Looking For a Scholarly Voice of Reason?

My answer?  Yes!  I know that I have been looking for someone to rise above all the rancor currently being spewed via the media of mass deception!  I think I have found such a person!

Victor Davis Hanson

Excerpt:

The Republican Party establishment is caught in an existential paradox.

Without Donald Trump’s populist and nationalist 2016 campaign, the GOP likely would not have won the presidency. Nor would Republicans now enjoy such lopsided control of state legislatures and governorships, as well as majorities in the House and Senate, and likely control of the Supreme Court for a generation.

So are conservatives angry at or indebted to the apostate Trump for helping them politically in a way they previously could not help themselves?

For a similar sense of the paradox, imagine if a novice outsider such as billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban had captured the Democratic nomination and then won the presidency — but did not run on either Bernie Sanders’ progressive redistributionism, Barack Obama’s identity politics or Hillary Clinton’s high taxes and increased regulation. Would liberals be happy, conflicted or seething?

For now, most Republicans are overlooking Trump’s bothersome character excesses — without conceding that his impulsiveness and bluntness may well have contributed to his success after Republican sobriety and traditionalism failed.

 

I saw this man on Tucker Carlson Tonight, where he systematically and precisely dissected the ‘boogeyman of Russian collusion’ that Democrats and the media cling to in quest to get President Trump out of office.

It is such a shame that people are falling for the propaganda being spewed against President Trump and his administration. Personally, I have found that people who either voted for Hillary, or just hated Donald Trump from the start, absolutely REFUSE to engage in any decent type of dialogue over any and all controversies being whipped up by the deceptive leftists and all their cohorts. With people like that, it is best to just avoid the issue altogether. I rarely get into any discussions with any family members, friends, or acquaintances who are known Trump haters.  Why?  Because nothing I could say, send to them to read, or share via this blog would ever change their minds! 

Looney liberal progressivism is like a religion to the people entrenched in such ideology.  In fact, one of my former posts helps to explain that it’s a type of  “new age” cultism.  It is very difficult to break through such an ideology when you have a victim who doesn’t know (or refuses to see) that he or she has been duped.*

At least I have this blog to share my thoughts.  I am even more delighted to share some of the scholarly voices of reason who have risen above all the noise of deception nowadays, which is masquerading as “news.”

A commenter over at the Patriot Post (first link above to an article entitled “Can Trump Successfully Remodel the Republican Party?” by Hanson) summed it up quite well:

Lepantzeus • 7 days ago

Dear Prof. Hanson,

Excellent column, Sir, but as a point of digression I would say that the people you identify as ‘ Doctrinaire Republicans ‘ are, in fact, ‘ Doctrinaire Libertarians ‘. Trump represents the classic Republican Party platform. His policies are far more like those of Reagan, Eisenhower & Nixon than those of Pres(s). GH Bush and GW Bush.

Pres. Trump is correcting 27 years of policy failures by both Democrats and Republicans and reasserting the bi-partisan consensus that existed in the U.S. since Pres. Theodore Roosevelt.

It’s the far left Progressives in the Democrat Party and the far right Libertarians in the Republican Party that dislike this as it doesn’t allow for their ‘ transformational ‘ and ‘ internationalist ‘ world views and agendas. They’ve managed to drive policy making in the U.S. for the past 27 years by dominating the media. Thanks to the Patriot Post and other venues, that dominance is being challenged as is their policy preferences.

And, they’re not taking it very well. 😉 😉

Yep… what he wrote!

Hat tips to both links and commenter “Lepantzeus.”

* For those who might desire to learn the way to break free from any deceptive cult (political, religious, moral relativism or otherwise), please read this post.

The Trump Wars Part 2

John McNaughton artist:  The Forgotten Man

Today I decided to visit the TEA Party Community board.  There, I found a copy and link to a post written by author Brad Thor.  Here it is in its entirety:

 

Brad Thor

Yesterday at 8:30am ·

Dear friends:

I have taken a stance, which I know is unpopular with some of you, and which I feel I owe it to you to fully explain.

Throughout history, charismatic figures have appeared at critical moments in time. Some of these figures have advanced their nations. Some have set them back. Only with the benefit of hindsight is mankind able to make the final judgment.

I have long been a fan of the saying – History doesn’t repeat, but it does rhyme. In other words, history leaves clues; lessons that we can all benefit from.

We are stewards of our Republic and as such, our greatest responsibility is not to ourselves, or any political party, but to the next generation of Americans. We must work tirelessly to see to it that they inherit a freer, stronger, safer, more prosperous nation than was handed to us.

To truly fulfill that obligation we must be selfless, and above all, we must be informed. We must understand the mechanics of politics, economics, and the framework that has allowed the United States to be the greatest nation in the history of the world.

