Caffeinated Politics

One fact struck me this weekend as the No Kings rallies garnered huge turnouts nationwide. Not only were the rallies aimed at underscoring the need to strengthen democratic institutions, rejecting authoritarianism, and denouncing the Iran War, but they happened everywhere. They were held in all 50 states. They were held in every congressional district, including rural and Republican places where dissent is harder to find. To put it another way, the protests were the broadest geographic reproach of a president of any single-day protest in the United States since the Vietnam War. That is, in and of itself, a clarion call that the Republican Party needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

There is palpable anger afoot in this nation. Not violent fist-a-cuff anger. But rather a determined, reasoned, and righteous commitment against the destruction of our national norms and the constitutional guardrails that govern this land.

The latest blow to the country occurred with the military strikes on Iran, which have left the citizenry perplexed as to any rational explanation as to why this course of action was taken. Why is war being waged in the tinderbox of the world? Apart from people following the news and seeing the destruction and carnage, there is the obvious economic pain that is only starting to be felt. Economists have repeatedly alerted this nation that gas prices very likely will continue to remain high for months, even if Trump were to immediately de-escalate in Iran. We know taking that course of action now would be a dreadful outcome for the region. Americans are coming ot the collective understanding that this unprovoked war will necessitate American involvement at various levels in the region for years to come.

That is not what this nation wanted to happen.

We know that a new and dangerous phase of this war is in the offing. Reports this weekend about how the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran send a very unsettling message to the nation. We know that this raises the risk of increased casualties, as on the ground combat never goes the way it is initially intended. Thousands of soldiers and Marines are now in the Middle East. Moms and dads are left wondering if there will be a permanently empty place at the table come the holidays.

It was not only the massive outpouring of anger and deep concerns against Donald Trump at the protests that were being registered this weekend. Listen to the talk from MAGA voters, not the ones who have a platform on social media or Substack. The ones on your Facebook friends’ list. Those voters supported Trump, in part, on their opposition to “forever wars” and foreign regime change. Today, they are given a very sour pickle from this White House and told to be quiet.

With growing dismay from the MAGA crowd, it is obvious why Republicans are worried more so each week about how their ranks may be depressed come the fall elections. They fear turnout will diminish and be another reason the GOP loses the House majority at the midterm elections. What politicos wonder, including at this desk, is just how long the movers and shakers in the GOP will stand by and follow Trump in a massive implosion, carrying many of them into a political oblivion.

Trump’s mood and behavior are going to get darker and more outrageous as he heads to a massive rejection at the hands of the Supreme Court. He has already been handed his backside in a biting ruling about tariffs, and this summer will solidly be rejected over his unconstitutional demand that birthright citizenship be jettisoned. The tea leaves, if anyone seriously needs them, about these children and the core values of the nation, have been spelled out in lower court rulings. So, the question is, how do the senior members of the Republican Party intend to deal with the hostilities that will be unleashed by a further enraged Trump? After all, there are only so many Potemkin awards that can be created for him.

What follows when an autocrat meets the stiff wall of resistance from the Supreme Court? What happens when no one is willing to further rubber-stamp his agenda?”

There are far more willing sycophants at this moment in the Republican-controlled Congress than sit on the Court. The question is, when and how do elected conservative officials find spine and reason and stop the crazy train? One they willingly and gleefully created, endorsed, and furthered for a decade.

That question is honestly asked, but I know the GOP finding its moorings is not going to happen this election cycle. So, the answer to our national nightmare comes from those who marched this weekend and the millions and millions who did not but know an electoral reckoning is required come November.

The daily reminders about the Iran War and the uptick in prices that will soon impact the refined goods from oil will make for a perfect political storm against the GOP come November. Numbers do not lie. How does a GOP congressman tell his constituents that everything is OK this weekend when diesel and jet fuel have roughly doubled in price since the start of the year? In the US, they now nudge $160 and $174 per barrel, respectively. What will be the answer in late April when those prices have increased? July?

Perhaps those members of the GOP who refuse to step off the imperiled Party ship can spin the yarn about how the nation is doing so much better now that Trump’s signature is set to appear on U.S. currency, which is a first for the nation. The part that flies back at the GOP is, of course, who cares. Americans use physical cash less than ever.

While Trump uses his time to further intraparty GOP fights, as evidenced by the Texas Republican primary runoff, and the inability of the majority in Congress to fashion a two-car parade and reopen the government, the public watches.

In eight months, the voters will take charge of the mess.