Donald Trump believed he won, and therefore, according to Nikki Haley, his sedition was excusable because his belief lies above the truth, where it floats in a state of perpetual delusion. Haley, unable to abase and debase herself within the same rigid framework of her gelatinous-spined male peers, has made up an alternate reality where she didn’t know that Trump was an unfit sociopath and congenital liar. According to Haley, he simply snapped at the end of four golden years, during which America stood tall, and Niki Haley steered the great ship of state at the United Nations.
You describe her perfectly, and in ways I haven't really understood until I read this column.
Again, you are a masterful writer.
But one thing I think, every time I read this blog but have neglected to mention, is that you have a stellar knowledge of history. I learn so much by reading your work. And you make it interesting and relatable. Thank you for educating me/us, in a deeper way than any history class, university level, ever has.
Based on her statement that Trump is innocent because he believes it, I’d sure like to see her stance on Putins invasion of Ukraine with her “United Nations” hat on.
Her claim that Trump genuinely believes he’s right about the election is the same arrogant deceit that Ginni Thomas has also used to give the entire nation the middle finger after attending Jan6 closed door hearing. Kind of brilliant in its simplicity, and cynical to the core.
Nikki Haley was an SC state legislator who "earned" her living as a "consultant" paid by a large hospital system with numerous interests before the legislature, which she advocated as a legislator. After this stint of self-dealing and corruption, she became Governor, and later Dylan Roof executed 9 black people in a Charleston church. There were demands that the Confederate Flag, which flew on the State House Grounds, be removed. Even after the murders, she publicly opposed removing that odious flag. Only after she sensed an opportunity to move to the National Stage, which had never before presented itself to her, did she endorse removing the flag. The momentum was already building to remove it, but instead of leading from the front, she cowardly waited to see which way the wind was blowing before (once again) changing her position. For that, she is credited with being a good MAGA, but make no mistake: Her actions were cravenly opportunistic , selfish, and self-promoting. She is still the same small, corrupt, waffling, craven, weak yet wildly ambitious person she has always been.
This is a clever thought exercise, thanks. Of course the problem you have in this analysis, we all have, is that Trumpism (the closest the radical right has gotten in 250 years to actually seizing and retaining absolute power in America, which was bloody scary for sure) only reached what, the 2nd inning of the terrible game? It’s in much latter innings that hundreds of thousands, millions are murderred (ask Vlad P). So for now it is unfortunately true that Nikki doesn’t share the same moral orbit as Speer. But I agree her words and inactions suggest a weakness of character that is likely irreparable. Keep up the good work, Sir!
Haley’s campaign ad begins by stating how the town where she grew up was divided by a railroad track, Whites on one side and Blacks on the other. Then, in the same ad, she claims that some think our country is racist, and goes on to say: “nothing could be further from the truth”. This woman is completely delusional and has been trying to play it from both sides. As you point out, Haley can’t have it both ways. She’s a loser right off the bat because she has defended Trump at every turn. I look forward to watching her lose, - and quickly.
I watched her yesterday and the one worrying thought that crossed my mind was her youth, and that a lot of people might find that attractive, in a changing of the guard way. She comes across as harmless, which is definitely not a trait we want in our commander in chief. We want-need our president to be a leader with a vision of a better America 🇺🇸 for all of us, we have that in Joe Biden. The repugnantkins offer no forward thinking vision, only a regression to the pablum of the early 50’s which some of us lived through and rebelled against in the 60’s, we are not going backwards and anyone who thinks we can has their head up their ass.
Great bit of history here. If you haven’t read East/West Street, a book that discusses the determination of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide from WW2, it’s fabulous. Haley and Pence both feel (to me) unlikely to generate any excitement. Pence especially remains the biggest dipsh-t of them all with his effort to play “executive branch” (refusing to testify to Jan. 6 committtee) and then “congress, speech and debate” to avoid Jack Smith’s investigation. Which is it, oh godly Pence-man?
I always thought Scarlet O’Hara was manipulative rather than at the mercy of men. Still a “mule in a horse’s collar”
Good analogy of Hailey and Speer Speer was the “good Nazi” to those outside the Third Reich.
There is no constituency supporting Hailey. She will be rejected by the MAGA crowd. She will not be embraced by the disaffected R The Ds will not go near her. She serves no purpose to run. Considering the misogynistic MAGA crowd they would follow Kari Lake or MTG before Hailey. When she fades away by July 4 2023 there will be nothing left of her campaign. No tomorrow is another day for her.
Even though everything Steve says is true, I wouldn’t underestimate Haley’s appeal.
She plays the “normal” card. The republicans who don’t want a fight might prefer her, and be suffering from trump fatigue, and they are a considerable lot!
I read “Inside the Third Reich” in 1970, as a freshman in college. What struck me throughout the book was that Speer made it very clear that his ambition was so strong that he would do whatever he needed to do and say whatever he needed to say for his own personal advancement. Towards the end of the book, when he supposedly “saw the truth” and supposedly tried to stop Hitler from more destruction, always seemed self-serving. Up until the end of the war, when it was clear Germany was losing, he was a willing follower. As you point out, he was just smarter than the rest, like Barr leaving the Trump Administration before all hell let loose. Nikki Haley also showed more smarts than the rest of the administration. She just doesn’t realize, like Speer eventually did, that Der Fuhrer is not a winning cause anymore and more importantly, wouldn’t serve him in any positive way, Both Nazis and Republicans are big believers in “the end justifies the means.’ Speer and Haley both followed that philosophy to the end.
I think she knows she can’t win the Republican nomination, let alone the Presidency. Her end goal is more likely to be Trump’s running mate. She will help “normalize” him and will then be in a position to succeed him if he dies or leaves office early. Or could run as the former VP in 2028. Scary prospect.
