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This week, we travel across the pond to talk with our good mate James Delingpole to get his very hot take on Trump’s visit, What May or May not happen to the current Prime Minister, and get his impression of that so called Baby Trump Blimp. Also, we’ve got a new SCOTUS nominee and his age is a trigger warning for one of our hosts, that fantastic Tweet storm by Ricochet alum Claire Berlinski, and the Strzok circus comes to town.
Music from this week’s episode: Roll With It by Oasis
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That’s the best EJ Hill picture ever.
Gentlemen,
With no disrespect, I think that Claire would do well to really listen to Peter’s opening comments about Europe and NATO. Peter is completely right that Europe has developed a culture of pure dependency on the US while insulting and yes undermining US interests and for that matter their own interests.
As far as hard Brexit goes I think Mr. Delingpole should be listened to. No Deal is the best deal. Trump isn’t bluffing. Soft Brexit would destroy Britain’s ability to make a trade deal with the US. Of course, if Britain went with hard Brexit they would immediately have a deal with the US and shortly thereafter other major players. Meanwhile, those EU countries that are doing major trade with the UK, will find a way to keep selling cars to the British. Brexit just do it!
Regards,
Jim
From Claire’s Twitter storm:
I think this is a big part of the answer to that question:
Mis,
Oh, sure it’s all about us. Germany is at about 1.3% of GDP. All Trump is asking of them is to come up to their 2%, you know, commitment! Let’s see it’s been over 5 decades since the Marshall Plan was necessary. It’s been over 25 years since the fall of the Soviet Union. Still, the spineless Obama administration and the delusional EU couldn’t handle Putin so Trump mustn’t give them the good swift kick in the pants they deserve. Daddy should take them for ice cream and tell them how wonderful they are.
Is it still too much for Germany, or France for that matter, to do their 2% GDP commitment? Money that will be spent inside their own borders for their own defense. They have earned the insult pure and simple.
Regards,
Jim
Great conversation. Listening to Rob’s long explanation of why controlling the Senate is important, I was reminded of a question I’ve long had that’s never been addressed in political discussions — why doesn’t the President of the Senate [Mike Pence] have more say like the Speaker of the House? If you guys could address this on Uncommon Knowledge or some similar podcast I’d like to hear it. For example, I’d like the Senate to abolish the filibuster, but if that’s not feasible, why can’t Pence demand that the Dems bring in the cots and go on TV 24/7 every time they threaten it?
1.) The more interesting aside, which I should write a post on, and having now said that here, I might actually do it -is on why the Democrats can’t move to the center.
2.) In re: Claire’s tweetstorm, when I read it I got about to the part about creating Europe to expand liberalism and had to think “what makes her think, after the debacle of post-Cold War police actions, up to and including Iraq -even if we accept that Iraq turned out OK -that this is an argument in favor of the Alliance?” For crying out loud, that was Pat Buchanan’s criticism of the Alliance -and everyone plead “oh no, Pat’s just a Kook.” Turns out they were lying. Great defense of the alliance, folks. Look, I’ll accept the idea of NATO as keeping the Americans in, the Russians out, and the Germans down. That’s a defensive posture I’ll buy. This argument that NATO and the EU are some type of white man’s American burden Empire to save the world -to hell with that. Claire can go Kipling around the globe without my support, thank you very much.
I miss Mr. Delingpole’s presence on Ricochet. When the last season of Game Of Thrones finally does air next year, I hope his GOT episode review podcast returns to this site.
They will. And we are trying to find a way for his regular podcast to come back too.
Whatever can keep @jamesdelingpole involved here at Ricochet is most welcome.
Actually, @jameslileks. it seems likely that @jamesdelingpole could use Eero at Stately Delingpole Manor in Jolly Old. It’s just a wifi router, not handling the first connection to the ISP. So while he couldn’t use a US type “cable modem” over there, wifi is a different story. So he probably could indeed benefit from an Eero system. So could Salena Zito.
For that matter, so could Duane Patterson/Hugh Hewitt. Their whole incident is a head-scratcher, really. Offline/off-site backups have been standard for businesses since the 1950s. But then again, hopefully they don’t rely on wifi anyway. I sure don’t. I use hardwired network connections for everything. And I don’t rely on laptops, either. Only REAL computers for me!
