Yes, Virginia, There Is a Reasonable & Logical Conservative on Talk Radio

There is something very frightening about a segment of society when they begin to see men and women of thought – intellectuals – as the enemy.  There is this strange and mythical battle of the “elites” verses “country” people.  It is just plain weird, considering that the so called “country” people are the ones who have taken respect for our Founding Fathers into a religion.

It is truly odd because men like Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin were towering intellectuals – men of thought, logic, and reason.  The great irony is Michael Medved is the type of intellectual they would embrace, while eschewing the likes of Limbaugh, Ingraham, Hannity, and their ilk.  In fact, the 1776 version of the far right talking heads – Thomas Paine – was shunned by the Founders.  He was immensely disliked because of his lack of intellect (among other things).

Michael Medved is probably the most reasonable and logical conservative talk show host on the radio today.  He is rational. He makes sense.  He does not give in to the slings and arrows of gloom and doom.  I also like the fact that he thinks through things and is unwilling to wax hysterical over Obama.

The Pink Flamingo sees something else in his commentary.  Medved has spent the past two years trying to maintain an equilibrium of rational behavior.  While others are running around, screaming and shouting, waiting for the sky to fall, Medved is the voice of reason.  Consequently, when Peter Wilson attempts to rationalize the sky is falling agenda at American Thinker, the usual suspects come out to damn Medved the way they do anyone who tries to rise above the stupidity and end is near drama of the far right.

It is amazing how the nasties attack him for saying something of which they disagree.  Naturally, we soon discover that Glenn Beck is the font of all knowledge and Medved is intellectual liberal.  This bunch truly detests anyone who is “intellectual”, primarily because Rush Limbaugh is now slamming intellectuals.

American Thinker

Do you know what the definition of “intellectual” is?

An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence (thought and reason) and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.

In  WSJ Medved wrote:

“…Some conservative commentators may feel inclined to spend Presidents Day ruminating over Barack Obama’s evil intentions, or denouncing the chief executive as an alien interloper and ideologue perversely determined to damage the republic. Instead, they should consider the history of John Adams’s White House prayer and develop a more effective focus for their criticism.

On Nov. 2, 1800, a day after he became the first president to occupy the newly constructed executive mansion, Adams wrote to his wife Abigail: “I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.”…

…In terms of wisdom, some of Adams’s successors who “ruled” under the White House roof most certainly fell short. James Buchanan comes to mind—or Jimmy Carter….On his radio show last July 2, the most influential conservative commentator of them all reaffirmed his frequent charge that the president seeks economic suffering “on purpose.” Rush Limbaugh explained: “I think we face something we’ve never faced before in the country—and that is, we’re now governed by people who do not like the country.” In his view, this hostility to the United States relates to a grudge connected to Mr. Obama’s black identity. “There’s no question that payback is what this administration is all about, presiding over the decline of the United States of America, and doing so happily.”

Regardless of the questionable pop psychology of this analysis, as a political strategy it qualifies as almost perfectly imbecilic. Republicans already face a formidable challenge in convincing a closely divided electorate that the president pursues wrong-headed policies. They will never succeed in arguing that those initiatives have been cunningly and purposefully designed to wound the republic. In Mr. Obama’s case, it’s particularly unhelpful to focus on alleged bad intentions and rotten character when every survey shows more favorable views of his personality than his policies….”

And so Michael Medved is guilty of the unpardonable sin.  He does not think Barack Obama is a commie plant.  He thinks Birthers are loony.  He believes hard-line anti-immigration reformers are going to destroy any outreach to the Hispanic community and doom the GOP.  Neither does he think Obama is deliberately trying to destroy the country.

Neither does The Pink Flamingo.  I see Barack Obama as an empty suit.  Perhaps the anti-intellectuals are wiser than I, more worldly.  Then again, The Pink Flamingo realizes that the candidates supported by the anti-intellectual bunch – Rand Paul and the likes of Christine O’Donnell are nothing but empty suits, also.

As disconcerting this stream of anti-intellectualism is, even more alarming is the distinct strain of Antisemitism  that flows through the comments at American Thinker.  Evidently, because Michael Medved is Jewish, he is not quite a real conservative.

“...Keep in mind that Medved is Jewish, and he has a brother who lives in Israel. At some point I expect Medved to make a right turn.  He is a very bright guy, with an impressive recall of facts, but his views must drive his friends in Israel crazy…”

The very real problem is that there is a serious Antisemitic strain within the anti-intellectual “country” people.  I find it very very.