The Poison of Election Lies, &c.

On Trump’s malfeasance; a French war hero; the late Richard Posner; and more

At the polls in Des Moines, Iowa, 2022 (Wikimedia Commons)

In a post-midterms podcast with Jonathan Martin, I used a strange word: “meek.” The word itself is not strange, but I applied it to Donald Trump, which is strange.

I said, “Immediately after the elections, Donald Trump was, dare I say, meek. He accepted the results.”

It did not last long:

In my view, Donald Trump has done many rotten things to the American republic. But lying about elections—causing millions of people to distrust legitimate results; fomenting division and enmity—may be the worst.

Two days ago, I was quoting Mitt Romney (and contrasting him with Ron DeSantis, who had called him a “total squish”). After the insurrectionary riot on January 6, in a Senate-floor speech, Romney said:

“The best way we can show respect for the voters who are upset is by telling them the truth. That is the burden, and the duty, of leadership.”

(DeSantis is a very different person. When a high-school student asked him about January 6 and the peaceful transfer of power, DeSantis answered, “I wasn’t anywhere near Washington that day. I have nothing to do with what happened that day.”)

I also think of Dick Cheney, who said of Trump, “He is a coward. A real man wouldn’t lie to his supporters.”

***

Few people—certainly few Westerners—know as much about the genocide of the Uyghurs as Adrian Zenz, the German anthropologist. In a post this week, he said, “Rahile Omer, the youngest detainee photographed in the Xinjiang Police Files, has died in a Chinese prison at 23.” She spent “more than a third of her life in custody.”

“Never again” happens again and again, and presumably always will.

***

From the Wall Street Journal: “Trump’s Plan to Import Russian Diesel Stalls on the High Seas.” The subheading of that article reads, “Tankers initially bound for U.S. change course after opposition to deal with Putin makes buyers nervous.”

You want to know the reaction of Mike Pence, Trump’s first vice president? He wrote, “God Bless America,” followed by an American-flag emoji.

Within Pence beats the heart of an American.

***

Chances are, you don’t think that Stephen Miller should be the presidential chief of staff. Neither do I. By the same token, I don’t think Donald Trump should be president. I don’t think he’s fit in mind or character.

But if you’re going to elect Donald Trump president, twice—that is, if the American people are—isn’t Miller what you would expect? I mean, he has long been deputy chief of staff. Now that he is chief of staff, so what, really?

The one goes with the other. Miller goes with Trump. They are a natural pairing. If you don’t want Miller, don’t choose Trump.

Whom would one expect Trump to have at his side? James A. Baker III? Bryce Harlow?

I trust you see what I mean. I am relatively relaxed about Stephen Miller as chief of staff. What I’m not relaxed about is Donald Trump as president.

***

After the Civil War, there were twelve years of Reconstruction. Equal rights proceeded; equal rights gained a foothold. Then, the old Confederates put a stop to this. From Mississippi, there was a black U.S. senator until 1881. Now, 145 years later, there is another one.

Think of that. (I will have more to say about this—a fair amount—in another column soon.)

***

Achille Muller is the last surviving member of the Free French SAS (Special Air Service). He is 101. They were paratroopers, these guys. French president Emmanuel Macron spoke with Muller and subsequently posted a video of the exchange. “Héros français,” wrote Macron in an accompanying note. “101 ans et toujours parachutiste !”

(“French hero. 101 years old and still a paratrooper!”)

Macron ended his note by saying, “Qui ose gagne !” That was the slogan of these paratroopers: “Who dares, wins!”

Bless them all.

***

Maybe we could pause for a language note? You may have noticed that Macron put a space before the exclamation point (he did it in both instances that I cited). That’s the way they do it in French—like this !

We, on the other hand, do it like this!

***

Readers are probably familiar with Manfred Honeck, the Austrian conductor who leads the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. I have done several podcasts with him, including one a few months ago, here. He is an excellent musician and a prince of a guy.

In addition to duties in Pittsburgh, he will take up a position in London, as principal conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra. That will begin in the 2028–29 season. But he is making appearances with them in the meantime.

Talking with the orchestra this week, he quoted an old saying—something like this: “Tradition is not the worship of ashes but the preservation of fire.” This saying is associated with Gustav Mahler, but only because he liked it so much. Where did it come from? Some say Thomas More.

In any event, it is a fine old saying, and it relates to conservatism generally, wouldn’t you say?

***

Many people will write, and have already written, about Richard Posner, the legal giant who died on Tuesday. I recommend Cass Sunstein—a habitual recommendation from me.

Sunstein quotes a well-known statement from Posner, and the New York Times obit quotes it too. In 2001, Posner said, “I have exactly the same personality as my cat. I am cold, furtive, callous, snobbish, selfish, and playful, but with a streak of cruelty.”

(As I think about it, that word “but” is unnecessary.)

Sunstein disagrees with his old friend and colleague:

In the end, Dick was none of those things, not really. More precisely, he was none of those things with just one exception: He was playful. He was playful in the sense that he had immense fun with ideas, and the fun he had was contagious.

I did not have personal experience of Posner, though I saw him once. I heard him lecture, in about 1986 I could not understand everything he was saying—but I knew I was in the present of an exceptional mind.

***

Legal philosophy is not my forte. (Pronounced “fort,” as in Knox, not “for’-tay,” as in the musical marking.) But can I give you a music chronicle? This is my survey of the New York scene for the November New Criterion. On the table are myriad composers, performers, and issues.

Thank you, my friends, and I’ll see you on Sunday.