The New Road

Talk Radio Ruins The Right

Excellent article on how talk radio has ruined the right. Some favorite sections:

Much as their blind loyalty discredited the Right, perhaps the worst effect of Limbaugh et al. has been their draining away of political energy from what might have been a much more worthwhile project: the fostering of a middlebrow conservatism. There is nothing wrong with lowbrow conservatism. It’s energizing and fun. What’s wrong is the impression fixed in the minds of too many Americans that conservatism is always lowbrow, an impression our enemies gleefully reinforce when the opportunity arises. ... It does so by routinely descending into the ad hominem—Feminazis instead of feminism—and catering to reflex rather than thought. Where once conservatism had been about individualism, talk radio now rallies the mob.

Yep. We saw that in spades with the McCain/Palin rallies that were something straight out of mob hell.

But there was not much confrontation with other deep social and economic problems. The unholy marriage of social engineering and high finance that ended with our present ruin was left largely unanalyzed from reluctance to slight a Republican administration.

Finally! Someone on the right recognizes that the nanny state enforcement required by evangelicals is completely at odds with the libertarian wing that wants to drown government in the bathtub.

Why have we allowed carny barkers to run away with the Right?

Yeah, that one speaks for itself.

Conservative talk radio has gotten a lot worse since Obama's election. When Bush was in charge they seemed chained to some reasonable sense of reality. Now they have been unchained for governance and their talk has turned into mindless nonsensical ranting into the wind. Glenn Beck, for example, can't seem to decide whether Obama is a nazi, communist or the anti-Christ. While Hannity and Limbaugh can find socialism in how Obama walks across The White House lawn.

It's not even fun to listen to anymore. It's like watching the crazy guy on the corner screaming about how we sinners should all repent as the end is nigh.