David Brooks, the “establishment,” and “social mingling”
From David Brooks’ recent NY Times column:
Trump voters are a coalition of the dispossessed. They have suffered lost jobs, lost wages, lost dreams. The American system is not working for them, so naturally they are looking for something else.
Moreover, many in the media, especially me, did not understand how they would express their alienation. We expected Trump to fizzle because we were not socially intermingled with his supporters and did not listen carefully enough. For me, it’s a lesson that I have to change the way I do my job if I’m going to report accurately on this country.
The current trajectory we’re on — taking a shot at the Establishment princelimgs with Trump, then getting blown out in the general and thereby confirming the alleged wisdom of the Capital Class — would be a case of assassin’s aiming at the king, but then all of their guns exploding in their own faces.
* BTW, a******, you don’t have to “socially mingle” with anybody. People do not need to “socially mingle” with other people to know what the news is. They just have to buy a newspaper…
What you a******* need to do is let your intellects occasionally wander off the well-worn paths you’ve been treading down for 60 years. You just need to read someone who disagrees with you occasionally.
These fools live in a bubble completely insulated from popular thought but then presume to tell the nation what it really thinks.
I don’t “socially mingle” with a lot of people myself—not in the flesh, anyway. And the great bulk of what social mingling I do is with liberals. The small number of people on the right I do mingle with are mostly changers like me. Most happen to not be Trump supporters; I know a few Trump supporters personally, but very few.
Nevertheless there’s a very very simple way to have learned about the anger of the right’s base at the GOP. Very simple, and it wouldn’t have required any pressing of flesh at all. I know, because I’ve done this sort of “social mingling” aplenty with the angry GOP base over a period of many many years, on this blog and others. In fact, I think it would have taken a concerted effort for me to have avoided encountering the rage of the GOP voters. If a person has spent any time at all in the right blogosphere, it would be in his/her face and undeniable.
Years ago it was suggested that the blogosphere would replace the MSM. It certainly hasn’t, but it has had a huge influence (not all of it good, by the way) on political discourse and opinion. However, the few people in the MSM I know (perhaps “know” is way too strong a word; “personally encountered” might be more appropriate) seem unaware of a lot that goes on in the blogophere and among what used to be quaintly known as “the people.” To have ignored all of this for the last few years, and especially since 2010, would have been to exist not just in a bubble, but in a hermetically sealed chamber.
I keep going back to my prediction post-election 2012 that the GOP would tear itself apart if Romney lost. I don’t keep pointing it out to show some sort of brilliant and esoteric insight on my part. I go back to it because it has come true, sure; but at the time I said it, I thought it was a gimme, something obvious to even the most casual observer of the scene. I don’t think David Brooks and company were bothering to even casually observe that scene.
How to ruin a weekend. Mention Islam and David Brooks. And dogs won’t palliate. How about some cheesecake?
I wonder how the GOP has been tearing itself apart since 2012, given the off year landslide in 2014?
I think this campaign is an outlier in a sense. Trump has fanned the flames of the disgruntled. Now, how many of the people who vote in GOP primaries are legitimately disgruntled, and how many are habitually in that state? I don’t pretend to know. Hell, I don’t even know how many of them are Republicans.
This campaign started with a lineup of very talented people; then the field grew beyond all reason, and Trump has benefited, since his 30 to 40% of the vote is usually a plurality. Now he is trying to bully his way past the long standing, and logical, convention rules that require an actual majority of the delegates to win. Hey Trump, we do not have some kind of proportional system, and you cannot claim victory and the right to form a government if you don’t have a majority of the votes. (I almost wrote coalition government–but, he would never go that route, no matter what.)
I know that there are people in real pain. I also know that very little of that results from GOP policies. The GOP has only controlled the Congress for a bit over a year, and then they had to cope with an obstructionist minority, and with Obama, who has no respect for our governmental system. Before that, Bush had to struggle against an even more obstuctionist Democratic Congress, which was aided by spurious allegations that he was not legitimate, Then, of course he was distracted by the emerging terrorist threat.
Folks who look to the last 7-10 years and conclude that the GOP must be killed off, are not looking at reality. Nor do they apparently care what level of chaos will follow if they get their wish. Maybe they have listened to Limbaugh, Levin, et al, without thinking beyond the rabble rousing words. (I don’t imply that anyone here is rabble.)
One of the most masterful politicians of all time, put it in perspective. The U.S. electorate should take heed.
Otto Von Bismarck: “Politics are not a science based on logic; they are the capacity of always choosing at each instant, in constantly changing situations, the least harmful, the most useful.”
The results of politcs are often unever, and not always pleasing.
And, of course, he also observed:
“There is a Providence that protects idiots, drunkards, children and the United States of America.”
We are testing that Providence.
David Brooks of the Kommentariat condemns himself when he acknowledges what Neo quoted. Brooks knew these pro-Trump people were out of work, had dashed dreams, and the “American system is not working for them.” He omits his “Ho hum.”
Brooks then says it is the media and he himself that did not understand how these brutally damaged people would “express their alienation.” He sees he has a touch of the Marie Antoinette Syndrome, and he apparently thinks one quick look in the mirror is quite enough for him to plod on, getting paid almost as much as Tom Friedman. Why does Brooks “understand” Blacks and illegals “in their struggles”, but not the struggles of the obviously vanishing American middle class?
The Donald saw it and understood it very well. In that there is some basis for hope.
“Well, some respect is in order. Trump voters are a coalition of the dispossessed. They have suffered lost jobs, lost wages, lost dreams. The American system is not working for them, so naturally they are looking for something else.”
I’m not so sure I agree that some respect is in order. George Wallace supporters also felt dispossessed, but weren’t worthy of much respect, were they?
The results of politics are often uneven, not unever. And some days I do a better job of proofing before striking submit; often, no.
Ace’s comments are a good reply to every article Brooks has ever written but this one. I get that that was kind of his point, but still…it’s an ugly trait to not be able to accept an apology.
Brooks isn’t bright. But a bright person could follow politics closely and still not have predicted Trump. Ace should have paid more attention to the rest of the article, I think. Brooks may not have diagnosed his own problem perfectly, but his diagnosis of Trump is spot-on.
Unlike David Brooks, I have actually mingled with Trump supporters at three different rallies. The most extended conversations I had was at the first rally in Sioux City.
A guy who worked a real blue collar job told me “Trump is just like me. ” I was stunned.
I also talked to a female business owner and “Janet Jackson” who worked at a packing house. She was upset because *all* of her co-workers were illegal aliens who had taken the jobs of Iowans and surpressed wages.
The common theme I have found with Trump backers is that America is not great at all and things have gone very wrong for at least 20 years. It starts with illegal immigration but covers ISIS, Iran and health insurance.
Things in America suck in many ways. The real time bomb is $19t in debt which will eventually be a giant drag on the economy.
My biggest fear, however, is looking to come true. Guy Benson has a story at Townhall pointing out how terrible Trump’s polls are with women and young adults. And that’s before HRC runs her oppo ads.
These protests and talk of violence only makes Trump look even worse to moderates and independents. So we end up with an unimpeachable and unindicted criminal as president.
Guy Benson cite
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2016/03/18/polls-trump-gets-clobbered-by-hillary-among-swing-groups-n2135769
As for Ace’s “buy a newspaper” comment, he misses the point. Brooks writes the newspaper. Brooks needs to spend less time around newspapers if he wants to understand politics.
Because he gets paid in cash and status for the first and receives nothing he values, for the latter.
