THE GOP IS IN BIG TROUBLE, IF LIMBAUGH IS SUPPORTING DONALD TRUMP

…Caricature of Rush, the talk-show host

 

How is the non-conservative Trump getting so much GOP support?

 

I have never understood why a blowhard like Rush Limbaugh is still considered the most influential conservative political talk radio host in history.

 

Now that we are deep into the 2016 election season, Limbaugh is showing support for both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.  But he is now making his political support even more confusing.

 

If the Republican Party seems so divided today, for someone like Limbaugh that professes to be such a staunch conservative, how can he be supportive of the false conservative, Donald Trump?

 

Limbaugh continues to put Trump up as a legitimate choice for those Republicans that have it out for the “establishment GOP”.  Limbaugh even stood up for Trump as “an embattled public figure” when Trump disgustingly went after Arizona Senator John McCain calling him a false “war hero”.

 

Limbaugh continues to make excuses for Trump’s narcissism and his outward bluster as he calls it Trump’s “endearing schtick”.

 

On the radio, Limbaugh has more than once said that in regards to supporting Trump, “there’s a much bigger upside than a downside”.  As is usual with Limbaugh's statements, exactly what he means by “upside” is never fully explained.

 

According to other conservative pundits, the “upside” of Trump is for taking a political fight against the current failed and corrupt Republican political order. 

 

One conservative has put it as, “Limbaugh dismisses defenders of this Republican order as fundamentally being a self-interest. ‘Trump has put together a coalition that’s exactly what the Republican Party says that it needs to win, and yet, look at what they’re doing. They’re trying to get Trump out of the race, just because they’re the ones not in charge of it.’ Opposing Trump is the work of a cliquish, elitist club, preserving its influence and employment prospects.”

 

This criticism is sometimes expanded to both Limbaugh and all the so called “intelligent conservatives”. “I’m talking about the establishment,” says Limbaugh, “conservative media, the brainiacs, the think tanks, the professors.”

 

This self-educated radio talk host many times shows his disdain for those real conservatives that have earned their positions through hard work and study and those that are highly educated.

 

It must be noted how bizarre it appears that this is the same man that gained his reputation by arguing for ideological conservative purity.  Now, this great champion of conservatism has according to Yuval Levin, the editor of National Affairs, supported the rise of the “least conservative Republican presidential aspirant in living memory”.

 

As a so called conservative, Trump brags about his presidency having total rule instead of supporting a limited government.  This candidate praises a single-payer health system, proposes higher taxes on the wealthy, opposes entitlement reform and pushes for the total destruction of the conservative icon, Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy. As the conservative Michael Gerson wrote, “This is the politician Limbaugh has given the ideological hall-pass of a lifetime.”

 

After listening to the recent Trump interview with The Post’s editorial board, it basically showed that there is no “there” there. 

 

Not one of Trump’s ideas or proposals is based on any level of conservative ideology, Republican or otherwise. Trump responds to situations based on his own impulses and instincts. He does not develop his positions based reason or conservative principles.  His appeal does not remotely resemble anything close to conservatism.  This individual has no concept of a personal belief in a moral order, political prudence, or for allowing for any restraints on his personal power.

 

If anything, Trump is the epitome of an  anti-intellectual.  What I call a kind of male “Sarah Palin”.

 

For this non-conservative to have achieved the support from someone like a Rush Limbaugh, it seriously shows just how much trouble the Republican Party is in today.

 

Copyright G.Ater  2016