The funny thing about Republicans is that we all think we know what's Right. But in fact we do not, and the most successful Republicans are the ones who realize that in the end it doesn't really matter.
The first thing that you have to learn as a Conservative is that the Republicans are the only ones who are going to shine your shoes. Everybody else is out to step on your toes, kick you in the shins and otherwise cut your legs out from under you. Including, guess who? Other Conservatives. The only place Conservatives agree about what's most important is when they are talking about Republican candidates winning. Otherwise the Fiscal Conservatives could care less about the Christian Conservatives who can't stand the Moderate Conservatives and everybody hates the Jews. No wait, that was Tom Lehrer. Everybody dismisses the Libertarians and everybody hates the Liberals. That's it.
Ronald Reagan mastered the song and dance routine and communicated (greatly) a Commandment he invented, no doubt to create that mythical beast called The Base. Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican. This is, of course, a formula for intellectual stillbirth. How convenient for a party who managed to get ahead of the competition and declare a revolution. There was, I don't doubt, a Conservative Revolution, the salient effects of which we are heir to. But sometimes it's difficult for me to distinguish conservative government from good government. After all, the Founders figured it out, or so we say. What's so revolutionary about following directions? What's revolutionary boils down to the character of the American who gets enough of us to say there's a revolution afoot.
Revolutions of words and votes. Yoiks and Hazzah!
As I was saying to my boy Jimi this morning. I think 20% of the electorate is serious. The rest are playing American Idol. The most politically accurate thing I've read in the past week as I peruse the daily bloviation is Rush Limbaugh's drawing attention to the obvious fact that 40,000 people run NYC. Taxwise. Damn skippy. Alienating them is like throwing rocks at Mafia windows. You can pretend for only so long that the Mob doesn't exist, and then you're suddenly a character in Lemony Snicket.
So as Gerard wryly notes, exactly as I have, there are exactly two political leaders in America today. Rush Limbaugh and Barack Obama. They are both entertainers with their fingers on the emotional pulse of 80% of the electorate. The difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that the Republicans have not yet reached the point of desparation and hatred which aligns them emotionally behind their great entertainer.
Just you wait.
If you want to reach me. I'll be in the bomb shelter awaiting the call to sanity.
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