10k posts AMA - Del Tachi

[Del Tachi]

I'm bored, it's taken me 10+ years to get to 9k posts, and I'm unsure if I'll be around for 10k, so I wanted to go ahead and open myself up for any questions.

Hopefully I do this right?  Go!  

[Del Tachi]

What do you think about "owning the libs" and do you believe it is part of what you're doing?

I'm not even sure what this term means.  If "owning the libs" is just the conservative rejoinder to Jon Stewart or Chelsea Handler-style deprecating humor aimed at rural Evangelicals and uneducated White people, then I guess I'm all for it. 

Point is, our politics has been quite personal and "identity" driven for a while now.

[Del Tachi]

Why are you a Clinton/Trump voter? Are you pro choice and wanted her to fill the seat or something?

In 2016, I was much more of an internationalist than I am now and I've always just had a penchant for Hillary Clinton (some of my family were Hillary Clinton-supporting Democrats in 2008.)  Since 2016, I've been turned off by the Democrats zooming left on issues like immigration, the minimum wage, gun control and race/gender and I've actually come to appreciate Trump's "post-NATO" foreign policy that focuses on increasing areas of cooperation between us and still developing democracies, especially India and the Phillipines, to create a more effective counterweight to China.       

I am mostly pro-choice, but in 2016 believed that a conservative should have been appointed to replace Scalia.    

[Del Tachi]

Are you or have you ever been a member of a fraternity?

Yes, but I am not a Delta Chi

[Del Tachi]

Yo dawg, what it do?

Yo, not much.  Just chilling atm in Jack Town.  Recovering from a weekend of going to see some buddies of mine in Birmingham, which is always a blast!

[Del Tachi]

Are you happy with the results? What are the most surprising outcomes of this election, in your view? And how do you think Biden's term is going to progress?

I think Biden underperformed while the GOP main gains in the House and will (probably) maintain the Senate.  It's not a second term for Trump (to be sure), but was much better for conservatives than I was expecting the results to be.

I was really surprised to see Collins >50% in the first round, and for the big Latino swings towards Trump in Florida and Texas.  If the GOP can nail-down those gains into 2022/24 and beyond, then the Democrats' "Sun Belt Strategy" is essentially DOA.

I think Biden is going to pretty much be a do-nothing president whose first priorities will be ending Trump's executive orders + COVID stimulus.  I think (before 2022), we do get some kind of infrastructure + "green" energy bill that has some Republican support.     

[Del Tachi]

Using a spectrum that goes from "total anarchy" all the way to "complete and total authoritarianism"?, where on the spectrum would you put yourself and your views as compared to other Republicans and other Trump supporters? Wbat about as compared to Mitch McConnell? Donald Trump?

Hmmm....I've never really thought about this, and it's a difficult question because standard Republican orthodoxy incorporates libertine as well as authoritarian positions depending on the specific issue.  Appeals to some normative "freedom" or "liberty" are often just rhetorical shots in support for some conservative policy, not values in their own right. 

In general, I've never thought of myself as a libertarian.  I happen to really like the government (they write my and my parents' paychecks!)  One of the first political issues I really cared about was the Congressional earmark ban of 2011-13 (which was then fully-incorporated into the Budget Control "sequester" Act), which I think really damaged the amount of compromise that can be accomplished in Congress and put poor states (like Mississippi) at a huge disadvantage in attracting Federal investment.  I really hated the "small government" ethos of the Tea Party, for example.

[Del Tachi]

Opinion of the pre-2020 flag of Mississippi?

I'm glad it's changed, even though I don't really care that much for the new state flag.

The old "Dixie" flag never bothered me except for the Dixie cross use as a symbol for Ole Miss    

[Del Tachi]

Who do you think we should rally around in 2024 to carry forward the proletarian struggle of Trumpist-Buchananism?

If we want to go 100% in on complety wrecking established norms enforced by an educated, hyper-urban "liberal elite" then we should re-nominate Trump or go with Tucker Carlson

If we want to take Trump's coalition (which is more Latino and Black than anyone suspected) and attempt to incorporate it into a post-Evangelical, nationalistic "movement conservatism" that can be controlled by more established conservative voices and institutions, then I'd want Ron DeSantis.

