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Dr. Reich lists four pillars of a civil society: universities, science, the media, and the law. The Society for Peace would say scholarship, service, leadership, and character. She owns it lists family, social enterprises, faith institutions, and entrepreneurs. Human rights careers, with a decidedly leftist tilt, lists access, equity, participation, and human rights.
Dr. Reich lists four pillars of a civil society: universities, science, the media, and the law. The Society for Peace would say scholarship, service, leadership, and character. She owns it lists family, social enterprises, faith institutions, and entrepreneurs. Human rights careers, with a decidedly leftist tilt, lists access, equity, participation, and human rights.
In other words, there isn't a recognized list of the four pillars of society. Dr. Reich simply makes it up. He has a penchant for this sort of thing, where cherry picking facts, misrepresenting events, and misquoting people, is almost a habit for him.
In our view, the four pillars of a civil society are Christianity, family, individual liberty, and limited government. Our list is as good as anyone's.
So Dr. Reich wants to warn us all about the supposed illegal actions of the Trump administration and the imperiled four pillars of a civil society. He worries that Trump is a tyrant who is going to silence dissent. He is concerned for the safety of people who might speak up in opposition. He thinks government employees are going to keep their heads down in fear of losing their jobs.
All this rings hollow, since we as conservatives have had to endure increasing leftist tyranny for the past two decades and Dr. Reich happily joined in. We have actually lived in what Dr. Reich is thinking as only a possibility. Now that the political tides are turning against he and his ilk, he's concerned that this monster of a government the Left has created is going to be used against them.
Well, good riddance.
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Trump’s attacks on the four pillars of civil society will succeed unless the pillars demonstrate courage and take collective action against the attacks.
Friends,
I was talking yesterday to a friend who’s a professor at Columbia University about what’s been happening there. He had a lot to say. When he needed to run off to an appointment, I asked him if he’d text or email me the rest of his thoughts. His response floored me. “No,” he said. “I better not. They may be reviewing it.”
“Who’s ‘they’?” I asked, suddenly worried.
“They! The university! The government! Gotta go!” He was off.
My friend has never before shown signs of paranoia.
I relate this to you because the Trump regime is starting to have a chilling effect on what and how Americans communicate with each other. (Dr. Reich has just now noticed a "chilling effect" on speech? Hasn't he heard about speech codes, the shouting down and deplatforming of conservatives who were to speak at colleges, the prosecution of people for praying in public or speaking at school board meetings?)
Trump’s attacks on the four pillars of civil society will succeed unless the pillars demonstrate courage and take collective action against the attacks.
Friends,
I was talking yesterday to a friend who’s a professor at Columbia University about what’s been happening there. He had a lot to say. When he needed to run off to an appointment, I asked him if he’d text or email me the rest of his thoughts. His response floored me. “No,” he said. “I better not. They may be reviewing it.”
“Who’s ‘they’?” I asked, suddenly worried.
“They! The university! The government! Gotta go!” He was off.
My friend has never before shown signs of paranoia.
I relate this to you because the Trump regime is starting to have a chilling effect on what and how Americans communicate with each other. (Dr. Reich has just now noticed a "chilling effect" on speech? Hasn't he heard about speech codes, the shouting down and deplatforming of conservatives who were to speak at colleges, the prosecution of people for praying in public or speaking at school board meetings?)
It is beginning to create mass paranoia, which is exactly what Trump intends.
The chill affects the four major pillars of civil society — universities, science, the media, and the law.
Start with America’s major universities. Columbia’s capitulation to Trump’s demands that the university identify every demonstrator and put its department of Middle Eastern studies under “receivership” — or else lose $400 million in government funding — is chilling communications there. (The fear of being caught coddling terrorists ought to have a chilling effect.)
The Trump regime also “detained” a Columbia University graduate student and green card holder without criminal charges merely for participating in protests at the school. ("Merely." Actually, this "student" is an activist expressing allegiance and sympathy with known terrorist groups. He's in our country as a guest, with permission that can be lifted at the will of government. There's no element of needing criminal charges or in fact any legal process. He simply must leave.)
