‘Municipal conservatism’ offers hope to crime-ridden blue cities



As the results of the 2024 election are scrutinized, the left and its media allies are shocked by the number of urban voters who had been loyal Democrats but suddenly shifted to Donald Trump. This shift helped propel Trump to victory in states like Pennsylvania and Michigan and significantly reduced the Democrats’ margin even in blue states they won.

These “Trump Democrats” are also frontline victims of the ills that elected Democrats have caused in recent years.

The old libertarian, anti-government Republican clichés won’t solve the crime and dysfunction besetting our cities.

For better or worse, Republicans have largely abandoned the cities, leaving them to deal with the consequences of their own votes. This approach is understandable. But if the widespread defection of black and Jewish voters to Trump is seen as a cry for help, perhaps now is the time for conservatives to offer a better alternative: “municipal conservatism.”

A few days after the election, liberal journalist Josh Barro published an insightful essay in the Atlantic that gained wide circulation, even in conservative circles. Barro boldly criticized Democrats’ poor governance, which drove many traditional Democratic voters to Trump. Declaring that “Democrats deserved to lose,” Barro highlighted issues like the breakdown of order in public transit, lack of policing, open shoplifting, merchandise locked in cases, expensive but failing schools, hotels filled with migrants, released criminals, and defunding of police.

Despite his excellent analysis, Barro missed the mark by clinging to the outdated 20th-century assumption that Democrats aim to provide government services to improve their constituents’ lives. “The gap between Democrats’ promise of better living through better government and their failure to actually deliver better government has been a national political problem,” he wrote.

“Better living through better government,” or simply “good government,” may have been the guiding philosophy during the days of Richard Daley in Chicago and Ed Koch in New York City — mayors who genuinely sought prosperity and order for their cities. Today, however, even the pretense of good government is gone. Many cities are now run by self-proclaimed revolutionaries who identify as Democrats but aim to dismantle the old order.

These “Pol Pot mayors” speak of a new utopian vision, but in reality, they are destroying their cities, much as Pol Pot did when he depopulated Phnom Penh in his quest to reorganize Cambodian society. Crime, civil disorder, and anarcho-tyranny are not viewed as problems in these struggling blue cities. They are tools.

These cities urgently need municipal conservatives in the mold of Rudy Giuliani — strong leaders who will restore order, even if they are not small-government purists aligned with Edmund Burke and Ludwig von Mises. Giuliani’s work cleaning up New York was remarkable, yet many conservatives initially dismissed him as too liberal because he didn’t focus on lowering taxes and limiting government. But New Yorkers weren’t looking for that. They wanted effective governance and a return to civil order. Rudy delivered.

This isn’t to suggest that 20th-century Democratic urban governance is an ideal to emulate or repeat. I’m pointing out that Democrats have abandoned any commitment to safe, orderly cities, creating an opportunity for Republicans to offer viable solutions.

There was nothing conservative about Democrat-run cities in the 20th century, with their focus on patronage, jobs programs, and generous pay and benefits for municipal employees. But with civil order and reliable policing, citizens tolerated the taxes and corruption and continued voting for Democrats. Meanwhile, Republicans talked about privatizing city services and cutting city payrolls — and consistently lost at the polls.

Many of us conservatives who left blue cities mock city-dwellers for not voting Republican, but perhaps they haven’t heard the right message about making cities livable again. Or maybe now is finally the time they’ll listen to that message.

The old libertarian, anti-government Republican clichés won’t solve the crime and dysfunction besetting our cities. In fact, the left’s demand to abolish the police could itself be seen as a libertarian, anti-government stance.

Republicans need to offer our struggling cities an agenda focused on delivering excellent city services, including effective policing, cleanliness, anti-vagrancy measures, public safety, reliable utilities, and family-friendly parks. This agenda should promote a political climate that supports small businesses, primary education, churches, families, and patriotism. Democrat-run cities have grown hostile to these foundational elements of urban civilization, creating an enormous opportunity for Republicans.

Donald Trump has shown that even the most loyal Democratic constituencies are willing to vote Republican if it promises relief from the problems created by Democratic policies. A municipal conservatism that can restore civil order in our cities is exactly what voters need right now. Now, Republicans need to recruit modern-day Giulianis to make that pitch.

Blaze News original: 9 popular TV shows with conservative messages



Television used to be the great equalizer — a place where Americans of all colors, creeds, and political persuasions could gather to turn off their brains for a while and zone out.

