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DOES TRUMP TRUMP? ANGELO CODEVILLA ON OUR PRESENT MOMENT
Powerline ^ | 7/27/15 | Angelo M. Codevilla

Posted on 07/27/2015 9:58:22 AM PDT by Lakeshark

“In the land of the blind,” so goes the saying, “the one-eyed man is king.” Donald Trump leapt atop other contenders for the Republican presidential nomination when he acted on the primordial fact in American public life today, from which most of the others hide their eyes, namely: most Americans distrust, fear, are sick and tired of, the elected, appointed, and bureaucratic officials who rule over us, as well as their cronies in the corporate, media, and academic world. Trump’s attraction lies less in his words’ grace or even precision than in the extent to which Americans are searching for someone, anyone, to lead against this ruling class, that is making America less prosperous, less free, and more dangerous.

Trump’s rise reminds this class’s members that they sit atop a rumbling volcano of rejection. **snip**

Republicans brahmins have the greater reason to fear. Whereas some three fifths of Democratic voters approve the conduct of their officials, only about one fifth of Republican voters approve what theirs do. If Americans in general are primed for revolt, Republican (and independent) voters fairly thirst for it. **snip**

The point here is simple: our ruling class has succeeded in ruling not by reason or persuasion, never mind integrity, but by occupying society’s commanding heights, by imposing itself and its ever-changing appetites on the rest of us. It has coopted or intimidated potential opponents by denying the legitimacy of opposition. Donald Trump, haplessness and clownishness notwithstanding, has shown how easily this regime may be threatened just by refusing to be intimidated.

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


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: leftism; liberalism; progressivism; rulingclass; rush; trump
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Great article, worth the read.
1 posted on 07/27/2015 9:58:22 AM PDT by Lakeshark
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To: Lakeshark
most Americans distrust, fear, are sick and tired of, the elected, appointed, and bureaucratic officials who rule over us, as well as their cronies in the corporate, media, and academic world. Trump’s attraction lies less in his words’ grace or even precision than in the extent to which Americans are searching for someone, anyone, to lead against this ruling class, that is making America less prosperous, less free, and more dangerous.

Couldn't agree more. This is why he's resonating so loudly. And I don't think of it as a flash in the pan. The Congress has behaved so cravenly since the massive win in 2014 that many, many rank and file Republicans and Independents have concluded that it's time for the GOP to go away. Permanently.

2 posted on 07/27/2015 10:04:10 AM PDT by pgkdan (But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
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To: Lakeshark
Codevilla has become one of the leading analysts of what is really happening in America, and this article continues that great insight.

One thing he misses---not that he really addressed it---is that Trump's money makes him impervious to intimidation. I very much love his combativeness and his stand on illegals. I wish he had jumped on the planned parenthood videos. The GOP's silence on this has been deafening, and even Cruz and Lee have disappointed by attaching riders/amendments to a highway bill---which provides perfect cover for the GOPe who want to avoid the issue. It's brushed away with, "Well, that was a highway bill."

3 posted on 07/27/2015 10:04:14 AM PDT by LS ("Castles Made of Sand, Fall in the Sea . . . Eventually" (Hendrix))
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To: Lakeshark
In a conversation a few months ago Angelo remarked, “The 2016 election is simple; the person who runs on the platform ‘Who do they think they are?’ will win.”

They'd get my vote.

4 posted on 07/27/2015 10:06:09 AM PDT by pgkdan (But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
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To: Lakeshark

Trump got my attention 5 years ago when he acknowledged that our international trade policies were behind our unemployment and economic problems. He didn’t have to convince me. I was already arguing that here on FR.

No other candidate gets this.


5 posted on 07/27/2015 10:07:00 AM PDT by DannyTN
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To: Lakeshark

BTTT


6 posted on 07/27/2015 10:08:44 AM PDT by Fiddlstix (Warning! This Is A Subliminal Tagline! Read it at your own <blockqurisk!(Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: DannyTN; All

Good post . I see the same thing . Trump is the only one who gets that. The others instead pushed the Obama trade agenda that is even 1000 times worse than any other bills trade or otherwise.

The Obama trade agenda TPP is the worst thing ever and the media is not even covering it and most on here are not even paying attention to TPP nor even Obama(the media has everyone fooled as Limbaugh says that Obama is not the one behind all the problems in this country which he/it is.)

