A thread for my fellow libertarians on the #HelsinkiSummit:
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I suspect that many of the people defending the press conference performance did not watch it in its entirety—or at all. If they had, they would know that it didn’t achieve the desired effect of bringing America and Russia closer; in fact, it did just the opposite.
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The impression it left on me, a strong supporter of the meeting, is that “something is not right here.” The president went out of his way to appear subordinate. He spoke more like the head of a vassal state.
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Perhaps it was just the president showing insecurity, once again, over the legitimacy of his election. Perhaps it was a sign of a more troubling entanglement with Putin. Whatever the case, the press conference was counterproductive to the goal of improving relations.
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Even the president ultimately recognized that the press conference did not go well, as he tried to correct his remarks that exonerated Russia. Oddly, it took him more than a day to do so. One wonders why the White House didn’t act more quickly if it were simply a misstatement.
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To suggest that anyone critical of the president’s conduct opposes diplomacy is to employ a strawman argument. It’s virtue signaling, not libertarianism.
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The virtue being signaled is opposition to all things “neocon.” If someone doesn’t like how the meeting transpired, it must be because that person is a Deep State anti-Trump neocon warmonger, etc.
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When a libertarian’s political prime directive becomes “owning the neocons” (or “owning the libs”) rather than advancing libertarian ideals, then that person undermines libertarianism as a philosophy.
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The general public are not more likely to see themselves as libertarian when, for the sake of “owning the necons,” prominent figures associated with libertarianism conflate libertarian-style governance and Trump-style governance.
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People then connect our principles to the president’s failings, which have nothing to do with libertarianism.
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Nor are libertarian values advanced when the effect of the president’s press conference—set aside the intent—is to further isolate our country from Russia.
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The widespread reaction on Capitol Hill, for example, has been to rally around the intelligence community. People are proposing resolutions of support for the FBI, despite its dubious track record and unconstitutional activities, particularly with respect to the
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Worse yet, thanks to the press conference, we’re likely to see more ineffectual sanctions bills and resolutions of condemnation against Russia, which will serve primarily to stunt further efforts at diplomacy and dialogue.
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We libertarians need to be smarter and more effective in our approach. Acting like partisans—pushing demagoguery and tribalism—is a self-defeating proposition. Stand strong on your principles; you’ll find most Americans standing with you.
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End of conversation
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Our current president is having to ask what went on during the past administration. The DNC should be willing to show proof they were hacked by providing the server. When the FBI was notified the DNC wanted them to go away. Shoukdnt we question a political party they cries wolf
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The FBI has the servers. They have also been imaged and forensically studied. You are either an impressionable fool or a Kremlin Troll.
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Let's face it, the President's behavior has been consistently bizarre before, during, and after the press conference. Can you truly name a week during which the President hasn't said something bizarre and/or just flat-out false? Just a normal week, with a R or D President?
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And that was a serious question. Just one week. Please, I'd be soooo happy because then I could kind of make a timeline, and save it, to look at, at those moments when I think we're doomed.
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Russia is the kingpin of violent global conflict today. Anything that normalizes Putin, as Trump's Helsinki
#apologytour did, emboldens his messianic, imperial, totalitarian streak--and makes war MORE likely, not less.Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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Didn't you mean treasonous behavior, sir?
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Trump is a Russian agent operating out of the Oval Office. This is a national security crisis.
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