There are three types of people that hate President Trump. There are Democrats. There are compassionate independents. There are anti-populist Republicans, Libertarians, and Constitutionalists. All three of these groups seem to blame President Trump for everything.
Do I hate Donald Trump the man? Yes. It’s obvious with every article I write and it has been obvious with every policy I’ve opposed.
Do I believe it wise to attack the man for doing what every Republican and Democrat has done before him? No. I do not. Do I hate the fact that he’s destroyed ISIS in the Near East? No, I do not. Do I hate the fact that he’s unleashed the American Economy and freed us from a plethora of dollar-crunching regulations? No, I do not. Do I hate that Donald Trump is trying to find better alternatives on Trade and Immigration? No, I do not.
President Trump has done a great many things that I like and agree with. He’s not the devil. Populism is. His actions aren’t evil, even if his rhetoric can be.
I dislike President Trump because I dislike the man that he is, the virtues he ignores, the honesty he deplores, and the philosophy that he’s never read. I dislike Trump because I dislike reactionary politics. I dislike Trump because he uses people who hate the consequences of big and bad government, to support more government on the promise that somehow, this time, authoritarianism will work out well for the people.
I dislike this game of thrones and all its participants.
Is President Trump responsible for heartless immigration policies? No. That fault lies with the Republican Congress, responsible for immigration law and negligent on legislation. Nothing we know today was unknown yesterday. The virtue-signaling is endemic.
Here are my grades for Trump:
On the Economy: B-
Tariffs and trade wars are awful. Nearing full-employment and increasing our standard of living is beautiful.
On Immigration: B-
There are still too many illegals making their way across this country, manifesting massive tax-burdens for American citizens.
On Foreign Policy: B
He makes us look antagonistic to our friends, but he is commanding their respect.
On the Debt: F——-
President Trump is the FDR of Republican Presidents.
On preserving our philosophy and Constitution: F—————————
What’s worse than an F? A Z? I give him a Z. Trump is Bush and Obama times ten. He views his office as dictatorially as possible.
Give The Man A Break
If there has been as single issue over which he’s been blamed that wasn’t the fault of Democrats and Republicans in Congress, I honestly couldn’t tell you what that is. I don’t think it exists.
The Republican Party needs to eliminate its populist factions. They can either become Democrats or Independents, but they should never have been allowed to be Republicans. Donald Trump is the first Independent President. He hates the GOP more, or as much as, the Democrats do.
If we allow the Trump Faction to control the Republican Party, the vast majority of us will leave the party forever.
If Corey Stewart is the darling of RPV, RPV will find themselves fighting all their battles alone, but for a noisy Facebook and Twitter following.
If populism is the status quo, then the Republican Party should simply walk away and refuse to exist.
Ignorance isn’t a virtue and spite isn’t a policy.
RPV
Everyone that dislikes Corey Stewart and Donald Trump and who used to vote Republican should join their local Republican Committee. The Trumpers have taken over the party. We can let them rule us or we can retake our committees. John Whitbeck and John Findlay are 100% behind Donald Trump and Corey Stewart. We may need new leadership. We need Republicans who will back Republicans. We need an RPV that will support the Republican Creed. I’m not sure we ever had this. Ever. But it is time we do.
Walk Away?
Every libertarian, moderate, independent, constitutionalist, and conservative that walks away from the Republican Party ensures that the populists will run this party into the ground over the years that come.
Do you want this party?
Then take it.
Now.
If you don’t like where populism is taking us, then you need to organize with the aim of retaking RPV, the State Central Committee, and your local county committees. The worse you think this party is, the more involved you need to become.
As Republicans, we back our nominees. Period. End of story. Don’t like our nominees? Then you have to get involved, because “they” are. Again. Period. End of story.
Here is what we cannot do. We cannot blame Trump of wrongdoing every time he does something right. We cannot feed into the liberal narrative every time we think it hurts him. We cannot empower Democrats just to make a point. We cannot bail on our own ideals every time President Trump secures them.
Trump isn’t the scapegoat we need. Populism is. We have to remain unbiased and disinterested and rational throughout the Trump Presidency and remember that there could have been something much worse; and likely will be.
