Erick Erickson's Blog, page 194
January 10, 2011
I'm going to make a political point now
For those still attacking Sarah Palin for daring to use the word "targets" and maps against Democrats, including Gabrielle Giffords, please note that the DLC and DCCC, the D is for "Democratic", also had maps with targets in earlier years. Likewise Markos Moulitsas of the Daily Kos targetted Gabrielle Giffords himself. The self-serving attack over the use of maps and the word "target" is both dumb and hypocritical.
But for those of us on the right, we have an obligation to be responsible on something else.
There have been a lot of false statements over the last twenty-four hours about Mr. Obama calling for a "Moment of Silence" instead of a "Moment of Prayer."
While he did call for a moment of silence instead of prayer, he followed up by saying, "It will be a time for us to come together as a nation in prayer or reflection, keeping the victims and their families closely at heart."
On September 11, 2001, George W. Bush, before leaving the elementary school in Florida, asked for a "moment of silence."
We should not be bashing this President for asking for one.
But I feel the need to make a political point here about why this President is getting bashed for his "moment of silence" when other Presidents, from Carter to Reagan to Bush to Clinton to Bush, did not.
He recently made people mad by quoting the Declaration of Independence and leaving out the bit about the Creator. During his inaugural address he mentioned atheists and subsequently proclaimed us not a Christian nation.
In yesterday's "moment of silence" he wanted prayer or reflection. Here's the problem — when conservatives push for school prayer and advocate for a "National Day of Prayer," they include "or reflection" to get around namby-pamby atheist objectors.
But the left uses it too. The left uses it to accommodate atheists.
President Obama's statement stands out because it is just another verbal telling that he's ideologically of the left. He already has problems with a public perception of him and his faith. That things like this keep coming up suggests the general public is right in their skepticism of the sincerity of his faith.
If you are on the left, you are seeing red right now. Everyone else is nodding slowly in agreement.
Morning Briefing for January 10, 2011
RedState Morning Briefing
For January 10, 2011
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
1. I'm going to make a political point now
2. Are RNC Committeemen Even Listening?
3. The Ends Justify the Means: The Day Emma Goldman Shot President McKinley
4. As sensible as Son of Sam
5. 100 Billion Dollar Backlash
6. The Myth of Joe Straus
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1. I'm going to make a political point now
For those still attacking Sarah Palin for daring to use the word "targets" and maps against Democrats, including Gabrielle Giffords, please note that the DLC and DCCC, the D is for "Democratic", also had maps with targets in earlier years. Likewise Markos Moulitsas of the Daily Kos targetted Gabrielle Giffords himself. The self-serving attack over the use of maps and the word "target" is both dumb and hypocritical.
But for those of us on the right, we have an obligation to be responsible on something else.
There have been a lot of false statements over the last twenty-four hours about Mr. Obama calling for a "Moment of Silence" instead of a "Moment of Prayer."
While he did call for a moment of silence instead of prayer, he followed up by saying, "It will be a time for us to come together as a nation in prayer or reflection, keeping the victims and their families closely at heart."
On September 11, 2001, George W. Bush, before leaving the elementary school in Florida, asked for a "moment of silence."
We should not be bashing this President for asking for one.
But I feel the need to make a political point here about why this President is getting bashed for his "moment of silence" when other Presidents, from Carter to Reagan to Bush to Clinton to Bush, did not.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. Are RNC Committeemen Even Listening?
I wonder if Republican Committeemen are even listening to the Republican grassroots. Or do they just think they know best? That's what they thought two years ago. They thought the RNC needed a black man as the face of the Republican Party to take on Barack Obama. They thought the consultants knew best.
Now look at where we are. Maybe, just maybe, if the Republican Committeemen listened to the grassroots for just a minute they'd be able to finally stop the revolt among the grassroots still so intent on doing end runs around the RNC.
