Iran War SitRep Day 5: War not helping Republicans

We’ll know more in a couple of days. But here’s one result from yesterday’s elections around Trumpland. Someone named Mel tweeted: “Voter turnout is in the toilet for Republicans.” R+7 = Republican 7-point registration advantage.

Yeah, I’m Republican and I’m about as enthusiastic as when I get a letter from the IRS. Although I live in California, where our candidates have as much chance as the GOP U.S. Congress passing a balanced budget.

It’s so different from after 9/11, when Bush’s approval rating soared above 90%. The 2002 midterms saw the Republicans keep the House, and sweep back into control of the Senate. The 2003 invasion of Iraq – “Weapons of mass destruction! We must fight them there or we’ll fight them here!” – kept up the enthusiasm. In 2004, Bush won re-election, and Republicans kept control of Congress – and kept spending wildly, starting the massive deficits that have continued.

The reckoning came in 2006, when voters, tired of Republicans promising peace and giving war, and frugality meaning record deficits, dumped them for the Pelosi Congress.

A quick war might have changed fortunes for Republicans. But it’s looking like Trump’s Iran War is going to drag on, with the whole Middle East in flames. November is looking to be a GOP wipeout. MAGA won’t vote for Democrats. They’ll just stay home.

It didn’t affect Tuesday’s election, but we now have the names of the first KIAs from the war. I won’t belabor it. Three men and one woman, all brave. Florida, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa. Salt or the earth. Real Americans. Died in yet another of the Peace President’s wars of choice.

What a waste.

John Seiler blogs at: johnseiler.substack.com