GOP recovery: Fire Rush Limbaugh (by Morton Kondracke)

San Diego Union Tribune ^ | November 21, 2008 | MORTON KONDRACKE

[lowbridge]

How can the Republican Party rebound? The first step would be to quit letting Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham set its agenda.

A second step would be for congressional Republicans to actually try to help President-elect Barack Obama succeed in addressing the country's dire problems – offering better ideas where appropriate and opposing just when necessary, not reflexively.

And the third – maybe the biggest one – would be for GOP governors to use their posts to show the country how conservatives can solve problems, especially the dismal state of American education and its menacing cousin, lagging American competitiveness.

If one governor would fully implement a widely circulated proposal to transform U.S. education – based on having most children graduate after the 10th grade and using the savings to pay teachers like professionals – it could serve as a model for the nation and bring the United States back to world standards.

But step 1 is to fire Limbaugh and his ilk as the intellectual bosses of the GOP.

In recent years, Republicans have let right-wing talk-show hosts whip the GOP base into frenzies – over immigration, brain-damage victim Terri Schiavo and same-sex marriage – that have branded the party as troglodyte.

The result is that the demographic groups representing the future of American politics shifted decisively to the Democratic Party in 2008 – Latinos, young people, the well-educated, moderates, working women, first-time voters, suburbanites and “seculars.”

[Tribune7]

We know we can trust this advice because we know Mort has our best interests at heart /s.

Libertarians have some legitimate beefs with social conservatives (and vice versa) but Mort is neither.

[Badeye]

Its worht noting Kondrake admits to listening to Rush each day, for most of the three hours.

[the long march]

Mort has drunk the Kool-Aid. Used to think he was only half a lefty. Now I know he is so far down the river we ain’t even in the same county.

[chicagolady]

LOL!!

[the long march]

And perhaps you have dispensed with your television? Better be extra safe and not let anything creep into your life that might be “shallow” or not deeply thought about, therefore, no internet news, no newspapers, no magazines. Quit FR. Wouldn’t want to have any knee jerk reactions floating around.

[NoPrisoners]

The Beltway Boys have been too long in Washington. The absurd notion that Republicans can win more often if they just act like Democrats is what got us here to begin with.

And why should we "help" poor lil' Barry? He's the messiah, right? Let him fix everything.

[Condor51]

Three governors – Republican Jon Huntsman Jr. (Utah) and Democrats Deval Patrick (Mass.) and John Lynch (N.H.) – have set up pilot projects partially implementing proposals of the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce, issued last year.

Under the proposal, states would take over schools from local boards, ...

Yeah Mort, great idea, follow the advice to TWO RAT Govs. I say .. BULLSIT! The LAST thing any community needs is 'The State' taking over from local school boards.

What do the crooks in Albany, New York know about the needs of kids in Cassadga, NY? Or the mopes in Sacramento, CA know about Redding? Or the ijits in Springfield, IL know about the needs of MY local school districts?

I'll tell you Mort - nothing, diddly squat. And in my case the asshats in Springfield would only screw up the schools. All are above average in test scores, graduation rates AND continuing on to college. 'The State' would turn MY schools into cesspools like Chicago's.

So no thank you Mort and those &%&&$ RAT governors can go pound sand.

[r9etb]

And perhaps you have dispensed with your television?

As a matter of fact... yes. Haven't watched TV for 25 years. When I do watch, it's with amazement at how much I'm not missing.

Better be extra safe and not let anything creep into your life that might be “shallow” or not deeply thought about, therefore, no internet news, no newspapers, no magazines. Quit FR. Wouldn’t want to have any knee jerk reactions floating around.

Like yours, for instance.

Clearly you're not one who can be troubled to stop and think.

[Mr. Silverback]

Hmmmm...what does agree to disagree mean on your planet, strange visitor?

[r9etb]

Hmmmm...what does agree to disagree mean on your planet, strange visitor?

Hmmmmmm.... what does "head in sand" mean on yours?

[Dr.Zoidberg]

I agree wholeheartedly that we shouldn’t listen to people who are clueless mort.

I’m starting with you.

[Nevermore]

But step 1 is to fire Limbaugh and his ilk as the intellectual bosses of the GOP.

Step 1 is for someone - ANYone - in the GOP to step up and replace Limbaugh's intellect and principle. If ANY of them demonstrated intellect & principle, he wouldn't HAVE to be fulfilling that role. Mort thinks that an intellectual VACUUM is better??

[Mr. Silverback]

***The gay marriage issue is a loser with young people.***

Sadly, you’re correct, but we can’t concede that one because it will be the death knell for this Republic.

Some people see that and think I’m being a homophobe, but the problem is not gay marriage itself, it’s what gay activists do when they gain power. Examples below...we need to rephrase this issue as an issue of freedom.

