The GOP cockpit
By John Kass
November 12, 2023
It’s been a long week, with plenty of heavy lifting, there was the Ed Burke column and the “Ship of Fools” column. Too many metaphors can ruin the soup. So can we make this one easy? Not as easy as smoking a hookah at a cockfight back in the 1890s, in England.
But easier, nonetheless.
Vivek “won” the Republican debate and it’s time Republicans realize they’re not only fighting for their way of life, and for the republic, but everything. It’s time to take out the tomahawks.
The one standout moment, the one political warrior out there with the necessary sand was Vivek Ramaswamy. He denounced the GOP bosses to their face. He denounced corporate media for constantly lying to the American people. And he specifically called out NBC News debate moderator Kristen Welker to her face for spreading the Russia-collusion hoax.
I’d have to agree with The Federalist’s John Daniel Davidson about the Republican debate. Vivek won hands down.
Nicole Wallace of MSNBC and the rest of that simpering and woke MSNBC panel were outraged. And I assume that the corporate Republican types pretending to be conservatives sniffed their noses up at Ramaswamy’s alleged lack of tact (see National Review) but I appreciated Ramaswamy’s political bloodlust and cock-of-the-walk demeanor. He knows what’s at stake. The other Republicans save Trump just don’t get it.
Perhaps Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gets it. But he holds it close. Vivek is all out there.
What Republican voters want is candidate who’ll reach for the tomahawks like Magua from “Last of the Mohicans.” And NBC’s Welker had that same look in her eyes that gentle forest creatures get when they’re standing in the middle of the road at night, they’re frozen in the headlights and the sound of a Charlie Daniels fiddle playing “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” is the last thing that doe would hear.
“Kristen I’m gonna use this time — because this is actually about you and the media and the corrupt media establishment — to ask you about the Trump-Russia collusion hoax that you pushed on this network for years,” said Ramaswamy as RNC chair Ronna McDaniel clutched her pearls and got sympathy points from MSNBC vermin. “Was that real, or was that Hillary Clinton made-up disinformation? Answer the question, go.”
Welker froze, with that same look in her eyes that forest creatures get when they’re standing in the road at night. But deer don’t have an idiotic smirk playing on their lips as a truck bears down on them.
But Ramaswamy wasn’t shy. He reached for the tomahawks with (politically) murderous intent. Because that’s where we are now. And he escalated his feud with RNC chair McDaniel. Naturally, Republican establishment types like neoconservative Nikki Haley and never-Trumper Chris Christie are upset. They see Vivek as something of a vulgar attention grabber. I see a neo-con war hawking witch and a fat man with a big mouth.
When Haley wants attention, I suppose she can get put on another defense contractor board and applaud another endless foreign war. And Christie can serve up another dozen krispy kremes, that is, if he can just remember to wipe his chin afterward. But the rest of us, the conservatives sick of the establishment and the Bush Republicans and the Combine destroying the party are none too pleased.
“We’ve become a party of losers at the end of the day,” Ramaswamy said. “Since Ronna McDaniel took over as chairwoman of the RNC in 2017, we have lost 2018, 2020, 2022, no red wave, that never came. We got trounced last night.”
Nikki Haley, the neo-con Bushie doesn’t like him, Mitch McConnell the Combine Republican of the Senate won’t address him out of contempt, but the people hear Vivek Ramaswamy loud and clear. And after the party’s poor showing in Virginia and McConnell’s Kentucky last week they want someone to reach for those warclubs.
On Saturday I sat in on a roundtable discussion at Salem broadcasting’s “Freedom Summit” with Dan Proft, host of “The Morning Answer,” Scott McKay, author of the new Obama book “Racism, Revenge and Ruin: It’s All Obama” and Charles Thomas, the respected former WLS TV political reporter. We talked about the tomahawks. And the consensus among the conservative rank-and-file in the packed hotel grand ballroom was that it’s long past time to reach for those tomahawks.
An unnecessary fourth debate on News Nation will be moderated by Megyn Kelly, host of The Megyn Kelly Show on SiriusXM, Elizabeth Vargas, the Peabody award-winning anchor of News Nation’s Elizabeth Vargas Reports, and Eliana Johnson, Editor-in-Chief of The Washington Free Beacon. Trump has teased he might show up for the Dec. 6, debate in Alabama.
Doers it matter?
