That's the WaPo subheadline, under the headline "Vance blames Republicans’ midterm losses on Iran war, cost of living" (gift link).
Here, read Vance's post. It doesn't strike me as a "sharp break" from Trump. I see it as just analyzing the substance of yesterday's big losses:
One of the things the data analysts on our side obsessed over was "composition"—whether the electorate looked close enough to 2024 for Republicans to win. And despite polls that showed a Democrat blowout, the data kept on telling us the same story: in some states turnout was merely OK, in other states it was downright amazing, and in no state was it catastrophic. There was a genuine sense of optimism on our team: our people were showing up.
So, I asked the smartest data guy I know, does that mean we're going to shock the world? "No," he told me. "We might do better than the polls suggest. But the data is telling us that a lot of Trump/Vance 2024 voters are pissed and planning to vote for the other guys. Our voters are turning out, but they may not vote for us."
Well, that looks prophetic now. Our voters did show up. In Florida, for example, the electorate was 9 points more Republican than Democrat, just a couple points worse than 2024. Undoubtedly there were places we could have done better on turnout. But the main problem is not turnout. The main problem is that many people who voted for Trump/Vance in 2024 voted for Democrats in 2026.
There will be a lot of infighting and arguing over what happened and why that is. One of the pollsters I really respect told me that our economic messaging wasn’t sharp enough down the stretch. I’m sure that’s true.
But the real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone.
Another pollster—one of the smartest people I know in politics, told me yesterday we’d lose the generic ballot by 13 points. I felt negative going into Tuesday, but even I was shocked by this. In his polling, he saw that a lot of Trump 2024 voters were angry and planning to vote for Democrats. He asked those voters who had abandoned us what would cause them to come back on our team. The top four answers, accounting for nearly all of the responses were:
1) End the war
2) Focus on cost of living/inflation
3) Put America First
4) Change our relationship to Israel
Our voters showed up. And the above four reasons are why many of them voted for Democrats. This is according to a pollster who nailed the results. While many spent Monday attacking Rachel Campos Duffy for calling for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, it turns out her political advice was sound. (She’s also a great person.)
In the next few months, there's going to be a lot of gaslighting. Expect to hear any number of establishment politicians say the solution to our woes is amnesty. I'm open to the idea that we should change enforcement—by focusing more on businesses that hire illegal labor, for instance. But anyone pushing amnesty is lying to you.
The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night.
If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest.
But everyone knows why we lost. And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there.
I remain hopeful about our country. To the people who are pissed off and want to say, “I told you so”: you’re right, you did tell us so. Take that energy into electing Republicans who share your worldview. To the people who are just pissed at the results, you should be. Let’s take that anger and get back to the work of saving our country.
Trump himself analyzes the loss, and Vance observes that Trump said they lost because of the war. Where's the break? If Vance had wanted to make a "sharp break" from Trump, he could have said that, all along, he — Vance — qas the skeptical voice on the war.
पोस्ट्स
११७ टिप्पण्या:
"don't need a weatherman..." etc.
Well, at least they've got 20/20 hindsight.
Vance can't win in 2028. He's too soft. Rubio can win, he's a hardass. With DeSantis as VP. Get Alito to retire and put Cruz on the Supreme Court this year, Trump! Battlespace preparation is important.
Having the Senate was largely worthless for Trump.
The supposed war in Iran is a bullshit excuse for getting trounced in the midterms. Poor candidates and fake issues like data centers lost it for the GOP.
It wasn't "the war" that lost the election. It was failure to prosecute the war to complete surrender of the Iranian regime. Just like Netanyahu no prosecuting the Gaza offensive to complete surrender of Hamas, and the Lebanon attacks to the complete surrender of Hezbollah.
Tuco's rule applies here, writ large. When you have to shoot, shoot! Don't talk!
Vance has the record to present himself as an opponent of the Iran war.
He was the skeptical voice on the inside when it was being planned. Who else has that distinction?
The Iran conflict was and continues to be necessary. We cannot have a nuclear armed Iran.
If Vance doesn’t realize that, he is not as bright as I once thought. If he does realize it, he is just another politician positioning himself to his advantage.
