Posted on 01/23/2016 7:26:46 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Donald Trump is no conservative. Now, That's not a crime, it's just a reason to vote against him.
Many fine people are not conservatives. But the reason Trump's candidacy should worry conservatives runs much deeper than that: He poses a direct challenge to conservatism, because he embodies the empty promise of managerial leadership outside of politics.
Trump's diagnoses of our key problems -- first and foremost, that America's elites are weak and unwilling to put the interests of Americans first -- have gained him a hearing from many on the right. But when he gestures toward prescriptions, Trump reveals that even his diagnoses are not as sound as they might seem.
Conservatives incline to take the weakness of our elite institutions as an argument for recovering constitutional principles -- and so for limiting the power of those institutions, reversing their centralization of authority, and recovering a vision of American life in which the chief purpose of the federal government is protective and not managerial.
Trump, on the contrary, offers himself as the alternative to our weak and foolish leaders, the guarantee of American superiority, and the cure for all that ails our society; and when pressed about how he will succeed in these ways, his answer pretty much amounts to: "great management."
The appeal of Trump's diagnoses should be instructive to conservatives. But the shallow narcissism of his prescriptions is a warning. American conservatism is an inherently skeptical political outlook. It assumes that no one can be fully trusted with public power and that self-government in a free society demands that we reject the siren song of politics-as-management.
A shortage of such skepticism is how we ended up with the problems Trump so bluntly laments. Repeating that mistake is no way to solve these problems. To address them, we need to begin by rejecting what Trump stands for, as much as what he stands against.
-- Yuval Levin, a contributing editor of National Review, is the editor of National Affairs.
RE: We can disagree all we want about what the government should do, but whatever it should do, it should do it well.
What the Federal Government is mandated to do is outlined and LIMITED in the constitution (i.e., as written — “ only those powers delegated to it by the United States Constitution”)
Anything beyond that are covered by the 10th amendment to the constitution [ i.e., reserved to the states and the people]
Exactly, Obama claims he’s a great American and loves his country and that he’ll “make America great.” I’m just hearing the same thing from Trump.
Words, people, just words, I see what he’s expressed in the past that has been anti-conservativism. Has he only just been faking it all this time? Really?
They are not conservatives. Conservatism is built on the principles of the enlightenment which begin with rationality. They are clearly demented, deranged, off their rockers, possessed by some sort of rabid demon that causes them to spit virulent nonsense.
Fine, but it needs to do those things well. The subject of the present debate, since you seem to have missed the point, is Levin's view in NR that good management is not one of the desirable characteristics of our federal agencies.
RE: Goldman Sachs was the largest donor to the U. S. Senate during the TPA debate and wrote much of the 5,000 page TPP that Cruz enabled.
Could you kindly show us how Goldman Sachs would benefit with or without the TPP?
By the way, Cruz eventually voted against the TPA.
So, based on this vote, how did Goldman Sachs influence him again?
Cruz only switched his TPA vote at the last minute after passage was assured. Which of course you know. But it was after a month of half truths and lies by ommission by Team Cruz. Like you’re doing here, BTW.
Really, are conservatives that gullible?
We all know how “DC Deals” go—Taxpayers get the shaft.
Trump just nullified himself with me.
Not Cruz supporters, although even they are reticent to admit his total gaffe on TPP, his early support of the Bush amnesty, his loan non disclosure, his not knowing he was a Canadian citizen until 18 months ago, his drafting behind Trump on every issue hoping Trump will burn out and take the heat, his attempt to make Christians think he's the only holy one, his insane every ten minute call or email to raise money, and there's more.
I love him and most of what he's done, but he's far from perfect. And yes, it's serious idol worship that the Cruz or lose crowd only recognize in Trump supporters, but can't see it in the mirror.
I'll settle for a Nationalist Populist, thank you very much, I've had enough decades of chasing that "Conservative" carrot that is never within reach of the people who claim to be Conservative to get elected. Hell, Newt made a good start at limiting the Federal government by limiting what the government spent and what happened ? All the good "Conservatives" stabbed him in the back because he was slowing the slop running into their hog trough just when they got the good seats, that's what happened.
Whatever it is the current crop who claim to be "Conservative" are selling, it sure as Hell isn't a return to a Federal government limited by the Constitution. Not by a long shot.
