IS IT CHANCE? DEMO LEADER IS FURTHEST AWAY FROM LIBERALS

Ronald Reagan really did change America, and the world. Is it an accident that America's most listened-to radio talk show host is Cape Girardeau native Rush Limbaugh, an outspoken conservative? Limbaugh's daily program is on something like 450 stations. A friend who attended a major convention of television executives in New Orleans last week passes along an interesting report. My friend, a media executive based in the mid-south, informs me that Rush was simply the hottest property and the subject of most discussion among TV execs at the meeting. Rush's syndicated, 30-minute, late-night TV show will debut this fall. Early indications are it will be a very hot property.

Is it an accident, or perhaps mere coincidence? Is it chance that the candidate who positions himself the most moderate, the furthest away from the liberal/left activists who have long dominated the Democratic presidential nominating process, is the frontrunner for that party's nomination?

That candidate is Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton. Gov. Clinton may yet be undone by rampant allegations of womanizing; he may indeed, be just another bimbo's revelation away from steering a promising presidential candidacy onto the rocks. But it's interesting that Clinton surged to the front when he began distancing himself from his party's left wing, and when he began picking high-profile fights with New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, the combative leader of the party's liberal wing.

* * * * *

A reader and friend sent me the following statement of liberal beliefs about a year ago, during the Persian Gulf War. I laughed out loud when I read it. Perhaps you will, too.

A liberal manifesto

"I am a liberal. Everything I know I learned from Marxist college professors wearing Birkenstock sandals. Everything I agree with is a fact; everything I don't is a lie. Every problem in the world is caused by racism except those caused by sexism, homophobia, and landfills. Everything that suits my purposes is moral; everything that does not is immoral and sometimes even fascist.

"Those who disagree with me are insane, cruel or confused; those who agree with me must agree on every subject or are probably racist or homophobic. I am against the war but for the troops, and I believe those positions are consistent.

"Any problem can be solved by throwing enough money at it. Giving a man a fish is better than teaching him how to fish because if you teach him how to fish he will only be exploited by racist homophobic white capitalists who will steal his fish.

"I go to rallies to express my general discontent. I will never be content because only racist homophobic white capitalists are content and only because they enjoy corruption and greed. Everything the government does is incompetent and evil. However, I believe we should expand government as much as possible.

"I am a liberal. And you can be a liberal, too! (Politically incorrect need not apply)."

(Author unknown).