George F. Will is the umpire on politics and baseball

Recorded on March 29, 2018
Washington Post columnist and author, George F. Will, sits down with Peter Robinson in Austin, Texas to chat about the current administration and America’s favorite pastime-baseball. They discuss politics in the age of polarization and the future of America.
Will argues that Americans need to stop looking at presidents as moral exemplars and instead focus on the president as the head of the executive branch. Will and Robinson discuss a quote from his 1984 book, Statecraft as Soulcraft: What Government Does, “The United States acutely needs real conservatism, characterized by a concern to cultivate the best personas and the best in persons. It should express appreciation for the ennobling functions of government.” They use this quote as a launchpad to discuss the future of American politics.
The discussion turns to young adults and teenagers, and Will argues why history should be a required class for all college students. They also discuss the rise in birth rates of illegitimate children and what that means for society. They talk about family as the transmitter of social capital and that when the family fails, free society fails too.
In the end they discuss baseball as America’s favorite pastime, and George Will argues it is the sport of America’s future as parents stop letting their children play football because of the dangers of lifelong head and body injuries
About the Guest
George F. Will is a Washington Post columnist and a commentator on NBC News and MSNBC. He is the author of numerous books on politics and baseball, including Statecraft is Soulcraft: What Government Does, Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball, and A Nice Little Place on the North Side: A History of Triumph, Mostly Defeat, and Incurable Hope at Wrigley Field. He became a Pulitzer Prize winner in 1977 for his commentary.
For the full transcript go to
www.hoover.org/research/georg...
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[@slappyhappy6192]

Peter Robinson is the standard for long form interviews on the internet. He was the first. Everyone else followed.

[@acarouselofantics]

Amen! He is also a great interviewee. I had him on my podcast a while back. Check it out if you like. --> jeromedanner.net/2017/08/09/episode-49-peter-robinson-interview-on-being-a-speechwriter-for-ronaldreagan-georgehwbush-the-berlin-wall-address-the-hoover-institution/

[@arthurobrien7424]

Yes I think so. Certainly the first I watched and the first one the introduce me to Dr. Sowell, and thus, conservative thought. (We don't really have that were I live).

[@RoyalProtectorate]

He was not the first, that title goes to Buckley

[@jeanmorin3247]

As a Canadian I have to say that this gives me a view on the United States that I am not in a position to see often: the richness of the intellectual life that exists among certain elites who are not represented in the daily emanations of soundbites and Twitter feeds. Long live these better angels of You Tube.

[@coolmantoole]

A great presidential slogan would be: Let's make the news boring again.

[@Expatsunleashed]

An endangered specie, almost extinct, an honorable, sensible and a patriotic conservative.

[@akbarrauf2741]

right on all issues except 3rd world immigration

[@pedrozaragoza2253]

George Will a man of integrity and wisdom.

[@QB.113]

For all the people I assume disliking bc of his comments on Trump, I implore you to watch the entire interview. I may not agree with certain positions George takes, but he generally has something insightful/thought-provoking to express. Just my two cents.

[@robdewey317]

Lol, the comments are the best part of this interview.

[@harrybarton8762]

George Will is a man of high integrity and intellectual coherence which is more than I can say about our current president.

[@chegadesuade]

George Will is my favorite political writer of all time. Today's conservative movement doesn't deserve George Will, they've completely lost touch with our founding principles.

[@NickOsterkampVA-R]

It is he who is out of touch. It isn't the same America anymore that bellyachers like George Will come from.

[@jsharp3165]

@@NickOsterkampVA-R No, now it's an America where we elect absolute morons to the highest office in the world so they can whine and insult people on Twitter 37 times a day.

[@crewlj]

I surely wish we could focus on ideas, yet the dominant trend is toward ideas that have failed us throughout history.

[@WealthyFirefighter]

I don’t agree with George Will on everything but man is he a brilliant conservative thinker.

[@charlespeterson3798]

1960, Ketchum Idaho. The World Series. The one or two greatest times of my life. Baseball.......

[@acfalk3]

To this Conservative, who grew up in a traditional family in the forties and fifties, and retired following a long traditional career, the obvious question when listening to George Will is “What happened to this fellow?” He is thoughtful and analytical to be sure, but he is also a bitter man. At one time, many of us who followed Mr. Will equated him generally with William F. Buckley regarding his use of the English language, his wit and of course his knowledge of our history and fundamental principles as Conservatives. But, recall that Mr. Buckley was a religious man and his faith reinforced his core values, and those that Conservatives hold dear. Here we have Mr. Will, a self-proclaimed atheist who explains forthrightly that he also believes in Natural Rights. Thomas Jefferson, are you hearing this? Are other viewers out there sensing what I do here? This man, as intelligent and as articulate as he is, and as knowledgeable as he is about the Founding, is confused to his core. Except maybe…for baseball.