The chill affects the four major pillars of civil society — universities, science, the media, and the law.
Start with America’s major universities. Columbia’s capitulation to Trump’s demands that the university identify every demonstrator and put its department of Middle Eastern studies under “receivership” — or else lose $400 million in government funding — is chilling communications there. (The fear of being caught coddling terrorists ought to have a chilling effect.)
The Trump regime also “detained” a Columbia University graduate student and green card holder without criminal charges merely for participating in protests at the school. ("Merely." Actually, this "student" is an activist expressing allegiance and sympathy with known terrorist groups. He's in our country as a guest, with permission that can be lifted at the will of government. There's no element of needing criminal charges or in fact any legal process. He simply must leave.)
The regime’s agents have also entered dorms with search warrants and announced the “removal” of two other students who participated in such protests. (Hmmm. Search warrants. So the authorities went to a judge and presented sufficient evidence where the judge approved a warrant. Then they went to the location of the subject of the warrant and apprehended the subjects.
What exactly is the problem here?)
Other major universities are on Trump’s target list.
Now, consider science. Trump has mounted a direct attack on the three biggest funders of American science — the Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, and National Science Foundation. (Federal funding = science. Opposing federal funding = opposing science. That's the Left's formula.)
Tens of thousands of researchers are now worried about how to continue their research. (That's the risk of hitching your wagon to government funding: the gravy train just might stop.)
Other major universities are on Trump’s target list.
Now, consider science. Trump has mounted a direct attack on the three biggest funders of American science — the Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, and National Science Foundation. (Federal funding = science. Opposing federal funding = opposing science. That's the Left's formula.)
Tens of thousands of researchers are now worried about how to continue their research. (That's the risk of hitching your wagon to government funding: the gravy train just might stop.)
Many have decided to hunker down and not criticize the Trump regime. (Good. they'll keep their mouths shut. Nothing wrong with that.
Dr. Reich seems unacquainted with the issue conservatives face, the fear of speaking honestly about their politics. Same with Christians. The reprisals from the Left are swift and severe.
We think that turnabout is fair play.)
Meanwhile, Philippe Baptiste, the French minister for higher education, has charged that a French scientist traveling to a conference near Houston earlier this month was denied entry into the United States because his phone contained message exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he gave a negative “personal opinion” about Trump’s scientific and research policies. (The U.S. Department of Homeland Security denies this was the reason the scientist wasn’t admitted into the country.) (We all know which story Dr. Reich believes, don't we?)
Next, the media. Major media fear more lawsuits from Trump and his political allies in the wake of ABC’s surrender in December, paying Trump $15 million to settle a defamation case Trump filed against the network. (The main reason they would settle is because they knew they couldn't win. Dr. Reich automatically assumes ABC's innocence without evidence.
Meanwhile, Philippe Baptiste, the French minister for higher education, has charged that a French scientist traveling to a conference near Houston earlier this month was denied entry into the United States because his phone contained message exchanges with colleagues and friends in which he gave a negative “personal opinion” about Trump’s scientific and research policies. (The U.S. Department of Homeland Security denies this was the reason the scientist wasn’t admitted into the country.) (We all know which story Dr. Reich believes, don't we?)
Next, the media. Major media fear more lawsuits from Trump and his political allies in the wake of ABC’s surrender in December, paying Trump $15 million to settle a defamation case Trump filed against the network. (The main reason they would settle is because they knew they couldn't win. Dr. Reich automatically assumes ABC's innocence without evidence.
When a supposed news organization can't tell the truth, well, they ought to suffer.)
Journalists who cover the White House are still reeling from Trump’s decision to bar those deemed unfriendly from major events where space is limited. (No word from Dr. Reich about Biden's rare public access while he was president.
Journalists who cover the White House are still reeling from Trump’s decision to bar those deemed unfriendly from major events where space is limited. (No word from Dr. Reich about Biden's rare public access while he was president.
The privilege to access the president ought to be at the president's choice.)
