Kellyanne Conway has been a bulldog for Trump. She recently announced that she was leaving her job to take care of her family. Her husband George, a co-founder of the Lincoln Project, is stepping back from his work there but said on Twitter that he supports its efforts, “Passionately.”
The apparent cause of the Conway withdrawals from politics is their daughter Claudia, who has been posting her disgust with Trump and both parents on social media. Claudia supports Black Lives Matter and according to reports, sent a tweet to AOC asking her to adopt Claudia.
George Conway explains in this video clip why he turned against Trump.
How could these two with polar opposite views of the most polarizing figure in the U.S. live under the same roof. Their children May be suffering. Or is Kellyanne a double agent? Could she be Anonymous?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Diane Thanks for posting.
I watched the video clip of George Conway talking about racism. I thought it was “telling” on several levels, one of which was this:
It shows how good people are particularly equipped to be naive and overly optimistic; and how easy it is to project our own states of consciousness, good or bad, onto others. In his particular case, he assumed that, generally, others were not racist. At some point, he had to realize that others were not always as good as he had assumed they were.
So simple an idea; and yet so common . . . and a bit dangerous where it CAN throw us over from a bright naivete into a state of dark and thoughtless skepticism (about how things are); and from a similarly severe and thoughtless optimism into a similarly severe and thoughtless pessimism (about how things can and will be).
He also seems to be able to deal with the contingencies of living . . which demand thought . . . a quality that often, today, goes missing in much of public discourse, such as it is.
I loved this video–it’s like reading a seemingly-simple poem. CBK
https://www.thedailybeast.com/george-conway-offers-tearful-plea-on-unfit-saying-trump-is-a-racist-he-is-evil
“So simple an idea; and yet so common . . . and a bit dangerous where it CAN throw us over from a bright naivete into a state of dark and thoughtless skepticism (about how things are); and from a similarly severe and thoughtless optimism into a similarly severe and thoughtless pessimism (about how things can and will be).”
There is a particular brilliance to this statement. I think I will go home and contemplate it. What got my attention was that it recalled to me how the incredible sarcasm of Mark Twain could be underlaid with a sentimental nature known only to his most intimate friends and family.
Do emotional poles exist side by side in all of us? Is this a fundamental part of our humanity?
Thank you.
**Roy,”” Emotional, yes, but also human intelligence. . . . these are distinct but constantly interrelated in humans. The attitudes mentioned in my note reflect the structured dynamics found in human intelligence . . . as informed by emotions but as fundamentally a questioning apparatus. . . . lots of theoretical work done on this aspect of education. Let me know if you want a scholarly paper giving treatment to the above. CBK
Sure send a link. Thanks.
Roy the link to the paper on the fundamental attitudes is below. It was written by Emile J. Piscitelli who was a college teacher of mine in the late 80’s. It’s one in a collection of papers. If you download, go to page 289.
My own philosophical work is drawn from Piscitelli’s work and his teacher, Bernard Lonergan, whose major work was “Insight, A study of Human Understanding” (2000). Several of those papers can be found on academia.com. CBK
https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lonerganresource.com%2Fpdf%2Fjournals%2FLonergan_Workshop_Vol_5.pdf&data=02%7C01%7C%7C6e7fa37e88064a3b1a6208d5cb6b3504%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636638584824294680&sdata=ZeggJMA9UW7YTZfX%2Btj5f6ixRdljtNdFOPyoa8Y%2BSNg%3D&reserved=0
Well observed, CBK. Yes, this is true. Decent people have a tendency to see decency in others, and so they are often disappointed. It’s difficult not to become cynical. One reads about the famous Zimbardo or Milgram experiments, one looks at the shocking persistence of Trump’s 33 percent support, one thinks of all the racists that Trump has brought scurrying out of the woodwork, from Proud Boys and Aryan Nation and Ku Klux Klan sideshow freaks to the Karens and Chads to Trump’s repulsive Repugnican enablers in Congress, and it’s dismaying. So far, so far, so far left to go!!!!
I think about these things and look around in a crowd and think, a third of these people, at least, probably more, would be collaborators with the Nazi occupation, with the Stazi. There are a lot of these sick people around.
Bob Ah, yes. History again . . . like a jewel still hidden in the muddled thought of way too many. CBK
Oops. Stasi
Kellyanne Conway and her husband George are both very conservative Republicans, their main point of disagreement is about the Horror Klown-In-Chief. That’s how bad Trump is, even some righty GOPers cannot stand or abide him. One can only hope that these anti-Trump GOPers will convince more Republicans to not vote for Trump.
Joe BTW, a new book out deserves mention here: It’s about the McCarthy era: “Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Joe McCarthy” by Larry Tye.
