David Brooks, the conservative New York Times columnist, issues a dire warning to his fellow Republicans. "Republican members of Congress have made a Faustian bargain with Donald Trump", he writes in his January 31 column entitled “The Republican Fausts”. "The Trump administration is not a Republican administration; it is an ethnic nationalist administration," Brooks continues (thus adroitly shying away from using the more specific - and correct - term, "white supremacist"). But let's allow him his euphemism for now. . .
It's not so much David Brooks' column that is the attraction here. It's the COMMENTS section.
There's much to agree with in Brooks' column today - at first glance. But rarely have I ever seen a "Comments" section reply to a New York Times column with such penetrating and clear-sighted awareness of the political landscape.
Referring to Republican Congress members, Brooks states, "the Republican Fausts are in an untenable position. The deal they’ve struck with the devil comes at too high a price. It really will cost them their soul."
And right back at him comes "Paul" with:
"EVERY Trump voter made the same Faustian bargain. Wealthy, 'fiscally conservative moderates' traded social justice, the planet, their daughter's rights, international relations, safe gun policy, the health care of millions and much more for their own tax cut. The struggling, white middle class traded it all for a fictional job promise."
And here comes "George" with:
"Mr. Brooks has a catchy tune going through his head and just can't seem to get rid of it. It goes like this: Trump is new; Trump is an aberration; Trump is different from more recognizable white, male, business-adoring republications; Trump can never be the nominee of the GOP; even if the nominee, can't be president; even if president, the GOP will just shrug him off and do the right thing." . . . The Republican Party has been in a protracted fight against women, in the work place and over their own bodies. It has systematically dismantled labor, the working class, the middle class, the unions. The party has been on an anti-immigrant tear for years. It has obstructed, denied, condemned, ridiculed, gerrymandered, cheated and stolen, whatever it took to get elected, remain in power, not give an inch to democrats, even if that meant cutting off their noses to spite their faces.”
Brooks attempts to find some light at the end of the dark tunnel he describes with "Already one sees John McCain and Lindsey Graham forming a bit of a Republican opposition. The other honorable senators will have to choose: Collins, Alexander, Portman, Corker, Cotton, Sasse and so on and so on."
Not so fast, Mr. Brooks. "JABarry" pushes back with:
"The past 8 years have shown with perfect clarity, there is NO honorable senator, or honorable representative in the Republican Party. Which Republican spoke out at the indignities hurled by Republicans at President Obama? Which Republican spoke out at the vulgarities of Donald Trump? No, mealy-mouthed expressions of disagreement do not count - that was simply self-serving, posturing, political opportunism."
Brooks is a Republican, so he tries to have his cake and eat it too with his statement: "Trump exceeded expectations with his cabinet picks, but his first 10 days in office have made clear this is not a normal administration."
But "Michael" asks for some specifics:
"’Trump exceeded expectations with his cabinet picks,..’ Really, David? Please give us your thoughts on this. In what ways do you think Ms. DeVos, Dr. Carson, Mr. Tillerson, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Puzder, Mr. Perry, Dr. Price, and others are qualified to lead their agencies in a positive direction?”
And "bboot" delivers some of those specifics:
"I'm not sure what Brooks means by 'Trump exceeded expectations with his cabinet picks.' They are by and large a useless bunch of ideologic billionaires with no government experience or interest. The Defense Secretary may be the best of the lot, and likely a short timer for that reason. The others, particularly CIA, Budget and EPA were specifically chosen to blow things up, and given the example of this last few days they will be emboldened. There was a saying during the campaign that Clinton people took DJT literally but not seriously, and his supporters took him seriously but not literally. Now, we find out that the Clinton people were more right and the others living in a fantasy of their own making."
"The danger signs are there in profusion," Brooks laments. "Sooner or later, the Republican Fausts will face a binary choice. As they did under Nixon, Republican leaders will have to either oppose Trump and risk his tweets, or sidle along with him and live with his stain."
"Anne" fires back with one of my favorite comments:
"I do not know this Republican Party David believes in. The Republican Party I know uses "free markets" as a fig leaf to cover tax cuts for the rich and destruction of any restraints on corporations. It defunds education to keep voters ignorant. It targets the Hated Others to inspire its base of straight white male voters. It seeks to impose a (supposedly) Christian theocracy. It attacks an honorable, competent President and refuses to do the nation's business because he is black and a Democrat. It shreds the safety net for ordinary people, busts unions, and opposes increases in the minimum wage. It opposes environmental laws and workplace safety regulations. It pushes voodoo trickle-down economics. It operates a huge propaganda operation to persuade the gullible to vote against their own interests. Republicans lose their souls? They'd have to find one first."
And another favorite from "Martin":
"And how, Mr. Brooks, are the things the Republicans hope to achieve with their Faustian bargain different from the things they have surrendered to the devil? Eliminating Social Security? Kicking millions of people off their health insurance? Taking the right to marry away from gay people? Dreaming up new ways to be mean to women who need abortions? Eliminating all checks on corporate power? Eliminating ethical oversight in government? Enacting more voter suppression laws? Bringing back torture & detention without charges? Working in tandem with Fox & the fake news universe? Stealing Supreme Court seats? You draw the line between principle & evil in one place, Mr. McConnell & Mr. Ryan draw it in another. Do it if it makes you feel better. The Republicans sold their soul, and their country, a long time ago. The devil has just come to collect his debt. Thanks a lot."
You'll all find comments that become your favorites. Check the "NYT picks" or "Readers Picks" tabs in the Comments section. Happy reading!
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