Words to Remember, Especially for Never-Trumpers

 

I don’t agree with everything that Kevin Williamson has to say but a recent article of his contained a few sentences that should be required reading for those who “just can’t get past” Trump’s volatile personality. And, it’s a reminder for all of us that, even though the poster child for senility has taken the lead in the Democratic race, it’s still the party of AOC and Bernie.

When James Carville warns about driving away blue-collar and rural voters, Democrats in Brooklyn hear that Southern accent and quietly whisper, “Good riddance.”  The Democrats are in the mood for culture war, not for coalition-building and reconciliation.  They do not wish to win with moderation and compromise, because they do not wish to govern with moderation and compromise.

Williamson touched on their ideology,

They are committed to their belief that Alger Hiss and the Rosenbergs were “on the right side of history,” that those who opposed them were monsters, and that those who rallied to the flag of Lenin, Stalin, and Mao were only humanitarians with excessive enthusiasm — “liberals in a hurry,” as they used to say.

When reading Williamson’s article, I thought about the consummate Never-Trumper, Bill Kristol. Even when he claimed to be a conservative, I had little use for him (with his condescending, arrogant manner, I always pictured him in a black uniform wearing a coal scuttle helmet). That these “ideologically pure” windbags would choose a candidate from today’s Democratic Party over Trump, out of sheer spite, is unconscionable.

When it comes to Donald Trump, there is clearly much to dislike. However, when it comes to today’s Democratic Party, he is a knight in shining armor.

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  1. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    rgbact (View Comment):

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    How many of the NTers want the borders enforced?

    Plenty. Trumpers have been pushing that immigration strawman for 4 years now. Its supposed to give Trumpism the illusion about caring about something besides just Trump idolatry and nastiness. Meanwhile, Trump did nothing on immigration for 2 years and they barely said a word. Even now, he’s spent a fortune…built about as much wall as George W, but the Trumper strawman continues. As for legislation or accomplishments or 2020 goals….forget it. But hey, Bill Kristol said the word “lazy” back in 2017.

    Tax cuts, massive deregulation including rolling back significant portions of ObamaCare, two Supreme Court appointments, turning the 9th Circus conservative, encouraging pipeline construction and exporting energy. You may not consider these items to be considerable achievements but most Republicans disagree with you,

    • #31
  2. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Yes I want the borders to be enforced, but instead of a wall, how about a universal ID card?

    •  

    A card doesn’t have the ability to do anything the enforcers don’t want to do.

    • #32
  3. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Headedwest (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    I never fail to be amazed as how “NeverTrumpers” are continually reviled. The Dems hate us because we believe in markets and freedom, and the current Republican Party hates us because we believe in Conservatism as practiced by Reagan.

    There is little to be gained by arguing. I will simply say that I dissent.

    You do not have any point of view that will make any difference. Just quit and join the Dems.

    Perhaps after Trump is defeated and his acolytes are defeated, in 2020 you will remember that Ronald Reagan brought decades of peace and prosperity to the United States., and the Republican Party will return from being the Party of Trump to the Party of Reagan.  Remember when you were proud of your Republican President?  Those days can happen again, after Trump and Trumpism are gone.

    • #33
  4. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    Remember when you were proud of your Republican President? Those days can happen again, after Trump and Trumpism are gone.

    It’s less important to be proud of our president than to have a president who is doing the right things. Being proud of our president is good for the ego. Doing the right things is good for our country.

    • #34
  5. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Headedwest (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    I never fail to be amazed as how “NeverTrumpers” are continually reviled. The Dems hate us because we believe in markets and freedom, and the current Republican Party hates us because we believe in Conservatism as practiced by Reagan.

    There is little to be gained by arguing. I will simply say that I dissent.

    You do not have any point of view that will make any difference. Just quit and join the Dems.

