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Will Conservatives Fight Each Other for the Next Four Years?
I have no idea what will happen over the next month. It’s possible but unlikely that President Trump will be re-elected; it’s also likely that Joe Biden will fill that seat; his winning this election fills me with fear and dread.
But to me, even worse than watching an elderly man who has cognitive problems and misguided ideas become President will be watching the Conservatives at each other’s throats. I foresee those who enthusiastically support Trump holding angry grudges against those who believed that Trump could not overcome the odds or beat back the fraud. And I can imagine those who believed the odds were long will be hated by those who believed that fraud should have been uncovered and Trump should have won.
This outcome is a lose-lose proposition for Conservatives everywhere.
Why do I bring this issue up now? Because in one sense, it doesn’t matter what the results are: we could waste our energy berating each other, blaming the system, and condemning those who were on the opposite side of us.
I’m also raising this issue now because we must focus on the real potential catastrophe: Democrats may very well be in charge of the government at one level or another and their dominance could destroy our country.
Now I will admit that I’m not fond of watching people fight with each other, verbally or otherwise (although I did enjoy the original Karate Kid). But the stakes are too high for us to get sidetracked and fall into Republican reticence of being Mr. Nice Guys or giving up the farm. Instead of fighting with each other over the past, let’s try the following:
- Make sure one way or another that a highly credible commission is established to study the results of the election, identify the fraud that occurred, find the mismanagement that was pervasive, and identify solutions. This effort will require identifying which steps should be proposed for the federal government to oversee, and which should be given to the states. If possible, the recommendations should include penalties for breaking or mismanaging the rules. The committee should be bipartisan and should preferably include people who are no longer in government, but have credibility on both sides of the aisle.
- Stop crying over spilled milk, no matter who wins. It will have been done. Arguing amongst ourselves is just another kind of distraction and will stall any progress on the part of Republicans. I frankly don’t care if you feel there was massive fraud or if you believe there was fraud, but not enough to make a difference. (I believe the truth is somewhere in the middle.) It’s history. Finished. Done.
- Let’s figure out the next steps for the Republicans that go beyond fighting the Democrats or re-litigating the election. We need to revamp totally the principles of Conservatism. We need to give up on old hopes that will be lost for the future, such as small government. We need to figure out how to educate people about US history and its goals in moving forward. We need to determine how to best engage people in America and build enthusiasm for 2024.
- We must explore the psychological impact of this election and be honest about its effect on ourselves and the people. Each of us should take a good hard look at ourselves and ask what really motivates our antagonism toward our colleagues. I learned a good lesson that is almost always true when it comes to human motivation. We become angry when two aspects of our psyche are challenged: being right and looking good. That means when someone accuses us of being wrong, we defend ourselves, insisting that we are right. It doesn’t matter whether we are “really” right or not; we must protect ourselves from those who question us. “Looking good” describes those characteristics that we value because we think they make us “look good”; they are what you value about yourself, not necessarily what someone else appreciates about us. That means when a person violates your important beliefs about your looking good—being smart, being right, being ethical, being educated—you will have a strong negative reaction and even fight back. I know intimately the limitations of these reactions!
Once we realize that our reactions to others’ challenging us are based on our irrational fears of being discounted, it’s much easier to disregard what they say about us. For example, some men like to tell me I’m reacting “emotionally” to something. Most women hate to be told that; I love it because I can respond by saying, “You’re right! I am emotional. But I’m also smart and knowledgeable.” That usually stops the attack.
* * * * *
My hope for all of us is that we don’t move into the next four years with a chip on our shoulders. Let’s not attack each other; let’s not spend our time in useless arguments. Instead, let’s transform our anger into passion; our concerns into dedication for America; our frustration into a laser-sharp focus. Let’s work together. Let’s help each other.
Let’s set the example of what it means to be proud Americans.
Published in Politics
I think it is clear that the party coalitions are evolving. The GOP is becoming the party of the working class that still believes in America. The Democratic Party is becoming the party of the elites and those dependent on government who think America is bad.
I would build the best orphanages! You have never seen orphanages like this! Glorious orphanages modeled on the very successful and beautiful Mar-a-lago Resort!
No. HeavyWater was smart. He watched as The GoldTooth and I were ripped apart by the Trumpists and wisely decided that everybody’s blood was up. Now after the election and after the Trump lawsuits one after another are being dismissed and reality is setting in, he has come back only to have folks scream at him.