McCarthy, a consummate bully, and “McCarthyism” apparently swept the land gaining huge popular support . . over 50 percent at times . . . the similarities to Trump, besides being remarkable, are heartening to me because of McCarthy’s FINALLY being exposed for the idiot-bully that he was, but also not soon enough . . .not before he ruined lives and brought shame on our country and culture.
Even Eisenhower (the author recounts) was regretful that he didn’t call McCarthy out sooner. Below is a link to an earlier interview with the author on C-Span’s BookTV: CBK
https://www.c-span.org/video/?474492-1/demagogue
I remember the McCarthy era well. McCarthy instilled fear in many institutions and people. Gossip and accusations ruined lives. My teachers were fearful of being called a Red. Belonging to the NAACP or Urban League was considered pinko.
Diane Yes, . . . it was a real “plunker” for me when I first realized how many of my students had NO PERSONAL RECOLLECTION of historical events that I had lived through, like the sixties for me.(I never smoked pot but my students never believed me . . . winks and nods all over the place.) But Joe McCarthy? Who the hell is that?
I have to laugh . . . one of my own teachers said this over-and-over again: The first thing teachers forget is what it took for them to get to where they are.
Let us not overlook, however, the fact that, for education, we are talking about the import of well-taught HISTORY as core curricula. . . . which brings to mind the other Joe and their emphasis on his empathy. But empathy is not a mere add-on or social nicety. It’s one of the central human conditions for the right-workings of human intelligence. Trump has this kind of history-free consciousness. One wonders . . . . CBK
Trump is so sociopathic and narcissistic that it seems like a revolution just to have a decent, good man in the White House, not a cruel criminal.
My high-school library back in Indiana was FULL of books from that era with lurid covers and titles like The Red Menace! and America under Communism! LOL.
Lucky you . . . and that you read them. It took college for me–post 30-years old. CBK
My father-in-law, now 85 and in very poor health, has never mentioned McCarthy. That is notable, since he does recall a lot of events from his youth.
That the senate could come in 1954 to censor the pugnacious Wisconsin senator in a bipartisan vote recalls a time when there was such a thing as decency.
Roy, a lot of lives were irreparably damaged before they got around to that decency.
One of my friends grew up in Romania during the Iron Curtain era. She described people watching and spying on each other. Then, a targeted person would disappear. Everyone was afraid to draw attention to themselves. The McCarthy era was the same type of climate, especially for intellectuals and artists.
I visited Romania a few months after their internal upheaval and the asasibation of the Communist leader and his wife. Ceaucescu. Rumors, gossip, empty stores, uncertain supply of electricity. The country had deep scars from the long era of dictatorship,
retired Good example. I always admired history teachers who could make that kind of reality a felt REALITY to their students who had not actually undergone the experience. If students think history is dry and boring, it’s probably not being taught well. CBK
Bob: true, a lot of destruction before the censor passed. Still, at least they acted finally. We seem stuck. And there are voices that have always defended ole tail gunner joe
The ghost of Tail Gunner Joe is in the White House now, advising Trump
Good for Claudia!!! Maybe the TikTok vs Trump controversy has something to do with the young, vocal Claudia Conway riling up young people to vote Biden/Harris/Dem? I hope Claudia continues to speak out, but my guess is that there is a 3 way “family compromise” that will keep her muzzled for a while.
Adding Claudia Conway to my heroes list!
This post belongs in a tawdry gossip column, not a serious place for the discussion of ideas and issues. They are grifters all.
Greg B: “This post belongs in a tawdry gossip column, not a serious place for the discussion of ideas and issues. They are grifters all.”
. . . I would say: Yes, but only insofar as we cannot here acknowledge the potential, if not the reality of many areas of human development; and that development not only intellectual but also aesthetic, social, moral, spiritual, and cultural.
Yes, a proven fact: most if not all in the Trump camp ARE prima fascia grifters. But don’t let them make you into a reincarnation of what Machiavelli wrote about as if there were no other way to live? CBK
Kellyanne is an act. George is an act. The daughter is an act. And they are all carefully coordinated with the goal of creating unaccountable, selfish, media-financed golden parachutes after the election. It’s as simple as that. It really is. One only has to look at Kellyanne Fitzgerald’s through Kellyanne Conway’s record as a third-rate consultant and pundit. One only has to look at how George Conway exploited and profited off of Paula Jones. One only has to look at a timeline of the social media activity of their daughter. It ain’t rocket science, folks.
