Tim Alberta is one of America’s best political reporters. His profile of Nikki Haley in Politico is as fine a profile of a political candidate for the American presidency that has ever been written. In fact, it astonishes with regards to its revelations of Haley’s cynicism and self-delusion. Alberta’s character dissection of Haley reveals a hollowness that perfectly explains the ease of Trump’s conquering of the Republican Party. She believes in nothing except winning elected office and being liked. Her ambitions provided an instinct for calculated risk, which she exercised with discipline as she climbed the greasy Republican pole to become the governor of South Carolina. During her tenure, she took “old Dixie” down after a white supremacist murdered nine black worshippers at Mother Emanual AME Church after he prayed with them. The decision was heralded in the moment as a brave act. Was it? Or was it as easy a decision that a governor would ever face? Certainly, removing a symbol of hate, extremism and prejudice that was the battle flag of treason that killed 600,000 American soldiers and the banner of Jim Crow from the state house was the right thing to do. Why was doing the right thing imbued with qualities of heroism and courage, when none was required? The act was symbolic and the price was nil. What did Haley apparently take away from the experience? Obviously it was the idea that courage is performative, not substantive, and that what is real is entirely subjective. It helps explain her collapse as a Trump resistor to her rebirth as one of his great shills and useful idiots.
Wouldn't it be fantastic if the venal targets of Steve's masterfully eloquent take-downs could be made to recite the various charges he brings against them in these columns? Not for their humiliation (deserved), but for their soul's enlightenment and liberation (undeserved, but Divine Grace is Divine Grace).
Maybe, at the God-appointed time when they leave their bodies and experience the profound "life review" (see all the typical NDE accounts), Steve's words will flash forth in full comprehension for their twisted, stunted souls and the enlightenment will dawn in their consciousness! One can hope and pray....
I believe the Jan 6 committee found that Trump said he knew he lost. And that every atty around him told him he lost. He didn't and doesn't believe he won. He is just a sore loser and knows how to press any grievance into donor money. He has a charlatan's charlatan.
I wish people who say, about anything, but, he/she/they really believed it, would get over that rationalization crap. Hell, Hitler really believed the world would be better if all the Jews were killed. Hell, some of those insurrectionists who defecated and urinated on the Capitol floor really believed the election was stolen. Since when does wrong belief count for crap?
Well, maybe little children. Like really little children.
Hollow Haley. Folks watched the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol criminal fiasco and know they saw or experienced criminal offenses, in real time, that should never have occurred regardless of what orange guy wanted. We also know malignant narcissus sociopaths believe their own lies. Haley knows better. We all do.
When Haley was governor of South Carolina I, as a democrat, was pretty impressed with her. Guess what? It’s been downhill ever since and gets worse every day. Once again Steve, thank you for your insight!! And you have a great way of sharing that insight!!
Haley is a dried husk of nothingness, so diaphenously tenuous but for her lingering stench of musty costumery, under which is found entirely nothing, as, without someone else's story, she does not exist.
Haley is an empty dress, for sure. She will not ever be President. If she believes that Trump actually believes something she cannot be smart enough to be President. Defending Trump is the tell. Tragic.
"She had that part wrong. A few weeks later, Trump stood before a crowd of thousands of MAGA supporters and urged them to march on the Capitol: “We must stop the steal…”
I listened and watched your video, I read your text..I got as far as the paragraph above of Tim Alberta's piece before I had to stop..I stopped to preserve a chunk of my life I did not want to squander reading about the failures of another treasonous coward, Nikki Haley..A chunk of my life never to get back..She's another piece of shit power hungry hater of our country, Constitution and its people..Just like 99.999% of the GOP, in and out of Congress...You had a 50/50 chance of calling the Speaker of the House..I knew that going in..that did not go your way..But this, this I believe you have..She will never be president..
Between your piece here and Stuart Steven's piece in the NYT, Nimrata Randhawa is having a very bad week. I do agree with those who think she is just posing, hoping for a VP nod. Whatever the case, her groveling before Trump and her lack of integrity are fairly obvious to anyone with reasonable cognitive skills. The knuckle draggers will still go with Putin's Bitch.
Well, Tim Mcvey, Believed he was doing the right thing, the Westboro Baptist church Believes it is doing the right thing, white “Christian” nationalist believe they are doing the right thing, so just believing in the face of contrary facts makes law breaking ok. Yah that is who I want for President.
Putin believes in what he is doing so all is okie dokie!!
There isn’t one person with an R next to their name with character, intelligence and isn’t a racist! Proof: THEY WOULD HAVE RESIGNED FROM THE PARTY 7 YEARS AGO
Another powerful piece. Having lived in SC while Haley was governor, I found her to be smarmingly insincere -- like one of the "nice" cheerleaders, wanting everyone to like her. During the week following the Mother Emmanuel massacre, I found myself detesting the woman. She showed no courage, no caring, no love during one of the worst times. She couldn't decide for herself what to do about the Confederate flag standing outside of the SC Statehouse. She spent at least 3-1/2 WEEKS "consulting" with the most conservative of her fellow-Republican lawmakers about what to do. As the Democrats -- black and white -- grew ever more restive, then angry -- she finally decided that it was "the right thing to do"... Here's what she said about her "decision" in a 2019 interview with Glenn Beck:
"Nikki Haley on Friday defended an interview in which she said people in South Carolina equated the Confederate flag with 'service and sacrifice and heritage' (!!!!! yes, really) before the Charleston church shooter 'hijacked' it." On her orders, the flag was given pride of place in the South Carolina Museum. Gag.
