Thursday, December 3, 2020

Romney & Haley Aren't "Never Trumpers"

Every once in a great while I'll read something from the right-wing blogosphere just to remind myself of the idol worship of Trump I managed to escape.

In the Trump universe what constitutes a "Never Trumper" is rather broad and elastic. Take the view of Kurt Schlichter at Townhall.com:

Now, you can see the three main brands of Never Trumpers – the active traitors (think Bulwark), the weakhearts (think Mitt), and the Establishment-curious squishes (think Nikki) – all angling to get back into power.

Now Schlichter is certainly correct in characterizing the editorial board of The Bulwark as Never Trumpers. In fact, I think most like Charlie Sykes would wear that label as a badge of honor. But Mitt Romney and Nikki Haley?

Yes, Romney was the lone Republican Senator who saw fit to vote for a single article of impeachment against President Trump. Yet Romney also voted with Trump 82.1% of the time and was prepared to dine with him in a failed effort to become Secretary of State. But in TrumpWorld being with Trump 82.1% is a failing grade. Even 99.9% won't cut it. Only slavish worship will do. In the real world, however, Romney is no Never Trumper.

While Romney never got a seat at Trump's cabinet table, Haley certainly did. Whatever reservations Haley had about Trump during the 2016 GOP primaries have long since vanished. I think being Trump's onetime UN Ambassador disqualifies her from being a Never Trumper. Anyone who describes Trump as "truthful" much less puts the two words in the same sentence is not a Never Trumper.

However delusional the Kurt Schlichter's of the world are in their way of thinking it is always useful to know what they are thinking so one can use their thoughts against them and their ideas.

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