50 comments
I know we are not supposed to write about anything important in these comments,,,,,,,,but,
Immigration bill HR 4760 (Goodlatte bill) was voted on in the US House yesterday. Looks lime the only Virginia Republican in the House who jumped into bed with the Democrats was Barbara Comstock.
She is in trouble come November.
Can someone explain the logic of this to me? Does she think that dems will favor her dem ‘lite’ over Wexton dem ‘real?’
Was the lesson of the primary wasted on her?
Corey and Trump are going to kick up the mojo a couple of notches to drag her across finish line.
You write this garbage while the Supreme Catholic and Jew Court sticks it to us with more taxes. Nothing but a corrupt and crooked “mickey mouse” court doing the dirty work for a dysfunctional, crooked, and corrupt Congress. Without corruption, there is no way Protestants could be denied a place on SCOTUS. 6 Catholics, 3 Jews, 0 Protestants. 260 million Protestants in the US, 0 on SCOTUS. Before you call me a bigot, please read the link below.
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/sotomayor-too-many-catholics-jews-on-the-high-court/2016/04/09/
Can we give the President some credit for Germany announcing the end of tariffs on U.S. vehicles?
Under obama and some earlier presidents, America became a patsy for a lot of international abuse. President Trump is trying to change this and those nations who liked America the patsy don’t like the change.
This has got to be the most condescending piece of read in a very long time. So you’re unhappy Trump hasn’t read as much philosophy as you? Seriously. Well you do know that Trump has a master’s degree from the Wharton School of Business, right? He’s probably read more philosophy than you think. But putting that aside, Trump is a product of the dog eat dog New York City real estate environment where he built a multi-billion dollar business. He’s not the product of sleepy, rural Caroline County. He’s used to dealing with construction companies and their employees. These are by and large blue collar, male workers. Every other word out of their mouths is the F-Bomb. When they’re on the job site and there aren’t any women around they like to brag about their sex life in rather vivid language and everybody knows 99.9999% of it is bulls–t. As he is the product of the business environment he understands that nothing succeeds like success, i.e. tangible, quantifiable results. Unlike the academic environment (which I think is where you are now….correct me if I’m wrong), people in Trump’s environment can’t sit around all day and think grand thoughts and transcribe thought experiments into word processors and discuss in the faculty lounge and at conferences. Business people understand they have shareholders and boards of directors who want action and results. The Fed is predicting we will reach 5% growth. If that happens it will be an historic event. That hasn’t happened since the late 50s early 60s. So what I’m hearing from you is you like Trump’s results but not his style. So what. He can speak to a rally wearing Lynda Carter’s old Wonder Woman costume as long as he’s delivering results.
What SBT is advocates is;
“Republitiarism”
The question is to genuine Conservatives is do you want your party to be takin over by Libertarianism?
The laws of the jungle or
the laws of civilized man?
Folks ask yourselves;
1)Is the Republican Party being takin over by SBT’S populism? Or
2)Are Conservative folks expecting results from their reps.Or
3) Are the Libertarians finding a crack in the Corporatist part in the Republican party for their libertard nonsense to grow?
“I dislike Trump because I dislike reactionary politics. ” There is the real story: Translation: You and all other liberal establishment Republicans are arrogant, anti-constitutional, fascist elitists who think that you know better than the voters. What you call “reactionary politics” is the refusal of the American people to have a small band of thugs called the establishment steal their country and hijack our government. You are the enemy. The problem is we know it.
Well said and completely accurate. SBT is a wannabe elitist and establishment hopeful who just can’t stand the thought of us deplorables actually taking control of our own future. He thinks we should just listen to our betters (a group he aspires to join), go along with a stagnant economy and flat median wages because doing things differently than they have been done in the past jeopardizes our “philosophy and constitution”. All of which is elitist double-speak for, “shut up and vote for the candidates we tell you to vote for.”
Quibble away at the wisdom of RBT if you must. I find his analyses to be illuminating.
SBT’s analysis reveals his own personal disdain for representative government. His biggest worry is that the “party” is being damaged by a politician who reflects the will of the people rather than SBT’s favorite philosopher kings.
SBTs worldview is especially bizarre considering that Trump and his followers are more faithful to the Constitution than all our modern presidents who ignored it in order to promote their own globalist agendas. Totally backwards.