Quotes by Rosa Parks, a woman of Integrity, Courage and Character:
“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.”
“Differences of race, nationality or religion should not be used to deny any human being citizenship rights or privileges.”
“I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live grow up and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom.”
Nikki Haley does NOT have the Integrity, Courage or Character that we need in our leaders.
Thank you Steve Schmidt, home-run hitter: Keep on swinging!
Wouldn't it be fantastic if the venal targets of Steve's masterfully eloquent take-downs could be made to recite the various charges he brings against them in these columns? Not for their humiliation (deserved), but for their soul's enlightenment and liberation (undeserved, but Divine Grace is Divine Grace).
Maybe, at the God-appointed time when they leave their bodies and experience the profound "life review" (see all the typical NDE accounts), Steve's words will flash forth in full comprehension for their twisted, stunted souls and the enlightenment will dawn in their consciousness! One can hope and pray....
I believe the Jan 6 committee found that Trump said he knew he lost. And that every atty around him told him he lost. He didn't and doesn't believe he won. He is just a sore loser and knows how to press any grievance into donor money. He has a charlatan's charlatan.
I wish people who say, about anything, but, he/she/they really believed it, would get over that rationalization crap. Hell, Hitler really believed the world would be better if all the Jews were killed. Hell, some of those insurrectionists who defecated and urinated on the Capitol floor really believed the election was stolen. Since when does wrong belief count for crap?
Well, maybe little children. Like really little children.
Hollow Haley. Folks watched the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol criminal fiasco and know they saw or experienced criminal offenses, in real time, that should never have occurred regardless of what orange guy wanted. We also know malignant narcissus sociopaths believe their own lies. Haley knows better. We all do.
Oh my goodness, Steve! This is your strongest piece yet. I am so grateful to be part of this community!
When Haley was governor of South Carolina I, as a democrat, was pretty impressed with her. Guess what? It’s been downhill ever since and gets worse every day. Once again Steve, thank you for your insight!! And you have a great way of sharing that insight!!
Haley is a dried husk of nothingness, so diaphenously tenuous but for her lingering stench of musty costumery, under which is found entirely nothing, as, without someone else's story, she does not exist.
Haley is an empty dress, for sure. She will not ever be President. If she believes that Trump actually believes something she cannot be smart enough to be President. Defending Trump is the tell. Tragic.
"She had that part wrong. A few weeks later, Trump stood before a crowd of thousands of MAGA supporters and urged them to march on the Capitol: “We must stop the steal…”
I listened and watched your video, I read your text..I got as far as the paragraph above of Tim Alberta's piece before I had to stop..I stopped to preserve a chunk of my life I did not want to squander reading about the failures of another treasonous coward, Nikki Haley..A chunk of my life never to get back..She's another piece of shit power hungry hater of our country, Constitution and its people..Just like 99.999% of the GOP, in and out of Congress...You had a 50/50 chance of calling the Speaker of the House..I knew that going in..that did not go your way..But this, this I believe you have..She will never be president..
Between your piece here and Stuart Steven's piece in the NYT, Nimrata Randhawa is having a very bad week. I do agree with those who think she is just posing, hoping for a VP nod. Whatever the case, her groveling before Trump and her lack of integrity are fairly obvious to anyone with reasonable cognitive skills. The knuckle draggers will still go with Putin's Bitch.
Well, Tim Mcvey, Believed he was doing the right thing, the Westboro Baptist church Believes it is doing the right thing, white “Christian” nationalist believe they are doing the right thing, so just believing in the face of contrary facts makes law breaking ok. Yah that is who I want for President.
Putin believes in what he is doing so all is okie dokie!!
Spectacular writing. Precise. She only appeals to tRump cultists and they have tRump, so she’s irrelevant to everyone
One of your best! Thank you so much.
There isn’t one person with an R next to their name with character, intelligence and isn’t a racist! Proof: THEY WOULD HAVE RESIGNED FROM THE PARTY 7 YEARS AGO
Another powerful piece. Having lived in SC while Haley was governor, I found her to be smarmingly insincere -- like one of the "nice" cheerleaders, wanting everyone to like her. During the week following the Mother Emmanuel massacre, I found myself detesting the woman. She showed no courage, no caring, no love during one of the worst times. She couldn't decide for herself what to do about the Confederate flag standing outside of the SC Statehouse. She spent at least 3-1/2 WEEKS "consulting" with the most conservative of her fellow-Republican lawmakers about what to do. As the Democrats -- black and white -- grew ever more restive, then angry -- she finally decided that it was "the right thing to do"... Here's what she said about her "decision" in a 2019 interview with Glenn Beck:
"Nikki Haley on Friday defended an interview in which she said people in South Carolina equated the Confederate flag with 'service and sacrifice and heritage' (!!!!! yes, really) before the Charleston church shooter 'hijacked' it." On her orders, the flag was given pride of place in the South Carolina Museum. Gag.