Trump’s Virtues: An Important Speech

 

Very short and very challenging food for thought. I was drawn to read the entire piece and that proved to be a most rewarding exercise as it introduced me to an excellent short talk on the virtues of Donald Trump and why we shouldn’t be turning our backs on him at this early stage of the 2024 Presidential Campaign. Here, before linking to the video itself, is the opening paragraph of the article, which can be found here:

I recently wrote a column about why I believed Trump should not run in 2024. I was wrong. I allowed my distaste for Trump’s personality to override his virtues, which are considerable. Some people want Trump without his vices. I was among them — until yesterday, when I watched and listened to Tom Klingenstein’s speech titled “Trump’s virtues.”  It was masterful and shamed me that I did not make the distinction between Trump’s character and his virtues, the former being deeply flawed, the latter being almost perfect. I need to man up in my defense of the former President’s virtues. The speech was among the most pointed I have heard and deserves some exposure. Klingenstein says:

Other Republicans say some version of “I like Trump policies but I don’t like the rest of him.” This gets it almost backwards. Although Trump advanced many important policies, it is the ‘rest of him’ that contains the virtue that inspires the movement… Trump was born for the current crisis, a life and death struggle against a totalitarian enemy I call woke communism… that control all the cultural and economic powers in America…

[Trump] revealed, not caused, the divide in this country. In war, you must make a stand… Trump is a manly man… traditional manhood, even when flawed, is absolutely essential… Trump plays to win… There are no clean hands in a fistfight…Trump is unreservedly, unquestionably pro-America… Trump is a refreshing break from the guilt and self-loathing that marks our age…

How wonderful it is to hear a speaker in this age of wokeness and cowardly cancellation for saying the “wrong” thing, i.e., something not within the approved narrative of the Ruling Elite come right out and refer to someone as “a manly man”! I must admit I had to go back and rerun that part of the video I enjoyed hearing it so much! I am sending this video along not in the interest of starting any kind of debate about the 2024 election as it is far too early to be joining that battle. I am, however, sending it along as I think it represents a very valuable contribution to that future debate and the decision we will all be required to make in the future. I hope you find it as interesting and illuminating as I did.

God Bless America!

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  1. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    One reason to always tell the truth is that you don’t have to keep your stories straight. That has benefitted me greatly when trying to explain what I meant when I have been less than totally careful and someone tries to play “gotcha.”

    See, I’ve learned not to trust “sorry, I wasn’t being careful” when very important details change at random. First you said he planned the “insurrection.” Then you backed away from that and insist you just weren’t being careful with your words.

    But guy, that’s a big change. That’s not some detail that you accidentally get wrong due to lack of care. That’s a basic detail that would go to the heart of the fake Jan. 6th case against the President.

    So no, I think you don’t really know what you’re saying. I think you’re just repeating stuff. Throwing all sorts of random crap against the wall to see what sticks. You say it’s me playing “gotcha.” No, rather it’s me pointing out the inconsistencies and noting that the talking points keep changing. Just like the media, the Jan. 6th Committee, the Democrats, and the Biden administration, none of which are trustworthy sources of information.

    Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus.

    And let it be noted – the current narrative is not what DJT did (nothingburger) but what he didn’t do for 187 minutes. 

    Pathetic 

    • #31
  2. Victor Tango Kilo Member
    Victor Tango Kilo
    @VtheK

    Annefy (View Comment):
    And let it be noted – the current narrative is not what DJT did (nothingburger) but what he didn’t do for 187 minutes. 

    In contrast to the current president actively using the FBI to cover up his family’s illegal foreign business dealings and his son’s sexual depravity and drug use

    In contrast to the current president actively using the Department of Justice to persecute his political opponent and labeling opponents of the regime “domestic terrorists.”

    And yet, has vowed to vote for him again. 

    • #32
  3. Dotorimuk Coolidge
    Dotorimuk
    @Dotorimuk

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    You voted for Biden, Gary.

    Any argument you make is invalid.

    Now maybe this comment will stand, or maybe an editor will delete it.

    The fact stands.

    Nothing you say about Trump matters. You are blinded but your hate.

    Oh Bryan. I voted for Biden due to Trump’s unwillingness to commit to respecting election results and saying that the only way he could lose would be if the election was stolen. Trump’s behavior after the 2020 election and January 6th fully confirmed the wisdom of my vote.

