Columns, Politics

The Best of Us: In the Midst of a Rage Election, a Reason to Have Hope

Below is my column in Fox.com on the rising rage in this election. This week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul added her voice to the rage and said that anyone voting for Trump is “anti American.” Despite such statements, I found a reason to be hopeful in a brief encounter on my way to New York for the election coverage.

Here is the column:

When President Joe Biden took the podium in his hometown of Scranton, Pa., to campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris, many expected a return to the “self-professed unifier” Biden from the 2020 election, particularly after his recent comments calling tens of millions of Trump supporters “garbage.”  If so, they were disappointed when it turned out to be the “take him behind the Gym” Biden. Speaking through clenched teeth, Biden seethed that he wanted to “smack [Trump] in the ass.” Even with the Harris campaign alarmed over his costly gaffes, Biden clearly could not resist the rage. He is not alone.

This entire election seems to be a type of political roid rage. In my book, “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage,” I discuss how rage rhetoric and rage politics have long been part of our history. Politicians will often intentionally trigger rage to rally voters not in support of their policies but in opposition to their opponents.

However, Biden’s seeming inability to keep his rage in check is a common feature of this rage politics. As I wrote in the book, “rage is liberating, even addictive. It allows us to say and do things that we would ordinarily avoid, even denounce in others.” It is also contagious. Across the country, people are yelling at neighbors, tearing down signs, and even assaulting each other. What they are unwilling to admit is that they enjoy the rage. They like it.

As someone who has written about rage rhetoric and covered presidential elections for over two decades for different networks, I should be accustomed to these scenes. I am not. From the scenes outside of the Trump trial in Manhattan to the scenes outside of political rallies in Virginia, I find the rage depressing and deflating.

However, in flying to New York this weekend to join the Fox election coverage, I had a moment of real hope. I was driven to the airport by a man who told me that he was just months from his citizenship and how he and his wife were so thankful to soon be U.S. citizens. He came from a Middle Eastern nation where he long admired the United States for its freedoms, particularly the freedom of speech. Indeed, in his home country, he constantly ran into trouble with his government and was warned by his imam that he had to stop acting “like an American” by speaking his mind.

He could not shut up, so he decided to become an American instead.

He then told me how confused he and his wife are by this election. They love the United States and cannot understand why people are so hateful and angry. “It is like they do not understand what they have here,” he noted.

Listening to him over the course of our ride, I started to feel something that I had not felt in a while: real hope.

Sometimes, our truest citizens are found among our newest converts. As I discuss in my book, the problem with our democracy is that most citizens grew up in a nation where basic rights like the freedom of speech are guaranteed. They have never known the absence of such rights. This man and his wife have. They were not born here. They had to escape their country at great peril and cost to become U.S. citizens. They chose us and what we stand for.

They follow other great Americans drawn to these shores by something unique about this country. One was Tom Paine. The man who was credited with rallying a nation behind a revolution only landed upon these shores two years before the Declaration of Independence. His rocketing to fame with the publication of Common Sense enraged some, like John Adams, who viewed him as an unkempt, unknown rabble-rouser.

Yet, it was precisely Paine’s immigration that gave his words such clarity and power. He saw this emerging nation as unique for all of humanity, a nation where citizens could live free without the calcified social, economic, and political limits of the Old World. His voice resonated with this nation because it was so genuine and authentic.

I heard that same voice on my way to the airport. Sometimes, it takes the newest among us to remind us who we are to not only the rest of the world but also to each other.

I do not know what is coming out of that gate on election night. I have been there before. However, half of this country is going to be very, very upset either way this goes. What we need to struggle to remember is that this election does not define us. The rage does not define us. We defined ourselves almost 250 years ago and do so every day that new citizens like my new friend come to these shores. There is hope in who we are . . . even if we forget sometimes.

Jonathan Turley is a Fox News Media contributor and the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He is the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage” (Simon & Schuster, June 18, 2024).

337 thoughts on “The Best of Us: In the Midst of a Rage Election, a Reason to Have Hope”

  1. Prof Turley,
    excellent column.

    But the big isuse in 2024 is NOT the over the top rhetoric of the candidates and their party.
    It is what people DO.

  2. If Trump does win tonite, tomorrow should be a cornucopia of bitterly hysteric Democrats having meltdowns, and many of them on the MSM.

