Charlie, I like all your comments. Every thread of thought has the right nuance. Bluntly, you hit all the nails on their heads. Thank you for your expertise! from Ronald Massey a republican in Texas who voted for Biden. I also love everything Liz Cheney says and does. I read the biography of her father, and I think Liz has his crystal clear thinking and ethical values.
Just a comment on some of the wording. Saying that Repubs other than Liz Cheney have "gone silent" is a softball. Repubs that are oh so careful with their wording when answering Trump questions and silent otherwise are not just showing less principle than Liz, they are screaming a complete lack of ethics, integrity, honesty and respect for our country, our constitution, states' rights and intelligent people of every political bent. Elected Reps doing this are not saving a place at the future table, that seat is already gone. The time to keep it was in the days after Jan 6 but your fellow conservatives that you likely voted into office chose to be pussies. These Repubs are even worse than the nutjobs because THEY KNOW BETTER.they know how wrong it would be to devolve into authoritarianism, declare Christianity the 'national religion' and sessentially Trumpify the US at all official levels of government. And you can stand back and critique Democrats all you want about not having the 'chops' to save Democracy. Dems don't know how to do organized manipulation & dishonesty and wouldn't do it even if they knew it had to be done, which they don't. Where are the calls from Conservatives like you for elected Repubs to secure election integrity? All Repubs saying election was stolen should be expected to be working the problem & restoring faith in the system. W
Are you writing McCarthy and McConnell and Cruz & the rest regularly to bring them back to a reasonable conservative stance, or are waiting to watch what happens?
Thank you, Charlie! Your sane, clear and principled thoughts are a stream of cool water in the pot, which otherwise keeps filling up with the boiling spew from the Trumpian faucet. The GOP frog of influence, as epitomized by Rich Lowery and the National Review, has been slowly rationalizing and simmering there and would soon be ready for a fork and sauce if it weren’t for your spigot.
Just listened to the Jane Coaston podcast. All I can say is Charlie Thank you. Thank you for your perseverance in naming what you do clearly, authentically, keeping track of soo many facts, and with integrity. Thank you.
With regards to Tapper’s observations, that all tracks in a vacuum. But the fact is that we’re seeing something like 50 or 60 new pieces of legislation, especially in red states to make it harder to vote on a TARGETED basis because these consultants and data people know exactly how to make it harder for Dem voters to vote.
Rich Lowry - you want to help the Republican party? Help bring it down. Because the only thing that *ever* helps a political party change its tune is not being able to win elections. Which means you absolutely *have* to push back against Trump, because he's got the Republican party thinking not only do they not need to obtain majorities, they don't even need to legitimately win elections. If they have their way, every Republican legislature will just need one viral internet conspiracy theory to jump from 8chan to Twitter to say, "Well clearly the people have concerns - we'd better decide this ourselves."
I am a cultural Catholic born into the flock, then eight years of Catholic grammar school. Took four years out to meet and become friends with indifferent Jews and Protestants.
Then off to Catholic college when in the day, regardless of major or religion, students took 15 credits of Theology and 15 credits of Philosophy. My teachers in those disciplines were Diocesan and Jesuit priests, lay Catholics, Anglican Canons, Benedictine Nuns, a Jewish Rabbi, and agonistic/ athiest philosophy profs. I learned to observe, ask questions, and see the way people "walked the talk" of their spiritual life.
I considered that a well rounded feed of American Religion/Spirituality.
Then I went out into the world and encountered "Evangelical Christians," who totally baffled me. They seemed to lean toward the Old Testament (Angry God), while proclaiming Jesus.
In California I learned more about Eastern religions, but also encountered the polar opposite --- angry, self-righteous Christians who hated (not quite the way Jesus went out in the world) anyone not hooked into their narrow vision of "Their Jesus."
A few weeks ago Peter Wehner, of the NYT, had an extended essay in The Atlantic, of how Protestant Evangelicalism has morphed into a "secular religion," since close to 1/3 of self-described Evangelicals Rarely or Never attended church services, and another 15% attend Seldom or Sometimes.
The Evangelical movement now hold Trump and his amoral cult as the paradigm of their so-called spiritual beliefs.
Trump has become their demi-god spouting his bile and hate in a most un-Jesus way, seeking only to be considered by his cult following their Messiah.
F-bombs at moments fraught with drama, especially in NYT debates, makes the moment less fraught, for me, and really places the bomber among the locker room "grab 'em" hooligans. Surely you can match the Buckleyite Lowry's feints, parries and jabs with something wittier than an F-bomb.
The key Lowry comment that explains all: “But I’m not sure in terms of getting the Republican Party in a better place, whether that course actually helps.”
He’s right, of course. His focus is solely on what course of action minimizes the damage to the party in terms of lost seats and high offices, and thus power and influence, in the near future. “Saving” the party over saving the country. Cheney might be doing what’s best for the country, but doing so exposes and thus hurts the party.