As an American, my greatest allegiance is to liberty. As long as there is liberty, no task is insurmountable, no challenge too overwhelming. As long as there is liberty, anything is possible.

The true north of my compass has been, and always will be, liberty. I owe it to those who have come before me and those who will come after. I will act to safeguard liberty no matter what personal price I may be forced to bear.

Liberty is my litmus test. I weigh all actions of my government and those who seek office, against it. The ledger of freedom is incorruptible; its pages open for anyone to examine, and most importantly – to learn from.

At great personal and professional expense, I have grown more vocal over the years about the need to reduce the size of government and place in office fellow citizens guided strictly by the Founding documents.

I have spoken on television, radio, and in front of civic organizations. I have campaigned for candidates, marched in Tea Party rallies, and was the man who drove Andrew Breitbart to Madison, Wisconsin to speak alongside him on the capitol steps in defense of Governor Scott walker.

From taking back the United States House in 2010, to taking back the Senate in 2014, we have won battle after battle for liberty. In so doing, we have placed principled, limited government Americans in office. We knew the war wouldn’t be won overnight, but rather that it would be won over time. We have been steadfast, resolute, and successful.

But in the opinion of some of our fellow Americans, we have not been quick enough. Rather than continue to fight, a plurality of voters in the Republican primary has decided to drop an atom bomb on Washington, D.C. That atom bomb is Donald Trump.

And so I come to my explanation. When I apply my litmus test of liberty to Donald Trump, he fails – completely.

In fact, he has not only failed to ever stand for liberty, he has repeatedly worked to undermine it. From supporting an assault weapons ban, the seizure of private property via eminent domain, the restructuring of libel laws, and socialized medicine (just to name a few) – throughout his entire adult life, Donald Trump has repeatedly championed the power of the state.

Regardless of what he says now, Donald Trump has a history. That history is the clearest indication of how he would govern as president. No matter how badly Americans want to “blow up” Washington, they absolutely must consider who, and what, arises from the embers of that destruction.

After voters drop that atom bomb, what happens next?

Herein lies my greatest concern. What will become of liberty under a Trump administration? Will it grow? Will it recede? Will it vanish altogether?

Our Founders realized that the normal course of history is despotism – the control of the many by the few. That is why the Founding documents sought to constrain government. They also counted on Americans to choose wisely those whom we sought to install in office. Too often we have failed in selecting the best among us.

Donald Trump is not the best among us, nor is Hillary Clinton. They are both incredibly flawed human beings whom we should be equally ashamed of.

Neither would advance the cause of freedom. Both would take us – not to that shining city on a hill of which President Reagan spoke – but into the murky valley below. Never have I seen America faced with having two such poor choices for president.

With the lessons of history as my guide, I see in Donald Trump the character flaws that are the hallmarks of despotism. In Hillary Clinton, I also see multiple character flaws, but I see them as belonging not to a potential despot, but rather to a conniving, self-serving, progressive politician who believes in lining her own pockets and enlarging/increasing the state and its power.

The two are reprehensible – but completely different. One threatens to further enlarge the state, the other, potentially (a la Napoleon), to become it.

Growing up, a wonderful nun repeatedly told me that kindness could only be expected from the strong. When Donald Trump mocked the disability of New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski – he showed himself to be not only weak, but also lacking in compassion.

Trump’s position that he is a Christian, but has never asked for forgiveness – coupled with his incessant bragging – not only further shows that he is weak, but that he also lacks humility.

Strength, compassion, and humility are necessary in any leader – but especially so in the person who would occupy the highest and most powerful office in the world. Just look at what the absence of those qualities has done over the last seven years.

My greatest concern about Donald Trump, though, isn’t a trait he lacks, but a dangerous one he possesses – in spades. Authoritarianism.

Confident people do not bully and demean others. That is the realm of the weak and insecure. Confident people also do not threaten others, especially not their fellow citizens.

Donald Trump has told us to just wait and see what he does to Jeff Bezos once he gets into the White House. He has told us the American military will do whatever he tells them to do no matter what their reservations. He has promised to prevent American companies from moving outside the United States, regardless of what they believe is best for their businesses.

In other words, Donald Trump has clearly told all of us that he will use the power of the presidency to force people to bend to his will. This is not liberty.

In fact, Donald Trump has never even spoken about liberty. Neither has he spoken about the Constitution and the Founding documents. This is an absolute first in the history of the United States.

Instead, Donald Trump talks about hiring the “best people” and making the “best deals.” This, though, isn’t what made America great, and it certainly isn’t what will return America to its prominence.

The blueprint for America’s success is the ideas of the Framers – limited, Constitutional governance – an area in which Donald Trump is criminally ignorant.