So when are we going to talk about your continued insistence that Trump would alienate so many voters that not only would he be trounced, but down-ballot Republicans would be destroyed in this election? Or does asking such a question amount to being “ripped apart”?
Nah, I think you are under estimating our side. We will come together.
If nothing else, he will likely regard it as bullying and doxing.
You voted for the Party of Death. For unlimited abortion, open borders, socialized medicine (which will necessitate rationing that might very well kill my kids), bending the knee to China economically, and to Iran in the Middle East. I don’t need to scream at you. You’re dead to me.
Snark all you want but in a democracy the voters are usually to blame.
Politicians who believe what I believe will have to play these games but I’m not a politician. So no, I literally don’t need voters.
It will never cease to amaze me how many people seem to be here to play act as politicians and expect me likewise to pander to them on a site where I pay for the privilege to comment.
“I’m not voting for you!” Isn’t an argument. It would be weird if you did.
The only people who talk about Nevertrumpers “moral superiority” are Trump supporters, which leads me to the conclusion that it’s really just their own insecurities on display.
And I find it particularly repulsive that you make yourself and the other Nevers out to be the victims in all this.
I’m sure you think he’s smart, but then I’m equally sure you don’t make Kool-Aid because you’ve never mastered getting two cups of water into those teeny-tiny envelopes.
Good grief. And you think Trump exaggerates?
I’m reminded of this bit from Blackadder:
Edmund: Baldrick, I gave you two notes. You sent the note asking for a sponge
bag to the finest mind in English legal history.
Baldrick: Certianly did, sir!
Edmund: And you sent the note requesting legal representation to…
(enter George)
George: Well, tally-ho, with a bing and a bong and a buzz-buzz-buzz! (THUMP!)
Edmund: (digustingly, as we’ve all heard before) Oh God!
George: I’ll tell you, apart from all, sir, that I am deeply, deeply honored.
Edmund: Baldrick, I’ll deal you later. Am I to understand that you are going to
represnt me at the court-martial?
George: Absolutly, sir. Well, it’s a sort of family tradition, really. My
uncle’s a lawyer, you know.
Edmund: Your uncle’s a lawyer, but you’re not.
George: Oh, good lord, no. I’m absolute duffer at this sort of thing. In
school the basing society, I was voted the boy least likley to complete
a coherent…um…an oops…yes, anyway, my dear old friend, its an
honor to serve.
Edmund: George, I’m in trouble here. I need to construct thats as watertight
as a mermaid’s brassiere. I’m not sure your particular brand of
mindless optimism is going to contribute much to the proceedings.
George: Well, that’s a shame, sir, becarse I was planning on playing the
mindless optimisim card very strongly.
Edmund: I beg your pardon?
George: Yes, I’ve already planned my closing address based on that very thing.
Oh, go on, let him off, your honor, please! It’s a lovely day. Pretty
clouds, trees, birds, etc. I rest my case.
But, I admire your optimism.
Anyone decrying the lack of character of another must at least have in mind a counter example, or the complaint is hollow. If not themselves, then whom?
And yet you don’t exhibit any notable anger or moral indignation over their shameless, unending lies about their intentions to said voters-which would seem to indicate that it is not lying itself that you strongly object to, but rather the agenda behind such lies.
To step back from the all the sarcasm for a second and give an earnest and straightforward answer: Jesus Christ.
Then no one measures up. Pick another.
Honestly? Jesus Christ? Clearly mere mortals have no business voting for anything, ever.
Fascinating theology though. Dead wrong, but fascinating.
Sorry, no idols- especially not my political enemies.
Conservatives today worship the left. You ask them “Why are you doing X?” and they respond “The left does X.” as if that was all the justification one could need.
I deny the divinity of the left and will find my moral lodestar elsewhere.
Most things aren’t voting. You can make a wrong but nevertheless reasonable argument that I should have voted for Trump. There’s no reasonable argument for not criticizing his character and those who apologize for it.
I have no problem with finding fault with his character. Those who would prefer Biden can’t go by the superiority of a serial liar and plagiarist.
Of course he should be criticized when he is wrong. Like Tucker Carlson has stated repeatedly, Trump is not process driven. He is a big picture kinda guy.
