Sundays are usually a day of rest and a time to, if one uses it to reflect on the goodness of God, escape the ubiquitous bad-mouthing of our fellow citizens. Today in the progressive strong-hold of South Burlington Nikki Haley was visiting Vermonters willing to entertain the idea she still has a chance against Republican juggernaut Donald Trump.
Introducing her was fellow Republican Governor Phil Scott who, despite reigning over a deeply blue electorate, is the most popular governor in the United States. His popularity stems from his obvious Vermont-style charm and ability to reach across the aisle both in speech and action lending an air of moderateness unique in today’s politics. In a society that has moved ever leftward over the past fifty or so years Scott is the product of this shift. Some would say he is left of former President John F. Kennedy, and, by some accounts, they’d be accurate.
Opening the floor for Haley, Scott took the crowd on a journey of self-reflection acknowledging the divide permeating our nation. After bemoaning the sad state of animosity between the parties and voters he took the high ground by cautioning the listener to reject the rhetoric and alienating one’s political rivals…then did exactly that…
“After years of controversy, toxic rhetoric and the ever growing polarization and division, the last thing we need is four more years of Donald Trump. Americans deserve leaders with character and integrity, who respect the rule of law, the rights of all people and most importantly the constitution. This is essential in restoring our faith and, here’s the key word: trust in our government. I know I’m not alone when I say I have never been more concerned about our country than I am today. ”
He then referenced an NGA meeting where pollster Frank Luntz stated, “His data shows 83 percent say our country is more divided than ever and 75 percent of Americans are just plain ‘mad as hell’ that’s his words and have stopped listening altogether – don’t want anything to do with it. About one half of Americans have ended a friendship or stopped talking to a family member over politics.” Scott then says “I’ve experienced that myself.”
“Things have become so toxic and tribal in this country that the sentiment is ‘you’re either with me or against me’; ‘you’re either on my team or off the team – nothing in between’, and it doesn’t matter if it’s childhood friends, brothers, sisters or uncles. Healthy respectful debate makes us stronger. But if we’re at a point where political disagreements end those important bonds we have with one another we know we’ve got a problem. Especially because it’s so widespread. This is the reality we face today, and it should sound the alarm for every one of us. Now we have to be honest, both sides of the aisle have contributed to this. No one is blameless, and the far left has certainly done more than it’s fair share of damage. But in my opinion there is no one less equipped no more incapable of healing this divide than Donald Trump. He’s made a career of throwing fuel on the fire of hate and anger. He had a TV reality show and made a ton of money off this type of thing. Now I believe we’re all born with a gift but the trick is to find it. (sarcastically) He certainly found his…”
Unaware of the irony captured on the TV screen, which showed Trump holding nearly ten times the delegates of Haley, Scott launched into a dressing down of the forty-fifth president as the epitome of what America doesn’t need for another four years. Adding to his apparent ignorance, he reminded the crowd of the deep unpopularity of politicians held by the voters by enumerating them office by office. With governors being the most popular among the least trusted it seems he felt emboldened to use his bully pulpit to bully those who have clearly side with the one he likens to a bully. In a world of echo-chambers even the most liked governor in the country is not immune to hearing the favorable sound of his own opinion.
Though opinions are like (insert distasteful body part here), and they all reek of bias, the delegate popularity of Trump is not a matter of opinion but of will. It is the will of the people to side with Donald Trump and not because he is the most charismatic or charming candidate, like say Scott. Despite carrying the deplorable label slapped on them by another presidential hopeful, the voters who have moved Trump into a record-breaking defeat in Haley’s home state of South Carolina and essentially insurmountable lead nationwide are not the troglodytes the anti-Trump establishment would have you believe. Sure, Trump’s supporters include the low to moderate i.q. average American who might be easily sold on seeing America become great again. They might be simpleton’s who vote based on emotional connection to God and country with little thought of foreign policy or economic theory.
Yet the growing swell of Trump supporters includes high-IQ—intellectuals from all walks of life and industry. Teems of former Democrats have even switched parties to vote Republican following the obvious debacles of Democrat tyranny during the COVID pandemic where despotism could be found among governors in New York, Michigan and California. Silicon valley, long a prog-Dem stronghold, has seen many of the tech millionaires and billionaires, people not easily swayed by propaganda and talking heads, out themselves by denouncing their state dictators and turning the corner in support of Trump. Notable black leaders from unlikely groups such as Black Lives Matter have even joined the ranks of MAGA supporters. Harvard grad and fellow candidate Vivek Ramaswamy supported Trump even as he ran against him. The top conservative media personality, Tucker Carlson, walked back his distaste for Trump also to give a national endorsement. Even defiant liberal commentator Joe Rogan has softened his take on Trump by stating he sees through the attacks and recognizes the corruption in his own party.
Vermont has the unique ability to elect progressive legislators while favoring a republican governor, which seems to speak to a type of bipartisan high-mindedness not found in much of America. However, it continues to ignore the obvious failings of this approach as crime sky-rockets from Burlington to Brattleboro, housing costs soar as it’s become a haven for wealthy homeowners fleeing failed Democrat states like New York, and incompetence, homelessness, and lawlessness become the soup du jour of a people unable to do what so many Americans have, which is self-reflect to the point of admitting error wrought by failed policies and politicians who have earned their place as the least trusted in our society.
Also on display during Haley’s speech were the well placed activists who have become a mainstay of American politics especially in Vermont. On multiple occasions in her first few minutes of speaking, voices erupted denouncing Haley as having “blood on her hands” and calls to “free Palestine” with flag-waving radicals bent on demonstrating; yet again, the division is so deep we will use a perfectly good Sunday to remind you of how much we hate your politics.
God bless these tortured souls who obviously mean well. No rational person with a pulse wants war in Ukraine, Israel, or on the streets of America, which is one of the key reasons Trump is so popular. He was a deterrent to militants of the world, including among us, while also promising security at our border where even Haley had to mention we’ve had nine million or more enter or country illegally. Just this past week, we’ve seen scores of innocent children lose their lives to criminal migrants sent here by Venezuela and other failed progressive-socialist states who implicitly admit their failure in both sending and refusing to accept back the criminals they fostered.
A decaying society is a society in denial, and denial is a key component to progressive politics. Both Scott and Haley appear to be in denial about her chances as well as the reason behind the growing pains felt by those whom they wish to govern.
