Both-Siderism For Me, But Not For Thee!

It’s as if the Trump base felt some security when their man was at the top, and that’s now gone. Maybe Trump was the restraining force. https://t.co/AFv7dC0keP

— David Brooks (@nytdavidbrooks) April 23, 2021

I must admit I'm more than a wee bit confused:

Over the last decade or so, as illiberalism, cancel culture and all the rest have arisen within the universities and elite institutions on the left, dozens of publications and organizations have sprung up. They have drawn a sharp line between progressives who believe in liberal free speech norms, and those who don’t. 

There are new and transformed magazines and movements like American Purpose, Persuasion, Counterweight, Arc Digital, Tablet and Liberties that point out the excesses of the social justice movement and distinguish between those who think speech is a mutual exploration to seek truth and those who think speech is a structure of domination to perpetuate systems of privilege. 

This is exactly the line-drawing that now confronts the right, which faces a more radical threat. Republicans and conservatives who believe in the liberal project need to organize and draw a bright line between themselves and the illiberals on their own side. This is no longer just about Trump the man; it’s about how you are going to look at reality — as the muddle it’s always been, or as an apocalyptic hellscape. It’s about how you pursue change — through the conversation and compromise of politics, or through intimidations of macho display.

I can tell a story in which the Trumpians self-marginalize or exhaust themselves. Permanent catastrophism is hard. But apocalyptic pessimism has a tendency to deteriorate into nihilism, and people eventually turn to the strong man to salve the darkness and chaos inside themselves.

I mean, the immediately preceding paragraph actually made sense:

With their deep pessimism, the hyperpopulist wing of the G.O.P. seems to be crashing through the floor of philosophic liberalism into an abyss of authoritarian impulsiveness. Many of these folks are no longer even operating in the political realm. The G.O.P. response to the Biden agenda has been anemic because the base doesn’t care about mere legislation, just their own cultural standing.

But then we get this "it was just as bad under Obama," or something.  I guess AOC is somehow to blame, huh?  Probably her and Sanders, and Senator Professor Warren on the side.  Honestly, the idea that "universities and elite institutions on the left" (they're in it together, you see!  Comrades!) "...have drawn a sharp line between progressives who believe in liberal (good?  Or bad?) free speech norms, and those who don't" is just codswallop.

Well, that and Trump was the "restraining force."  Has January 6th been forgotten so easily?  Or does it just not work for bad rhetorical purposes?

This whole mess must have to do with deadlines or word count or something.  I've read better reasoned tweets.

"Happy Bleach Injection Day, for those who celebrate."

One year ago today, Donald Trump stood at the podium of the White House briefing room and suggested injecting disinfectants and using “tremendous” amounts of UV light to combat the coronavirus. https://t.co/TN9OJX8jwW

— Mediaite (@Mediaite) April 23, 2021

(I guess without his restraining presence more people would have ingested bleach?)