If they listened to the grassroots before voting for Chairman of the Republican National Committee, I think they'd be surprised. They might learn some of the following.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. The Ends Justify the Means: The Day Emma Goldman Shot President McKinley
Normally, I don't like to stray too far from the topic of today's unions but, on Saturday, two horrific acts of evil took place in America that were both sad and infuriating:
The first, most heinous act, occurred when six people were slaughtered (including a federal judge and a nine-year old little girl born on 9/11/01) and multiple others that were gunned down in Tuscon, AZ.
The second atrocity occurred within minutes after the violence in Tucson, when the nation's hardcore Leftists and mainstream media tried—and failed—to convince America that Emma Goldman killed President William McKinley. By the logic of the Left, Emma Goldman, whose vitriolic rhetoric against the government, her opposition to Christianity, and general anarchist preachings was, from hundreds of miles away, somehow responsible for the death of President McKinley as surely as if her hand was on the gun and her finger pulled the trigger.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
4. As sensible as Son of Sam
Claiming that Arizona gunman Jared Loughner was motivated to kill by heated political rhetoric is about as sensible as believing the Son of Sam's assertion that he was motivated to kill by the barking of his neighbor Sam's dog. Son of Sam and Keith Olbermann see a link – perhaps even Loughner sees a link – but consider the source. The truth is people like Loughner kill because they are too mentally unbalanced and angry at society to be influenced by even normal considerations of self-preservation, no less by the tone of civil discourse.
Keith Olbermann, Sheriff Dupnik and the others trying to score political points by blaming political rhetoric are going down a very dangerous road both because it absolves violent killers of full responsibility for their actions and because it aims to silence the passions that are an important part of public debate.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
5. 100 Billion Dollar Backlash
"We will roll back government spending to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels, saving us at least $100 billion in the first year alone," plainly reads a section now under much scrutiny in the House Republican's 'A Pledge to America.' It was a section that was written by the now Majority Whip, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California's 22nd district.
Unfortunately an "aide" is credited with telling the media the figure will likely be $50 to $60 billion. This was the House GOP's first hit job and the media didn't even wait for the a committee hearing.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
6. The Myth of Joe Straus
As Erick noted, my fellow Texans have a clear, distinct choice as to who will be the Speaker of the Texas House coming up this Tuesday, January 11th. Let's be honest. There is a clear cut difference between Joe Straus and Ken Paxton. For more on that, check this site out.
In spite of all the ads he has bought on Drudge, NewsMax and other conservative sites, Joe Straus and the word "conservative" do not belong next to each other. Leftwing, progressive, liberal-yes. But conservative? Not a chance.
As a man whose family is deeply entrenched in the gambling industry, lauded by groups like NARAL, Planned Parenthood, who worked with his lieutenants to kill good immigration reform bills and a very good Voter ID bill this past session, Straus is as far left on a host of issues as Dick Durbin and Chuck Schumer at the federal level. These are poster boys of the Left in case you hadn't noticed.
And yet, Joe Straus is desperately trying to wrap himself in the mantle of conservatism and hope no one has paid attention to either his actions of those of the committee chairmen he appointed last legislative cycle.
January 9, 2011
The Media & The Shooter
This morning we pray for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, her family, and the other victims of the heinous violence in Arizona.
It should not be, but the media, under the guise of "a full exposition" of the evil in Arizona, is back to subtly and not so subtly pinning the blame for the attempted assassination of the Congresswoman and the related shootings on the tea party movement, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, me, you, and everyone right of center.
Let's be crystal clear: this is the supposedly objective news media doing this, not the openly, partisan left, though it is fueling the media witch hunt. And from what we now know, it is not just media malpractice, but a lie.
Ironically, by perpetuating the lie — by even treating it as a legitimate topic of consideration to revisit the accusations of violence and hate the media tried to run with prior to the November election — that the right and the tea party incited this evil act, the left and media may very well incite violence against the right.
Today, the Sunday Shows will all be from Arizona. There will, I have no doubt, be many of them wanting to know if "rhetoric" and "tea parties" and "opposition to Barack Obama" did this.