    Perhaps after Trump is defeated and his acolytes are defeated, in 2020 you will remember that Ronald Reagan brought decades of peace and prosperity to the United States., and the Republican Party will return from being the Party of Trump to the Party of Reagan. Remember when you were proud of your Republican President? Those days can happen again, after Trump and Trumpism are gone.

    Mass immigration will mean that conservatives will be in exile for at least a generation. Trump was the only one of seventeen candidates who was talking about this in 2016. What turned California deep blue was immigration. The R elites don’t care about this but the people feel the negative effects of this.

    • #35
  6. jeannebodine Member
    jeannebodine
    @jeannebodine

    Gary Robbins

    Headedwest (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    I never fail to be amazed as how “NeverTrumpers” are continually reviled. The Dems hate us because we believe in markets and freedom, and the current Republican Party hates us because we believe in Conservatism as practiced by Reagan.

    There is little to be gained by arguing. I will simply say that I dissent.

    You do not have any point of view that will make any difference. Just quit and join the Dems.

    Perhaps after Trump is defeated and his acolytes are defeated, in 2020 you will remember that Ronald Reagan brought decades of peace and prosperity to the United States., and the Republican Party will return from being the Party of Trump to the Party of Reagan. Remember when you were proud of your Republican President? Those days can happen again, after Trump and Trumpism are gone.

    And perhaps someday my husband will jump out his bed, fully recovered, I will look into the mirror and see that overnight I have turned into a young Sophia Loren, open the front door and see the streets are paved with gold and that all misery on earth has vanished and then my husband and I will jump on the golden unicorn that stands where our car had been parked and we will fly around the world, showering all the peoples on earth with love and happiness.

    • #36
  7. Mark Camp Member
    Mark Camp
    @MarkCamp

    jeannebodine (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins

    Perhaps after Trump is defeated and his acolytes are defeated, in 2020 you will remember that Ronald Reagan brought decades of peace and prosperity to the United States., and the Republican Party will return from being the Party of Trump to the Party of Reagan. Remember when you were proud of your Republican President? Those days can happen again, after Trump and Trumpism are gone.

    And perhaps someday my husband will jump out his bed, fully recovered, I will look into the mirror and see that overnight I have turned into a young Sophia Loren, open the front door and see the streets are paved with gold and that all misery on earth has vanished and then my husband and I will jump on the golden unicorn that stands where our car had been parked and we will fly around the world, showering all the peoples on earth with love and happiness.

    Political debate is a series of questions

    1. What ends are desirable?
    2. What desirable ends are politically achievable?
    3. What means to the desirable, politically achievable ends are politically possible?
    4. What is the likelihood of success, and what are the likely costs, of each politically possible means to the desirable, politically achievable ends?

    What about the debate between Jeanne and Gary, representatives of the non-N/T and the self-described N/T?

    At which step do they first disagree?

    When you are finished, please lay your pencil down and put your head on your desk, and I will post the correct answer.

    • #37
  8. rgbact Inactive
    rgbact
    @romanblichar

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    Tax cuts, massive deregulation including rolling back significant portions of ObamaCare, two Supreme Court appointments, turning the 9th Circus conservative, encouraging pipeline construction and exporting energy. You may not consider these items to be considerable achievements but most Republicans disagree with you

    Great, that sounds like stuff any random Ricochet member could’ve accomplished…and without the crushing debt, narcissistic personality and lying to go with it.

    The fact that any Trumper think ACA is rolled back in any significant way, so lets kick back and praise Trump….is just another example of how little this movement stands for. Heck, I think Marco Rubio rolled it back more than Trump, during Obama years. But now, we settle for failure and love it.

    • #38
  9. jeannebodine Member
    jeannebodine
    @jeannebodine

    I utilized satire because I have nothing else to offer to Gary’s arguments or, rather, talking points, at this time. In my estimation, debating Gary is a fool’s errand and the endless go-rounds with him produce nothing of value. He will never change. His emotion-based burning hatred of Donald Trump drags so many discussions into the dirt, even those that are not about Trump.

