Below is my column in The Hill on the declaration of Gov. Gavin Newsom that he is now officially “evolving.” However, unlike more modest objectives like opposable thumbs over eons, Newsom wants to accomplish a full transformation in one election cycle to appeal to the surging far left of his party. It is a cautionary tale for Democrats who want their party to reposition toward the political center.
Here is the column:
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) wants you to know that he is evolving.
Newsom is facing a rising radical movement among Democrats, including a surging contingent aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America. He is struggling in polls and therefore eager to show the skill identified by Darwin that allows certain species to thrive in their environment: adaptation.
Newsom has recently declared capitalism a failure. He is now joining his competitors for president in offering up the Supreme Court and its independence to the far left. His free fall into rage politics is a cautionary tale for those who want to return the Democratic Party to more centrist positions.
Often called a “political chameleon,” Newsom seems to be morphing into the actual species that evolved to adjust to its environment, including more nimble feet.
Although natural selection takes place over many years and even eons, Newsom does not have the luxury of time. He does not want to be eliminated by the more politically fit opponents to his left.
Polls continue to show he receives more media support than public support. He trails Kamala Harris by 15 points in recent polling and is nearly tied with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Harris and Buttigieg quickly turned their backs on the norms governing the Supreme Court to support court-packing. Harris dismissed those of us in opposition as engaging in mere “nostalgia.”
Newsom had previously tried to offer a sane alternative to these voices. But he has now found himself their quiet companion in a primal scream session. As he began to vanish in political polling, he decided he would not be outcrazied by Democratic opponents.
With candidates like Texas’s Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico calling for the “dismantling” of capitalism as an “oppressive system,” Newsom finds himself needing to cater to the mob. He has now declared that “nostalgia is not working” while adding that “capitalism as we know it doesn’t work either.”
Newsom has recently been campaigning in blue states such as New Hampshire, repeating his mantra that capitalism as “not working.”
But these days, it is not enough for socialists and the far left merely to oppose the most successful economic system in the history of the world. Newsom is still being labeled as an establishment politician. So he has tried to dispel that impression with his signature toothy grin and astonished demeanor, claiming that he is really undermining the system from within as “an established insurgent.”
Again, that is not enough for the current political environment. So this week, he changed his position on the Supreme Court to say that he is now “open” to court-packing.
Packing the court is considered essential today for any viable Democratic candidate. Some are openly calling for the imposition of a litmus test for all candidates: As they put it, it is a choice between “packed or sacked.”
Even moderate figures such as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) have now yielded to the mob in expressing a willingness to pack the Supreme Court.
So Newsom wants the far left to know that he is yet again evolving: “My initial instinct — me, a year ago, I would have said no out of concern that it will continue to be expanded. … I’m finding myself evolving on it.”
The question is what Newsom and his Democrat opponents will offer next in their political adaptation. These candidates have shown that no institution or value is more important than their securing power. At this rate, we will be fortunate to have anything more than the ship itself after the race to toss institutions and “nostalgic” values over the side.
The danger for Newsom — like the danger of any fast-tracking of evolution — is that the environment can change, leaving you with an adaptation that makes you even more likely to be eliminated. Newsom knows that attacking our constitutional or economic systems will not play well in the general election, but he also knows he will never see the 2028 general election if his opponents on the left outflank him.
Moreover, offerings like the Supreme Court or our economic system are unlikely to satiate the far left. As I discuss in “Rage and the Republic,” history shows that establishment figures rarely survive the mob politics they seek to use for their own advantage.
In the meantime, because of the cynical calculations of leaders like Newsom, we face a growing threat of doing lasting harm to our constitutional system. The framers warned us of these voices of “mobocracy” that would tear apart the contemporary revolution in France, which became known as “the Terror.”
The danger is that, while the majority opposes court packing and socialism, the new majority in Congress could force changes without amending the Constitution. That certainly can be done with court packing. Once a new liberal majority is secured, there would then be little barrier to achieving many of the objectives of a radical agenda long discussed by professors and pundits. Some have argued that, with control of the court and radical constitutional changes, Republicans will not be able to win another election.
In other words, the radicals hope to change the environment to prevent further adaptation and future competition.
Kurt Vonnegut once said, “Evolution can go to hell as far as I am concerned. What a mistake we are.” After watching the chameleonic Gavin Newsom, it seems that we may be on the cusp of precisely such an evolutionary mistake.
Jonathan Turley is a law professor and the New York Times best-selling author of “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.“
The Darwin idea has appeal. On one level the message is grow back the opposable big toe and return to the trees. The obvious problem is that ends upright walking. On the evolution of thinking level our fighter pilot situational awareness sense recognizes that the internet flow of ideas is akin to what happens when increasing the velocity of money in the money supply. A tsunami of ideas. Res ipsa looks to sort them out. My take is Newsom sees a hope to compete for votes by jumping into the brand of new and improved socialism: “we have the secret sauce that nobody before us had. Give us power and you will be happy and own nothing.” To those of us who value the past as prologue, it is still an Edsel. It is so far out of step with who we are that it makes us think of the line that there is no crying in baseball either.
With a little AI and VR, Gavin’s evolution should be fine.
WOW!!!
Did someone leave the door to romper room wide open and unguarded by an adult?
The commentary in this thread is sophomoric and completely absurd.
ESTOVIR is Witherspoon trying to make us think he’s the ‘adult in the room’.