Rich Lowry is an unserious fool. Who can forget his fawning over of Sarah Palin, “I'm sure I'm not the only male in America who, when Palin dropped her first wink, sat up a little straighter on the couch and said, "Hey, I think she just winked at me." And her smile. By the end, when she clearly knew she was doing well, it was so sparkling it was almost mesmerizing. It sent little starbursts through the screen and ricocheting around the living rooms of America. This is a quality that can't be learned; it's either something you have or you don't, and man, she's got it.”
If you weren’t smart enough to see that train wreck, you are a fool of unknown proportions.
This is a bit of a long quotation, but I hope you like it. I have kept this in front of me ever since 2015. The scene is from JRR Tolkien’s novel Fellowship of the Ring. Gandalf is recounting his conversation with Saruman. Tolkien once said that though there are no more Sauron’s there are a great many Sarumans in the world. Rich Lowry should read and consider.
Our time is at hand: the world of Men, which we must rule. But we must have power, power to order all things as we will, for that good which only the Wise can see. ‘“ And listen, Gandalf, my old friend and helper!” he said, coming near and speaking now in a softer voice. “I said we, for we it may be, if you will join with me. A new Power is rising. Against it the old allies and policies will not avail us at all. There is no hope left in Elves or dying Númenor. This then is one choice before you, before us. We may join with that Power. It would be wise, Gandalf. There is hope that way. Its victory is at hand; and there will be rich reward for those that aided it. As the Power grows, its proved friends will also grow; and the Wise, such as you and I, may with patience come at last to direct its courses, to control it. We can bide our time, we can keep our thoughts in our hearts, deploring maybe evils done by the way, but approving the high and ultimate purpose: Knowledge, Rule, Order; all the things that we have so far striven in vain to accomplish, hindered rather than helped by our weak or idle friends. There need not be, there would not be, any real change in our designs, only in our means.
The National Review went from "The Case Against Trump" to bending over backwards to make excuses for those who enable this amoral monster. Sad to see a once great publication slide down the slippery slope. Thank you, Charlie for rebutting Lowrey's rationalizations so effectively and for fighting the good fight .
lol, Good to see the Trumplicans are developing their own circular firing squad. Except that instead of civil and social justice issues....its booster shots and science teachers.
Charlie, I like all your comments. Every thread of thought has the right nuance. Bluntly, you hit all the nails on their heads. Thank you for your expertise! from Ronald Massey a republican in Texas who voted for Biden. I also love everything Liz Cheney says and does. I read the biography of her father, and I think Liz has his crystal clear thinking and ethical values.
Just a comment on some of the wording. Saying that Repubs other than Liz Cheney have "gone silent" is a softball. Repubs that are oh so careful with their wording when answering Trump questions and silent otherwise are not just showing less principle than Liz, they are screaming a complete lack of ethics, integrity, honesty and respect for our country, our constitution, states' rights and intelligent people of every political bent. Elected Reps doing this are not saving a place at the future table, that seat is already gone. The time to keep it was in the days after Jan 6 but your fellow conservatives that you likely voted into office chose to be pussies. These Repubs are even worse than the nutjobs because THEY KNOW BETTER.they know how wrong it would be to devolve into authoritarianism, declare Christianity the 'national religion' and sessentially Trumpify the US at all official levels of government. And you can stand back and critique Democrats all you want about not having the 'chops' to save Democracy. Dems don't know how to do organized manipulation & dishonesty and wouldn't do it even if they knew it had to be done, which they don't. Where are the calls from Conservatives like you for elected Repubs to secure election integrity? All Repubs saying election was stolen should be expected to be working the problem & restoring faith in the system. W
Are you writing McCarthy and McConnell and Cruz & the rest regularly to bring them back to a reasonable conservative stance, or are waiting to watch what happens?
Thank you, Charlie! Your sane, clear and principled thoughts are a stream of cool water in the pot, which otherwise keeps filling up with the boiling spew from the Trumpian faucet. The GOP frog of influence, as epitomized by Rich Lowery and the National Review, has been slowly rationalizing and simmering there and would soon be ready for a fork and sauce if it weren’t for your spigot.
Bravo Charlie!
Just listened to the Jane Coaston podcast. All I can say is Charlie Thank you. Thank you for your perseverance in naming what you do clearly, authentically, keeping track of soo many facts, and with integrity. Thank you.
While I have never agreed with Rich Lowry, I thought that he was a thoughtful political voice. NOT!
Been tempted but Charlie C sometimes annoys the heck out of me - more of a Jonah guy
With regards to Tapper’s observations, that all tracks in a vacuum. But the fact is that we’re seeing something like 50 or 60 new pieces of legislation, especially in red states to make it harder to vote on a TARGETED basis because these consultants and data people know exactly how to make it harder for Dem voters to vote.
