A new Conservative talking head has emerged from the pack of barking dog commentators that maintain common Republican delusions. Rush Limbaugh recently lost his alpha male status along with the majority of his sponsors over the Sandra Fluke incident and Mike Huckabee is set to lead the pack.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has created his own radio talk show in the same time slot as Limbaugh’s show, which was recently dropped by its CBS affiliate WPHT Philadelphia. Limbaugh’s replacement, Michael Smerconish is said to be a more moderate pundit that won’t offend listener’s as much as Limbaugh did. Although, I always thought Rush was very polite and reasonable.
This change could be signaling a moderate Republican revival but with so many Christians in the party, revivals of any sort are bound to cause problems. The rise of the Evangelical Christian power base within the Republican Party has shunned moderate voices, even to the point of division. So let’s just say I’m not holding my breath.
Republicans clearly have an interest in projecting a more moderate image of the party going into this year’s elections, and I think it’s possible to do so without losing the Evangelical vote; after all, who else are they going to vote for? The trouble is, moderate Republicans seem to be quite rare – especially since the last Bush era. They’ve been drowned out by the loudest voices in the party pushing conservative social issues and Christian values, along with social and economic Darwinism of all things.
This uniquely contradictory political philosophy that emphasizes Christian moral teaching in the personal sphere, while expounding the virtues of objectivism in the public sphere, has been the hallmark of the Republican Party for decades. When a political party subscribes to such delusions, you can bet they are emotionally attached to their ideas and reason is no way out. However, given the current political climate and Mitt Romney’s all-but-certain nomination, we should start to hear more and more reasoned voices coming from Republican ranks, whether or not the party`s base likes it at all.
Huckabee for one, made his intentions clear on his first show, even if he had to force it down his listener’s ears. Mike was presumably unable to find an average republican listener to call in and pat him on the back, but that didn’t stop him. An executive from Cumulus Media Network (Mike McVay) who called himself “Mike from San Francisco” presented himself as the first call-in on Huckabee’s new show. Cumulus Media owns and operates The Mike Huckabee Show.
“Well Governor, let me start by saying it’s great to have a different opinion and a different person on the radio and I’m very, very happy that you’re doing this radio show,” McVay told Huckabee. “One of the reasons why I want to listen to your program every day is because you ran for office and you’ve been a politician, you have a different perspective I think.”
If this isn’t cautiously spoon feeding new listeners they’re new mantra, I have no fucking clue what it is. Huckabee could really only define himself as one who is NOT Rush Limbaugh. That means for now, Rush is still the measuring stick used to judge conservative radio pundits.
Republicans; I hope you can change things and lower the voices of your extremists a little. Just remember, you can’t polish or sugar coat a turd. Changing your public image means leaving Rush behind, even if the alternative has to prop himself up to be taken seriously. It’s like I always say, a loser is always better than someone that makes you look bad. Huckabee’s new show is one small step for mankind and a giant leap for Republicans. So try not to laugh at them; it’d be best to reward good behavior and congratulate republicans on taking a step towards civility.