What gives?

To no one's surprise Donald Trump exploited his "friendly talk" with Barack Obama at the state funeral for Jimmy Carter.  I thought Barack knew better than engaging with Donald, especially after Jill Bidens' moment with Trump at the dedication to the restored Notre Dame cathedral became a promo for his $199 cologne. Sure, you say hello out of politeness but there he was "yukking it up" with Donald, making it so easy for anyone to put words in his mouth afterward. Words that Donald was all too glad to share on Truth Social.

It seems that the principal target of this parody was Kamala Harris, who refused to acknowledge Trump.  Smart move on her part.  Who knows what her future plans are, but Governor of California seems the most logical choice.  I don't think she wants to run again for President, assuming we have another election.  To hear Republicans talk these days, Trump will be President for Life as we move toward a more autocratic federal government.

That's not the worst of it.  John Fetterman proudly proclaimed "no one is my gatekeeper" after accepting an invitation to meet Trump in Mar-a-Lago ahead of his inauguration next week.  The unapologetic "outsider" who barely lifted a finger for Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania now wants to see what Trump will do for his state.  Many thought Harris would win this key battleground state with Fetterman and Shapiro in her corner.  Both won key state races two short years ago but were never on the same page.  In the end, nobody won as far as Democrats are concerned.  Bob Casey fell to Dave McCormick in the crucial senate race.  So, here's John now courting Donald at his Winter White House.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Fetterman flips parties during his term.  He's due to run again in 2024 and he seems to think the political tide favors the Republicans.  He's positioned himself as a maverick, often butting heads with fellow Democrats, but so far hasn't accomplished much of anything in the Senate.  You had to allow him some recovery time from the stroke he suffered on the campaign trail but for the most part he has taken contrary stances to the party line, especially over fracking and Israel, making him appear like the next Joe Manchin.  He's still strong on unions, so maybe he will carve out some middle ground for himself.

What worries me is that other Democrats will also try to curry favor with Trump so that he doesn't side against their states, as he did during his previous tenure.  They don't seem to realize that the only way to neutralize Trump is to win in 2026.  If they start playing their "Trump Light" cards this early in the game, what reason do voters have to vote Democratic?  Unless Trump craters the economy and we see another backlash like we did in 2018.

I don't think Trump won this election on any specific issue or any particular merit.  What he and the conservative political action committees were successfully able to do was stir up frustration, anger and hate toward a wide variety of issues making it difficult for Democrats to address them all in turn.  It was trans rights one day, IVF the next, immigrants eating dogs and cats another.  It reached the point Americans were "mad as hell and weren't going to take it anymore," in the immortal words of "Howard Beale."  Kamala's message of "hope and joy" was never going to work as an antidote to all this pent up rage that was unleashed again on November 5, and so now we have to bear the brunt of it for the next four years.

Network has served as a template for Fox News and social media.  Yet, Democrats continue to insist on posting statistics when it is individual stories like the murder of Laken Riley that have the greatest impact.  Republicans have further exploited her memory by pushing an anti-immigration bill with Democrats gullibly signing on.  It passed the Senate with a vote of 84-9.  Not surprisingly, Fetterman co-sponsored the bill.

Americans have never seemed to grasp that the real power lies at the local and state level.  Americans come out in droves to vote during presidential elections, 60 percent and higher, but stay home for midterms and off-year elections, which see state turnouts as little as 19 percent.  This has always befuddled me.  You would think Americans would be more concerned about their state and local lawmakers.  Instead, many think that the president can magically make things better with his signature on an executive order.  While that has been the case on rare occasions, most of the benefits we receive come from our local governments.  This is what our state, city and property taxes go toward. 

This holds true for Congress as well.  The President is powerless without the support of Congress.  All federal funding goes through these two chambers.  Congress also has the ability to limit a president's executive powers if its representatives feel he has gone too far.  Such was the case when Nixon tried to impound appropriated funds back in the 1970s, only to see Congress pass an impoundment control act in 1974 that further limited the president's discretionary powers.  

We have the chance to rein in Trump's excesses in 2026, like we did in 2018, but if Democrats are going to pay obeisance to Trump, which tech barons are literally doing, what hope do we have?  All this deference toward Trump is nauseating, especially knowing full well the outcome. Nothing.

So, no more small talk.  No more seeing what Trump can deliver for my state.  Democrats have to approach the next two years as if they are going to war.  Every action has to be aimed at taking back Congress in 2026 so that they have the opportunity to hold the Orange Fuhrer accountable for the remainder of his single term.  Anything short of that is appeasement and will be met with indifference from the electorate.  It's time for Democrats to be "mad as hell and not take it anymore."