I’m part of what is called the Liberal left. But Im embarrassed at the sheer level of arrogance we often demonstrate. We need to address the legitimate concerns of those that are too often branded as ‘bigoted and small minded’. That is to recognise that it is perfectly legitimate to express concerns about issues like immigration, without being labelled a racist. It’s perfectly legitimate to have concerns about (woke) identity politics without being labelled a bigot. It seems more sensible to try and understand peoples concerns, rather than to judge and demonise them.
The most stupid people of all, are those of us that simply ‘blame others’ for being ‘stupid’ (sic) for making decisions we ourselves might not have made, or for expressing opinions we disagree with.
Democracy is an ‘amoral’ system and its not about the ‘good guys versus the bad guys’. It is a not a system based on any particular moral or ethical codes, but purely on sheer numbers.
If we want to win over people to our own arguments, we must try harder to listen first, and understand their own arguments. Not just tell them they are bigoted, stupid or plain wrong. It’s just not the way to make progress, and that path will lead to increasing entrenchment behind the left/right barricades as the polarisation continues. I’m not hopeful today.
A very old Labour (from Atlee's time) knew real 1930s poverty.
Run from hot radical to moderate idealist post Thatcher.
Now OK, comfortable, but concern for my grand/great grand children turned to terror in this world of Orbán, Farrago, Trump, Iran's mullahs, Hamas & supporters -
finally, Putin winning in America. Just hope Kier, the best of Europe, and our few other western liberals can hold the line.
I always preferred the (although it’s often misquoted- as I am about to as well) ”end of history” vibe of a stable world able to sort out its problems - instead of being stuck in what is surely the future curriculum for a GCSE in modern history - that hopefully will still be able to be set in 2075 if there still is a “modern world”.
What Tusk says is correct. Europe needs to see to its own defence, and is capable of it. If NATO is compromised by Hungary and Slovakia we need to create a new alliance.
I’ve wanted Hungary kicked out of NATO for years but amazingly when I looked into it I discovered there is literally no process built into the charter for kicking a member out, when it was created it just never occurred to its architects that a country gone communist would want to stay in and they didn’t have the vision to see either a post-communist world or that NATO would still be needed in that world if they did envision it, crazy but true
So the next best step is the EU gets serious about its values, stands up to the Germans and starts imposing real sanctions and threatening eviction on Orban
That French foreign minister was right, it’s a scandal that Europe allowed itself to get into a position where the whims of rural voters in Wisconsin massively impact European security every 4 years, it’s time to grow up
But I have no sympathy for any Americans today, all my sympathy is with Ukraine, Zelenskys “I need ammunition not a ride” should have been a refrain that echoed for centuries and now it risks becoming a footnote in a story of how the west sold out yet another country
You quote from one of my favourite poets. I agree Biden is the culprit. Ukraine would not be in the dire state it now is in if Biden had let them fire into Russia two years ago! Biden has so much to answer for. He has just not been there for at least the last two years.
And the return of Robert Malley to negotiate the reentry of the US into the JCPOA, only to be removed for security-related issues yet to have been disclosed.
Turns out the smart guys among US allies were the likes of KSM and Erdogan and the UAE and, indeed Israel, who after the Bush fiasco in Iraq and the Obama fiasco in Syria understood the ebbing of US power even before Trump, and hedged their bets with Russia and China accordingly.
Taiwan has no options other than the US. It is doomed. South Korea and Japan will need to come to terms with the new balance of power in East Asia.
Likewise Ukraine without the US is doomed - Europe is incapable of defending it. To believe it can get its act together as some like Mujtaba Rahman have argued under the shock of a Trump presidency is delusional. It is incapable. End of. In Kremlin officialese it istherefore 'a matter of taste' whether to pursue iUkraine's destruction by military means direct or via an interim agreement like the sort the Taliban did with Trump. Advantages and disadvantages. Moldova can then be taken anytime, so again maybe they take it now or leave it hanging pro-tem. It ultimately won't matter.
The end game for Putin is the destruction of NATO and the EU so if that has not happened before I imagine push will come to shove in the Baltics. Trump won't fight. Obviously. Which will underline how helpless Europe is and lead to countries cutting their own deals with the Kremlin. We can already see Scholtz positioning. Others will follow. This is what the Kremlin has always wanted and the future it has painted in its Valdai conferences - the US out of Europe, it as the sole remaining European superpower, surrounding by lots of squabbling silly little countries, begging Russia. If Poland cuts up rough the Kremlin will fight, and quite possible use a tactical nuke against Poland for demonstration effect, as they have practised time and again in their Zapad (West) military exercises in the last decade
I'll give Putin this. His ethnonationalism may be irrational, but his grasp of the balance of power and the utility of force is utterly rational. The lunatics were those in the West, especially Europe, that convinced themselves those things had gone away. They never had. And they are about to be taught that lesson. Even this morning I heard Emily Thorbury on the radio wittering on saying the priority now was for Europe was to protect international climate agreements. You might have thought 'survival' on the much shorter time frame of being able to defend themselves would have come first. But apparently not.