Here’s the thing - none of the Republicans are credible on the issue. No democrats are, either.
For now, I’ll take great management.
What the Federal Government is mandated to do is outlined and LIMITED in the constitution
(i.e., as written - “only those powers delegated to it by the United States Constitution”)
Anything beyond that are covered by the 10th amendment to the constitution
[ i.e., reserved to the states and the people]
*************
[ i.e., reserved to the states and the people]
Question.
Can the people provide that the gov’t do things other than
what is mandated in the orginal document?
—I’ll settle for a Nationalist Populist, thank you very much, I’ve had enough decades of chasing that “Conservative” carrot that is never within reach of the people who claim to be Conservative to get elected. Hell, Newt made a good start at limiting the Federal government by limiting what the government spent and what happened ? All the good “Conservatives” stabbed him in the back because he was slowing the slop running into their hog trough just when they got the good seats, that’s what happened.
Whatever it is the current crop who claim to be “Conservative” are selling, it sure as Hell isn’t a return to a Federal government limited by the Constitution. Not by a long shot.—
Well, said. Many other conservatives are with you. Have a great weekend.
Trump’s a liberal populist with some conservative leanings.
“The people who do call themselves “conservative” all seem to be in favor of abandoning the rule of law and surrendering the country to fraudulently documented foreigners.
**********************************************************************************
Really? Is THAT what your Messiah has led you to believe?”
I believe it. And I was taught that by Bush and everyone in his cabinet, by so called GOP Senate and House conservatives. All of the National Review 22 are on the cheap labor express.
Only an idiot cannot see that the so called “conservatives” are in favor of open borders and mass immigration. Bush let in more moslems than Obama has so far 800,000 plus vs 700,000 plus. Obama will grab another 300,000 this year now thanks to,,,,, PAUL RYAN.
The crew savaging Trump is missing the point. This election isn’t conservative vs liberal. It is about the damn borders. Many Americans don’t want a mass flood anymore. We can argue policy positions AFTER we see if we have a country. Cruz wasn’t a border guy until Trump made him. Rubi, Yeb, and none or the others ever were. They all talk of path to citizenship then closing the door.
I want the border closed and moslems nearly all kept out. 90 % of conservatives SAY they are against it, then they do what GS and other money masters say and flip my the finger. So now im doing likewise.
Indeed Trump is no conservative he like Obama thinks every thing has to be a deal.
“Conservatives incline to take the weakness of our elite institutions”
The foreign born writer thinks we have “elite institutions”. This is what he and others like them think. And about us, they can clearly see we are not in the “elite institution” club.
They are about to get the pitchfork and torch treatment.
Cruz voted for Obama in the only vote that matters. That was the vote to give him fast track authority. When that passed he was able to showboat and vote against it. But it was safely in the barn already because of him.
“build a wall”
We should not just rely on a wall.
We need to basically make illegal immigration not pay by allowing private companies to confiscate the pay of illegal workers, paying franchise fees to the federal government for the privilege.
A company might bid for the right to confiscate illegal earnings in Pomona, CA. The company would ask say contractors to send paychecks for Pomana, CA related work to its office in Pomona. Those not picked up in 30 days would be deposited into its bank account. All landscape, building trade and food service employers would have to pay by check and get a Pomona operating permit from the franchisee.
Those companies and related personnel found by the Department of Labor of not confiscating enough[20% below expected in comparison to demographically similar areas] paychecks would be barred from the program for one year, with a prorated by time franchise fee amount refunded.
“Not Cruz supporters, although even they are reticent to admit his total gaffe on TPP,”
That was not a gaffe. It was deliberate. First remember that he’s by far the most intelligent guy in the race, no matter who you are for. That seriously is beyond debate.
Next, he didn’t just vote for fast track, he AUTHORED the bill.
That means he tricked us.
Never trust a Cube. No matter whether left or right, Cubans are always trying to pull a selfish fast one.
I’m not sure it was deliberate, but it was, at best, a horrendous mistake.
Defending that mistake is undeniably the sign of idol worship.
“How do you get limited government without great management?”
Our recent “conservative” administrations and congress’s have not been able to deliver either. All they have done has been to service the country clubbers and the corporate wing.
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