Guest Post by The Zman
Over the last two plus years, the prevailing assumption has been that the Trump phenomenon is part of a greater populist backlash against the corrosive effects of cosmopolitan globalism. Trump’s alleged populism is linked to nationalist movements in Europe, where natives are rebelling against the migrant invasions. Despite the superficial similarities, what’s happening in America may not be analogous to what’s happening in Europe. Instead, the Trump phenomena may be the last echo of old stock America.
If you look at what Trump has actually done in office, versus what he has said, his presidency has been rather conventional. He has cut a lot of regulations, which is pretty standard Republican stuff. He got a tax overhaul passed, which is also standard issue Republicanism. His judges are all right out of the Federalist society. Otherwise, the Trump administration has been what we would have got from Jeb bush, except the marketing of it has been much more entertaining than what you get from standard issue conservatives.
What Trump’s presidency looks like is an echo of the Reagan presidency. Reagan ran on a platform to roll back the cultural revolution of the 60’s and 70’s. He did not explicitly say it, but that’s what everyone assumed. He talked about shrinking government, reforming taxes, rolling back the cultural excesses like abortion and affirmative action. He also talked about economics and foreign policy, but the people who voted for him were looking at the domestic items. People really believed the Reagan revolution was a rollback.
That last bit has been understandably forgotten by the current ruling class. They don’t even talk about the Reagan Democrat phenomenon. That was the great re-alignment in the 1980’s that carried into the 1990’s. Working class whites, who had always voted Democrat, changed parties over the culture issues. Things like taxes and regulation were nice, but what got them to change parties was the culture war. They voted for Reagan because they believed he would fix everything broken in the 60’s and 70’s.
Instead, Reagan delivered a huge military buildup, massive deficits, bigger government and a debt fueled economic boom. All the talk of entitlement reform ended, for example, when it threatened the military buildup. Despite the enormous support from social conservatives, Reagan delivered nothing on that front. Of course, the currency reforms in the Reagan years made today’s debt boom possible. Then there was immigration reform, which is turning out to be the Gipper’s most important policy achievement.
Reagan was the Baby Boomer’s ideal president, in that he delivered to middle-class boomers exactly what they wanted. They were in their prime work years, so they got low taxes, a roaring economy and booming investment climate. Their parents were getting old, so they got assurance the government would pay for all the entitlements. Of course, the boomer kids were in school, so we got a boom in education spending. Boomers have always been socially liberal, so nothing was ever done to address the cultural stuff.
The way to look at the 1980’s is as an echo of Eisenhower’s America. Watch movies from the period, like Star Wars or Indiana Jones, and what you see are remakes of the wholesome action films middle-class boomers grew up on as kids. Even the foreign policy stuff had a whiff of Eisenhower’s era. Instead of kids hiding under their desks at school, kids watched movies like Red Dawn or The Day After to get good and scared about the the Soviets. The 1980’s were a Spielberg remake of the 1950’s.
Trump won election as a remake of the Reagan election. It’s not a perfect analogy, but people forget that the Gipper talked pretty tough on the campaign trail. The tone police followed him around too. As much as Trump gets cast as the white nationalist’s president, he’s pretty much just standard middle American white guy, in terms of his politics and delivery. Like Reagan, the white working class voted for him thinking he would roll back the last three decades of excess. Just as with Reagan, none of that is going to happen.
Instead, he is delivering what the middle-class boomers want. They are heading into retirement, so keeping the stock market humming and making sure inflation is in check is their top priority. Of course, entitlements cannot be touched. As for immigration, nothing is going to change, because this is not important to them. They live in nice safe suburbs and rely on the little brown guys to mow the lawn. Maybe the visiting nurse is from Trinidad or perhaps the grand kids nanny is a nice Guatemalan woman who is teaching them Mam.
The trouble, of course, is that middle-class boomers are a shrinking block. The invasion plus the actuarial tables are making them less of a factor. The remnants of the old Reagan coalition came out of mothballs to shock the pollsters and the political elite in 2016, but they are not making that mistake again. As we saw in the midterms, they can manufacture all the foreign votes they need to win the 2020 election. This echo of old heritage America, is going to be weaker and shorter than the Reagan echo. It will be the last.
That’s about it.
I don’t think Jeb Bush would have done as much as Trump.
