Faking It
I've never bought Laura Ingraham's "I'm an authentic heartland conservative" act. Call me crazy, but the likelihood that an Ivy League educated lawyer from Connecticut just coincidentally grew up to love Nascar, country music, and a muscular U. S. foreign policy right at the moment blonde conservative chicks were a hot ticket as media pundits seems a little too... convenient.
But, not unlike Michael Savage who I think is a far more transparent (though still lucrative) conservative parody, I have to give Laura her props for her profitable demagoguery. She sticks her finger into the wind and reads the mood of the conservative mob better than most and has built a heck of a successful career out of it. So, you know, good for her on that count. These people are all basically living in the house that Limbaugh built anyway, and if he doesn't object why should I?
It's kind of amusing when her mask slips a little bit though and other people notice she seems to be faking her way through the mob's expected opinion on a topic. At such times she seems a little too obvious a parody of conservative opinion rather than a fellow traveler. Like Ace noticed when she ripped on Bret Favre for blubbing at his retirement announcement.
Gosh... do you think so Ace? Next you'll be telling me that hushed, reverent tone she drops into every time she uses the phrase "for the troops" is somehow practiced and artificial. Or that it's likely that she might secretly likes watching "Sex in the City" more than Nascar. Or that it's kind of weird for such a staunch pro-life, pro-family social conservative to remain single into her 40's. It's almost like she adopts certain positions because it makes her popular rather than having any substantial basis upon which she arrived at those opinions.
Anyway, I'm sure most of you reading this love your Laura and wouldn't dream of questioning her character and all. So, you know, go back to all that. I can take a little solace in the fact that certain cheeseheads will take her a little less seriously from now on.
But, not unlike Michael Savage who I think is a far more transparent (though still lucrative) conservative parody, I have to give Laura her props for her profitable demagoguery. She sticks her finger into the wind and reads the mood of the conservative mob better than most and has built a heck of a successful career out of it. So, you know, good for her on that count. These people are all basically living in the house that Limbaugh built anyway, and if he doesn't object why should I?
It's kind of amusing when her mask slips a little bit though and other people notice she seems to be faking her way through the mob's expected opinion on a topic. At such times she seems a little too obvious a parody of conservative opinion rather than a fellow traveler. Like Ace noticed when she ripped on Bret Favre for blubbing at his retirement announcement.
... but for crying out loud, Laura. Try not to descend into self-parody just to get some "hot" radio. ...
So come on, Laura. Lighten up. And butch up, too. Yeah, butch up. Because if you're doing this Brett-Favre-is-a-big-fat-blubbering-pussy schtick you're not really as flinty-tough as advertised. It's pantomime.
Gosh... do you think so Ace? Next you'll be telling me that hushed, reverent tone she drops into every time she uses the phrase "for the troops" is somehow practiced and artificial. Or that it's likely that she might secretly likes watching "Sex in the City" more than Nascar. Or that it's kind of weird for such a staunch pro-life, pro-family social conservative to remain single into her 40's. It's almost like she adopts certain positions because it makes her popular rather than having any substantial basis upon which she arrived at those opinions.
Anyway, I'm sure most of you reading this love your Laura and wouldn't dream of questioning her character and all. So, you know, go back to all that. I can take a little solace in the fact that certain cheeseheads will take her a little less seriously from now on.
Posted by Doug Williams on
Tuesday March 11, 2008 at 11:16am
