Posted on 03/17/2016 10:05:10 AM PDT by Kaslin
For years, conservatives have told themselves the pretty bedtime story that they represent a silent majority in America -- that most Americans want smaller government, individual rights and personal responsibility. We've suggested that if only we nominated precisely the right guy who says the right words -- some illegally grown Ronald Reagan clone, perhaps -- we'd win.
Donald Trump's impending nomination puts all of that to bed.
There can be no doubt: The Republican Party has successful killed the legacy of Ronald Reagan. By consistently moving to the left in every presidential election, by granting the left its general premise that government is generally a tool for good rather than a risky potential instrument of tyranny and by teaching Americans that the problem isn't government itself, but who runs it, Republicans have ensured that the vast majority of Americans no longer hold to conservative principles.
In fact, a significant swath of Republicans themselves don't believe in conservative principles. Trump, obviously, is no conservative. He's a protectionist on trade -- a position that smacks of populist pandering rather than informed conservative economics. He believes in an authoritarian executive branch designed to make deals that achieve a win for Americans, rather than a heavily circumscribed executive branch with prescribed powers of enforcement. He believes that judges sign bills, that legislators exist merely to bargain with the great man in charge and that the military exists to serve as his personal armed forces.
All of this attracts people.
The angrier Trump gets, the more he talks about how he's going to set things right rather than giving Americans the power to do so themselves, and the more Americans flock to him.
So, let's look at the facts. Today, at low ebb, Trump garners approximately 4 in 10 Republican voters. Let's assume that at least half of those Americans aren't conservative -- a fair guess, given that many have admitted bias in polls in favor of government interventionism in the economy, a sneaking love for government entitlement programs and a strong position against immigration -- not for safety reasons, but to prevent economic competition. Meanwhile, more than 4 in 10 Americans support Democrats outright.
This means that at least 6 in 10 Americans support a big government vision of the world.
Which means conservatives have failed.
In order to rebuild, conservatives must recognize that they think individually; leftists think institutionally. While the left took over the universities -- now bastions of pantywaist fascism hell-bent on destroying free speech -- the right slept. While the left took over the public education system wholesale, the right fled to private schools and homeschooling. While the left utilized popular culture as a weapon, conservatives supposedly withdrew and turned off their televisions.
Withdrawal, it turns out, wasn't the best option.
Fighting back on all fronts is. Republicans need to worry less about the next election and significantly more about building a movement of informed Americans who actually understand American values. That movement must start with outreach to parents, and it must extend to the takeover of local institutions or defunding of government institutions outright. The left has bred a generation of Americans who do not recognize the American ideals of the Founding Fathers. Pretending otherwise means flailing uselessly as demagogues like Trump become faux-conservative standard-bearers.
I guess if you say it enough you think it will become true.
Can you show me where the majority of polls have Trump beating Hillary and Hillary beating Cruz? Trump has 53% of women and 40% of men viewing him as very unfavorable.
I know things change but when over half the electorate already hates you it seems a little optimistic to be declaring sure victory.
In fact in the last exit polls in MO, NC and IL a one on one between Cruz and Trump, Cruz wins all three handily.
I could not agree more. And I could not see this happening more than right here on FR. Been here from the beginning and never saw this happening in a million years.
Interesting critique. Can you point out where he is wrong?
That isn’t true. Reagan ran on a less govt. Message. Trump doesn’t say more he says smarter. Trump doesn’t say less, he says better. Trump doesn’t talk about people taking control of their lives he talks about winning.
Though all very positive it’s not a conservative message and it isn’t Reagan’s message. Trump is an individual but he does not speak about the US as a nation of rugged individuals...
If those holding the flaming brands wanted a conservative they would vote for one.
If you are looking for well-informed conservatives here, forget it. The slop that has been posted here in the past few weeks makes Freerepublic look a lot like DU.
Well, from being dead dogs (as far as being a free nation is concerned) for one thing.
Protectionism - look up Herbert Hoover.
History folks.
Protectionism - Look up George Washington.
History folks.
So Conservatives think it’s all about them? Well it isn’t! You can espouse conservative values but put it in plain english so everyone can understand it and don’t wrap it with conservatism. Wrap it with Americanism! Work, less taxes, no free ride but help to get you on your feet again, a strong military, America comes 1st when it comes to Jobs, no over bearing government be it Fed or State, Free speech with no bullying from left or right, 2nd amendment is for all, GOD is not the enemy.