And has everyone has mentioned before, it is absolutely astounding with what complacent distance and nonchalance social facts – of the sort which have caused violence in the streets when affecting other groups in the past, are delivered up with a wave of the hanky.
The very term “dispossessed”, as in of their opportunity, legal status, property and future, is unavoidably pronounced of these people, but with such a shrugging tone that he might be a Whig historian describing the enclosures of the late M. ages.
The political class shuffles the papers they have briefly scanned in the past and belatedly admits that, one out of 6 males of prime working age are out of the work-force; that economic growth in almost all sectors except the financial has been stagnant for a generation; that Ohio alone has 600,000 fewer manufacturing jobs than a decade ago; that participation in the work force is the lowest since 1973 or something, 48 percent of union members work for the government; real wages for working males in the US are at 1969 levels; that 51 percent of immigrants are on welfare where they often remain for decades.
Then there are our borders, a lawless and unaccountable administration; Chinese and Iranian militarism …
“But it’s all good in DC. Why, the crease of that man Obama’s slacks! Oh how exciting!”
David Brooks replies,
“Yes yes I understand all that. But really, why don’t these persons have the good breeding to simply go off somewhere and die quietly?
After all, they are the guilty beneficiaries of privilege and the world would be a more just place without them.
Sniff sniff … Excuse me, I have just scented my master’s trouser leg. Toodles!”
“I’m not so sure I agree that some respect is in order.
Typical. Diss the middle class for having so few options that would speak for them and their very real concerns. Wallace supporters had not suffered having their citizenship becoming meaningless. Wallace voters had not had their jobs given over to H1-b imports. I defy anyone to point to a nation that had demoted it’s productive citizens to personae non gratae as is being done routinely throughout the West now. Having a problem with Trump is a most reasonable response. Having a problem with those who would latch onto him in desperation is elitism of the worst sort. It’s not THEIR fault no-one has spoken up for them but a blustering braggart who happened to recognize the unduly dispossessed.
Oldflyer:
I responded to that in an earlier thread—I meant in particular at the national level, presidential elections. The more local the election gets, the less it operates. Also, I see 2014 as a “last chance for the GOP” election, and many of the voters wanted something impossible or at very least improbable from Congress as a result.
In addition, quite a few of the 2014 GOP victors were anti-establishment candidates who were in effect an example of the GOP tearing itself apart.
Unsurprisingly, Brook’s analysis proves to be as shallow as the man.
Trump’s supporter’s motivation for their support is as diverse as any other candidates.
“Trump voters are a coalition of the dispossessed. They have suffered lost jobs, lost wages, lost dreams. The American system is not working for them, so naturally they are looking for something else.”
Put aside the democrats crossing over in order to influence the republican primary. Put aside the idiots.
The rest of Trump’s supporters motivation is not a reaction to their personal dispossession. Their motivation is in seeing half of America throw away the greatest inheritance of liberty ever bequeathed to a society.
They know the democrats are committed to America’s dissolution. They know that every establishment RINO candidate has, is and will continue to cooperate in America’s dissolution.
They know that Cruz is the only candidate with a history of “walking the talk” and they know that as President, he will be from day one, a lame duck President. One that both parties will hamstring.
They know that Trump is at best a “Hail Mary pass” but in their heart of hearts, they also know that to be all that America has left. And, in our heart of hearts, we know that too. Fine constitutionalist that he is, Cruz is denial’s last gasp, that it cannot be true.
““Death of America: Why This Presidential Election isn’t as Important as People Think”
Now if Trump would actually build a wall around DC I might hear something to my liking. We are near or already at the place where the perils of democracy, exploited by lawless officials and enabled by clueless voters destroys the heritage inherited from the founders. Debt and liabilities my great grandchildren can not repay, domestic and international chaos, and a global economy sustained by monetary manipulations from central banks is not a rosy picture.
Cornhead Says:
March 19th, 2016 at 5:38 pm
That’s the real story of Trump that the media is whiting out.
His negatives are in ORBIT.
No wonder the MSM wants him to be the GOP nominee.
A giant reason why we are not great and it has not really been articulated by the MSM is our failed energy policy. I wrote on a financial message board about it and called it the biggest blown opportunity in US history.
With the development of fracking in the past seven years, we have the most and cheapest nat gas in the world. We could be exporting 10x of what we are now. We also could be oil independent from OPEC.
Cheap energy brings back manufacturing jobs. Balance of payments flips. Middle East changes. Europe and Japan saves money.
But because the Dems are owned by the global warming scam artists and the idiot Geeens, we all get screwed.
The problem with “buying a newspaper”, Ace, it that all they will read ar the NYT and WaPo, which sayeth nothing about rural and Flyover country people.
Typical. Diss the middle class for having so few options that would speak for them and their very real concerns.
My point was that those suffering from economic hardship, etc., don’t have to opt for a demagogue like Trump or Wallace. I still believe in individual agency.
From the blogger that put up the article below
AUSTRALIANS have come out in force to defend billionaire presidential candidate Donald Trump and have even called for a like-minded personality to lead our country after warnings that a Trump White House would be bad news for Australia.
An online poll on The Daily Telegraph showed a surprising 71 per cent of respondents answered ‘No (Donald Trump is da man!)’ when asked ‘Are you worried about Trump becoming US President?’ There were more than 32,000 votes cast in the poll.
The article is interesting
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/aussies-come-out-in-support-of-donald-trump-in-daily-telegraph-online-poll/news-story/
I remember when you originally made that comment, Neo, that the right would tear itself apart in anger if Romney lost. I admit I didn’t understand what you meant at the time, and I have spent a fair amount of time on right-leaning blogs both before and after the 2012 election. The Trump phenomenon was a real head-scratcher to me, but of course now I see the anger that’s out there.
I don’t know anyone who is planning to vote for Trump, but that’s probably because my family is working class blue and most of my friends are liberals of the “well-meaning but misguided” variety. And i have spent the past two decades working in higher ed, where conservatives are rare indeed (and we keep our heads down and views under wraps).
My husband has a few evangelical co-workers in his law firm, and he says they are firmly in the Trump camp. One Trumpster in particular is also convinced that dinosaurs walked the earth just a few thousand years ago, FWIW.
Ann,
Belief in individual agency is so 19th century. You didn’t build that, any assets you hold are stolen from the oppressed, only government can solve your problems, and provide equality of outcomes. If Hillary can’t do it, Trump will. Those two should combine to put an end to all politics and form a new party. Trump/Hillary or Hillary/Trump to be determined by hand size.
JurassiCon Rex –
“Having a problem with Trump is a most reasonable response. Having a problem with those who would latch onto him in desperation is elitism of the worst sort.”
No, it’s not elitism. People are responsible for their actions. If you think that voting for Trump is a dumb move, then you should have a problem with voters who are picking him. Giving people a pass for sabotaging our democracy because they’re too angry to think straight? Now that’s elitism. That’s the soft elitism of low expectations.
I’m thoroughly ticked off at Trump voters. I have spent decades trying t convince people on the left that they’re mischaracterizing Republicans as angry white trash out for themselves. Boom. All my work is out the window. They’re not even supporting the smart anti-immigration candidate. They’re supporting the angry moron.
“I still believe in individual agency.”
You may believe you have it but very little of it is accessible and daily becomes rarer. The Disney employees being let go after they’ve trained their foreign replacements have not much individual agency. And that is only one of litany of managerial dispossessions taking place. Combine the myriad corporate provocations with the government molestations — EPA, IRS, EEOC, DOJ, and state prosecutors and I’m surprised anyone would still stake a claim to that desiccated platitude. I believe a vote for Trump might thicken that porridge. He seems willing to rule by it, at least he’s said as much — indirectly.
