We gave up our seat at the head of the world stage when trump got elected. They were willing to forgive an error in judgment once. Twice shows a lack of leadership and a high degree of ignorance that we can stand alone in a global society. Letting a nutcase like Loomer whisper in your ear, and then listen to her speaks volumes more than words can say. Trump is unqualified and the equivalent of a 10 year old being asked to pilot a 747. Its a disaster waiting to happen.
And I ask once more- what if Biden or any other President had done even one of these things- the tariffs, the domestic destruction, the lunatic layoffs, the closing of agencies- where would we be?
"A focus on domestic priorities"? What might those be? No taxes or regulations for the wealthiest while creating a slave class of elders, women, and minorities? Plundering the social wealth of education, health, retirement security, and personal freedom of everyday people so they'll be forced to support the elite class instead of those undesirable brown immigrants? Working until they die of formerly prevented diseases or a toxic food/ water/ air supply? When you imply MAGAs have an "America First" agenda without actually calling it out, you make them sound reasonably legit on policy direction vs. those pesky Neocons who want world order and financial dominance.
Thanks for this article, interesting insights. One challenge I have about isolationist vs interventionist thinking is that if intervention is working, nothing happens. The lack of impact to America IS the result. Yet it seems like the idea that it is not working or we are somehow getting short shrift is able to take hold. And I fear that isolationism will show that interventionism was working in a wake-up-call type of way.
Also sidenote, it really grinds my gears that the director of the NSA and the others were fired for absolutely no reason when the entire Signalgate Dream Team still have their jobs (and appear to still be violating national security policies about data handling). So. Furious.
"If intervention is working, nothing happens. The lack of impact to America IS the result."
This strikes me as very similar to the concept in medicine that "Management looks like the cure." It's often cited as a reason why people (particularly young people) who have been well-managing their chronic illnesses for years can still feel a desire to set aside the hard work of that management because it's so much effort and, look, they're feeling fine! In their minds, because it's been so long since they had a bad day or a bad flare-up, the work they're putting in to maintain that can start to feel burdensome or even excessive.
If you’re part of a foreign intelligence agency why would you share any important intelligence with the U.S. after the SDT fiasco and now Laura Loomer?
This article is overly charitable to the man in the corner office. It reads like he even has an ideology. Laura Loomer walks in and he thinks one way. Then Rubio? He swings another. Let’s never forget that he is the same man he was last time in 2016 when people close to him let it be known that whoever was the last person in his office was the one he agreed with. He’s a man whose thoughts are without a rudder or an anchor. “Crazy” may be another word that fits? And MAGA voters? I think all the data shows they cared about a handful of things: inflation, immigration and trans people taking over bathrooms and sports. I am hard pressed to see most of them gathered together in deep discussions over our country’s role in the world. And if they are? It’s way down at the bottom of their list. It may be what politicians are thinking about it but we’ll never know because this crop of Republicans parrots everything the big golfer guy says. Trust in Trump ✌️😩
It's strange having grown up in the era of free-trade and globalism. It felt, at the time, that this was just how the world worked. It felt that we were working (however imperfectly) toward world peace. It was the era of Bono and Mother Teresa and Princess Diana and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Yes, I saw it from a place of privilege, and also it seemed good to me. It still seems good to me. I don't know that we can return to that world, but now is perhaps the time to take advantage of the disruption and think creatively about the world in which we want to live. What is the world in which we want to live? What is the vision of the future that we are looking toward?
I tried thinking through visions of the future that I could get behind, that aligned with my values, and one stands out: Sesame Street. A diverse community where everyone is cherished and taken care of. It is not a monoculture. It's a neighborhood of different cultures where every group and every individual is respected. That sounds pretty good to me.
Thank you, Elise, for this reporting and commentary. It will be interesting to see if Trump’s team coalesces or fractures further, and when the turnover will inevitably begin. I found this statement pretty accurate when it comes to the Trump voters in my life: "This suggests the struggle isn't simply between isolationists and interventionists, but rather reflects more nuanced differences in how American power should be wielded. Trump voters, it seems, don't necessarily want America to withdraw from the world stage – they want America to engage on different terms, with clearer definitions of national interest and more demands placed on allies." (I also know some non-Trump voters who hold similar views.) Also, Loomer? Ugh.
Thank you Sharon for sharing this important article. I much appreciate the review of historical implications and the nuances to voter views. People are not one-dimensional. They are complicated, no surprise at the contradictions.
Which group outlined above supports taking over Greenland, Panama Canal, Canada? I am taking these threats seriously. He has not been wishy washy at all (see recent Atlantic article).
This article is what I want to hear Trump supporters' opinions on. How are they balancing these different approaches? What do they think America's position should be? Are they even aware of what's going on?
It's easy to say 'America First' and blame Democrats' incompetence. Now that the people they support are in charge, how do they actually want to solve these problems? And hopefully it's not always with a chainsaw.
Your thoughts are always well organized and astute.
I don't think it's wise to use words like "reign" or "ascendance". I just don't think we should prime our brains with monarchical rhetoric. There's just too much tilt that way from the president himself. We shouldn't add to it. Especially because it could be taken out of context layer.
We gave up our seat at the head of the world stage when trump got elected. They were willing to forgive an error in judgment once. Twice shows a lack of leadership and a high degree of ignorance that we can stand alone in a global society. Letting a nutcase like Loomer whisper in your ear, and then listen to her speaks volumes more than words can say. Trump is unqualified and the equivalent of a 10 year old being asked to pilot a 747. Its a disaster waiting to happen.
