# GOP Pundit trying to sound brave re Trump dissolves into hysterical "go nuclear" Barney Fife **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 28, 2016, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362 "2016-02-28T03:30:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/1 "2016-02-28T03:30:11Z")
This National Review GOP pundit’s article needs to be savored like a fine brandy. It’s like watching a French noble wondering why the peasants are assembling a guillotine on his lawn. This is some of the most astounding delusional nonsense I’ve ever seen from someone purports to be an important pundit. This is what is going on inside his head. Seriously. The short version 1: Our base is a is bunch of ideologically rigid, easily frustrated voters who are going with Trump _ **because they feel we have not been hardcore enough.** _ 2: These easily gulled and misled peasants are burning down the house! 3: _Just_ when we’re on the cusp of HUGE resurgence in GOP conservatism 4: If Trump is elected life on earth will end. 5: I am not worried about my job! 6: FOR GOD’S SALE SOMEONE PUSH THE RED BUTTON! MELT THE FENCES! …NOW!!! [It’s Time for an Anti-Trump Manhattan Project](http://www.nationalreview.com/article/431858/donald-trump-2016-campaign-must-be-stopped) > [@](#): > > For the last eight months or so, a significant portion of the Republican party’s voters have been in thrall to a bizarre, Occupy-esque conspiracy theory, which holds as its central thesis that sabotage and pusillanimity are the root causes of the Right’s recent woes. In this mistaken view, the conservative movement’s failure to counter all of the Obama era’s excesses is not the product of the crucial democratic and structural factors that prevent any one faction from ushering in substantial change, but of a lack of will or desire. Sure, the advocates of this view will concede, the shutdown of 2013 was doomed from the start, in large part because the public sided with President Obama. But if the GOP had just held out a little longer, they imagine, the “power of the purse” would have prevailed and the popular dynamics would magically have shifted. The same insistence obtains elsewhere: Sure, there is no precedent in which a second-term president willingly repeals his centerpiece legislative achievements simply because the legislature has elected to play hardball with its powers. But somehow, the critics believe, this time would have been different. Why, they ask repeatedly, didn’t the Republican party just “fight” harder? OK so … the REAL GOP electorate are actually this “significant portion” of hardcore, ideologically rigid people NOT the registered GOP voters going for Trump. Wha…? Oh wait … it’s all just a big misunderstanding by “the most frustrated voters” AKA the GOP working class base who are easily misled. But… but … all the pieces are in place! we’re on the cusp edge of a re-building resurgence and the peasants are trying to burn the castle down. They’re crazy! I shall turn to drink! a fine bourbon of course. OK …so what happens? > [@](#): > > And if that should happen? Well, suffice it to say that it would be an unmitigated, unalloyed, potentially unsalvageable disaster. For the first time in years, the Right’s defenses would be completely destroyed, perhaps never to be rebuilt. Swiftly, the courts would be packed with ideologues; immediately, Congress would run through the remaining items on the Obama-Clinton laundry list; before the voters had a chance to stop them, the White House would usher in an irreversible amnesty; and, Trump having been turned into a pariah by a hostile press, his “anti-PC” attitude would be rendered toxic in perpetuity. The likely result of Trump’s selection as the Republican nominee, in other words, would be the entrenchment of all that his supporters claim vehemently to hate. That thrill that his acolytes would feel when they saw Trump named the winner of the primaries? It’d be gone in a matter of minutes. Oh… so life on earth would end. Of \*course \*you’re not worried about your job, your retirement, your status, your relevance or even the marvelous champagne parties. You are brave and stouthearted man! Now what? Uh oh! > [@](#): > > In the meantime, conservatives who are not running for president must ensure that every spare dollar is spent attacking Trump. Melt down the fences if you have to; we need long-range bombers here. > . . . > > Noah Rothman is correct when he proposes that this primary season is not yet over, and both Jonathan Bernstein and David Wasserman are correct when they identify a few scenarios in which Trump could still lose the nomination. But such analyses do little to explain what would need to happen in the background for those remaining paths to become navigable. As of today, that answer is clear: The anti-Trump forces that still make up the majority of the Republican coalition must begin an expedited Manhattan Project, the sole aim of which is to bring down the front-runner piece by unpleasant piece. “If not us, who?” Ronald Reagan asked in the heat of the 1981 budget battle. “If not now, when?” Time to go nuclear, chaps. “Melt the fences!” … Time to go nuclear, CHAPS!" Now where’s that boy with my bourbon? ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/2 "2016-02-28T04:04:17Z")
Soon, soon, it will be Karneval in Amerika. _The prince, also called “Seine Tollität” (His Madness), is the most important personage of the Cologne carnival. His float is the final one in the large parade on Shrove Monday. The naming as “prince” came as late as 1872, prior to it the name was “Held Carneval” (hero carnival), the personification of carnival. His attributes however remained unchanged, those of a regent: crown with peacock tail, a golden chain, a girdle with glitzy stones, white undershorts and a purple jacket. A sceptre in the right hand, and a slapstick in the left one. The slapstick is known as a general symbol of the fool, but specifically it is a fertility symbol and the symbol of the princely reign over his fool people during carnival._ [**Cologne Carnival — Wikipedia**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne_Carnival) Carn-i-val ! Carn-i-val !! Carn-i-val !!! \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/3 "2016-02-28T08:08:46Z")
