Conservative Talkers and John McCain

[robbbc]

I was just thinking that there is anther way to look at this. What if these popular talk hosts were not attacking John McCain? My guess is that McCain would be winning in landslides, much greater than his relativeley narrow victories (and in several cases loses) and the 33% or so of the vote he has been getting.

Most voters are uninformed. They don't really think much about politics in their daily life. Because of his name recognition, I would say it's the natural order of things for McCain to do well, especially with the MSM pushing him. Many voters who consider themselves conservative probably just assumed ol' Mac was one of them, especially considering his military background (which is the one issue where he is conservative).

My guess is it will be closer than predicted on Super Tuesday. The word is getting out to the uninformed conservatives that McCain is a RINO. He might win on Tuesday, but the margin of victory would be much larger if he had the approval of the talk hosts. So I would say they DO have influence.

I think we all have heard this before, i.e if it wasn't for a newspaper endorsement, personal endorsement, et cetera the candidate would have lost by more. But there are no statistics backing this up so it is just unsubstantiated opinion. My opinion: Although McCain has been a media darling of the left, his getting the support of the right wing Union-Leader truly put him back in the mix. The Boston Herald, the newspaper of New England's working-class right wing, also threw him an endorsement. That explains his rise from the dead more than anything Rush or Howie could do.

I also hold that it is precisely because many rank and file Republicans feel that McCain can beat the eventual democratic nominee (bringing in moderates) that a win with McCain is worth the risk. In the end McCain's handlers will push him to the right and his RINO positions will be significantly diminished. It is a practical and stategic approach to voting, if not very satisfying. Romney is as slippery as a snake and is the only alternative.

What this could mean for Rush et al is that they can rail on McCain, like they couldn't on Bush, because they never endorsed him. That inoculates them from McCain's eventual agreement with democrats over a host of issues that will make republicans scream. McCain will endorse a global warming agreement, amnesty for Illegal Immigrants, Stem cell research, the list goes on and on. If Rush endorsed McCain he wouldn't be able to take him to task when he is eventually president (which I am beginning to feel will be the case). I wouldn't be suprised if some form of Health Care reform comes out of the administration as well. Bush hurt conservative talk radio because they had to cary water for the administration (until Illegal Immigration reared its ugly head). It took years before they could develop a principled opposition to the administration. They are making sure that doesn't happen again.

 

[R.D.P.]

Thakns for shedding more light on Mr. "Windchaser" McCain.  It's for those reasons and countless others I'm not voting for him.

Thank God that Rush is also shedding light on that fellow.  I'm glad he's helping me to see the light on McCain and why I need to avoid him.

As a matter of fact, I'm not impressed with any of the people running.  Unless someome comes along, that excites me,  I may not even vote at all.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. Windchaser (adj.) Doing what the wind tells you to do.  Example: If the wind tells Mr. McCain to be liberal, then he'll be one and vise versa for Conservative.  Just because McCain is a Republican, that doesn't mean I'll vote for him.  I'm not biting my tounge, ditching my core beliefs and help put a liberal into the Oval Office.  I have no intentions of doing it.   

 

[jimwalsh2001]

As a matter of fact, I'm not impressed with any of the people running. Unless someome comes along, that excites me, I may not even vote at all.

I haven't voted for years and I don't miss it a bit.

McCain is not a liberal. he's not a conservative. He's not anything except a pure politician. He's about as much a "maverick" as Nixon...

 

[SeanMGilbow]

Thakns for shedding more light on Mr. "Windchaser" McCain. It's for those reasons and countless others I'm not voting for him.

Thank God that Rush is also shedding light on that fellow. I'm glad he's helping me to see the light on McCain and why I need to avoid him.

As a matter of fact, I'm not impressed with any of the people running. Unless someome comes along, that excites me, I may not even vote at all.

