by Aaron Warner
Sundays are usually a day of rest and a time to, if one uses it to reflect on the goodness of God, escape the ubiquitous bad-mouthing of our fellow citizens. Today in the progressive strong-hold of South Burlington Nikki Haley was visiting Vermonters willing to entertain the idea she still has a chance against Republican juggernaut Donald Trump.
Introducing her was fellow Republican Governor Phil Scott who, despite reigning over a deeply blue electorate, is the most popular governor in the United States. His popularity stems from his obvious Vermont-style charm and ability to reach across the aisle both in speech and action lending an air of moderateness unique in today’s politics. In a society that has moved ever leftward over the past fifty or so years Scott is the product of this shift. Some would say he is left of former President John F. Kennedy, and, by some accounts, they’d be accurate.
Opening the floor for Haley, Scott took the crowd on a journey of self-reflection acknowledging the divide permeating our nation. After bemoaning the sad state of animosity between the parties and voters he took the high ground by cautioning the listener to reject the rhetoric and alienating one’s political rivals…then did exactly that.
Unaware of the irony captured on the TV screen which showed Trump holding nearly ten times the delegates of Haley, Scott launched into a dressing down of the forty-fifth president as the epitome of what America doesn’t need for another four years. He reminded the crowd of the deep unpopularity of politicians held by the voter by enumerating them office by office. With governors being the most popular among the least trusted, it seems he felt emboldened to use his bully pulpit to bully those who clearly side with the one he likens to a bully. In a world of echo-chambers even the most liked governor in the country is not immune to hearing the favorable sound of his own opinion.
“After years of controversy, toxic rhetoric and the ever growing polarization and division, the last thing we need is four more years of Donald Trump. Americans deserve leaders with character and integrity, who respect the rule of law, the rights of all people and most importantly the constitution. This is essential in restoring our faith and, here’s the key word, trust in our government. I know I’m not alone when I say I have never been more concerned about our country than I am today. ”
He then referenced an NGA meeting where pollster Frank Luntz stated “His data shows 83 percent say our country is more divided than ever and 75 percent of Americans are just plain ‘mad as hell’ that’s his words and have stopped listening altogether – don’t want anything to do with it. About one half of Americans have ended a friendship or stopped talking to a family member over politics.” Scott then says “I’ve experienced that myself.”
“Things have become so toxic and tribal in this country that the sentiment is ‘you’re either with me or against me’; ‘you’re either on my team or off the team – nothing in between’, and it doesn’t matter if it’s childhood friends, brothers, sisters or uncles. Healthy respectful debate makes us stronger. But if we’re at a point where political disagreements end those important bonds we have with one another we know we’ve got a problem. Especially because it’s so widespread. This is the reality we face today and it should sound the alarm for every one of us. Now we have to be honest, both sides of the aisle have contributed to this. No one is blameless, and the far left has certainly done more than its fair share of damage. But in my opinion there is no one less equipped no more incapable of healing this divide than Donald Trump. He’s made a career of throwing fuel on the fire of hate and anger. He had a tv reality show and made a ton of money off this type of thing. Now I believe we’re all born with a gift but the trick is to find it. (sarcastically) He certainly found his…”
He goes on to offer platitudes about public servants with proven public service and integrity.
You can watch the entire speech here.
Though opinions are like (insert distasteful body part here) and they all reek of bias, the delegate popularity of Trump is not a matter of opinion but of will. It is the will of the people to side with Donald Trump and not because he is the most charismatic or charming candidate like say Scott. Despite carrying the deplorable label slapped on them by another presidential hopeful, the voters who have moved Trump into a record-breaking defeat in Haley’s home state of South Carolina and essentially insurmountable lead nationwide are not the troglodytes the anti-Trump establishment would have you believe. Sure, Trump’s supporters include the low to moderate i.q. average American who might be easily sold on seeing America become great again. They might be simpleton’s who vote based on emotional connection to God and country with little thought of foreign policy or economic theory.
Yet the growing swell of Trump supporters include high i.q. intellectuals from all walks of life and industry. Teems of former Democrats have even switched parties to vote Republican following the obvious debacles of Democrat tyranny during the COVID pandemic where despotism could be found among governors in New York, Michigan and California. Silicon valley, long a prog-Dem stronghold, has seen many of the tech millionaires and billionaires, people not easily swayed by propaganda and talking heads, out themselves by denouncing their state dictators and turning the corner in support of Trump. Notable black leaders from unlikely groups such as Black Lives Matter have even joined the ranks of MAGA supporters. Harvard grad and fellow candidate Vivek Ramaswamy supported Trump even as he ran against him. The top conservative media personality, Tucker Carlson, walked-back his distaste for Trump to also give a national endorsement. Even defiant liberal commentator Joe Rogan has softened his take on Trump by stating he sees through the attacks and recognizes the corruption in his own party.
Vermont has the unique ability to elect progressive legislators while favoring a republican governor which seems to speak to a type of bipartisan high-mindedness not found in much of America. However it continues to ignore the obvious failings of this approach as crime sky-rockets from Burlington to Brattleboro, housing costs soar as it’s become a haven for wealthy home owners fleeing failed Democrat states like New York, and incompetence, homelessness and lawlessness become the soup du jour of a people unable to do what so many Americans have, which is self-reflect to the point of admitting error wrought by failed policies and politicians who have earned their place as the least trusted in our society.
Also on display during Haley’s speech were the well placed activists who have become a mainstay of American politics especially in Vermont. At multiple occasions in her first few minutes of speaking voices erupted denouncing Haley as having “blood on her hands” and calls to “free-Palestine” with flag waving radicals bent on demonstrating, yet again, the division is so deep we will use a perfectly good Sunday to remind you of how much we hate your politics.