    I encourage you to listen to the 17:59 recording. I think that you will like it a lot. But the question that was never addressed by the speaker was “What about Trump’s Big Lie and his involvement in planning and encouraging the January 6th insurrection “?

    Fifty years of evidence shows the Biden Crime Family™️ is a greater danger to freedom, rule of law, what have you, than ANYTHING Trump did. I say that as a quite reluctant Trump voter who hopes he doesn’t run again.

    After eight years of Obama, it was nice to have a pro-American President again. That’s a big part of Trump’s appeal. The President should have your back. 

    The human trafficker in the White House and his “put America last” agenda is nauseating to me.

    Anyone fooled into thinking Biden was a moderate should consider not voting next time. It’s not for everybody.

     

    • #33
  4. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Annefy (View Comment):

    And let it be noted – the current narrative is not what DJT did (nothingburger) but what he didn’t do for 187 minutes.

    Pathetic

    Yeah, that’s an interesting change in the narrative, too. It started with “The President is guilty because of what he did!” and has now shifted to “The President is guilty because of what he didn’t do!”

    Pretty obvious they’re crafting a narrative on the fly, having to adjust as more and more of their tales are revealed as lies.

    You will not find an honest member of that committee.

    • #34
  5. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Annefy (View Comment):

    And let it be noted – the current narrative is not what DJT did (nothingburger) but what he didn’t do for 187 minutes.

    Pathetic

    Yeah, that’s an interesting change in the narrative, too. It started with “The President is guilty because of what he did!” and has now shifted to “The President is guilty because of what he didn’t do!”

    Pretty obvious they’re crafting a narrative on the fly, having to adjust as more and more of their tales are revealed as lies.

    You will not find an honest member of that committee.

    We’ve gone from “a seven point plan” to … something something DJT should have done but didn’t.

    pathetic. But I repeat myself. 

    • #35
  6. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    It’s possible to evaluate Trump’s tenure and core convictions without going into the “manly man” stuff. Because he was a libertine in his heyday? 

    Reagan on horseback fixing fences he wasn’t. 

    • #36
  7. navyjag Coolidge
    navyjag
    @navyjag

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    It’s possible to evaluate Trump’s tenure and core convictions without going into the “manly man” stuff. Because he was a libertine in his heyday?

    Reagan on horseback fixing fences he wasn’t.

    Nah,  James  he was making his money building hotels, casinos, and golf courses.  What a despicable occupation. Although he did go onto cable with his show.  

    • #37
  8. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    It’s possible to evaluate Trump’s tenure and core convictions without going into the “manly man” stuff. Because he was a libertine in his heyday?

    Reagan on horseback fixing fences he wasn’t.

    we’ll all righty then! So DJT isn’t Reagan. Honey – we’ve had @garyrobbins reminding us of that fact often … interminably you might say.

    Newsflash – DJT is no Reagan. And Reagan was no DJT. The hashtag “boomer” right now would be hilarious if Trump was a little younger. That said … I’ll go for the cheap laugh. #boomer.

    • #38
  9. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Gary I have an idea for you. Principles First has expanded their operations into more local activity. Why don’t you give them a big fat donation to form a group in Flagstaff and then later you can fly Heath Mayo in. It will be more fun than getting a call from Evan McMullin. 

    Also, they must have some secret Internet forums you can get more ideas to badger us with.

    • #39
  10. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Also Gary, you need to listen to last week’s three whiskey happy hour at least twice.

    • #40
  11. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    This is ridiculous. I’d rather get a root canal than spend my time arguing with people who never liked Trump and voted for Brandon – it usurps the post and other comments redirecting the whole thing.  There are many many people who believe the election was stolen.

    • #41
  12. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    If Biden is the candidate Trmp will probably run .  If he isn’t, I don’t think he will.  DeSantis or some other credible candidate cannot win unless Trump gives him or the selection process  prior endorsement, prior in the sense that he pulls out before the ultimate candidate jumps in.   Those who voted for Biden instead of Trump for whatever reason are Democrats or very simple fools who believe the fabricated stories about Trump..  Folks who believe that Biden got more votes than anyone in history and actually won, are simply deluding themselves.  No point repeating why that should be obvious, why gathering votes from nursing homes and folks who sell them for almost nothing, and tossing Trumps isn’t legitimate election behavior and will be repeated in the next election with greater confidence because it worked so well.  Some folks may finally learn and some folks will still consider it legitimate because  mostly real people are behind the ballots.  I’d like Trump to be President again, but simply do not think he can win, but then neither can any other Republican but we have to have a highly credible  theft because the post election requirement is going to be even more difficult than winning the election.  

