Happy Rick Day!

 

Screen Shot 2015-07-23 at 9.27.32 AMIn the world of presidential politics, today is clearly the day of guys named Rick. To start with, Ricochet’s own Rick Wilson published a piece in Politico detailing why “Trump Voters Are Hillary’s New Best Friends.” The article lit up social media and included the likes of Jon Gabriel posting pictures of nuclear explosions. The whole thing is worth reading, but I found his fourth point to be the most persuasive:

4. You don’t care about his record. It’s an ideological train-wreck of epic proportions if you care about any conservative values. He’s been pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-tax hikes, pro-single-payer and is a past master of crony capitalism, to say nothing of his political and financial support for the Clintons and Barack Obama. It’s a mess. You’d never give any other candidate the benefit of the doubt on such a wide portfolio of positions that have changed 180 degrees and back again so many times. And yet, I imagine you can drill into Marco Rubio’s or Jeb Bush’s or even Scott Walker’s record for some sign of apostasy that you can never, ever, ever forgive.

Above and beyond anything else, Trump’s lack of conservatism — irrespective of his current bombast — should be the focus of Republican and conservative primary voters. If there is an actual RINO in this race, it is Trump. If we want someone who represents us, our party, and our ideals we must look elsewhere. Sure, he says a few things we may agree with, and he may say them in a way that gets our blood flowing and puts us in a fighting mood, but consider whether or not he believes what he says enough to lead the party into the fray. Judging by the convoluted smorgasbord of positions he’s held, the politicians and causes he’s given money and lip-service to in the past, Trump is not a fit head for this body politic. We are being conned by a reality television celebrity. Think about that while you read the way Wilson put it:

9. You think Donald Trump is the character he plays on television. You think his swagger and bellowing is the Leadership America Needs and that he’s an antidote to the herd of RINOs running for president. You think Donald Trump is the only one speaking truth to power. You think he’s the only one who really gets you. Remember when you had a crush on some movie or TV star as a teenager? Of course you do. You weren’t really in love with them. You were infatuated by a crafted, manufactured, stage-managed image. The purpose of what Clive James called “The Fame Planet” is to manage and monetize celebrity; you’re being played by a celebrity branding operation. There is nothing authentic about the character of Donald Trump that you’re seeing on the campaign trail. (Certainly not that exotic item that rests on his head.)

Trump simply is not what he appears to be. He may currently be playing a Republican on T.V., but this election is about reality, not reality T.V.

The other Rick to “go nuclear” on Trump (as Sean Davis headlined it at The Federalist) is Rick Perry. The former Texas Governor and Republican hopeful — who has shown no fear of taking the wood to Trump — devoted an entire speech to the matter today. At the Opportunity and Freedom PAC forum in D.C. Perry set to the task of diagnosing Trump as a “cancer on conservatism” which must be excised before he “metastasize[s] into a movement of mean-spirited politics that will send the Republican Party to the same place it sent the Whig Party in 1854: the graveyard.”

Though he spoke very harshly of Trump, the speech on whole was uplifting. Perry spoke of Washington, Lincoln, and Adams as men who served with humility. He spoke of conservatism that unites the nation, uplifts the poor, and is the only hope for a nation in the doldrums of nearly a decade of bad governance.

We have tried the policies of the progressive left for the last six and a half years. The Democratic candidates for president could offer them for the next eight.

Their failures are self-evident. We have never spent more money on welfare in the history of our nation, with few results to show for it.

They have mastered the politics of grievance, when in reality Americans are the victim of their policies that caused the housing crash, that have produced the slowest recovery since the Great Depression, that have caused a precipitous increase in the cost of college tuition.

The solution, according to Perry, is conservatism, what can only be described as Reagan type vision, and the American People.

American workers aren’t looking to get something for nothing. They want to make an honest wage. They want a shot at a good job. And big government won’t give it to them.

That fair shot can only come from free people, and free markets, and the free market incentive known as the profit motive.

Conservatism can lead us out of the Valley of Economic Ruin.

It places faith in individuals, not government.

It restores personal freedom instead of restricting it.

It lets business owners and families keep more of what they make, so they can invest it in the economy and create jobs.

I believe in a conservatism that empowers people to make the most of their lives rather than government that makes a mess of their lives.

After giving historic examples of humble leadership and outlining a conservative vision for the future, Perry turned back to his assault (and brought me out of my seat just reading the material) when he tied it all together with this hard truth about Trump:

But most telling to me is not Mr. Trump’s bombast, his refusal to show any remorse for his comments about Senator McCain, but his admission that there is not a single time in his life that he sought the forgiveness of God.