We may have had fewer choices — in both what we watched and when we watched it — but at least every bit of content (we called them "shows" back then) had more or less the same objective: to entertain us.

That generally meant avoiding the same topics you avoid at the neighborhood barbershop — politics and religion.

So much for that simple pleasure.

Now even the most lowbrow dating show must pass muster with the commissars of woke. Now TV producers fall all over themselves to shoehorn leftist messages about inclusion and choose-your-own-gender ideology into their sitcoms and procedurals and single-camera prestige "dramedies."

It's enough to make a man pick up reading.

But wait — don't touch that Dostoevsky! There are still some TV shows out there for conservatives — i.e., anyone who doesn't run from the room screaming at the slightest hint of traditional beliefs such as the importance of family and the value of personal responsibility.

We've compiled a guide — and it's got everything from heartland dramas and wholesome family-friendly sitcoms to crime thrillers, animated comedies, and programs celebrating small-town America.

'Yellowstone'

Set in rural Montana, "Yellowstone" follows the lives of an influential ranching family.

The show often features a rural-versus-urban bent, as the Dutton family must battle against deep-pocketed coastal elites attempting to take over their precious ranch land. "Yellowstone" highlights the dangers of government overreach, crony capitalism, and corporate interests seeking to acquire or develop land.

The show has conservative themes such as a pro-gun perspective, depicting traditional masculinity and gender roles, preaching self-reliance, valorizing work ethic, land conservation, the importance of individual rights, and preservation of heritage.

Kevin Costner portrays John Dutton, the patriarch of the Dutton family. Despite being an antihero with questionable morals, Dutton wants to preserve his family's legacy, traditions, and way of life.

The show has a prominent trope that progress isn't always progress.

'Last Man Standing'

The main character of "Last Man Standing" is Mike Baxter – an outspoken and unapologetic conservative who isn't afraid to air out his right-leaning views on various issues.

Baxter displays a strong work ethic at his job at Outdoor Man — a chain of sporting goods stores.

Baxter is the patriarch of a household with three daughters, and the show advocates for conventional family roles and values. However, Baxter holds traditional values that often put him at odds with the more liberal women in his household — and his son-in-law. Despite political differences, Mike is a family man who comically puts aside his differences and will do anything for his loved ones.

Baxter is played by actor Tim Allen, who is a conservative in real life, which gives his character and the show authenticity.

"Last Man Standing" delves into political issues, including immigration, culture war topics, government regulations, free-market capitalism, voter participation, political campaigns, gun rights, environmental policies, and education.

Though it was the second-most-watched ABC sitcom during the 2016-17 season, ABC canceled "Last Man Standing." Following the cancellation, nearly 440,000 people signed a petition to save the show.

"'Last Man Standing' is one of the only shows on broadcast television, and the only sitcom, that is not constantly shoving liberal ideals down the throats of the viewers. And sadly, that is likely the real reason the show has been canceled," the petition read.

ABC entertainment president Channing Dungey contended that "Last Man Standing" was canceled for "business and scheduling reasons."

"Last Man Standing" was picked up by Fox in 2018 and ran on the network until 2021.

'The Ranch'

"The Ranch" is a Netflix comedy-drama series that may appeal to conservatives for numerous reasons.

The show is based on the Bennett family, who live on the fictional Iron River Ranch in Garrison, Colorado. The TV show has a coming-home plot of a failed semi-pro football player returning to his hometown to help run the family ranch.

"The Ranch" touches on the economic hardships facing small ranchers and other serious issues facing rural America in general.

The show notes the importance of community, self-reliance, work ethic, gun ownership, patriotism, the beauty of tight-knit small-town life, lessons of redemption, family traditions, and skepticism of liberal policies and political correctness.

'King of the Hill'

"King of the Hill" highlights traditional values while providing laughs to the viewer.

The animated TV series is based in the small fictional town of Arlen, Texas. The show centers around Hank Hill, a middle-class propane salesman with conservative values. Hank is a devoted family man who believes in hard work, personal responsibility, and the importance of community.

He has traditional viewpoints, such as patriotism, loyalty, work ethic, personal responsibility, limited government, traditional gender roles, fiscal conservatism, respect for tradition, community involvement, blue-collar pride, civic duty, and skepticism toward government intervention.

Hill often struggles to understand modern societal trends, which opens up comedic situations where Hank is completely perplexed. Hill often blasts political correctness.

