Confession: I was once a tree-hugging liberal.

It's true. In my early adulthood, I had a small stretch of being vegan and everything. Later, listening to Limbaugh every day while I was working outside fixed that. I realized I was wrong. Rush's clear logic, exposure of the corrupt stenographer media, and my experience as a hard-working small business guy turned me around. But yep, that's true about me.

I've also had some hiccups in my life. Everyone does. I came to understand that everyone makes the best decision they know how to make at the time they make that decision - even if later it turns out to be the wrong decision. Sometimes, those decisions are hurtful. As humans, we do the best we can.

God knows that we are sinners. Jesus was pretty gentle with sinners. Firm, but gentle. He saved his anger for those who should know better and for those who disobeyed. I confess, knowing this, that I don't focus on expectations of people. What people do is not something I can control. This approach reduces my disappointments.

For this reason, I try to focus on principles. The axioms of life never disappoint. They lead to good decisions and good outcomes.

I also try to reserve my applause for good actions people do and not for people themselves. I'm a fan of the right thing done right. When Ted Cruz does something right, I acknowledge it. But that doesn't mean that everything Ted does deserves applause.

"I'm glad Ted Cruz did that!" is much different than "If Ted Cruz did it, it must be amazing!" One is selective, and the other is a blanket certain to be stained, if we're honest, by a few disappointments along the way.

In this dustup between President Trump and Rep. Chip Roy, if I'm open about it, they are times that I have been disappointed by both men. I'm neither a Trump fanboy or a Roy fanboy. I am a fan of the Trump agenda. I am a fan of Roy's consistent desire to cut spending.

I don't understand what's happening behind the scenes with this public fight. Not my circus, not my monkeys. I have not control over it, so it's on my to-don't list.

But I'm not going to criticize either man, or side with either man while I think that both are trying to do the right thing.

Thomas Massie, Chip Roy, Cory Mills, Eli Crane... these guys have been DOGE since before DOGE existed. My disappointment is with the Lindsey Grahams of the world, who mostly do wrong and only occasionally get something right.

Likewise, Trump knows how to fight the libs and the media. We all learn something watching President Trump in action.

Our world would be better if the two men would hug it out. But that's not my call. I'm just thrilled that we're having a debate about how hard we hack to pieces terrible legislation and cut government. Whatever it takes to make that the argument, I guess. It's always the right argument to be having.