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A Tsunami Isn’t “Coming.” It’s Here
It’s probably unfair, even inaccurate, to describe current political trends in the US as a “tsunami” unless of course, you’re a self-proclaimed “progressive” Democrat. Tsunamis are large and highly destructive ocean waves, often caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic disruptions. Nobody asks for nor wants to experience one, perhaps unless you’re the actual tsunami. Politically speaking, of course.
In the minds of many Americans, the coming tsunami isn’t destructive at all, despite media attempts to portray it as such. It’s restorative. And there is plenty of evidence that Democrats asked for it, starting with the consequences of an open southern border, rising crime rates amidst soft-on-crime and defund-the-police strategies, weakness abroad, lingering COVID mandates, teacher unions prioritized over students, and raging inflation at home.
Except the tsunami is underway. There’s no stopping it now.
Which is why I wish the Democrats hadn’t self-destructed so obviously. Republicans probably don’t need to even try. And in fact they’re behaving as if their win is guaranteed.
If they felt a little fear that they might not win, they might be compelled to come up with an agenda.
There you go.
Although it may be perhaps most disappointing here.
Okay. Well, you’re hardly alone, Drew. Ms. Rubin, Mr. Kristol, the whole gang at The Bulwark, our own self-appointed “Reagan Republican,” and a lot of other free-thinking renegades join you in endorsing Democrats over Republicans. It’s not how I roll, but you do you. You’re in
goodcompany.Sure it is. Change in our election laws, change in the number of Justices on the Supreme Court, change in the voting rights of illegal immigrants, change in that pesky filibuster. Real, lasting, transformative change.
Of course, there are other ways to influence the Republican Party without abandoning it, and without handing the government to the Democrats. Given that you think not voting for Republicans is an “unlikely” path to change, and given that it’s quite a reliable way to bring about sweeping Democrat victories, perhaps we should look at more positive approaches to moving the Republican Party in the direction we’d like it to go.
I can’t really say I blame you but I am not there yet.
You’re missing the obvious option.
Okay, you know what I meant, but now you’re just being a snot.
Please enlighten me?
Did you ever see The Burning Bed?
Ah back to the original analog. That would be option 2, If Republicans are the abusive husband then you are voting for Democrats which is essentially taking poison. The Democrats will win. Everything you believe in will be undermined and eroded more quickly eventually leading to the collapse of the country. I suppose you get the joy of watching the Republicans suffer. This was NT solution to Trump.
I agree. I myself almost pulled the lever for Clinton in 2016 to spite Trump, but reason overcame anger.
The reality is the Republican Party as-imperfect as it is- is the only option in a binary choice that advances at least some of what conservatives purport to prefer. I felt that voting against Trump was a vote to cut my nose to spite my face. I voted for him with caution in 2016, and enthusiastically in 2020 because he actually governed much as a strong conservative would (given his record I didn’t think that would happen).
NTs basically said a pox on both houses (in some cases joining the enemy). I’d rather support the party and push for change, and try to move moderates to the “right”.
There was definitely some snark there, I admit I laughed.
For crying out loud, Drew. Given your general litany of hopelessness and despair, of “nothing will ever change,” of “Republicans are worse than Democrats,” what do you want?
Want me to say “Yes, you’re right, let’s let the Democrats be in charge for a few years, ’cause that’ll teach America to vote right?” Or do you just want me to mope around and agree that it’s all hopeless? That there’s no point in supporting the party on the right, because it isn’t far enough to the right to suit your tastes? What?
Yes, America is in a hard spot. Yes, the Republicans are too often cowardly, too often politicians first, patriots second. Yes, they frustrate me. Yes, the government keeps growing and the culture is under assault. Yes, there’s a real, legitimate question as to whether the republic will survive.
But, as I’ve said dozens of times, (a) I think there’s a real long-term existential danger in letting the Democrats run wild, and (b) I think failing to support the Republican Party risks bringing that about. No one here has ever responded to that view in any thoughtful way, ever explained how we were going to get from 50/50 Republican/Democrat to some conservative non-Republican majority without going through years of liberal Democrat majorities.