Let me be clear that I don’t want to vote for Hillary Clinton. I also don’t want to vote for Donald Trump. My preference is to write-in or vote third party. I think they are both terrible for our future.

But between a big government progressive and a potential despot – every American must ask themselves where liberty has the greatest chance to survive over the next four years.

As a Constitutional conservative, I take solace in, and guidance from the words of Alexander Hamilton, who in the election of 1800 said, “If we must have an enemy at the head of government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible.”

I value all of you as friends, readers, and fellow patriots. There is much at stake for our Republic. Be informed, be selfless, and vote your conscience. I will not hold your decisions against you.

None of us knows the future. But I ask that all of us look to the past. Only by doing so can we safeguard liberty and chart the most well-reasoned course forward.

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The Trump Wars

John McNaughton artist:  One Nation Under God

Lately, this blog has turned into a forum that might be renamed, “how to lose friends and not influence people.”

The battles going on between the pro-Trump and anti-Trump groups are often vicious.

At this blog, I have tried to keep blogging friends that may disagree with my personal position regarding Trump, but it appears that some will not accept such a position, so they choose to just tell me that they are “outta here.”

Well…that’s OK I guess.

It saddens me, but that’s life.

During election season, blogging friends may come and go so I just have to accept that fact.

Since this blog is a “little fish in a big pond,” I don’t seem to suffer the same amount of consequence as those bloggers who have a huge audience and large following.

Ran across the following post this morning, and the author shared her heart-felt opinions about Trump and why she could no longer stay with two sites that she was once involved with.  I haven’t even visited such sites, but I do understand the sentiment that she shares regarding those who viciously attacked her for her beliefs regarding Trump,  as well as her disdain for the pro-Trumpeteers who choose to turn into vicious animals and denigrate a famous conservative like Trevor Loudon.

Well, I’ll offer her post in order to let readers see how the Trump wars affect those who do not wish to support him for president.

~ Christine

*******

Many of my readers have noticed that suddenly I am no longer with the USA Transnational Report and that I have departed the Watcher’s Council. I felt I should let you know what is going on and to assure you that I am going nowhere and am in the fight for the long haul.

I’ve spent much of the last couple of weeks mulling over events related to my stance on Donald Trump.

I am appalled at the rancor and abusive tenor of some of the remarks that have come my way, as well as what amounts to slander of the character of a good and decent man, a fighter who has, quite literally, given up everything to save the country he has adopted as his new home – Trevor Loudon. I find this unconscionable.

I really cannot stand idly by as capricious accusations impugn the foremost researcher and subject matter expert on topics relating to communist and socialist subversion and corruption of our system of government, while a vile, unprincipled, arrogant, ego-maniacal narcissist is held up as the nation’s “last best hope” after a campaign devoid of any ethical foundation, fraught with pandering and ironic contradictory promises, espousing positions exactly opposite those he has spent decades and hundreds of thousands of dollars supporting, offering not so much as a pivot point or epiphany to account for his positional gymnastics.

In the beginning, I really wanted to like Trump. I was willing to accept a Trump nomination if it afforded us an opportunity to finally rid ourselves of the brazen, unindicted felon running on a platform largely constructed of “it’s my turn” and promises to eliminate at least two amendments from the Bill of Rights. As much as I wanted a man such as Ted Cruz, whose loyalty was pledged to the Constitution, a man whose vision was a reduction of the D.C. leviathan, a man — the only one in the field — with an actual track record of standing before the Supreme Court and defending that same Bill of Rights, I was willing to accept the Reality TV Ego if he could deliver a victory which did minimal damage to Constitutional principles.

As the campaign wore on and the veneer of civility peeled away, as incitements to violence, along with slander and outright lies became a staple of the bully rhetoric, I found myself struggling increasingly with the compromises needed to accept the man whose ego was as “HUGE!” as his promises to make the “smartest” deals and compel people and nations to comply with his wishes.

Finally, as the mask fell away completely, he chose not just slander, but suborned false witness to be parlayed into outright character assassination of his opponent’s family. And in that moment the amoral monster emerged, and my ability to justify supporting him, at all, was at an end. Winning was all that mattered, and if wrecking a few reputations and leaving a few metaphorical corpses by the wayside was what it took, then the means was justified if it obtained the desired ends.

I cannot, in any conscience at all, support a man who conducts himself in this way. All decency has fled, all civility has crumbled, and all that’s left is the grinning façade of the godfather-in-waiting as he “apologizes” that it was nothing personal, just business, you understand.

And yet, when one of the world’s foremost researchers of the vectors of communist/socialist/fascist corruption and subversion in our government dares make mention of the presumptive nominee’s ties to a hostile regime, the response is open hostility, bordering on threats.