R.D.P. <><

P.S. Windchaser (adj.) Doing what the wind tells you to do. Example: If the wind tells Mr. McCain to be liberal, then he'll be one and vise versa for Conservative. Just because McCain is a Republican, that doesn't mean I'll vote for him. I'm not biting my tounge, ditching my core beliefs and help put a liberal into the Oval Office. I have no intentions of doing it.

And that's exactly what we're counting on you doing, now that McCain has a huge lead after Super Tuesday. ;D

 

[KeithE4]

Thank God that Rush is also shedding light on that fellow. I'm glad he's helping me to see the light on McCain and why I need to avoid him.

The best thing that can happen to Rush Limbaugh would be for McCain, Obama, or (especially) Hillary to be elected. A liberal or moderate in the White House will make him relevant again.

His career didn't really take off until Bill Clinton was elected. He was a rising star (and the #1 syndicated talker almost by default) during the Daddy Bush era but he was considered by many to be just a party hack who sucked up to Bush (even when he didn't on some issues), not a true conservative gadfly like he's been since 1992. Despite his bombast, I don't really consider Rush to be a hard-core Republican Party-right-or-wrong guy anymore.

The Clintons made Limbaugh what he is today. In fact, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Limbaugh was a closet Hillary backer. He may be a doctrinaire conservative, but he knows where his bread and butter is, and that's being the opposition to the Clintons. He did much better radio in 1998 than he's doing in 2008.

 

[del_griffith]

Rush will claim he made inroads in stopping McCain. Nothing could be further from the truth. The results are what they would have been with or without him.

 

[cflmusiclover]

They're all full of crap. And, these primaries are proving this true.

It'll be a startling bit of news for Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly and that crowd to realize they have little if any influence on Americans anymore. I think more & more people are seeing through the facade that it is THEY THE PEOPLE who decide what's right for America, not a bunch of hot-air, ego-driven, heavy handed talk show hosts. I actually heard one make the statement yesterday that "go ahead, vote for McCain-you'll destroy the Republican party, Hillary or Obama will get elected and the islamic jihadists will be knocking on our door". No kidding.). They do not dictate who Americans *should* want- AMERICANS say who they *do* want and right now they're screaming "we're tired of the far right wing nut jobs dividing this country".

This McCain dynamic is proof of it and so is the immigration issue (which exit polls indicate is not among the top 4 reasons for voting for anybody). The funny thing is while they bluster on about "real conservatism", they're effectively blowing up the party that brought conservatism to the forefront in the eighties. Ronald Reagan must be rolling in his grave right now.

And, many in our great nation are loving every minute of this.

 

[MikefromDelaware]

Jim, I agree with you that some topical talk would be a great change from the constant drum beat of political talk be it right wing or left wing. Besides the article you highlighted there was another interesting article in the ling of the Philly newspaper you provided. Apparently some pharmacuticals produced in Puerto Rico are tainted. This could bring up discussions on foreign medicines and are they made to the same standards as American meds, also food produced overseas (grapes from Chile, tomatos, and other vegies from Mexico, other foods from China, etc). Given the problems of finding lead paint in children's toys produced in China, how safe is our food that comes from China and other third world nations? Also did the Food and Drug Administration ever make some mandiatory rules for cleanliness for spinach and lettuce producers especially those in the San Celinous (sp) Valley?

 

[willcail]

I find it funny that they want another Reagan. This is the same Reagan that raises taxes on the middle class 11 times and give a free pass to illegals. Time for the regressive to get with the program.

 

[del_griffith]

Unfortunately, Reagan wouldn't survive the primary scrutiny with his record among the hard core conservative and the so-cons. And I'm a huge Reagan fan.

I've never seen such a group of people who are such tantrum throwers. It's like a bunch of three year olds.

There are a lot of times that I have to make choices among the candidates and use my gray matter because the ones on the ballot don't align with exactly what I was looking for. I think that's why God gave us brains and the ability to discern.

The "conservatives" and so-cons have a bigger worry than McCain. If they sit out and McCain still is elected, then every non perfect candidate, especially in a competitive district or state, will know they can ignore that faction of the party because McCain prevailed. They will marginalize themselves for years to come. Their power will be exposed as perceptional instead of real.