    I’ve seen so many fact-based responses bounce off him. He repeats debunked claims over and over again. There have been so many specific, pointed questions poised to him by other members that go answered. His future vision for the Republican party if only Trump were gone is a pie-in-the sky, unrealistic, fevered dream. He can’t accept the fact that our nation has utterly changed from his misty, sentimental view of Reagan years.

    Gary can’t accept the fact that Trump has never been the problem. He is merely a symptom of a fed-up, angry, ultra-polarized nation. We are in a fight for the life of the republic and simplistic nostalgia for earlier times is not only unhelpful, it is deluded and deadly. Witness Gary’s support of Joe Biden. No American, let alone someone who poses as a “conservative” should be willing to turn our country over into the hands of a severely impaired, mind-addled man unless they are willing to damage our great country beyond repair.

    And no, I haven’t given up on America. I am prayerful that if most of Trump’s policy visions can be expanded and implemented in the next 4 years, we may be able to survive and prosper. It’s my personal belief that people are waking up and witnessing the utter destruction brought on by the Dems and their media arm. However, if the Democrats re-gain power in 2020, it’ my view that it’s lights out in America.

     

    • #39
  10. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    jeannebodine (View Comment):

    I utilized satire because I have nothing else to offer to Gary’s arguments or, rather, talking points, at this time. In my estimation, debating Gary is a fool’s errand and the endless go-rounds with him produce nothing of value. He will never change. His emotion-based burning hatred of Donald Trump drags so many discussions into the dirt, even those that are not about Trump.

    I’ve seen so many fact-based responses bounce off him. He repeats debunked claims over and over again. There have been so many specific, pointed questions poised to him by other members that go answered. His future vision for the Republican party if only Trump were gone is a pie-in-the sky, unrealistic, fevered dream. He can’t accept the fact that our nation has utterly changed from his misty, sentimental view of Reagan years.

    Gary can’t accept the fact that Trump has never been the problem. He is merely a symptom of a fed-up, angry, ultra-polarized nation. We are in a fight for the life of the republic and simplistic nostalgia for earlier times is not only unhelpful, it is deluded and deadly. Witness Gary’s support of Joe Biden. No American, let alone someone who poses as a “conservative” should be willing to turn our country over into the hands of a severely impaired, mind-addled man unless they are willing to damage our great country beyond repair.

    Gary’s probably in the ‘moderate’ wing of the decorum conservatives, who have ostensibly decided on the basis of persona that Trump needs to be defeated. That’s why so many were in panic mode a month ago that would require support of Bernie Sanders and not Joe Biden, who they feel they can live with (there are some decorum cons who aren’t going to back either Trump or Biden in the November election, while the hard-core Rick Wilson types have decided Trump’s coarseness means they can be even more crude towards both him, his wife, and his voters).

    • #40
  11. CACrabtree Coolidge
    CACrabtree
    @CACrabtree

    jeannebodine (View Comment):

    I utilized satire because I have nothing else to offer to Gary’s arguments or, rather, talking points, at this time. In my estimation, debating Gary is a fool’s errand and the endless go-rounds with him produce nothing of value. He will never change. His emotion-based burning hatred of Donald Trump drags so many discussions into the dirt, even those that are not about Trump.

    I’ve seen so many fact-based responses bounce off him. He repeats debunked claims over and over again. There have been so many specific, pointed questions poised to him by other members that go answered. His future vision for the Republican party if only Trump were gone is a pie-in-the sky, unrealistic, fevered dream. He can’t accept the fact that our nation has utterly changed from his misty, sentimental view of Reagan years.

    Gary can’t accept the fact that Trump has never been the problem. He is merely a symptom of a fed-up, angry, ultra-polarized nation. We are in a fight for the life of the republic and simplistic nostalgia for earlier times is not only unhelpful, it is deluded and deadly. Witness Gary’s support of Joe Biden. No American, let alone someone who poses as a “conservative” should be willing to turn our country over into the hands of a severely impaired, mind-addled man unless they are willing to damage our great country beyond repair.