Were Wallace supporters actually being dispossessed of their country and constitutional inheritance? Were they being lied to, and claims of equality being cynically used as means of manipulating them out of a Constitutional patrimony?
If you are willing to say “Yes, but that did not entitle them to feel aggrieved and to demand recognition of that condition” , then maybe you need to explain just when, if ever, it is that some class of people have a right to stand up for themselves?
If on the other hand you say “No. Wallace supporters were not being similarly maneuvered out of their natural rights and legitimate patrimony”, then why introduce them in the first place?
It seems to me that back then, the Wallace supporters were being asked to respect the rule of law, not to go away quietly and die and leave the house to others.
But maybe you figure that that is all there is? Interest groups and tribes, and what you can get away with?
If that is the case what’s the point of even talking about respect and rights? If that is the case then the issue can only be resolved …
… well you know the answer to that one.
And another thing, JurassiCon Rex. You’re expecting us to give up everything – everything – for a candidate who is evolving on H-1B visas. If you care about immigration policy, why don’t you support the candidate who can describe it in subject-verb sentences? Who is an actual lawyer? Who might stand a chance of accomplishing something about it? Who hasn’t himself employed foreign workers? If you’d rather go all 28 Days Later rage virus, then admit it. Admit the same thing your candidate himself admits, that he doesn’t care about immigration policy, only exploiting the anger about it.
Nick,
“They’re not even supporting the smart anti-immigration candidate.”
There hasn’t been a smart immigration candidate on the GOP side in forever. We hadn’t come by 50+ million aliens by miscalculation — it was calculated entirely. Now that someone has pointed a finger at the culprits he’s beyond the pale.
“mischaracterizing Republicans as angry white trash”
And what? Now, finally, they’re right? If that doesn’t meet all the requirements of elitism I don’t know what would.
Nick,
“Who is an actual lawyer?”
Holy crap! Not more lawyers. Hadn’t you noticed what got us in the deep shit. IT WERE LAWYERS. God help us! A Doctor, a barber, a cobbler, a stripper. But NO lawyers… and No bankers.
I’m talking about an actual, real person, JurassiCon, who’s running for the presidency. He’s a lawyer and he has no responsibility for the current state of our immigration system. If you want to throw around broad categories, you know who’s responsible for our current system? It’s not the lawyers, it’s the big businessmen who hire foreign workers to save money and donate to Schumer’s campaigns.
NIck…
Nope.
It’s the WELFARE STATE.
The vast bulk of the illegals come here because of free health care, free education for their children, anchor babies, …
Their pay is so low it’s not any kind of ‘draw’ at all.
Cut them out of our welfare state — and they will self deport.
California saw the loss of our tract home construction sector circa 2007.
Since those troopers were single Mexican men, they never qualified for welfare, and they all walked back home — by the million.
Ted Cruz is correct. Enforcement of our EXISTING laws will cause the flood of illegals to entirely reverse.
They are such LOW economic performers that they can’t make a go of it in modern America.
America simply has no utility for stoop labor.
Even crop picking is destined for robotics.
Nick,
True enough about Big Biz. But don’t let the lawyers off the hook. It’s the lawyers that that brought about the Civil Rights Act of ’64 and its distensions; and the immigration Act of ’65; and discovered the theretofore unknown manifestations of emanations and penumbrae in Roe v Wade. And its lawyers that bring about TPP and all that. And its lawyers who routinely eviscerate the Constitution so as to make it a living document rather than the law of the land. A pox on most lawyers, a great pox on all those who’d fastened themselves to government like barnacles to a hull.
JurassiCon – I tell you what. Why don’t we blame all the lawyers who were practicing in the 1960’s-70’s, but also blame Donald Trump for exploiting the immigration laws?
Blert – Just to remove any ambiguity – my point was that someone can’t defend the Trump voters by saying they’re angry about immigration, when Trump (1) has sponsored immigration of low-skilled workers as a businessman, (2) is not the most-informed of the candidates on the subject, (3) has already said that he’s softening on it, and has always said that he’s willing to make deals, (4) has donated to supporters of the immigration status quo, and (5) has no credentials indicating that he could solve such a problem as immigration.
Nick,
Very well, I blame Trump for exploiting loopholes in immigration statutes engineered by lawyers. I would add, as an afterthought, that all of Trump’s shenanigans amounted to small ripples in a small pond compared to the tsunami that had swamped the country that had been the work of lawyers.
Do you, personally, trust Trump on this issue more than Cruz? If so, why?
Rex:
Business and the Dems wanted the loopholes. Heck, that was the intent of the law. The lawyers just drafted what their lords wanted. And, of course, no law has any value if the Executive won’t enforce it.
Blert:
Regarding free education for the children of illegals, I can recall reading the SCOTUS case on the issue. The case must have been decided in the 70’s. I thought it was nuts.
Below is from Pylyer in 1982. I was thinking about the case in 1973.
” Public education is not a “right” granted to individuals by the Constitution. San Antonio Independent School Dist. v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 1″] 411 U.S. 1, 35 (1973). But neither is it merely some governmental “benefit” indistinguishable from other forms of social welfare legislation. Both the importance of education in maintaining our basic institutions and the lasting impact of its deprivation on the life of the child mark the distinction. The “American people have always regarded education and [the] acquisition of knowledge as matters of supreme importance.” 411 U.S. 1, 35 (1973). But neither is it merely some governmental “benefit” indistinguishable from other forms of social welfare legislation. Both the importance of education in maintaining our basic institutions and the lasting impact of its deprivation on the life of the child mark the distinction.”
You can’t go a day without seeing a report that Trump’s supporters are white men, the implication being that’s a Bad Thing, ought to dissuade any thinking person, is not legitimate.
Nick,
I do trust Trump on the issue more than I would Cruz. For all the lamentations about Trump’s lack of genuine conservatism I still find Trump as having made the better conservative. I put not much stock in political conservatism. My conservatism is of a nature natural to human nature. Political conservatism bogs down in rather silly, mudane, factors such as tax rates, smaller government, and a great deal of wordplay. Think tanks have much to answer for. Trump demonstrates, in one aspect, a very real conservatism unlike any establishment politician. He rates the better conservative for wishing to conserve the nation, its borders, its laws all as one, i.e., a national identity. While other pols have spoken of immigration, not one has been so adamant on national identity.
For other of Cruz’s general shortcomings you have only to acquaint yourself with Artfldgr’s comments on a related post on the 15th of this month on this very blog. I admit none of the shortcomings are worthy of banishment or disregard but they suggest a warranted doubt at least as that given Trump by all but those suffering from TDS — Trump Derangement Syndrome.
One last point. Ted Cruz hit Trump on the violence in Chicago (riot canceling Trump’s appearance), saying his (Trump’s) campaign bears some responsibility for encouraging it. “A campaign bears responsibility for creating an environment when the candidate urges supporters to engage in physical violence,” Cruz declared on Fox News’s The Kelly File.
In this instance Trump is merely shameless; Cruz, on the other hand, is non compos mentis and has all the brass of a NeoCon’s heart; to mention nothing of being politically tone deaf. Here he had the opportunity to condemn anti-democratic forces in America but not the fortitude. Instead, he took the cheap shot at the victim. Huzzah for the GOP/Cons Fight! Fight! Fight! Goh Team!
Stream of consciousness:
Ted, in a near panic, rummaged through the flotsam bobbing about in is mind. The chorus ‘sink or swim’ had buoyed itself in his brain like a Captain and Tennille tune. Which, of all the figments within his grasp would he clutch to his bosom for his safety — for a future? A moment passed. The skies above darkened. The black water below beckoned. Ted grasped the anchor and chain. And the sea took him to its bosom.
