So, it’s been a big week in politics. But a great week for those of us who prefer light over darkness, and sanity and reason over loud anger and misinformed/barely informed voters.
The Republicans had their first presidential debate and while I couldn’t watch it live, I avoided ALL news coverage of it until I could catch the entire thing on YouTube.
I’m a big dork like that and I like to see something with no preconceived notions. I want to be in my viewers’ shoes (before talking heads shape perceptions of who won and who lost, and before political operatives spread spin thicker than grape jelly on moldy bread).
I’m not real sure what I expected. But I think I expected Trump not to win soooo big in a debate he wasn’t even at.
I don’t think anyone who watched that debate could not be even further convinced that Trump will win the nomination.
But what if he’s convicted of crimes?
Even the Bible-thumper on the left, who almost single-handedly saved our country from civil war, and whose life was threatened by the President himself, agreed Trump is up to the job.
A shocking, sad state of affairs for the law and order party.
Nikki Haley had an incredible night, until she raised her hand…
Only two DIDN’T raise their hands: former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Neither have a chance of winning the primary.
Anyone watching that debate knows that there was only one person on that stage who could possibly derail Trump at this point, and that was Vivek Ramaswamy, who just happens to be another almost-billionaire loud-mouth, with no background in politics or government service, who lies and name-calls with an ease that is, uh, very Trumpian.
He also thinks our government may have been involved in 9/11, wants to eliminate the FBI, thinks climate change is a “hoax,” and is totally okay with giving Ukraine to Putin.
Again, very Trumpian ideas here.
There were a few moments where Haley, Christie, and Pence tried to be the adults in the room. Haley even told GOP voters the truth about Trump, Republicans, and spending in just an absolutely unbelievable clip.
But admitting that Trump added $8 trillion to our debt?! Also, that Republicans asked for WAY more in earmarks than Democrats.
Huge props to her for that.
But we do have to be real. The truth is? Most MAGA Republicans don’t want to hear the truth. Most MAGA Republicans, who will be voting in the primaries and mostly controlling who wins, believe Trump over everyone else.
They can hear him say grab women by the p_ssy (just locker room talk, supposedly), and then when he says it in a legal deposition? I guess celebrity talk?
He can be convicted of sexual abuse and defamation in his own hometown, and Trump supporters still don’t believe how he really is.
These days, in fact, so-called religious Christians on the far right are even turning away from — and ignoring — the teaching of Jesus.
As I’ve said before, I will no longer allow them to misuse and own Christian theology.
And while it’s clear those on the far right aren’t getting off the Trump train any time soon, let’s be encouraged by the fact that this was a very good week for sanity.
Trump had his mug shot taken. He ducked a debate and a chance to hone his debate skills, which weren’t even great in 2020. (See here, as well.)
He’s also spending TONS on legal fees for himself and others, while Biden just dropped the first of many strategic hits on the Republican Party.
Biden dropped a one-minute ad, entitled “These Guys,” regarding abortion and reproductive rights.
This ad will run for two weeks as part of a 16-week, $25 million advertising campaign. It will run in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The Trump fever hasn’t broken yet, but we’re one week closer to it breaking this week than we were last week. And we’re also one more witness flipping against him, in just one of his four cases.
Trump’s only hope at this point is to win the election, and while it’s certainly a possibility, I think we can all say at the end of this week that he goes into the weekend far weaker than he entered it.
And maybe that’s how fevers break. One degree at a time.
Keep your chin up, folks. We’re going to land this plan again in 2024 — same as we did in 2020 — no matter how bumpy the ride gets.
Love and peace,
Stan R. Mitchell
Don’t forget: You can comment anytime, and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written 12 of them: a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a motivational self-help book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan. You can find all of these books on Amazon.
"land this plan" ? :)