    • #42
  13. Doctor Robert Member
    Doctor Robert
    @DoctorRobert

    DJT did many fine things as POTUS.

    I voted for him twice and would do so again in a heartbeat.

    However, I hope it does not come to that.  He bungled the 2020 election, which I am confident he actually won.  He is unelectable.   If elected, the drama around 2020 will make him even less able to lead than he did in 2017-21.  He is too old and too set on self-vindication. And he is limited to one term.  His election would be a catastrophe.  There would be another impeachment on January 18.

    Let him be a kingmaker or a Godfather or an eminence gris, but please Lord, let him not be our candidate.

    • #43
  14. Columbo Inactive
    Columbo
    @Columbo

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    I hesitate to comment, but feel compelled to do so.

    It was a good recording. It addresses those who dislike Trump personally, but like his policies. I listened to all 17:59 of the recording.

    However, the recording is fundamentally flawed in that there is absolutely no reference to Trump’s Big Lie, that he won the 2020 election and his involvement in the January 6th insurrection.

    “Aside from the unpleasantness Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?”

    There is absolutely no way around the Big Lie and the Insurrection. In the 2020 election, a small but significant portion of Republican voters refused to vote for him, which has been confirmed by Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. See “Lost, Not Stolen; The Conservative Case That Trump Lost and Biden Won the 2020 Presidential Election” at https://lostnotstolen.org/ which states that Trump’s loss was due to “an electorate that included a small but statistically significant number [of voters] willing to vote for other Republicans candidates on the ballot but not for President Trump … [which is why] his campaign fell short, not a fraudulent election.”

    That percentage will likely double or triple after the Big Lie and the Insurrection. I believe that our choice will be stark in 2024. We can lose with Trump, or can win with anyone else as our nominee.

    ____________________________

    Once again, it is an excellent speech as to why someone should consider voting for Trump despite not liking his personality. That is, if you can ignore the Trump Big Lie and his role in assembling the mob, whipping them up, and then failing to tell them to go home for 187 minutes on January 6, 2001.

     

     

    • #44
  15. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

     

     

     

    • #45
  16. God-LovingWoman Coolidge
    God-LovingWoman
    @GodLovingWoman

    navyjag (View Comment):

    Will listen to the speech later but agree with your sentiments. My only question is: Can he win in 2024? To me that is all that matters. The way things are going he would beat Slow Joe. But the Dems know that so Biden will be shuffled off the stage at some point. If Hillary runs no doubt he could beat her again. But what of the others? Most worried about Gov. French Laundry. He has been fooling San Fran and California voters for decades. And the press will go nuts for him. To me, at this point, DeSantis a safer bet.

    Only some Californians have been fooled. For some reason those who don’t live here assume those who do have been hypnotized into compliance by the corruption in Cali. The state government here has been commandeered by the left for a very long time, locking out those who love this country and this beautiful state. Many of us have left but many of us remain, hoping that people like Kevin Kiley will break through the wall built by the dems. The Dems here are absolutely corrupt but they’re also pretty stupid. And so is Newsom. The idea of him being a serious contender for the presidency is ludicrous. Trump will have him for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all snacks in between. Same goes for Desantes; his cool ways with the words would leave Newsom completely undone.

    Conservative Californians need support and prayer, not ridicule. The problem here is complicated; we’ve been locked out of democracy and we need the help of our fellow countrymen and women. The first thing to do is to shut down Newsom’s hopes for grandeur. The dude is a dim-witted and whiny little prima-donna who gets away with being a stupid man in power, leaving a trail of destruction in his self-absorbed wake. There are too many around him who’ve been bought off, sold their souls, and have kinks in their necks from constantly looking the other way.

    Okay … I’m done.

    • #46
  17. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    God-LovingWoman (View Comment):
    Conservative Californians need support and prayer, not ridicule. The problem here is complicated; we’ve been locked out of democracy and we need the help of our fellow countrymen and women.

    What can we do other than pray?

    CA seems forever lost.

