Weightlifting
No, not that kind of weightlifting.
This kind:
I can’t remember the last time I saw Caroline Glick smile, but there it is. Of course, she’s aware that the road ahead isn’t easy. But she’s allowing herself a few moments of celebration, and for those moments she looks as though a great weight has lifted from her shoulders.
I feel much the same way. Looking back, I never felt this way when Trump was elected in 2016, although I do recall feeling relief that Hillary Clinton would not be president. But I thought Trump was an untried, untested blowhard – which, come to think of it, he was. It only took a few months to start feeling better about his presidency, and somewhere about halfway through I really started enjoying it. But I was aware that it might end after the 2020 election, and when COVID and lockdowns occurred, I became fairly certain that Trump would not be re-elected.
Looking back, I see from this post of mine, written in March of 2020, that I correctly saw what a future Biden presidency would hold:
The near-certainty that the Democratic nominee will be Biden raises the specter of the Democrats coming back and picking up where Obama left off, only worse. We dodged that bullet in 2016. But the question has always been whether that was only a little blip on the long Gramscian march and the Democrats’ hope for permanent takeover of the American electorate. Simply put: will the US inexorably move further and further left?
Biden’s supposed “moderation” is only such compared to Bernie. And I doubt that a single one of my Democrat friends (who are quite typical, politically, of much of the Democratic electorate) would hesitate to vote for either Biden or Sanders or any other sentient (or semi-sentient) being if that person becomes the Democratic nominee. They hate Trump with a white hot passion.
Biden’s running mate will probably be a woman, someone like Klobuchar or Kamala Harris (remember her?). Someone female and young, preferably ethnic although Biden really doesn’t need that since he already has the black vote pretty well sewn up because of his Obama connection.
I believe Biden as president would be more a less a figurehead, and the people in charge would be the same people who were prominent in the Obama administration, doing the same things only more so because they feel the country is ready for more open leftism. The Deep State will really go to town, as well. Legislation, however, depends on who controls Congress. If it’s the Democrats, the sky’s the limit.
I have never for a moment understood why anyone would have seen Biden as a potential moderate, but perception of his supposed middle-of-the-road quality was one of the main reasons he became president. For the next four years, for the most part, blogging consisted of chronicling a series of bad decisions with bad results.
When Trump announced he was running again, I wasn’t happy. I knew that his support in the GOP primaries would be very strong and would be enough to eliminate other and younger contenders such as DeSantis. And Trump came with several steamer trunks of baggage, actually a long caravan. Simply put: I didn’t think he was likely to win the general.
Tuesday night proved me wrong, I’m happy to say. And now I get to enjoy a period in which, like Caroline Glick, I can do a little happy-dance. It’s not that I’m unaware of the enormity of the problems looming. And I certainly don’t think it will be smooth sailing or anything resembling it. But there is a sense of relief and some of the weight has lifted for now.
And quickly, we get to enjoy news like this:
Qatar has told the political leaders of the Hamas terror group that they were no longer welcome in the Gulf state, Israeli media reported on Friday.
According to the Hebrew-language Kan outlet, the decision was communicated to the Palestinian jihadists “in recent days.”
“Recent days” – how many? Let’s guess.
Another thing about a second Trump term is that he’s more seasoned. Yes, he is also facing the challenges of undoing the damage the Biden administration did. But he knows the ropes, as it were. And I like to think that his four years out of power, his legal struggles, and his survival on July 13, have deepened him in some way. This time around he’s got the help of smart guys such as Vivek and Elon, and the calm of Tulsi Gabbard – plus, well, I’m not 100% sure of RFK but I guess we’ll find out. I have no idea how long this very interesting coalition will last, or what fruit it will bear, but I do find it intensely unusual and potentially very good.
And what of the left? They’ve tried internal sabotage, lawfare, and catastrophizing. Two of their acolytes tried assasination. Now they are rending their garments. But I’m not sure their lies will be as effective this time. And I think they will lose control of the House.
