I don’t want to believe this, but it’s probably correct. Which means some of us ex-Democrats don’t have a political home. Most of our current political class seems to believe we should project American power over the whole world.
I found a home by paying close attention, and voting in, GOP primaries. I also think it’s good to be independent. This country is our home and teams are great for sports, not public policy. The more independents the more sane candidates have to become.
I’m not voting for any Democrats for several elections, but I’m doing more than crossing my fingers for which Republicans end up in the general election - I’m having a say in it (NC primaries are open for independents).
The problem with registering as an Independent or NPA (no party affiliation) is you are locked out of primaries in many places. There has been a push in recent years to open primaries to all party registrations but I'm against this. It enables opponents to choose the candidate. I don't want Democrats choosing my Republican candidate. There is also a rising push for rank choice voting. Check out how well that has worked in California where all bad ideas originate.
In places you get locked out that is a very valid issue. In NC you get to choose as an independent and I think it helps to create a healthier approach to elections. When people register a certain way they seem to be rooting for a “team,” and it too often becomes about “winning” elections even when the actual policy outcomes destroy a community.
I’m going to vote in the general election for Republicans a few cycles. Mostly because both parties seem to want to start WW III, but only the neoliberals who have taken over the DRM party also want to destroy kids because it makes their hard core base “feel safe” or “seen” or whatever other idiotic propaganda line they want to push to harm kids any given week. That said, I have no idea what either party will actually be pushing from a policy perspective a decade from now. I made the mistake of voting Dem too long because I was indoctrinated out of grad school and my kids’ entire generation is paying the price. I don’t want to make that mistake again.
The value of the "D" or "R" beside a candidate's name on a closed primary is that, IN GENERAL, it gives the voter an idea of where the candidate may stand on key issues. This is not always reliable as the likes of Adam Kinzinger and other squishy Republicans attest but it's better than not knowing. Unfortunately in Florida there have been ballot initiatives that have made several elected offices "non-partisan." If you are not actively involved in the local political scene you may not know who the conservative candidate for an office is. You may elect someone because they seem friendlier or you like their campaign signs. That is how you get school board members who support CRT or sexualizing children. I want to know or at least have a fighting chance to pick a conservative candidate. The primary voter tends to be more committed to a political philosophy than the general election voter. Primaries here have 12-20% of the registered voters participating. (The election for sheriff draws more primary voters than any other race). I want the most committed, informed voters making the final decision on who the candidates will be on the November ballot. Closed primaries are the best way to do that.
I disagree on the most informed voters only in closed primaries, at least where I live. I hate rank choice voting and agree on that. Run offs let people think about their choices while rank choice is gamesmanship. I also share the concern people haven’t a clue who they are actually voting for in non-partisan races, though truthfully, many probably don’t have a clue what they are voting for at all in general elections.
We have a similar participation rate in primaries here. It still tends to be the most informed voters even though it’s open. Those not paying attention still just don’t pay attention, but they also don’t even know when the primaries are. If you register with a party in NC, you can only vote in that primary. Only unaffiliated can pick. The unaffiliated primary voters here tend to pay more attention overall, and are more moderate overall.
I have the concern about the opponents choosing your candidate, but that hasn’t played out here. Probably because you must be registered unaffiliated to vote in either primary and honestly, a lot of the woketards are too scared someone might look up their voter registration and see they weren’t appropriately declaring their loyalty if they registered unaffiliated.
I’m not for totally open primaries for that reason, but I see value in allowing choice for the unaffiliated, at least this far.
I’ll see if that changes after our May primaries. 😂. I was happy to see Budd in the lead for GOP senate (I might prefer Walker but he can’t win). And I like that Budd’s campaign knows I’m a primary voted that is unaffiliated because they listen when we call the campaign in early/ mid March and say “this whole Russia, Russia, Russia crap from him better stop now” because they know the November race will be decided by the unaffiliated. They might not be as confident many of us see his likely opponent as worse than a neocon (which is hard to accomplish but sadly true).
I can't speak to voting patterns in NC. Party affiliation is a way to identify a broad political viewpoint. Before 1984 my county voted 100% Democrat. All county and many state elections were decided in the primary. My husband and I registered as Democrats to vote in the primary and always tried to vote for the most conservative candidate. In 1984 my county elected its first three Republicans since Reconstruction. Once that happened people began changing their voter registration and now my county is more than 2 to 1 Republican to Democrat. Voting for the most conservative candidates gave us the best local government we could manage.