"King of the Hill" was created by Mike Judge, who was also behind "Beavis and Butt-Head" and "Idiocracy."

'Blue Bloods'

"Blue Bloods" is a police procedural drama series that spotlights law enforcement and family values.

"Blue Bloods" revolves around the Reagan family — a multi-generational clan of Irish-Catholic law enforcement officers dedicated to serving and protecting New York City.

Frank Reagan is the family's patriarch and the New York City police commissioner. Reagan, played by Tom Selleck, is a wise and respected leader who upholds justice and integrity and often embodies strong conservative ideals.

Frank's eldest son, Danny, is a seasoned detective, family man, and Iraq War veteran. Frank's daughter, Erin, is an assistant district attorney. Frank's youngest son, Jamie, is a Harvard Law School graduate and the family's "golden boy" who becomes a sergeant. Frank's father, Henry, is a retired NYC police commissioner.

"Blue Bloods" stresses tight family unity, intergenerational wisdom, loyalty, faith, law and order, justice, ethics, public service, personal responsibility, critique of the media, and respect for law enforcement.

'Kevin Can Wait'

Many consider "Kevin Can Wait" to be family-friendly entertainment that is geared toward conservatives.

The sitcom stars comedic actor Kevin James as Kevin Gable, a retired police officer and father living in a suburban Long Island with his wife, Donna, and their three children. The show highlights the challenges of balancing blue-collar work and the importance of family life.

The TV show hits on conservative topics such as working-class concerns, being family-centric, traditional gender roles, hard work ethos, pro-law-enforcement, a sense of community, individual responsibility, patriotism, integrity, loyalty, protectiveness, and commitment.

While not overtly political, there have been episodes of "Kevin Can Wait" that have addressed topics such as gun rights, community values, and patriotism.

'South Park'

"South Park" is definitely not a conservative television show. However, "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are equal-opportunity satirists who have never shied away from roasting sacred cows on the left, right, and anything in between.

"South Park" has featured some of the most cutting comedic criticisms of liberals since it debuted in 1997 and regularly challenges progressive orthodoxies. "South Park" has taken on the white savior complex often associated with liberals, satirized woke culture, exposed the dangers of censorship, poked fun at Al Gore's obsession with climate change, lambasted liberal celebrities for their political activism, and highlighted the hypocrisy of Disney's support of liberal politics.

P.C. Principal is the principal at South Park Elementary who is dead set on bringing an extreme politically correct agenda to the school. P.C. Principal was first introduced in the premiere episode of the 19th season, titled "Stunning and Brave": P.C. Principal ironically lampoons liberals regarding language-policing.

"South Park" also hilariously shamed progressives for supporting transgender men playing in women's sports in Season 23's episode titled: "Go Strong Woman, Go."

The show often takes a libertarian stance, emphasizing individual freedom with a healthy skepticism toward authority and government intervention.

'Heartland'

"Heartland" is a long-running Canadian series that follows multiple generations of families on their Alberta ranch.

The television series "Heartland" appeals to conservatives due to its focus on depictions of rural lifestyles, close-knit families, overcoming personal challenges, and embracing long-standing traditions.

Throughout the series, family unity and support are reoccurring themes, with storylines often revolving around overcoming personal challenges and maintaining familial relationships.

"Heartland" celebrates rural life and conservative values associated with it, such as hard work, resilience, and self-reliance. The characters have a deep connection to the land and their commitment to preserving their way of life.

Woven into the show are themes of accountability, integrity, loyalty, honesty, and perseverance. There are messages of healing, personal growth, and the importance of a loving home.

The show reinforces conventional family dynamics, and the characters portray traditional gender roles and responsibilities.

"Heartland" is rated for children age 10 and up, according to Common Sense, an independent source that evaluates entertainment for families and schools.

'Home Improvement'

Before Mike Baxter, there was Tim Taylor. Tim Allen's debut sitcom, "Home Improvement" resonates with conservative viewers who appreciate its depiction of typical middle-class suburban American homes, the conventional nuclear family structure, and stereotypical gender dynamics.

As in "Last Man Standing," Allen's character embodies a traditional masculine archetype: He has a passion for tools, cars, sports, and activities typically associated with conventional masculinity. In fact, he hosts a home improvement show called "Tool Time."

Jill is a supportive wife as well as an assertive homemaker and mother. Tim and Jill have three sons: Brad, Randy, and Mark.

The show frequently offers lessons about family, communication, and solving familial disputes.

