My latest in The American Thinker:
By now it is abundantly clear that President Trump faces furious opposition not just from the Democrats, the establishment Republicans, and the mainstream media, but from a shadowy, determined cabal of unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats who are deeply embedded in the government: the “deep state.” Paradoxically, the ability of such a cabal to grow and operate freely can be traced back in American history to well-meaning efforts to end government corruption — as well as to the evil act of one deranged assassin.
As Rating America’s Presidents: An America-First Look at Who Is Best, Who Is Overrated, and Who Was An Absolute Disaster explains, today’s deep state is a result of efforts to reform what was known as the “spoils system.” In 1828, Andrew Jackson was elected president on promises to end the hegemony of a privileged aristocracy, and to drain that swamp, he would need his own men in key positions. He removed a large number of civil service employees and replaced them with men of his own faction, which came to be known as the Democracy, or Democratic Party. This came to be known as the spoils system, after the old adage “To the victor belong the spoils.” This practice led to numerous incompetent people being placed in positions of responsibility; after the Civil War, a movement grew to remedy that problem by making civil service jobs based on merit rather than party affiliation.
In 1880, a champion of civil service reform, James A. Garfield, was nominated for president by the Republicans; to mollify the Stalwarts, or Republicans who favored the spoils system, the vice-presidential nod went to Chester Alan Arthur, a man who had been fired from his job as Collector of the Port of New York by President Rutherford B. Hayes for ignoring Hayes’s civil service reform executive order forbidding forcing federal officers to make campaign contributions.
The Garfield/Arthur ticket won, and immediately as president, Garfield pushed for measures that would end it. When a scheme to steal the public revenues was discovered in the Post Office Department, he moved swiftly, firing those implicated and calling for the prosecution of anyone involved, no matter how high a position he occupied. Accompanying this was his insistence on adopting a merit-based system that would, he hoped, reduce corruption by removing federal offices from the realm of partisan politics. He did not live to see this come to fruition.
Garfield had only been president for four months when, on July 2, 1881, he and Secretary of State James G. Blaine were walking through the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, on their way to board a train to spend part of the summer in New Jersey, away from the heat of the capital. Just then, a man stepped up behind Garfield and fired his gun twice at the president, hitting him in the back and arm, and crying, “I am a Stalwart and now Arthur is President!”
That man was Charles Guiteau, who has been described in so many history books as a “disappointed office seeker” that the label has practically become a Homeric epithet. A disappointed office seeker Guiteau undeniably was, but he was much more than that. After repeatedly pressing Chester Arthur for a chance to campaign for the Garfield/Arthur ticket during the 1880 campaign, Arthur relented, likely just to end his harassment, and Guiteau delivered his speech, “Garfield against Hancock,” a single time. Guiteau thought he was owed a federal office as a result and had pestered White House officials repeatedly for a chance to see Garfield, who did meet with him at least once, and then Blaine in order to make his case for an appointment as consul to France.
There is much more. Read the rest here.
gravenimage says
The Assassin Who Helped Create the Deep State
……………
Interesting. Certainly, many today consider the “spoils system” to be their birth rite. Very troubling.
mortimer says
The most troubling thing is the number of Trotskyists who are planning to create an American gulag or an American Pop-Pot-style general massacre.
Laura says
Pop-Pot?
FYI says
Pot Pourri.
Pol Pot’s Potluck Poultry Pourri
Legatus legionis (@frank95054) says
President Trump made catastrophic errors in dealing with Covid and the Impeachment process. First, when the Data Projections from the Imperial College of London were shown to be seriously flawed, the President continued with the narrative of a Pandemic like Virus. Moreover, as weeks went by demonstrating the ineffectiveness of the Virus to effect one’s health in a serious manner, President Trump continued with the Scary Pandemic Narrative. He was played, and failed to respond by announcing the Pandemic as a gross false flag. The Impeachment efforts by the Democrats were clearly an attempted Coup. The President failed to issue an EO declaring the Coup attempt thereby allowing for the continued harm to our Republic by those like Speaker Pelosi and Adam Schiff who’s actions are clearly treasonous in nature.
gravenimage says
886,000+ have died from the Coronavirus, and these numbers are likely very low. How is *death* indicative of “ineffectiveness of the Virus to effect one’s health in a serious manner”?
And how is this a “false flag”, being reported by doctors all over the world to more than 27 million cases?