One thing I would put money on: if the congressional candidate has a D after their name, they will vote the Democrat Party line no matter what they say on the campaign trail. Democrats have a hive mentality and vote as a bloc. Republicans do not and it drives many of us crazy when we see the Mitt Romneys and the Adam Kinzingers and the Lynn Cheneys and the Susan Collins and the Lisa Murchowski's. Republicans are not monolithic.
Vote third party. Before any federal election, I make sure to cast a vote for someone against wars of choice. That invariably means a third party. They may not be corrupt yet, like the two main parties.
I hate all this war mongering. We spent 20 years fighting dirt farmers, pretending they were an existential threat. And now, a totally European problem is somehow our problem? Like Russia is going to take over the world? I hated McCain and I hate Lindsay Graham for their bullshitz. Those two clowns spent their careers screaming for “boots on the ground” whenever some idiot in some shit-hole burned an American flag.
No...the elites on both sides want it. The main stream media wants the continued click bait it will give them. The Deep State wants the power. Many politicals want the power and the money. Ditto for Big Tech and the military-industrial complex. Your average blue collar and working person does not want a war.
That's why as with all countries we have to be very specific about the difference between the "managerial" class and the plebeian class. If nothing else, this should remind people how little control we really have over our government. In that way, we have everything in common with your average Russian or Ukrainian citizen. We're all cannon fodder in one way or another.
We should also be talking about solutions. Complaining about a problem without offering a solution is whining. Complaining about it won’t fix it. Getting involved, start local, give money and time, each of us doing our part will fix it.
Most of the neocons from both parties are geriatrics. We should keep Ron Johnson but work towards getting out the old fart neocons on both sides.
It’s not going to get fixed over night, but it’s fixable, unless the best we have is complaining. I can’t settle for that. At the very least I’m going to try to change it, and I really hope you do too. P
A candidate for office needs two tracks of support. One is the money from donors and the other is the actual votes. It takes both. Now money is political speech because the money is used to fashion the message but it is possible to win without money. A truck driver won a NJ race in 2020 and he spent $137 total. This year may be one of those where huge sums are not necessary because the voters are pissed off.
The donors' money is used to frame the narrative to manipulate the voters. The parties objectively do not respond to the voters: where is the Medicare for all, $2000 stimulus checks, $15 minimum wage, and help with student debt? All those things that Democratic voters want, which they did not get while their party controlled both houses of Congress and the presidency. They don't need to control every little race to do this.
Scott Ritter’s tweet – April 6, 2022 (he was immediately banned from Tweeter – soon reinstated without explanation). Scott courageously fought US bipartisan War party’s WMD fraud in Iraq.
“The Ukrainian National Police committed numerous crimes against humanity in Bucha. Biden, in seeking to shift blame for the Bucha murders to Russia, is guilty of aiding and abetting these crimes. Congratulations America…. We’ve created yet another Presidential war criminal !!”
I have no where to go. I need a new party. The uni-party in DC is ALWAYS pro war. The Republicans were cruising to victory in the midterms and suddenly committ mass suicide. Our leaders should be seeking peace. Pursue American interests, solve American problems. God help us.
I agree. Our only national security interest in Ukraine is peace and we have stopped that at every step while Ukrainians die and North Africans begin starving. Our national policy of antagonizing Putin hasn’t made any sense for 30 years. Using NATO for leftist expansionism has halted the progress of hundreds of millions while costing the blood of hundreds of thousands. Ukrainians and poor people around the world are paying for the cruelty of our military industrial complex with their lives. Sad.
I have kids so Republicans will get my vote in November, but I am pouring over primary candidate websites for the primaries. Republicans domestically scare me less, and the incredible cruelty Democrats impose on our children I can’t take anymore.
We’ve let these bipartisan globalist who are terrible people, on both sides, run our country for decades. It’s going to take time to wrestle it back from them, but it must be done. It won’t happen overnight but the alternative is unacceptable. Getting support from the WEF is the top of my list of people to vote out.