    1. If Trump does win I think he should fuel his jet and give a free courtesy flight to all the celebrities who vowed to leave the country if he won.

      It’s the least he could do out of kindness for them…and kindness for us.

    1. * What you say is true, Floyd. That there isn’t a sunami of votes for Republicans in every seat and Trump winning at least by 80% leaves me cold. If it’s close at all in any seat there’s no win. It means nearly half of the population is either stark raving mad or they are living in another dimension.

      What the nation needs is someone who can manage a leviathan corporation and make a profit. I don’t care if that person didn’t list a Penney ante payoff to a nuisance or asked for votes to be verified in GA or got a big loan etc.

      Harris just isn’t it and Walz? Just imagine some, anyone voted for ticket at all. It’s a whopping loss short of 80%

      1. The problem is that Democrats don’t have to be successful at managing anything, or even being competent. They just have to be Democrats, and the organs of the press and the Deep State will support them. And a lot of the Democrat base doesn’t expect anything from their leaders in the way of good government. Educated whites are immune to the bad effects, and the black poor are happy with some chicken-feed handouts.

  4. PA, WI, GA all reporting ‘issues’, how convenient. A huge state like FL has already counted. They are doing it AGAIN, right in front of our faces 😐😐 and rubbing said faces right in it. Unbelievable and depressing.

  5. This is all crap. We have a thieving lying stealing law breaking gov regime and DC cesspool of Constitution breaking overt and massively hidden criminals (CISA, Stanford Project, Atlantic Council, NGO’s , flying illegals on commercial jets to swing states with a biden gov APP , etc).

    If you want things all fuzzy and warm again make certain the decades of destruction upon the average American and the too big too fail theft at the highest criminal and untouchable spots is reversed. Until then expect the heat to only get hotter.

    Worse yet claiming we currently have freedom of speech is to be already BRAIN DEAD since covid, the exposure from the twitter files, and work like Mike Benz and hundreds of others in power who have testified to the deep state collusion in silencing important and ordinary Americans with every dirty rotten tricks tool there is.

    WHAT A BIG FAT LOUSY JOKE, whistling to the graveyard, while you lickspittle another idiot foreigner – gee fellers don’t you know how good you got it ?!! Could be a lot worse, forget that the FED GOV has their no free speech no first amendment claws in EVERYTHING, and hundreds of thousands have been taken down already, and that’s likely an underestimate.

    It’s just so pathetic, so cowardly, so utterly butt kissing of the degraded criminally raging government.

    1. I like the word, “lickspittle.” That has been on my mind ever since the last Trump debate. Those mods were terrible.

  6. “You Know It’s Serious When Amish Get Involved”
    https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/you-know-its-serious-when-amish-get-involved
    WHY DO AMISH♥️TRUMP?
    ANYTHING YOU DON’T LIKE ABOUT KAMALA?
    “Yeah, they’re involved with the deep state”.
    YOU’RE FAN OF TRUMP?
    “Yes we are”.
    WHY?
    “Because he’s a business person. We are too”.
    ANYTHING ELSE?
    “There’s a lot… we need better border. We need less regulations, less… pic.twitter.com/qWFfxm8Guc

  7. The big question: will Kamala go down tonight, thus ending her political career the way she began it? Will she blow it?

        2. There seems to be a bunch of incels on this comment section tonight. Fine. Maybe they’ll become screaming harpies and put on a good show.

    2. The big question: will Kamala go down tonight

      Regardless of the outcome of the national election, I fear for America. Since I am neither conservative nor progressive, and see life through the lens of Catholicism and philosphy, I believe both sides are mistaken, myopic and not thinking about inner reform, introspection, metanoia, enligtenment, call it what you prefer.

      I see Americans in a very dark place and their darkness will grow moreso. Regardless of Republicans or Democrats winning the US House, Senate, White House, America is going down.

      St. Augustine’s City of God applies.

      1. Maybe, maybe not. From my own perspective if Trump wins I will have more hope that America is not going down yet. The confluence of the unique abilities and personalities of Trump, Musk, RFK, Gabbard, Vance, and Ramaswamy is something that comes along once in a lifetime. That gives me hope that God is not done using America for his purposes.

