Oh, those wacky Dems. Every once in a while, they get attached to a candidate and then push that person, even though that person’s record is one of losing. I remember it with that guy in Texas, Beto O’Rourke. He did manage to get elected to the House, but in 2018, he decided to run for Senate. He ran a good race, but he lost. He didn’t lose by much, though, so we had to endure a period of the Dems telling us what a competitor he is. Then they kept running him for things, because he only loses by a little. After losing for Senate, he ran for President because that makes sense. Nope, lost there. So, he ran for governor of Texas. Ooh, just missed the goal and, well, lost again. It was close, but he lost.

The Dems celebrated the losses because they weren’t resounding defeats – just a close losses. In MY mind, a loss is a loss and close doesn’t matter. You don’t get consideration for losing, whether by one point or a hundred. So now, the Dems are floating the idea of trying Kamala again in 2028. First, how cute, thinking there’s going to be an honest election in 2028. I’m glad they’re preparing for the possibility, but I don’t think the country has yet internalized the depth of corruption that has infected this once-great nation.

But second? How does losing prove you’re the one to carry the banner? I like Kamala. I thought she ran an okay race. I don’t think her lack of time was as big of a factor as some would have you believe. I voted for her. But it wasn’t her first run for President so it wasn’t the first time she has lost a race for President.

Oh, AND – she effing lost to Donald Trump. (In fairness, I believe the “election” was stolen through chicanery, but, officially, she still lost.) I’d like to propose a New Rule: anybody who loses to Trump MUST leave politics immediately. If you can’t beat Trump, how bad of a candidate are you?

C’mon Dems. Try Gavin, or some other Dem from a large state you haven’t tried, yet. Younger, fresher faces are far more appealing. We’ve SEEN the Democratic establishment and we find it kind of “ho-hum.” Either way, it’s STILL a fools errand to think there will be a fair election in 2028. Now that the cons have perfected the art of stealing elections (likely with Putin’s help) why wouldn’t they do that from now on?

Besides, under any circumstances, the only thing that gets Trump to leave office is his death. No, that’s not a threat, nor an invitation to violence. Trump managed to slither out of his Federal charges but he is still on the hook for state charges. New York is either going to sentence him for his 34 felonies, with the sentence to be served after he leaves office (so he won’t), or they’re going to delay sentencing until after this term (so it will never end). The hamburgers have to get the guy because the law certainly won’t.

I think he benefits from that obvious advantage to being the antichrist…

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I feel like we’re all being led around by our noses by the One-Percent-serving, corporate media. Specifically, we’re hearing a LOT – tons and tons – about things Trump intends to do once he re-infests the Oval Office. Some of the threats come directly from Trump, himself, some from surrogates.

Each time a new desecration is promised, Americans react – along with the rest of the world. I’ve started to suspect that’s the goal: outrage exhaustion. We, on the left are NOT MAGA. We haven’t been conditioned to get furious on cue and STAY angry. We’re not practiced at ginning up faux outrage – and REAL outrage just makes a person tired all over. It’s hard. So here come the flood of threats from the incoming maladministration – and, right on cue, here comes the outrage.

How about if we hold our outrage for the things he actually tries to do?

Look, he’s going to do some damage. There’s no avoiding that. But will it be the clean sweep, the scorched Earth policies he’s promising? I’m not so sure. For one thing, he’s a moron and he’s surrounding himself with morons. As we all know, even a stopped clock is right twice a day – a phrase losing it’s meaning as we lose analog clocks. They’re going to succeed in some things, like tax cuts for the rich. They ALL agree on that one and they collectively don’t CARE about the damage those cuts will do. But they’re bound to lose their way to simple incompetence in other efforts.

For another thing, Trump may never have to run again, but Congress critters do. They’re going to be concerned with their political future. Again, some of the dumber ideological positions WILL carry forward – I don’t pretend this isn’t going to suck. But I’m less certain that Congress critters are going to end their own careers in favor of Trump. Even with Muck out there threatening them with his stolen lucre, their actual choice is to certainly lose because they screwed their own constituents or maybe lose because Musk financed an opponent. One might as well try to do the right thing in that situation, yes?

A third, possible help, is that the cons didn’t get the huge majority they need to simply steamroll their way through legislation. In the House, the Dems need only 2 cons to join them to block many announced, planned evils. Although the One Percent have seized power in most areas of government, there are still some decent Republicans, more interested in doing the right thing than appeasing the mad king.

Finally, on the side of hope, there’s genuine outrage. There are masses in the streets. There’s push-back from millions of people, probably as they find themselves in the crosshairs of some Trumpian dysphoria.

It seems clear he’s going to do damage, we all know it. We’re all on edge about it, worried and wondering. But it’s a waste of time and energy to react to every shadow on the wall. I’ll tell you this: It makes more sense, to me, to react to actual threats as they unfold, rather than the specter of threats as they’re announced…