I think the days are numbered for the neocons in years not decades. Hopefully the same for the neocon/ neoliberals that have all the bad characteristics of neocons combined with the personalities and policy proposals of very dumbest and angriest middle school girls.
While I think the neocon tendency is fading among the base, it is 1) not fading particularly fast, 2) not fading due to Trump's influence (as Michael correctly points out), and 3) most importantly and above all has never faded even to the slightest degree in DC, where dissent from war is very much a niche occupation. Arguably the most visible anti-war politician with a national platform is Tulsi Gabbard, who doesn't hold elected office and is hated by her own party. On the Republican side... Rand Paul is probably the most visible. Thomas Massie probably the most sincere, but unknown on a national basis. It's grim to be sure, and hence all the crowing about the new, peaceful Republican realignment is premature at best and delusional at worst.
Where's the evidence that it's "fading among the base"? I guess it depends how you define "neocon tendency," but I cited polling that shows the level of GOP animosity toward Russia now matches or surpasses Dems' animosity. Is there any significant opposition to the proxy war among GOP voters, except insofar as they want Biden to wage it more aggressively?
It is unfortunately clear from the sequence of hysterias ginned up by our corrupt leaders and corporate media that any “cause” can be induced in the American population including nuclear annihilation.
It’s not there among people like me who have moved demonstrably to the right but hate the likes of Romney and bush II. I would say I’ve gotten involved in local GOP politics despite being an independent and on the ground those involved want the neocons out yesterday. No exceptions at the party events I’ve been involved in. 🤷♀️
Admittedly I'm going off old data - pertaining to Syria. It was something like half of Democrats wanted US airstrikes, but only a quarter of Republicans - a striking reversal to only a few years before. If that's now been undone and the parties are at the same level (or the GOP back in the lead, as it were), that's disappointing to me.
I will say that the drumbeat in favor of all-out war feels very different this time, more serious and louder than any time since Iraq. And with senior figures in the GOP leading the parade, it's no wonder that the base is falling in line.
Anecdotally, my circle of conservatarians (labels don't represent the spectrum well but for generic purposes) became far more skeptical of military action overseas post-Iraq/Afghanistan. Most own small to medium sized businesses. Nothing invokes government skepticism like owning a business, which involves hand-to-hand combat with silly rules and regulations on a daily basis. The last 20 years erased the facade that somehow the incompetence ended on the domestic policy side. The dots have been connected, the circle of distrust complete. The ops run against Trump cemented it. There is little trust in anything our fearless leaders undertake, and that applies to both parties
The root of the problem goes back to a media that refuses to hold government accountable. There's a feeling of hopelessness. If one can't believe what the government and media tell you, it's difficult to support much of anything. Biden wandering around aimlessly personifies it perfectly
Michael, your connection back to McCain is interesting. He seems like a footnote republican in that most "on the ground" R's rightfully stopped listening to him years ago. The establishment is always another story. I certainly wouldn't classify Trump as establishment; he's more Sex Pistols than Nickelback. But you aren't wrong. Still, I believe most R's are far less interventionalists than they were 20 years ago. Why that doesn't show up in polling, I'm not sure
Sad but true. So disappointing. Where did the 60’s love and flower children go. Summer of peace has morphed into rabid psycho warriors pursuing Armageddon.
So what do you do when there really is no difference between the parties on the real issues, like war?
The thing is D and R are just labels. When it comes right down to it, this is about class and a certain class of people profit from war, directly and through the distraction it brings. End of story. And Josh Hawley disappoints me, but I'm not particularly surprised.
It really is unnerving to finally realize that your country is run by lunatics. And we don't have a choice. There really is only one political party in this country. It pretends to be two by specializing in various rhetoric that, via market studies, appeals to various demographics in the US, and done so in such a fashion as to split the country in two as close as possible.
We're a kakistocracy, run by loons and incompetents who only achieved their status because of their ability to manipulate human emotions at the lizard brain level. I seriously half expect to see a Code Pink protest one day soon waving Ukrainian flags and calling for a No Fly Zone. Even our critical NGOs are run by nutters... or just the CIA.
I never, ever liked John McCain. He was a nasty man more at home with the Democrats than the Republicans. Treacherous to conservatives.
Lindsay Graham is an opportunist.
