Anger is No Path to Power

Demagogues like Limbaugh and Beck exploit the resentments and anger of conservative Republicans while keeping them marginalized and unable to build a viable movement.

A recent study by the Democracy Corps sought to determine the beliefs and views of self-identified conservative Republican voters.

The irony is that, on the victimization scale, only African-Americans, as a group, seem as angry and resentful, as these Beck/Limbaugh conservatives.  And, just measuring the comparative historical grievances, there's really no contest (although, in either case, resentment is a terrible, self-destructive political and psychological tactic.  It's impossible to succeed, let alone flourish, when you are constantly swallowing your own bile, no matter what the historical or psychological justification).

And the latter point is a real political problem--expert demagogues (Coughlin, Sharpton, Rush, Beck) can exploit these resentments, and generate a lot of activity, rage, and negative energy.  But they can't win in a democratic system.  Dr. King won, if at the cost of his life.  Reagan won.  The great union organizers of the 30s and 40s, Reuther and John L. Lewis, won.  The anger has to be channeled into positive energy, and movement building, too.

Which is the other thing about the Beck/Limbaugh conservatives in Greenberg's study:  They are sectarian.  Greenberg makes the key point that they think they have secret knowledge.  All sectarians do.  Those ultra-leftists who used to sit around arguing the fine points of Marx and Lenin did too.  But if you have "secret knowledge", it's very hard to communicate to those who, sadly, don't know.  The people in Greenberg's focus group say they want to expand their numbers, but they're too smug and certain about everything to really effectively do so.  Good organizers are good listeners (it's one of the first lessons you learn about organizing--don't talk, listen).  They hear the grievances of others, rather than impress upon them that they, the organizer, have the special, unique answer.  They seek new members, rather than revel in their own magic explanations.

This 20% is in a cul de sac, like the leftists of old.  And Rush/Beck just exploit them, and help to keep them there.