As a teenager during the 1952 presidential election, my mother asked me to help her distribute Eisenhower pamphlets around our small town. I have been a political junkie since. Every election, both presidential and off-year, has been an interesting and often worrisome time which I follow as closely as possible. As a husband, father, and grandfather, the 2022 elections have been of particular interest because of the perils, problems, and downright Evil facing us and our country.

In all my reading and follow-up, some of the most interesting comments to me were the

1, Cliff Nichols’ November 14 article, ”Did the Midterms Leave Anyone Else Feeling Like a Storm is Brewing and Headed Our Way?” says, “At the end of the day, however, the fact remains that the victories we are seeing ARE the product of people gaming the system to defeat conservatives in races across the country who–but for the cheat—would have been elected by the will of a majority of the people. To suggest otherwise is to say that America has now become a nation comprised primarily of people who want to cast their votes for candidates favoring: High inflation, Rampant crime, Releasing criminals, Sex trafficking of minors, Altering the gender of our children at their request without parental consent, Late-term abortion (i.e., murder), Alternating our nation’s history to promote ideologically-based things like CRT and the 1619 Project, The censorship of speech, Removing a citizen ‘s right to own a firearm, Open borders (i.e., no borders), Corrupt bureaucracies, Weaponized law enforcement, and A political establishment embedded in our government and our courts at the federal, state, and local level that is openly opposed to both the Constitution and the Rule of Law.”

My comment: It is difficult for me to believe that voters support most of what many of the winning candidates stood for, provided they even bothered to discover that. Especially in the Pennsylvania races for governor and U.S. Senate was this evident. Shapiro and Fetterman had long advocated the most outlandish/ridiculous positions, so clearly something else worked in their favor. I think that the Republican candidates for senate and governor who came out of the primaries were not those best suited to winning a general election. In a typically blue state such a Pennsylvania, Republicans need to be pragmatic and vote for candidates who stand the best chance of winning a general election, and forget whether that candidate meets the definition of a pure America First, conservative candidate. Following Trump on his selections here was a fatal mistake. Most of the fault in these two elections belongs on Trump’s shoulders. He supported candidates who were beholdened to him personally, without regard to win-ability. A deadly mistake, I think. There are times when moving a foot or two forward is superior to taking the entire field. Clearly, I believe, an anti-Trump and Trump fatigue were at play in Pennsylvania and perhaps elsewhere.

2. Derek Hunter’s November 15 article, “Republicans Better Get Good at What Democrats Do, and Quick” makes the following points: “Recruit better candidates [Hunter assumed that was a problem in some cases] and unite behind them. What Republicans must do is learn to play under the new rules for voting. Yes, mail-in voting is garbage, and ballot harvesting sucks, but they’re also both part of the reality now. If Republicans don’t learn to be good at them, better than Democrats, forget winning elections in some areas.”

My Comment: Yes, better candidates are always desired! Mail-in voting is not going away soon, even though I believe it should. It is clearly ripe for fraud. Since it will be with us for the 2024 election cycle and beyond, Republicans better put on their fighting gear and learn how to play the Mail-in Voting Game better than the Democrats if they stand a chance of winning again in many areas. (I read this was done in some California districts won by Republican House of Representative candidates.) To continue to verbalize “cheating” is not winning votes, and, unfortunately, voters are tired of hearing it. (Take note Trump and others.) So… learn to play the sick game better than the Democrats. Republicans can watch ballot drop boxes and can harvest ballots (where it is legal) as well as the next person. Winning is the object, so learn to play the game well!

3. Mia Cathell’s November 11 article, “These Counties Experiencing Election Issues Have One Thing in Common” states: “There’s a common thread connecting five counties spread across several states that were in disarray on Election Day: federal monitors.”

My comment: Florida kept these “federal monitors” away. Why didn’t other states? I’d say because other states didn’t have a Governor Ron DeSantis who understands the federal game plan and is willing to step up to the plate.

4.Kevin McCullough’s  November 13 article, “Mc-BYE!!!” states, “Win or lose in Georgia, McConnell lost the Senate.”

My Comment: That may well be true. For McConnell to have withdrawn campaign funds from a number of Republicans, as he did, is unforgivable. The man needs to go and be replaced by someone with common sense. (Of course, the idiot survived.) He is beyond being stupid; he is loathsome as a leader. Winning an election is the game, McConnell. You are a fool! Democrats always seem to support their own, even when some have different views. Some Republicans, RINOs always, never seem to learn! Trump needs to pay attention and so do many other Republicans! Winning is the purpose of the game!

5. Derek Hunter in his November 13 article, ”There’s Plenty of GOP Blame To Go Around, But One Person Deserves More Than Others” says the blame belongs everywhere, but the real problem for Republicans was Lindsey Graham for introducing a 15-week abortion ban in the Senate in September knowing it could not go anywhere with Democrats controlling Congress and a Democrat president.

My Comment: As soon as I heard that Graham had introduced the 15-week abortion ban, I thought it a horrendous mistake. Abortion had begun to fade as a potential Democrat issue, but Graham’s abortion ban introduction revived it as a potent issue. He had to know his ban had no chance of passage, so why did he introduce it? I do not trust Graham as a true conservative and believe it possible he intended some harm to conservatives running. Perhaps I am too harsh on him, but…. In addition, Democrats put abortion referendums and constitutional amendments on the ballot in a number of states which tipped the election their way. Did Republicans respond most effectively?

As of Wednesday morning November 16, the reality that Republicans will control a slim majority in the House of Representatives has finally been projected. To not have complete election results eight days after the election should tell any thinking person that something is rotten with election laws and practices in a number of states and counties. As the counting continues in some congressional districts, we are likely to see a few more Republicans win. Wherever the number of Republicans ends, a majority is a majority. Republicans now will control House of Representatives’ committees, and I hope to see: 1. This phony January 6 crap committee ending any further waste of our time, money, and the pollution of the public airwaves. That committee smells of nothing short of a political smear and hit job. 2. Perhaps the Hunter and Joe Biden financial corruption details will finally see the light of day. 3. I hope to see the worst of the Biden program grind to a halt. His policies are harmful to America and its citizens.

Now President Trump has announced he will be a candidate again in 2024. If he expects to win, he must make some changes. A few of those changes: Dampen the ego, stop the “Fake news” comments or at least hold them to a minimum (those who matter agree but they are a turn-off for some), stop replaying the 2020 election fraud issues (those of us who matter understand and agree with you; those who do not agree will never agree), talk about what you plan to do in specific terms not just “I did it once.” And stop denouncing other Republicans.

I still must be convinced that Trump is the best person to advance the Trump policies with which I agree. Trump has baggage others do not have which may make it difficult to win again. The Democrats may not run the weak and disliked Hillary as Dick Morris seems to think. They have other candidates more formidable. I would bet they will bypass Biden, if he is even in the picture by then. When Trump’s name-calling was applied to Governor Ron DeSantis, he came close to losing me, and if it continues, I am out the door!

Copyright 2022 Donald G. Emerson