In fact, Estovir tends to use the Witherspoon puppet for this specific purpose. About every 9 days, or so, Witherspoon shows up to say how immature the (liberal) comments are. It’s just a stupid charade!
Anonymous,
I’m no one’s puppet and you, in all your Anonymous forms, are a moron.
I didn’t mention if it was liberal or conservative comments, my statement was a blanket of virtually ALL of the commentary in this thread. There are so few exceptions to the “sophomoric and completely absurd” pigeonholed behavior that it wasn’t worth mentioning.
For what it’s worth; this blog, with its complete lack of effective moderation, is actively enabling internet trolls and all the trolling Anonymous posters are proof positive evidence of that enabling.
I know that Jonathan Turley is a free speech purist, but the lack of effective moderation in these threads is rediculous, I think it detracts from the content of his blog essays and that is one of the purposes of the trolling. If Turley continues to refuse to moderate the commentary, then he should permanently shut off all commentary, it’s not like he’s monetizing the blog comment threads for financial reasons, so shut it down, delete all the commentary and clean it up once and for all.
Trolls aren’t legitimate blog traffic.
Anonymous and Turley both got owned with that comment.
They are on to you Bad-Anon …
Kash Patel Sends FBI After Trolls Mocking Him Online
“… Records revealed by independent national security journalist Seth Hettena as part of the FBI’s review of the investigative holdings related to Jeffrey Epstein show Patel ordering the FBI to go after a popular X poster for trolling him on the social media platform. …”
By: BlueApples – via Zerohedge ~ Sep 14, 2026
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2026-09-14/kash-patel-sends-fbi-after-trolls-mocking-him-online
Steve Witherspoon,
Well said.
As others have noted, I think it was James, when the good professor is on target in pointing out far illiberal leftists policies, the trolls really come out in lame attempts to defect from useful and interesting comments.
If Gavin Newsom says capitalism is a failure as we know it, then why does he own a partial stake in a winery? Why or how was he able to afford the multi million dollar house that he lives in? Why does his wife have a so called production company? Why do they take money from companies as donations and then give those companies leaders, government positions? Why is he fighting the billionaires tax in Ca. to protect those same capitalist’s? Why is he friends with and financially involved with the capitalist Getty family? And yes, capitalism allowed the Getty family, like others to donate museums, land for parks, libraries and such so that others could enjoy.
It seems that his ego and desire for power trumps his hypocrisy. Will voters see that and give him a thumbs down? If the polls are correct, yes and being behind Kamala and Pete is not a good sign.
I’m so appreciative of your warnings about political chameleons, Professor! Like take JD Vance – who once called Trump, “America’s Hitler,” and wrote an entire essay in the Atlantic calling Trump, “Cultural Heroin.” But then he went full-MAGA and kissed the ring to secure some power – but only did so on the promise that Trump would NEVER start a war in the Middle East. But now he DEFENDS Trump’s war in Iran and shrugs off the cost of diesel (now $6.20 a gallon!). Can you please address JD’s chameleon act next – since you are obviously SO concernced with such political hipocrisy? Thank you!
As far as political chameleons go, J D Vance is in a league of his own.
Come On Man – even Dem Monkey’s know how to chase the BANANA of the Communists (oops, I mean Socialists who are sooooo different). Newsome is just a PANDERER to the crowd. Unfortunately, looks like MAGA has its own PANDERERS as well. Who could guess that ALL POLITICIAN’S are PANDERING MONKEYS lookin for that Banana! Bah haha.
For those of you who evoke Trump, please stop. It is as boring and as vapid as evoking Biden.
Lets look honestly at Gavin – man for all ages! Or so it seems. He is nothing but a slick barker at a circus who needs to appeal to the crowds. But the real culprits are the Californians who voted for him. They are as dense as it comes and one would guess that too much sunshine fades the brain. Kind of like bleach!
Message to liberal commenters:
Estovir is suffering Trump fatigue. That is, ‘Defending Trump is becoming too much work’.
So Estovir keeps posting comments to the effect that mentions of Trump are ‘boring’ and or ‘vapid’. Like we’re supposed to take our cues from some creep who keeps constantly changing names.
Professor Turley, since there is a contingent of “democrats” who have now openly become marxist, can’t they be charged with treason since they want to overthrow our form of government? Thank you for answering this question!
So – by MAGA definitions, the following is true:
Those who stormed the Capital on January 6th and defecated in the halls, stole and damaged property and threatened to hang the vice president – completely innocent.
Those who believe in Medicare-for-all – traitors.
Got it. Enjoy your $6.20/gallon diesel, geniuses – and make sure you buy some more Trumpcoin – The GOP has taken you for all you’re worth.
Estovir, the traitor is Trump!! He’s so obviously assisting Putin that only the blind can’t see that.
Need for Critical Thinking:
Experts suggest using education and independent thought to question mass trends and avoid manipulation.
“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” -George Carlin
Crowd Behavior
Group Mind: People in large crowds often copy others instead of thinking for themselves.
Amplified Ignorance: Bad ideas or false facts grow louder when many people repeat them together.
Loss of Reason: Crowds can act with high emotion and low logic, which leads to poor choices.
Dunning-Kruger Effect: People with low skill or knowledge in a subject often think they know more than experts do.
(i.e.: Newsom, Harris and Ocasio-Cortez)
Why Stupid People are Destroying Society – The Laws of Human Stupidity
This is not a new issue. significant portions of the problems on the left and that the left alleges of the right are NEW.