[@jjim3690]

I couldn't agree more.

[@stevenotjackramsey]

21:27 I really hope George means "the only acceptable liberal arts major", because we still need scientists and engineers to do things like build roads and produce gasoline and make better cars, etc, etc, ad nauseum.

[@wcg19891]

Marx was an intellectual. His philosophy culminated in Stalin that was a brutish thug. The parallel should be obvious

[@Ctajm]

Marx lacked an understanding of human nature.

[@kirkbowyer3249]

Your analysis is lacking a foundation of whom Marx was as a person; he was a dirtbag who lived in squalor and off the kindest of strangers because he refused to work for a living; and he wrote this: "Then I will wander godlike and victorious Through the ruins of the world And, giving my words an active force, I will feel equal to the creator.” Karl Marx (p.176; The Thomas Sowell Reader; DR. THOMAS SOWELL; Basic Books; 2011)

[@pedrozaragoza2253]

We did have a miserable choice in the 2016 election.

[@akp167]

30:05 someone has to put that on a coffee mug

[@slappyhappy6192]

George Will before the 5 minute mark talking about Trump not understanding the history and magnitude of the job. That doesn't matter. Social media and Obama changed elections forever. It's not about political competence anymore. It's just about competence. If someone is successful somewhere, maybe they can repeat it here. Politicians have failed and it's time to try something new. I'm no Trump supporter, but something has to be done a new.

[@mattbutler458]

George F. Will is not a Conservative if he would have rather seen Hillary Clinton elected President. The only things that truly matter is that we have a President that provides incentive for hard work and who doesn't attempt to run our lives. Donald Trump understands both. We love straight talk and someone who does act like an elitist prophet.

[@cladglas]

maybe, once upon a time.

[@benmeltzer]

The Bushes had the same sort of "pool of talent" but didn't deregulate.

[@groverwashingtonjr.9978]

I like Will. Don't agree with him on everything but he's a secular and civic conservative.

[@kennethcamp8730]

I hate how these scholars never actually RUN for something! You have to put ideas into real practice and win over the public.

[@anvervasta6839]

see my post Libertarian must prevent tyranny that's evident now in real time. This from an outsider I don't you keep your words ever if 1st world don't defend 3rd world countries. Don't force us to choose good (USA) or (EVIL)....... RUSSIA or China. Please be real

[@megabussurvivor3685]

He was bullied as a kid

[@Alan.Endicott]

28:48 What happened? Let me proffer a theory: Industrialization influenced the decline of the family. As an industrial society supplanted an agrarian one you didn't need to have children to provide the labor to operate the farm from which you drew sustenance and grew wealth. After all, the larger the family, the more productive your farm was, the more wealth it could produce. But in the industrial era, the larger the family, the more ways the income of the one working parent was divided, with no real way to grow wealth. I'm sure every parent loved their children before and after industrialization, but the number of children declined when they no longer produced wealth but consumed it. At that point, children became a choice, not a necessity. Industrialization produced national wealth but disparities among the populace that some then sought to remedy through government action. The provision of welfare then made available a minimum level of sustenance. Now an individual could choose to have a child they otherwise could not afford to have outside of marriage and without the support of family because there was a benefactor in the form of government ready to step in. That removed the stigma associated with illegitimacy. Once the stigma was removed, individuals, whether they be beneficiaries of welfare or possessed of independent means, were making the choice to have children outside of marriage. Correlation is not causation, but it does appear the rise of illegitimacy and industrialization were concurrent. I'm no social scientist, and certainly no Moynihan, but I think this theory has some merit.

[@bintrantum]

Alan Endicott Might want to consider birth control proliferation too.

[@bsadewitz]

It's broader than this. It's simply not caring about the future. Emphasis on the present as opposed to the future.

[@pbar12]

@@bintrantum Correct, it's clearly birth control

[@TheCdecisneros]

I thought he was a Cubs fan.

[@MrBILLSTANLEY]

Just posted this video on Facebook, with the following comment: "For those who have little interest in politics I expect you will not take the time to watch this. But, if you're a committed Republican or Democrat and concerned about today's contentious political scene you'll find it surprising and (no matter where you are on the political spectrum) likely upsetting."