And, we didn't have to wait very long--did we?
And I ask once more- what if Biden or any other President had done even one of these things- the tariffs, the domestic destruction, the lunatic layoffs, the closing of agencies- where would we be?
"A focus on domestic priorities"? What might those be? No taxes or regulations for the wealthiest while creating a slave class of elders, women, and minorities? Plundering the social wealth of education, health, retirement security, and personal freedom of everyday people so they'll be forced to support the elite class instead of those undesirable brown immigrants? Working until they die of formerly prevented diseases or a toxic food/ water/ air supply? When you imply MAGAs have an "America First" agenda without actually calling it out, you make them sound reasonably legit on policy direction vs. those pesky Neocons who want world order and financial dominance.
We should be calling it, "Rich White Amercan First"
Good point!
Thanks for this article, interesting insights. One challenge I have about isolationist vs interventionist thinking is that if intervention is working, nothing happens. The lack of impact to America IS the result. Yet it seems like the idea that it is not working or we are somehow getting short shrift is able to take hold. And I fear that isolationism will show that interventionism was working in a wake-up-call type of way.
Also sidenote, it really grinds my gears that the director of the NSA and the others were fired for absolutely no reason when the entire Signalgate Dream Team still have their jobs (and appear to still be violating national security policies about data handling). So. Furious.
"If intervention is working, nothing happens. The lack of impact to America IS the result."
This strikes me as very similar to the concept in medicine that "Management looks like the cure." It's often cited as a reason why people (particularly young people) who have been well-managing their chronic illnesses for years can still feel a desire to set aside the hard work of that management because it's so much effort and, look, they're feeling fine! In their minds, because it's been so long since they had a bad day or a bad flare-up, the work they're putting in to maintain that can start to feel burdensome or even excessive.
Exactly! You don't appreciate it until it's gone. And, in the case of national security--only an idiot would succumb to this type of complacency.
If you’re part of a foreign intelligence agency why would you share any important intelligence with the U.S. after the SDT fiasco and now Laura Loomer?
This article is overly charitable to the man in the corner office. It reads like he even has an ideology. Laura Loomer walks in and he thinks one way. Then Rubio? He swings another. Let’s never forget that he is the same man he was last time in 2016 when people close to him let it be known that whoever was the last person in his office was the one he agreed with. He’s a man whose thoughts are without a rudder or an anchor. “Crazy” may be another word that fits? And MAGA voters? I think all the data shows they cared about a handful of things: inflation, immigration and trans people taking over bathrooms and sports. I am hard pressed to see most of them gathered together in deep discussions over our country’s role in the world. And if they are? It’s way down at the bottom of their list. It may be what politicians are thinking about it but we’ll never know because this crop of Republicans parrots everything the big golfer guy says. Trust in Trump ✌️😩
Couldn't agree more. I'm not a psychiatrist, but the term sociopath comes to mind.
There are no adults in the room.
It's strange having grown up in the era of free-trade and globalism. It felt, at the time, that this was just how the world worked. It felt that we were working (however imperfectly) toward world peace. It was the era of Bono and Mother Teresa and Princess Diana and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Yes, I saw it from a place of privilege, and also it seemed good to me. It still seems good to me. I don't know that we can return to that world, but now is perhaps the time to take advantage of the disruption and think creatively about the world in which we want to live. What is the world in which we want to live? What is the vision of the future that we are looking toward?
I tried thinking through visions of the future that I could get behind, that aligned with my values, and one stands out: Sesame Street. A diverse community where everyone is cherished and taken care of. It is not a monoculture. It's a neighborhood of different cultures where every group and every individual is respected. That sounds pretty good to me.
Thank you, Elise, for this reporting and commentary. It will be interesting to see if Trump’s team coalesces or fractures further, and when the turnover will inevitably begin. I found this statement pretty accurate when it comes to the Trump voters in my life: "This suggests the struggle isn't simply between isolationists and interventionists, but rather reflects more nuanced differences in how American power should be wielded. Trump voters, it seems, don't necessarily want America to withdraw from the world stage – they want America to engage on different terms, with clearer definitions of national interest and more demands placed on allies." (I also know some non-Trump voters who hold similar views.) Also, Loomer? Ugh.
Thank you Sharon for sharing this important article. I much appreciate the review of historical implications and the nuances to voter views. People are not one-dimensional. They are complicated, no surprise at the contradictions.
Which group outlined above supports taking over Greenland, Panama Canal, Canada? I am taking these threats seriously. He has not been wishy washy at all (see recent Atlantic article).
This article is what I want to hear Trump supporters' opinions on. How are they balancing these different approaches? What do they think America's position should be? Are they even aware of what's going on?
It's easy to say 'America First' and blame Democrats' incompetence. Now that the people they support are in charge, how do they actually want to solve these problems? And hopefully it's not always with a chainsaw.
Well...this certainly explains Trump's (and his lackies') disdain for the military, and veterans.
The direction things have gone is truly disturbing. God help us.
Your thoughts are always well organized and astute.
I don't think it's wise to use words like "reign" or "ascendance". I just don't think we should prime our brains with monarchical rhetoric. There's just too much tilt that way from the president himself. We shouldn't add to it. Especially because it could be taken out of context layer.