In his Comment of the Day, Chris Marschner, among Ethics Alarms’ most articulate and astute commenters, writes, “Please excuse my rambling rant.” No excusing is necessary: Chris was using a stream of consciousness technique to express that frustration many—I’m tempted to say anyone paying attention—feel as they face the prospect of having to choose between the reckless and untrustworthy creep who is the likely Republican nominee, and an insatiable, power-lusting Democratic Party that in its has made it crystal clear that it no longer respects the American mission, the Constitution, or much else.
His post was well-timed: I’ve been planning an examination of the ethics zugzwang Donald Trump’s legal problems (and the Democratic Party’s criminalizing of politics) citizens like Chris now find themselves in. That’s Scylla and Charybdis above: Odysseus had an easier choice deciding which would be more disastrous than what we might face in November of 2024.
Chris Marschner’s Comment of the Day will be Part I of a three part series, and here it is, triggered by the post, “Today’s Res Ipsa Loquitur Donald Trump Moment.”
***
You have changed my mind: I will not vote. Screw it.
There are no suitable candidates. You have lying Biden, who tells a gold star mother he brought his own son back in a flag draped coffin during the dignified transition of remains, and the other candidates are just asking for money and not giving me a different alternative. We have D.C. judges sitting in on Trumps arraignment. Why did Judge Amy Berman Jackson and other federal judges feel it necessary to be present in the courtroom for this arraignment other than to send a message? But all we seem to focus on is the stupid shit Trump says.
How ethical was it for Trump’s legal team to be given 1 day to respond to a late Friday motion to prevent Trump from getting discovery by Jack Smith’s team when the typical time frame is apparently 14 days and Trumps team pleaded for 3 days? Why are we not discussing the ethical dimensions of such judicial conduct? I don’t care if Trump is a mass murderer; when our judicial system is abused against the rights of an accused we have bigger problems than Chris Christie’s feelings. If it is unethical to behave as Trump does when his adversary makes a point to harm him, then we should also be discussing the ethics of Christie, who starts the fights.
On domestic policy: I used to have money in the bank under Trump. Under Bidenomics my interest rates have doubled and as a retiree I could not refinance my home when the rates were low because I had another loan outstanding on a rehab project 5 doors up from where I live. Then Covid hit and the economy tanked, so I wound up sitting on that property for 5 years. Never again will I use my money to improve my neighborhood. Getting involved is not worth it.
Was injecting trillions into the economy an ethical act when even an Econ 101 student would know it was going to astronomically raise the price level when the supply chain collapsed? Many American have lost several thousands of dollars in purchasing power since Biden implemented his bribe and spend political strategy. Sure people got hired back after Covid and employers were hiring fast and furious because consumer prices rose faster than producer prices which led to moderately higher profits, but soon people will realize that their gift from government in the form of cash payments has evaporated and their standard of living is falling. When that happens, those transitory profits will go the way of the dodo, and labor demand will fall. That is beginning to happen.
How ethical is fraudulently spinning economic data to manipulate voter sentiment? If I misrepresented business accounting data to get investors, I would go to jail. If I recall correctly the NY AG was/is trying to convict Trump for misrepresenting property values to banks who are far more economically savvy than those IQ 97 Americans.
Vivek G. Ramaswamy seems decent, but because he will not get anywhere voting for him would be unethical—a virtue-signaling punt. No reasonable candidate who is willing to challenge the authoritarian regime has come forward, so I suppose I’ll just let the majority crown Obama as king and let him pick his front man. The rules change like the tide with the Democrats, so I cannot debate any points because it’s rules for thee and not for me.
Foreign policy: I fully anticipate a major conflict arising from the one China policy and our weakness on the world stage. Why are we not talking about the ethics of speaking out of both sides of our mouths? How is it ethical to give false hope to one group while kowtowing to the PRC president? If plans that have no chance of succeeding are unethical then I am out of ideas. I’ll just start working on learning Chinese. They will soon own us.
Please excuse my rambling rant. Editing on my phone is damn difficult. Suggest to me a quality candidate and I will give him or her every consideration. It does me no good to keep telling why one candidate is unfit for office. What makes the others better? – and don’t just say they aren’t Trump.
Ethics Alarms 
I distinctly remember walking out of the polling place in 2016, dreading the fact that one of them (Clinton or Trump) would win.
In 2020, I was happy (?) to vote for Trump because he did a decent job (better than I thought he would) and he was treated unfairly.
The problem now is he can’t get out of his own way.
He is still being treated unfairly, but he can’t help but go on the offensive. He can’t help but attack. He comes off as an asshole, when he needs to come off as someone who is being persecuted (because he is).
He makes it difficult for other Republicans to express a unified outrage at the way he has been treated because he appears to think this is all about him (isn’t everything?).
He can’t get out of his own way.