    • #47
  18. God-LovingWoman Coolidge
    God-LovingWoman
    @GodLovingWoman

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    God-LovingWoman (View Comment):
    Conservative Californians need support and prayer, not ridicule. The problem here is complicated; we’ve been locked out of democracy and we need the help of our fellow countrymen and women.

    What can we do other than pray?

    CA seems forever lost.

    Thanks for asking Bryan. Three things:

    1. Get behind Kevin Kiley for Congress. This young man is brilliant and a no nonsense laser focused debunker of Dem schemes. His unlikely victories tell me that the Spirit is working through him and guiding his efforts. 

    2. Don’t give Newsom one fraction of an inch of serious consideration. The recent media fawning over him as a serious presidential candidate is nauseatingly ill-informed  – he is Davos Man through and through. Picture the country under his leadership and you’ll see San Francisco. 

    3. Stop thinking that California is a lost state. Start looking our way again and envision a determined incremental march back to freedom under reason, the rule of law, accountability, and restored integrity of our elections. We need the positive energy from these kinds of thoughts; don’t write us off. Every thought for our restoration is like a prayer. And God is faithful. 

    • #48
  19. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    God-LovingWoman (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    God-LovingWoman (View Comment):
    Conservative Californians need support and prayer, not ridicule. The problem here is complicated; we’ve been locked out of democracy and we need the help of our fellow countrymen and women.

    What can we do other than pray?

    CA seems forever lost.

    Thanks for asking Bryan. Three things:

    1. Get behind Kevin Kiley for Congress. This young man is brilliant and a no nonsense laser focused debunker of Dem schemes. His unlikely victories tell me that the Spirit is working through him and guiding his efforts.

    2. Don’t give Newsom one fraction of an inch of serious consideration. The recent media fawning over him as a serious presidential candidate is nauseatingly ill-informed – he is Davos Man through and through. Picture the country under his leadership and you’ll see San Francisco.

    3. Stop thinking that California is a lost state. Start looking our way again and envision a determined incremental march back to freedom under reason, the rule of law, accountability, and restored integrity of our elections. We need the positive energy from these kinds of thoughts; don’t write us off. Every thought for our restoration is like a prayer. And God is faithful.

    I can try. God has yet to ever give me a positive answer to any prayer. 

    • #49
  20. God-LovingWoman Coolidge
    God-LovingWoman
    @GodLovingWoman

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    God-LovingWoman (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    God-LovingWoman (View Comment):
    Conservative Californians need support and prayer, not ridicule. The problem here is complicated; we’ve been locked out of democracy and we need the help of our fellow countrymen and women.

    What can we do other than pray?

    CA seems forever lost.

    Thanks for asking Bryan. Three things:

    1. Get behind Kevin Kiley for Congress. This young man is brilliant and a no nonsense laser focused debunker of Dem schemes. His unlikely victories tell me that the Spirit is working through him and guiding his efforts.

    2. Don’t give Newsom one fraction of an inch of serious consideration. The recent media fawning over him as a serious presidential candidate is nauseatingly ill-informed – he is Davos Man through and through. Picture the country under his leadership and you’ll see San Francisco.

    3. Stop thinking that California is a lost state. Start looking our way again and envision a determined incremental march back to freedom under reason, the rule of law, accountability, and restored integrity of our elections. We need the positive energy from these kinds of thoughts; don’t write us off. Every thought for our restoration is like a prayer. And God is faithful.

    I can try. God has yet to ever give me a positive answer to any prayer.

    Hmm. Do you trust Him?

    • #50
  21. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Trump Four in Arizona all leading: Lake, Masters, Finchem, Hamadeh

    It may not be the guarantee of success in some states, but the endorsement of former President Donald Trump in Arizona is proving to be solid gold among likely Republican primary voters who agree that the 2020 election was flawed.

    In two new state surveys, the four top Trump-backed GOP primary candidates are winning with comfortable margins over others, including a gubernatorial candidate backed by former Vice President Mike Pence.

    A new Rasmussen Reports survey of Republican and conservative primary voters out today said that gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake tops Pence-backed Karrin Taylor Robson by 9 percentage points, 43%-34%.

    In the Arizona Senate race, Trump-endorsed Blake Masters leads by 12 points at 31% in the five-person field. 

    For secretary of state, a key post in a state where many agree with Trump that the 2020 election was rigged, Trump-supported Mark Finchem leads by 11 points in the four-person field.

