Mr. Reynolds, tempted to say (as you so often do), "Great, don't get cocky". But, as you point out, this is not your Father's GOP. Trump's first term, chaotic as it was (I don't think he expected to win) had two valuable lessons. First, he learned enough about how government "works" and how it mostly doesn't, and how to actually make it work. Second, he learned how little he could trust the GOP establishment, and how they would actually collude with the Dems and the "deep state" to maintain the status quo...and destroy him and anyone who worked with him. He lost the election, survived the lawfare and multiple impeachments, and created a team of like-minded, loyal, and judging by the results, hypercompetent supporters. The woke leftists are not the only ones gnashing their teeth. A lot of the establishment have been broken or are in the process of being sidelined by the MAGA energy. Judging by the senate's inaction on the SAVE act, we are just starting the second act of this drama. The fat lady hasn't appeared on the stage yet...but, yeah, I haven't felt this good about a lot of things in a long time. I'd really feel a lot better if the Secret Service would display a minimum amount of competence, as desperate creatures when cornered are extremely dangerous in unpredictable ways. Fingers crossed.
When the "Census Error" was found, why wasn't the allocation of Congressional seats (and electoral votes) changed in the next election cycle? Why wasn't it the first order of business when the Republicans regained the House and Senate after the 2024 election?
That has puzzled me, too. I suspect it's because of filibuster. I like the filibuster, though I suspect it's on its last legs, but it's better optics to kill it to enable some grand undertaking rather than something that's so clearly just about power.
The Memphis Malcom X wanna be Glenn mentions, started a fire in Tenn State Capitol building rotunda. Then he pushed, shoved and head butted Tenn Highway Patrolmen… screaming obscenities and threatening them.
Glenn, Trump and his administration have managed to uncover the secret that has been hiding in plain sight. Dems and their consultants, non-profits and hangers on have been been living off of billions and billions of federal money for decades. Here in California it could be upwards of 100 billion just gone. Then the governor says there is a deficit and we need more tax money. It’s shocking that no one even looked for it for decades. That’s ending now and it’s a systemic shock to the left.
The GOP establishment needs to get on board. The most creditable explanation for their intransigence is a belief that conservatism means maintaining the status quo. Unfortunately our bureaucratic state has degraded to the point that maintaining the status quo means conserving corruption.
Perfesser- I'd like to believe you're right. Dismantling taxpayer funding of The Left was a great start. Passing the SAVE ACT, and resorting voter integrity is another "must do". Those two alone might be sufficient to restore sanity to the US.
It was discovered by moms watching kids on laptops during Covid that the Left's capture of Academia went well beyond the University and had infected education all the way down to kindergarten. This too has to be reversed if our future will avoid another psychotic break among the populace.
So, "natural conclusion"? There is much work to do...
Let's ask Winsome Earle-Sears about "black voters in the south losing their representation." Or Tim Scott. They didn't need to redistrict California to make certain Larry Elder never became governor. To Dems, skin color is a MacGuffin.
I do pray that you are correct. Would this perhaps explain why Trump has not been publicly pressuring Thune much to pass the SAVE Act? Because it may not be necessary?
Also I get your point about much less casualties in Iran by slowly strangling the regime but the price of gas would then risk being a mid term issue. That and the “foreign entanglements” could suppress the base.
Gas is falling now - and Iran's choke hold on the strait as a place to funnel oil shipments is being reduced. I'd guess within a month Iran will be on life support and gas prices will be much lower.
"Legislative paralysis" is of course symptomatic of the real problem: The populace has become so extremist (left and right) that no legislator has a mandate to do anything but oppose his opponents.
It wasn't always this way. When I was a young man there were bitter battles over particular divisive points, but for the most part Congress had a collegiality that stemmed from a broad agreement on the fundamentals, and most Americans treated other Americans as fellow Americans no matter how much they might argue over burgers and beer. In those times a centrist like Joe Manchin or Susan Collins would have been a strong candidate for at least Veep and maybe President, rather than someone their party constantly dumps on.
We came to scorn legislative cooperation with our talk of "The Uniparty" and "RINOs". But in the absence of a common vision for our country, it all falls on the President. I confess I do quite like that when it's my party in charge as it is now. But in that Zeitgeist there are only two modes: either Federal policy flops around like a hooked trout from one administration to the next, or else one side or the other manages (perhaps legitimately and Constitutionally, or perhaps not) to gain a lasting advantage, in which case you may have a generation of consistent government but it's one that no longer speaks for lots of Americans.
I of course blame the Democrats. Those so-and-sos.
Mr. Reynolds, tempted to say (as you so often do), "Great, don't get cocky". But, as you point out, this is not your Father's GOP. Trump's first term, chaotic as it was (I don't think he expected to win) had two valuable lessons. First, he learned enough about how government "works" and how it mostly doesn't, and how to actually make it work. Second, he learned how little he could trust the GOP establishment, and how they would actually collude with the Dems and the "deep state" to maintain the status quo...and destroy him and anyone who worked with him. He lost the election, survived the lawfare and multiple impeachments, and created a team of like-minded, loyal, and judging by the results, hypercompetent supporters. The woke leftists are not the only ones gnashing their teeth. A lot of the establishment have been broken or are in the process of being sidelined by the MAGA energy. Judging by the senate's inaction on the SAVE act, we are just starting the second act of this drama. The fat lady hasn't appeared on the stage yet...but, yeah, I haven't felt this good about a lot of things in a long time. I'd really feel a lot better if the Secret Service would display a minimum amount of competence, as desperate creatures when cornered are extremely dangerous in unpredictable ways. Fingers crossed.
