Commentary

TARGETING RINOS IN 2022 – I had high hopes for Adam Kinzinger in 2009, a Republican returning from his third tour of duty with the Air Force in Iraq, deciding to run and unseat Democrat Debbie Halvorson in Illinois.  He was consulting with the right people, Congressmen Mike Pence and Peter Roskam.

After winning among the five Republicans in the primary, he went on to defeat Halvorson 57 to 43 percent on November 2, 2010.  In 2012 he survived redistricting, defeating Republican Don Manzullo in the primary before going on to defeat Democrat Wanda Rohl, 62 to 38 percent. 

He went on to hold onto his seat in subsequent elections, voting with the party on Second Amendment issues, repeal of ObamaCare, opposing Dodd-Frank, penalizing sanctuary cities, opposing late-term abortions and the use of federal funds for abortions.  He voted with President Trump about 90 percent of the time.

Although he voted against the impeachment of Trump the first time, he joined nine other Republicans voting for impeachment after the January 6, 2020 protest, citing that Trump “abdicated his duty to protect the American people and the people’s house,” adding that there was “no doubt” that the president “broke his oath of office and incited this insurrection.”  How disappointing.

Not only has he supported Liz Cheney, he went on the left-leaning “The View,” to defend her actions, agreeing that Cheney’s stand that the 2020 election wasn’t stolen.  “That’s what leadership is,” he told co-host Joy Behar.

Predicting that her ouster will end up backfiring on the party, Kinzinger simply doesn’t understand the continuing support of some 75 million Trump voters.

He did concede that Trump is the leader because “there is an absence of leaders right now,” and “nobody is stepping up to take the leadership role from him.”

To me, Kinzinger is now a RINO, and the party must find a candidate in Illinois to unseat him.

BREAKING NEWS – Just two hours after writing the above, I learned that Kinznger, appearing on the left-leaning Meet the Press, blasted Trump for attempts to “hijack” the party, saying that he will not let Trump win, while doubling down on his support of Cheney.

PEGGY NOONAN, the left-leaning columnist with the Wall Street Journal, continues to paint the Republican party as an organization in turmoil with voters “who insist on putting him (Trump) at the immovable center of things.”  Even Kinzinger conceded he is the leader now.

While recalling that “the deplorables,” as we were called, “changed the priorities of a great party,” and admitting “there’s something to that,” she now says “if we are serious, we have to wake up … (that we) “can’t win elections without classic GOP voters.”  Who are they?

SEAN PARNELL may not be a household name, but I believe he will be.  A former Army Ranger, who volunteered to serve his country after 9/11, served with the elite 10^th Mountain Division fighting along the Afghanistan- Pakistan border.

A regular contributor on Fox News Channel, you’ve probably seen him as he is often called upon as an expert on Afghanistan and the insurgency we face there. He is known for his leadership and ability to inspire and motivate men and women.

The recipient of two Bronze Stars, one for valor, and a Purple Heart, Parnell became known for continuing to fight even while suffering from untreated head and neurological wounds.  He continued to patrol with his men while cerebral-spinal fluid leaked from his ears and nose.

This is the man who has announced his candidacy for Senate in Pennsylvania, the seat to be vacated by the retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey.  This one of four battleground state battles, with North Carolina, Arizona and Georgia, that could likely determine the majority in the Senate.

You will get to know Parnell, and appreciate his knowledge and patriotism.

NOTED IN PASSING – Did you hear Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm’s response to the question from the media regarding renewables while she was commenting on the Colonial Pipeline situation?  “Looking more holistically in a macro view,” he asked, “how does this speed up the efforts at DOE to move in a more renewable direction since this is going to have an impact on people at the pump?”

A planted question?  I wondered.  “Yeah, I mean, we are obviously are all-in on making sure that we meet the president’s goals of getting to 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 and net zero carbon emissions by 2050,” she said, “And, you know, if you drive an electric car, this would not be affecting you, clearly”

Of course, the reporter didn’t follow-up with a “what if” scenario involving electric cars in 2035.  ‘What if, in 2035, banks of electric car charging stations along the east coast are suddenly inoperative due to insufficient electricity generated by wind and solar?’

Now, more than ever … may God continue to bless the United States of America.