Friends, despite four years of concentrated, vitriolic attacks on President Trump, his popularity has never sunk so low that Democrats and liberals could feel confident of evicting him from the White House in January 2021 (or sooner, which of course is what the Russia hoax and impeachment were all about). Why has Trump weathered the storm so well? Partly it's because conservatives know that, even though Trump himself is not without flaws, he has achieved numerous and notable successes: a tax cut, strong economic and job growth, better border protection, a huge reduction in regulatory burdens, a more muscular and at the same time more judicious foreign policy, more advantageous trade deals, and, last but not least, the appointment of several hundred marvelous judges to the federal bench. Why would any conservative deny Trump his or her wholehearted support, when he's, well, WINNING on so many crucial fronts?
The Left and the media have not succeeded in separating Trump from his base, therefore, but the constant drumbeat of attacks has succeeded in depressing Trump's overall approval rating, turning the House of Representatives blue, and energizing Democrats. The Democratic Party is on course, therefore, to winning the 2020 election. I'm not saying that's inevitable, by any means, but it's possible, maybe even more likely than not, simply because Trump's negatives remain stubbornly high.
The worst nightmare of the Left has always been that events and circumstances would short-circuit their carefully choreographed parade of anti-Trump narratives. What if Donald Trump, despite the tidal wave of criticism, rose to the occasion in a moment of national crisis and fulfilled the duties of the presidency in an exemplary way? If that were to happen, then the eyes of the nation, turned momentarily to the facts, rather than to the dark parody of the "news" ordinarily broadcast by the media, would be genuinely impressed by Trump's leadership. The media itself might even be shamed into admitting that Donald J. Trump, for all his foibles, simply isn't wrong 100% of the time. In short, a defining moment, like the current pandemic, could offer Trump an opportunity to shift the narrative in a decisive way, and to prove his mettle to independents and open-minded Democrats, who otherwise would be inclined, based on biased reporting, to dismiss him as a "gangster," a buffoon, or a fascist.
There is evidence that something along these lines is indeed happening. For one thing, despite the fact that the press has attempted to shift blame for the pandemic to Trump from the start, no reduction in his approval rating has materialized. More importantly, the public's assessment of Trump's response to the pandemic is growing steadily rosier. And remember -- we are still in the early stages of the crisis. In all likelihood, the number of infections and deaths will climb for several more weeks.
And that, my friends, raises the question: if the American people currently approve of Trump's handling of the crisis, even under the present dire circumstances, how much more will they approve once we (inevitably) get the virus under control, the number of cases starts to shrink, and we can (begin to) declare victory???
As I said, all this is the Left's worst nightmare. President Trump, who is already a success as president, is on the cusp of achieving another victory, and in many ways a greater victory than any he has ever notched in his long life and career: he will soon be, I predict, the man who led America, and to a point the world, away from the coronavirus abyss, and back towards safety, security, and good health. One has to wonder how the Democrats and liberals will spin that. No doubt they're already working on it.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/approval-trumps-coronavirus-response-climbs-130200643.html
Dr. Waddy: Your commentary is quite plausible, I think. President Trump is a gifted leader and I am put in mind of others who were widely feared but who proved redoubtable in national crisis.
ReplyDeleteImagine an unrestrained leftist like Bernie in the present situation. "The incomes of all whose personal wealth exceeds $500,000 is by my Executive order requisitioned, together with their unjustly accumulated stores, for the relief of the broad masses who suffer in this predictable contradiction. Without their previous felonious amassing of undeserved prosperity,the victimized people would have been well equipped to weather this storm. Now, they must face the consequences for their terrible folly."
Yes, America rejected Hoover in 1932 but he had displayed a not uncompassionate (which could be attested to by myriad starving post 1918 Europeans) but a popularly not perceived reaction to the Depression by relying on the fundamental soundness of American free enterprise. Were FDR's measures more effective? Arguably not but the war ended that controversy for a time.