Further – despite our misgivings people are overal more knowledgeable and intelligent than in the past – atleast the distant past.
Arguably education has gone to h311 as the left has taken it over in the past 5 decades, But inarguably people today are more intelligent than those a century ago and than 2 centuries ago.
Further the knowing more than the experts arguing is fallacious.
It is pretty trivial today to “KNOW” more about any narrow subject than “experts”. The core difference between “experts” and an intelligent person that chooses to quickly develop knowledge in a narrow field is EXPERIENCE – not expertise. I likely know more about how HVAC systems work than those who work on them and install them. In areas like their control systems I know FAR more than they do.
But I can not install a system – I will make too manyh mistakes in areas that are NOT about knowledge of HVAC but experience in installing things.
Beyond that – we also have huge problems today with “the cult of experts”.
Therte are very very very few problems in the world today – particularly “public problems” that are not massively cross disciplinary. So called “experts” fail miserably in dealing with these.
While we had actual coverups, lying and fraud from experts during covid – even when viroligists were being honest, they were operating in the vacuum of their own field.
They MIGHT have been able to tell us how to slow the spread of the virus – they failed badly and mathematically predictably at that, but they do NOT have the knowledge or experience to do more than make recomendations for the aspects of Covid within THEIR domain of expertise.
If they are experts in the microbiology of viruses – they are NOT experts in healthcare more broadly. They are certainly not experts in economics or transportation or addition or suicide or psychology.
This problem is only going to get worse. While there are still issues with AI – it is already better than the “experts” in most any know field at providing us with real knowledge accurately.
And that will only improve over time.
But AI can not do the very same things that “experts” today can not do. It can not look at the big picture and make decisions based on the input from multiple domain experts.
This BTW is precisely why CEO’s of fortunate 500 companies are paid a fortune – because that is what they are very good at. Real time decision making coordinating all available knowledge at the moment from multiple domain experts and making the best overall decisions.
It is also why Nations have presidents. It is why Congress does not manage the day to day affairs of the country.
The people with this skill set tend to be the owners of businesses, or the CEO’s – these are the people who are good at gathering information from experts in multiple domains and determining the best overall course of action.
And that is the skill that you should be looking for in Mayors, Governors, and presidents.
Problems from everyday issues to crises are NOT dealt with by “experts” for the most part – they are dealt with by people who have relatively deep knowledge but more importantly have relatively BROAD knowledge and know how to make decisions from that.
One of the reasons that the left constantly fails is that they miss and absolutely critical aspect of the entire world.
We MUST make it work with the people we have.
This is true of most EVERYTHING.
You want to improve policing – hire better police – smarter, more educated, but then who will be the doctors, lawyers architects and engineers ?
Generally excepot at the edges you can not make substantial improvements in the quality of the people in a given field without negatively impacting other fields.
In all of the universe there is only one truly limited resource and that is the human brain We have only 8B people with an average IQ of 100 (by defintion).
There are the same number with a higher IQ as a lower one and the further you go from an IQ of 100 the exponentially fewer people are above that
You must make the world work with the people we have.
Socialism and communism do not work for many reasons.
Cheif among those is that they do not take people as they are.
As Adam Smith noted 250 years ago – if you want something of others you must appeal to THEIR benefits, not yours.
Human altruism always takes a back seat to self interest.
We make heros of the people twho die to save others – because they are extreme;ly RARE
Despite the billions of dollars that Trump and his children have been making recently, apparently Don Jr. did not pay for his recent lavish wedding in the Bahamas.
Donald Trump Jr.’s three-day wedding celebration in the Bahamas in May was substantially bankrolled by Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch with close ties to President Vladimir Putin, according to records and interviews with three people familiar with the event.
Kremlev paid to rent one of the two private islands used for the event, funded the fireworks display, and had his team help plan the wedding, which included a five-tier cake flown in from Florida.
The payments came through a Dubai-based entity affiliated with the International Boxing Association, which Kremlev leads and which is financed by Russian state-owned Gazprom.
Kremlev, described by attendees as speaking limited English and often keeping to a Russian-speaking group that puzzled other guests, had not previously been reported to have a relationship with Trump Jr.
National security experts said the arrangement raises serious counterintelligence concerns.
“If I’m paying for your wedding, at some point, you’re going to owe me something,” said Frank Montoya Jr., a retired senior FBI counterintelligence official, calling the situation “unthinkable for the son of the president.”
Holden Triplett, who served as Trump’s counterintelligence director during his first term, said Russian intelligence routinely uses financial ties to cultivate access to American officials’ families.
“Every Trump scandal leads back to Russia,” observed John O’Brennan, professor of European politics. These people are so corrupt they refuse to even pay for their own weddings.
What a surprise to learn that a Russian oligarch close to Putin paid for Junior’s lavish wedding.
Who could’ve expected it?
Why does the son of the president of the United States, who is supposed to be worth billions of dollars, need a Russian sugar daddy?
It will take decades to unravel the layers of corruption we’re witnessing in the Trump administration.
And all those who continue to look the other way are complicit
Do you feel better now that you have earned your troll money for the day?
Now go make some pizza rolls and get on bluesky.
Of course it will – it takes a really really long time to find something when there is nothing there.
What we have above – like pretty much all this left wing nut nonsense is an highly inconsistent allegation from an anony mouse, with nothing to back it up,
that is unlikely to be true as written, and that even if it were true – is not actual corruption.
Do you have Gazprom demanding that President Trump abandon Ukraine in return for payment ?