I suspect the latter. It is disappointing, but that’s how the world of politics works.
…it was the lure of vengeance and free stuff paid for by ‘rich people’. It’s ancient and irresistible brew without an expiration date. No matter, this is not the time to treat voters as rational beings. Pander away JD. You mat be positioned to pick up the pieces…
…it was the lure of vengeance and free stuff paid for by ‘rich people’. It’s ancient and irresistible brew without an expiration date. No matter, this is not the time to treat voters as rational beings. Pander away JD. You mat be positioned to pick up the pieces…
Two years ago, so many of my "friends" unfriended me (and some actually blocked me) when I posted that the Democrats needed to seriously figure out why they lost and why the voters rejected their policies if they ever wanted to retake the White House. It's nice to see that Vance realizes this is important to do.
Political parties, and candidates, need to avoid falling into the trap of thinking that they win elections because people like them. So often you win elections only because the other side did a worse job. After you win, if you don't continue to make improvements, you will lose the next time because the other side didn't take the voters for granted and you did. (Or at least, take them for granted as much.)
"What have you done for me lately?"
"We cannot have a nuclear armed Iran."
A practical certainty now thanks to how bungled this was. Still worth it?
"3) Put America First
4) Change our relationship to Israel "
Those aren't two different things. They're the same thing.
rehajm said...
"…it was the lure of vengeance and free stuff paid for by ‘rich people’. "
I said a while ago that "eat the rich" was a winning strategy. The Republicans got uncomfortably, too comfortable with the tech bros, billionaires, corporations and the rush into AI. A lot of people are actually really scared by (and viscerally hate) AI and that cannot be ignored.
That seems to strike the right tone to me. Disappointed, but realistic and transparent about the reasons, so let's stop sucking our thumbs and climb back into the saddle.
I'll still vote for Rubio in the primary at this point, but I'd happily support Vance or DeSantis in the general.
You are a fool, RSM.
I do not mean to be impolite, but there are no other words to describe you opinions about the Middle East.
I question whether the Republicans lost because Republican voters switched over and voted Democrat. Seems to me more like more Democrats showed up and a lot of Republicans didn't. Switching over and voting for Democrats would be unusual behavior (does anyone who previously voted Republican trust the Democrats about anything?).
Vance seems to be conceding "the narrative" that Iran and Israel were the primary factors for Republican voters. I don't buy that at all.
Vance has the record to present himself as an opponent of the Iran war.
You think so? The same guy that tried to educate the POPE on how Catholic doctrine supports the War in Iran? You really think he has the bona fides?
Vance is a gutless weasel. He was against the War in Iran before he was for the War in Iran and also after he was for the War in Iran. He is the same man who called Trump "America's Hitler."
Vance has no future. He's done.
“ He was the skeptical voice on the inside when it was being planned. Who else has that distinction?”
Not Rubio. He’s not a viable candidate for ‘28; there’s too much orange on him. Trump should just resign now and give Vance a head start. He’s going to need it. Trump’s main accomplishment was saving us from Kamala; I could have done without all the Greenland, Canada, Gulf of America, Trump-Kennedy Center nonsense. Time for him to enjoy his golden years.
The incumbent party using loses seats in the mid-terms. This was worse than usual because of the war and gas prices. Whats funny is the "true conservatives" and "DC republicans" loved the Iranian war. And their only beef with Trump is he didn't start WW III with Russia or give another 200 Billion to Ukraine.
Thankfully, we might be spared the usual DC Republican cry of "We need to pass Amnesty to get Latinos".
"but there are no other words to describe you opinions about the Middle East."
There is now: "Correct". Say it with me now...
Your smokin some strong shit, Maynard.
Personally, I think it had more to do with "Do-nothing" Republican Senate. They passed zero legislation that Trump and MAGA wanted, and have let the Judiciary stop anythin Trump did by executive order.
Why go to trouble of voting for a Republican Senator? They'll do nothing- and want to be in the minority.
I spoken many times that our support for Israel has led to our significant blessing. No other country can claim the prosperity we have blessed over the past 80 years or so. One could see the anti-Israel disdain snowballing. Vance wants to change our relationship with Israel? We are toast.