It’s one thing to be inextricably tangled up with Goldman Sachs; there still remains room for a doubt. But to fold up like a deck chair on the tipsy Titanic when the event calls for a man with a cool head and brave heart is typical GOP/Cons modus operandi — and has been for too long.
Yes, I trust Trump more than Cruz. Though in all sincerity, I would not lose nearly the sleep or the hope still residing in me if Cruz won. He is considerably better than the ne’er-do-well Establishmentarians that soil the political landscape known as conservatism.
Blert, where do you get such ideas about immigrants? Illegal Mexican immigrants alone send about $23 Billion back to Mexico each year. Not bad for stoop labor, huh? Over $120 Billion is sent back to a number of countries from the Philippines to India and China.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2271455/Revealed-How-immigrants-America-sending-120-BILLION-struggling-families-home.html
They also pay into Social Security without being able to collect. And no, they are NOT eligible for welfare. Where you get the welfare is AFDC for their legally born “anchor baby” children. They also pay taxes if indirectly, like sales tax, and property tax collected as part of rent which is passed on.
As to your wild statements about the end of agricultural hand labor, it may happen but is many years away. What is happening is a shift away from labor intensive crops. And this is because of not only high labor costs (even the Mexicans won’t work for a pittance) but also a lack of available workers! Read Victor Davis Hanson once in while if you don’t believe me.
JurassicPlebe
“Political conservatism bogs down in rather silly, mudane, factors such as tax rates, smaller government, and a great deal of wordplay. ”
Wow. I am speechless. Smaller government is silly??
“While other pols have spoken of immigration, not one has been so adamant on national identity.”
So, first Trump was going to deport all the Mexican illegals and get Mexico to build a wall. Then that changes and he was going to put a “beautiful door” in the wall to let almost all of them back in. Now he is “evolving” on H1B visas i.e. issuing more of them.
How is that being “adamant about national identity”?
T O C
Over 40 years ago UC Davis had almost entirely solved a viable machine for automatically picking GRAPES.
Jerry Brown nixxed the US C Davis budget for this one line item — on the behest of Cesar Chavez.
It would’ve ENTIRELY eliminated the stoop labor used to pick the California ( nationi’s ) crop. ( Think WINE )
The inventing team was previously responsible for inventing the tomato picking machine. ALL of the canned tomatoes you eat are picked via that machine. Stoop labor is hopelessly uneconomic f/ tomatoes. It is still used for grapes.
&&&&&
The need for stoop labor is GONE.
It exists ONLY as a result of political intercession.
&&&&&
WRT to remittances.
They are ONLY possible because of the Welfare State.
It’s actually pretty easy to afford that cash flow — when you can walk into the ER and get all of your wounds healed.
AND.
The fraction of the Mexican population doing so is of military aged males at the supreme survival point of life.
White natives — or Black — or Red — or Yellow — or Brown — can’t — of the same age cohort — manage to pull off the same economics.
ALL native ‘colors’ have the Welfare State loaded onto their payroll basis.
The illegals don’t.
Hence, American (native) Blacks are blown out of the market place.
That such is true is evident in the stats for every year of your life. They have EXPLODED since the ‘colored boy’ has been given the High Office.
Since the despot-in-chief could take their vote for granted — political-economic rape is what has occurred.
Jesse Jackson was right.
“Black my %$#.”
&&&&&&
The ULTIMATE cynic would state that many GOP players are thrilled to replace minority Blacks with minority Latinos.
They are economically parallel in attainments — while being FAR less violent.
Latino crimes against Whites are WAY lower than those of Blacks.
Latino crimes against Blacks are WAY higher than those of Whites.
Just ask the Crips and the Bloods.
You don’t much hear about either any more.
The Mexicans (statistically) wiped them out.
‘Cleansed’ LA in so many words.
LA has largely replaced Mexico City as THE Latino super city.
It ‘works’ because Sacramento keeps fueling the ‘machine.’
Jerry Brown — at one point — intended to be a Catholic monk.
He now — in his subconscious — expects all of White California to mirror his values.
Think of him as “Don Jerry.”
He ‘buys’ into La Raza as much as any soul.
Like any ideologue — he’s not for changing.
Considering that Democrats are the party of people on welfare, if the most voted republican candidate right now happens to be the candidate of people dispossessed and without job, I’m just wondering… does somebody work in America?
Bob_CA,
Smaller government is a wonderful theory. You can read about it in books. You’ll never come across it in real life. Smaller government is to mythology as much as the Golden Fleece. On that basis I am all for it; as much as I am all for me and Penélope Cruz getting it on. Neither event is likely — yet both remain as fantasies.
“How is that being “adamant about national identity”?
There you go getting bogged down. This is conservatism:
“We either have a country, or we don’t have a country”
“A nation without borders is not a nation”
“A nation without laws is not a nation”
“A nation that does not serve its own citizens is not a nation”
– Donald Trump
Mr Trump alone had made that ultimatum. What he manages in office — should he ever attain it — will greatly depend on the stalwartness of Congressional GOP/Cons. That, by the reckoning of recent past performance, may be too much to hope for. For the sake of a nation, one grabs onto anything that might save it. At the moment that happens to be one Donald Trump.
the best analysis of Brooks I’ve seen paraphrases Dylan
“But something is happening and you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mr. Brooks”?
Silly Con Wrecks:
Try reading some history and try to understand what is means before you post inconsistent disinformation about small government, politics, conservatism and religion. Calvin Coolidge worked tirelessly to reduce the size and scope of the federal government and to reduce the sway of the progressive movement. He succeeded for a while, before Hoover, FDR, and the rest reasserted control. Coolidge was a lawyer, got that, fool? Lincoln was a lawyer, got that fool? The problem is bigger than lawyers, got that? I remember the 60’s and Wallace. Trump is no Wallace, do you long for another Wallace?
Wallace ….
Also think of Goldwater …
Have a listen to this: hear it in a 2016 context
LBJ 1964 Presidential campaign commercial
Borders,
Language,
Culture.
It is a Savage world.
Now off to go share some hors d’oeuvres, canapés and crudités with mah Obama voting commies ‘friends’ … [for how much longer?]
I won’t submit.
The New York Times found what it called an “unlikely melting pot” when its reporters descended on a Donald Trump campaign office in Tampa, Fla. “For a campaign frequently depicted as offering a rallying point for the white working class, the people volunteering to help Mr. Trump here are noteworthy for their ethnic diversity,” reported the Times on Sunday. “They include a young woman who recently arrived from Peru; an immigrant from the Philippines; a 70-year-old Lakota Indian; a teenage son of Russian immigrants; a Mexican-American.” The Times article included anecdotes from several campaign workers, and drew some common themes.
Smartmatic Group, an electronic voting firm whose worldwide headquarters is located in the United Kingdom, will be running the online balloting process in the Utah Republican Open Caucuses on Tuesday. The chairman of Smartmatic’s board, Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, currently serves on the board of George Soros’s Open Society Foundation and has close ties to the billionaire. The Wall Street Journal dubbed the Republican party’s online adventure on Tuesday as “one of the biggest online votes conducted so far in the U.S.” and the “largest experiment with online presidential voting since 2004
OM,
There’s little to say to someone who insists on adolescent insults — ‘Silly Con Wrecks’, ‘fool’, double down with ‘fool’ again.
