Trumpism as Political Philosophy

[nadinbrzezinski]

Last edited Sat Mar 26, 2016, 02:10 PM - Edit history (1)

March 26, 2016 (San Diego) What is Trumpism? This is a basic question that few have asked. Why is his message resonating? What is he saying that has been so popular? These are important questions that deserve deep exploration. First off, he is not a classic conservative, or a classic liberal. Some of his ideas come from both ends of the spectrum. For example, he has been in the past for single payer health care. He has also said that the Affordable Care Act has not worked, and would like to repeal it and replace it. Access to health care for Americans is an issue he agrees with liberals. Though he disagrees currently as to how to achieve it.

Others of his positions have changed as he’s been getting ready to finally run for president. Among them his positions on choice, they have gone from traditional liberal positions, to opposition to most abortions. It is not like he woke up in 2015 when he started to explore this run in Iowa. His first foray into the concept of running for president was in 1988, then he toyed with it. He did as well in 2000 and finally in 2008. This idea of running for President is part of his DNA and some things have been constant over the years. They reveal partly what is driving Trump.

At the heart of Trumpism is the strong man. Most Americans are far more familiar with that concept when it comes to other countries. Whether this is the Latin-American Colonel who just carried a coup, or the classic European fascist of the 1930s. The strong man has certain characteristics. He is the only one with the solutions to all the complex problems facing the nation. He is also willing to sacrifice to save the nation from itself and bring it back to the glory days of a mythic past. In the case of the United States Trump will also restore the true social order that has been upended over the last generation or two. The election of a black man to the White House was the final insult.

http://reportingsandiego.com/2016/03/25/trumpism-as-political-philosophy/

A few posters asked that I run this here, so I will. I was not intending to.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Kick

don't know why I bother

[demtenjeep]

7. don't post stuff then get your feelings hurt because no one responds as fast as you think we should

then complain and threaten to "withhold"

it is childish

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Speaking of my cyber stalker

you are exhibiting a level of fixation that is quite insane

For the jury, she has been trying shit every time I post... this is just pathetically FUNNY

[demtenjeep]

10. no, just noticed the same post the last few days. :)

just pointing out the obvious.



if I were following you, I would post on all of your glorious bits of knowledge


Have a great evening

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. So you noticed my notes only on immigration

But did not bother reading the article, which is not just on immigration. This is lousy reading on your part. I am sure your students would not get away with such lousy work.



Be forewarned. I am going to further work on what drives his philosophy. It is as important as understanding nazism.

[HooptieWagon]

2. Authoritarianism basically. Nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Yup the American version

I know I have another story to detail other policy positions, I believe it is critical that people understand this.

[SusanCalvin]

3. " At the heart of Trumpism is the strong man."

That's what scares the hell out of me.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Me too

[pampango]

16. And a "strong man" politician can appear to be 'populist' some of the time, but don't remind him of

his promises after he is elected. 'Strong men' don't like that.

[Mc Mike]

19. Right. He's running on a cunning mixture of far right 'truths' and lies about his 'liberal beliefs'

Last edited Sat Mar 26, 2016, 08:44 PM - Edit history (1)

Anything he says that sounds like he's not a far right extremist is just a lie to get him around issues that the repugs can't sell their viewpoints to the public on. Very calculated.

Reminds me of Ryan's current attempt at an extreme makeover of his anti-poor policy positions. Or like Bob McDonnell telling Virginia voters that he no longer believed any of the zany ideas in his theocratic graduate student thesis in order to get them to vote for him. Then once he got into power, he enacted every crazy idea in that thesis that he could get away with. Or like McCrory telling NC voters that he wasn't in favor of his state's repug legislature's abortion restrictions and that his opponent was lying when calling him an anti-choice zealot, then as soon as he got in, he signed the bill he had promised the sucker voters he opposed as 'too extreme'. Or like l'il bush calling himself a 'compassionate conservative' who 'opposed international intervention and nation-building', when all of his opponents knew he would go to war at the drop of a hat as soon as he got into power, and knew he didn't give a crap about showing any suffering American compassion.

dRumpf can't run credibly against 'free trade' while giving his pea-brained followers hats saying 'Make America Great Again', with 'Made in China' labels inside them.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. But those will be some tasty peas

[Mc Mike]

26. Baby peas. Sub-standard sized, anyway.

[SusanCalvin]

6. Kick.

[Angel Martin]

9. i don't think Latin American Caudillismo

exactly captures what Trump is about - although there are similarities.

I think "Jacksonianism" best captures the Trumpian philosophy (perhaps "instinct" is a better word) to politics.

This essay by Walter Russel Mead, written over 20 years ago, describes the history and development of Jacksonianism in America.

http://denbeste.nu/external/Mead01.html

It's a long read but worth it. It presents a case that there actually is a coherent world view behind Trump's apparently erratic moves. And that world view is specifically grounded in American history, and is not an import from the far right in europe.

it also sheds some additional light on:
why Trump has a weird foreign policy mixture that seems to combine elements of isolationism with Dr Strangelove aggression in war.
why Trump is campaigning hard on the 2nd Amendment, but isn't so thrilled with the 1st
why Trump is against "big government", but social security, medicare, student loans and mortgage subsidies are ok
why Trump is more than ready to torture the likes of Al Qaeda/ISIS, but wouldn't use torture against more "honorable" enemies
why Trump's campaign of 'simplistic' slogans is working so well with his target audience.
why Trump is so convincing to the economically hard pressed middle class.
why Trump's crudeness and mockery of elite political norms has been so popular in certain quarters.

again, it is long but worth it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. I have been thinking of 1824 insofar as the two parties imploding

so yes, there is that.

Thanks, will read it, I should be doing the city budget. but

[Angel Martin]

13. Friday night city budget, yikes !

my condolences. I feel so fortunate to be recently retired.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. 1982 pags, thanks environmentalists it grew

by orders.

We do the budget every year at the paper I run... more important than kitties running up a tree.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Thanks, I saved that read

excellent read.

[SusanCalvin]

12. Interesting, thanks.

Of course, his place in history doesn't make him any less scary.

[SusanCalvin]

17. AM kick.

[Mc Mike]

20. Thanks for the excellent analytical article.

I think his non-fascist public positions are fake outs.

Small typo at the end of second para. 'Partly' spelled as 'party'.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Thanks. Will go correct

[Mc Mike]

22. No quibble intended. I liked the analysis, and appreciate your writing. Also used as a kick. nt.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. I did, first thing this morning

after I turned the computer... it is easier to edit from it

[Mc Mike]

24. 10-4, nt.

[haikugal]

27. Thank you Nadin! This is important information.

K&R!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. And there will be more, I am not done

[haikugal]

29. I look forward to it. Thanks again, I know this is hard work.