Remember, Remember the 5th of November
On Tuesday, the American people gave a new reason to remember, remember the 5th of November. Unlike the original Gunpowder Plot memorialized in the English verse, however, the 2024 version succeeded, and blew the establishment/ruling class/elite all to hell.
There was definitely a V for Vendetta vibe about this too. Ordinary people revulsing against a censorious and controlling regime.
To put it in a more American idiom, it was Jacksonians Strike Back. A populist hoi polloi giving the finger to their alleged betters. And Trump is–as I have said since his political emergence in 2016–the closest thing to Andrew Jackson in American politics since the man hisself 200 years ago. In personality, surely.
Trump’s triumph represents an extreme act of will, and his vendetta against the establishment forces arrayed against him. Any normal person would have collapsed in the face of the multi-front war waged on him by the powers that be. Just as Andrew Jackson’s rage against the machine that he believed had done him wrong in 1824 drove him forward in 1828, through grim determination Trump’s rage at the machine he believes did him wrong in 2020 propelled him to victory four years later. And as Jackson’s victory in 1828 was decisive and his loss in 1824 was extremely suspect, the same can be said of Trump in 2024 and 2020. And both men waged their campaigns in a fashion that violated contemporary rules of political decorum, to the outrage of their foes.
Jackson transformed American politics for decades, but he had two consecutive terms to engineer this transformation. The nature of Trump’s political career–with his two terms interrupted by that of a regime placeholder–will make it more difficult for him to have the same effect. But it is almost certain that American politics and government will not be the same.
The recriminations of the losers–in the Democratic Party and its media adjunct–have begun. It is quite a spectacle. Given the characters involved, unsurprisingly these recriminations have a strongly identitarian cast. It was the white bitches that did it! No! It was the misogynist black dudes! No! It was the racist Latinos!
They just don’t get it. It was them. They have yet to learn the wisdom of Pogo:
I wrote in the summer of 2016 that the “elite”/regime/establishment created Trump. He was a reaction to them. Without them, he would not exist as a political force. The Biden interregnum only reinforced the popular disgust with the regime, and powered Trump to a decisive victory. Trump’s victory is a repudiation driven by revulsion of a discredited regime.
But the Democrats/regime/establishment cannot bring themselves to face this reality. Normal people would react to such a humiliating defeat by taking a hard look at themselves. Or in the words of Chuck Leavell:
And it’s agonizing reappraisal,
Says Dusty Rhodes
And he’s the American Dream.
But no. They live so far up their own asses that honest self-appraisal is impossible for them. Perhaps not surprisingly, because they really don’t believe in the American Dream.
Normal people would say: “How did we possibly lose to the worst person in the world, Mr. Literally Worse Than Hitler? We must really suck. A lot of people must really hate us.”
But they are not normal people. Their answer is: “YOU really suck.”
They are in desperate need of a 12 Step Program–the first step of which is to admit one has a problem. But in their narcissism, they are constitutionally incapable of this.
I am of mixed minds on this. On the one hand, it will delay, and quite possibly prevent, their political rehabilitation. On the other, it condemns us to yet more years of hysterical (in the neurotic sense of the word) ranting and obstructionism and political and legal warfare.
Some leftist recognize all this. From the Nation, of all places: “This Time We Have to Hold the Democratic Party Elite Responsible for This Catastrophe”:
Democrats will need to radically reform themselves if they want to ever defeat the radical right. They have to realize that non-college-educated voters, who make up two-thirds of the electorate, need to be won over. They need to realize that, for anti-system Americans, a promised return to bipartisan comity is just ancien régime restoration. They need to become the party that aspires to be more than caretakers of a broken system but rather is willing to embrace radical policies to change that status quo. This is the only path for the party to rebuild itself and for Trumpism—which without such effective opposition is likely to long outlive its standard-bearer—to actually be defeated.
The Democrats are not the only ones who need to have a Come to Jesus moment. The regime adjacent, controlled opposition, traditional Republicans need to change as well. The Grand Old Party is just old. The nation’s political polarity has shifted completely, and the traditional Republican base has flipped to D, and the traditional Democratic base has flipped to R. The Mitch McConnells et al need to go away, and new people that align with the current political realities must replace them. (J.D. Vance provides a good role model here). In the words of Oliver Cromwell: “In the name of God, Go!”
The timing and the magnitude of the changes cannot be predicted with any precision. But they will come. And when they do, remember, remember the 5th of November. Because that will be the catalyst of those changes.
I was thinking about the interrupted term. It might actually be better for Trump to start over “from scratch” a second time. Redirecting a ship in motion is too hard, especially if you are putting out too many fires to take a step back and re-evaluate.
Tyler Cowen made an offhand statement along the lines of “alienating big tech from the democratic coalition was an unforced error” and the more I think about it the more important it seems. There is a lot of human capital salvating at the thought of completely ripping apart the government and putting it back together. They have every branch of government and they know they have to move fast.