I don't know one person in Florida who likes Rick Scott. He won, by slim majorities, as governor and Senator, because he was the Republican in the race. Sometimes it is your opponent who gives you the win. Although I have to admit that he governed conservatively for 2 terms and handled a devastating hurricane season very well.
Josh Hawley is a good man. I can see your objection to Ted Cruz. He's weird at times. Didn't he call the Jan. 6th protesters terrorists not too long ago? Marco Rubio is a good man. I think the run for 2016 deflated him in many ways.
You lost me when you attacked Dave Rubin. What was that about? He's a comedian and he was there probably to open the event. He has a daily one hour podcast on locals and now on Rumble. He's a breath of fresh air. He has gone from liberal to conservative and as a new conservative and a new Floridian has a fresh take on local culture and politics. He doesn't put himself out there as a policy expert or a brainiac. So what? He's a regular guy who has worked hard for his success. Your snide comments were not appreciated by me.
I love that!! I mostly listen on Apple podcast when heading to pick up my kids from school. He was so excited about the Onsies Ron DeSantis sent he and his husband this week and it cracked me up. None of us are perfect, and Dave Rubin doesn’t claim to be, but at least he’s real and usually happy. I’m sure being close in age (I’m a little younger) and going through a similar transition politically is part of my affinity, but he really seems like a person doing his best and making something of himself and calling it he sees it. Plus, he’s not jaded and overly serious all the time. Life can be joyful despite the hard times, and I appreciate those who embrace joy and humor as part of being human.
I appreciate his humor and his joie de vive (hope I got the French right). I was introduced to him when he went on tour with Jordan Peterson for the first book, the 12 Rules. His long interviews on YouTube were good but I like the way he does his new show. I'm also proud of him for starting Locals and then rolling it into Rumble. He's an innovator and we need that so badly now. He is also clear eyed and not tied down by labels and prejudices. I am looking forward to seeing how he changes when he begins raising those two boys. Raising my children made me a conservative. He doesn't like CRT and sexualizing kindergarten children now. When he is raising those children the dislike will only deepen.
I asked him many times on his thread to stop inviting all those blue state people to move to Florida. I reminded him California was a conservative state until the 1960's when the inflow of people changed its politics. The same will happen for Florida if we get more blue state emigres. They bring their stupid politics with them and we sure don't need that in our beautiful, well run state.
Dave is now changing his offer and will pay liberals to move out of Florida. I like that. Mayor Adams wants them to come back to NY and that suits me fine. Adams is paying for billboards around Florida inviting people who don't like the "don't say gay bill" to move to NY. The lies are amazing. The bill is short and easily readable. The language is clear. It does not say "gay" in it anywhere. It is a parents' rights bill and is designed to empower the parents and protect the children.
I am going to have to drive across town to see the billboard myself. I need a huge laugh. I can't imagine ANYONE in Florida who would be remotely tempted to move back to NY.
Excellent write up. What will be interesting in 2022 and 2024 is that the rebranding is at the voter level. MAGA is out there, it's tired of intervention, and the movement is pretty large. They hate the Grahams and McConnells of the world, and they're never seen in Corporate Press, mostly because Bannon has been made a pariah.
Official Conservatism is exactly what you describe so well here. These are awful people. That picture said 1000 words. Barf being one of them.
Truth be told. McCain was "full of it". It's my understanding His OWN Presidential Run CAMPAIGN MANAGER, Rick Davis, worked for Russian money in a most DIRECT manner, with Paul Manafort, working to ensure Yulia Tymoshenko was...get this... PUT IN JAIL for exposing russian corruption! So yeah, McCain, if you're in a hot place, give it a rest!
Peace is never on the ballot.
There is an Afghan proverb that says: Donkey is the same donkey but with a different packsaddle.
I say both parties sell the same t-shirts, just in different colors and with different logos, but yours is much more poetic.
The same ass, a different irrelevant divisive social issue.
I don’t want to believe this, but it’s probably correct. Which means some of us ex-Democrats don’t have a political home. Most of our current political class seems to believe we should project American power over the whole world.
I found a home by paying close attention, and voting in, GOP primaries. I also think it’s good to be independent. This country is our home and teams are great for sports, not public policy. The more independents the more sane candidates have to become.
