PowerLine Quotes a Liberal Who Gets It

 

I am amazed at people on the right who want Trump to lose. He has been the most conservative president since Reagan. He is also the best GOP president at manipulating the message since we elected the former actor.

Read the whole thing, but the closing is great:

Viewers were left to wonder: Why wouldn’t Pelosi applaud money for historically black colleges and universities? What’s her beef with a serviceman who returns from deployment to hug his kids? Where’s her feeling for the brother of a man killed by an undocumented criminal? All of these visuals could be explained in policy terms, but as Ronald Reagan once confided to his diary, “If you’re explaining, you’re losing.”

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  1. Gary McVey Contributor
    Gary McVey
    @GaryMcVey

    I wouldn’t have seen this if it weren’t for you, Bryan. Good catch, thanks!

    • #1
  2. Phil Turmel Inactive
    Phil Turmel
    @PhilTurmel

    Paul Mirengoff has been the most Trump-skeptical of the whole PowerLine crew.  Though it shouldn’t, it enhances the bite of his criticism of Pelosi’s behavior.

    • #2
  3. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    Bryan G. Stephens: I am amazed at people on the right who want Trump to lose. He has been the most conservative president since Reagan.

    That’s why.

    • #3
  4. Ray Gunner Coolidge
    Ray Gunner
    @RayGunner

    Amazing how even partisan Democrats will become clear headed once their TDS fever breaks. 

    • #4
  5. BastiatJunior Member
    BastiatJunior
    @BastiatJunior

    Sadly, the Democrats will probably learn from Mr. Trump, and the Republicans won’t.

    • #5
  6. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens: I am amazed at people on the right who want Trump to lose. He has been the most conservative president since Reagan.

    That’s why.

    Meaning they are not really conservatives, but have just played them on TV?

    • #6
  7. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    BastiatJunior (View Comment):

    Sadly, the Democrats will probably learn from Mr. Trump, and the Republicans won’t.

    Conservatism, Inc. Does not seem to be. :(

    • #7
  8. Norm McDonald Inactive
    Norm McDonald
    @Pseudodionysius

    I’ll add in a small addenda: Trump is from New York (the wrong side of the tracks in New York). Now take a look at this:

    • #8
  9. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens: I am amazed at people on the right who want Trump to lose. He has been the most conservative president since Reagan.

    That’s why.

    Yeah. I’m old enough to remember how the establishment GOP, loathed Reagan.

     

    • #9
  10. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Bryan G. Stephens: He has been the most conservative president since Reagan.

    True, but I would argue he has more conservative accomplishments.

    Rush was back on the air yesterday.  As I was reading the transcripts this morning, he mentioned a CNN post-SOTU interview with some “military writer”, whatever that is.  When discussing the surprise reunion of the wife (and kids) with her husband (flown in from Afghanistan), this woman said, “This is bogus.  This is reunion porn.”

    There is still an ocean of liberals out there who don’t get it . . .

    • #10
  11. Allie Hahn Coolidge
    Allie Hahn
    @AllieHahn

    Re: Pelosi, I do think it’s sad when people on one side can’t give credit to people on the other side when they do good things. And that goes the other way, too – admitting when someone on your side does something wrong. It’s like people are afraid to be honest in case it makes the public side against them.

    • #11
  12. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Stad (View Comment):
    When discussing the surprise reunion of the wife (and kids) with her husband (flown in from Afghanistan), this woman said, “This is bogus. This is reunion porn.”

    I agree with that.  Delaying the reunion unnecessarily for a TV show is bad.  

    It’s one thing if it’s twenty or thirty minutes, or maybe an hour or two.  It’s another when you hold it back for a TV show.  I’m not just referring to the SOTU here either.  I’ve seen other cases in the past where the returnee has delayed the reunion for 24 hours or more to be on TV, and I think that’s disgusting. 

     

    • #12
  13. philo Member
    philo
    @philo

    Hmmmm. I was under the impression that you had to cut and paste the entire post from the link provided for us to be able to understand your point. Who new?

    • #13
  14. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):
    I agree with that. Delaying the reunion unnecessarily for a TV show is bad.

    No, it’s good.  There didn’t have to be a reunion in the first place.  I’m sure the family would agree the delay was worth it . . .

    • #14
  15. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):
    When discussing the surprise reunion of the wife (and kids) with her husband (flown in from Afghanistan), this woman said, “This is bogus. This is reunion porn.”

    I agree with that. Delaying the reunion unnecessarily for a TV show is bad.

    It’s one thing if it’s twenty or thirty minutes, or maybe an hour or two. It’s another when you hold it back for a TV show. I’m not just referring to the SOTU here either. I’ve seen other cases in the past where the returnee has delayed the reunion for 24 hours or more to be on TV, and I think that’s disgusting.

     

    I disagree even more.  Don’t you think the soldier knew what was going to happen, and he didn’t mind?

    If it wasn’t for TV, the reunion wouldn’t have happened at all.

    • #15
  16. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Norm McDonald (View Comment):

    I’ll add in a small addenda: Trump is from New York (the wrong side of the tracks in New York). Now take a look at this:

     

    And the Senate, for that matter.

    • #16
  17. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    He has been the most conservative President since Reagan. Maybe even more than Reagan. 

    • #17
  18. Painter Jean Moderator
    Painter Jean
    @PainterJean

    Manny (View Comment):

    He has been the most conservative President since Reagan. Maybe even more than Reagan.

    In some areas – quite a few, really! But if you’re a limited government, fiscally responsible conservative, you’re not represented by the GOP anymore.

    • #18
  19. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    He has been the most conservative President since Reagan. Maybe even more than Reagan.