[@dclarkchem]

George, When Barack Obama said that he had campaigned in 57 states, what level of elementary school had he failed? People make mistakes!

[@calebwheeler9359]

George Will is a great thinker of the game of baseball. Nothing follows.

[@kirkbowyer3249]

GOD BLESS GEORGE WILL

[@crewlj]

I appreciate Will's intellect but he really needs to appreaciate other's intellect as well.

[@josephdelvicario1784]

Fantastic discussion.

[@urgntlimited]

Maybe it's just me, but when I close my eyes, George Will sounds just like Clint Eastwood.

[@bintrantum]

Rich Anderson Blasphemy!

[@cameronmackay2072]

Time for George Wills to find an extensive care home where he could live out his fantasies that are quite distanced from reality ... while there he can contemplate the failures of his hero's like McCain and Romney.

[@stephenpowstinger733]

About right. 🤐

[@obediencetoflow4653]

I love your interviews, but George Will is one person I could care less what he has to say. Irrelevant, George. I use to love your words.

[@Roy__Batty]

Obedience to flow what you obviously meant to say was “I could not care less”.

[@terrygranger71]

Funny, I grew up in Washington, DC in the 70's and hated George Will, now I actually like him. Interesting how things change....

[@mikereed9963]

Another disgruntled Hilary voter.

[@packman536]

'Government should legislate morality much more'... WTH Clearly he's off the rails.

[@chegadesuade]

Impossible. George Will readers follow him for life because he's never changed his principles. I disbelieve that you ever appreciated George Will or classic conservatism.

[@JohnPaul-pv2tx]

This guy is incorrect..people voted for him because they wanted change. The same change that he is implementing today. Guys like Will are the ones who have provided a safe space for socialists. He can sit behind a desk and ponder the implications of changing demographics and the generational shift in political ideology...that's fine. But that will not stop it..particularly because the masses are not listening to this guy, they want emotion and practical solutions, not an intellectuals opinion. He can sit and watch the house burning, write about it in condescending intellectual prose , and still not lift a finger to put out the fire.

[@IsaiahSellassie]

Hmm, "we don't know"? We don't know why marriage and family broke down? :) One of the old wisdoms for which we have recently gathered some evidence (Cultural Cognition Project, Yale) of the sort that informs the oxymoronic term "social science" is that even the highest IQ people have incorrigible blind spots, irresistible impulses to cultic loyalty, and such other impediments to intellectual honesty. And, they are more, not less, prone to herding than their less cognitively gifted countrymen. So, there you have it---the progressive notion of "government by experts" laid bare as profound folly and vanity. (You do forgive me the use of such quaint Biblical terms, don't you?) "We don't know..." Something mysterious dropped from the sky and wrecked marriage and family. Yes, sir, high IQ intellectual, sir. :)

[@ajsdfk]

links?

[@curtisag]

Very astute observations. Feminism is society turned upside down, women don't need men anymore, so they don't get married, it's that simple. Civilization created monogamy and gender roles as a way to extract male productivity, by promising each male, no matter where is station in life may be (high or low), that he can achieve the dream of a family. That promise no longer exists in the modern world where 60% of college students are women, and men remain boys in their 20's, because society says that masculinity and maleness are defective and unwanted.

[@fredloeper8579]

The 60s sexual revolution was a prime component; only one of many reasons perhaps.

[@LizaJaneFlor]

In years past I always admired you, although I feel that you must, like baseball, adapt to the current society's ways at least well enough to be able to win and implement that which will improve society. Yes Trump's persona is hard to get at first but I think he just likes to rile the media and get their attention on something else while quietly doing his good work for us. He's grown on me and he's a breath of fresh air from the tyranny of political correctness! I must say that while you may think your parents were not religious, their moral compass was given them by their Lutheran parents, and taught to you as ethics. The problem of the disintegration of the family and society is that it is now multigenerational in its distance from any instruction about God and any objective moral compass, and no one remembers what morality is.

[@jsharp3165]

What good work is Trump doing now in the middle of a pandemic and a racial divide?

[@crewlj]

While I imagine it's true you can find people that voted for Trump's persona, I believe many more, (in essence those that put him over the hump) voted for him in spite of that persona and because they preferred a constitutional republic over the alternative.

[@bintrantum]

Trump’s persona? Don’t care for Will’s persona. Pompous blow hard. I’ll try to keep listening. Cuz I like Peter. He’s asking the right questions to expose Will’s silliness. Bleh.

[@anubis1416]

Dont watch this channel if you can't take valid criticism of your overlord

[@mikereed9963]

You must be one of Bill Maher's muppets

[@packman536]

Darn right. Let 'em talk and fully expose themselves.

[@ericnolle5195]

I really appreciate a conservative that calls out Trump as a monster. That indicates a free thinker.

[@marcusimpresario7724]

It isn't a surprise that Old Swampy loves Corruption Swamp. He's lived there all his life and doesn't know anything else.

[@akbarrauf2741]

trump will never be Reagan but he is alot better than the bush 41 43

[@jeffisso]

George Will can make conservatism sound romantic and attractive due to his intellect and knowledge of history. I could listen to him speak for hours but he'd never change mind. Conservatism gave us Trump. That's all you need to know.

[@calql8er]

In which case the Left gave us Obama.

[@anubis1416]

When did the Hoover institution get such a large fan base of Trump apologists

[@akbarrauf2741]

never trumper

[@lars1296]

George “No Jeans” Will

[@JRRodriguez-nu7po]

Peter Robinson does another excellent interview, but on a man who is the kind of intellectual elitist that Sowell warns against. George Will is the kind of effete RINO that nauseates me. I went from homeless 1966 as a 9yo in New York city to a rich professor of medicine and biochemistry. I'm fairly certain my IQ and general knowledge is far above Will, but because I have known TRUE hunger, cold and have NEVER used any Government program, not even a loan; I detest people like Will who presume to be better than others.

[@carolinetrace894]

Will's early argument (I couldn't watch much beyond the early portions of the interview) is blown out of the water by the fact that the Republican establishment's iconic candidate, Jeb Bush, would not have chosen Gorsuch for that Supreme Court seat.

[@shanesawyer5103]

@Caroline Trace How do you know?

[@tanukiman3855]

Will is, as the Brits say, “past it.” A stunning irrelevance.

[@frankbolger3969]

Post hoc ergo propter hoc -- the last refuge of the diminished intellect.

[@MattGPT-eh4cp]

The man that never ran for political office has a lot to say about how those that did should govern.

[@bintrantum]

Will admits to being an atheist. Atheists don’t get Trump. Atheists are unable to make the distinction between a Diocletian and a Constantine. I’m still listening. As penance. I’ve been bad. Bleh. Bleh. Bleh.

[@acarouselofantics]

I kind of felt that Will's argument for atheism and against atheism still dismisses that his father (who was an atheist) and himself get their moral values ultimately from his grandfather - the Lutheran minister. I think Robinson, who is Christian-Catholic theist himself, wanted to push him further on his views on morality as an atheist, but knew that the conversation was not to be totally on this particular topic. What do you think, Ms. Trantum?

[@jude999]

The family is the casualty of the increasing power of women.

[@benmeltzer]

Just a few minutes in and I've said "So what?" about a dozen times.

[@r64g]

George said he did not know why the family broke down. Seriously, he didn't know??? How can he be a conservative thinker and commentator and not knowing the reason?

[@xsguitar77]

Exactly. Thomas Sowell has explained in detail why it has happened. LBJ's Great Society and WELFARE! Unbelievably ignorant response by Will who should know better. A little surprised that Peter Robinson didn't proffer that point.

[@stevenotjackramsey]

@@xsguitar77 George Will is as human as the rest of us, he can't know everything because the human mind has a finite ability to categorize data. I would still rather hear an intellectually honest answer of "I don't know" than hear someone make up an answer.

[@CB-dz7my]

Re the decline of the "family" (nuclear?): could a factor be that the "family", as these two men believe it existed prior to some date in the middle-late 20thC, was an unequal bargain between the men and women who constituted it? Re natural rights: these were valuable concepts in the early modern period with which people could articulate opposition to monarchical power. They describe nothing real; they are constituents of a rhetorical strategy (as is talk of a "human nature").

[@lanceaugust]

Many voters like Trump’s vulgarity, his bellicose nature, and his sense of humor: how many Presidents have appeared with Vince McMahon in a WWE ring? To most Americans George Will is a precious, over-educated, simpering fool.

[@DaveDaShrubber]

The Hoover Institution obviously doesn't know anything about baseball.