Rich Lowry - you want to help the Republican party? Help bring it down. Because the only thing that *ever* helps a political party change its tune is not being able to win elections. Which means you absolutely *have* to push back against Trump, because he's got the Republican party thinking not only do they not need to obtain majorities, they don't even need to legitimately win elections. If they have their way, every Republican legislature will just need one viral internet conspiracy theory to jump from 8chan to Twitter to say, "Well clearly the people have concerns - we'd better decide this ourselves."
I am a cultural Catholic born into the flock, then eight years of Catholic grammar school. Took four years out to meet and become friends with indifferent Jews and Protestants.
Then off to Catholic college when in the day, regardless of major or religion, students took 15 credits of Theology and 15 credits of Philosophy. My teachers in those disciplines were Diocesan and Jesuit priests, lay Catholics, Anglican Canons, Benedictine Nuns, a Jewish Rabbi, and agonistic/ athiest philosophy profs. I learned to observe, ask questions, and see the way people "walked the talk" of their spiritual life.
I considered that a well rounded feed of American Religion/Spirituality.
Then I went out into the world and encountered "Evangelical Christians," who totally baffled me. They seemed to lean toward the Old Testament (Angry God), while proclaiming Jesus.
In California I learned more about Eastern religions, but also encountered the polar opposite --- angry, self-righteous Christians who hated (not quite the way Jesus went out in the world) anyone not hooked into their narrow vision of "Their Jesus."
A few weeks ago Peter Wehner, of the NYT, had an extended essay in The Atlantic, of how Protestant Evangelicalism has morphed into a "secular religion," since close to 1/3 of self-described Evangelicals Rarely or Never attended church services, and another 15% attend Seldom or Sometimes.
The Evangelical movement now hold Trump and his amoral cult as the paradigm of their so-called spiritual beliefs.
Trump has become their demi-god spouting his bile and hate in a most un-Jesus way, seeking only to be considered by his cult following their Messiah.
F-bombs at moments fraught with drama, especially in NYT debates, makes the moment less fraught, for me, and really places the bomber among the locker room "grab 'em" hooligans. Surely you can match the Buckleyite Lowry's feints, parries and jabs with something wittier than an F-bomb.
The key Lowry comment that explains all: “But I’m not sure in terms of getting the Republican Party in a better place, whether that course actually helps.”
He’s right, of course. His focus is solely on what course of action minimizes the damage to the party in terms of lost seats and high offices, and thus power and influence, in the near future. “Saving” the party over saving the country. Cheney might be doing what’s best for the country, but doing so exposes and thus hurts the party.
Partisan stooge.
Rich Lowry is an unserious fool. Who can forget his fawning over of Sarah Palin, “I'm sure I'm not the only male in America who, when Palin dropped her first wink, sat up a little straighter on the couch and said, "Hey, I think she just winked at me." And her smile. By the end, when she clearly knew she was doing well, it was so sparkling it was almost mesmerizing. It sent little starbursts through the screen and ricocheting around the living rooms of America. This is a quality that can't be learned; it's either something you have or you don't, and man, she's got it.”
If you weren’t smart enough to see that train wreck, you are a fool of unknown proportions.
This is a bit of a long quotation, but I hope you like it. I have kept this in front of me ever since 2015. The scene is from JRR Tolkien’s novel Fellowship of the Ring. Gandalf is recounting his conversation with Saruman. Tolkien once said that though there are no more Sauron’s there are a great many Sarumans in the world. Rich Lowry should read and consider.
Our time is at hand: the world of Men, which we must rule. But we must have power, power to order all things as we will, for that good which only the Wise can see. ‘“ And listen, Gandalf, my old friend and helper!” he said, coming near and speaking now in a softer voice. “I said we, for we it may be, if you will join with me. A new Power is rising. Against it the old allies and policies will not avail us at all. There is no hope left in Elves or dying Númenor. This then is one choice before you, before us. We may join with that Power. It would be wise, Gandalf. There is hope that way. Its victory is at hand; and there will be rich reward for those that aided it. As the Power grows, its proved friends will also grow; and the Wise, such as you and I, may with patience come at last to direct its courses, to control it. We can bide our time, we can keep our thoughts in our hearts, deploring maybe evils done by the way, but approving the high and ultimate purpose: Knowledge, Rule, Order; all the things that we have so far striven in vain to accomplish, hindered rather than helped by our weak or idle friends. There need not be, there would not be, any real change in our designs, only in our means.
The National Review went from "The Case Against Trump" to bending over backwards to make excuses for those who enable this amoral monster. Sad to see a once great publication slide down the slippery slope. Thank you, Charlie for rebutting Lowrey's rationalizations so effectively and for fighting the good fight .
lol, Good to see the Trumplicans are developing their own circular firing squad. Except that instead of civil and social justice issues....its booster shots and science teachers.