Trump or no, the Republican voters want him as their presidential nominee.
What you see on the debate stage are the leavings of the cockfight. The people either have tuned this out, or they’re just waiting for the campaign with Biden, so they can exact some measure of revenge against the smarmy pundits from MSNBC and the rest who cast them as deplorables.
They’re done debating. And they want him to swing the tomahawks.
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Author: Workshop of Pietro da Pavia
(Copyright 2023 John Kass)
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Comments 61
Well written as always!
After Biden debacle at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier walking around like a lost soul-I’m being polite here….I can’t wait to be rid of the man.
As for the Republicans, I am concerned as well. Vivek Ramaswamy won good points for being no-nonsense; but in the end, I can’t help the feeling that it’s going to be Desantis all nice and polished up for the nomination. Ramaswamy made the establishment Republicans squirm by asking the hard questions and saying the hard truth. Something that won’t fly with the establishment Republicans.
Thank you. When we got home from “Freedom Summit” I had a series of technical issues with the website. These will be addressed this week. The main thing: It’s tomahawk time, Nice to see all of you at “Freedom Summit”
John Kass
I’ve been a Republican for 40 years and will not share my views on abortion. The reality is until my party becomes more centrist thinking on this topic we are going to remain losers. We will not win a single swing state. Ohio’s recent referendum proves this. We have a unique opportunity next year because most people despise Tlaib, Omar, Bush, etc. It’s a sensitive topic, but the anti abortion folks should compromise. They’ll be saving more unborn babies than the status quo and we could win the presidency, house and senate.
Totally agree with your comments.
For someone who started out by saying he wasn’t going to share his views on abortion, you seem to have made your position on abortion rather clear. 🙂
It wasn’t often I could agree with Bill Clinton, but I did when he said abortion should be legal, safe and rare.
You have no idea how a feel about abortion. You have my opinion on what it would take to win next November.
I don’t like it, don’t like it all, but fully agree. Republicans are just going to have to let abortion go. Abortion is to the Left what guns are to the right. If they don’t let go, things will just get worse. As bad as Biden is, consider the disturbing thought of a President Harris.
Or Newsom, Obama, etc. Great point. I’m not giving up the ability to protect my family and most Rs and many Ds agree. Especially seeing the recent protests on Michigan Ave. Maybe going forward the gun issue won’t be so divisive. At least 1/2 the liberals I know, both Jewish and Christian, are buying guns now. About time they all woke up. The other 1/2 will remain oblivious to the world around them.
Well contrary to what you wrote you did share your views on abortion. The fact is the Democrats have turned the Court’s over rule of Roe into a major political victory that continually bears fruit. They have won elections in 2022 (the red wave never appeared) and now in 2023 – even in deep red states such as Ohio and Kentucky over this very issue: abortion and the right to choose. Until Republicans accept the fact that the majority of Americans want “a compromise” the Republicans will continue to lose while people like Mr. Kass maintain their sanctified moral standards and seem confused as to why the Democrats continue to win on this issue. And yes Clinton was correct: abortion should be safe, legal and rare. Otherwise we will get abortion often and on demand, as well as guaranteeing marxist socialist Democratic hegemony. If the Republicans don’t wake up to this inconvenient uncomfortable reality that will be the our future in 2024.
Bruce, I hear what you’re saying about Republicans need to accept the fact that the majority of Americans want a “compromise”. But why is it that Democrats don’t have to accept the idea of a compromise? Any Democrat that speaks on the issue pretty much say that abortions should be allowed until the very moment of birth, or even shortly thereafter? I guess they don’t have to accept the idea of a compromise thanks to the “double standard” and the biased media. I’m glad Vivek lashed out at the media. That needs to be done on a regular basis. And the Republicans allowing a debate to be aired on NBC makes no sense. How many debates to the Dems ever allow on Fox?
So if I shared my opinion on abortion am I pro life or pro choice?
To David Mansfield: David the Democrats have their own “abortion equivalent” which if they refuse to compromise (as they now presently are doing) may take them down as well. That is immigration. Clearly the majority of Americans want a controlled southern border, do not want an open border as exists now. The question is which issue will drive more voters to the polls? Which issue will motivate the base and most importunely motivate the independents?
