Conservative Donnybrook

First, I don’t know why all the negativity about Rush. Indeed, to identify the Canadian threesome as our “biggest threat” is a little befuddling. I would contend that Rush is one of the more innovative and remarkable bands of the 70s, 80s, 90s, and even today. Few bands enjoy that long a run of success as has Rush. Likewise, it is relatively rare for a band to forge a sound so new and identifiable as to be immediately associated with a single band. The musical virtues of the trio can hardly be questioned.

All kidding aside, as for Limbaugh, I think the antipathy that people display toward him is fueled largely for the same reasons that people hate the New York Yankees. He is the most successful radio talk show host running – perhaps ever. He has single-handedly revived AM radio and created from whole cloth a genre of radio programming. If for no other reason, he should be admired for that. Let me pose another way to think about Rush (and the Yankees), Bill once told me, when he was a Yankees fan (before he turned into a Dodgers fan) that people hate the Yankees for the same reason that people around the world hate America. When he put it in those terms, I hate to say it, but I stopped hating the Yanks so much.

People probably need to understand that before anything else, Rush Limbaugh is a showman. As he frequently points out, he is an entertainer. I would suggest that Rush provides more benefit than harm. For many people, Rush represents their first introduction to conservatism. I was listening to Dennis Miller’s radio program the other day and he had a musician as a guest (I can’t remember who it was). It became rapidly apparently that the musician was an avowed liberal. What was interesting was that everything that came out of his mouth began, “I feel this; I feel that; I think most people feel…” The one thing that Rush demonstrates to people is that conservatism is not about how it makes one feel, but that it is, rather, an operation of intellect. While we may disagree with some of Rush’s conclusions, if he causes people to examine issues by thinking about them rather than inquiring how they feel about them, his contribution is positive for conservatism.

If one listens to Rush to find out what to think, they are doing themselves a disservice. However, if people tune in and discover a way to think about an issue, and then proceed to critically analyze his thought process, they are on the path to conservatism.

UPDATE: The “musician” that was on Miller’s show was David Carradine, who has apparently formed a band and was involved in some charity work. The interview can be heard here: Carridine Interview. It was his lead violinst’s statements (around 3:20) that focused on how people feel. “I don’t have any angst that everything’s going to turn out well. It feels like something good could be happening. I think if everybody started feeling like something good was going to be taking place, if we all felt that way, I think its all gonna really help it move fast.” She was speaking about Obama and his plan to save the planet from ecological destruction. Carridine put in about how the Obama administration still must deal with the good old boys’ network: “Lest we forget.” That was his complete argument. There was a pregnant pause as Dennis waited to find out what it was exaclty that we should not forget, but David just left it at that. Maybe he forgot. All told, it was extremely informative and inspiring to hear from someone whose thoughts are so well ordered and laid out.

UPDATING THE UPDATE: It turns out the “charity” is in reality a New Age symposium in Los Angeles. If want a hearty laugh, you should check out the lecture topics that were offered. Hysterical.