The troubled, choleric, and unintentionally comic Robert Stacy McCain is of the opinion that a man who tells a woman with whom he disagrees about politics that her husband ought to blow his brains out is just the kind of gonzo-macho that does conservatism proud. Keep on lovin' life inside the bubble, guy. If Levin is as smart as his admirers say, then he is doing himself a terrible disservice by carrying on like this on the radio (N.B. a church friend who is an admirer of Levin, and tells me that he's really a brilliant guy that I ought not to dismiss so readily, conceded that the talk radio format does not play to his strengths).
As long as people think that Mark Levin, and splenetic remoras like R.S. McCain, are what conservatism is, we'll remain in the minority for a long, long time. Think about what WFB would say about Levin's rhetoric. I bet he'd be embarrassed by the low-class shlock of it all. Yet Levin is the Pasionaria of Planet Robert Stacy McCain. The even funnier thing about RSM's puerile rant is his judgment, noted by Conor, that Levin is a manly man, versus weenies like me and David Frum, because Levin possesses the audacity that "Ordinary Americans" admire.
Really? Are people actually likely to have their minds changed by this kind of thing? "My goodness, Helen, that Levin fellow just told an Obama supporter that her husband ought to put a bullet in his brain. Brilliant! Maybe I should give conservatism a second look." Maybe the circles I move in are too churchy and/or educated, but most people I know find that obnoxious talk-radio shtick to be a sign of low class. It's something many of us are prone to, and when you have the opportunity to spout off without going through an editor first, you can't help but say things you regret, as I have done many times on this blog. But I appreciate being called on it by you readers, because while I appreciate that political and cultural debate is not a prim, proper undertaking, there are lines of respect (and self-respect) that ought not to be crossed. When I cross them, you tell me, and I appreciate that.
Anyway, I know folks who probably agree with every single thing Levin believes in, in terms of principles, but who would think him a boor. If you have to descend to the level of trash-talking vulgarian to prove your bona fides with the Common Man, then fine, in the aristocracy of character, I'll keep working toward being an elitist. It is hard to imagine the conservatives I admire the most, and wish to emulate -- men like Wendell Berry and Russell Kirk -- being very impressed with Mark Levin's crude shtick. Or Robert Stacy McCain's, whose perpetual blunderbuss brings to mind the inner life of a failed oyster: a constant irritation, with no resulting pearl.
(I stole that oyster dig from Truman Capote, but boy, does it ever apply here!)
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"Why are conservatives opposed to the local food growing and consuming that Rod supports"
In many cases a local area really can't produce the variety or cheapness of food many would need. Try getting any citrus local when you live in Minnesota. (Okay there's greenhouses, but it's probably not enough)
Likewise when you're very poor, and I know this from my early childhood, places like Wal-Mart or Aldi's can be a blessing. We wanted to have enough money to not depend on those things, and we haven't for years, but it was good they were there when we needed them.
When you're actually living the "authentic" life of rustic poor folks in Arkansas mountains I don't think it's that easy to be as particular. We ate at a local donut shop, chopped wood, killed snakes, and got water from a well. We did mock Wal-Mart "fall aparts" and our toys were made by Dad or given by friends. There was much of it that really was spiritual and good. However we were also quite happy when we could go to Pizza Hut or get groceries from a chain store. That we would have a day independent of homegrown berries and the neighbors chickens or whatever.
On a different matter my sister lives in Japan and tells me the dentistry there is awful. Not to the point it kills you, but just very unpleasant.
On a different matter my sister lives in Japan and tells me the dentistry there is awful. Not to the point it kills you, but just very unpleasant.
Interesting. Cultures differ, huh.
The Dutch pretty much don't believe in pain control. ("Man up and stop complaining.") So for pain control after major surgery, what you get is ibuprofen. This isn't economic, it's philosophical. And I think, barbaric, but I'm an American.
Just an observation: I was thinking recently that talk radio and the blogosphere give an opportunity to many conservatives, liberals, leftists and rightists to "blow off steam."
The real problem to me is when healthy venting turns to actual hate-mongering. For instance, I read that Ann Coulter didn't become so vituperative in her criticisms of liberals until after 9-11 when one of her best friends died on the plane that hit the Pentagon. There is a point at which refreshingly blunt commentary, whether from liberals or conservatives, becomes over-the-top and out-of-bounds. The problem, of course, is where to draw the line.
I seem to recall her on "Politically Incorrect" in the 1990s and I remember her as being more reasonable back then, but I've seen both fans and critics disagree with that assessment.
Re Coulter, she, like Levin, learned that moderation doesn't sell books or lead to appearances. Notoriety does. No she goes for broke with over-the-top psychosis. Pure cynicism, though given the state of things, I don't know if I'd do it any differently. Quite simply, the world wants to be left alone, and no one wants or appreciates authentic goodwill or rationality. People are clamoring, however, to b swindled out of their money and laughed at. Nothing wrong with giving people what they want.
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