“I don’t think Jeb Bush would have done as much as Trump.”
I think Zman’s gloomy point is that Trump’s accomplishments don’t appear to be any more permanent than Reagan’s. That means the death march of America as it was founded (you know, individual rights, limited government, property rights, etc.) continues on. The only real excitement we get to look forward to is how violent the final solution ends up being.
The only real excitement we get to look forward to is how violent the final solution ends up being.
…and Trump’s daily tweets :O)
It’ll be a dictatorship with lots of internment camps. Most won’t have the gumption to even utter a peep.
Blue states
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue states
Do I see
Bluetards
Singing a song
Nothing but bluetards
All day long
They never saw the sun shining so bright
Never saw things going so right
Noticing the days hurrying by
When you’re a Marxist, my how they fly
Poor Willie, it seems his songs are only good for mocking. Let’s listen to one of his hits now:
Willie wrote some mighty fine stuff. Patsy’s rendition was superb. Always has been one of my favorites.
Thanks for the reminder.
What a voice. She never under sang or over sang a song, it was always just right.
I don’t think things are nearly as gloomy as “Z Man,” whoever he is, wants us to believe. As the national debt and off balance sheet obligations skyrocket, there will be less money as the years go by and that will prevent the U.S. from taking in many more immigrants that are in almost all cases a drain on the federal budget. And as technology advances, there will be no jobs for all the unskilled Squatemalans who want to live here, so what will they do? No jobs, and no welfare so no incentive to immigrate. Most baby “Boomers” have little in the way of retirement savings and providing Medicare and SS will be a top political priority, immigrants and foreign military adventures be damned. The U.S. will become more like Japan, that is my prediction.
I’ve only said it a couple of times so I can’t say I’m tired of saying that columnists have their peculiar ways of painting things. He had to stretch to compare Trumpy to Uncle Ronnie; modify a few historical facts and shade some meanings. He also totally forgets Carter’s stagflation and Ronnie’s finacialization of the economy.
It may be better to look at Trump and compare him to the current state of affairs; are you better off now than you were two years ago? We will never get that, instead, we get the standard, at least he’s not Hillary. That’s like judging him with eyes wide shut.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled pablum programming: Keeping Up With The Trumpdashians.
correction–carter’s Continuation of ford’s stagflation–
correction-ford’s Continuation of nixon’s stagflation-
Did you forget Tricky Dick’s price controls?
The way stagflation ended was after Carter tried whipping inflation with high interest rates, Uncle Ronnie introduced Voodoo Economics that have brought us the paradigm shift of a RINO savanna where the country keeps moving left to accommodate the economic reality like at a damn mad hatter’s tea party.
you’s be way older then me so i’ll yield to your version of history–i only remember it from ford–
as to carter,he was not a very effective potus but he also got a raw deal in multiple ways–
Tampico, your older than me, I’m a few months younger than Stuck.
i’m only 60,you’re about ready 4 medicare & ss–
No shit. That’s not a happy feeling.
+1000 EC.
You really don’t get it, do you?
“I get it” is a Hollywood meme. Hardly anybody uses that phrase in real life, if anybody did, it would already be past its prime.
Here’s another observation: a wry, shit-eating goofy smile is Hollywood shorthand for closing an argument, a mind over matter thing; if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. That is considered acting in modern America. Take a look at Trump and you see the same level of Gravitas.
This is an accidental president, you moron. You think it’s real? You need to orange pill your ass.
crickets from Mr. Whipple
The Gipper has always been the modern day Pres placed on a pedestal for the boomers to worship. While I believe Reagan was a good president and accomplished good foreign relations, he still went along to get along…… IMO, there hasn’t been a president in the last 50 years that used equal portions of logic, common sense, and spiritual guidance to produce a nation like the Founding Fathers intended. And the cards are in the pocket of the corrupt waiting to play their “take all” hand in 2020.
The cheating of elections in FL, CA, AZ, and others less known are sure signs the 2020 election will not be “the will of the people”. The voting fraud will escalate and, just as in this cycle, nothing will be done about it. The popular vote and delegates won’t matter; every opportunity for a democrat to unseat, replace, or overcome a republican, you can be sure it will happen.