OK, America did not reject FDR's unprecedented bid for a third term and it cannot have been largely unaware of the news from Europe. No doubt many Americans expected us to be embroiled, as frightful as that was to those who remembered WWI.
And in 1944 we returned him to power. He had proved a most creditable wartime Commander, a fact supported by his elevation of previously obscure officers like Marshall and Eisenhower and his enablement of Henry Kaiser, who built the Liberty ships with such capitalist dispatch.
It is very possible that President Trump will prove such a good leader and that he will eclipse any disdainful Dem sent against him.
FDR made the deadly mistake by recognizing the Soviet Union under Stalin as soon as he (FDR) took office. Then he had to deal with Stalin as an ally during World War 2. I'm sure the Communists in our State Department were absolutely delighted to be aligned with their favorite dictator. Now our Communists in our State Department are in love with Communist China.
DeleteJack, the expansion of federal power and spending under Trump in the midst of this crisis is alarming enough. IF Bernie were in the White House, I shudder to think what sleights-of-hand he would employ to justify massive federal power grabs! And Trump is policing our borders even more strictly -- I imagine Bernie would dissolve the Border Patrol and redeploy its members as medical orderlies... Wartime, and this is wartime in a sense, offers a cunning chief executive many enticements and opportunities. Thank heavens we didn't place a Democrat in that position in 2016!
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy
DeleteI am not up to date on just how President Trump is "policing our borders" at this very moment. Certainly more strictly than any DemoCRAZY would under the circumstances. However, (and I have said this before), our border with Mexico needs to be militarized, completely. In other words, The Armed Forces of The United States of America need to take control of that border, with our Border Patrol as a back up force, and under the direction of a U.S. Military Officer. This should have been done about 30 years ago. We also need to close those ports of entry down from time to time. Actually, about four days a week is enough. Finally, we need to freeze ALL legal immigration world wide for about five (5) years so the IRS people can get caught up. Actually ten (10) years would be better
Democrats believe in science, so I am sure that a Democrat would have handled this crisis much better. For one thing, the pandemic group would not have been reassigned, and the pandemic simulation done in 2018 would have been used as a playbook for handling the crisis.
DeleteIf the progressive elites of the radical left ever get back in The White House again they will wreck The United States of America. You can count on it. Please do not use the world "Democrat" to describe these swine again. With very few exceptions (if any), most of them are now confirmed Socialist/Communist, plain and simple.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the typo, please change world to word.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget that if Joe Biden does get in The White House, this is a man who is "in bed" with China. He is certainly not the only one, but there are a substantial number of people in The United States of America (film industry, academia, media, and loads of politicians) who hate our country, and believe that one of the nastiest and most absolute dictatorships in the world (China) is just fine. If there were true justice, most of them should be serving sentences for treason, but of course that is not going to happen, so the "beat goes on".
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of the coronavirus, is there any reason to believe that a certain country (you fill in the name) did not plan this "germ warfare" attack in order to destabilize the world in general, and The U.S. in particular? Hard to prove or disprove isn't it? But take a look at that country's history and current regime and see if such is not within the realm of possibility. Think about it.
ReplyDeleteOne more rant and a bit of rave here, and thinking outside the box a bit. Don't forget that Trump is a unique President. He does not play party politics, and in a way he is his own political party. Don't forget that many past so called Republican Presidents have gotten this country into as much trouble (in different ways) as have so called Democrat Presidents. We can thank President Nixon for recognizing Communist China, aided and abetted by every president thereafter (except Trump) for putting us in China's debt and shipping our manufacturing base over there.
ReplyDeleteCome on Jack and Linda, I need your feedback here, plus anyone else who wants to join in. Let's go gang.
ReplyDeleteIf Trump succeeds, it will be despite him, not because of him. With the exception of the no-brainer move of stopping plane flights from China, his handling of this has been a disaster. Testing was delayed, and essential medical materials (masks, ventilators) are in dangerously short supply. Trump did not even take the crisis seriously until March 1.
ReplyDeleteHis performances at press conferences has been atrocious. He constantly has to be corrected by Dr. Fauci.
