Grift 2.0

If the richest men and women and organizations in the world can’t afford to stand up for something, what can we expect from everyone else?

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Writing in Salon under the headline, “I was a right-wing pundit,” Rich Logis confesses: “I was all-in on Donald Trump’s lies, well after Jan. 6.” And: “I was dead wrong about all of it.”

Welcome to the party, pal.

I’m not here to sneer at Salon or its contributors, but I am going to guess you’ve never heard of Rich Logis, who seems to have been a “right-wing pundit” more in aspiration than in reality. You know the type: a couple of Federalist bylines, one on FoxNews.com, and, at last count, 64 Twitter followers. The media-activism nexus, left and right, is full of reasonably bright, reasonably articulate people trying to build a career telling people what they want to hear, and Logis seems to be one of those on the right who have moved on to Grift 2.0: “Mea most maxima culpa, baby, now here’s a link to donate to my new organization.” In Logis’ case, that’s a new entity called Listen, Lead, Unite, which consists of a web page with a mission statement, a founder bio, and—the most important bit—a link for donations.

I don’t mind these guys all that much. They are the Max Fischers of the political world, always starting new clubs to give themselves something to be in charge of. (“Max Fischer-ism” plus a really strong work ethic equals “Tracy Flick-ism,” and if you didn’t get enough of Tracy Flick in Election, Tom Perrotta has revisited the character in a new novel, Tracy Flick Can’t Win.) I don’t want to be uncharitable, but my first response to this shtick—“I’m a good person now, please give me money!”—is some free advice: If you couldn’t see what a grift Trump and Trumpism were from the beginning, and if you were still on board after Trump et al. attempted to stage a coup d’état, then maybe sit out a few rounds rather than promote yourself to a position of notional leadership.

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  1. Avatar photo
    Ben Connelly

    Glad to see Kevin also brought his pull-no-punches writing voice from NR, in addition to the economics voice.

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  2. Jaybrown

    Kevin, to my great pleasure, you haven't diminished your ability to succinctly point out the "miscreants." Glad you are here where I don't have to suffer the "miscreants" on the NR comments sections.

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  3. Sam

    Thrilled that Kevin joined The Dispatch and look forward to be able to read all his work now that its not behind the NRO paywall. I think though he still owes an apology for the screed he published when he was at NR.

    https://thefederalist.com/2020/01/29/yes-jewish-lives-matter/

    David Frenchs take at the dispatch (one of my favorite articles) https://frenchpress.thedispatch.com/p/and-no-one-will-make-them-afraid

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  4. Patrick Keane

    I was wondering where Kevin went when my Tuesday Column didn’t arrive ✌️Glad I found his new landing zone - best $100 I spent this year. I can relax now - more good reads to come.

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  5. Mary Stine

    KD's complaint seems to be along the lines of "to whom much is given, much is expected in return". Expecting one of those returns to be a stalwart defense of truth is too much to ask of those who prize financial wealth and social importance above all else. (See Jesus comments in the New Testament for a fuller explanation).
    Of course, not every wealthy person, even in politics, is like this.
    The problem I see is that the camera and mic now are always focused on the most outrageous and power craving, and very rarely on the sincere, thoughtful (=boring) persons in public life.
    The media bears some responsibility here, but so does the public.
    When we citizens finally start demanding thoughtful and ethical candidates, instead of loudmouths who pander to our short attention spans, we'll get real answers.

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  6. DRJ

    I grew up in Lubbock. You make Lubbock proud.

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  7. Avatar photo
    Bel Aves

    NR or the Dispatch - has taken the mantle of most incisive political commentator from Will, and the empty one left by the late great Krauthammer.

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  8. David Rice

    So... I just realized I will not be getting my Sunday morning KDW column at NRO tomorrow. Will we get that here now? Not sure I want to live in a world without Sunday morning KDW.

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  9. Doug Brady

    "I don’t want to be uncharitable, but my first response to this shtick—“I’m a good person now, please give me money!”—is some free advice: If you couldn’t see what a grift Trump and Trumpism were from the beginning, and if you were still on board after Trump et al. attempted to stage a coup d’état, then maybe sit out a few rounds rather than promote yourself to a position of notional leadership."

    Mic drop.

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  10. Avatar photo
    Russell Board

    Is it too much to hope that I spot a silver lining in the Logis tale? Is this a sign that the tide has turned, that grifters are now abandoning the Trump ship because they know it's sinking?

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