This Obama trade deal TPP is a trojan horse.It’s disguised as “free trade” What It really allows is for Obama to flood the USA with an unlimited number of 3rd world immigrants ...
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/immigration/item/20710-obama-gop-trade-scheme-includes-unrestricted-immigration

It’s the destruction of the republic.It gives obama unlimited dictatorial power to destroy the U.S. Proof here :

http://www.conservativehq.com/node/20233

http://getliberty.org/oppose-trade-authority-for-obama-on-pacific-trade-deal/

#noTPP


7 posted on 07/27/2015 10:10:24 AM PDT by Democrat_media (Obama will use Obamatrade to import hundreds of millions of 3rd world people into the U.S.)
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To: Lakeshark

The weight of government, exploitation and division in America is accelerating rapidly. Obama’s last year with be an even faster onslaught of actions to permanently cripple and destroy the US as it was conceived. If the 2016 elections do not produce a miracle realignment and change in direction for the US, then an article like this one describes why the next stage will be not the raising of votes, but millions of bayonets.


8 posted on 07/27/2015 10:12:30 AM PDT by Truth29
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To: Lakeshark

Excellent read. Will have to re-read until it’s internalized.


9 posted on 07/27/2015 10:14:28 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: Lakeshark
Habitually, our ruling class tries to intimidate its opponents by calling them “haters” (“racists,” etc. is part of the all too familiar litany.) A statesman worthy of the title would respond that calling people such names is the very opposite of civility, never mind love. Such a leader would trump our rulers.

Donald Trump is not such a person.

He may be right. But Ted Cruz could be that person if he decided to embrace such a role!

10 posted on 07/27/2015 10:16:34 AM PDT by pgkdan (But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
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To: Democrat_media; DannyTN
The end of the article:

Habitually, our rulingThe end of the article: class tries to intimidate its opponents by calling them “haters” (“racists,” etc. is part of the all too familiar litany.) A statesman worthy of the title would respond that calling people such names is the very opposite of civility, never mind love. Such a leader would trump our rulers.

Donald Trump is not such a person.

The guy isn't quite on the Trump bandwagon.

11 posted on 07/27/2015 10:18:18 AM PDT by Lakeshark
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To: Lakeshark

Trump understands the vast frustration out there. My hesitancy is because I was suckered into the Perot thing in 1992, and look what we got. If I knew he wasn’t going to go off like Perot did I would be 100% behind him. At this point, I like Walker, Cruz, and Fiorina... But I am leaving my options open.


12 posted on 07/27/2015 10:19:37 AM PDT by BigEdLB (They need to target the 'Ministry of Virtue' which has nothing to do with virtue.)
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To: pgkdan

I agree, a much as I love what Trump is doing, I don’t trust him at this point. I do trust Cruz and hope he can step it up.


13 posted on 07/27/2015 10:20:19 AM PDT by Lakeshark
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To: Lakeshark

Following your suggestion that this is a great read while listening to Rush. What are the chances that Rush is reading this article on air at the exact point in a paragraph that I’m reading. Whoa! So following along with Rush...showcases Rush’s talent as there is no difference between Rush reading the article and his commentary, never missing a beat. Thanks for the suggestion for a good read and how awesome to read along with Rush!


14 posted on 07/27/2015 10:25:01 AM PDT by wildwoodla
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To: Lakeshark

Rush Limbaugh is reading large portions of this article right now.


15 posted on 07/27/2015 10:25:39 AM PDT by Fitzy_888 ("ownership society")
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To: Lakeshark

Hardly. I like Codevilla and he is responsible to defining ‘Country Class’ vs. ‘Ruling Class’ but he is a bit of a snob and finds it necessary to refer to Trump as ‘clownish.’


16 posted on 07/27/2015 10:25:40 AM PDT by AdaGray
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To: Lakeshark; Jane Long; hoosiermama
Great article, worth the read.


WORTH RE-READING, AT LEAST ONCE!
I'm still not fully awake.


B T T T ! ! ! ©


17 posted on 07/27/2015 10:28:03 AM PDT by onyx (PLEASE Support FR - GO MONTHLY - Join CLUB 300 - God bless FR's Donors!)
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To: Fitzy_888

Right.


18 posted on 07/27/2015 10:28:43 AM PDT by onyx (PLEASE Support FR - GO MONTHLY - Join CLUB 300 - God bless FR's Donors!)
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To: wildwoodla
LOL.

You may have destroyed the space/time continuum.

19 posted on 07/27/2015 10:29:27 AM PDT by Lakeshark
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To: Lakeshark

Rush is reading this, but I doubt will read the last sentence.


20 posted on 07/27/2015 10:31:13 AM PDT by Excellence (Marine mom since April 11, 2014)
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