God bless these tortured souls who obviously mean well. No rational person with a pulse wants war in Ukraine, Israel or on the streets of America, which is one of the key reasons Trump is so popular. He was a deterrent to militants of the world, including among us, while also promising security at our border where even Haley had to mention we’ve had nine million or more enter or country illegally. Just this past week we’ve seen scores of innocent children lose their lives to criminal migrants sent here by Venezuela and other failed progressive-socialist states who implicitly admit their failure in both sending and refusing to accept back the criminals they fostered.
A decaying society is a society in denial and denial is a key component to progressive politics. Both Scott and Haley appear to be in denial about her chances as well as the reason behind the growing pains felt by those who they wish to govern.
The author is a VDC columnist and Upper Valley regional reporter. He lives in Hartford, VT where he owns two award-winning small businesses. He is a graduate of Leadership Upper Valley class of 2010.
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Categories: Commentary
journey of self reflection/// scott and haley admiring each other/// you can not make this crap up///
Nikki Haley is losing so bad that she has to go to all the Commiecrat venues like S. Burlington, CNN, MSNBC & MSM to try to get the Commiecrats to vote for her. Isn’t there some kind of “mercy rule” like in Little League to put her out of her misery. The Vermont Republicans are as delusional as she is. What a bunch of lemmings, following her right over the cliff.
Birdbrain finally won the DC primary after spending around. 76,400,000 on her campaign.
Namarita will win VT. In this state of numbskulls she’s a shoe in.
Winning Vermont is like winning DC. It’s a consolation prize.
As one pundit stated – Nikki won the District of Corruption, a ringing endorsement that speaks for itself. Nikki admits signing the RNC pledge to endorse the Republican candidate, but now can’t seem to proclaim, outloud, whether she will honor that pledge. She blurted out she signed it so she could participate in the debate. Nikki is a UN stooge and Governor Empty Suit is a CCP stooge – their mutual admiration is bought and paid for with foreign chump change. As soon as Nikki bows out, Governor Empty Suit will endorse the DNC candidate that draws the short straw after The Biden is disassembled and placed back into the shipping container he arrived in from China.
Anyone Scott endorses is a flunky for the MIC and fascists — bank on it. Vote for who he recommends we don’t… start there.
“Things have become so toxic and tribal in this country that the sentiment is ‘you’re either with me or against me’; ‘you’re either on my team or off the team – nothing in between’” said Governor Scott.
One of the problems is that the left is declaring things to be true when they are actually false. For example, the principals of American justice were not based on a two tiered, “equitable”, justice system. They were based on equality. History has repeatedly demonstrated our original concept of equality creates a much more free and prosperous society. If we were equity based, the civil war would not have happened and slavery would still be the norm.
How have so many people been brainwashed by the calls for this false principal of equity? Government controlled and censored media? A failed education system? Bribery in the form of lucrative contracts and jobs for only those who will go along with it? All of the above?
Those who will not debate this issue or feel “offended” by being shown the facts are indeed a real threat.
Haley’s gone a long and very expensive ways to flop, and Scott and the likes are hitching their wagon to a falling star…kind of like following the Pied Piper.
Kudos to Team Trump for the sweep…minus the crime ridden Peoples Republic of Vermont..that hot bed of out of state, stoked and financed, liberalism.
Now for the former President to take a well earned rest to recharge for the final battle to save the Republic from very twisted and disillusioned forces.
It’s a pity to see the once great state of Vermont count in so little ways these days.
Reminds me of that Jerry Jeff Walker tune…”I’m pissing in the wind,betting on a losing friend…”.
Scott has turned into a bigger flunky than he was when he first ran for Gov. I have only voted for him as a way to keep the Zuckermans of the world from moving up. Once or twice during the year Scott will get things right, but not any more than that. And some of the writings he has sent to me regarding his positions and actions will absolutely make the head spin into total dizziness.
The pool of possible alternatives for his successor is dismal at best because they have all moved out of state or are about to move. There are no more Dick Snelling’s out there. left in VT that will step up to the plate. I am beginning to believe that we have to let the state sink into insolvency, and by then if we have some Republican forward thinkers left, we can recruit someone to bring things back to a realistic front in both the Education and traditional State Gov’t fronts.
It will not be easy nor will it be friendly work, but we are headed that way, fast.
Within 5 years, I predict the above will be biting us real hard, so the blood will be very evident.
Which Team is Phil Scott Cheering For Now That Nikki Has Given Up ?
So Phil Scott’s solution was to recruit Democrats, who would never actually vote Republican in the general election, and vote Nikki to help derail Trumps chances in November ?
Phil Scott is the king Cuckold and he deserves to be mocked relentlessly. This guy should be harassed to no end, make him cry. He sits on his high horse, like many other Vermonters, thinking having no strong feelings politically except hating Pres. Trump is a marker of their high-mindedness, intelligence and intellectualism. I remember reading Jesus saying something about being neither hot, nor cold… We need politicians in Montpelier willing to *gasp* use mean words and maybe literally throw a punch or two in the state Senate. Phil Scott could be trying to educate people if he thinks he knows best but, he’s actually a materialist mid-wit loser with no convictions, no ideology, no balls. I’m a Republican in spite of these snots and I’m young enough to be able to sit out these deluded baby boomers who have disdain for normal people and the working class of VT and who seek the approval of the aggrieved college educated female transplant class in Montpelier. Nimrata “Haley” needs to be deported.