WIPEOUT

The Likes of Which Are Rarely Seen

Consider the evidence.

• Democrats flipped seats in Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maine.

• Democrats could be up to 56 seats in Senate. They picked up 43 in the House.

• The Democrats won the majority of governorships for the first time in 16 years and this is after the massive exodus from Blue States like CA, IL and NY.

• Democrats haven’t won full control of government in Arizona in 60 years, in Pennsylvania since the 1990s, and Wisconsin since their wipeout in 2010. In Texas, they will control the state house for the first time since 2002.

• Core Trump Supporters Flipped. Hispanics, White Men.

• This was one of the biggest swings in a midterm election in the modern era.

• Worse than Clinton's bloodbath in 1974. As bad as Obama's in 2012.

• Even in Florida, now the lone remaining bastion of conservative, pro-America allegiance, Senator Ashley Moody won by only 2% over complete leftwing whacko Angie Nixon. 2% in FLORIDA!

• A friend of the Muslim brotherhood, a partner to the biggest fraud in Medicare history, someone who had two children with his sister and one who says God is nonbinary and there are six sexes... are now in the United States Senate.

Like I said...EPIC WIPE OUT.

Costs, Chaos, Corruption

Make no mistake about it. This result was not an endorsement of Democratic policies. Not by even a little. Medicare for All, transgenderism, socialism all polled well below 50%.

In the end, this was - purely and simply - a repudiation of Donald Trump.

Here are the highlights of Ben Shapiro's take, which I quite liked:

• Affordability (and by association the War and its impact on gas prices) was the #1 issue voters cited by a mile. 65% say President Trump's policies worsened economic conditions. 75% said they were dissatisfied and angry. The war was included ONLY because of its impact at the pump.

  
  

  But there were two other major factors.

  
  

• Chaos. The flipflopping in strategies, the everyday changing of what to expect next, the refusal to take responsibility, the constant blaming of others, the mixed messages, the emphasis on unimportant things...all contributed to a sense Trump was unfocussed and unconcerned about the everyday life of Americans. For crying out loud...Rome is burning and on Election eve, Trump is at the Reflecting Pool talking about how wonderful it is.

  
  

• Corruption was the other. Everything doesn't have to be illegal to be improper. Reports that Trump's net worth increased by $2B in office are not a good look. His sons and in-laws making billions in crypto and doing deals with the Emirates doesn't make Dad look squeaky clean...nor particularly concerned about "normal" people.

Put these all together and Americans, both Democrats and way too many Republicans, said...that's enough.

It's a big plus to have everyone on the team singing from the same hymnbook. But, it's a real handicap when no one can stand up and say, "Hey Boss, this is dead wrong" without getting shot.

Where Colin Was Wrong

Colin Cowherd is a sportscaster on Fox News. His daily show, "The Herd", is one of the best watched. Each week Colin makes a bunch of predictions. The following week he presents a recap. Calls it...What Colin got right and What Colin got wrong.

Here's mine.

What CME Got Right

• Trump's intentions are good and policies are sound.

• Trump's Administration did a lot of good and necessary things.

• Trump was a deeply flawed candidate.

• He is a poor leader because he alienates far too many.

• Ron DeSantis would have been a much better choice.

What CME Got Dead Wrong

• The polls might be wrong as most Republicans won't participate.

• Most Americans will, at the end of the day, never elect candidates who openly despise America.

• Nor will they elect ones who want to dump capitalism in favor of socialism.

• Most Americans will come to their senses and do what's right for the Country.

• And the biggest mistake was thinking...Policy trumps Personality.

Oh So Wrong...Sincerest Apologies.

Ping Pong Politics

Party loyalty, Red States, Blue States, Capitalism, Socialism...throw it all in bin. These days people will switch in a heartbeat. They don't care if inflation has come down or median income went up. If unemployment is dropping or jobs created are up. Stats don't matter.

If it's hittin' them in the grocery aisle or at the pump, they'll dump you in heartbeat.

As they say...It's Always Darkest before It Turns Pitch Black

Remember...less than 24 months ago the Democratic Party was written off as hopelessly broken.

What will hinder a Republican rebound is the same factor that sunk us this time. Donald J. Trump, who you can be sure will excoriate any Republican that attempts in any way to put the blame on him. There is simply no way Trump will suppress his giant ego and try to cut deals with the Dems. In fairness, what kind of deals could he make that wouldn't torpedo the economy, the healthcare system, national security or the debt?

As one Dem put it...LAWYER UP! Another exclaimed..."We're going to toss out subpoenas like Mardi Gras beads."

That could actually be a good thing. All the frivolous lawsuits of Trump helped him get elected.

EVs Cost Jobs

Electric cars have 100 times fewer moving parts than gas-driven ones. Think what that will mean to parts suppliers and the workers they employ. Germany has already cut 4000 jobs.

REMs May Soon Be a REALLY BIG PROBLEM

As everyone knows rare earth minerals are essential to many key industries and the military. As everyone also knows, China has managed to construct a stranglehold on their supply. In a recent report from the Special Competitive Studies Project some new, rather startling concerns emerged.

From an assessment of almost nine million parts and 3,000 U.S. military weapon systems, it was determined that more than 28,000 unique components across 1,400 weapons systems contain four rare earths...antimony, gallium, germanium and tungsten.

China controls some 68% of the world’s refined germanium. It has a far greater chokehold on gallium, used in semiconductors and solar cells, and especially advanced radars, controlling up to 99% of production.

China controls about half the production of antimony, used to harden ammunition and to manufacture optics and electronics; and up to 80% of the supply of tungsten, used in manufacturing tools, warheads and heat-resistant components.

Exactly which weapons systems are at risk when the suspension of export controls expires THIS MONTH? Well, the Virginia Class Submarine which is our only fast attack submarine in production, scaling of interceptor missiles, the B-2 bomber and a whole bunch of other toys upon which our national security depends.

For the record...this dereliction of duty didn't happen on Trump's watch. He's the one who's been trying to fix it. Just like Iran.

Have a quiet weekend even though "there is no joy in Mudville."