I’m not a fan of technocratic rule but I have to admit I’d much rather the technocrats be Elon and Thiel than a room of midwid social science PhDs. Trump spent a lot of time getting his footing in 2016 and did not have a deep pool of talent to draw upon. I am pretty sure Thiel has spent the last 8 years brainstorming how to overhaul the US government and we are about to enter his most optimistic scenario.
Comment by Ryan — November 7, 2024 @ 1:42 pm
Forgive me for being a garbage, deplorable and very bad person, but I’ve spent more time than is healthy watching leftist mental breakdowns today, and laughing.
There is going to be a famine of DEI, ESG, green subsidies…
Ooh la la!
Let them eat shit.
Comment by philip — November 7, 2024 @ 7:02 pm
I find it very interesting that in allelections this century including this one the Dems have polled about 60 to 64 million votes. Yet in 2020, somehow the Biden-Harris ticket polled 76 million.
The question is now not where did those 12 million votes go, but where did they come from.
Trump seems to be the first man since Roosevelt to have won three Presidential elections.
Comment by Green as Grass — November 8, 2024 @ 6:58 am
@Green as Grass. ‘Tis a puzzle, ain’t it?
Comment by cpirrong — November 8, 2024 @ 9:45 am
@philip. No worries. You’re among garbage friends here. I posted on X that my Wednesday was like a Nelson Laugh on a continuous loop.
Comment by cpirrong — November 8, 2024 @ 9:46 am
And Trump is not letting the grass grow beneath his feet. Straight out of the gates and he has the afterburners on, shooting straight for ramjet speed. This four-year enforced break from power has strengthened him. Cue the ‘I am growing stronger’ meme – it was never more true.
My expectation is that he is going to re-make the country, reforming the bureaucracy, exposing the old structures of corruption and exposing the corrupt to ignominy, and orienting the States for high-speed growth which will stun the world as the US accelerates away from them. ‘Make America Greater Than Ever’.
‘The statesman’s task is to hear God’s footsteps marching through history, and to try and catch on to His coattails as He marches past.’
Well, the God-Emperor is on the march. Best opportunity ever, if you can find a coat-tail and hold on for the ride.
One note of caution: I wouldn’t want to be a bondholder. ‘Money printer go brrrrrr.’
@Green as Grass – curioser and curioser!
Comment by Ex-Global Super-Regulator on Lunch Break — November 8, 2024 @ 10:29 pm
@Ex-Global Super-Regulator on Lunch Break. The international reaction reminds me of one of those massive domino toppling exhibitions. Trump didn’t even have to do anything and governments are hopping to it. To switch metaphors, this behavior reminds me of some kids who have trashed their house with a party, and then realize: “Shit! Dad’s on his way home. We better clean up this place before he gets back!”
Comment by cpirrong — November 9, 2024 @ 10:54 am
@Ex-Global Super-Regulator on Lunch Break,
I’m much more realistic about the power of the President to actually do things. Congress and the bureaucracy won’t act that quickly and he will only have, maybe, 18 months. Reform the Federal govt? Good luck, it is well past it sell by date, but very deeply entrenched. He’d have to burrow down to the GS-15 level and that ain’t happening.
Comment by The Pilot — November 9, 2024 @ 4:20 pm
@Prof yes, quite something to see. Even the clown at the WHO is rushing to whitewash his vile organisation and its failure during Covid.
Re. the federal government I suspect he might just sideline them, pension them off, etc. A combination of Musk’s weaponised autism – which may have won him the election – and Ron Paul’s zeal in implementing a Milei Plan might get the job done. Fingers crossed.
Comment by Ex-Global Super-Regulator on Lunch Break — November 9, 2024 @ 4:50 pm
@Pilot – this is something of what I am expecting to happen broadly and deeply across the blob:
https://x.com/LeadingReport/status/1855458140940067256
Comment by Ex-Global Super-Regulator on Lunch Break — November 9, 2024 @ 10:56 pm
4 years of determined survival paid off! After 3 days of elation and justified gloating, I am now in a much more reflective mood – and agree w/ Pilot. The target audience (GS-15 and up) will not go quietly into the night. X-regulator: my hope, too – but I’m knocking on wood.
Of course, as someone on inter-nets-of-expats said, Dems now have a perfect chance to have the “1st woman of color president” and prove their commitment to all declaimed principles: let Kamala publicly announce Biden incapable to perform and to assume the presidency…for the remaining time till T. inauguration. Bonus for them: all printed material with “47th president” will have to be trashed (a garbage pun! ha!). But they don’t have the guts.
Comment by Tatyana — November 10, 2024 @ 8:35 am
@ Tat: what a lovely suggestion. Could they do it with sufficient dispatch that the old Vegetable wouldn’t have time to pardon himself, Hunter and a cast of thousands? Because, if so, that would explain why they won’t even try.
Comment by dearieme — November 10, 2024 @ 10:14 am
Prof, you think of Andrew Jackson as the closest thing to Trump
I’d go back, much further back: Alcibiades.
Doesn’t Trump also possess mystifying charisma? – well, mystifying to those not in thrall to the man
Isn’t Trump as cynical? As fond of the company of women and not shy about it?