"Our voters are turning out, but they may not vote for us."
That's not what happened in Kansas. The D's showed up, and the R's didn't. Same thing in Ohio.
"I spoken many times that our support for Israel has led to our significant blessing"
Yeah, because God and Netenyahu are best friends forever. You must be joking - or a lunatic.
I never imagined in my Baby Boomer lifetime that anti-semitism would become so common among the Left as well as some aspects of the Right.
Thank you RCO.
Oil suddenly down 9% today. That's not suspicious at all.
With the RINOs out of power, maybe Trump can get some legislation done for a change. They can't be any worse.
Vance supported Vivek and his stupid ad up to the end. He'll never be able to explain that away.
I spoken many times that our support for Israel has led to our significant blessing. No other country can claim the prosperity we have blessed over the past 80 years or so
You credit Israel for America's prosperity? It was the Israelis and not the Americans that were responsible.
⬆️ This is why MAGA loses. Keep saying shit like this.
Not anti-semitism. Common-sensitism. Israel has never been the friend to this country your generation thinks it is. The same MSM many like you now distrust is the same MSM that has been running interference for their frenemish behavior for decades. That interference is now crumbling, and some of those younger "aspects of the right" you mention can not only see the one-way nature of that multi-decade relationship but aren't going to allow it to be swept under a rug anymore. America's "wife" has been two-timing Uncle Sam for years, and it is *time to reevaluate the nature of our association*, across the board.
I have been unwaveringly consistent. "America comes first. Israel and the rest of the world comes second...or sometimes not at all."
You people are doing denial and anger simultaneously, so I guess that's a step in the right direction.
We all would have preferred symbolic foreign policy gestures as well. The Iran War was a big mistake.
And so were the trade wars. Congress should reestablish its primacy in regulating foreign commerce. Congress needs tight control over this power. I hope both parties can agree on this and get a veto proof bill passed. (This stuff is in the Constitution, let's respect that.)
But thanks to the Democrats, we are going to have another immigration and border crisis. Another round of "unprecedented numbers" of undocumented children flooding across our southern border. And more military age men from God knows where. Of course, we'll be told to ignore the explosion in criminality as these people embed themselves in our communities.
Also, JD should shut up. He's not getting my vote.
Crew members of USS Liberty couldn't be reached for comment.
"Eight States Elect Dems – and Overwhelmingly Pass Voter-ID, Citizenship Laws"
Are they serving alcohol at the polls now?
This part of Vance’s tweet is signal that he is going after Hegseth, that's what it's about. It doesn't matter if it was the Iran War or not, Vance is going to use it to bring Hegseth down.
Israel has never been the friend to this country your generation thinks it is.
You know who our actual allies are? Canada. The UK. Denmark. When the US was attack after 9/11, those countries came to our defense. Their sons and daughters died for our cause.
How many Israeli soldiers helped us? ZERO. Some fucking "friend" they are.
Like many unpopular decisions, the Iran action will, in the long run, turn out to be essential and right. The necessary action is already accomplished, and the benefits will show over time. Only the Democrats can screw it up. A lot of them want to, and they are dumb enough to do it.
It's a sharp break. It's a disaster-in-the-making. It's pandemonium in the White House. It's a knock-down, drag-out fight. The Walls are Closing In....
The Me(D)ia are getting their groove back. There's lots to be done, and the table must be set.
Have you been hanging out with RCO, Howard?
Trump needs to follow through... medical, academic, immigration, Iran's war, etc.
"I question whether the Republicans lost because Republican voters switched over and voted Democrat. Seems to me more like more Democrats showed up and a lot of Republicans didn't. Switching over and voting for Democrats would be unusual behavior (does anyone who previously voted Republican trust the Democrats about anything?).
Vance seems to be conceding "the narrative" that Iran and Israel were the primary factors for Republican voters. I don't buy that at all."
Switching accounted for only 3 of the 16 point change from the 2024 election. R's sat on their hands to "punish" Trump and D's turned out greater and grabbed more indies. Young males who went for Trump went completely the other way due to cost of living issues, but those voters are the most fickle. The biggest issue for the GOP right now is losing Governorships in Ohio and Texas, since they''ll set the rules for elections moving forward.