Wellington says
Medical experts have disagreed significantly among themselves about this virus. Trump has had to weigh varying opinions and then act accordingly. He did ban flights from China on January 31st, and was called an alarmist and racist for doing so, though this very likely saved tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of lives. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci on February 17th referred to the coronavirus as a “miniscule” matter and Nancy Pelosi on February 24th was encouraging people to go out in San Francisco and eat in Chinatown. On March 9th, Fauci said there was no reason why a healthy person could not take a sea cruise. But by late March Fauci and Pelosi (and many others) had switched positions almost entirely. Trump was ahead of the game from the start but was bound to listen to medical experts whom he knew had expertise he did not. He was in a bind. Sometimes you know, Chief Executives just don’t have enough facts at their disposal. And whenever Trump did question the efficacy of the lock down, he was lambasted by a press that hates him.
As for Trump issuing an Executive Order declaring the impeachment of him a coup, though I agree the impeachment was bogus, as was the entire Russian collusion hoax, issuing an Executive Order as you called for is a non-starter. And even if he had, it would have accomplished nothing. Indeed, doing so by Trump would have just added fuel to the fire stoked by those who detest Trump.
wpm says
What “American imperialism” are you talking about?The American Imperialism of after World War 2 sending billions in aid to Europe?Signing and keeping peace treaties with German and Japan as free nations?The billions in aid we have sent to many Africa and some Asian countries in the last 70 years.As communist rulers have sent over 100 millions of their own citizens to their deaths in China and the former Soviet Union in the last 70 years.Forced reeducation camps set up in the waste lands in both those nation states ,the average citizen living in fear that he or his family might be accused and taken to one or his whole family slaughter for the good of the”collective whole of society”.
Rarely says
If one replaces “American imperialism” with “ill-advised foreign policy” the idea has teeth.
Just don’t elect a President from Texas — they seem to be quick on the trigger. They seem to be a tad eager to impose the “Don’t mess with Texas” principle.
Kesselman says
The narrative of America as an imperialistic power to totally out of scope. Contrary to the communist badmouthing the USA is seen as the illuminated city on the hill by the millions in the world.—The former Soviet Union and today China can’t muster single candlelight on a dong-heap for people to long. America, in scope and ethics, is unpreceded and will be so in the future.—(As a sideshow for the skeptics’ mind that the US slew the Huns in Europe and the Shinto-fascists of Imperial Japan).
vlparker says
Over ninety percent of the deep state bureaucrats who donated to the presidential candidates in 2016 donated to Hillary. Bureaucrats are not hired on merit. They are hired on loyalty to the Democrat Party. The spoils system is alive and well, only instead of going to the winner the spoils go to the Democrats no matter who wins.
E T says
Not a snowballs chance, sorry, there are not enough useful idiots in the US. American Imperialism, ha ha right, ha ha ha
E T says
Amusing how some people think: At a mandatory review of human rights in Iran, 95 of 111 countries, yes 95 of 111 countries, PRAISED the Islamic Republic’s record on human rights.
E T says
And then there is Justine Trudeau: “Evangelical Christians are the worst part of Canadian society.”
Reziac says
You misspelled “Amazing what can be accomplished using suitable bribes and blackmail.”
E T says
Amusing: make someone laugh or smile.
David Darman says
I have been a regular reader for a long time. I am saddened to see this blog change from a well written source of information about Islam/Jihad into what more and more contains superficial and biased opinions supporting Trump.
RS is a scholar on all things Islam, but his analysis of the Donald and the sociopolitical landscape in the USA is myopic because all issues are primarily, if not solely, viewed through anti-Islam/Jihad lenses. Ergo, the shortcomings and character flaws of Trump are largely ignored.
For those who want to learn a bit more about the Donald absent the demagoguery that so often fills these pages, I recommend the following:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/04/opinion/fire-fury-wolff-trump-book.html?action=click&module=Trending&pgtype=Article®ion=Footer&contentCollection=Trending&fbclid=IwAR3ESwOj5r5SpP2bqV0SLLCagO62YUe2d76081hBgyE46VfjQpDcwX8S2EE
and especially
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8bAHb4yVko
x says
You simply do not understand how dire the situation is.
If trump loses, this country will turn into a socialist slave state ruled by a single party.
So there really is no other option.
