This is the best piece on the duplicity of so-called “moderate conservative” reasoning that I have ever read. For years, I have puzzled over statements and columns about how things I was pretty sure were NOT good for things like free speech, free markets, and the like were actually much better than “restrictive”, “elitist” woke” “liberal dogma”. Now I understand what was really going on. Well done, Mr. Brock. Well done.
All conservatism has one basis only, theft from the public good to the unaccountable greed of the few, bolstered by weakening the post-baby boomers and magnifying their grievances. It Was All a Lie.
Please do not omit Bill Barr from your list of liars. He told Trump that the 2020 election was not rigged. And then he said he was supporting Trump because the Democrats were a bigger threat to free speech.
I have a term for these people. They are “kept intellectuals“, or “kept editorialist.“ They get paid for doing this in one way or another.
I would love to see more along this line. You’ve got them nailed.
Looking for a list of names that you are speaking about. Name names. I for one am sick of generalities. If you know who the are, name them. That way we know exactly who they are. Thanking you in advance.
there are sooooo many... I realize Mike's writing was about pundits and "journalists," but we could probably start by naming every elected Republican official who is not part of the bat-shit crazy MTG/Boebert wing of the party. They know tRump is a pathological liar. They know he's ignorant. They know he has the temperament of a spoiled child. But rather than call it out and risk their access to power, they pretend it's business as usual, just another swing of the great American political pendulum (and it least it's swinging in their direction and not in the direction of those Socialist/Communist/Fascist Democrats who would sell out our country to drag queens reading to children and destitute mothers walking hundreds of miles through the desert to escape the violence of drug cartels in their native country). I recommend Stuart (not Bret) Stephens' "It Was All a Lie: How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump" from 2020. The only ethically defensible position at this point is to renounce party membership. Adam Kinzinger, though far from perfect, is an example of a former Republican who leans away from power and towards honesty and integrity.
This is a magnificent exposé! Point-by-point perfect! I wish it were all wrong, but it's not.
Wasn't the point always to con enough struggling Americans to vote for Trump so that they could them turn the United States into something akin to a religious regime? They borrowed the
zeal of the Christian Right to advance their own wealth and power, however misguided they have been. Eventually, they will discover that they need a strong county to be strong themselves; and that, in a strong county they must share power; but no worries for them, since — in their own illustrious minds — God and their own fine judgements are both on their side!
Not that there will be much left, after we fix their damage as best we can. How do we fix this when a majority of Congress either supports it or fears its perpetrators?
I've been blue in the face for so long, people mistake me for a Pict. Thanks for lending a hand to the responsibility of facing the ugly truth about bad faith Repugnicans. They come from a slice of the populace that is emotionally underdeveloped, but great at the most basic human talent -- mimicry. They have been fooling non-attention-paying people too long. Their rise comes against a backdrop of increasingly noisy and persistent advertising baloney that normalizes extravagant wishfulness and now a growing propaganda network funded by the well-rewarded oligarchy. A well-deserved working family agenda will give us time and mental peace to accurately evaluate reality, something we all need to reinhabit.
This is the perfect analysis of the hate Trump left over the past ten years getting Pulitzer for writing about how sharp Biden was while Joey Diaper's autopen tried to start WWIII. Everyone on the planet, except your bubble, knew that Biden was a senile, deeply stupid fascist. Now, you're projecting and gas lighting...which is exactly the smears you're trying to stick to "the right." I suspect zero people will change their mind after reading your article. Maybe you should write a book on philosophy.
But will anyone, outside your crumbling bubble, listen to you?
The only sin you people ever attach to your own cabal is impeding your own electoral self-interests. Isn't there a chance you're not at all angry at Trump? Perhaps you're just pissed because he's better at it than your luminaries are. Maybe I'd feel differently if I had seen the left fix or improve any problem, for anyone outside the ruling class, over the past fifty years. So, for now, I eagerly await your book.
Mr. "Free Will" is deeply enmeshed into the right-wing, crypto manosphere (160 newsletters of anti-left slop)...terrified of anyone who challenges his Jenga tower of carefully constructed propaganda.
Pounding on the table, as he lacks either facts or laws to support his Trumpism, and thus he is reduced to lashing at those who present cogent rebuttals.
I'm not sure what you mean by President Trump being "better at it" than the "luminaries," but I imagine you might be referring to his recent speech to the graduating class of West Point. His lengthy riff about Bill Levitt and his trophy wife was truly uplifting, and so classic of his ability to "weave" what may seem to those with TDS like utter incoherence, but is actually a masterpiece of inspiration and patriotism. No doubt the cadets were so inspired by that speech that they didn't mind that he was unable to stay to hand each their diploma.
