The Incredible Hypocrisy of the Modern Republican {Trumpian} Party
I have spent many years attacking republicans on their stand on issues. I have not only disagreed with them on policy as it related to "trickle down" economics, but to their positions on such issues as public education, human rights, women's rights issues, trade policy, supreme court nominees, the environment, etc. Most of these areas remain points of contention between my views and traditional republican viewpoints.
What amazes me today, and has been a mystery to anyone who has followed Republican politics over the past half century, is how basic principles of republican doctrine have been totally abandoned and frequently replaced with positions that have either been extensions or perversions of Democratic positions or replaced with positions that can only be described as anti-American.
Let's begin with tariffs. The republican position on tariffs has always been one in which the party was against tariffs {especially retaliatory tariffs}, and for free trade policies with other nations. Democrats were always the party who supported targeted tariffs and specific protections from such areas as intellectual theft. Now, miraculously, the Republicans in Congress appear to be fully on board with President Trump's scattershot and escalating tariff wars with countries all over the world, including nations that we would never have previously threatened with tariffs {e.g. Canada}. What has been interesting is that when republican politicians appear on talk shows, they express concerns over the policy, but when they go back into session, their concerns go away and they vote in lockstep.
The next area is the rule of law. One of the great attractions of the Republican party for many working class Americans was their dedication to the rule of law. They viewed themselves as strict constitutionalists, champions of right and wrong in our court system, and most of all to fairness in the judicial system. They were consistent in their condemnation of Bill Clinton, Bob Packard, Tom Delay, John Ensign, Jesse Jackson Jr., Newt Gingerich, Dennis Hastert, Anthony Wiener, Trent Frank, and Al Franken. These were democrats and republicans accused of financial or sexual improprieties, yet neither the party affiliation, nor the rank of the officeholder made a difference. This was the ethics that Americans expect from our elected officials. But in 2018, that is no longer the case. We have a president who is under investigation for multiple breaking of the rule of law, whether it be the violation of the emoluments clause, the potential conspiracy with a foreign nation, violation of federal election campaign laws, sexual improprieties, witness tampering or any one of a number of other potential crimes, both federal and state. Not only has the Republican party abrogated their responsibility to fairly allow the investigations to proceed, but many, including lackeys like Devin Nunes are actively working in consort with the executive branch to either derail or defame those investigations.
Foreign policy may be the most disturbing of all the Republican turnabouts. Since the end of World War II, there has been little debate in American political circles about who our allies and who our foreign foes were. Treaties such as NATO, SEATO, and other military and economic alliances were designed to keep totalitarian and communist nations such as Russia, China, North Korea, etc. at bay. There were few, if any, major disputes over the arc of American foreign policy. In fact, the major blow-ups were generally over protocol. Should we have bowed to that king or queen? Who should walk before whom in a procession? etc.. Our allies knew they could trust us and knew that we would come to their aide if necessary. In turn, after 9/11, our allies came to our aid.
Now, our foreign policy has us distancing from our long term allies like Canada, Mexico, England, France, etc. and cozying up to Russia, North Korea, and occasionally even China. This is historically unthinkable. It aligns us with the "bad guys" of the world. It places the democratically determined nations at risk and certainly causes them to question our commitment to their security. It gets worse when the entire national security team indicates one direction for our foreign policy, and the president, six hours later, contradicts the entire message. Where is the Republican party? Why aren't they, to a person, condemning the president on this critical issue?
The reality is that the Republican party is no more. There is only a Trumpublican party and those that are left are only interested in saving their collective rear ends in the next primary. Sane Republicans have become recovering Republicans. The moderation of the republican party is no longer there. We now have a party hierarchy that worships at Trump's feet. There is an electorate out there, hovering in the 35% range, who idolize the exalted leader Trump. They control the republican primaries. Luckily, there are many of us who realize that they are poison for the general election.
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The question is whether Trump's supporters are in favor of the man or in favor of his policies? If it is his policies, how can they support the areas above?
How can Trump supporters continue to support a man who would rather demonstrate racism and hatred and support Nazis and KKK members? Why is every person of color either low IQ or a potential rapist? I think I, as a white guy would much rather have a beer with Lebron James, Colin Kapernick, or any other activist black or Hispanic than be in the same state as the most idiotic president in our history.
