- Message 1
- Dear [REDACTED],
This is not the usual case of every candidate having extreme supporters. Over the last twenty years in this country we have witnessed the growth of genuine ethno-nationalist politics on the order of the National Front in France. (See https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/birthers-trumpists-and-a-crisis-for-the-gop/2015/09/04/3b3e2074-5308-11e5-8c19-0b6825aa4a3a_story.html …). Trump has been committed to the ethno-nationalist paradigm for some time now. It is not clear precisely how he would move it forward in the presidency, but that is his single most consistent commitment. Add to that the temperament of a bully who disregards basic rights and you have a recipe for quite dangerous outcomes. I am not a supporter of Sanders, though you are right to compare him and Trump. Yes, in some sense, they have both got the right diagnosis. But where Sanders offers socialism, Trump offers ethno-nationalist protectionism ( https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/americas-seismic-division-on-race/2016/01/08/48a14f66-b61d-11e5-a842-0feb51d1d124_story.html …).
I also agree with your diagnoses about inequality ( https://www.foreignaffairs.com/authors/danielle-allen …). But I could not disagree more with your solution. My own preferred candidate never did very well but here was my view: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ts-time-to-take-a-serious-look-at-martin-omalley/2016/01/27/1cf1f040-c465-11e5-a4aa-f25866ba0dc6_story.html ….
There are two pieces of work that need to be done: we need to hold the republic together, as a republic, including with a set of unimpeachable commitments to basic rights, constitutional proceduralism, and legality. And, yes, we need to address inequality. But if you give up the republic, as you are proposing doing, you will never be able to solve the issues of inequality over the long term.
While neither Clinton nor Rubio is the best possible candidate, I believe that each of them, in contrast to Trump, will actually preserve the republic long enough for us (all of us, not just the politicians) to work toward long-lasting, durable solutions to the problem of inequality.
I would, finally, enjoin you to re-read the Declaration of Independence. Re-read the Constitution. Re-read, above all, the Federalist Papers. Re-read Chernow’s biography of Washington. Have a look, if you have the time, at my own book on the Declaration (called Our Declaration). Consider what those texts can teach us about the relationship between leadership and the sustainability of republican forms of self-government. I truly believe that this is what is now at stake.
Yours sincerely,
Danielle - Message 2 Dear [REDACTED],
I agree with the need for serious alterations in our policy landscape. I agree in using legal and peaceful means, our right to vote, to achieve those. The entire point of my op ed was that people should use legal and peaceful means, their right to vote, which is by no means constrained by pre-existing party affiliations, to achieve good outcomes for our polity. Where you and I disagree is on Trump’s fitness to achieve good outcomes for our polity and on his aims. With regard to fitness, there are two inter-related issues: character and commitment to constitutionalism. Trump routinely displays failings on both sides. With regard to character, here is a good standard, from George Washington: http://www.foundationsmag.com/civility.html … . The question of character is tied to constitutionalism because the rules of the constitution are, at the end of the day, formal versions of the commitments of character that are necessary to sustain democracy. The two—character and constitutionalism-- go hand in hand. With regard to Trump’s aims, he is not committed to tackling inequality for all, but only to making some better off, including, consistently, himself.
Did you by any chance watch the South Carolina debate ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un3OhYs-tCE …)? When Trump shouts over Jeb Bush, he is literally stealing Bush’s right of freedom of speech. He is not exemplifying free speech but stealing that right from someone else. Free-speech requires turn-taking in public fora; otherwise it is a nonsensical idea. This small moment in the South Carolina debate is powerfully revealing of how much respect Trump has for the rights of other people.
All best,
Danielle - @dsallentess You cannot stop Donald Trump. White people are going to stop hating themselves and there is nothing you can do to stop it.
- @dsallentess Jewish ancestry? 40%? 50%?
- @dsallentess You would be working a McDonalds if it wasn't for affirmative action. What exactly are you bringing to the country?
- @DylanByers @dsallentess Hello affirmative action negress, would you be willing to take a live-stream IQ test to show your smarts?
- @dsallentess @RyanSprung citizenly? Murica sucks. The parasitic joo has infected this country in a fatal way.
- @bamapachyderm @kgriffigk4_g @dsallentess we are in the idiocracy. Donald John Trump is the last hope. Parasitic joos have destroyed
- @dsallentess as "we" were for oboingo the kenyan used car salesman. There is no more we. This country needs to balkanize like yesterday.
- @dsallentess why do third world people come to European ancestry countries to paracite of us? Why has the third world never created anything
- @dsallentess imagine, no more affirmative action. How will you get a job? This PC shit has destroyed a once great nation.
- @dsallentess why don't you go back to the third world and do great things there lol when you people get together civilisation disappeared.
- @dsallentess Why do you hate White people? Why not return to your ethnic roots in Africa?
- @jtlevy @dsallentess Come on as a fine Jew, Trump stating he will audit the fed sounds like manna from heaven. All that fiscal prudence...
- @jtlevy @dsallentess My jewdar just went beep. Does the affirmative action negress have a bit of jew inside. No breaks on Trump train. Soz.
@dsallentess @Slate @jbouie no one wants a pool boy groomed by Jeb. Only @realDonaldTrump can save us! #Trump2016 pic.twitter.com/ik88US2ODL- @dsallentess I can't wait to see the look on your primitive monkey faces when the GOD-EMPEROR takes his throne. Go back to Africa posthaste.
- @dsallentess you must be jewish with your subversive behavior. We European Americans will take our country back off you low iq third world.
- @dsallentess Why would anyone listen to an ugly nigger bitch who thinks she can tell ANYONE what to do and who to vote for? Gas yourself.
- @dsallentess Wow, you are one butt-ugly nigger. Your face makes me sick to my stomach. Please gas yourself.
- WaPo: Affirmative Action Negress Begs Republicans to Shut Down The Donald http://www.dailystormer.com/wapo-affirmative-action-negress-begs-republicans-to-shut-down-the-donald/ … @dsallentess your shit is all retarded
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