Anyone who has read the Lord of the Rings trilogy knows that after the gang defeated Sauron and destroyed the ring, the hobbits returned to the shire only to find that Saruman had taken it over and enslaved the people. Our returning heroes didn't take it lightly, forming a resistance and fighting back, bringing an end to the tyranny of the fallen wizard and returning peace and prosperity to the shire.
Sound familiar?
The Republicans fought a years-long battle against the Democrats, bringing them to their knees in one of the greatest defeats in American history, and setting the stage for a real American resurgence. Only one threat stands in the way. The old Republican guard is trying to establish control, and it's up to the voters who won the war against the Democrats to now fight this final battle.
It was made pretty clear by the American people that they wanted Donald Trump's plans enacted. Winning the White House, the Senate, and the House, as well as the popular vote, made that expressly evident. However, Mitch McConnell and his cronies see this as an opportunity to establish their own foothold in this new age of Republican governance.
While Mitch McConnell has had a hand in some fantastic Republican victories, such as playing a role in the collapse of Roe v Wade, it's pretty clear that he has his own vision for what the Republican Party should be, and it's safe to say that he doesn't think it should be as Trump wants it to be, defying the will of the people.
McConnell is making his way to the exit, but retirement doesn't mean he's out. His shadow will remain over the GOP, not only by controlling a lot of the influence of where money goes, but through John Cornyn (Texas) and John Thune (South Dakota) both of whom are attempting to rally support to be Majority Leader, and both of whom are McConnell clones that have proven to be major problems in the past with their very un-Republican opinions on things. Democrats have expressed their preference for Thune, which should be enough to disqualify him entirely.
Also in the running is Rick Scott, the only one of the trio who isn't under McConnel's thumb.
Tucker Carlson summed up what was happening nicely, as usual:
What the hell is going on in the US Senate? Hours after Donald Trump wins the most conclusive mandate in 40 years, Mitch McConnell engineers a coup against his agenda by calling early leadership elections in the senate. Two of the three candidates hate Trump and what he ran on. One of them, John Cornyn, is an angry liberal whose politics are indistinguishable from Liz Cheney’s. The election is Wednesday, it’s by secret ballot, and it will determine whether or not the new administration succeeds. Rick Scott of Florida is the only candidate who agrees with Donald Trump. Call your senator and demand a public endorsement of Rick Scott. Don’t let McConnell get away with it again.
What the hell is going on in the US Senate? Hours after Donald Trump wins the most conclusive mandate in 40 years, Mitch McConnell engineers a coup against his agenda by calling early leadership elections in the senate. Two of the three candidates hate Trump and what he ran on.…
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) November 9, 2024
McConnell doesn't like the new GOP. He likes to withhold funds from people he doesn't like, and will actively bad-mouth Republican candidates, causing division and practically handing seats to Democrats in the process. The red wave that never came in 2020 could, at least in part, be laid at McConnell's feet. In 2024, McConnell refused to give funding to Ted Cruz, Kari Lake, and others. Luckily, Cruz didn't need it, but Lake did.
On Sunday, Trump weighed in and made it clear that this decision needs to be made immediately and must support recess appointments in the Senate. Scott agreed to carry that out if he is made majority leader.
(READ: Trump Speaks Out on Senate Majority Leader Race, Outlines One Key Demand)
The import of carrying out Trump's will is such that there is even heavy support for VP J.D. Vance to take the role, which is allowed.
It would be an absolute shame for us to come this far, only to have the anti-Trump Republicans in Washington muck up the program now. If that does happen, you can be that the people's faith in the Republican Party will be shaken for years to come, and the midterms will likely be a disaster, making sure none of the potential of the Trump presidency turns to kinetic action.
Frankly, while Democrats are a problem, there will never be a greater problem for the GOP than the parts of the GOP that operate like Democrats. The internal struggles of the Republican Party have always been a massive thorn in our side, and it's time we pull it out. We need to complete the evolution of the Republican Party that began once Trump came down that escalator. It needs to be an offensive entity capable of destroying Democrats and helping to save America, not one of the cowardly and conniving bureaucrats who have no interest in the will of the people and no foresight about how their actions will affect both the party and the country for the worse.
As it stands, the Republican Party is its own worst enemy, but it doesn't have to be. We can turn the page now. We can stop the scouring of the Shire.
Just like the nation was at a crossroads with this election, Republicans stand at their own. We can either embrace a senator who will actively help Trump and make things go smoothly, or we can give the party over to the same problems we've been having for decades.