Isn’t Trump as witty and fond of repartee?
Isn’t Trump as prone to the disingenuous and the duplicitous?
Elected strategos, forced into exile because of criminal indictments, consorted with one enemy, and then another, then recalled to popular acclaim: the parallels are remarkable
Comment by Simple Simon — November 10, 2024 @ 12:53 pm
LOL.When discussing an ideal Halloween costumes for each other at work, a colleague suggested a crystal ball as my accessory. So: call me a clairvoyant! What did I tell you?
https://nypost.com/2024/11/10/us-news/biden-should-resign-and-make-kamal-harris-first-female-president-ex-spokesman/
Comment by Tatyana — November 10, 2024 @ 3:21 pm
@Ex-Global Super Regulator. Fine thought, but neither one can make that happen. Long time ago, someone proposed moving DOE to Elko, NV; Ag to North Platte, NE; NOAA to Fairbanks; etc. Congress won’t stand for it, even a pro-Trump Congress.
There countless agencies across the Cabinet with entrenched GS grade people who can block, delay, lobby for their budgets and existence; congressional delegations who will help in the process.
Comment by The Pilot — November 10, 2024 @ 6:09 pm
@15 – Pilot, aren’t all those departments part of the Executive Branch?
The president suffers their continued existence. Suppose he just shuttered Education, Energy, DHS, and the rest. Congress couldn’t block that, could it?
Nor could the Supreme Court issue an injunction to stay. The President has full power over the Executive Branch.
Comment by Pat Frank — November 10, 2024 @ 11:02 pm
@Pilot: The solution to civil-servant recalcitrance in the Australian Public Service is – or at least used to be – removal to a desk in a small room in the basement with no telephone or computer on it. Just a desk and a chair. The incalcitrant soon got the message. If this solution is unknown in Vorshington please contact me via my consulting business, for a reasonable fee I will be happy to contribute to the re-greatening of America.
@Tatya – great idea! Let a hundred cackles resound!
Comment by Ex-Global Super-Regulator on Lunch Break — November 11, 2024 @ 12:48 am
I suppose we shouldn’t overlook the possibility that “natural causes” may overwhelm the Vegetable before late January.
Comment by dearieme — November 11, 2024 @ 6:42 am
The Cabinet-level administrative departments are created by Congress, the President cannot just close them. Basic stuff
Comment by The Pilot — November 11, 2024 @ 6:16 pm
@19 — perhaps not so basic.
“Historical practice and judicial decisions acknowledge that the President is empowered to remove those officers he appoints without assent from Congress.”
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S2-C2-3-15-1/ALDE_00013107/
Also: https://harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-136/the-executive-power-of-removal/
Comment by Pat Frank — November 12, 2024 @ 9:40 am
Talking of forcing people out of jobs, the Archbishop of Canterbury has announced his resignation. Many Anglicans will celebrate I imagine. I’m not an Anglican but I will allow myself a merry moment of derision.
Comment by dearieme — November 12, 2024 @ 10:57 am
No problem removing the ones the President appointed, but removing civil service below the SES, and perhaps even them, is going to run into Civil Service laws and Congressional resistance, even from Republicans there. GS-14s and 15s are the real obstacles to change and they’re tough to remove. I’ve been there.
Comment by The Pilot — November 13, 2024 @ 10:14 am
Ok peeps, now is the time for your predictions for the next Trump term, specifically:
– will Joe & Hunter be pursued?
– which government departments will be closed?
– how many thousands of government employees will be laid off in the next two years?
– how many illegal immigrants will be deported within the same period?
– how many more miles of the border wall with Mexico will be built?
– your guess as to the deficit at the end of each year till 2029?
– will military support for Ukraine be pulled (that’s one for you Craig – I note that this wasn’t on your Christmas list)
Good luck, and don’t be shy! (no prizes BTW)
Comment by David Mercer — November 13, 2024 @ 11:53 am
For the record, I too very much enjoyed the day but for very different reasons. I’m a firm believer in countries getting the leaders they deserve. And boy, do you deserve Trump, esp you youngsters etc. Nothing like a good strong life lesson to jolt you from your collective reverie.
PS Personally I blame the photographer who took that pic following the assassination attempt for the Dems loss – I knew when I saw it they had a mountain to climb (as a keen amateur photographer I do appreciate the way the MAGA crowd have airbrushed out the baldy secret service agent the podium – he does rather ruin the shot, excuse the pun).
Comment by David Mercer — November 13, 2024 @ 12:04 pm
Given that (nearly?) all “iconic” historical photos were faked a little light editing of a genuine photo is just about pardonable.
Comment by dearieme — November 13, 2024 @ 5:40 pm
C’mon Craig – blog about Hegseth. You know you want to…
Comment by David Mercer — November 14, 2024 @ 12:05 pm
@dearieme. There are still Anglicans? I thought they’d gone extinct.
Comment by cpirrong — November 14, 2024 @ 1:17 pm