A man too arrogant, too self-absorbed, to seek God’s forgiveness is precisely the type of leader John Adams prayed would never occupy the White House.

He concluded his remarks (I think) perfectly with this:

We need a president who rises above personal grievances, petty differences, raw partisan politics. Who puts the nation first, who inspires Americans to believe again and produce again and dream again.

We must move past the empty calories of Trumpism, and return to conservatism.

We shall not give up on the animating idea of our Republic – a nation founded on the principle of “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

There is nothing wrong in America that cannot be fixed with the right leadership.

We need leadership that repairs the breach in America, that brings the country together, that sets our sights on greatness after a long period of pettiness.

In all, today was a great day to be a Rick, and hopefully foretells of great days to come for being a Republican and an American.  Happy Rick Day, Ricochet!

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  1. Carey J. Inactive
    Carey J.
    @CareyJ

    The King Prawn:Consider who agrees with you and rework the thesis as necessary.

    A stopped clock is right twice a day. Maddow makes a very good point when she asks what it says about the GOP leadership when a guy like Trump crushes their Certified Pre-Owned Moderates™.

    I hope the GOP leadership likes Trump, because they created him. Their serial betrayal of the party base has created a base that will cheer on anyone who will [CoC] with them.

    I don’t think Trump will get the nomination. But I’m okay with him being a stalking horse for the eventual nominee. Let him draw the fire of the Democrats and the GOP Certified Pre-Owned Moderates™. If he fades in the stretch, the media will have spent the whole campaign season demonizing the wrong guy. And if he wins the nomination, he’s better than Hillary, and he’ll have proved he can fight. And that’s something the GOP needs.

    Every dollar and every minute that Jeb, Rubio, et al. spend trying to screw Trump is a dollar and a minute they aren’t spending trying to screw Walker, Perry, Jindal, or any of the other conservative candidates.

    • #91
  2. Leigh Inactive
    Leigh
    @Leigh

    Basil Fawlty:

    Leigh:

    Western Chauvinist: The reason you and others are getting so much push-back, KP, is it feels like Trump is (and, by extension, we are) being told to “Shut up!“ “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! You’re making us look bad.” Have you noticed Democrats don’t do this to Bernie Sanders, self-professed socialist?

    Only if they choose to take it as being told “shut up.” He presented actual arguments. It’s clear that KP considers those arguments overwhelmingly convincing. It’s clear that he wants you on his side, not Trump’s. But he doesn’t want you to shut up, he wants you to be persuaded.

    If Trump is admired for being loud and aggressive, surely those who see him as dangerous are allowed to be loud and aggressive in return.

    Not if they credibly wish to condemn him for being loud and aggressive.

    That’s not close to being their main complaint.

    • #92
  3. S Inactive
    S
    @S

    I would never vote for Trump, but I am glad he’s doing what he’s doing. Immigration is an existential issue for the USA. Ann Coulter is right. In a decade or so you can kiss the country goodbye. Mexico has had one party rule for what, 110 years? It’s coming here, too, and all according to plan. Trump is the only guy saying what needs to be said about immigration.

    • #93
  4. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    Western Chauvinist:

    The King Prawn:

    Western Chauvinist: The reason you and others are getting so much push-back, KP, is it feels like Trump is (and, by extension, we are) being told to “Shut up!“ “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! You’re making us look bad.” Have you noticed Democrats don’t do this to Bernie Sanders, self-professed socialist?

    We’re not saying shut up. We’re saying don’t get conned. We’re saying that the nation faces serious problems post Obama and the party needs a serious candidate to prevent Hillary from making them worse.

    And you don’t think that’s condescending?

    Honestly? Depends on the intelligence and emotional maturity of the hearer. Yes, that is extremely condescending. Same condescension I’d have for anyone doing dumb [expletive] when they clearly are better than that.

    I understanding being mad as hell at the establishment, the selling out at every opportunity, the caving in to Obama and the democrats — all the things that gave rise to the Tea Party and the ABR sentiment last election. That anger and frustration is why I want to do this thing right! We tried a personality contest last time and look where it got us?

    • #94
  5. Carey J. Inactive
    Carey J.
    @CareyJ

    Umbra Fractus:

    Pseudodionysius: By the way, I agree with Claire Berlinski that in a world of Turkey and Russia there is a certain Vlad the Impaler logic to having most of the world think the United States is about to elect someone as potentially unhinged as they are.

    If that’s your logic, nothing scares the rest of the world more than the name Bush.

