As I've mentioned numerous times....I'm a conservative talk radio person....and a radio person in general....so my comments here are at least those from one of the original generation.....not the literal generation from the beginning of radio but that of this modern era. I've always thought it interesting in that it is possible that both of my grandfathers.....may....have been present in the Westingouse Electric building on the Turtle Creek/East Pittsburgh site on election day 1920....as a transmitter was set up on the roof which was the 'first commercial broadcast' on radio.....this as both men worked the machine floor for Westinghouse at that time.
These are my observations....Rush Limbaugh may have....may have made a comment or two in the beginning of Donald Trump's term....that would not have been considered critical as much as advisory....but since then has not only defended everything President Trump has done and said....but went beyond that to label it often as "genius."
Sean Hannity showed a little concern on Trump at the beginning but quickly came in line with Trump's reelection campaign....which began the day he first took office. As for Mark Levin it took a while as he was outright critical in those first days on the more egregious Trump decisions....but there came a day....and I was listening in at the time.....when he more or less said that the had changed his mind....and would from then on take the president's side. Interestingly....just yesterday....October 28th....Hannity mentioned on his show....a little sheepishly....that it took a while for Mark Levin....his good friend....to come around.
I distinctly remember the day in August of 2016 when as I was in line for my breakfast order at the McDonald's drive-through....that Steve Bannon did not appear on his 6 am show....and we would later find out that he was appointed chief executive of Donald Trump's campaign. I knew that day that Trump would then win that election.....because Bannon was exceptional in conveying ideas....right up there with Limbaugh.....which means the very top of the top....but Bannon took opposing opinions every day on his radio program.....often coming back with the line....said very respectfully...."here's a fast ball comin' at you."
All of that genuine back and forth of talk radio opinion is long gone....all of it except for maybe a rarely chosen caller picked by an expert screen caller who thought it would be a good one for the host to handle. We on our side have always talked about free speech.....but as we became followers of Donald Trump....that concept went out the window....and formerly conservative talk radio....then became pure indoctrination.
So here is the situation today....the listener....who used to be involved in a beneficial intellectual back and forth....has now been consigned to being a mere plebe in this new Trump Party army. Limbaugh is the leader of argument....and he is still the best at it....as Hannity then on his three hours takes the listener to school with rote memorization training......and this is followed by Mark Levin who is the prefect of discipline who verbally slaps with the ruler those who in effect do not keep their mouth shut in class. Breitbart is the fourth major player today....and they begin and end our days....with only that selective information that is trump-positive....none of that which rightfully condemns Trump....thus skewing the factual basis of beliefs we once held.
Rush's Institute For Advanced Conservative Studies is no longer.....replaced by the Ministry Of Propaganda.....'propaganda' here the third definition from Merriam-Webster...."ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause."
As bad as this now is....it may get worse.....I hope not. Rush made these comments on his show yeaterday....this from his website but I was listening in at the time and winced. To set the stage....he was commenting on the riots in Philadelphia...."Now I think after the election....(and that's what bothers me folks...."after the election"....when Trump would be free to do what he wants)....if Trump wins. I think he's gonna hammer this stuff really hard and try to shut it down.....You know a second term, by definition, is a lame duck term. It's filled with opportunities and penalties at the same itme. But I think we're getting close to the point-we've got Club Gitmo down there. We got Guantanamo Bay. But if we're gonna have a bunch of domestic terrorism, then let's capture these people and send them down there and put them in jail. Enough of this.....and if local law enforcement is not gonna do it.....then other steps and other measures need to be taken...." I always wince when I hear comments like this....without the mention of the judicial process....charges....defense lawyers....due process....and juries.