In your fact free political rant, you tried to smear politicians based on what they "clearly" knew. Adverbs are 100% subjective and you spent the last ten years telling us what Trump "clearly" believed, intended, and meant. You proved nothing and you didn't really try to prove anything. Remember when Hillary got furious because "everything (Trump) says is a lie?"
This is that Hillary rant, ten years later.
Have at it, I just don't think it's persuasive and thought you might appreciate some feedback.
Wow! That exactly what Rochelle Maddow said! What are the odds? Trump is the great revealer: everything you people accuse him of, you have done or wanted to do. Trouble is you never even try to prove intent. Now nobody believes a word you say.
I hope the Party of Personal Responsibility gets a good dose of the consequences they richly deserve. They should go the way of the Whigs.
Looking at how the enablers of Bush, Jr’s Iraq war faired after the disaster, I am not filled with optimism maga enablers will ever pay for their sins against the nation and the world.
I’m wondering if anyone’s seen this recent clip of Sean Hannity?
I’ve been physically ill since seeing it yesterday. This is criminal. MAGA doesn’t believe Fox is “entertainment” news. Hannity knows this.
How do we, as a society, combat 30 years of Fox + talk radio? How do we, as individuals, counter this mindset among MAGA neighbors, coworkers, family, and (soon to be ex) friends?
I’m losing hope everyday. I believe we’re past the point of no return with MAGA. I have no doubt they’d take up arms for Trump. They’re convinced this is a conspiracy against him.
Free speech, free markets, and the free world used to be standard principles stretching from conservative Republicans to moderate Democrats. With few excepts the entire Republican Party abandoned its principles to support Trump. Conservative media cheered. The rich sold out for more tax cuts.
Unfortunately, many on the Democratic side also have argued dishonestly. Whether it was protecting Biden over attacks on his age or attacking “corporate Democrats” as Trump’s equals in danger to economic equality and civil rights, we have voices in media and politics who shill for their “team”, however they define it.
This is the best piece on the duplicity of so-called “moderate conservative” reasoning that I have ever read. For years, I have puzzled over statements and columns about how things I was pretty sure were NOT good for things like free speech, free markets, and the like were actually much better than “restrictive”, “elitist” woke” “liberal dogma”. Now I understand what was really going on. Well done, Mr. Brock. Well done.
All conservatism has one basis only, theft from the public good to the unaccountable greed of the few, bolstered by weakening the post-baby boomers and magnifying their grievances. It Was All a Lie.
Please do not omit Bill Barr from your list of liars. He told Trump that the 2020 election was not rigged. And then he said he was supporting Trump because the Democrats were a bigger threat to free speech.
I have a term for these people. They are “kept intellectuals“, or “kept editorialist.“ They get paid for doing this in one way or another.
I would love to see more along this line. You’ve got them nailed.
Just follow the money honey was my thought. You don’t get real intellectual inquiry when peeps already been paid for the answer desired.
Looking for a list of names that you are speaking about. Name names. I for one am sick of generalities. If you know who the are, name them. That way we know exactly who they are. Thanking you in advance.
there are sooooo many... I realize Mike's writing was about pundits and "journalists," but we could probably start by naming every elected Republican official who is not part of the bat-shit crazy MTG/Boebert wing of the party. They know tRump is a pathological liar. They know he's ignorant. They know he has the temperament of a spoiled child. But rather than call it out and risk their access to power, they pretend it's business as usual, just another swing of the great American political pendulum (and it least it's swinging in their direction and not in the direction of those Socialist/Communist/Fascist Democrats who would sell out our country to drag queens reading to children and destitute mothers walking hundreds of miles through the desert to escape the violence of drug cartels in their native country). I recommend Stuart (not Bret) Stephens' "It Was All a Lie: How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump" from 2020. The only ethically defensible position at this point is to renounce party membership. Adam Kinzinger, though far from perfect, is an example of a former Republican who leans away from power and towards honesty and integrity.
This is a magnificent exposé! Point-by-point perfect! I wish it were all wrong, but it's not.
Wasn't the point always to con enough struggling Americans to vote for Trump so that they could them turn the United States into something akin to a religious regime? They borrowed the
zeal of the Christian Right to advance their own wealth and power, however misguided they have been. Eventually, they will discover that they need a strong county to be strong themselves; and that, in a strong county they must share power; but no worries for them, since — in their own illustrious minds — God and their own fine judgements are both on their side!
Not that there will be much left, after we fix their damage as best we can. How do we fix this when a majority of Congress either supports it or fears its perpetrators?
I've been blue in the face for so long, people mistake me for a Pict. Thanks for lending a hand to the responsibility of facing the ugly truth about bad faith Repugnicans. They come from a slice of the populace that is emotionally underdeveloped, but great at the most basic human talent -- mimicry. They have been fooling non-attention-paying people too long. Their rise comes against a backdrop of increasingly noisy and persistent advertising baloney that normalizes extravagant wishfulness and now a growing propaganda network funded by the well-rewarded oligarchy. A well-deserved working family agenda will give us time and mental peace to accurately evaluate reality, something we all need to reinhabit.
