New Class and Neocons

Why the Red Dogs won’t hunt.

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Dear Reader (Including acolytes of the Apis Bull(sh*tter)),

Yesterday, a bunch of people—at least I assume they were people—emailed me a piece by Scott Alexander. They wrote: “What do you think?” “Would love to see a G-File on this.” “Click this link to meet Russian girls who really dig you!” Whoops, sorry, that was a different email.

Anyway, I read these emails with some dread. I had planned to write about Bill Kristol’s trial balloon that anti-Trump Republicans become Democrats, but it sounded like Alexander’s piece was worth addressing. So, I read it this morning. And the good news is: I can write about both. Let’s start with Alexander’s“Modest Proposal.”

Alexander, a truly brilliant writer I’ve learned a great deal from, makes the case that the GOP should spend more time talking about class. I’m going to quote a long passage, but please don’t hold that against my own word count since this is going to be a very long G-File. He writes:

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  1. Gabriel Salas

    Here's a new way to see this, i hope.
    Some conservative commentators and intellectuals, with very good intention and candour, act like characters in zombie that insists their loved one remains human despite being bitten by a deadwalker.
    They insist the GOP is their old home. It still has some of the known places, like the mother in the film that develops scabby skin in the arms yet still has the comforting look - the elephant, the pretense of Reaganism, et al. But the GOP is already half-zombie, and that is an irreversible process.
    Eventually, JG and the rest will just let go. They'll be rightfully sad, but it shall pass. All we can do is prepare to receive them and let them grieve.

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  2. Anthony Pasquini

    This is more evidence that we need stronger "third" parties. The two parties and the system they created top protect them is precisely what is wrong with politics. We don't need two large tented parties. We need multiple parties for a better system but more importantly to reflect what people really believe and want from government. We need strong Conservative, Libertarian, Constitutional, Socialist, Green, Grange, Marxist, Christian Democrat, and etc parties.

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  3. Pedro Goulart

    MBD's take on Kristol's idea being unrealistic may or may not be true, but his parallel between Democrats with ACLU and NYT doesn't hold, incentive structures are different. ACLU and NYT respond to donors and subscribers. Dems respond to voters, a much larger population even if you just consider primary voters. Even if the three share the same cultural universe, Dems are more constrained by their need to win elections.

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    Charlie229

    Jonah, keep speaking the truth. There are many former Republicans (several at The Bulwark) that either believe Trumpism invalidates conservative principles, or they are just really good at making fun of Trumpism (let's face it, all you need is common sense and a respect for facts to pull that off). Conservative principles are built on immovable truths that we took to be objectively true, not true because the circumstances of the day dictated them as such. You are right. Becoming a democrat will not work. American progressives today understand the world through identity and an insecurity about the righteousness of their mandates on identity. I say "insecurity" because their inability to cope with dissent betrays the fragility of their conjured truths about human nature and social dynamics. Arguing over trans girls in sports misses the point. The argument is for an argument to be possible, sanctioned, and contained within a system that mitigates for violence--ordered liberty, as a Nebraska Senator might say. Progressives don't believe in disagreement. You are either with them or against them, not unlike the MAGAs. I think many former conservatives will find rejection yet again...or they will abandon conservatism all together. Many already have.

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    VladimusPrime

    It may be that the center liberals of the Democratic Party can't hold back their own crazy, but maybe if more sane Republicans join them they can. We certainly know there is nothing to salvage or save in the Republican party. It is thoroughly Trumpified and those holding out hope that it will be anything else any time soon are fools. So maybe trying to save the one sane political party left isn't such a bad idea. It certainly sounds better than trying to gussy up the White Trash culture of the Republican party as some noble class struggle.

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  6. Momigliano

    You quote Scott Alexander:
    Trump stood against the upper class. He might define them as: people who live in nice apartments in Manhattan or SF or DC and laugh under their breath if anybody comes from Akron or Tampa.

    As if to provide confirmation, the following appears in the Post’s piece on Marty Baron’s farewell video, which
    “included an unexpected cameo from fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, who said she bonded with Baron when they were seated next to each other at a dinner. “No one like you is from Tampa!” she recalled telling him when he mentioned his Florida roots.”

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    Paul Gross

    I am one of those "historically reliable voters" who quit voting for and financially supporting the GOP. Actually about 10 years ago when I came to the realization that the only time the GOP had principles was when they were out of power. I will still vote for the occasional GOP candidate but my support mainly goes to the Libertarians. And I already know I am "wasting my vote", so I don't need that advise. If Kristol wants to move a political group his efforts would be better spent on moving the Libertarians. In my experience they are far from monolithic. As I wholeheartedly agree with Jonah that any attempt to move the Dems is a wasted effort. Those in control have shown they do not care what the old line Democrats think and further that they do not need them to win elections. BTW, I enjoyed last weeks column.

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  8. Barry Morrell

    Jonah: For conservatives, there is a right way and a wrong way to be anti-Trump. Yours is the right way, and Bill Kristol’s is the wrong way.

    Despite your differences, you both contributed to Trump’s defeat and Biden’s victory.

    Please explain, policy by policy, how four Biden years instead of four Trump years was an intelligent objective and a net gain for conservatism.

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    Stephanie

    It seems plain that Jonah, and many others who very understandably can't stomach Trumpism, are searching for their place in the new landscape, because their form of conservatism has become irrelevant to most of the voting public.

    I guess looking for a new hook to attract Trumpy voters is what this "class warfare" idea is for. Personally, I don't think much of it. Why can't conservatives focus on solving the problems real people are facing in our country, and turn down the heat on the "warfare."

    It's true that Rush Limbaugh was successful by stirring up anger and hatred and encouraging the dittoheads to look down on liberals, but he did that by lying about what liberals actually are. Not a formula to emulate.

    Stop attacking the liberals. It looks like a form of insecurity, or an identity problem.

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    1. Tim Johnson

      Agreed, but attacking the 'other' naturally appeals to an electorate with insecurity problems.

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    Ben Connelly

    Jonah, I was a fan of yours and David’s before the Trump era but one of the things I’ve admired the most the past few years has been your consistency. I got fed up with both the Trumpists and the NeverTrumpers who became Democrats.

    The Dispatch is well worth the subscription. You guys are straight shooters and the content is also higher quality (analysis and writing) than most all of what’s available online these days.

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      C C Writer

      What Ben said.

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    2. Ben W

      Co-signed

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    3. ROBERT

      Indeed.

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