Thursday, March 5, 2026

The Sweet with the Bitter

It has become impossible for me to listen to President Trump for more than a few minutes at a time; his arrogance and braggadocio is so very tiring.  I am a long-time Independent.  And even though my fiscally conservative and socially moderate leanings push me towards the right, I occasionally see something attractive on the left…not the progressive left; but the old style, blue dog Democrat, liberal left. 

 

Now if I (as an Independent) feel this way about Trump, it should come as no surprise that most Democrats have an automatic, knee-jerk inclination to oppose anything…good or bad…that comes from President Trump.  The man certainly engenders a love/hate reaction.  We saw the same syndrome from Republicans when Obama was president; but I honestly don’t believe the feeling was nearly as strong back then.  Republicans certainly gave President Clinton a hard time during his first term…and he provided such an inviting target.  But it was during his second term that our government enjoyed one of its greatest periods of productive bi-partisanship.  Is it possible for that dynamic to repeat itself?

 

I fear that the moderates in the Democrat Party are a dwindling group; I truly hope I am mistaken.  But regardless of their numbers, it would be an extremely positive political development for our nation if they…like me…could manage to somehow separate their disdain for the personal side of Trump from a common sense support for his policies and actions…the things that constitute the professional side of Trump.  Personally, I consider the personal side the bitter and the professional side the sweet. 

 

I believe there are some hard realities playing out in Donald Trump’s second presidential term.  He is a lame duck and will not be running for re-election.  No doubt, he will be heavily involved in selecting the candidate that will attempt to succeed him; but I am equally certain that he is far more concerned about his legacy than he is his successor.  This political autonomy…hand-in-hand with Trump’s chaotic, non-traditional approach to the presidency…creates a combination that makes Donald Trump the type of president who has the potential to accomplish some remarkable goals…both legislatively and presidentially.  He is uncommonly unshackled and uniquely independent to the point where he does not have to overtly concern himself with polls, popularity, or perception.  It can easily be said that President Donald Trump is the right man, in the right place, at the right time.

 

First and most important in the presidential arena, at this moment, we should consider Operation Epic Fury…the merits and faults of that event.  It is indisputable that Iran hates America.  It has a long and storied history of brutally attacking our country and its global interests.  It exports terror across the world.  It cannot be reasonably deterred from obtaining a nuclear weapon; and upon obtaining that nuclear weapon…it will use it to aggressively expand their agenda of hate across this planet.  War is hell and the loss of ONE life in war is ONE life too many.  But the simple fact is that Iran was a ticking time bomb that was going to inevitably explode with horrific consequences if something was not done to stop them.  There has been no president in recent memory willing to take the necessary steps…and risks…to accomplish that.  There is no reason to think that our NEXT president would be willing to take that necessary action.  Donald Trump is in a unique position to do that; he is willing to take the risk; and he has done it.  Damn the torpedoes…IT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

 

As a practical matter, much of Trump’s legislative potential will be impacted by the partisan composition of the Congress during his final two years.  But if the Republicans can maintain congressional control, then Trump’s independence could portend some very positive changes in America.  The continuation of his “peace through strength”, “America First”, and “aversion to forever wars” foreign policy inclinations would, in my opinion, be a very solid and beneficial development not just for our country, but for the planet at large.  His efforts to shrink the size of our government and deregulate our federal bureaucracy could continue to pay dividends for the effectiveness and efficiency of our federal administration.  It will also have the additional benefit of stimulating our economy.  It is not unreasonable to believe that with a Republican Congress, he could pursue and accomplish comprehensive immigration reform within the next three years…on a bipartisan basis.  Additionally, national health care reform would certainly be within reach.  And if we are going to dream…why not go on out to the far end of the skinny limb and think about revamping our unsustainable Social Security System. 

 

Of course these are huge asks…but why not dream big?  Why not use the unique aspects and de facto independence of a final Trump term to reach for the stars in an attempt to solve some chronic ailments that are so troubling to our nation?  Why not put Trump’s arrogance and ego to work in a positive direction?  But if there is to be the possibility of this happening, then there must be resurgence in the moderate wing of the Democrat Party.  Some degree of bi-partisanship is a necessary ingredient if these efforts have any chance at all.  It won’t take a whole lot of Democrat votes, but it will take a few.  Moderate Democrats must come to terms with the enticing pull of Trump Derangement Syndrome and learn…like I have…to take the bitterness of Donald Trump’s ego with the sweetness of Donald Trump’s agenda.  Contrary to Democrat dogma…Donald Trump is not king and will not be president forever.

 

Whoever the next president is and whichever national party they represent, they WILL NOT have the independence that Donald Trump now possesses.  After serving two years of their first term and bathing in the adulation that goes with it, they will earnestly begin to campaign for their second term and everything they do will be tinged with political calculus.  Our country has a small window…less than three years…to get some serious business done; business that will make the futures of our children, grandchildren, and planetary neighbors safer and more secure than they are today.  The key to that possibility lays with the quiet groups of moderates in our national parties…the ones that reside in those small areas on either side of the CenterlineRight.        THEIR VOICES NEED TO BE HEARD.