Hmmm.....
Well done, Doc Phil.
Meh.
I think in some cases, you're absolutely right. However several things...lower taxes, for example..... have been positive core Republican values for decades.
But this can certainly be said about Democrats, as well.
Brainless, unquestioned commitment to a political "team" will make a moron of anyone.
I actually agree with you..... While there was much about Obama's politics that I liked, there were areas that I disagreed with him on. I felt he was much too conservative for my liking on economic areas. I saw him as center-right in that area. I also thought that he was too cozy with Wall Street. I gave him a pass on that since he came into office without too many options in that area. I also felt that he could have been a stronger voice in both civil and women's rights. In many ways, I thought that he was too hesitant to act, lest the right accuse him of being too racialist. It didn't help him.....they made the accusation anyway.
As this country's first black American President, Barack Obama's course was pretty much laid out ahead of him as it is for anybody or group of folks who choose to be first. People who are 'first' proceed with attentiveness to the exploration ahead. In his first State of the Union message, President Obama was verbally lashed with a phrase which resounded in republican attitudes toward him throughout: "You lie." — Rep. Joe Wilson.
There was the Republican "cadre," -including Paul Ryan which gathered in the infamous secret meeting to discuss conspiracy steps and methods to block President Obama agenda. At the time, the first black president's agenda was to resolve a great recession. It did not matter to republicans, nevertheless. And Lordy, how does anyone survive the "ravages" of the Tea-Party?
As we can see from the end of President Barack Obama's presidency to the writing of these remarks, former leader Obama remains "no drama." It is not a slogan, the two words say something about that man's calm disposition even when politics is churning all around him. He was de facto the first black president: He, and his staff, were without a doubt beset upon.
All and all, President Obama did what was needed in riding the ship of state upward bound—just in time for a new course by a new leader. Enter one of the most arrogant, tired, old production 'numbers' ever to appear out of presidential 'central acting, ' Donald J. Trump. And, this wild-ass president has been 'hooving' around in all four directions and doing slanted diagonal 'kicks' since.
The song by Dan Seals has this chorus line: " Everything that glitters is not gold. " This new "boss" we've got, it remains to be seen if anything good remains after he finishes 'sparkling.'
Well said
That's why it better to not belong to a party. Never have been a dem or repub, never will. They have to work for my votes because I vote issues. Republicans aren't even the same party anymore, they started going off with Newt and all that Clinton stuff, Bush sealed it with his Iraq war and the lies and recession. Obama was a ray of sun even when I didn't agree with everything I knew he was working for the greater good of the country. Trump has made it so I will NEVER vote for that party, they are all part of the Trump party now, when it comes down to it, all the pubs circle the naked emperor while they ditch their character and dignity for tax cuts. Now they won't stand up to Trumps lies, and in fact usually push them. They choose Russia over the USA if it means they can keep cutting taxes, and so do their supporters. We don't need to know any more than that.
I would differ a little bit with you on this. I would say that the Trump supporters, surrogates and Republican leadership's actions throughout this Administration have shown me that hate, greed and power is what sustains and motivates them and not ideology and country.
That IS their ideology.
It kinda seems that way these days. They also have an issue with clean shirts. (inside joke).
And do not forget stacked high and feckless (worthless) house investigations signifying 'sound and fury'; a waste of quality time which ought to be used for real problem-solving. None of us are getting any younger out here! I don't know about you, but I do not have two more years to 'go around in circles'! (Smile.)
You say that. And then ......
Personally, I'm sort of "center right", so I thought BO did fine after the initial wobble with the ACA. Even then, I didn't oppose the stated goals, I just knew that particular law was never going to accomplish them.
I roll my eyes when he's called a "socialist". He had the political capital to nationalize the banking industry in 2009, and it never crossed his mind.
My major complaints about him, to the extent that I have any, surround his reticence to reign in his underlings and protect the rest of us from their zealotry.
As far as Trump goes:
Therefore my assessment of his term thus far is "exceeds expectations". Because really....if anyone had told us in January of 2017 we'd reach August of 2018 with all of those 4 things still true, we would never have believed them.
Now I am completely aware of how low I've set that bar. But I tend to follow Ben Franklin's advice and expect the worst. Then, the surprises are pleasant.
