Please do not assume for a second that Ann Coulter grew a soul. Redemption for most of us, even after a small misstep, involves a continuous track record of good behavior, without fail. Here we have Coulter burp out something we agree with, and suddenly she is one of us? Yeah, no.
More likely Coulter has her hand up the pulse of MAGA, and she senses that Trump is skidding, especially after his pro-vaccination remarks. There is going to be a real showdown between the Trump and DeSantis camps, and she picked her horse. This is all it's about.
Lowry's rationalizations are the sort of thing fascist regimes throughout history have thrived on. They lead to nowhere good. The deniers, the rationalizers, they're the real reason fascists take over.
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.
Lowry's argument falls apart when you ask, 'If not now, when? Is there never a time to hold your ground? Do you **always** stay in the room?' Because you are going to eventually find yourself in a very bad room.
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.
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.
Thanks for the Ryan Busse piece. Every day we read of more death threats against public officials and every day the right gets more fanatical about insisting on the right to take firearms anywhere. Talk about sitting on a powder keg.
To me, nothing is more revelatory of where hearts and minds on the right are than what is happening with guns. Just a few years ago, politicians signaled their support for gun rights by having themselves photographed hunting pheasants or quail, dog close at hand. There was no hint of political intimidation in these advertisements, just a defense of a legitimate use of firearms. Now it's all military style weapons displayed in a spirit of menace. The democratic ideal of political debate entirely free of physical intimidation is dead as dead can be on the right.
Charlie is a diamond and Lowry a lump of coal - so happy Ramesh is new editor of NR. I might even renew my subscription next year depending on how he does.
Both Utah and Washington have full mail-in voting, with an option for in-person. If a deep red and a deep blue state can do it without any evidence of massive fraud, why isn't the the goal nationally?
"Rich Lowry" -- sigh. I have never missed an episode of The Argument since Jane took over, but the transcript already has me fuming. This is going to require some bourbon and multiple pauses to curse, but I will persevere, because I know Charlie will have made the best case possible.
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.
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 .
I could barely stand to watch Rich Lowry (SO smug) in the before times, but now? No way. Kudos and thanks to you, Charlie, for fighting the good fight for all of us so effectively, articulately, and consistently, no matter the venue.
As usual, you are spot on. And a constant renewal of faith in our system. As a longtime journalist and historian, not to mention former longtime republican who covered the Carter and Reagan years, I deeply value the national dialog yo and your safe have opened up. God speed and full steam ahead! We'll need it...
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."
The Doom Loop Of "Relevance"
Please do not assume for a second that Ann Coulter grew a soul. Redemption for most of us, even after a small misstep, involves a continuous track record of good behavior, without fail. Here we have Coulter burp out something we agree with, and suddenly she is one of us? Yeah, no.
More likely Coulter has her hand up the pulse of MAGA, and she senses that Trump is skidding, especially after his pro-vaccination remarks. There is going to be a real showdown between the Trump and DeSantis camps, and she picked her horse. This is all it's about.
Lowry's rationalizations are the sort of thing fascist regimes throughout history have thrived on. They lead to nowhere good. The deniers, the rationalizers, they're the real reason fascists take over.
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.
Lowry's argument falls apart when you ask, 'If not now, when? Is there never a time to hold your ground? Do you **always** stay in the room?' Because you are going to eventually find yourself in a very bad room.
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.
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.
Thanks for the Ryan Busse piece. Every day we read of more death threats against public officials and every day the right gets more fanatical about insisting on the right to take firearms anywhere. Talk about sitting on a powder keg.
To me, nothing is more revelatory of where hearts and minds on the right are than what is happening with guns. Just a few years ago, politicians signaled their support for gun rights by having themselves photographed hunting pheasants or quail, dog close at hand. There was no hint of political intimidation in these advertisements, just a defense of a legitimate use of firearms. Now it's all military style weapons displayed in a spirit of menace. The democratic ideal of political debate entirely free of physical intimidation is dead as dead can be on the right.
Charlie is a diamond and Lowry a lump of coal - so happy Ramesh is new editor of NR. I might even renew my subscription next year depending on how he does.
Rich Lowry has gone full Banana Republican
Both Utah and Washington have full mail-in voting, with an option for in-person. If a deep red and a deep blue state can do it without any evidence of massive fraud, why isn't the the goal nationally?
"Rich Lowry" -- sigh. I have never missed an episode of The Argument since Jane took over, but the transcript already has me fuming. This is going to require some bourbon and multiple pauses to curse, but I will persevere, because I know Charlie will have made the best case possible.
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.
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 .
I could barely stand to watch Rich Lowry (SO smug) in the before times, but now? No way. Kudos and thanks to you, Charlie, for fighting the good fight for all of us so effectively, articulately, and consistently, no matter the venue.
As usual, you are spot on. And a constant renewal of faith in our system. As a longtime journalist and historian, not to mention former longtime republican who covered the Carter and Reagan years, I deeply value the national dialog yo and your safe have opened up. God speed and full steam ahead! We'll need it...
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."