Perhaps a review of what a biographer says about what makes a person a Reagan conservative. I see at least three (maybe more) attributes lacking in Donald Trump. It is written that a true Regan conservative believes:
• Freedom
• Faith
• Family
• Sanctity and Dignity of Human Life
• American Exceptionalism
• The Founders’ Wisdom and Vision
• Lower Taxes
• Limited Government
• Peace Through Strength
• Anti-Communism
• Belief in the Individual
Reagan himself said, “The years when I was out on the mashed potato circuit (i.e., a popular dinner speaker) I was sometimes asked to define conservatism, and I must confess that while I have the cream of the conservative intellectual movement before me, I’m tempted to use Justice Potter Stewart’s definition. He gave it for another subject, by the way. He said he couldn’t define it exactly, but “I know it when I see it.”
The author of the book, Paul Kengor, wrote:
“So, when hearing a Republican presidential aspirant invoking the name of Ronald Reagan, consider whether the candidate shares Reagan’s faith-based optimism, his belief in the individual, his belief in American exceptionalism, his regard for the sanctity and dignity of unborn human life. Is the candidate the pessimist in the room full of toys or the optimist searching for the pony in the dung heap? Would the candidate submit the “foundational” and “divine institution” of the family to the harm of the latest cultural trend, dictate, fad, or fashion? If you hear a self-professing conservative heralding “freedom,” ask whether he or she believes that a self-governing nation can govern freely without the vital moral rudder that is faith. Can there be genuine freedom without faith? What did Tocqueville say? Reagan said what Tocqueville said.
“This, and more, is what a Reagan conservative would say.
“And finally, Reagan’s conservatism …was also an affirmation of his personal idea of America and what it means to be an American. Reagan said that America is less of a place than an idea. …Understanding Reagan’s conservatism also means understanding Reagan’s very concept of the idea of America. Really, then, to answer the question “What is a Reagan conservative?” is less a particular political lesson than an enduring civics lesson. It has value for all American citizens going forward.”
Me, and my house, are Reagan conservatives by this definition. I am not conservative merely to belong to a group. I am a conservative because the 11 principles define the fabric of my being.
There are a couple of prior posts (in 2014) dealing with this same title and book. The original article is at http://spectator.org/articles/58776/11-principles-reagan-conservative
Gwjack
B. S., and what’s more I think you know it.
I’m not going to list the things on Trump’s platform that are identical to Reagan’s just because you’re too damn lazy to find them out on your own.
You’re not only wrong, you’re far far from the truth on this.
Ted needs 83% of the remaining delegates.
Trump needs 55%.
For Ted to sew up the nomination before the Convention, Trump and Kasich combined would have to win less than 17% of the remaining delegates.
Do you work for Hillary, or are you just doing this pro-bono?
B. S.
Trump’s platform is Reagan’s platform, with a wall and repatriation added on.
Read those ideals again, and realize that Trump wouldn’t be advocating what he is, if he didn’t believe in those things.
You folks are lost in a fantasy land that is beyond belief.
The attendants there at the Washington Home for The Terminally Arrogant really shouldn’t allow Curly out without Larry and Moe to keep an eye on him!
And you SILLY VOTERS thought YOUR votes actually mattered?
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/16/we-choose-the-nominee-not-the-voters-senior-gop-official.html
Both establishment and non establishment statists.
Condescending pr*ck!
Can you point out where he is wrong?
his weakest point is his idealism...it’s one thing to say look past Trump, and build an infrastructure for the teaching of true American values; of course that’s true on its face. He seems oblivious to the idea that the opposition is likely to grow in power in the interim, and the electoral demographic will shift incrementally, forming a basis for the opposition to import anti-American ideology in the longer term...the Congressional outlook for the near future favors the Dems, and they will strike hard to minimize their next downturn, all within the timeframe that the author tells us to disregard, lest we become enamored with phony kings...
we really don’t have that luxury...
It means he’ll slow our downfall.
So Shapiro has a new job?
He’s still not worth listening to, or reading.
What a crap piece...pitiful...He blames the people...not 99% of the GOPe loser “leadership” we have had for 25 years.
Don’t look at Trump’s platform, that’s just marketing BS. Look at Trump’s history and positions through his life,, including telling illegal immigration advocates in 2013 that he “gets them”.
He’s a big government, authoritarian, liberal, far from a Reagan.
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