McCain Winning, Limbaugh Pouting

Why, oh why, are the Republicans turning on their own? Nothing is worse to see than Republican-on-Republican violence. Rush Limbaugh is snarling at John McCain like a cannibalistic savage who hasn't had a decent meal in weeks.

John McCain is not at all liked by the conservative media commentators of America. They have more vitriol and invective for him than they do for the person they usually love to hate, Hilary Clinton.

Why all the hatred for the Arizona senator? Is is because he has the audacity to think for himself? Is it because he dares to not always toe the party line like a political Pavlov dog? Is it because, like the pols of old, he occasionally reaches across party lines to get something accomplished? How dare he do that, just to help get something done for the American public. Helping the average American is not what it's about, you know, not for these Republicans, and sadly, not always for modern Democrats either. It's about power, and keeping it, not about what's right.

This moderate Republican McCain is actually winning too. How pissed off that must make the conservative pundits, Limbaugh especially, he of the giant ego. Who are these Republican primary voters, to not do exactly as he tells them? "You people, you know who you are, you need to listen to me. Mark my words, McCain is evil, Romney is good. I will do your thinking for you. I am the Right, I am the Way."

I'm not sure why the conservative media loves Mitt Romney so much. He certainly didn't always hold their conservative views, and turned to these views only when he deemed it politically helpful. This is the man who brought comprehensive mandatory health care to Massachusetts while governor. That sounds pretty Clinton-like to me. Is it the hair? The commentators may like Romney and his Ronald Reagan Brand Hair Helmet, but voters seem pretty turned off by this guy.

I actually saw Glen Beck on CNN say he would vote for Hilary Clinton rather than McCain, then wait two years while Hilary screws up America and Republicans are returned to power in the 2010 Congressional elections. Apparently that's what other conservative talking heads are telling their audiences as well. That's making a lot of assumptions there. That's assuming Hilary will be the nominee. That's assuming there won't be a major third party candidate (think another New York mayor) to really make things interesting. That's assuming a Democrat is elected president. That's assuming the possible Democrat in the White House will screw things up badly enough for voters to want to bring back the Republicans to Congress. That's an awful lot of assuming, and you know what happens when you assume.

What these commentators don't understand, what they don't seem to be able to see happening before their very eyes, is that your audience is not necessarily going to vote the way you want them to. The people who watch you on TV, listen to your radio show, or read your column may actually make up their own minds. How else to explain the fact that for all their nasty, disparaging words for McCain, he is being voted for. Rush Limbaugh may have twenty million listeners, but that does not, obviously, translate into votes. The Big L doesn't grasp the possibility that he may have a lot of listeners tuning in every day not because they love him and treasure every bit of wisdom emanating from his cigar-hole, but rather they listen because they disagree with him, and merely want to keep tabs on the Big Fella. Some people, myslef included on occasion, just need to hear something to get angry about. And it keeps us honest. When you know exactly what your enemy is saying, you know better how to formulate an argument against him. And of course, many may adore him, yet not share his opinions on the candidates.

The voters are thinking for themselves, despite what Limbaugh tells them. How that must rankle him. Thank you, America.