Posted on 12/31/2025 8:42:34 AM PST by Angelino97
Has Trump Derangement Syndrome mutated? There certainly seems to be evidence of a new strain spreading even on the right, which we can label “Vance Derangement Syndrome.” The American Spectator recently published a passive-aggressive essay by Neal B. Freeman in which he suggests that if JD Vance were to become president, it “would be his first real job.”
Apparently, serving as a Marine, a U.S. senator, and as vice president of the United States is not sufficient experience, in Freeman’s view. Although he attributes the “first real job” statement to unnamed “critics,” he clearly believes it to be an accurate assessment.
Freeman comes across as an elitist snob with this feeble attempt to damn Vance with faint praise, and it deserves a response. Further, he skips over the most salient aspect of Vance’s life: that he overcame a dysfunctional family environment and poverty by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps right out of high school.
The Marine Corps not only shaped Vance’s broader view of the world, but it also opened the door for him to attend college with the help of the GI Bill. Freeman makes no mention of Vance’s Marine Corps service, or the fact that Vance graduated summa cum laude in political science from Ohio State University in just over two years—hardly a sign of academic mediocrity. Through sheer determination and hard work, Vance overcame his humble beginnings to graduate from college with highest honors in about half the time it takes the average person. The closest political parallel is George H.W. Bush, who graduated from Yale as a member of the high honors society Phi Beta Kappa in just over two years after serving as a bomber pilot in World War II.
Freeman conveniently ignores these facts to jump ahead to Vance’s enrollment at Yale Law School, where he notes that Vance “was not a star.” He had “neither academic distinction nor particularly bright prospects.” Never mind that Vance graduated from one of the best law schools in the nation despite formidable challenges in his youth, including being abandoned by his father and having a mother with addiction problems. The real focus, Freeman implies, should be on Vance’s law school report card! John McCain graduated fifth from the bottom of his class at the U.S. Naval Academy. Still, no one ever suggested he was unqualified, on that basis, to be president of the United States.
If one takes Freeman literally, longevity in law practice is a new standard for success in a “real job.” Vance falls short on this measure as well—he “spent a few years in the practice of law, forgettably.” Interestingly, neither Franklin Roosevelt nor Woodrow Wilson ever completed law school, but they both passed the bar exam. Neither of them lasted long as practicing attorneys. Wilson became bored with the law after just one year and decided to pursue a Ph.D. in political science at Johns Hopkins.
Freeman’s insistence that “the presidency would be [Vance’s] first real job” cheapens the notion of public service. When a critic so cavalierly dismisses wearing the uniform of the nation for four years as not being a “real job,” what does it say about that critic? Freeman also appears to think that a lawyer who is not a partner in a large law firm, putting in lots of billable hours, is not working in a “real job” either.
Freeman further ignores the fact that after law school, Vance worked for Senator John Cornyn and spent a year clerking for U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning. In Freeman’s mind, it’s probably not “real job” experience unless you clerk for a Supreme Court Justice (as Vance’s wife did).
Freeman’s essay is an unfair attempt to denigrate a man who has achieved more in his young life (as a practicing attorney, U.S. senator, vice president, and author of a bestselling book) than most folks do in their lifetimes.
Incidentally, Vance’s book, Hillbilly Elegy, sold over 400,000 copies in 2016, reaching the top of the New York Times bestseller list. As Freeman himself puts it, “Vance hit the number,” presumably he means the “lottery number,” with the publication of his book. To Freeman, writing a bestseller, among all of Vance’s other achievements, is not real work but just plain dumb luck.
Of course it does. It’s a given that it would. Their derangement was never actually about Trump, now Vance, or any one individual person.
Remember that they even once called Mitt Romney and John McCain nazis, up until they turned against Trump.
It’s intolerance to anything that goes against leftist orthodoxy. It’s a cult that’s willing to kill those who refuse to bend the knee and adhere strictly to their religious doctrine or pay fealty to it.
Well, it was Obama's first real job, which didn't bother them at the time.
Moreover, Biden never got to be a real President making his own decisions, so he's lived his whole life without a real job, except for a corn job.
Did this same publication lionize Brack Obama’s meteoric magic carpet ride into the white house.
Those who have not read Mr. Vance’s book should do so. It is an amazing read.
I’m not sure if this guy is being serious, but if he is, he can kiss my royal behind.
Imagine both bushes Bush were Hitler. Reagan was Hitler. Bob Dole was Hitler and so was that mormon guy. They were all Hitler before Trump. Trump though is maga Hitler, I think.
Stands to reason JD Vance is Hitler too
I agree that Vance has had real jobs before, but the reproach that “public service is a real job” is a little shaky. Don’t we say that Biden and Sanders never had real jobs in spite of their long years in politics?
Exactly. Nixon, Reagan, Bush, even Bob Dole of all people. The Dems and their media minions turn whichever Republican is in charge or is making a run for the presidency into a combination of Hitler and Satan. Then rehabilitate that same person to attack the new Republican in charge. George Bush was Hitler, until Trump came along and then he was a wise statesman who proved how evil and crazy Trump is. I am waiting with amusement for the day when the media rehabilitates Trump to prove how evil and crazy the future Republican president is.
The white version of Clarence Thomas if we’re smart. Like Thomas he’s young. That means 30 years on the bench. Drive the left nuts as he goes through the confirmation process. Remember he was elected by a majority of voters and they wouldn’t get away with pulling the same crap as they did on Thomas as there’s no Anita Hill out there to pull out of the hat. As a politician with a record he’s less likely to become a John Roberts.
Do it in Trump’s 3rd year and appoint Sen. John Kennedy to VP for $hits and giggles. Either him or DeSantis. The Fla. governor is the best gov. out there. Granted it would sideswipe JD’s path to the WH but sitting VP’s have a harder time moving up to the WH. Gotta admit though he’d be a better successor than ‘41.
Last acknowledge Trump has them on a run and we need to get America laughing at the liberals like Rush did. Gonna be awesome.
And before TDS we had BDS ... and before that we had RDS and NDS, but we didn’t call it that. democRATs have developed a fixed habit of deranged hate directed toward ANY republican who opposes their communist agenda.
It was only after they had safely defeated Buchanan that Bush 1 and Dole became Hitler.
Just like ISlime.
If thoroughly decent men like Goldwater, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, the Bushes, Trump and now Vance are Nazis, then Nazis must, indeed, be fine people.
*United States Derangement Syndrome - a treasonous and murderous hatred for anyone supporting the United States and its Constitution.
I prefer JDDS rolls nicely off the tongue
JD had a net worth over $10,000,000 before he was a Senator, let alone his VP gig.
Oh, did I mention he also served his Country as a US Marine?
What the hell did the author of this hit piece ever do?
BIDEN WAS IN POLITICS FOR OVER 50 YEARS-—AND NEVER DID A “REAL JOB”
WHAT IS THIS GOOBER YAPPING ABOUT???
IIRC===BERNIE HAS NEVER HAD A JOB IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
HE WAS KICKED OUT THE KIBBUTZ FOR REFUSING TO WORK THERE..
BITCH ABOUT OTHERS
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