Leo Childs
http://www.amnation.com/vfr/archives/005774.html

Scott Brockie
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/apr/04041604.html

Ake Green
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ake_Green

Scott Savage
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49761

Crystal Dixon
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,355507,00.html

Ene Kiildi
http://people.maine.com/paula/pph/pph-2.9b.98.html

The Mennonites of Roxton Falls, Quebec
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/aug/07081701.html

Christian (and Mormon, Jewish and Muslim) business owners in Colorado
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=68060

Guy Earle
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=7096c4b6-e48c-46ea-9aeb-7a075a3766e2

Christian youth in Australia
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08062406.html

Christian civil servants
http://www.10news.com/news/16663610/detail.html

The Philadelphia 11
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41705

The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association
Yeshiva University
California Lutheran High School
A psychologist at North Mississippi Health Services
A Vermont civil servant
Elane Photography
A Christian doctor
A private adoption agency
The Boy Scouts
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91486340

eHarmony
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27821393/

The Mormon Church
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_11070812?source=rss

[Mr. Silverback]

You know, for someone who talks about deep thinking, real conversation and avoiding knee jerk reactions, you sure are acting like a rude little parrot.

I had meant to end the conversation politely and tried to do so twice. We’re done here...is that clear enough?

[MeanFreePath]

r9etb wrote:

“In a way, Kondracke is right. And to be honest, I ‘fired’ Rush several years ago. Hannity, too. And talk radio in general, for that matter.
Why? Various reasons, but mostly because talk radio is ratings-driven, and because of that it is shallow and generally targets knee-jerk reactions.

What conservatives really need to do, is re-learn how to think. Talk radio is not helpful in that regard; in many respects, it prevents thinking. “

end quote

Limbaugh is a brilliant propagandist for our cause. While he has to be entertaining to be viable, he is unflinchingly committed to conservative principles and never fails to defend them. Sure, he oversimplifies things. (Gosh, our opponents on the left never do that!!) But his audience is much more informed on the issues and basics of our government than the general voting populace by a lot (and I believe there is a recent poll to support this). The assertion that Limbaugh prevents listeners from thinking is demonstrably false. And, I wouldn’t trade you one Limbaugh in exchange for 10 George Wills in terms of effectively promoting conservative ideas...

[quickquiver]

First off, Rush's talent is on loan from God. Of all the posters to this thread, it seems that your posts are the most "correct," in your own mind. I have watched the panel Brit has had on his show for years, and honest to gosh, this is the first I have ever heard that Mort is a Republican.

Based on his comments and tack, I have always assumed he was one of the dems on the panel, but the one who sometimes was reasonable. Shows what I know! Anyway, who says the R party lost in this election? From my point of view the election was stolen for geopolitical reasons, because the public is not smart enough to pick our leaders, so they are "selected" for us by...

This gives us a puppet, who obviously will be put in his place if he thinks he is smart enough to take an independent position from his puppet masters. IMHO this all boils down to a few simple truths. Rush is invaluable to the R's, who, without his righteousness, would probably all lose their minds. The government is the government's government. It no longer is of, by and for the people. It picks winners and losers and does not do it's job in any kind of an efficient manner. It obviously is not accountable to the people, and has morphed itself into a behemoth dinosaur beholden to none. There is no place in the public square for truth and honest debate anymore.

The winner in this election is as obvious as the nose on your face. The summer Olympics of Chicago in 2016!

[r9etb]

You know, for someone who talks about deep thinking, real conversation and avoiding knee jerk reactions, you sure are acting like a rude little parrot.

Oh, come now. Your skin is thicker than that.

I had meant to end the conversation politely and tried to do so twice. We’re done here...is that clear enough?

Well, unfortunately, you did not "end the conversation," you extended it by blaming "politicians" (but not yourself) for what's wrong with conservatism. I helpfully quoted the statement to which I was responding.

It's a shame you felt the need to be purposely rude -- I had not intended to be so.

[r9etb]

Limbaugh is a brilliant propagandist for our cause.

No, he's not. For propaganda to be effective, it has to reach the people whose minds and behavior you want to change. Rush's listeners are, by and large, members of the choir. For most of the rest of the voting public, Rush is either a non-entity, or an active bogey-man, and in either case he has at best no influence on their opinions.

I suppose one could say that Rush is good at stirring up the choir ... and he often does bring up important topics that might otherwise be missed. But the word "propaganda" in the context of "preaching to the choir" is a rather troubling one; and I suspect that in many cases it is unfortunately the correct word to use.

[Mr. Silverback]

Pedantry, at best. Note there's no reference to deep thinking in the definition.

Au revoir.

[r9etb]

First off, Rush's talent is on loan from God.

I admit that it's a fine catch-phrase, but it's a bit much if you really mean to take it seriously.

Of all the posters to this thread, it seems that your posts are the most "correct," in your own mind.

Well, I will certainly grant that my opinions differ from many of those expressed on this thread, and as such I suppose they stand out. To the extent that I agree with Kondracke on the matter of talk radio, and others do not, I suppose it's appropriate to say that I consider my posts to be "correct."

While I don't agree with Kondracke on a lot of things, even within this article, I do think his underlying point in this instance is the correct one. As a political movement Conservatism seems irrelevant and bereft of useful ideas. I don't think our underlying principles are wrong ... but I do think that we tend to lose sight of what they are; and I'm convinced that we very often fail to apply them to the world as it is today.

And hence you get an Obama -- a cipher who seems to have ideas to fix what's wrong; and an adoring media who are longing to be led by a charismatic figure.

When you look at the "impact" of talk radio on this phenomenon you find that it had ... little or no effect. The vaunted power of talk radio quite obviously did not penetrate the consciousness of the folks who needed to be convinced. As a result Obama controlled the debate.