They will also bring up, as they did yesterday, Sarah Palin putting Gabrielle Giffords on her target list for defeat with a rifle scope symbol over her district.
Here is what will either not be brought up, or if brought up, will only be mentioned in passing.
Markos Moulitsas of the Daily Kos, the largest left-wing community online, put Gabrielle Giffords on a target list with a bullseye. Just as Sarah Palin removed her post, Markos has removed his.
Another Daily Kos writer, just the other day, penned a post saying Congresswoman Giffords was dead to him.
But then there is the real culprit — the shooter himself.
A friend of the shooter's described the shooter as decidedly "left-wing" as recently as 2007.
On YouTube, he flagged as a favorite video one of a person dressed as a terrorist burning the American flag. Only a lunatic or a leftist would do that.
His favorite work was not a Glenn Beck book, but a staple of every left-wing bookshelf, the Communist Manifesto.
In the Communist Manifesto, there are numerous, frequent calls for violence against the bourgeoisies.
Left-wing cartoonist Ted Rall's most recent book calls for a violent response from the left against the right.
Barack Obama himself told left-wing activists, "If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun."
The point of all of this is not to blame Ted Rall, Mr. Obama, Media Matters, MSNBC, any other particular person or group on the left, or the left in general. It is also not to say in any way, shape, or form that the guy is of the left. If, however, we take the evidence as presented and not as the media and left would have it presented, the shooter very clearly is not of the right.
More precisely, the shooter is neither left-wing nor right-wing. He is crazy and evil — a word not used enough. The guy is very clearly not of the tea party movement, not a Dittohead, not led by Sarah Palin, me, or anyone else on the right.
But the media, at least as of this morning and its accumulated coverage so far on this matter, could not care less. The media is intent on yet again exploring right-wing rhetoric and tea party hate. Left-wingers yesterday were falling all over themselves to blame everyone on the right for the horrific shooting.
The media today, as it begins more expansive reporting, will not let the facts get in the way of making the right, yet again, responsible for violence it neither incited nor enabled. In the process, the media's credibility will continue to shrink.
By the way, as an exit thought, the tea party movement won in November. Winners don't go on shooting sprees.
January 8, 2011
From the Mailbag
From: kristiebk@gmail.com
Subject: In response to your posting about the blame glame and political opportunity
Date: January 8, 2011 4:40:57 PM EST
To: contact@redstate.com
It's about consequences to your actions and the words you speak.
And the action that Red State, Sarah Palin, Rush, Glenn, those crazy ladies from Minnesota and Navada purport is to demonize those with whom they disagree. And the glee with which you've done it results in this senseless, violent tragedy in Arizona.
Of course you are culpable. Every bit as if you had pulled the trigger yourself. And of course each and every one of us should point out that the fervent dislike, nee hate, that much of the Republican party espouses today fuels this very fire. The way you discourse is dangerous.
You just don't want to see it.
Perhaps you might want to give gun control another thought?
Kind regards,
Kristie Brown Kelly
The Blame Game and Prayers Begin
Editorial Note: This morning, prior to this news, we were running a caption contest on this cartoon. We have suspended that contest and removed the cartoon from the front page.
— Erick
—————————–
A terrible tragedy today. Rep. Giffords of Arizona was gunned down and, though early reports were that she is dead, the hospital is confirming, as of this writing, that she is alive and in surgery. 11 others were apparently shot and six others are dead.
I spent an hour with Rep. Giffords a few months ago. She and I were sitting in Jim Bohannon's studio with Robert Reich was on the air. She'd driven him over to the studio. We chatted for an hour. We disagreed on much. She was extremely, exceedingly nice.
My prayers are for her and her family.
Unfortunately, the left is using this tragedy to score political points. Rep. Giffords was on Gov. Palin's target list for defeat this past November. The left claims Gov. Palin has blood on her hands. So does the tea party movement.
Less than a year ago a gunman stormed into the Discovery Channel's headquarters, taking hostages and threatening to kill them all. The left immediately accused the man of being a tea party activist.
