Dem
47
GOP
53
Let's look at some of the stories that unfolded over the last few days:
Opus Ted: These days, people tend to be familiar with all the bizarro conspiracy theories in which Jews are cast as the bad guys (or, at very least, as the shadowy puppetmasters behind the scenes). But anyone who has studied U.S. 19th century history closely knows that, back then, it was Catholics who tended to be cast in the puppetmaster role, because they were foreign and strange and there were a lot of them in antebellum America as compared to not so many Jews.
Before we read this story, we pretty much assumed that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), as a Latino of Cuban descent, was Catholic. But he's not; he's an evangelical, and he's doing his part to Make America Great Again by dabbling in bizarro anti-Catholic conspiracy thinking. He tweeted out a link to a lengthy screed about how a secret Catholic cabal is actually running the GOP right now, and is trying to replace America's Protestants with Catholics. In other words, it would seem we now have competing "white replacement" theories: Is it minorities and immigrants who are trying to get rid of the Protestants, or is it the Catholics?
Our Take: We bring this up because Cruz will put himself before voters again, either in 2028 (president) or 2030 (another Senate term). Do you think this over-the-top anti-Catholic bigotry might just come up? Especially if Cruz' opponent is a Latino Roman Catholic?
No Suspects: Associate Justice Clarence Thomas sat for an interview with C-SPAN over the weekend, and he lamented what's happened to the Supreme Court, declaring: "I think we are in danger of destroying the institutions that are required for a free society. You can't have a civil society, a free society without a stable legal system...There was such a belief in the rule of law, belief in the Court... look where we are. Now that trust or that belief is gone forever."
Our Take: We actually agree entirely with him. But we wonder who might be responsible for undermining confidence in the Court, over the last, say, 34 years and 152 days. It's a real head-scratcher.
The Sporting News, Part I: These days, the Army-Navy Game is played after the college football regular season is over, but before the bowls/playoffs get underway. So, it tends to be the only (college football) game in town. However, other sports and leagues are trying to lay claim to every piece of TV real estate possible, such that Army-Navy is sometimes up against golf, or basketball, or even the NFL. This weekend, Donald Trump tried to "solve" that problem by issuing an executive order ordering that no other sports be televised while the Army-Navy game is being played. His basis for this "authority" is, in effect, "military necessity." Because, as everyone knows, if not enough people watch the game, then the terrorists win. Or is it the communists? We forget.
Our Take: Trump obviously does not have the authority to do this—XOs serve solely to give instructions to the executive agencies, not to tell privately owned broadcasters what they can and cannot do. The question is: Does he not understand how it works, or is he just hoping his followers don't understand? We honestly don't know.
The Sporting News, Part II: The reigning NBA champions are the Oklahoma City Thunder. In theory, they would have visited the White House this weekend, as they were in town to play the Washington Wizards. The team did not visit, due to a "timing issue."
Our Take: We are sure there was indeed a "timing issue," namely that the Thunder's championship coincided with Trump's presidency. While Joe Biden was president, three of the four NBA champs made the trip. By contrast, the past five NBA champs to win while Trump was in the White House had "timing issues" and did not visit.
Mueller's Time: Former FBI Director and Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who was also a decorated Marine Corps veteran, died this weekend. Donald Trump responded to the news thusly: "Robert Mueller just died. Good, I'm glad he's dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people! President DONALD J. TRUMP"
Our Take: We thought we should at least mention this, but we have no idea what to say. It's hardly a secret that Trump is the least classy man ever to serve as president, and might well be the least classy American living today. Who has a hole in them so big they need to take cheap shots at the dead, especially since the dead can no longer defend themselves? Actually, we know the answer to that question: Donald Trump. Donald Trump has a hole in him that big.
Sweet Georgia Jon: Republicans had high hopes that they might flip Sen. Jon Ossoff's (D-GA) seat this cycle, since Georgia is purple, and in his first election he benefited enormously from being on the ballot with Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), who got Black voters to the polls. But the Republicans have a messy primary and not-too-great candidates, while Ossoff has run a disciplined, very skilled campaign focusing on Georgia issues, and distancing himself from the national party. He's also a superstar fundraiser. For all of these reasons, the GOP is now thinking that this battle may be lost.
Our Take: If the Republicans are smart, they will notice they have a three-seat majority and will invest all their resources in trying to maintain it. When you face a wave election for the other party, you should not be throwing money at trying to expand your majority. To do so would be a version of the Hillary Clinton 2016 error, where she spent too much time and money chasing unicorns, and did not give enough time and money to more winnable (and more important) states.
You stay classy, San Diego. (Z)