Is this why Dem’s Approval Rating Polls are so bad?

Fine, but if it's true that poor people need better character, what does it matter than Brooks doesn't have better character? Just because he's personally a hypocrite doesn't make him wrong.

[snip]

I just don't think his personal failings are relevant unless they tie into his work somehow.
If Brooks is considered “successful” despite having shitty character, then that directly undercuts his claim that the way out of poverty is by developing character…because he’s a living example that character & financial success aren’t necessarily positively correlated.

A lot of what liberals point out about conservatives’ moral failings aren’t about shooting the messenger, it’s about pointing out hypocrisy that proves that many conservatives don’t believe with their actions what they claim with their mouths.
 
outstanding take by Brooks
I'm so sick of paywalls, I really just don't have the time or resources to pay for every damn article I try to read.

I already pay for 2 strictly new subscriptions, how many more do these people expect.

Additionally, those who really need to read good articles to ever have a chance to get out of the cult will never be able to see them as most refuse to pay for anything like news.
 
I'm so sick of paywalls, I really just don't have the time or resources to pay for every damn article I try to read.

I already pay for 2 strictly new subscriptions, how many more do these people expect.

Additionally, those who really need to read good articles to ever have a chance to get out of the cult will never be able to see them as most refuse to pay for anything like news.
 
I did listen to this the other day. Patrick Deneen, was once a democrat but has moved more right. It seems that he moved right for the social issues, he seems too put his religion above all and is part of the "Traditional Family" right. So while he avoided most of the questions in that area, I'd suspect that he is anti-LBGTQ.



Anyway it was an interesting listen.
 
If Brooks is considered “successful” despite having shitty character, then that directly undercuts his claim that the way out of poverty is by developing character…because he’s a living example that character & financial success aren’t necessarily positively correlated.
Not really. First, there are different types of character. Second, my guess is that Brooks was born with a lot of advantages. Character could still be relevant to building out of poverty.

I would just rather pay attention to the substance of the piece. As I said, people should focus on the fact that Brooks' own "I'm not a liberal" marks him as a liberal in today's world, because sanity -- like facts and numbers before them -- is liberal.
 
Not really. First, there are different types of character. Second, my guess is that Brooks was born with a lot of advantages. Character could still be relevant to building out of poverty.

I would just rather pay attention to the substance of the piece. As I said, people should focus on the fact that Brooks' own "I'm not a liberal" marks him as a liberal in today's world, because sanity -- like facts and numbers before them -- is liberal.
If Brooks’ inherent advantages overcome shitty character, then that shows that the other advantages are a stronger input into economic success than character and that Brooks is incorrect with his strict focus on character.
 
If Brooks’ inherent advantages overcome shitty character, then that shows that the other advantages are a stronger input into economic success than character and that Brooks is incorrect with his strict focus on character.
Was there any doubt that he was incorrect with his strict focus on character? Even to state the argument is to refute it -- to the point where I have my doubts that he ever "strictly" focused on character (not that this point matters). Regardless, I don't think his affair changes the equation. It's a stupid idea no matter what he does with his dick
 
Ali Velshi had Stuart Stephens and Jen Rubin on today, two firmly anti-Trump neocons. The topic was essentially that the Democrats need to hit back on Trump harder and don't be afraid to go after his base for being anti-American.

The basic gist was, they can't sit back and wait to return to normalcy and good government. There was that with Biden and it didn't matter. You can't bribe your way to Trump base's heart either. Factory jobs increased under Biden, red states benefited from Infrastructure and other programs more than blue states under Biden etc etc and it didn't matter.

They argued that Trump and his base are fundamentally un-American and there are a lot more people out there that feel disgust for them than the MAGA hordes, but they need someone to organize and lead them and the Democrats are largely not doing that. You can't be afraid of calling Trump out on the harm he is doing, you certainly can't wait for people to realize it on their own, and you have to be willing to say to the Trump base "we hear you are angry, but what you want doesn't work in America."
When it comes to the MAGAs they are the descendants, of Strom Thurmond, George Wallace, and Jesse Helms. They do not care that left of center Democrats have improved their lives; They are drawn to and support Trump because he validates their bigotry and fear of the other. Stop wasting time trying to mollify them. That is the 35% of Trump voters you will never convert.

The challenge for Dems is to craft a message that reaches those 15% of Trump voters who are wondering whether Trump lied to them when he promised to lower the price of eggs and worry that maybe his policies will put the health of their children in jeopardy.
 
