President Abraham Lincoln helped pave the way for the MAGA cult. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

There must be consequences

At the conclusion of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln made his biggest mistake. Anxious to repair the breach caused when the South seceded from the United States, Lincoln offered an undeserved olive branch to vanquished Confederates. For example, Union General Ulysses S. Grant’s generous terms of surrender paroled 30,000 Confederate prisoners of war and granted leniency to Confederate General Robert E. Lee, a traitor who should have faced a firing squad.

Lee, responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of American soldiers, was permitted to walk free without punishment. Lee comfortably lived out his remaining days serving as president of Washington College in Virginia. Sharing something in common with January 6 rioters, who attempted to overthrow the government and were pardoned by Trump, traitor Robert E. Lee was pardoned by President Andrew Johnson in 1868.

Amazingly, in the decades that followed, southern states were permitted to erect statues celebrating Lee and other Confederates who’d taken up arms against the U.S. Constitution. Now, descendants of the Confederacy, today known as MAGAs, willfully desecrate our country.

Civility

With Trump and MAGAs stirring the pot, the divide between right and left nears Civil War width. Patriotic citizens implore Democrats to more aggressively fight back. Political decorum, as articulated when Michelle Obama regrettably said, “When they go low, we go high,” no longer applies. Biblical-inspired turning the other cheek resulted in Democrats getting two black eyes.

Enter James Talarico, the Democratic candidate hoping to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate. I became aware of Talarico six months ago and was impressed. Talarico fearlessly articulates his vision without parsing words. Just 34 years old, Talarico is the real deal, with wisdom beyond his years.

Rising star James Talarico won the Texas Democratic primary for U.S. Senate over current star Jasmine Crockett. Hopefully, Crockett will not be in the background for long. (Photos credit New York Times, Fox)

Quick to tout his Christian values, but unlike fake Christian MAGAs, Talarico appears to be an honest practitioner of Christianity. He describes his faith with believable earnestness. Talarico is also using religion to connect with evangelical voters in Texas. And his love thy neighbor hook may pay off.

But here’s the rub: I’ve grown weary of the Christian litmus test. It’s a turnoff, politicians trying to out-Christian their opponent or hoodwink constituents with tales (often tall tales) of their faith. While Talarico seems sincere, I need a timeout from politicians, and athletes like Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, proselytizing.

America’s voting record

We’ll never know what might have been in Texas, if polling location confusion had not occurred. Many voters were prevented from voting, predominantly in the urban district that heavily favored Jasmine Crockett. Thus, Talarico’s primary victory last week carries an asterisk as we ponder, what if all citizens were able to vote?

Black voters suffered another denial, in America’s long history of elections denying Blacks their right to vote. This prompted Crockett to label it disenfranchisement. Then she took the high road. Following tradition, Crockett graciously called Talarico to congratulate him. She told supporters now is the time for everyone to get behind Democrats.

The day after the election, in a powerful display of what Democrats are losing, Crockett was in Washington, D.C., for a congressional committee hearing. She destroyed Kristi Noem. Crockett did the same to Pam Bondi a few weeks ago. During both hearings Crockett showed command-of-facts intelligence and take-no-prisoners fight that many Democratic voters are pleading for from mild-mannered types like Chuck Schumer and Adam Schiff.

If you are among the 9 million souls who watched James Talarico’s interview with Steven Colbert on YouTube, treat yourself to Jasmine Crockett’s dismantling of Pam Bondi, also on YouTube. “I don’t have any questions because you won’t answer them,” Crockett said in her opening. Then she delivered a relentless beatdown of Bondi. It’s must-see YouTube.

Ignorance is not bliss

Some cable news analysts agree with Talarico’s love thy neighbor message. It is refreshing and resonates with many voters. Subscribers are lining up saying it’s OK to treat redemption-seeking MAGAs gently. They say rather than embarrass MAGAs by calling them dumb, just allow that they made an honest mistake voting for Trump.

Sorry, but a welcoming approach toward MAGAs reeks of post-Civil War pacifism. What MAGAs did goes way beyond an innocent mistake. The vast majority of MAGA voters are dumb. They suffer from -ism and anti-. Ignorance is what fuels fascism, racism, misogynism, sexism, anti-LGBTQ behavior, anti-sematic behavior, anti-Muslim behavior, anti-immigrant behavior and so on.

The people behind Trump are making more than a mistake. They are plain dumb. (Photo credit PBS screenshot)

MAGAs heard all about Trump and his political platform founded on fear and violence. MAGA voters supported a deviant narcissist who spouted disgusting ideas with disgusting outcomes. Yet, MAGAs failed to grasp how Trump would ruin their own lives. That’s not a mistake. It’s stupidity.

Trump’s promises of lower food and gas costs, lower healthcare costs, release of the unredacted Epstein files, no wars, and tariffs paid for by China, have not materialized. Minimally, MAGAs were uninformed, which leads to dumb choices. "Mistake" does not fit the occasion. No need to sugarcoat it. Our country (and the world) is on the brink because of ignorant fools who voted for convicted felon Trump.

Anyhow, Dems can win big in November without the help of MAGAs who’ve discovered the light. If Democrats and Independents turn out in mass, Dems will win handily. If some MAGAs defect to our side that’s cool, but we don’t need them. (Does anybody trust them?)

The framers wanted separation

While the Constitution doesn’t specifically call for the separation of church and state, the founders were against government control of religion. However, religion has crept to the forefront of American politics. It has helped Republicans hoodwink not-so-astute MAGAs. Now, some Democrats believe winning the battle over religion is a viable path to victory. I say, phooey!

Democrats should not slip into Christianity-is-the-answer mode favored by Republicans. At least not fake Christianity. Considering church membership has been in steep decline for decades, Dems have no reason to aspire to becoming the party of religion. The party of treating everyone (not MAGAs) with respect will suffice.

Love thy neighbor? Only if they are smart enough to know that Trump – not Obama, not Hillary, not Biden – Trump is the boogeyman.

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR? DEPENDS...