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Michael Barone is a political genius, perhaps best known for the Almanac of American Politics, which he co-wrote for decades, but retired from that career several years ago. Barone is the author of numerous other books, all excellent, but the one that has stuck with me over the years is the lesser-known book, Hard America, Soft America: Competition vs. Coddling. The Fight for the Future of the Nation” (Crown Forum, 2004). ).
Long story short, and with apologies to Barone for such a short summary, “Hard America, Soft America” refers to the usual divisions that divide the United States, such as red vs. blue, old vs. young, and other demographic divisions. All rules are set aside. Rather, “hard America” is the America of farms, factories, and frontiers. It is a nation of clear-sighted realists who know how the world really works, who know the often very unfair twists and turns of life, and who are deeply familiar with the old. Proverb: Work or don’t eat.
“Soft America,” by contrast, is the gooey stuff of decades-old New Age nonsense, plus all the clichés on every sign in every yard proclaiming things like “Everyone is welcome here.” It was added. When it comes to worldview, he is hard-headed and realistic. To say that America is “soft” doesn’t really mean that.
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There are few presidential candidates who embody Hard America and Soft America as thoroughly as former Presidents Trump and Biden. Even before the damning Ha report was released, the public had concluded that President Biden was too old for the job, too confused, and, in a word, “soft.” .
At its core, “Hard America” is a hard-edged, realistic take on the world. To say that America is “soft” doesn’t really mean that.
According to an ABC News poll, even before Special Counsel Huh explained his decision not to indict the president on charges related to illegally retaining classified materials, the president was an “elderly man with poor memory.” 86% thought so.
Attorney General Garland’s decision to release a report explaining that Mr. Hur declined to prosecute Mr. Biden because of his infirmity somehow makes us believe that we all already know this. This sparked anger among leftists. Now that things are black and white, we can no longer pretend that an absent president can actually do difficult things. he can’t do that. In fact, “soft” is too much of a word to describe the frail occupants of 1600, but it would suffice.
Asked for an update on Biden’s promise to speak to the press, KJP shared “nothing” seven times.
Vice President Harris also comes from “Soft America,” as her word salad declarations on any subject attest. Her world is the world of the faculty lounge and the “negotiated” politics of California, where the overwhelmingly blue state decides who gets the next job based on whether they check a box and say something “nice.” They always seem to be lining up the next Democrat to be tagged with. Hot button issue. Vice President Harris embodies all the clichés of “Soft America,” and her rise is a triumph of anti-meritocracy. She is the perfect vice presidential candidate for a president who is already in the twilight of her later years. And our enemies know it.
By contrast, former President Donald Trump is definitely from “Hard America.” Although he is a land use attorney for 40 years and is now retired, I can tell you that I have never met, let alone worked with, a developer who was not from “Hard America.” I mean, I’ve never done it before. Site grading is either balanced or unbalanced. Homes, apartments, commercial buildings, and office towers either make money or fail. It’s a demanding and difficult business. The former president, like all the other developers I’ve known, is a bottom guy. He’s a “Hard America” guy.
If Trump wants to end this election quickly, he could announce Cotton as his running mate and allow the contrast with Harris to begin.
That’s why I hope Mr. Trump chooses another member of the “Hard America” demographic as his running mate, someone who either gets the job done or fails. For example, there are no steps on the curve when it comes to protecting the American public (Biden is failing completely here), and avoiding the end line of value for all the red ink the hapless president has unleashed is his way of thinking. It’s not a pursuit. “FDR Status”, Team Biden’s hilarious conceit.
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Joe Biden defines “Soft America” and that’s why Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, is at the top of every list I’ve touted as President Trump’s running mate since day one. .
There is no elected official in the United States more demanding than Tom Cotton, who does not bear the Trump name. That “toughness” comes from patrolling in Baghdad as a platoon leader with the 101st Airborne in Iraq during the “Great Uprising,” deploying to Afghanistan, serving in the “Old Guard,” and graduating from Ranger School. Maybe it comes from being proud. That he wears a ranger tab when in uniform, or that he grew up on a farm. Cotton is representative of hard America.
That’s why I hope President Trump chooses him as his running mate in 2024. Mr. Cotton is a pragmatist, relentlessly on message, avoiding mistakes, and directing criticism of his political opponents, a key to his success as a vice presidential candidate.
The vice presidential candidate has four jobs. It’s about giving a great speech when a candidate announces it. Give better when you accept the nomination at the Republican convention in Milwaukee this summer. If a debate were to happen, he would crush Kamala Harris in a debate (I don’t think that would happen, since weaker Joe Biden would have fared much less than the 10 debates in which burly Trump challenged the president). , because we can’t even have a single debate. If the president doesn’t have a debate, his vice president will lose. And finally, we’re going to fight Biden vs. Biden in the most direct and unforgiving way possible every day. Punching Harris’ ticket is the perfect role for Cotton.
I’ve interviewed Mr. Cotton almost every week for more than a decade, and he never strays from his message, answers even the most difficult questions with specificity and directness, and always slams Democrats. Cotton is from “Hard America,” and if there was ever a hard/soft election, it would be in 2024.
Other “Hard America” figures include former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), but Mr. Pompeo is a member of the Department of Defense. Mr. Ernst should go to one of the political parties. 6 Cabinet Offices. They can use a stiff spine at the top.
But if Trump wants to widen the domestic “hard vs. soft” divide and count on serious Americans to vote to stand up for Israel and our “hard alliance” and “hard border”; , look no further than cotton. Cotton knows all about the weakest points in America’s soft policies and is eager to improve them every day.
If Trump wants to end this election quickly, he could announce Cotton as his running mate and allow the contrast with Harris to begin.
America has rarely needed realists on both sides of the ticket. Let’s blow away the old idea that “we need women and minorities from unstable states.” We need hard-nosed veterans who are already deeply aware of “right” and “wrong” and who understand our nation’s deep desire to clarify such issues. is.
Cotton, call President Trump and secure victory sooner rather than later.
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Send the hapless Joe Biden back to the Dairy Queen soft-serve ice cream aisle and set about repairing the largely self-inflicted damage to America’s reputation as a serious country that puts its people first.
everytime.
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