An intriguing hypothesis. Vance as a political entrepreneur, a start-up guy, or one willing to buy into a failing business, believing that he can make it profitable. I don’t know the Van Buren story well enough to judge the usefulness of the analogy, but on its face, it seems to work. I do agree that Vance could be a force for years to come. He has Peter Thiel’s money behind him & that of other tech bros as well, I suspect. And, Vance is willing to switch dance partners as he sees new opportunities.
Excellent piece! This should be an op-ed for a major newspaper! Seriously!! Go submit this.
The history lessons are valuable and insightful. The hypothesis on Vance is unique and noteworthy. Many Republicans are adrift with what to make of Trump and what happens when he is out of the picture. I favor the independent cause myself, but watching the Republican party redefine itself in real time is fascinating and has enormous consequences for our county.
If I may ask a question that seems silly, how did you develop as much knowledge of politics and US history as you have? Is it just a matter of reading a lot over time?
Mostly lots of time reading history in the university library! When I was working on my book on political realignments I ended up reading a lot of American political history. Although I'm also just curious by nature and like to understand systems from the top down. If you want to understand what's happening in politics and the world, it helps to know how things developed into the way they are. So I've always paid attention to history because I find it useful to understanding what's happening around me now.
It's a fantastic book. I read it a few years back when Frank was on a podcast (I'm not mentioning its name b/c it's become really, REALLY shitty) BUT...
This guy's book puts everything about the current US political morass into a historical perspective. Yeah, we've been here before; the rhymes are strong.
And DiStefano teases out both the similarities and the differences. Not gonna lie, I'm going to re-read it. As powerful and explicatory work as The Power Broker. Not kidding.
I somehow stumbled on this stack. This article is golden. How refreshing to read such an unexpected but true layer of perspective based on honest insight and historical fact. I agree with a former poster who suggests this should be published as an op-ed for a wider audience. I’m off to read further on the political life of Martin Van Buren. Thank you Frank.
Vance believes that if a man rapes his daughter and she becomes pregnant due to the rape she must bear his grandchild. Her half brother or half sister? This is clearly disqualifying for a president.
How would you accomplish this over the course of her entire life?
Let’s say you manage to do this - what then of those girls, teens & women who are raped - by anyone - do they have to bear their rapist’s child because they didn’t have a person glued to their side who prevented the rape?
I think the odds of getting raped if you behave properly are very low. It’s not even close to my top worry in life.
If I were worried about rape I would focus a lot more on preventing rape via changes to the criminal justice system or other indirect causes (immigration, economics, etc).
For instance, I would care more about say Muslim rape gangs if I were a European then whether or not my daughter could get an abortion after being raped.
Similarly I wouldn’t want to support a party that wants to “defund the police” or generally takes an anti-police attitude if I were worried about rape.
I suppose I would support abortion in the case of rape, but the idea that this would be “disqualifying” of a political candidate is absurd.
Would I support a candidate that made it more likely for my daughter to be raped if they also supported her right to abort the result of the rape?
Would I support a candidate that wanted to start a war,crash the economy, etc because as an offsetting positive they would allow my raped daughter to get an abortion?
It’s very difficult for me to get in the mindset of someone so obsessed with abortion. It seems a mental illness. In my lifetime the GOP has never been as pro-choice as it is this election cycle and yet this is the issue one is going to decide an election on?
Excellent retort….I agree about the abortion obsession. My God is there any other place in the mind of the left to begin to solve the imminent critical issues before this nation than to start with abortion? You illustrate the hypocrisy of the disordered priorities they offer in this election. They may realize soon that a many voters are as logical and serious as you are.
An intriguing hypothesis. Vance as a political entrepreneur, a start-up guy, or one willing to buy into a failing business, believing that he can make it profitable. I don’t know the Van Buren story well enough to judge the usefulness of the analogy, but on its face, it seems to work. I do agree that Vance could be a force for years to come. He has Peter Thiel’s money behind him & that of other tech bros as well, I suspect. And, Vance is willing to switch dance partners as he sees new opportunities.