The next two years will be a time to prepare. The ensuing UN laws that Dems will allow to be imposed in the US will become rule of the American people. Heightened Gun laws, more shove-down-your-throat gender equality, higher taxes, open borders….all for the good of ‘Merica’s populace. As we see now, right will be wrong, and evil along with corruption will continue to be the norm with exponential growth.
Get to know your neighbors…..good or bad….. Know who will be a friend or foe, make sure supplies of food, water, guns and ammo are stocked, and above all, pray……
DJT will be the last of what we call America and he is blowing it. Way to much hyped talk and little to no action. When action occurs its mostly capitulation. If he could get just half done of what he blabs about it would help save the Republic. Unfortunately, his ego gets in the way and every capitulation he claims he is winning. When he writes his biography, if his ego is in check, he will have much remorse, especially if he lives into his 90’s and sees what the NWO and democrats will do ongoing because they are bringing in guaranteed voters to forever hold office and change this Republic to Marxism/Socialism then eventually dictatorship under the UN within 2 next Presidency’s (democrat Presidents). My prediction in the next 20 years:
1) guns banned
2) social credit system implemented
3) 1st amendment severely limited
4) massive taxes including a carbon tax
5) unfettered immigration
6) patriots rounded up and prosecuted for claiming their rights to set a hard example
7) 4th and 5th amendments very watered down and restricted
8) re-writing of the Constitution
9) States rights weakened severely
10) social programs favoring the young while social security and medicare for the gen x crowd is gutted because they have so few in numbers (24m) to demand anything while the millenials get screwed but they dont even realize it. (There are 73m boomers and mostly liberal)
Lastly, the next 4th turning (after todays) will happen when these (77m) millennials get to age 70 and are amazed how shitty the USA has become based on their own doing but will be so outvoted by immigrants they will reap what they sowed and shall pick up small stones in rebellion to no avail, because they were the ones that ushered in banning guns that may have given them additional clout. They will have lottle to no savings, little social security and a Canadian health system (govt run) where most die waiting to even see a doctor. They are so ignorant, but proud they have no borders, LGBTQ amendment rights, language police, unfettered tracking of everything and everywhere they go which gives them a false sense of safety while criminals roam the streets with guns because prison is inhumane. Truly a fucked up generation and I hope they pay very dearly.
PSS
There will never be the so called “civil war” as the govt will take your meams of fighting to protecting the Constitution away years before you lose everything. WHile we have something to lose (job, savings etc) we wont risk it. Therefore banning guns during good times is the approach. So, when shtf and you no longer have anything and willing to finally fight, run grab that stick and sandstone buddy and throw it towards the unmanned drone or tank (painted blue). See how that works out fer ya. You fight While you have something to lose not when you Don’t! It is over, now, we just dont’t want to believe it. We prefer using Obummers “Hope” but not even 1/3 voted. We won’t even get off our asses to vote mush less fight. We won’t even hold media accountable, or invent a new free internet or challenge google and facebook with a rival real free competitor. We won’t even delete these from our daily usage. Enjoy your misery, you/we deserve it. Lazy fucking slackers.
You are one unplugged motherfucker-go fucking stew in your self defeat.
“Enjoy your misery, you/we deserve it”.
The legitimate point here is the buck stops with the people in a society that is allowed to hold its leaders accountable. When half or more won’t, that’s on them/us. BTW, 1 – 10 above are optimistic projections. It will really look like: no guns, no 1st A rights, no 4th A, no 5th A, etc. I also don’t think it will take 20 years. I think it will all go down really fast when it does go down. Maybe even over night. So yeah, without divine intervention (maybe with divine intervention), there will be some real trauma.
John Galt wasn’t a pussy. He “destroyed the machine that ran the world” if my “Atlas Shrugged” memory is correct. I already know how to destroy manned or unmanned everything except missiles.
When the CA Dems do a 100% flip of seats in Orange County with an extra 300,000 votes……well the fix is in. Like always with these doom and gloom articles, especially the good ones like this, there are no solutions. Ever. Why is that? Fine, great you are entirely correct Zman now what the “F” do we do about this or do we just lay back and think happy thoughts?
We lie back and think unhappy thoughts.
If the wealthy people are unhappy with an unfair election result they should fire their Mexican landscaper, send their kids out to cut lawns or bag groceries. I know it beneath them but hey.
“What the “F” do we do about this.”