    And no, I haven’t given up on America. I am prayerful that if most of Trump’s policy visions can be expanded and implemented in the next 4 years, we may be able to survive and prosper. It’s my personal belief that people are waking up and witnessing the utter destruction brought on by the Dems and their media arm. However, if the Democrats re-gain power in 2020, it’ my view that it’s lights out in America.

     

    Spot on, especially your last sentence.  The eight years of Obama did almost indescribable damage to our armed forces and the Federal judiciary.  For those two institutions alone, I will be supporting Trump.  Yes, I might be holding my nose, but I’ve long since reconciled myself to that.

    Again, great comment.

    • #41
  12. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    rgbact (View Comment):

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    Tax cuts, massive deregulation including rolling back significant portions of ObamaCare, two Supreme Court appointments, turning the 9th Circus conservative, encouraging pipeline construction and exporting energy. You may not consider these items to be considerable achievements but most Republicans disagree with you

    Great, that sounds like stuff any random Ricochet member could’ve accomplished…and without the crushing debt, narcissistic personality and lying to go with it.

    The fact that any Trumper think ACA is rolled back in any significant way, so lets kick back and praise Trump….is just another example of how little this movement stands for. Heck, I think Marco Rubio rolled it back more than Trump, during Obama years. But now, we settle for failure and love it.

    The economy prior to Wuhan Virus was running at a level the last four presidents didn’t even come close to achieving. The fact that you can’t acknowledge this shows the knots some NTers have to tie themselves into in order to avoid giving Trump credit. I agree that the debt is a problem. But nobody seems to want to cut back on their pet program.

    • #42
  13. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    In July 2017 I flew up to Dallas next to a couple who had been in the military at Ft Sam Hood. The husband now was a civilian plumber. He said that in the six months Trump had been president, conditions for American citizens had improved dramatically. There was much less competition from illegal aliens. I doubt if that would have been the case if any of the other 16 R candidates had become president. 

    • #43
  14. namlliT noD Member
    namlliT noD
    @DonTillman

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    I never fail to be amazed as how “NeverTrumpers” are continually reviled.

    Not reviled.

    But think about it, man — “Never Trump”.

    What exactly do those words mean, well into the fourth year of the Trump administration?

    • #44
  15. rgbact Inactive
    rgbact
    @romanblichar

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    rgbact (View Comment):

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    The fact that any Trumper think ACA is rolled back in any significant way, so lets kick back and praise Trump….is just another example of how little this movement stands for. Heck, I think Marco Rubio rolled it back more than Trump, during Obama years. But now, we settle for failure and love it.

    The economy prior to Wuhan Virus was running at a level the last four presidents didn’t even come close to achieving. The fact that you can’t acknowledge this shows the knots some NTers have to tie themselves into in order to avoid giving Trump credit. I agree that the debt is a problem. But nobody seems to want to cut back on their pet program.

    I see your memory of the economy in the 90’s and early 2000’s has completely faded. Nevermind that the 2019 growth rate was down near 2% and projected under 2% for 2020. So all that Trump debt bought you 1.5 years of a boosted economy that was fading fast. And it left us totally exposed for an emergency/war….which finally happened. Pet programs…..entitlements are “pet programs” in Trump world.

    • #45
  16. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Mark Camp (View Comment):

    jeannebodine (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins

    Perhaps after Trump is defeated and his acolytes are defeated, in 2020 you will remember that Ronald Reagan brought decades of peace and prosperity to the United States., and the Republican Party will return from being the Party of Trump to the Party of Reagan. Remember when you were proud of your Republican President? Those days can happen again, after Trump and Trumpism are gone.

