Appreciate this fair critique of Shapiro's performance in the Trump era. Erick Erickson also comes to mind as a former NeverTrumper turned Trump supporter, who still speaks out at times on the excesses of the New Right. I don't see either as just "sellout MAGA grifters", but I get the impression that most center - left people do, and don't see any real difference between them, and Tucker and his merry band of degenerates.
Unfortunately, coverage from the left of center tends to flatten all distinctions within the MAGA coalition, and much left - leaning coverage of the current situation has framed it as just "MAGA infighting" or a "feud between Shapiro and Carlson/ Fuentes", or at most "disagreement over Israel", but not any other principle. I even get the impression some Leftists actually side with Tucker on that because they have anti-Semitic tendencies too.
I hope you're right about what Shapiro is doing now.
Mike Pence's trajectory has been fascinating too. I don't think he has much of a political future himself, although I assume he will make another Presidential run in 2028. But his think tank has quickly gone from being seen as just another vanity project by a sidelined politico, to actually becoming a significant player in the conservative think tank world. I mean, Ed Meese basically moved his entire legal policy shop over from Heritage. That's big.
Of course, some of that was just a Heritage Own Goal, more than anything Pence himself did. AAF has so far not shown much influence on actual elected officials; their lobbying against RFKJ went nowhere. But I think that if Pence is willing to play a longer game, he might wind up actually scoring some goals later.
Thanks. It will be interesting to see where Pence goes with this. His think tank is indeed shaping up to be a big deal. I don't think he has any prayer of ever holding elected office again (thanks to Trump), but the institutional long-game here could pay real dividends for conservatism.
Since I would never be able to classify myself as an intellectual, I read your piece with innocent objectivism and I disagree with many of your thoughts. As a typical semi-intelligent American, I see how all of Trumps moves affect those around me since he came into office and I don't see horror. I see the harmful everlasting effects of Biden's policies and a relentless media that will b**** and complain about everything Trump does. I read a hateful piece highlighting how Trump was cutting services to seniors because he, get this, gave federal employees Christmas Eve and Day after off. Hidden in there is the fact that services at SSA have improved since January, based on Elizabeth Warren's own investigation. Little or no reporting. Or personally when I renewed my passport, doing it all online and receiving it in the mail five days later! There is one thing I know for sure and that Trump's a boorish, childish, bloviating, exaggerating narcissist. I admired the very likeable Reagan for one reason, that he had a plan and stuck to it. Trump has a plan, unlike anything in American history, and I'm willing to ride it out. How do we believe this country will be in three years? 'Buckle your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night'
Hi Robert. You said you disagreed with a number of things in my column, but you didn't list a single one. I'm genuinely curious what your disagreements are.
I'm also curious what you consider the "everlasting effects of Biden's policies."
I agree that the media often isn't fair to Trump, but I'm not sure what that has to do with anything I wrote in my column.
Lastly, You said Trump has a plan. What is that plan, exactly? Because it clearly has nothing to do with conservative stuff like limiting government, addressing the national debt, bringing prices down, free trade, free markets, standing up to Putin, defending the Constitution, defending the rule of law, defending free speech, etc.
I do see a guy who's personally enriching himself and his family off the presidency, using the DOJ to settle personal and political scores, renaming a bunch of things, trying to annex foreign territory, etc. That's definitely part of some plan, I guess.