I dread the prospect that I will feel the same sense of dread in 2024 that I felt in 2016.
-Jut
Wait—did I write that?
Jut,
Do you think the electorate who would be willing to vote for Trump irrespective of his negatives would do so if t appeared that he would not be willing to fight against those who are believed to be “persecuting” him. Who would support a whiner? His behavior may actually be tactical.
It’s not a matter of whining. It’s a matter of maintaining sympathy. He is being treated unfairly, but, instead of stating that clearly and repeatedly, he attacks the prosecutor. He is not making the case he should be making.
And, he attacks his natural allies—other Republicans. Why would any of them speak out for him when he will just attack them, too.
This seems to be his only strategy—lash out.
He needs a more versatile arsenal.
-Jut
Every good citizen (i.e., awake Ethics Alarm Commenter) needs to stop whining, buck up, and plan to vote for the best possible candidate for US PRESIDENT we may an opportunity to vote for. We likely all have children, grandchildren, and certainly millions of other Americans too, who need to have the best choice possible as the human being that shall run this Great Country WE inherited. We failed the generation we were to lead, by allowing it to become selfish, Godless, lazy people. At least we can stand up and declare with our vote who best might lead them into a possibly better future than what we have at the moment. And we can start by acknowledging that Donald Trump, against a constant, massive, relentless, aggressive adversary (Dems and MSM), managed to make America better—even a bit Greater—than it was when he was elected in 2016 (just look at Marschner’s list of how his life was better). (or we’re you hoping for Hillary). Yes, Trump is coarse, crude, boorish, stupid, foolish and so on, but if a better human does not rise to the occasion next year, and he survives the ongoing adversities being heaped on him to keep him from becoming what he could still become if afforded the chance, then either buck up and vote the best YOU can, or tell your grandchildren “to hell with the future of their Country, I’m not voting.”
This.
The election determines which way the country goes, and I believe one is obligated to choose the best candidate to at least attempt to hold on to what we were given.
The Democratic party is now Leninist, and we know where that goes. Republicans at least talk about doing the right things (but accomplish amazingly little), though they often represent the least bad choice, so we’re (in my opinion) obligated to try.
Re: Ramaswamy, if you think he’s a reasonable choice (I think he is), send money to his campaign. If (you) actually do something instead of saying he doesn’t have a shot, he might actually have a shot. He does articulate details, plans, and statutory analysis to get to where he says we should be with government.
Desantis is currently DOING it in Florida, and these are my top two guys
I do plan to contribute to Ramaswamy’s campaign very shortly here.
I empathize Chris.
Just consider a vote for The Orange Master as a placeholder vote.
You are welcome.
How can a President be a “placeholder?” Biden’s the closest thing to a placeholder we’ve ever had, and, well, you know.
Jack,
It is conceptual.
You’ll have to elaborate. I don’t know what a conceptual Presidency is any more than I understand how a placeholder works. Especially a placeholder incapable of being quiet, non-confrontational and prudent.How would that work? 4 years is a long time to hold a place.
Jack,
I thought I was responding to a comment saying it isn’t worth voting for Trump because of, well how terribly he has acted since his last defeat yada yada. Cannot locate said comment now.
My placeholder idea was to provide a sensible reason for the now phantom commentor to vote for Trump. The repubs will not advance anyone who will be nearly as destructive as Biden (or clone) unless one endorses wokeism which is the dem’s version of fascism.
So if it helps to see Trump as a four year placeholder to just get one to the polls, that is a victory for our constitutional republic. Lord knows he has issues (inner demons) but now is not the time to stand on principle and sit this one out.
“You’ll have to elaborate. I don’t know what a conceptual Presidency is any more than I understand how a placeholder works.”
Not a conceptual presidency but rather using placeholder as a concept to counter any reason not to vote for Trump if he is the non-woke choice. Vote early vote often.
Voters having an opinion is a threat to democracy! I felt this stream of consciousness rant so much. I understand and even mostly agree with most of Jack’s opinions, but then I read the news. It is nothing but the elites laughing at the peons who want a say in their government.
The elites laugh at us while they start wars and make us pay for it. The elites laugh at us while they enable an invasion of the country and makes us pay for it. The elites laugh at us while they run medical experiments on us and make us pay for it. The elites laugh at us as they murder babies and make us pay for it. The elites laugh at us while they sexually mutilate children and make us pay for it. The elites laugh at us as they launder money through foreign countries and make us pay for it. The elites laugh at us they regulate the average person out of existence and make us pay for it. The elites laugh as they print trillions of dollars and inflate money out of any value whatsoever. The elites laugh as they conspire to steal all the wealth from the middle class and stick it in their own pockets. The elites laugh at us as they pit people against each other while they profit.
