Firing Lane

History Rhymes: Tocqueville’s Wisdom for Today’s Politics

An application of Francis de Tocqueville’s “Democracy in America” to today’s political landscape and the way forward for The New Federalist Movement.

Rebooting Conservatism: Purging Stupidity and Extremism

In this Twitter Space to episode of Firing Lane Croaky goes over modern conservative media has focused more on clicks and attention seeking behavior and less on the intellectual foundations of conservatism and an emphasis placed on a reliance on dumb content and fear mongering.
Croaky also discusses historical "Fusionism" in past conservative movements and discusses more details about Florida's Amendment 4 and why both conservatives and progressives should oppose it and be concerned about vague constitutional amendments in the future. Jump in and enjoy the chaos

Populist Vs Populist 2024 Presidential Race

A recorded space discussion about the past and present populism, from Reagan to Trump to Harris.

Rise of the New Federalists: Embracing Antifragility, Federalism and Intelligent Governance

There’s a void in the conservative movement, not just in leadership but in intellectual substance. The rise of "Bumper Sticker Conservatism" has led to endless generic talking points, causing frustration for many, especially those whose political engagement goes beyond Donald Trump. Amidst the swamp of modern politics, a movement is emerging that respects the intelligence of the electorate: the New Federalist.
This episode dives into the concept of antifragility, coined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, and its application to Federalism. Unlike fragile systems that break under pressure, antifragile systems thrive and grow stronger in response to stressors. Federalism, with its decentralized approach, allows states to experiment with policies, learn from successes and failures, and contribute to a collective pool of knowledge, embodying antifragility in action.
The New Federalist approach recognizes the complexity of governance, advocating for gradual implementation, local experimentation, and evidence-based decision-making. Policies should respect local autonomy, be incremental rather than radical, and maintain accountability and transparency. Key policy areas such as healthcare, education, economic policy, and environmental policy are explored through this lens.
Join us as we reclaim conservatism from populist buffoonery, embracing complexity, fostering local experimentation, and learning from collective experiences. Welcome to the future of principled conservatism. Welcome to the rise of the New Federalist coalition in the Republican Party.

Against the Mob: Holding the Line on Conservatism

Adhering to your principles is the basis of conservatism. I have coined the term “conservativism” to be conservatism activism needed in these trying times. Have a listen to today’s article about standing firm against the mob. Remember the quote (often attributed to Einstein) “What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.”

Kamala's Media Blackout and MAGA's Consistent Inconsistency

A Croaky hosted X Space where he discusses current events and political topics from August 15, 2024.

Lessons from Socrates for the Conservative Soul

In this episode of Firing Lane, Croaky Caiman delves into the enduring relevance of Socrates in the modern conservative movement. By revisiting the trial of Socrates, Croaky highlights the philosopher’s commitment to principles, even in the face of adversity down to his dying breath. Croaky highlights why he views Socrates as so important as a model to our understanding of society and our understanding of principles within conservatism.

Socratic Trials and Red Hat Sophistry MAGA's Tyranny of the Majority

In this space, Croaky discusses Socrates, the Socratic Method, and the importance of asking questions and bringing critical thinking back to politics. 

Florida Amendment 4 Rights & Reason Navigating the Moral Crossroads

In this episode Croaky and his guests Jay, Reese, Tahgi, Chosen and Matt delve into the profound challenges facing modern conservatism. Both the dangerous allure of desperation and fear politics in an effort to get conservatives to abandon core principles. They also discuss the deeply contentious issue of abortion from varying conservative and liberal perspectives and how to open a dialogue on the issue understanding conflicting moralities. Also covered is Amendment 4 a proposed Florida constitutional amendment under consideration by voters and what it means and what it can lead to. This is a start to discussions on the philosophical underpinnings of conservatism in today’s complex political landscape, encouraging listeners to approach these issues with a principled, reasoned perspective. Hope you enjoy.

Trumpism and the Use and Abuse of History

In this episode, Croaky reads an article he wrote where he critiques the revisionist history promoted by Trump and his supporters which downplays or ignores past Republican achievements and elevates Trump as the sole savior of conservatism and of the Republican party. Croaky argues that true conservatism has always been a continuous struggle not just tied to one leader or one era and emphasizes a need to return to the movements first principles rather than distort its history for political gain.