That is what you would need to come close to the Biden corruption. Or the Clinton corruption.
Or even the Obama Uranium One deal.
And you fall far short of that.
@Anonymi
Whenever you fools are out in force it is guaranteed a nerve was struck. Would not be at all surprised if you were paid by Newsom. 🤷🏻♂️
You aren’t convincing anyone, and in spite of their hubris, most of us think California is a p00p hole. And I say that as someone whose father was born in LA and have myself lived there twice. CA has long been the object lesson of authoritarian disaster for the entire rest of the country. I do not live there, never will again, and neither will my tax dollars or even regular dollars; certainly not even my travel dollars. At the end of the day that is all that matters: economic failure is economic failure, and socialism (which is the only way to describe the DNC in polite terms, now) will only turn it up to 1,000. Thankfully most of the rest of us realize this and reject it.
I don’t think you all and your globalist pals can handle the fact that dems lost every single swing state in 2024, even with cheating (should Trump have won, as he indeed likely did, in 2020, he’d be done. But no, you wanted to push the envelope and unleash hellfire after your covid experiment).
This sentiment in America, now spreading across the Western world, does not bode well for future globalist endeavors, particularly not given the fact that so many of us here have firearms and know how to use them. It’s why no matter the platform, the DNC is always trying to abolish the first and second amendments, along with the courts and senate that uphold them. You all are grade school in your infantile transparency, and no, people are not as stupid as you presume with your Ivy League educational receipts (i.e., your ‘degree’ and pats on the head from mom and dad or grandma, or in some cases, your nanny).
James,
Great comment!
If you have a Daughter then you know that it is traditionally the Bride’s Father that pays for the Wedding.
Have Sons, you won’t go Wedding Broke!
So you have a bunch of speculation on top of speculation that even if true means nothing.
And that is a huge deal to you ?
Of course every “trump scandal” leads top Russia – you left wing loons have Trump and Russia on the brain.
You do understand that bombing the crap out of Iran is a major reason that Putin is now losing the war with Ukraine ?
Iran supplied 40% of ALL russia’s munitions.
So lets look at this nonsense.
PURPORTEDLY Kremelev bankrolled Donald Jr’s wedding. Might be true – but not because you or some left wing nut MSM claim it is.
Even your claim is a mess of inconsistancies – First it is Kremelev, then it is the IBA and Finally it is GazProm that paid for what ?
An island that is not where the wedding was, flying a cake and some fireworks ?
And what exactly is the national security concern ? Trump Jr. is NOT part of the administration. He has NO ROLE in the administration.
This is not like Hunter Biden ACTUALLY getting Millions specifically to get VP Biden to sack the Ukrainian Chief Prosecutor – which he did and bragged about.
So what exactly is the “National Security concern ? That Russia is going to kidnap Don Jr. ?
Again Don Jr. is NOT part of the administration and there is no evidence he has any role in even advising his father on matters related to running the country.
Don Jr. is busyh ruinning the family Business and doing quite well.
In the end we have only your word that any of this has the slightest resemblance to reality.
Trump’s evolving too, his hair is now brown. Looks just like Gavin.
I don’t understand why Turley and you MAGA morons are obsessing about Newsom, Harris and Ocasio-Cortez. None of them will be president.
The Democratic presidential ticket will be Mark Kelly and Jon Ossoff in some combination. Most likely Kelly for president and Ossoff for vice-prsident.
Good morning Mark Kelly!
That would be fantastic! Harris is the lowest hanging fruit, but Mark Kelly and Ossoff are darn close! The GOP would welcome that with open arms!
Two white guys? Really?
ROFL.
It is not MAGA that is obsessing over the far left – it is Democrats.
Absent a DSA makeover neither Kelley nor Ossoff stand a chance.
Democratic candidates can not win National primaries or state wide primaries in Blue states without kissing up to the DSA.
I do not know why you think Kelley or Ossoff are contenders – I doubt either are in the running at all.
At the same time neither are as bat schiff crazy as likely democrats.
I would be happy to see democrats not nominate a far left loon or a far left loon pretender.
But that is just not going to happen – atleast not in 2028.
Dear Mr. Turley, our society will keep on failing if we do not treat each other with respect. Even here on this page, folks are very insulting to each other. If we are going to survive as a people, common courtesy is essential. This weekend, in Wisconsin, the Republican candidate for governor, ended up in a lake as his plane lost power approaching small city runway. Comments from the liberals were anything but nice. How sad!!! Appreciate GEB’s comments as always.
our society will keep on failing if we do not treat each other with respect. Reading that makes me wonder how daft people can be. That common courtesy has disappeared decades ago. Walk the street, visit a store, driving and even family have become willing participants in showing their anger in a battle of everything. Real victims everywhere and the media makes money off man’s inhumanity to man.
Respect is something that is earned, you are not entitled to it. Regardless the modern political disrespect is NOT new – Adams and Jefferson wrote the Declaration together. They died on july 4th on the exact same day. Yet they were bitter political rivals much of their lives calling each other heinous names that even modern politics falls short of.
Put simply our system has survived more vitriol, disrespect and incivility than we have today.
In FACT that is what is GREAT about the US – we have a system that works even if the people making it up have feet of clay.
The real test of a political system is not does it work when everyone is civil and well behaved.
But does it work when there is chaos everywhere.
Respect is something that should be given until there is reason not to.
The idea that respect must be earned is a Russian concept.