I’m tired of being quiet to keep my job. I’m tired of being quiet to keep my bank. I’m tired of being quiet to not be censored. I’m tired of worrying about who is spying on me. I’m tired of an two tiered justice system. I’m tired of the government.
The government is evil. I’m sick of people pretending like one “side” is better than the other. There are no sides except the government against the people.
Jonah Goldberg jumped the shark long ago because of Trump Derangement.
Not voting is unethical and cowardly. If we have a glimmer of hope to restore our way of life we all must vote. Our vote, however, cannot be limited to the voting box. We must vote with our economic choices. We must vote by raising our voices and supporting those who do so against the relentless immorality that invades us. Silence is indeed consent! That has been proven over and over throughout our history.
I was speaking with my husband and in our discussion, I claimed that I would never vote for Trump in the Primaries, and I would never vote for Biden in the general election. (I am technically registered Republican because I have to pick one, but if there was a functional “None of the Above” option that let me vote meaningfully in the primaries, I’d take it.)
He cautioned me, and I have amended that now, saying that it would take a hell of a lot to convince me to vote for Trump in the Primaries (De Santis is my current hope, though I apparently need to study Ramaswamy, as I’ve never heard of him outside of this site) and it would take something earth shattering to back any Democrat in anything beyond county level (our auditor is a Democrat who does an acceptable job and his last Republican challenger was slimy, so he was the single blue exception on my last ticket).
This means that I very well may have to vote for Trump again. I was sick to my stomach in 2016 just like Jut, when pulling the trigger on Trump over Hillary, which was more a vote against her than for him. In 2020, again like Jut, I was accepting of it as I could appreciate what Trump had done for our nation, and my husband and I were in some of the best financial shape we’d ever been in. Trump gets some of the blame for my loss of purchasing power and tighter finances, but Biden (or his puppeteers) does take a majority of the blame now. I can not come up with anything Biden has done that I thought was a good choice. I will admit, however, that it is possible that I am focusing on the negatives, not the positives, because Biden wasn’t my pick, so if someone tried to point out the good things, I would try to be fair, I think.
Trump is a horrible choice for President. It isn’t just his behavior. Something about the man turns what seems to be a third of the damn nation into raving lunatics and another fifth into cultists. Somehow, saying that I thought he was the better choice than Biden or Hillary is a way to alienate others now. I’m not the one who shuts down discussion. I am not the one who says I’ll never talk to you again. I’m happy to discuss why I thought he was better or they were worse. I’m happy to hear why you disagree. But something about him shuts down discussions and ruins friendships and family respect. It used to be you could debate on whether Kerry or Bush was better and no one hated the other after the discussion (well, not hated enough to skip Thanksgiving after tempers cooled, at least). I think the problem started with Obama, where if I was opposed to him, I was a racist, not someone who thought his policy platforms sucked. By the time we got to Trump, my being anything other than staunchly opposed has become such signature significance for some that we can no longer associate at all. As an example, my relationship with my grandmother soured when I asked her why she thought that Trump was an autocrat, but Biden, who had been in Washington for 40+ years and loosely connected to an influence peddling scandal (this was when we were at the “laptop is confirmed to be Hunter’s but it’s a nothing burger” phase of the problem). She clammed up telling me to never discuss things like this again with her or she’d have a hard time loving me.
No matter why, Trump divides the nation by existing. He does not help the situation any by his actions, though I think if someone broke both his thumbs and gave him laryngitis after using K’s “flashythingy” on the whole damn nation , he would still annoy half of us. Do I want to vote for him AT ALL? HELL NO!!!
I rather feel that instead of Curmie’s suggesting that instead of Trump, he’d consider a Voldemort/Sauron ticket, we have the Voldemort vs. Sauron choice. Who is worse? Unfortunately Biden currently fails my lawn chair test. I hope that Trump vs Biden is not the choice I must make next year. I plan to take what action I can to not have to pull that trigger again. If pushed, today, to make that choice, I’ll vote for Trump, reluctantly, and probably feel at least as sick as I did in 2016. I hope to God above that nothing will force me to make that choice next year!
Bari Weiss did an interview with Ramaswamy on her Honestly podcast that is a pretty good introduction into what he thinks and why he’s running.
Very eloquent comments here. FYI: Look at the followers of Erdogan in Turkey and how he came to power and gained support of the wolves.Focus on how he came into power and parallel with what is being done to Trump presently. IF the USA can be turned around from it’s present global Marxist future or collapse to a new form of North America Trump is he leader. No he is not perfect WHO HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO COME AFTER??? Step up to the plate! It isn’t the Floridian.
Why isn’t it the Floridian?
He is one of them
Frank. “Nobody’s perfect” is among the most hoary rationalizations on the list. Trump is so far from perfect he couldn’t see perfect wit the Hubble telescope. The issue isn’t perfection. The issue is trustworthiness.