Locally: I found some like minded rugged individuals who I can trust and I’m prepping my ass off, including stashing two cases of paperback Bibles – I think they are going to come in real handy. Forming my own local tribe as best as I can and have developed strong relationships within a small church. I have convinced a few to get ready in different ways. We have a cool Pastor who will be a strong leader in hard times.
There is a small Food Co-op I sell eggs to that sells high quality bulk food, the owner is into PMs, we are simpatico. During a SHTF time I know with some silver I will be at the front of the long line at his store. I ran into a guy who makes his living selling chickens, rabbits and goats…befriended him and gave him two roosters I had had enough of. One day he is going to be good to know. Get your critical relationships established now.
They don’t know it but I have walki talkies for all 4 neighbors whose land and homes border mine, plus some extras for patrolling the neighborhood. They will be my early warning and I will come out ready, willing, able and armed to help them if needed or possibly the reverse.
Every-time there is a local property crime of significance I alert all my neighbors through our neighborhood social media. I have gotten to know many others that way. I tried to form a neighborhood watch with some real teeth, but didn’t get the response needed, their lazy bad. After TSHTF I believe it will be much easier.
Outside:
Support the best groups/individuals you can find that you believe in with whatever support you are willing to give. Over the years I contributed regularly to many groups I felt stood for what I do.
I have found some solace and a great deal of intelligence and intriguing opinions here.
I’m on my knees before God…but I’m not going down quietly or surrendering to these Marxists Animal Farm Pigs no matter how bad it gets. If my little farm is my little Alamo so be it.
I know I’m a bit of a contradiction…listening to the Bible on tape while cleaning my M1A but you know…it takes all kinds…and both give me comfort.
I laughed out loud at your neighbors not knowing about walkie talkies. I have three portable MURS radios and one base radio. I haven’t decided which neighbors will hold two of the portables but am positive they will be on board.
Meg,
Yea, in my prep I have a lot of extra “stuff” to give and share with those who border me. I have taken all their measure and some will be better then others, but most can produce some food on their own and all are armed. They have all heard me on my range, they have seen what I have built here…they all know I’m serious not delirious.
One well heeled neighbor has a high (national) level of hunting skills but none have been in the ultimate human hunt. However, that will be caught…can’t be taught, when TSHTF we will see what everyone is really made out of.
Good solid rural people, much better then living around the hapless city fodder and the suburban soft spoiled dough people.
Together we could be a small formidable tribe…eventually…those of them that improvise, adapt, and overcome and make it past what ever first hits. After that..
“Oh say can you see…by the neighborhood dawn’s early light?”
Who knows…I could go down quickly…anyone can ambush anyone, at any given time…depending…
True Dat…have the scars to prove it.
just don’t EVER make any kind of plans to fight w/another person–
you never know who owes back taxes to the irs or who has committed some minor offense that the govt is willing to drop charges on in exchange 4 nailing a “domestic Terrorist”–
lots of guys have been convicted for Defensive preps & conspiracy–
Bannon told Trump what conservatives wanted to hear, so Trump campaigned on it. Has he *accomplished* those things he campaigned on? No. And we don’t know whether the token effort put forth is real or just DC theater to keep the GOP/DNC meme alive. With the loss of faith by the base and the DNC mechanism to outright steal elections on top of the demographic shifts in key states, it’s unlikely Trump will be re-elected, even he decides to try. I suspect he’ll retire 1 and done and start a news channel to stroke the remaining MAGA crowd while their families are kosher slaughtered in their twilight years.
Doom and Boomers, ha.
Faith in the Lord my gloomy friends is the only way.
The earth is the playground of the devil. We are here making our choices.
Your choice.
I pray for the strength to make the right choices because this world is not my home long term.
What do you need strength to make the right choices? Are you so weak of will; a woman?
A real man would pray for the wisdom to make the right choices.
Bet your ass tight now there are plans afoot to ensure there is no fucking way in the world Trump takes WI, MI, OH, PA and Fl. He could take steps, he won’t. Like Zman says, use the next 2 years to solidify whatever you’ve been thinking of doing because that’s gonna be that.
“Bet your ass tight now…”
Ha, good point.
The only way your ass is tight is that it is currently occupied. Minnie in La Mesa is quite the wordsmith.