Unfortunately for the left, the man turned out to be an envirowacko leftist raised on Algore's global warming garbage.
Immediately, the left changed their tune and proclaimed that no longer could we as partisans accuse each other of causing things like this. There are just crazy people in the world and tragedies happen.
My, my how quickly they forget.
The truth is there is evil in this world. Evil exists where God does not and as we drive God further and further away, evil creeps in more and more. Today was not a random act of violence. It was a profound evil.
Let's not pretend it wasn't. Let's not pretend evil does not exist.
But let's not let the left, yet again, spin this against the tea party movement, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, or Sarah Palin inciting violence. That's both a profound lie and just another, though lesser, bit of evil.
January 7, 2011
The Great Debate
Although it is almost impossible to believe, we are already seeing the first glimpses of the 2012 primaries here at RedState. We have been through one season of contentious primaries before, and although our community has grown, we expect many of the same sorts of issues to crop up. Therefore, this is as good of a time as any to address some of the ways in which we can expect the primaries to affect the site and all the users. We hope that this will be useful in particular to our newer users who were not around for the last round.
The first thing is that we are all going to have to grow some skin that is a little thicker, and exercise a little more patience with our fellow commenters than we ordinarily would. One of the things that is inevitably true about people who are capable of winning Presidential elections is that they attract supporters who are committed, dedicated, and enthusiastic, and who are always ready with an answer for any and all criticism of their candidate. These die hard supporters are necessary for a successful campaign, but they can tend to grate on the nerves of the rest of us who do not share their level of enthusiasm.
To the greatest extent possible, we encourage everyone to get along in the spirit goodwill that usually characterizes RedState; both those who are exasperated by the supporters of Candidate X (be it Palin, Cain, Romney, whoever), and the supporters themselves. Calling fervent supporters of a candidate "bots" "cultists" or other pejorative terms is not constructive and is discouraged. Similarly, reflexive accusations that opponents of a candidate are racist/sexist/elitist/whatever are not constructive and are discouraged. If this behavior on either side becomes a problem, expect that we will take remedial measures to maintain some baseline of civility at the site, including banning.
The second thing is that, sadly, with an influx of new commenters and diarists, many of whom will come to RedState expressly looking for a platform to spread the word about a given candidate, we can expect that the overall quality of the diaries section may dip somewhat. Furthermore, we anticipate (based on past experience) that some (if not all) campaigns may attempt to subersively use RedState to "astroturf" for various candidates. To that end, we ask that diarists posting in favor of primary candidates keep in mind the following guidelines (some of which, as indicated below, are actually hard and fast rules):
The most important rule, one that is necessary to protect the integrity of the site, is that if you are a paid consultant or employee of a campaign, you are welcome to post at RedState, but you must disclose that you are being paid by the candidate and indicate your real name . Failure to abide by this rule will result in us banning your account and most likely embarrassing your candidate on the front page by informing the world that your candidate is dishonestly astroturfing the conservative blogosphere. Again: post, but disclose .
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January 6, 2011
Let's Take Barack Obama's Advice on the Debt Limit
Back in 2006, as the vote on the debt limit came up, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Harry Reid all voted against it.
Here is what I am calling on all Republicans to do.
They should go to the floor of their respective house in the congress and, before pledging to vote against the debt limit just like Barack Obama did when he was there, they should quote Barack Obama. Every single one of them.
"Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that 'the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better."
And if they want to quote some other Democrats who voted against increasing the debit ceiling, here's Joe Biden:
But as the rest of the world copes with the waves of U.S. debt, we are now all in the same leaky boat. There is just so much of our debt other nations want to hold. The more of it they accumulate, the closer we are to the day when they will not want any more. When that happens, slowly or rapidly, our interest rates will go up, the value of their U.S. bonds will drop, and we will all have big problems. We need both more awareness, and more understanding, of this fundamental threat to our economic well being and the global economy. … The President's budget plans will bring that number to $11.8 trillion at the end of the next 5 years. This is a record of utter disregard for our Nation's financial future. It is a record of indifference to the price our children and grandchildren will pay to redeem our debt when it comes due. History will not judge this record kindly. My vote against the debt limit increase cannot change the fact that we have incurred this debt already, and will no doubt incur more. It is a statement that I refuse to be associated with the policies that brought us to this point.
