From: htuttle@nyx.cs.du.edu (Harry Tuttle)
Subject: Those Wacky Conservatives!
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix @ U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 92 17:58:37 GMT



OK, I admit that my last post was inflammatory, but I was still 
basking in the glow of a beautiful Clinton landslide victory.  I suppose
I let my emotions get the better of me.

Nevertheless, I do feel that Mr. Limbaugh's days are numbered.  This kind
of arch-conservative vitriol that he is spewing cannot have any staying
power.  The hate and divisiveness that he encourages (along with other
notable Republicans, such as David Duke and the two Pats, Buchanan and
Robertson) will not last.  Democracy is not isolationism.  Yes, 
democracy is freedom of speech, and I support Mr. Limbaugh's right to
speak freely.  In fact, I encourage it, because that it is what will ruin
him in the end.

To all of the faithful Limbaugh fans out there (and yes, I have heard his
show many times), how can you defend his positions?  I am a registered 
Republican, but I am offended that my party is leaning so far to the 
right.  Now that the Democrats are gravitating back to the center, I am
ready to jump ship.  What is the point of calling women "feminazis"?
Or belittling Democrats like Ted Kennedy and Mario Cuomo?  Come on, guys,
let's look at the hypocrisy of it all.  What makes Rush better than these
people?  What makes upper middle class white males the paragons of 
virtue?  What intelligent debate can stem from mindless generalizations 
and isolationism?  

I'll be the first to admit that Rush is brilliant.  He is brilliant 
because he cloaks his racist, misogynistic ideas behind the facade of
actual issues and policies.  This provides him and his fans with
readymade, rational defenses to any attacks and fools the many 
listeners out there into thinking that he is the "voice of reason".  
His fans are taken in by his charisma and style, and they are almost
subliminally implanted with his ideas of hate and violence.  Most
frightening of all, is that some people out there actually would admit
to subscribing wholeheartedly to those ideas that Rush glosses over with
his charm.

The problem with staunch conservatism is that it is a morally 
indefensible position.  It often (not always) promotes selfishness under
the guise of "free enterprise", ignores social problems by citing
"lack of government involvement" and perpetuates the subjugation of
women (see "feminazis").  Now I know that not all conservatives fall
into this moral quagmire, but too many do.  And Rush encourages it.

Well, feel free to tell me what a leftist nut I am.  Call me crazy, but
I just believe in the Declaration of Independence when it says that
ALL are created equal (even women, minorities, homosexuals and tax-and-
spend liberals).  

Oh, and by the way, if any of you out there can explain something to
me, I'll be happy.  Rush has said many times (most recently in a USA
Today interview) that the popularity of his show increases by 430+ 
listeners a second.  How is that possible?  That's 13.5 billion people
per year.  Even if Rush picked up every single person in the United
States, it would only amount to 8 people per second.  I sure hope
that Rush isn't lying in order to make people think that he is more
popular than he actually is...


Xref: sparky alt.fan.rush-limbaugh:7899 alt.politics.clinton:15752 alt.politics.bush:13125 alt.rush-limbaugh:9001