Ilana mercer
CNN anchor Don Lemon conducted an interview with Donald Trump. It went very well, for Mr. Trump, that is. So well that Lemon’s scoop is difficult to locate on CNN’s website. Instead, Mediate.com scooped the telephonic exchange.
Lemon was at a loss. He got more sour-looking by the minute, as Trump bulldozed him with the force of his convictions and personality. There was no interrupting Trump’s train of thought. The “builder-businessman” was going to say his piece.
Americans have been listening intently. “A CNN/ORC poll released Wednesday,” reported National Journal, “showed Trump had 12 percent of the vote among Republicans and Republican-leaners, second only to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who earned 19 percent.”
Trump’s retort: “I’m not happy being behind Jeb Bush.” He went on to ponder beguilingly how Bush 3 (a man he would fire) could be soaring in the polls:
I don’t get it. He’s in favor of Common Core, extremely weak on immigration. He thinks people come over for love. I don’t understand why he’s in first place. Maybe it’s the Bush name. Last thing we need is another Bush. But I will tell you, I’m a little surprised he’s in the position he’s in.
As Trump sees it, his countrymen are being betrayed by the Beltway. To make America great, he’d have to restore American prosperity. Jeb Bush will not do America’s bidding. It’s not his thing.
True. Jeb Bush will not lead America to the Promised Land, in Trump’s words. No politician will. The hope is that Trump, who does not need to ride us like the others, will get the parasites-in waiting off our backs.
Trump’s strength is that he keeps coming back to the stuff of life: business, economics, making a living. Politics is the stuff that kills all that.
To Trump, actions are measures by their outcomes. Mitt Romney, by Romney’s own admission, “left everything on the field.” He gave his all in the 2012 presidential campaign. But from Trump’s perspective, “Romney did a poor job.” He didn’t win. “It’s a race that should have been won,” asserted Trump.
Still, Lemon kept trying to trip Trump: “You’re being clobbered by Republican leaderships.” While voters take Donald Trump very seriously; his party’s leadership does not.
But Trump knew better. He was not going to keep the GOP’s dirty little secrets. He doesn’t have to; he can fund his own political action committee. Yes, his rivals, opponents, the consultants, Rudy Giuliani—they may go on TV to denounce him; make light of him. But his lead in the polls is making that harder. Behind the scenes, the schemers are calling on Trump, sending him little love notes.
Lemon fastened his limp-wristed grip. Trump’s ostensible lack of gravitas was the tack to take: “Will you really be there on the stage with the other Republican candidates?” the anchor persisted in disbelief. A pumped Trump snapped, “Why would I not?!”
He, Trump, had attended the Wharton School of Business; was a great student at one of the toughest schools to get into; went on to make a tremendous fortune; wrote a business book that became the bestselling business book of all time; built a great company, employed tens of thousands of people over the years, and is a great success. How is he, Trump, unfit to stand on stage with “some governor who is nothing, and some senator who is not very good and has not done a good job?!”
Note that Trump resorts to self-praise, primarily, when denigrated by denizens of the political process. People have forgotten. So he must remind them: Success is about creating value for people in the free market; not wielding force against them in the political arena.
Our country is being run by people who don’t know what they’re doing. Our politicians are not smart. I want our country to thrive.
And:
Illegal immigration is killing our country. You got to have a border. If you don’t have a border, you don’t have a country.
Lemon was aghast. Truth has that effect on the gormless. The anchor shifted the focus to Macy’s fit of pique, hoping he’d score some points against Trump in that department. The department store had discontinued Trump’s clothing line. Donald was “divisive,” Macy’s whined.
Trump’s one-two punch: “Macy’s folded under pressure. It’s not a big business for me; it’s very small. It’s ties and stuff. It’s a peanut. CEO Terry Lundgren folded under pressure. That’s the problem with our country; everyone folds under pressure. Two picketers arrive outside Macy’s and the store folds. People can’t handle pressure. That’s OK with me. It’s a very small business; let them do what they want to do. You have to ride through the pressure. They can’t handle pressure. It’s fine.”
Would that militant gay couples were as tolerant toward the poor baker who doesn’t wish to bake them a wedding cake as Trump is toward those who shun his business.
