First it was BDS (Bush Derrragnement Syndrome) and then it was PDS (Palin Derangement Syndrome) (not to mention even the less popular McCain Deragnement Syndrome) and now its Rush Derangement Syndrome.
Indeed, there is a bit of Derangement Syndrome Syndrome going on (as Alex Knapp termed it a while back).
As I said in a comment to Alex’s post at the time:
The general usage of xDS has become nothing more than a deflection of people frustrated by criticism of their guy (or gal). It is thrown up in lieu of a reasoned refutation of a given argument about the politician in question.
I would bemoan the current state of political discourse but, of course, people who use phrases like “Derangement Syndrome” aren’t interested in discourse, they are interested in tickling the eyes and ears of people who already agree with them.
Indeed, apart from a general lament, I probably have nothing of use to say here. It just reminds of why I grew tired of a certain brand of political commentary some years ago.
Aside from all of that, I am not really sure why soliciting a slogan to “send a message to Rush” is a “deranged” thing for the DNC to want to do. Indeed, contra Malkin (linked above) John Hawkins of Right Wing News thinks it is a decent idea, at least in principle.
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March 5th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
I’m no fan of Rush, but I think his bank account gives him a pretty clear message. And Obama’s electoral victory sent him another message. And McCain’s loss even sent a third (namely that for all the talk, “moderate Republicans” don’t win votes).
March 5th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
I am honestly not trying to be dense here, but I don’t follow your point (save for the last one, which I think is debatable).
Indeed, following on the McCain loss business, after the debacle that was the Bush administration plus the obvious general attractiveness of Obama equals (to my mind anyway) that it was going to be very, very difficult for any Republican to win in 2008, regardless of how conservative they were, or were not. Indeed, McCain ran as a fairly conservative candidate, at least in terms of the basic definition of that term in the politics of the day.
March 5th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Mega-dittos to that Steven
March 5th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
March 5th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
I was only referring to the last paragraph of the post (”Aside from all of that, I am not really sure why soliciting a slogan to ’send a message to Rush’ is a ‘deranged’ thing for the DNC to want to do. Indeed, … John Hawkins of Right Wing News thinks it is a decent idea, at least in principle.”)
My first two points were that (1) Rush knows he is popular among his audience, and (2) Obama was popular enough to win an election recently.
Those two points help Rush as a radio talk show host, but since he doesn’t formulate policy or have to run for election, that’s about all they do. But Rush’t popularity clearly sends a message of its own to several politicians who do formulate policy and run for election.
March 5th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Gotcha. And there is no doubt that Rush is quite popular and quite good at what he does–and a silly slogan on a billboard won’t matter one whit (indeed, it is free advertising, after a fashion). My critique was of Malkin’s description of the whole thing as a manifestation of RDS.
In truth, I think that all of this talk about Rush is quite good for Rush, but I remain of the opinion that it isn’t good for the GOP.
March 5th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
I think we need a Derangement Syndrome Czar to straighten this thing out.
March 6th, 2009 at 7:04 am
A brilliant suggestion!
March 6th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
I have always love the WH orchestrating two minutes of hate. Isn’t this what our Kenyan president promised to do?
So much simplier than trying to address the issues when a simple “I won” is enough to quiet the derranged counter revolutionaries.
Our new politburo will enact censorship and eliminate enemies of the state like Limbaugh. Its what hope and change means.
March 6th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Isn’t this what our Kenyan president promised to do?
Methinks thou hast revealed thineself.