 

 

All things Operation Epic Fury…

 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/03/in-the-room-with-steve-witkoff.php

 

https://www.newsnationnow.com/world/iran-war-widens-beyond-israel-tehran-middle-east/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2026/03/01/operation-epic-fury-and-the-fall-of-the-mullahs/

 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/03/the-case-for-epic-fury.php

 

https://reason.com/2026/03/05/yes-the-iran-war-is-a-war-of-choice-and-a-bad-one/

 

https://nypost.com/2026/03/04/us-news/ex-secretary-of-state-condoleezza-rice-says-trump-needs-to-take-care-of-iran-for-good/

 

https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/nato-chief-rutte-to-newsmax-trumps-iran-mission-has-broad-allied-support/2026/03/04/id/1248354/

 

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/28/operation-epic-fury-trump-can-rely-on-past-democratic-presidents-for-the-authority-to-attack-iran/#more-241465

 

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/03/01/fight-or-flight-how-trump-boxed-in-congress-on-war-powers/#more-241501

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-vote-iran-war-powers-resolution-trump/

 

https://archive.is/QtqaU

 

https://amgreatness.com/2026/03/02/marco-rubio-and-america-alone/

 

https://americanmind.org/salvo/operation-epic-fury-and-europes-crisis-of-resolve/

 

https://freebeacon.com/national-security/the-1400-year-old-sunni-shia-islamic-religious-split-is-shaping-the-iran-war/

 

How will the ongoing Middle East conflict impact “this” tragic war…

 

https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/shelby-wilder-ukraine-russia/2026/02/24/id/1247274/

 

What exactly is the Trump foreign policy doctrine?

 

https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/26/is-there-a-trump-great-game/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2026/03/03/trumps-way-of-war/

 

Why are the mid-term elections so important?  Here are some examples that should make it very clear…

 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/02/how-crazy-are-the-democrats-3.php

 

https://newsbusters.org/blogs/cnsnews/craig-bannister/2026/03/02/media-ignore-arrest-14-year-illegal-alien-30-arrests-case

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/yes-fraud-can-and-does-invalidate-elections/

 

https://thefederalist.com/2026/03/05/north-carolinas-two-vote-race-is-exactly-why-the-save-act-is-so-necessary/

 

https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/26/democrats-cant-seriously-believe-id-requirements-are-civil-rights-violations/

 

https://justthenews.com/accountability/political-ethics/biden-justice-department-awarded-grants-fulton-da-during-trump

 

https://justthenews.com/accountability/political-ethics/wedfani-files-georgia-prosecutor-coordinated-trump-case-closely

 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/02/how-the-democrats-prosecuted-trump.php

 

https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/26/bombshell-report-biden-fbi-spied-on-trumps-2024-campaign/

 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/02/another-joe-biden-fbi-scandal.php

 

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/27/jack-smiths-secret-orders-targeting-patel-and-wiles-should-alarm-us-all/

 

The main driving force for the upcoming mid-term elections will be the status of our national economy.  I still believe that might prove to be an asset for the Republican Party.  Illegal immigration will continue to be a central issue also.  The mid-term elections can be a way forward…or they can be a way back…

 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/02/the-real-state-of-the-union.php

 

https://newsbusters.org/blogs/cnsnews/craig-bannister/2026/02/26/mortgage-rates-fall-below-6-first-time-2022

 

https://reason.com/2026/02/28/its-the-spending-stupid-3/

 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/03/illegal-immigration-a-winner-for-republicans.php

 

Rogue Federal Judges are destroying the integrity of our justice system. Something must be done to stop this madness…

 

https://amgreatness.com/2026/03/05/americas-imperial-judiciary/

 

President Trump…Please shut up about tariffs!  If you believe in them as much as you say…work them into trade deals.  Do them in non-controversial fashion that does not create legal issues with the courts and Congress.  Do them in a deliberate, transparent, manner but please…quit talking about them incessantly.  They are not a winner politically and that is what actually matters at this point in time.

 

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/23/the-supreme-court-has-ruled-on-tariffs-but-who-will-ultimately-pay/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/justice-gorsuch-reminds-us-why-congress-matters/

 

https://reason.com/2026/02/26/the-4-economic-myths-powering-trumps-new-tariff-push/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/trumps-stupid-and-vile-attack-on-supreme-court-justices/

 

Education…Education…Education…

 

https://amgreatness.com/2026/03/04/degraded-schools/

 

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/24/anathema-in-the-university-mission-bari-weiss-canceled-at-ucla/#more-241228

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-destructive-diversity-mania-rages-on/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/what-do-employers-think-about-college-degrees/

 

The AI revolution is inevitable.  Get on the train or be run over by it

 

https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/25/even-the-best-ai-scenario-is-the-end-of-everything-weve-ever-been/

 

Partisan politics and TDS have poisoned every aspect of our culture and society.  In many ways, we have become a coarse and ugly nation.

 

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/26/youre-not-alone-media-explore-how-seeing-american-flags-or-patriotic-displays-trigger-feelings-of-guilt-despair-shame-anger/#more-241343

 

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/02/28/i-do-solemnly-swear-how-profanity-has-taken-hold-of-american-politics/#more-241319

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The Sweet with the Bitter

It has become impossible for me to listen to President Trump for more than a few minutes at a time; his arrogance and braggadocio is so very...