At some point, the virus will slow down, though it may come back in the fall -- no one knows. But, any success will not be because of Trump.
What are you and millions of other left wingers going to do when Trump is reelected in November? Don't worry, I'm a right winger and I believe in science too. I will have hot chocolate and psychiatrists ready to comfort you.
DeleteCOMRADE CARVETH is typical of those who follow the ideology of the late Karl Marx. Anything they say is to be believed without question. For example Comrade Rod Carveth tells us that Trump's handling of this crisis has been a disaster, but like most Marxists (posing under the name Democrat) he fails (utterly) to explain exactly why, and does not tell us deplorable slobs how the situation should be handled in a politically correct manner. Us dumbos are just supposed to believe that any Democrat President sitting in The White House would have done the right thing, no pun intended. SO HERE IS MY MESSAGE FOR YOU COMRADE CARVETH: IF YOU ARE GOING TO POST ON THIS SITE I ADVISE YOU TO COME UP WITH SOME OF YOUR BRILLIANT SOCIALIST SOLUTIONS TO OUR NATIONAL PROBLEMS. TELL US HOW WHAT TO DO COMRADE!
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy et al: I think it possible but improbable that China would have unleashed this virus, for reasons Dr. Waddy has already expressed.
ReplyDeleteThe point, I think, is that Dr.Fauci is there, at the President's behest. I entertain no lack of confidence in the President due to his conduct of these press conferences.Flawless Hillary would, of course not have faced a press corps much of which is looking only for "gotchas". He was a little hard on a reporter yesterday but, eh, he is under much stress, yes? And if it had a sobering effect on the largely unprincipled "journalist" crowd, then good. They are a profession shamefully disgraced by their dominant partisan faction and our President does well to confront them.
Jack
DeleteI am back as Anonymous after posing under various names. Here is what I believe (although of course I can't prove it):
I believe that China's Communist government is the most ruthless and dangerous total dictatorship in the world, and that it would do anything to destabilize the world (and especially The United States of America) in its quest to become a super power.
There is no doubt in my mind that China's Communist government could care less about how many people die, and that it is testing its germ warfare capability.
I suggest you read up on how many millions have died since Mao established China's Communist Dictatorship in 1949. China under its current regime is perfectly capable of using germ warfare capabilities in order to accomplish its goals. At the very least, there has been an accident at their germ warfare center, which by the way is located in Wuhan. Ironically, Wuhan is also the place that China used to train world wide Communist sabotage and espionage units.
China's objectives are to create chaos through any and all means available. Cyber Warfare is one way, and biological warfare is another.
I'm sorry, but anyone who tends to underestimate China's goals tends to be somewhat of a fool.
So there is my opinion on this. Finally, no matter what Trump does or does not do about this current debacle will make no difference whatsoever to our homegrown leftist scum who refer China over their own country.
FINALLY I strongly suggest that anyone who doubts the ability of governments to authorize and carry out mass murder, to get a copy of "Death by Government......." by R.J. Rummel and eyeball it closely. SERIOUSLY!
ReplyDeleteApologies, Ling Ping Pong Ding Dong/Anonymous (?)...I have been out and about today/Saturday, although our esteemed governor requires house arrest ((grin))... Anonymous, I have been enjoying your pseudonyms. At first, I wasn't quite sure who it was and was quite fearful we had imposters/trolls here. Grant it, it became confusing and quite comical, I assure you, I mean no harm with those comments. smiles
DeleteI am afraid, Professor Carveth, the former presidents have been in bed with China for years. Please stop blaming the current President. Personally, I happen to like his press conferences and his combativeness -about time the MSM gets what is due to them.
