Ace of Spades has an of import column today:
I mentioned inwards a postal service below that the NeverTrumpers -- who are genuinely the most liberal of all Republicans, but pose every bit the most conservative for branding purposes, as well as because this political party has this utterly retarded I'm-more-conservative-than-you dick-measuring syndrome where no liberal Republicans tin e'er only acknowledge they're liberal Republicans -- are trying to paw this election to the Democrats, because they wishing their precious command over the political party dorsum as well as they volition sabotage it as well as empower the left until nosotros encompass liberal Republicanism again.
Please read it all; it’s to a greater extent than than worth yous fourth dimension – as well as non because I grip alongside it inwards its entirety, because I don’t.
Go ahead; read it. I’ll hold off here.
Even amid persons who intend seriously close such things, there’s a vogue to regard the realm of conviction as:
- Flat;
- Static.
In other words, if Smith possesses 2 convictions close about champaign of report – as well as this applies far to a greater extent than broadly than to politics lone – they volition receive got equal weight. Moreover, they won’t survive prioritized, whether against ane about other or against Smith’s other desires, fears, as well as beliefs. This could non survive to a greater extent than untrue.
Personal considerations will, to a greater extent than often than not, select precedence over abstract convictions inwards individuals’ decision-making. Indeed, that’s at the marrow of the rationality-versus-allegiance phenomenon I wrote close yesterday. This mightiness look similar an “of course” kind of observation. It’s not, specially inwards the realm of politics.
The several pseudo-conservative figures Ace calls out inwards his essay mightiness genuinely hold, at about abstract level, to conservative premises as well as postures. It’s non guaranteed, but it is possible. What’s almost guaranteed is that they regard personal considerations every bit of much higher priority. When gauging whom to back upwardly politically as well as what to enjoin close him against those considerations, their conservatism, if any, fails to register. It’s of far higher priority that they protect their rice bowls. To facial expression otherwise is to select the brusk terminate of the bet.
But what’s inwards those rice bowls? And what kind of vessels are they?
As I wrote yesterday, most of us don’t build it at our political positions through a rational process, but rather every bit a upshot of upbringing or every bit tools inwards a yell for for personal advantage. Moreover, fifty-fifty amid persons who receive got a sufficient conversance alongside history, economics, moral-ethical theory, conflict resolution studies, as well as then forth to build rational choices, personal considerations are probable to receive got a higher priority. This is colloquially known every bit “voting your pocketbook.”
What I receive got inwards heed is the prestige cistron that animates persons whose world persona is critical to their self-regard, their social standing, as well as their livelihood. The prestige of a political commentator tin survive damaged inwards sure as shooting ways:
- The regain of hypocrisy;
- The regain of venality;
- The admission of error.
The Kristols, Frenches, Goldbergs, et alii who are oft classed every bit “NeverTrumpers” receive got excessive self-regard, owing to...drum roll, please...their condition every bit widely read conservative commentators. That’s natural; when tens of thousands of people read yous daily or weekly, it tends to fatten your catch of yourself. Beyond that, their political adversaries regard them every bit “big boys” of equal stature. They go inwards a mutual social circle. Under social circumstances, they care for ane about other cordially.
That mutual credence every bit “one of us” is a constituent inwards their livelihoods. Even though his emphasis is on “business interests,” George Carlin’s observations close the “big club” (that nosotros ain’t in) are highly relevant here.
But seats inwards that club, that lilliputian league of “us” inwards which the Kristols, the Frenches, the Goldbergs, et alii receive got sat for many years tin survive lost. And repeatedly beingness wrong, specially close who as well as what volition serve one’s supposed, repeatedly expressed political convictions, is ane manner to lose them.
So I differ to that extent alongside Ace’s analysis. These “NeverTrumper” pseudo-conservative commentators aren’t necessarily liberals inwards conservative costumes. They could be, but they mightiness honestly grip to conservative convictions. They mightiness fifty-fifty back upwardly politicians who would implement the conservative, pro-American policies Donald Trump has implemented, every bit long every bit it isn’t Donald Trump who’s implementing them. But they don’t similar beingness incorrect – as well as their reaction to having been visibly, audibly, as well as repeatedly incorrect close Trump as well as his agenda, often from the really source of Trump’s displace for the presidency, has made them fearfulness for their standing inwards their trouble as well as their acceptability inwards the social circles they frequent.
Personal priorities are similar that. It’s non only the indignity of having been proved incorrect as well as outperformed yesteryear a human of affairs from Queens. The upper echelon of today’s Republican Party is bifurcated for that reason, as well as essentially no other.
