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Republicans need to 'get off the mat'
Whatever the reasons that elections turn out as they do, they have consequences.
If statism of whatever variety is your thing, you'll be enthralled with what comes from Capitol Hill and the establishment press in 2027 and 2028, all leading up to the 2028 presidential election.
Americans are in store for the most full-throated, gloves-off advocacy of statism in American history, with the usual goal of accruing more power to government.
Among possible events:
● First up may well be yet another impeachment, yet no conviction, of a president of the United States.
Impeachment as a political weapon against presidents began under President Andrew Johnson and picked up steam late in the 20th century.
This time, impeachment may not stop at the president.
● Next up will be lawfare on steroids. Congressional investigations galore, including subpoenas and testimony, will come the way of Trump-administration officials, past and present.
One effect, if not goal, will be to send a message to anyone thinking of supporting the president or ideas for which his administration stands: Stand down and be quiet, or we'll come after you.
How do we know that? Because it's what they've done since Trump was elected in 2016.
Believe their threats. They mean them. They're not kidding.
● Next up will be legislation with the effect, if not goal, of empowering statists. Don't be surprised if they start with tax hikes.
● Packing the Supreme Court is among their recent favorites. They never wanted to add justices when the court frequently, dependably went their way on hot-button issues. But now that it doesn't, they advocate adding justices. Hmmm.
And never mind that--as this column explained just before the 2020 general election--packing the court is unconstitutional, because it disrupts the balance of powers among government's three branches. This balance helps keep government within its limited and enumerated powers and helps protect ordered liberty.
● Also on the agenda will be re-opening America's borders to millions upon millions of illegal aliens, including those whose crimes extend well beyond entering America illegally.
● Don't forget trying to stop the Trump administration from kicking out illegal aliens, even those whose crimes extend well beyond entering America illegally.
● While statists are at it, they'll want to defund police and go easy on criminals.
● Progress on confirming Trump-administration nominees to various posts will slow to a crawl.
● Confirming any Supreme Court nominee, unless the nominee is someone whom the president shouldn't want to nominate anyway, won't be on statists' agenda.
● Neither will seriously protecting elections from cheating.
● Expect statists' fossil-fuel-restriction efforts to begin anew. The result of any such restrictions will be higher energy prices.
● Expect rekindled efforts to let boys play on girls' sports teams, and let men play on women's sports teams.
● Efforts to prevent particular physical and pharmacological harm to minors will be shunned.
● Plans for government's being the sole health-insurance provider will come to the fore.
● Looking beyond America's borders, efforts to encourage America's allies to shoulder more of the burden of their own defense will receive less enthusiasm.
● Serious efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons will be viewed askance.
● So will efforts to support Israel.
● Anti-Israel advocacy will arise from multiple elected officials barely concealing--if they conceal at all, which many don't--their, to put it mildly, dislike of Jews.
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All of this will be laced with the usual distaste for Western Civilization in general and America in particular.
To paraphrase the familiar saying: Aside from all of that Mrs. Lincoln, this show will be just fine.
Fasten your seatbelts, America. Statist turbulence is ahead.
True, America has endured such turbulence before, yet not with a major party this far to the left.
Democrats have many good, sensible leaders. Yet their numbers at the national level continue to dwindle. No one should count on their being able to grab the reins from those on the ascendancy among Democrats now.
Among the next questions facing Republicans is who their 2028 presidential candidate should be. This one better be especially good. America is worth defending.
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As Ken Blackwell wrote at https://www.facebook.com/blackwellohio on Nov. 5, it's time to tell "a bruised and bloodied team to get back out on the field and fight again."
He urges that we "stop sulking and start fighting. Democrats (will) hold both chambers of Congress, and they will use every ounce of that power to grow government and shrink your freedom.
"They will overreach, because they always do. When they do, (we) must be ready to explain to every neighbor, coworker and family member why our ideas work and theirs fail. …
"It will be morning in America again. Pray for our nation, get off the mat and get back to work."
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Randy Elf explored seeking the Republican and Conservative nominations for New York attorney general in 2018.
COPYRIGHT © 2026 BY RANDY ELF