Aside from what I said above in regard to immigration, even if what you say is true that Democrats never have to compromise, that to me, while true should not be the focus. The focus should be on winning elections. And the fact remains that the Republican stance on abortion is a loser as demonstrated in 2022 and if in doubt, then 2023 should have left no doubt given the outcomes in big red Ohio and Kentucky. Realize too what the risks are if the Republicans don’t change their strategy. If the Democrats get control of the Presidency and the Congress they will no doubt try to legalize abortion via congressional legislation. Now this is likely unconstitutional (via the 10th amendment and the fact that abortion is unlikely to fall under the commerce clause) but realize that clearly unconstitutional acts (in this case administrative rules and executive orders) did not stop the Democrats in the past (in their attempts to extend free rent and absolve student debt). Realize as well that Justices Alito and Thomas are well into their 70s now. That means a radical shift in the Court is not only possible but plausible such that a national right to abortion legislation could pass muster. And then of course there is always, the risk of packing the Court, which if the Democrats win control of Congress and the Presidency, is a strong probability. After all they are clearly at war with the Court. The irony is that if the Republicans get distracted by the “unfairness” of it all, and not focus on winning, we will have something far worse than our present state based abortion contests. Far worse. If the Republicans do not face reality and switch strategy the result will be total and complete Democratic Party hegemony – likely including national abortion legislation. And that’s my story and I’m sticking two it. lol.
Bruce, thanks for your response. I’m in total agreement on it. I hear you on the Republicans having to modify their stance and campaigning on abortion. I live in NW Indiana (same congressional district as Mr. Kass). I was a big supporter and contributor to Jenifer-Ruth Green who ran as a Republican in a pretty solid Democratic district. She was a very bright candidate and ran an excellent campaign. The incumbent saw that and refused to debate her. He made it a one issue campaign, abortion. At one of her campaign functions I asked her to explain her stance as her opponent was making it a single issue campaign. She is Pro-Life, but gave an eloquent answer on how her stance would not matter as a member of US Congress. I wish I could repeat it verbatim here. After the event she pulled me aside and thanked me for asking the question. She lost by a small margin as she was never able to debate the opponent on that and other issues. She should be an advisor for the Republican Party on how to handle the issue.
On your other topic, the Democrat’s Kryptonite, immigration and which will motivate voters more. Unfortunately the media will control that narrative. The lack of mainstream reporters reporting from the border (other than Fox) tells you all yo need to know about that narrative. Sad but true.
But you are correct, how the GOP deals with the abortion issue will seal their fate. Even as the Democrats get a pass for supporting abortion up until the moment of birth. Again, it matters who controls the narrative. Thanks for your insights. Very much appreciated.
Wow. This is well said. I was just thinking about this last night but didn’t put it together like you. Thank you,
Agreed. The Republican party will need to decide if it really wants to win elections or just feel good in their self-righteousness. With a majority of of America supporting some form of abortion rights, there will need to be compromise. Democrats play abortion rights ad nauseam in their ads, and it seems to be working. I’m not saying I’m a fan of abortion, but democracy and democratic elections are about the majority. You need to win elections to make progress. Let’s hit a few singles instead of trying to hit home runs and striking out.
It’s completely beside the point as to your views on abortion. The reality is as long as the GOP continues to ignore 50% (or more of the electorate) that deem ETOP’s the right of every child bearing female it will continue to lose elections indefinitely. I submit that it’s time for Republicans to allow individual states to allow their respective citizens to determine their approach to this issue. SCOTUS washed their hands of this with a Republican majority on the court. It’s time for the RNC and Republican congressmen/women to do the same. If they don’t then maybe they should be represented by the Dodo Bird and not the Elephant as their animal symbol.
Well I think abortion or how one”feels” about abortion involves more than just a duality i.e. prochoice v pro-life. To me it involves a political decision i.e. what strategy would result in the greatest good for the country. And that is how I viewed your “feelings” regarding abortion: failure to accept what the majority in this country clearly desires will result in the Republican Party “wandering in the desert for the next 40 years” while the marxist socialist Democratic Party runs roughshod over our Republic in the mean time. To me – and I assumed you – abortion is more than the duality we often ague over. So that is what I meant, and I did not mean to insult you or imply otherwise.
Well Mr. Kleinman, I do understand your strategic thoughts on this issue and I know I’m probably in the minority on this thread, but I will never compromise my morals about abortion.
