I’ve been referring a lot lately to the transformation of the American Republic into a “National Security State”, and to the fact that those of us who wish to preserve the republic currently appear to find ourselves in a “no-win” situation. Yesterday commenter Forbes linked to a terrific review article by Glenn Ellmers that addresses those issues.
Beginning to have an entirely new idea of exactly what “ times that try men’s soul” encompasses.
But with a population that, as has been pointed out, is pretty much flatlining regarding awareness of the political and social maelstrom that is upon us, how do we make an impact?
Since it is abundantly clear that we are looking at “Constitutional Republic” in the rear view mirror, realistically how do we get out of this mess? Or do we?
Everything we know at this point clearly shows that we were sold down the river a long time ago by our “leaders”. Makes me wonder how much Eisenhower new, or feared, when he warned of the dangers of a military- industrial complex.
We may say we are obviously in the USA now on Hayek's slippery slope (see chapter 10 of F. A. Hayek's "Road to Serfdom" = why the worst always get on top; hint, they are the ones comfortable with cheating). Once we lose the guardrail of agreed Guiding Principles (despite Mark Steyn, our Constitution), the path of degradation differs throughout history largely by the choices and order in which rules are excepted, bent, subverted, buried. We are seeing the external structures' subversion (selective prosecution, rule by men - not laws, too many laws, voting fraud allowance, free speech censorship, evaporated borders, school/professional indoctrination, et cetera), and can feel the presence of behind the scenes manipulations (straight-up corruption plus negative narratives - true or not - held over figures of authority to get decisions made in contravention to what they should do): these things help answer Victor Davis Hanson's questions in his recent article "the coup we never knew". We are a wealthy nation for which most of the population could care not much about the mechanations of our politics: the people pay attention when impacts are personal = money/jobs, crime, health, war. The 'system' cares when it can't fund itself. Seems as if the money is running out, hence the craziness of our present times.
How many people think the FBI Will last as long as the praetorian guard of Rome ?
For three centuries, the guards of the Roman emperor were also known for their palace intrigues, by which influence upon imperial politics the Praetorians could overthrow an emperor and then proclaim his successor as the new caesar of Rome. In AD 312, Constantine the Great disbanded the cohortes praetoriae and destroyed their barracks at the Castra Praetoria.[1]
The Praetorian Guard (Latin: cohortēs praetōriae) was a unit of the Imperial Roman army that served as personal bodyguards and intelligence agents for the Roman emperors. During the Roman Republic, the Praetorian Guard were an escort for high-rank political officials (senators and procurators) and were bodyguards for the senior officers of the Roman legions. In 27 BC, after Rome's transition from republic to empire, the first emperor of Rome, Augustus, designated the Praetorians as his personal security escort.
The reaction to Trump and Nixon was, in both cases, based largely on personal distaste or unreasoning fear. There were the Three Abominations of Nixon. He was right about Alger Hiss before the public release of the Venona decrypts proved his point. He inherited the war that Kennedy and Johnson had taken the country into, and which was already lost before Nixon assumed office, and he had to disengage from it while getting at least some of the POWs back. Finally, he crushed George McGovern in 1972, proving to anyone with eyes to see that middle America wanted no part of what the Democratic party was mutating into.
Trump's performance in office proved that he was never a serious threat to the status quo, which would have required a swift and ruthless purge of the Justice Department, the bloated NSC staff, and the three letter agencies. His chief offense was that he deprived Hillary Clinton of her turn. These people will burn the nation to the ground rather than give up he turn they themselves entitled to, and if you don't believe this look at the endless votes over the odious Kevin McCarthy.
I suppose the other two Abominations of Trump were that he had his own money, and thus did not need to make his fortune from the sewer of corruption in Washington. Worse, he threatened to inherit the paper trail for the felonies the intel chiefs committed when Mrs Clinton looked like a shoo in for election.
For the life we once had, yes it is. The children will have to learn to adjust and the more we keep repeating this mantra of leaving them an insurmountable debt the more these indoctrinated children believe it's the fault of Republicans driving them to embrace the death cult in retribution for negatively impacting the grand lives they feel entitled to.
It's never too late. However, I don't think DC can be saved. The solutions will have to come from elsewhere. Maybe the States or some kind of break-up.
I appreciate Trumps continued focus on the 2020 election, as well as Kari Lakes efforts. It’s important to not roll over and play dead.
Trump has changed the zeitgeist / Overton window, where now the majority of voters believe fraud happens.
I wish Trump after his defeat had done a lot more building tools, especially for lawfare, fundraising, fighting crt, fixing the gop party, and fund raising (outside the shop’s control).
Its a problem. But if Trump is to accomplish anything (on our behalf) in his remaining political life, he must regain (some degree of) power. How does he do that?
Ellmers and Marini make perfect sense given the historical record. The more recent narratives I have seen on the right (since the divulgence of "Deep Throat") have characterized Mark Felt's personal resentment as the genesis for Watergate's surfacing in the press. This throws new light on that supposed premise. Perhaps Felt, like Vindman, was actually a defender of the "interagency"?
As for Trump, exactly! Sovereignty of the people is the very basis of his power, NOT his personality. To the extent he recognizes and acts accordingly, to that extent his success will be contingent.
Beginning to have an entirely new idea of exactly what “ times that try men’s soul” encompasses.
