I see Erick Erickson is mighty proud of being a radio host:
Six months in and I’m the only 12-3 national host to make number one in a top ten radio market across formats — music and talk — both overall and in the ever precious 25-54 “demo.” (July ratings)
Now I’m number 26 on this list. Thanks very much. As always, where ever you are, you can listen live right here 12pm to 3pm ET every weekday and you can even call in at 1-877-973-7425.
I have to wonder how much he’ll regret what he’s having to do – consciously or unconsciously – in a decade or two.
As I’ve already noted, he’s charged into the Afghanistan withdrawal as if were an uber-angel, calling for the resignations of President Biden and VP Harris, suggesting the 25th Amendment should be invoked on Biden, while claiming Harris has disappeared in the wake of self-made disasters (Jennifer Rubin has a far more positive assessment), all supported with supposed facts.
Me? I’m waiting for facts to be verified. A fair assessment requires “facts” of a stable nature, a clear eyed view of what has happened and what appears to be happening, lots of study, and a self-awareness of fallibility and ignorance. My experience is that initial facts are often wrong, either made up of whole cloth or lacking important context. A number of conservative sources, for instance, cited a report that the Taliban used a helicopter to hang someone. It didn’t take long for the truth to come out: the guy was in a harness and was very much alive.
I don’t know if Erickson cited that particular incident, as I’m having trouble reading his columns – I shake my head so much I get dizzy.
But I do cite these two indisputable points in support of my concern about his future: On August 19th he demanded President Biden resign. This is hardly into the withdrawal itself, even before the deaths of the thirteen heroes by suicide bomber; it’s a hurried call, an attempt to get out ahead of other conservative voices. The pursuit of ratings, if you will.
The second point? This deeply shattered, hate-filled screed motivated by the recently passed Texas anti-abortion law. Based on broken logic and calculated to stir the emotions of its readers, it doesn’t read like the meditations of an intelligent, stable citizen, but the calculated phraseology of an expert at rage communications[1], with baby-killer this and that. He’s pretending – or perhaps in earnest – to be so blinded by rage that half the post is “baby-killer.”
It’s a great way to keep your audience addicted to those rage hormones. It does nothing to advance the conversation.
But as he lets his pursuit of ratings, rather than truth, shape his messaging, it distorts his image more and more. Not that he was angelic before, but now it’s becoming more and more disturbing.
How long before he calls some poor college freshman a slut?
And will he realize he should be ashamed?
1 See The Persuaders.
