Trump II: This time it’s personnel



I saw on X that an NBC news reporter described the “general vibe” around Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks as “WTF,” with the appointment of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as attorney general earning gasps of “Oh my God.”

Can’t say I don’t share that last sentiment in at least some measure. Gaetz running the Justice Department is perhaps the biggest middle finger in the history of American presidential appointments and one far from certain to be approved by a GOP-controlled Senate.

I prefer Trump’s way of doing something over our old way of doing nothing. Let the past die. On to the future.

But when it comes to Gaetz, or any of Trump’s other appointments for that matter, here’s where I stand: Trump won one of the most remarkable political victories in the history of this country. Thus, to the victor go the spoils.

I got into this business believing that there was a conservative movement for which I would help tip the scales against the system. But all I found instead was a grift that sold books and tickets to conferences without really intending to accomplish a damn thing. Case in point: Most notable conservative influencers came out earlier this week for Rick Scott as Senate majority leader, and he was cast aside on the very first vote.

See? We’re terrible. We didn’t just lose the culture over the last 30 years by accident. For decades, we offered no systemic opposition to the American left. It’s frankly a miracle — and only by God’s grace — that we aren’t already like Western Europe, especially given the current state of our church, which is deep in its metrosexual phase. And the fact that Rick Scott is our best option only underscores the absence of a real conservative movement.

We left a giant void, and Trump filled it. He’s the king now.

To confront this reality, some of you might benefit from watching “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” It’s a story about a lifeless church where the women are catty and the men watch the clock, waiting for the game to start. Then God sends in a group of wayward kids, the Herdmans, to shake things up and bring purpose and passion back to the spiritual void.

What I see now — and it took me a very long time to realize — is that Trump is the political version of the Herdmans. Ironically, among all the people you now know as Trump’s closest associates and promoters, I was actually offered the keys to that kingdom before most of them even became relevant.

But I turned it down. I missed it. I also believed that nothing good could come from Nazareth. I thought I was guarding my integrity and a movement I wasn’t yet convinced didn't exist. But it doesn’t exist. That’s why Trump is back — and, it seems, stronger than ever before.

When COVID and endless lawfare sent Trump packing in 2020, his exile and the Democrats' subsequent insanity were, in hindsight, the final chance for red states to establish the bona fides of a conservative movement to lead the way. Yet there was no red wave in 2022. Not even close.

Because once and for all, hear me now: There is no conservative movement.

We have just two and a half governors who stand out: Ron DeSantis, Kim Reynolds, and maybe Brian Kemp half the time. They led a base so uninspired that their children were being transitioned before their eyes and they faced job losses unless they took a mandated poisonous jab. Yet even with these issues, they couldn’t convince the country to oust the Democrats from Congress two years ago.

The conservative movement is like a red-shirted crew member beaming down to a planet in the first five minutes of a “Star Trek” episode — it’s definitely not coming back. It’s dead, Jim. That’s what we are.

We have one resistance movement, and that’s Trump. If he fails, I honestly don’t know where we go from here. So let’s see what the Herdmans can do. I have to say, I’m as optimistic now as I’ve been in a long time. That doesn’t mean I agree with everything immediately, but for the first time in years, I see an aggressive plan from the right.

Yes, an actual plan being executed efficiently, in clear contrast to the country’s current direction. It won’t be what you’re used to, it will sometimes make you uncomfortable, and there will almost certainly be some cleanups in aisle 12 along the way. But doesn’t everything feel more alive than it did just a couple of weeks ago?

I’ll take it. I prefer Trump’s way of doing something over our old way of doing nothing. Let the past die. On to the future.

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The burning question after Hurricane Helene destroys southern Appalachia's forgotten communities



More than 100 Americans are dead after Hurricane Helene, a powerful Category 4 cyclone, made landfall in Florida last week.

What made Helene unusual compared to previous major hurricanes is that communities hardest hit sit hundreds of miles from the coast. Dozens of people in Georgia and South Carolina are already confirmed dead, while at least 30 people in Buncombe County in North Carolina — where the city of Asheville is located — have already been confirmed dead.

Where is the media coverage? Where are President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris?

Unfortunately, the death toll is expected to rise as emergency crews finally reach impassable areas.

The storm was especially devastating for mountain communities in north Georgia and the Carolinas because it had already been raining there for nearly a day — rain from a separate storm system — when Helene barreled through the region, bringing with her hurricane-force winds and torrential downpours.

The cumulative impact caused mudslides and historic flooding while falling trees cut power to millions of Americans.

Many of the Appalachian communities already forgotten were cut off from the outside world: no electricity, no running water, no internet, and no cell phone service. At one point, all four interstate entrances and exits into the city of Asheville were cut off.

The flooding even wiped away entire communities.

Interstate 40 near the Tennessee-North Carolina border is also impassable after one side of the highway fell into the raging Pigeon River. And dozens of people had to be rescued from a hospital roof in eastern Tennessee.

A beautiful region of the United States has, in many areas, been permanently damaged. The impact is already being compared to what happened after Hurricane Katrina.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) described the destruction, saying it "looks like a bomb went off." North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D), moreover, said Helene was "one of the worst storms in modern history."

But there was a burning question on social media over the weekend: Where is the media coverage? Where are President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris?

