David French, an American attorney and political commentator, discusses the GOP's departure from Constitutional values. He explores the impact of political loyalty on governance, suggesting that personal allegiance has started to overshadow traditional norms. French dives into Carl Schmitt's political theories, examining how they relate to today’s polarizing climate and Trump's influence. He also reflects on the erosion of checks and balances, raising critical questions about the future of American democracy and the moral responsibilities of leaders.
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Jackson's Defiance
Andrew Jackson defied the Supreme Court's ruling protecting the Cherokee Nation.
He proceeded with their expulsion, highlighting potential defiance of court rulings.
insights INSIGHT
Factionalism's Power
The founders underestimated the influence of political factions (parties).
This has led to Congress prioritizing loyalty over constitutional duty, exemplified by capitulating to presidents.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Trump's Resistance
Trump's repeated survival of impeachments and indictments has created a sense of impunity.
Like antibiotic-resistant bacteria, he seems immune to traditional political checks.
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In 'The End of History and the Last Man', Francis Fukuyama posits that with the ascendancy of Western liberal democracy following the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, humanity has reached the end point of its ideological evolution. Fukuyama draws on the philosophies of Hegel and Marx, arguing that history is a linear progression towards liberal democracy, driven by the mechanisms of natural science and the human desire for recognition (thymos). He contends that liberal democracy satisfies every man’s thymotic longing for dignity and recognition, making it the final form of human government. However, Fukuyama clarifies that this does not mean the end of historical events or conflicts, but rather that all future developments will be within the framework of liberal democracy[2][3][4].
David French brings us his thoughts on why the GOP is no longer the party of the Constitution. Have political party allegiances broken the system? What Constitutional guard rails can operate when people are worried about falling out of the President’s favor? Then, he talks about Carl Schmitt, a German political thinker who may have the key to understanding the difference between the politics we’re used to—and the emerging politics of the New Right.