    I doubt that’s a statement you’ll find reasonable.

    I don’t think G.H.W. Bush made the world tremble when he was President. I certainly don’t think Jeb would. He’d be too busy handing out green cards at the border to frighten the world.

    • #95
  6. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    S: Trump is the only guy saying what needs to be said about immigration.

    Anyone can curse the darkness. What we seek is a little light.

    • #96
  7. Pseudodionysius Inactive
    Pseudodionysius
    @Pseudodionysius

    Carey J.:

    Umbra Fractus:

    Pseudodionysius: By the way, I agree with Claire Berlinski that in a world of Turkey and Russia there is a certain Vlad the Impaler logic to having most of the world think the United States is about to elect someone as potentially unhinged as they are.

    If that’s your logic, nothing scares the rest of the world more than the name Bush.

    I doubt that’s a statement you’ll find reasonable.

    I don’t think G.H.W. Bush made the world tremble when he was President. I certainly don’t think Jeb would. He’d be too busy handing out green cards at the border to frighten the world.

    Hillary’s Liberty Medal is the millstone around his neck.

    • #97
  8. Pseudodionysius Inactive
    Pseudodionysius
    @Pseudodionysius

    I don’t think Trump will get the nomination. But I’m okay with him being a stalking horse for the eventual nominee. Let him draw the fire of the Democrats and the GOP Certified Pre-Owned Moderates™. If he fades in the stretch, the media will have spent the whole campaign season demonizing the wrong guy. And if he wins the nomination, he’s better than Hillary, and he’ll have proved he can fight. And that’s something the GOP needs.

    He’s a perfect foil to demonstrate:

    Murphy’s Flaw – if you cave often enough, you end up so deep in the hole that someone drops a Bunker Buster on you. Drop the Mike, walk off stage.

    • #98
  9. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    Leigh:

    Basil Fawlty:

    Leigh:

    Western Chauvinist: The reason you and others are getting so much push-back, KP, is it feels like Trump is (and, by extension, we are) being told to “Shut up!“ “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! You’re making us look bad.” Have you noticed Democrats don’t do this to Bernie Sanders, self-professed socialist?

    Only if they choose to take it as being told “shut up.” He presented actual arguments. It’s clear that KP considers those arguments overwhelmingly convincing. It’s clear that he wants you on his side, not Trump’s. But he doesn’t want you to shut up, he wants you to be persuaded.

    If Trump is admired for being loud and aggressive, surely those who see him as dangerous are allowed to be loud and aggressive in return.

    Not if they credibly wish to condemn him for being loud and aggressive.

    That’s not close to being their main complaint.

    It’also not close to being just an incidental complaint.

    • #99
  10. Pseudodionysius Inactive
    Pseudodionysius
    @Pseudodionysius

    Hey everyone!

    We’ve been Rick Sold.

    • #100
  11. Leigh Inactive
    Leigh
    @Leigh

    Basil Fawlty: That’s not close to being their main complaint. It’also not close to being just an incidental complaint.

    They’re also not being more than aggressive.  They’ve yet, for instance, to disclose someone’s personal contact information.

    (I refer specifically to the Ricks and KP.   John McCain crossed the line on his own account when he called his own voters “crazies.”)

    • #101
  12. Carey J. Inactive
    Carey J.
    @CareyJ

    The King Prawn:

    Western Chauvinist:

    The King Prawn:

    We’re not saying shut up. We’re saying don’t get conned. We’re saying that the nation faces serious problems post Obama and the party needs a serious candidate to prevent Hillary from making them worse.

    And you don’t think that’s condescending?

    Honestly? Depends on the intelligence and emotional maturity of the hearer. Yes, that is extremely condescending. Same condescension I’d have for anyone doing dumb [expletive] when they clearly are better than that.

    I understanding being mad as hell at the establishment, the selling out at every opportunity, the caving in to Obama and the democrats — all the things that gave rise to the Tea Party and the ABR sentiment last election. That anger and frustration is why I want to do this thing right! We tried a personality contest last time and look where it got us?

    If 2012 was supposed to be a personality contest, why the [CoC] did we nominate Romney? The guy had all the charisma of pickled prunes. The base wants someone who will make the Establishment soil their undies.

    The good news about Trump is that it shouldn’t be that hard for other conservative candidates to steal his thunder. You can advocate mandatory minimum sentences followed by deportation for illegal alien felons, securing the border, and punishing sanctuary cities without sliming all immigrants. It’s okay to advocate national security policy that makes the European Left screech.

