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Trump, Conservatism, and Me
Greetings, Gentlemen and Gentle Ladies of Ricochet. I’ve been away for a while, I know.
Some of you wrote to the editors to ask what happened to me and whether they should be worried. I was touched by that. You’ve heard, then, that I’ve been working on my book, which is coming along well. But in truth, that’s not the only reason I’ve been away.
About a week ago, the Blue Yeti, who also noticed my absence, sent me a message to ask if I was okay. I was on the verge of writing, “Oh, yes, I’m fine, I’m just working on my book,” but then I stopped myself and thought, “Why not tell him the truth? It is, after all, the truth.” And so I did.
I wrote back and said that I was horrified by Trump. That I’m heartbroken for my country and for what I thought were our ideals, our decency. That it seemed to me the United States was experiencing the political equivalent of a psychotic break, one that has at best turned America into the punchline of a joke, and at worst will end the American experiment altogether. That I was exhausted from arguing about Trump. That I’ve already lived through this presidency once, in Turkey — although it took years for Erdoğan to sound the way Trump already does — and didn’t want to chronicle this story twice in my life.
“I’m outraged by Trump and what’s become of conservatism,” I wrote,
I’m depressed by all of it and sad that I’ve devoted so much of my life to a political ideology that in the end looks as corrupt to me as socialism. This hasn’t seemed like an appropriate thing to share with our entire membership, so I’ve been keeping quiet before saying anything rash — either to our members or to you. But I’ve been feeling this way now for long enough that I probably just need to say it.
So the answer, really, is that I’m not so okay. I’m quite depressed. A large part of it is an overdue reflection about my role in all of this, and a realization that whatever I believe about politics, it has no place in the conservative movement as it now exists.
The Yeti asked if he could call me. We spoke for a while. He started by trying to reassure me that I wasn’t responsible for Donald Trump’s election. This on the one hand is obviously true; but on the other, I’m not sure I can escape the responsibility for this disaster that every American shares, whether or not we supported him or voted for him. We’ve all, together, created — or failed to do enough to prevent — the conditions such that a phenomenon like this might emerge. We all share some part of the blame for allowing our country to descend into nihilism and despair; we all contributed, in some way, to the hollowing out of civic virtue, to the eradication of gravitas and dignity from the public sphere, to the conflation of reality television with reality, to the dumbing-down and the commercialization of everything, to mindless and unprincipled partisanship, to the cultivation of the imperial presidency. We are all all in some part responsible, even if our only contribution was doing too little to prevent it.
And in my case, the contribution was greater. I didn’t mean to, but I did. Ricochet, after all, was part of a gullible media that offered Trump five billion dollars’ worth of free advertising because we assumed his candidacy was just a terrific joke and great for site traffic. “It may not be good for America, but it’s damn good for CBS,” Les Moonves said. I can’t say our editorial approach was more foresighted.
I’m not so full of my own sense of importance as to believe what I write has much influence over anything, but it’s a fact that for the past few decades I’ve supported myself by writing by writing about, and for, politicians and audiences who called themselves conservatives. I believed I shared a set of assumptions and values with conservative readers, or at least, I believed their assumptions and values closer to mine than those of the American left. But it turns out that a substantial cohort of those people did not share my assumptions and values. And a significant number of them are now given over to isolationism, protectionism, nativism, authoritarianism, and sheer craziness. Or outright nihilism. Not to mention opportunism. I want no part of that.
Newt Gingrich, arguing that Margaret Thatcher was the model for the Trump presidency, recently buttressed this claim by allusion to my book about Thatcher, which made me cringe. As I replied in the American Interest, the idea is utterly unserious; that he could assert this is profoundly disturbing for what it says about how little the truth matters to anyone in this perfervid political climate:
I was glad to see my largely forgotten book mentioned, but at the same time I was baffled—because the comparison is ludicrous. Readers who doubt this may consult the online Thatcher archives, which contain every known statement made by Margaret Thatcher between 1945 and 1990; or take my word for it for $12.10 on Amazon. They will find nothing to suggest that Thatcher and Trump are similar in any relevant aspect, be it their political ideals, beliefs, moral values, temperament, style, experience, intellect, competence, decorum, or probity.
