Re: Brian Stewart's take on Elon, I'm struck by the feeling that many (including the writer) are kinda dancing around the issue -- Ukraine's strategic reliance on Elon Musk's unique satellite communications system essentially raises Musk to the level of strategic ally; i.e., Ukraine has necessarily made common cause not only with the nation-states that comprise NATO, but also with a non-state actor who answers to no one but himself. It's easy, in hindsight, to dismiss Musk's actions as those of a useful idiot, but consider the reality. How many of us, weighing that same decision, would be willing to say, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" when allowing the use of our commercial product could inadvertently initiate a nuclear apocalypse? Musk is not a general; he is not advised by generals. He is not an intelligence officer; he is not advised by intelligence officers. And he is not an elected politician whose training and experience is focused on making these kinds of decisions. Stewart opines, "it's worth asking who voted him into a position of such power." The answer is obvious -- we all did. Musk had that decision foisted upon him because his position as the de facto owner of a vital, technological commodity put him where no civilian is meant to be. And now we have to clean up this mess -- not just with Musk but with anyone else who could plausibly be thrust into such a position (for starters I'm looking at you, Sam Altman) -- and take a long, hard look at the consequences of the private sector outpacing nation states in crucial technological development. Because I, for one, would prefer Elon Musk not being anywhere near a decision that impacts anything but his decaying husk of a social media toy.
Romney departure, then the Paxton Acquittal - RATS (another Republican Abandoning The Stench then Republicans Attacking Traditional Standards and Republicans Abandoning Their Savior(?).
"A fellow senator told Romney privately: '[Trump] has none of the qualities you would want in the president, and all of the qualities you wouldn’t'.“
Ah, but he has all the qualities you want in a useful idiot. For 240 years a large minority of politicians privately hated our form of government and craved authoritarianism. But they new better than to try, because they knew they'd get pushback. Until 1/20/2017.
Charlie, you're starting to compete with JVL for ruining my day. No, I don't "shoot messengers," but I see that nearly 5 years ago, and 2 years to the day before the insurrection, you called it "Late Stage Trumpism." If only it was.
The scariest part that he mentioned in his book is that Republicans aren’t just weak willed. They’re afraid of violence towards themselves and their families. I don’t think we’re discussing this enough. They’re afraid to take political stands that will make their base angry. And they were afraid for their safety and their families safety.
How far we have fallen when Mitt Romney is perceived as some sort of paragon of probity and virtue—first because he could not tolerate Trump's crass, vulgarian tendencies, and finally when he realized Trump is indeed a criminal. Romney signaled his interest in a cabinet post very clearly over a cringeworthy meal of frog legs with the then-President-elect. He was also all-in on the backstabbing Mitch McConnell-led Amy Coney Barrett nomination. Despite his impeachment votes, Romney was principled only up to a point—he was at best terribly naive about his party and the MAGA movement. Is he a Reverend Parris? Not quite.
Re the addiction of power, FWIW that includes Feinstein insisting on only removing power from her cold, dead fingers. Outstanding grounds for term and age limits for the US Senate.
"The Quinnipiac University Poll uses what has long been considered the gold standard methodology in polling: random digit dialing using live interviewers, calling both landlines and cell phones."
Really? Who under the age of 40 answers has a landline or answers their cell when they get an unknown number? We already know a lot old farts are pro Trump. They're the ones who still have land lines. I'm on the other side of 60 and I haven't had a land line in over 10 years. These polls are worthless.
I admire and respect Mitt Romney, but I'm not worried about him. He says that he not going to retire, that he's going to stay active, and I believe him. I wouldn't be surprised if there's another new career waiting for him as a major official, maybe even a General Authority, of his church. He may be getting a little old for politics, but he's about the right age for LDS leadership. Whatever he does, it will be to serve and improve his community and the world.
Regarding Romney’s “a presidency shapes the public character of the nation” remark. Just think about what happened immediately after 9/11. There were random attacks on people of middle-Eastern lineage until Bush helped calm that down. And even though I have long felt that Bush (43) got way too much credit for his handling of the immediate aftermath of 9/11 simply because he acted like an adult, consider how Trump would have handled it. It’s too scary to contemplate.
Romney on Hawley and Cruz: Alas, the same could be said for many, many GOP members of the House and Senate (not named Greene, Boebert, or Tuberville). They are all too smart not to know that Trump is lying about the election. But the performative rush appears to strong to resist, both on their parts and on the parts of the people who actually vote for these clowns.
It’s a remake of “apocalypse now” but instead of Martin Sheen laying on a filthy mattress in Saigon, staring at a slow moving ceiling fan, it’s Mitt, in DC, staring at Mitch’s lips (barely) moving when Mitt begins to Rave, “THE HORROR!!! The Horrrror!!!”....
“With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable.” I see the manifestation of Trump’s malign influence every day, mostly in small ways such as aggression, rudeness, and daily violation of laws like running red lights. We all see it in some of the large ways.