When it comes to the MAGAs they are the descendants, of Strom Thurmond, George Wallace, and Jesse Helms. They do not care that left of center Democrats have improved their lives; They are drawn to and support Trump because he validates their bigotry and fear of the other. Stop wasting time trying to mollify them. That is the 35% of Trump voters you will never convert.
Who, in turn, were the descendants of Zebulon Vance, Wade Hampton, Ben Tillman, Nathan Bedford Forrest, and other vocal and prominent Redeemers. It's a long and unbroken line that has sought to consolidate power among the few in order to exercise supremacy over the many.

This is why Schmitt's recent speech is so provocative to me. Other than in the 4chan fever swamps, it's been a while since we've heard someone channel so clearly the language of the Redeemers. Those guys ALWAYS disagreed with Lincoln's "proposition" that all men are created equal. They ALWAYS viewed absolute control of America as the birthright of the descendants of white European Christians. They just haven't said it as clearly in recent years as Schmitt did the other day.
 
Who, in turn, were the descendants of Zebulon Vance, Wade Hampton, Ben Tillman, Nathan Bedford Forrest, and other vocal and prominent Redeemers. It's a long and unbroken line that has sought to consolidate power among the few in order to exercise supremacy over the many.

This is why Schmitt's recent speech is so provocative to me. Other than in the 4chan fever swamps, it's been a while since we've heard someone channel so clearly the language of the Redeemers. Those guys ALWAYS disagreed with Lincoln's "proposition" that all men are created equal. They ALWAYS viewed absolute control of America as the birthright of the descendants of white European Christians. They just haven't said it as clearly in recent years as Schmitt did the other day.
Mostly agree.

“…….white European Christians…..” is too broad and inclusive.

For much U.S. history, Catholics weren’t considered “Christians” by many Americans. Signs declaring “No Irish” were common in parts of the U.S. Italians, Greeks, Poles, Slavs, Scandinavians, and more weren’t considered “white” by nativist Americans.

Nativist Americans in the 19th and 20th century weren’t including the Irish or Eastern Europeans or Southern Europeans as part of “Western” or “American” culture or heritage.
 
Mostly agree.

“…….white European Christians…..” is too broad and inclusive.

For much U.S. history, Catholics weren’t considered “Christians” by many Americans. Signs declaring “No Irish” were common in parts of the U.S. Italians, Greeks, Poles, Slavs, Scandinavians, and more weren’t considered “white” by nativist Americans.

Nativist Americans in the 19th and 20th century weren’t including the Irish or Eastern Europeans or Southern Europeans as part of “Western” or “American” culture or heritage.

Absolutely. My brave forefathers did not settle the northeastern coast of North Carolina so some filthy Papist could occupy the office of Vice President.
 
Who, in turn, were the descendants of Zebulon Vance, Wade Hampton, Ben Tillman, Nathan Bedford Forrest, and other vocal and prominent Redeemers. It's a long and unbroken line that has sought to consolidate power among the few in order to exercise supremacy over the many.

This is why Schmitt's recent speech is so provocative to me. Other than in the 4chan fever swamps, it's been a while since we've heard someone channel so clearly the language of the Redeemers. Those guys ALWAYS disagreed with Lincoln's "proposition" that all men are created equal. They ALWAYS viewed absolute control of America as the birthright of the descendants of white European Christians. They just haven't said it as clearly in recent years as Schmitt did the other day.
Fun fact: My wife is a direct descendent of Wade Hampton.
 
Fun fact: My wife is a direct descendent of Wade Hampton.
Wade Hampton III (1818–1902) was a Confederate general and later a governor of South Carolina who, by today's standards, was a racist and white supremacist. His racist beliefs were deeply intertwined with the "Lost Cause" ideology, which romanticized the Confederacy and defended white supremacy.

I'm guessing/ hoping she eschews the views of that part of her genealogy tree ?
 
Most southerners don't have the views, ideology and racist beliefs of their 19th century ancestors.
 
Most southerners don't have the views, ideology and racist beliefs of their 19th century ancestors.
Yeah, they want those Confederate statues in front of their courthouses to honor the memory of their ancestors. Yet most of those courthouses do not have monuments to honor those killed in WWI or WWII, much less Korea or Vietnam. Just memorials to the Confederacy. Why do you reckon that is?
 
Most southerners don't have the views, ideology and racist beliefs of their 19th century ancestors.
Which southerners? The ones who didn't have ancestors here in the 19th century?

Most white southerners who can trace their lineage back that far have similar beliefs. "They are eating the dogs, they are eating the cats" would have made slaveowners blush with embarrassment.
 
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