The unremitting influx of peasants pouring over the U.S. border with Mexico is having a disastrous impact on America—on crime rates, urban sprawl, traffic congestion, overcrowding, pollution, infrastructure, the loss of rural and protected land and species. Malfunctioning media—overbearing fools like Fox News’ ubiquitous Juan Williams—believe Trump’s pronouncements on these effects is “divisive.”
Au contraire. Trump’s impolitic truth-telling seems to have united a hell of a lot of hopeless Americans.
The best of Trump Lemon left for last. “Is there anything you’d like to clear up while I have you here?”
“Nothing, absolutely nothing,” Donald fired back.
There will be no Trump apology tour.
***
ILANA Mercer is a paleolibertarian writer based in the United States. She pens WND’s longest-standing, exclusive paleolibertarian column, “Return to Reason.” Ilana’s latest book is “Into the Cannibal’s Pot: Lessons For America From Post-Apartheid South Africa.” Her website is www.IlanaMercer.com. She blogs at www.barelyablog.com.
Somebody explain to me what a “paleolibertarian” is and why this drivel is cluttering up the blog?
What would you like to see more of, on here, John?
Things that are more aimed to the UK situation and, certainly, *not* a series of paeans to to a crony capitalist big government welfare statist.
It would be useful to learn more so as to apply in the UK no?
One article hardly clutters up the blog, does it?! That makes no sense. An adequate definition of paleolibertarian can be found in oh, three seconds if you google it. Jesus. Get over yourself.
I’m inclined to agree with Carl on this.
Another entertaining article from Ilana Mercer, keep ’em coming!
Settle down, John P. No need for hysteria. I spot no odes to anyone in the column. The typical tinny libertarian would prefer that I apply libertarian theory to reality and when reality fails to live up to theoretical purity, as it always does—that it be rejected. Alas, that’s for lazy libertarians. This particular column is a modest thing, not a coronation. It is in appreciation of the “anti-politician”; and of certain extinct, manly qualities like sticking to one’s guns; not being cowed into submission, refusing to cave to PC consensus.
As for crony capitalism, to quote (this one http://thelibertarianalliance.com/2015/06/21/a-candidate-to-kick-the-crap-out-of-all-the-politicians/): “We inhabit a world of managed, not free, trade. At least Trump is no rent-seeking political rat like every other Republican competing for the throne …”
Finally: The US is a rib from the British ribcage. Sure you need to be interested in America.
Your previous article was equally mystifying and it’s even more mystifying that you’re quoting yourself as the authority to back up something that is manifestly untrue. Trump has donated more money to Democratic Party politicians than Republican Politicians because that’s what he needed to do to get sweetheart deals. His comments about Mexican immigration are undoubtedly populist but blatantly nonsensical. http://www.nationaljournal.com/thenextamerica/immigration/net-immigration-from-mexico-falls-to-zero-possibly-less-20120423
And we find the “real” reason why you didn’t like it. Okay. Why didn’t you start off with that? A little underhanded trying to discount Ilana on the penumbra of Libertarian political geneology isn’t it. Full transparency. I am an American. Specifically a native American, formerly called British Americans. We are in a word Super-Brits. Kinda what the British would be like if they hadn’t folded. So in that I disagree with Ilana, we are more than a rib.
Trump is an American Boris Johnson. An arsehole who talks up a good game but underneath is an arrogant. dictatorial, double-dealing, state-sucking scumbag. His tiny burst of plain(ish) speaking may have upset US political scum. But if you are dozy enough to have any hopes of this creature at all you are a prize fool. If he got the slightest taste of power you would very soon learn exactly what kind of turd he really is.
I don’t know what your knowledge of Mr. Trump is to cause such an outburst. But let me say this in his defense. He is speaking succinctly, eloquently, and forcefully on issues NO ONE has discussed in the political class. He has refused to fold under business pressure from multiple angles. He has managed to raise public awareness of sanctuary cities with exposure of the murder of our beautiful California girl from San Francisco, shot in broad daylight for the color of her skin by an illegal alien.
Donald Trump has engaged on a number of issues that all intersect together. These issues are so crucial to America, our barbarian ruling class, being the traitors they are, have ignored them and suppressed discussion of them in public discourse. The ruling class has succeeded in doing this despite all of those issues being related to the Jihadi attacks on New York City on 2001. The ruling class has done this, much as it has done your country, through outright suppression of dissidents, censorship in the media, and the creation of a political syndicate which rules both governing and opposition parties. Donald Trump has succeeded in spite of this soft soft tyranny through a combination of agitation, propaganda, and politics. His success is no less credited to his wealth as it is his force of leadership.