You describe her perfectly, and in ways I haven't really understood until I read this column.
Again, you are a masterful writer.
But one thing I think, every time I read this blog but have neglected to mention, is that you have a stellar knowledge of history. I learn so much by reading your work. And you make it interesting and relatable. Thank you for educating me/us, in a deeper way than any history class, university level, ever has.
Based on her statement that Trump is innocent because he believes it, I’d sure like to see her stance on Putins invasion of Ukraine with her “United Nations” hat on.
Her claim that Trump genuinely believes he’s right about the election is the same arrogant deceit that Ginni Thomas has also used to give the entire nation the middle finger after attending Jan6 closed door hearing. Kind of brilliant in its simplicity, and cynical to the core.
Nikki Haley was an SC state legislator who "earned" her living as a "consultant" paid by a large hospital system with numerous interests before the legislature, which she advocated as a legislator. After this stint of self-dealing and corruption, she became Governor, and later Dylan Roof executed 9 black people in a Charleston church. There were demands that the Confederate Flag, which flew on the State House Grounds, be removed. Even after the murders, she publicly opposed removing that odious flag. Only after she sensed an opportunity to move to the National Stage, which had never before presented itself to her, did she endorse removing the flag. The momentum was already building to remove it, but instead of leading from the front, she cowardly waited to see which way the wind was blowing before (once again) changing her position. For that, she is credited with being a good MAGA, but make no mistake: Her actions were cravenly opportunistic , selfish, and self-promoting. She is still the same small, corrupt, waffling, craven, weak yet wildly ambitious person she has always been.
She has as much hope as I do of getting the Republican Presidential nomination.
Maybe less.
This is a clever thought exercise, thanks. Of course the problem you have in this analysis, we all have, is that Trumpism (the closest the radical right has gotten in 250 years to actually seizing and retaining absolute power in America, which was bloody scary for sure) only reached what, the 2nd inning of the terrible game? It’s in much latter innings that hundreds of thousands, millions are murderred (ask Vlad P). So for now it is unfortunately true that Nikki doesn’t share the same moral orbit as Speer. But I agree her words and inactions suggest a weakness of character that is likely irreparable. Keep up the good work, Sir!
Haley’s campaign ad begins by stating how the town where she grew up was divided by a railroad track, Whites on one side and Blacks on the other. Then, in the same ad, she claims that some think our country is racist, and goes on to say: “nothing could be further from the truth”. This woman is completely delusional and has been trying to play it from both sides. As you point out, Haley can’t have it both ways. She’s a loser right off the bat because she has defended Trump at every turn. I look forward to watching her lose, - and quickly.
I watched her yesterday and the one worrying thought that crossed my mind was her youth, and that a lot of people might find that attractive, in a changing of the guard way. She comes across as harmless, which is definitely not a trait we want in our commander in chief. We want-need our president to be a leader with a vision of a better America 🇺🇸 for all of us, we have that in Joe Biden. The repugnantkins offer no forward thinking vision, only a regression to the pablum of the early 50’s which some of us lived through and rebelled against in the 60’s, we are not going backwards and anyone who thinks we can has their head up their ass.
Great bit of history here. If you haven’t read East/West Street, a book that discusses the determination of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide from WW2, it’s fabulous. Haley and Pence both feel (to me) unlikely to generate any excitement. Pence especially remains the biggest dipsh-t of them all with his effort to play “executive branch” (refusing to testify to Jan. 6 committtee) and then “congress, speech and debate” to avoid Jack Smith’s investigation. Which is it, oh godly Pence-man?
Re "That's where the Nikki Haley train is headed—right off the tracks and over a cliff": couldn't happen to a nicer gal!
I always thought Scarlet O’Hara was manipulative rather than at the mercy of men. Still a “mule in a horse’s collar”
Good analogy of Hailey and Speer Speer was the “good Nazi” to those outside the Third Reich.
There is no constituency supporting Hailey. She will be rejected by the MAGA crowd. She will not be embraced by the disaffected R The Ds will not go near her. She serves no purpose to run. Considering the misogynistic MAGA crowd they would follow Kari Lake or MTG before Hailey. When she fades away by July 4 2023 there will be nothing left of her campaign. No tomorrow is another day for her.
Haley is a substanceless, dull unformed gelatinous blot who practices knockoff Vaudeville and labels it high theater.
Does she buy her own delusional wares, I wonder?
Thanks.for the instructive history....
Even though everything Steve says is true, I wouldn’t underestimate Haley’s appeal.
She plays the “normal” card. The republicans who don’t want a fight might prefer her, and be suffering from trump fatigue, and they are a considerable lot!
I read “Inside the Third Reich” in 1970, as a freshman in college. What struck me throughout the book was that Speer made it very clear that his ambition was so strong that he would do whatever he needed to do and say whatever he needed to say for his own personal advancement. Towards the end of the book, when he supposedly “saw the truth” and supposedly tried to stop Hitler from more destruction, always seemed self-serving. Up until the end of the war, when it was clear Germany was losing, he was a willing follower. As you point out, he was just smarter than the rest, like Barr leaving the Trump Administration before all hell let loose. Nikki Haley also showed more smarts than the rest of the administration. She just doesn’t realize, like Speer eventually did, that Der Fuhrer is not a winning cause anymore and more importantly, wouldn’t serve him in any positive way, Both Nazis and Republicans are big believers in “the end justifies the means.’ Speer and Haley both followed that philosophy to the end.
I think she knows she can’t win the Republican nomination, let alone the Presidency. Her end goal is more likely to be Trump’s running mate. She will help “normalize” him and will then be in a position to succeed him if he dies or leaves office early. Or could run as the former VP in 2028. Scary prospect.
Well now, this was great fun. Keep it up.