Wrong for Texas? Wrong for Kentucky?
Wrong for Texas?
The president just endorsed Ken Paxton for the Senate from Texas spurning the incumbent John Cornyn. The democrats are rejoicing. Now there have a better chance of flipping the seat with their weird ball candidate. Trump apparently hasn’t forgotten that Cornyn was late to endorse him and initially resisted ending the filibuster to vote for the SAVE act. But Paxton is a sleezeball of dubious repute. Cornyn seems like an honorable man. Cornyn desperate for the president’s support finally came around and said that in some instances, waiver of the filibuster might be warranted. I guess that was not enough. The president tweeted “Ken is a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate.” He added that Paxton “has gone through a lot, in many cases, very unfairly, but he is a Fighter, and knows how to WIN. Our Country needs Fighters, and also Loyalty to the Cause of Greatness.”
Trump posted that “John Cornyn is a good man, and I worked well with him, but he was not supportive of me when times were tough.” Trump went against the Senate leadership that had spent more than $10 million in support of Cornyn who spent months highlighting the controversial state attorney general’s many scandals, including an investigation into misuse of his office that resulted in an effort by state Republicans to impeach him. He’s also in the middle of a messy divorce and has been accused of adultery by his wife. No matter. He’s Trump’s guy.
Now Texas voters have a choice – assuming Paxton wins his primary runoff against Corryn – between a scandal ridden sleezeball and democrat James Talarico whose views are weird to say the least. Talarico is a progressive Presbyterian seminary student who says that God is non-binary. Talarico is not opposed to boys playing in girls’ sports. He is pro abortion and favors gender surgeries on children. And the democrats actually think he might win. Paxton is so bad that this guy is polling within single digits of him. Now when the campaign gets going in earnest you can bet that the republicans will highlight all of Talarico’s views and label his “wrong for Texas.” But isn’t Paxton “wrong for Texas, too?” BTW, all that progressive money has been flowing into Texas giving Talarico a war chest of $27 million in the first three months of this year. The last time this much money came to a candidate was when Jaime Harrison raised a stunning $57 million to lose to Lindsey Graham.
Poor Texas.
Massie loses
Was Tom Massie wrong for Kentucky’s fourth congressional district? Massie seemed to be the perfect embodiment of the 4th. A son of the dirt who worked the farm on his wife’s family land. He also had that independent streak that is famous and admired in his state. He voted with the president 90 percent of the time and only deviated where his conscience demanded. But Trump demands 100 percent fealty and wanted him gone.
Well Trump reigned supreme in Kentucky 4 with Massie losing to Trump backed Ed Gallrein in the most expensive House race in history. It wasn’t particularly close with Massie losing by 9 points. Again was it the president or the avalanche of PAC money against Massie? Probably both. As per usual, the president was his old courteous self, tweeting Massie “is the Worst ‘Republican’ Congressman in History, voting against Tax Cuts, the Wall, Law Enforcement, and in favor of the Transgender Mutilization of our Children, Men playing in Women’s Sports, and so many more horrible things.The Great People of Kentucky are wise to Massie — He only votes against the Republican Party, making life very easy for the Radical Left, The incredible people of Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District gave us a ma.date to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. And the person that will help us do that is Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Fifth Generation Kentucky Farmer, Captain Ed Gallrein, a true America First Patriot.”
Trump continued “Thomas Massie is a terrible congressman, he’s been a terrible congressman from day one. Dealing with him is just horrible. I don’t think he’s a Republican, I think he’s actually a Dumbocrat, he’s not a libertarian, you know, sometimes they say he’s a, he’s really a Dumbocrat. He votes against us all the time.” BTW, remember Massie voted with the president 90 percent of the time.
But congratulations to the president. Despite all his negative press and the dismal polling, the president remains popular where he is popular. The voters in Kentucky 4 are still MAGA-folk.
haroldblackphd.com 
Off topic but I had anticipated a column on Fed Chair’s resignation?
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Powell is still at the Fed. He did not resign. His term has chair has expired but he can stay until January 31, 2028 if he wants to – which I doubt. I do have a post on the new Fed chair’s philosophy on the conduct of monetary policy that I will – thanks to you – post tomorrow.
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Isn’t there examples of a centered leader, who is the point where all government finds a sense of belonging? And that benefits come with this social structure , and that rejection is the result of anyone who thinks for themselves?
And capitalism will always surrender to government- if the rich benefit ?
..”It’s a largely forgotten piece of history, but in 1932 the German Nazi Party was facing financial ruin. How did the Nazis move from being broke to being in control of the German government just a year later? The Nazi Party was bailed out by German industrialists in early 1933…”
( SCOTUS Judge) Brennan Center 2016
Not a reader of Knox Focus. But in passing, I noticed Jimmy Duncan, again , is no longer with the weekly ..
Along with Dr. Black, Duncan seemed to disappear after saying something about Neocons. And the last time I looked for his articles, he had said something bad about Geo. H.W.Bush. I don’t see him now ..
Did he have a good reason for leaving- or is
he a victim of KnoxFocus defense that cancellation IS free speech, and cancel culture is the right of so-called Business?
Can’t fight that! Seig Heil to that !
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The editor of the Focus is 100% MAGA. I was fired because I wasn’t. He didn’t like Jimmy writing about the humanitarian crisis created by Israel in Gaza. If Jimmy was criticizing Trump’s Iran war, I am certain that the editor would have been displeased.
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Be assured. While I know certain neutral or left -of-right voices still remain, I consider the Knox Focus to be a threat to liberty and freedom…
Like all authoritarian papers, free speech is GREAT — but don’t say too much.
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Trump fatigue is real, and I have a fatal case of it.
I was already over the edge, but his endorsement of Paxton and the $1.8b slush fund shoved me over the cliff. There’s no return.
Paxton is the worst example of Trump-ism, and shows that while Trump may not be a king, he thinks he’s untouchable. I was glad to see at least somewhat of a rise from Senate republicans over the Paxton and slushie issues this week. This nation needs people with spines who are willing to speak from veritas and principles rather than listen to a charlatan who has grossly overstayed his welcome.
If the GOP loses the house in the mid-terms, I’ll bet you’ll start seeing late arriving spines in the GOP. They should turn on Trump and disable his worst proclivities – which won’t leave much.
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Trump has turned the party into a mindless cult. Look for spines only in the few contested congressional districts. For most politicians keeping their jobs is more important than principles.
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Agreed. What I hope is that after the elections, the current loyalists will realize Trumps clock is ticking and he won’t be president for their next election.
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