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J. D. Vance and the Emerging Counter-Elite
City Journal ^ | 7/25/24 | Christopher Rufo

Posted on 07/26/2024 2:51:24 PM PDT by CFW

Former president Donald Trump’s selection of Ohio senator J. D. Vance as his running mate has generated much commentary. The mainstream media has tried to frame Vance as a postliberal “threat to democracy,” while Trump’s supporters have celebrated him as a bridge to a new generation.

But there is a deeper story here. The Vance selection is not a gambit to secure a particular demographic or region—white men are Trump’s base; Ohio is a safe red state—but an effort to cultivate an emerging counter-elite that could make the second Trump administration substantially more effective than the first.

This story is built into J. D. Vance’s biographical arc. He was the all-American kid who rose from humble beginnings to make his way in the world: the Marines; Yale Law; venture capital; a best-selling book. He learned the language of the prestige institutions, cultivated powerful patrons, and quickly climbed the ladder in academia, finance, and business. He had made it.

Then, his story takes a turn. Having entered the ranks of America’s elite, Vance became disillusioned and disenchanted with it, correctly identifying it as a force of hypocrisy and corruption. He defected—first, by parting ways with the respectable conservatism of the Beltway, and then by embracing Donald Trump.

Some have criticized this as a cynical move, but my sense is that it is the opposite. A cynic would have continued to build an elite résumé; Vance sacrificed his respectability within a certain stratum, assumed considerable risk by moving toward Trump, and, in my view, was genuinely convinced that the establishment, both Left and Right, had exhausted itself and had to be opposed.

Now, not only has Vance been selected as a vice-presidential nominee; more significantly, he has charted the path for an emerging new conservative counter-elite.

(Excerpt) Read more at city-journal.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: culture; elections; jdvance; pendulum; trump2024
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To: FormerFRLurker

GOOD FREAKING GRIEF! IDIOCY!


21 posted on 07/26/2024 5:08:29 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion....... The HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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Comment #22 Removed by Moderator

Comment #23 Removed by Moderator

Comment #24 Removed by Moderator

To: frank ballenger

Why would you waste so much time watching CNN? I don’t think I ever heard or read a truthful statement on that channel, that’s why I stopped watching it years ago.


25 posted on 07/26/2024 5:44:16 PM PDT by Ronald77
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To: Ronald77

Ha.

True it is 30 seconds I won’t get back.


26 posted on 07/26/2024 5:50:23 PM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls.)
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To: PatriotGuy2024; All
PatriotGuy2024
Since Jul 21, 2024
Hmm. 🤔
27 posted on 07/26/2024 5:51:58 PM PDT by Bratch
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To: Reno89519
No matter who President Trump picked, they were going to get savaged.

That is absolutely a true statement. In fact, the better that VP choice looks, the more aggressive the attacks! That's what we're seeing now.

Vance is no alter boy or even perfect politician, but he's better than anything else coming out of that cesspool called DC.

And, a big AND, he is young, and if he (or we) does not self-destruct, he may set the stage for a long run in the White House.

28 posted on 07/26/2024 6:29:09 PM PDT by icclearly ( )
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To: CFW

It is true that a Presidential candidate usually picks a VP candidate that brings support from a perceived weakness. And, as others have noted, Vance doesn’t appear to have done so. But, as I advocated here and in emails to Trump, America First will only take root in future elections as a movement if Trump picks and grooms a successor. It’s possible that this is what is going on. And Trump has previously said that he thinks VP choices based on perceived weakness is overrated.


29 posted on 07/26/2024 6:32:25 PM PDT by Rowdyone (Vigilence)
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To: Rowdyone

“Trump has previously said that he thinks VP choices based on perceived weakness is overrated.”

I agree with Trump.


30 posted on 07/26/2024 6:53:54 PM PDT by Mr. N. Wolfe
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To: CFW

Great post. JD will be an excellent VP.


31 posted on 07/26/2024 7:53:43 PM PDT by ohioman
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To: doc maverick

Vance pissed off liberal women by his very existence. Who cares.


32 posted on 07/26/2024 7:55:38 PM PDT by ohioman
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To: jonrick46

Vance has nothing to apologize for. Get a grip.


33 posted on 07/26/2024 7:57:18 PM PDT by ohioman
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To: dforest

Bookmarking for vid watch, later.

Thanks for posting.


34 posted on 07/26/2024 7:58:36 PM PDT by Jane Long (The role of the GOP: to write sharply-worded letters was K as America becomes a communist hell-hole.)
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To: PatriotGuy2024

Just shut up. You sound like a complete loser who has never had to fight for anything. JD is the right choice!


35 posted on 07/26/2024 7:59:34 PM PDT by ohioman
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To: PatriotGuy2024

I see you just joined FR. F’ing troll.


36 posted on 07/26/2024 8:00:46 PM PDT by ohioman
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To: PatriotGuy2024

Are you saying Vance being on record as saying he is against all abortions even in the case of rape and incest is a good thing ? That stance has been soundly defeated even in deep red states. You are not going to win a national election with that as your abortion stance. Your not going to even come close.

Many of the referendums on abortion that passed in red states were unclearly worded so that some pro-life voters thought they were voting against abortion when in fact they were voting for it. Recent polls indicate that support for abortion is not as strong as previously believed, even among voters who identify as "pro-choice".
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4242688/posts

Welcome to FR, by the way.

37 posted on 07/26/2024 8:32:39 PM PDT by FormerFRLurker ("Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"-Voltaire)
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To: dforest
Doggone. I sure wish Clarence Thomas hadn’t gone to Yale either. /s
The choice is made.


I expect he would have been a better justice if he had gone to a less elitist law school.
38 posted on 07/26/2024 9:04:50 PM PDT by Dr. Franklin ("A republic, if you can keep it." )
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Comment #39 Removed by Moderator

To: PatriotGuy2024

Twaddle. You do sound like a plant. Ignoring the fact that Vance is a great pick, the best choice for Trump’s VP, it would be a desperate mistake to change horses. Go home to the DU.


40 posted on 07/27/2024 4:28:48 AM PDT by JayGalt (Fight! Fight! Fight!)
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