With total disclosure (As an independent voting Trump and Gov. Glenn Youngkin presidential and gubernatorial appointee), pre-debate polling showing President Joe Biden and former President Trump tied at 48%, was to the former president’s advantage.
That advantage has grown due to the debate performance of a cognitively impaired 81-year-old senior citizen, more curmudgeon than Commander in Chief.
I had privately precluded as a 50 plus year media/political operative, just as long Biden didn’t literally die on camera, he would be proclaimed by today’s jaded media, the victor.
Was I ever wrong.
Further fallout ensued and Biden’s mental acuity not reassured by toothy grins during his subsequent 22-minute interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, the former White House communication director under the Clinton administration.
Responsibly, Stephanopoulos directly and indirectly questioned Biden’s fitness and mental perspicacity while the president defended his economic record, touting comments from 16 Nobel Laureates.
He stated he failed to listen to his instincts in terms of preparation, which facilitated a bad night.
Before the debate was over, damage control appeared futile at partisan networks like CNN witnessing a total democratic Presidential meltdown.
Instincts will not be the issue to independent voters I speak to, who note recent economic reports and the ongoing immigration nightmare.
Now a wait and see game remains for independent voters deciding who’s best qualified to lead the nation this November and the Commonwealth next year, as rational and realistic Dems discuss a process on how possibly to select a new nominee.
This bolstered crowd estimates of 20 thousand enthusiastic Trump supporters, who in spite of blistering heat came to Chesapeake recently to hear the words of their soon to be official presidential candidate.
Several key folks stood to gain regardless of the debate outcome at the rally in Chesapeake with the 78-year-old 45th President attempting to join Grover Cleveland as the only other president to regain office in a subsequent election.
President Cleveland the nation’s 22nd president served in 1885 and was defeated by Benjamin Harrison but reclaimed the presidency to become the 24th president.
Trump seeks to become number 47.
Governor Glenn Youngkin, Virginia’s rising media conservative star for his remarkable outreach victory in 2021, as well as Virginia Beach Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, showed vigor and vitality on one of the biggest national stages possible.
Youngkin set the tone prior to Trump speaking saying, “Mr. President Virginians know there is dignity in work, therefore jobs matter!”
Former Virginia Governor George Allen also reminded, “President Trump’s tax cuts of 2017 were the best tax cuts since Ronald Reagan’s of 1986”, referring to results of those cuts, regulatory reforms and productive energy policies making the nation more competitive and allowing more investments in Virginia.
Kiggans, State Senator John McGuire the official candidate in the 5th Congressional Dist., Senate hopeful Hung Cao and others followed suit with acclamation before Trump vigorously spoke for 90 minutes about economic issues, a weaponized judiciary, conjecture with global warming, and concerns about other nation’s massive nuclear capability, immigration and sanctuary cities.
“We will seal the border; we will make the American dream affordable again.”
Trump added, “Working with your great Governor Glenn Youngkin, we will make Virginia greater than it has ever been before.”
All this under the coordination of campaign senior advisor extraordinaire Chris LaCivita, the former combat Marine Sergeant wounded in Middle Eastern battle, and the most powerful veteran on Trump’s team.
LaCivita masterfully aided in presenting a more resolute Trump, with the right to vent his anger in view of the weaponized judiciary, but civilly focused on issues like never before.
That continues to be inviting to the independent voter Trump seeks, but causing havoc for Biden with almost a dozen key congressional officials such as Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) on the House Judiciary Committee calling for Biden to step down according to Politico.
As such, Trump and Allen’s comments on the energy and EV issue hit home.
Speaking before the Virginia Independent Automotive Association recently in Fredericksburg provided me an opportunity to gage other independent opinions on both Trump and Biden.
On various economic and veteran’s issues such as VMSDEP, where Virginia’s State Senate and appropriations chair Louise Lucas had refused to allow state Sen. Bryce Reeves’ bill to be presented to effectively reinstate the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program.
If reenacted as was, families receive a tuition waiver for veterans who have fallen or are 90 to 100% disabled.
In business terms the amount equates to many of thousands of dollars families could use in a troubling economy that has seen 1,290 stores close or are scheduled to close by the end of the year.
Kathy Jones, chief fixed income strategist at Charles Schwab recently posted “Job market is slowing down”, which did little to invigorate independent voters directly affected by stagflation.
To the delight of dealerships, now that the Virginia EV restriction has been lifted by Governor Glenn Youngkin and amplified through AG Jason Miyares’ opinion, VMSDEP family savings could go towards purchasing vehicles.
Credit Youngkin’s leadership, Miyares’ opinion, Reeves’s legislation, and assertive actions of Virginia’s Joint Leadership Council.
Now Virginia’s 707 thousand voting veterans who would have been affected, are protected as both sides have come to an agreement not to prejudice veterans this year, with more examination of the issue to follow.
Still remaining are electric vehicles concerns such as supply chains out of China controlling necessary minerals.
Virginia 1st District Congressman Rob Whitman, Vice Chair of the House Armed Forces Committee and the China Select and Natural Resources Committee amplified the issue during a recent FOX interview contrasting the lack of administrative actions handling China’s mineral monopoly.
How can American buyers expect EV costs to lower when China controls 100% of gallium, a soft silvery metal, and 90% of germanium, which is similar in appearance to silicon. Both are components of semiconductors.
Such are issues for Trump to address at the Republican convention beginning July 15th in Milwaukee, Wi, and for Democrats a month later in Chicago, Il.
The mega question is will Biden remain as the head of the Democratic ticket? And will political Armageddon continue should Biden agree to debate Trump again without a teleprompter?
If they do, I’m betting the ranch on Trump.