Tucker With An F

Heather Cox Richardson alerted Life in the Boomer Lane today that “…the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, based in Stockholm, Sweden, released its 2021 report on ‘The Global State of Democracy.’

“Democracy is at risk,” the report’s introduction begins. “Its survival is endangered by a perfect storm of threats, both from within and from a rising tide of authoritarianism.” “The world is becoming more authoritarian as nondemocratic regimes become even more brazen in their repression and many democratic governments suffer from backsliding by adopting their tactics of restricting free speech and weakening the rule of law.

“The report identifies the United States as one of the democracies that is “backsliding,” meaning that it has “experienced gradual but significant weakening of Checks on Government and Civil Liberties, such as Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Association and Assembly, over time.”​​

“The United States, the bastion of global democracy, fell victim to authoritarian tendencies itself, and was knocked down a significant number of steps on the democratic scale,” the report says.”

Life in the Boomer Lane read this and thought it might be a good idea to detail some of these people who would do us in. But the list would be too long, and the research too tedious. Instead, she decided to talk about someone who is still in the wings, waiting for his chance to shine in the political Circus Maximus. As a service to Loyal Readers, it’s time to get acquainted with Tucker Carlson, the insanely popular Fox News anchor, as well as being the creator of the new three-part documentary “Patriot Purge.”

LBL asks, just who is this man who honestly believes that frogs can turn gay from chemicals in water? LBL has gone over his childhood and there is nothing of note, except that Tucker credits the ineptitude of his second grade (liberal) teacher with his awakening to the joy of conservatism.

He went to Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, graduating in 1991 with a BA in history.^[31] Tucker’s Trinity yearbook describes him as a member of the “Dan White Society”, an apparent reference to the American political assassin who murdered San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. After college, Tucker tried to join the Central Intelligence Agency, but his application was denied. He then decided to pursue a career in journalism with the encouragement of his father, who advised him that “they’ll take anybody.”

Tucker’s career in journalism sounds good on paper (MSNBC, CNN, Fox) but the truth was far from it. Tucker’s brand of conservatism was more Old School than not. In 2004, on the show he co-hosted, “Crossfire”, he was called a “dick” on air by Jon Stewart. Crossfire was cancelled within three months. Tucker went on to appear on “Dancing with the Stars” and have an unsuccessful show on MSNBC called “Tucker” In 2003. In 2005, Tucker joined Fox News.

By most accounts, Tucker is not a bad-looking guy. He’s got those scrubbed-white all-American looks and a great head of hair. He also has the makings of a double chin, which keeps him from being merely a Pretty Boy. At age 51, it’s easy to look at him and see an ex-fraternity boy (although there is no evidence that he was in a fraternity), still evident in the middle-aged man he became. He’s Everyman, if Everyman got all scrubbed up, had his hair professionally coiffed, and then spouted off about Trump being the most repulsive person on the planet (Whoops, that was back in 1999. Never mind. Let’s talk instead about gay frogs.)

Tucker wasn’t an instant sensation on Fox. Tucker was an opportunist. He paid attention to what got positive reviews from viewers. He paid attention to what got more viewers. He danced faster and longer to the music that excited the crowds. When new dance steps didn’t exist, he simply made them up. The material started to feed on itself, getting further away from any reality that would hold it in check. And, in the current atmosphere of more-is-more, Tucker thrived. When Trump arrived on the scene, he was Tucker’s boy. It was the perfect match. Two snake oil salesmen, and one could even construct an English sentence. Tucker’s show pushed the boundaries and then pushed them some more.

His big break came in 2017, when superstar Bill O’Reilly was fired (multiple unwanted sexual advances, lewd comments, lewd sounds, threats. Just the usual boys-will–be-boys stuff). Tucker’s show, “Tucker Carlson Tonight” was given that prime 8 PM slot. Tucker became Fox’s goose that laid the golden egg. The world held its breath, awaiting each of his well-thought out comments:

“Most of the time, you can beat a woman in an argument.”

“White supremacy is actually not a real problem in America.”

“Iraq is a crappy place filled with a bunch of semiliterate primitive monkeys.”

“How did we end up in a country in which feminists do science?”

Tucker has been accused of “hyperbolic, vicious and unfounded claims about women, people of color and immigrants.” This year, his legions of followers have made his show the top-rated program in the history of cable news. He’s also being called “a force” if he enters the 2024 GOP primary.

So there you have it. Keep an eye out for Tucker. And a note to frogs: Chemicals in water will not turn you gay. You have the right to determine your own sexuality.