I like working family better than hard working Americans. That phrase has outlived its usefulness
This is the perfect analysis of the hate Trump left over the past ten years getting Pulitzer for writing about how sharp Biden was while Joey Diaper's autopen tried to start WWIII. Everyone on the planet, except your bubble, knew that Biden was a senile, deeply stupid fascist. Now, you're projecting and gas lighting...which is exactly the smears you're trying to stick to "the right." I suspect zero people will change their mind after reading your article. Maybe you should write a book on philosophy.
I'll say whatever the hell I want, Mr. "Free Will".
But will anyone, outside your crumbling bubble, listen to you?
The only sin you people ever attach to your own cabal is impeding your own electoral self-interests. Isn't there a chance you're not at all angry at Trump? Perhaps you're just pissed because he's better at it than your luminaries are. Maybe I'd feel differently if I had seen the left fix or improve any problem, for anyone outside the ruling class, over the past fifty years. So, for now, I eagerly await your book.
What is it that I said was wrong? You're not saying anything.
Mr. "Free Will" is deeply enmeshed into the right-wing, crypto manosphere (160 newsletters of anti-left slop)...terrified of anyone who challenges his Jenga tower of carefully constructed propaganda.
Pounding on the table, as he lacks either facts or laws to support his Trumpism, and thus he is reduced to lashing at those who present cogent rebuttals.
I'm not sure what you mean by President Trump being "better at it" than the "luminaries," but I imagine you might be referring to his recent speech to the graduating class of West Point. His lengthy riff about Bill Levitt and his trophy wife was truly uplifting, and so classic of his ability to "weave" what may seem to those with TDS like utter incoherence, but is actually a masterpiece of inspiration and patriotism. No doubt the cadets were so inspired by that speech that they didn't mind that he was unable to stay to hand each their diploma.
I am so sorry for you Mr. Free Will. Sad to live with such hatred and to be held hostage like this with your delusions.
You're a saint! Thank you for your heartfelt empathy and compassion!
In your fact free political rant, you tried to smear politicians based on what they "clearly" knew. Adverbs are 100% subjective and you spent the last ten years telling us what Trump "clearly" believed, intended, and meant. You proved nothing and you didn't really try to prove anything. Remember when Hillary got furious because "everything (Trump) says is a lie?"
This is that Hillary rant, ten years later.
Have at it, I just don't think it's persuasive and thought you might appreciate some feedback.
Wow! That exactly what Rochelle Maddow said! What are the odds? Trump is the great revealer: everything you people accuse him of, you have done or wanted to do. Trouble is you never even try to prove intent. Now nobody believes a word you say.
Looking at you, Jamie Dimon
Calling Brett Stephens an intellectual is a bit of a stretch, no?
Timothy Snyder made the observation that for all our talk about freedom - we really aren’t that free.
I hope the Party of Personal Responsibility gets a good dose of the consequences they richly deserve. They should go the way of the Whigs.
Looking at how the enablers of Bush, Jr’s Iraq war faired after the disaster, I am not filled with optimism maga enablers will ever pay for their sins against the nation and the world.
Great piece Brock.
I’m wondering if anyone’s seen this recent clip of Sean Hannity?
I’ve been physically ill since seeing it yesterday. This is criminal. MAGA doesn’t believe Fox is “entertainment” news. Hannity knows this.
How do we, as a society, combat 30 years of Fox + talk radio? How do we, as individuals, counter this mindset among MAGA neighbors, coworkers, family, and (soon to be ex) friends?
I’m losing hope everyday. I believe we’re past the point of no return with MAGA. I have no doubt they’d take up arms for Trump. They’re convinced this is a conspiracy against him.
https://substack.com/@decodingfoxnews/note/c-120414106?r=2rwiva&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Yep. Along with Bret Stephens, pencil in Marc Thiessen at the WaPo. Unreadable…
Free speech, free markets, and the free world used to be standard principles stretching from conservative Republicans to moderate Democrats. With few excepts the entire Republican Party abandoned its principles to support Trump. Conservative media cheered. The rich sold out for more tax cuts.
Unfortunately, many on the Democratic side also have argued dishonestly. Whether it was protecting Biden over attacks on his age or attacking “corporate Democrats” as Trump’s equals in danger to economic equality and civil rights, we have voices in media and politics who shill for their “team”, however they define it.
There are no moderate Republicans. They last of their ilk have been gone for years now.
This is why I support independent media and analysis on Substack..no propaganda.
No. You are lying. They announced they are considering social media vetting, not that they are doing it.