La Mesa is in CA, Lamesa is in TX
Where the Zman is going is to point out that Trumps policies that generate peace and prosperity will always be viewed as racist by the other side. And by the Ron Paul idealoges as Platonic prescriptions.
And many cuckservatices will maintain the ideal of Platonic prescriptions for what ails society as well. And won’t come to admitt those prescriptions are an evolved White ideology dating back millennia.
I have two hopes.
1) The white Privalage meme is going to get out of hand. It must because it will feed on itself. The left won’t be able to contain their impulse.
2)The it’s ok to be White meme morphs to the intent that Liberty is viewed as white thing. And also , all things that are charitable are viewed as the exclusivity of white peoples.
We expected something else???
Who were his friends in 2015? Who did his kids marry? Do you think Killary would have been worse?
Tim Xruge and I tried to get something going regarding solutions on here. It went over like a Leper at a TB hospital.
We god timid Rino responses like “You’re going to get TBP shut down”. We offered to try doing it on some other platform. Same enthusiastic response.
While we sit at our keyboards identifying the problem Ad Infinitum, perhaps Ad Nauseum, the Progs march and riot and attack. We won’t even engage in civil disobedience or protest demanding that Trump investigate mass voter fraud. Vote Harvesting as Rino Ryan called it.
… timid Rino responses like “You’re going to get TBP shut down” – Flee
The only time I heard that was when a certain “Y” embarked on a crusade, let’s call it ‘Nazification’, of the site. And it wasn’t timid. SSS and LLPOH let “Y” know exactly what they thought about it. I would not call either person a RINO.
BTW, if you are reduced to name-calling, it may be that you did not get your way. That’s a childish variation on “It’s not fair!”
I didn’t call LOOPY a rino and I said Rino like responses there el dickwad. Who the fuk are you the SJW of TBP. Alll the name calling that goes on here that you encourage so you can watch a fight like a typical closet queer.
It so happens that Yoji didn’t get the site closed down, neither did Zara in spite of all the “RINO” like handwringing.
All you’re any good for is cheap insults and wounded wet back SJW comments.
Fuk off cum sucker.
It so happens that Yoji didn’t get the site closed down – Flee
No shit, Sherlock.
El Gaybar.
It didn’t get Nazified either there Ju lover. The Nazi’s were a minority of histories Joo haters by the way.
Dammit, Fleabo, all those days in the desert and you come back the same old sourpuss. You need to contact GCP asap.
learn to let sleeping dogs lie then. I wasn’t bothering you, you just decided to start moralizing out of nowhere. I’m not even a small dot on a small radar. Throw your acid at someone or something important.
Peace. I take back the gay slurs, OK?.
Honestly, Flee, that is not an option. My duties as a troll here are to locate and eliminate any false moves, faux pas, as it were. You were but a vehicle to attack Yobe once more. It’s not personal. Shit, here I was thinking I’d drive by your place on my way to TX and throw a Molotov cocktail on your front lawn just to wish you a Merry Winter’s Break.
…so you can watch a fight like a typical closet queer.
There’s a pack of closet queers here.
You have a list?
Has anyone every used this or have one?
https://ugar.clickfunnels.com/sales-page21128792
Or maybe Obama was the last gasp of the Diversitroid Globalist Dems? I guess we could all sit around and muse about our predictions on the future like “Z Man,” whoever the hell he his, or we can take action and try to change the course of history. I am weary of guys like “Z Man” who are all talk, no action or all hat and no cattle or whatever your preferred metaphor is for someone who sits on his ass all day and whines about something that is impossible to predict.
As The Dude would say, “That’s just, like, your opinion, man.”
If Mad Magazine’s claim that there are only 7 Hollywood movies is true, then it’s possible there are only 7 DC themes:
1. This time it’s different.
2. The most important election of our lifetime.
3. The will of the people.
4. Drain the swamp.
6. Two party system.
7. The last American president.
Pure gold, EC. Pure gold.
Another one might be: “Think of the children”.
That’s number 5.
I choose to continue to believe:
1. Better than the alternative, and
2. Just a few of the items that we may want to remember:
Restore oil and gas drilling on federal land overturning Obama’s 5 year ban.
