Politics – Conservative talk radio hosts licked their collective wounds as they took to the airwaves after Republicans lost control of Congress, arguing the party should use the defeat to return to right-wing principles.
Their livelihood depends on a targeted audience. And in the aftermath of the national repudiation of their incessant party-line viewpoints, they have to go through an introspective period so they can determine how to repackage their product and sell it to the followers. I may be cynical here but I doubt their one-day humility has much to do with an ideological shift but more just buying a little time until they re-tool their game for the new political dynamic and find new verbal propaganda to generate a more likable political result next time.
ameliog, I agree. Nonetheless, it will be a long time before the neocons will have the same amount of politial influence. The curtain has been pulled ... and there he is,Oz, holding the microphone trying to scare everyone with his lies.
They'll go with what sells and if the lie sells better than the truth, so be it. It's a business first and foremost, the ideological stuff is just the market niche they're employed to fill. So my distinction is a business one rather than a moral or ethical one.
The neocon faction of the GOP certainly got their head handed to them but the rest of the GOP is now strategizing about how to win the next election. So the talk radio hosts will wait on the outcome of the strategizing before they get new talking points to propagate through their media echo chamber.
Probably in a day or two it'll be back to slamming everything Democratic and embellishing everything Republican. After all, that's their audience so it only makes sense for them to do so. Otherwise they'll be talking only to themselves because they've totally alienated the center to left demographic. They're probably nervous right now, wondering whether or not the political pendulum is making a long term shift.
I tend to be a realist, but there are some changes happening. Americans are finally starting to wise up to Rove's slash n' burn smear tactics. The Dems have a window of opportunity. Will they use it... I don't know, but I am in league with thousands of people like yourself who will try to hold them to their promises. If we could only find a way of kicking out those damn lobbyists; that's how we've lost our democracy. Corporate lobbyists have the final say in this country; that is what must change.
I hope the mood change is real too. If not, it'll be time to shop around for a third party. Money-bought influence has proven to be corrosive but business is amoral and will seek its own ends unless good people rise up and curb it.
The corporations own the media so they control the message, and own the politicians so they control the policies that affect us all. And like the ruse that says disagreement with government equals anti-American, corporations have convinced many that disagreement with corporate excesses and lack of ethics equals anti-capitalism. They demand more and more concessions, threatening to cut jobs if they don't get their way on everything from wages to taxes to regulation. What a snow job, and yet we seem to be suckers for their advertising.
I don't think there has been an idealogical realignment to the left here. I know the election results feel like a validation of liberal/far left beliefs. The reality is that the moderate American center swung just left enough to give the Democrats victory. Last time it was a mild swing to the right to the benefit of the Republicans.
That long time might be a short 2 years if the Democrats handle their moderate followers like the Republicans recently have.
Rush: "I no longer have to carry water for the people who don't deserve it". This does not strike me as something an independent thinker would do, "carrying water" as he put it. Instead, it appears that he has been doing the bidding of others.
He is doing what many Republicans have done for Bush. Provide support, however reluctant, because the alternative is so much worse.
And again, if you had listened to the show, he was often critical of the administration where he felt they were making mistakes.
To believe that he does the bidding of "others" is completely backwards. If anything Republican political figures worry about how Rush will react to what they do.
Have you ever listened to the show?
I've listened to bits and pieces over the years, and can't say how many hours it totals. Even watched his short-lived tv show back in the day. Talk radio has never done much for me but it appeals to others, so to each their own.
You say he provided support "because the alternative is so much worse". I don't have as much confidence as you that Rush has ability to predict the future, so I can't agree with you on this point.
You also say that "if anything Republican political figures worry about how Rush will react to what they do". I've never heard this from anyone so your statement seems more like an opinion than fact. And if Rush said it about himself, well, that's more self-promotion than fact. Again, I disagree.
As for interpreting his water-carrying statement, we're obviously in disagreement here too.
But if that's how you see him, fine. It's not anything worth the time to debate. Take care.
Listening consistently would give you a differing perspective. I wouldn't expect you to agree with what you are hearing but you would see that each talk radio figure has a different set of beliefs that they consistently adhere to. The variety of views from each host is part of what makes it interesting. I think you would reconsider the idea that they do anyone else's bidding.
My point about Rush supporting Bush to avoid the alternative has nothing to do with predicting the future. It's the simple fact that Rush's perception is that supporting Bush is preferable to doing anything that might help the Democrats win elections.
Regarding his influence, again if you ever listen to Rush or visit politically conservative news sites you would understand what I am saying. Republican political figures are regular guests on the show and conservative media is full of speculation on what his reaction to things will be.
fair enough. I don't have much time to catch talk radio so can't get into the differentiation of the other hosts. I'll even grant you that they have differences with each other, sometimes a lot and sometimes by a matter of degree.
I've caught Rush in bits and pieces as I said, and while that may be less than regular listeners, I can say without having to listen to hundreds of hours of Rush and other right or left wing hosts that they don't simply read the news, they interpret it and package it for their audience. And so there is inherent bias, but I don't mean that in any derogatory sense - just pointing out the obvious, I suppose.
The talk radio host's audience is not everyone, it is a specific ideological segment. This doesn't bother me - we all tend to go with what agrees with us.
Thanks for the civility of the discussion. Gotta run now, so if you are the last to respond - you win! :)
Limbough is an extremist who tries to hide behind religion. His kind are as dangerous as those jihadists supporting holy wars. Interesting election polls, 70% of evengelicals supported the g.o.p.s in the elections. I'm guessing these religious fanatics don't really care about morallity when it comes to politics. I reckond they should repend and ask for forgiveness. Lol!!!!
Leve leva e malanga kae tau
wow, the amount of short sightedness in most of these posts is striking. It is clear most posting here and the author of the article have never listened to any of these hosts untill after the election, for gloating purposes. First of all Boortz is a Libertarian not a conservative and for months before the election he was rooting for the republicans to loose as payback for thier spending like drunken sailor trying to buy votes like democrats do. Rush, Hannity, and the like had thier best years during 8 years of clinton, this will be a boon to them, they won't have to repackage a thing. All the republicans that stayed home will tune in as the Democrats start unviel thier agenda that they kept hidden during the election. Believe me will be more a factor now than ever. Don't be surprised when the Democrate (who know this, like I do) will try to introduce legislation limit talk radio (read free speech).
have your fun now, you will be cursing thier names more than you think soon.
Personally, I think this country is better being governed down the middle. Now, what is that middle? The republican president, democratic congress or the other way around. What I am trying to say is this, the country is better when both parties govern together. That is until a 3rd party makes itself known.
How about this: Republican president, Democratic Senate and a Libiterian House of Rep's
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Funny how they all seem to have found religion now that the elections are over and they lost.
Telling their base that the republicans left behind the standard conservative values.
I guess its only bad if you lose. Had they won I guess it would have been great simply because the democrats did not win.
What a bunch. You got principles you stand by them win or lose. At least then people like me can respect their stand even if we don't agree. Well if the only thing making the difference is if you win or lose not only I don't agree but I have no respect for them.