What do you think about the following:
So what explains this radical shift?
The first reason is that there are perverse incentives for conservative pundits to say and do things that are radical. This is a “tragedy of the commons” problem; the individual pundits benefit professionally, while conservatism and the GOP are collectively harmed.
In order to compete and garner ratings and clicks, it seems that today’s conservative provocateurs are increasingly following—not leading—their increasingly rabid audiences.
Of course, these pundits will claim that Paul Ryan has become a horrible establishment liberal in recent years—after their glowing praise of him. And, in fact, there are examples one could point to. For example, he championed the Ryan-Murray budget plan that many conservatives objected to because (among the reasons) it would do away with some of the sequestration cuts.
So, just for fun, let’s assume that Ryan has changed since 2012. Doesn’t the fact that these conservative pundits and talk radio hosts were so effusive in their praise of a guy who immediately sold them out raise the question of whether or not we can trust their judgment?
I mean, if they were so wrong about Paul Ryan, why should we believe them when they tell us that so and so is the next great conservative rock star?
The second thing to note is that the GOP is at a crossroads. This is not entirely new. But once the conservative battle against the “establishment” was about ideology; the “Rockefeller Republicans” really were liberals. Today, the fight isn’t about political philosophy. It’s not about right versus left, but us versus them. Being an institutionalist (someone who doesn’t want to figuratively burn everything down) is tantamount to being a liberal. Believing in prudence, experience, and wisdom once defined being a Burkean conservative; today, those values label you a RINO.
We have also seen a shift in terms of issues. In some cases, this isn’t a matter of certain issues taking on a higher priority, but a compete reversal of which issues constitute as “conservative.” Free trade and entitlement reform were once pretty important for conservatives. Today, Donald Trump—the new Mr. Conservative?—loudly opposes both. Being against tax hikes and abortion used to make one a conservative in good standing. Today, Trump wants to raise taxes on the rich, and Ann Coulter says Trump can perform abortions in the White House—so long as he deports all the illegal immigrants.
Which brings us to the obvious point. Much of this boils down to Paul Ryan’s past support for immigration reform—and the fact that this has become the one and only litmus test for populist conservatives.
Time is your friend. Impulse is your enemy. -John Bogle
You know who it does apply to? Rush, Hannity, and the various other pundits that lined up to kiss the ring and refuse to call him out for selling out his base. Y'all have said that the RINOs sell out the base for the establishment. Who is Trump selling the base out for here?
Time is your friend. Impulse is your enemy. -John Bogle
I think we were excited about the Tea Party movement because it, at the time, was right of the establishment and hated by the establishment. Ryan and others used this very conservative movement to position themselves as the new conservative leaders. He had, and still has, some good qualities, but overall he is now part of the system that will never take more than they give to the socialists democrats. I think Paul is one of the few who is not corrupted. Maybe Cruz, but his education does not agree with anit-establishment.
So now the Dems/Libs have been caught lying/going back on their word or misquoting???
POLITICS
Trump tweets to deny Schumer, Pelosi claim of DACA agreement
I'm just not convinced Trump prioritizes those things and his alleged ditching of the wall for DACA is just evidence of that. My fear is that his only true conviction is victory and that he'll do whatever it takes to be the victor...even if it means embracing the liberal policies that he's held to most of his public life.
Time is your friend. Impulse is your enemy. -John Bogle
WWDog
La Tech
Region and hyphen free since 1894!
Flagship of the University of Louisiana System