Conservative Talk Radio Gets a Second Chance Too
Since the votes were tallied election night, we have heard the refrain over and over again: the Republicans have a second chance at governing as legislators that have some semblance of what the idea of a limited federal government is. After six years of spending us into the largest debt accumulation that matched all our nations debt up to that time, the GOP now has the chance to show they have learned their lessons. While I think that is a pipe dream based on the hands off approach to the Defense budget, Medicare, Social Security the Pledge to America makes, the true second chance is to someone who truly may be able to effect change talk radio.
While I am sure Glenn, Rush, Sean, Laura, Mark, et al can pull out selective clips where they say a word in disagreement with the GOP spending of 2001-2007, the voices were soft, mute and impotent. As typical neoconservatives, though I admit I have no idea what Beck is, there were more than happy to spend, spend spend as long as they got their wars: The Afghan War, the Iraq War, the War on Terror, enhanced interrogation techniques (torture), Homeland Security, warrant-less wiretaps and searches, and of course, the Patriot Act. Â They were all following Rove and his strategy when they passed and barely whimpered when No Child Left Behind was passed. Â The same for the biggest entitlement since the great society, Medicare Part D. Â Where was this love of limited Constitutional government?
But that is not even the biggest indictment of talk radio during those years, for they had the power to stop them. Â Yes, Rush and the boys and girls in the echo chamber could have helped stop it all. Â Just think where we woudl be if they only revolted about spending, NCLB and Medicare Part D! Â How do I know this? Â Think about it, who stopped Harriet Myers in her tracks? Â Who stopped comprehensive immigration reform in it tracks to such a degree John McCain, went form primary sponsor to biggest critic in less than a year! Â Talk radio. Â Can you imagine the pressure that would have been brought to bear on Hastert and Lott if that revolt had been led by talk radio?
So, while the GOP thinks it has a second chance, I say the conservative talkers have a second chance, for if they go along for the sake of party loyalty again, they will have been exposed as the political party hacks they are labeled as by some. Â So, all you Tea Partier’s out there, keep listening and lets see what El Rushbo has to say over the next Congress.
NOTE: This post specifically exempts Mike Church as he seems to be the only honest talk show around at this time.