The problem for Mr Delingpole might be “mains” voltage, but a lot of things these days – especially computer-related things – are auto-voltage/multi-voltage already. So the companies don’t have to make several versions. Most of what I have will work on anything from 100 volts (Japan) to 240 volts (Europe). (I actually run all my computers from 240v so I don’t have to deal with balancing load across both 120v sides of the 240 coming into the main panel.) And since it appears that Eero is already marketed Down Under, even if not yet in England, I suspect they’re pretty likely to handle 240v just fine. Or if not, get different “wall warts” to power them. Easy.
Lileks leading Rob all over the map on the first segue was masterful!
Rob has a good point about the loss of Alabama, but I do not think that all of the blame is on one side. The NeverTrump side attacked him relentlessly, and jumped on the bandwagon of very old, cold, late, and dubious allegations of sexual misconduct. I wasn’t happy that Moore was the candidate, but I also wasn’t happy about the vicious attacks by more establishment conservatives. Unity was called for, which I said at the time.
Personally, I put more blame on the establishment side for the Moore debacle. I find the establishment folks to have been very irresponsible about this. The better path — which I said at the time — was to elect Moore, flaws and all, allegations and all. If the allegations proved true, he could have been forced into resignation, and replaced by an appointed Senator who would also have been a reliable conservative vote.
I think that I’m more upset with the establishment/anti-Trump types than with the insurgent/pro-Trump types because, frankly, I understand the frustration of the pro-Trump folks, who have been ignored for a long, long time. I think that they go too far and are not as sober and judicious as they should be, but I sympathize with their frustration. I do not sympathize with the frustration of the establishment types, especially as they are supposed to be sober and judicious.
I say this even though, generally speaking, I’m about as much of a sober, judicious, traditional conservative as you could find. I really, really didn’t like Candidate Trump. But I’m not throwing ridiculous tantrums about it, like George Will.
George Will, for crying out loud, acting like a hysterical teenager. It’s really embarrassing.
Establishment types, my old friends: Please have some faith that we can pull together through this. Trump is not Hitler, and not even Catiline.
Trump enthusiasts, my new friends: Please have some patience, and know that many of the more traditional conservatives like me welcome you, and are listening.
@jameslileks , that James Fallows book sounds like this book I recently reviewed at Ricochet.
Agreed. I was completely in Rob’s shoes on that one, fooled at every turn.
Because it would be the Republicans that would have to bring in the cots. The filibustering party only has to have enough people to keep talking and delay debate. If someone can talk for 2-3 hours, then they only need 8 people a day. The non-filibustering party has to keep their majority around to be available to vote to end debate when the the talkers quit.
My understanding is that James Delingpole has a podcast on Breitbart and they arent interested in sharing.
I listened to a couple episodes a week ago. Its still good.
There are two other Democrats who fit the bill for moderates. The governor of Montana Steve Bullock and the Junior Senator from New Hampshire Maggie Hassan who as a former governor of the State is also good for some moderation. However the democrat party isnt going to go with someone like that. They need to lose a couple more times, before trying a 2006 strategy again.
As to the EU keeping Germany and France from being at each others throats. You know what we called the 19th century till 1914. The golden age of Europe. National rivalries strengthened those countries and made them compete. Instead they are languishing under the yolk of the EU. I would rather bust it up and go back and make Europe great again. Instead of this unnatural abomination.
I still say bring it on.
Exactly. The Democrats don’t move to the center because the loudest of the base does not believe in the positions that are centrist, and will not vote for centrist position Democrats. So the Democrats who are centrist can’t say so. And once they’ve staked a position so far left, they cannot tack back to the Right in the general election and be believed by the centrist voters who show up at the general. Once you’ve said you’re full leftist crazy, you can’t be trusted not to actually be full leftist crazy.
While James Delingpole is not my cup of tea, I would welcome his podcast on Ricochet.
I am so grateful that Ricochet has podcasts by NeverTrumpers, Trump Skepics, and EverTrumpers.
When I am on long car trips, I will listen to the EverTrumpers after running through the NeverTrumpers and Trump Skeptics. Sometimes I agree (like on Judges, regulations and taxes) and sometimes I don’t. But I have to weigh their arguments.
It’s very good – I was catching up on several of his Breitbart podcasts in the car this weekend. Format is just a conversation with a single guest for an hour or so.
I love James’s Breitbart podcast. I listen to it every week.
Yeah, Delingpole is back on Ricochet. I thought your Breitbart podcast died out. Maybe it was just out for a few weeks a while back…
… also, why don’t they ever learn that you never pick a sitting Senator for your cabinet no matter how safe it seems. You never know what will happen.