I ask because we are about to find out - the hard way, I fear! To me, in retrospect, I feel that I have lived most of my life in a semi-frozen state beginning with the apparently monolithic Soviet 'empire' facing off against the 'yuuuuuuuge' American behemoth. This state of affairs forced smaller nations to weld together and one result was the growth of trans-national organisations operated by tribes of multi-national delusionists who thought they were the new 'Rulers of the Universe'. Behind them, of course, were the real 'Rulers of the Universe', a relatively small collection of mega-zillionaires seeking to influence matters to their own personal advantage. These increasingly powerful entities are now facing a totally unexpected threat - Donald Trump!
He is like the "very naughty boy" who goes into the nursery and wrecks everything! World Trade Organisation - smash, take that! G7 Group - crash, get outta my way! NATO - bash, pay up or else! China - you cheated so now you pay! And so it goes on, nothing is sacred. If you're not with me, you're 'agin' me, in which case you better look out! It is impossible to forecast the result of this 'Trumpian' whirlwind except to acknowledge that we are moving into 'interesting times'. Fasten your seatbelts is the best advice!
Sometimes an iconoclast is needed and President Trump certainly fits the bill.
Posted by: Timbo | Wednesday, 04 July 2018 at 12:46
While the West was focused on defeating the USSR, the Western Left burrowed in to our institutions and started the systemic rot that comes from Leftism and cultural Marxism. Our greatest enemy is not Russia or China or Islam, it is the detritus that is the consequence of Leftist success. The enemy is within. To win a war, know the enemy, speak its name, understand his tactics and then attack him on all fronts.
Posted by: Whitewall | Wednesday, 04 July 2018 at 12:46
Whitewall:
Exactly. Russia or China or Islam may get the better of us. But it will not be because of their relative power, but because of our relative weakness. The Left will have made the defence of principles unfashionable and ridiculous, and so nobody will want to defend them. We will be overcome because of our lack of determined and loyal people.
Posted by: Whyaxye | Wednesday, 04 July 2018 at 13:44
Quite honestly it is all rather refreshing.
All the named organisations and others too, naming no names (JC Junker, have another brandy) have had serious mission creep and any good intentions they might have had have morphed into an enormous and sinister mechanism for subverting democracy and robbing taxpayers and consumers generally, blind.
Only a non-politician could do it and only a quite exceptional non-politician could get elected in the first place.
Posted by: Cuffleyburgers | Wednesday, 04 July 2018 at 15:29
Trump is in office because of a perfect storm that included help from our antiquated electoral system, the habit of voters to change the party in power after a two term president, James Comey's lack of professionalism and Russian hackers and trolls. The biggest assist, though, was Democrats who ran one of the worst candidates imaginable. With a little luck they've learned their lesson and won't be tempted by Clintonism, in both its general and specific senses again. And you're right, David. It's going to be a bumpy ride:
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2018/07/03/Gallup-Fewer-than-ever-extremely-proud-to-be-American/4071530634107/?utm_source=sec&utm_campaign=sl&utm_medium=12
Posted by: Bob | Wednesday, 04 July 2018 at 16:56
It's funny Bob, but I can remember a post from you about 3 years ago, eulogising Hilary Clinton. Quite the best thing since sliced bread. This was during the period when you had an ally, the chap in his Mom's basement who had escaped from the Carpenter's blog.
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Wednesday, 04 July 2018 at 17:07
About that Gallup patriot poll:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2018/07/why-do-democrats-hate-america.php
Posted by: Whitewall | Wednesday, 04 July 2018 at 18:00
backofanenvelope, I have no idea what you're writing about. The best I remember saying about Hillary is that she would probably be good for women and children, and I still believe that. She certainly wouldn't have put the young children of asylum-seekers in cages.
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Whitewall, during the Obama administration the polling was more or less reversed. No sane person thought that meant Republicans hate America.
Posted by: Bob | Wednesday, 04 July 2018 at 18:52
By the way Trump fans, the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is controlled by Republicans, has released a report:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-cyber/senate-panel-backs-intelligence-agencies-on-russia-trump-conclusions-idUSKBN1JT2YB
You'd be wise to be a bit more circumspect about feelings toward America.
Posted by: Bob | Wednesday, 04 July 2018 at 19:01
Bob maybe the difference is only one party habitually riots and demonstrates weekly in the streets, harasses cabinet officials, #Resistance etc.
Posted by: Whitewall | Wednesday, 04 July 2018 at 20:14
Whitewall, evidently you don't remember the Tea Party demonstrations or their candidates - for example Sharron Angle who recommended "Second Amendment remedies" to deal with the supposedly "tyrannical" U.S. government. For the benefit of non-Americans, that means she was recommending people be shot with guns.
Do you think Americans shouldn't have the right to confront politicians verbally? How is the owner of a restaurant asking Sarah Sanders to leave different from a baker refusing to serve a person?
Posted by: Bob | Wednesday, 04 July 2018 at 20:25
The TP was peaceful. WH staff and families, cabinet members and families are not elected pols.
Posted by: Whitewall | Wednesday, 04 July 2018 at 20:43
The Tea Party was often violent:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6mCTU4NpRQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5pdwTQ4xA8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmP4Gb2pEsY
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/20/tea-party-protests-nier-f_n_507116.html
I could go on. Not all people who buy cakes are elected pols either.
Posted by: Bob | Wednesday, 04 July 2018 at 22:56
Come on Whitewall! Surely you remember the massed, black clad, masked, baton wielding ranks of the Tea Parties?
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Thursday, 05 July 2018 at 09:37
BOE, yeah I always managed to leave my mask etc at home. Same when it came to burning cars, I had no lighter. Fighting police took place a block away at all times. I could never be arrested and convicted because I was always innocently dodging Federal agencies who had no record of me but somehow always wanted to shut me up. One of these days maybe those of us on the Right will get our chance to riot instead of watching on the news. Right wing riots are different from Left wing ones. That is why they are rare.
Posted by: Whitewall | Thursday, 05 July 2018 at 10:59
All you have to do is nitpick definitions and - presto! - Tea Party demonstrations were all peaceful. Can you also rationalize the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, VA? Not even Fox News would do it:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/08/12/emergency-declared-ahead-unite-right-rally-in-virginia.html
On the other hand, Trump famously remarked there were "fine people" on both sides of the demonstration.
Posted by: Bob | Thursday, 05 July 2018 at 13:58