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Jonah Goldberg: Why the ‘Cult of Trump’ Has Taken Hold
National Review ^ | February 7, 2018 | Jonah Goldberg

Posted on 02/07/2018 2:56:38 PM PST by EveningStar

... Liberals roll their eyes at the claim that President Obama violated democratic norms or abused his power. But putting aside the specific arguments, conservatives saw plenty of abuses and violations, from the IRS scandals and Benghazi to the Iran deal. Obama said many times he couldn’t unilaterally implement the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program because he wasn’t a “king.” Then he did it anyway.

And the process repeats itself, getting worse and more egregious each time. When I criticize Trump, the first response from countless Republicans is, “Oh yeah, why was it okay for Obama!?” If I point out it wasn’t and that I said as much, they switch gears to how we need a fighter who gets things done and doesn’t care about the “old rules.” ...

Yes, there is a cult of Trump. But that’s because we have a cult of the presidency in this country. It infects not just our understanding of the office, but of the person holding it. When Obama acted like a king — by his own definition — liberals cheered, because their loyalty was to the man, not the office. It’s getting worse with Trump, but this dynamic has been getting worse for decades. And I suspect it won’t improve much when he’s gone.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Cheese, Moose, Sister; Society
KEYWORDS: cult; deplorables; fakeconservative; fakemedia; fakenews; fakerepublican; jonahgoldberg; nationalreview; nevertrumper; rino; tds
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To: EveningStar
MY first (and ONLY) response, Jonah, to ANYTHING published by ANYONE at NRO is:


21 posted on 02/07/2018 3:11:43 PM PST by catnipman ( Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: EveningStar

It isnt a cult.

It’s Americans knowing that Trump is the only person fighting for us. He has given up a safe and easy life for OUR benefit, and has wanted to for 30 years!

He is America’s greatest living folk hero, and our devotion to this type of rare selflessness is genuine, and not a mindless cult.


22 posted on 02/07/2018 3:13:10 PM PST by VanDeKoik
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To: EveningStar

This whole article is merely about why it is ok for a supposed conservative to criticize Trump. No specific charges are leveled. He generically alleges abuses that are even worse than Obama’s executive orders. Pure idiocy and drivel.


23 posted on 02/07/2018 3:15:18 PM PST by unlearner (You will never come to know that which you do not know until you first know that you do not know it.)
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To: EveningStar

I admire his mother but laugh at him. He’s swamp dweller’s pissboy


24 posted on 02/07/2018 3:17:25 PM PST by Wilderness Conservative (Nature is the ultimate conservative.)
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To: EveningStar

Any “conservative” attacking Trump never really was one to begin with.


25 posted on 02/07/2018 3:18:51 PM PST by Kazan
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To: EveningStar

Not a cult. Just a bunch of red blooded Americans that have waited years for someone on our side that didn’t grab their ankles every time some commie said boo!


26 posted on 02/07/2018 3:19:09 PM PST by HP8753 (Live Free!!!! .............or don't.)
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To: EveningStar

Their website has gotten a lot better at defending the prez. They were awful for a long time.


27 posted on 02/07/2018 3:19:23 PM PST by Luke21
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To: EveningStar

Kristol’s butt monkey strikes again. Get outta here Goldberg!!!


28 posted on 02/07/2018 3:20:21 PM PST by Dawgreg (Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.)
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To: EveningStar

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt Jonah.


29 posted on 02/07/2018 3:20:58 PM PST by McGruff (#ObamaGate)
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To: EveningStar

I keep hearing about all the horrible things that President Trump is committing, but nobody bothers actually detailing what it is that POTUS Trump is doing that’s so bad (with the exception of his tweeting, but I now believe that’s a strategic action, since it seems to cause his opponents’ collective heads to explode.)

But I’m still waiting to hear about all the unconstitutional, evil actions in specific terms. I’ve been waiting for a year now, and other than the hysterical, incoherent screams of the leftists and never-trumpers, there’s nothing.