Fire more than 500 corrupt VA employees
Campaign pledge: Law cutting grants to cities ignoring American immigration laws pass in House
Campaign pledge: Kate’s law passed in House
Policy to export energy production for economic growth turning around decades of dependence on OPEC cartel
SCOTUS reinstates executive order banning immigrants from 6 Obama-declared terrorist countries
VA accountability allowing non-performing bureaucrats to be fired & whistle blowers protected.
Canceled Obama’s Cuba deal that propped up Castro’s military and government
Got Comey to admit Trump was NEVER under investigation and Comey outed himself as leaker.
Rescinds DAPA -Obama’s program to give amnesty to 5 million illegals with anchor babies
Out of Paris accord.
Out of TPP
Conservative put on Supreme Court—(spent almost the entirety of 2018 getting republicans elected in senate for an easier SCOTUS nomination process)
Wall prototypes solicited, bid and being evaluated despite little help from congress
Increased funding for military and border security
America exports oil, we are not oil dependent on mideast
Obamacare mandate removed, IRS told not to require answer on tax forms. McCain manages to ruin what would have been a major campaign promise on obamacare, but where is he now? i could hazard a guess
EPA regulations removed/weakened, noose on businesses finally easing up
Two old federal regs must be removed for each new one!
Obama / UN landgrabs of state land undone
NATO countries agreed to pay fair share, negotiation to pay past due amounts
By Trump’s efforts Arab states ordered Qatar to kick out Muslim Brotherhood and stop funding terrorists.
Establishing framework for a degree of peace in middle east
Stock market value up $4+ trillion and businesses reporting record profits based on Trump easing regulations and plan to lower taxes
More than 1 million jobs added in first year with billions of $ of investment pledged
Renegotiated NAFTA
Negotiated trade deal with China favorable to US
Kim Jun-Un dealings. Guam still there
Cut more debt for longer period than any president in history.
Allowed for lowered health insurance premiums for individuals allowing sale across state lines.
Decertified lousy Iran deal
Stopped Obama’s illegal bribes to insurance companies
Lowest unemployment in 43 years
Highest consumer confidence in 16 years
Stopped US taxpayer’s wasted funding of UNESCO
Eased Obama punitive regulations on coal power plants which punitively increased electricity prices on poor and middle class.
DOJ gave “last chance” to sanctuary cities that protect criminal illegal foreigners preying on American citizens.
25% increase in stock market since his election (which was supposed to crater, remember?)
Ordered release of JFK assassination files.
10/21/17 – defeat of ISIS in self proclaimed capital of Raqqa, Syria. Amazing how quickly it happened once terrorist sympathizer left the White House.
I know I missed some, but I hate long posts (already there I think).
“the Trump phenomena may be the last echo of old stock America.”
In a similar way, Doug Casey called the election of Trump the conservative old school white man’s last hurrah.
Way I see it, DJT effectiveness is debateable, but perhaps just buying most of us a little more time to get prepared, as best we can, before the chaos reigns.
If he gets a 2nd term, maybe the inevitable will be delayed a bit more. Doubtful, though.
What to do, where to hunker down?
There is strength in numbers, if not in individual old men’s bodies, ‘tho. Good planning has been touted here. Heed it.
Gray Panthers, maybe?
Richard Pryor did a bit about it.
“Some of the young guys challenged oldsters, with, ‘Come on, old dude. You ain’t said shit.’
But old men don’t bullshit or mess around, when it comes to fightin’.”
“I’ll kill yo ass, steal no reputation off of me!”
-“You don’t get old, being some kind of fool.”
Mmm-hmmm.
Yet in desperate times, prepared survivalists will be sought, targeted, and plundered, unless they adequately close ranks.
i believe trump is trying,and somewhat effective–i’m posting a link to a story that shows just how corrupt & intimidating the deep state can be,trump can’t fix it all at one time–
an fbi contractor came across evidence of misdeeds at the fbi regarding the uranium one deal–he legally took the info to the inspector general & the atty general,who gave it to congressional intel committees–
his house was then raided by the fbi,possibly in violation of the whistleblower laws–
https://dailycaller.com/2018/11/29/fbi-whistleblower-clinton-uranium/?utm_medium=email
another example of the swamp going after trump–the senate intel committee is where mueller got his info from to go after cohen–
https://dailycaller.com/2018/11/30/richard-burr-intel-criminal-referrals-michael-cohen/?utm_medium=email