I promised a post on Project 2025, but I’m just not there yet. (Until then, just read anything you see about Project 2025 with a huge amount of doubt. So many of the things about Project 2025 I’m seeing coming from the left are … well, not quite accurate.)
Meanwhile, things keep happening. So …
JD Vance
Here are a few things that JD Vance has said about Trump mostly back in 2016.
I never liked him
My god what an idiot
Noxious
Reprehensible
Fellow Christians, everyone is watching us. When we apologize for this man, Lord help us.
The American Hitler
Compared Trump to a heroin addiction.
Apparently, after Trump was elected, what he did as President changed Vance’s opinion about him.
I’m all for growth and changing positions on changing facts. But what I don’t understand is how anybody could have been so strongly opposed to Trump in 2016 and then turned around and supported him as Vance has since. He has become one of the biggest Trump apologists there is. That makes no sense. If he was all of those things Vance said eight years ago, what has happened that creates a different dynamic around Trump. Particularly following the 2020 election and with a lot of the things Trump has said about his plans should he be re-elected. It’s actually worse today then it was eight years ago.
A few more things about Vance. He doesn’t care what happens with Ukraine, and he thinks rape and incest are just an “inconvenience” and opposes rape and incest exceptions to abortion bans.
Civility
Republicans are bashing Dems for their rhetoric and blaming Biden for the assassination attempt. Vance has actually done this. Here is a recent tweet from Marjorie Taylor-Greene:
We are in a battle between GOOD and EVIL. The Democrats are the party of pedophiles, murdering the innocent unborn, violence, and bloody, meaningless, endless wars. They want to lock up their political opponents, and terrorize innocent Americans who would tell the truth about it. The Democrat party is flat out evil, and yesterday they tried to murder President Trump.
We now know that the shooter was a registered Republican and a gun nut. But we know absolutely nothing about his motives. MTG and other Republicans are not hesitating, however, in trying to make this about Democratic rhetoric.
While ignoring, of course, their own contribution to the violent and intolerant rhetoric. MTG’s tweet above being a perfect example. But, what about the rest. Trump has been calling Democrats and the mainstream media enemies of the people for years. He offered to pay the legal bills of rally goers who beat up protesters. He has constantly stirred the pot and continues to elevate the rhetoric. Saying it will be a blood bath if he loses. Promising retribution if he is elected again.
And Republicans farther down the food chain, like MTG, are actually worse than he is.
What I don’t see is any supporter of Trump, while criticizing Democratic rhetoric, acknowledging any responsibility on their part or on Trump’s part. It’s all just another example of … when we do it, it’s okay. It’s only wrong when the other side does it.
We have no hope of returning to a more civil political discourse unless and until both sides acknowledge their role and responsibility for what is going on. Calling out the extreme voices on their own side and making clear that such rhetoric is unacceptable. Somehow, I don’t think that’s going to happen.
Classified Documents Case
As expected, Judge Cannon dismissed the classified documents case based on the theory that the special counsel wasn’t properly appointed. That the Attorney General didn’t have the authority to appoint Jack Smith. As I wrote back when the immunity decision came out and I saw Clarence Thomas’s concurring opinion, this was exactly what was going to happen. Thomas gave Cannon the entire argument and she went withit.
Other commentators have said that her decision is contrary to how every other court has determined this issue. I don’t know enough about it to really opine on it, but the whole thing is just too suspect. Thomas and Cannon and Trump … oh my.
There are a number of options that may revive this case. A successful appeal, which would have to include the Supreme Court and I’m kind of thinking that Trump would lose on this case since no other justice joined Thomas’s concurring opinions. Alternatively, Jack Smith could refile in another jurisdiction where some of the alleged criminal behavior occurred. Or he could hand it off to a U.S. Attorney and let him or her re-file it under their authority.
So, all is not yet lost.
I'm still reeling from Trump's indifference over what happened to that father protecting his family. It's mind boggling Mark.
Out of curiosity, have you ever read Vance's book "Hillbilly Elegy"?