Rod Dreher: Rush Limbaugh, inflexible and unhelpful

The Dallas Morning News ^ | March 6, 2009 | Rod Dreher

[HoosierHawk]

It didn't take long last week to determine who's really running the Republican Party. Hours after mildly criticizing Rush Limbaugh, Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele apologized.

The Limbaugh speech is an example of why popular conservatism today is, as the saying goes, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. The first thing we learn from the Master's orotund remarks is that there is nothing conservatives need to rethink in light of dramatically changed circumstances.

Limbaugh's ideology makes an idol of nationalism and optimism. He dunned Barack Obama for saying hard times were ahead, denouncing him for his lack of faith in America. What kind of cockeyed conservatism calls reality unpatriotic? Did these people learn nothing from Iraq? Hope, a virtue, is not the same as optimism – and optimism is not a synonym for crazy.

[Talisker]

Hope, a virtue...

:: snort ::

[goldstategop]

Conservatism is NOT about change. It does not need to be redefined. Its values never go out of style.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Dionysius]

I get it! They create the drastically changed circumstances and we rethink by falling in line. We desparately need to rethink our most fallacious working concept, which is that we will ever be able to achieve the slightest degree of habitability with bastards such as Dreher without being forced to compromise our principles, our morals and our honor.

[goldstategop]

Freedom, faith and family NEVER change. Nor the idea of American greatness or capitalism that has made America the most prosperous nation on earth. They don't need to be updated for the times. Our conservative intelligentsia is seeking to change conservatism. That is by definition both futile and impossible.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[donna]

It denies two bedrock conservative truths: that humankind is fallen and that we must learn to live within limits prescribed by nature. Would-be conservatives who build their philosophy upon the progressive gospel of limitless human potential and the sanctity of individual autonomy are in no position to criticize utopian liberals.

The author is right about this. It is not our economic system that made America great.

[goldstategop]

Conservatism is set of prejudices and signposts. It abhors change for its own sake, venerates tradition and seeks to inculcate in men the ability, with the help of God, to govern their own souls and to improve themselves by their own industry. Its fears chaos, stands adamantly in the path of revolution and wants the government to perform only such limited functions as the people see fit to delegate to it and no more. Keeping things almost as they are in accordance with the tried and true wisdom of the ages, that in a nutshell, is conservatism.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[HoosierHawk]

donna,

Can you elaborate on your statement that it was not our economic system that made America great?

[goldstategop]

The American reading of conservatism is informed by the view Man, when free, can do great things and human freedom moreover, does not come from the hand of the state. The dignity and freedom of Man comes from God and all Men are bound by His divine and natural law, without which there is in truth no freedom at all.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

It is our Judeo-Christian values that have made America great and made capitalism possible. An economic system must be governed by a set of ethical rules. We have forgotten them and that led us to the crisis in which we now find ourselves. It not primarily due to a lack of money that is why America is in trouble today.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[jonrick46]

This is the fruit of life in the ivory tower. Rod Dreher has no concern for the liberties of his fellow citizen. He thinks he is a conservative with an unique insight into the culture wars. Rather his is so blind that he falls in perfect step with the rest of the Culture of Death: Dead man walking.

[HoosierHawk]

Our Judeo-Christian values are really the only foundation for democracy, hence capitalism. Without a deep belief in either, we’re screwed.

[donna]

Balint Vazsonyi wrote wonderful columns on such subjects. He died in 2003, but the stuff is still true.
http://balintvazsonyi.org/

Marks of Marx
8/25/98
Balint Vazsonyi

American attitudes and policies in relation to developments in the Eastern regions of Europe and of Asia rest on the assumption that a switch to “capitalistic” practices will ring in the bells of freedom. (snip)

The unprecedented and unparalleled wealth of this nation - and the ever-increasing access to it by a constantly growing proportion of its people - was built on a foundation of laws, morality and corresponding political institutions, not the other way around. (snip)

What seems only a few minutes ago, American business had persuaded itself that “Europe was the past - the Pacific Rim is the future.” Thus, the domino-like collapse of, even, the Japanese economic miracle is met with utter bewilderment.

It ought not to be. Unlike the United States, none of those countries possesses foundations and traditions of law and corresponding political institutions that can support a consistently expanding economic universe. None has a concept of its own of freedom. None has unleashed the boundless creativity of the individual which alone fuels the engine of American business. (snip)

American attitudes and policies in relation to developments in the Eastern regions of Europe and of Asia rest on the assumption that a switch to “capitalistic” practices will ring in the bells of freedom.

http://balintvazsonyi.org/washtimes/wt082598.html

[Sun]

“If they had really listened to Rush; we wouldn’t be sitting in this situation today.”

That’s what Laura Ingraham was saying, and she, and you are correct.

[donna]

Well said.

[Lexinom]

Conservatism by its nature seeks to conserve tradition. In our case, what is being conserved is the timeless Judeo-Christian values written by the Hand of God on stone and enunciated by Moses in Exodus 20. Regardless of its individual citizens' religious beliefs, they are the bonds that hold together a civilized society, the nation wherein people have been pursuing dreams and happiness for 230 years. Couldn't do that without that common thread (cf. the Soviet Union and its 73-year history).

These principles are axiomatic and will never, ever change. They are eternal.

[freekitty]

Thank you.

[goodnesswins]

Obama is waging a WAR on FREEDOM

[Lexinom]

Very well said indeed!

[CedarDave]

I should report you to the mods for omitting the obligatory "Barf Alert" from this article!
;>))

[Lexinom]

Yes, you got it my FRiend!

And, if they cannot win in debate, are they mature and graceful enough to admit wrongdoing? Are these mature adults who can agree to disagree?