I’m not voting for any Democrats for several elections, but I’m doing more than crossing my fingers for which Republicans end up in the general election - I’m having a say in it (NC primaries are open for independents).
The problem with registering as an Independent or NPA (no party affiliation) is you are locked out of primaries in many places. There has been a push in recent years to open primaries to all party registrations but I'm against this. It enables opponents to choose the candidate. I don't want Democrats choosing my Republican candidate. There is also a rising push for rank choice voting. Check out how well that has worked in California where all bad ideas originate.
In places you get locked out that is a very valid issue. In NC you get to choose as an independent and I think it helps to create a healthier approach to elections. When people register a certain way they seem to be rooting for a “team,” and it too often becomes about “winning” elections even when the actual policy outcomes destroy a community.
I’m going to vote in the general election for Republicans a few cycles. Mostly because both parties seem to want to start WW III, but only the neoliberals who have taken over the DRM party also want to destroy kids because it makes their hard core base “feel safe” or “seen” or whatever other idiotic propaganda line they want to push to harm kids any given week. That said, I have no idea what either party will actually be pushing from a policy perspective a decade from now. I made the mistake of voting Dem too long because I was indoctrinated out of grad school and my kids’ entire generation is paying the price. I don’t want to make that mistake again.
The value of the "D" or "R" beside a candidate's name on a closed primary is that, IN GENERAL, it gives the voter an idea of where the candidate may stand on key issues. This is not always reliable as the likes of Adam Kinzinger and other squishy Republicans attest but it's better than not knowing. Unfortunately in Florida there have been ballot initiatives that have made several elected offices "non-partisan." If you are not actively involved in the local political scene you may not know who the conservative candidate for an office is. You may elect someone because they seem friendlier or you like their campaign signs. That is how you get school board members who support CRT or sexualizing children. I want to know or at least have a fighting chance to pick a conservative candidate. The primary voter tends to be more committed to a political philosophy than the general election voter. Primaries here have 12-20% of the registered voters participating. (The election for sheriff draws more primary voters than any other race). I want the most committed, informed voters making the final decision on who the candidates will be on the November ballot. Closed primaries are the best way to do that.
I disagree on the most informed voters only in closed primaries, at least where I live. I hate rank choice voting and agree on that. Run offs let people think about their choices while rank choice is gamesmanship. I also share the concern people haven’t a clue who they are actually voting for in non-partisan races, though truthfully, many probably don’t have a clue what they are voting for at all in general elections.
We have a similar participation rate in primaries here. It still tends to be the most informed voters even though it’s open. Those not paying attention still just don’t pay attention, but they also don’t even know when the primaries are. If you register with a party in NC, you can only vote in that primary. Only unaffiliated can pick. The unaffiliated primary voters here tend to pay more attention overall, and are more moderate overall.
I have the concern about the opponents choosing your candidate, but that hasn’t played out here. Probably because you must be registered unaffiliated to vote in either primary and honestly, a lot of the woketards are too scared someone might look up their voter registration and see they weren’t appropriately declaring their loyalty if they registered unaffiliated.
I’m not for totally open primaries for that reason, but I see value in allowing choice for the unaffiliated, at least this far.
I’ll see if that changes after our May primaries. 😂. I was happy to see Budd in the lead for GOP senate (I might prefer Walker but he can’t win). And I like that Budd’s campaign knows I’m a primary voted that is unaffiliated because they listen when we call the campaign in early/ mid March and say “this whole Russia, Russia, Russia crap from him better stop now” because they know the November race will be decided by the unaffiliated. They might not be as confident many of us see his likely opponent as worse than a neocon (which is hard to accomplish but sadly true).
I can't speak to voting patterns in NC. Party affiliation is a way to identify a broad political viewpoint. Before 1984 my county voted 100% Democrat. All county and many state elections were decided in the primary. My husband and I registered as Democrats to vote in the primary and always tried to vote for the most conservative candidate. In 1984 my county elected its first three Republicans since Reconstruction. Once that happened people began changing their voter registration and now my county is more than 2 to 1 Republican to Democrat. Voting for the most conservative candidates gave us the best local government we could manage.
