Slouching Toward Totalitarianism

Can Trump save us?

Klingenstein: Is our regime totalitarian, emerging or otherwise? What makes it so? How far along are we? Can we fight back?

Ellmers: I think the essay that Ted Richards and I wrote for your website, and the several excellent responses that you published, cover this pretty well. 

Klingenstein: How much can Trump fix it?

Ellmers: Very hard to say. Showing up, as they say, is half the battle. Or, as you have noted, the first step in winning a war is to know that you are in one. Trump knows this. He has to keep making the case to the American people that they are true sovereigns, and the arrogant ruling class is illegitimate. The outrageous incompetence of the Secret Service, which failed to prevent the attempted assassination of President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, is a good way to remind people that our so-called experts have no expertise. These bureaucrats are mostly blowhards, grifters, and phonies. 

I agree with Trump’s decision not to talk any more about how he was almost murdered, but incoming Vice President Vance should… a lot. In fact, I hope that Trump will continue to do what he does best as president — using his wit and populist rhetoric and negotiating skills to good effect — while the vice president’s office acts as the day-to-day juggernaut that ruthlessly dismantles the administrative state. 

Klingenstein: Will Trump win? What does it depend on? If you were his political consultant, what would you advise him to do?

Ellmers: I think he will win by a significant margin — too big, as people are saying, for the Democrats to steal. My friend Jim Piereson, writing in The New Criterion, has predicted that Trump will win the popular vote by six points, take all the swing states, and get 339 electoral votes. That sounds right to me. 

He seems to have been changed somewhat since he nearly took a bullet to the head. I would encourage him to remain upbeat and positive. 

Klingenstein: What will happen after Trump if he is elected in 2024?

Ellmers: Again, hard to say. Of course the Left will launch its resistance campaign, but I don’t think anyone knows how much support it will have outside the radical fringe. Some of my friends think I’m too optimistic, but I suspect that some energy and panache has gone out of protesting and rioting since the 2020 Summer of Left-wing Love. There will still be violence by Antifa and others, but I don’t think it will have the same mainstream support. And we should not discount the anger the hard Left will direct at the Democrat party. The media and the Beltway establishment really screwed up this election by lying about Biden, and I think the radicals will not take kindly to having their agenda thwarted by the complacency and arrogance of the Democrat’s leadership. 

Klingenstein: Is Vance MAGA? Is he the right choice for VP? He abhorred Trump before he lauded him. Does this make you hesitate?

Ellmers: It’s extremely important that Trump 1) went outside the decrepit establishment and picked someone who will help him fight the Beltway blob head-on; and 2) picked someone young and energetic who can carry on the MAGA agenda. That means Trump is thinking long-term. It was a good choice. 

Having just finished Hillbilly Elegy, I would say that Trump's VP pick was an outstanding choice, the best he could have made from the outstanding candidates on his short list.  A second brilliant move was his welcoming of RFK Jr. into his coalition. Here is the Kennedy clan's black (red?) sheep's Arizona Trump endorsement. 

Comments

[james soriano]

About policy reform, twice Klingenstein asked “what will happen” if Trump’s elected, and “how much can Trump fix it?” Twice Ellmers answered, “hard to say.” Good answer.

Donald Trump’s flaws are manifold, but one stuck out prominently during his administration: his inability to enlist the right people.

It’s not enough for a leader to have a vision; he must also surround himself with lieutenants to do his will. Without them he can be undone.

During Trump’s turn, many conservatives stayed away. They didn’t want to service in his administration on their resumes. Who wants to known as someone who promotes “populist” policies. Thus during his administration, the public often got the picture of Donald Trump standing alone. Indeed, in one instance disloyal White House staff led to his first impeachment (over Ukraine aid).

Has anything changed? If Trump gets a second try, the answer would be, yes. More talent is coming forward. The bench is deeper. There seems to be a greater willingness to take on the bureaucracy and the customary ways of doing things in Washington.

Will it make a difference or will the Deep State prevail? As Ellmers said, it’s hard to say, but the trend’s positive.

[BV]

I agree with your analysis, James. The trend's positive. Part of the explanation is that Trump is a very quick study for an old man. He's learning the ropes. He has attracted a long list of very talented young people who will make excellent Cabinet choices.

I detect moral improvement in the man. And can anyone in the current political scene match him in civil courage?

As for populism, Bergoglio the Bone-Headed is against it. Populism Si! Popery No!

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2024/08/25/not-happy-pope-francis-decries-wave-of-populism-in-europe/

[BV]

By the way, James, how far away are you from the Hezbollah positions being pounded by the IDF? Far enough, I hope!

[Joe Odegaard]

I think a lot of Trump's moral improvement is due to Melania, you can get a clue to that in this video where she is shown opening a Trump rally by reciting the Lord's prayer (2017).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1CG6KfOZOo

This is quite under the current radar of the Democrats and the MSM, and that is a good thing, I think, because what a stinl they would raise if they remembered now.

[BV]

Thanks for that, Joe. I wasn't aware of it. Yes, Melania is playing a role, but also the terrible adversity he is facing, adversity that would crush a lesser man.

The Dementocrat scum will of course dismiss it as a cynical partisan play to the base, but we know better.

[james soriano]

Bill,

Thanks for your concern. We’re still up in Broumana, but we’ll be going down to Beirut later in the week for a few days.

Beirut’s about 70 miles from the Israeli border, and our place in Broumana is even farther north, so we’re far from the fighting, although sometimes the sonic booms of Israeli jets can be startling.

Our main concern is not about physical safety but of airline service. Many flights have been cancelled and the local news shows a deserted airport. We couldn’t fly out now if we wanted to.

[Joe Odegaard]

Brother Bill, yes, Trump faces a terrible adversity. But the hand of God is on him; I think he realizes it too, as the article in this link will show:

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/08/25/exclusive-donald-trump-unveils-dramatic-details-assassination-attempt-moment-happened-whos-blame-why-he-got-up-yelled-fight-fight-fight/