Tuesday, July 10, 2018

So What Do the Anti-Trumpers Want?

The Republican elite, also knows as the never-Trumpers, have made it clear that they would prefer to see the Democrats win Congress than to love another day in a country in which a Republican Congress supports a Republican president. This list includes but is not limited to George Will, Max Boot and Jenifer Rubin, all of the Washington Post. Boot was the most recent to pen a "I hope the Democrats win" column.

So, exactly what do you guys want? What principles do you hold so dear that you would rather see a party that's leaning socialist take control of Congress than have the Republicans stay in power?

Let's start with immigration. I've read your columns for years. When George W. Bush proposed immigration reform you were against it until we closed the border. That goes back to President Reagan - we have to secure the border as a condition of allowing any sort of amnesty to those already here. You hammered on that in 2005.

Now you complain about how uncaring we are to rip families apart. What did you think border enforcement was going to look like? Did you expect a bit stop sign would be enough? Maybe you were in favor of a wall. I remember calls for a wall or at least a substantial fence in the early days of the Obama administration. But now that Trump wants a wall you think it's the dumbest thing in the world.

Or are you actually in favor of open borders so that you have cheap housekeepers and gardeners? If this is true than say so. Come out and say "America needs to have the same control over its borders as every other nation with the exception of cheap labor which should come pouring across."

Then there's trade. Max Boot said that he's in favor of free trade. Funny thing, President Trump says that he is, too, and he wants trade barriers to come down. But other countries don't want to drop their protectionism. The choices are endless talks that don't accomplish anything or a new round of tariffs. Yes, Trump's tariffs could backfire but negotiations didn't get anywhere. Again, come out and state your position on this, "Trade wars are too messy. America needs to accept that they are at a disadvantage in trade and shut up."

Boot Complained about appeasing dictators meaning Korea's Kim. They need to say, "I'd rather North Korea continue to develop the capability of destroying New York than see President Trump shake Kim's hand."

Other things they could confess, "Yes, for years I've been saying that lower individual and corporate tax rates are a good thing and that we need conservative judges on the Supreme Court but now I believe in raising taxes on corporations and the rich. And I've decided that having conservatives appointed to the courts isn't worth having Trump in the White House."

Or they could come right out and tell the actual truth, "I know I'm supposed to be a conservative and stand for certain principles but when it comes down to it, I prefer style over substance and, like late night talk show hosts, I'm happiest when the opposition is in power and I can rant about how everything would be better if we were in power. I'm not comfortable when our side has to make real compromises and I'd feel a lot better with a centrist like Romney who looks and acts the part than someone like Trump who is enacting a conservative agenda but doesn't have the proper decorum."

When you get right down to it, the Republican elite haven't liked an actual Republican president since Reagan, if then. They were lukewarm about Bush-41 and they hated Bush-43. They don't have anything good to say about Nixon or Ike, either.

Which is why no one listens to them except the other side.

No comments: