If Conservatives “Undermine” National Security, Then…

It’s past time to dethrone the imperial presidency

Many of you are probably familiar with Dan Drezner, a prominent political scientist who got some fame on his name for being an early social media pioneer during The Blog Era. His academic prowess is earned, as well as amplified by his expertise on zombies (seriously) and his generally good punditry.

Apropos of nothing, here’s the two of us in before times, at a swanky private gathering on US grand strategy. 

It was the first time anyone had flown me business class around the world just to give a talk. And a glimpse of how you get feted if you say things that appeal to rich and powerful people.

Dan is a former centrist/establishment Republican, the Never-Trump kind who has—commendably—detached himself from a party that has gone both conspiratorial and authoritarian. I obviously don’t share his politics, but good arguments are good arguments and he often makes the smartest version of arguments I disagree with (and sometimes even agree with!).

I wouldn’t mention this except that it’s important context for this entire post, because Dan has a piece out in Politico that’s good yet does not take itself to its logical conclusion.