There’s talk that a foolish Donald J. Trump has imitated an ill-advised George H. W. Bush. You remember George. He ran for President against Massachusetts Democrat Michael Stanley Dukakis. Bush most likely would have won the race without saying what he so famously said. But he said it anyway. His speechwriter Noonan and other gifted strategists recommended that he say it. It was August 18, 1988, in New Orleans. He said: I’m the one who will not raise taxes . . . my opponent won’t rule out raising taxes. But I will. And the Congress will push me to raise taxes, and I’ll say no; and they’ll push, and I’ll say no, and they’ll push again, and I’ll say to them, Read my lips: No new taxes. Well, as he predicted, the Democrat controlled Congress did push and push. And, eventually, Bush made this statement: It is clear to me that . . . the size of the (budget) deficit . . . requires . . . entitlement and mandatory program reform, TAX REVENUE INCREASES, growth incentives, etc. etc. Subsequently, in 1992, the voters answered him: “Now you read our lips; you’re toast.” And, thus, American voters chose Slick Willie for eight years and they acquired Hideous Hillary for 25 years. Three little words — a colossal unforced error — changed the course of history. Fast forward 38 years. You won’t quote DJT. But he has always been outspoken in his opposition to war, doggedly opposed to sending men and materials to bog down in some foreign entanglement; e.g., Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. America First is his mantra. Well, now, Matilda. Many of his most vocal friends and all of his enemies have come out swinging, singing their own satirical song. Mr. President, what is Iran, if not a war? What was Venezuela? Isn’t kidnapping President Nicolás Maduro an act of war? Isn’t this a Bush-like betrayal? You don’t think the comparison sticks. But don’t expect some type of exclusive analysis on this page, because at this particular time, you’re as clueless as Inspector Clouseau. You’ve listened patiently to dozens of political pundits across the vast political landscape. The opinions overlap and intersect. Some are cocksure. They decide Donald and the rest of the world  need their strategic advice. By now, the experts should realize that Trump is unpredictable, a moving target, by design.  You are confident of only one thing — nobody knows the end game. But everyone does know about the Strait of Hormuz and the price of gasoline. That knowledge puts DT square in their crosshairs, as they churlishly (some happily) remind him he’s mired in a wreckage of his own making. Whatever the truth is, one thing is certain. Nothing has changed for Mr. Trump. Nothing is new. The Dems hate him. The GOP establishment never wanted him and secretly anticipates his ruin. Since 2015, legacy Media has colluded to discredit him. Guilty Europeans despise him for spanking their bottoms in public. And who expects either China or Russia to wish him well? GOP lawmakers will blame Trump if their Party loses the midterms although the party in power almost always loses the midterms. What you think about all this has nothing to do with Iran. Trump has been in a meat grinder since 2015, when he stepped onto the world stage. Your opinions have nothing to do with his accomplishments or failures. Your opinions have everything to do with motives and actions. He has dared to think big, to begin dismantling a hopelessly bloated bureaucracy and grievously corrupt federal agencies. He dared to put America’s interest first throughout the world. He has dared to validate that America’s economic footing is more powerful than Her military. He has dared to invalidate DEI, and the WOKE policies of neo-Marxism. He has dared to say to an international audience that he envisions a world of successful, sovereign nations, devoid of hostility. Whatever faults Trump may have, he bleeds red, white and blue, 24-7, all the while putting himself in harm’s way. You must give him the benefit of any doubt.

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Ed. Note: Kansas has become the 20th state to approve COS.