Thursday, July 16, 2020

Fascinating profile on Ingraham

"Joseph diGenova, began to speak of the coming cultural conflict in America: “The suggestion that there’s ever going to be civil discourse in this country for the foreseeable future is over . . . it’s going to be total war,” he said. “I do two things; I vote and I buy guns.”"

This profile on Laura Ingraham is fascinating in the Atlantic by Anne Applebaum

Ingraham even went on a date with Trump whom she supports. Not sure why since she dished like this: "“He needs two separate cars, one for himself and one for his hair,” she told some mutual friends."

This is pretty damning: "“How many of those who urged our govt to help liberate the Iraqis, Syrians, Kurds, Afghanis, etc., are as committed now to liberating Virginia, Minnesota, California, etc?” Her use of the word liberation, the direct equivalence drawn between Saddam Hussein, a man who carried out mass murders, and democratically elected American governors who were trying to keep their citizens safe from an epidemic—these were not the thoughts of someone who has faith in American democracy."

More ishkabibble: "During a 2007 speech, she told a group in Dallas that “without virtue there is no America. Without virtue we will be ruled by tyrants.” She then listed those virtues: “honor, courage, selflessness, sacrifice, hard work, personal responsibility, respect for elders, respect for the vulnerable.” None of these virtues can be ascribed to Donald Trump."

Interesting analysis: "For some people, loud advocacy of Trump helps to cover up the deep doubt and even shame they feel about their support for Trump."

"The America of the present, as she sees it, is a dark, nightmarish place where God speaks to only a tiny number of people;"

Finally: "The America of the present, as she sees it, and as so many others see it, is a place where universities teach people to hate their country, where victims are more celebrated than heroes, where old values have been discarded. Any price should be paid, any crime should be forgiven, any outrage should be ignored if that’s what it takes to get the real America, the old America, back."

Sunday, July 12, 2020

Virus

"Trump is a mirror, a warning, and ultimately a catalyst for change. Reflected in Trump is all that is wrong with the United States: the injustice of our broken social contract, the crassness of our politics, and the cruelty of our economy. Trump is also the shock that a mature democracy needs for action. To use a timely metaphor, Trump and his supporters are a virus, and they have activated our democratic antibodies. What we are seeing in the streets is the body fighting the infection." Philadelphia Inquirer