Excellent piece! This should be an op-ed for a major newspaper! Seriously!! Go submit this.
The history lessons are valuable and insightful. The hypothesis on Vance is unique and noteworthy. Many Republicans are adrift with what to make of Trump and what happens when he is out of the picture. I favor the independent cause myself, but watching the Republican party redefine itself in real time is fascinating and has enormous consequences for our county.
Good work!
Thanks Joe! I really appreciate it.
Very smart piece, Frank!
If I may ask a question that seems silly, how did you develop as much knowledge of politics and US history as you have? Is it just a matter of reading a lot over time?
Mostly lots of time reading history in the university library! When I was working on my book on political realignments I ended up reading a lot of American political history. Although I'm also just curious by nature and like to understand systems from the top down. If you want to understand what's happening in politics and the world, it helps to know how things developed into the way they are. So I've always paid attention to history because I find it useful to understanding what's happening around me now.
I thought it was an excellent book.
Here is the link if you’re interested.
https://www.amazon.com/Next-Realignment-Americas-Parties-Crumbling/dp/1633885089
It's a fantastic book. I read it a few years back when Frank was on a podcast (I'm not mentioning its name b/c it's become really, REALLY shitty) BUT...
This guy's book puts everything about the current US political morass into a historical perspective. Yeah, we've been here before; the rhymes are strong.
And DiStefano teases out both the similarities and the differences. Not gonna lie, I'm going to re-read it. As powerful and explicatory work as The Power Broker. Not kidding.
Thanks. Always profit from reading your newsletters.
I somehow stumbled on this stack. This article is golden. How refreshing to read such an unexpected but true layer of perspective based on honest insight and historical fact. I agree with a former poster who suggests this should be published as an op-ed for a wider audience. I’m off to read further on the political life of Martin Van Buren. Thank you Frank.
I think this is exactly right. Well considered and argued.
Fantastic job, Frank. It's been worth the wait. I've made about 4 or more posts on X asking "Where's DiStefano?" lol
Well, here ya are.
A PERFECT assessment of Vance, Trump and MAGA that I've ever read. Out-freaking-standing job, man.
Thanks, I really appreciate it!
Vance believes that if a man rapes his daughter and she becomes pregnant due to the rape she must bear his grandchild. Her half brother or half sister? This is clearly disqualifying for a president.
I would focus on making sure my daughter wasn’t raped in the first place.
How would you accomplish this over the course of her entire life?
Let’s say you manage to do this - what then of those girls, teens & women who are raped - by anyone - do they have to bear their rapist’s child because they didn’t have a person glued to their side who prevented the rape?
I think the odds of getting raped if you behave properly are very low. It’s not even close to my top worry in life.
If I were worried about rape I would focus a lot more on preventing rape via changes to the criminal justice system or other indirect causes (immigration, economics, etc).
For instance, I would care more about say Muslim rape gangs if I were a European then whether or not my daughter could get an abortion after being raped.
Similarly I wouldn’t want to support a party that wants to “defund the police” or generally takes an anti-police attitude if I were worried about rape.
I suppose I would support abortion in the case of rape, but the idea that this would be “disqualifying” of a political candidate is absurd.
Would I support a candidate that made it more likely for my daughter to be raped if they also supported her right to abort the result of the rape?
Would I support a candidate that wanted to start a war,crash the economy, etc because as an offsetting positive they would allow my raped daughter to get an abortion?
It’s very difficult for me to get in the mindset of someone so obsessed with abortion. It seems a mental illness. In my lifetime the GOP has never been as pro-choice as it is this election cycle and yet this is the issue one is going to decide an election on?
Excellent retort….I agree about the abortion obsession. My God is there any other place in the mind of the left to begin to solve the imminent critical issues before this nation than to start with abortion? You illustrate the hypocrisy of the disordered priorities they offer in this election. They may realize soon that a many voters are as logical and serious as you are.
Good for you. 😎