    And for attorney general, Abraham Hamadeh leads by 5 points in the six-person field with 26%.

    Trump’s influence in the Arizona GOP can be seen in his approval. Some 88% of Republicans said they would vote for Trump over President Joe Biden in 2024, according to the survey from Rasmussen and the Arizona Rock Products Association.

    Cry harder, lib!

    • #51
  22. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    God-LovingWoman (View Comment):
    Hmm. Do you trust Him?

    That seems sort of backwards. Trust is earned. 

    • #52
  23. namlliT noD Member
    namlliT noD
    @DonTillman

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    […] Trump’s Big Lie […]

    […] the Big Lie […]

    […] the Big Lie […]

    […] the Trump Big Lie […]

    “Accuse your opponent of that which you yourself are guilty.” – Joseph Goebbels

    “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth.” – Joseph Goebbels

    • #53
  24. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

     

    out

     

     

    Outstanding.  Thanks.

    • #54
  25. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    The only thing I disagree with these two is the notion that Trump and DeSantis should fight it out. .  There are two reasons this is wrong.  Some Trump folks may not back DeSantis if they fight it out, even if followed with Trump support.  Secondly, it will make cheating easier as Democrats can dump more votes  arguing  Republican voting was so low because of the “dispute”.  We have to come to grips with the fact that the folks running the Democrats are totalitarian as both of these guys assert.  

    • #55
  26. God-LovingWoman Coolidge
    God-LovingWoman
    @GodLovingWoman

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    God-LovingWoman (View Comment):
    Hmm. Do you trust Him?

    That seems sort of backwards. Trust is earned.

    Only with humans

    • #56
  27. garyinabq Member
    garyinabq
    @garyinabq

    I wonder if Trump knows the story of Moses, a great though imperfect man, who led the Israelites but was not able to enter the promised land himself.  He saw it from Mount Nebo and knew his place in history.   He was a man of God, and we remember him today with awe and respect.  But the time came for him to pass the torch, even if that wasn’t his choice.

    • #57
  28. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    God-LovingWoman (View Comment):
    Hmm. Do you trust Him?

    That seems sort of backwards. Trust is earned.

    Oof.

    • #58
  29. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    I Walton (View Comment):

    The only thing I disagree with these two is the notion that Trump and DeSantis should fight it out.

    And for what it’s worth, any rumors you hear of these two fighting already are likely false, probably spread by Democrats. They want to split the party.

    • #59
  30. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    I should stop and explain myself. The January 6th hearings showed that after the 5 hour meeting between Trump and the crazies ended, Trump sent out his tweet to his followers asking them to come to Washington, D.C. saying “It will be wild.” Trump did not exercise day to day planning of the Insurrection, like a good mafia he gave general direction orally.

    It’s not a matter of explaining yourself. You have now contradicted yourself. That’s how I know that you know that it’s all bogus.

    An old friend of mine loved to tell stories about things that happened to him. Except every time he told them, certain points would be embellished or changed. It’s like he was crafting a tale on the flly and wanted to create the one that would shock his audience the most. He insisted these things actually happened, but when I began to notice that certain details kept changing — important details that one would not get wrong by mistake — I knew that everything he said was made up.

    The January 6th Committee is engaged in this kind of storytelling. It does not matter if the talking points contradict reason, logic, the flow of time, or other talking points. What matters is that they’re repeated often so that a sort of mind control sets in.

    I think that it’s an occupational hazard that some lawyers are always building a case and not pursuing the truth. Gary is an extreme example where Trump is concerned. There is no interest in examining Crazy Lizzie’s comments that her main goal was ensuring that Trump never again got close to the Oval Office. She doesn’t care how she does that. She could have been campaigning against him, making speeches condemning him, but she, like the unprincipled creep she is, chose a show trial to achieve her only goal. Aside from setting herself up for the role of token “conservative” on a low-rated MSNBC show that is.

    Like Will Rogers, all I know is what I read in the newspapers, but what I read is that she and her fellow scum kept the testimony of Kash Patel and Chris Miller sealed and yet lied about what they had said under oath. You can catch the clip I posted a while back. Both said that they had testified to the exact opposite of what Crazy Lizzie claimed. These facts are of no interest to a lawyer making the case against Trump, but does anyone really believe those are the only lies coming from the committee?

    • #60
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