I think I know why we are having trouble finding our next Reagan. And when I say Reagan I mean a credible political figure who can persuasively and positively articulate the conservative message.
Barring a miracle, Obama will win this week. What will follow is a soul searching of the GOP. What went wrong?
When Reagan was the major voice for conservatives before he was elected President, he was kind of a lone ranger up against the major networks. His title of the Great communicator was validated with two landslide victories in 1980 and 84, plus an "aftershock" landslide victory for the less charismatic Bush in 88.
It seems that the communication power of Reagan is no longer intact in a strong political leader but balkanized amongst AM Talk Radio kings, none of whom has the balls to run for elected office. They have the insulation of a studio to say whatever they want without the scrutiny that would come in the politcal arena. Rush Limbaugh technically won the 1994 GOP Congressional takeover without being on any ballots.
There is talk of a restoration of the fairness doctrine on the public airwaves. I am against it, and am a HUGE fan of talk radio. But I have to wonder if these fellows on talk radio are sucking the wind out of any potential Reagan candidate? If there were no Rush, Hannity, Ingraham, or Beck, would we be forced to go back to an elected governement official who is conservative and rally behind that person? Would conservatism die without talk radio or could it be reborn in the arena of governement where it does the most good?
I was too young to remember much of Reagan or any of his talks. But what I find lacking in the GOP is honesty and integrity. When I listen to conservatives talk (mainly Glenn Beck, but occasionally Hannity), they talk straight and with common sense.
No matter who wins the election (and I think Obama will do so), I want the president to watch out for America. Not America in China, or America according to the coroporate world, or America in Hollywood. Lay aside the stupid politics and get down to common sense and stop the insanity. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening if our country is controlled by the far left in the the 3 branches of our government.
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It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.
I kind of agree with this. Long, long ago I thought that Rush Limbaugh exists as a pressure release valve; conservative listeners get to feel like somethings being done without actually doing anything. But there's the flip side: without talk radio, there's an awful lot of news that we wouldn't be hearing about through the liberal media.
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