And here is Harry Reid:
Given the explosion of debt in recent years, it is long past time for Washington to change the course and adopt a new fiscal policy. After all, the future of our economy and our Nation is at stake… If my Republican friends believe that increasing our debt by almost $800 billion today, and more than $3 trillion dollars over the last 5 years, is the right thing to do, they should be upfront about it. They should explain why they believe more debt is good for our economy. How can the Republican majority and this Congress explain to their constituents that trillions of dollars of new debt is good for our economy? How can they explain that they think it is fair to force our children, our grandchildren, and our great grandchildren to finance this debt through higher taxes? That is what will have to happen. Why is it right to increase this Nation's dependence on foreign creditors? They should explain this. Maybe they can convince the public they are right. I doubt it, because most Americans know that increasing the debt is the last thing we should be doing. After all, I repeat, the baby boomers are about to retire. Under the circumstances, any credible economist would tell you we should be reducing debt , not increasing it. Again, on debt –Thomas Jefferson. These are his words: "And to preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt . We must make our election between economy and liberty–or profusion and servitude." That was President Thomas Jefferson. …We are being asked to do what should not be asked of us, to increase the debt to almost $9 trillion. I hope everyone walking down to these desks today will understand what they are doing, what they are doing to our country.
Morning Briefing for January 6, 2011
RedState Morning Briefing
For January 6, 2011
Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.
1. America's Mother-In-Law Puts Down the Gavel
2. So Called Constitutional Option Is A Trick
3. Who's Pulling the Puppet Strings on Filibuster Reform and Why?
4. From The Mouths Of Babes
5. AFL-CIO Top Boss: Union Movement is Creating Permanent Progressive Structure
6. My Microphone Is Live at 50,000 Watts
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1. America's Mother-In-Law Puts Down the Gavel
Congress convened at noon yesterday. The new congresscritters were sworn in and learning how to suck away more of our liberties to feed the leviathan. The House Republicans are already back pedaling on reducing spending to 2008 levels — I told you that "Pledge to America" was a bunch of hooey.
Look for the Senate Democrats to fail in their effort to gut the filibuster, but they'll try nonetheless. I suspect the adults in the room, i.e. the Democrats who remember having a Republican President and Senate, will outwit and overrule Senator Udall (D-NM) and the howling gang of leftists from MSNBC and the lefty blogosphere.
America's Mother-in-Law surrendered the gavel to John Boehner, ridding us of our four year long national nightmare. Of course, we'll still have her to kick around as Minority Leader.
Also, our sixty-three year long national nightmare that is the Kennedy Dynasty finally concludes. Starting today, my friends, there will be no more Kennedy's in Congress.
Today is a beautiful day.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
2. So Called Constitutional Option Is A Trick
The Senate has now commenced debate on a filibuster reform. Be aware that liberals in the Senate are using strong arm tactics to seize power. They are using something called the "Constitutional Option" and you need to understand that this is a rhetorical and procedural trick. There is nothing unconstitutional about the filibuster and the "Constitutional Option" is a means to ignore the explicit rules of the Senate.
Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tom Udall (D-NM) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) have started a process today they hope to result in a chipping away at the filibuster rules. The Udall of New Mexico Resolution has been provided to the public today. It has flaws, yet the procedure being used to railroad this resolution through the Senate is an even bigger problem.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
3. Who's Pulling the Puppet Strings on Filibuster Reform and Why?
Here's an important question for you: If an arsonist were trying to burn down your house, do you A) make it easier by just handing him the gasoline, or B) do everything in your power to extinguish the pyromaniac's flame? If you answered "B," then you understand the fight that is currently going on in the Senate over the filibuster and why Republicans must "not cede any ground to the Democrats…"
Upset Democrats and their union bosses are trying to change the rules on Senate filibusters and, rather than using their standard terms of "economic and social justice," they're using a mom-and-apple-pie claim about "fairness." They've designed their campaign messaging to portray 'filibuster reform' as an issue of GOP "abuse" (see Hogan's take here) versus simple "democracy" in the Senate. However, the real issue of filibuster reform goes much deeper, with much longer-lasting ramifications. Simply put, as the official sock puppets of unions bosses and other statists, the Democrats attempt to remove the filibuster is nothing more than an effort to remove the last fire extinguisher from the building so the Left can burn down the building. And, let there be no mistake, burning it down is their sole goal.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
4. From The Mouths Of Babes
In Lyndon Johnson's time, first-term senators were expected to be "seen and not heard." They were expected to shut their mouths and learn how and why the Senate operated as an institution. And the prospect that senators who have no idea what they're doing would take it upon themselves to restructure the nature of the Senate would have been considered ridiculous by the likes of Lyndon Johnson.
But now, a group of first-termers –- frustrated that the Senate will not give them every single legislative fragment they desire -– has proposed to abolish all of the Senate rules at the beginning of the 112th Congress on January 5. Like the House, the Senate rules would vanish by a questionable ruling from the Vice President, except for those rules adopted by majority vote.
Ironically, the youngsters call their corrupt gambit the "constitutional option" -– after a similarly ill-advised effort by Republicans in 2005 to abolish the Senate rules by fiat in order to facilitate the approval of GOP judicial nominations.
To begin with, both efforts are a violation of the Standing Rules of the Senate.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
5. AFL-CIO Top Boss: Union Movement is Creating Permanent Progressive Structure
You've known for a while now that today's union bosses are no longer about just "helping the workers." They are, as we've shown you in the past, about transforming America into a semi-socialist state, that includes the taking over of public businesses.
Here is an audio clip [via the Blaze] of the top official of the United States' trade union movement, Leninist AFL-CIO boss Richard Trumka, speaking on how he and other "progressives" are creating a permanent structure and how the AFL-CIO is "lock, stock and barrel" in the middle of the progressive infrastructure.
Please click here for the rest of the post.
6. My Microphone Is Live at 50,000 Watts
It is not exactly a secret that my goal in life is to sit behind Rush's golden EIB microphone as a guest host. For the past few years I have volunteered, as in not getting paid a penny, to fill in on local radio in Georgia just to get some experience. In fact, I did a three month stint two years ago, for free, every week day from 6am to 9am and another one last year for a month and a half at the same time of day for the same amount of money.
Since I started filling in on the radio, I've had two separate offers to do nationally syndicated radio shows. I've turned them both down. One does not get to sit behind the golden EIB microphone and also have a different nationally syndicated show.
Frankly, I wouldn't want a nationally syndicated show. As long as Rush Limbaugh exists, there is no way I'd ever be number one no matter how hard I worked. And with Sean Hannity behind him, the chances of being number two in radio are zilch. Then there's Glenn Beck at number three and that Blue Bottle microphone of his that I covet.
Maybe one day I'll think I'm good enough for a national show of my own, but for now I'd rather guest host for Rush, knowing I was getting a chance to sit in for the best of the best. That would be a real honor.
Of course, this does not preclude local radio.
So when the largest, most listened to talk radio station in all of the United States asked if I might be interested in a three hour a day, five day a week show of my own — and they'd pay me (!!!!) — I said heck yeah!
Starting next Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, the Erick Erickson Show will launch.
January 5, 2011
My Microphone Is Live at 50,000 Watts
It is not exactly a secret that my goal in life is to sit behind Rush's golden EIB microphone as a guest host. For the past few years I have volunteered, as in not getting paid a penny, to fill in on local radio in Georgia just to get some experience. In fact, I did a three month stint two years ago, for free, every week day from 6am to 9am and another one last year for a month and a half at the same time of day for the same amount of money.
