https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/...revisited/

"...Many of us would prefer a more articulate and chaste classical liberal as our president. I don’t have any special fondness for Trump, either, but I also don’t hold any special antagonism for him. Political support is a transactional arrangement, not a religious oath, and Trump has done much to like. I support policies, not people. If Trump protects the constitutional order, he deserves to be praised for it. If not, he doesn’t. But the notion of some Trump critics that conservatives have a moral duty to uniformly oppose the president for the sake of principle or patriotism — or because they once opposed him during a GOP primary — is plainly silly. "

Good article. Thanks for posting it.

(01-12-2020 08:12 PM)AdoptedMonarch Wrote:  Good article. Thanks for posting it.

I agree...and the author pretty much sums up my feelings on DJT.

(01-12-2020 07:47 PM)bullet Wrote:  https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/...revisited/

"...Many of us would prefer a more articulate and chaste classical liberal as our president. I don’t have any special fondness for Trump, either, but I also don’t hold any special antagonism for him. Political support is a transactional arrangement, not a religious oath, and Trump has done much to like. I support policies, not people. If Trump protects the constitutional order, he deserves to be praised for it. If not, he doesn’t. But the notion of some Trump critics that conservatives have a moral duty to uniformly oppose the president for the sake of principle or patriotism — or because they once opposed him during a GOP primary — is plainly silly. "

**** him and the horse he rode in on. Stop acting like *******.

Indeed, while I may not have a lot of personal admiration for him I can find little with which to fault his policy successes so far.

So, is this their attempt to whitewash the past now that they've been proven wrong?

Nah, I don't give anyone at national review the time of day, and I hope they ultimately go the way of the weekly standard. Feckless, controlled opposition that would sell your and this country's interests down the river in a heartbeat if it got them as little as a contributor's position at the NYT or CNN.

(01-12-2020 10:23 PM)Kronke Wrote:  So, is this their attempt to whitewash the past now that they've been proven wrong?

Nah, I don't give anyone at national review the time of day, and I hope they ultimately go the way of the weekly standard. Feckless, controlled opposition that would sell your and this country's interests down the river in a heartbeat if it got them as little as a contributor's position at the NYT or CNN.

This post is the equivalent of President Trump publicly calling out as obese one of his own supporters at a rally last year, who was trying to be helpful in quieting a protester.

You didn't read the article, did you Kronke? At least I hope that's the explanation.

One can only wonder how his presidency would be different without the vile attacks by the media and the TDS left. It goes beyond the normal political harassment. The article needs to ponder that question to be fair. Much of Trump’s perceived crudeness comes from the fact that he fights back very hard against those attacking him. And does so in a very strong way.
Many of Trump’s policy victories have come against withering opposition. Without the help of the left and many of his own party he has managed to come close to bringing China to its knees. That battle would already be won without the relentless attacks from the press and democrats.

(01-12-2020 10:23 PM)Kronke Wrote:  I don't give anyone at national review the time of day, and I hope they ultimately go the way of the weekly standard.

National Review has been doing it’s thing since 1955. They have a lot of loyal readers and a lot of loyal advertisers. I’m not personally familiar with their day-to-day cash-flow situation but I really doubt they’ll be going away anytime soon.

Quote:Feckless, controlled opposition that would sell your and this country's interests down the river in a heartbeat if it got them as little as a contributor's position at the NYT or CNN.

They have some people on staff who fall into that category, yes. But they also have some pro-Trump people, too. Andy McCarthy, just for one. His analysis during the Russia/Ukraine hoaxes has been brilliant.

National Review attempts to fill an ecumenical role: almost anyone who is not on board with the modern Leftist/Statist agenda is welcome to pitch in. Whether they are good at that role is obviously for each individual reader to decide. But they are a place where you’ll find David French types (Trump-hostile) and Victor Davis Hanson types (Trump positive) side by side. That’s simply what they do. If you’re not feeling it, there’s plenty of other fish in the sea.

(01-13-2020 08:02 AM)SoMs Eagle Wrote:  One can only wonder how his presidency would be different without the vile attacks by the media and the TDS left. It goes beyond the normal political harassment. The article needs to ponder that question to be fair. Much of Trump’s perceived crudeness comes from the fact that he fights back very hard against those attacking him. And does so in a very strong way.
Many of Trump’s policy victories have come against withering opposition. Without the help of the left and many of his own party he has managed to come close to bringing China to its knees. That battle would already be won without the relentless attacks from the press and democrats.

I think that's a very fair point - - but the answer cuts both ways.

As the article points out, DJT is a transactional president, not a politician. That, on the whole, is a very good thing.

But, had the left not gone on immediate attack against him so personally, and instead had stroked his ego and allowed him to preen, I think there is a fair chance that he would have given substantial ground on virtually any policy point. The insane level of TDS behavior on the part of the left, perversely, is perhaps the most important element in causing President Trump to actually come out and fight for conservative policies, that he otherwise would not have.