Dr. Waddy, I am quite concerned about the expansion of powers and spending. I am on the fence about this. I have more of sinister point of view. One being, perhaps, this was a situation that got way out of control by China (and apologies Jack, I do believe it was deliberate) and when it did get out of control, we were caught wholly unprepared. Who, what etc. knew --doesn't matter anymore. What is that saying by Franklin, something about treachery...oh, "Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don't have brains enough to be honest." Something like that...I am afraid, personally, speaking, we the people, are being 'had'--Being had by our own government. I am not saying this virus isn't real, but we allowing the government to take freedoms away for a select few. Let see, the press is trying in vain to control what we hear and see, limits on gun purchases and ammo, businesses are forced to close, growing depended on the gvt etc. I could go on and on.
I digress, another quote from Ben Franklin, which is my favorite. "It is the responsibility of every citizen to question authority." Something doesn't smell right about all this.
Ok, Anonymous, Kung Fu, Chop Suey / Chow Mein Charlie ((grin--wait, is that racist?))...what say you? BTW, I do agree with you concerning your thoughts about China.
Linda,
ReplyDeleteYou already know how people can be anywhere in the world when they have power. They always want more, and they will do anything to get it. It is an addiction, and it must be fed at all times. This is true of all people.
Indeed, Anonymous...and I look forward to more pseudonyms. smiles
DeleteLinda, Anonymous et al: Those are striking points about what Chinese facilities may be located in Wuhan and they lend some credibility to surmise that this virus may be a Chinese creation which, purposefully or otherwise, has been turned loose.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous; I'm fairly well read in 20th century history and am well aware of the appallingly murderous record of sociopathic 20th century totalitarians, including Mao. I just finished a study of 20th century and very much previous German antisemitism and it was almost unendurable reading. So was Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.I've often expressed in this blog my belief that Marxism equals mass murder. I majored in Chinese Studies and am as aware as a BA could make me of China's agony from 1820 until Teng Hsiao Ping showed the way out of the abyss in the late 20th century. I still think China retains a fundamental purpose of ensuring that it never again suffers the humiliation and the indescribable destruction it endured ; as an eminently practical civilization I think it has rejected all but the nominal madness of Marxism while adopting an authoritarian ambience which is a reasonable(to them and from them,what else can we ask? Its their country) compromise between Confucianism and the modern world. They are a very old, very great civilization and they know it and they hold a very different view of time and history.
Does their determination never again to be dominated include aggressive action against the rest of the world?(Or just us? They could have what they regard as legitimate reasons for wanting western military power to quit E. Asia; we must understand the history which birthed this) For what its worth though, I don't dismiss the possibility of their seeing very aggressive action around the world as serving their quest for security. Since unshirted hell was visited upon them by the farthest reaches of the world, (eg Britain) maybe they do seek preventative dominance and control worldwide. We have, of course, every good reason to contest this, if it is their intent.
Yep, heard all this before to include our Chinese exclusion acts and all that. Yep, know all about the Yangtse (spelling?) River Patrol and whatnot. Still don't think any of that gives the Chinese Communist Government the right to make trouble for the world just because they are upset about some stuff that happened in history. In any event, The United States of America did NOT invade their damn country in 1937 and do "The Rape of Nanking" and so on. Japan did, and now China is acting like Japan used to, isn't it?
DeleteWhoa! 22 comments from 13 unique commenters. Not too shabby. Guess I hit a nerve...
ReplyDeleteWhittaker Chambers is right about the pinkos and reds in the State Department in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Thanks for giving Alger Hiss the business, by the way! He's also right that much of our political establishment would rather carry water for China than stand up for American national interests. I'm not sure, though, that China's current regime is "communist" in any meaningful sense. Of course, one could argue that the Soviet regime wasn't genuinely Marxist either. It was more like a pseudo-Marxist con.
Pancho Villa -- your fondness for border security seems...out of character? Nonetheless, I'm sympathetic, as you might imagine. Luckily, this crisis can be employed to accomplish many of the goals you cite. I imagine legal immigration has come to a screeching halt, and future limitations could be justified in the interests of public health. Fortress America is about to be born?
Rod -- if Democrats would have done better handling the coronavirus because they "love science," then where exactly did the Europeans and the Canadians go wrong? They love science even more than the Dems!