The Wizard of Oz had a lot of power until they saw the man behind the curtain. So-Cons and conservatives sit out, and they too may be exposed as the people behind the curtain.

 

[mred]

It looks like their have been a lot of changes among talk show hosts, first from Hunter, Thompson, etc. to Romgeekny, then to MCCAIN. I think MCCAIN shares the same Geezer demo with Rush and the Hanniclones.

 

[cflmusiclover]

I do think it's interesting that it appears that the average republican, and yes even many conservatives, are no longer being motivated and inspired by the Jaw Bone Media. And frankly, the term Jaw Bone Media handle fits boths sides of the political aisle. Jaw Bone Media = a lot of yack and little results.

But regarding conservative hosts, there was a time, especially with Rush, that when he spoke the masses would respond. This is particularly interesting looking at Rush in general and consevative talkers as a whole, since they were often cited for their ability to do just that; motivate, mobilize and chart a course for the right leaning masses.

I think the shift comes from a variety of factors. One being that most major talkers are now on heritage stations. Heritage stations are the stations that seldom get punched or dialed off. So much so they've almost become background with the exception of the news/traffic elements. The shows themselves have almost become passive noise in the background. When Rush first started, people had to listen to rim shots and distant stations to hear him. They searched him out. They no longer have to do that as his popularity grew and he located on the blow torch stations.

To a point, some of major hosts lost some credibility and standing during the Bush administration when they were left playing defense instead of offense. Especially after so many promises of wait til we get the legislative and the executive and watch what happens. Being on the offense is always more fun than being on the defense and makes for better talk radio. I've heard more than one host lose their bravado when talking about the President or when the congress was in republican hands. Yes, as they are so fond of pointing out, especially in the last few days, that they have been critical, it wasn't with the biting commentary and comedic bits that had been reserved for and used so effectively against liberals and democrats.

To a point, the hosts also lost some credibility in the 06 elections when they largely put forth the house AND senate would not change hands. This missed that one by a wide mile. It became an issue about being more in touch with their K Street sources than with their listeners on the street.

The Salem guys suffer the same fate as the Air America guys. First they aren't always sought out and secondly they are on to many second and third tier stations to effectively compete and be heard.

good points. I think their biggest problem is they rode the Bush wave into power then got too full of themselves, kind of taking on the president's "you're either with us or your against us" mantra about everything and now it's caught up to them and is taking huge chunks out of their a$$es. Most reasonable Americans now see through it all, having been suckered into believing much that ended up not true over the past 7 years or so. It got really bad during the '06 midterms when, after losing power in the House and Senate, Rush went on the air and admitted to lying to his listeners, saying he'd been "carrying conservatives' water and he was over it" (paraphrasing). And, now, despite the constant anti-McCain venom and shilling for Rudy or Mitt, Republican voters have taken a "screw you" attitude toward their conservative talkers and voted with their own minds.

In the end, all of these people are nothing more than agenda-driven, egotistical entertainers, making huge money at their audience's expense.

 

[Nate Wesley]

And that's exactly what we're counting on you doing, now that McCain has a huge lead after Super Tuesday. ;D

Shhhh!!!!! Ms. Streisand told us to keep this on the hush!

 

[willcail]

Didn't Druggie Limbaugh lost about 2 to 3 million listeners?

 

[David67]

Conservative media hosts like Rush Limbaugh are bashing John McCain more than they are bashing Hillary Clinton. But Republican voters aren't accepting the my way or the highway attitude from the rightees.

WGSO, New Orleans, radio talk host Jeff Crouere says Republicans aren't taking marching orders from people like Rush Limbaugh, per this article:
Can John McCain Sustain Conservative Attacks?
http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/US/Po...McCain_Sustain_Conservative_Attacks__5736.asp

Another article, this one from themoderatevoice.com:
McCain Wins Florida But Must Battle Conservative Talk Radio
http://themoderatevoice.com/politic...y-but-now-must-battle-conservative-talk-radio

I agree with the Talk hosts like Limbaugh on John McCain! John McCain is on the John Dewey and Gerald Ford Liberal side of the Republican Party. I'm a Conservative Republican and I'll be staying home on Election Day. I think the Republicans will have to go wondering through the the desert to discover what won them Elections(Conservatism),just like they had to from 1976-1980 and 1992-2000.