Oh yes, it is quite possible Netanyahu will get Trump to help him fight a war with Iran. Which of course will suit Putin and Xi just fine, leaving the US no capacity to act elsewhere, even if it wanted to.
I’m grateful for Nick Cohen’s capacity to write in a moment of speechlessness. That’s going to be the minimum requirement for journalists, artists, and the essential vitality of common sense in the future. Also think the Left has to get its act together. And that’s going to take more reflection and far better language. As it is, I think this piece urgently telegraphs a wisdom of despair. And that’s an achievement right now. Only omission I feel is that, inflation aside, we should acknowledge that the rise of misogyny is an absolutely dependable indicator of the advance of tyranny. And the failure of the West.
It’s too early to call the election. There is the issue of Russian actors emailing bomb threats to strategic polling sites causing interruptions in the process clearing buildings and causing voters to disperse. This interference will need to be remedied to prevent Russia from getting away with shit. It’s really an act of war. The election is not ready to be called. So please don’t enable the fucking fascists by singing their song.
Mary - admirable - alas, won't happen. Honest Garland may initiate a legitimate investigation, but will be closed down by any crook TFG will appoint... Before he throws Merrick in Jail.
Democracy only has a few weeks - Trump works in years!
If only Europe wasn’t so fragmented. Yes, the American poor care about the cost of a loaf of bread, and Trump says he’ll sort that. Job done, Hispanic vote won. Biden reminds me of King Lear. His aged vanity made this possible. He should have stepped down in 2022. There was little Harris could do, but more that she could have done, if that makes sense.
I’m part of what is called the Liberal left. But Im embarrassed at the sheer level of arrogance we often demonstrate. We need to address the legitimate concerns of those that are too often branded as ‘bigoted and small minded’. That is to recognise that it is perfectly legitimate to express concerns about issues like immigration, without being labelled a racist. It’s perfectly legitimate to have concerns about (woke) identity politics without being labelled a bigot. It seems more sensible to try and understand peoples concerns, rather than to judge and demonise them.
The most stupid people of all, are those of us that simply ‘blame others’ for being ‘stupid’ (sic) for making decisions we ourselves might not have made, or for expressing opinions we disagree with.
Democracy is an ‘amoral’ system and its not about the ‘good guys versus the bad guys’. It is a not a system based on any particular moral or ethical codes, but purely on sheer numbers.
If we want to win over people to our own arguments, we must try harder to listen first, and understand their own arguments. Not just tell them they are bigoted, stupid or plain wrong. It’s just not the way to make progress, and that path will lead to increasing entrenchment behind the left/right barricades as the polarisation continues. I’m not hopeful today.
Oh absolutely
Let's start by recognizing that it may be us who are bigoted, stupid and plain wrong. That would be a start
A very old Labour (from Atlee's time) knew real 1930s poverty.
Run from hot radical to moderate idealist post Thatcher.
Now OK, comfortable, but concern for my grand/great grand children turned to terror in this world of Orbán, Farrago, Trump, Iran's mullahs, Hamas & supporters -
finally, Putin winning in America. Just hope Kier, the best of Europe, and our few other western liberals can hold the line.
Not very optimistic... Will.
I always preferred the (although it’s often misquoted- as I am about to as well) ”end of history” vibe of a stable world able to sort out its problems - instead of being stuck in what is surely the future curriculum for a GCSE in modern history - that hopefully will still be able to be set in 2075 if there still is a “modern world”.
Great piece Nick. I agree totally with you about Joe Biden. And Harris' attitude to gender is infuriating and will have ostracised many women.
Phillips O'Brien - the best source on Russia's War on Ukraine - discusses what Europe should/must do now
https://open.substack.com/pub/phillipspobrien/p/the-usa-is-trumps-now-europe-must?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1epxym
It’s okay Nick, he and Elon will save golf. Rory says so. So that’s a relief at least.
Say farewell to the separation of powers.
What Tusk says is correct. Europe needs to see to its own defence, and is capable of it. If NATO is compromised by Hungary and Slovakia we need to create a new alliance.
