I’m trying to remember which Democrat, some years ago, made a point of always saying that “it’s when they’re most drunk with power” that they will dramatically overestimate their invulnerability and shoot themselves squarely in the foot.
Texas Hold-Em Politics
This version of the Republicans went all in, Texas hold’em style, on Trumpism and totalitarianism — fascism if you prefer to call it. And started to believe they can say or do anything without consequences. Truth be told, the relative passivity of the some of the Democratic leadership didn’t help. So, the Republicans under Trump stepped in and appointed 3 more religious fanatics who became willing pawns in their plans. Lunatics they could control to be elevated to the nation’s highest court, never thinking it would eventually catch up to them.
I must confess, I was worried they would never stop getting away with all sorts of incredible nonsense. So I’m not suggesting that we let our guard down after the Kansas referendum victories as the Republicans finally went a bridge too far. Rather, now we should go for the political jugular. And continue to drop our own political bombs on them. Politics is incredibly fickle, so between now and the mid-terms nothing should be taken for granted.
Republicans Drop a Political Bomb . . . on Themselves
The vote to keep abortion rights, in Kansas of all places, home of Dorothy and Toto, was a real seismic shocker for them. Last month’s polls made them look like narrow winners. The Republicans had every advantage possible in a solidly Republican state. And did this to themselves in their supreme arrogance!! Brought on by Trumpism itself. They were happy to control the anti-choice vote for years without actually seeing a ban on abortion come to pass and still suck up valuable votes. And they assumed that personal opposition to abortion always translated in voting support for them. But their increasingly extremist positions blinded them to the actual consequences of their platform. Same with their promoting race war in the hope of winning more votes than they lose.
The national corporate media seems like it finally realized that the Republicans under Trumpism were actually going to ruin the country and the economy. And that of course would be very bad for corporate America, and much worse than the Democrats presently in power could ever be. At least that’s my read-on changes in the corporate media coverage lately.
The Republicans haven’t just gone “all-in”, they are halfway to the center of the Earth. As Trump self-destructs right before our very eyes, De Santis, the latest Republican fuehrer, apparently thinks that an exact clone of Trump will easily take his place in 2024. He’s smarter than Trump and would be a lot more dangerous as president. Trump himself appears to being dropped by the Republicans as far as 2024 candidate is concerned and is likely to turn on them like a wounded animal if and when they do.
Trumpism’s Golden Rule
The golden rule of Trump-styled Republicanism is to always double down, no matter how badly you get busted for your misdeeds, and NEVER admit a mistake or concede that you were wrong. The second, third and fourth rules are to lie, lie, and swear you’re not lying.
The golden rule for Democrats should be to offer voters progressive, energetic and fighting leadership and make sure that leadership is committed to reigning in out-of-control corporate influence in policy and politics. While disguised to many voters, politics can often become a form of class war. Meaning every issue is viewed differently depending on the class interests and loyalties of the representatives. Politics can also involve fierce power struggles, even when the parties involved have similar class interests. Corporate influence also carries weight in both parties and their lobbyists have helped kill much worthwhile legislation over the years. There may be a record number of issues on the plate in this year’s mid-terms.
Regarding the poll below, all choices may to some degree be important for most sane and progressive voters. I left out reproductive rights only because it transcends the two-party system more than any other, especially after the Kansas referendum vote, and would easily win any poll like this.
So I’m looking for what you think is the next best voting issue for us, vote wise. Remember that the most important motivators may not be the most important issues to your way of thinking, just the ones you think will turn out the most Democratic Party voters.