It's true the media is finally covering the story. But the problem that people expressed on social media over the weekend is that the coverage, especially on Friday and Saturday, did not match the magnitude of the unfolding disaster.

— (@)

As of Monday, the president and vice president have tweeted about the storm a handful of times combined. Additionally, Biden has approved "Major Disaster" declarations for Florida and North Carolina, and FEMA has deployed just 800 personnel to the region, according to CBS News. Harris also cut short a campaign trip to receive briefings on Helene.

Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is stepping up. Launching "Operation Blue Ridge," the Florida Republican deployed his state's resources to help with recovery efforts.

Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Georgia on Monday, where he will meet with local officials and help distribute disaster relief supplies.

As rescue operations continue over the coming days and weeks, it will be difficult to comprehend the scope of the death and destruction. AccuWeather's preliminary estimate of total storm damage and economic loss is between $95–$110 billion.

If you want to support recovery efforts, consider donating to Mercury One, Samaritan's Purse — which is located in Boone, North Carolina, a mountain town devastated by Helene — or other official charitable organizations assisting in the recovery.

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Georgia Secretary Of State’s Office Urges Lawfare Against Election Officials Who Don’t Rubber-Stamp Results

A senior official in the Georgia Secretary of State's office said that election officials who do not to blindly certify election results should threatened with 'the powers of the courts.'

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A Trump-Thomas ticket would be a game-changer for 2024



Donald Trump has yet to announce his vice presidential running mate, a decision he doesn't take lightly. While there are many fine Republicans, Trump should consider only two: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Here is some unsolicited advice, respectfully submitted.

Thomas has been a pillar of the American republic for nearly half a century. No one has demonstrated more political courage, except for President Trump, than Justice Thomas. Normally, it would be fine to leave Thomas on the Supreme Court. But our republic is broken, and we are in a revolutionary moment that requires thinking outside the box. This election will decide the future of the country. Why not go all in with the two finest political figures we have: Donald Trump and Clarence Thomas?

If the MAGA base and the political right in America unite, they will have a fighting chance to turn this around.

Intellectually, Thomas has demonstrated an unparalleled devotion to the principles of the American founding. His application of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution to the legal and political crisis we find ourselves in today has had a profound and enduring impact on American jurisprudence. His understanding of the natural law and his common-sense legal opinions have reshaped the court in decisive ways.

Politically, Thomas is in a unique position. He is an elder statesman whom both the American people and the Republican political class respect. The MAGA base and traditional Republican Party members look to Thomas as a bulwark of traditional American morality and common sense.

Not only does he represent the best of American constitutional thinking, but he is also an eminently good man with a good and lovely wife. Millions already love Trump, and a Trump-Thomas ticket would generate unprecedented energy. Thomas is the kind of man for whom millions of Americans — especially Christians — would tirelessly walk precincts. The reason is simple: The MAGA base wants a running mate for President Trump who is authentically MAGA, not a pretender like Nikki Haley or Doug Burgum.

And at the most fundamental political level, the Democrats, should they have the majority, would not dream of impeaching President Trump with Vice President Clarence Thomas in the wings. For whom else could that be said?

Some will say that a Trump-Thomas ticket is crazy because Justice Thomas would have to give up his seat on the court. This is true, but unless overwhelming numbers of Americans vote for President Trump in November and overcome attempts to steal the election, Democrats will win the White House, along with the House of Representatives and Senate. They will then pack the Supreme Court, making Justice Thomas a minority view. If victorious, who better to advise President Trump on the future of the court than Vice President Thomas?

But, of course, Trump may not be able to pry Thomas from the court. In that case, the other choice is a nod to practical electoral politics: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. It is well known that Trump and Kemp are not the best of friends. To put it mildly, they did not see eye to eye on how the 2020 election was conducted in the Peach State.

Some might say Kemp didn’t fully apply his experience and proficiency as a former Georgia secretary of state to ensure a fraud-free 2020 election, impacted by changes to election laws due to COVID-19 lockdowns. This could be remedied in 2024. Kemp is one of the most skilled politicians in the country. If he were on the national ticket, he would ensure a free and fair election in Georgia. Under these circumstances, President Trump could win the state’s crucial 16 electoral votes. No other potential running mate offers this possibility.

It's true Kemp represents a more establishment part of the Republican Party. Bringing this faction back into the fold to join President Trump's MAGA base is crucial. In politics, unity is assumed come election time, but that was not the case in 2020 and 2022. If President Trump is to return to the White House, party unity is indispensable in 2024.

Many within the MAGA base will be appalled by such a selection. However, this is about political math. Georgia’s 16 electoral votes are critical. While Kemp has many establishment tendencies and is not MAGA on several issues, he is a traditional conservative on illegal immigration and gun rights. He was also among the best governors in the country during the COVID-19 lockdowns, keeping schools open and businesses running.

Whatever differences Republicans may have, the country is being torn apart. It may already be too late to reverse course. One thing is for sure: If the MAGA base and the political right in America unite, they will have a fighting chance to turn this around.

Georgia Voters Reject Radical Pro-Abortion State Supreme Court Candidate

Georgia voters on Tuesday delivered a resounding rejection of a radical pro-abortion candidate for the state supreme court.