But with a population that, as has been pointed out, is pretty much flatlining regarding awareness of the political and social maelstrom that is upon us, how do we make an impact?
Since it is abundantly clear that we are looking at “Constitutional Republic” in the rear view mirror, realistically how do we get out of this mess? Or do we?
Everything we know at this point clearly shows that we were sold down the river a long time ago by our “leaders”. Makes me wonder how much Eisenhower new, or feared, when he warned of the dangers of a military- industrial complex.
These are truly perilous times we are facing.
We may say we are obviously in the USA now on Hayek's slippery slope (see chapter 10 of F. A. Hayek's "Road to Serfdom" = why the worst always get on top; hint, they are the ones comfortable with cheating). Once we lose the guardrail of agreed Guiding Principles (despite Mark Steyn, our Constitution), the path of degradation differs throughout history largely by the choices and order in which rules are excepted, bent, subverted, buried. We are seeing the external structures' subversion (selective prosecution, rule by men - not laws, too many laws, voting fraud allowance, free speech censorship, evaporated borders, school/professional indoctrination, et cetera), and can feel the presence of behind the scenes manipulations (straight-up corruption plus negative narratives - true or not - held over figures of authority to get decisions made in contravention to what they should do): these things help answer Victor Davis Hanson's questions in his recent article "the coup we never knew". We are a wealthy nation for which most of the population could care not much about the mechanations of our politics: the people pay attention when impacts are personal = money/jobs, crime, health, war. The 'system' cares when it can't fund itself. Seems as if the money is running out, hence the craziness of our present times.
How many people think the FBI Will last as long as the praetorian guard of Rome ?
For three centuries, the guards of the Roman emperor were also known for their palace intrigues, by which influence upon imperial politics the Praetorians could overthrow an emperor and then proclaim his successor as the new caesar of Rome. In AD 312, Constantine the Great disbanded the cohortes praetoriae and destroyed their barracks at the Castra Praetoria.[1]
The Praetorian Guard (Latin: cohortēs praetōriae) was a unit of the Imperial Roman army that served as personal bodyguards and intelligence agents for the Roman emperors. During the Roman Republic, the Praetorian Guard were an escort for high-rank political officials (senators and procurators) and were bodyguards for the senior officers of the Roman legions. In 27 BC, after Rome's transition from republic to empire, the first emperor of Rome, Augustus, designated the Praetorians as his personal security escort.
Excellent article. One of your best.
Thanks, Mark and Forbes. Outstanding article précis. I must find time this weekend to read the entire text.
The reaction to Trump and Nixon was, in both cases, based largely on personal distaste or unreasoning fear. There were the Three Abominations of Nixon. He was right about Alger Hiss before the public release of the Venona decrypts proved his point. He inherited the war that Kennedy and Johnson had taken the country into, and which was already lost before Nixon assumed office, and he had to disengage from it while getting at least some of the POWs back. Finally, he crushed George McGovern in 1972, proving to anyone with eyes to see that middle America wanted no part of what the Democratic party was mutating into.
Trump's performance in office proved that he was never a serious threat to the status quo, which would have required a swift and ruthless purge of the Justice Department, the bloated NSC staff, and the three letter agencies. His chief offense was that he deprived Hillary Clinton of her turn. These people will burn the nation to the ground rather than give up he turn they themselves entitled to, and if you don't believe this look at the endless votes over the odious Kevin McCarthy.
I suppose the other two Abominations of Trump were that he had his own money, and thus did not need to make his fortune from the sewer of corruption in Washington. Worse, he threatened to inherit the paper trail for the felonies the intel chiefs committed when Mrs Clinton looked like a shoo in for election.
I truly did fear it was too late. The behemoth spending bill has proven it. Our children and grandchildren are doomed.
For the life we once had, yes it is. The children will have to learn to adjust and the more we keep repeating this mantra of leaving them an insurmountable debt the more these indoctrinated children believe it's the fault of Republicans driving them to embrace the death cult in retribution for negatively impacting the grand lives they feel entitled to.
It's never too late. However, I don't think DC can be saved. The solutions will have to come from elsewhere. Maybe the States or some kind of break-up.
I appreciate Trumps continued focus on the 2020 election, as well as Kari Lakes efforts. It’s important to not roll over and play dead.
Trump has changed the zeitgeist / Overton window, where now the majority of voters believe fraud happens.
I wish Trump after his defeat had done a lot more building tools, especially for lawfare, fundraising, fighting crt, fixing the gop party, and fund raising (outside the shop’s control).
I don't think anyone can reform DC, and if they could, that person is no longer Trump.
His support McCarthy just proves he is is part of the charade.
Its a problem. But if Trump is to accomplish anything (on our behalf) in his remaining political life, he must regain (some degree of) power. How does he do that?
Ellmers and Marini make perfect sense given the historical record. The more recent narratives I have seen on the right (since the divulgence of "Deep Throat") have characterized Mark Felt's personal resentment as the genesis for Watergate's surfacing in the press. This throws new light on that supposed premise. Perhaps Felt, like Vindman, was actually a defender of the "interagency"?
As for Trump, exactly! Sovereignty of the people is the very basis of his power, NOT his personality. To the extent he recognizes and acts accordingly, to that extent his success will be contingent.
Oof--that's very bad, but it's a spelling error, not a grammar error. Fixed. Tx.
I might want to RAIN in the Progressive admin state.