A long time ago I had a brief email discussion with the then host of USS Clueless, Steven Den Beste. His writing on the subject of politics has been superlative and my question to him was essentially: Given that we have you, Bill Whittle, Victor Davis Hanson, et al… who is there on the other side? Who is your opposite number?
A couple rounds of email of head shaking and shrugging left me frustrated. There must be a simple voice of reason who doesn’t get all frothy with ‘chimpy mcbushitler’ and evil genius and puppetmaster Karl Rove talk, someone who can talk about the liberal perspective while seeing it’s proponents for what they are. Someone with whom I DISAGREE, but can still enjoy reading.
Well readers, that conversation is now six (or perhaps seven) years old and I’d all but given up the search. Until I realized that right under my nose is someone I’ve been reading for some time, who sometimes makes me wince but at least I can get through it. And while I disagree with her on something close to everything, it’s not because she’s an idiot ;)
A rocky first few weeks
Speaking of talk radio (which I listen to constantly), I remain incredulous that any Democrat who professes liberal values would give a moment’s thought to supporting a return of the Fairness Doctrine to muzzle conservative shows. (My latest manifesto on this subject appeared in my last column.) The failure of liberals to master the vibrant medium of talk radio remains puzzling. To reach the radio audience (whether the topic is sports, politics or car repair), a host must have populist instincts and use the robust common voice. Too many Democrats have become arrogant elitists, speaking down in snide, condescending tones toward tradition-minded middle Americans whom they stereotype as rubes and buffoons. But the bottom line is that government surveillance of the ideological content of talk radio is a shocking first step toward totalitarianism.