Spitting on people until they prove they are worthy of not being spat upon is core Moscow upbringing and the reason that the John Say group of propagandists are currently getting their gasoline rationed.
What? Gavin Newsom is not authentic? Hold the presses!!!
… I spit out my coffee …
Which Gavin Newsom would You Like?
https://shop.mattel.com/collections/ken-dolls
“These candidates have shown that no institution or value is more important than their securing power.”
Lust is a sickness and a sin. Yet the Democrat lust for eternal power and dictatorship , they do not want to share power. They will lie, cheat and steal to gain power. It’s why they are welcoming the Communists and Islamist into their ‘Big Tent”. The Democrats will soon become the sheep that trusted the wolf and were killed and eaten.
“These candidates have shown that no institution or value is more important than their securing power.”
Obviously you’ve turned a blind eye to Trump’s dalliances.
As soon as DSA in in Washington, that wolf will rip you all to shreds.
ATS – Trump has never talked about destroying our institutions.
To the extent that Trump is “radical” – it is that he enforces the laws that we have rather than ignore them.
Institutions… do fed gov ones count? Dept. of Education, USAID, HHS, and DHS, and how many democrats (persons) has he attempted to destroy?
the illegal ones
Trump isn’t destroying those institutions. The Dept. of Education is being put back under the States to manage. USAID was nothing more than a money laundering racket for the Democrats. More money went into the pockets of the Democrats than went to any where else. Health and Human Services is being cleared out to actually do what its supposed to do. Dept of Homeland Security is on track to do what its supposed to do, after four years of the previous administration looking the other way, as people literally from all over the world were allowed to come through unchecked! Our borders are more secure and protected from foreign invasion than ever before. Just by following and enforcing existing Immigration Laws passed by Congress. Many of whom now call DHS/ICE racist and illegal!!
It was and still is the Democrats who are calling for the dismantling of DHS/ICE, and every other law enforcement agency they can think of! It was under the Biden regime that the pillars that upheld and safeguarded this country began to crumble, as those inside forces joined together with outside forces from other countries flooded our country, and took a wrecking ball to any semblance of National Security we had.
Trump has been trying to restore what Obama and Biden began tearing down.
Without need to deal with the remainder of ncrandal’s Gish Gallop,
“USAID was nothing more than a money laundering racket for the Democrats.” is an odd statement to make. The majority of the funding was spend with American farmers who generally are hard line conservatives to produce food that was used to gain support for America in impoverished countries to keep China from making similar inroads. It used excess American farm production to extend soft power so that the American military could concentrate on more volatile areas of the world. Now that that is gone, roughly 1 Million children a year will starve, American farmers will suffer, and the chances for a great number of terrorists will flourish in those destabilized countries that manage not to get China’s involvement.
“Institutions… do fed gov ones count?”
No they do not count – various offices withing the federal govenrment are NOT institutions.,
Law and order is an instritution.
The rule of law is an institution.
The Depatrment of education is a pretty much pointless collection of bureaucrats that have only been arround for a few decades.
USAID is even less consequential.
I would be happy to completely get rid of HHS – it has not been arround for most of US history.
Regardless, how is HHS being “destroeyed” – because it is actually evaluating left wing sacred cows ?
I do nopt agree with alot of RFK jr. at the same time he is still better than most anyone who came before him.
DHS seems to be doing its job – a small part of which is securing our borders and deporting illegal aliens.
We have had laws requiring deporting illegal aliens for probably all of US history – certainly all of my lifetime.
I EXPECT the president and the entire federal govenrment to FOLLOW and ENFORCE the laws we enact – even those I do not personally agree with.
THAT is what the rule of law means – and THAT is an institution.
The left seeks to destroy our institutions.
The concept that we ENFORCE the law, that we FOLLOW the law.
That when we do not like the law we work to CHANGE the law – not ignore it.
And that until we have succeeded in changing the laws we do not like we FOLLOW and enforce those.
Those are institutions
You do not need a department of healthj and Human Services to have a govenrment – HHS has only existed very recently in terms of US or really any other govenrmnet.
You do not need a department of education to have a government.
You need Law and Order.
You NEED the rule of law NOT man.
Right left, whatever without ACTUAL institutions – you have anarchy.
“how many democrats (persons) has he attempted to destroy?”
Zero. Charlie Kirk was “destroyed” byh the left.
Brian Thompson was “destroyed” by the left.
The left has attempted to “destroy” Trump half a dozen times.
Trump has insulted stupid people – Jefferson and Adam’s tossed heinous insults at each other – and both were great men.
Civility is NOT a requirement for national survival
The rule of law is.
“ATS – Trump has never talked about destroying our institutions.”
Of course he has. That selective amnesia comes in handy doesn’t it?
Trump RAN on the idea of destroying our institutions. Remember DOGE? The whole point of electing Trump was because he was going to take a wrecking ball to our ‘inefficient’ institutions and used the “wokeness” as an excuse.
Trump is a radical because he’s weaponized and politicized our institutions. He’s become lawless. The DOJ has lost so many cases and credibility before the courts.
The Iran war is not going well for Trump. Prices are still rising, gas and especially diesel are at record highs and they will continue to rise. Trump has radicalized the Republicans into his party. It’s no monger the party of Lincoln or Reagan.
Welcome back X!
As always, please keep posting. You are a GOTV king for the GOP!
“Trump RAN on the idea of destroying our institutions.”
Nope he ran on eliminating waste fraud and abuse in Government. As BTW did Obama. Obama thought it was so important he put Biden in charge.