Socrates is right that much of the Democratic Party has troubling connections to the Chicoms and to Chinese state industries. Taking China's side in the recent trade war is par for the course. Plato can't support his assertion that the virus is a Chinese invention, however. Is the Chinese leadership ruthless enough to contemplate such an attack? Maybe, but they're also wise enough to think twice about such a reckless scheme.
Chow Mein Charlie -- Nixon opened the door diplomatically to China, yes, but its economic ascent really didn't happen until the 80s. Blame, if you want to blame someone, Bush Sr, who let Tiananmen slide...
Rod -- you say stopping flights from China was a no-brainer. Why did Biden call it "xenophobia" then? Check your facts!
Jack the Ripper -- on behalf of the Trump campaign, we're honored to have your endorsement. No one cracked down harder on "vice" than you! A true public servant.
Jack is right -- there's no such thing as coming down too hard on the press. Half the country loathes Trump. EVERYONE loathes the press.
Linda, whether our government has a sinister plan to take away our freedoms and expand its own authority really doesn't matter...if those ends are accomplished come what may. Basically, here is how it works: every crisis is an excuse to expand government. Anyone who opposes it is "heartless". Then, when crisis abates, the American people stop paying attention...and government expands by stealth. Only, and I mean ONLY, when the people are focused on preventing government's growth, and that's rare, can it be temporarily halted. Sad, but true.
I agree with Jack that the Chinese have, as a proud nation, the right to pursue their national interests and to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity from all comers, including us. So be it. They may even have good grounds for opposing the forward deployment of US forces in the western Pacific. My main beef with China is their desire to dominate the world economy by discriminating against US suppliers at the same time that they favor and subsidize their own. All the American worker asks for is a fair shake, and thus far China won't give it to him. As for tyranny in China, I say that's China's business. Uighurs, et al. -- good luck to you!
Anonymous: I see significant differences between the present day conduct of China and that of Japan from 1895 -1945. Japan moved from the 17th century to the ability to defend itself against any force seeking to dominate it. They only failed when they motivated the U.S. by attacking us and when they ravaged E. Asia.
ReplyDeleteChina is probably not that rash and China, unlike Japan, is natural resource rich and does not have the sense of "now or never " the Japanese had in 1941. The Chinese may well have the ruthlessness the Japanese showed at Nanking (witness their treatment of Uighurs and Tibetans)though.
Japan fundamentally remade itself for all time after the Meiji restoration of the late 19th century. In military technology (and certainly in manpower) China was the equal of the West until the 17th century. Suppose the Chinese had maintained that strength; some radical scientific development might have enabled this. Suppose that, consequently, they had been able to repel Western incursion and remained sovereign? My guess is that the culture of that China today would look much like that of China today. Their international policy could have been much different, sans Western and Japanese depradation. Russia and Islam and the Northern nomads might have been their chief concern. Finally, Chinese history shows several intervals of disorder or brief imperial domination by foreign cultures after the fall of strong dynasties. It has always reemerged as China; not unchanged but still deep China.
Dr. Waddy: Like so many strong competitors it may just be that China has said" don't like our economic policies? Do something about it." When two football teams take the field they expect adverse action and reaction from the other team. Looks like President Trump was coming close to a fair deal with them until the present crisis erupted.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: You already know how I look at Tienanmen but for those who may not have read it: I'm strongly of the opinion that Teng Hsiao Ping, after the humiliation, ingratitude and physical agony he suffered at the hands of radical youth during Mao's insane Cultural Revolution (and he a veteran of the Long March - China's Valley Forge) was determined never again to let youth exercise power. In a culture in which age is revered, that is even more certain, I think. Bush I probably could not have done anything about it, before or after. It is one of those historical phenomena (like the European invasion of America) which is, defacto, sadly beyond the reach of right or wrong. It is what is.
ReplyDeleteJack, I thank heavens that the Chinese have been historically insular. They have the potential to rule the world if ever they so choose. Can you imagine if the industrial revolution had happened first in China? Yikes!
