Loved this video...I don't want to make myself sound like a dinosaur but I carried a sign while pulling a coaster wagon with Barry Goldwater bumper stickers when I was about 8 years old...volunteered for Reagan/Bush, for Bush the senior, Bush the junior, road with John McCain in his bus, and was chair of Mayors for Dole in South Carolina. Prior to Trump screaming on the scene, I had never voted for a Democrat in a Presidential primary or General Election...Since Trump, I have voted for Independents and for Democrats. My family for the most part except for my two daughters and one of my sons-in-law are still MAGA...I don't have political conversations with them...With regard to John McCain and Bob Dole...I sincerely loved them.
Living in NJ, I never liked Trump. I was horrified when he called John McCain not a hero. mostly I vote Democratic but would vote for Republican or Independent now if I saw humility and integrity. I wish I had voted for George Bush Sr. He was a decent and kind man. I would never have voted for Bill Clinton if I knew what he had done. As for Hillary. Lost respect for her when she stayed with Bill but voted because of the evil I saw in Trump. praying Americans return to original values of kindness and acceptance of all.
"Being unapologetic about American exceptionalism": that's where it all starts, IMHO. The need to imagine that your own country is special. It's never ever true, and it doesn't make any moral sense.
Obviously, each country has its history, which is in part unique and in part intertwined with global history.
But the whole thought that the US is the "greatest country on Earth"... it responds to a psychological need that IMHO can never ever lead to anything good.
We don't HAVE to be better, special, or exceptional to somehow come together to work for the welfare of all. It's actually because of our common humanity that we want both our own citizens and those of the rest of the world to thrive.
That's part of the message that made Obama win, after the Bush disaster. And it's simply true.
That being said, I really appreciate interviews like this. They are vitally important to understand how the Grand Old Party became the Great Obscene Party, so I'm looking forward to watching the rest of the video. They also require a strong moral spine and courage, so thank you, Adam and Miles, for doing this!
Agree. I don't know if Democrats were ever apologists for America, but may have been apologists for the type of foreign intervention or involvement and the assumptions underlying it. I think there's some nuance there.
Obama clearly felt obliged to regularly repeat the "greatest country on Earth" myth. But everything else he said and his entire biography showed that he knew it was false. He also explicitly apologized to the world for the huge mistakes in foreign policy the US made (starting with the Iraq war, and its hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians killed, while the GOP opened Iraq's borders, which - for the very first time - allowed Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations to get into the country and destroy it).
At the time, the GOP was already pretty immoral - rejecting the very IDEA that America would apologize for its mistakes, even though all religions strongly value apologizing and asking for forgiveness.
There are other, more accurate ways to justify foreign military inventions than just claiming, childishly, that you think you're "the best" or "the greatest"...
Thank you for this interview. I’m a long time Democratic voter AND I am a full supporter of any person who loves this country and democracy. I know it must be so hard for both of you and I so tremendously respect your integrity and fortitude.
I'm grateful to Myles (and Adam). I just hope America can become a country of honest people, and pursue the issues that make life good - whatever that might be!
Great work. Changing basic alignment is hard. Soul searching is not convenient! Trusting your better self will reward you in so many ways but it takes time. You’re not alone.
Yes, all who leave MAGA are welcome. Adam, from your moderate and principled political position and your clarity, you're helping to build a broad new political coalition. The question lingering from this interview is, how do we help to coax more MAGA to wake up and leave that destructive movement?
Way back when in the 1990s, I read a speculative article in The Atlantic RE political realignment: at that time, the author was speculating that ultimately, a revision of parties would begin in the future. The new alignment would consist of the best ideas of the left and the right would merge — leaving behind rump extremes on both sides. At the time, it seemed like science fiction. By now, I think it might be happening. Who knows?
Having been in a "new age" cult between the ages of 11 and 21, at times believing some really crazy stuff, surrounded by true believers, I agree it sounds like a cult. My interest in that group collapsed as a result of exposure to outside ideas. Cognitive dissonance did the rest. I couldn't force myself to believe in it any longer, and it was oppressive.
Very courageous chap... not an easy thing he did here. I read his Bulwark essay when it first came out. His livelihood was at stake but after fighting his conscience for the longest time, he decided to do the right thing. We should all commend him and wish him nothing but the best in finding a fruitful and rewarding second career, whether in politics or outside.
Thank you for this discussion. I miss Republicans. I miss having intelligent discussions with people who have different points of view and opinions, but actually have the same love of country and desire to solve problems.
I felt his pain, the mental struggle, and the grief.
I was just thinking about holding a public eulogy and burial for the Republican Party - a solemn event. I wonder what my Christian friends would understand, that the basics of the party is gone, and the Constitution is not being adhered to.
Loved this video...I don't want to make myself sound like a dinosaur but I carried a sign while pulling a coaster wagon with Barry Goldwater bumper stickers when I was about 8 years old...volunteered for Reagan/Bush, for Bush the senior, Bush the junior, road with John McCain in his bus, and was chair of Mayors for Dole in South Carolina. Prior to Trump screaming on the scene, I had never voted for a Democrat in a Presidential primary or General Election...Since Trump, I have voted for Independents and for Democrats. My family for the most part except for my two daughters and one of my sons-in-law are still MAGA...I don't have political conversations with them...With regard to John McCain and Bob Dole...I sincerely loved them.