I’m not immersed in political knowledge but I do have opinions and I believe the biggest evil we have to fight is the media and it’s one-sided coverage. They are the ones that control millions of feeble-minded voters, aided by outside money from the likes of soros, bloomberg, pritzger etc…
It is NEVER okay to murder babies under any circumstance.
Compromise with the party of death??? Do you think they’ll stop there?
I’m not a religious zealot or a Bible thumper but I’m very firm in my faith and believe the majority of this country’s problems began when they allowed God to be removed from our government, a country that was founded on belief in Him. Now many of you want to go to the dark side “just a little” in order to win elections. I know it seems hopeless but never give up the fight and never give up your morals. I certainly don’t want to be standing with the wrong side come judgement day.
Well, Mr. Raducka, that is exactly what the Democrats are counting on. And since your attitude will result in electoral defeat – as already proven – you can bet the Dems won’t stop there as you say. Murder babies? How about a Congressional legislation making it legal across every state of the union. And of course this legislation will pass constitutional muster in the new liberal packed Court (or alternatively the liberal replacements for Justices Thomas and Alito). Oh yeah. I forgot, now that the Dems have total control of Congress and the Presidency – thanks to folks like you – you can count on two new Democratic Senators from DC to further shore up their control of government. Good luck. We are going to need it.
Agree.
Once again you referred to the Deplorables, and once again you conveniently leave out the second half of HRC’s original quote. Next time you refer to that, run the whole damn statement instead of cherry picking out of context.
Tomahawk time or torches and pitchforks?
It was good to see your smiling face at The Freedom Summit!
In addition to being a very articulate Trump 2.0, Ramaswamy diffuses the incoming fire by affirming that Trump is not just the one voice that goes away when the Left locks him up (so they hope).
Ramaswamy seconds Trump, and is a rally point for the rest of the 80 million patriots ready to end the disturbing Marxist lurch of this blessed country.
Spot on, John. Vivek is doing what Trump did in 2015-2016. It’s stunning and disappointing that so few leading Republicans get this. Back in 2015, I was a Scott Walker backer in the field of 17, because I thought governors had a better shot at the White House than Senators (like Cruz, my number two guy). But Walker flamed out quickly, and I backed Cruz. Even though I didn’t trust Trump’s conservative bona fides, he was always in my top five, precisely because he did something I’d never seen a Republican POTUS candidate do, viz., punch hard at the Media and punch hard at the milquetoasts in the GOP (“Low-Energy Jeb!”). I was at the Summit last night, John, and your “tomahawks” theme was one of the leading takeaways from the whole event. I’m delighted to have become a paying subscriber to John Kass News. Cheers, Rob
The GOP does not have the tripes to win. Trump ain’t GOP. The GOP is Mitt. It gets a chubby at the thought of having dialog with oleagenous lick-spittles like David Brooks. The GOP is comprised of enablers like former IL Rep. Jim Durkin and the tassled loafer oar-cakes of Du Page County. The GOP is cowards club.
Perhaps, but I’d take Mitt if it would keep the party of Tlaib, Omar, Bush, etc. out of power.
Been voting for over 50 years. I would like to think I’m a pragmatic conservative. I can (sorry for all the “I’s”) count on my thumbs the times I voted for a presidential candidate. The last election and then back in the 80’s. Otherwise it has been voting against the other candidate. Not that my vote matters, living in Illinois (except for that one time for Reagan). This time I’d be happy to vote for either one of the businessmen.
Californian here with similar political views. I share your pain of having a vote that does not seem to count in elections.
I did not vote for either of CA’s current Senators. Gavin Newsome did not get my vote for CA Governor.
Heck, before the recent reapportionment, my US Representative was Maxine Waters! Talk about lack of representation.
I would love to see a Vivek and Jeanne Ives ticket
I live in Iowa. I have heard each of the candidates several times. My issue with Vivek is that he is a know-it-all. If you suggest you don’t agree with him, he doesn’t listen very well. It is one thing to tell an Iowan that are smarter than he or she is. But being a know-it-all means he won’t listen to people who may understand an issue better than you do, even for the limited purpose of forming an opinion. Is that good or bad?