But returning to the topic of political parties or people eschewing their values, it has become plain for all to see that the first and foremost value of political parties or "political people" is to keep the other bastards out of office. All other professed "values" are disposable as needed if it helps them win.
While we may not be 'actively at war' our defense spending is WAY [+23%] above the levels when we were. Trump is keeping the MIC very happy.
Reagan was the inventor of "peacetime defense spending as Keynesian fiscal stimulus". It was brilliant in the 1980's.
For 2018, I'd rather see a big infrastructure package.
A 'brilliant' policy that helped TRIPLED the debt.
So Keynesian economics are good....but only as long as Democrats are doing them?
I didn't say anything about Keynesian anything. I stated a fact, pure and simple.
While I can appreciate your fairly moderate views I find this comment particularly cynical:
Now I am completely aware of how low I've set that bar.
Ya think, lol.
Cynicism is an appropriate description.
It's very easy, moderates and conservatives have no other option. Trump, for all his bluster, actually governs as a traditional republican. Solid judges, lower taxes, less regulation, strong millitary etc.etc.
Just a look at what Democrats have championed the last few weeks demonstrates why it's a party that is anathema to the type of center right person who could have supported a Bill Clinton:
It's paper of record, defended the hiring of a virulent racist.
Non-citizens are now allowed to vote in Democratic strongholds.
Liberals are championing a policy that can't be paid for even if federal tax receipts are DOUBLED.
Liberals want to abolish border control.
Trump for all his faults, is simply more moderate than the racially obsessed, far left extremist party the Democrats have turned into.
Trump has got to go and he is going to go. If he is the only person in the Republican Party that can carry out ideas you agree with then maybe they arent such good ideas.
I was watching a video this morning about Trumps ties to Russia. There are 6 or 8 clips in there where he effuses praise for Vladimir Putin. A couple of them are even from before his presidential candidacy. It's not normal, in fact its bizarre.
The Russians have something on trump and that disqualifies him to be president. Of course there are a hundred other things that disqualify him also.
If Trump's ideas are so good Pence can try and carry them out.
It really has nothing to do with Trump or his ideas. He's simply not a modern progressive and that's enough in a binary system.
Doesn't it ever cause Dmeocrats to reflect about how they lost to this man? He was the biggest layup in modern electoral history and there's never a second thought about why it happened.
LOL. Trump is EASILY the least qualified and least appropriate president we have EVER seen.
Not only is he a hopeless liar, he's an ignoramus that can't keep his mouth shut.
In a strikingly ignorant tweet, Trump gets almost everything about California wildfires wrong
He's a conspiracy nut. He is a borderline racist. And he is psychologically impaired.
Twelve strikes and you're out.
Do you have anything to offer about our CURRENT national dilemma? Hillary Clinton left the scene 18 months ago.
How about attempting to answer the questions I raise? Every time you respond to a post, you deflect away from a discussion of the issues. If all you can do is troll and try to change the topic, find another strand. I'm looking for intelligent debate and discussion of the issue I'm spending time writing. I welcome your real input.I
I think about it all the time. It depresses me that Trump followers are so morally corrupt that this guy would look like an option.
The argument that followers only had a choice between Trump and Hillary is ridiculous and not true. There were quite a number of republican's running for the Presidency.
Trump follower's picked Trump over a long list of far more intelligent republican candidates. Stop blaming democrats or Hillary. The failure is completely on Trump voters.
*sigh* This is actually pretty much accurate.
That is soooooooo depressing.
Right....far better to elect the racist King of the Birthers than someone from a party which supports equal rights for all Americans.
46.1% of voters elected a virulent racist in 2016 and y'all decry the content of the social media a young writer @ the NYT.
Pffttt
Bullshit.
If you are talking about the 200 billion in defense spending that they put on the cuff, I agree.
ICE is not BP. Try to keep up.
Again, bullshit.
Many people including me have predicted that the election of Trump signals the imminent end of the GOP. Whether Trump is a cause or merely a symptom is irrelevant, but the GOP has gone the way of the Know Nothing Party.
Actually Trump led his party to their strongest position in eighty years.
Well since that article is from 11/17/2016, it happened without ANY leadership from Trump. In fact, your article doesn't even mention Trump. Sheesh.