 

[FreddyE1977]

I do think it's interesting that it appears that the average republican, and yes even many conservatives, are no longer being motivated and inspired by the Jaw Bone Media.

You should ask Sen. McCain about that. Conservative talkers certainly sent his Immigration Bill down in
flames and sent him running for cover, and that was only a few months ago. I think what you are seeing
is not a waning of influence but an intense malaise over any candidate who is remaining in this race.
I would not doubt their ability to recreate the Immigration bill showdown if given proper motivation.
If McCain becomes President it will be happening once every 6-8 weeks. More if it's Hillary.

 

[robbbc]

I do think it's interesting that it appears that the average republican, and yes even many conservatives, are no longer being motivated and inspired by the Jaw Bone Media.

You should ask Sen. McCain about that. Conservative talkers certainly sent his Immigration Bill down in
flames and sent him running for cover, and that was only a few months ago. I think what you are seeing
is not a waning of influence but an intense malaise over any candidate who is remaining in this race.
I would not doubt their ability to recreate the Immigration bill showdown if given proper motivation.
If McCain becomes President it will be happening once every 6-8 weeks. More if it's Hillary.

But this time, they won't matter. I read the republican rags out there and they are already going to town with "let's be realistic" about immigration talk. Now that politicians see that it is not a decisive issue (Hell, republicans should know that by now, they did nothing substantial about immigration while in power and it had nothing to do with their getting kicked out) they will just poo-poo the talkers and say that we have to make "Hard", "reality-based" decisions. The language is already getting out into the ether now. People who are opposed to illegal immigration need to "grow-up" and "face facts". Another tack is saying "who do you trust more to fix it, Republicans or Democrats?" 20 Million more Americans may be voting in 2016. Better start pandering.

 

[justareporter]

I just love it when I read that so-called conservative republicans are going to stay hom eon election day. So much for that civic responsibility thing.

 

[cm454]

I don't know why people think talkradio has so much influence on voters. MOST people DO NOT even listen to much talkradio. Granted, a higher percentage of talk listeners do vote, but still, the majority of voters don't even hear these hosts who think they're so influencial.

When will it occur to talk programmers that hosts who talk about a variety of issues will appeal to a much greater audience potentially. Talk radio has been turned into an exclusive club of mostly conservatives.

At a time when the format should be offering NORMAL discussion---not adhering to ideological agendas, they cater to the fringe. Yes, I know---if that fringe constitutes a 5 shre, than great. But this DOES NOT bode well for the future, especially with so many audio choices now available.

Rush became a star because he was politcally incorrect AND an entertainer.

That has been confused with "success because of ideology".

And then the unoriginal, copycat programmers decided to flood the market.

 

[del_griffith]

I agree with the Talk hosts like Limbaugh on John McCain! John McCain is on the John Dewey and Gerald Ford Liberal side of the Republican Party. I'm a Conservative Republican and I'll be staying home on Election Day.

Here's the danger you are running. Conservatives and social conservatives have a perception of having a lot of weight in making sure someone is a winner. If you and your peers sit on your hands this election or come out and vote but not the top of the ticket and McCain still wins, every republican operative will now that your power is now fluff. Those operatives aren't really keen on you guys anyhow because you folks don't like to play nice. Your note above sort of proves that.

Now I think McCain wins, maybe narrowly, but he wins.

The Wizard of Oz had the people fooled until the curtain was pulled and the man behind it was exposed. I believe something similar is going to happen this election. The Jaw Bone Media, the movers within the social conservative movement and those who believe similarly could very well be exposing their fleshy soft spots by sitting out.