On Wednesday's post, a commenter asked me how I claim to be a conservative, when I don't endorse Trump's Americanism. I wouldn't call Trump's agenda American values, and Mackenzie's sycophantic behavior may well be a bad bet on his part. His reported answers on the WFMZ Iannelli interview were way too safe for me.
The most independent that he could be was to agree with Iannelli that certain behaviors were wrong, such as going after political enemies, but he stopped way short of calling Trump out on them. Closing the border is a horse that can be ridden only so far.
When science research against cancer is defunded, and a president babbles on against Tylenol, people with a grade 12 education wince. When enough people wince, over one misstep or another, that party suffers in the midterms. The WFMZ interview was an opportunity for Mackenzie to present himself as his own man...he failed to do that.
In terms of being independent and your own man, this blog (me) has moved more to the center. As a conservative independent, many of my readers are Republican. Many people cannot understand that there are independents like myself, who really do not adhere to one party or another. Likewise, they may not understand that this blog is not written for monetary compensation. I express my opinion, readers are welcome to come and go.
This isn't my first post critical of Mackenzie. It is my hope that he comes to assert himself when Trump introduces a flawed policy, and I can vote for him in 2026.
Well, I certainly hope you won't vote for a baby-killing, child-perverting Democrat!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, have you driven the hate filled Kool Aid.
Deleteanon@1:48: I haven't really moved more to the center, but I do want to put more room between your sort of statement and myself.
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect, you can label yourself whatever you choose. Regardless of label, your continued attempts to malign President Trump has reached a level of obsession. It takes up too much space here.
DeleteTry to understand, this is President Trump's LAST term. Anything you say or do cannot change that.
I prefer to read a balanced debate over a specific Trump
accomplishment that meets/does not meet the goal of making America a better place than it was before.
Today's message apparently is, do not vote for Ryan Mackenzie because Ryan Mackenzie is too soft on Trump. OK then, who else to choose, and why?
anon@6:14: Today's message is that Mackenzie will lose, if he doesn't put distance between himself and Trump, who is governing by obsessions, such as punishing political opponents and an ever changing tariff policy.
DeleteMike, so touching how you care for our congressional representative. If only he acted as you wanted you wouldn't have to criticize him for disapointing you. The voters will have an opportunity to retain or remove him in 14 months. In their calculation they will have to chose if the Democrat alternative would better represent their interests and point of view in Washington. Judging but what I see, I believe they will not.
DeletePunishing political opponents had become quite the norm over the Obama/Biden years. All depends on determining the degree of punishment deserved.
DeleteYesterday's indictment of former FBI Director James Comey will be revealing, to say the least. Hopefully, the Comey matter makes its way to a Jury Trial.
James Comey is CLEARLY guilty as charged. Frankly, I expect a hardcore liberal judge to throw it all out. If not that, a stacked jury of Virginia residents will probably not convict.
With a Jury Trial, though, we'll get to force testimony from several complicit witnesses.
In summary, if any political opponent breaks one of our laws, he/she MUST be punished in some manner. Democrats coined the phrase "No one is above the law." We shall see.
It could well be that "No one is above the law, but SOME are above being punished." Not something I ever want to see here.
I have no problem with the ever changing tariff policy. It's really a negotiation process between hundreds if divergent nations. Not a one size fits all deal.
Using tariffs is not new to America. This nation was originally funded using tariffs prior to establishment of income taxes to fund government. Those tariffs went on for years. Be nice again to fund through tariffs. That's the stated goal here.
Republican canidates in the 2026 congressional and local elections need to support traditional conservative values, not all of which are Trump/MAGA values.
ReplyDeleteDomestically, the second Trump term has been reletively successful, although he has been governing nearly exclusively by Executive Orders, which is extremely disturbing to me, as that smells of a dictatorship governed by the will of one person, and not that of a consensus of Americans.
When it comes to funding measures, this is where Trump will need to learn the word "compromise", as the Congress is pretty evenly divided and the President does not have the authority to issue E.O.s on spending bills.
It is Trump's foreign policy that I object the most strongly to. The United States does not cower to war criminals and tyrants in order to make 'deals' with them that are imperialistic. Trump wants to enrich the United States through trade deals and his policy of punitive tariffs flies in the face of 80 years of our previous trade policies.
The United States built an empire after World War II not just on our economic and military power, but we also strongly supported freedom, liberty and democratic forms of government. That is what made the US a superpower. Not with cutthroat buisness deals with dictators and tyrants such as Putin.