    And perhaps someday my husband will jump out his bed, fully recovered, I will look into the mirror and see that overnight I have turned into a young Sophia Loren, open the front door and see the streets are paved with gold and that all misery on earth has vanished and then my husband and I will jump on the golden unicorn that stands where our car had been parked and we will fly around the world, showering all the peoples on earth with love and happiness.

    Political debate is a series of questions

    1. What ends are desirable?

    The ends are desirable as to judges, taxes and regulations.  They are not desirable as to National Defense with Mattis gone, trade, or planning for this pandemic.  His leadership during the pandemic has been erratic.

    1. What desirable ends are politically achievable?

    Yes.  But any of the other 16 Republicans would have done a far better job.  Trump destroyed us in the suburbs and with the educated in 2018, and that will accelerate in 2020.  The best thing Trump could do now is to let Pence run this.

    1. What means to the desirable, politically achievable ends are politically possible?

    With his destruction of the Republican brand, Trump is doing long term damage.  He is making positive change less likely.

    Look, it is as clear as day to me that Trump abused his power when he tried to coerce Ukraine to start a bogus investigation of the Biden’s.  Maybe it didn’t rise to be enough to remove Trump as Romney voted which I support.  But only a precious few Republican Senators were willing to say that what Trump did was wrong.  This is the analogy to Trump shooting someone on Fifth Avenue.  Who are you going to believe, Trump, or your lying eyes?

    Virtually all of the members of Congress have dishonored and disqualified themselves.  Our only hope in 2024 is for us to nominate a governor.

    1. What is the likelihood of success, and what are the likely costs, of each politically possible means to the desirable, politically achievable ends?

    What I said in 2016 is true today.  Conservatism thrives in opposition to President Hillary, and conservatism dies in service to President Trump.

    What about the debate between Jeanne and Gary, representatives of the non-N/T and the self-described N/T?

    At which step do they first disagree?

    When you are finished, please lay your pencil down and put your head on your desk, and I will post the correct answer.

     

    • #46
  17. DrewInWisconsin, Negative Infl… Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Negative Infl…
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Maybe the Nevers could just give it a rest until we get through this instead of continuing their attempts to divide the right?

    There will be plenty of time for you to get in your Two Four Minutes Years Hate later on.

    • #47
  18. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Mark Camp (View Comment):

    jeannebodine (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins

    Perhaps after Trump is defeated and his acolytes are defeated, in 2020 you will remember that Ronald Reagan brought decades of peace and prosperity to the United States., and the Republican Party will return from being the Party of Trump to the Party of Reagan. Remember when you were proud of your Republican President? Those days can happen again, after Trump and Trumpism are gone.

    And perhaps someday my husband will jump out his bed, fully recovered, I will look into the mirror and see that overnight I have turned into a young Sophia Loren, open the front door and see the streets are paved with gold and that all misery on earth has vanished and then my husband and I will jump on the golden unicorn that stands where our car had been parked and we will fly around the world, showering all the peoples on earth with love and happiness.

    Political debate is a series of questions

    1. What ends are desirable?

    The ends are desirable as to judges, taxes and regulations. They are not desirable as to National Defense with Mattis gone, trade, or planning for this pandemic. His leadership during the pandemic has been erratic.

    1. What desirable ends are politically achievable?

    Yes. But any of the other 16 Republicans would have done a far better job. Trump destroyed us in the suburbs and with the educated in 2018, and that will accelerate in 2020. The best thing Trump could do now is to let Pence run this.

    1. What means to the desirable, politically achievable ends are politically possible?

    With his destruction of the Republican brand, Trump is doing long term damage. He is making positive change less likely.

    Look, it is as clear as day to me that Trump abused his power when he tried to coerce Ukraine to start a bogus investigation of the Biden’s. Maybe it didn’t rise to be enough to remove Trump as Romney voted which I support. But only a precious few Republican Senators were willing to say that what Trump did was wrong. This is the analogy to Trump shooting someone on Fifth Avenue. Who are you going to believe, Trump, or your lying eyes?

