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The State of Conservatism Post Rush Limbaugh
Townhall ^ | 02/06/2023 | John Nantz

Posted on 02/07/2023 8:18:11 AM PST by SeekAndFind

I really miss Rush. Regardless how complex or critical the issue, I could always count on Rush Limbaugh’s entirely rational and moral analysis, delivered by an apex professional with genuine compassion, even for those with whom he disagreed.

He was ensconced behind that golden EIB microphone; a master of ideas and argument. From his lofty height, he engaged with every thorny problem with an equanimity that drew a placid sagacity from an ocean of experience, and confidence. After all, Rush was “documented almost always right 99.7% of the time.”

He was a compass that always pointed the precise bearing to truth. He was the constitutionalists’ loadstar. Rush was a man of genuine faith as is his brother David Limbaugh. Talent like Rush’s usually only comes along once a generation, if that. He was a pleasure to listen to, perpetually positive on the American experience and never strident, bitter, shrill, or profane.

He was radio’s Elijah and his mantle has fallen.

One of Rush’s greatest strengths was his ability to play skillfully with ideas. He’d acquired what Oscar Wilde described as the “Oxford temper.”

“The unfortunate accident — for I like to think it was no more — that you had not yet been able to acquire the ‘Oxford temper’ in intellectual matters, never, I mean, been one who could play gracefully with ideas but had arrived at violence of opinion merely.”

The quote is from De Profundis (Latin meaning “from the depths”) a fifty thousand word letter written by Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas. In the letter, Wilde repudiates Lord Alfred for what he saw as arrogance and vanity. Though Wilde would never have been described by any standard as a conservative, or moral, his insight is still entirely valid. All truth is God’s truth.

The current state of conservatism is, to some degree, a troubling vortex of bickering personalities who’ve engaged in public spats. Who’s right or wrong will eventually filter through the sieve of time — there are two sides to every story and somewhere in the middle lies the truth.

That old saw usually holds true. At least, it’s a good working theory, and as a young deputy sheriff, it was my “go to” when trying to untangle the monkey’s fist of domestic dispute.

There’s an inherent humility and understanding of human nature in the theory. It’s a recognition that omniscience escapes us all, and people are prone to lie, especially when money, fame, or sex is involved. In addition, the statement presupposes that both sides of the story must be heard to have a hope of coming to a reasoned assessment.

To be dismissive is the most grotesque form of egoism to ever erupt like a cherry-red pustule from the human psyche.

But, perfunctory and dismissive seem to be the hallmarks of some who’ve desperately scrabbled after Rush’s hoary mantle. Their grubby fingers have clutched the sacred thing, turning to dust in their grasp, despoiled by pride, arrogance, and a perverse tongue. All things that God says he specifically hates. (Proverbs 8:13)

Conservative thought is characterized by reasoned, clear thinking. Facts and truth inform opinion and bias yields to cogent argument. At least, that has been the standard for conservative thinkers. The left has been rightly characterized as a group of lock-stepping ideologues who plod along ponderously, even in the face of objective fact and reason. To call their anti-intellectual fervor “religious” is a disservice to religion, which has been the bastion of literacy, the cradle of science, and the champion of thought.

However, some prominent conservative voices have adopted a left-wing mentality, having fallen in love with a pet narrative or indulged in personality crushes to the exclusion of all reason.

If someone sounds unhinged, they’re hiding something. And, it’s usually a cherished grudge they’ve clutched to their bosom like poor Golem and his Ring of Power. Hold on to it, and it twists the soul.

One of Rush’s greatest legacies is his enduring example of playing “gracefully with ideas.” It’s a skill that isn’t easily acquired, and it certainly isn’t cultivated in public school education. There are others who currently possess this hallmark of true education — Jordan Peterson is the foremost exemplar.

A person must have the capacity to think well to engage with ideas, especially those that challenge preconceptions. It’s no small task, and small people are incapable of it until they find the humility necessary to listen and not merely hear.

Rush’s mic has been passed like a golden scepter into faltering hands. Some people rise to fill a mantle too grand for their stature. Some people are merely crushed under its weight like a rotten tree borne down by the press of heavy winds — the core being merely desiccated flakes and burrowing termites.

We all need the courage of our convictions and the humility to admit when we get it wrong. Those are the preconditions to becoming skillful in matters of the mind. Read a lot — start with the foundation of western civilization, the Bible. Live well, and write your thoughts down. Soon, thinking well will develop into an abiding wisdom, and you’ll find yourself engaging gracefully, artfully with ideas and truths more valuable than all the treasure you can imagine.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: conservatism; rushlimbaugh
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1 posted on 02/07/2023 8:18:11 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
I disagree with the premise.

Rush was a rare talent. Having several commentators in the Conservative sphere is not hurting us.

I particularly like Dan Bongino, who has an excellent command of the facts both on firearms and federal law enforcement.

Those were weak areas for Rush.

2 posted on 02/07/2023 8:23:33 AM PST by marktwain
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To: SeekAndFind

I miss Rush terribly. I haven’t listened to talk radio since he passed.


