Rush Limbaugh- On the one hand: For the President of the United States to say "don't listen to that guy, he's the guy that makes stuff not happen" is scarcely believable. President or no, he doesn't get to pick his detractors, and if they have something to say, it's their Constitutional right to say it and other's Constitutional right to listen.
On the other hand, his opinions were indeed vociferous a few years ago, and were stated with quite a bit of vitriol. I haven't heard his show of late; but with the deference I give all men, I assume him reasonable until proven otherwise and therefore must assume that he would have toned down his enthusiasm. His passion has given him both fame and infamy, but will do him little good in this oncoming period, and I think he must realize this.
Right Wing News- On the one hand: I'm a registered Independant and my standing is just on the conservative side of being true neutral. With this in mind, reading the words "Beating liberals to death with a shovel and a smile" is indeed sickening... but not for the literal reason. It speaks volumes about the discord and stratification present in the current political climate, and makes me wonder how likely true cooperation is to ever come to pass.
On the other hand: For a site with those disturbing words posted to issue the following statement is telling indeed, when laid against the behavior of their counterparts "across the aisle":
Fortunately for those of us who don't always agree with the incoming administration, we've spent the last eight years being told the highest duty of any American (contra our new President) is not unity, but the loud and vociferous expression of patriotic dissent. It would be encouraging (as well as more productive) to see the Right express that disagreement in a more dignified and respectful manner than has often been the case on the Left.
But express it we should: civilly, dispassionately, and without resorting to cheap personal attacks or the kind of rabid emotionalism that alienated and outraged us for the last 8 years.
Summary- You're right, indeed. Rush Limbaugh knows well about polarized targets. This in no way excuses the President of the United States following suit, however. And if such a group of fixed-wing individuals as Right Wing News speaks of a necessity for calm, dispassionate oration, what does it say for those other worthies that find such a level of discussion unacceptable?
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timeasmymeasure
A middling perspective.
Date: 2009-01-25 04:21 am (UTC)On the one hand: For the President of the United States to say "don't listen to that guy, he's the guy that makes stuff not happen" is scarcely believable. President or no, he doesn't get to pick his detractors, and if they have something to say, it's their Constitutional right to say it and other's Constitutional right to listen.
On the other hand, his opinions were indeed vociferous a few years ago, and were stated with quite a bit of vitriol. I haven't heard his show of late; but with the deference I give all men, I assume him reasonable until proven otherwise and therefore must assume that he would have toned down his enthusiasm. His passion has given him both fame and infamy, but will do him little good in this oncoming period, and I think he must realize this.
Right Wing News-
On the one hand: I'm a registered Independant and my standing is just on the conservative side of being true neutral. With this in mind, reading the words "Beating liberals to death with a shovel and a smile" is indeed sickening... but not for the literal reason. It speaks volumes about the discord and stratification present in the current political climate, and makes me wonder how likely true cooperation is to ever come to pass.
On the other hand: For a site with those disturbing words posted to issue the following statement is telling indeed, when laid against the behavior of their counterparts "across the aisle":
Fortunately for those of us who don't always agree with the incoming administration, we've spent the last eight years being told the highest duty of any American (contra our new President) is not unity, but the loud and vociferous expression of patriotic dissent. It would be encouraging (as well as more productive) to see the Right express that disagreement in a more dignified and respectful manner than has often been the case on the Left.
But express it we should: civilly, dispassionately, and without resorting to cheap personal attacks or the kind of rabid emotionalism that alienated and outraged us for the last 8 years.
Summary-
You're right, indeed. Rush Limbaugh knows well about polarized targets. This in no way excuses the President of the United States following suit, however. And if such a group of fixed-wing individuals as Right Wing News speaks of a necessity for calm, dispassionate oration, what does it say for those other worthies that find such a level of discussion unacceptable?