    In some areas – quite a few, really! But if you’re a limited government, fiscally responsible conservative, you’re not represented by the GOP anymore.

    Did Reagan represent that?  He may have rhetorically but I don’t think it was in practice.

    • #19
  20. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    He has been the most conservative President since Reagan. Maybe even more than Reagan.

    In some areas – quite a few, really! But if you’re a limited government, fiscally responsible conservative, you’re not represented by the GOP anymore.

    Was there a time when you were?

     

    • #20
  21. Painter Jean Moderator
    Painter Jean
    @PainterJean

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    He has been the most conservative President since Reagan. Maybe even more than Reagan.

    In some areas – quite a few, really! But if you’re a limited government, fiscally responsible conservative, you’re not represented by the GOP anymore.

    Was there a time when you were?

    Point taken. But at least it was often stated as a goal, which meant at least it was considered a value. Now it’s not even mentioned.

    • #21
  22. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    He has been the most conservative President since Reagan. Maybe even more than Reagan.

    In some areas – quite a few, really! But if you’re a limited government, fiscally responsible conservative, you’re not represented by the GOP anymore.

    Was there a time when you were?

    Point taken. But at least it was often stated as a goal, which meant at least it was considered a value. Now it’s not even mentioned.

    I would suggest that when a plank that was honored in the breach is no longer even given lip service the fault is not in the lying speaker but in his audience for whom the idea has no appeal. 

    • #22
  23. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    He has been the most conservative President since Reagan. Maybe even more than Reagan.

    In some areas – quite a few, really! But if you’re a limited government, fiscally responsible conservative, you’re not represented by the GOP anymore.

    Was there a time when you were?

    Point taken. But at least it was often stated as a goal, which meant at least it was considered a value. Now it’s not even mentioned.

    All I can say is, the economists don’t seem to fret over the deficit. You would think it would be a problem but the economy is surging. Fiscal responsibility is and should be a value.  Everyone carries debt. When is too much a problem?  I just don’t know at what point I should be concerned.

    • #23
  24. philo Member
    philo
    @philo

    Manny (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    He has been the most conservative President since Reagan. Maybe even more than Reagan.

    In some areas – quite a few, really! But if you’re a limited government, fiscally responsible conservative, you’re not represented by the GOP anymore.

    Was there a time when you were?

    Point taken. But at least it was often stated as a goal, which meant at least it was considered a value. Now it’s not even mentioned.

    All I can say is, the economists don’t seem to fret over the deficit. You would think it would be a problem but the economy is surging. Fiscal responsibility is and should be a value. Everyone carries debt. When is too much a problem? I just don’t know at what point I should be concerned.

    When they tell you it is time to be concerned, it will be too late.

    • #24
  25. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    philo (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    He has been the most conservative President since Reagan. Maybe even more than Reagan.

    In some areas – quite a few, really! But if you’re a limited government, fiscally responsible conservative, you’re not represented by the GOP anymore.

    Was there a time when you were?

    Point taken. But at least it was often stated as a goal, which meant at least it was considered a value. Now it’s not even mentioned.

    All I can say is, the economists don’t seem to fret over the deficit. You would think it would be a problem but the economy is surging. Fiscal responsibility is and should be a value. Everyone carries debt. When is too much a problem? I just don’t know at what point I should be concerned.

    When they tell you it is time to be concerned, it will be too late.

    I never thought we’d make it this far without total collapse, so what do I know?

     

    • #25
  26. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    philo (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    He has been the most conservative President since Reagan. Maybe even more than Reagan.

    In some areas – quite a few, really! But if you’re a limited government, fiscally responsible conservative, you’re not represented by the GOP anymore.

    Was there a time when you were?

    Point taken. But at least it was often stated as a goal, which meant at least it was considered a value. Now it’s not even mentioned.

    All I can say is, the economists don’t seem to fret over the deficit. You would think it would be a problem but the economy is surging. Fiscal responsibility is and should be a value. Everyone carries debt. When is too much a problem? I just don’t know at what point I should be concerned.

    When they tell you it is time to be concerned, it will be too late.

    Perhaps. What am I to know, I’m not an economist. Trump has Larry Kudlow leading his economic team.  I trust him over anyone. 

    • #26
  27. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    The reason the GOP is not limited government is because the GOP voters are not. 

    There is a small government party. They don’t win elections. I’d love it if Americans were for small government, but they ain’t.

    • #27
  28. philo Member
    philo
    @philo

    Manny (View Comment): …I trust…

    That part made me giggle.  I recommend watching (or reading) The Big Short before using that term again.

    • #28
  29. Painter Jean Moderator
    Painter Jean
    @PainterJean

    TBA (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    He has been the most conservative President since Reagan. Maybe even more than Reagan.

    In some areas – quite a few, really! But if you’re a limited government, fiscally responsible conservative, you’re not represented by the GOP anymore.

    Was there a time when you were?

    Point taken. But at least it was often stated as a goal, which meant at least it was considered a value. Now it’s not even mentioned.

    I would suggest that when a plank that was honored in the breach is no longer even given lip service the fault is not in the lying speaker but in his audience for whom the idea has no appeal.

    I don’t disagree with you at all. It still leaves me without a party that values limited government and fiscal responsibility.

    • #29
  30. Painter Jean Moderator
    Painter Jean
    @PainterJean

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    The reason the GOP is not limited government is because the GOP voters are not.

    There is a small government party. They don’t win elections. I’d love it if Americans were for small government, but they ain’t.

    I’m afraid you’re right. It’s easy to blame politicians, but the truth is that some of them have touted fiscal responsibility, and they didn’t get anywhere. Voters of both parties like big government and lots of government goodies. They merely differ on the specifics.

    • #30
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