You are correct and I respect and appreciate the time you took to respond. So you know where I'm coming from: If it means or explains anything, I agree with your comments roughly 50%, with Mr. Goldberg, roughly 80%. I thrive on disagreements and, as an extremely involved foster parent of a gaggle of therapeutically challenging kids, I read articles and rarely respond with anything but my generalized thoughts. A very annoying habit I hope to break someday when I'm not so domestically challenged. Where I see an organized plan, as opposed to his first term, many see chaos. Where I see an over 20%, everlasting, increase in prices in Biden's four years, others suddenly see Trump's stable, gas lowering, under 3% inflation as an 'affordability' crisis. Where I see a secure border, the media ignores. Where I see a ceasefire in Gaza, the media focuses on narcissistic rhetoric. Where I see no Trump wrongdoing, others link Trump to Epstein pedophilia. Where others see unfair attacks on James and Comey, I see retribution due to attacks on him and his family, unchristian retribution, but I understand. Where I see someone who understands an evil, powerful leader and makes a kind gesture just in case he breaks through, others criticize a leader for not being more forceful. Where others see someone they believe is enriching himself, I see someone who doesn't really care about his wealth and what benefits America, benefits us all. Where apparently the smartest of us all honestly believe Trump wants to 'annex' Canada or the Panama Canal, I see a 'bomb thrower' who got China out of the canal. (Notice, we don't own Greenland though, historically, many attempts, not just Trump's, have been made to acquire it). Where I see a 'deficit' that needs to be lowered, others complain the 'debt' continues to rise, as it almost always has, especially under Biden's disastrous 'everlasting' big spending policies. However, we can agree that renaming whatever are childish moves that will be reversed by the next Democratic President. Perhaps to the 'Dept of Non Violence' or the Harris Museum of Terminology. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an eleven year old who just ate something from their nose
Thanks for the response, Robert, and I especially thank you for your foster parenting. You're doing God's work there, my friend.
Politically, I've been making a couple of broad points for a long time:
1. If you ignore the bad stuff on your side, it feels like only the other side is doing bad stuff.
2. If you hold your side to no standards, you'll never be disappointed.
As an old-school conservative political-writer, these are road-blocks I often run into, between me and a good chunk of my readers, whenever I write about Donald Trump. And this exchange seems like just another example of that.
When I look at high-prices, I look at their demonstrable/statistical causes, not which politician or political party I prefer to blame. Under Biden, most of the inflation (which was entirely expected by economists, regardless of who won in 2020) came from the pandemic recovery (every country dealt with this). It was further worsened by Biden's over-stimulus of the economy (he deserves blame for the latter). While inflation has remained roughly the same under Trump, as it was when Biden left office, Trump's tariffs (which aren't calculated in the inflation rate) account for artificial price-spikes in all kinds of products (easily traceable in the data). Trump deserves blame for that. Gas, however, is pretty cheap... in large part because Trump exempted crude oil, natural gas, gasoline, diesel, and other refined products from his tariffs. If he lifted the rest of his ridiculous tariffs, many more things would be cheaper.
Trump absolutely deserves credit for a much more secure border, and this momentary ceasefire in Gaza.
Trump and MAGA-world unfortunately brought all the Epstein drama on themselves. The Left had no interest in the story until Trump and company made it a big campaign issue, promised all kinds of transparency on the matter, than pivoted to fight that transparency tooth and nail. Trump deserves blame for that.
Using the power of the presidency to exact revenge on your political opponents is bad no matter who does it. Trump's the one doing it now. He deserves blame for that.
I see Trump's capitulations to Vladimir Putin as far worse than just expressing a 'kind gesture'. Biden made lots of mistakes with Putin (for which he deserves blame), but Trump has actively taken Putin's side over most of the last 11 months, and keeps trying to surrender Ukraine to him. He deserves blame for that.
I don't know how you can't see Trump enriching himself and his family from the presidency, unless you're choosing to look away. The examples are endless (many of which have been covered on this website, and none of which benefit America over him). He's literally doubled his net worth as president.
Trump absolutely does want to annex Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal. Was that ever going to happen? No. But it wasn't because he wasn't serious.
Yes, there have been U.S. efforts (or at least discussions) about acquiring Greenland in the past. Trump, however, has suggested doing it by force, and keeps blowing off the will of that country's citizens. He deserves blame for that.
Trump has signed several more trillions into debt than Biden and every other U.S. president (many of whom were indeed big spenders). It's not even close. That's just a fact, as the numbers clearly demonstrate. He deserves blame for that.
Anyway, thanks for your reply, and also your good work.
Thank you again, especially for the kind words. I have one last comment (fact) that bothers me and it's the false belief that covid caused the rapid inflation in 2021. For the ten covid months in 2020, inflation was at 1%. Exactly one month after the Biden administration attacked the fossil fuel industry, inflation immediately rose, with the rate increasing 35% in Feb 2021. It did not stop until those disastrous executive orders were quietly rescinded. Covid spending in 2020 didn't have any affect that year.
Merry Christmas John. A question for your next Friday edition.
Do you think conservatives like you and I, and Ben Shapiro even though he’s helped grow this MAGA brand, are a silent majority on the right, or are the populist firebrands like Tucker and Candace Owens the majority, and if you had to ballpark it how would it come out in percentages?
It’s inspiring to know Ben did this, although I still think with Trump as the ultimate leader of the right and Vance as next in line, that there’s not much hope of sobriety for the right
3600 words Bernie. I don't give a damn about what Shapiro thinks is happening to 'conservative' America. Take this from someone five years your senior, conservatism is not dead nor dying.
At our house this fall it's been a TLC time for overdue wear and tear which we've hired done. Conversations I've had with the young (under 30) men we hired has surprised me with their advocation of conservative principles. The coincidental randomness included with those conversations tells me that many more young people see the benefits of conservative thinking.
What will result in Shapiro being correct however is a never ending continuation of short sighted analysis of our current administration. . Yes, DJT sucks in myriad ways. But the incessant focus on his faults, clouds what he can do well which is get more accomplished than nearly any single person on this planet. Not liking what he wants to do or what he accomplishes doesn't make it wrong.
I take exception to inferences that discredit SCOTUS rulings. To do so is an insult of immense proportions. SCOTUS rulings that don't go a particular way do not represent partisanship nor malpractice. Worse, any suggestion that SCOTUS rulings are apt to be based on factors other than interpretations of law is worse than wrong; it undermines the very foundation that keeps our Republic from being swallowed by anarchy.
>>I don't give a damn about what Shapiro thinks is happening to 'conservative' America.
That's your prerogative. I think he's worth listening to.
>>Take this from someone five years your senior, conservatism is not dead nor dying.
Conservatism in our politics is absolutely dead or dying. Do conservatives still exist in American society? Yes. But they're largely powerless and unrepresented in today's political arena.
>>Yes, DJT sucks in myriad ways. But the incessant focus on his faults, clouds what he can do well which is get more accomplished than nearly any single person on this planet. Not liking what he wants to do or what he accomplishes doesn't make it wrong.
If Trump doesn't want his faults to cloud his accomplishments, he should stop doing so many terrible things. People holding him to account isn't the problem. People refusing to hold him to account is the problem.
>>I take exception to inferences that discredit SCOTUS rulings. To do so is an insult of immense proportions.
I'm not sure what you're talking about. I made no such inferences. I've been largely happy with this Supreme Court.
Yes, there was a comment which inferred future SCOTUS decisions would continue to be other than what they should be. No reason to mention it otherwise.
Conservatives should oppose him when he does things that are against their (and American) interests. Congressional Republicans should shut down his executive overreaches, like his emergency-tariff abuses (which are likely illegal), and otherwise stop surrendering their power to him. And if you want to go deeper than that, Senate Republicans should have handed him a much-deserved, entirely appropriate impeachment conviction January 6. Letting "Trump be Trump", in all circumstances, has absolutely crushed the American conservative movement.
>>Yes, there was a comment which inferred future SCOTUS decisions would continue to be other than what they should be. No reason to mention it otherwise.
Here's what I wrote about the Supreme Court: "The conservative movement got some good Supreme Court justices out of that term, and the tilt of the court has already paid significant conservative dividends."
I made the opposite point of what you're claiming I did. A conservative court interprets the U.S. the Constitution, which is how it should be. Prior to Trump, the courted was tilted away from textualism and originalism. That's no longer the case.
Congress should take care of those problems. Apparently not enough of them agree with your positions. Your words are clear, you intended no SCOTUS disrespect. My apology.
I agree. Self preservation is apparent with not all but many in Congress and has been that way for a long time. Oregon's junior senator for example.
It's not clear how to hold them accountable or even if it's possible to do so.
BTW, my initial error was mistaking what you wrote as being from Bernie's desk. Bernie has made what I consider disparaging remarks regarding SCOTUS motivations.
Appreciate this fair critique of Shapiro's performance in the Trump era. Erick Erickson also comes to mind as a former NeverTrumper turned Trump supporter, who still speaks out at times on the excesses of the New Right. I don't see either as just "sellout MAGA grifters", but I get the impression that most center - left people do, and don't see any real difference between them, and Tucker and his merry band of degenerates.
