ping if no one has done it yet
I heard Rush talk about this, but hadn't caught the context.
I agree on the business about little anger or debate ("that's just Ron being Ron"), and found it absolutely utterly useless to try and take part in any faculty "governance," such as the academic senate, committees, even the university speaker's committee. You are one voice in a dozen, never win a vote, and waste a phenomenal amount of time. Better to let the libs waste their time.
Instead, where I have put my energy is in three areas: 1) Teaching. My classes are always full, and no matter what the "curriculum" or university changes have been over the years, I teach them exactly as I wish, with nothing watered down and no liberal lies. Milton Friedman, Paul Johnson, Tom Sowell, Rush Limbaugh, Walter Williams, Frederich von Hayek, Ludwig von Mises, George Gilder, and Charles Murray are all mentioned frequently and discussed in detail when applicable. When Western Civ was perverted into a sort of "world" history, I continued to teach Western Civ.
(My teaching evaluations are among the highest in the department and occasionally, yes, I hit perfection in the eyes of the students. Rarely does so much as a single class ever fall below the department average---maybe three times in the last 10 years).
2) Research and writing. About a decade ago I decided to quit writing for other academics, despite good success (having published in almost every top journal, including the Journal of Southern History, Pacific Historical Review, and Business History Review, and having a half-dozen academic books that were, surprisingly, well-reviewed. Instead, I moved into trade publication where I could reach parents, make an end-run around textbook committees and required books, and get on media outlets to hit the broader public with these history messages. The result has been more than surprising. Just last week our book, A Patriot's History of the United States went over 50,000 sold and 72,000 in print.
3) Guerrilla tactics. We have brought in "independent" speakers, including Victor Davis Hanson, shown films such as "Obsession," and in other ways fought a guerrilla war within the university. When they catch on to one tactic, we do something else. When asked to chair committees, I only agree if it is understood that we go with the RIGHT answer, no matter how politically incorrect it might be.
Ironically, my "internal" judgments on university-level policies (whether this idea is good, or that program is beneficial) are often, if not always, proven out. More than once in a meeting I've had a liberal department member nudge me with an elbow as if to say, "You were right about that one." Despite that, it never seems to keep my colleagues from engaging in self-destructive behavior, including policies that cost some of them their jobs, pay them lower wages, or whatever. All I can do is say, "I told you so."