I’ve wanted Hungary kicked out of NATO for years but amazingly when I looked into it I discovered there is literally no process built into the charter for kicking a member out, when it was created it just never occurred to its architects that a country gone communist would want to stay in and they didn’t have the vision to see either a post-communist world or that NATO would still be needed in that world if they did envision it, crazy but true
So the next best step is the EU gets serious about its values, stands up to the Germans and starts imposing real sanctions and threatening eviction on Orban
That French foreign minister was right, it’s a scandal that Europe allowed itself to get into a position where the whims of rural voters in Wisconsin massively impact European security every 4 years, it’s time to grow up
But I have no sympathy for any Americans today, all my sympathy is with Ukraine, Zelenskys “I need ammunition not a ride” should have been a refrain that echoed for centuries and now it risks becoming a footnote in a story of how the west sold out yet another country
Let's take a ruthless look at ALL the shibboleths of the Left. And dump them. Voters don't need enlightening, we do.
Sorry Nick.
Biden beat Trump... he had no arrogance... the guy had $26 K in the bank when he became Obama's VP... can I say that again.. Obama's VP.
You quote from one of my favourite poets. I agree Biden is the culprit. Ukraine would not be in the dire state it now is in if Biden had let them fire into Russia two years ago! Biden has so much to answer for. He has just not been there for at least the last two years.
Biden alone or Biden and the Obama Admin personnel like Secretary of State Anthony Blinken who have been major influences on Biden's policies?
do not forget joke sullivan who was an essential part of the obama and biden goverments
And the return of Robert Malley to negotiate the reentry of the US into the JCPOA, only to be removed for security-related issues yet to have been disclosed.
Turns out the smart guys among US allies were the likes of KSM and Erdogan and the UAE and, indeed Israel, who after the Bush fiasco in Iraq and the Obama fiasco in Syria understood the ebbing of US power even before Trump, and hedged their bets with Russia and China accordingly.
Taiwan has no options other than the US. It is doomed. South Korea and Japan will need to come to terms with the new balance of power in East Asia.
Likewise Ukraine without the US is doomed - Europe is incapable of defending it. To believe it can get its act together as some like Mujtaba Rahman have argued under the shock of a Trump presidency is delusional. It is incapable. End of. In Kremlin officialese it istherefore 'a matter of taste' whether to pursue iUkraine's destruction by military means direct or via an interim agreement like the sort the Taliban did with Trump. Advantages and disadvantages. Moldova can then be taken anytime, so again maybe they take it now or leave it hanging pro-tem. It ultimately won't matter.
The end game for Putin is the destruction of NATO and the EU so if that has not happened before I imagine push will come to shove in the Baltics. Trump won't fight. Obviously. Which will underline how helpless Europe is and lead to countries cutting their own deals with the Kremlin. We can already see Scholtz positioning. Others will follow. This is what the Kremlin has always wanted and the future it has painted in its Valdai conferences - the US out of Europe, it as the sole remaining European superpower, surrounding by lots of squabbling silly little countries, begging Russia. If Poland cuts up rough the Kremlin will fight, and quite possible use a tactical nuke against Poland for demonstration effect, as they have practised time and again in their Zapad (West) military exercises in the last decade
I'll give Putin this. His ethnonationalism may be irrational, but his grasp of the balance of power and the utility of force is utterly rational. The lunatics were those in the West, especially Europe, that convinced themselves those things had gone away. They never had. And they are about to be taught that lesson. Even this morning I heard Emily Thorbury on the radio wittering on saying the priority now was for Europe was to protect international climate agreements. You might have thought 'survival' on the much shorter time frame of being able to defend themselves would have come first. But apparently not.
Oh yes, it is quite possible Netanyahu will get Trump to help him fight a war with Iran. Which of course will suit Putin and Xi just fine, leaving the US no capacity to act elsewhere, even if it wanted to.
I’m grateful for Nick Cohen’s capacity to write in a moment of speechlessness. That’s going to be the minimum requirement for journalists, artists, and the essential vitality of common sense in the future. Also think the Left has to get its act together. And that’s going to take more reflection and far better language. As it is, I think this piece urgently telegraphs a wisdom of despair. And that’s an achievement right now. Only omission I feel is that, inflation aside, we should acknowledge that the rise of misogyny is an absolutely dependable indicator of the advance of tyranny. And the failure of the West.
It’s too early to call the election. There is the issue of Russian actors emailing bomb threats to strategic polling sites causing interruptions in the process clearing buildings and causing voters to disperse. This interference will need to be remedied to prevent Russia from getting away with shit. It’s really an act of war. The election is not ready to be called. So please don’t enable the fucking fascists by singing their song.
Mary - admirable - alas, won't happen. Honest Garland may initiate a legitimate investigation, but will be closed down by any crook TFG will appoint... Before he throws Merrick in Jail.
Democracy only has a few weeks - Trump works in years!
If only Europe wasn’t so fragmented. Yes, the American poor care about the cost of a loaf of bread, and Trump says he’ll sort that. Job done, Hispanic vote won. Biden reminds me of King Lear. His aged vanity made this possible. He should have stepped down in 2022. There was little Harris could do, but more that she could have done, if that makes sense.
Correction: you reminded me that Biden reminded of Lear!