Furthermore, the guy in this video is an idiot. He thinks Trump is authoritarian because he threatened to sue him??
If he wrote the same type of book about Hillary (which would be easy to do), he would be dead already.
E T says
We will be seeing what Biden doesn’t want us to know soon. Glad David does not want to talk about politics. Lol lol
Wellington says
David Darman: Interesting that those who dislike Trump point to his character in one way or another, as you have, to dismiss him and those who support him, but overwhelmingly these same people can’t be specific about what policies Trump has engaged in that they disagree with, for instance, pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, or making NATO nations pay more, or withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord farce, or re-negotiating NAFTA with the USMCA, or being the only leader in the world to take on China over tariffs and currency manipulation, or decimating ISIS and having Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed and Qasem Soleimani terminated, or removing many restrictions on businesses that Obama placed on business and thus having extremely low unemployment rates for Americans of all races and ethnicities before Covid-19 hit, or stopping flights from January as of January 31st of this year and which very likely resulted in saving tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, more not dying from Covid-19, or placing more restrictions on Russia than any President in recent memory, or directly taking on the North Korean dictator, or achieving major criminal justice reform, or pulling aid from the Palestinians, or pulling the US out of the joke which is the UN Human Rights Council, or building up the military and the southern border wall, or deploring sanctuary cities, etc.
Just last night I was told by someone that she didn’t like Trump and so I asked her what policies of his she disagreed with. She couldn’t name one.
Trump right now is the best shot the West has to keep itself intact and free. Besmirching his character seems to be all those against Trump have. You come to mind. And I say what is most important about Trump is what he DOES. People dwelling on his character ordinarily come across to me as snowflakes. What say you?
Brian Ozzy says
Excellent reply Wellington. Summed up beautifully. Many people have told me how they hate Trump but couldn’t give more than vague answers as to why. None of them had any idea of the monumental things he has accomplished whilst under 24/7 attack.
Wellington says
Thank you, Brian Ozzy.
E T says
Check out the documentary Riding the Dragon.
gravenimage says
David Darman has never said how Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton would be better for America, especially on the issue of Islam. He used to care about the threat of Jihad, but that’s been a long time ago at this point.
Seeking Deliverance says
Let me guess David Darman… you think Hillary and William Clinton haven’t mass murdered over 280 people to cover up their felony crimes? Let me geuss David Darman… you find it acceptable for the CIA and FBI to falsify warrants to unseat a U.S. President by first attacking his cabinet members in the hope they turn on their President? I’m sorry, but no human being on this Earth is perfect. Not. A. Single. One. That includes YOU David Darman. I’d take Trump as President any day of any week for no other reason than any and all U.S. Democrats are Fascist murderers at best and completely treasonous domestic terrorists at worst.
gravenimage says
Seeking Deliverance, these sort of conspiracy theories are not actually useful.
Lorensacho says
The Deep State is really the Koch Brothers and their fellow billionaires who select the judges and legislators and provide the lobbying that writes the regulations and run things not only in America but world-wide.
x says
Replace “Koch Brothers” with “Soros” and you might have a working theory.
E T says
David Koch died years ago, but George Soros is alive and well and funding radical groups like BLM, American Civil Liberties Union, Brookings Institute, Center for Community Change, Campus Progress, Colorado of Change, Gamaliel Foundation —tactics of radicals who support Saul Alinsky idealism, I’lam – anti-Israel NGO seeks “ to develop and empower Arab media”, Media Fund, Media Matters, MoveOn.org, Planned Parenthood, NPR, GET OUT THE VOTE, National Abortion Federation, ACORN – no longer in service lol, Bill of Rights Defense Committee, Center for American Progress – Bernadine Dohrn, Advisory Board,,,,,,
E T says
Colour for Change not Colorado. Speaking of change is colour now Colorado?
Seeking Deliverance says
I see that censoring even occurs in this comments area. Unsurprising nowadays. Everyone is censored for identifying or speaking truth. More the pity. Just remember… who it was who purchased the “Twin Towers” shortly before they were brought down. A reckoning is coming… a reckoning indeed.
gravenimage says
Is Seeking Deliverance ranting about the Jooooooos again?
Note that he does not believe that 9/11 should be considered Jihad. Why is he even here?
E T says
If you look at the 1 million Muslims votes video, you will see where Joe stands in regards to the Muslims.