Since I started filling in on the radio, I've had two separate offers to do nationally syndicated radio shows. I've turned them both down. One does not get to sit behind the golden EIB microphone and also have a different nationally syndicated show.
Frankly, I wouldn't want a nationally syndicated show. As long as Rush Limbaugh exists, there is no way I'd ever be number one no matter how hard I worked. And with Sean Hannity behind him, the chances of being number two in radio are zilch. Then there's Glenn Beck at number three and that Blue Bottle microphone of his that I covet.
It's a personal thing, I realize, but why the heck would I want to work my butt off and be guaranteed to be, at best, at the bottom of the top (and let's not forget there's Mark Levin and Neal Boortz and Laura Ingraham, etc. to contend with) with, frankly, so many awesome people I'd rather listen to anyway.
Maybe one day I'll think I'm good enough for a national show of my own, but for now I'd rather guest host for Rush, knowing I was getting a chance to sit in for the best of the best. That would be a real honor.
Of course, this does not preclude local radio.
So when the largest, most listened to talk radio station in all of the United States asked if I might be interested in a three hour a day, five day a week show of my own — and they'd pay me (!!!!) — I said heck yeah!
Starting next Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, the Erick Erickson Show will launch.
WSB Radio in Atlanta is the largest and most widely listened to talk radio station in the United States. It is also a 50,000 watt clear-channel radio station, meaning it broadcasts at full power 24 hours a day. Because of its clear-channel status and power, WSB is picked up crystal clear across the nation at night and, depending on the atmosphere, in a lot of countries too. Essentially, I'll have a local show, but the WSB signal is so strong and goes so far it'll have a national reach on the AM dial — plus there'll be live streaming online.
WSB is also home to Neal Boortz, Clark Howard, and Herman Cain.
For the past few months I've been filling in for Herman Cain and talking with WSB. They made me an offer I can't refuse.
I'll be on from 9 p.m. to midnight, filling the slot held currently by Michael Savage. Herman Cain will come on before me and Dave Ramsey will come on after me.
Just to be clear, I'm not leaving RedState or CNN. They are priorities in my life I hope to keep doing until I die. WSB has kindly agreed to work around those obligations. In other words, I'll be on internet, television, and radio, making the 2012 Presidential cycle a heck of a lot of fun.
You can now start your day with me in your email inbox, check in with me throughout the day here at RedState and on CNN, and close out your day with me by tuning to 750 AM or, in the Atlanta area, 95.5 FM, and if you just can't get the signal, go to http://wsbradio.com.
We've joked in the past about imagining a fully armed and operational RedState. Now imagine a fully armed and operational RedState and a fully armed and operational 50,000 watt microphone. The potential is exciting.
And maybe, just maybe, I might get good enough to sit behind the golden EIB microphone — of course I might still have to change my name to Mark.
Oh, and I think I need to track down Rush's "caller abortion" sound effect. It might come in handy with folks like Michael.
Today America's Mother-In-Law Puts Down the Gavel
Good morning.
Congress convenes at noon today. The new congresscritters are getting sworn in.
Look for the Senate Democrats to fail in their effort to gut the filibuster, but they'll try nonetheless. I suspect the adults in the room, i.e. the Democrats who remember having a Republican President and Senate, will outwit and overrule Senator Udall (D-NM) and the howling gang of leftists from MSNBC and the lefty blogosphere.
And through it all we will witness a historic moment. America's Mother-in-Law will surrender the gavel to John Boehner, ridding us of our four year long national nightmare. Of course, we'll still have her to kick around as Minority Leader.
Also, our sixty-three year long national nightmare that is the Kennedy Dynasty finally concludes. Starting today, my friends, there will be no more Kennedy's in Congress.
Today is a beautiful day.
And if that isn't enough, come back here at noon for a really big announcement from me — one that will surely make heads explode.
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