Regardless, getting rid of wasteful spending is NOT destroying institutions.
Failing to enforce the law – that is destroying institutions.
No amnesia – yo0u are just completely deranged and have no clue what an institution is.
No aspect of the bureaucratic state is an institution.
But the rule of law is an ACTUAL institution.
The enforcement of the laws – even those some of us do not like, until we can legitimately change them – that is an actual institution.
Trump has obeyed every court order – even the idiotic obviously unconstitutional and lawless ones – UNTIL they have been overturned – which nearly all have been.
NOT doing so would be destroying our institutions.
” Remember DOGE? The whole point of electing Trump was because he was going to take a wrecking ball to our ‘inefficient’ institutions and used the “wokeness” as an excuse.”
Again you misunderstand the meaning of institutions.
And institution is a pattern of importance in the survival of society.
USAID or DOE are NOT institutions – they are bureaucracies within the federal govenrment.
But even with respect to them – did Trump or DOGE violate the rule of law in scrutinizing them ?
Our institutions are not matters of political opinion – or atleast they are not supposed to be.
In the past people would seek to make our criminal justice system more fair or just.
But NO ONE was stupid enough to claim we could do without it.
The concept that the purpose of Government is to ENFORCE THE LAW is an institution.
“Trump is a radical because he’s weaponized and politicized our institutions. ”
ROFL – that was YOU – the left.
Trump is following the law. Lots of people are being investigated for ACTUAL crimes. Many of those people are Trump’s enemies. Many are democrats. What they ALL have in common is that there is credible evidence that they actually committed crimes.
Is there someone Trump is going after who CLEARLY did not commit a crime ?
You prosecuted and convicted Trump and still can not identify the actual crime he committed. a REAL crime is something that uses force of fraud to deprive others of things that are theirs by right. The NYC case is this looney claim that anyone who runs for public office is REQUIRED to divulge the entirety of their personal life – even perfectly legal actions.
Even the idiotic left wing claim that Trump paid Daniels to hide a daliance from the public – which you did not prove, is still NOT A CRIME.
Absolutely people who run for office should expect that others will pry into their personal lives.
Are we prosecuting Graham Platner because he failed to tell maine voters he was a rapist ?
YOUR lawfare against Trump is the Proof of YOUR destruction of institutions.
No going after people for the actual crimes they committed is NOT the same as going after people who did not commit any crimes solely because you have the power to do so.
Trump sought to investigate biden – who actually accepted money in return for the abuse of govenrment power.
You sought to investigate Trump because he called you out for cheating and because he beat Hillary in 2016.,
Those are not crimes.
“He’s become lawless.”
Nope he is litterally following and enforcing the actual law.
“The DOJ has lost so many cases and credibility before the courts.”
Before a tiny handful of left wing nut judges – not the entire Federal court system.
Most of whom have LOST on direct appeal and almost all of whom have lost in the final determination.
Trump has lost very few issues.
The courts found he can fire most everyone in the executive branch. But they balked at Firing Federal Reserve officers without clear cause and due process.
Of course this beggs of the question as the Federal Reserve is Obviousy not constitutional.
Regardless that is alot of winning and only a small loss. Further it is consistent with cases involving Biden and obama and Bush.
Even if Trump had lost those cases – presidents have been fighting this battle for all of US history.
Nothing Trump has done is new there.
Trump lost an obvious case on Birth right citizenship – though SCOTUS got the reasoning entirely wrong.
Trump’s Birthright citizenship EO exceeded the presidents constitutional authority.
Crafting laws regarding the 14th amendment citizenship clause is according tot he 14th amendment a CONGRESSIONAL power – not an executive one.
Trump lost an overly broad interpretation of one specific tarriff claim. He is still imposing Tarriffs under the numerous other tarriff authorities congress has given the president.
Trump has won pretty much every single case related to ICE, immigration and the enforcement of immigration law.
What is it that you think Trump has done lawlessly ?
He has an excellent record in the courts.
It is the few judges that try to interfere that have the losing record.
“The Iran war is not going well for Trump.”
Matter of opinion. Trump promised this conflict would be over in days. He has made a number of promises that he would fix things in days.
No one beleived that Trump would make everything better overnight.
With repect to Iran – So Iran has not unconditionally surrendered yet.
WWII lasted 4 years. The Civil War lasted 5 The conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq lasted more than two decades.
Iran’s has had about 90% of its ability to threaten its neighbors in the mideast destroyed.
12 ships transited the straights in the last 24hrs. 28 are transiting right now.
That is significantly below the pre conflict norm. Though mostly the issue is fear.
Iran does not have the ability to threaten more than a tiny fraction of shipping in the gulf.
And they pay a high price every-time they do.
Conversely NOTHING is getting into or out of Iran by sea, and very little over land or by air.
Total US military deaths are about the same as would have occured in peace. and barely higher than Biden’s losses from the botched withdraw from Afghanistan.
If the end result of this is US warships at the mouth of the strait for years to blockade Iran and assure free passage through the Gulf that is still a win.
Myriads of sources claim that Iran can not last even until mid-terms – but the same people said Iran would not make it this long.
But the fact that many have and continue to be overly optomistic does not mean that Iran is not losing badly.
The US can maintain the current pressure on Iran indefinitely.
There are also stories of infighting within the IRGC, Street Fighting between the IRGC and insurgents, and Kurdish paramilitary groups moving into Iran from Pakistan, Turkey, Syria and Iraq.