I asked for an example of one government that had shrunk in size and you have to travel in your way-back machine to come up with an episode that had run its course over the span of a single term of a Coolidge presidency about a century ago. You may consider your response as a dismal failure. Coolidge, trims the government for all of one term and this is your idea of what? Progress? A trend? A movement? You might have made an issue of Coolidge’s conservatism by noting his rejection of U.S. membership in the League of Nations and imposing high tariffs on imported goods to protect American industry but that would have better made my point about real conservatism, i.e., sovereignty and protection of America;s vital interests — its industry and people.
I suppose your refusal to admit that governments everywhere are either kleptocracies or grow exponentially and distend from within until they are tyrannies is admissible — coming from an adolescent who wishes nothing more than argument for argument’s sake. Adults will see the obvious for what it is.
And a Lincoln lawyer is about the most critical association anyone can make as to the benefit derived from that unfortunate situation. He, Abe, might have had a greater capacity to value the lives of men had he remained a simple rail-splitter.
JurassiCon Rex:
I suppose it depends how you define shrinking government, how much it has to shrink in order to rate with you, and for how long. If you define it narrowly enough nothing will fit your definition, but other than that you can find examples.
The Coolidge administration would be one. Reagan did it in certain aspects, for a while. It’s been done on the state level to a degree in various places at various times, at least until someone more to the left comes in. And although I can’t cite figures, I assume that in many ex-Communist countries it has happened (for example, the Gulag is pretty much gone, and the Gulag was certainly a huge government enterprise).
Jurrasic quotes:
“A nation without laws is not a nation”
“A nation that does not serve its own citizens is not a nation”
— Donald Trump
That sounds good but Trump has also said that he will let the illegals that he deports back into the country through his “beautiful door.” Let me get this straight, Trump wants to let people who have broken our laws step in front of people who are playing by the rules and are waiting in line. That is not enforcing our laws or serving our citizens.
The immigration system is messed up by big businessmen like Trump who want the illegals as cheap labor for their hotels and construction companies and the Democrats who see them as future voters. The people who get screwed are the ones whose wages are suppressed by the illegals and for some reason support Trump. If he wins, they will get screwed again.
Bob_CA:
Trump supporters pick and choose the Trump rhetoric they want to believe and ignore the rest. It’s an act of faith on their part.
Neo:
“I don’t keep pointing it out to show some sort of brilliant and esoteric insight on my part. I go back to it because it has come true, sure; but at the time I said it, I thought it was a gimme, something obvious to even the most casual observer of the scene.”
You’re fine on diagnosis. It’s on prescription (and therefore treatment) you fall short.
Eric, can you give us suggestions on how conservatives can combat the alt-right saboteurs?
Regarding the shrinking of governments, Joseph Tainter’s book “The Collapse of Complex Societies” posits that governments increase in complexity until the marginal utility of increases becomes negative. At this point, they lose support of their residents and become susceptible to overthrow from within or invasion.
The western Roman Empire is his prime example. The bureaucracy became so large and unresponsive that the Roman empire fell under its own weight and became susceptible to invasion. They are an example of government becoming smaller.
The collapse depends on many factors including external pressures. The western Empire had barbarian tribes on their borders who invaded and sped up the collapse. The Eastern Roman empire on the other hand lasted about a thousand years more until they were conquered by the Muslims.
The US is obviously well along the curve. Let’s hope that we wake up and reject barbarians like Trump will will speed along our collapse.
I meant after the western Roman empire collapsed the government became smaller.
Trump supporters pick and choose the Trump rhetoric they want to believe and ignore the rest. It’s an act of faith on their part.
Of course supporters of Fiorina, Rubio, Cruz, would never do such a dastardly thing. When their candidates dance to different tunes with different partners… well… its… a… uhmm… a… reassessment of their previous position. GOP pots have apparently no shame calling kettles black.
If anything the situation redounds to Trump’s advantage. He hadn’t a constituency and owed no-one an iota of consistency. He’d never sworn an oath on a bible or Koran. The professional pols, the lifetimers, the sinecurist, have routinely pulled the wool and the b.s over voters eyes, and amused themselves at their expense — literally and figuratively. Though Trump may not turn out to be the man, he remains the only hope. All the rest are, on their best days, connivers; on their worst — poltroons.
Brilliant, it takes Imperial implosion to get small government. I’m a buyer, but try selling that to the Neo-Cons. They’d rather sell out their compatriots than lose an Empire.
JurassiCon Rex Says:
March 20th, 2016 at 3:19 pm
Trump supporters pick and choose the Trump rhetoric they want to believe and ignore the rest. It’s an act of faith on their part.
Of course supporters of Fiorina, Rubio, Cruz, would never do such a dastardly thing. When their candidates dance to different tunes with different partners… well… its… a… uhmm… a… reassessment of their previous position. GOP pots have apparently no shame calling kettles black.
and your example of Cruz doing this??
I’m not quite sure how the meme of barbarian tribes invading ever got started.
With rare exception, the tribes that ‘invaded’ were invited in.
They were all Roman military allies.
Often they were stiffed after having performed well. ( Vandals )
No barbarian tribe was ever driven out of Rome.
They all left of their own volition. No-one could stand the place.
It was a nexus between Sodom and San Francisco… not a place to raise the kids.
Bill Wittle has the best explanation.
When societies attain the top of the greasy pole — and perceive resources to be unlimited — and the state to have unparalleled legitimacy — then that society shifts from ‘K’ selection — ‘K’ values — to ‘r’ values.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R/K_selection_theory
Because humanity is composed of moist robots, we are fully capable of shifting our ‘software’ from K to r and back again in a way that no other animal can do.
Of all the races, the Black race has the most pronounced skew towards ‘r’ reproduction ‘strategies.’
The reason has nothing to do with skin color or any other human attribute. It’s driven by the fact that African terrain does not provide defendable ground. It’s too flat.
Whites evidence the extreme in ‘K’ reproduction strategies. Europe is chock-a-block with defendable niches.
( If you can’t hold on to your land, then farming doesn’t look too smart.
&&&&&&&&
When it seems that resources are unlimited, most citizens would feel churlish to deny easy giving to the ‘poor’ or unfortunate.
It is our wealth disparity that is causing this emotional response.
It reaches its extreme at the top of our wealth distribution… movie stars being exemplars in this regard.
You won’t find a single soul in Hollywood that has not adopted this gilt agenda.
None have a clue — introspection wise — as to the larger dynamic in play.
None can step back and see their own motivations for what they are.
Angela Jolie’s adoptions immediately spring to mind.
guilt // gilt
so sorry
Freudian typo
s1c,
With a hat tip to frequent commenter artfldgr for unearthing the pusillanimous Cruz’s double dealing:
…
which is why he wanted to increase the h1b visa program by over 500%… cause bringing more people into the country is the way to solve the problem of bringing in more people to the country… he only changed this position as he saw that trump would trump him
…
Ted Cruz’s ‘Flat Out Lie’ on Immigration
The Texas senator insists he’s never favored a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants, but many of his old colleagues say that’s not true
“I’ve never supported legalization, I do not intend to support it.” — Cruz answering Rubio at December debate
“It’s just a flat out lie. Period,” said Robert De Posada. “There’s just no truth behind it.” “My criticism is that Cruz can say, ‘Things have changed and I’ve changed my position.’ But don’t sit here and flat out lie that you have never been for legalization when the facts are very clear.”
in Cruz’s past work for Bush and later as a board member of the Washington-based Hispanic Alliance for Prosperity Institute, Cruz helped craft policies to allow undocumented immigrants to stay in the country and pursue legal status
When Charles Foster, a prominent Houston immigration lawyer, was tapped to draft Bush’s plan, he said he was told the campaign had a team of bright young lawyers to work with him. “One of them, named Ted Cruz, had in his bailiwick of issues immigration and he would be my contact with the campaign,” Foster said.