3 posted on 02/07/2023 8:28:59 AM PST by HighSierra5 (The only way you know a commie is lying is when they open their pieholes.)
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To: marktwain

Clay & Buck are alright and do a good job but i find myself yelling at them couple times a week. With Rush, i never did. He was the best.


4 posted on 02/07/2023 8:29:50 AM PST by spincaster
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To: SeekAndFind

I would say Rush planted, and gave example of success.

It is quite Possible that his era was necessary formation for many the future generation of conservatives.

Hard to tell yet, because these things are seen by the fruits.


5 posted on 02/07/2023 8:33:55 AM PST by Bayard
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To: marktwain

bonging is the closest thing to a Rush we have right now. He cultivates his thesis on a daily basis. Clay and Buck dont really have much of a thesis. They just chat.


6 posted on 02/07/2023 8:35:28 AM PST by Free Louie
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To: spincaster

Clay and Buck are difficult to listen to. They conduct themselves like they are on sports radio.

They are still a good source of news though.


7 posted on 02/07/2023 8:43:30 AM PST by Texas resident (Who is running our country?)
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To: Free Louie
For the last week or so he has been slowly and methodically laying out the evidence about Ukraine, China, and the sellout of our elected officials for financial gain.

The only other source I've seen that rivals his information is at the Conservative Treehouse.

We're in uncharted territory.



8 posted on 02/07/2023 8:44:32 AM PST by Bratch
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To: HighSierra5
It's the same with me. I haven't turned on the radio since the day he died.

Rush Limbaugh was the kind of talent that comes along only once in a century. He was that mixture of Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain. He's irreplaceable.

9 posted on 02/07/2023 8:46:27 AM PST by Publius
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To: SeekAndFind

The gift that Rush left behind is millions of us who can see the stiches on a fast ball.


10 posted on 02/07/2023 8:50:56 AM PST by DeplorablePaul (s)
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To: SeekAndFind

We need you Rush! Taken too soon!!!!!!!!


11 posted on 02/07/2023 8:54:40 AM PST by bantam
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To: SeekAndFind

Miss him every weekday at 9am.


12 posted on 02/07/2023 8:54:48 AM PST by shadowlands1960 (We live in a world of intolerance masked as tolerance. RUSH LIMBAUGH)
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To: SeekAndFind

Although I know that Rush can never be replaced I ask about Dr Steve Turley?

I have been watching his videos on You Tube and he seems loke a rational voice worth hearing?

What say others?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMqD755nvCU&ab_channel=Dr.SteveTurley


13 posted on 02/07/2023 9:03:39 AM PST by bert ( (KWE. NP. N.C. +12) Juneteenth is inequality day )
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To: SeekAndFind

Looking at the state of affairs in the U.S., where in hell have these “Conservatives” been for 40+ years?

Beside trying to undermine, compromise and overthrow Trump, what have they done?


14 posted on 02/07/2023 9:07:13 AM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: SeekAndFind

I think a lot of the conservative media went slack not long after Rush left, and it could be because they don’t necessarily want to have to listen to a voice like his. What they have now is nothing but their own instincts and intuitions, and without Rush’s great guidance, they know they’re on their own. Not only is he gone too soon, but his influence may also have gone too soon as well.


15 posted on 02/07/2023 9:16:05 AM PST by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I started listening to Rush when he was a local show on KFBK in Sacramento. Scrolling through the wasteland that was the AM dial one day that booming, confident voice grabbed me immediately. He was sooo funny, his show was something like Firesign Theater for conservatives.
He changed AM radio. Conservative talk radio became a more widespread format for a lot of stations after he showed the way.
Maybe what I liked best about him is that he loved radio. He loved the work.
And he knew what all the radio greats know, no matter how large the audience, for the listener, it’s a one-on-one experience. Whoever is behind the mic is talking only to you.


16 posted on 02/07/2023 9:17:32 AM PST by siunevada (If we learn nothing from history, what's the point of having one? - Peggy Hill)
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To: dragnet2

There are 523 pages of his podcasts/archives on his website. It’s takes too long to go back to the oldest. I’d love to listen to them when I’m in the old folks home with nothing to do. No flash drives for sale at the website.


17 posted on 02/07/2023 9:18:07 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: Texas resident
Clay and Buck are difficult to listen to. They conduct themselves like they are on sports radio.

I barely tolerate those two.

Rush engaged in real conversation with his callers. Clay and Buck give 15 seconds to a caller and then give their predictable opinion. They are like a broken record covering the same subjects and uttering the same words to fill three hours with their tedium.

They like to hear themselves talk and woefully lack the wit and talent of Rush.

18 posted on 02/07/2023 9:38:04 AM PST by Lovely-Day-For-A-Guinness
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We still have Mitch as the GOP leader in the Senate. Fox, National Review and the Wall Street Journal still hate real conservatives.


19 posted on 02/07/2023 9:39:25 AM PST by TakebackGOP
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To: Lovely-Day-For-A-Guinness
I barely tolerate those two. They like to hear themselves talk ...
20 posted on 02/07/2023 9:56:42 AM PST by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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