Regardless, Iran’s ability to project power has been decimated.
Even if the US left tomorow – the Various gulf states has currently formed military aliances with Israel and can contain Iran as they have never been able to before.
Separately, Iran is the source of 40% of Russia’s munitions. So long as this continues – Russia has massive logistical problems and we are seeing this in the status of the Ukraine war.
Further this has the US and China playing nice with each other. China is watching and could not withstand the economic preasure that the US has put on Iran.
Further it is the US – Trump that is assuring that China’s energy demands are being met right now.
While not overnight – we are watching a major opportunity for a vastly more peaceful world.
Hamas is virtually non-existant. Hazbollah is being eradicated with the cooperation of Lebanon.
The entire mideast is united against Iran which is a shadow of its former self.
Israel now has military cooperation arrangements with most of the Gulf.
The tide has turned against Putin in the Ukraine war.
Over the next two years we should be seeing numerous peace deals all over the place.
This is your idea of going badly ?
Trump has eliminated no waste, fraud, or abuse – he’s added to it considerably.
The only peace deals we may see are at the ends of wars Trump started. It’s setting fires and then taking credit for putting them out.
I believe it is NYT that just ran a story that a Deal with Iran had been completely worked out, that the government leaders were on board, that the IRGC was on board and that the deal was just about to be signed when elements of the Basij attacked multiple ships in the Gulf.
NYT is confirming what Trump has been saying – that there is not really anyone to negotiate with in Iran. That even the IRGC is being held hostage by the most extreme rogue groups in Iran.
That there is no one to make a deal with.
That is not a country that is winning.
That is a country that can not get out of a conflict even if its leaders want to.
This conflict will end when Iran gains control of its own most extreme elements.
Or the regime collapses.
One of the other is coming.
John, Say, the Moscow Times ran that article. I hear your chocolate ration is going up to 20 grams.
“Trump has never talked about destroying our institutions.”
He doesn’t need to – his actions are more important than the lies he spews every day. He has destroyed about a dozen major institutions leaving only the facades still standing and he is working on destroying all of them before he leaves office, either at the end of his term or however long past it he can remain in his bunker and threaten nuclear retaliation on those who would displace him from there.
Like what…enforcing the laws of our country? How dare he!
Got names for the laws he enforced? Would be helpful to understand what you mean.
Immigration law, election law, anti-fraud law, anti-official oppression law, the U. S. Constitution.
Yawn. wake me when that happens CCP troll. Your DSA comrades here are all just theater kids. Also, we have a thing called The US Constitution. try and get past that. Americans have died keeping this country free because we are the home of the brave.
Americans died to keep free:
Iraqis
Afghanis
Vietnamese
Koreans (twice)
Filipinos
Brits (twice)
French (twice)
Belgians (twice)
Also to free the slaves.
The last time Anwricans died to keep America free was 1812, when we routed the British.
Anwricans? Slow there old man, you’ll break your fingers.
Check your history. We didn’t rout the British in 1812. That war essentially wound up in a draw.
Our Constitution is exactly what they’re coming for. The DSA is going to do everything they can to shred it and light it on fire! Jamie $adkin was holding meetings and teaching how to dismantle it, before Trump was re-elected.
Regardless of which side of the aisle you sit, if you care the slightest bit about this country and it’s wellbeing, people need to pay attention to what the DSA is doing within the crumbling walls of what was the Democratic Party! Because as it stands right now, the. Democratic Party has allowed the DSA to hijack your Party, and they aren’t playing. The DSA/ISLAMIC/CCP has been waiting to raise its head in Congress, until they had opportunity to infiltrate from both the inside and outside, and they are no longer hiding their affiliation. They are openly arming themselves for a fight both literally and figuratively. The DSA held a convention of sorts parallel to the Republican Midterm Convention last week. They are no longer hiding the fact that they want, and are readying for an ARMED revolution.
When they tell you what they’re going to do, BELIEVE them!
Comparing Newsom to a chameleon is an insult to chameleons. They at least have a sense of themselves even if they change colors or shades to conform to background.
Newsom is anything you wish him to be. Maybe a Griffin or a Chimera. Some day he will forget what he is and show up as a Phoenix when the meeting is all about horses of a different color. Eventually he will just disappear into a puff of smoke when his changeling apparatus gets confused then overwhelmed and he self destructs and then we’ll have a real mess.
His real trick is passing himself of as the governor of a state. Now that takes a total divorce from reality to see that mythical creature.
total divorce from reality to see … funny, you in particular should bring that up.
Anonymous 7:19 AM-you exhibit a total separation from reality almost every time you write. You can’t even remember your name after all these years. Anonymous – a nameless creature which can never see the forest because of the trees and mis-identifies all the other mythical creatures that wonder about aimlessly looking for a purpose in life.
Almost? Are you really that stupid to think one person writes all the antonymous comments? Knowing your mental infirmities, let us remind you that you too are anonymous and your comments are not gems on this blog. More like senile ramblings. Grow up.
Having staked out his latest evolutionary position in favoring court-packing, Newsom has totally arrived. No matter how the political winds may shift in the next two years, he can claim he favors it and has previous positions to prove it.
‘It is a cautionary tale for Democrats who want their party to reposition toward the political center.’
Those people largely no longer exist. In another generation or two that will be a literal truth. Oh, they’ll lie about it to get elected, but that ship has simply sailed. The levels of denial are still something to behold.
Man, you write the same ole shite day after day. And you think dems are nuts? You cretin.
