Amid all the glassy-eyed, choking-back-tears video clips of liberal talk show hosts and politicians, take note of what the big boys are saying. Regardless of how one feels about Chuck Schumer, he's the closest thing the Democratic Party has to a leader now that Barack Obama's remote control government has been ousted.
Chuck Schumer urges new Senate Republican majority to embrace bipartisanship https://t.co/4YSdbdKUkD
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) November 7, 2024
While it may sound like standard politician palaver, Schumer's words are carefully chosen. He isn't saying "fight back" like so many feisty pols on the left. He's looking forward to the next election in two years, and in the meantime, he's waving the flag of bipartisanship.
As the new Minority Leader, it's the smart thing to do. Schumer is displaying his maturity. Further, it's a signal to his party: don't be stupid and contentious. Take your medicine, and try to find some compromise with your Republican colleagues.
The AOCs of the Dem world would be wise to take heed. Of course, not everyone agrees.
Schumer wants to be bi-partisan now. I say screw you.
— Law and Order (@TrumpIsBack7) November 7, 2024
Mitch McConnell, he of the thousand-second pause and million jowls, is finally stepping down. The timing is significant, as Trump 2.0 heralds a new era in the identity of the Grand Old Party (in fact, that particular label sounds awfully antiquated in the MAGA-ascendant world). Excising neocons, RINOs, and barnacles like McConnell is long overdue.
McConnell's potential successors are not all good choices, nor are they all bad.
John Thune (SD) and John Cornyn (TX) were the first to express interest in the Leader role. Both have had up and down relationships with Trump, and both are eager to align more closely. Thune voted 91.4% of the time with Trump in his last term, Cornyn 92.2%, so neither are off base fundamentally.
Thune benefits from a close relationship with Sen. Steve Daines (MT), a Trump friend and ally.
Enter Rick Scott (FL). Scott announced his bid after appearing on gadfly Laura Loomer's show. Loomer endorses Scott as the "loyal MAGA BASE" choice. While that sounds promising, Trump would do well to look at Scott's voting history from the last term, where he aligned with Trump only 84.1% of the time.
The vote for Leader will take place in less than a week, on Nov. 13th.