One thing I would put money on: if the congressional candidate has a D after their name, they will vote the Democrat Party line no matter what they say on the campaign trail. Democrats have a hive mentality and vote as a bloc. Republicans do not and it drives many of us crazy when we see the Mitt Romneys and the Adam Kinzingers and the Lynn Cheneys and the Susan Collins and the Lisa Murchowski's. Republicans are not monolithic.
Vote third party. Before any federal election, I make sure to cast a vote for someone against wars of choice. That invariably means a third party. They may not be corrupt yet, like the two main parties.
You're right, but I do think a high third-party vote count would cause a lot of consternation among those who deserve it.
I hate all this war mongering. We spent 20 years fighting dirt farmers, pretending they were an existential threat. And now, a totally European problem is somehow our problem? Like Russia is going to take over the world? I hated McCain and I hate Lindsay Graham for their bullshitz. Those two clowns spent their careers screaming for “boots on the ground” whenever some idiot in some shit-hole burned an American flag.
Despicable leaders and human beings.
I wish you were wrong, Mr. Tracey. But you are so right. The USA has only a uniparty, and it wants war.
No...the elites on both sides want it. The main stream media wants the continued click bait it will give them. The Deep State wants the power. Many politicals want the power and the money. Ditto for Big Tech and the military-industrial complex. Your average blue collar and working person does not want a war.
That's why as with all countries we have to be very specific about the difference between the "managerial" class and the plebeian class. If nothing else, this should remind people how little control we really have over our government. In that way, we have everything in common with your average Russian or Ukrainian citizen. We're all cannon fodder in one way or another.
Start local. Find out who's who in the zoo. Let your friends and neighbors know. Go to meetings. The reforms have to start at the local level.
We should also be talking about solutions. Complaining about a problem without offering a solution is whining. Complaining about it won’t fix it. Getting involved, start local, give money and time, each of us doing our part will fix it.
Most of the neocons from both parties are geriatrics. We should keep Ron Johnson but work towards getting out the old fart neocons on both sides.
It’s not going to get fixed over night, but it’s fixable, unless the best we have is complaining. I can’t settle for that. At the very least I’m going to try to change it, and I really hope you do too. P
But the donors run the parties, not the voters.
A candidate for office needs two tracks of support. One is the money from donors and the other is the actual votes. It takes both. Now money is political speech because the money is used to fashion the message but it is possible to win without money. A truck driver won a NJ race in 2020 and he spent $137 total. This year may be one of those where huge sums are not necessary because the voters are pissed off.
The donors' money is used to frame the narrative to manipulate the voters. The parties objectively do not respond to the voters: where is the Medicare for all, $2000 stimulus checks, $15 minimum wage, and help with student debt? All those things that Democratic voters want, which they did not get while their party controlled both houses of Congress and the presidency. They don't need to control every little race to do this.
Thank you !!
Interview w/Scott Ritter, April 6, 2022, By Don DeBar -- Bucha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfHohl6gCJY
------------------------------------------------
Scott Ritter’s tweet – April 6, 2022 (he was immediately banned from Tweeter – soon reinstated without explanation). Scott courageously fought US bipartisan War party’s WMD fraud in Iraq.
“The Ukrainian National Police committed numerous crimes against humanity in Bucha. Biden, in seeking to shift blame for the Bucha murders to Russia, is guilty of aiding and abetting these crimes. Congratulations America…. We’ve created yet another Presidential war criminal !!”
Bucha was the false flag we've been waiting for.
I have no where to go. I need a new party. The uni-party in DC is ALWAYS pro war. The Republicans were cruising to victory in the midterms and suddenly committ mass suicide. Our leaders should be seeking peace. Pursue American interests, solve American problems. God help us.
I agree. Our only national security interest in Ukraine is peace and we have stopped that at every step while Ukrainians die and North Africans begin starving. Our national policy of antagonizing Putin hasn’t made any sense for 30 years. Using NATO for leftist expansionism has halted the progress of hundreds of millions while costing the blood of hundreds of thousands. Ukrainians and poor people around the world are paying for the cruelty of our military industrial complex with their lives. Sad.
I have kids so Republicans will get my vote in November, but I am pouring over primary candidate websites for the primaries. Republicans domestically scare me less, and the incredible cruelty Democrats impose on our children I can’t take anymore.