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't suggest that we could have altered what happened at Tiananmen. What I am suggesting is that we could have used it as an excuse to cut off trade or impose serious sanctions. Instead, almost immediately we turned a blind eye. Make no mistake: we have actively aided China's ascent. God willing, we'll all profit and go our merry ways. If China ever seriously threatens us, though, we will have made our own bed, so to speak.
Dr. Waddy: Ok. But we are dealing with perhaps the greatest two or three civilizations of all times. The Chinese may have been seen as insular worldwide but their dominance in Asia, at the very least, is pronounced. Japanese history is marked by imitation of China, from their recreation of the Chinese capitol in their seminal city of Heian (Kyoto) to their adoption of much of the Chinese written language and of much of Confucianism and Buddhism. Oh no, China is the SUN of East Asia.
ReplyDelete.
Dr. Waddy: Please forgive my presumptuousness, I mean this; a BA does not make me anything approaching an expert.
ReplyDeleteIn the early 15th century the thoroughly Chinese Ming dynasty sent several massive expeditions, led by by ships far larger and seaworthy than anything in Europe, to the very tip of Africa and they probably could have proceeded to European waters had they not not been recalled by the Emperor. Perhaps, to the Chinese, enough of the world outside the "Middle Kingdom"had been explored to confirm their view that the rest of the world had little to offer them. The Ming knew of China's occasional periods of dissolution but also knew of repeated reorganizations and revivals. The Chinese view of history (2500 years as a relatively consistent culture!)is in sharp contrast to our relatively recent ascent ( even if you go back to 1066 or before).
To the Chinese, China has risen once again from one of its periodic low points. Why do I suggest this? Perhaps only to inject this view into consideration in this forum of China's views and intentions.
Jack, if you mean to suggest that, at certain points, China has had the potential to dominate the world, I agree! If you mean to suggest that she might do so again, I agree! My view, though, is that we are better off with the West in the driver's seat. I hope and pray that we will stay there.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: I fully agree in that I would be loathe to see the Chinese world view dominate the world, especially the Western world for which it would be very ill suited. I laud it only in that it is very time tested and proven as the foundation of a very viable civilization.
ReplyDeleteLet us not, I suggest, attempt to deny China its place in the world; its PLACE only as defined by history.If they attempt to invade our world, then I agree, stand against them. Perhaps, if we can ASSURE them that we mean no 19th century style domination, they may be content to occupy their sphere of influence (which , remember,IS limited by the the powerful Japanese and of which China is well cognizant).
I think China retains its historical vision of itself as "The Middle Kingdom" (consider Chinese emigres' perceptions of Western cultures' voluptoussness and drug enabled excess (which would be savagely repressed in China). I do not think it seeks world dominance. I think it means to assure China's freedom to enable its own civilization wherever it is creditably applicable.
Jack, I wholeheartedly agree. I have no problem conceding to China its sphere of influence, which frankly now extends barely further than North Korea. Does China control South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, or India? Not in the least, although it does exercise some financial sway. As long as this balance of power endures, I'm more than happy to leave China be.
ReplyDeleteDr.Waddy: But surely, attention to China's power cannot be absent from consideration from the intentions of all the nations you cited. I think we can have a productive and positive relationship with China if: China harbors no worldwide ambitions (and I think it does not) and if we fully respect China's history and that it receive our objective recognition of our historic disrespect of China's sovereignty, but also our determination, backed by previous military effort and present strength, to protect our civilization, that a modus vivendi can be reached.
ReplyDeleteAs for India: It has never been dominated by China. But perhaps it can exercise a very beneficial partial balance to China in Asia? It has itself undergone a miraculous and much to be celebrated economic surge and, perhaps, a military slant toward the US which could benefit it should China overreach. And that could result in fortuitous compromise.
I agree, Jack -- compromise is possible, and China can be "contained", if needs be. It will be interesting to see which countries come back from the COVID-19 debacle better than others. It sure looks like the West will be hardest hit, which is a shame. It will increase the likelihood that our hegemony will be challenged.
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