At 86 Thomas Sowell Retires and Says He’s Going To Focus on Photography – IOTW Report

At 86 Thomas Sowell Retires and Says He’s Going To Focus on Photography

Why don’t you take a picture of the millions upon millions of Americans that have faith that Trump will turn this ship around. They will be in DC on the 20th.

Are millions upon millions of people stupid, Mr. Sowell?

With one sentence you taint your legacy.

Talking about taking pictures at Yosemite for 4 days, away from the internet, you said,

“With the political news being so awful this year, it felt especially wonderful.”

What’s awful this year?

Obama’s tenure coming to an end?

Trump winning?

See ya, won’t miss ya. Not with that attitude.

Not linking you, either.

41 Comments on At 86 Thomas Sowell Retires and Says He’s Going To Focus on Photography

  1. Great economist-I have most of his books but seeing him in that neverTrump NR issue made me sad. Watching him debate when I was very young really formed my political beliefs.

    It’s difficult to reconcile the writer of Conflict of Visions not recognizing what a game changer Trump was when he wrote that article for NR.

    Don’t see how how He could have meant anything but Trump being the “awful” political news. Even he got DC fever. Would it have better to have Hillary? I for one think the political news is the best it’s been in my lifetime.

  2. No, Bubba, he meant Trump. In fact, he did it again later in the article by demeaning the Office of Presidency itself: “Years of lying Presidents — Democrat Lyndon Johnson and Republican Richard Nixon, especially — destroyed not only their own credibility, but the credibility which the office itself once conferred. The loss of that credibility was a loss to the country, not just to the people holding that office in later years.”

    “Has beens” gonna been had.

  3. Agreed, Thomas Sowell is an American hero. His book “Applied Economics” is a brilliant explanation of free markets, and is lively and compelling despite its title. His columns are filled with pure genius.

    And regardless ding the National Review, their famous issue was “Against Trump” (that is, in the primaries), NOT “Never Trump”.

  4. Personally I’d hate to have my entire legacy measured by one mistake.
    A yuge mistake albeit, however, Sowell spent his entire career focused on conservative economic policies, and in particular demanded personal responsibility within the black community. Unfortunately, for those that would benefit the most, his message fell on deaf ears.
    Perhaps ”tis the season I can forgive his anti-Trumpism, as I didn’t conclude his motives/opinion as being personally malicious as other “conservative” megaphones at NR.

  5. I’ve ditched NR but not Prof. Sowell. And don’t intend to, either. I have most of his books and no truer conservative and solid economist can be found out there. Sorry, I have NO intention on throwing the good Professor under the bus.

  6. To be fair, anyone born in 1930 would naturally regard Trump as a boorish vulgarian, which in many ways he is. I have had trouble accepting some of The Donald’s antics in the past myself, and I’m not as old as Sowell. But then again, I have had trouble dealing with many of the baser changes that have occurred in our society over the years. Morally, America has not what it used to be, and our current crop of so called “leaders” simply reflects that fact. It is a shame that Sowell could not support Trump as the much lesser of two evils, but that is his right, and in a free country we should respect that right.

    No one is perfect; we all make mistakes. Let us concentrate on the good things that Thomas Sowell has done, and wish him a happy retirement.

  7. Trump worship is starting to sound like Obama worship 8 years age. Trump is certainly a vast improvement over Obummer, but he is still a man and by no means perfect. Give him time but not worship.

  8. Thomas Sowell is, without question, a national treasure.

    Many went against Trump along the way (including posters here), eg Gingrich.
    If a leader is not garnering dissent, he’s not doing anything.

    I wasn’t happy with him (and the entire GOP} for these last years, but no one can dismiss Sowell’s life’s work, on economics, conservatism, race, et al.

  9. Next conservative African American to retire will probably be Clarence Thomas – and Trump being elected was a great thing, at least now he can do it without guilt. He is in his late 60s and voiced in the last year that he has other things he wants to do in his life. You don’t hear too many liberals going out on a high note leaving to enjoy a life outside of politics.

  10. Being optimistic about a Trump presidency has become “worship” in the eyes of Trump haters.
    So, who is the hyperbolic one?

    Yes, Sowell has written classic books and essays… to what end?
    He was largely ineffectual, with this country teetering on the brink of falling full bore socialism while he typed scathing rebukes about the eventual firewall to that fate.
    And where did Sowell’s allegiance lie with this country in the balance?
    Well, it wasn’t with Trump, so who knows?
    But with this parting shot, one that some people with the inability to read between the lines completely miss, he makes it clear that he was, after all, an elite essayist, a rich guy that penned theory and cares little about people who live under these theories.

