In case you've ever wondered if Republicans "know" what Trump is up to...

[Miles Archer]

James Tate
@JamesTate121
Best definition of Trumpism I have read.

Yesterday, the neoconservative David Brooks wrote this in an OpEd in the NY Times,

"Trumpism… is primarily about the acquisition of power — power for its own sake. It is a multifront assault to make the earth a playground for ruthless men, so of course any institutions that might restrain power must be weakened or destroyed. Trumpism is about ego, appetite and acquisitiveness and is driven by a primal aversion to the higher elements of the human spirit — learning, compassion, scientific wonder, the pursuit of justice. …

What is happening now is not normal politics. We’re seeing an assault on the fundamental institutions of our civic life, things we should all swear loyalty to — Democrat, independent or Republican.
It’s time for a comprehensive national civic uprising. It’s time for Americans in universities, law, business, nonprofits and the scientific community, and civil servants and beyond to form one coordinated mass movement. Trump is about power. The only way he’s going to be stopped is if he’s confronted by some movement that possesses rival power. …
I’m really not a movement guy. I don’t naturally march in demonstrations or attend rallies that I’m not covering as a journalist. But this is what America needs right now."

Link to tweet

[Autumn]

1. Yes Republicans know what he's up to. They want the same thing he does.

[Miles Archer]

3. I bring it up because I wonder who is in need of the "warning."

It's nice to have Brooks lay it out concisely and succinctly but there's nothing there that I didn't know last November.

It seems like, when it comes to certain "low information voters," Trump is playing an entirely different game, one that involves his actually trying to make their lives better. They base that on his words, not his actions. They never seem to pay attention to what he actually does, versus what he says he's "going to do."

[relayerbob]

4. They watch Fox

And therefore don’t even know what he’s done.

[DENVERPOPS]

12. Imagine at time

when FOX becomes PRAVDA, and every other media is banned, including the 95% that are owned/operated by UBER Rich Republicans.

With only one, STATE OWNED media station, like in Russia, then everyone will fully recognize who it is that is actually screwing them over.....

[MaineBlueBear]

15. Exactly

The New York Times hides behind a paywall. Right wing media is free.

[Karasu]

14. The "warning" train sailed 10 fucking years ago. Brooks is stuck in another fucking time and refuses to accept

the full reality of his party, one that he himself helped facilitate--even if he'll never take responsibility for it.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. So is he wrong about mass action?

[Jack Valentino]

31. NO, he ISN'T.... (and that sort of suggestion is rather 'out of character' for Brooks)

[Bernardo de La Paz]

32. He says protesting is out of his character. But he supported Obama & Hillary and called tRump a sociopath in 2019. . nt

[Jack Valentino]

28. Yes, he's late--- but better that he is NOW speaking out against Trump,

than to be with his acolytes and defenders... I'll give him credit for that much.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

18. Would you like to do the opposite of what he suggests? The opposite of mass action?

[Autumn]

26. I think it's going to take something like that. We can't count on any

political party to march to our rescue.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

29. Yes. The people can lead the Democratic Party and wake it up (Sanders & AOC are definitely awake) . . . nt

[Solly Mack]

2. Of course they know and they're helping him do it.

They want it too.

[maspaha]

5. And David Brooks should know...

…since he helped facilitate the rise of “Trumpism”

[Cosmocat]

6. True story

Fuck this guy and his haughty, high mighty conservative bullshit that led to all of this.

[markodochartaigh]

9. Exactly

Frank Wilhoit: “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect."

[Bernardo de La Paz]

17. So you are going to do the opposite just because he says so? Just to fuck him?

[Jack Valentino]

33. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend"---- for the moment, at least.

OK, maybe not my "friend" but certainly an ally for the present.

[Susan Calvin]

8. There you go.

I'm pretty sick of the people who led us down this path now saying they did not know where they were leading us. When they say that, it shows they are either lying or stupid.