And another bonus: I don’t see Kamala Harris making a political comeback in 2028. Or ever. Biden? He looked happy making his speech the other day, and sounded more coherent than he has in four years. Have a happy retirement, Joe, and keep wearing that MAGA hat. What Obama might be cooking up I really don’t know. But one thing I think we can safely say is that this will not be his fourth term as president.
But I’m not sure their lies will be as effective this time
My sense is that Trump has been largely immunized from all the Dem-Media chicanery. They’ve thrown everything at him for a decade and yet he seems to have only emerged stronger despite it all, like some sort of modern folk hero. Of course, I’ve little doubt at least some of them will keep at it anyway. The problem for them is how many times can people cry wolf (or cry Hitler!) before it falls on deaf ears? It’s not like the leftwing media has much real credibility left amongst the bulk of voters.
Am also liking what I’m seeing ‘n hearing this time. Last time (2016) Trump seemed to be picking his cabinet/admin thru some kind of MAGA poll—especially that fuking Jeff Sessions.
New Chief of Staff Susie Wiles had helped to keep him under control enough that he didn’t blow it during the loooooonng run-up to the election—an amazing accomplishment on her part. Maybe a female CoS will settle him down from butting heads with an incredibly important position in his cabinet/admin…and possibly other positions (?). I do like this pick at this point.
No, but the Tiger can be kept under control…to a degree.
Since got on the Trump train in 2016 never wavered off. I know he should have won in 2020 and this time expect him to be a wrecker of the Deep State. It will depend if Congress and Senate give him what he needs to break them.
2016 he got backstabbing by many including Republicans, many I think bought the Russian Collusion. It shouldn’t happen now. He needs a good DOJ immediately, and appointments better be swiftly granted
.
Looking back, March 2020: An amazing bit of prognostication by neo.
After Trump was elected…
But I thought Trump was an untried, untested blowhard – which, come to think of it, he was. It only took a few months to start feeling better about his presidency, and somewhere about halfway through I really started enjoying it.
While I thought Trump probably had some great media instincts and business instincts that would serve him well, I worried that he would not have sufficient experience about all of the nastiness involved in the sausage making that we call White House and Capitol Hill politics.
I was very heartened by people like Larry Kudlow coming into the White House, but a very early major disappointment was Jeff Sessions as AG. Then there was the Gen. Mike Flynn fiasco. We, or I, didn’t know what to make of it for a long time until the FBI dirt began to leak out into the conservative media.
It’s rather astonishing that Flynn and his people, and perhaps Trumps people, didn’t understand the dangers of that FBI “sting” operation. Oh, they are FBI agents, therefore they must noble honorable people involved in some rudimentary inquiries. No need for caution!
Whatever happens we have got
The Executive Order and they have not.
(With apologies to Hilaire Belloc)
I’ve heard rumblings of Kamala running for governor of CA in 2026. And given how insane this state is, she’d probably win.
Not a tiger, feline, but a cetecean, as in The Great Orange Whale.
It’s hard to put a mustache on a whale, but the left sure tried.
How did that work out?
Will Judge Chutkan take the hint, now that Jack Smith has no cases?
The Dem Gov avowing that they will not abide by Trump orders on illegal deportations is very Insurrectionist. Subject them to any lawfare that be done. Federal charges, power of the pen, Rep congress (OK I am dreaming here) and the power of the purse. Make their life miserable.
“I don’t see Kamala Harris making a political comeback in 2028.”
No chance of that whatsoever. Her defeat does clear the way for other contenders like Newsom and Whitmer in 2028. But barring wild card events, J.D. Vance is likely to win the 2028 election.
I can’t remember the last time I saw Caroline Glick smile…
OK, that line made me smile. And she wasn’t just smiling but joyous! In her defense she’s usually talking about some pretty grim shit.
” And I certainly don’t think it will be smooth sailing or anything resembling it.” [Neo]
I wholeheartedly agree, but the upside is that who more than Donald Trump has proven himself willing to fight and weather such a storm? I actually look forward to a difficult road ahead because Trump has proven that it is surmountable.
The left coast governors are going to try to stop deportations from their states.
Secondly, they’re all Climate Change cultists. They will sue the EPA, the oil industry, and anyone who favors an active, growing oil and gas industry.