        1. The power of the United States democratic system rests on keeping “god” out of it. Look it up.

          Thomas Jefferson: Jefferson expressed Deist views in his writings, emphasizing reason over religious dogma and famously compiling the “Jefferson Bible,” which removed supernatural elements. He rejected Jesus’ divinity.

          Benjamin Franklin: Franklin rejected religious orthodoxy and organized religion.

          Thomas Paine: His book “The Age of Reason,” criticized organized religion and argued for a god discovered through reason and nature, not scripture or churches.

          James Madison: Vigorously sought the separation of church and state.

          George Washington: Seldom mentioned Jesus and spoke mostly of “Providence.”

          John Adams: Embraced Deist ideas of reason and morality. He was critical of traditional Christianity and rejected the idea of the Trinity.

          So, go ahead and keep telling yourself America is based on “god.” But our founders didn’t.

          1. ” rests on keeping “god” out of it. ”

            Your thesis is flawed because religion was well-recognized in colonial times and after the Revolution. Individual states had a state religion, and the taxpayers of that state paid taxes to the church.

            You should review what you wrote and rewrite your personal philosophy when you understand that.

            1. S Meyer – Anon just spouted the very boring mindless drivel so common on the left. They really are the definition of ignorant and uneducated.

        2. Oldman– “The confluence of the unique abilities and personalities of Trump, Musk, RFK, Gabbard, Vance, and Ramaswamy is something that comes along once in a lifetime”

          +++

          Less often than that. One almost has to think back to the founding of the republic for such a gathering and such an abundance of extraordinary talent and courage. They, and we, will likely need everything they have to offer. But they have given us hope.

          Byron warned:

          “A thousand years scarce serve to form a state; an hour may lay it in the dust.”

          The Democrats and Deep State made me think that fatal hour was near. Maybe Trump’s extraordinary team can move it back.

      2. Well altar boy, sometimes as an American you may actually have to stand up and say I don’t think so. You can roll over if you want, not me. I will fight tooth and nail to save my country. America has seen rough times before, this is life, no guarantees for anything.

        I think will too, you will know what to do if the time arrives.

  10. The pure privilege and narcissism of what constitutes the modern left is just breathtaking. Aristocrats from the 1700s are rising from their graves and going, ‘Whoah. Back it up.’. The modern left is insane, straight up.

    1. James,
      Of course the modern left is insane. It is so bad life long Democrats like Bill Maher, Elon Musk, the good professor and even my own Democrat sister are calling them out on it. How do you have a real conversation with someone who thinks there are 97 different sexes? Biological men competing in women’s sports is okay? Biological men in women’s locker rooms or bathrooms is okay? That pornography in elementary school libraries is fine? Pronouns like ze/xi/yur are normal? DEI is not decisive or a money loosing idea? Indoctrination in our K-12 public schools and colleges is okay?
      You are correct, the modern left is insane, straight up.

  11. Now it begins…

    This is a classic case of disenfranchised voters, in a black voting precinct in a Richmond housing project, Gilpin Court. If it happened here, it happened elsewhere. That voters were given ballots without local candidates is egregious. These voters have an extraordinary interest in voicing their votes and outrage about increase in violent crime in their locale, high departure of police officers (aka defund the police animus) and corruption in Richmond government, which is extremely high, typical Democrat run city. This is an example of Democrats abusing vulnerable, black voters.

    paywalled

    voter precinct chief removed from polling location after ballot issues

    Voter Precinct Chief Barbara Burgo has been removed from a Gilpin Court polling location after multiple voters reported receiving incorrect ballots on Tuesday morning, Richmond Registrar Keith Balmer told the Times-Dispatch.

    Balmer said a member of his staff was sworn in to replace Burgo. Asked if Burgo still worked for the Office of Elections, Balmer said “no.” Elections Board Chair C. Starlet Stevens said the board had held an emergency meeting and decided to relieve Burgo.

    At least 11 voters at the Calhoun Center — a 3rd District polling location on Calhoun Street — on Tuesday morning were incorrectly given federal-only ballots, preventing them from voting in the mayoral, City Council and School Board races, Elections Chair C. Starlet Stevens said.

    The polling location also opened later than it was required to, Stevens said, and the door was still locked at 6 a.m. Stevens did not say how late the location opened.

