George Will leaves Republican Party. Is now "unaffiliated".

[Noah Abrams]

You picked about the dumbest time to become a former liberal and embrace the bastardized conservatism that Republicans are pushing. (the rest snipped).

1. I became a former liberal a long time ago.
2. I have nothing to do with the current day R party, or whatever it is trying to push (my guess is the majority of the R leaders don't know and don't care what the party is pushing, as long as they have power / wealth. That is of course a given for most politicians regardless of labels attached to them)

and....

3. Try to be less judgmental of people. It would help....you! 🙂

 

[Noah Abrams]

I will quote WIlliam F Buckley from 16 years ago:

Look for the narcissist. The most obvious target in today’s lineup is, of course, Donald Trump. When he looks at a glass, he is mesmerized by its reflection. If Donald Trump were shaped a little differently, he would compete for Miss America. But whatever the depths of self-enchantment, the demagogue has to say something. So what does Trump say? That he is a successful businessman and that that is what America needs in the Oval Office. There is some plausibility in this, though not much. The greatest deeds of American Presidents — midwifing the new republic; freeing the slaves; harnessing the energies and vision needed to win the Cold War — had little to do with a bottom line.​

I don't know if William F Buckley actually said this about the vile one, or you replaced the name - either way, it doesn't matter. Because it holds true regardless. But what you may have missed is that it is a damning indictment of our whole society. I do not know why people keep looking at the vile one or his gang in isolation. He is the not the cause of anything, he is the product and consequence of this utterly shallow society we live in and we all perpetuate. In that, he differs from the previous ones mainly in degrees, not kind.

 

[Jhhnn]

I don't know if William F Buckley actually said this about the vile one, or you replaced the name - either way, it doesn't matter. Because it holds true regardless. But what you may have missed is that it is a damning indictment of our whole society. I do not know why people keep looking at the vile one or his gang in isolation. He is the not the cause of anything, he is the product and consequence of this utterly shallow society we live in and we all perpetuate. In that, he differs from the previous ones mainly in degrees, not kind.

Not our whole society. Just the part that's been poisoned by decades of divisive & dehumanizing right wing propaganda.

 

[Victorian Gray]

It all sounds like Russian melancholy to me.

 

[Noah Abrams]

Not our whole society. Just the part that's been poisoned by decades of divisive & dehumanizing right wing propaganda.

Unless you and I live in different Americas, I don’t think the materialism of America has any “parts” to it. It is what defines our society

 

[Moonbeam]

Unless you and I live in different Americas, I don’t think the materialism of America has any “parts” to it. It is what defines our society

The thing I find most American about you is your merciless willingness to face negative facts about your country. Personally, I blame my Mother for that. Much to her later great regret, she told as an American product to be honest too.

 

[ivwshane]

How does “more people” equate to “all or a majority” and where did I mention mental damage in that quote?

Not everything is about you.

 

[Jhhnn]

Unless you and I live in different Americas, I don’t think the materialism of America has any “parts” to it. It is what defines our society

Buckley didn't put it in those terms. Materialism & malignant greed at the top aren't the same things, at all. More money won't change the lifestyles of right wing mega billionaires.

 

[Noah Abrams]

The thing I find most American about you is your merciless willingness to face negative facts about your country. Personally, I blame my Mother for that. Much to her later great regret, she told as an American product to be honest too.

Sorry didn’t understand the last line

 

[Moonbeam]

Sorry didn’t understand the last line

Comes from trying to use an iPad:

Personally, I blame my Mother for that. Much to her later great regret, she told me, as an American product herself, to be honest. I see the same thing in Israel. Israel's greatest critics, in my opinion are Jews.

 

[uclaLabrat]

Good on Will for looking at the right data and drawing the wrong conclusions for the past 20 years.

This would be a lot more apropos if this was in the late 90s, had he pissed on the grave of trickle down and shouted down the neocons more effectively, maybe his shifting allegiance would mean something.

 

[Commodus]

Good on Will for looking at the right data and drawing the wrong conclusions for the past 20 years.

This would be a lot more apropos if this was in the late 90s, had he pissed on the grave of trickle down and shouted down the neocons more effectively, maybe his shifting allegiance would mean something.

Hey, I'd rather he come to a right conclusion eventually than maintain a "foolish consistency," as Emerson put it. As we've seen on this forum, there are plenty of conservatives who will stare unquestionable facts in the face and maintain the lie to the bitter end.