    I’m being priced out of health care… I can’t afford it.
    Trump offers a glimmer of hope that maybe I won’t be buried in debt if I have to cancel my insurance and I have a health crisis.

    I don’t worship anyone, particularly an essayist.
    Representatives are my tools to get what I want, and don’t want, from a government I cannot stand 95% of the time.
    There is hope with Trump. I’m not sure what it is about Trump that Sowell hates when the alternative would have been horrendous.
    Matters little. He has blissful photography to look forward to. Good for him.

  11. At 86 he can bow and save face by pretending it’s age. He was an anti Trump stooge who was condenscending and insulting and will be proven wrong over and over in the years to come. He put his ego above the love of our country, like so many “better conservatives” did. I lost respect for him this last year because he showed zero respect for those of us who saw what he was willfully blind to in Trump. No thanks to him, Hillary is history.

  12. If Sowell had died my remarks would be much different.
    He didn’t die.

    I see Trump surrounding himself with a pretty good team. I fully anticipate him making right-wing SCOTUS picks.

    I fully anticipate Trump listening to his team as well as having an acumen for reading the people’s wishes, the people who elected him.

    I’m not sure why I have to be made to feel like some sort of asshole who helped create “awful political news.”

  13. I have a friend in common with Thomas Sowell. I forgive (and forgave) him his erroneous and thoroughly discredited Trump comments because I know he has been in ill health for some time and gets his information from filtered sources.

    His previous body of work stands and is credible. His opinions this last year should be taken with the same grain of salt as those of Zsa Zsa Gabor.

  14. Sowell doesn’t hate Trump. Sowell dislikes that he is not a conservative. BFH if you want your insurance to go down get rid of Obamacare and this is where Trump and the Rhinos get it wrong
    DON’T FREEK’N REPLACE IT. If Trump can fix the VA then we can talk replacement end of story. I agree with Anonymous take a Zanax BFH!
    Seldom do you see democrats eat their own but Republicans cant wait to eat their own.. BFH you should go teach at a college campus
    or better yet since you can read peoples minds and hearts
    become a fortune teller to pay for your insurance!

  15. Seldom do you see democrats eat their own but Republicans cant wait to eat their own..>>>

    So you’re talking about Sowell here, when he and a bunch of know-nothings got together and published a special issue to try and torpedo the republican frontrunner, no?

    Had Trump been successfully derailed by these idiots we would have a president Hillary.
    Neither Kasich or Cruz was going to beat her.

    And as for “conservative bona fides” I am certain Sowell would have taken the liberal Kasich over Trump if put to a choice.
    It had nothing to do with being conservative, or not, and everything to do with not liking his personality and not liking his non-political insider pedigree.

    His ilk almost changed the course of history for the WORSE.

  16. No point in having a discussion with someone who cannot grasp the theme of a comment.

    The know-nothing part was how they got together to try and derail the republican frontrunner, largely because they said he was “unelectable.” They said a Trump nomination would all but insure a Hillary presidency.

    I haven’t seen any humble pie out of any of them.

    But you can keep trying to imply that I think Sowell’s ideas on conservatism make him a know-nothing.
    It’s cute how you debate like a progressive, scanning for buzzwords and reacting with complete disregard for the context, all in an effort to not have to face my point of “just who was eating their own” when he participated in the National Review issue.

    I’d avoid that going forward if I were you to.

  17. You have no context you posted an article and you are reading
    Thomas Sowells mind. Debate like a progressive pull out of me.
    Who are you to demand humble pie? Seriously? When i think of Trump
    i think humility. lol
    Have a drink and if your healthcare is to much go get a job with a company that offers healthcare.

  18. Until a NeverTrumper repents and apologizes for nearly making it possible for Hilary to take residence in the White House everything they might have done before hand is less impressive. They were horribly wrong and nearly cost us an opportunity to have a Pro-American President. Retirement is the right thing for him now. With a little luck he could talk a bunch of the NRO crowd into the same thing.

  19. “The know-nothing part was how they got together to try and derail the republican frontrunner, largely because they said he was “unelectable.” They said a Trump nomination would all but insure a Hillary presidency.”

    Exactly. And if you want to talk about eating your own, Sowell and the rest of them went for a 7 course meal. And JTucker, it seems like you’re still savoring their drippings.

  20. You have no context you posted an article and you are reading
    Thomas Sowells mind. >>

    Sure. What was the awful political news he was talking about?
    If you offer an answer you are “reading his mind.”
    So, why is he including a cryptic “awful political news” line in his essay?
    Because, anyone with an ounce of brain matter, considering his position during this election season, KNOWS what he’s talking about.

    Debate like a progressive pull out of me.>>>

    The shoe fits. Wear it.

