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Brad Thor: Trump is an Extinction Level Threat to American Democracy
Best-selling spy novel author Brad Thor just gave a remarkable interview on the Glenn Beck show in which he passionately explained why Donald Trump represents “an extinction level” threat to American democracy. I’m in full agreement. Here are Thor’s remarks, as reported by Lori, a journalist employed by the Beck organization. Everyone should read this.
“I think Trump is an extinction-level event potentially for our republic, for democracy. This is one of the greatest crises our nation has seen since the Great Depression, since World War II — is a potential Donald Trump presidency. It is a disaster for liberty,” Thor said. Glenn doesn’t often struggle to have his voice heard, but Thor’s passion overwhelmed the conversation.
“Listen, Andrew Sullivan, who I’m not a big fan…I don’t agree with a lot of stuff Andrew Sullivan writes…he wrote a brilliant piece recently in New York Magazine, and he said, “Democracies end when they are too democratic.” And he looked at Plato’s republic and some of the thoughts Plato had on democracy, and how, when there are no values, when anything is possible, when everything goes, that’s when a tyrant steps in and takes control of what Plato calls an “obedient mob.” It’s exactly what Trump has done. It is a brilliant, brilliant piece of writing. And I encourage everybody to read it,” Thor said.
Thor’s intensity surprised Glenn. “I’ve never heard you like this, Brad,” Glenn said.
“I’m terrified,” Thor answered.
Glenn reminded Thor of when he rang the bell about Barack Obama, but never said anything like an “extinction-level event.”
“Listen, I believe it was somebody at National Review that used that exact term, and it resonated with me…”
You can read the entire exchange, or listen to the audio, at Beck’s website.
Published in General
I guess Art Bell was booked up.
Is there a thread around here somewhere where I can find some of that? Please give me a link.
I wonder, Is this the first time a Glenn Beck interview of anyone made the Main Feed?
I’ve also never heard of Thor before today (unless you mean Thor). The troublesome part is not Thor, Beck, or the rest of the cast of whiners and alarmists. It’s that this kind of stuff ends up on the main feed, emitted from the
mouthkeyboard of an august Contributor. I’m shocked, shocked I say.Are you saying that this is not a legitimate viewpoint to hold? Did you read the Sullivan piece – it was extremely well argued.
Are you saying the piece was not hyperbole? Because I seem to recall that word appearing in a comment perilously close to your name. My comments in this thread have been directed at this hyperbole, mostly in the form of ridicule. For a moment, I thought you agreed that it was hyperbole.
Edit: To clarify, “the piece” in my comment refers to the OP and its referent, the Thor nonsense. The Sullivan piece was not mentioned by me previously.
It was in response to someone who had the sudden revelation that Beck can be…overly generous with his statements. Do I agree entirely with Zubrin or Thor? No, but I don’t think that their beliefs are beyond the realm of rational argument. Most people here seem to think that these arguments are illegitimate on their face – there is pretty good reasoning behind them in my opinion.
Since Thor’s opinion was expressed in terms of information gleaned from the Sullivan piece I suggest you read it. Its rather remarkable given Andrew’s legendary hatred of the Clintons and Hilary in particular.
I keep reading these comment sections and a pattern emerges. The NeverTrump people state all of the possible problems that are inherent in the Trump candidacy and the Trump supporters respond that Hillary or Bernie are worse. It would be interesting to read a response from the Trump supporters that actually listed reasons, other than Hillary’s inadequacies, why Trump should be elected president.Where are his qualifications other than being slightly less awful than Hillary?
On the issue of Brad Thor, I have read one of his books and wasn’t particularly impressed. His political commentary seems about as simplistic as his plot lines and characters. My preference is for protagonists with actual human characteristics and plot lines that do not unwind as predictably. He is no Tom Clancy.
I read it, and I had to conclude that it was only halfway there. His utter and complete unwillingness to point any fingers of blame at his own party, coupled with his constant refrain of how Republicans were all to blame for everything, meant that ultimately he was only in the general vicinity of the truth of things – but still in the realm of half truths and lies. When your entire argument is based on faulty premises, even if you get close to the right answer it is only by accident, and any conclusions you attempt to draw are going to be unapplicable.
Aside from a deep set distrust of the way too effeminate Glenn Beck for his frequent bouts with the emotionally vapors which I attribute to my genetic predisposition to sang froid, this is hyperbolic nonsense.
This is only the late republic period of America with the advent of shallow crass demagogues seeking to be Tribunes of the “People”. It will be far worse before the end, far worse but we can look forward to a healthy period of Imperial dominance with a few good emperors tried by war and slaughter and lots of loot. So enjoy the circuses with your bread.