    Virtually all of the members of Congress have dishonored and disqualified themselves. Our only hope in 2024 is for us to nominate a governor.

    1. What is the likelihood of success, and what are the likely costs, of each politically possible means to the desirable, politically achievable ends?

    What I said in 2016 is true today. Conservatism thrives in opposition to President Hillary, and conservatism dies in service to President Trump.

    What about the debate between Jeanne and Gary, representatives of the non-N/T and the self-described N/T?

    At which step do they first disagree?

    When you are finished, please lay your pencil down and put your head on your desk, and I will post the correct answer.

     

    Shorter version, “Rawk!! Orange Man Bad, Orange Man Bad, Rawk!!”

    • #48
  19. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    jeannebodine (View Comment):

    I utilized satire because I have nothing else to offer to Gary’s arguments or, rather, talking points, at this time. In my estimation, debating Gary is a fool’s errand and the endless go-rounds with him produce nothing of value. He will never change. His emotion-based burning hatred of Donald Trump drags so many discussions into the dirt, even those that are not about Trump.

    I’ve seen so many fact-based responses bounce off him. He repeats debunked claims over and over again. There have been so many specific, pointed questions poised to him by other members that go answered. His future vision for the Republican party if only Trump were gone is a pie-in-the sky, unrealistic, fevered dream. He can’t accept the fact that our nation has utterly changed from his misty, sentimental view of Reagan years.

    Gary can’t accept the fact that Trump has never been the problem. He is merely a symptom of a fed-up, angry, ultra-polarized nation. We are in a fight for the life of the republic and simplistic nostalgia for earlier times is not only unhelpful, it is deluded and deadly. Witness Gary’s support of Joe Biden. No American, let alone someone who poses as a “conservative” should be willing to turn our country over into the hands of a severely impaired, mind-addled man unless they are willing to damage our great country beyond repair.

    And no, I haven’t given up on America. I am prayerful that if most of Trump’s policy visions can be expanded and implemented in the next 4 years, we may be able to survive and prosper. It’s my personal belief that people are waking up and witnessing the utter destruction brought on by the Dems and their media arm. However, if the Democrats re-gain power in 2020, it’ my view that it’s lights out in America.

    Amen, sister! Praying daily for Trump’s health and well being and his reelection. Trump is Shane or Tom Doniphon. The essential man — until the threat is neutralized and he isn’t. I hope history treats him more kindly than the Nevers. 

    • #49
  20. DrewInWisconsin, Negative Infl… Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Negative Infl…
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):
    I hope history treats him more kindly than the Nevers. 

    Cuomo and Newsom treat him better than the Nevers.

    • #50
  21. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    DrewInWisconsin, Negative Infl… (View Comment):

    Maybe the Nevers could just give it a rest until we get through this instead of continuing their attempts to divide the right?

    There will be plenty of time for you to get in your Two Four Minutes Years Hate later on.

    Maybe the Trump Acolytes can give it a rest before blaming “Severe Trump Skeptics”/“Reagan Republicans”/“NeverTrump Republicans” for everything that goes wrong.

    • #51
  22. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Mark Camp (View Comment):

    jeannebodine (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins

    Perhaps after Trump is defeated and his acolytes are defeated, in 2020 you will remember that Ronald Reagan brought decades of peace and prosperity to the United States., and the Republican Party will return from being the Party of Trump to the Party of Reagan. Remember when you were proud of your Republican President? Those days can happen again, after Trump and Trumpism are gone.

    And perhaps someday my husband will jump out his bed, fully recovered, I will look into the mirror and see that overnight I have turned into a young Sophia Loren, open the front door and see the streets are paved with gold and that all misery on earth has vanished and then my husband and I will jump on the golden unicorn that stands where our car had been parked and we will fly around the world, showering all the peoples on earth with love and happiness.

    Political debate is a series of questions

    1. What ends are desirable?

    The ends are desirable as to judges, taxes and regulations. They are not desirable as to National Defense with Mattis gone, trade, or planning for this pandemic. His leadership during the pandemic has been erratic.

