tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post1224561657423116662..comments2024-03-28T10:49:14.510-05:00Comments on Horizons: Republicans Are Rejecting Democracy Because They Lost the Battle of IdeasNancy LeTourneauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-15522010439177627142021-02-27T12:59:36.847-06:002021-02-27T12:59:36.847-06:00For authoritarians being told what to do, what to ...For authoritarians being told what to do, what to say say, and what to think, without having to worry about any of that yourself is liberating.Solarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958876645703624968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-75725528520070892022021-02-27T10:30:52.790-06:002021-02-27T10:30:52.790-06:00Wow. Wow. JohnHhttps://www.haberarts.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-56485016355218697472021-02-27T10:08:03.802-06:002021-02-27T10:08:03.802-06:00There was a great article in the Atlantic a few mo...There was a great article in the Atlantic a few months ago about Conservatism’s direction and it was commented by a prominent (group of?) conservative that they’re so glad they don’t have to go through the motions of having to tow the line of acting like they are the party of inclusion or family values, etc, or anything because now they can just say ‘whatever Trump wants’ like it was so freeing.Birdbroadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00108857867098763694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-62507046032317497712021-02-27T09:29:00.609-06:002021-02-27T09:29:00.609-06:00I totally agree. Kristol says that Republicans hav...I totally agree. Kristol says that Republicans have rejected conservatism in favor of authoritarianism. He is absolutely correct about that. It is precisely why they have no real agenda - other than maintaining power. What Kristol hopes for isn't addressed in the piece I linked to and is not my concern. Nancy LeTourneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-69093548647619673662021-02-27T07:35:43.283-06:002021-02-27T07:35:43.283-06:00Again, it's fine, but it's not what he mea...Again, it's fine, but it's not what he means. He doesn't mean that we're finally past Reagan and back to the New Deal or, thanks to a new generation, onto an electorate comfortable with economics for the people or diversity. <br /><br />All he means is that, if Democrats (those awful people) had already rejected conservatism, now so have Republicans. Its voters, he says, have rejected it in favor of Trump as authoritarian leader, and so have Republicans in Congress and state capitols by going along for the ride. That's not nearly as comforting. And of course he wishes they hadn't because he thinks that they'd have a viable platform as conservatives, and now in his mind they don't. JohnHhttps://www.haberarts.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-966670807256797772021-02-26T15:12:07.084-06:002021-02-26T15:12:07.084-06:00Was "conservatism" ever an ideology? Th...Was "conservatism" ever an ideology? The think tanks were in the heyday, starting in the 50's to the 80's, but they were mainly providing fig leafs for Republican governance. The main goal was to weaken governance so it could not stand up to business interests. That turns out to be really bad for society and thus businesses--but most businesses can not see beyond their nose. Now Republicans have event stopped going through those motions and have completely given up on governance.golackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09185303663477324371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-49161927442530553812021-02-26T12:04:20.506-06:002021-02-26T12:04:20.506-06:00You really can't make this up. The party that ...You really can't make this up. The party that is always complaining about the importance of adhering to their very strongly held Christian beliefs no matter what is putting up an actual golden idol at their yearly main event, while attendees show up to kiss the ring of their leader.Solarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958876645703624968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-10193142074375227452021-02-26T11:36:37.542-06:002021-02-26T11:36:37.542-06:00So, now they are worshipping a golden calf. LMAO....So, now they are worshipping a golden calf. LMAO.George Salthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15331955898081114772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-23273736186263082312021-02-26T11:25:41.008-06:002021-02-26T11:25:41.008-06:00"There's a lot of chatter about where the..."There's a lot of chatter about where the Republican Party goes post-Trump"<br /><br />Judging by Trump's prime speaking spot at CPAC this weekend and the literal larger than life size golden statue of him put up at CPAC, I think the answer to that question is that the party is not ready to start any post-Trump era yet and is likely to become even more cult like in its adherence to him.Solarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10958876645703624968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-76036570172716868552021-02-26T11:00:16.585-06:002021-02-26T11:00:16.585-06:00It is important to note when a former conservative...It is important to note when a former conservative leader like Bill Kristol says that American conservatism is dead. That's why I opened with his piece. He's not wrong. Nancy LeTourneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-7594287208638839482021-02-26T10:44:27.220-06:002021-02-26T10:44:27.220-06:00Thanks for that. But I also appreciate your adding...Thanks for that. But I also appreciate your adding at least some skepticism, along with the citation of Jonathan Chait. The post really gets off on the wrong foot, although you make up for that. <br /><br />Kristol isn't saying that Republicans, much less arch conservatives like him, have lost the battle of ideas. He's saying that the party has shown itself too ready to abandon advocacy for what true Americans and right-thinking people still believe, which is pretty much the entire GOP agenda. It is all about authoritarianism, in order to support Trump. And you're right to be skeptical of all that. <br /><br />It's also why, aside from making use of a system that favors rural voters and gaming a system with voter suppression and gerrymanders, it also has to lie about its program. Naw, we're not the party of wealth. We're against the real insiders, Democrats who are just taking working class money, YOUR money, on behalf of the underserving, socialism, and more. And there's an entire propaganda network led by Fox to hammer it home. JohnHhttp://wwwhaberarts.com/noreply@blogger.com