What does it mean, then, when a respected senior American politician makes this argument in a respected American newspaper? We’re not, after all, talking about an archaic figure known to us only through a disputed Delphic verse. Margaret Thatcher is very nearly a contemporary. She died in 2013. What she believed is as well known as the formula for the area of a triangle. It would be one thing if the newly Trumpesque Gingrich had in his article renounced Margaret Thatcher and her ideals. That would have been surprising, to be sure, but it would have at least made sense. But this is not what he did: He instead made his actual memories of Thatcher vanish in an act of mental thaumaturgy, and returned from his underground dungeon lair with a shape-changed new version of history.
I told the Blue Yeti all about this, and told him that basically, I’d prefer never to write about politics again. I’m exhausted with it, growingly cynical, and deeply pessimistic. When I finished, I expected him to say that he was sorry to hear it, and to accept my resignation.
But instead, he asked me to write about what I’d just told him, all of it. He said I wasn’t alone in feeling this way, and told me that more people than I realized shared my sentiments. I don’t quite remember what he said next, except that he seemed sincere in thinking I should write about this, and adamant that my point of view was one that should still be represented here. He said that if the Trump presidency implodes, or explodes, someone will have to make the case for classical liberalism and the vigorous virtues, since the conservatives who’ve eagerly hopped in bed with the Id in the White House won’t seem particularly credible after that. He suggested — kindly — that I pull myself together.
I figured he was probably right. “Pull yourself together and get back to work” is, usually, good general advice.
So, are there any more of you out there who are feeling like me? Or will I have to do this single-handedly? I will, I guess, if I have to, but it would be nice to know I’m not alone.
Published in General
I must remind you, Susan, that there’s a boatload of us most decidedly not in mourning, but rather very excited that Happy Days Are Here Again. The once seemingly unstoppable slide into eco-socialist-SJW-lawless fascism has been stopped cold in its tracks by Trump. Just this morning, I told my bride that I’m going to make popcorn and watch the defenestration of the Russia-gate idiots. Trump has punched back twice as hard with perfect timing, turning the unruly cur of the Obama intelligence cabal to cannibalism, and it will be wonderful to view the blast radius.
HDAHA
I’m in California. As Rush pointed out last week, California has spent a couple of hundred billion dollars in the last five years on “fairness.” Not to mention the boondoggle “high speed” rail system which is what passes for critical infrastructure spending.
It’s even worse in 2017.
Meanwhile, writes Victor Davis Hanson,
There’s a heck of a lot of blame to go around. Decades of irresponsible Democrats and feckless Republicans. Recriminations can be a gateway drug; the dam still needs to be fixed.
The Donald Trump of Claire’s imagination sounds like a really scary guy. I wouldn’t want him to be President.
Meanwhile in the real world we have blood in the streets spilled by the far left and senior Democrats egging them on. We have a Fourth Estate that has made a bonfire of what little credibility they accidentally retained. We have, by all appearances, a Deep State resisting the peaceful transition of power.
But let’s weep about gravitas.
@claire, I second Blondie’s advice that you take a daily dose of Andrew Klavan.
I’ll add that Three Martini Lunch has helped me as well.
I also think you make a trip back to the states for a furlough.
Oh, I was just trying to say that I have no problem with people who voted for Trump, even though I wasn’t a fan of his. I understand your explanation, too, I think: You’re focusing on what’s going on right now, rather than dwelling in the past or worrying a lot about the future. I’m just saying that’s harder for me to do.
[continued from #92]
We can argue the particulars of any specific project. The “fairness” money was squandered; now the California legislature wants Trump to bail out the dam in his infrastructure proposal. I hope that doesn’t happen – or if it does, that Trump is able to horse trade for more in other concessions than he kicks in.
Meanwhile,
I despise “bipartisanship” as much as the next right-thinking Ricochet denizen, but Trump’s infrastructure plans might well be about to peel off a big chunk of the labor movement from the Democrat party.
That might be worth some infrastructure spending. Maybe.
You’re right, TW. Except that I would point out as I did to Annefy that part of our grief is about the ugliness of the Left and the media. If you can sit back and munch on popcorn, watching all of the ugliness back and forth, that’s more than I’m able to do. But again, I stand corrected.
Sounds as if Annefy is well grounded. The past is immutable, the future is unknowable, but the present is where we actually live and decide how to do it best. Maybe the divide is between realists and fantasists? Almost kidding…
I can’t get this out of my head. I’ve known it was bad, but this account is somehow more chilling than others I’ve read.
I think it would have been worse if Trump had lost–the left would have felt empowered and virtuous to take any means necessary “prevent another Trump.”
I have 15 nieces and nephews. 4 adult children. 2 grand babies. I don’t have the luxury of not worrying about the future
edited to add: but I will say I am less worried now than I was a year ago.