It was a midterm like almost any other midterm (Obama lost 63 House seats and 6 Senate seats in 2010) but of course recency bias and media hype are going to be off the charts.
Unfortunately, we don't have Peter Jennings around to properly refer to it as a temper tantrum.
Odd to note that Blue faces won but Red policies won big too (right-leaning ballot initiatives won all over, even some as high as 60-40) Only Voter ID in California went down. The billionaire tax was defeated by 12? points.
So the consensus is we should surrender to Iran after largely demolishing them but keep paying Ukrainians to fight Russia? Have I got that right?
Ouch 🤕
We'd be better off paying Ukraine to fight Iran for us
"(This stuff is in the Constitution, let's respect that.)"
Ha ha ha ha. The Constitution-as-written has all but guaranteed the government you have today.
Howard said...
We'd be better off paying Ukraine to fight Iran for us
lol
The strait of Hormuz will remain closed until Europe falls.
"4) Change our relationship to Israel "
We cannot tolerate that kind of antisemitism.
/s/
I'm glad to see Achilles has already reached the bargaining stage
"Howard said...
We'd be better off paying Ukraine to fight Iran for us"
I'm okay with just starting with having Ukraine finish off Putin for us. That would be quite enough for me.
We'll negotiate with Iran, like we've done successfully in the past.
Trump will end the war and he'll start this week. I think on Saturday. Major bombing. Invade and capture some oil assets. The Crown Prince leads a separate invasion. We bomb Pick Axe Mt.
There will be people in the regular Army who will take out the IRGC.
Two things that must happen now.
1. Democrats and the Vance republicans need to let their freak flags fly. They need to decry the reindustrialization of the USA and tell everyone how important it is to send all the jobs the Iran “war” made possible here back to China.
2. They also need to impeach Trump at least 42 times and continue to yell and scream and attack people who disagree with them.
Do not stop. Spend every minute of every day talking about how bad the USA is and how bad white Christian’s are.
This is very important, predictable, and inevitable.
The person who wins the 2028 Republican primary will make Trump look like a cuddly teddy bear.
"Like many unpopular decisions, the Iran action will, in the long run, turn out to be essential and right."
I simply cannot agree with this assessment.
"The necessary action is already accomplished"
Not even close. The Iranian regime will survive this and their nuclear program is not destroyed. It will, in fact, go into massive overdrive and by any means necessary. The USA essentially sided with an multi-decade IAEA violator in clear
contradiction to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and its own policy stances on nuclear-armed nations. The world has been given a front row seat to the USA's double standard on the "international law" it and Israel claims to cherish.
"and the benefits will show over time."
Like they did last night?
"Only the Democrats can screw it up. A lot of them want to, and they are dumb enough to do it."
A day like yesterday proves they're not the only ones that can screw things up.
“Trump will end the war and he'll start this week.”
Oh yay! Another prediction from Begley.
Howard said...
I'm glad to see Achilles has already reached the bargaining stage
I saw this coming for months.
Just like 2020 the democrats regretted stealing the election they are going to regret letting sayed and talarico be front and center for the next 2 years.
"RCOCEAN II said...
Personally, I think it had more to do with "Do-nothing" Republican Senate. They passed zero legislation that Trump and MAGA wanted..."
The Senate GOP incumbents and candidates who lost, were intent on giving Trump everything he wanted. Roger Marshall. Ken Paxton. Mike Rogers. Ashley Hinson. Darline Graham. John Husted. Pure MAGA.
They are all MAGA roadkill now. Super job, MAGA.
WaPo trying to suggest the Democrats would never try to impeach Trump and then impeach Vance, too. "Trump is Hitler but J.D. Vance Is Cool Again," says Satan (oops, WaPo).
Our Democrats have no plans to impeach the president and the vice-president and then go down to the next name on the list. Hey! Speaker of the House! There's no way the Democrats would be corrupt enough to think maybe a Democrat ought to be sitting in the White House as soon as possible.