Exactly. What is the opposite or alternative to “populism?” It is ELITISM — the hijacking of our country by a small band of thoroughly-corrupt, proven liars, who are incompetent and reckless and good for nothing but destroying the country we love.
Populism is appealing to the masses like a carnival barker, offering short-term gains that cannot be fulfilled over the long-term. If it is elitism to stand against short-term popular programs and counsel pain that will correct our budget over the long-term, then I am an elitist and proud of it.
Proof my perspective is correct: The last budget passed by our Republican houses of Congress and signed by POTUS.
An elitist who disdains our Constitutional processes.
Fret not, the drugs will make it better.
False personal attacks are your style. You are a stalker with slander for ammunition.
Just as your elitist disdain for how our representative government passes legislation and your libertarian pipe dreams express yours.
My disdain for writing checks we cannot cash is far more rational than your excessive thirst for drunk driving, swerving from lane to lane, unable to focus on the issues, intent only on slandering rational comment.
The point is clear: Populism is short-term thinking without regard to long-term cost. You are a drunken carnival barker, reminiscent of your candidate and others, some withdrawn from their electoral contest — replaced by another who built his career on — you guessed it — whiskey!
So much for your stalking, false personal attacks and inability to stay in your lane and focus on issues. Fit right in with the good ol’ boys, eh, Roc? Belly up to the bar. Have another for the road.
Whether he realizes it or not, his ideas are in direct opposition to why the Declaration of Independence was written.
We hold these truths to be self evident. All men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
If we dishonor this opening to the declaration, then little else matters.
I actually thought about SBT when the emails from the five unnamed FBI agents were released. One believed that Trump supporters were lazy and stupid. Same soup, different bowl.
I am not lazy in fact I would probably work a very high majority of elected Republicans in the ground.
Whit collar Republicans are lazy and the one that cry ;
I can’t find Americans to work.
I have never had a problem finding Americans to work.
Folks like SBT irresponsibly use the word “Liberty” to exploit foreigners at the expense of all Americans and America.
A fine example of “lazy” today is our Republican Majority.
I believe most white collar Republicans are also hard-working, and they also agree with your views on immigration. Over 86% of all Republicans support Trump. It is only a rare breed of disgruntled ‘establishment’ types in the party who disagree with Trump on immigration.
In my Profession the “White Collar” builder (oxymoron) is the problem.
I do say oxymoron because how can someone who is White Collar actually build?
This is a trade and a trade that our State allocates funding for to teach in our public schools and Community Colleges.
There would not be an illegal labor issue in Virginia if it were not for the amateur golfer , white collar builder.
I have had numerous White collar Builders try to take my labor, try to get us to install their footings and framing (erect the structure) , I laugh and say it is not that hard you just have to want to do it not just be there at closing for the profit.
The federal government changed the role of bureaucrats from one of service to the people to one of managing the people because the people didn’t know what was best for them. This shift is the most dangerous long term trend in the bureaucracy and if it is not reversed it can only have one end – a socialist despotism.
If populism is the enemy, then open borders global socialism must be the friend. There are only two sides here. Those who believe that America and all nations have borders established by law, and those who believe that borders are simply an impediment to the great multicultural one world government.
Western Europe is suffering from global socialism’s open borders and the USA isn’t very far behind. Either we control immigration or we will be swamped with tens of millions of people who will destroy everything that makes America American. I suggest before you write condemning populism you examine what caused the rise in populist sentiment. Maybe, just maybe, your ideological model is flawed and fatally so.
By the way, I am surprised that you haven’t thrown in nativism along with populism. After all, those are the pejoratives of the left and far too many of the GOP establishment.
The opposite of populism is a small band of arrogant self-appointed elites who have hijacked our country and think they know better than the voters.
Populism equals short-term over-funded welfare programs of all kinds over the sort of unpopular, long-term conservative economics smart people practice.
If popular approval is what sells, deal with the long-term cost of enticement.
If you think you know better, you’re an elite, right?
I would give the President higher grades than assigned in the article but agree with the F on the budget. True – out of control budgets and welfare programs are still problems but let’s give it some time. We are making prgress and I’m convinced we’d would have see none at all if one of Trumps RINO primary opponents been elected.
So, if I understand your comment, Congress and the White House are and have been for 65 years completely occupied by populists?
That is pretty much the definitional opposite of the populist.