We’ve let these bipartisan globalist who are terrible people, on both sides, run our country for decades. It’s going to take time to wrestle it back from them, but it must be done. It won’t happen overnight but the alternative is unacceptable. Getting support from the WEF is the top of my list of people to vote out.
I think the days are numbered for the neocons in years not decades. Hopefully the same for the neocon/ neoliberals that have all the bad characteristics of neocons combined with the personalities and policy proposals of very dumbest and angriest middle school girls.
While I think the neocon tendency is fading among the base, it is 1) not fading particularly fast, 2) not fading due to Trump's influence (as Michael correctly points out), and 3) most importantly and above all has never faded even to the slightest degree in DC, where dissent from war is very much a niche occupation. Arguably the most visible anti-war politician with a national platform is Tulsi Gabbard, who doesn't hold elected office and is hated by her own party. On the Republican side... Rand Paul is probably the most visible. Thomas Massie probably the most sincere, but unknown on a national basis. It's grim to be sure, and hence all the crowing about the new, peaceful Republican realignment is premature at best and delusional at worst.
Where's the evidence that it's "fading among the base"? I guess it depends how you define "neocon tendency," but I cited polling that shows the level of GOP animosity toward Russia now matches or surpasses Dems' animosity. Is there any significant opposition to the proxy war among GOP voters, except insofar as they want Biden to wage it more aggressively?
It is unfortunately clear from the sequence of hysterias ginned up by our corrupt leaders and corporate media that any “cause” can be induced in the American population including nuclear annihilation.
It’s not there among people like me who have moved demonstrably to the right but hate the likes of Romney and bush II. I would say I’ve gotten involved in local GOP politics despite being an independent and on the ground those involved want the neocons out yesterday. No exceptions at the party events I’ve been involved in. 🤷♀️
Admittedly I'm going off old data - pertaining to Syria. It was something like half of Democrats wanted US airstrikes, but only a quarter of Republicans - a striking reversal to only a few years before. If that's now been undone and the parties are at the same level (or the GOP back in the lead, as it were), that's disappointing to me.
I will say that the drumbeat in favor of all-out war feels very different this time, more serious and louder than any time since Iraq. And with senior figures in the GOP leading the parade, it's no wonder that the base is falling in line.
Anecdotally, my circle of conservatarians (labels don't represent the spectrum well but for generic purposes) became far more skeptical of military action overseas post-Iraq/Afghanistan. Most own small to medium sized businesses. Nothing invokes government skepticism like owning a business, which involves hand-to-hand combat with silly rules and regulations on a daily basis. The last 20 years erased the facade that somehow the incompetence ended on the domestic policy side. The dots have been connected, the circle of distrust complete. The ops run against Trump cemented it. There is little trust in anything our fearless leaders undertake, and that applies to both parties
The root of the problem goes back to a media that refuses to hold government accountable. There's a feeling of hopelessness. If one can't believe what the government and media tell you, it's difficult to support much of anything. Biden wandering around aimlessly personifies it perfectly
Michael, your connection back to McCain is interesting. He seems like a footnote republican in that most "on the ground" R's rightfully stopped listening to him years ago. The establishment is always another story. I certainly wouldn't classify Trump as establishment; he's more Sex Pistols than Nickelback. But you aren't wrong. Still, I believe most R's are far less interventionalists than they were 20 years ago. Why that doesn't show up in polling, I'm not sure
Sad but true. So disappointing. Where did the 60’s love and flower children go. Summer of peace has morphed into rabid psycho warriors pursuing Armageddon.
So what do you do when there really is no difference between the parties on the real issues, like war?
The thing is D and R are just labels. When it comes right down to it, this is about class and a certain class of people profit from war, directly and through the distraction it brings. End of story. And Josh Hawley disappoints me, but I'm not particularly surprised.
It really is unnerving to finally realize that your country is run by lunatics. And we don't have a choice. There really is only one political party in this country. It pretends to be two by specializing in various rhetoric that, via market studies, appeals to various demographics in the US, and done so in such a fashion as to split the country in two as close as possible.
We're a kakistocracy, run by loons and incompetents who only achieved their status because of their ability to manipulate human emotions at the lizard brain level. I seriously half expect to see a Code Pink protest one day soon waving Ukrainian flags and calling for a No Fly Zone. Even our critical NGOs are run by nutters... or just the CIA.