    • #102
  13. SParker Member
    SParker
    @SParker

    The King Prawn:

    S: Trump is the only guy saying what needs to be said about immigration.

    Anyone can curse the darkness. What we seek is a little light.

    Yes.  Fine.  But did you not notice that Gov. Perry called Joseph N. Welch a  Senator in the speech?  Any schoolchild knows Welch was Chief Counsel to the United States Army in those hearings. A man who can make a mistake like that can make other mistakes.  Yesterday he was the One.  Today may he burn brightly in Hell.

    And speaking of Hell, what the Hell is Trump actually saying about immigration that no one else isn’t or hasn’t?

    • #103
  14. Carey J. Inactive
    Carey J.
    @CareyJ

    The King Prawn:

    Western Chauvinist: The reason you and others are getting so much push-back, KP, is it feels like Trump is (and, by extension, we are) being told to “Shut up!“ “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! You’re making us look bad.” Have you noticed Democrats don’t do this to Bernie Sanders, self-professed socialist?

    We’re not saying shut up. We’re saying don’t get conned. We’re saying that the nation faces serious problems post Obama and the party needs a serious candidate to prevent Hillary from making them worse.

    Why is it bad to be conned by Trump, but okay to be conned by the GOP Establishment’s Certified Pre-Owned Moderates™?

    • #104
  15. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    Here’s something I find odd: just about everyone acknowledges that there’s almost no chance Trump will get the nomination. We’re really not even talking about having the establishment for once doing a nose pinch at the ballot box. Why exactly is this guy and his head pet such a contentious issue? Why does it get under my skin so much that such an unserious person who I don’t think can win the nomination is getting all this support from conservatives? I’m not invested in any candidate yet, I don’t think we’ve really even started on the serious work of a primary, so why all the attention even from me? I must meditate on this now.

    • #105
  16. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    Carey J.: Why is it bad to be conned by Trump, but okay to be conned by the GOP Establishment’s Certified Pre-Owned Moderates™?

    My chief complaint with Trump is that he’s diverting our attention from dealing with those idiots. We’re chasing a mole through the garden while the weeds grow tall.

    • #106
  17. Pseudodionysius Inactive
    Pseudodionysius
    @Pseudodionysius

    The King Prawn:

    Carey J.: Why is it bad to be conned by Trump, but okay to be conned by the GOP Establishment’s Certified Pre-Owned Moderates™?

    My chief complaint with Trump is that he’s diverting our attention from dealing with those idiots. We’re chasing a mole through the garden while the weeds grow tall.

    Normally at this time during the Primaries for the Republicans the media is extremely busy ignoring the Republican field and donating to the Planned Parenthood Italian Sportscar Foundation for Unemployed Formula One Racers. Because every sports car should be a wanted sports car.

    • #107
  18. Carey J. Inactive
    Carey J.
    @CareyJ

    The King Prawn:

    S: Trump is the only guy saying what needs to be said about immigration.

    Anyone can curse the darkness. What we seek is a little light.

    Trump is the only candidate who’s even willing to curse the darkness. The GOP Establishment is bricking up the windows and hanging triple-layered drapes. You’d think they were vampires, they fear the light.

    • #108
  19. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    Carey J.: If 2012 was supposed to be a personality contest, why the [CoC] did we nominate Romney? The guy had all the charisma of pickled prunes. The base wants someone who will make the Establishment soil their undies.

    We nominated him by default because there were no other viable options. This time we have viable options. I was desperate enough to vote for Santorum in my caucus and primary (Washington state is really, really weird) because I knew Romney was like taking a papier-mache butter knife to a tank fight.

    We have a serious election coming up. We don’t have time for the time-share infomercial of candidates.

    • #109
  20. Leigh Inactive
    Leigh
    @Leigh

    Carey J.: Why is it bad to be conned by Trump, but okay to be conned by the GOP Establishment’s Certified Pre-Owned Moderates™?

    Who exactly on Ricochet is suggesting that we nominate Bush?

    • #110
  21. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    Carey J.: Trump is the only candidate who’s even willing to curse the darkness. The GOP Establishment is bricking up the windows and hanging triple-layered drapes. You’d think they were vampires, they fear the light.

    So far as I can tell, only Bush is really an establishment candidate. I’ve already dismissed him from my mind and consideration as such.

    • #111
  22. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    Leigh:

    Carey J.: Why is it bad to be conned by Trump, but okay to be conned by the GOP Establishment’s Certified Pre-Owned Moderates™?

    Who exactly on Ricochet is suggesting that we nominate Bush?

