An underemphasized point about the self-serving op ed is how wrong it is in the claim that Trump "shows little affinity for ideals espoused by conservatives." On by far their biggest issue, tax cuts for the rich, the president has been their dream. 1/ nyti.ms/2CyF3Jh
What about other “conservative ideals”? Abortion? Gun control? Regulation? Military spending? Court appointments? In all these ways, he has been probably the most hardline conservative president in our history. 2/
On issues that divide conservatives, he has picked a side. But the side he has picked ob immigration, trade, and foreign policy accords with the fetishism of “toughness” that the right has long valorized. 3/
The idea that Trump has been somehow ideologically promiscuous is often repeated by conservatives who wish to leave daylight between themselves and the president. But it is belied by the facts. Trump ran as a conservative and is governing as one, as that idea is now understood.5/
By invoking “free minds, free markets and free people,” the author is nodding toward one of the founding slogans of the GOP: “free soul, free labor, free men.” But what policy consequences follow from these “Ideals,” 2 of which are anodyne to the point of meaninglessness?6/
I take “free markets” to be the only salient point of contention between Trump and the cons. It is absolutely case that, unlike previous GOP presidents, he does not pay homage to this ideal in his rhetoric.7/
But, when the rubber hits the road, what does it mean in practice.? “Free markets” have always been celebrated in the breach. In its key significations, Trump has behaved as the celebrators wish: cutting taxes, slashing regulations, undermine faith in government at every turn.8/
The binary idea promoted by @peterbakernyt and @maggieNYT that Trump’s opponents judge this piece “heroic and patriotic” is ludicrous. Judging by the critiques I have read, I am not alone in finding it self-serving, tendentious, and, actually, dangerous...9/
in its attempts to hive off Trump and Trumpism from conservatism and from the Republican Party. As @rauchway and others have pointed out, it is also a confession of cowardice in its recognition that a constitutional remedy is necessary but s/he decided not to follow through. 10/
To conclude, there is nothing heroic or even admirable about the declaring that the republic is in peril and the president is a threat to the world and following that up with a bold action plan of saying...trust some of his staff to occasionally divert him...11/
But let’s continue business as usual by following through on the conservative agenda. Let’s not let the minor fact that Trump is likely constitutionally incapable of holding office stop us from pursuing an unpopular, radical agenda before the whole place burns down. Gee, thanks!