Unfortunately, coverage from the left of center tends to flatten all distinctions within the MAGA coalition, and much left - leaning coverage of the current situation has framed it as just "MAGA infighting" or a "feud between Shapiro and Carlson/ Fuentes", or at most "disagreement over Israel", but not any other principle. I even get the impression some Leftists actually side with Tucker on that because they have anti-Semitic tendencies too.
I hope you're right about what Shapiro is doing now.
Mike Pence's trajectory has been fascinating too. I don't think he has much of a political future himself, although I assume he will make another Presidential run in 2028. But his think tank has quickly gone from being seen as just another vanity project by a sidelined politico, to actually becoming a significant player in the conservative think tank world. I mean, Ed Meese basically moved his entire legal policy shop over from Heritage. That's big.
Of course, some of that was just a Heritage Own Goal, more than anything Pence himself did. AAF has so far not shown much influence on actual elected officials; their lobbying against RFKJ went nowhere. But I think that if Pence is willing to play a longer game, he might wind up actually scoring some goals later.
Thanks. It will be interesting to see where Pence goes with this. His think tank is indeed shaping up to be a big deal. I don't think he has any prayer of ever holding elected office again (thanks to Trump), but the institutional long-game here could pay real dividends for conservatism.
What a solid deep dive. Thank you!
Thanks Tom!
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies"
Andy Dufresne
Since I would never be able to classify myself as an intellectual, I read your piece with innocent objectivism and I disagree with many of your thoughts. As a typical semi-intelligent American, I see how all of Trumps moves affect those around me since he came into office and I don't see horror. I see the harmful everlasting effects of Biden's policies and a relentless media that will b**** and complain about everything Trump does. I read a hateful piece highlighting how Trump was cutting services to seniors because he, get this, gave federal employees Christmas Eve and Day after off. Hidden in there is the fact that services at SSA have improved since January, based on Elizabeth Warren's own investigation. Little or no reporting. Or personally when I renewed my passport, doing it all online and receiving it in the mail five days later! There is one thing I know for sure and that Trump's a boorish, childish, bloviating, exaggerating narcissist. I admired the very likeable Reagan for one reason, that he had a plan and stuck to it. Trump has a plan, unlike anything in American history, and I'm willing to ride it out. How do we believe this country will be in three years? 'Buckle your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy night'
Hi Robert. You said you disagreed with a number of things in my column, but you didn't list a single one. I'm genuinely curious what your disagreements are.
I'm also curious what you consider the "everlasting effects of Biden's policies."
I agree that the media often isn't fair to Trump, but I'm not sure what that has to do with anything I wrote in my column.
Lastly, You said Trump has a plan. What is that plan, exactly? Because it clearly has nothing to do with conservative stuff like limiting government, addressing the national debt, bringing prices down, free trade, free markets, standing up to Putin, defending the Constitution, defending the rule of law, defending free speech, etc.
I do see a guy who's personally enriching himself and his family off the presidency, using the DOJ to settle personal and political scores, renaming a bunch of things, trying to annex foreign territory, etc. That's definitely part of some plan, I guess.
You are correct and I respect and appreciate the time you took to respond. So you know where I'm coming from: If it means or explains anything, I agree with your comments roughly 50%, with Mr. Goldberg, roughly 80%. I thrive on disagreements and, as an extremely involved foster parent of a gaggle of therapeutically challenging kids, I read articles and rarely respond with anything but my generalized thoughts. A very annoying habit I hope to break someday when I'm not so domestically challenged. Where I see an organized plan, as opposed to his first term, many see chaos. Where I see an over 20%, everlasting, increase in prices in Biden's four years, others suddenly see Trump's stable, gas lowering, under 3% inflation as an 'affordability' crisis. Where I see a secure border, the media ignores. Where I see a ceasefire in Gaza, the media focuses on narcissistic rhetoric. Where I see no Trump wrongdoing, others link Trump to Epstein pedophilia. Where others see unfair attacks on James and Comey, I see retribution due to attacks on him and his family, unchristian retribution, but I understand. Where I see someone who understands an evil, powerful leader and makes a kind gesture just in case he breaks through, others criticize a leader for not being more forceful. Where others see someone they believe is enriching himself, I see someone who doesn't really care about his wealth and what benefits America, benefits us all. Where apparently the smartest of us all honestly believe Trump wants to 'annex' Canada or the Panama Canal, I see a 'bomb thrower' who got China out of the canal. (Notice, we don't own Greenland though, historically, many attempts, not just Trump's, have been made to acquire it). Where I see a 'deficit' that needs to be lowered, others complain the 'debt' continues to rise, as it almost always has, especially under Biden's disastrous 'everlasting' big spending policies. However, we can agree that renaming whatever are childish moves that will be reversed by the next Democratic President. Perhaps to the 'Dept of Non Violence' or the Harris Museum of Terminology. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an eleven year old who just ate something from their nose
Thanks for the response, Robert, and I especially thank you for your foster parenting. You're doing God's work there, my friend.