For every #neverTrumper that leaves the GOP, I bet there will be at least two converts with common sense that will gladly come onboard with all this winning! Breaking the stranglehold the demwits have had over African Americans which has kept them on the liberal plantation for so long will be well worth it!
Such low grades. I wonder what kind of grades you gave Obumbler?
That is really the problem. A grade reflect an ideological outlook for SBT. So if he is going to be an honest critic, he should apply the same grading standard to Bush and Obama so that there is some type of comparison. To give Trump a grade after less than two years in office is frankly ignorant without a similar comparison. For example, how would he grade obamacare not after obama’s term in office but at the time of its passing. Was that an A or an F. How about Bush after 9/11. Was that an A or an F.
Libertarianism is not the evolution of Conservativism.
Libertarianism is the inbread offspring of Liberalism.
We will never be able to successfully combat the advances of Liberalism with Libertarianism only with Conservativism.
What is happening is
Corporatism is using Libertarianism to obtain their Gloabalist agenda within the Republican party. The Republican party will fall to this way of political leadership.
“John Whitbeck and John Findlay are 100% behind Donald Trump and Corey Stewart. We may need new leadership. We need Republicans who will back Republicans.” Huh? If Whitbeck and Findlay are backing our Republicans which is what you want, why would we need new leadership? I’m confused.
If you had been involved in the 6th District Convention, you’d know why we need new leadership at the top of RPV
Let’s ask TCC Albertson, I heard he was there.
The reference was more to the lead up to the 6th District Convention – where the rhetoric was getting extremely hostile – most everything went well at the convention – not alot of drama.
From the RPV Leadership? The two Johns seem to do a pretty good job of protecting the process. What did they do to favor one side over the other?
To make a VERY long story VERY short – there was a problem with the filing form of the Rockbridge County GOP delegation. No big issue, the 6th District Secretary sent the form back, asked the Rockbridge GOP Chair and Committee to fix the issue, and the delegation would be certified. Well someone (no names mentioned) decided that meant that the Rockbridge GOP was going to be banned from the convention. Whitbeck got involved and decided he would determine who was allowed to be seated and who would not be. Basically putting his thumb on the scale.
And then they all laughed?? — the credentials and convention decide on who gets seated right?
Not in this case – too long to explain – I don’t have the time or the will to explain – the short answer is that the Credentials Committee was not allowed to do their job. And quite a few people who had not registered to be delegates or certain persons who had been banned from party activities voted who should not have been allowed to vote.
Sorry to hear that. Our official committees, flawed as they may be constructed, they should be sovereign. I would suggest kicking it up to the district committee or at least ask for a general consul ruling so that this kind of crap can never happen again.
I think SBT is calling for GOP leadership to support other than the nominee, is that what they do in Caroline County?
The GOP Incorporated had done a fine job of running your stupid party into the ground. Ah let’s look back at the good old days of W Bush, and Daddy Bush
Open Door Immigration
Continued the Policy of Easy Money home loans to people who weren’t qualified (many of whom were Yeb and W’s beloved Latins) which resulted in a massive crash and trillion dollar bailout.
Deficits
Trillion Dollar Unwinnable wars that are still going on
Appointments of Judges who couldn’t be distinguished from Liberals–in fact voted with the liberal wing more than the conservative
So what are you great “conservative” nothings going to take back?
Well said. Rather die.
Populism refers to a range of approaches which emphasise the role of “the people” in control of the State. It seems to me that of, by and for the people is inherently populist.
The alternative is welfare system controlled by the State which is inherently elitist and despotic to varying degrees. The Current FBI/DOJ debacle is an example of attempts by those in power to subjugate the people. Rather than serve the people by using the truth they tried to manage the people in what they perceived was their best interest.
The word “populism” has been used for a very long time with negative connotations by those trying to diminish the role of the people in a representative government.
With the government overreach of today without listening to the will of the people, I will happily wear the title “Populist” if it gets us back to constitutional adherence and limits the government in my daily life.
#IamAPoplulist-DealWithIt.
I am an American First Independent.
Exactly. There is one reason for Donald Trump being elected: DISGUST WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT GOP. The establishment has wrecked things for decades and now they are shocked, shocked I say, that the voters aren’t putting up with it any more.
#deport the establishment