Example: he manged to get us out of the onerous China trade deals, but then he did not grandfather in the deals Americans farmers were already trying to fulfill. So some Nebraska farmers found that all the grain deals they thought they had set in cement, that is, Chinese deals, suddenly had been invalidated. This is a serious flaw in Trump’s makeup.
On the other hand, when you wake up some morning in 2022 and find out that the only “meat” in grocery stores is hydro-losolized vegetable protein “meat substitute,” don’t blame those of us who stood up for Pres Trump.
Because you are about to fund out the amazing fact that the Cra Cra on the Left lies cheats and steals more than Trump does, and they are coming fro domestic farm animals, meat and dairy, coal and gas and your car. (Sure Trump lies, but he also tells the truth. I have lived under Kamala Harris ever since she was DA in San Francisco – and she never speaks the truth.)
oh and have fun during the serious lockdowns about to emerge.
And looking forward to future primary contests, perhaps we should select a less awful candidate so that we can be on the winning side when the votes are counted.
Sure, we can point the finger of blame towards those voters who just could not stomach Trump, despite agreeing with Trump on a variety of issues. But we might also want to point the finger of blame toward Trump, who motivated so many millions of voters to vote against him, despite agreeing with Trump on various issues.
Biden’s both those things, but neither he nor his supporters but neither he nor his supporters have ever asked me to believe that those vices were virtues. To be the moral equivalent of Trump, Biden would have to brag about his plagiarism and convince his base that anyone who filled out their exams honestly was a pussy and a loser, a thousand times over.
That only has so much to do with how I voted but it was certainly a factor.
The reason why analyzing these statements made by Trump over the years is important, even if Ted Cruz no longer holds a grudge for the insinuation that his father was involved in the killing of JFK and even if Joe Scarborough doesn’t hold a grudge for the insinuation that he had one of his aides killed in the 1990s is this:
The statements that Trump made were made publicly. As more and more Americans conclude that Donald Trump is crazy and unhinged, more and more voters fall into the Joe Biden column. The result is that Donald Trump loses the election and Joe Biden becomes President on January 20, 2021.
Now, you can say, “But Donald Trump tells it like it is.” Perhaps Donald Trump tells it like he thinks it is, but Trump isn’t very closely connected to reality and ends up accepting all kinds of crazy conspiracy theories. Thus, the mushy-middle swing voter votes for Joe Biden.
I am baffled by adults who talk as if other adults have enough power over them to “expect” them to do anything. For the love of Pete, just say what you have to say, and stop pretending that either you’re diminished because others have a different political opinion from your own, or that your own ability, as a paying member here, is impinged upon because other (paying members) strenuously disagree. In the decade that I’ve been on this site, I’ve never, ever, been prevented from speaking my mind. (Well, once. And, all things considered, in the long run, that was probably for the best, all things considered. Nuff said.)
We’re all here by choice and on sufferance. Even me.
I’m supposed to get all wee-wee’d up about sophomoric commentary on sexual mores and nitwit speculation on where Cruz père was on Nov. 22, 1963 after having been exposed to “the health care costs of a family of four will decrease” and “if you like your plan you can keep your plan?”
I find some lies of slightly more consequence than others.
You nailed this one.
If we nominate someone in 2024 who has not bragged about sleeping with women married to other men, who has never donated to Harry Reid’s 2010 re-election campaign for US Senate, who has never talked up bizarre ideas about the JFK assassination mentioned in the National Enquirer, lots of voters won’t have to go into the voting booth trying to balance their desire for their President to be a decent and non-crazy person with their support for conservative policies.
I think that morale is actually pretty high with most conservatives, though we have a dual Georgia U.S. Senate race to go through, yet.
Of course there will be some infighting, but the election results were not devastating, and we have a way forward towards success in two years.
If Trump decides to run in 2024, there could be some heartburn over that. And any attempt to sideline him by the party establishment could result in Trump running a 3rd party campaign resulting in 4 more years of Democrat rule, at least in the executive branch.
Overall, however, the risk is much higher for Democrat infighting, at least as things stand now. Their coalition is more fragile than ours.
I really don’t get your point. I’m not claiming to have been silenced. People seem to think that “your beliefs are unpopular” or even “we don’t like you any more” are arguments. They’re not. I call that out because I think it’s dumb. What’s wrong with that?