Politically, I've been making a couple of broad points for a long time:
1. If you ignore the bad stuff on your side, it feels like only the other side is doing bad stuff.
2. If you hold your side to no standards, you'll never be disappointed.
As an old-school conservative political-writer, these are road-blocks I often run into, between me and a good chunk of my readers, whenever I write about Donald Trump. And this exchange seems like just another example of that.
When I look at high-prices, I look at their demonstrable/statistical causes, not which politician or political party I prefer to blame. Under Biden, most of the inflation (which was entirely expected by economists, regardless of who won in 2020) came from the pandemic recovery (every country dealt with this). It was further worsened by Biden's over-stimulus of the economy (he deserves blame for the latter). While inflation has remained roughly the same under Trump, as it was when Biden left office, Trump's tariffs (which aren't calculated in the inflation rate) account for artificial price-spikes in all kinds of products (easily traceable in the data). Trump deserves blame for that. Gas, however, is pretty cheap... in large part because Trump exempted crude oil, natural gas, gasoline, diesel, and other refined products from his tariffs. If he lifted the rest of his ridiculous tariffs, many more things would be cheaper.
Trump absolutely deserves credit for a much more secure border, and this momentary ceasefire in Gaza.
Trump and MAGA-world unfortunately brought all the Epstein drama on themselves. The Left had no interest in the story until Trump and company made it a big campaign issue, promised all kinds of transparency on the matter, than pivoted to fight that transparency tooth and nail. Trump deserves blame for that.
Using the power of the presidency to exact revenge on your political opponents is bad no matter who does it. Trump's the one doing it now. He deserves blame for that.
I see Trump's capitulations to Vladimir Putin as far worse than just expressing a 'kind gesture'. Biden made lots of mistakes with Putin (for which he deserves blame), but Trump has actively taken Putin's side over most of the last 11 months, and keeps trying to surrender Ukraine to him. He deserves blame for that.
I don't know how you can't see Trump enriching himself and his family from the presidency, unless you're choosing to look away. The examples are endless (many of which have been covered on this website, and none of which benefit America over him). He's literally doubled his net worth as president.
Trump absolutely does want to annex Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal. Was that ever going to happen? No. But it wasn't because he wasn't serious.
Yes, there have been U.S. efforts (or at least discussions) about acquiring Greenland in the past. Trump, however, has suggested doing it by force, and keeps blowing off the will of that country's citizens. He deserves blame for that.
Trump has signed several more trillions into debt than Biden and every other U.S. president (many of whom were indeed big spenders). It's not even close. That's just a fact, as the numbers clearly demonstrate. He deserves blame for that.
Anyway, thanks for your reply, and also your good work.
Thank you again, especially for the kind words. I have one last comment (fact) that bothers me and it's the false belief that covid caused the rapid inflation in 2021. For the ten covid months in 2020, inflation was at 1%. Exactly one month after the Biden administration attacked the fossil fuel industry, inflation immediately rose, with the rate increasing 35% in Feb 2021. It did not stop until those disastrous executive orders were quietly rescinded. Covid spending in 2020 didn't have any affect that year.
The Covid RECOVERY caused inflation, not the Covid era itself. This happened world-wide. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/covid-19-inflation-was-a-supply-shock/
Merry Christmas John. A question for your next Friday edition.