Is that the best insult you have ano?
Is that the best insult you have dustoff – the Seattle cretin?
When lefty’s are losing, they get angry AND stupid. How’s it going over there lefty? not too good huh? your side is eternally at the bottom of a mud puddle because Trump has shoved your face in it. Oooh! doesn’t it just make you so mad, his smug face smiling at you as he tears down your world, erases your stupid ideology and makes you insignificant. All you can do is try to let it all out here but now I come along and ruin it for you, letting you know the reality that you will not find release from your torment, get used to it. And it’s all in your stupid head.
Lookie here folks, the new MAGA AI model. Its the economy model, no sense, poor grammar, can’t write. Actually, sounds like Dustoff.
ATS – do you have an argument ?
Wanted to ask you the same Say. Seems the Dustoff dilemma is a real thing now eh?
Why ? I am not the one shilling ad hominem.
Can YOU make an actual argument ? Or are all your posts just insulting people ?
Grammar Nazi! where ya been? You got a good argument there with your grammar schtick, keep plugging away at all that grammar you can assail whilst your side is going down the tubes. I’ll be on my toes too, so stick around so I can raise your blood pressure. Do you dream of dustoff or what? I am so happy to hear that you are still out there nitpicking grammar on forums. Missed ya, ya little nutcase!
Looks like we got a bite folks. Listen you stupid old fart, your brain dripping are unimpressive, just juvenile poop. Sure, fire it up, you don’t scare anyone you limp dick cretin.
I’m NOT from Seattle you fool.
Try again loser.
Dustoff, you simpleton, why do you keep taking the bait?
Hey dustoff tell how many babies you killed in Vietnam?
And how come you ain’t married you pedo?
Another pissed off lib… Insults but no facts.
Pissed off? Seems anon has hit a nerve. Sue for defamation.
Every day you show and get your nasty butt kicked. Ever think about shutting up? Guess without abrain, that’s impossible. LOL!
@Dustoff
Let’s be honest. Yes it is. Their one brain cell must be getting very tired.
Their, speak for yourself.
@Dustoff
Perhaps it got lost in the shuffle, but I was speaking about Anonymous, not to you, Dustoff, you, I really appreciate.
This is really getting old, mods, but the one saving grace is that due to the nitwits’ daily behavior here, it is clear we will never hand the levers of power to these people. We will hand them a tissue and diapers and that will make them happy while the rest of us carry on with keeping civilization going.
James,
Quite true.
The one and likely only upside to the annony lower elevator level IQ comments is it gives us insight to the ugly, twisted mind of a far illiberal leftist and the reason why they should never be allowed into any positions of power ever again.
And, why school choice is so important.
You’re right. Everyday these guys show a spew the same nonsense word for word. Gotta love those stupid maggotts.
Every day the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
The truth does not change.
Hey! You’re the guy that says stupid a lot. Mr. Says-stupid-a-lot is your new name until you can stop saying stupid, stupid!
Hey stupid … you sure are stupid. So stupid what are ya gonna do, write stupid comments all day. You stupid clown. Whew…..
Do you have an argument ?
Regardless, I call things stupid that are. Usually I reserve stupid for arguments not people.
I am not the person who was calling others stupid in this thread.
But I did correctly point out that the truth remains the same from day to day.
Typical lefty shoddy work, no effort, boring, useless, types with one hand and a bowl of rice in the other.
“Man, you write the same ole shite day after day. And you think dems are nuts? You cretin.”
Try to get some help. Obviously you have been hurt in life to lash out so. You don’t have to live a miserable hateful life. Help is available. Also look into Jesus. Jesus will forgive you for all your past sins that are certainly bothering you. In the meantime I will pray for you, that you seek help and healing and no longer have to live such a bitter hateful life.
God bless you and speed your healing. Jesus loves you.
Jesus, wasn’t he the homosexual that created a gay cult? Naaa…. we’ll pass.
ATS – many of us write the same things – because the truth does not change from day to day.
Who is “many of us” Say?
Truth? What truth?
Who?
John Say.
OldManFromKS,
Estovir
DustOff
Whimsicalmama
OLLY
Lin
many more to include myself
Many – numerous posters on this blog that you uniformly respond to with insults rather than arguments.
What Truth ? That you resort to personal attacks because you have no argument.
John Say,
One popular definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect things to change.
You write the same thing over and over, but nothing changes.
It is obvious why you choose to remain anonymous. It makes it difficult, though, to defend anonymity.
So says the anonymous fool.
Pretty much it, James. The level if mental illness is stunning. They’re violent and destructive. Just hope by some stroke of ill fortune you don’t get stuck in their neighborhood where the best value is hopelessness.
Newsom’s evolution” seems to be on a course winding up as a dead-end Morlock. Stated otherwise: Democrats are evil.
Morlock? You 90 y/o child.
Speaking about a child. Look who showed up.. right ano!
Speaking about a child. Look who showed up.. dustoff the Seattle cretin.
Except I’m not form Seattle…
Try again loser.
Huh, not “form” Seattle? Looks like you just proved it again Dustoff.
Here’s breakfast yo MAGAots. Choke on it.
The only choking appears top be you ano.
Oh oh dustoff is big mad. just don’t shite your diapers cretin.
Me mad…. LOL
Try reading some of you’re comments… (shite your diapers cretin.)
This is why many of us here laugh at you.
Yeah Mad, then why respond?
Just many, but not all, as they do with you.
Cretin.