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I think you would all do well by reading the works of and listening to the smartest and wisest individual at NR: Victor Davis Hanson.
Another fantastic podcast from the Editors of NR.
Great commentary by everyone.
I think that Dr. Hanson is extremely bright. I have read most of his books. However, when it comes to politics, and specifically Donald Trump, Dr. Hanson is not the last word. He is, unquesionably, a Trump partisan and has been pretty much from the beginning. Other people who I admire fit into the same mode, Andrew Klavan is another example. There is a great deal of logic to their arguments, but in most cases they are looking for logic in what is essentially an illogical behavior. One can create a marvelous image of the multidimensional chess game that Trump was playing on the stage with Putin in Helsinki. However, Occam’s Razor is a much more convincing scenario. By that standard, Trump’s naivete, his obvious awe of strong leaders, his lack of political experience in dealing with powerful people, and his essential cowardice and inablity to admit when he is wrong or needs someone more skilled than himself seem much more likely than a complex chess game. His behaviors are those of a classic school yard bully, a behavior his has displayed throughout his life. His deep insecutity is a much more logical explanation for his unwillingness to admit when he is wrong or feels the need to prevaricate about his “misspeaking.” As much as I admire Dr. Hanson, these gentlemen have a much clearer image of Trump as person than I have read anywhere in Dr Hanson’s offerings.
Thank you for the reply to my comment. We can agree to disagree. It seems to me the world is full of Monday morning quarterbacks these days, myself included.
I think VDH may be over influenced by the problems with illegal aliens he experiences in California. It is understandable that he sees Trump as his savior given the lamentable conditions in his state. However, Trump is only a symptom of the problems and offers no solutions. I take no pleasure in seeing Trump being revealed on the world stage as the know nothing he is. It is truly frightening. I pray we can somehow work our way out of this and next time, vote like adults in the primaries. That goes for Democrats as well as Republicans.
Wonderful conversation–even without Rich as DJ! Reihan did an excellent stand-in.
I’m probably an errant human being for holding this view, but I’m an old Beat/hippie who has never trusted/liked the FBI or CIA* and do not see vocal criticisms of them–except by a president speaking overseas–as being unpatriotic or in the least bit treasonous or in any way reflecting poorly on America as a country. Trump hurt himself far more than he hurt me by what he said, despite where he said it. It’s just too bad he can’t rise above the obvious state-officials-oriented attempt to quash his presidency. I’m not sure he’s a coward. But he’s definitely afraid.
*That said, the job of counter-espionage has always seemed incredibly cool to me.
Sometimes it only takes someone to point out the problems in order for the solutions to come. No president is expected to be a dictator.
What you see as pointing out problems, I see as Trump riling up his base and dividing people with no real attempt to either shed light or solve any problems. Both sides do it. Trump just does it in a very vulgar way. I don’t mean the positive things that have come. They have come in spite of Trump and are actually coming from the “elites” in the GOP that Trumpers disparage. He deserves credit when he listens to them. I’m talking about the things near and dear to Trump’s heart like his misunderstanding of trade and tariffs and his pathetic attempts at diplomacy.
Indeed, which is why his “only I can fix” nonsense is particularly annoying.
You and I will never agree, so I see no point in continuing other than to hurl accusations on each side , something I refuse to do. Good day to you.