While Cruz was a member of the board and its policy committee HAPI strongly advocated for a path to legalization, including President Bush’s principles for immigration reform, as well as the 2006 McCain-Kennedy immigration reform bill.
“It’s just bullshit,” said a former member of the HAPI when asked about Cruz’s contention that he never supported legalization. “That’s what pisses us all off. Don’t throw us under the bus for legalization and not take on the nativists and the crazies when you wrote the language. Stand for something.”
…
further Cruz has a long, relatively speaking, history of playing with words and phrases. He, according to Ricardo R. Galvan has routinely bandied about phrases such as “pathway to citizenship” and “amnesty” — as it suited his deception. Quoting Mr Galvan:
In Ted Cruz’s actual attempted changes to the Gang of Eight bill, which are often characterized as being an example of his anti-amnesty bona fides, what he actually aimed to do was secure legal status for illegals while cutting off a pathway to citizenship.
I suspect that much like John Kerry, Cruz has been for and against much before he was against and for it.
…
From Julia Hahn:
This may explain why Kasich, Cruz, and Rubio did not volunteer their prior support for increasing guest worker programs. For instance, Sen. Cruz was asked about the nation’s rate of visa issuances – which distributes one million green cards and 700,000 guest worker visas annually. When asked what he believes the “right level” of immigration should be, Cruz said:
We need to redefine our legal immigration system so that it meets the needs of the American economy. Right now, we’re bringing in far too many low skilled workers. What that is doing is driving down the wages of hard-working Americans. Our system isn’t working.
Cruz did not mention his amendment to the Gang of Eight bill to double the supply of green cards – which would have resulted in an explosion of low-skilled immigration – nor did he mention his push to quintuple the H-1B program, which would allow American tech and white-collar workers to be replaced with lower-paid foreign labor.
Indeed, during the Gang of Eight fight, Cruz said that the immigration expansions of the Rubio-Schumer bill were the “best” part of the bill and that they did not go “nearly far enough.”
I believe that fills your bill.
to Jurassic – so all your examples are not when he was a senator – but when he was employed by a president who sat policy.
That is not changes that is doing what you are hired to do by your boss.
As usual, instead of lying Ted it is bullshit Trump
Sily Con Wrecks:
About Sir Donald as you see him: “He’d never sworn an oath on a bible or Koran …” It’s not a bug its a feature of Sir Donald. He appears to have no compunction against lying and deception. We all know he has never sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution. Has he ever sworn an oath to tell the truth, say in court, or before a minister (marriage vows)? Just wondering, we all have heard him swearing at and insulting those who oppose him. And yet he is your “only hope for this nation? Sounds foolish to me. But then you don’t hold Lincoln in high regard.
Silly Con Wrecks:
Climb down off that high horse, “that governments everywhere are either kleptocracies or grow exponentially and distend from within until they are tyrannies is admissible” Smells like simplistic bilge from way out here. I suppose the Constitution is our problem in your “mind.” Should the country go back to the Articles of Confederation? Maybe just anarchy or a new form of government under Sir Donald, the “only hope?”
JurassiCon Rex Says:
March 20th, 2016 at 4:24 pm
The complainants are of the pro-amnesty faction — bitterly denouncing a candidate that’s adopted a hard line on illegals during his first run for public office, and ever since.
Quelle surprise.
Ted’s ‘clock’ starts with his own political career.
His detractors ‘clock’ starts way back when he was acting as legal counsel for George Bush’s campaign — whereby he was professionally committed to jealously protect and advance his client’s interests.
Cruz was hired on as an ATTORNEY — nothing else.
It is standard fare for attorneys to passionately advocate for positions // policies that they don’t personally back.
Hence, I doubt that Ted Cruz gave the issue in depth thought or commitment.
Further, at that time, none of the raging abuses now seen were apparent on the national stage.
Instead, the thought was that the incoming Bush administration would clean up the Clinton ear mess — and plug the hole on the border. It was not obvious to Cruz — or anyone — that Bush had no intention of enforcing our immigration statutes.
Bush I, Clinton, Bush II, Obama — each in their turn paid lip service to immigration law.
A Republican President, with a Republican Congress looked the other way while millions of immigrants poured north.
This was the GOPe inaction — in action.
All of this happened AFTER Ted’s 2000 era campaign work.
Ted threw his hat into the ring — to oppose the GOPe — as a Tea Party candidate.
He has stayed true to Tea Party — smaller government — principles ever since.
&&&&&&&&&
The H1b program is conflated with immigration.
By the terms of the indentures, H1b employees have to RETURN HOME. The vast bulk do so.
I take the position that the program has been wholly corrupted — virtually from the start.
One attorney up in Portland, Oregon had a YouTube video of his presentation (running just about forever) wherein he details what a mockery his firm makes of the ‘system.’ And that he, personally, is responsible for cheating the rules — by crafting tortured job recruitment ads in low circulation publications such that the employer ( HP in his case ) could establish that no American talent was to be found meeting the requirements.
They could and would hire a plain vanilla code smith from India. ( India, not China, was this attorney’s house specialty. He was brining in PLANE LOADS of H1b each week. Keep in mind that all of them have to fly back after their term is up. )
&&&&&
I’m convinced that many cynical GOPe players favored Latino immigration in scale because Mexicans were driving Blacks all the way back to Atlanta.
The Black vote skews severely towards the Democrat party.
95::5
The Latino vote merely favors the Democrat party.
70::30
Concentrating Black voters into fewer Congressional districts reduces the size of the Congressional Black Caucus.
It’s peaked, BTW. Many Black Congressmen now represent Latino districts — and are barely surviving primary challenges.
%%%%
But a 2::1 voting bias does nothing to boost the GOP.
The Democrats must be happy to have even a stronger bias in the polity.
It’s the source of the Obama presidency.
The America of 1988 would never have elected Barry even once.
JurassiCon – I fell a bit behind on this thread. But please answer me a question: what is it that you want to conserve? Not our American political tradition. I assume it’s not our moral tradition. What, then?
S1c,
He lied. He lied. He lied. He lied as a Senator on the ‘debate’ stage. Parse it as you wish. Clinonize it if that’s your wont. But it all comes out the same — he lied.
That would be Clintonize.
OM,
“Climb down off that high horse”
I’ll climb down when you answer the question. Name two first world governments that are smaller now than ten, twenty, thirty, fifty, one hundred years ago. I’ll climb down when you admit the trend; admit it sways to the authoritarian/totalitarian; admit you are wrong.
And way to go on the misdirection, i.e., the logical non sequitur. The comments had been addressing the myth of small government in praxis and you introduce the Constitution. You may take your silly virtue signaling and climb down from your swayback nag.
you forgot to say bush lied people died Jurassic
Silly Con Wrecks:
So you know some cool memes “virtue signaling,”
but you don’t answer questions. Is the Constitution our problem or do you prefer something else? Why not ask for 1000 years ago, Mr. High Horse? How about Poland since the fall of the Soviet Union, smaller or bigger, less free or more coercive? Was the Franco government small or big, sometimes size doesn’t matter its what the state does to its subjects. But you have admitted your perch up on the high horse, don’t let the mask slip bud.
