Tag: American Politics

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Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
5821850
 

I am tired of writing about Donald J. Trump, who has had an awful month. At least since November 8th, when many of his anointed and endorsed candidates either underperformed or lost their elections. But here we go again. Some things need to be said. Again. And probably not for the last time. Sigh. Some […]
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Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
46202
 

The Democratic National Committee, apparently at the behest of President Joe Biden, is poised to replace Iowa as the first presidential nominating caucus for South Carolina, followed quickly by New Hampshire and Georgia on the same day, followed by Michigan and Nevada. The Silver State presumably would have to ditch its caucus system for a […]
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Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
1412317
 

The 117th Congress is winding up its work with a heavy-duty “lame duck” session, replete with unfinished business – items before the election that were kicked down the road. While oddly focused on legislation that wasn’t needed – the misbranded “Respect for Marriage Act” – it faces deadlines on more pressing matters. That includes funding […]
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Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
34299
 

The phone call came out of the blue on a crisp Fall day in 1974. I was a freshman (oops, “first-year student”) at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, a small public liberal arts school. He got right to the point. “I’m Ed Goeas, and I want you to join OIL,” he said. […]
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Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
2216361
 

If Kevin McCarthy is looking for musical inspiration in his battle to become Speaker of the House on January 3rd, he might turn to fellow Bakersfield native, the late Merle Haggard. The country music icon and son of Depression-era dust bowl immigrants from Oklahoma was born near McCarthy’s hometown, a farming and food production mecca […]
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Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
2710436
 

During the fall of 2020, I joined a family friend on a bike ride along the Susquehanna River that borders Lancaster and York Counties in south-central Pennsylvania. Both counties are deep red politically and steeped in history. We started at Columbia, Pennsylvania, near what’s left of the Wrightsville Bridge, the burning of which in 1863 […]
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What Happens Now (With Congress)?

Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
1581180
 

Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin famously said, “There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen.” They often qualify as fulfilling the ancient Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times.”

We’re about to learn whether one or both fits the present. In the meantime, much drama awaits as the 118th Congress, probably the most narrowly divided Congress in American history, begins on January 3rd.

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Another Virtue Signal Goes Broke

Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
30182100
 

Samuel Bankman-Fried with US Rep. Maxine Waters, D-CA, outgoing chair of the House Financial Services Committee.

Before November 8, I’d never heard of Samuel Bankman-Fried (SBF). I’d never heard of FTX. I didn’t know that SBF and FTX bought naming rights for the arena where the NBA’s Miami Heat play, nor the University of California at Berkeley’s football stadium.

While I’ve heard of Bitcoin, Ethereum, DogeCoin, and maybe one or two other cryptocurrencies, I’d never heard of FTT, SBF’s creation. I never knew about all the love SBF bought from cultural icons like Larry David or football legend Tom Brady, who did commercials for FTX I never saw.

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Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
67276
 

It’s been nearly two weeks since the status quo elections of 2022 that disappointed Republicans but gave Democrats little to cheer for other than a sigh of relief. It is huge that Democrats kept control of the Senate. They will continue to stack the judiciary with hard-left judges for two more years. Pray for the […]
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J.D. Vance: Don’t Blame Trump (Alone)

Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
58151759
 

J.D. Vance owes his election to the US Senate from the Buckeye State to Donald Trump. Yes, of course, it was a majority of voters in Ohio who elected him. But the former president’s late endorsement in a crowded and competitive primary field that included 2018 GOP Senate nominee and former State Treasurer Josh Mandel was The Factor.

Vance, meanwhile, underperformed the rest of the statewide GOP ticket in Ohio. As previously reported, incumbent Gov. Mike DeWine won by 25 points over his Democratic challenger. The weakest of the three Republicans running for State Supreme Court won by 11 points. Vance won over US Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) by seven points.

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Member Post

Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
4519627
 

(Updated at 8 p.m. EST) Strategists in both major political parties continue to digest this year’s elections (we can’t call it “Election Day” anymore), and mail-in votes continue to trickle in and are counted. And we still have a US Senate election to resolve in Georgia. Who knows how that will turn out? Preview Open
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Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
79307
 

Many of us saw it coming after surprising results from “Election Day.” At this writing, another Republican lost after a painfully slow recount in an all-mail ballot election, several days after “Election Day,” a now-quaint notion. Thanks to all manner of early voting schemes, in person and via mail, we now have “Election Season.” No […]
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Are Trump Supporters Ready for Change?

Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
73202034
 

Most food packages come with one of two expiration dates. One says “best if used by” a date after which the quality slowly declines. The second one says “use by” or “expires by,” after which the product may be hazardous to your health.

It appears that Donald Trump may have hit his expiration date. It is hazardous for Republicans to nominate him for another White House run.

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It’s Time for a Family Conversation, GOP

Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
104252778
 

Dear fellow Republicans – especially those of you who remain loyal and ardently supportive of former President Donald Trump. We need to have a serious and frank family conversation.

I’m no “never Trumper.” I voted for Trump twice. Reluctantly the first time since I’d strongly supported my friend and former US Senator Rick Santorum’s (R-PA) candidacy for the GOP nomination, followed by US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), and then finally a vote in the Pennsylvania GOP primary in 2016 for US Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX). Still, there was no way I was voting to help elect Hillary Clinton. Trump got my vote in 2016, Access Hollywood tape and all.

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Member Post

Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
37194
 

Happy Election Day. National Review writer Dan McLaughlin posted a helpful reminder of how often most polls miss the mark. He posted on Twitter the polling averages for the 2018 gubernatorial race in Florida between then-GOP Congressman Ron DeSantis and Tallahassee’s Democratic Mayor Andrew Gillum. Preview Open
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Who’s Committing Election Violence?

Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
23131182
 

Never ones to let a “crisis” go to waste, President Biden and his fellow travelers are working overtime to accuse Republicans of being behind election violence threats.

“President Joe Biden urged Americans to vote in favor of democracy, reject election-denying candidates, and be patient with results ahead of the first national Election Day held since the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol,” screamed CNBC in its coverage of Biden’s Union Station speech last Wednesday.

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Member Post

Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
78233
 

As a former speechwriter for a Cabinet official, US Senators, and candidates, I have an annoying urge to rewrite speeches I don’t like. It’s an occupational hazard. As a former campaign operative, speeches that qualify as “tactical” or strategic events invite critique, with an occasional, “that’s not what I would have said.” This is one […]
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The Perfect Democratic Backdrop to a ‘Hail Mary’ Pass

Kelly D Johnston
Kelly D Johnston
10151287
 

The trend lines are unmistakable. Democratic voters appear headed to a walloping in this election. I can’t refer to it as “Election Day” anymore. Thanks to the early and mail-in voting, it’s “Election Season.” It began in late September in some states. And we won’t know the results in many states, especially Pennsylvania, thanks to the malign, confusing manner they handle mail-in ballots.

President Joe Biden delivered his “closing message” last night for this year’s midterm election. Because his last brazenly political speech did so well. As for me, I watched the World Series even out at two games apiece as Houston Astros pitchers combined for a no-hitter over my former hometown Phillies. Even the reliably Democratic Washington Post gave the speech scant coverage, referring almost as much to his previous disaster, using Philadelphia’s Independence Hall and two US Marines as a deeply inappropriate backdrop. Dark Brandon, indeed.

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