So I suck it up and support what I believe is the best hope we’ve got.
Forgive me being a broken record on this (or don’t; I don’t care). I raised six kids, and none of them are whiners. I have no sympathy for whining.
Like? And I mean, suggest something other than whatever “we” have been doing for the last 25 years because that hasn’t worked.
It would not be “taking” poison, it’d be feeding THEM poison. Big difference.
Then why are you whining at me?
You accused me of being a Democrat supporter. Nothing could be further from the truth. But I gather you’re big mad that I won’t join in the rah-rah chorus for the Republican party after they have spent 30 years alienating conservatives with their broken promises.
Solutions to move the party and legislation in the direction you prefer:
-vote Republican, and get your friends and family to vote Republican. It’s easy to forget our choice is binary. You may not care for the party or a particular candidate, but you will be governed by one of them. If you have to, support the lesser of two evils. It’s not fun, but it can surprise you (I was pleasantly surprised by Trump).
-focus more time on local elections. Voting for your school board isn’t sexy like the Presidency, but they are the front line on a lot of this stuff and have tremendous control over certain aspects of local government. Mayors can do a lot more than people think. Governors can do a lot (see FL)
-at the national level try to get an amendment passed to return senate voting to the states as the constitution envisioned- this will return some power to the states.
-move away from deep blue areas to purple ones, where your vote matters.
-try to elect the most conservative person who can win. This is a two way street. You hold your nose and vote for the nominee you don’t like, and you expect the same in return when your favorite is on the ballot.
-spend more time on local elections, but don’t neglect national ones. Donate what you reasonably can. Maybe that’s time. Maybe that’s money.
-attend caucuses if your state has them- you can meet people and influence voting more than you think.
I sat out 2016. Trump was never really in danger of loosing my state and I expected him to be democrat lite. He exceeded my expectations policy wise; however, I felt he made many poor moves stylistically. I agree I voted for him enthusiastically in 2020. He was the first president this century that didn’t start a new military conflict and found a way of engineering major peace deals in the middle east.
I have a high expectation. Should I do a post on how the Reagan presidency was a failure?
I agreee!!
I think the analogy has broken down. It is an election you have basically 4 choices:
I could fairly comfortably coast out the rest of my life. I am ready to wage Jihad for the future. I love my country, my local community, and my family. I have 7 grandkids whose future I must protect.
Well that’s no good, if I’m going to hell I insist on a handbasket!
We have the best handbaskets! The finest! Everyone says so! You have never seen such fine handbaskets!
And a betrayer.
In the midst of this, let’s give Glenn Youngkin credit for not turning out to be a DIABLO and actually following through on his campaign promises. (And remember some people saying he was too Trumpy). This is the way. If you want to regain trust, this is they way.
And at the same time, let’s Remember that Mitt Romney and Spencer Cox are absolutely DIABLOs and there are far too many like them in the current GOP.
You cannot ignore that when the Republicans won in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2014, and 2016 they spent most of their time and effort in Congress helping the Democrats weave that handbasket.
And THIS time it will be different! I just know it!
I’m thrilled to pieces with the efforts of Scott Pressler, et al, in getting people to change their registration from D to R. And I’m thrilled to pieces when I see people on Twitter announcing that they’ve changed their registration to R after suffering at the hands of Ds these past two years. But every time I see that tweet, I think “welcome to the broken hearts club”.
I’m also happy at the prediction that there will be a wipeout in November.
But really … what changes are we expecting (or hoping for) if that happens? Will the corruption in DC abate? Will teachers unions have less influence? Will Faucci get fired? Will the revolving door between the FDA and pharma get slammed shut? Will the march towards wokeness slow down in our military? will the supply chain get magically repaired? Any more drilling on Fed land? Will the southern border be secured? Will we see any accountability exacted towards the DOJ? Or the many people who have lied to Congress?
I hold no such illusions.
On the other hand, Eric Adams seems to be a disappointment.