You consistently conflate populism with democracy. Throughout history, there have been many antidemocratic authoritarians who surfed into power on a wave of popular fervor.

I agree that isolationism is often (although not always) a component of populism. I agree that Trumpism is a populist movement.

Trump wasn’t remotely isolationist.

At various times, Clinton authorized military action in Somalia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Irag, Sudan, and Afghanistan. Some of those decisions appear justified in hindsight, others less so. None of those military actions was protracted, but I think that was more a function of the hand Clinton was dealt than evidence of a strong aversion to using military force.

He signed the updated NAFTA. He killed an Iranian general. Only made an effort to withdraw from Afghanistan at the end of his term, escalated the drone war.

He just conned people into thinking that and it's impressive how good a job he did on that one.

He was a weird mix. He was reckless and bellicose in certain ways and isolationist in other ways. I guess that's what you should expect from a guy who mainly just shot from the hip and didn't listen to advice.

In any case, his "America first" rhetoric definitely has fanned isolationist policy preferences within the GOP at this point. I really think that a decent chunk of GOP politicians would be willing to pull most of the military support for Ukraine, no matter what the consequences might be for Ukraine.

Those same GOP politicians would be more than happy to provide military aid to Russia, it that was an option. They would scream and yell if anyone proposed cutting aid to Israel or Saudi Arabia. Multiple candidates in the last GOP primary debate floated the idea of declaring war on Mexico. The GOP isn't remotely isolationist by any good-faith metric. FFS, we only just extracted ourselves from the last 20-year military adventure the GOP sent us on.

I am not using the word "isolationist" as a proxy for "good" (or "bad").

Maybe a few would, but I think there has been a noticeable shift in the direction of "**** everyone except for USA #1."

They definitely floated the idea of military strikes against the cartels.

I obviously agree that the Bush era was not marked by isolationism. But I do think there is growing tolerance in the GOP for letting authoritarian regimes do pretty much whatever they want so long as it does not directly and immediately affect critical U.S. interests.

"America First" doesn't mean America isolates itself, it just means America only acts in its own interests. Invading the Middle East to steal their oil is completely compatible with Trump's ideology.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-c...age-syrias-oil

Neither side has anything like a consistent isolationist attitude. Republicans dishonestly pretend to be against foreign intervention when the Dems do it and then turn around and engage even more aggressively when they are in power.

GOP isn't isolationist tho. Hell they want to start a war with Mexico.

Trump admin had some of the most insane and bloodthirsty neocons of the 21st century running foreign policy. Pompeo was SoS. John Bolton was a leader.

Yeah it was all a bait-and-switch played on his base as others have suggested

But tbf he did tell people that during his campaign with his constant warmongering against Iran.

Maybe some Democrats would oppose it, but Biden has recently been more clearly explicit about his support for the de facto independence of Taiwan than has any other president in recent memory.

I actually was referring to Trumpism the populist movement as something distinct from Trump himself. Obviously he is the avatar of the MAGA movement, but the movement itself definitely has a life of its own beyond his own politics, including some far right wing isolationist tendencies that don't necessarily come from him (on top of antivax and anti-abortion).

As Trump himself doesn't really have any political ideology above his own self-gratification and self-idolation, it actually isn't too surprising the MAGA movement has developed positions he is mostly agnostic towards.

Jim Jordan’s highest professional accomplishment is being the
biggest tool in Congressional history, with Matt Gaetz a close second.

still trying to wrap my mind around that the GOP made him Chairman of the
Judiciary Committee when he could not even pass the bar; he is not a lawyer

This actually makes me like her.

I went from being a fan to hating her when she swiped left on my Bumble profile.

Hutchinson rejects Gaetz claim that they dated.

https://twitter.com/SenatorTester/st...60998302548408


Another dem senator calls for the resignation of Menendez. Hopefully this continues to pick up steam and he's gone soon. But Menendez seems hell bent on staying no matter what.

MAGA Republicans attack Taylor Swift.
That should work out well for them.

Yep. We can only hope that this ill-conceived strategy results in real jail time.

Wasn't sure where to drop this, as I can see it fitting into a few topics, but this seemed most appropriate.

All I'll say is, huge LOL.

Travis Kelce’s Ads For Pfizer And Bud Light Draw Right-Wing Anger

A majority can do anything.

When House Democrats controlled the majority in the last Congress,
they slashed prescription drug prices, turbocharged American manufacturing,
rebuilt our communities’ infrastructure, expanded health care for our veterans,
took action against gun violence and delivered the largest climate investment in our nation’s history.

Nearly 10 months into their majority, House Republicans have used it to play increasingly unhinged political games

Why? Because McCarthy has handed the speaker’s gavel over to the most extreme members of his party.

Here’s the MAGA Majority's ransom note,

Impeach the president without facts or evidence.
Impose a nationwide abortion ban — starting with our service members.
Defund the FBI.
Gut cancer research.
Tear food assistance away from hungry moms, kids and babies.
Slash our seniors’ Social Security and Medicare benefits.
Cut the lifesaving health care we promised to our veterans.

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-...ark-rcna117373

Sen. Dianne Feinstein dies at age 90

https://abc7news.com/senator-dianne-...-car/13635510/

As I'm sure suzzer would be happy to confirm (if he still lurks), none of this backlash is remotely surprising to anyone who has ever perused ChiefsPlanet.

LOL America is the only appropriate response to this:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/costco-...hat-they-cost/