[slightlv]

11. I have a feeling this came from the same David Brooks interview...

Brooks equates Donald Trump’s personality and worldview with a supposed “pagan” ethos — one that allegedly celebrates ego, conquest, and cruelty, and stands in contrast to the compassion and humility he associates with the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Modern Pagan communities — Wiccans, Druids, Heathens, Hellenists, and others — exist across the world today, grounded in values of reciprocity, reverence for the Earth, personal responsibility, and community ethics. Brooks makes no distinction between ancient polytheistic societies and contemporary Pagan spiritual paths. Instead, he constructs a strawman “paganism” that serves as a catch-all for cruelty, authoritarianism, and nihilism.

Brooks is an educated writer, but his version of history reads more like theological propaganda than scholarly reflection. For example, he writes: “The pagan ethos does not believe that every human was made in the image of God, does not believe in human equality, is not concerned about preserving the dignity of the poor.” And certainly, ancient pagan traditions did not embrace Abrahamic metaphysics, but neither did many expressions of early Christianity or medieval Christendom.

This is from the Wild Hunt, a Pagan Newsletter I subscribe to.

It's upsetting in that Brooks has gotten everything right, but ascribing it to the wrong group! What he ascribes to Pagans, actually describes his minions' brand of xtianity; what good he ascribes to christianity is actually describing the Pagan world (with a few exceptions, of course) In doing so, he plays right into the Dominionists' hands to rationalize a mandate for their form of a Christian theological state.

[Bayard]

30. Well said

And thanks for the link. I just subscribed.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

20. If we accept your premise, then what? Do the opposite of what he suggests?

[calimary]

7. Sucks too bad even for YOU, Brooks?

Look at that sour face!!!



What could possibly have changed your rotten neocon mind, pray tell?

[Tickle]

10. You are spot on

They will give up their freedoms and be happy if it meant no more liberals. I think they call it "own" the liberals ".

[Karasu]

13. Brooks is still stuck in fucking 2016 by pretending that there's any distinction to be made between "Trumpism" and

modern conservatism in general.

He refuses to admit that this is is what the base of the party is, was, and always has been. They were just waiting for someone to let them take the mask off.

There's a reason why the GOP leadership gave up their ancient "small government" and "states' rights" bullshit as soon as they got the fascist federal government of their wet dreams. Power for the sake of power is music to their ears.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

21. So? Do the opposite of what he advise? No mass action?

[Karasu]

35. As much as I disagree with him regarding ideology and philosophy , I'll admit that he's not wrong about what needs to be

done. Kind of hard to argue against mass action.

[rubbersole]

16. At least Brooks was just as concerned about the rise of Limbaughism...

...oh, wait.

Brooks is obviously worried about being "deported".

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. Am I wrong? 3.5% sustained. I've been saying since at least March 11 that mass action

I've been saying since at least March 11 that mass action is the only thing that will really get tRump's attention. It has been shown by studies that the most effective non-violent approach to regime change is sustained protests by 3.5% of the population.

It's why I've been curating since April 5 a list of slogans for signs and social media: https://www.democraticunderground.com/13242964

March 11: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220128126
March 16: https://www.democraticunderground.com/132265123#post2
March 29: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016401039
April 4: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220204922
April 6: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220213462
April 12: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220231575
May 1: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220284793

[maspaha]

23. I am not suggesting doing the opposite...

…I am stating loud and clear that anything and everything David Brooks says and does should be examined very critically for motive…

As we say in the south, even a blind dog finds a bone every now and again…or, if you prefer, a stopped clock is right twice a day.

Just sayin’…

[Bernardo de La Paz]

24. So, after your in depth investigation, why do you think Brooks is suggesting mass action?

[maspaha]

25. Not sure...

…I just know he will NOT be among those I look to for insight, understanding, motivation, inspiration, guidance, or leadership. I do not trust him. He has not acknowledged his role in facilitating “trumpism”. At this point, his hypocrisy and lack of self-awareness disqualify him from gaining my trust. He seems a little to much like someone who’d be imbedded (by the opposition) with peaceful protesters only to start the actual violence.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

27. Perhaps he is anti-trump for the same reasons he called for Obama to run for President and supported Hillary in 2016.

And called tRump a "sociopath" in 2019.

[AKwannabe]

36. Duh!

Write some more dude.
That’ll help!

FFS