[Del Tachi]

Are you a coffee drinker? And if so, how do you deal with the dreadful coffee situation in Jackson?

I am a daily coffee drinker.  I'm not sure when you last lived in Jackson, but we've had some local micro-roasters open up in the past couple years that aren't bad.  I'm the type who likes making coffee at home, and I typically order my beans from Jittery Joes in Athens, GA or a local roaster in Starkghanistan. 

[Del Tachi]

How do I perfect slow-cooked pork?

Pork and slow-cooking is not something I'm especially well-versed in (I'm more of a red  meat + high heat kind of guy.)  If you're talking about smoking, my only suggestion would be to take your time and allow the rubbed butt to come up to room temperature before putting it in a 235 degree smoker.  If you keep things low and slow, you'll be able to maintain moisture and flavor without having to inject the meat.  At 235, pork cooks at a rate of 1 pound per hour.

[Del Tachi]

What countries have you been to other than the U.S.? Do you admire any other countries, and why? Do you think there are things the U.S. could learn from other countries?

Good question.  So far, I have been to:

U.S.
Canada
Mexico
Honduras
The Bahamas
Dominican Republic
Turks and Caicos
Cayman Islands
Belgium
France
Holland
Italy
Monaco
Spain
Swizterland
United Kingdom

My international travels have (admittedly) been mostly of the drunk college kid garden variety.  On  my next trip overseas, I'd really like to check out Central Europe (Germany/Austria/Hungary) or Scandinavia.

I've also always been fascinated by Argentina and Brazil as countries, mostly because of their unique (somewhat right wing, lol) literary/philosophical history that has a lot of non-Anglo or Native influences.  The continent is extremely remote physically, but also highly urban.

In general I guess I like European food/wine and work culture, lol.  Americans would do good to relax a little bit and think more about enjoying what they eat

[Del Tachi]

Which parts of Italy did you visit?

The Riviera and Lombardy.  I stayed in Nice for a few weeks during the summer of 2015, so we would sometimes pop over to Ventimiglia or San Remo.  Spent a weekend in Milan that summer too and while I liked the fashionable nightlife there, the city seemed dirty and not ancient or romantic enough (like how I had envisioned Italy in my head, lol.)  Oh well, Dolce vita, Milano da bere.

The place I most want to visit in Italy is Florence, and I regret not making a bigger effort of going that summer.

[Del Tachi]

Two questions:

1. Who are your top choices for the GOP nomination in 2024, if Trump doesn’t run?

DeSantis checks most of my boxes.  Young, Southern governor with a military background.  Would only be 46 in 2024 (younger than Obama in '08.)  I think a DeSantis/female VP ticket in 2024 would be really good for the GOP shedding it's "old, white man" image.

2. In regards to foreign policy, where do you stand, do you consider yourself more of a hawk, a dove, or somewhere in between?

I'm increasingly of the opinion  that American foreign policy needs a pretty complete overhaul.  Transatlanticism is not sustainable as our primary policy.  Europe is an aging, shrinking continent that is becoming increasingly vulnerable economically and socially.  We need a 21st century policy of Chinese containment, which I believe must entail new alliances with growing democratic powers, namely India and the Philippines, to create substantial enough regional counterweight.

U.S.-India relations are key.  India is the the future IT powerhouse of the free world and will soon be the most populous nation in the world.  America is home to a large, influential first- and second-generation Indian immigrant community.  So far, India has resisted the siren call of the BRI.  We need to make sure it stays that way by incorporating them as our most important strategic ally (which probably means keeping a long-term presence in Afghanistan, as India sees immense value in having friendly forces squeezing Pakistan on two sides.) 

I think cooling things with Russia would also be a good move.  They'll never be an ally, but we should be seeking more areas of engagement and cooperation (namely energy, counterterrorism and keeping China away from the Arctic.)  Our influence in Europe is at least helpful in bringing Russia to the table on these issues, as Russia looks westward for its markets. Moving the needle with Russia would also help cool the Saudi-Iran conflict, as it is (in part) a proxy for the U.S.-Russia influence war in the Middle East. 