Nick,
our American political tradition… our moral tradition
I find it hard to take the proposition seriously. Our political tradition is so corrupt I would rather deal with La Cosa Nostra. Our moral tradition had been hi-jacked some time ago. Our cultural tradition had been blasted to smithereens. As I just happen to have been listening to some chanteuses, I note that our cultural stars among female singers have been the likes of Madonna, Gaga, and Miley ‘Twerk-it’ Cyrus. Has the culture not heard of the irrepressible Tierney Sutton? The incomparable Diane Schuur? The great Diana Krall, and Jane Monheit, and Sophie Millman, and Melody Gardot? Our culture, as our country, is SNAFU.
Sorry about the tangent.
I’d like, first and foremost to conserve the nation and its identity. The anglo-saxon nation born of the sacrifices of the greatest men ever gathered together at one propitious time. I want the borders defended. I want the laws complied with; and executed. I want American citizens, born or naturalized to take prominence in the minds and wills of the political class. I want the political class to die out to be replaced by the citizen representatives. To make that possible I want the educational system to teach history and civics and prepare it citizens to serve the nation. What I want would fill an essay. What I want to start with is “I want my country back”.
OM,
Come off it. Poland! The rest of the iron curtain countries? You consider any of them at the time of their deliverance from Communism, or now, to be a first world country? God almighty you are dense. And for however much Poland’s living standards have made headway it’s come from the emigration of tens of thousands of Poles having hightailed it to other countries for jobs and welfare. Ask the Brits how much they enjoy having them.
Silly Con Wrecks:
And yet you support Sir Donald? Cognitive dissonance.
JurassiCon – What is our country without our culture and our institutions? If you want a president who doesn’t respect the First Amendment, and thinks he can send troops to kill civilians, then is this really about the rule of law?
You say that you’re not so interested in political conservatism. And you quoted some of Trump’s slogans. (I note that you didn’t quote his main slogan, which he’ll certainly apply to immigration: he makes deals.) Well, if we were voting for a conservative sloganeer, Trump might get my vote. We’re voting for a president. That’s a political job. There’s a bit of sloganeering involved, but there’s a lot of the mundane, the think-tank stuff.
I go back to the point: what is it about the nation that’s worth conserving?
OM,
How many errors before you give up? That would be cognitive brisance.
Nick,
I can’t make it clearer. Its the nation that’s worth conserving – not in its present attitude but in its genesis.
And are you opposed to making deals on principle or what? What if the deal made were such:
Assimilate to American ways, American laws, American customs, American traditions. Leave your May Day and Cinco de Mayo and Ramadan celebrations in the old world. Stop demanding status, earn it. Stop demanding positive rights. Positive rights come out of other people’s kick. Stop bitching. Go to work. Welcome to MY country. You’ll have to prove much before you can say as much. Sign here and have it notarized.
Ironically, Romney’s loss was less an original cause of conservative frustration than the overwhelming conservative victory in the following midterms. When that was followed by elected conservatives awarding legislative victory after victory to Obama, Reid, and Pelosi (as if they had actually prevailed in the midterms) plus John Roberts’ Obamacare betrayal, the result appears as a possibly terminal malignancy. The whole of the body politic is seen as vile and in need of thorough cleansing by any available means.
Enter the omnidirectional destructive force of Trump.
Silly Con Wreck:
I don’t submit to your lordship unlike you who wishes to submit to Sir Donald. I gave your demand what it was worth, one country. You didn’t specify the GDP or anything else. Your game was “bring me a rock.” Sorry, you are still a phony. You want Sir Donald for whatever reason.
Oh and about that Anglo-Saxon heritage. That dog don’t hunt as they say. We have a thing called the Constitution that is supposed to transcend our ancestors places of origin. Mine have been here for quite a while although that matters not.
GB said,
They know that Cruz is the only candidate with a history of “walking the talk” and they know that as President, he will be from day one, a lame duck President. One that both parties will hamstring.
Assuming Trump would try to be a genuine reformer (a big “if”), there’s even less reason to believe the establishment will work with him. Cruz may reject the establishment, be he’s of their class. Trump doesn’t even have that going for him.
Any reformer will be stymied. The question after that is how they handle it.
BTW, the way in which the establishment neuters Trump won’t be up-front and honest. They will pretend to work with him, yet strangely nothing will ever get done.
That’s the same way Mayor Daley dealt with MLK Jr. when he visited Chicago. By the time the betrayal is obvious, Trump’s first term will be over.
LOL – the thought that Trump would win the general is the height of wishful thinking. He loses by 10 easily.
blert,
Regarding r/K selection as an organizational principle for society, I’ve had similar thoughts but they mostly revolve around the “feminization” of a society. Certain groups may be more prone to dependency than others, but it eventually seeps in everywhere.
Societies stop struggling and competing, and start adopting strategies to best defend what they have. The pie stops growing, and an increasing population devotes more and more energy into fighting over how big their slice is.
Barbarians who attack such societies do not remake them for long. They are rapidly swallowed up by them.
JurassiCon Rex Says:
which is why he wanted to increase the h1b visa program by over 500%…
A position he hasn’t held since November of last year, when he changed it. That would be about 4 months longer than Trump’s last flip-flop.
“It’s just a flat out lie. Period,” said Robert De Posada. “There’s just no truth behind it.” “My criticism is that Cruz can say, ‘Things have changed and I’ve changed my position.’ But don’t sit here and flat out lie that you have never been for legalization when the facts are very clear.”
This quote is a bald assertion, with no evidence presented. And who is Robert De Posada? What authority does he bring to question Cruz’ position?
“Robert de Posada, the group’s founder, has a long history working with the Republican Party, serving with Dick Armey as co-director of “Americans for Border and Economic Security”, on the Social Security Commission under former President George W. Bush, and as the Director of Hispanic Affairs of the Republican National Committee.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latinos_for_Reform#Robert_de_Posada
Robert De Posada is the ESTABLISHMENT’S liason to the Latino community on comprehensive immigration reform.
Gee, I wonder if he has a motive to discredit Cruz.
In Ted Cruz’s actual attempted changes to the Gang of Eight bill, which are often characterized as being an example of his anti-amnesty bona fides, what he actually aimed to do was secure legal status for illegals while cutting off a pathway to citizenship.
1) Cruz was employed as a lawyer, with a responsibility to work at his employer’s direction.
2) For a guy who secretly wanted to legalize immigrants, he has a funny way of going about it, since even BREITBART praised his efforts to rally the opposition to Go8 in the House.
If you want me to rub your nose in it, I’ll be happy to provide A DOZEN LINKS to articles by respectable news organizations across the political spectrum, all agreeing on one thing: Cruz killed the Gang of Eight bill.
Finally, I can also give you dozens of quotes by angry members of the Senate, not least of which is SCHUMER, blaming Cruz for the failure.
“social mingling”:
We are all in this together!
Not!
Mingle=validate=enable
Neo, you might be interested in this change story by Michael Faraday, if you have not already seen it: http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/262160/mind-left-insider-michael-faraday
Matt_SE Says:
March 20th, 2016 at 9:10 pm
blert,
Societies stop struggling and competing, and start adopting strategies to best defend what they have. The pie stops growing, and an increasing population devotes more and more energy into fighting over how big their slice is.
%%%%%
It’s less a case of defending what they have … more towards a scramble to grab more of the pie.
Defense of assets and income = a demand for lower taxation.
Asset scramble = wholesale K Street lobby wars.
The decline of Rome was famous for the Emperor over allocating income streams… not a one of them ever pulled off the throttle.
This dynamic is fulsomely underway in Congress.
Even the disastrous Corn-to-Fuel program can’t be terminated.
The economically insane solar tax credit scheme keeps getting extended. It bankrupted Spain. Due to its climate, the Spaniards went whole hog for PV power. Their expenditures — relative to their economy and productivity — were EPIC.