All the numbers Lloyd cites below do not prove or even tangentially indicate that one single mind has been changed by the so-called Lincoln Project. Not one. I have searched in vain for any proof whatsoever. I agree with a New Republic commentary from July, that “Its various manifestos make large, unverifiable claims…” They claim credit for things that are so far unquantifiable and unverified. They hope it will lead to an unearned legitimacy they can exploit. https://newrepublic.com/article/158344/viral-impotency-lincoln-project
And should I have the energy to do so, I’ll submit an essay one day of how Machiavelli has been mischaracterized, libeled, and slandered in the name of popular history. This act is not related to Machiavelli’s ideas in any way. It is about making money and fooling people. The classic definition of a grift. Too many grifted suckers around here, sadly. Put your energy in getting out the vote, not this cynical exercise in sanctimonious self-gratification.
Greg,
I don’t know why you are hostile toward the Lincoln Project. They create excellent videos. What metric is there for any campaign activity? It isn’t paid for with taxpayer money. There’s no grift. If it’s grift you want to see, look to Trump family.
I am hostile (very) to the people behind it. They’ve done as much as anyone to lay the groundwork for the Idiot by demeaning political discourse in this nation. But that is not my primary criticism against the so-called Lincoln Project. My primary criticism is that too many–you included–claim they are changing minds and votes. We have yet to see any evidence that this is the case. If I may verge on the vulgar with an analogy, masturbation has never created a baby (in vitro excepted), heterosexual sex does. When I see proof that the target is being hit and bearing fruit, I’ll be happy to admit I’m wrong and gear up for the next round of poisoning the political system that the personalities behind the so-called Lincoln Project will surely engage in and profit from.
What evidence is there for any of the Biden ads? Maybe they should save their money.
Greg Are you talkin’ to me? . . . “My primary criticism is that too many–you included–claim they are changing minds and votes.”
I don’t know the Kelly’s nor do I claim they have changed their political minds. I’m speaking in terms of general possibilities I wrote: “Yes, but only insofar as we cannot here acknowledge the potential, if not the reality of many areas of human development . . . ”
Also, earlier I wasn’t talking about Machiavelli, here’s what I wrote: “But don’t let them make you into a reincarnation of what Machiavelli wrote about as if there were no other way to live?” CBK
I agree with that. Money would be better spent on GOTV, and lots of it. Minds are made up. Now it’s a matter of who votes and how many of them do so. Anyone whose mind on voting is changed by a 30 second ad is probably someone not worth our time or money. They only benefit consultants, advertisers, local tv, web outlets like Facebook, and radio stations. I’ve worked on the ground on political campaigns. We need to spend money shuttling people who had trouble with transportation to and from the polls. We need to verify that people are requesting ballots, mailing them in early, and if they have trouble, helping them to do so. Everyone who is or has protested in the streets has to vote, not just yell. It’s crunch time and we can’t have our attention diverted by ads that cost a lot of money–I don’t care where it comes from, but every dollar a billionaire gives to them is one that doesn’t go into GOTV–don’t change minds, or actually bring people to the polls. It’s one minute before midnight and the odds that it will get darker are much higher than anyone wants to admit.
And it is very much a grift. This is an article from May, imagine how much more they have profited since. Rick Wilson has never been involved in anything that doesn’t bring him a lot of money, regardless of how he gets it: https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/05/lincoln-project-capitalizes-on-trump-rage/
“The Lincoln Project reported spending nearly $1.4 million through March. Almost all of that money went to the group’s board members and firms run by them.”
“The Lincoln Project spent more than $19,000 on one ad opposing Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.). But just one-quarter of that money went to placing the ad online with the rest spent on production costs.”
As anyone who has worked in politics knows, “production costs” are overwhelmingly (85-95%) salaries, personal fees and expenses.
How can a guy who looks like a Smurf doll whose hair was dipped in shoe polish have such a good looking wife and daughter? Now THAT’s an important question.
In all seriousness, the daughter will join Mary Trump and Trump’s sister in trying to take him down. Good luck with that.
This family and marriage make James Carville and Mary Matalin look like Steve and Edie Gourmet. Kellyanne got out just in time to make herself look good and not take away from the facelift or deplete the Restylane through stress.
The husband, while he looks like more of a true conservative, said that “Trump was very undisciplined” and that’s why he began to lean away from him. I think that’s code for “Don’t overtly appear to be as disgusting as the way you are about to govern. You’ll give our secrets away!” Still, he did not take that job at the DOJ and just acquiesced to his wife doing just about everything for the Donald, save for sleep with him.
Now they are all getting out of the picture, and I just hope the daughter is doing this because she really believes in her politics and is not trying to get mommy and daddy’s attention because mommy forgot to parent here while she was serving his royal evil-ness. Going from Kellyanne to AOC will be like running from Joan Crawford into the arms of Donna Reed . . .
This family is dysfunctional and needs family therapy. Mary Trump, please contact them . . . .
