niteowl77 was mentioning Maureen Dowd. When M.D. is mentioned or writes an article, it is a rule to post a pic of Catherine Zeta Jones.
(Maureen Dowd and Michael Douglas were an item PRIOR to Catherine Zeta Jones' arrival on the scene)
Posted on 08/16/2015 1:02:06 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
“Trumpites” are only “lightly attached to the political process”
George Will has written a thought-provoking piece over at WaPo in which he argues that the GOP should purge itself of Trump and Trump’s supporters.
Will explains:
"When, however, Trump decided that his next acquisition would be not another casino but the Republican presidential nomination, he tactically and quickly underwent many conversions of convenience (concerning abortion, health care, funding Democrats, etc.). His makeover demonstrates that he is a counterfeit Republican and no conservative.
He is an affront to anyone devoted to the project William F. Buckley began six decades ago with the founding in 1955 of the National Review — making conservatism intellectually respectable and politically palatable. Buckley’s legacy is being betrayed by invertebrate conservatives now saying that although Trump “goes too far,” he has “tapped into something,” and therefore . . . ."
Therefore what? This stance — if a semi-grovel can be dignified as a stance — is a recipe for deserved disaster. Remember, Henry Wallace and Strom Thurmond “tapped into” things.
Unlike Ted Cruz who embraces Trump supporters, Will wonders who Trump’s supporters are:
Conservatives who flinch from forthrightly marginalizing Trump mistakenly fear alienating a substantial Republican cohort. But the assumption that today’s Trumpites are Republicans is unsubstantiated and implausible. Many are no doubt lightly attached to the political process, preferring entertainment to affiliation. They relish their candidate’s vituperation and share his aversion to facts. From what GOP faction might Trumpites come? The establishment? Social conservatives? Unlikely.
They certainly are not tea partyers, those earnest, issue-oriented, book-club organizing activists who are passionate about policy. Trump’s aversion to reality was displayed during the Cleveland debate when Chris Wallace asked him for “evidence” to support his claim that Mexico’s government is sending rapists and drug dealers to the United States. Trump, as usual, offered apoplexy as an argument.
Will concludes his piece calling for “excommunicating” Trump and his supporters from the GOP:
So, conservatives today should deal with Trump with the firmness Buckley dealt with the John Birch Society in 1962. The society was an extension of a loony businessman who said Dwight Eisenhower was “a dedicated, conscious agent of the Communist conspiracy.” In a 5,000-word National Review “excoriation” (Buckley’s word), he excommunicated the society from the conservative movement.
Peter Whener, writing at Commentary, agrees with Will:
"Fortunately there are conservative commentators who are doing just that [“excommunicating” Trump and his supporters], including Bill Bennett, David Brooks, Mona Charen, Charles C.W. Cooke, Michael Gerson, Jonah Goldberg, Victor Davis Hanson, Charles Krauthammer, Matt Lewis, Rich Lowry, Michael Medved, Paul Mirengoff, Dana Perino, John Podhoretz, Karl Rove, Jennifer Rubin, Kevin Williamson, regular contributors to this web site (among them Max Boot, Noah Rothman and Jonathan Tobin), editorial page writers for the Wall Street Journal and others.
These individuals, while differing on various matters, understand the difference between angry populism and conservatism. They don’t believe crudity is a conservative virtue. And they don’t want conservatism stained by an unprincipled interloper and cynical opportunist, which is what Mr. Trump is. (It’s been well documented that until a few years ago, Trump was a registered Democrat, a large financial contributor to leading liberal politicians, and held liberal positions on a wide range of issues.)
In that sense, this is a clarifying moment for conservatism. Those on the right who have become Trump defenders have, I think, made a serious error in judgment that is the result of a rather profound misunderstanding of conservatism (for more, see here). You can cherish and champion conservative principles, or you can support and praise Donald Trump. But you can’t do both."
Writing at Townhall, Pat Buchanan offers a different viewpoint:
"For there is a plot afoot in The Washington Post Conservative Club to purge Trump from the Republican Party before the primaries begin."
“A political party has a right to … secure its borders,” asserts the Post’s George Will, “a duty to exclude interlopers.” Will wants The Donald “excommunicated” and locked out of all GOP debates until he kneels and takes a loyalty oath to the nominee.
“Marginalizing Trump” carries no risk of “alienating a substantial Republican cohort,” Will assures us, for these “Trumpites” are neither Republicans nor conservatives. Better off without such trash.
The Post’s Michael Gerson says “establishment Republicans” must “make clear that [Trump] has moved beyond the boundaries of serious and civil discourse.” He loathes the Trumpites as much as Will.
Trump’s followers are “xenophobic,” Gerson tells CNN. They have a “resentment of outsiders, of Mexico, of China, and immigrants. That’s more like a European right-wing party, a UKIP or a National Front in France. Republicans can’t incorporate that.”
But if the GOP has no room for Trump’s followers, it has no future. For there simply aren’t that many chamber-of-commerce and country-club Republicans.
I’m sure that this is a debate that will continue for some time, but I wonder if it will end as the GOP establishment seems to think it will?
Jorge may not be the right guy to be carrying this message.
Sorry Ann, that’s not funny. It’s disgusting.
There is a reason that the man with the “bad rug” on his dome has been with ABC for years: He’s one of them. I lost respect for this clown years ago. He’s a tool of the left.
He is to critical thinking and common sense as his beloved Cubs team is to baseball.
Leni
If Trump is a false Conservative then what the hell are the GOPe? GOOD GOD, THESE ARE the TRAITORS who have beeen stabbing US IN THE BACKS!!! (Pot to kettle, “Hey there kettle...)
Mr. niteowl77
Trump is getting way under their skin.I love it.
So there is no room in the big tent except for the faggots and the cheap labor types? That’s fine with me.See ya gope.
The day will come when we say, “You can’t kick us out, we quit.” And they will be surprised how many will leave when that time comes.
I’m not exactly a Trump booster, either. Like Walker and Cruz a lot. BUT! Trump is forcing some folks to at least THINK about issues that the Pubbies have been ignoring despite the fact that they got voted into power again to address those issues. Payback is gonna be a beach.
Best FR idea ever!
Agree, although VDH has been moving dangerously close to the shark in some of his recent scribblings.
Or as Mike Royko used to call him, “the thin-lipped” George Will.
Well isn’t this a mighty fine list of bastards. Other than VDH, I won’t cry a tear when they go.
Beautiful post!
freedom of speech and association,
Been dead for a long time.
niteowl77 was mentioning Maureen Dowd. When M.D. is mentioned or writes an article, it is a rule to post a pic of Catherine Zeta Jones.
(Maureen Dowd and Michael Douglas were an item PRIOR to Catherine Zeta Jones' arrival on the scene)
I’m not exactly a Trump booster, either. Like Walker and Cruz a lot. BUT! Trump is forcing some folks to at least THINK about issues that the Pubbies have been ignoring despite the fact that they got voted into power again to address those issues. Payback is gonna be a beach.
I’ll say it simply and CRASSLY: “George Will has $HIT for brains.”
Wouldn’t it be easier to purge the Georgie Will’s from the GOP. Take his Walker campaign manager wife with him.
Pray America is waking
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