Well, we certainly have a new contender for the worst use of " a Manhattan Project for X". I especially like that he wants an “expedited Manhattan Project”. No lazy dilly-dallying around like Oppenheimer and Groves did with the Nazi’s. This is really serious. Also, the “melt down the fences, we need long range bombers here” is such a weird metaphor I can’t even guess what it means. Is it a reference to something I’m unfamiliar with? Why do bombers meant to fight Trump need to be long-range? What fences? Are we melting down the fences because they’re in the way of us building bombers and melting is the best way to get rid of them, or to get material for the bombers, or for some other purpose? Is melted fence a natural bomber building material for some reason I’m unaware of? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/4 "2016-02-28T09:42:05Z")
> [@](#): > > …melt down the fences… I get a flash that he’s referring to the nuclear nightmare scene in the _Terminator_, where somebody is clinging to a wire playground fence when the blast hits. Hard to be sure, guy writes like a dump truck sings. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/5 "2016-02-28T10:29:38Z")
I think melting fences is the opposite of mending fences, in which case it’s my new favorite phrase. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/6 "2016-02-28T13:45:15Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I get a flash that he’s referring to the nuclear nightmare scene in the _Terminator_, where somebody is clinging to a wire playground fence when the blast hits. Hard to be sure, guy writes like a dump truck sings. Indeed. A rare sighting of "pusillanimity’. Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/7 "2016-02-28T13:49:27Z")
My first thought was melt the fences=turn the electrical fences up to 11. Not sure if that works here. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/8 "2016-02-28T14:53:42Z")
Ross Douthat has a column in the NYT blaming Democrats for Trump because Obama was too much a celebrity and his “imperial presidency” paved the way for Trump’s bullying. Yes, and two lines of lip service about how Bush is to blame… for providing the opening for Obama. Must be a foregone conclusion that Trump is going to win if the conservative establishment is already looking for ways to make it all the liberals’ fault. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/9 "2016-02-28T15:05:56Z")
Oh man, thank you for that. It lead me to [this](http://www.nationalreview.com/article/432037/donald-trump-libel-first-amendment). They really are going nuclear over at NR. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/10 "2016-02-28T15:08:00Z")
The missiles are flying. Hallelujah, Hallelujah! ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/11 "2016-02-28T16:12:06Z")
The best part about all this is that even if they managed to bring down Trump they are not going to get the majority of his voters to fall back in line, either way they are doomed. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/12 "2016-02-28T17:13:29Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Is melted fence a natural bomber building material for some reason I’m unaware of? I think he means like how Napoleon melted down the cannon captured in the Battle of Austerlitz in order to build the Column in the Place Vendome, only in reverse. Man, that’s some…writing, there. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/13 "2016-02-28T18:51:48Z")
I like this line: > [@](#): > > Immediately, Congress would run through the remaining items on the Obama-Clinton laundry list; before the voters had a chance to stop them… Where comes this urge from the voters to “stop” what they elected people to accomplish? ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2016, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/14 "2016-02-28T23:57:57Z")
Methinks the “Fences” is a Conservative “Special Word” - it means something special to the Old Guard of Rock-Ribbed Republicans. Few of which are likely to be regular posters here. My take is “forget the intra-GOP divisions, we **ALL** must join forces to Stop Trump!”. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/15 "2016-02-29T00:13:01Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Where comes this urge from the voters to “stop” what they elected people to accomplish? Well, the voters would obviously change their minds. Well, they could. Well, they might. Might take a while. The voters are patient. It’s a secret plan, buried in a jar out in the voters’ back yard. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/16 "2016-02-29T00:36:43Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Where comes this urge from the voters to “stop” what they elected people to accomplish? Sorry if you don’t understand the code here, but the term “voters” does not include the deluded liberals and socialists who help the Obamas and Clintons get elected: no true [del]Scotsman[/del] voter would act that way. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/17 "2016-02-29T01:24:09Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I get a flash that he’s referring to the nuclear nightmare scene in the _Terminator_, where somebody is clinging to a wire playground fence when the blast hits. Hard to be sure, guy writes like a dump truck sings. I thought of that too. But then that makes the the Republican establishment…Skynet? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/18 "2016-02-29T02:25:01Z")
During WWII, the British government requisitioned fences and railings, including from the estates and London homes of the gentry and nobility, to be melted down and used for military purposes. That fits with the “chaps” in the last sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/19 "2016-02-29T05:21:25Z")
So a kind of scavenging/recycling, hunter/gatherer military style political campaign. Shall we strip the copper wiring from the walls of uncompleted buildings? ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362/20 "2016-02-29T16:24:40Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Sorry if you don’t understand the code here, but the term “voters” does not include the deluded liberals and socialists who help the Obamas and Clintons get elected: no true [del]Scotsman[/del] voter would act that way. Hold it! Let us dispel with this fiction that these deluded liberals and socialists don’t know what they’re doing. They know EXACTLY what they’re doing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-pundit-trying-to-sound-brave-re-trump-dissolves-into-hysterical-go-nuclear-barney-fife/747362.md?page=2)