Keep Right — Column by Ralph K. Ginorio
African white and black rhinoceros are famously belligerent, lashing out with deadly force at anything that disturbs their equilibrium. A cardinal reason for this is their very poor eyesight. Since they cannot easily discern friend from foe, their instincts tell them to treat everything as if it were a danger in need of a thorough trampling.
So it is with the Purple North American RINO (Republican In Name Only). Masquerading as an elephant, our own local species of blindly destructive faux-pachyderms will betray any elephant herd foolish enough to accept them.
I am disappointed and even a bit disgusted by the machinations of anti-Trump moderate Republicans in the United States Senate. A “secret ballot” vote for Senate Majority Leader resulted in the election of Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota). The moribund and morally-bankrupt former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell set up this illegitimate and unprecedented early vote so soon after the election, to keep the Senate aloof from the Trump agenda.
It worked. Florida Senator Rick Scott was the only candidate nominated by McConnell who has close ties with Trump. Thune did not. Our two Senators, James Risch and Mike Crapo, participated in this farce. So did every other Republican Senator. The fact that there wasn’t widespread refusal to oppose McConnell’s scheme is a bad sign.
McConnell is a swamp creature, par excellence. He is the longest serving Senator from Kentucky (since 1985), and is the longest reigning Senate Party Leader (since 2007). He has led the Senate’s RINOs for decades.
His wife, Elaine Chao, has held high appointed office (often Cabinet-level office) in every Republican Presidency since the Reagan Administration. She has been Transportation Secretary twice, Labor Secretary, Director of the Peace Corps, and Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission.
These two worthies took pride in being called Washington DC’s premier “power couple.” McConnell and Chao positively reveled in their shared status, influence, and capacity to wield power.
The worst enemies that Donald Trump had in his first term (and this is saying something) were House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) and the late Senator John McCain (R-Arizona). These archetypical North American Purple RINOs defined their success by how much they could resist Trump’s agenda. In particular, it was McCain’s vote that preserved Obamacare. Famously, he said as he cast his vote, “Let’s see Trump make America great, now!”
I earnestly hope that, like the Epstein and Diddy lists, the roll call of this Senate Leader vote is leaked and made public. I want to know precisely where Risch and Crapo stood when the chips were down. Did they vote for the Trump agenda, or did they vote as swamp creatures? We will soon see. And, we should long remember.
Donald J. Trump and the 2024 Republicans he helped get elected were given a mandate to rule by the American voter. Not since Ronald Reagan was any President given such an overwhelming victory. This should be respected as the expressed will of the American people.
Because of this, like no president in forty years, Trump deserves a honeymoon period in which to lead. In this proverbial first hundred days, a degree of deference to his initiatives is legitimate, as his initiatives have been specifically and overwhelmingly endorsed by the American people.
Senate Republicans’ submissive cooperation with McConnell’s maneuverings does not bode well. Senate Republicans seem to be preparing to act as a check to President Trump’s agenda. This is not what they were elected to do.
Trump’s mandate should be respected. America’s voters should be respected. Enacting Trump’s policies should be the top priority of Republicans in the Senate, House, and state governments. North American Purple RINOs, in opposing Trump you are opposing the American popular will. We are watching.
