by David Strom
When Trump won in 2016, everybody was stunned. Trump’s support was, for the most part, underground and disorganized, and Trump himself seemed surprised.
So when Trump came storming into DC, he didn’t have a lot of troops behind him to take the fight to the DC hoards of legislators, lobbyists, bureaucrats, journalists, and lawyers. A #resistance sprung up, and Congress worked hard to slowwalk his appointments. Swamp creatures recommended other swamp creatures to staff the government.
It’s remarkable that Trump could accomplish so much, given that everything was arrayed against him.
The establishment is still arrayed against Trump, but this time around, the president has something he didn’t the first go-around: an organized MAGA movement with the power to push back hard. Trump has an army at his back and he doesn’t have to Jason Bourne his attack on the Blob.
The first big fight in which MAGA is combatting the Blob is choosing the next Senate Majority Leader. Mitch McConnell is finally leaving his post, and there are three top contenders for the job: John Thune, John Cornyn, and Rick Scott.
GOP SENATOR: Voters are "bullying" us into voting for Rick Scott.
Or, they feel their voices aren't being heard after a historic modern landslide! https://t.co/vf1iU4bDii
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 11, 2024
Thune and Cornyn are swamp creatures and have been (barely) subterranean opponents of Trump in the mold of McConnell. They are deeply invested in maintaining the “norms” in government that keep the current order in which the elites lord it over the proles in place. Their role as Republicans is to tell Democrats, “Yes, but slower, please.”
We need a leader who tells them “No” and goes off in a better direction. That leader is Rick Scott.
SENATE: Thune and Cornyn have zero business in leadership positions needed to advance Trump’s mandate. Both men repeatedly betrayed the president very publicly and privately. Turn the page, elect @SenRickScott Majority Leader. pic.twitter.com/9dGPAL6qLh
— @amuse (@amuse) November 11, 2024
A couple of days ago, a secret whip count showed that Scott was trailing badly in the race to replace McConnell, and it was leaked that McConnell wanted the vote to be secret–allowing swampy Senators to hide their desire to place obstacles to Trump’s agenda behind the veil of a secret ballot. The leak changed all that.
Senator, based on a leaked whip count, you are supporting @SenJohnThune for Majority Leader. Can you confirm this is the case? @RepJimBanks, @SenJohnBarrasso, @MarshaBlackburn, @SenBillCassidy, @SenatorCollins, @SenTomCotton, @SenKevinCramer, @SenTedCruz, @RepJohnCurtis,… pic.twitter.com/AAg83QpxYp
— @amuse (@amuse) November 11, 2024
Trump, who had been making hints about his feelings and, smartly, making it clear what he expected in a Senate Majority Leader, laid down the gauntlet.
Do you want to see how ON IT and READY Rick Scott is for Senate leader?
Trump posted his demands for whoever wins the Senate leadership election at 2:21PM.
Rick Scott promptly agreed to them in *SIX MINUTES.* No hesitation.
If there is one thing we need – it’s urgency! pic.twitter.com/eXellGXB3X
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 10, 2024
BOOM! MAGA was mobilized, and everywhere you looked on Twitter, you saw influencers pushing people to call their Senators and pressure them to get in line or expect to look for another job.
Rick Scott was their choice, as both Thune and Cornyn had been stumbling blocks for Trump for years.
John Thune, whom the betting markets expected to win handily, suddenly dropped like a rock.
Rick Scott is the best choice to lead the Senate. He is not an old pal of the old guard! We need a new view that represents the will of the people not just the old status quo.
We may have won the trifecta, but there are still too many anti-Trump RINOs in congress.
Anyone want to bet that there won’t be enough of them switching parties to give both congressional majorities back to the Democrats?
I think it’s a distinct possibility.
“The voters are trying to bully us”?!?!?!
The voters ARE YOUR BOSS. You were elected to REPRESENT THE WILL of the people and the people are speaking…loud and clear. Quit you acts of sedition trying to keep your “assumed” power and ANSWER TO WILL OF THE PEOPLE!!!
We the People have chosen we dont need another Paul Ryan/Mitch combo.
Never needed leftist ‘Ryan! Never!
The American People have made their Choice and the Liberal wanks cant get over it all those Idiots from Just Stop Oil and claiming BIG OIL BOUGHT THE VOTES without any evidence to back them up its just the Anti-Fossil Fuel idiots cant get it into their sawdust for Brains Heads