Amen!
Living in NJ, I never liked Trump. I was horrified when he called John McCain not a hero. mostly I vote Democratic but would vote for Republican or Independent now if I saw humility and integrity. I wish I had voted for George Bush Sr. He was a decent and kind man. I would never have voted for Bill Clinton if I knew what he had done. As for Hillary. Lost respect for her when she stayed with Bill but voted because of the evil I saw in Trump. praying Americans return to original values of kindness and acceptance of all.
So they still speak to you?
"Being unapologetic about American exceptionalism": that's where it all starts, IMHO. The need to imagine that your own country is special. It's never ever true, and it doesn't make any moral sense.
Obviously, each country has its history, which is in part unique and in part intertwined with global history.
But the whole thought that the US is the "greatest country on Earth"... it responds to a psychological need that IMHO can never ever lead to anything good.
We don't HAVE to be better, special, or exceptional to somehow come together to work for the welfare of all. It's actually because of our common humanity that we want both our own citizens and those of the rest of the world to thrive.
That's part of the message that made Obama win, after the Bush disaster. And it's simply true.
That being said, I really appreciate interviews like this. They are vitally important to understand how the Grand Old Party became the Great Obscene Party, so I'm looking forward to watching the rest of the video. They also require a strong moral spine and courage, so thank you, Adam and Miles, for doing this!
Agree. I don't know if Democrats were ever apologists for America, but may have been apologists for the type of foreign intervention or involvement and the assumptions underlying it. I think there's some nuance there.
Obama clearly felt obliged to regularly repeat the "greatest country on Earth" myth. But everything else he said and his entire biography showed that he knew it was false. He also explicitly apologized to the world for the huge mistakes in foreign policy the US made (starting with the Iraq war, and its hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians killed, while the GOP opened Iraq's borders, which - for the very first time - allowed Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations to get into the country and destroy it).
At the time, the GOP was already pretty immoral - rejecting the very IDEA that America would apologize for its mistakes, even though all religions strongly value apologizing and asking for forgiveness.
There are other, more accurate ways to justify foreign military inventions than just claiming, childishly, that you think you're "the best" or "the greatest"...
Thank you for this interview. I’m a long time Democratic voter AND I am a full supporter of any person who loves this country and democracy. I know it must be so hard for both of you and I so tremendously respect your integrity and fortitude.
We need to welcome anyone who leaves the MAGA cult no matter how, why or when they left. All non-MAGA votes and voices matter.
I feel like the enemy of my enemy is my friend, so long as they value the Constitution and the rule of law, and are operating in good faith.
Yes, but I want his apology and I don’t feel like we got that.
It is tough to admit you were mistaken about something you were so passionately wrong about.
I'm grateful to Myles (and Adam). I just hope America can become a country of honest people, and pursue the issues that make life good - whatever that might be!
Great work. Changing basic alignment is hard. Soul searching is not convenient! Trusting your better self will reward you in so many ways but it takes time. You’re not alone.
Yes, all who leave MAGA are welcome. Adam, from your moderate and principled political position and your clarity, you're helping to build a broad new political coalition. The question lingering from this interview is, how do we help to coax more MAGA to wake up and leave that destructive movement?
Miles is very intelligent and committed. Any party would be fortunate to have him on board. Good for him to take this step.
Way back when in the 1990s, I read a speculative article in The Atlantic RE political realignment: at that time, the author was speculating that ultimately, a revision of parties would begin in the future. The new alignment would consist of the best ideas of the left and the right would merge — leaving behind rump extremes on both sides. At the time, it seemed like science fiction. By now, I think it might be happening. Who knows?
Truly sounds like leaving a cult.
Having been in a "new age" cult between the ages of 11 and 21, at times believing some really crazy stuff, surrounded by true believers, I agree it sounds like a cult. My interest in that group collapsed as a result of exposure to outside ideas. Cognitive dissonance did the rest. I couldn't force myself to believe in it any longer, and it was oppressive.
Very courageous chap... not an easy thing he did here. I read his Bulwark essay when it first came out. His livelihood was at stake but after fighting his conscience for the longest time, he decided to do the right thing. We should all commend him and wish him nothing but the best in finding a fruitful and rewarding second career, whether in politics or outside.
Thank you for this discussion. I miss Republicans. I miss having intelligent discussions with people who have different points of view and opinions, but actually have the same love of country and desire to solve problems.
I feel the same.
Adam, do you believe there is still a Republican party that is NOT MAGA?
No
Thank you.
I felt his pain, the mental struggle, and the grief.
I was just thinking about holding a public eulogy and burial for the Republican Party - a solemn event. I wonder what my Christian friends would understand, that the basics of the party is gone, and the Constitution is not being adhered to.
Wow! Big thanks to Adam and to Miles. Their courage is incredible.