Finally, the legal community. Trump’s attack began a week and a half ago with an executive order penalizing one of America’s premier law firms, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison — stripping security clearances for the firm’s lawyers, limiting them from entering government buildings (which could include federal courthouses) or getting government jobs, and terminating the firm’s federal government contracts. Trump also implied he would penalize Paul Weiss clients.
The order followed on Trump targeting two other big law firms, Covington and Burling and Perkins Coie.
What had Paul Weiss and the other firms targeted by Trump done? All three are filled with prominent establishment Democrats who have engaged in partisan activity against Trump and the Republicans. (An innocuous description. These firms were active in the incessant persecution of Trump and were attempting to run him out of office. We certainly understand Trump's actions, even if using the power of the presidency in this manner is problematic.
Finally, the legal community. Trump’s attack began a week and a half ago with an executive order penalizing one of America’s premier law firms, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison — stripping security clearances for the firm’s lawyers, limiting them from entering government buildings (which could include federal courthouses) or getting government jobs, and terminating the firm’s federal government contracts. Trump also implied he would penalize Paul Weiss clients.
The order followed on Trump targeting two other big law firms, Covington and Burling and Perkins Coie.
What had Paul Weiss and the other firms targeted by Trump done? All three are filled with prominent establishment Democrats who have engaged in partisan activity against Trump and the Republicans. (An innocuous description. These firms were active in the incessant persecution of Trump and were attempting to run him out of office. We certainly understand Trump's actions, even if using the power of the presidency in this manner is problematic.
Of course, it was the Left who wanted this kind of power in the presidency. That's the problem with big, oppressive government: You don't necessarily get to choose who it oppresses, and someday it might be you.)
Brad Karp, chair of the firm, was a major Democratic donor who worked last year to elect Kamala Harris, even helping her in debate prep. Mark Pomerantz, a former attorney with the firm, participated in a criminal case against Trump in the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
Soon thereafter, Trump gave a grievance-filled speech at the Justice Department, charging that “a corrupt group of hacks and radicals” wrongly prosecuted him during the Biden administration and that he was preparing new executive actions to personally target the “violent vicious lawyers” who had opposed him.
This past Thursday, Trump withdrew the executive order against Paul Weiss because, he said, the firm had “acknowledged the wrongdoing” of Pomerantz and pledged $40 million in free legal work to support the Trump administration.
Then on Friday, Trump broadened his campaign of retaliation against the legal community with a memorandum directing the heads of the Justice and Homeland Security Departments to “seek sanctions against attorneys and law firms who engage in frivolous, unreasonable and vexatious litigation against the United States” (for “the United States,” read “Trump”).
The resulting chill is widespread. Sunday’s Politico reported that “virtually no one with any long-term standing in the private legal community is willing to speak publicly about [the memorandum], partly out of fear that they or their firms could wind up in Trump’s crosshairs.”
Friends, the chill is the point. (Leftists hate it when their tactics are used against them.)
Trump wants university students to be so intimidated they won’t demonstrate against him; professors so intimidated they won’t criticize his policies in the classroom; scientists so intimidated they won’t denounce him even privately; the media so intimidated they’ll refrain from reporting unfavorably about him; and lawyers so intimidated they won’t support political rivals or litigate against him. (Leftists hate it when their tactics are used against them.)
Trump is even seeking to intimidate the arts — another pillar of civil society — by taking over the Kennedy Center, firing board members, ousting its president, and making himself chairman. (Leftists hate it when their tactics are used against them.)
Comedian Nikki Glaser, one of the few celebrities to walk the red carpet at this year’s Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize event, told reporters she now thinks twice before doing political jokes directed at Trump. “Like, you just are scared that you’re gonna get doxxed and death threats or who knows where this leads, like, detained. Honestly that’s not even like a joke. It’s like a real fear.” (Leftists hate it when their tactics are used against them.)
Every tyrant in history has sought to stifle criticism of himself and his regime. (The pot calling the kettle black.)
