Wild theories and empty seats at CPAC-style conference for the MAGA set

[DonViejo]

Talk of QAnon, George Soros and ‘retarded’ reporters at the American Priority Conference.

By BEN SCHRECKINGER 12/07/2018 07:34 PM EST

At the first-ever Conservative Political Action Conference in 1974, California Gov. Ronald Reagan addressed a ragtag group of conservative insurgents by quoting John Stuart Mill and nobly declaring, “We are indeed, and we are today, the last best hope of man on earth.”

At the first-ever American Priority Conference on Friday morning, Anthony Scaramucci — who served a brief stint as the Trump White House’s communications director — addressed a married couple from Virginia, telling them that the author of the fantastical Internet conspiracy theory QAnon has “been dead accurate about so many things,” adding: “When you find out who he is, you’re not going to believe it.”

American Priority, which brings together an impressive roster of right-wing social media agitators and Trump world notables at a Washington, D.C., hotel, was envisioned as a Trumpist answer to CPAC. In reality, the three-day conference, which convened on Thursday, has been rife with conspiracy theorists, logistical snafus and empty seats. It may also be the future of Republican politics.

“The right’s turning into a coalition and less of an ideological movement,” said conference co-founder Ali Alexander, a Republican operative and Twitter influencer. Rather than organize around belief in the tenets of conservatism — like free markets and traditional family values — American Priority seeks to united anyone who supports American nationalism and opposes establishment elites. In practice, this means supporters of President Donald Trump.

To that end, the conference, which runs through Saturday, brings together top current and former Trump lieutenants with the sort of controversial social media figures from whom mainstream conservatives are often eager to distance themselves.

more
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/07/american-priority-conference-trump-1052214

[Docreed2003]

1. Wtf is scaramucci's game with this Qanon crap?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

3. Maybe that bullshit book of his didn't sell. So he's desperate for some more dupes. nt

[Pholus]

4. Seems straigtfoward enough...

1) Tossed off the Trump Train.
2) Contrition tour was unsuccessful.

That only leaves

3) Fade away quietly in disgrace (requires shame, which is not evident in his case)

or

4) Go full-on Alex Jones and try to excite the MAGA fringe cretins enough that they toss money at his scheme to sell them generators or freeze dried meals or gold or some other worthless huckster crap.

[Cracklin Charlie]

9. There's gold in them thar hills!

They’re so gross.

[marble falls]

5. An effort to be 'relevant' and in the news. He'll be hosting infomercials next.

[Docreed2003]

6. Probably for reverse mortgages and gold coins

[marble falls]

8. No doubt. He'll be doing a "remember me?" tour with Glen Beck, "The Mooch and Pooch tour" ...

at a Holiday Inn conference cubicle near you soon!

[Maggiemayhem]

7. Probably looking at a way to fleece the base

They are not the brightest bunch. They could have a degree from an accredited university, but are easily led down the path of nonsense by their fear. It is a personality of fear and criminals need their marks.

[SMC22307]

10. "There's a sucker born every minute."

Like Dirty Don, An-ton-ee believes in nothing but himself and the almighty dollar. He's cashing in on Idiot America.

[dalton99a]

2. A con men's convention for peddling bullshit to idiots

Last edited Sat Dec 8, 2018, 11:56 AM - Edit history (1)

[Hortensis]

11. Yes, but nationalist populism is also a wave.

Trumpism'll still be dangerous, even when he's gone, because the wave he rode in is much bigger than him and is threatening/destroying liberal democracies around the planet. His remnant followers will be looking for a new populist leader, and new leaders will be competing for them.

UN: Populist Nationalism Threatens Human Rights Declaration: The U.N.'s top human rights official warned that the rise of populist nationalism threatens many of the freedoms, rights and protections enshrined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
https://www.voanews.com/a/un-populist-nationalism-threatens-human-rights-declaration/4687896.html

PRI: Why the rise of populist nationalist leaders rewrites global climate talks
The election of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil not only marks the rise of another populist nationalist leader on the world stage. It’s also a turning point for the global politics of climate change.
When the new president takes office in January 2019, by my estimate at least 30 percent of global emissions will be generated from democracies governed by populist nationalist leaders.
https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-12-05/why-rise-populist-nationalist-leaders-rewrites-global-climate-talks

Human Rights Watch: The Pushback Against the Populist Challenge
The surge of authoritarian populists appears less inevitable than it did a year ago. Then, there seemed no stopping a series of politicians around the globe who claimed to speak for “the people” but built followings by demonizing unpopular minorities, attacking human rights principles, and fueling distrust of democratic institutions.
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2018/pushback-against-the-populist-challenge

Foreign Policy: Welcome to the Post-Human Rights World: Geopolitical realignments and the rise of populist nationalism have unleashed a global backlash against human rights.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/03/07/welcome-to-the-post-human-rights-world/