Grumpy Old Party

Jacob Sullum’s been doing this forever, so he remembers way back when Donald was for legalization.

When asked about marijuana legalization at the Conservative Political Action Conference last February, Donald Trump said, “I think it’s bad, and I feel strongly about that.”

You never have to wonder what Donald’s “real”position is, he doesn’t have any.

Others are of course trending the opposite way:

Hardline conservatives such as Rick Perry have come around to the view that a lot of what we are doing in the so-called war on drugs is destructive, and that we’d be better off pushing some offenders into treatment and other non-incarceration options. Resentment Republicans hate the idea of spending one thin dime on these degenerate drug addicts; remind them that keeping them in prison isn’t exactly cheap, either, and it’s back to foreign aid and the blacks on welfare.

 Maybe resentment is the most destructive drug.

The Resentment Republicans are familiar enough, too. They may not be the progressive cartoon character (Headline: “How to shut down your right-wing uncle at Thanksgiving dinner!”), but there is a little of that in them. They tend to reject the classical liberalism of the American founding in favor of a more Continental, blood-and-soil/throne-and-altar nationalism. And that nationalism often isn’t quite national: Often it is merely tribal (“We the People vs. the Establishment,” as the talk-radio ranters have it), and often enough it is simply racial, a tendency that has been dramatically (even shockingly, for me, at least) revealed by the rallying of the white-nationalist element behind Trump, and Trump’s predictable footsie-playing with it

Kevin D Williamson, who authored the above, has become the best conservative writer of these times. Can’t disagree with this notion, either:

My own attitude toward the Republican party has been for some time like Winston Churchill’s attitude toward the Church of England: not a pillar by any means but a buttress, supporting it from the outside. The Republican party of Abraham Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ronald Reagan was a party of peace, prosperity, and purpose. It thrived in the California sunshine that marked Reagan’s political disposition. It was born of a country with the confidence to issue the great challenge of the latter half of the 20th century: “Tear Down This Wall!” The Republican party of Donald Trump is something else, something that grows in darker, danker places where they dream of ever-taller walls, literal and metaphorical, behind which to cower. And if that is what the Republican party intends to be, I for one want no part of it.


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8 responses to “Grumpy Old Party”

  1. CapitalistRoader Avatar
    CapitalistRoader

    A good chunk of Obama’s ’08 vote was a middle finger to those ignorent white hillbillies. We showed them racist fuckers! So now we’ve gone full circle. After eight years of the insufferable man-child people want payback. Trump represents revenge. Probably not the best reason to vote for a candidate but, really, he couldn’t be any worse than the current guy.

  2. Simon Avatar

    Ted is no Constitutionalist and Trump is a liar. Wait – that makes them both liars.

    Welcome to politics. Pick your poison.

    I’m supporting Trump because of his enemies.

    I’d like a different set of looters.

  3. Simon Avatar

    And Dave. Did you miss that Neil Bush of Silvarado fame is a Cruz advisor?

    I’m hoping Trump will bring in a different set of crooks. IMO that is the best we can do at this point.

  4. Simon Avatar

    And your belief in the two party system is charming. But naive.

    We have a one party, two factions system. The better to loot the country.

  5. Dave Avatar
    Dave

    Simon: Cruz is a politician, Trump is a con man.

    Trump is only going to elect Democrats. He is radioactive outside his small group of delusional supporters.

  6. Simon Avatar

    Dave,

    All politicians are con men.

    As my grandpappy always used to say, “They are all crooks.”

    =====================

    Trump is 100% for medical cannabis. That is the wedge for full legalization.

    In addition Trump has taken the Republican position – “Let the States decide” on recreational.

    Is Trump lying? Quite possibly. But they ALL have been saying one hing and doing another. So I’m willing to roll the dice.

    What you want to watch for is Trump changing his position to “the Federal government should butt out”. If he gets the nod and Bernie doesn’t.

    There are quite a few one issue voters when it comes to this issue. I expect Trump might like to capture them if the opportunity arises.

    Will that dishearten any of his current conservative supporters? Doubtful. As Trump pointed out he could shoot some one in broad daylight and it wouldn’t lose him votes.

    =========================

    #cruzsexscandal has been trending on Twitter all weekend. The next issue of NE will be Friday – 1 April. They will be doing promos starting 3 days before. So by mid-week we will know if they have any more dirt on Ted “rat fucker” Cruz.

    That was an amazing gaff don’t ya think? Something has Cruz rattled. What could it be?

  7. Simon Avatar

    Dave,

    You are being very logical. And I have to admit your logic is better than mine. This election will not be decided on logic.

    People are mad as hell and are not going to take it anymore.

    Trump!

    Because FYTW

    And the FY is for the political class. The cronies.

  8. Simon Avatar

    I should note that there are walls going up in Europe. Why would they be doing that? It is so anti-liberal.