It has become clear that dissenting opinions are also unwelcome in many “conservative” forums and that, in matters of Trump, it is best to fall in line.

I have spent much of the last several days dealing with all manner of logically fallacious arguments why I should abandon my principles and join the Trump Train, ranging from red herrings and straw men to ad hominem and veiled threats. It seems that many have mistaken my allegiance as belonging to the GOP. Let me put that to rest. My allegiance is not to a man, neither to a party. My allegiance is to the Constitution. My allegiance is to Liberty. My allegiance is to what is right and morally/ethically sound.

I do not owe my allegiance to a man or to a party, nor to the victor of a contest fought without honor. Do not presume to tell me what I must do or what I shall do. Do not tell me I am not “conservative” because I do not follow a man who is anything but conservative. One of the fallacious arguments I’ve seen is that I “must help present a unified front” to meet the threat of the Femme Felon in November. Really? I must, must I? Alright, persuade me. Convince me. Make a clear and principled argument. Show me the money.

To date, all I receive are demands, assertions, insults and threats. What utter tripe! Appeal denied. I reject your demands, your assertions, your insults, your threats — veiled or not.

Further, I reject the slander of a man with whom I’ve worked — literally thousands of hours over most of a decade — to expose the external and internal threats to our nation. Trevor Loudon is one of the most honorable and brilliant men I have ever had the honor of knowing.

I find this comportment beyond the pale. I am saddened and angered that I must now decide to endure this travesty so that I might continue to enjoy the company of people for whom I have great fondness and respect, or to sever myself from various groups, risking thereby the loss of such valued associations.

I was therefore compelled to take my leave of both the USA Transnational Report and the Watcher’s Council. For those of you who have provided friendship and camaraderie, reasoned discourse and balanced discussion, opinion and counterpoint with civility, I wish you the best and hope for your prosperity. I would be pleased to continue our association. Above all, I remain a Constitutional Conservative and the Constitution and our founding principles are what I fight for… not the Reality TV of the presidency.

In that spirit, I remain faithfully yours,

Terresa Monroe-Hamilton
NoisyRoom.net

Next, I would like to share two insightful comments posted in the previous thread by Black3Actual:

Christi,

1. Trump IS drawing heavily from Democrats. No one is paying attention to the numbers, but they are there. In fact, exit polling shows that, had the early primaries been closed, Trump would have lost and we would most likely have Cruz. This is because the open primaries pushed Trump over the top with Democrat cross-over votes. The polls indicated it was a sizeable number, too.

Now Trump is openly courting Democrats — just like he said he would during the campaign. Again, no one bothered to listen. If they had, they would have heard Trump tell people he was playing a role and, once he had the nomination, he would change. He has also said he looks forward to “making deals” with the Democrats and that he will probably even have Democrats in his cabinet — maybe even as his VP.

No one is listening!

Here is where Beck has — once again — demonstrated that he has his finger on the pulse of WORLDLY matters. Beck expressed a concern for all of this months before, and now we see it coming to pass. Beck is no prophet, he just knows to watch the numbers and take people at their word. This is why Beck — just today even — said that the ‘Conservative/Christian” vote has now been pushed into the same corner in the GOP as black voters have been pushed in the Democrat party. We are both being told to sit down, shut up and vote as we’re told because we have nowhere else to go and, if we do not obey, the other side will win.

Well, last time I looked, when two bad choices are running, no matter what you pick, bad wins. This is all I have been telling people — this, and there IS another choice. We have a pen and a write-in blank on our ballots. USE THEM!

2.  Let me try to sum up why people are afraid of Trump with the words of Cicero:

“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague.”

Now, it is not that Trump is a traitor, but a Democrat inside a Party that MISTAKENLY believed it was ‘Conservative.’ With Trump — a self-admitted liberal — with Trump as the presumptive Republican nominee, the enemy is inside the gates.

Now, what patriot that loves his nation (beliefs) would NOT sound an alarm when he noticed the enemy is inside the gate? Better yet, what patriot would see the enemy inside the gate and, rather than warn them, tell their fellow countrymen to ignore him and focus on the enemy still outside the walls?

Tough as it may be, we are faced with having to defend in TWO directions. But then, the Lord likes to put you in impossible situations. If you turn to your own efforts to save yourself, you are doomed. But, no matter how bad it looks, if you turn to and trust in him, He will save you. It’s just that He likes to save us at the last possible second and in the most unlikely ways. But this is so, when he does save us, no one can question that it was God Who saved them!

So, as for me and my house, we will trust in and rely on the Lord, knowing that, no matter what happens, He has a plan and that His will shall be done!

Amen!

Hat tips:

Terresa Monroe-Hamilton at Noisy Room
Black3Actual at Oil For Your Lamp