No need to tell me you have no problem with people who voted for Trump. Doesn’t matter to me either way
I know this is between you and Annefy, Susan, but let me step in here and say that you seem to be dwelling on a future that has been defined for you by a news media with the most anti-President bias in the history of America – one that is literally making up lies and converting unsourced comments from Leftist blogs into “News”, all to turn public opinion against the President with the hope of taking back the Congress in 2018 and the White House in 2020.
So what do I see in the future? I see a Supreme Court that didn’t get another Sonia Sotomayor. I see a Cabinet that will stop ordering their Departments to attack Americans of other political persuasions. I see a chance to start nominating judges who care more about the Constitution than “Social Justice” – whatever that is. I see Central American gangs run out of town on a rail, rather than coddled as “misunderstood” – whatever that means.
I see a much better America in our future than the wanton destruction perpetrated by the “tolerant” Left of the last 8 years.
Give that some thought, won’t you?
“Grief” just doesn’t quite describe what I’m feeling when I witness “the ugliness of the Left and the media”. No. It’s more like rage, indignation, incredulity. And terror: look how far the rot has progressed. Our country has to be vigorously disinfected. It’s the Scouring of the Shire! And we have a champion, God preserve him!
The view from 10,000 feet, figuratively: I am enjoying immensely watching The West Wing. I did not see this program when it was popular, but my kids thought I might like it, and they were right. I am hooked. I love it. I would recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen it and who watched the last election with some degree of trepidation.
The creator and writer for the series, Aaron Sorkin, constructed his perfect president in Jeb Bartlett. It is fascinating to see who this person is, and it’s hard not to like Bartlet. Barlet is the Democrats’ dream leader: someone steeped in the classics and who is a world-renowned economist. What’s really funny is that Sorkin’s White House operates the way Democrats think government does and should operate: crisis to crisis. Republican George Bush was a perfect management-by-objectives leader, and that was anathema to the Democrats like Sorkin.
Still, I am enjoying the series because it is making me realize how alike we human beings all are, and I want the same things for America that Sorkin wants. We just disagree on the best road to take to get there.
It is actually making me feel much better about politics in general, and I believe if everyone can calm down for five minutes, we can accomplish a lot in the next four years and the Democrats will at some point say, “Yeah, you guys were right about this. Good job.”
Trump is the second Republican president in a row which Democrats have tried to paint as illegitimate. The Left only assents to their opponents’ electoral victories for lack of power to refuse lawful procedure. Worry about that, Claire.
Says it for me. I would have quoted the whole thing but it put me over the word limit.
Never-Trumpers at this point are indistinguishable from the Hillary-Whiners threatening to move to Canada. (Who doesn’t want them either.)
Claire, I generally just skip right over your posts these days. Wish I had done so this morning. I hope you are feeling better soon.
To compare President Trump to Erdogan is disgraceful. I am grateful for our new President. He follows the most destructive President of my lifetime and prevented a crook, Hillary, from continuing the same policies. I am baffled by the hysteria surrounding our new President. I am very happy with his decisions to date.
and may they be the remnant for a long long time!
BTW do you know that sounds as pretentious as the people calling themselves the resistance.
I’m glad you’re enjoying The West Wing. And I don’t know how far into,it you are, don’t want to be a spoiler–but I blame that show for Barack Hussein Obama’s ascendancy.
If we Americans encounter a scenario on on TV, we know it can really happen.
S’why I feel we could do without Designated Survivor, though it is very exciting entertainment.
I think a better term than “the Remnant” would be the “left behind”…..
I’m with you @claire. There are many of us who are lamenting that Trumpism has ended Reaganism/Thachterism and likely marks the end of this recent American classically liberal conservative movement that started at some point during the early Buckley/Goldwater years and seems to have ended when the GOP nominated Trump. Maybe it’s just a pause in classical liberalism as a political force in American politics, but I’m skeptical given how the the center-right embraced Trumpism so enthusiastically.
I’ve also pondered whether continuing on Ricochet is worth the mental energy anymore given that it’s going to be an interminable conflict between the classical liberals (the few of us who seem to be left) and whatever the center-right just turned into over the past year or so.
It’s one thing being on a website where we’re debating policy ideas that are sometimes very contentious, but it’s a different matter entirely when we’re not really of the same philosophical tribe anymore.
@claire
I share your disappointment that so many self-described conservatives turn out to not even understand what “conservative” means among the intellectuals of the movement, to say nothing of why it is important.
