Foolishness at Fox

 

Fox News used to have a reputation among intelligent conservatives for    responsible hosts who gave platforms to prominent and thoughtful figures on the Right.  Hosts such as Megyn Kelly and Bill O’Reilly and opinion leaders such as Charles Krauthammer and George Will come to mind.

Things have changed since 2016, when Donald Trump started attracting significant support on the Right which led to the White House.

From that period, Fox became more interested in offering its audience a less sophisticated view on news and opinion in favor of perspectives likely to win emotional approval (and profit) from viewers.  So, a sometimes skeptical take on Trump’s policy pronouncements was replaced generally by unrestrained endorsement and a vigorous defense of the President.  (Sean Hannity – who acknowledged almost daily phone contact with him - is the primary example.)  That has resulted in Fox commentators often appearing to offer excuses and rationalizations for Trump’s unconscionable  conduct like his role in contributing to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The pattern has continued.  For reasons highlighted in last week’s blog of The Sensible Conservative, many on the Right have refused to get Covid-19 vaccines.  Related to that nonsensical position (the costs are essentially non-existent while the benefits can be life-saving), many Americans are protesting mask mandates as an infringement on individual freedom.  Of course, it is.  But does that constitute a reasonable basis for refusal?

NO.

To be sure, the efficiency of mask wearing is not resolved.  So what?  Maybe masks do prevent the spread of a deadly virus.  And the limitation on freedom of choice is hardly a serious consequence.  Concern for public health certainly should over-ride an aversion to wearing face covering if doing so might serve the interest of others.  (How about school vaccinations to protect the student’s classmates?)

Yet, despite these considerations, some Fox hosts believe that spokesmen for the “right to refuse” deserve a platform.

Apparently, many Fox viewers are sympathetic to that view.  But, it is a ridiculous attitude which should be denounced by the network, not given credibility by airing it.

Fox News appears foolish and non-serious while doing so.  And it is not helping its viewers by giving respect to the “mask deniers”.  Maybe lives are being put at risk because some people believe that their “liberty” is being infringed upon.  Freedom should not be made to appear dangerous.

Why Republicans Are More Likely Than Democrats to Be “Vax-hesitant”

 

On one level, the question seems nonsensical.  How can concerns for one’s health trigger a partisan reaction?

As for The Sensible Conservative – who got shots as soon as they were available – that perspective never occurred.  However, for many other Republicans, it did.

Why?

Leave aside that getting a vaccine seems a “no brainer”.  The risks and costs are -  given a ½ year’s experience - insignificant when compared to potential benefits (saving lives including the recipients!).

So what are the reasons?  Two stand out.  President Trump and liberal media.

The former president has simply been irresponsible.  His initial dismissal of Covid 19’s threat was compounded by his attitude during his own hospitalization.  Taking an excursion, while still a patient, to drive by assembled fans, illustrated that lack of seriousness with which Trump viewed the epidemic.  And then, in December 2020, the President received his inoculations but did so without publicity (so as not to upset his supporters who had believed a vaccine was unnecessary?).

So, to many in Donald Trump’s base, if he doesn’t think it’s serious, why should they?

And then there is the general news media.  Due to their long-term bias and hostility to Republicans, the absence of credibility among those on the Right is a major problem.  The messenger has earned its reputation. The news media is not believed.  CNN hysteria aside, The Sensible Conservative believes that most news outlet (mostly liberal, of course) are doing their best to be accurate in reporting guidance on the pandemic and the genuine need for more Americans to get vaccinated… but there was a very good reason why the little boy crying wolf was ignored.  He had a poor record for reliability. 

The End in Afghanistan

 

The entry was without serious controversy – no one other than those committed to “America Last” took issue with the need to overturn Taliban rule which fostered Al Qaeda and 9/11.

But, after that was accomplished, America remained in-country to continue the fight against terrorism and engage in nation building.

The ongoing first task made sense; the second much less so.

We Americans are the world’s most generous people.  We want others to share in the freedom, democracy and prosperity which we have come to view as a birthright.  And we are also so naïve – and, dangerously so – as Afghanistan has illustrated.  Non-western countries are usually not at all like us.  They are typically tribal, with no respect for individual rights and a political history that has never operated a form of government which we would recognize as other than an autocracy or dictatorship.  Yet we, nonetheless, have a habit of ignoring these simple facts and continuing in our foolish efforts to “plant” our values in barren soil.  And at such a horrible cost.

The proponents of such policies should not be forgiven.  Americans have a right to demand that their leaders be not fools.  Good intentions do not excuse the failure to heed history and common sense.

The leading fool is Republican President George W. Bush who started it all.

Yet there is another important consideration.  Foolish though nation building was in Afghanistan, we were deeply involved there.  How we left mattered.  A world power can be foolish, but if it is steadfast in supporting its allies and wards, both foe and friends will take note in a manner which does not weaken its standing.  But abandonment?  That generates feelings of opportunity for those who oppose us and fear among those who had relied on our promises.

Apparently, President Biden was surprised by the rapid disintegration of resistance to the Taliban.  That reaction was consistent with his reputation.  Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, a Republican who served in that post under Barack Obama, wrote that Joe Biden was consistently on the wrong side of foreign policy issues.  So, at least he’s consistent.  Think about it. If support upon which you have been dependent and view as vital to your survival is withdrawn, the urge to “run for the hills” must be overwhelming for most.  As it was for the Afghan military.

So the actual end in Afghanistan is a horrific conclusion to America’s ill-fated involvement.  President Biden has earned the blame.  He is not alone.  His predecessor is an unwilling companion.

An Unexpected Silver Lining is Found in the Deplorable Afghan Rout

 

It was a humiliating end to our twenty year involvement in Afghanistan.

How did America react?

In a surprise to The Sensible Conservative, essentially none of our countrymen gloated over our own nation’s disgrace.  I say “surprise” because in our land’s divisive political environment of public disrespect for our flag and national anthem, I expected many on the Left to revel in this humbling of the United States.

To the contrary, all across the political spectrum, including MSNBC, CNN and the old-line liberal networks and press, horror was expressed over the humiliation of America.

Further, President Biden and his Administration’s incompetence and fairy tale rendering of events generally prompted scorn and anger.

America felt united in a way that had not existed since, ironically, “9-11”.

It may seem an odd assessment but the surprise was a humbling recognition that we on the Right are often too quick to challenge the patriotism of those on the Left.  To be sure, anti-patriots do dwell in their ranks, but recent evidence indicates they’re not as numerous as the publicity for the “take a knee” proponents would suggest.

The “silver lining” is proof that most Americans do love her and are upset when our leaders bring her into disrepute.  Our nation will surely rebound.  We always have.  With the backing of our people, there can be no doubt.