Victor Davis Hanson has a conversation with Tom Cridland about some of his favourite music: Bob Dylan – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris – All the Roadrunning, Nick Cave – The Rider Song, Kristoffer Fogelmark – Love Was My Alibi and Hans Zimmer – You’re So Cool. He also discusses his book, The Case For Trump, and why he thinks things won’t end well for the former President.
VDH is the best!!!
Speaking of the “Greatest Music of All Time,” what is the title, and who is the composer of that fabulous theme music for your The Classicist podcast?
If Dr. Hanson, as a classicist, has no musical talent and unsettled tastes, does that mean he’s in danger of becoming a werewolf? -or would that only be true in Arcadia and not in Selma?
Excellent interview, Dr. Hanson. Very surprised to hear ‘You’re So Cool’ from Hans Zimmer/True Romance on your list. I vividly remember that bouncy beautiful synth melody so long ago and can’t think of a melody so sweet (maybe the Nestlè 80’s diddy).
This episode was especially touching as I lost a very good friend to a rare form of leukemia. I cannot imagine the pain your family has endured- but can say your voice and soul has a way of healing others. Thank you for all that you do and God bless.
Trump was Coriolanus. He solved tons of problems and the public was influenced to hate him by jealous bureaucrats who hated that he was popular. Those who replaced Coriolanus destroyed the achievements of Coriolanus which he was never given credit for.
I’m so glad I listened to this since I’m impatient and I read three times faster. I was astonished to realize why I follow Victor so closely – we have a very similar upbringing, a highly educated mother, music from the New York stage, a concentration on languages – I’ve had a three more than my mother – a very conservative view of the world and history, and a classical education at an Ivy League school and prep school.
So I’d like to comment. There is no more Republican or Democrat party. When the present GOP leaders at all levels failed to support Trump’s contest of election results, the party ceased to exist. Trump’s 80 million voters are the core of what for the time being is called Republican, and loyal only to him. GOP office holders, whether they support him or not, are simply place holders. They don’t know it.
Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney are two examples of what is going to happen to all of the anti-Trump crowd – boos and hisses in public and loss of station and position. They thought they were the party now, and they are not.
The Democrats are now completely subsumed by the radical Marxists, and the new White House has no successes. Locally they are losing registered voters. We know the border newcomers are to replace these dwindling numbers but this will backfire. Latinos may not love America and democracy yet, but they do love their children as they watch them being snapped up by the greedy sex trafficking system, thanks to a bus ticket and an escort into the bowels of perversion. Local Dems support their police, do not want LGBTQ people running the party or running for office, changing the Supreme Court, altering the Constitution or fiddling with the language. Mommy is still mommy to them. The government schools have been exposed to all, thanks to Covid, for their inability to function properly. And Democrat mayors and governors can’t organize a one-car funeral.
So, they vote with their feet – to Florida, or here in North Carolina where a new house is snapped up as soon as it is finished by incoming New Yorkers and others escaping brain-dead leadership in blue states. Even our cell-phone towers have problems with overload. We love our police here, and pay them accordingly.
As a theologian, I know the Bible. On the last page it says – We Win. But the fight to restore civility, law and order, and public and private standards is upon us. Evil never wins because it takes a great deal of energy to hate, and especially at the levels required by this crowd.
Slander is an addiction but the problem with public lying is that eventually you start believing your own lies (cf. Hitler) and that leads to your own destruction. Facts and indictments about everything from Fast and Furious to Benghazi are leaking out into the public square. Even hardbound leftist reporters are beginning to ask questions. I see a violent explosion on the horizon.
I’m 85, and I ain’t goin’ nowhere.
Blessings from a fan
I enjoyed learning of your music preferences. We not only have similar views on politics but also similar genres in music. Dylan and Fogarty are good examples. Positively 4th Street and Proud Mary are two we probably share. Thanks for allowing us to see the more personal you! You have great depth and substance as a person. I am truly sorry for the loss of your daughter. My nephew died when he was two years old. Tragic. Please keep on writing and speaking. It is appreciated by a great many Americans and others who value the truth!
See you on Saturday morning May 8th 2021