I don't usually watch presidential debates; instead I rely on sites like PJMedia or Breitbart that run blow-by-blow accounts of the debates. And then I read up on the post-debate spin.
But I did watch the October 22 debate between President Trump and former Vice President Biden.
Now when I listen to Republican politicians I am always conscious of the Overton Window of what you are allowed to say today in America.
So it was cringingly obvious to me that President Trump did not answer the question made to him by NBC reporterette Kristen Welker on Climate Change. Trump talked about how he loved the environment. He said nothing about how the whole Looming Disaster on Climate Unless We Act Now is a globalist ruling-class lie. Because he is not allowed to say that.
What I would like is for the president to say, look, climate change is a total fraud, a fake panic ginned up by the swamp to order us around and make big bucks for its supporters. And especially to create lots of Jobs for educated Gentry.
Ditto on the question about Race and "the talk." The president completely avoided the question, instead talking about how he has done all kinds of wonderful things for blacks.
What I would like is for the president to say, hey, whatabout "the talk" white parents need to give to white kids, like "The Talk: Non-black Version" that got John Derbyshire fired from National Review? But he is not allowed to say that.
Lots of people have been complaining that the moderators of the debates are all pro-Biden. And they are right.
But the reason is not that the moderators are biased and/or Democrats and/or swamp creatures, although they are: hey, reporterettes gotta eat too!
The reason is that presidential debates are Oral Exams in Ruling Class Orthodoxy. Let us review the issues and discover the Ruling Class Orthodoxy that you are not allowed to challenge.
COVID: OMG, if we can just save one life!
Climate Change: OMG, we're all going to die unless we act now and get rid of polluting fossil fuels!
Race: OMG, the white supremacists -- or white oppressors, or systemic racists!
Health-care: OMG, we've got to insure pre-existing conditions!
Education: OMG, we gotta have free college!
On each of these issues, which you will note I have framed as an emotional response that you would expect from a young woman, the way that all good Democrats with #WeBelieve signs out front believe is the only moral, moderate, evolved thing to do.
So, when the Democrat in a presidential debate answers a question about one of these issues, he starts with the orthodox moral position that all good people believe and then continues by talking about billions of dollars in loot and plunder for this sub-issue and regulations for that sub-issue. Don't forget the regulations aspect: regulations are Jobs for Gentry.
Whereas the Republican has to do a dance, to avoid contradicting the Orthodox Position directly, but still dog-whistling to his supporters that he is on their side. This is something that President Trump has shown himself to be expert at. He has to be expert at this Ali Shuffle because the default Republican position -- and indeed the reality -- on these issues is not acceptable in polite society.
Here's where I stand on the Big Issues:
COVID: Hey kids, it's an epidemic; let's get through it, protecting old people and the vulnerable, but get on with life.
Climate Change: Hey kids, ever met a snake-oil salesman? Guess what: the Earth is not about to fry; it is in the middle of an interglacial, a brief warm period in the middle of the current Ice Age. That means: cold weather ahead!
Race: Hey kids! Guess what: it is illegal in these United States to commit racial and/or sexual discrimination. Who knew?
Health care: Hey kids! If you try to skate by and don't pay for health insurance, it could cost you.
Education: Hey kids! Ever thought that compulsory education amounts to confinement in government child custodial facilities?
Feeling a bit embarrassed while reading the above? Did you check behind you to see if someone was watching? I understand. You have a job and a wife and kids to protect.
The point is: you are not allowed to say such things. And it could cost you.
We all know what this is about. It starts with the Breitbart Dictum: politics is downstream from culture. As modified by the John C. Wright Proviso: politics is downstream from culture is downstream from religion. A modified by the Christopher Chantrill Maxim: politics is downtream from culture is downstream from religion is downstream from "the meaning of life, the universe, and everything."
First, you gotta get out ahead on the meaning-of-life question. Everything else is just a mopping up operation.
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