Be Wary of Those So Certain About What Comes Next

Election Night has come and gone. It is hard to imagine it being any worse for Republicans or any better for Democrats. Being a staunch Republican, this is beyond discouraging. We are talking about a defeat of historic proportions. Pretending something else is true will not modify, much less erase, what is factual reality. The sooner we come to grips with this, the better. However, jumping towards the next shiny penny probably is not a winning strategy. Assuming we actually know how things will unfold is unjustified, not to mention unwise. This makes accepting facts where they are known even more important. Fantasy Island has never proven to be a good political mindset.

Trump’s Political Influence Won’t Disappear Overnight

First, it is unreasonable to believe President Trump will suddenly disappear into the political night. Once more, this has absolutely nothing to do with what someone thinks is fair, right, or good. This is a framework that accepts reality as it exists at any given moment. The President asked that voters behave as though he was on the ballot. Statistically speaking, it appears they did just that, and spending a second arguing over whether the voters made the right decision is a waste of time. Republicans should resist relitigating the 2026 election. People tend to forget this, but President Obama lost more Congressional seats, chambers of state legislatures, etc. than any other previous President. Ten years after leaving office, he remains fairly popular and a force. So, Tuesday does not have to be the last word on the Trump Presidency. Now, however, is not the time or place for debating that topic.

The Political Battle Over Trump Will Continue

Second, Democrats, the corporate legacy media, liberal non-profits, and those in government who qualify as Deep Staters will do everything in their power to keep the limelight on President Trump. It suits their purposes. Republicans ought to do their best to not take the bait.

Understanding the Rise of Republican Populism

Third, it is important to remember how it is that President Trump won the office twice. It is my view that it reflects the combination of Obama (as he left office), Hillary, Biden, and Harris being particularly unattractive and awful personalities and President Trump becoming the voice for a large group of voters who had tired of Establish Republicans being what they viewed as little more than Democratic Lite. Most important, in 2016, he was the only candidate competing in this populist lane.

Why Republican Populists Aren’t Going Anywhere

Fourth, there is no reason to believe the Republican populists that remain in office will suddenly decide they want to be led by Dinner Party Republicans. Instead, much like the Democrats who survived 2010 and 2014, these populists will both constitute a larger percentage of those serving, as well as arguing we just did not go far enough on various matters, despite what the voters loudly proclaimed.

Will Democrats Overreach With Their New Majority?

Fifth, the Democrats are very likely to repeat the behavior of every other large incoming majority since forever. They will lurch to the left to appease their base. In the past, this has been viewed as overreaching, no matter which party did it. This old man worries, however, that perhaps the transition is more complete than I would like to having the country change from the home of the brave and the free to becoming the weak, fragile, and dependent. Maybe voters want the focus to be on dividing up a shrinking pie, not increasing the number of pies.

The Uncertain Future of the Republican Party

Sixth, the alternative inside the GOP to the populists is unknown at this time. Anyone telling you otherwise is a fool. At some point, there will be a fight between the populists and a large bloc of other Republicans over a matter not yet determined led by someone not yet identified as being the voice for this alternative. What and who both remain undecided.

A Return to Conservative Principles

I will be bold enough to make a “framing” suggestion. Playing the “who does Big Government help the most” game is a loser for many of us who came into politics with a set of conservative principles. What if we declared fixing things will not be quick, simple, or easy? What if we trusted voters want more than simplistic, performative crap promising instant change? What if we said the question should not be which ideology is aided by the government, but whether the government needs a role, much less the lead role? What if we screamed that a $40 trillion budget deficit is not sustainable and must be brought down? What if we admitted in some cases, we need to cut programs not because they do no good, but because we do not have the money for it and/or it should not be the government calling the shots? What if we decided any non-profit, non-government organization (NGO) receiving public money loses their tax-exempt status, even if they are doing things we like? In other words, what if we meant it when we said we are conservatives, even when it is not the easy answer?

Accepting Political Reality in Uncertain Times

There are things we can predict with justification. At the same time, there is more unknown than known at this time when it comes to what will be next. One thing is for certain. Good decisions for Republicans begin with accepting reality for what it is, not what we want or believe is fair. It is about to get very bumpy.