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| Ben Shapiro |
Principle has power no doubt. The likes of Shapiro have power with their ideas up to a point, just like the late great William F. Buckley. Reading a couple of Buckley's books straightened me out after I had been force-fed liberalism in college in the mid-1970s. I guess state colleges were the worst at doing this. That was my environment. Those were salad days for colleges, as "boomers" came out of the woodwork everywhere.
We were a little gullible. And impressionable. I have often called the 1970s type of liberalism dispensed on college campuses "paternalistic liberalism." I finally got sick of it.
We learn with maturity that both ends of the political spectrum have their place. Liberals cannot argue on the same terms as conservatives. I'd bet that the rapid fire-talking Shapiro could win any debate. I do mean that as a compliment. Buckley put up awesome arguments in his time. You could read his books and think "right on."
The pushback was articulated by my old college friend Brad. He was from the Iron Range, Virginia MN. A committed Democrat, Brad readily acknowledged how the Ben Shapiros of the world could win debates. The problem? Brad said re. conservatives/Republicans that "they don't care about people."
Think of the Thoreau quote "the majority of people lead lives of quiet desperation." I think of that as I sit at the Willie's Cafe in the morning and watch the people come and go.
Half the people around us are below average by definition. Garrison Keillor had fun with the statement "all our kids are above average." There are times when political liberals understand the real world better than conservatives. Conservatives hold up best when you have the assumption that all people are brilliant and responsible. It's just not reality. And it's ironic because conservatives are great for ringing the bell about how they are such realists.
I'll be real blunt here: People have to eat.
The richest people are great for rationalizing how we need a system that protects their interests. I suppose a behavioral psychologist would say this is "learned behavior." The impulse toward self-interest is overwhelming.
The South Dakota icon T. Denny Sanford has apparently said he'll die broke, for having given away so much $, but do you think he's anywhere close to his "goal?" Sanford is notorious in another way but let's not proceed to that dirty laundry. I don't think Josh Hawley would want to pounce on Sanford for this alleged indiscretion - Sanford has given money to the Trump campaigns.
So it's all about bedfellows, especially on the political right.
A blind spot
I focus on Shapiro on this particular day, Friday, Aug. 18, because of what I see is his current column. It is pathetic how we see the most intelligent conservatives hesitate in such grand fashion regarding Donald Trump. How can I put this? "Can't see the forest for the trees?" Well, I can.
So am I more intelligent and insightful than Shapiro? Apparently yes and I don't expect any sort of trophy for that. The very existence of America could be threatened if Trump seizes the presidency again. And does Shapiro really want to see an autocracy for the U.S.? He has to know what Trump's intentions are. Ben could follow the news like any of us knaves.
Trump has fought the legitimate 2020 election results to a comedic degree. But it all continues to be taken seriously by our mainstream media, which apparently figures that if you can find some well-coiffed attorneys to get on TV and dissect charges against Trump a certain way, well then keep the path open for Trump. The path is most certainly open. Our eyes could have been opened so long ago.
So what exactly is Shapiro's problem right now as I write this? I'm disappointed beyond words as I write this. Shapiro is such a sharp person, he undoubtedly knows better. He does not dare drift away from Trump. So his headline is: "The highly dangerous Georgia indictment."
Why is he trying to sell us this? Dangerous as opposed to what? Trump obviously tried to drive a steamroller over the legitimate 2020 election outcome. He found partners who always show up in suit and tie. He blazes forward with his considerable base even after so many facts have rolled out. New facts don't even matter any more, not to Shapiro. He fears the wrath of MAGA, were he to depart from that side's talking points - he sure isn't going to fear me.
So Shapiro claims that Fani Willis has "launched a 98-page missile directly into the heart of American politics." You can imagine how the rest of the column reads. Doesn't Shapiro recognize the missile Trump himself has sent by assailing our cherished democratic system? I take it that Shapiro is Jewish. He should realize that Jews can be imperiled under autocratic governments. He is all in with Trump because he knows his fortunes as a pundit - his calling - are dependent on it. Stay in lock-step with Mark Levin et al.
This whole perilous reality could change quickly if several top Republicans or opinion-makers would recognize that the emperor is wearing no clothes. We should literally start laughing at Trump. A big headline yesterday was about whether Trump would be entitled to conjugal visits from Melania in prison. And we haven't yet started laughing.
How pathetic the other GOP candidates look now. They are nothing. They aren't even good toadies.
And Shapiro? He's just a tragedy. What facts are there about Trump that would impress you, Ben? Are there any? Don't you realize that you seem like the kind of person who "has his mind made up no matter what?" You're too smart for that, Ben.
I'm not so charitable talking about our congressperson here in western Minnesota, Michelle Fischbach. I would not grade her intelligence nearly so high. She followed Trump on the election thing. Even Tom Emmer did not do that.
I'm sure all the local Apostolic Christians would vote for Trump again.
"Alice Through the Looking Glass."
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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