It’s now causing Spain, itself, to break up. Barcelona wants out.
&&&&&&
Females – all of them — are not wired to throttle resources to their children.
This programming goes back into Precambrian times. In all mammals this is taken to the next level. Mother stays with the kids long after birth — until the next generation is fledged.
What no-one comprehended a century ago — with female suffrage — is that women are genetically skewed towards Big Government — especially when they are of child bearing age.
This is a reality that can’t be politically adjusted around.
Yet, at the end of the day, Big Government ALWAYS devolves to corruption, soft or hard tyranny, and pervasive anti-Male statutes.
BIg Government can’t stand a rival for power — and strong fathers leading strong families IS the ultimate rival to Big Government power.
Note how the Left // MSM is obsessed with taking firearms out of the hands of MEN.
They are locked into a trance — and are flatly oblivious of said group think.
&&&&&&
Smaller government is inevitable when the finances implode.
Russia had a MUCH smaller government than the USSR.
A similar implosion is in America’s future.
These social implosions don’t always trigger a war.
Rather, one fine day the financial earthquake hits — 2008 style, 1873 style — 1837 style — 1930 style and the Big Reset is punched.
( The Great Depression didn’t get started until December 1930. The Wall Street fiasco only affected the New York City crowd. The common man in that era did not play the markets.
( The Great Depression was triggered by the insolvency of United States Bank. As a clearing and representative bank for many farm state banks, it’s ‘lock-up’ caused system wide ‘lock-ups’ all over the nation. THAT was the liquidity crisis. Not Wall Street’s tumble.
Right now the Fed is doing a bang up job of setting the table for a planet wide systemic collapse.
It IS significant that the fellow at the top is a woman — who didn’t see what was obvious to yours truly in July 2003: a train wreck was dead ahead. ( Beat it by five years. )
I was ahead of everybody celebrated in “The Big Short.”
Yellen can’t see nothing — never has — never will.
And — at a gut level — as a woman — she can’t bring herself to pull away the punch bowl.
She just can’t.
She’s been a money spitting ‘dove’ her entire career.
She’s the WORST possible soul to be in command of the system.
blert, I don’t know where you get your information about agriculture in California. Is it from someone you know personally who works in the field, or who is associated with automation at Davis? Or is this second information from political sources who are spreading half truths?
I have first hand knowledge in this area and will state emphatically that much of what you are writing is wrong. Because of that I doubt what you write in other areas. Pardon me for saying this so bluntly, but you come across as an old blowhard.
Well, sorry, folks, but I’m going to talk about the topic of the post, which was David Brooks’ mystification about Trump’s support.
As usual, I spent Saturday morning among my lefty friends, and, as usual, they simply have no idea what goes on among the non-paper pushing class. Their reaction to the Trump phenomenon is the same as Pauline Kael’s reaction to Nixon’s election, IIRC, “How could he win? I don’t know anyone who voted for him!”
There is no one who makes anything (except software), no business owners, even — just lawyers, doctors, professors, stockbrokers, journalists, writers, and so forth — a real cross section of the chattering classes.
I fear that we have finally reached the divide between the Eloi and the Morlocks.
The Other Chuck Says:
March 21st, 2016 at 12:54 am
Jerry Brown cutting off UC Davis in in the record.
NO harvesting machine automatiion has occurred ever after.p
For the general population: UC Davis was ground zero for aucomated agriculture.
PERIOD.
Especially wine grapes.
Automated … that is.
Deep in the wine industry here. blert is correct.
And, the 19th amendment was a disaster.
So were the 16th and 17th.
you guys need a bit of commical relief:
Complements of Variety
Lena Dunham says that she has received “more hostility” for supporting and campaigning for Hillary Clinton than she has ever gotten from the American right.
“I have received more hostility for voting for a qualified female candidate than I have ever received anywhere from the American right wing,” she said at a Clinton campaign event at NeueHouse in Hollywood.
“The fact that other members of the Democratic Party have spoken to me like I was an ill informed child for voting for someone who represents everything I think this country should be is outrageous.”
Dunham noted that she’s received the “vitriol” via her Instagram feed, where she has posted photos as she campaigned for Clinton in primary states.
She said that she reached a “tipping point” last week when one commenter wrote to her, “Bernie Sanders has done more for feminism than Hillary Clinton has.”
A picture is worth a thousand words and proves the lie. Here:
http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-equipment-harvesting-wine-grapes-merlot-california-11557744.html
Matt_SE,
@ 9:24 pm (yesterday)
Well done! You explain Cruz’s double dealing with passion and conjecture. You have the makings of a Trump apologist.
I’ll be happy to provide A DOZEN LINKS to articles by respectable news organizations across the political spectrum
Respectable news organizations! You’re pulling my leg… yes? So, first hand accounts against Cruz are biased out of hand because… CRUZ so CONSERVATIVE. But “respectable news organization” wouldn’t lie. Here’s some news for you – respectable news organizations are organized to lie, systemized to lie, mobilized to lie. Here endeth today’s lesson.
Every time you post something, you prove my thesis about Trumpkins being cynics to the point of nihilism.
Silly Con Wrecks:
Back up on the high horse again I see. Passing on coprolites as wisdom.
The Other Chuck Says:
March 21st, 2016 at 10:43 am
A picture is worth a thousand words and proves the lie. Here:
http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-equipment-harvesting-wine-grapes-merlot-california-11557744.html
Please! Everybody knows that. In the central valley yes.
In Northern Ca steeper terrains where the good fruit is, it is only now getting somewhat established.
The harvesters are mostly imported from Germany.
blert is right it should have happened a long time ago but … luddites.
Also, better keep an eye on your machines at all times.
Geez!
Matt_SE,
Every time someone from the Daily Trumpet or Bugle soils a perfectly good garbage pail liner with ink I am exculpated of cynicism and, in some circles, praised from high on the ramparts for seeing clearly the things in front of my nose.
OM,
You persist in refusing to offer a counterpoint and instead remark incessantly on horses and shit. Good for you. Stay within your bailiwick.
JurassiCon – You say that you can’t make this any clearer, but I’m still not getting it. What do you think is worth preserving about our nation, if not its culture and tradition?
Silly Con Wreck:
You know how to look up scientific terms! That was another kind of rock by the way. Other terms for being on the “high horse” to be is arrogant and prideful. Thought you might look those up too.
OM – Thanks for the reminder that non-Trump people can throw mud on message boards, too. Please stop reminding us.
Nick:
Silly Con Wreck will ask you to bring him rocks too and he won’t like or accept the answer. Play his game if you wish.
The notion that we are dependent upon stoop labor to feed us is a canard.
Robotics is going to make the last of the picking labor uneconomic.
Unlike the Mark I human eyeball, robots can easily be given multi-spectral vision.
This means that they can ‘eyeball’ ripeness in orchard crops in a way that no human can.
Apple growers have long known that one must sculpt the trees to benefit the apples.
So all production orchards look bizarre — ugly, even.
Edward R Murrow’s harvest of shame is now uneconomic.
BTW, the Florida crop he was filming — tomatoes — is now massively mechanized.
Many plants and trees require human pickers if left to grow naturally.
BUT, if they are sculpted// arranged// staged — then the very same food stuff can be mechanically harvested at speed and low cost.
The speed aspect is critical as these are crops that are all flipping to maximum ripeness at the exact same time across an extensive area — say the Salton sea.
In the wheat sector, specialists fly across the plains at a Hell bent pace — 24 hours a day — as nature does not wait.
Like a panic construction build,… hundreds needed on Monday — no-one needed by Friday.