There, I said it. I never did. And I still don't. His bluster, arrogance, and showmanship are distracting from the core truths that really matter. I think he's embarrassing to a lot of thinking conservatives who want to have serious discussions. I'm not saying that he's not capable of serious discussion, but I don't think the way he usually engages his audience leads to much deep thinking about issues. It's carnival barkerism, and we're desperately in need of less clownish these days.
So, I'm with this guy. I think we'd be a lot better off with quieter, gentler, interesting news programs covered from a conservative angle. Like a conservative NPR. At least they get a good bit of their presentation right, even if I do scream at the radio regularly when I end up turning it on during the ridiculously liberal Diane Reem show. But my radio also goes off when Rush comes on...
Like he said: "In place of the permanent things, we get Happy Meal conservatism: cheap, childish, familiar. Gone are the internal tensions, the thought-provoking paradoxes, the ideological uneasiness that marked the early Right."
*** UPDATE**** The innocent question, "What do you think of Rush Limbaugh?" in this household just led to an intense debate of the merits of Rush, with at least one member of this adult household calling the other a conservative elitist who cannot appreciate good old fashioned entertainment with her rhetoric. I have been asked to amend my statements to say that I do not particularly care for Rush's style, but do not have a problem with much of his content. I have also been asked to admit that I haven't listened to Rush for more than 5 minutes at a time since I left the confines of my dad's car about 8 years ago. I counter that that is because about 5 minutes was all I could stand of the same old stuff...
4 comments:
I can see how a lot of people can't stand him - I find him to be hilarious and brilliant. He IS pompous no doubt, but he knows his stuff and his fan base leads me to believe he isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Softer and gentler might be the "better" way, but it's not the way to pull in ratings ...which is what he does.
I have always been able to enjoy Rush, but you can't judge him on the coverage given him by the press and the liberal media. He is mis-quoted so many times where the original statements makes perfect sense but the quote is twisted into some outrageous bombastic quip.
There is a place for an unabashed conservatism that points out the hypocrisy on the left. We need a common sense approach to conservatism because most people will not invest themselves enough to listen to something that is more high brow.
Just take him for what its worth, I think that he has been a consistent defender of conservatism. Albeit a very unperfect one. But he is judged harsher than any other talk radio host because Liberals fear him.
I like Rush. And I actually think most of his pompousness (seems to be the word for him lately) is bluster without substance. I can just hear him laughing about it through the radio. He is an entertainer, no doubt. And there is a place for clear thinking and so on. However, to me, softer and gentler sounds kind of...feminine. He's a strong sort of man, which I think is why some people don't like him. I'm raising a little boy like that, a natural commander with strong opinions, and so I suppose I also have a new respect for Rush and why he is the way he is.
Myabe it's a birth defect. Ha. :D
ps. My biggest problem with Rush was about four years ago when he was playing the part of Republican Party HACK and defending Bush's terrible decisions. I was thrilled when he announced that he was done "carrying the water" for the big boys.
Hmmm, perhaps the words "kindler and gentler" didn't conjure up the image I was going for. I'm looking for a strong, uncompromising, intelligent debater who does not revel in arrogant posturing, as well as some variety in programming from a conservative angle. I think the arrogant posturing is too much, it isn't really helping anyone, and it is laying conservatives open to unnecessary criticism. And I think that the reason why most conservatives are willing to overlook this in Rush is because he is unique and effective. But I don't think it means that we should overlook the negatives and sweep them under the carpet. If we ever saw something out there just as good or better, aka forceful truth without the bluster, I think we'd be more willing to call Rush on his bad behavior. But we haven't, so we don't...
Post a Comment