I agree, Suzan. Having watched more than a few of his interactions with various members of the press and the public, I see him trying hard to emulate what he thinks Mr. Trump did to win his initial term. Vivek is VERY good at diverting one’s attention from the question asked if it is one he either doesn’t know the answer to, or he senses you don’t agree. He does it by being loud and incessant, not always with much content to the response. That solves nothing for the Republic. Vivek has yet to answer the pressing questions about some of his business activities, which would be CERTAIN to be part of an ongoing campaign – answers unearthed for the public when it is too late.
Karen, you are exactly right. Vivek has some “splainin’ to do.” He is smooth, and says all the right things. He knows we (well some of us) want a fighter in there. While I agree with much of what he says, he has that aire of superiority which is off-putting to many. To be a good leader you need to be able to listen.
Which brings me to Trump. While I have never been a big Trumper, I think we need to look at outcomes. What were the real outcomes of Trumps presidency? Economy?…excellent. Energy costs?…we were energy independent. Size of government?…smaller. Wars?…none. Civil unrest?…none, except for the “not my President” crowd.
I think we could put up with a few mean tweets to get back to those days. But Alas, every time Trump uses a nickname for an opponent, he is shooting himself in the foot. He would only gain supporters if he were to speak less viciously of the Republicans running against him. It lowers him to do so.
One other point, we need to be running against ALL the Democrats, not just Biden. They will be slipping in another candidate during their convention. Maybe Michelle or Gavin, God help us. So don’t get all twisted up about just cutting down Biden. It’s the whole Leftist ideology we are fighting.
Biden will be yanked by Democrats if the Republicans don’t fall for the trap and do the dirty work for them. Trump can’t beat Newsom, DeSantis could. Vivek belongs in a very high position on the cabinet, with a VP slot offered and refused by him. God save the Republic.
Not a single candidate mentioned the BIG elephant in the room…. Biden’s utter failures and the antisemitism and race based policies of the Democraps! In my eyes no one won.
If you’re depending for subscribers on those who, like Ramaswamy, believe that Zelensky, the elected Jewish president of Ukraine is a “Nazi,” as he called him in last week’s debate, and you think he’s the future of the Republican Party, then there’s zero reason for anyone to take your comments on national politics, and especially national security, the least bit seriously. I look forward to terminating my subscription when renewal time comes. This is appalling!
Well I agree. Calling a courageous Jewish leader whose country is under attack by a brutal bolshevik totalitarian a Nazi is beyond the pale. This is a huge blind spot for John Kass. Kass is the number one expert when it comes to Chicago politics (or Illinois). When it comes to national or international stuff … not so much.
Mr. Barkhausen, I do not envision Ramaswamy winning the GOP nomination, nor do I think he’s the future of the Republican Party. I think either Trump or DeSantis would be the better choice. We simply disagree. But for you to make this so personal, to attack my credibility makes me question your judgement. You’re a paying customer and I suppose you think that gives you the right to attack. But that’s unfortunate.
I did not attack you personally. However, the Ukraine Azov Regiment comes with questions.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cohen-ukraine-commentary/commentary-ukraines-neo-nazi-problem-idUSKBN1GV2TY
I’m sure David and Bruce didn’t like Coach Ditka’s coaching style either. People like this are the reason we are not in the 7th year of DJT’s second term. They would be happy to eat Gyros but wouldn’t want to help make the sausage or even help set up the meat grinder. Vivek’s takedown was spot on and his time will come and may inspire others to do the right thing and speak the truth. The Kentucky loss in Mitch’s backyard was simple math.
R-700,000 vs D-701,000 2024, R-1,300,000 D-700,000 2020.
Thanks, Ronna here’s your gold watch. Maybe Coach Harbaugh needs a new job.
How can Ukraine be talking about rebuilding before the war is even over? Zelensky is going to turn public land into private land and maybe that’s why he is delaying the election. Chicago Way kind of thing?
Stay Strong Patriots !!
Good one Phillip. I actually liked da Coach.
Thank you for another well written piece Mr Kass. I enjoyed watching the RINO establishment squirm, as Vivek called them out.
Ive already made up my mind, on which conservative presidential candidate I prefer. No need for another debate.
More importantly, paying attention to the state of the local politics, and getting behind smart, good, people, will make a bigger impact on everyone’s lives, than continuing to be “entertained” by the political establishment, in my opinion.
The problem I have with Vivek Ramaswamy is that he seems to feel he knows everything, and then what he says about things shows just how little he really does know. Maybe in another 20 years he’d be a viable candidate, this year he’s just a brash kid.
