In remarks that seemed guaranteed to create controversy, conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh said today that he was “rooting for the planet Earth to explode” because it would help the GOP retake the White House.

Mr. Limbaugh elaborated on his planet explosion theory, explaining that if the world blows up in the next four years “it will happen on Barack Obama’s watch.”

“Let’s face it, the world exploding would be great for the GOP and Barack Obama knows it,” he said.  “That’s why he is doing everything in his power to keep the planet from blowing up.”

While asserting that he had his fingers crossed that the planet would detonate sometime in the next four years, he said that there were other scenarios he found equally appealing.

“If the population of the U.S. was suddenly afflicted with plagues, locusts and open sores, that would be fantastic for the Republican Party,” he said.  “I’m rooting for all of those things to happen.”

In an appearance on CNN, Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele seemed to distance himself somewhat from Mr. Limbaugh’s remarks, telling Wolf Blitzer, “Rush is a great entertainer who just wants to make people laugh, like Bobby Jindal.”

Hedging a little, Mr. Steele insisted that despite perceived differences, he and Mr. Limbaugh are on the same page: “Rush is rooting for me to fail, and I am in fact failing.”