Of course, the big problem with impeachment is that 67 votes are needed. That means 11 Republican Senators need to be drafted to impeach Trump. And if they pull that neat trick off, why not go for the double kill shot and impeach Trump and Vance, one right after the other? Then Democrats can "save the republic" by installing their favorite Commie in power. AOC, why not! Let's finish off the USA "culture of rape" once and for all!
I think they will chicken out and try to impeach Pete Hesgeth. But the numbers remain the same. You have to recruit not a couple, but 11 Republican Senators to join this impeachment circus. Let's just say I am relaxed as a clam.
𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘱𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘳𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭, 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘶𝘯, 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.
That’s a remarkably convenient way to declare victory before the consequences have even played out. The problem is that the vast majority of Americans aren’t buying the argument that this war was necessary or wise. A September–October Pew Research poll found that 65% disapprove of Trump’s handling of the military action, and only 33% approve. Only 34% now say the initial decision to use force was the right one.
And the suggestion that Democrats are somehow responsible for the war’s failure is particularly absurd. Trump chose to take the country into this conflict. He owns the decision, the consequences, and the responsibility for delivering whatever benefits he promised. You don’t get to launch a war, declare it a historic success, and blame the opposition if reality doesn’t cooperate.
Oops, Hakeem, not AOC.
The facts don't care about popularity?
Would you prefer that Iran had nuclear weapons right now, because if not for Trump they would. That's not claiming success. It's admitting it. The question is will the Dems give them back their nukes now.
The changes to who controls middle east oil are likewise already evident and well on their way, as well as the accompanying ability to support terrorism worldwide, and the changed power dynamics with us replacing the Chinese and Russians. We can only lose what's been accomplished, but we can't deny the changes exists, are proceeding well, and are Trump's doing.
Hegseth will make a better presidential candidate than Rubio or Vance. If by some weird chain of events he winds up getting impeached and removed, he can start his 2028 campaign that day and be the true Trump heir. Plus he can test that whole "barred from holding any office under the United States" clause.
Why Hegseth is the real Trump successor:
Ivy League BA? Check.
Great hair (talking about 80s Trump)? Check.
Great suits (again, 80s DJT)? Check.
Imaginative foul language? Check.
Draws all the enemy's fire? Check.
When you make him fight uphill, he just makes you retreat uphill? Check.
&c.
CC, JSM
Ann Althouse said...
"Vance has the record to present himself as an opponent of the Iran war."
Even if this ridiculous statement were true, Vance also has the record of defending Vivek Ramaswamy‘s mother attack ad targeting governor elect Amy Acton. Indeed he actually praised Ramaswamy‘s for running the commercial. That worked out well.
If Vance wants a poitical future he's got some splainin to do re this issue.
"Just like 2020 the democrats regretted stealing the election they are going to regret letting sayed and talarico be front and center for the next 2 years."
I'm sure they'll talk and talk about how good their feet taste.
How about Hegseth appointed to fill Marsha Blackburn’s vacated seat as she becomes a governor? It would be”save face” while clearing the way for a new DOW secretary before the new Congress gets seated in January.
Just bean-baggin’, but thoughts?
I certainly don’t think the Iran war was the only factor behind the blue wave. It’s simply a convenient lightning rod for the GOP.
They’d much rather have us focus on the war than remember all the other horrendous Trump-driven abuses that hurt, angered, or offended ordinary Americans and that a Republican-controlled Congress allowed to happen.
I think it all started on January 7, 2026, when an untrained, masked, brownshirt-style militia murdered a mother on a snowy Minneapolis street, only to have administration officials rush to the microphones to brand her a “domestic terrorist.”
I think it’s a bit late for that. We all see Trumpism for what it is now.
The “home of the free and the land of the brave” has masked, secret-police-style agents roaming the streets, detaining, assaulting, and killing people. That’s not the America most of us recognize—or want.
I mea, I’m not a fan of Hegseth, but politically, it’s a path, no?
rcommal said...
I mea, I’m not a fan of Hegseth, but politically, it’s a path, no?
I am thinking more like General Flynn.
Israel was requested to stay out of the fight after 9/11 because Bush wanted to have Muslim countries join him. This is documented historical record. You can look it up.
