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This week, football, firings (real and alleged), and free trade. First up, the great Victor Davis Hanson, who’s National Review cover story is a balanced look at the pluses and minuses of Trump’s first year. After that, Philadelphia Eagles fan John Yoo (OK, he’s a law professor too) takes us through all the machinations, schemes, and strategies in the seemingly never-ending Mueller investigation. Take notes, this part of the podcast will be on the final exam.
Music from this week’s episode: You Gotta Be A Football Hero by Ben Bernie & All The Lads
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I think James’ comments on east coasters makes it pretty clear why he doesn’t like Trump. Trump is a quintessential outer borough New Yorker. He talks and acts just like my dad and his friends who are all around the same age and from the Bronx. All of them are good guys but usually show their love through action not works. It never matters what they say you have to pay attention to what they do. The braggadocio, the chop busting, and sarcasm are pretty typical. Also, I think Trump’s mother was Scottish. The Scottish and the Irish (of the older generation which is my family) have an aversion to emotion and sentimentality. Once things get to an emotional point that might bring on the waterworks, insults or jokes are said to diffuse any possible “embarrassment”. So insults become part of our lives. Laughter and love abound as well, it is just shown differently. I understand that many people not familiar with this type of personality and especially seeing from a far and not knowing them personally it can be a massive turn off. We had this issue when my sister in law from California joined the family and was horrified by the conversations that would go on during family gatherings, now she gets us and joins in. Not to explain everything but this is my read of the President.
I took it as a return to public civility amongst Republicans. We have never had that with Democrats. Maybe Carter? I guess he said a lot of bilge in a civil way. I also agree that it is wise to be critical of Trump and still support the administration and its accomplishments. Excusing Trump’s antics only feeds his tremendous ego and makes him less likely to listen to those in the administration. You know, the ones with the accomplishments.
All that is fine for your friends and family. Doesn’t make it acceptable in a President. What he says IS part of what he does.
Maybe, but the issue, I think, is that we know more now. In the past presidents were crude but we didn’t hear it. We are a different culture now. Everything is out in the open and Trump is a reflection of that. Plain and simple. Maybe because it doesn’t bother me as much, since I came of age during the Clinton years. Hard to see the president in an elevated light when doing the things he did. Then the Bush Years where all bets were off, people said the most horrible things about President Bush, who was an honorable man and a great example of decorum but he grew the government even more and insulted conservatism by saying his brand of conservatism was “compassionate”. Also he never pushed back on any of the things said about him.
Then came Obama who spoke well and said all the right things but was doing his best to destroy the country all while saying pretty things. Now we have Trump. So I don’t care what he says I care about what he does, because too many leaders give us a line of c*** all while growing the national debt and taking more of our liberties away. So I don’t care what he says I care about what he does.
You are probably right, Jim. But let me state this one more time: I agree with you that much of the media have done some awful things. I could probably spend the whole day cataloging some awful stories. But what is your alternative: Sell all the newspapers, and burn the radio and TV stations down? Until you can offer a better alternative, we are stuck with them. And, I say again, Trump is not helping.
Enjoy your day, Jim.
Afternoon George,
I do not know the alternatives, with FaceBook and Twitter becoming the sources for news, I am lost. We are so backward that we don’t even have a cell phone, maybe you should discount my opinion, in that I am so technologically out of touch. As an aside, since I am one of the deplorables, a teabaggers, part of the Taliban wing of the Republican party, a hostage taker who pushed granny off the cliff and have been called a Nazi since FDR suggested that Dewey was a Nazi, all the folks worried over civility must be immigrants since they have been silent for all these years.
Exposing corruption at the core of an institution is a worthy goal. With out the election of Trump and his combativeness the media and the FBI would have continued to rot unseen. I see Trump’s scab pulling style as a plus and do not believe that a Romney presidency would have shown the depths of the media sell out or the extent of the FBI corruption. We also might not agree about this.
Okay I nearly spit out my coffee in laughter when at minute 22 James acted like he missed all of Victor’s speech and asked the initial question again. Excellent foil to Victor’s straight man persona! Bravo.
Both have indicated in the past that they would be comfortable with his renomination, if not advocating for it themselves. And I think it was my spellcheck that changed VDH’s last name.
Probably because of the long record of Trump supporters saying things like, “This is war,” and, “What has being civil ever gotten us?” Not to mention that they call those who wish for the President to be more civil weaklings, and/or accuse them of being comfortable with the establishment. I don’t think it’s out of bounds to ask how far they intend to take that.
That so many have responded to Lileks’s hypothetical with, “The press wouldn’t let him get away with that,” instead of a full throated condemnation (which you did offer, don’t get me wrong) doesn’t help.
Afternoon Umbra,
There appears to be some confusion. Annefy and I were referencing Lileks question to VDH in which Lileks asks, does VDH think that there is a large percentage of Trump supporters who wish that Trump would criminally weaponize the govt’ depts to use them in revenge against the libs, this time. VDH said he did not think that there was a large percentage, Umbra do you? And if so could you name anyone who has said that they wish Trump had his own Lois Lerner, or Holder, or Lynch? Particularly someone who I might have a chance of having ever heard of. I know of no Trump supporter who looks at Obama’s criminal use of the govt and says “yes that is exactly what I want Trump to do”, payback. Not only do I know of no one who has ever said this, even if Trump wanted to mirror Obama from a “conservative” side, as VDH said, Trump is under too much scrutiny for this to ever be possible. If you think Trump could act as criminally as Obama, could you explain how he could do this since the media, the bureaucracy, and the courts have already shown that they are part of the resistance?
Also could you name the journalists whose hair was on fire about the criminal use of the govt by the Obama admin, in a similar fashion to their hair on fire response to Trump’s “uncivil” language. We could review the civil language during the Reagan admin and compare Trump’s language if that would help.
Seriously considering adopting Prof Hanson as my uncle…
IMO, his lectures on Youtube are the most worthwhile thing the internet has produced, so far. If you want think clearly and understand the world, he is one of the best.
I don’t want it as “payback”, I want it as “deterrence”.
Indeed. Been listening to him on YT since that site was founded. Fora.tv has some good stuff from him too and I never miss a “Classicist” episode.