    The elections chair said the correct ballots were in the building and available, but that Burgo simply “handed out the wrong ballots.” The voters “were mad,” Stevens said. “I don’t blame them. I would be mad too.” Stevens said the voters will not be able to vote again as their ballots have already been cast.

    https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/elections/richmond-virginia-election-turnout-issues-ballots-registrar/article_97364454-90a4-11ef-a969-1ba3dbec4f83.html

    1. Wow! I live about 10 miles from Gilpin Court. I believe it’s the largest public housing development in VA. The Mayor’s race is getting pretty heated; there are about 7 Dems running. It wouldn’t surprise me if this was part of an effort to influence that election. But incompetence is also a perfectly plausible explanation.

  12. Weird story, I don’t think Turley sees the irony. The driver is soon to be a new citizen meaning he’s been here probably almost a decade. Trump is seeking to deport people like Turley’s driver. Remember the Muslim ban? Republicans are actively seeking to remove people soon to be like him from voter rolls. Those newly minted naturalized citizens.

    Trump has been feeding that rage for a while now and Turley has been enabling it for his own benefit to promote his book and his blog because rage works and keeps readers glued to the content. If it works for Fox News and Trump why wouldn’t it work for Turley?

      1. Listening to the “joyless” View, Communist News Network (CNN), MSDNC—-or all of the above. Tsk Tsk

    2. * Professor Turley, the comments are a dumpster fire. It’s like being in a men’s locker room.

      It’s of no value.
      👋

    3. A truism: If not for double standards the fascist Left would have no standards at all!

    4. Trump is seeking to deport people like Turley’s driver.
      ===
      That is false, Trump is not trying to deport legal citizens, or legal immigrants.

      BTW he is not “Turley’s driver”, he was an acquaintance he met on the flight. I highly doubt Mr Turley has his own “Driver”.

      2. “BTW he is not “Turley’s driver”, he was an acquaintance he met on the flight.”

        No, he was the driver taking him to the airport. Pay attention.

    5. George, Trump is indeed looking to deport illegal immigrants. Comparing this man that Professor Turley writes about who has come to this nation according to the laws of the country to illegal immigrants only displays your lack of education regarding the law of the land. Banning certain groups from the nation during a time of danger has been done by the leaders of both political parties. I offer one of your heroes FDR banning the entry of the Japanese during World War Two. You should spend some time reading about a subject known as history before you expose your lack of understanding of what has come before.

      1. Also there was no Muslim ban or ban an of groups. The temporary ban was from certain nations that were at a particularly high risk of sending us terrorists, at least until we could get more intel on them. It was upheld by the Supreme Court.

    6. @George

      Seems to me the only thing bothering you is that ‘immigrants’ do not share your world views and are not voting accordingly. The modern left has become what it used to proclaim to hate, the message got lost in the elitism. And ‘George’ is no exception.

      I don’t know that a whole lot of real people trying to live real lives have a whole lot of use for your intellectual prevarication. I sure don’t. And as a lifelong independent, I have already voted against you. And that is my *right*, not a ‘steal’.

    7. Weird story, I don’t think Turley sees the irony. The driver is soon to be a new citizen meaning he’s been here probably almost a decade. Trump is seeking to deport people like Turley’s driver. Remember the Muslim ban? Republicans are actively seeking to remove people soon to be like him from voter rolls. Those newly minted naturalized citizens.

      That truly was a weird story. I am certain JT doesn’t see your perceived irony as your weird story was nothing but fiction.

    8. “Remember the Muslim ban.” The so-called Muslim ban was Executive Order 13769, which had a limited and temporary effect on immigration:
      “Part of a series of executive actions, Executive Order 13769 lowered the number of refugees to be admitted into the United States in 2017 to 50,000, suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for 120 days, suspended the entry of Syrian refugees indefinitely, directed some cabinet secretaries to suspend entry of those whose countries do not meet adjudication standards under U.S. immigration law for 90 days, and included exceptions on a case-by-case basis.”
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_13769

      1. It wasn’t a Muslim ban. Muslims from many countries, including Muslim-majority nations (such as Un could still come to the United States.

    9. * What you have is known as schadenfreude. Sometimes it’s freudeschaden. Look it up. It’s a trait some have and others don’t. It’s not to be confused with the idea of justice.