That's my suspicion at least.

(01-13-2020 08:11 AM)AdoptedMonarch Wrote:  DJT is a transactional president, not a politician. That, on the whole, is a very good thing.

But, had the left not gone on immediate attack against him so personally, and instead had stroked his ego and allowed him to preen, I think there is a fair chance that he would have given substantial ground on virtually any policy point. The insane level of TDS behavior on the part of the left, perversely, is perhaps the most important element in causing President Trump to actually come out and fight for conservative policies, that he otherwise would not have.

That's my suspicion at least.

Mine, as well. And by “suspicion”, I mean I’m 98% certain of it.

That would have been true to some extent across the board. But Especially on the lower-court nominations. Trump campaigned on conservatives for the Supreme Court and I don’t believe he was going to back down from that. But those 50 Appellate court appointments? Those 133 District court appointments? Those would’ve had a dramatically different list if Schumer/Durbin et al. had taken a deep breath and played fair. But they just can’t do that.

(01-13-2020 08:11 AM)AdoptedMonarch Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 08:02 AM)SoMs Eagle Wrote:  One can only wonder how his presidency would be different without the vile attacks by the media and the TDS left. It goes beyond the normal political harassment. The article needs to ponder that question to be fair. Much of Trump’s perceived crudeness comes from the fact that he fights back very hard against those attacking him. And does so in a very strong way.
Many of Trump’s policy victories have come against withering opposition. Without the help of the left and many of his own party he has managed to come close to bringing China to its knees. That battle would already be won without the relentless attacks from the press and democrats.

I think that's a very fair point - - but the answer cuts both ways.

As the article points out, DJT is a transactional president, not a politician. That, on the whole, is a very good thing.

But, had the left not gone on immediate attack against him so personally, and instead had stroked his ego and allowed him to preen, I think there is a fair chance that he would have given substantial ground on virtually any policy point. The insane level of TDS behavior on the part of the left, perversely, is perhaps the most important element in causing President Trump to actually come out and fight for conservative policies, that he otherwise would not have.

That's my suspicion at least.

I think they could have gotten a lot of things they wanted. Their behavior is more self-destructive than the President's 3 am tweets. Its bizarre to see how they constantly accuse him of things they are far worse at. And most seem to believe what they are saying.

Probably the most poignant line...

Quote:I do live in the world that exists, not the one I wish existed.

Given this, I appreciate Trump's antagonistic attitude toward his political opponents. After all, that has been their attitude toward us for years now.

(01-13-2020 08:11 AM)AdoptedMonarch Wrote:  I think that's a very fair point - - but the answer cuts both ways.

As the article points out, DJT is a transactional president, not a politician. That, on the whole, is a very good thing.

But, had the left not gone on immediate attack against him so personally, and instead had stroked his ego and allowed him to preen, I think there is a fair chance that he would have given substantial ground on virtually any policy point. The insane level of TDS behavior on the part of the left, perversely, is perhaps the most important element in causing President Trump to actually come out and fight for conservative policies, that he otherwise would not have.

That's my suspicion at least.

I agree - in essence the Dems have been trying to beat him "off the field".

He is still not a politician, but instead of beating him politically which they may have been able to do, they decided to try to beat him in his sandbox instead. They gave up any possible leverage they had the moment they started playing by his rules instead of their own.

The absolute best strategy would have been an exaggerated form of ignoring him. He feeds off of insults and "nanner-nanner-nanner" like no other person. The second his ego gets a shot of oxygen, it's game on and that is purely based on getting attention. They should have treated him like an outsider and stayed in their lane, instead they jumped their own shark and took his bait.

They have proven that the "party of tolerance" was nothing more than a quiet counterbalance to the republicans, until DJT started pushing back. Then they became unraveled and showed their truest colors.

It is a classic case of "I'm rubber, you're glue....".

(01-13-2020 11:57 AM)Eldonabe Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 08:11 AM)AdoptedMonarch Wrote:  I think that's a very fair point - - but the answer cuts both ways.

As the article points out, DJT is a transactional president, not a politician. That, on the whole, is a very good thing.

But, had the left not gone on immediate attack against him so personally, and instead had stroked his ego and allowed him to preen, I think there is a fair chance that he would have given substantial ground on virtually any policy point. The insane level of TDS behavior on the part of the left, perversely, is perhaps the most important element in causing President Trump to actually come out and fight for conservative policies, that he otherwise would not have.

That's my suspicion at least.

I agree - in essence the Dems have been trying to beat him "off the field".

He is still not a politician, but instead of beating him politically which they may have been able to do, they decided to try to beat him in his sandbox instead. They gave up any possible leverage they had the moment they started playing by his rules instead of their own.

