Media Matters' Frisch on DC 50's Weekend News with Chris Core
March 08, 2009 6:23 pm ET
This weekend, Karl Frisch, a senior fellow at Media Matters for America, appeared on DC 50's Weekend News with Chris Core in Washington, D.C. Frisch was paired up against Jason Mattera from Young America's Foundation for a discussion about Rush Limbaugh's influence within the conservative movement. Watch the segment below and feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts.
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I don't think that Limbaugh's past "I'm not carrying their water anymore" statements were a gut-check. I think that it was his way of puffing himself up by implying that they f-ed up by not taking his brilliant advice.
And on another note, Jason Mattera is going to give himself an aneurysm. This was a perfect example of letting a wingnut blather on until he hangs himself with his own words. The whole "I don't care about race/Wing Wang Wong" is an instant classic of right wing racism.
SLOW. DOWN.
I know you only have minutes on the hour to discuss things, but SLOW DOWN.
No wonder Rush owns the GOP. He has all the time in the world to speak.
Karl was excellent,
Jason? Less is more.
Jason managed to spew a few unanswered talking points. Dug himself a few holes too.
Karl did well within the constraints of the show and showed a even keel throughout.
Very good Karl. This kind of thing requires a personable style, humor even, or else it comes off harsh, hostile, and alienating (alienating the listeners). I regularly watch the activity on both the House and Senate floors, and Committee hearings too, and truly I think Karl would grade out in the top 5% of those many professional debaters in Congress, for the reason of keeping an affable persona, and even being humorous, while debating and discussing Public Policy: too many Democrats in Congress adopt a speaking style too clinical and droning, where the patient (the listener) would prefer a much more human (even humorous) bedside manner. By the way, Rep. Frank (D-MA) is the standard in these things, always maintaining a personable manner, and staying affable and even humorous, without descending to harsh words and acid indigestion.
Very good Karl.
Q. What exactly is the National Policy of the Republican Party at present, and who is making that Policy?
That's a far better question than asking "is rush the head of the GOP?"
Because the rush question is answered in just an idiotic yes or no, but the other question begs a discussion of the very Public Policy we seek, and then invites us to become acquainted with whatever Republican Party members there are today, advancing that Policy... which to me, it seems like the answer is presently "there is no sensible National Public Policy being advanced by the Republican Party today, and so there is no one who can be said to be making it"...
Which describes the vacuum that rush limbaugh is filling.
And if "conservatism" is truly a National Public Policy, and can be stated sensibly to the American People, then I say state it in introducing a new political party, the Conservative Party, and then stand on that ticket before the American People, and petition them for the Offices of U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator and President of the United States...
But be prepared to be shut out of those Offices on such a ticket, as the American People have shut out the GOP: because there is no discernable difference between the two right now (between "conservatism" and Republicans) despite the imagined differences these characters claim...
If there were a difference to be made, then they'd make it wouldn't they? And in making that difference, they'd then be promoting a National ("conservative") Public Policy wouldn't they? And in so doing they'd capture seats in Congress and stand poised for the Presidency, wouldn't they?
But none of these things are happening, because there is no real difference: and just as Republicans are on the sidelines, shut out of politcal power by the American People, so aren't "conservatives" too, right?
Right: a Republican by any other name, smells just as foul to the American People right now...
Witness the electoral results, and point to "conservative" political power if you can...
You cannot. You can only point to rush limbaugh, and as Karl pointed out, he was made an "Honorary Member of Congress" by Republicans, because he is one of their own...
And they are on the sidelines, aren't they, put there by the American People who have shut them out of political power: right?