Furthermore, the US has never been the 100% reliable ally to Israel as some people apparently are asserting. This has always been a contentious relationship. Look at how Biden kept trying to impose a cease-fire instead of letting the IDF go into Gaza and finish Hamas off. Etc. etc. No one thinks or has ever claimed that Netanyahu has a special connection with God but he has managed to maintain relationships with vastly different US presidents calling for a two state solution, imposing the absurd delusion that Palestinians want a two state solution.
We’ll get to see more of the true intentions of destroying Israel now that we have a Muslim senator from Michigan and a Muslim mayor in New York City who are openly calling for that.
That Vance thinks throwing Israel under the bus is a winning solution is disturbing and not intelligent frankly. Does he think he’s so smart he can out maneuver the Red Green alliance by scapegoating Israel?
Of course Israel has to stand on its own.
Roger Marshall. Ken Paxton. Mike Rogers. Ashley Hinson. Darline Graham. John Husted. Pure MAGA.
LOL - Marshall never attacked Thune. Paxton and Rogers was never in the Senate. Graham was in there a couple months. Who is Hinson? And Husted was appointed by DeWine and invisible.
The Senate Republicans made it clear it didn't matter how many republicans you put in the Senate, there were going to allow the D's to filibuster and delay. Thune absurdly said "Give us more Republicans and we'll break the filibusters" as if we were going to have 60 R senators in 2027, LOL.
Note that even if you'd gotten 60 R Senators in Jan 2027, Lisa Murky would've joined the D's. So you would've needed 61. The Republicans have never had more than 56 Senators in the last 98 years. We had 55 in 2005, and George Bush used it to "Reform Social Security" and pass Amnesty. Result: a blowout in 2006 for the D's.
Based on Trump Presidency, it doesn't matter how many Republican Senators there are. As long as we have 38 who will vote against Impeachment and or override a Veto.
GIve the Republicans a majority- even 55 senators - they do nothing their MAGA voters want. They wont even retaliate against the D's for blocking Judges and POTUS appointments.
Hell, Give the Republicans 59 Senators - and they would've done nothing to help trump's agenda.
"RCOCEAN II said..."
Right. We just never had "true" MAGA governance. THAT was the problem. The MAGA infidels undermined the pure MAGA philosophy.
Run on that. Run on that in 2028.
Prediction:
The leftwing / Islamic alliance will re-fund (using OUR tax dollars) the Iranian Theocratic Authoritarians.
Ann Althouse said...
He was the skeptical voice on the inside when it was being planned. Who else has that distinction?
I haven't read all the comments, but suspect more than one person mentioned Tulsi Gabbard.
As for losing Cassidy, Cornyn and Thong Tillis, its good to get rid of them. There's no reason to believe they would've won. And even if they had won, they would've been worthless. Cassidy has kept quiet, but Cornyn and Tillis made it clear they hope the D's won the mid-terms, and spent the last few months bashing trump and trying to win applause from the leftwing MSM.
𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘢, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘦𝘨𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘩, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘯𝘰?
I think starting with impeaching Hegseth would make everyone happy. Nobody wants this war, so they can hang it on him. Between the firings of the generals and all the testosterone-and-push-up theatrics, there’d be plenty of material. It would make for good TV—and be pretty cathartic, too.
Achilles: I'm assuming you mean Flynn for DoD? Since he's not a resident of Tennessee, which Hegseth is.
Trump agreed today to stop any military funding of Israel.
The Israel haters happy? I doubt it.
IEE(D) - Impeaching Hegseth makes losers like you happy.
Do you even have grounds?
It's really just the Islamic/Leftist alliance demanding we re-fund Iran - Obama style.
I don't think Flynn's a good idea, but ultimately what I think won't matter. Let's say Hegseth did leave. Who instead? Achilles suggested Flynn. Who else? DeSantis will be looking for a job. (Although that might be a dangerous plan if he plans to run for president in 2028.) Other ideas?
Howard said...
We'd be better off paying Ukraine to fight Iran for us
11/4/26, 1:48 PM
I enjoy this type of lateral thinking.
Trump agreed today to stop any military funding of Israel.
The Israel haters happy? I doubt it.