The Taylor family has a Christian faith. There is also a sense of community, as Tim often seeks advice from his neighbor, Wilson.

"Home Improvement" stresses attributes such as hard work, personal accountability, patriotism, the significance of maintaining a strong moral compass, and the importance of family unity and values. The show celebrates skilled trades, small business ownership, ingenuity, and masculinity.

Allen is a staunch Republican and supporter of former President Donald Trump.

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Bet you can't guess what detail the mainstream media keeps omitting in the Laken Riley case



A 22-year-old student was murdered on her University of Georgia campus by a 26-year-old illegal immigrant, and the mainstream media is showing its true colors.

The student, Laken Riley, was going for a morning jog when Jose Antonio Ibarra allegedly kidnapped and killed her.

However, in stories published on the tragedy from publications like the Associated Press, the reporters neglect to add in a very important detail: the alleged murderer is an illegal immigrant, and he already had a criminal history here in the United States.

According to ICE, Ibarra was caught crossing illegally into El Paso in September 2022 and was released into the United States via parole.

Nearly a year later, New York police arrested him for acting in a manner to injure a child less than age 17, and, yet again, he was released.

“I’m sure that it was just, you know, an oversight,” Sara Gonzales mocks, “just a little oopsy. Surely, they wrote a follow-up that highlighted the glaring omission that this man should not have even been in this country in the first place.”

“You have to imagine — surely, it’s incompetence rather than a deliberate act of deception,” she adds sarcastically.

The Associated Press did write a follow-up on the story in which it blamed toxic masculinity for her death rather than the allowance of a criminal into the United States.

The author then used the death of Mollie Tibbetts as another example of toxic masculinity but neglected to mention Tibbetts was also brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant.

“Both women were murdered by illegal immigrants, but that doesn’t fit the narrative. That’s not good for optics,” Gonzales says.


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DeSantis launching billboards in Chicago offering 'unappreciated' cops a $5,000 signing bonus for relocating to Florida to help keep the peace



Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is launching a billboard campaign in Chicago, offering "unappreciated" police officers a $5,000 signing bonus to come to Florida to do what leftists in Illinois appear keen to otherwise prevent them from doing properly at home.

Chicago is a city terrorized by criminals. There have been 1,495 criminal sexual assaults, 7,039 robberies, 20,651 motor vehicle thefts, and 435 murders reported in the city so far this year. Two of those slain in the city were police officers, Aréanah M. Preston and Andres M. Vasquez Lasso.

The very people capable of restoring law and order in the no-cash-bail state have seemingly been discouraged from doing so at every turn.

Chicago was, after all, one of the Democrat-run cities that embraced anti-police rhetoric and reduced police funding amidst the 2020 BLM riots.

Its new leftist mayor, Brandon Johnson, a former teachers' union organizer and advocate for "redirecting money away from policing and militarizing police forces," does not appear to be making things better, having called for social workers and EMTs to respond to various 911 calls.

The chilling effect has been unmistakable.

In the face of dwindling support from the city, increased scrutiny, and the fear of reprisals, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that arrests dropped to their lowest in decades last year.

With the understanding both that Florida could always use more men and women in blue and that Democratic policies in Illinois allow "dangerous criminals back into communities," DeSantis announced Thursday that Florida would be launching billboards in the greater Chicago area inviting law enforcement officers to the Sunshine State.

Those "unappreciated" officers who are interested and who relocate will receive a $5,000 signing bonus through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program.

According to the Florida Department of Commerce website, over 292 law enforcement officers have already taken the Sunshine State up on the offer to relocate from Illinois, California, New York, and Pennsylvania since 2022.

"Florida strongly supports law enforcement and has consistently enacted commonsense criminal justice policies to keep our communities safe," said DeSantis. "We stand behind our citizen officers, and we give them the tools to succeed professionally and personally. Other states deputize non-citizens, enact policies that favor criminals over victims, and work to overtly or covertly defund the police, but not in Florida. I look forward to welcoming the Illinois men and women in blue to the law-and-order state."

In the announcement, the governor's office contrasted Illinois' apparent priority to allow illegal aliens to become police officers and eliminate cash bail with the benefits on offer to law enforcement officers in Florida, including student loan forgiveness programs, home loan programs, and retirement benefits.

WQRF-TV reported that the billboards erected in the Chicago area read, "Citizenship Matters. Law Enforcement Matters. Make the Smart Move to Florida."

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