Right now, the USA is on the precipice of civil strife not seen since the 1960’s if not out-right violent convulsions never seen since the Civil War. The only way to mitigate that is exposing the issues underlying America’s problems. In consideration of what you saying being true, he is still doing a better job than any candidate since Ross Perot shook up the political system in 1992 in exposing those issues. I know Boris Johnson. He is no Donald Trump.
Other than Ron Paul (whose campaign also requested an endorsement), this writer has never endorsed a politician. You’d think I was, by the fits of pique and ad hominem, here. Still, some libertarians have evolved with respect to Trump. Examples: https://www.lewrockwell.com/political-theatre/why-donald-trump-matters/ & “Sinophobia Trumps Common Sense” http://www.ilanamercer.com/phprunner/public_article_list_view.php?editid1=584.
But you have to have been along for the ride and thought deeply about the issues to evolve. And you have to have the capacity to evolve. This is not something the two reptilian brains who call this writer a fool can claim.
Get a grip.
Lew Rockwell? Seriously? Descend to ad hominen because your arguments are bs, why don’t you.
John, why don’t you fill us in on who is fashionable and respectable in the libertarian world and who isn’t. Like OMG Lew Rockwell! Yes, him. The man has done more for libertarianism than you could ever hope to in a thousand years. Eww, gross!
Carl, what about Alex Jones while you’re at it? This is actually the Libertarian Alliance *in the UK* I doubt the majority of British people will have any interest in Lew Rockwell.
Is discussion of political philosophy restricted by borders?
Thank you for those links. They are very useful. Cheers ol compatriot.
Lew Rockwell has his heart in the right place but his brains are a bit scrambled –as were Rothbard’s–by the “enemy of my enemy” bit. Thus he gives houseroom to all manner of scum just because they hate the federal tyranny as well. Not everybody who hates and can recognise the evil of said feds is on the side of the Angels. Far from it.
So Mrs Mercer–you don’t endorse him and he isn’t going to be the POS–sorry POTUS—and if he ever should be he would merely add an extra layer of ego-based nightmare to the entire mess– why keep writing about him?
Mr. Ecks: When you mention exotic political arguments using word like scum, and esoteric mention in dispatches of enemy of my enemy stuff, I feel like I am in a dark room of basement beneath a coffee house in Vienna or Minsk, circa 1909 discussing with fellow party members the intricacies of party purity. Why such use of “scum” like a boot wearing AFA member? Why such weird denunciations of Rockwell and Rothbard? Its like listening to factions of Rabbis argue. Please explain a little more in depth.
Why do you want an explanation? Sometimes extinguishing white noise is best, using the Skinnerian method: Ignore it.
White noise? You appear on a British blog pestering the readers with tripe about a chunk of ordure whose antics are of zero interest in the UK. Apart from the times he is busy trying to force people off their land to build himself a super golf course over here. And now you have a cheering section of numpties in your wake all mad keen to defend Captain Combover and his ambitions to lord it over his fellow human beings. I hope he wins in 2016. It might teach you what you already should be able to see.
“This guy is a man in the old mo(u)ld” . If you are that keen take American Horsemanure and Reggie De BritishAmerican back to the US with you and tire the moon with your praise-filled round-table exultation of the creeper. And stop pestering us.
Skinner was another twat from the land of the free who didn’t much care for freedom. You appear to have a bumper crop of them.
It speaks. Angrily. I think. White noise can be interesting. Like a T.V. er, tellie, when the signals OFF, and all you see is Signal Snow, you can project all sorts of weird images onto what one is seeing. I like white noise-snow. For short durations.
Ah, Mr. E., now there’s a polite and well-put question: As a longtime observer and analyst of the state and the political process—I find the specter of the anti-politician; the rugged, unrefined, self-made, cowboy individualist (like him or not) absolutely fascinating, certainly worthy of tracking and so quintessentially American.
(I do not vote, incidentally.)
As to the so-called lack of interest for British libertarians: Is that not something of a performative contradiction? In other words, you all say you don’t care about this coverage and commentary, but your actions say otherwise. This column has been very sticky.
Peace.
