tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16355954.post4866806229131104261..comments2024-03-28T08:57:53.180+00:00Comments on Darwinian Conservatism by Larry Arnhart: Trump and Political Philosophy: Is Trump's Rhetoric Lincolnian? The Teleprompter Trump Versus the Turbulent TrumpLarry Arnharthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619785331100785170noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16355954.post-79096734508940016122020-01-23T16:00:54.345+00:002020-01-23T16:00:54.345+00:00Thanks to Larry Arnhart for taking my essay seriou...Thanks to Larry Arnhart for taking my essay seriously. I reply in haste and look forward to his observations on some other essays in the two-volume work. <br /><br />Which Trump to take seriously, the "teleprompter Trump" or the spontaneous one? I would say both, but for different purposes. The tweets are more tactical, the prepared speeches more strategic. <br /><br />I discuss his overall strategy in this RCP essay from March 2016. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/03/22/trumps_constitution_130043.html His presidency has followed the strategy of his campaign. He has forced welcome and long overdue changes in the establishments of both political parties. Above all, he has exposed the injustice of the administrative state, as we see from the impeachment proceedings.<br /><br />Sometimes Arnhart takes literally what Trump intends seriously, e.g.: "But is it a matter of "natural law" that we must agree with Trump's claim that undocumented Mexican immigrants are mostly "gang members, drug dealers, and criminals" who want to steal from and murder innocent Americans?" The "mostly" actually moderates Trump's absence of any modifier. But Trump obviously did not mean those immigrants, even the illegals, are all criminals. <br /><br />Just to stick to the immigration example: If the prospect of a "wall" seems oversold, then what alternative do its opponents have? It seems they would make America an open city.<br /><br />One can argue similarly with Middle East wars, free trade, regulation, and above all political correctness. It's Trump who honors the best in the American political tradition, not any of his opponents, announced or still lurking.<br /><br />Ken MasugiJaffanese Americanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10894549517238211330noreply@blogger.com