"Why wasn't that clear to a man of McCarthy's perspicacity long, long ago? " --
My theory is that some undeniably smart people, seeing that Trump was serving interests of theirs, chose to believe that they could see deeper, beyond mere "style," to the virtuous core, which must be there if he was pushing policies they liked (so the thinking went). This was no doubt presumed to be a higher form of moral judgment, above the supposedly superficial censoriousness of others who lacked the moral fortitude to fight the good fight.
Well said and very insightful. I think you are right. That would explain the virulent hatred against people perceived to be RINOs and also Never Trumpers. I think there was a lot of self-delusion going on, though, and a lot of consciously willed blindness. Trump's limitations of character were evident during the primary debates. He was clearly dangerous because he did not understand the system of checks and balances (among many other things he didn't understand). I'm surprised that those who chose to believe they could see deeper into some sort of virtuous core couldn't see that from the first. And the ends--likable policies--don't justify the means. I think the Republican Party--of which I used to be a member--lost moral clarity when it came to Trump and became fearful, power-driven, and unprincipled. It is a shame. Even Nancy Pelosi said that the country needs a strong Republican Party. There are also people who voted for Trump on the basis of one issue about which they were impassioned--all the while knowing and ruing his limitations of character, but feeling the issue was too important to sacrifice. I know some very intelligent people who voted for him on that basis. Still, agreeable policies won't matter much if we don't have a country left, and I do believe he exacerbated divisions and tried to interrupt the peaceful transfer of power to the point of almost establishing an authoritarian regime, all the while encouraging armed, extremist militias. Andrew McCarthy thinks our institutions held. I don't agree--they held because of the courage and good character of the people within them--people like Shaye Moss. Thank you for your comment. It was intelligent and insightful.
I feel our institutions were infiltrated and damaged. Many have sections or departments and safeguards that were destroyed and that is why we are reaping many of the consequences of that damage now.
"Why wasn't that clear to a man of McCarthy's perspicacity long, long ago? " --
My theory is that some undeniably smart people, seeing that Trump was serving interests of theirs, chose to believe that they could see deeper, beyond mere "style," to the virtuous core, which must be there if he was pushing policies they liked (so the thinking went). This was no doubt presumed to be a higher form of moral judgment, above the supposedly superficial censoriousness of others who lacked the moral fortitude to fight the good fight.
Well said and very insightful. I think you are right. That would explain the virulent hatred against people perceived to be RINOs and also Never Trumpers. I think there was a lot of self-delusion going on, though, and a lot of consciously willed blindness. Trump's limitations of character were evident during the primary debates. He was clearly dangerous because he did not understand the system of checks and balances (among many other things he didn't understand). I'm surprised that those who chose to believe they could see deeper into some sort of virtuous core couldn't see that from the first. And the ends--likable policies--don't justify the means. I think the Republican Party--of which I used to be a member--lost moral clarity when it came to Trump and became fearful, power-driven, and unprincipled. It is a shame. Even Nancy Pelosi said that the country needs a strong Republican Party. There are also people who voted for Trump on the basis of one issue about which they were impassioned--all the while knowing and ruing his limitations of character, but feeling the issue was too important to sacrifice. I know some very intelligent people who voted for him on that basis. Still, agreeable policies won't matter much if we don't have a country left, and I do believe he exacerbated divisions and tried to interrupt the peaceful transfer of power to the point of almost establishing an authoritarian regime, all the while encouraging armed, extremist militias. Andrew McCarthy thinks our institutions held. I don't agree--they held because of the courage and good character of the people within them--people like Shaye Moss. Thank you for your comment. It was intelligent and insightful.
I feel our institutions were infiltrated and damaged. Many have sections or departments and safeguards that were destroyed and that is why we are reaping many of the consequences of that damage now.