So Vivek won a “cock fight,” hands down? Time to bring out the tomahawks? C’mon, we can do better than this. It’s a real shame when the party I have so strongly favored since age 12 can only muster a collection of misfits to run for president, Vivek included. The shallow little businessman is auditioning for vice-president, plain and simple. Trump and Vivek are nothing more than con men in bespoke suits. Neither of them could carry Reagan or Eisenhower’s jock straps.
The Chicago crime creep inspired us to leave our suburban home where we lived for 43 years. We now live in a rural community where we leave our doors unlocked.
You can leave the Chicagoland crime behind, folks. We did.
Is our new community crime free? Probably not, but it’s a hell of a lot safer than Crook County.
I close my eyes and wish for a Reaganesque type of candidate. Guess I was lucky to have lived during that time.
Agree about Vivek. He handily won the debate but isn’t getting credit for doing so. The powers that be are saying Haley won. Honestly, she lost me the minute she called Vivek scum.
I wrote about Vivek early on in his campaign. He’s wicked smart, has actually built a business, and understands younger voters. There will be only one Trump. But keep your eye on Vivek. He has lots of time.
There will never be another Reagan, which is a shame. We’ve lost all humor in running for office. Trump’s policies were great but he lacks self-control. Having said that, he has been the only president I know of that has stood up to the RNC, media, the justice system and the Democratic Party under tremendous pressure. He will not cave. And that’s why people either love him or hate him. All the other candidates are milquetoast in comparison.
Sorry Erin. Calling a courageous Jewish man a Nazi, who is leading a nation under attack by a brutal totalitarian, “scum” is exactly deserved … if not more. Vivek is scum, if not worse.
Excellent recap, John! It’s really as simple as this – GOP better put some points on the board soon or they are finished!
John: you are THE MAN!!
You have that old fire-in-the-belly going full strength. Seems like you have fully recovered from your catastrophic illnesses. God bless you!!
Matt Marciniec
I will disagree in sum on Vivek. He is a bomb thrower. Trump is the bull that upset the China shop and broke a few things. DeSantis seems like the executioner with the black hood.
With regard to “winning” and “losing”, it depends on perspective. I wrote about it at my blog jeffreycarter.substack.com. It’s not so clear cut. We lost some races, but it is important to look at why. The abortion issue is one. Many Trump based candidates have lost races too. Trump lost us the Senate in Georgia.
Republicans also do not ballot harvest well. They have to up their game there, or risk losing it all. There is no honor in losing.
I voted for Trump twice. There won’t be a third time. I hate the Democrats with the fury of a thousand hurricanes, but they know how to steal elections with universal mail-in ballots and ballot harvesting. They are also very good at gerrymandering legislative districts too.
Trump might very well be the nominee, but my money and attention is on DeSantis. The rest of the candidates just don’t measure up.
Ukraine.
Why is it an issue? I will be curious to see what Zelensky’s net worth is right about now. Remember, he was a comedian running on an anti-corruption message.
The United States has no business financing the war. We don’t need a “proxy” to fight Russia. We can make it pretty tough for Russia without anyone else’s help. So, why are we involved with Ukraine?
Because rebuilding Ukraine will be BIG business with big projects and big money. Take notice that other European countries in closer proximity to Ukraine and Russia aren’t throwing money at it. They know what’s going on and are content to stay on the sidelines.
But the United States military industrial complex can’t wait to get in on the post-war rebuilding boom.
So, when the “candidates” talk about foreign policy-Ukraine, for instance-unless they are committed to ending the money going there, then they can’t be taken seriously and in Nikki Haley’s case, she knows very intimately what goes on with contracts for new construction.
And know that Zelensky is not a fascist, but he is most assuredly an authoritarian when he says that he wants to delay new elections until after the war.
Israel is where our attention and our money needs to go.
JK,
Nailed it again!
I, for one, am a Ramaswamy fan and believe he has now won 2 of then3 debates and it’s clear the establishment/swamp is shaking in their boots over him…. They know they cannot control him.
I can also live with DeSantis as I believe his success in life, and Fla, will make him an excellent President AND the swamp also seems to be afraid of him (note how much media time and GOP whispering and effort has been made bashing him for months and months).
Of course, this all ignores the 800 lb gorilla that will be the nominee!
Keep up the great work, both yours and your guest columnists.