But America was founded on criticism. American democracy was built on dissent. (Conservatives were mocked and vilified when they appealed to free speech.)
Brad Karp, chair of the firm, was a major Democratic donor who worked last year to elect Kamala Harris, even helping her in debate prep. Mark Pomerantz, a former attorney with the firm, participated in a criminal case against Trump in the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
Soon thereafter, Trump gave a grievance-filled speech at the Justice Department, charging that “a corrupt group of hacks and radicals” wrongly prosecuted him during the Biden administration and that he was preparing new executive actions to personally target the “violent vicious lawyers” who had opposed him.
This past Thursday, Trump withdrew the executive order against Paul Weiss because, he said, the firm had “acknowledged the wrongdoing” of Pomerantz and pledged $40 million in free legal work to support the Trump administration.
Then on Friday, Trump broadened his campaign of retaliation against the legal community with a memorandum directing the heads of the Justice and Homeland Security Departments to “seek sanctions against attorneys and law firms who engage in frivolous, unreasonable and vexatious litigation against the United States” (for “the United States,” read “Trump”).
The resulting chill is widespread. Sunday’s Politico reported that “virtually no one with any long-term standing in the private legal community is willing to speak publicly about [the memorandum], partly out of fear that they or their firms could wind up in Trump’s crosshairs.”
Friends, the chill is the point. (Leftists hate it when their tactics are used against them.)
Trump wants university students to be so intimidated they won’t demonstrate against him; professors so intimidated they won’t criticize his policies in the classroom; scientists so intimidated they won’t denounce him even privately; the media so intimidated they’ll refrain from reporting unfavorably about him; and lawyers so intimidated they won’t support political rivals or litigate against him. (Leftists hate it when their tactics are used against them.)
Trump is even seeking to intimidate the arts — another pillar of civil society — by taking over the Kennedy Center, firing board members, ousting its president, and making himself chairman. (Leftists hate it when their tactics are used against them.)
Comedian Nikki Glaser, one of the few celebrities to walk the red carpet at this year’s Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize event, told reporters she now thinks twice before doing political jokes directed at Trump. “Like, you just are scared that you’re gonna get doxxed and death threats or who knows where this leads, like, detained. Honestly that’s not even like a joke. It’s like a real fear.” (Leftists hate it when their tactics are used against them.)
Every tyrant in history has sought to stifle criticism of himself and his regime. (The pot calling the kettle black.)
But America was founded on criticism. American democracy was built on dissent. (Conservatives were mocked and vilified when they appealed to free speech.)
We conducted a revolution against tyranny.
This moment calls for courage and collective action — not capitulation — by universities, scientists, journalists, the legal community, and the arts. (Conservatives lost their jobs, were repeatedly sued, got pies thrown in their faces when trying to speak, got beat up for disagreeing with leftists, and were told to shut up. How does it feel to be on the receiving end, Dr. Reich?)
Courage in that university presidents, prestigious scientists, media enterprises, the managing partners of law firms, and artists must not back down. To the contrary, they should stand up to his intimidation and sound the alarm about what Trump is trying to do.
Collective action in that universities, scientists, the media, the legal community, and the arts must join forces to condemn Trump’s attempts to stifle dissent and criticism.
Every institution, group, firm, or individual that surrenders to Trump’s wanton tyranny invites more of it.
This moment calls for courage and collective action — not capitulation — by universities, scientists, journalists, the legal community, and the arts. (Conservatives lost their jobs, were repeatedly sued, got pies thrown in their faces when trying to speak, got beat up for disagreeing with leftists, and were told to shut up. How does it feel to be on the receiving end, Dr. Reich?)
Courage in that university presidents, prestigious scientists, media enterprises, the managing partners of law firms, and artists must not back down. To the contrary, they should stand up to his intimidation and sound the alarm about what Trump is trying to do.
Collective action in that universities, scientists, the media, the legal community, and the arts must join forces to condemn Trump’s attempts to stifle dissent and criticism.
Every institution, group, firm, or individual that surrenders to Trump’s wanton tyranny invites more of it.
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