I never, ever liked John McCain. He was a nasty man more at home with the Democrats than the Republicans. Treacherous to conservatives.
Lindsay Graham is an opportunist.
I don't know one person in Florida who likes Rick Scott. He won, by slim majorities, as governor and Senator, because he was the Republican in the race. Sometimes it is your opponent who gives you the win. Although I have to admit that he governed conservatively for 2 terms and handled a devastating hurricane season very well.
Josh Hawley is a good man. I can see your objection to Ted Cruz. He's weird at times. Didn't he call the Jan. 6th protesters terrorists not too long ago? Marco Rubio is a good man. I think the run for 2016 deflated him in many ways.
You lost me when you attacked Dave Rubin. What was that about? He's a comedian and he was there probably to open the event. He has a daily one hour podcast on locals and now on Rumble. He's a breath of fresh air. He has gone from liberal to conservative and as a new conservative and a new Floridian has a fresh take on local culture and politics. He doesn't put himself out there as a policy expert or a brainiac. So what? He's a regular guy who has worked hard for his success. Your snide comments were not appreciated by me.
I love Dave Rubin. He’s still got some joy to him!! His affinity for Ron DeSantis is cute.
I like him too and I will not allow anyone to disparage him.
I love that!! I mostly listen on Apple podcast when heading to pick up my kids from school. He was so excited about the Onsies Ron DeSantis sent he and his husband this week and it cracked me up. None of us are perfect, and Dave Rubin doesn’t claim to be, but at least he’s real and usually happy. I’m sure being close in age (I’m a little younger) and going through a similar transition politically is part of my affinity, but he really seems like a person doing his best and making something of himself and calling it he sees it. Plus, he’s not jaded and overly serious all the time. Life can be joyful despite the hard times, and I appreciate those who embrace joy and humor as part of being human.
I appreciate his humor and his joie de vive (hope I got the French right). I was introduced to him when he went on tour with Jordan Peterson for the first book, the 12 Rules. His long interviews on YouTube were good but I like the way he does his new show. I'm also proud of him for starting Locals and then rolling it into Rumble. He's an innovator and we need that so badly now. He is also clear eyed and not tied down by labels and prejudices. I am looking forward to seeing how he changes when he begins raising those two boys. Raising my children made me a conservative. He doesn't like CRT and sexualizing kindergarten children now. When he is raising those children the dislike will only deepen.
I asked him many times on his thread to stop inviting all those blue state people to move to Florida. I reminded him California was a conservative state until the 1960's when the inflow of people changed its politics. The same will happen for Florida if we get more blue state emigres. They bring their stupid politics with them and we sure don't need that in our beautiful, well run state.
Dave is now changing his offer and will pay liberals to move out of Florida. I like that. Mayor Adams wants them to come back to NY and that suits me fine. Adams is paying for billboards around Florida inviting people who don't like the "don't say gay bill" to move to NY. The lies are amazing. The bill is short and easily readable. The language is clear. It does not say "gay" in it anywhere. It is a parents' rights bill and is designed to empower the parents and protect the children.
I am going to have to drive across town to see the billboard myself. I need a huge laugh. I can't imagine ANYONE in Florida who would be remotely tempted to move back to NY.
Excellent write up. What will be interesting in 2022 and 2024 is that the rebranding is at the voter level. MAGA is out there, it's tired of intervention, and the movement is pretty large. They hate the Grahams and McConnells of the world, and they're never seen in Corporate Press, mostly because Bannon has been made a pariah.
Official Conservatism is exactly what you describe so well here. These are awful people. That picture said 1000 words. Barf being one of them.
Truth be told. McCain was "full of it". It's my understanding His OWN Presidential Run CAMPAIGN MANAGER, Rick Davis, worked for Russian money in a most DIRECT manner, with Paul Manafort, working to ensure Yulia Tymoshenko was...get this... PUT IN JAIL for exposing russian corruption! So yeah, McCain, if you're in a hot place, give it a rest!
Kramatorsk Train Station attack was supposedly not the Russians: https://twitter.com/abunin/status/1512371891025195010
Anyone have more info?
Yup, the US is f*cked. Not a single intelligent, ethical leader in power. Last days of the Roman Empire.