Fighting

Back in early 2015, before President Trump got in the presidential primary, Scott Walker was surging in the polls because he fought back against the unions. He gave a speech at CPAC where he touted how he fought back against the unions successfully a few times in Wisconsin and won. It pushed him to the front.

Of course, President Trump - the better fighter - won the nomination later, but it was standing up against the left that won the moment for Walker. No one expected that.

Look at the conservatives you admire across history. They were fighters. They fought liberal policies and those who pushed for them.

But also look at McCain. A military man, he loved to label himself the "maverick" who fought. He never pulled punches, no matter whom his target was. Regretfully, he often fought other Republicans and is perhaps most famous for being the Republican who saved Obamacare - maybe because of a personal vendetta against President Trump, maybe because he didn't like that Republicans didn't want to repeal but wanted instead to replace it. Whatever his reason, Obamacare lingers today, and with the initial cloture vote by a few Republicans to allow the Democrats to fund it and then McCain's betrayal a few years later, we all suffer from it today.

McCain is despised by many in the Republican Party today because rather than fighting the left, he fought the right.

There are many who don't like the in-fighting that occurs inside the Republican Party. You know some of these people.

Here in Texas, we have Republicans who join the Democrats and vote like Democrats when voting on Democrat bills. My question is this: if you vote like a Democrat on Democrat bills, what's the difference between you and a Democrat?

That's the pivot on this: does a politician fight against the policy that hurts your family or does the politician just fight against those they don't like?

I don't agree with any part of the Democrat agenda. I can't get behind any policy - Republican or Democrat - that will hurt my family. It is my responsibility before God to honor God and defend my family. God shows no partiality toward anyone - for all have sinned - and if He is no respecter of persons, why should I be? I give deference to no one when it comes to defending my family against those who might hurt my family. Sometimes, a bad policy can do more damage than the threat of a gun or a knife.

It's not my job to champion a politician. It is the politician's job to listen to and represent the people. It is my job to ensure that we have the best representative we can have to do that. That might mean replacing a Republican incumbent.

The politician who needs replacing will make great hay showing that they are fighting against their opponent, but if they're fighting a person more than they fight bad policy, then theirs is the wrong fight. It's completely fair to call that out. In fact, I am obligated to call that out.

Walker, who had little national name recognition, fought the left. Doing so vaulted him early to the top of the list of people jockeying to become the nominee for president in 2016. But later in the year, he crumbled against the juggernaut known as Trump, and he didn't distinguish himself in the debates. His quiet, accountant-style demeanor didn't convey the passion felt by a Republican Party that had endured eight years of Obama. You can call yourself a fighter, but to effectively fight, you need to do two things well:

1. Align yourself with the agenda of the voters and fight against bad policy
2. Voice it with passion like the voters would voice it

Walker, as the Slate article I linked to asks, "Why would anyone choose the guy who can't win a fight or make a mark?"

Politics is not a gentlemanly debate. It's elbows and insults. And only fighters should apply.

6 Comments

Paulette (May 24, 2025 3:30 PM):

Well said!

Carol Milder (May 24, 2025 4:40 PM):

Fight, fight, fight should be the battle cry of every grassroot opposition candidate!! We cannot “go along to get along” and win. Like you wrote … The Goal is to Win!!!

Mr. Future Of Texas (May 24, 2025 10:12 PM):

Amen - Fight Fight Fight

Randy Reeves (May 25, 2025 11:15 AM):

The very reason I asked my rep for a commitment to do just that. Fight for us!
There are those who continue to expose the corruption in Austin and then there are those who say "grandstanding is not my style." Getting attention to any and all misguided actions from our elected officials is NEVER grandstanding. It's a duty!
If you have opposition to bad things and fail to make it known, one of two things is happening. You are either for it or should be replaced by someone who is willing to fight. Loud, long, hard! The time for quoting Rodney King is over.

Brett Rogers (May 25, 2025 11:30 AM):

Amen, Randy

MaryAnne Aiken (May 27, 2025 8:38 AM):

Totally agree and we've certainly seen this in Austin!