Isn't this proof that Trump "hates the JOOOOOOOS"? Why/why not? I have been told that the ONLY reason someone would oppose aid to Israel is that they hate JOOOOS.
IEEE: No, I actually don't think it would make "everybody happy" to impeach Hegseth. I think it's more likely--and probably better from the White House perspective--that they move him from his current position this fall, which is why the notion of arranging for him to be appointed as interim in the seat Blackburn will be vacating could be a path. This might benefit Democrats, too, actually, whether they realize it or not.
RideSpaceMountain said...
""We cannot have a nuclear armed Iran."
A practical certainty now thanks to how bungled this was."
Explain.
Vance could become the Republican equivalent of Harris, but with an added complication: he can’t distance himself from Trump without alienating the very MAGA voters he needs to win the nomination. He’s caught between inheriting Trumpism and escaping the consequences of having helped build it.
“A lot of people are actually really scared by (and viscerally hate) AI and that cannot be ignored.”
…AI companies, their ownership and management as a whole are highly bipartisan and their pacs reflect that. If voters supported Democrats because of fear of AI they made a tragic error…
“A lot of people are actually really scared by (and viscerally hate) AI and that cannot be ignored.”
…AI companies, their ownership and management as a whole are highly bipartisan and their pacs reflect that. If voters supported Democrats because of fear of AI they made a tragic error…
Odd to note that Blue faces won but Red policies won big too (right-leaning ballot initiatives won all over, even some as high as 60-40)
Not everywhere. Washington Stated just voted to put the income tax camel nose under the tent ("only for millionaires" they say, but it won't stay that way.) They also voted to restrict parental rights. The one good news is they voted strongly to keep XY out of XX sports. I never understand how they can vote for conservative initiatives, but vote in the people who force them to file conservative initiatives. just vote in the conservatives and you won't need to keep trying to strike down liberal agendas.
Vance is Next Hitler Up. We’ll be hearing much more about his disqualifying history and positions in the next few months…
Heil Hillbilly!
Heil Hillbilly!
"Arizona Voters Approve Women’s Sports Transgender Ban Despite Voting For Democrats Statewide"
Again I ask, are voters drunk or do they hand out ballots at the weed dispensary?
Across the country, they said they agree with MAGA, but voted for Democrats. WTF?
Corruption inside Trump's regime is and always has been the real cause of the Orange Crush. Filling the coffers of the Trump family and the destruction of independent DOJ, DHS and FBI agencies made the rich richer for insiders such as Musk and his government-financed Martian fortune.
Dementia Don didn't help save the day either.
Across the country, they said they agree with MAGA, but voted for Democrats. WTF?
Because they look at gas prices and think "Maybe voting for the guys who WANT higher gas prices will get us lower gas prices." LIVs are not very smart.
"Vance could become the Republican equivalent of Harris,"
You mean news networks will edit his interviews to fix any mistakes he makes, or that he will sound like a retard every time he speaks?
Winning a ballot initiative doesn’t confer a mandate for MAGA. And losing elections doesn’t become a victory simply because voters agreed with you on one issue.
Maybe the takeaway isn’t that voters secretly support MAGA. Maybe it’s that they want some conservative policies without the baggage of Trumpism.
Bagoh,
Casuals decide elections.
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘹 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴?
Neither. I mean Vance is politically hitched to the same sinking ship Harris was: an unpopular president and an administration whose policies voters are increasingly rejecting. Harris couldn’t escape being tied to Biden’s record, and Vance won’t easily escape being tied to Trump’s. The difference is that Vance has been an enthusiastic defender and enabler of those policies. He has considerably less room to claim he was just along for the ride.
Vance could become the Republican equivalent of Harris
Spot on analogy. They are also both slimy opportunists. Kamala called out Joe Biden for being an old white racist (Jill apparently never forgave her) before adjusting her attitude and becoming Joe's running mate. JD called Trump "America's Hitler" before adjusting his attitude and becoming Hitler's running mate.
It's comical to me that anyone thinks Vance is a viable candidate. Then again: these are the same people that believed the Iran war would only last "six weeks."