Do I think Vivek has a chance of becoming the GOP candidate? No not at this time.
I do enjoy his energy and saying things some may not wish to hear.
He is spot on in saying somethings need to be done and changed. It’s tiresome to see candidates lose to their democratic opponents. Change is needed.
And hell yes it was great to see him go after the bunk of Russia, Russia, Russia.
Thanks for a great article.
Yes, I liked Vivek’s call out of the media and immediately thought it was Trump-esque. Vivek is shrewd, perhaps he’s fishing for the VP pick. I think he’d be a good choice. He has two demographics that Republicans struggle with – the young and Asians. And he’s talking the talk about draining the swamp.
I am overseas right now so missed the Donnybrook. …..and RARE — Clinton’s quote should ring loud in Republican ears. Compromise is the ONLY way Republicans will ever win. Abortion is killing the Republican Party. Kudos to Vivek for calling our MSNBC and the Rinos. And of course thanks to John Kass for speaking the truth.
JK, you and all the commenters on this page are wrong. The winner of the debate was the candidate who wasn’t there. Each of the would-be nominees, with the exception of the Democrat-in-Republican clothing from New Jersey, parroted what Trump’s been saying for years. Sen. Scott (who dropped out tonight) said he’d create a Made In America plan to bring jobs back home and impose tariffs on China. Sounds like MAGA to me. DeSantis said he’ll build the wall and get Mexico to pay for it. Vivek said the media is all fake news. Haley said Democrats are a one-issue party. Trump has been saying ALL of that for years. This wasn’t a debate to choose a presidential candidate; it was a debate to choose a vice presidential candidate.
Good morning John. We have lost America to the Liberal Press and Left Newspapers. Rachel Maddow is as far left as they can get, yet, she loves Capitalism by writing books and making the poor suffer, and making millions. Whom are they kidding. The uneducated I guess. The behavior of the young is disturbing, immoral, and unethical and yet the Parents allow that because they do not know how to Parent. The Left Wing is making millions off the backs of the Poor, while Conservative Writes are not allowed on TV or Newspapers. Our Cities are run by thugs, and rapists and killers and the Mayors of these Cities are as crooked as they come because they make money off the Poor. Look at the Idiot Governor of California spending Millions to clean up the drugs and dirty homeless streets because the China is sending XI to a conference. Whom are they kidding. Xi knows what is going on, like most smart people, WE KEEP BORROWING FROM CHINA TO PAY FOR ALL THESE IDIOTS, our Schools have been BOUGHT BY THE CHINESE, and yet people are still Protesting Israel. They get paid to get off class and Protest things that they know nothing about. Axelrod is on National TV I hear, making sure Biden does not run again because he and his Boss Obama have their own agenda. How long are the people of America stay asleep while ABORTION is the only thing they VOTE FOR. This is what America has become, a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY THAT OBAMA PREDICTED. WE ALL KNOW WHO IS GOING TO RUN AGAINST BIDEN. DON’T WE?
Antiabortion, progun, GOP LOSES. CASE CLOSED.
At one time people would refer to themselves as Pro Choice. That now has changed to Pro Abortion. Why not refer to them as what Pro Abortion really means, Pro Baby Killers and with most Democrats any time, any place, for any reason.
A true populist who will campaign on and deliver what a majority of the American voters want. No one is fulfilling this. Not Trump, Certainly not Biden, not Haley. DeSantis might be the most capable manager, but he’s lacking in personality and doesn’t have a plan beyond the culture war that he’s been able to disseminate.
Vivek hit on something. The corporate capture, the lies spread by the media, and you’ve hit on the combine, and the corrupt media.
The people are tricked into believing either of these parties cares about their general welfare, prosperity, or well being.
Vivek may or may not be sincere. Trump had some good policies, but he is terribly flawed. The Kristen Welker moment you describe is priceless and exposes the farce corporate journalism has become.
I’ve repeatedly said the money and the greed encouraged by our political system encourages the bad policy, the disconnect from what most Americans want, and exacerbates many of the problems our nation faces.
The tomahawks need to be wielded on the media, the corporations and the corrupt Congress.
The ballot question might be a useful tool for advisory purposes. You see what people think about issues and policies should reflect that. At least we could use it to hold pols accountable come election time.
If we put a secure border question on a national ballot, it would have over 60% support. Who would support status quo?