May 2, 2017
Trump calls Bannon "alt-left."
"Why alt-left? 'Bannon’s more of a libertarian than anything else, if you want to know the truth,' Trump said Monday during an interview with Bloomberg News in the Oval Office."
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33 comments:
Well the Donald is a Jack Kennedy Democrat covered in Republican cloth. I'll buy his assessment of Bannon as a Libertarian. I belong to the Libertarian Party. Do you?
"People get job offers". Yes, like head of the Heritage Foundation for Bannon. Good way to get rid of him. Trump just can't keep a secret. Who would think Bannon, an "Alt Left" ( haha) guy could head the Heritage Foundation?
I'll buy his assessment of Bannon as a Libertarian.
Except, I don't accept the assessment that libertarianism is a left movement. So an "alt-left" (if such a thing even exists) is incorrect.
I have understood Bannon to be somewhat of a libertarian (though I don't think he is a Libertarian)
But why does that make him Alt-Left? Left is about govt control and libertarian is about as far as you can get from that position.
Right is about govt control too and libertarian is pretty from from that position as well.
As for the job offers, it sounds like some of DeMint's liberal buddies from the Senate (Cruz and Paul and perhaps others) are encouraging Heritage to keep him on. It's really all about the donors, though. If they don't want DeMint, there is nothing anyone can do about it.
John Henry
The Alt-Jackson speaks!
Freder wrote: Except, I don't accept the assessment that libertarianism is a left movement. So an "alt-left" (if such a thing even exists) is incorrect.
Bannon is a paranoid libertarian. These days, that pushes him to the left.
Trump is doing to political labels what the Grammies has done to musical labels.
Personally, I kind of like this particular trolling.
"Libertarian" is "left" now? When was this change?
If Trump says libertarianism is alt left, who are we to question him? That would be disrespectful and not giving him his dues. Jackson had a "big heart" and was "angry" about the Civil War too, don't forget. Trump can teach us to look at things in an alternative facts kind of way, embrace it!
"Alt" prefix, whether accusing Righties or Lefties, or Libertarians implies they use an ideology demanding a strict accounting. But that trait also hinders flexible deal making with opponents, which lacks wisdom and leads to Civil War.
Left-libertarians used to be known as liberals. Most "conservatives" these days are actually liberals, while 90% of leftists are full blown socialists, as are most "anarchists". It's a definitional crisis.
Example: The Louisiana Purchase was a total violation of the Constitution by Jefferson. But the best deal ever made by a President.
Should we give it back?
Inga said... [hush][hide comment]
If Trump says libertarianism is alt left, who are we to question him? That would be disrespectful and not giving him his dues. Jackson had a "big heart" and was "angry" about the Civil War too, don't forget. Trump can teach us to look at things in an alternative facts kind of way, embrace it!
It's always amusing when someone criticizes alternative facts while promoting them.
I'm not sure Trump knows left from right. Nor does he care. He's politically nescient. That's one reason I voted for him. Unlike Pelosi, et al, he's not playing a game but is goal-oriented beyond the goal of re-election. I pray he stays that way.
"Unlike Pelosi, et al, he's not playing a game..."
True! He's the real deal.
I suspect he might be using the term as a metaphor for populism and in contrast to the Wall Street types in Treasury and OMB.
Alt-left might be code for leaving. "Now, I will tell you, probably people are going to get job offers. You know, things happen." - sounds like foreshadowing. But it might be a head fake, the old pretend like someone is being eased out but actually isn't trick.
As Althouse predicted, Trump was able to get clear of the Andrew Jackson flap quite easily on Twitter this morning. What was that about again?
Plenty of libertarians lean left. Brink Lindsey of CATO is a lefty and has written on how many lefty causes align with libertarian values. Whether Bannon shares Lindesy's alt-left philosophy - I can not say, but see no reason to doubt Trump's claim.
Trump is alt-ambidextrous.
Traditional meaning of libertarian in European politics was a synonym for anarchist; this was a common term for, for instance, Buenaventura Durruti's CNT-FAI militia.
Movie ref - well worth a watch - "Libertarias", V.Aranda, 1996
Feminists will probably like it, for the rest of us it is an instructive period piece; it does capture the Quixotic spirit of that moment, before, and as, reality set in.
I actually don't know a great deal about Bannon, other than that he seems to drive liberals bonkers and he was or is embroiled in some sort of feud with Jared Kushner or whatever. Palace intrigue bores me almost as much as people affixing "alt" to every other word lately. I suspect that most of this is pretty overblown in the grand scheme.
I agree that Trump not being strictly bound to any particular political ideology gives him a certain flexibility that allows him to keep many options open, as well as as an unpredictability that confounds his various detractors and opponents. Only time will tell if all that proves to be a good thing or a bad thing for everyone.
" Jackson had a "big heart" and was "angry" about the Civil War too, don't forget. Trump can teach us to look at things in an alternative facts kind of way, embrace it! "
Inga was schooled on the other thread, but she just can't stop lying.
Or displaying her complete ignorance of history and her deep stupidity.
Read up on the Nullification Crisis, bonehead.
Then get back to us.
Not worth analyzing.
Does anybody remember the brief "liberaltarian" thing, back when the Dems were actually trying to get other constituencies to vote for them? I think that coincided with the Coffee Party.
Trump should just start seeding his speeches with made up words. Make his opponents go nuts.
Trump should just start seeding his speeches with made up words. Make his opponents go nuts.
Perfect stratagery.
I see Libertarianism as Utopian rather than left or right.
I see libertarianism as pragmatic rather then utopian.
mockturtle said...
He's politically nescient.
Perhaps even prenescient.
I see libertarianism as pragmatic rather then utopian.
I consider myself as, basically, a Libertarian and would like to believe this. Unfortunately, the Libertarian premise only works with human nature at its optimum.
I saw someone oppose ALT-Right to CTRL-Left. Now, that I approve. Only what would you do for the libertarians? Is it Shift? is it CAPS LOCK?
MDT,
It's GNU-Libertarians, of course.
Michelle Dulak Thomson said...
I saw someone oppose ALT-Right to CTRL-Left. Now, that I approve. Only what would you do for the libertarians? Is it Shift? is it CAPS LOCK?
5/2/17, 5:59 PM
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