“At a time when we should aim for intellectual depth, for tough-minded and reasoned arguments, for good cheer and calm purpose”
We should always aim for these things, at all times. Such is the way to communicate to the coming generations, like Russell Kirk did, for instance. But, of course, such intellectual depth is not for the quotidian politics. Because that kind of politics rises and falls on the passions of the masses.
That’s what Beck speaks to. He’s not trying, so far as I know, to appeal to intellectuals. Who, by the way, are dominated by liberals, considering liberals control education and the world of letters. Not that we shouldn’t fight the good fight in that world, but it is, within a span of 20 years or so, irrelevant to the street-level fight.
There is a middle ground, between lasting philosophical importance and immediate “news cycle” relevance. A ground that William F. Buckley covered well. Let Commentary fight on that ground. Let good conservatives everywhere throw out their televisions. But so long as people do watch cable tv, let them have a bloviating alternative to radicals like Olbermann and Maddow, or milquetoast convservatives like O’Reilly (who is most certainly does not have a milquetoast personality, but is unassertive when it comes to his conservativism, except when it comes to less impartant issues like how vulgar rap music is).
It is not possible to have reasoned discussions with Leftwingtards.