Do you think conservatives like you and I, and Ben Shapiro even though he’s helped grow this MAGA brand, are a silent majority on the right, or are the populist firebrands like Tucker and Candace Owens the majority, and if you had to ballpark it how would it come out in percentages?
It’s inspiring to know Ben did this, although I still think with Trump as the ultimate leader of the right and Vance as next in line, that there’s not much hope of sobriety for the right
3600 words Bernie. I don't give a damn about what Shapiro thinks is happening to 'conservative' America. Take this from someone five years your senior, conservatism is not dead nor dying.
At our house this fall it's been a TLC time for overdue wear and tear which we've hired done. Conversations I've had with the young (under 30) men we hired has surprised me with their advocation of conservative principles. The coincidental randomness included with those conversations tells me that many more young people see the benefits of conservative thinking.
What will result in Shapiro being correct however is a never ending continuation of short sighted analysis of our current administration. . Yes, DJT sucks in myriad ways. But the incessant focus on his faults, clouds what he can do well which is get more accomplished than nearly any single person on this planet. Not liking what he wants to do or what he accomplishes doesn't make it wrong.
I take exception to inferences that discredit SCOTUS rulings. To do so is an insult of immense proportions. SCOTUS rulings that don't go a particular way do not represent partisanship nor malpractice. Worse, any suggestion that SCOTUS rulings are apt to be based on factors other than interpretations of law is worse than wrong; it undermines the very foundation that keeps our Republic from being swallowed by anarchy.
>>3600 words Bernie.
Bernie didn't write this long piece. I did.
>>I don't give a damn about what Shapiro thinks is happening to 'conservative' America.
That's your prerogative. I think he's worth listening to.
>>Take this from someone five years your senior, conservatism is not dead nor dying.
Conservatism in our politics is absolutely dead or dying. Do conservatives still exist in American society? Yes. But they're largely powerless and unrepresented in today's political arena.
>>Yes, DJT sucks in myriad ways. But the incessant focus on his faults, clouds what he can do well which is get more accomplished than nearly any single person on this planet. Not liking what he wants to do or what he accomplishes doesn't make it wrong.
If Trump doesn't want his faults to cloud his accomplishments, he should stop doing so many terrible things. People holding him to account isn't the problem. People refusing to hold him to account is the problem.
>>I take exception to inferences that discredit SCOTUS rulings. To do so is an insult of immense proportions.
I'm not sure what you're talking about. I made no such inferences. I've been largely happy with this Supreme Court.
John, just what is "holding him to account?'
Yes, there was a comment which inferred future SCOTUS decisions would continue to be other than what they should be. No reason to mention it otherwise.
>>John, just what is "holding him to account?'
Conservatives should oppose him when he does things that are against their (and American) interests. Congressional Republicans should shut down his executive overreaches, like his emergency-tariff abuses (which are likely illegal), and otherwise stop surrendering their power to him. And if you want to go deeper than that, Senate Republicans should have handed him a much-deserved, entirely appropriate impeachment conviction January 6. Letting "Trump be Trump", in all circumstances, has absolutely crushed the American conservative movement.
>>Yes, there was a comment which inferred future SCOTUS decisions would continue to be other than what they should be. No reason to mention it otherwise.
Here's what I wrote about the Supreme Court: "The conservative movement got some good Supreme Court justices out of that term, and the tilt of the court has already paid significant conservative dividends."
I made the opposite point of what you're claiming I did. A conservative court interprets the U.S. the Constitution, which is how it should be. Prior to Trump, the courted was tilted away from textualism and originalism. That's no longer the case.
Congress should take care of those problems. Apparently not enough of them agree with your positions. Your words are clear, you intended no SCOTUS disrespect. My apology.
Thanks for the apology.
>>Apparently not enough of them agree with your positions.
Someone afraid of losing their job by doing the right thing doesn't mean they don't agree with what the right thing is.
I agree. Self preservation is apparent with not all but many in Congress and has been that way for a long time. Oregon's junior senator for example.
It's not clear how to hold them accountable or even if it's possible to do so.
BTW, my initial error was mistaking what you wrote as being from Bernie's desk. Bernie has made what I consider disparaging remarks regarding SCOTUS motivations.