cacoop
James McCutcheon
lamayor
First – on the minute chance that anyone is still checking in periodically, let me apologize for my protracted absence. As Louis wrote, life sometimes gets in the way and in my case that has especially been so. My mother suffered a major stroke a little less than a month ago. The past few weeks have been spent focusing on her care and transitioning her back home. Thankfully, she is recovering nicely. With continued rehabilitation, time and prayers, we expect her to make a full recovery.
That being said, even if this crisis hadn’t happened, I cannot confidently state that I would have (or for that matter – could have) amassed enough energy, concentration, heart and fervor to blog much anyway. The simple truth is that I am discouraged, disheartened, distraught, disincentivized and pretty much any other “dis” word that you could think of by the course that our country is finding itself on. This frame of mind is not conducive to being creative, articulate and inspired. Regardless, I am compelled to force myself into a renewed habit of putting my thoughts to “paper” in the hope that maybe something good, productive, inspiring and insightful might come of it. So here we go…
As it has been so long and so much has transpired since my last post, I thought it would be best to compartmentalize my thoughts into several different posts over the next few days.
Today’s Topic: Rush Limbaugh
Rush has been targeted by the left and the media (sorry – redundant) as an evil ignoramus who is hell bent on the destruction of America by publicly wishing Dear Leader his worst. By taking Rush’s comments that he wants Obama to fail out of context, the smear campaign (orchestrated by no less than the White House itself) is in full effect. This obfuscation serves two purposes. First it diverts the attention of the unwashed, inherently headline focused, masses to this kerfuffle while the Obama Administration sells our country to the lowest bidding foreign power. Second, it distracts the Conservative Movement and the Republican Party (unfortunately there is a major difference between the two these days) from focusing in on and combating the common enemy of Big-Government Liberalism, and redirects attention to a futile and counterproductive in-fight where such “principled” spokesmen as HRIC (Head RINO in Charge) Steele and Newt “Wow! Thanks for the food. Can I now bite your hand” Gingrich lambast Rush as being incendiary and out of bounds. (Warning – both links are to HuffPost… You may need hot shower and extreme eye scrub once you visit… At the very least, wipe your feet before coming back in 😉 )
Disclaimer – I am not a Ditto-head. I used to be a devotee of the man, however I must admit that I have not paid much attention to him as of late (“late” being the past 10 years or so). It is not that I think him irrelevant, it is that I personally do not care for his self-aggrandizement. I perceive it as buffoonish. That being said (Sorry – I use that phrase a lot), the man is correct. Obama’s policies (which are as far left as this country has ever witnessed) need to fail. For if they succeed, we will no longer enjoy the liberties and opportunities that this nation has provided to us. Every aspect of Obama’s agenda – uncontrolled and misdirected spending and inconceivable tax hikes during a recession, horrific policies on abortion, ESCR, and other life issues, ad hoc / half-baked policies regarding Gitmo and the War on Terror that will put our nation in grave danger and the eminent nationalization of health care system – drives us further down the path of European Socialist Democracy. I too hope that our Lecturer in Chief fails. I pray that he fails MISERABLY. His policies must not stand and his administration must not succeed.
You know all of this self-righteous indignation would be ironic if the hypocrisy wasn’t so blatant… Just a few months ago, it was considered patriotic to denigrate our President. In fact, the vitriolic spew leveled at President Bush was championed as the pinnacle of free speech and political discourse. An entire cottage industry of t-shirts, bumper-stickers, placards and the like was born. Cafe Press and other similar sites were churning out orders for the “Somewhere in Texas a Village is Missing its Idiot”, “When Clinton Lied, No One Died” and who could ever forget the dandy: “Bush, Pull Out Like your Daddy Should Have!” sticker? The principle stoker of this fire, James “Cletus” Carville, moments before the first plane hit the World Trade Center, himself stated that he hoped Bush would fail. These same idiots are now crying foul that the most consistent and principled voice of modern conservatism disagrees with the most Liberal President ever?!?? Not to fear though. I am sure that the above the fold, front page exposé on the hypocrisy of this whole episode is imminent. Can someone check the New York Times Sunday edition for me?
Tomorrow’s Topic: Spendulus!
musings from the disloyal opposition... 
I agree that one must be allowed to speak. I know it is difficult to face the gargantuan wall of change, but, I’m not sure how old the writer is, but I remember a kinder, gentler America (I’m 44). This was definitely pre-George W. Bush and if we went back to even Bill Clinton or George HW Bush I can still remember the light and it was much more like the kinder, gentler policies of Obama than it was with the ever-charging March of George W. Bush. There is a whole world of facts that have to do with moral issues that many conservatives do not want to see. Obama has invited everybody to the table to discuss issues, but he is not going back on what he said he wanted to do and what the American people through a vote said that they wanted him to do. You can wish for him to fail, but you will be going up against the majority wishes of the American people. The trick is to not let it drive you crazy. Wherever you can try and get the facts on the matter. Sometimes look for why a “liberal” might think the way he or she does. It usually has to do with morality issues, things that you would discuss at church. Stem the hatred and talk about issues with your fellow countryman as though you were at the old church in the village square where everyone is civil and everyone wants to pitch in to help with ideas that will make the village better. Try not to fall into the trap of thinking that the old cliches about the opposition are true or have ever been true. Hate cleverness builds up over time. It is like a plaque. This is Rush’s bread and butter and it’s a tired game. Keith Olberman calls Limbaugh, a colleague, a comedian. In a way he is, if only his material didn’t sting so on issues that do not call for comedy but levity.
Albert,
As I replied to another one of your comments, I am 38 years old. I too remember a kinder, gentler America: One where opportunity was abundant, our defenses were strong, we held common principles and values and discourse was civil.
Unfortunately, the past eight years has changed that dramatically. However, my friend, it was not our side that fired the first shots. The vitriolic hatred for President Bush and vile spew leveled at the man was so unconscionable that someone of your apparent intellect and decorum should be able to acknowledge it. Your vaunted Keith Olberman is a prime example of someone that leveled ad hominem attacks relentlessly.
There is not a willingness (nor, in fact a pressing need) for President Obama, Speaker Pelosi or MAjority Leader Reid to reach across the aisle and you know it. They are summarily force feeding their policies down our collective throats without any regard for the 46% of the nation who chose an alternative path. (The fact is that the majority were voting for obscure notions of “Change” and “Hope” without having the first foggiest idea of who or what they were actually buying… Seems like the varnish is coming off of the pretty package though. As of today, Obama’s approval numbers are tracking way behind those of his predecessor. (http://tinyurl.com/ae6kdj) Can you say buyers remorse?)
For God’s sake! Pelosi and Reid are like kids in a candy store. They can hardly contain their glee. There is no genuine desire for cooperation. There is no willingness to consult and adopt alternative viewpoints. Platitudes are great, but reality is reality.