    1. What desirable ends are politically achievable?

    Yes. But any of the other 16 Republicans would have done a far better job. Trump destroyed us in the suburbs and with the educated in 2018, and that will accelerate in 2020. The best thing Trump could do now is to let Pence run this.

    1. What means to the desirable, politically achievable ends are politically possible?

    With his destruction of the Republican brand, Trump is doing long term damage. He is making positive change less likely.

    Look, it is as clear as day to me that Trump abused his power when he tried to coerce Ukraine to start a bogus investigation of the Biden’s. Maybe it didn’t rise to be enough to remove Trump as Romney voted which I support. But only a precious few Republican Senators were willing to say that what Trump did was wrong. This is the analogy to Trump shooting someone on Fifth Avenue. Who are you going to believe, Trump, or your lying eyes?

    Virtually all of the members of Congress have dishonored and disqualified themselves. Our only hope in 2024 is for us to nominate a governor.

    1. What is the likelihood of success, and what are the likely costs, of each politically possible means to the desirable, politically achievable ends?

    What I said in 2016 is true today. Conservatism thrives in opposition to President Hillary, and conservatism dies in service to President Trump.

    What about the debate between Jeanne and Gary, representatives of the non-N/T and the self-described N/T?

    At which step do they first disagree?

    When you are finished, please lay your pencil down and put your head on your desk, and I will post the correct answer.

     

    Shorter version, “Rawk!! Orange Man Bad, Orange Man Bad, Rawk!!”

    And your short version might be “Reagan Republicans” Bad!

    • #52
  23. DrewInWisconsin, Negative Infl… Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Negative Infl…
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Negative Infl… (View Comment):

    Maybe the Nevers could just give it a rest until we get through this instead of continuing their attempts to divide the right?

    There will be plenty of time for you to get in your Two Four Minutes Years Hate later on.

    Maybe the Trump Acolytes can give it a rest before blaming “Severe Trump Skeptics”/“Reagan Republicans”/“NeverTrump Republicans” for everything that goes wrong.

    I never did that. Meanwhile, your continued use of “Trump Acolytes” is deliberately insulting. Why are you being so divisive at a time when our nation is facing a serious crisis? Democrat politicians are showing more support for the President than the NeverTrumpers.

     

    • #53
  24. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    And your short version might be “Reagan Republicans” Bad!

    I thought you were a ‘Country First Republican’ (without actually specifying a country)?

    Not that you disclosed it when you volunteered to be a Biden caucus precinct captain.

    • #54
  25. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    DrewInWisconsin, Negative Infl… (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Negative Infl… (View Comment):

    Maybe the Nevers could just give it a rest until we get through this instead of continuing their attempts to divide the right?

    There will be plenty of time for you to get in your Two Four Minutes Years Hate later on.

    Maybe the Trump Acolytes can give it a rest before blaming “Severe Trump Skeptics”/“Reagan Republicans”/“NeverTrump Republicans” for everything that goes wrong.

    I never did that. Meanwhile, your continued use of “Trump Acolytes” is deliberately insulting. Why are you being so divisive at a time when our nation is facing a serious crisis? Democrat politicians are showing more support for the President than the NeverTrumpers.

    Well, please give me an appropriate phrase for someone who extols Trump at every moment, and who has repeatedly condemned me in most unflattering terms.  Drew, I cannot recall a single kind word from you about me.  

    Democratic Governors speak kindly about Trump after he threatened to not fully assist Governors who had been mean to him.

    • #55
  26. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    And your short version might be “Reagan Republicans” Bad!

    I thought you were a ‘Country First Republican’ (without actually specifying a country)?

    i am both a “Country First Republican” and a “Reagan Republican.”

    Not that you disclosed it when you volunteered to be a Biden caucus precinct captain.

