| The Rush wars |
| Tuesday, 17 March 2009 | |
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Readers weigh in on the Rush-bashing. A selection of letters on Mark's posts Kuhner’s Odd Rant, Devastating Wit, The Rush Wars and Rush to Judgment. The same Rudy, who while I too supported him and still think he'd be a great President, certainly isn't an examplar of any of that. Look at all the negatives Frum listed against Rush: Cigars, Bombastic, Sarcastic, Bad history withwomen, out of shape, language, etc... They all apply in greater measure to Rudy and he had no problem working for him. If the Mr Clean thing is so important they don't come more white bread and Norman Rockwell than Mitt Romney and he didn't back him. Also, when it comes to physical attractiveness, physical fitness, clean living, lack of smoking, dedicated family life, loving spouse and parent, there's really no better example than the one Republican he seems to constantly denigrate. Very strange. Also strange how he never mentions that it the Iraq War which he ardently backed and pushed for that really was the downfall of the GOP, along with the economy, but the war opposition started things. Instead, it's all Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh's fault. The highest unemployment and worst GDP and Market performance in 25 years had nothing to do with it. Having a President with the lowest approval rating in US history had nothign to do with it. Being associated with a war that 2/3 of voters oppose had nothing to do with it. Being outspent by an unprecedented amount of close to 300 million dollars had nothing to do with it. Having a Republican and Conservative who until he was the only one left standing was depsised by large segments of the party and the movement and seeming took pleasure and made his career in sticking it to the base had nothing to do with it (and who still managed to get 90% of the GOP and close to 80% of conservatives). Having a candidate who inexplicably fell apart with that whole suspend the campaign and lead the bailout talks and made his name opposing pork and spending but then when it came down to nutcutting time joined forces with Bush and Obama to back a 750 Billion spending spree opposed by a majority of voters had bothing to do with it. Nope, it was all Rush and Sarah's fault. Please. “Keyze” THE SUNSHINEY BUTTERFLY KINGDOM OF HAPPY TIME I've had enough of the plans and policies from either side, what about you? It seems like all that's taking place in the intelligentsia on either side is who gets to be the bigger fascist, let's nationalize everything, just go for it! - this whole frog-lobster in a slow boil mid-pattern pot is driving me nuts. I don't care about what some academic definition of socialism or fascism is, the fact is the only thing that seems to be on the agenda is a collective corporate state. Do we have to imitate the waterless clouds that follow the wind everywhere? We don't really need to make any argument for or against an issue if we can say that to even argue the issue betrays any accomplishment to be had. If I bargain on a battlefield chosen by my enemy it doesn't put me in a position of strength. When it comes to domestic policy and issues could we stop being the equivalent of a Jimmy Carter (and Barack Obama) on foreign policy? I'm sure if people understood that all of these things going on in domestic side are taking away option after option until we have just two left...a new dark age, or a new global tyranny (sure, laugh if you want). Of course the tyranny is going to be called something else, like the sunshiney-butterfly-kingdom-of-happy-time. You know what? I don't care. If people want, or want their children to decide between which to inherit, do whatever you think is right in your own eyes. I'll choose another inheritance, thank you. Feh! I can't keep anything straight in my head anymore, everything gets bent under the crushing gravity of the supermassive black hole of government encouraging chaos. I read a sci-fi author once while in school, Roger Zelazny, I'm going to use an image from his writing. We're being forced to walk this Logrus of constantly evolving morals and codes of government. Talk to Jonah, maybe he's read the whole Amber series. JT ELKS CLUB Eastwood: “I don't like guys of your ilk. You know what an ilk is, don't you?” Anyway... LKG Re: Devastating wit This campaign is therefore a well financed attack on a private citizen by the Democratic Party. There's a guy in my office who's a real pain in the ass. Do you think I should ask the Democratic Party if it will put up a billboard calling him a schmuck? I mean since defaming a private citizen is now something they do, how could they object? Edmond D. Smith THE ENEMY THEY NEED The Left knows they can't afford to let that happen. That's why they have to pull Rush into the game, as if he were a minority party capable of blocking their legislation. Any group without an external enemy will always disintegrate into factions, particularly one like the Left whose raison d'être is hatred. Any utopian movement runs into the same barrier. "Americans didn't vote for a Rush to failure" by the way, doesn't even make sense, much less prompt laughter. It's completely incoherent. Al Frankel's "Rush Limbaugh is a big, fat idiot" remains, I think, the standard against which the persuasiveness, elegance and wit of all Rush criticism must be measured. Ezra Marsh GREAT PUBLICITY p.s. I loved "America Alone." Tom Dillon
