Yeah, I agree
From Deal Hudson. Excerpt:
It may be that the McCain candidacy is the best thing that could happen to the GOP at the present moment -- it will allow some fresh air to blow through the party, and the conservatives in it, so that we will be forced to take notice of how we sound to the world at large.
I'm not so sure that we conservatives have been sounding very congenial or, more importantly, convincing.
As we enter the season of the general election we are facing a man who sounds the note of hope, a man who does not use anger as a rhetorical weapon: Barack Obama.
If we make conservatism synonymous with angry denunciation, rather than reasoned and optimistic encouragement, we will lose the White House, and lose the battle for the protection of unborn life.
This is what some callers to Medved's show have recently pointed out. All the radio heads shouting "Reagan!!" are lacking in Reagan's optimism.
Fire when ready.
I've had my problems with Hudson over his personal behavior and the covering up of it but he's right here. Conservatives have the possibility of presenting a positive view of what we believe but we seem to have degenerated into snarling anger. Everything is us vs them as the circle of us gets smaller and smaller. We seem to be turning into the caricature that liberals make of us. This is particularly true concerning talk radio.
ReplyDeleteIts an ugly picture and one with little appeal outside of s narrow demographic. Sometimes I think the people promoting this view actually like it this way. It provides the comfort of disdain and smug moral superiority.
Problem is however, it doesn't succeed.
It provides the comfort of disdain and smug moral superiority.
ReplyDeleteThere is a bit of a two-way street with the smug moral superiority on display. The anti-McCainiacs have turned McCain into a socialist. This is obviously a distortion of the man's political views, and I agree that some of the rhetoric goes too far.
On the other hand, it's not as though the backlash isn't completely unmerited. I think Brad Smith provides a very reasonable case as to why antipathy to McCain is warrented.
I'd also add that while I completely intend to vote for McCain in November (and perhaps even tomorrow in the primary), the way that some Republicans are going about trying to convince other Republicans to vote for McCain is rather distasteful. Some display a sort of "shut the hell up and just vote GOP" attitude, and are acting as though it is the greatest act of inhumanity not to vote for "our" guy in the Fall. Perhaps both sides can chill out a little, at least rhetorically.
We seem to be turning into the caricature that liberals make of us.
ReplyDeleteI refuse. I have my own annoying caricature down pat, thank-you-very-much.
This is particularly true concerning talk radio.
Right. Maybe it's time for a new "revolution" of sensible conservatives to emerge and this McCain campaign might be an occasion to do so. I know some of the readers here think that we need some type of immigration reform.
On second thought, screw "revolutions". Let's just chill.
Michael Medved is a lone -- or at least primary -- voice of sense among the talkers, although Dennis Prager was very sensible as a Romney supporter and fair to McCain. Medved was talking about regularization *before* the McCain bill and was the first one to point out the serious holes in the Romney campaign, months and months ago. And he was initially very positive on Romney. Hopefully we can have a correction in the conservative camp -- maybe I'll create a Dr. Dobson piñata to kick off the party.
Michael Medved is a lone -- or at least primary -- voice of sense among the talkers,
ReplyDeleteWhy? Because he doesn't dislike McCain? Before we throw the baby out with the bathwater, it would be nice to acknowledge that a guy like Rush Limbaugh has done about roughly a thousand times more to advance the conservative cause than Michael Medved. Yes, a lot of talkers like Hannity are tough to take, but there are folks like Ingraham and Limbaugh who are both reasoned and almost always right.
Look, again, the "just chill out" section of the Republican party is turning out to be almost as obnoxious and sanctimonious as the doomsayers. Pardon people for not being willing to drink the McCain kool-aid just yet.
Pardon people for not being willing to drink the McCain kool-aid just yet.
ReplyDeleteNo problem, Paul. You have until Novemeber.
a guy like Rush Limbaugh has done about roughly a thousand times more to advance the conservative cause than Michael Medved.
ReplyDeleteSure, initially. Medved always acknowledges that Rush enabled him to get his start. But Medved does not preach to the choir. He actively seeks out argumentative callers. I think his style is more persuasive in the long-term.
Don't get me wrong, I still think Rush is smart and funny. He just doesn't realize how much he and McCain are alike. They're both mavericks, niche-players and piss tons of people off. They both deserve their success.
No problem, Paul. You have until Novemeber.
ReplyDeleteActually, I voted for McCain today. I agree with you that McCain's faults have been exaggerated, and so I fully intend to support him, but it's the attacks upon those that haven't yet decided to do the same that bother me.
Rush at one time rallied the conservative troops to victory. And, he became fabulously wealthy doing it. I got now problem with that. I'm not a part of any neo-populist school of resentment.
ReplyDeleteBut like many entertainers, Rush is having trouble seeing his stock drop and his prominence fade. It reminds me of fat Elvis in a white jump suit handing out teddy bears to fat old ladies. Heck they even like the same drugs.
Steve, did you see Elvis Meets Nixon. You must.
ReplyDeletei'm with you El Zummo.
ReplyDelete