If you vote for policies and also the people who oppose those policies so vigorously that they call you a racist or transphobe for wanting them, and even sometimes call for your murder, I think calling them "casual" is being pretty generous.
Joel Pollak
@joelpollak
Most of the takes today are wrong and you can ignore. What to know:
1. Reagan lost both houses and 8 Senate seats in 1986.
2. Bush did the Iraq surge *after* losing 2006 midterms.
3. Oversight won't be pretty but accountability is useful.
4. Have a good day. It's a great country.
https://x.com/joelpollak/status/2117975050498539617?a=xTOaRJyd1hENbn5iZwM&s=46
"I haven't read all the comments, but suspect more than one person mentioned Tulsi Gabbard."
Her opposition to the fraudulent intelligence being fed the White House that enabled this caper was well known. Furthermore, she wasn't the only one. There were many that told Trump to beware Israel's "intelligence"...as one always should.
@Bob, this entire escapade literally just proved to every regime on Earth their security rests with possession of, at a minimum, A) one fission weapon and B) a delivery system. OSINT indicates Iran is going all out under Natanz (aka Pickaxe), not to mention redundancy plans around Golestan and Khorasan.
Short of some miraculous ability by the administration and the DOD to unwrite the laws of physics without a tactical nuclear weapon, I am not confident there's a military solution to stop what is now an Iranian national priority cold. I know, I know..."it was a national priority before Trump bombed them"...so in other words nothing has actually changed, except urgency lol. A soon to be hanged man is indeed quite urgent, and twice as dangerous.
This whole thing has been a fiasco from start to finish. I've been saying as much since it started. Poor planning, poor execution, poor intelligence, poor assumptions...the works. Now these poor dumb bastards are about to double down caused it worked so well the 1st two times.
Trump needs to tell Israel they need to handle their own shit. They can, after all, drop one of the nukes *they don't own* on Pickaxe if it matters so damn much to them...they can deal with the fallout from it too.
‘fly talks of “CORRUPTION”, when the Democrat party is overpopulated by thieves, grifters, con men, perpetrators of massive fraud, etc.
What an EFFing joke.
Vance has been to both the border and Europe, and he's not fascinated by an appreciation for the passage of time.
It's not just that they lost. It's where they lost. It's how they lost. It's how badly they lost. It's how small and stupid and petty they looked losing.
You can't polish this turd. Leave Reagan outta this. Trump ain't Reagan.
"You can't polish this turd."
I agree with that. It did feel good dropping it though, didn't it?
"𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘛𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘪 𝘎𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘥."
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s DNI, maintained that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon. JD Vance had warned against getting drawn into another Middle Eastern war. And Joe Kent, Trump’s counterterrorism chief, ultimately resigned, declaring that Iran posed “no imminent threat” and that the war was started under pressure from Israel. Even General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, reportedly cautioned Trump about the risks, depleted munitions, potential casualties and the prospect of a prolonged conflict.
Casuals weren’t in favor of prolonging Iran. Trump ran against illegal immigration & inflation & no more shuffling abroad looking for dragons slay.
Casuals believed he broke those promises. Same casuals who believed Obama broke his promises in 2012. Casuals mete out punishment.
What war are you guys talking about? How many soldiers do we have in Iran digging foxholes and maneuvering through cities and the countryside? How many airdrops and amphibious invasions? Do we have any cities surrounded? Where is CNN's daily death count?
"Casuals mete out punishment."
By shooting themselves in the foot?
Like I said, "casual" doesn't seem like the word for that.
I'm going to predict the future, okay?
So get ready. This is a neat trick.
Magic! You humans are always impressed with magic.
You know how many so-called "Christians" wanted to speak with me when I told the world to Buy Novavax?
So many. So many. They kept knocking on my door. "Tell us the future! We want some magic, too!"
So now I will do it again. It's a neat trick. Here is my prediction for the future.
Senator El-Sayed is caught working for the Muslim Brotherhood.
That's it. That's all you get from me now. Don't contact me, I don't want to hear from you.
Taylor Carmichael
Gov Abbott lost in texas. Cant blame that on Trump. he got 4.8 million votes. Trump got 6.4 million in 2025.
In 2022 Abbott won with 4.4. million.
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