      In English It’s simply called envy or covetous in old language.

      People are charged with introspection and self examination for these traits. Everyone has some lack of virtue in an imperfect world. Everyone..

      .please stop.

    10. George, No one is calling it yet. But it is very near certain the claims that Harris was going to win by large numbers are false.

      Whatever the outcome Trump and republicans are doing far better than the left claimed.

      Why ?

      I would suggest because with each election more and more people learn the hard way how much those of you on the left lie.

      There was no muslim ban.
      Trump has never talked about deporting legal immigrants,
      In fact he has specifically said he wants MORE legal immigrants.

      No trump is not seeking to remove legal immigrants – absent a serious violation of our laws – and possibly not even then – he can not.
      No Trump is not looking to remove newly minted citizens – that is literally unconstitutional. Citizens have the right to be here and in my life I have only heard of one person having their citizenship removed, and that was a notorious Nazi Concentration Camp guard who Lied to immigrate here.

      You keep talking about Rage – Trump has a fair amount of righteous anger for the larfare and lies those of you on left subject him to.
      He has CORRECTLY noted that he would be justified in doing to you exactly what you have done to him.
      But he has explicitly said that – except for cleaning house in the federal govenrment, he is not going after political enemies.
      That he will be focused on his platform. Which you might want to read as it is increasingly looking like the agenda for the next 4 years.
      That he is foccused on Making America Great AGain.

      As to deporting 10-21M illegal immigrants. There are alot of people in this country who would like to see that.
      After all they ARE here illegally. It is actually the DUTY of those in the executive branch to do so.

      regardless it is not going to happen. Trump has already stated that he will be starting with deporting the criminals,
      and that task is sufficiently large that it will likely take all the resources that ICE has to even make a dent.

      There is not going to be any mass deportation – and I would note that though Obama did not allow as many illegal immigrants in as Biden,
      even Obama deported criminals.

      Trump WILL radically reduce illegal immigration. It is near certain that congress will fund completing the southern border wall.

      All in all Trump will not do anything with respect to immigration that Harris did not ultimately promise to do.
      The difference is that Trump will actually try.

  13. Jonathan Turley was featured guest today on Fox News “Outnumbered”. Great discussion of the resilience of the American people and political system. Talk of Americans shifting their media attention in the direction of highly independent sources of news and opinion (e.g. Joe Rogan, Elon Musk) and away from predictable, self-interested, partisan and corporate mouthpieces.

    1. If not the resilience of the free market and capitalism. The fake leftist news is nearing its miserable end as more and more people have stopped listening. CNN, MSNBC, WashPo, et., al., are laying off thousands and losing massive profits year over year, while conservative news is reaping huge profits.

      1. Well as long as “conservative news” is reaping huge profits and they are paying out HUGE sums of money because they lied to their viewers, then you guess it’s ok?

        1. Alternative and conservative have bigger following than most MSM as they are more credible, report actual news, have more diverse press rooms. The Free Press is a perfect example.

        2. Fishdip
          Have you ever delved into the MSM connections to the Obama Administration aka the Biden/Harris administration? Check out the incestuous connections between the CEOs and upper management of the major networks to the high positioned bureaucrats in the administration. Then get back to us on conservative networks.

          1. Traveler,
            I would argue that the leftist Democrat cabal is so desperate in their losing their narrative, as put on full display by the recent John Kerry and Hillary Clinton statements on the 1stA, we have to thank them. They are now, in their panic, showing how much power and influence alternative media has and they cannot control them or the narrative but to a small group of leftist dupes.
            How marvelous!

  14. Apparently in the view of the NY State government it’s un-American to vote for the candidate of one’s choice, but it’s American to murder cute little defenseless squirrels that aren’t harming anyone and bringing joy to millions.

      1. I love it. They’re also reporting that Kamala Harris is confused by a new rule where she has to get votes to win.

          1. Exactly, so how could she have known votes had anything to do with getting into power?

        2. They’re also reporting that Kamala Harris is confused by a new rule where she has to get votes to win.
          ===
          Winner 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

          But in her defense, trying felony cases is even more difficult, so Harris should be able to have the “top vote getter” rule waived in her favor.