What I don’t share is your surprise. You will rarely go wrong in assuming that most people are not paying attention to very much. Half the country votes republican, but only a small percentage of those people could so much tell you the professions of Hayek, or Friedman, or Locke, or Burke, name a book written by any of them, or tell you what century any lived in. Most Americans, reportedly, think that “from each according to his ability . . . ” is a Constitutional provision.
Nor will you often err if you assume that principles follow (perceived) interests, not the other way around, and that people tend to be opportunistic, and selfish, and short-sighted.
In short, while I share your disappointment, it’s been a long time since I was naive enough to share your surprise.
On the other hand, take some heart. Just as the electorate is fickle enough to elect Donald Trump, it is fickle enough to turn on him if and when those perceived interests change. And he may be fickle enough to change when he feels the electorate turning on him. One way or another, the “American experiment” has shown itself robust enough to self-correct and overcome most disruptions. More than likely, it will do so again.
Glad you’re back, Cato
Indeed. I work in Silicon Valley and feel the same way.
Not to sound too besotted, but I think Trump has given the anti-SJW crowd a big boost and our heroes such as Milo (and now Pewdiepie!) are making the first inroads into that mess.
Indeed. especially on Ricochet!
I can’t figure out why we often are at cross-purposes when we talk, A. I didn’t say you didn’t worry about the future. I was suggesting (and maybe I’m wrong) that you might focus on the present more and keep the future in perspective, unlike others who worry obsessively about it. Also, you asked me why I made that comment, so I explained. If it makes you feel any better, it doesn’t matter to me that it doesn’t matter to you.
Claire, here’s what terrifies me:
A year ago, at my alma mater, a girl who wore a sombrero to the dining hall was made to stand in the chapel and apologize in front of the entire college for the “cultural appropriation” that had offended a student of Mexican descent. Worse, a few days ago, students there shut down a talk by Charles Murray and physically attacked a female professor.
My friend, who teaches “ELL,” tells me that the majority of her students are illegal, and at least two of them are crack dealers (she reported them to the police). I have substituted for her, and I can add that several of her students appear far older than high school age. The citizens of this town pay over $17,000/year/student.
I observed a 3rd-grade teacher tell a student that George Washington could not be considered a good leader because he owned slaves.
The illiteracy and ignorance in wealthy, white children in the elementary schools where I have been subbing is overwhelming. Most fifth graders I have taught cannot recognize or explain basic parts of speech, they cannot spell, they do not know the rules of capitalization or punctuation. They can all recite leftists shibboleths, however. Average home price in the neighborhoods where these schools are? Oh, about $850,000. And yes, there are still Hillary signs up all the place.
The left has had a stranglehold on our institutions and our culture for too long.
Patriot, I must be doing a lousy job of communicating today. I am an optimist by nature. But I’m uncomfortable with uncertainty at times, and I don’t know of anyone who believes that our future is certain. I don’t obsess about it. I am concerned about it. I would feel that way whether Trump was in office or not. I see all the positive things that you do. But I’m unwilling to wear blinders to the possible downsides (and I’m NOT saying you are wearing blinders). I suspect that you and I are closer in our attitudes than you think. BTW, I have no problem with people chiming in when I appear to have a conversation with some one else. Thank you for doing so.
Your condescending “tribal chest thumpers” remark makes me all the happier that I’ve thrown my lot in with them, win or lose. I’m glad you’re honest enough to express your disdain in such an honest way.
Your “when this is all over” is nothing more than an indicator that you (and those you identify as “we”) will have little useful contribution in the days to come.
Wow. That is a sobering look at the future, Liz.
The descent into madness of our society.
That’s quite a synopsis of life in the real world. As Lincoln said, paraphrasing, the hand that rocks the cradle shapes the nation.
Howard Zinn’s version of history is dominating more and more minds every day.
It will be the home-schooled kids who save the nation, I think.
I pray weekly at rosary that I live long enough to vote for a home-schooled president.
As previously mentioned , I have 15 nieces and nephews. Some of Those over 18 have attended elite universities, a couple of them currently.
I am in charge of proofreading resumes, etc after graduation and their entry essays before college
The fact that I am the best in the family should be horrifying. What’s worse are their first drafts
I was mostly with you up until this statement. Trump is doing no such thing. The Social Security and Medicare entitlements are the metaphorical 800-pound gorilla in the room and he says he’s not going to touch them. So much for “no free lunch.”