CPAC and the USA

 

The Conservative Political Action Conference held its annual gathering at The National Harbor site just outside of Washington DC this week. And, as usual, it gathered lots of "fringy right-wingers". However, this year there were even more odd folks than before as Christian Nationalists, anti-democracy groups, white nationalists, and even Nazis mingled among the crowds. They targeted the younger attendees, and according to some at NBC News, found a ready audience for their conspiracy theories and anti-Semitic views. Seen also were followers who attended the Unite the Right Rally and other White supremacist protests. A self-defined conservative and conspiracy theorist who spoke at a panel moderated by Steve Bannon also called for the end of democracy. The person, Jack Posbeic, called for democracy to be replaced by a cross, then later claimed he was just being sarcastic. Watch what "they say" and what "they do."

Then, of course, some spoke before the convention as they auditioned for the spot of Vice-President should DJT become the party's nominee for president; (for many a foregone conclusion). The convention even held a straw poll to allow attendees to note their favorites. This poll ended in a tie with 15% of those voting choosing Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota and 15% choosing Vivek Ramaswamy. Former Democratic congressional representative (and former presidential candidate) Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii came in third with 9% followed by NY congressional representative Elise Stefanik with 8% (sorry, Elise, looks as if you sold out for nothing here-and that dress was ugly!). Two African American maybes, Senator Tim Scott of SC, and Byron Daniels of Florida, came in with 8 and 7% respectively. Senator Scott, was the humiliation worth the chance? Former candidate for governor, Kari Lake of Arizona, who had not spoken when the poll was posted, was not listed. Senator J.D. Vance, who has also been vying for the position, apparently has not made the cut yet. J.D., after your recent comments about the Constitution and the Court, you so don't belong there!   

As reported in the Guardian  "Do I think there were problems in 2020? Yes, I do," Vance told ABC News's George Stephanopoulos, adding it was "ridiculous" to ask if he would have certified the results as Mike Pence had done and told the host he was "obsessed with talking about this". In a contentious interview, the senator also suggested that Trump should ignore "illegitimate" US Supreme Court rulings.

That remark came after Vance was questioned about a 2021 podcast during which he said he would advise Trump to "fire every single mid-level bureaucrat, every civil servant in the administrative state, replace them with our people" and ignore legal rulings against it.

"We have a major problem here with administrators and bureaucrats in the government who don't respond to the elected branches ... If those people aren't following the rules, then of course you've got to fire them, and of course, the president has to be able to run the government as he thinks he should," Vance said.

"The constitution says that the Supreme Court can make rulings ... but if the Supreme Court said the President of the United States can't fire a general, that would be an illegitimate ruling," added Vance, whose wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, has previously clerked for John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh, the supreme court justices."

It seems that the Senator from Ohio does not believe in our system of separate branches of government with checks and balances.

It is also true that the former president does not believe in them either, as his speeches frequently talk of getting retribution against any who thwarted his plans when he was in office. He speaks frequently about remaking the civil service subject to presidential whims. In remarks to the National Religious Broadcasters International Media Conference recently, DJT equated the left with communist and fascist forces who would come and take away your churches, tear down your crosses, and replace them with social justice flags.

And, as reported by PBS: "Remember, every communist regime throughout history has tried to stamp out the churches, just like every fascist regime has tried to co-opt them and control them," Trump told hundreds of cheering attendees at the National Religious Broadcasters International Christian Media Convention in Nashville. "And, in America, the radical left is trying to do both."

The Christian media gathering, where sponsors distributed free red and white baseball caps emblazoned with "Make America Pray Again," was exceedingly friendly territory for the former president, whose address often felt more like a rally than a staid convention speech.

"The left is trying to shame Christians," Trump said. "They're trying to shame us. I'm a very proud Christian."

"When he came onto the scene, people were skeptical," said Troy Miller, president, and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters. "But I think, as they've learned more and listened to Donald Trump speak, the one thing I hear all the time from people … is that they really feel like Donald Trump understands them and that's the biggest connection that people make is, 'This is a guy in politics who gets us, who understands us, who doesn't talk like he's an elitist and talk down to us.'"

The former president won the SC primary yesterday with approximately 60% of the vote to opponent Nikki Haley's 40%. This does not seem like a strong showing in a very red state for someone who pretends he won the election in 2020. In his rambling acceptance speech, where he again spoke about the hordes of immigrants coming from mental institutions and jails as they cross the border, he noted he wanted the race to be over. (He also forgot the name of the SC governor, forgot to mention one of his sons when naming family members, lied about "his victory" in 2020, and lied about being endorsed by the UAW – which already endorsed Biden). He tried to secure control of the Republican National Committee, (after urging chair Ronna McDaniel's out) naming his choices to run the party, including his daughter-in-law, and bringing back Kellyanne Conway. The Party, which he described as unified, is not sure on this motion.

The draft resolution, in part, states: "The Republican National Committee and its leadership will stay neutral throughout the Presidential primary and not take on additional staff from any of the active Presidential campaigns until a nominee is clearly determined by reaching 1,215 delegates."

A second resolution also prohibits the party from paying his legal fees. Members in the down-ballot races looked at fundraising gaps and showed concern about competing in November.

The Economist noted this week that the left had better get busy and counter such movements and messages as shown above. Europe is extremely concerned after recent anti-NATO and pro-Putin remarks made by DJT. While some point out that primary voters are the base of committed followers, the general election will not have the same makeup and will be a more diverse electorate, others are concerned that parts of his divisive messages are getting through to the voters who do not think America is working for them.

The Democratic Party cannot afford to lose votes or become complacent. I agree his campaign is unhinged and his messages are divisive, but I only have one vote. Democrats need to do a better job of reaching out to the younger voters, to disaffected communities such as Muslims and communities of color. Policies have been changed, and unemployment is low, as is inflation, but we aren't all the way there yet in the larger scheme of things. The resolution of border issues and the war in Gaza are two large hurdles for the president at this time. Biden needs to publicize that DJT killed the border legislation that was in the planning for months. He also needs to publicize the tuition forgiveness promises he made were turned down by petitions from Republican States, and loan businesses and eventually denied by the Trump Supreme Court.

I don't know what will happen, but Congress has to return and pass the spending bills or shut down soon. House Speaker Johnson sent everyone home rather than deal with the package negotiated by the Senate. Of course, should he try to resolve issues such as funding for Ukraine and elsewhere, and pass a budget, he might lose his seat. Country over party should be your mantra, Speaker Johnson.

"Til next week-Peace!