Does it appear Trump is making a "cutthroat business deal" with Putin? Sure doesn't seem that way to the rest of rest. Among other things, he is asking Europe and India not to buy Russian oil in an effort to force them to negotiate seriously on Ukraine. Many don't like his style, style is what the Europeans have mastered, it has landed them where they are now. Impotent, disrespected, and in decline. I rather be led by a leader like Trump than a smooth talker any day.
DeleteBrent, as you know, all Executive Orders are temporary. They can all be swept away after the next Presidential Election. Before that, they can be legislated away or stalled by Court Order.
DeleteOur current problem is this. The Congress now seated has made it virtually impossible for Trump to get anything through the usual way. So, he makes his point using the commonly used Executive Orders process. In effect, he formalizes his desires officially into the Government Record.
I don't 'smell' anything that demonstrates Trump wants to be a dictator. Actually, he's been very careful to stay within the limitations prescribed by our nation's Constitution.
Scott@7:38: In 2024 I only cast three votes, I didn't vote for the top of the ticket, Trump/Harris. I believe that the Mackenzie/Wild vote rode on the coattails of the top of the ticket. Independents swung for Trump. I assume the registration in the county still favors blue. Mackenzie came off OK with Iannelli, but IMO he'll have to vote OK in congress to retain his seat.
ReplyDeleteanon@7:51: I agree that NY state weaponized the court against Trump, and it helped him in the election. Trump doing the same thing now will likewise hurt Republicans in 2026/2028. Trump doesn't care about how Republicans fare in future elections, he only cares about himself.
Next year will be different than 24 that's for sure. The top of the ticket next year will be the governor's race, not nearly the draw of the big ticket. This said, even with one of the few remaining sane Democrats, Shapiro at the top of the ticket, the ongoing wild leftward swing of the Democratic Party will hobble any Democrat candidate in all but the most blue districts. The seventh is very purple and independents, as you have pointed out, are almost a third of the voters. They two will have to decide. As I see the momentum building for outright socialism, open borders, and radical trans policies within the Democratic Party I think it's safe to assume independents will break for what they see as the lesser of two evils. Ryan will make sure they know who that is in a very calm and deliberate way. One wonders what the eventual Democrat nominee will have to scream out to keep the street corner screaming, placard waving boomers in board. Honestly, it's going to be fun. I love this stuff.
DeleteThere is a popular company that advertises that their product is designed, engineered and assembled in America. That really means that the components are manufactured overseas. Industry cannot plan production and inventory when supplies are in a state of price flux.
ReplyDeleteSome Americans have been frightened by the media over the matter of tariffs. You are correct, tariffs are placed on components needed to assemble the product. Here's an example.
DeleteA new BMW (German) listed at $100K, but taxed at 20% does not mean a new listed price at $120K. The added cost to you could be as low as $2K.
First of all, the maker of the component will eat some of the increased cost to stay competitive with other makers of the same part. Your local car dealer will do the same thing. Or, the car manufacture will purchase the component from an alternate place taxed lower, or not taxed at all.
American made cars are not hit with any tariffs. But, there are no fully American made cars!
anon@10:00: adding to my fright about Trump's tariffs, is his choice of advisers.
DeleteMackenzie was always a lightweight, but he looked like a nice white boy. He’s a career politician he can smile a great smile and lie at the same time. He’s a trump-coat-tailer and he knows it. He will always follow his leader, he will never represent his constituents no matter how many handshake photos his staff posts.
ReplyDeleteHe's a Harvard graduate grad
DeleteHa! Harvard graduates are primarily Liberals. Funny how Democrats are so anxious to be rid of him. Harvard is considered to be the most Liberal of all Ivy League schools.
DeleteIn any case, I think it's too late to write Mackenzie off. He's still wet behind the ears. Biggest factor favoring Ryan's chances was Susan Wild being such a failure. She was under the total control of Nancy Pelosi. Yuk!
Trump got a great reception at the Ryder Cup in New York today, and the Republican candidate for NJ Governor seemed happy to get Trump’s endorsement yesterday.
ReplyDeleteThe Republican is currently neck-and-neck with the democrat candidate in NEW JERSEY!
It would appear that not everyone shares your assessment of Trump, or maybe many of those that do are too preoccupied with spiting Trump and having to recover from their Tylenol overdoses.
Do not discount election 'funny business' in New Jersey or Pennsylvania. It's real.
Delete