[Del Tachi]

Given you've stated that you consider yourself to be pro-choice, and given that (correct me if I am wrong) you're gay, how do you grapple with the Republican Party's social policies with regards to abortion and gay rights? Namely, what are your views on evangelicals within the Party who have been on the right flank of such issues, and on Republican politicians who have been denounced as extremists on the issue of abortion (akin to Todd Akin or Richard Murdock) and as homophobic?

I am pro-choice only in the most basic sense of that phrase; that I would want my sister to have the choice of whether or not to carry a baby to term.  I'm generally ok with state legislatures regulating the practice to such the extent courts have allowed, and I do recoil at some of the liberal rhetoric on protecting unrestricted access to cheap abortions.  I won't go as far as some conservatives in calling it eugenics, however.

I don't really believe in sexual orientation as a concept but, yes, most of my sexual/romantic history has been with other men.

The Republican Party is a big tent.  Evangelicals are a valuable part of our electoral coalition.  I would even describe myself as an Evangelical, not of the especially conservative type but certainly neither of the BRTD-type, lol.   I think the religious freedom issues raised by conservative Christians are credible, and generally agree with the exceptions courts have carved out for religious people/institutions.

[Del Tachi]

- Do you regret supporting Hillary in 2016

I mean, it's not like me switching my vote to Trump would have changed anything so, no, I don't "regret" it.  In retrospect, I would have maybe been more open to voting for Trump than I actually was at the time, but my politics and what I like about Trump has changed since 2016.   

- What’s your opinion of Marco Rubio being able to carry the torch of the working class conservative movement

Nothing about Marco Rubio screams "working class" to me.  I think his probable ceiling is becoming an elder statesman type figure for the GOP in the Senate or maybe as a future Secretary of State. 

- Least favorite college football team

Ole Miss, quite obviously

[Del Tachi]

Has the pandemic affected your world view, political views, etc. in any way?

This answer could be a multi-volume essay series lol

In short, I'll just say that the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed how deeply partisan our media/political culture is.  There was maybe a very brief, 2-3 week window in March/April where there was an overreaching, bipartisan consensus for swift action but it cooled rather quickly.  I attribute this limited window to Trump's knack for entangling himself in controversy and the established media's natural penchant in coloring his Administration's actions in the most unflattering light possible.

Secondarily (or maybe primarily), the pandemic has shown how uncritical our political debates can become in a time of perceived crisis.  The media amplifies this tendency by peddling constant panic to garner views or clicks.  The worst, most evident part of this is how Joe Biden campaigned to lead our country by following a vapid, immutable abstraction of some "science" that only resonates because liberal Democrats and the established media have always believed Trump and his supporters to be anti-empirical, fact-denying rubes.

Do you have any interest in working in politics?

I do work in politics (kinda sorta.)  My boss is a gubernatorial appointee in MS.  I worked campaigns in college and grad school, and I spent a semester + a summer interning in D.C. on Capitol Hill.  I was a U.S. Senate page in high school. 

I don't think I would ever enjoy campaigning for public office.  Being a candidate is much too performative for my liking, but I would consider any advice or encouragement credible people were giving me to run for something in local/state politics.  That being said, I don't think the MS-GOP is going to be ready for an openly gay Republican anytime soon

[Del Tachi]

Favorite Mississippi Republican and Favorite Mississippi Democrat?

Incumbents?  Delbert Hosemann and Brandon Presley, probably

[Del Tachi]

Do you think that so far Tate Reeves has been a better or worse governor than Phil Bryant and how does it relate to your expectations?

Hmmm...interesting question.

The deck was kinda stacked against Reeves from the beginning.  He's had a historically poor relationship with a lot of other Republicans around the state, and his first few months in office have been defined by issues surrounding our prison system, a major public embezzlement scandal, turf wars with GOP legislators, historic flooding and (of course) COVID-19.  He's definitely had a rocky tenure to date, and I don't expect things to be looking up for him anytime soon (his new tax plan notwithstanding.)