Your mouth to God's Ear, professor. I just hope our stoneless senate doesn't ruin it.
I was thinking the same thing…a bumpy ride but a happy finish, per Mr. Reynolds.
Works for me.
Mayhap they will be emboldened.
Nah, who am I kidding?
So much of the Dems’ political success/power in my 65-year lifetime has been based on having their ‘thumbs on (many) scales.’
I am happy that more and more people are beginning to see this and hope that the exposure of their scummy ways grows and grows.
(By the bye, Prof. Reynolds has played a huge role in this success, if you ask me!)
Agreed 100 percent.
When the "Census Error" was found, why wasn't the allocation of Congressional seats (and electoral votes) changed in the next election cycle? Why wasn't it the first order of business when the Republicans regained the House and Senate after the 2024 election?
That has puzzled me, too. I suspect it's because of filibuster. I like the filibuster, though I suspect it's on its last legs, but it's better optics to kill it to enable some grand undertaking rather than something that's so clearly just about power.
The Memphis Malcom X wanna be Glenn mentions, started a fire in Tenn State Capitol building rotunda. Then he pushed, shoved and head butted Tenn Highway Patrolmen… screaming obscenities and threatening them.
He just walked away, scot-free.
Gee, wonder how he got away with this?
It’s a f^^^ing mystery, huh?
Ashli Babbitt anyone?
Glenn, Trump and his administration have managed to uncover the secret that has been hiding in plain sight. Dems and their consultants, non-profits and hangers on have been been living off of billions and billions of federal money for decades. Here in California it could be upwards of 100 billion just gone. Then the governor says there is a deficit and we need more tax money. It’s shocking that no one even looked for it for decades. That’s ending now and it’s a systemic shock to the left.
The GOP establishment needs to get on board. The most creditable explanation for their intransigence is a belief that conservatism means maintaining the status quo. Unfortunately our bureaucratic state has degraded to the point that maintaining the status quo means conserving corruption.
For years the Left got their way. They expect it as their due.
Expect them to resort to mass violence to vent their frustration.
Hope not. Deep down, I think they're pussies and when a few of them get punched in the nose, they'll fold like the phonies they are
Perfesser- I'd like to believe you're right. Dismantling taxpayer funding of The Left was a great start. Passing the SAVE ACT, and resorting voter integrity is another "must do". Those two alone might be sufficient to restore sanity to the US.
It was discovered by moms watching kids on laptops during Covid that the Left's capture of Academia went well beyond the University and had infected education all the way down to kindergarten. This too has to be reversed if our future will avoid another psychotic break among the populace.
So, "natural conclusion"? There is much work to do...
I hope you're right. It's probably hard to recognize a political realignment when you're in the middle of it, and it sure is getting ugly.
Let's ask Winsome Earle-Sears about "black voters in the south losing their representation." Or Tim Scott. They didn't need to redistrict California to make certain Larry Elder never became governor. To Dems, skin color is a MacGuffin.
I do pray that you are correct. Would this perhaps explain why Trump has not been publicly pressuring Thune much to pass the SAVE Act? Because it may not be necessary?
Also I get your point about much less casualties in Iran by slowly strangling the regime but the price of gas would then risk being a mid term issue. That and the “foreign entanglements” could suppress the base.
Gas is falling now - and Iran's choke hold on the strait as a place to funnel oil shipments is being reduced. I'd guess within a month Iran will be on life support and gas prices will be much lower.
Well said.
"Legislative paralysis" is of course symptomatic of the real problem: The populace has become so extremist (left and right) that no legislator has a mandate to do anything but oppose his opponents.
It wasn't always this way. When I was a young man there were bitter battles over particular divisive points, but for the most part Congress had a collegiality that stemmed from a broad agreement on the fundamentals, and most Americans treated other Americans as fellow Americans no matter how much they might argue over burgers and beer. In those times a centrist like Joe Manchin or Susan Collins would have been a strong candidate for at least Veep and maybe President, rather than someone their party constantly dumps on.
We came to scorn legislative cooperation with our talk of "The Uniparty" and "RINOs". But in the absence of a common vision for our country, it all falls on the President. I confess I do quite like that when it's my party in charge as it is now. But in that Zeitgeist there are only two modes: either Federal policy flops around like a hooked trout from one administration to the next, or else one side or the other manages (perhaps legitimately and Constitutionally, or perhaps not) to gain a lasting advantage, in which case you may have a generation of consistent government but it's one that no longer speaks for lots of Americans.
I of course blame the Democrats. Those so-and-sos.
It has just taken this long for enough people to believe that Donald Trump can turn the corner, Thank God
Republicans will surrender, as always. Democrats are all liars. Republicans are all cowards.