Some of us have, in fact, done so.
http://ricochet.com/ulysses-s-trump/
http://ricochet.com/im-coming-out/
The Torries?
I find it ironic that Trump supporters are accusing Glenn Beck of trading in conspiracy theories – as if they think trading in conspiracy theories is a bad thing.
I’ve been reading Andrew for long enough that I tune that stuff out. What I found compelling were his analysis of Plato and how Democracies die. That’s when Andrew is at his best. When analyzing modern politics he gets a tad….histrionic.
Some of us are doing no such thing, and are merely pointing out that Beck has been off his nut for some time now.
I could not tune it out. Yes, he’s right-ish when on Plato, but if one cannot take old lessons and correctly apply them, or if one, as with a doctor, can get close to the correct diagnosis but apply the wrong treatment, then one’s utility is reduced.
There’s a wide gulf between “beyond the realm of rational argument” and “correct.” However, the article linked in the OP actually is beyond the realm of rational argument. It is an irrational screech.
Thinking about hyperbolic nature of the OP and Thor put me in mind of other conic sections that might also apply: circular, elliptical, and even parabolic – especially circular. Those ancient Greeks were something, weren’t they?
I’ll get to it later. Regarding Mr. Sullivan’s conservative credentials, they are dubious at best.
One does not need to be conservative to write a good article with some truths in it. I read the Guardian and the Economist every day – they still inform me.
How can you pay attention to Beck? His father was in on the JFK assassination; he knew all about the attack on the World Trade Center in advance; and you’ve never seen his birth certificate, have you? Make conspiracy theories great again!
Yeah, me too. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. But you were touting Sullivan’s ideological credentials:
For me, being less awful is enough. Please see my comments 264 and 265.
http://ricochet.com/must-vote-trump-please-hold-nose/comment-page-14/#comment-3336241
There doesn’t need to anything else. My list on why John McCain should be President was exceptionally small. I thought he would be a bad President, but I voted for him because I though Obama would be worse.
I never heard of Brad Thor, but the “extinction-level” event already happened, in 2012 with Obama’s re-election.
I have read it. He makes some good points; I know they are good because I’d already thought of them before reading it. There are some troublesome signs but this is no Weimar, 17th century England, or 19th century France. As there are many analogous elements with the past, so are there many differences.
The dangers are exaggerated and the conclusions alarmist. It’s that simple. Are there dangers? Sure. Same goes for Hillary or the Bern. What else is new?
One does not need to be a Tea Partier to hate the Clintons. Sullivan is a complicated man, and he’s certain no longer a conservative in my book. Still the man has a deep admiration for both Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher and was once a Tory. His philosophical grounding is in Michael Oakshott, a conservative British philosopher.
I argue it was 2011’s debt ceiling fold up where Obama realized even though Democrats no longer held the House he had no credible opposition.
Your idea is a very good though.
Glenn Beck is cuckoo for Coacoa Puffs.
I think that Thor’s comments are excessive and unnecessarily alarmist. I have grave concerns about a Trump Presidency, but I don’t think that it would mean the end of the Republic.
I do not object to the fact that Thor made his comments, or that Beck aired them, or that Zubrin posted them here at Ricochet.
I don’t think that Trump has the power to destroy the Republic. I think that Trump’s electoral success is a symptom of a problem, not the problem itself.
I do worry about the parallels with the fall of the Roman Republic. It started with what we could consider left-wing demagogues, the Gracchus brothers, in the 130s and 120s BC. This led to a series of civil wars and authoritarian rule by a number of “strongmen”: Marius, Sulla, Pompey, and Julius Caesar, leading to the end of the Republic and establishment of the Empire under Augustus, generally dated to 27 BC.
Things really started falling apart for Rome when both sides adopted the tactics of demagoguery and authoritarian rule.
Modern right-left ideas don’t match up exactly with Roman politics, but in general terms: the Gracchus brothers were leftists; Marius was (less) leftist; Sulla was right-wing, as was Pompey (and Crassus); Julius Caesar was (slightly) leftist; and Augustus was a centrist.
It is not a pretty story, though the Empire expanded thereafter, and generally prospered until the mid-300s.
By the way, if you found the Roman history above interesting, you might want to check out The History of Rome podcast — coincidentally abbreviated “THoR” — here. It includes well over a hundred episodes of about 15-25 minutes each.
We’d be lucky if the US lasted as long as Rome. According to Glubb, political systems last about 250 years. We’re just about at our expiration date. Talk about historical analogies!
Sir John Glubb, The Fate of Empires and Search for Survival.