Neo-Trumpism's disgusting take on the Zelensky visit

 First, I think it's time for this term to enter into common usage. The figure who spawned Trumpism may or may not continue to be a major player in American politics. He's up to his eyeballs in legal troubles, his picks in various kinds of races in the just-concluded midterms were duds, and various other Republicans of varying degrees of sanity are consuming some of the oxygen he used to have all to himself.

But even if he fades from here on out, he's created space not only for a new generation of deranged showboaters in public office, but has conferred legitimacy on some of the most shameful stances staked out by pundits in at least modern history.

President Zelensky's visit to Washington was pitch-perfect. He met with everyone he needed to meet with and delivered a ringing defense of human freedom to a joint session of Congress. It went far to strengthen the notion that Ukraine, being tempered by fire as it is, is demonstrating that it is indeed a Western nation.

So a hearty LITD hurrah for the delivery of the Patriot anti-missile system. I just wish M-1 Abrams tanks didn't require so much training to operate and maintain.

But those who are going to continue to carry the banner of incoherent nationalism regardless of whether their cult leader maintains his prominence displayed the most vomit-inducing lack of basic humanity imaginable in response to Zelensky's courageous decision to come here. Donald Trump, Jr. called Zelensky an "entitled welfare queen." Commentator Benny Johnson called him an "ungrateful piece of s---." Tucker Carlson used the monologue of his television show to remark that Zelensky's choice of attire for his visit made him look like a strip club manager.  He called the visit "the most humiliating scenario . . imaginable."

These are views emanating from an entirely different moral universe than most of us inhabit.

And let me repeat a point I make with some frequency, because it's that important: the Neo-Trumpist infection has made it increasingly difficult for actual conservatism to engage the present scene. There are a number of matters that ought to be addressed by responsible conservatives: climate alarmism, identity politics militancy and wealth redistribution, and the avenues by which progressivism is imposing them, such as DEI, ESG and larded-up spending bills. 

But if unhinged yay-hoos are taking the lead in talking about them, the public at large will have no idea that there is no other basis for objecting to the leftist agenda than the kind of foul grandstanding that leads to the reaction we've seen to this visit by one of the giant of our age.