Things that went whizzing by that I want to remember: First:‘[Tomas] Philipson praised Mr. Trump’s economic instincts as “on par with many Nobel economists I have worked with at Chicago”… but… “weak advisers” excluded “good advice by the CEA…”’ If the advisors were “weak” how were they able to keep Tomas Philipson out of the room? And if Tomas Philipson really thinks Trump by himself has “instincts” “on par with many Nobel economists”, doesn’t that say that economists are unnecessary for Trump to waste his time listening to—that he already knows what they have to say? And if Tomas Philipson is as big a liar as I think he is, what reason is there to believe that the world would be a better place if he were allowed into the Oval Office ever?
"A few politicians are scared that Trump might get them primaries in 2022. But what is the source of his power over everybody else?"
Charles Koch hath his billions, but the government of the United States of America hath its thousands of billions. True largess flows from the government; and that largess is ultimately in the gift of elected politicians. To drink from that river, it is necessary to cultivate those politicians; and certainly not to antagonize them.
"Xavier says, correctly, that patronage can be at the heart of things. But the difference between Caligula and Trump is that Caligula controlled patronage and could deliver it, while Trump controls… what levers of patronage? And why would anyone imagine that he will deliver?"
Trump is long odds to be alive in 2024. If he is alive in 2024, he is long odds to run for the Republican nomination. If he runs, he is long odds to win. And if he wins, he is better than evens to win the election. And while he is not notable for rewarding his toadies, he is certainly in the habit of persecuting those who cross him. And he has to hand out that cash to someone. Finally, even if Trump should not be elected president in 2024, he is very very very long odds indeed to be replaced by another Trump, perhaps one cleverer and more virulent. Trump has shown the path to winning the Republican electorate and it is wishful thinking to imagine that nobody else will follow it. And in any case, Trump is not sui generis, he is merely one step in a logical progression running back to Nixon. The next Trump will venerate in word the one before, even as Reagan's successors venerated him. That will be necessary in order to assume Trump's mantle.
"A few politicians are scared that Trump might get them primaries in 2022. But what is the source of his power over everybody else?"
Charles Koch hath his billions, but the government of the United States of America hath its thousands of billions. True largess flows from the government; and that largess is ultimately in the gift of elected politicians. To drink from that river, it is necessary to cultivate those politicians; and certainly not to antagonize them.
"Xavier says, correctly, that patronage can be at the heart of things. But the difference between Caligula and Trump is that Caligula controlled patronage and could deliver it, while Trump controls… what levers of patronage? And why would anyone imagine that he will deliver?"
Trump is long odds to be alive in 2024. If he is alive in 2024, he is long odds to run for the Republican nomination. If he runs, he is long odds to win. And if he wins, he is better than evens to win the election. And while he is not notable for rewarding his toadies, he is certainly in the habit of persecuting those who cross him. And he has to hand out that cash to someone. Finally, even if Trump should not be elected president in 2024, he is very very very long odds indeed to be replaced by another Trump, perhaps one cleverer and more virulent. Trump has shown the path to winning the Republican electorate and it is wishful thinking to imagine that nobody else will follow it. And in any case, Trump is not sui generis, he is merely one step in a logical progression running back to Nixon. The next Trump will venerate in word the one before, even as Reagan's successors venerated him. That will be necessary in order to assume Trump's mantle.
Credo quia absurdum is now the official motto of the R party. It's appropriate on multiple levels.