They’re all abortion rights activists. They will bring harassing cases against any agency that they think might set restrictions of any kind on abortion.
They will sue to stop the Department of Education from barring transgender men from playing in women’s sports.
They will continue to force their utilities to increase the share of wind and solar power that they produce. Which will increase the cost of utilities and make them more unreliable.
And there are other things they will do. Anything to try to disrupt, stop, or damage the Trump agenda.
We moved to Washington state for retirement 32 years ago. We picked it for its geography (mountains, lakes, ocean, trout fishing, etc.) and the humidity that my wife needs. We never dreamed that it would become a Democrat controlled state as it was purple when we moved here.
Too late to move. Just have to keep fighting back in such ways as we can.
About 42% 0f the voters here voted for DJT. I’m hoping another 10% of voters will see how self-defeating our governor’s actions are and begin to wake up. Well, I can dream.
Marisa (4:23 pm) said, “I’ve heard rumblings of Kamala running for governor of CA in 2026. And given how insane this state is, she’d probably win.”
Those rumblings originate in my stomach. (I am presently a citizen living in California.)
I moved here in 2012 for reasons very unrelated to, in fact in spite of, the political climate here. Should a secessionist movement take hold here, I would support it, because doing so would help my fellow USA citizens rid themselves of this tumor. Imagine, fellow citizens, 54 less leftist electoral votes to overcome!
Such a minor, personal thing; but I’d just like to say that I’ve been voting since 2004, when I was 18, and this was the first time I voted for the winner. (I didn’t vote for Hillary in ‘16. I went 3rd party.)
Anyway. What a feeling!
Speaking of lifting weights, I salivate at the thought of that full stack of executive orders in the in-box on Day One. I might actually watch a livestream of Trump signing those things for hours, were there one to be watched. (I hope he has a good physical therapist on hand that day for his wrist.) Nuke every single one of the Marionette’s ukazes from four years ago. Status quo ante – with interest.
The preparation of that set should be quite simple: template being “Effective immediately, Executive Order [number] [title] of January 20, 2021 [and beyond according to taste – moi] is hereby rescinded.”
My favorite line in Neo’s very good post [from 2020]:
Biden’s running mate will probably be a woman, someone like Klobuchar or Kamala Harris (remember her?)
I hope to forget her!
@ TommyJay > “Oh, they are FBI agents, therefore they must noble honorable people involved in some rudimentary inquiries. No need for caution!”
No one will make that mistake again.
The FBI and DOJ have done incalculable damage to the trust that a civilized society must have in their law enforcement and justice agencies. I’m not sure we can ever recover from that.
I would like to add to Trump’s day one list an EO (if possible) or a request for legislation to Congress that the laws stacking on extra penalties for “lying to law enforcement” be removed or repealed. There are sufficient laws against perjury already, and we have seen how the FBI/DOJ twisted people’s words, entrapped them by themselves lying, and so force.
While we’re at it, put some teeth in the already miniscule curbs on “permitted” lying by federal officials. That ought to be a very small part of very important, sensitive investigations, not routine behavior.
AesopFan, I concur. In this day and age there should not be any law enforcement interview sumitted as evidence in court that was not at least an audio recording, and preferrably a video recording [with whatever water marks etc. will be needed to show it was not AI generated.]
Plus “confessions” obtained after X hours of interrogation should be considered suspect.
Karmi may add to this??
“… the already miniscule curbs on “permitted” lying by federal officials. That ought to be a very small part of very important, sensitive investigations, not routine behavior.” And if such lying is used to try and trick a suspect into revealing needed information, that should be explictly authorized by a senior official as part of potentially protecting national security, or life and limb of someone.
Reforms of qualified immunity are needed, but those kinds of reforms remain a slippery slope for abuse in either direction. Someone here may have some suggestions??
Trump’s first official action should be pardoning ALL the J6 political prisoners. Those who are still behind bars and those who are out on a lesser charge. Those who brought the charges should be sued (and prosecuted themselves) and the J6 people be at least be made whole.
They ALL deserve the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The issues and way the Left gained power will not disappear.
I’m enjoying this too much.