[@hollywoodlibertarian4227]

This guy prefers Hamilton to Jefferson. Someone should tell this guy that the federalists haven't won yet. Us anti-federalists are still fighting. This dude gives more weight to Trump's effect on civil values than Trump's success in limiting federal government and taxation and appointing originalist judges. The small hands joke is an uncivil start for someone who claims Trump is destroying our civil society. Also Willis should read up on history. For example, Andrew Jackson was a thin skinned bully, who would fight every chance he got. Not only did Jackson get rid of the central banking system, but civil society didn't death spiral from Jackson's uncouth persona. Maybe if this guy believed in God, he wouldn't place the burden of human virtue on politicians. Absence of religion in this country has caused people to worship politics and has changed charity to social justice. Trump didn't get elected because we wanted a priest. He got elected to drain the swamp and limit government. The second coming of Andrew Jackson!!!!

[@davidshaw9262]

George is teed off versus teed up. Additionally quoting TS Elliot a Christian from an atheist George Will. I suspect his anger is coming more from the aforementioned conflict. The system is working, in God we trust.

[@81jayj]

I love the Hoover institute but mr wills please. I’m not goin to listen to you if start of engaging in the very offensive behavior you supposedly despise . Understand that trump was a tool in this landscape , that was the only one available to beat the Clinton machine.

[@obediencetoflow4653]

81jayj exactly, I don’t need Will BS.

[@johannyvaldez9085]

@@obediencetoflow4653 the reason will in the don't like trump he believe in the long run does the country more bad than good

[@joeyswaney8497]

Sounds like a Never Trumper... figures.

[@aferalkid]

by this guy's own logic he's done less then trump . get outta here lol

[@krazipynaple]

🤔 Will is an anachronism. He expects to settle a dispute with a friendly game of chess while his adversary wants to crack his skull open in an MMA cage match.

[@stevenotjackramsey]

We need more intellectual discussions like this, not fewer.

[@neilhasid3407]

Enough with holding the book up!

[@Ctajm]

George Will should stick to baseball. He's better at it. I would agree that Trump's commitment to appoint "original intent' judges to the federal judiciary was his strongest plus, and rebuilding the military was his second. But he brought too many "establishment" members of "the swamp" into his administration, which showed a significant amount of naivite.

[@xsguitar77]

Will simply isn't seeing the big picture. I used to admire the guy but on many occasions, and just in this interview alone, he shows just how out of touch he is with the average American. He says the average American isn't angry? Seriously? Maybe Will should leave his East Coast bubble, put some jeans on and go to a few county fairs and rodeos. But then he exposes himself. He says if the Democrats were smart, which of course they aren't, they'd nominate a guy who will say "Elect me and I'll disappear so everyone can take a breather." That's the problem Georgie Boy! The swamp has done NOTHING and you want to elect a guy who'll do even less to address the myriad of problems that we have?

[@acfalk3]

I've written a little piece above, but fundamentally I think George Will has become more confused as he has aged.

[@robdewey317]

What a great shame to use one’s vast vocabulary in the sole pursuit of hate.

[@Nerodz]

George Will - Expired and irrelevant. His history of opinion is now long enough to sufficiently reveal how WRONG he has been. If this channel was not so consistent in excellence I'd unsub just for interviewing Will because his appearance sinks the brand equity of the channel almost beyond repair. I'll overlook the significant error in judgement featuring Will and put the channel on probation.

[@theRussians1918]

Lucien Midnight harsh but not unfair

[@mikereed9963]

You planning on voting Hilary again?

[@gregarioussolitudinist5695]

George Will makes it possible to hate being a republican. I don't know what his world-view is, but he is a petty crybaby like Bill Kristol.

[@fredloeper8579]

Dear me. My IPS (intellectual patron saint) is an atheist. Shame. Still brilliant, however.

[@Cinepobrefilmfestival]

Waponized opinionator

[@ottodetroit]

MLB will never be America's game again cause billionaire owners promote and build mostly a softball-esque game. No defense. No speed. HRs first and last. Sad

[@garychandler119]

HE IS RINO.

[@spacevertex]

He voted for Ben Sasse, that says it all about his intellect - Should have stopped watching within the first 10 minutes but such false self-aggrandisement is fun to watch in itself, one can look at Robinson's eyes to know the hypocrisy and fallacy​ of many of his core arguments.

[@randbentson6301]

He has lost his mind....

[@cryptoskywalker1714]

All I can say is, I'm glad George Will isn't President. Talk about a complete lack of self awareness.

[@ginnyhobby774]

What a Blowhard. He doesn't get it.

[@vertxxgg]

VIVA TRUMP