    Exactly! I want to see the cage match between Cruz, Perry, Walker, Paul, etc. Trump, by being the freak sideshow he is, currently is denying me my entertainment.

    • #112
  23. Pseudodionysius Inactive
    Pseudodionysius
    @Pseudodionysius

    Carey J.:

    The King Prawn:

    S: Trump is the only guy saying what needs to be said about immigration.

    Anyone can curse the darkness. What we seek is a little light.

    Trump is the only candidate who’s even willing to curse the darkness. The GOP Establishment is bricking up the windows and hanging triple-layered drapes. You’d think they were vampires, they fear the light.

    • #113
  24. Leigh Inactive
    Leigh
    @Leigh

    The King Prawn:

    Leigh:

    Carey J.: Why is it bad to be conned by Trump, but okay to be conned by the GOP Establishment’s Certified Pre-Owned Moderates™?

    Who exactly on Ricochet is suggesting that we nominate Bush?

    Exactly! I want to see the cage match between Cruz, Perry, Walker, Paul, etc. Trump, by being the freak sideshow he is, currently is denying me my entertainment.

    Along those lines, let’s just note here: when we take Ricochet polls, Jeb Bush typically seems to get about one percent.  So going after Jeb Bush on Ricochet is the ultimate in preaching to the choir.  It’s a complete waste of virtual ink.  And I think that sometimes masks how strongly most people here object to his candidacy.

    If we had a large contingent of vigorous Jeb! people on here, you’d see plenty of us having spirited debates with them, and you’d find some of us on the same side.  For example, Jeb Bush gave a technocratic can’t-see-the-forest-for-the-trees swipe at Scott Walker for saying he’d terminate the Iran deal on Day One.  If someone had put up a post on it, you’d have seen people all over it defending Walker.  But virtually nobody here cared what Bush said.

    • #114
  25. Pseudodionysius Inactive
    Pseudodionysius
    @Pseudodionysius

    Rick Bold!

    • #115
  26. Pseudodionysius Inactive
    Pseudodionysius
    @Pseudodionysius

    Rick Bowled!

    • #116
  27. Carey J. Inactive
    Carey J.
    @CareyJ

    The King Prawn:Here’s something I find odd: just about everyone acknowledges that there’s almost no chance Trump will get the nomination. We’re really not even talking about having the establishment for once doing a nose pinch at the ballot box. Why exactly is this guy and his head pet such a contentious issue? Why does it get under my skin so much that such an unserious person who I don’t think can win the nomination is getting all this support from conservatives? I’m not invested in any candidate yet, I don’t think we’ve really even started on the serious work of a primary, so why all the attention even from me? I must meditate on this now.

    You’ll have to tell us why support for Trump gets under your skin. We’re not dermatologists, nor do we play them on TV.

    Why does Trump draw so much support from conservatives? Because he’s sticking it to the GOP Establishment. And for those of us who can’t decide whether to laugh out loud or barf when we hear the name Reince Priebus, it’s a genuine joy to see those (insert five minutes of non-CoC-compliant ranting) GOP Establishment types sweat.

    • #117
  28. user_385039 Inactive
    user_385039
    @donaldtodd

    Vance Richards:I think Perry said, ” The three things I don’t like about Trump are his attitude and his hair.”

    I don’t know if that is true but it is a great quip!  Thanks.  dt

    • #118
  29. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    Carey J.: Why does Trump draw so much support from conservatives? Because he’s sticking it to the GOP Establishment. And for those of us who can’t decide whether to laugh out loud or barf when we hear the name Reince Priebus, it’s a genuine joy to see those (insert five minutes of non-CoC-compliant ranting) GOP Establishment types sweat.

    I suppose I just want someone who is actually a conservative, who has never given money to the enemy, who didn’t invite Bill & Hill to his wedding, and hasn’t held all positions on the political spectrum equally over time to be the one making the establishment have kittens. That, and I kind of want someone with a little couth representing us. Trump is always one sound bite away from alienating a large group of voters.

    • #119
  30. user_385039 Inactive
    user_385039
    @donaldtodd

    Leigh:

    Carey J.: Why is it bad to be conned by Trump, but okay to be conned by the GOP Establishment’s Certified Pre-Owned Moderates™?

    Who exactly on Ricochet is suggesting that we nominate Bush?

    I’ll admit that I don’t see everything written here so if someone has recommended nominating Jeb, I did not see it.  The things I have seen indicate that Walker and Rubio were the first and second choices for most of us.  Those items were pulled but a renewal of those posts asking us again to make first and then second choices would be welcome.

    • #120
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