From: crosmun@crosmun.rtp.dg.com (William Crosmun)
Subject: Re: Rush Limbaugh and the decline of the GOP
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 92 21:12:57 GMT
Organization: Data General Corporation, RTP, NC.

In article <1992Oct12.044400.5852@umbc3.umbc.edu> alex@engr3.umbc.edu (alex) writes:
>	[My apologies to the people who still think that Bush has a chance]
>
>	As the GOP slides ever furthur into the tank, and James Baker
>starts composing his explanations regarding his failure to save George
>Bush from himself, a reacurring thought comes to me:
>
>	This election is the juxposition of two major events for
>Republicans.  The first is the massive failure in their bid for the
>white house. Not only is Bush going to lose, he's not losing in
>the wake of a major catastrophy or scandle, but rather on his own
>merits. (Call this premature if you like, but unless Clinton is found
>screwing a sheep, the writings on the wall, folks)
>
>	The other major event is the rise of Limbaugh, Buchannan and
>their ilk within the party. No one can prove that the reason that
>people arn't voting republican is because of the choices of Convention
>speakers this year, but there does seem to be a correlation between
>Republicans who might win and Republicans who have stayed as far away
>from the GOP convention, Family Values, and the rest of the far right
>rhetoric as they could.
>
>	It seems terribly ironic that Rushs rise would coincide with
>the fall of his beloved party, and even more so that his rise could be
>factor in the decline. It will take more then one race to show a clear
>cause and effect, of course, but it looks entertainingly suspicious.

You've ignored two things.  First, the extraordinary popularity of Rush would
seem to indicate that conservative ideas are not unpopular.  Second, that the
economic conservatives of the Republican party have opposed almost everything
that Bush has done from the Budget Agreement of 1990 on.  Having chased the
economic conservatives out, Bush has left himself with only the social
conservatives.  Rush is right about a lot of things, but I think the
anti-abortion stance is a loser for him, and for the Republican party, and I
would like to see both of them get away from it.  The pro-choice crowd has
our principles on their side (personal responsibility, no goverment
involvement in private decisions, etc.) and is, therefore, going to prevail.


>
>
>
>
>-- 
>                               Alex Crain::UMBC Academic Computing Services
>  "[Ronald Reagans] support of George Bush is absolutely not as lukewarm
>  and halfhearted as it appears"  -- Ed Meese 1992
>


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William Crosmun
crosmun@dg-rtp.dg.com

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"No matter what the subject, there is some group which wants government
 to regulate or  subsidize it, and  there are always those  in Congress
 eager to take  over more power  and control.  But it  is impossible to
 get something for  nothing.  The government  produces no goods, so  it
 can hand out  favors to some  people only by taking  the earnings  and
 property of others first."

                       From the Libertarian Party platform - 1992

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