The absolute best strategy would have been an exaggerated form of ignoring him. He feeds off of insults and "nanner-nanner-nanner" like no other person. The second his ego gets a shot of oxygen, it's game on and that is purely based on getting attention. They should have treated him like an outsider and stayed in their lane, instead they jumped their own shark and took his bait.

They have proven that the "party of tolerance" was nothing more than a quiet counterbalance to the republicans, until DJT started pushing back. Then they became unraveled and showed their truest colors.

It is a classic case of "I'm rubber, you're glue....".

this sir, yessir....

their problem (out of the many), is not having a solvent economic platform will never translate in a booming economy....Zero was the perfect subsequent Pinocchio to follow...

they've been exposed....it was so simple to see 4.8 yrs. ago at this point....and there were only a handful back then....

that was the beauty of despising how the swamp has existed over my lifetime...

#henceDJT!

#fk'EmAll

"I support policies, not people. If Trump protects the constitutional order, he deserves to be praised for it."

I was not a Trump supporter at first, I admit it. I found his personality coarse. But even after one year I realized that this guy could go down in history as one of our greatest presidents, I kid you not. He has upheld constitutional law in every thing that he has done. Even in the elimination of Solemiani he had that right...as did Oblunder (but you didn't hear any peep from the Liberals when he used it).

He is the complete opposite of all the Demons running for office. They are the epitome of pushers of immorality, illegality and corruption, statewide and federal, re: the Virginia governor and his stance on abortion.

He gets criticized by the very anti-Christian Left as if they had a foot to stand on. They conveniently use the Bible which they don't know or understand to bash him. Irony at its best.

I got on the Trump Train when I saw that he was what I was looking for as far as policies and he has upheld every one of my wants, i.e. the Supreme Court for one.

(01-13-2020 03:36 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  "I support policies, not people. If Trump protects the constitutional order, he deserves to be praised for it."

I was not a Trump supporter at first, I admit it. I found his personality coarse. But even after one year I realized that this guy could go down in history as one of our greatest presidents, I kid you not. He has upheld constitutional law in every thing that he has done. Even in the elimination of Solemiani he had that right...as did Oblunder (but you didn't hear any peep from the Liberals when he used it).

He is the complete opposite of all the Demons running for office. They are the epitome of pushers of immorality, illegality and corruption, statewide and federal, re: the Virginia governor and his stance on abortion.

He gets criticized by the very anti-Christian Left as if they had a foot to stand on. They conveniently use the Bible which they don't know or understand to bash him. Irony at its best.

I got on the Trump Train when I saw that he was what I was looking for as far as policies and he has upheld every one of my wants, i.e. the Supreme Court for one.

you're not alone....

(01-13-2020 04:31 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 03:36 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  "I support policies, not people. If Trump protects the constitutional order, he deserves to be praised for it."

I was not a Trump supporter at first, I admit it. I found his personality coarse. But even after one year I realized that this guy could go down in history as one of our greatest presidents, I kid you not. He has upheld constitutional law in every thing that he has done. Even in the elimination of Solemiani he had that right...as did Oblunder (but you didn't hear any peep from the Liberals when he used it).

He is the complete opposite of all the Demons running for office. They are the epitome of pushers of immorality, illegality and corruption, statewide and federal, re: the Virginia governor and his stance on abortion.

He gets criticized by the very anti-Christian Left as if they had a foot to stand on. They conveniently use the Bible which they don't know or understand to bash him. Irony at its best.

I got on the Trump Train when I saw that he was what I was looking for as far as policies and he has upheld every one of my wants, i.e. the Supreme Court for one.

you're not alone....

Not alone by far.

I think most everyone has been snowed by Trump's media acumen. News outlets are covering his tweets as if they are newsworthy while completing missing the 183 judges Native Georgian mentioned being appointed. That is a unique skill set that only someone with 40 plus years in the spotlight can acquire.

No other GOP candidate could have weathered this onslaught and still accomplished what he has.

Said much what the author outlines 2 1/2 yrs ago. Had zerO implemented the same kind of policies as what the current direction clearly is, I would have voted for him too. Same with Dubya before him. Thought we had a shot with W., turned out to not be up to the task by about '03 or so for me.


Policies not people. Policies not personality.

Don't really care if he does mean tweets, or more than occasionally oversteps into a self inflicted "Damn, Son" moment. Would I prefer he didn't? Perhaps, but then that wouldn't be him being him.

He also has a pretty keen and unique way of the "views". Lot of it was hiding in plain sight, but was simultaneously being overlooked. Strange convergence, that.

It was simply time, and ultimately the American people as a whole are pretty damn smart, eventually.

"Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing…after they have exhausted all other possibilities." Credited to Churchill, but who knows, who cares.
Sums up the current state of affairs pretty well.