      2. Other headlines:

        – Rage Against the Machine to play at CIA fundraiser
        – Thousands of women left standing clueless in voting booths after their husbands forget to tell them who to vote for
        – In disgusting call for violence, Trump says politicians should stop sending kids off to war
        – DC businesses boarding up windows in preparation for ‘Party of Joy’
        – Dems warn that if Trump is elected it will be the end of bureaucracy as we know it
        – Diddy’s ex urges Americans to trust her judgment
        – Radicalized squirrels in MAGA hats begin uprising
        – Dems afraid Cubans’ desire for freedom could spread to US

        1. OldManfromKansas- great list, seems very appropriate in a world where you call your opponent Hitler and then preach unification and joy!!!

          1. More to the point: …where you call the tens of millions of citizens (legal ones) who support your opponent, radical extremists and garbage, and simultaneously claim to be a uniter.

            1. Yank1621,
              Thank you for pointing out the “alternative reality” our leftist friends try to assert only exists in MAGA world while, ironically, ignoring their own actual “alternative reality.” You know, there are 97 different sexes. And you too can choose one of them by whatever you feel when you wake up in the morning!!!! If you want to identify as a “Fishstick,” they will not only agree with you but welcome you with open arms! But, beware of the one guy in the back with the homemade, all organic tartar sauce. He just might have an “ulterior” motive . . .

      3. OMD, that was AWESOME PAWSOME! Peanut died of Covid!!! I’ve been told Peanut caught the Covid because he did not OBEY the “6 foot Social DIstancing” Rule by Dr Fauci!

      4. Awesome info on Peanut! But in fairness to Peanut, I have been told by reliable sources that it was Peanuts FAILURE to follow His Eminence Dr Anthony Fauci’s “6-Foot Social DIstancing Rule” that was the original source of his Covid contagion, and that willful failure by Peanut was what allowed Peanut to become infected with Covid in the first place. All Peanut had to do was obey and follow his Eminence’s “orders”, and Peanut would be with us today

    2. Let alone waste hundreds of thousands of New Yorker’s tax dollars on an armored brigade of ten vehicles with armed agents to show up damaging the place in a raid to kidnap the apocalyptic pet, as opposed to perhaps just having a clerk send a letter for 59 cents stating that the owner was not in compliance with a state law requiring their pet squirrel be licensed and advising them to pay the fifty bucks (or likely less), to obtain a license, with perhaps a fine of twenty bucks or less.

      “Some folks are born made to wave the flag
      They’re red, white and blue
      And when the band plays “Hail to the Chief”
      They point the cannon at you, Lord”

    2. Harris tries to talk Muslim interviewer into trying bacon, bans Gaza question
      “The nominee then threw Rahma a curve during the interview by praising bacon, which is forbidden for Muslims to eat. “Bacon is a spice,” Harris said, according to the unpublished video viewed by the Times. (Senior Harris campaign staff claim they brought up bacon before the interview, which Rahma and his manager deny.)”
      “When Rahma tried to redirect back to the shoe question, a staffer advised Harris to fall back on a previously proposed alternative — “declare her love of anchovies on pizza” — and Rahma ended the discussion a minute later by saying “I’m 100 percent unsure on both of those.”

      The campaign apologized for the bacon take and offered a reshoot but Rahma declined, having already successfully interviewed Walz about the importance of home gutter maintenance.”
      https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/harris-tries-talk-muslim-interviewer-trying-bacon-bans-gaza-question

      That is right, Sammy. That is the kind of high caliber person is running for office and puts on gross display of how a Harris/Walz admin would work . . . or how it would NOT work.

      1. And I have raised hogs. I make my own bacon. A spice? No. Added for flavoring? Yes. Asking a known Muslim to try some bacon? Are you stupid? Are you trying to insult Muslims not only here in the US but in the world?

        1. Upstate, my father had his aortic valve replaced with a porcine one; he remarked that the valve wasn’t Kosher because it came from a pig. I told him it was OK as long as he didn’t eat his heart out.

      2. UpstateFarmer-read that story. How could some cosmopolitan politician who “grew up in a middle class home” in Toronto and California with University Profs as parents not know about bacon and make light of it to a Muslim. I got taught about the eating habits of major religions in the 1960’s in public high school, in Georgia no less.