Bryant, for all his many faults, was at least glib enough to get along with his party in the Legislature.  Reeves 20-year political career has seen his list of friends shrink, not grow (which is a really terrible position to be in.)  Mississippi is essentially a feudal chiefdom ruled by Lt. Gov. Hosemann and Speaker Gunn for the time being, and I'm pretty happy with that outcome.   

[Del Tachi]

Reopening for 10k posts

I'm now an Atlas Icon! 

[Del Tachi]

Opinion of Barry Goldwater?

Don't have a particularly strong opinion, I've never really studied him before.  I can concede he's a very important figure in the 20th century American conservative movement, obviously

Also what’s it like living in MS? IIRC you live in a rather upscale suburb, but I’m still interested to know. What’s the culture like, what are the people like, what job opportunities are there, what’s your experience of the rural areas, and how do you deal with the weather?

I rent an old apartment in Belhaven, which is kinda a part-yuppie, part-old money, part-boho neighborhood of Intown Jackson.  It's ok - we have a few good restaurants and coffee shops that opened up right before COVID, but I've recently felt myself longing for a more suburban existance.

MS and broader Deep South culture is defined by a WASP-Black bi-raciality and the associated tensions of that relationship.  Everything - from our food and music to our politics - really starts there.   

I work in state government so my job is pretty stable.  Jackson is an uppity, cliquey government/medical town, and I miss the college town scene (I had only ever really lived in college towns before moving to Jackson in 2019.)

Rural MS is like other rural parts of the country, mostly.  Most of my family is from rural Northeast MS.  Their little community is >99% White and very Appalachian in their culture #Populist .  I like the weather here because I enjoy summer heat 

Edit: Thought of another one: To what extent are there tensions in the Deep South Republican parties between Democrats-turned-Republicans and lifelong movement conservatives?

This is an interesting question.  The transformation is largely generational rather than ideological - the Republican reformists of the 1960s-80s have now mostly aged-out of the electorate and public office, so I'd say Southern GOPs are *less influenced by movement conservatism now than they ever have been before.  As far as what tension there is today, I think you could put this broadly in terms of establishment/Tea Party and Trump/anti-Tump debates the GOP has been having internally for the past decade.

[Del Tachi]

Who is your favorite segregationist Mississippian politician?

Stennis, although he reformed his segregationist positions later in his career.

[Del Tachi]

Do you have a favorite part of your state? (Mine is Foxworth - one of the top ten most beautiful places I've been).

My response here is going to be largely sentimental because MS has always been home for me.  Starkville is where I went to undergrad and I think it's generally the most underrated SEC college town, so it would have to be my favorite.  I also really enjoy the northeast corner of MS (where a lot of my dad's family is from) for its outdoor activities.  If you're visiting from out of state and want to see something unique, I would suggest Winsdor Ruins or Red Bluffs.

Do you prefer the title "American Hero" or, more simply, "Legend"?

American Hero, although I guess it would depend on the context.

[Del Tachi]

When do you estimate is the first time MS votes for the Dem in a 21st century presidential election?

If we treat this purely as a function of race, then as soon as 2032 I think would be possible in a strong national environment for the Democrats.  By the 2040s, I would expect Mississippi to be truly competitive in an even national election.

However, I don't think its as straightforward a racial calculation as many would think.  There's potential for MS to start shrinking (or growing) much faster than it is now in a way that would change the demographic future of the state, for example, or the GOP could make significant gains among rural Blacks (which, based on 2020 trends wouldn't nessecarily be that far-fetched IMO.) 

[Del Tachi]

Which country did you like best out of those you visited?

The United States, duh

Runner-up is France, actually; I just love the food and language.  Italy is beautiful and has great weather but I am not as familiar with it as France.

And where in France and Belgium did you go?

Stayed for two weeks in Nice one summer with a friend who was living there at the time.  We traveled around the French and Italian Rivieras some, from Cannes to San Remo.  It was great, I loved Nice.

I have been to Paris a handful of times as well; the trip to Belgium was just a day/night in Antwerp on a spring break trip when I went to Holland with some coeds.