Twirling Towards Freedom

Have no fear, dear listener: while Jonah is still radio silent as he swan-dives in ...

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Have no fear, dear listener: while Jonah is still radio silent as he swan-dives in slow-mo off of waterfalls (or something), The Remnant hasn’t forgotten you. David French returns to guest host this episode with return favorite Ramesh Ponnuru from National Review and AEI. There’s the requisite Kamala Harris talk, but also deeper questions about ideology and the “Burn It Down” debates.

Show Notes:

–Ramesh’s page at NR

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  1. Avatar photo
    Saied

    I listened to this podcast 3 times. It is a great podcast and it is highly illuminating but unfortunately, not encouraging. There is nothing I like better for the Party of Lincoln to succeed. But I walked away believing that a large portion of the Republican Party would like to relitigate the 14th Amendment. If that is the case, I do not see how the party can have a path to success in the years to come. To the extent that Kevin McCarthy and other Republican leaders are unwilling to provide the leadership and lead their followers where they would not go on their own (or leave the leadership to those who will misguide and misdirect them), all is lost for at least a generation.

    I love and enjoy my freedoms protected under the first and second amendment (as much as they are in New Jersey), but if we are to be governed by the Constitution, we must be governed by the whole Constitution. It is the left that does the picking and choosing. Are we to do the same?

    14th Amendment (part 1):
    "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

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    Michael and Melanie Yancey

    Jonah, I really appreciate your take on the mess that is contemporary American politics. I live in the DMV area, would love to grab a socially distanced cigar with you if you're willing!

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    C C Writer

    Excellent discussion of binary choice fallacies. Wish there was a transcript so I could more easily add these points to my list. Or maybe David will want to write up a piece about them.

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    Angie

    PS; I am single and childless...in my experience, I pay way more taxes by % than married or married w/children already...why don't we count?

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      Angie

      PS: Neither of these states was in my control...lol

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    Angie

    I would never presume to tell anyone how to vote...I obviously would prefer they don't vote for Trump, but, there are other plausible choices that are ok too... the third party, write in, sit out, etc

    I also understand that where you live matters, I live in a swing state so I think my vote could matter or does, and not voting would be irresponsible.

    I can't vote third party ( or not vote) for that reason, plus, I do not agree with most of the 3rd party ideology ( I probably have some Libertarian beliefs, but, not enough to justify voting for one, especially the one running really doesn't have much info to even go on) and I probably have more in agreement on some things with center-right than either of the other two

    On the other hand, I guess I don't find Biden or the center/left position of the dem party ( I am not party affiliated) as evil as some on the right do...and I figure by aligning with them I hope to help them keep that center...and to compromise and bring unity again ( if it is even possible again)

    I have a serious question...is it just me and my experiences with those on the right who despise liberals, or am I right in feeling as I listened to this, that you guys really do think our positions and ideals are evil? And that is why you can't vote for Biden, and if I do, does that make me evil? I am afraid to even read any comments that may happen over the weekend for fear of hearing this?

    And btw, I have never called anyone evil on the right, even Trump who I can't stand and never could going back to the '80s..he is sick for sure in my opinion and a leopard that isn't going to change his spots and he is bad for the country...but because I live in a red area, and have conservative friends and family, I do understand some of their thinking for voting for him the first time...though I confess if they do it again I will have more trouble understanding it...

    I know I suffer not wanting conservatives to hate or despise me... why I ask this question...lol..as I don't them, even over the policies I know we totally disagree on...the only thing I don't like is being attacked or uncivil

    It was a good and interesting pod at any rate...first time I heard Ramesh, even though I have read some of his pieces...



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    Francesca

    Great Remnant

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    Old guy named Bill (OGNB)

    Enjoyed the podcast, David. In particular, I appreciated your observation about Southern populism being more steeped in racial identity. Growing up in Tennessee, I was familiar with "Howard Baker" Republicans (I voted for him and some others), and perhaps that group overlaps with the main street/business conservatism group you described as an opposing force to Southern populism.

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    CynthiaW

    I love Ramesh, but nothing is the same without Jonah.

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    C C Writer

    Excellent discussion of binary choice fallacies. Wish there was a transcript so I could more easily add these points to my list. Or maybe David will want to write up a piece about them.

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    VladimusPrime

    Best Remnant Ever! (Well at least a very good one) I just can't wait for the Advisory Opinion where Jonah fills in for Mr. French.

    In their discussion of the GOP Ramesh and David brought up the incredibly transient nature of "Compassionate Conservatism" as an example of how quickly party line and approach can take following the departure of a president. Their view may be correct, but it provides the most generous explanation of the phenomenon that allows them to cling to the hope that anything in the Republican party is salvageable. Allow me to propose another interpretation of the loss of "Compassionate Conservatism". The Republican base accepted it, but it was not who they were. Even during the Bush era they were slowly becoming proto Trumpist, and all through out the Obama era that followed the Entertainment Complex of Conservatism kept radicalizing the base to be more and more populist, and thus worked to erode any trace of GW's political approach and philosophy in favor of pure populist angst. Trump and his brand saw this and recognized that deep down it was this that animated and impassioned the Republican base and he gave it to them even more raw and unfiltered than they ever had it before, and so they loved him for it and that 40% of the Republican party won him the nomination.

    Sure Compassionate Conservatism had wide appeal among the party leadership and establishment, but they are amoral cowards who always go with whoever and whatever is in mode and in charge. Hence their uncanny about face with regard to Trumpism, and their obsequiousness toward the man. Compassionate Conservatism isn't who the Republican party was, so it was easily forgotten because it was never strongly embraced by the base. Trumpism has been whole heartedly embraced by the Republican base and therefore will stick around far longer. After all even now David and Ramesh talk about the post Trump party becoming a fusion or nationalism and populism with social conservatism. Which seems like an elegant way of saying they will become subtler and smarter Trumpists. Their anti immigrant bigotry will be more effectively implemented and they will go back to actual dog whistles rather than reading the stage notes and subtext out loud through a bull horn. They will continue to undermine and ignore the international order we created post WWII but at least not insult foreign heads of states. We will get all the bad Trump policies more thoroughly implemented and cleverly disguised.

    Heck no! IF the future of the Republican party is to be more populist and nationalist then it is even more important to burn it to the ground completely and deny it any power. Those aren't the policies I want, and given the choice between that and the Democrats European Social Democracy I will take the later even if it means higher taxes.

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