        1. GEB, tell us you don’t understand sarcasm without telling us you don’t understand sarcasm….

        2. GEB,
          That is part of the problem Harris has and has put it on full display for all to see, she cannot read the room. Was this guy a comedian? Yes. However, he wanted to at first to discuss the Israel/Hamas war. The Harris campaign turned him down on that line of questioning. They wanted to limit the conversation to shoes on airplanes. Why? It was safe and she would not have to answer serious questions, just another softball interview. Then they thought, obviously pre-planned, to bring up “bacon” as a spice. When that clearly was not going well or getting any laughs as she was basically insulting a Muslim, her “staffer advised Harris to fall back on a previously proposed alternative — “declare her love of anchovies on pizza” — and Rahma ended the discussion a minute later by saying “I’m 100 percent unsure on both of those.” Of course he ended the session. She thought she was being cute and funny and it fell flat. Feeling insulted, he cut the interview short as he should of. The fact, “Rahma declined, having already successfully interviewed Walz about the importance of home gutter maintenance.” was brilliant!
          Now can you imagine Harris winning this election and having to interact with world leaders? Disaster. I would be surprised if they met with her only in the keeping up appearances capacity.

      3. Look at all those high caliber people in congress. Tired of paying them to rob the public.

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  17. Trump is a racist rapist liar felon fraudster felon. These are positives in the twisted minds of his followers. MAGA is a cult. There has never been a national cult leader like Trump before, and hopefully MAGA begins to fade today. Lets hope that there are enough sane voters then crazy ones.

    Truth is Trump win or lose, the US has already shown itself to be a failing country because so many support someone as vile as Trump.

    2. Us Trump voters know there are two biological sexes with the occasional one off genetic mutation. We know biological males should not be competing in women’s sports, in women’s locker rooms or women’s bath rooms. We know pornography should not be in elementary school libraries. We know cutting off healthy organs or chemical castration is wrong. We know an open border, allowing millions of unvetted illegals in is wrong. We know pronouns like ze/xi/yr are just plain dumb. We know DEI is divisive and many companies now know it too as they fire their DEI employees and dismantle DEI departments. We know voter ID, proof of citizenship is common sense for election integrity.
      If anyone is in a cult, it is you in the cult of leftist Democrats. People who support the policies of the cult of the leftist Democrats are the ones who are vile.

    3. Sammy
      So does all of the deplorable vile garbage racist Americans a favor and leave this failing country.

      2. “So does all of the deplorable vile garbage racist Americans a favor and leave this failing country.”

        On his feet, or feet first, either option is OK with me…

    4. Did you mean Bill Clinton?
      Perjury, sexual assault, obstruction of justice, suborning perjury ….
      Or maybe Hillary, she’s got her own list.

    5. Did you mean Bill Clinton?
      Perjury, sexual assault, obstruction of justice, suborning perjury ….
      Or maybe Hillary, she’s got her own list.

  18. * I am cheering for Trump today. At the least the poor tortured J6 people need to be released and many others pardoned for convictions of false crimes, Cheering for support of the Jewish community and Israel, cheering for hope Putin will stop, Kim Jong will think twice and others, cheering for hope of some safety and security-related crimes, cheering for hope of affordable goods and services.

    1. J6ers should be set free and the judiciary that put them in prison should take their place.

  19. Nearly half the population is so far removed from the privations of WWII and the Depression to understand how precious are our freedoms and prosperity. instant gratification, ability to spew hate anonymously in comment sections, and anti-social media all contribute to the loss of civility and appreciation of our good fortunes. We are not the country whose citizens unified after December 7, 1941, to eventually be able to beat the Axis powers. We lack the unity and we don’t even have a media to support the county against her enemies, but instead look for ways to increase her vulnerability. Most of all, we lack the true leaders of the mid-20th century to get us safely through the dark, turbulent days we are approaching.

  20. Dear Mr. Turley, thanks for the great article and I appreciate the comments here by GEB and Estovir. It reminded me that we are all human trying to do our best in making a living, ect. My mother kept the naturalization papers from her father, as she was very proud of them. He had come from Sweden as a 9-year-old boy. Found work in a grocery store as a stock boy in New York City. From there he moved to Belvidere, Illinois as they had heard there were factory jobs. Not one of us should ever feel ashamed by how our forefathers came to this country. They, too, like the man mentioned in Mr. Turley’s article, were in pursuit of the American dream.

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