The appeal to moderate conservative reformers like to describe their approach as the Big Tent but I concur with O¹Sullivan’s point and refer to it as the Leaky Bucket. The leaky bucket concept is used in Marketing and customer loyalty. It generally pertains to the proposition that if you change your product in an appeal to new customers, how many of your loyal customers (i.e., rock ribbed conservatives) are going to bolt? Additionally, the “reformers” may be trying to cure a nonexistent problem. Before we jump on to the “Big Tent,” all moderates’ welcome notion, let’s determine the extent of the impact of two other factors: 1. A described once-in-a-lifetime economic mess taking place under an incumbent Republican president with no certainty of a solution, and Keep in mind, the number one issue cited in the exit polling was the economy. Mike NEW RUSH FANS Allen M. Hodges
As a loyal Rush listener, the brouhaha over his influence is maddening; in that once again, for the umpteenth time, we are letting the #$^@# Democrats frame the debate and put the issue on the table. (which you duly noted was Steele's problem; Why did he accept the premise Hughley brought up in the first place - it was democrat talking points, orchestrated and contrived and he should have noted it as such and ended it there.) All we ever do as Republicans, now & when they were in power, is defensively react to Democrat mud-slinging. Why are we always on the defensive? Why are we defending things that don't need to be defended? Why are we never on the attack? One of the biggest things that bothered me about GWB was his refusal to take the fight to the left. They were just as much or enemy as Iraq/Al Quada was/is. He fought the war over there, but didn't fight it here. He let them dictate the message; he should have called them out for their treason. McCain did the same in his run. Rush is one of the few leaders that refuse to cowtow to their agenda and sticks to his principles. Were it the same for our political leaders. Mark Bruni THE GREAT ONE Derek DOUBLE-BANK SHOT A double-bank shot in the side pocket. Beautiful. Two well deserved targets. Robert COURTING THE MSM In the meantime, I eagerly await his next Newsweek cover story taking the Obama administration to task. Think I'll have to wait long? Rob Dyer
But why the panic on the soft right? They had their ideal candidate in "no-Wright-stuff" McCain - a dud and a half as a candidate, detested by the vertebrate- right - .and he was even ahead of Obie (thanks to Sarah) untlil the banking stuff hit in mid Sept. John Gross ALL ABOUT HIM
And to think Frum was the man who organized the Winds of Change conference aimed at pulling the PC Party out of the clutches of the Red Tories. How does one keep him down on the farm after he's seen gay DC? Paul A. Canniff SNOBS I think that what they are about is reinventing Country Club Republicanism, with a slightly more urban/progressive/crunchy con feeling. It smacks of (almost) pure style, and zero substance. Which explains their attraction to President Obama. Rush will clean their clocks. Patrick Shanahan SELF-PROMOTION Sean Fouts ADDLED AND ANGRY Steve CORNER CLUB Chuck Baylot HIS HAIR IS PRETTY HONED Richard Gasparotti NOT A FIGHT WORTH HAVING Hmm. Lying to us about earmarks is a good thing? Being a lefty's lefty may seem not so bad, but his programs, if enacted fully, will bankrupt us. That's kinda sorta not so good. My late blessed mother would have said something about going to hell if you were so much in debt. Then there is Obama's general pridefulness, except, of course, when he reminds us as to how humble he really is. My catechism may have been old-school and a long time ago, but I vaguely recall that pride was one of those seven deadlies... Rush is not and never claimed to be a political leader. He is a commentator. A great commentator, true. This is not a fight worth having, and David is off my list of regular reads. John Rich DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED IN DAVID Art Gilbert CONSERVATIVE NO MORE John Reid Re: Rush to judgment This is not an encouraging start. Name withheld SOURED ON THE RNC George Hawks SNEERING DERISION Re: your Corner post today about Mr. Steele's squalid statement about Rush and then his "sorry" response to the deserved criticisms he received. What is it about most elected republicans that serve in Washington? If you recall, Sen. McCain had the same sort of ignorant, dismissive view of conservative radio talkers. Only he added an additional dash of sneering derision towards them. When you see a so called "respected" (by the media, of course) Republican on a Sunday show or in some sort of interview or in one of those televised exhibitions they call congressional committee meetings it is painfully obvious that these people aren't remotely acquainted with what we regular, everyday, working in the private sector Republicans are dealing with. Further, and more importantly, these folks are so uninformed. They only know what their staffers have boiled down for them. As you accurately pointed out about Chairman Steele's comments, their views of (and lack of understanding of) vital concepts like the Laffer Curve, the actual history and success of, supply side economics vs. a demand, Keynesian approach are formed by listening to mocking sound bites from the dominant liberal media. If any of our elected representatives spent just a few hours a week pod casting Hugh Hewitt, listening to Rush or reading the Corner they would be better able to intelligently tackle the problems facing our nation. And with just a little courage and reading they could make Schumer look like the loony demagogue that he is. There are a few notable examples and a hardy three cheers for them.: Sen. Coburn, Rep. Cantos, etc. Mr. Steyn, the point here is that getting up to speed on rational, debated conservative thought is not that difficult. That is, if one is interested in the least. Basically the equation means less navel gazing at the WaPost and NYT and getting more info from other places. Respectfully but still a huge fan, Griff
John J. Vecchione, Esq. |