Rush-ing to judgement (Long Version)

Avert your eyes Stalin.

Rush today says that GOP losses "liberated" him. Key points.

no longer am going to have to carry the water for people who I don't think deserve having their water carried. Now, you might say, "Well, why have you been doing it?" Because the stakes are high. Even though the Republican Party let us down, to me they represent a far better future for my beliefs and therefore the country's than the Democrat Party and liberalism does. I believe my side is worthy of victory, and I believe it's much easier to reform things that are going wrong on my side from a position of strength. Now I'm liberated from having to constantly come in here every day and try to buck up a bunch of people who don't deserve it, to try to carry the water and make excuses for people who don't deserve it. I did not want to sit here and participate, willingly, in the victory of the libs, in the victory of the Democrat Party by sabotaging my own.

And,

here have been a bunch of things going on in Congress, some of this legislation coming out of there that I have just cringed at, and it has been difficult coming in here, trying to make the case for it when the people who are supposedly in favor of it can't even make the case themselves -- and to have to come in here and try to do their jobs. I'm a radio guy! I understand what this program has become in America and I understand the leadership position it has.

Also,

t has been a challenge to come in here and look at some of the weaknesses and some of the missed opportunities and try to cover for them and make up for them

I agree with everything Rush said. My point to Stalin for years is that Rush is not the voice for truth, he's a GOP mouthpiece, a sort of cigar smoking cheerleader. To go to Rush for intellectual honesty is like going to a palm reader for advice about your future. She knows why she's there, and you know why you're there, so all sides agree. It's not about truth, its about feeling better. This is Rush. He's not about truth, he's about making his listeners feel better.

I don't think it was always this way. Like the GOP, his message became about staying in power. On the march towards power he could afford to be honest because the stakes weren't as high. It takes discipline to take power. If some random Republican steps out of line, punish him, keep the focus on the mission (to take power) and keep everyone locked in. That was the position he enjoyed up until 1994. However, once the his team took control, discipline meant the possibility of short term loss of power. Honesty risked loss. Rather than risk honesty, he took the path of "cover" and the GOP grew fat and lazy. Rush started playing the "relative" game.

Even though the Republican Party let us down, to me they represent a far better future for my beliefs and therefore the country's than the Democrat Party and liberalism does.

Relativism isn't discipline. Relativism is a path towards the continuing downward spiral. On election day, it spiraled past "loser."

I believe that Rush and the GOP faced the same dilemma, power v. integrity of the mission, and both chose power. However, it looks like Rush is geared up to be a real voice of conservatism, already turning on W.

The president during the campaign said that he was convinced that if the Democrats won power, that the war on terror would suffer a setback. They're not that interested in victory. He totally took that back today. He said (paraphrased), "Well, people say things on campaigns. You know, the campaign's over and the Democrats won, and so it's over. What do you want?" It was the "What do you want?" press conference. "You want immigration reform? Ha-ha-ha! You got it. You want a minimum wage increase? Yoooooou got it! You want Rumsfeld? Yoooooou got him!" Bush has seen this before, and this is how you get out of town in two years with an approval rating that is above the thirties and maybe into the fifties or the sixties. Stem cells are another thing. The whole point here is: "We're going to do everything we can to make everybody happy. We're going to do what we can to make everybody happy."

If Rush is really on the case, I think it's better for the country. I'm not a fan, but he has a large base, and if he focuses back on conservative ideals, and not partisan flattery, then maybe conservatism can make a comeback.

Sometimes you have to take a step back to take two steps forward.