Mark


30 posted on 02/07/2018 3:21:19 PM PST by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: EveningStar

Why Trump’s “movement” is not a cult (in the sociological sense of the term):

1. Trumpism is not a coherent political philosophy or ideology, and definitely isn’t an identity because his followers can’t even wear a Trump hat without it being slapped off their head or have a Trump sticker on their car without it being vandalized.
2. There are no supporters who have committed their lives to following him as the son of some god, as in the Roman Emperor Cults.
3. Trump has no communes, camps, Scientology Center, or Hitler Youth Corps where the young are brainwashed in his presumed ideology. There is no attempt to cut off contact with the outside world and re-socialize people. Cult is an abbreviation of “cultivate” or brainwash.
4. Trump’s followers support him on a purely voluntary basis.
5. Trump’s campaign and rallies were open to the media and not driven by secrecy.
6. Trump’s “movement” doesn’t try to control the lives of people or absorb their identities.
7. What kind of cult leader tries to play the fool and simulate stupidity, as Trump has?
8. Trump’s book – The Art of the Deal – wouldn’t compare at all to Mein Kampf, The Manifesto of the Communist Party, or even the Protocols of the Elders of Zion as it is not mythic.
9. A cult has a religious veneration of its leader and Trump is not very religious. He has many religious supporters but they are very diverse from Evangelicals to Hindus.
10. There is no attempt by Trump or his movement to get supporters to die or sacrifice for him.


31 posted on 02/07/2018 3:23:00 PM PST by WayneLusvardi (It's more complex than it might seem)
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To: Luke21
I didn't see the part where The Donald "violated democratic norms or abused his power."

I didn't click on the article so maybe it's down deep at the bottom?

32 posted on 02/07/2018 3:23:02 PM PST by bagster (Even bad men love their mamas.)
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To: frogjerk

This clown is one of the high priests.


33 posted on 02/07/2018 3:23:21 PM PST by crusher2013
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To: EveningStar

If this is a cult I'm all for cults.

34 posted on 02/07/2018 3:23:23 PM PST by McGruff (#ObamaGate)
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To: All

-

Goldberg lives at the same Country Club as Brett Baier.

He likes to gently discuss the subtleties of Barack Obama, all the while ignoring the obvious failings.

When it comes to Trump, you’re a ignorant Hillbilly, if you support any of his winning policies.

Why does FOX employ so many of these Haters?


35 posted on 02/07/2018 3:25:12 PM PST by AnthonySoprano
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To: Ted Grant

And of those six named, only Bob Dole wholeheartedly embraced Donald Trump. Whatever his faults, Bob Dole is still a patriot.


36 posted on 02/07/2018 3:25:51 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj ("It's Slappin' Time !")
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To: EveningStar
Jonah Clodberg is still crying over !Yeb. Or was it Cruz?
Or Evan McMuffin? There were so many I don't remember
all of them. Maybe it was Romney?
37 posted on 02/07/2018 3:28:13 PM PST by StormEye
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To: unlearner

They don’t get (Goldberg gets it, but people who really believe it’s a “cult”) that the entire power structure is arrayed against President Trump, so why the hell would I add to the assault in any way? When the MSM, Hollywood, the entirety of the Democrat party and a sizeable percentage of the Republican Party hates the man and relentlessly criticizes him for any single thing he does, I will support him and oppose them. Just like the phrase “well, in Obama’s defense....” never passed my lips. If that man was ever falsely accused of something, I said, “Let him refute that. No defense from me.”

Does that mean I will support President Trump even if I disagree with a certain issue? No, but I’ll air any such opposition here in the family instead of out in the mainstream where I’m giving comfort to the left.


38 posted on 02/07/2018 3:28:17 PM PST by Rastus
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To: EveningStar
Liberals roll their eyes at the claim that President Obama violated democratic norms or abused his power. ... Obama said many times he couldn’t unilaterally implement the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program because he wasn’t a “king.” Then he did it anyway. And the process repeats itself, getting worse and more egregious each time. When I criticize Trump,...

If I were a Blue Whale I might be able to hold my breath long enough for you to come up with one example, Jonah. Maybe you should change your name to Ahab!

39 posted on 02/07/2018 3:28:59 PM PST by TigersEye (Where is the Trump/Russia collusion memo? ... Mueller? Mueller? Anybody?)
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To: EveningStar

When I criticize Trump


... it resurrects the National Review’s self-beclownment with multiple anti-Trump magazine covers. As a member of that cowardly cabal, Jonah, any criticism coming from you is identified as an act of #NeverTrump carping. I would respond to your criticism not by invoking Obama, but by asking you if believe Hillary would have been better for the nation as president.


40 posted on 02/07/2018 3:30:23 PM PST by sparklite2 (See more at Sparklite Times)
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