“you included” was directed at our host. But if you agree with that point of view, it includes you, CBK. And it will take a minor dissertation and more time to address “what Machiavelli wrote about.” It was the only subject of which I graduated with honors in my college major. He is the most misquoted, unread, and misunderstood political writer of all time, Marx included. Another sermon for another day. But if you want a great example of how someone can get everything about his writings wrong, start here: https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/1-the-pillars-of-unbelief-machiavelli.html
I have a rule regarding my own social media and my circle of acquaintances and friends: make a racist comment and you are gone. I won’t tolerate racists. Conway is absolutely right about Trump. He and Miller and Sessions are peas from the same pod. Pea brains. Sick, disgusting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_views_of_Donald_Trump
and this:
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/06/trump-racism-comments/588067/
I made a comment about her plastic surgery. Was that a slur against cosmetic surgeons? If so, I apologize to the Botox, tummy tuck, and blepharoplasty community. My theory is that the lip plumper Kellyanne’s doctor has been using has dissipated and been absorbed into her bloodstream, filling vital areas in the brain crevices instead of wrinkles. No wonder she could not think straight about who she was working for. And husband should lay off the Ring Dings, cheese danish, and Just for Men.
I think this is an opportunity for me to point out one fact about the Lincoln Project that currently has 548k subscribers, that some here have doubts about and have criticized.
Since January 6th, 2020 when it was launched, The Lincoln Project’s videos have been viewed more than 118 million times just on YouTube. They also run the videos as ads on media sites that Trump watched because they have said their primary target is to goad Trump into reacting.
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLincolnProject/about
For a comparison:
Vote Vets with 18.1K subscribers also runs Anti Trump videos on YouTube, but Vote Vets has run other videos too, and since September 12, 2006, all of their YouTube videos have been viewed less than seven million times.
https://www.youtube.com/c/votevets/about
Republican Voters Against Trump with 121k subscribers also produces and runs videos against Trump. Launched May 2020, their videos have been viewed less than 38-million times.
https://www.youtube.com/c/RepublicanVotersAgainstTrump/about
It is arguable that these three sites reach more conservative voters while many of the sites that go after Trump reach more liberals and progressives and few if any conservatives.
Thanks, Lloyd. I welcome any and all opposition to the sociopath in the White House. We can deal with our differences later. Job #1 right now is to clean the Augean stables of the Grifters.
Agree!!!
Kellyanne Conway is very, very clever, but if she is Anonymous, then she is a triple, not double, agent. The day after the inauguration, she set the agenda with her “alternative facts” statement to Jake Tapper. She began by raising the bar for outrageousness so high our fact-based press could never deal with it.
She and her husband have four teenagers and all of them could be acting out. But with the money they have, I am sure there are tutors and maids and cleaners, etc., and for all I know, a full-time psychiatrist on call.
As for how they live together, they still share a lot of political similarities, and being awfully rich removes one of the biggest conflicts many couples have.
Or more likely seing him on Twitter
Kellyanne Conway
Kelly likes Conway
Anne likes Trump
Anne likes con way
And Kelly would dump
Republican Platform
A platform of hair
With nothing else there
Oh…oranges too
Of Mueller Review*
*Stay tuned in October for the oranges of the Mueller Report
https://images.app.goo.gl/bY8ah4Kj6MQaeKwU7
One has to wonder whether this is an example of convergent evolution (independent evolution of similar features in different species) or whether the bird simply copied the Donald after seeing him in a magazine.
SomeDAM By omitting a platform, republicans have abdicated their autonomy of thought. The republican platform IS the horror that is Trump’s interior life. CBK
The Wrong Question
The question’s not
Why Conway turned
But why he bought
What ought be spurned
I actually see the story of the daughter Claudia as a very positive story: extremely conservative views can turn young people off. I bet the Conways cut back on their political activities because they afraid, their daughter will vote for AOC 4 years from now.
Mate Maybe they just wanted to get out while the gettin’ is good. CBK
Some of the smarter rats are abandoning the sinking ship. It will be interesting, once Trump is gone (and, one hopes, in prison) to watch the disavowals from all his enablers.
Bob
Being an enabler means never having to admit you were wrong.
They will all act as if they had never supported and enabled Trump.
And most people will buy their act.
Just as the folks who supported all the destructive policies (including wars) of the George W. Bush administration have all become elder statesman sought after for their wise opinions, the Trumpeters will also reinvent themselves and emerge from the ashes like the Phoenix to fly again.
Agreed, Mate!
Claudia Conway is awesome. She retweeted Trump’s announcement that he was resuming his Coronavirus briefings with the note, “Awww. Didn’t know the circus was in town.”
Robert Rendo, way up there–soooooo clever & funny!
Eydie G*OURMET**, “How can a Smurf..” “James Carville & Mary Matalin”…really?!
It’s always such a pleasure to read your comments.
Real smarts AND a sense of humor.
Clearly, you need no help from Mary Trump!