Re: Brian Stewart's take on Elon, I'm struck by the feeling that many (including the writer) are kinda dancing around the issue -- Ukraine's strategic reliance on Elon Musk's unique satellite communications system essentially raises Musk to the level of strategic ally; i.e., Ukraine has necessarily made common cause not only with the nation-states that comprise NATO, but also with a non-state actor who answers to no one but himself. It's easy, in hindsight, to dismiss Musk's actions as those of a useful idiot, but consider the reality. How many of us, weighing that same decision, would be willing to say, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" when allowing the use of our commercial product could inadvertently initiate a nuclear apocalypse? Musk is not a general; he is not advised by generals. He is not an intelligence officer; he is not advised by intelligence officers. And he is not an elected politician whose training and experience is focused on making these kinds of decisions. Stewart opines, "it's worth asking who voted him into a position of such power." The answer is obvious -- we all did. Musk had that decision foisted upon him because his position as the de facto owner of a vital, technological commodity put him where no civilian is meant to be. And now we have to clean up this mess -- not just with Musk but with anyone else who could plausibly be thrust into such a position (for starters I'm looking at you, Sam Altman) -- and take a long, hard look at the consequences of the private sector outpacing nation states in crucial technological development. Because I, for one, would prefer Elon Musk not being anywhere near a decision that impacts anything but his decaying husk of a social media toy.
Romney departure, then the Paxton Acquittal - RATS (another Republican Abandoning The Stench then Republicans Attacking Traditional Standards and Republicans Abandoning Their Savior(?).
"A fellow senator told Romney privately: '[Trump] has none of the qualities you would want in the president, and all of the qualities you wouldn’t'.“
Ah, but he has all the qualities you want in a useful idiot. For 240 years a large minority of politicians privately hated our form of government and craved authoritarianism. But they new better than to try, because they knew they'd get pushback. Until 1/20/2017.
Charlie, you're starting to compete with JVL for ruining my day. No, I don't "shoot messengers," but I see that nearly 5 years ago, and 2 years to the day before the insurrection, you called it "Late Stage Trumpism." If only it was.
The scariest part that he mentioned in his book is that Republicans aren’t just weak willed. They’re afraid of violence towards themselves and their families. I don’t think we’re discussing this enough. They’re afraid to take political stands that will make their base angry. And they were afraid for their safety and their families safety.
How far we have fallen when Mitt Romney is perceived as some sort of paragon of probity and virtue—first because he could not tolerate Trump's crass, vulgarian tendencies, and finally when he realized Trump is indeed a criminal. Romney signaled his interest in a cabinet post very clearly over a cringeworthy meal of frog legs with the then-President-elect. He was also all-in on the backstabbing Mitch McConnell-led Amy Coney Barrett nomination. Despite his impeachment votes, Romney was principled only up to a point—he was at best terribly naive about his party and the MAGA movement. Is he a Reverend Parris? Not quite.
But he sure ain't Henry Clay.
Re the addiction of power, FWIW that includes Feinstein insisting on only removing power from her cold, dead fingers. Outstanding grounds for term and age limits for the US Senate.
From Quinnipiac website
"The Quinnipiac University Poll uses what has long been considered the gold standard methodology in polling: random digit dialing using live interviewers, calling both landlines and cell phones."
Really? Who under the age of 40 answers has a landline or answers their cell when they get an unknown number? We already know a lot old farts are pro Trump. They're the ones who still have land lines. I'm on the other side of 60 and I haven't had a land line in over 10 years. These polls are worthless.
I admire and respect Mitt Romney, but I'm not worried about him. He says that he not going to retire, that he's going to stay active, and I believe him. I wouldn't be surprised if there's another new career waiting for him as a major official, maybe even a General Authority, of his church. He may be getting a little old for politics, but he's about the right age for LDS leadership. Whatever he does, it will be to serve and improve his community and the world.
To what end?
Regarding Romney’s “a presidency shapes the public character of the nation” remark. Just think about what happened immediately after 9/11. There were random attacks on people of middle-Eastern lineage until Bush helped calm that down. And even though I have long felt that Bush (43) got way too much credit for his handling of the immediate aftermath of 9/11 simply because he acted like an adult, consider how Trump would have handled it. It’s too scary to contemplate.
Romney on Hawley and Cruz: Alas, the same could be said for many, many GOP members of the House and Senate (not named Greene, Boebert, or Tuberville). They are all too smart not to know that Trump is lying about the election. But the performative rush appears to strong to resist, both on their parts and on the parts of the people who actually vote for these clowns.
I must buy that edition of the Atlantic. Great column today, Charlie. Thank you.
All true, but in what media echosphere would such coverage appear? And, what about my advance on the bool deal??
It’s a remake of “apocalypse now” but instead of Martin Sheen laying on a filthy mattress in Saigon, staring at a slow moving ceiling fan, it’s Mitt, in DC, staring at Mitch’s lips (barely) moving when Mitt begins to Rave, “THE HORROR!!! The Horrrror!!!”....
“With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable.” I see the manifestation of Trump’s malign influence every day, mostly in small ways such as aggression, rudeness, and daily violation of laws like running red lights. We all see it in some of the large ways.
And in the newest edition of the Banana Republic of Wisconsinia and how Republicans want to burn it all down.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/09/14/wisconsin-republicans-fire-election-director/