    Given that Bernie Sanders had to be stopped, you bet that I followed the maxim:  “Do not wait to hear from Headquarters, ride to the sound of guns!”

    • #56
  27. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    And your short version might be “Reagan Republicans” Bad!

    I thought you were a ‘Country First Republican’ (without actually specifying a country)?

    i am both a “Country First Republican” and a “Reagan Republican.”

    Not that you disclosed it when you volunteered to be a Biden caucus precinct captain.

    Given that Bernie Sanders had to be stopped, you bet that I followed the maxim: “Do not wait to hear from Headquarters, ride to the sound of guns!”

    I get that Biden is your HQ and that you have guns for Democrats. I just think you should have told that poor woman that you were a Country First Republican before she allowed you to be a Biden Caucus Precinct Captain.

    • #57
  28. DrewInWisconsin, Negative Infl… Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Negative Infl…
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    Well, please give me an appropriate phrase for someone who extols Trump at every moment, and who has repeatedly condemned me in most unflattering terms. Drew, I cannot recall a single kind word from you about me.

    Then your recaller is broken.

    I am asking you to stop being divisive at a time that we must all pull together.

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    Democratic Governors speak kindly about Trump after he threatened to not fully assist Governors who had been mean to him.

    This is patently false. Be a better person.

    • #58
  29. DrewInWisconsin, Negative Infl… Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Negative Infl…
    @DrewInWisconsin

    As Trump’s Poll Numbers Rise, Media Begin Censoring Press Conferences

    Excerpt:

    The political media have been working extremely hard to craft a narrative that the spread of the coronavirus was essentially the fault of the man they had blamed for all other ills in recent years. How could the people not accept that narrative, particularly considering that most everyone in the media was pushing it?

    Things got worse when additional polls showed Trump receiving high ratings at the same time that the media received poor ratings. A brand new Gallup study — “Coronavirus Response: Hospitals Rated Best, News Media Worst” — was particularly bad news. When Americans were asked about nine different institutions and political leaders, they gave majority approval to all but the media. President Trump has a 22-point net approval rating while the media’s net approval rating was negative 11 points. The RealClearPolitics approval average for Trump was its highest during his entire presidency.

    In response, the media were angry and depressed and began blaming his press conferences. Their theory seemed to be that the more Americans saw Trump, unfiltered, they liked him and the more Americans saw the behavior of the media, they didn’t like it. This flies in the face of what many in the media assumed for years. They pushed for daily White House press conferences so that they could have the opportunity to be on camera and pressure the Trump administration. Now that they had daily press briefings with the president, no less, they weren’t happy. It was a weird response for a group of people whose ostensible job is to simply report the news of the day.

    . . .

    After spending months demanding that the White House reinstate press conferences, they are now demanding he shut them down as his performance is going better than theirs.

     

    • #59
  30. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    And your short version might be “Reagan Republicans” Bad!

    I thought you were a ‘Country First Republican’ (without actually specifying a country)?

    i am both a “Country First Republican” and a “Reagan Republican.”

    Not that you disclosed it when you volunteered to be a Biden caucus precinct captain.

    Given that Bernie Sanders had to be stopped, you bet that I followed the maxim: “Do not wait to hear from Headquarters, ride to the sound of guns!”

    I get that Biden is your HQ and that you have guns for Democrats. I just think you should have told that poor woman that you were a Country First Republican before she allowed you to be a Biden Caucus Precinct Captain.

    No, no, no.  You are missing a piece of Republican lore.  After Pat Buchanan came in as a close Second in New Hampshire, if memory serves, he had a picture where he was holding a rifle.  What I distinctly remember is his phrase, “Do wait to hear from headquarters, ride to the sound of guns!”

    As for the rest of your post, Biden was clearly the best alternative to stop Sanders.  While I would clearly prefer Larry Hogan, John Kasich, Mark Sanford or Bill Weld to Trump, the Soviet State of Arizona Republican Party decided to take away my right to vote.

    • #60
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