Seriously, those of us who’ve suffered the insufferable neoconservative establishment (http://www.ilanamercer.com/phprunner/public_article_list_view.php?editid1=819) for so long, hearing someone famous and powerful and uncontrollable say the following is … wonderful:
“Charles Krauthammer is a totally overrated person … I’ve never met him … He’s a totally overrated guy, doesn’t know what he’s doing. He was totally in favor of the war in Iraq. He wanted to go into Iraq and he wanted to stay there forever. These are totally overrated people.”—Trump, yesterday.
I despise Sourkrathamer. I was at a party once with loads of special people that don’t make the news, but which had a couple of newsworthy individuals, Sourkrathamer being one of them. The others knew of my undying hatred and threats to physically beat him for his bigotry and blood libelous attacks on my Southern ancestors. So, it was funny in retrospect seeing the host striving as elegantly as possible to keep us separated. I sometimes wish they would’ve failed. The world would’ve been spared. Just another reason to like Trump. If he wins Ilana: Let the purges begin….
AmericanCavalier: I am going to to something bad. Psychologizing is a no-no in argument. But I am getting the impression that a lot of men, stateside and across the pond, might envy an Alpha Male like Trump. Did you see how he frightened this lovely lady with his bulldog, powerful, non-girlie persona? Here: http://barelyablog.com/donald-on-the-oracular-krauthammer/ Our feminized world, in the US and the UK (I’m still a big BBCNews fan), doesn’t allow for manliness. This guy is a man in the old mold. In this interview, Trump makes an excellent point about politicians vs. a businessman like himself. He has a LOT to lose. They have nothing to lose. Public service, to our Founders, meant that men put their fortunes and sacred honor on the line. Their lives too.
The hair.
Without getting into the catfight, I think America is very important, since when the USA sneezes, England gets a cold, or something like that, whatever the phrase is. If you take the view as I do that the heartland of Progressivism is the USA (a toxic mix of Puritanism, Manifest Destiny and Jewish-American post-Marxism), and that the rest of us are forced to act out a kind of proxy culture war as a consequence (e.g. immigration flooding is a pastiche of the American race/civil rights pantomime, we implemented Gay Marriage because the American Proggies wanted it, etc) then the American scene is crucial to us whether we like it or not.
I have argued that we need a “Euro-Libertarianism”; in a sense, just like Communism manifested differently in different societies; and thus we do need to separate ourselves from the particularly American style of Libertarianism of the 20th century both in time and space. But in the meantime, we have to be aware of what goes on across the Pond. Trying to ignore them is like the Judeans trying to ignore the Romans. They aren’t going to go away.
I don’t have much time for Trump though, personally.
I enjoyed your off the cuff analysis of the origins of the Progs. First time I ve seen written here with its sometimes overbearing Anti Puritan jihad, an explanation of proggy origin partly in Jewish Marxism. In fact, any stay of length in the North East, especially in New England, will reveal to the observer that most of its white inhabitants and particularly its heralds of proggy philosophy are almost wholly Judeo-Catholic. They are about as Puritan as Bloody Mary. In fact that is a good example of what has occurred. There has been a kind Judeo-Catholic coup de etat in American politics and Bloody Mary has been busy oppressing and burning Protestants ever since. To blame her tyranny on Puritans is insulting.
Ironically, another center of Judeo-Catholic world power, New York City has given birth to what appears to be a quintessentially American Protestant politician. Trump is literally in the mold of an American elite class most thought extinct. Centered around the middle atlantic, attendance at conservative prep schools (most now almost wholly abandoned), military school, and versed in the ways of American meritocratic elite social darwinism with a touch of old old school Progressivism to soften the edges. Think a kind of Teddy Roosevelt, around whom gravitated regiments of Anglo Americans. These are the kind of Americans, most Europeans saw and thought of as Americans between 1910-1940’s. This is the background and persona Donald Trump. Undoubtedly some it derives much as the earlier generation, from having a healthy dose of British blood.
Donald Trump is actually half British, Scottish to be exact. Accordingly, he has struck a chord in Americans who remember collectively and deep in their bones a kind of leader they once had but havnt seen since Reagan if not even earlier. He is also a vigorous smasher of the Progs. These pond dwellers quack thinking of the future that awaits then and most of Progdom, worldwide should be be elected.
An American election cycle of this duration and at this time is practically an eternity. Nonetheless, I fully expect him to win and annihilate his opponents. Then like a hurricane descend upon Europe. Putin? Trump would kick his @ss.