    Who are you to demand humble pie? >>>

    Not demanding, making an observation which colors my opinion going forward. It’s called thinking.

    Seriously? When i think of Trump
    i think humility. lol>>>

    So, Sowell is no better than Trump. Good to know.

    Have a drink and if your healthcare is to much go get a job with a company that offers healthcare.>>>

    This is my job. It doesn’t offer healthcare. Care to kick in?

  21. You don’t have to like Trump. But understand this: If anyone else was the frontrunner, they would not have had the chance against hillary. Wikileaks or not. For some reason, the others’ personalities, their styles, cunning, whatever, does not work. I voted for Cruz in the primaries, but shortly after that I could see the guy didn’t wasn’t going anywhere. Shit happens. Whether I like(d) Trump or not, I wasn’t about to let hillary become president.
    And I’m going to give Trump a chance even though I know he can’t possibly get everything done that we all want. He’s not Santa. And you know something? Neither were kasich, Paul, (who I liked as well) Cruz, Bush and the rest of them. You think you’re going to get 100% Conservative out of ANY candidate? Well, you’re just high.

  22. Really JTucker???? Reading his mind??? Did you bother reading his writing?

    Um….”With the political news being so awful this year, it felt especially wonderful”.

    We took out the trash, helped unite Americans who love America and the winning is still just beginning. While you suggest drinks, I’ll suggest you have some cheese with your whine 😉

  23. Aggie- Right?

    Trump could govern like a mixture of Reagan, Cruz, George frickin’ Washington, and these NT’s will still be pissed, because… Oh whatever, they’ll find something. LMAO.
    I’m done playing with the NT. They’re such emo’s. 😂

  24. Flashback: Pledging Allegiance To Obama
    insert Trump BFH
    Political news does not revolve around Trump. Obama just sold the Jews down the river, 95 million people out of work, 45 million on food stamps, Obamacare, Benghazi do you want more awful political news.
    I think going after Sowell is a bit churlish..
    I hope BFH you are this sensitive when Ivanka convinces her Dad to push for free childcare.

  25. Still some acrimony out there it seems.
    Dr. Thomas Sowell IS a national treasure.
    He is on point with his observations the vast majority of the time.
    The sh*t Trump pulled in the primary was disgusting to say the least.
    Lying about, and disparaging good men and women ;
    always to the approval of his “clapping seals”.
    The Trump adulation is just about as sickening as Obama’s lackeys are.
    I was NEVER a “Never Trumper” ; I truly WAS a ‘NEVER HILLARY”.
    I guess politics is a dirty, disgusting, blood sport it seems;
    . . . we get what we deserve.
    Cruz was my guy, Scott Walker my second, both with proven records;
    true conservatives, not just two year old Republican converts.
    You “Trumpers” are sh*tting yourselves if you really believe
    that he was the only one with a chance of winning it.
    She was a weak, and very unpopular candidate;
    and we’re damn lucky to have pulled it off.
    Too many voters, legal and illegal, ridin the “gravy train”,
    . . . and votin to keep it going.
    But Trump was the victor and should be given the chance to prove himself.
    So far he has made some truly outstanding choices for his new administration!
    I’m eagerly awaiting January 20th when we will finally be rid of
    that traitorous, commie, crap weasel, AKA the ‘Dickhead in Chief”.

  26. “The Trump adulation is just about as sickening as Obama’s lackeys are”

    OK I disagree with you on 2 points.
    Let’s be real here. Had Cruz won, there would be Cruz seals clapping, too. So, spare me. I don’t even want to hear it.

    And Trump was the one who carved out the other candidates’ asses early on, and lead by a large margin so yeah, he was the only one able to pull this whole thing off against hillary, even with her cheating. And I saw that after I voted for Cruz, myself.

    As for the rest of your comment- I agree, 100%. 😀

  27. BFH I will donate $500 bucks when Trump builds the WALL! DEAL??
    Let’s point all guns at liberals.
    I donate already to intellectual froglegs but I would be happy to help u out when the wall is built.
    No hard feelings. JTucker

  28. For crying out loud, snowflakes. Trump won and did what he had to do to win. No way – no how was anyone else going to take out Hillary. It was hers, all wrapped in a nice bow until Trump took his blow torch to the system. If he played the game by the existing rules we would have Madam President today.

    There’s no sick Trump adulation in making factual observations that Sowell didn’t get it, As brilliant as he may be he was way off on this and did his best to oust Trump, which in my camp was pro Hillary. Not until it was clear no other savior was going to save the NT did he finally jump on the anyone but Hiallary train. He messed up. I’d say the Sowell, NT adulation is gross here, not the other way around.

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