from God clearly indicates that Rush may be back on the Oxy.

From 9/11 to Katrina to Haiti, natural disasters have been hijacked by the religious right to advance their conservative Christian agendas. So was the explosion that killed 29 miners in West Virginia who were just trying to feed their families a punishment from God as well? What about the earthquake in China or the mudslide in Brazil?

But for arguments sake, let's say you are a wingnut or Jesus-freak and you do buy this punishment-from-God foolishness theory. What does interrupted air travel in Europe have to do with health care reform in the United States? Europe already has health care for all its citizens. Last I checked, God loved humanity, and I think he would be quite pleased at the notion that Auntie Jackie can now have an affordable mammogram and Uncle Lester can get his prostate treated without going bankrupt.

Rush is probably just mad that he is one of those Americans making more than $250,000, which means his taxes will increase by 1 percent in four years. He wouldn't want to put a dent in the tens of millions he makes per year.

On some level, it's almost fun to watch Rush's descent into insanity, to see him grasping at straws like this. It's almost comical to see him and his millionaire buddies trying to convince their Wal-Mart-shopping listeners that they are one and the same and have similar economic interests. When rational, intellectual arguments fail, inject religion and rhetoric. On the other hand, it's a little scary because when religion and rhetoric fail, you wonder what's next?

Peace people.