Trump crony who said eating with your hands is ‘uncivilised' clearly forgot how Donald Trump eats
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The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Gen Z takes being American for granted
In the 2025 iteration of this poll, a staggering 92% of Republicans were "extremely" or "very" proud to be American, whereas just 53% of independents and 36% of Democrats reported feeling the same. Until 2016, Democrats and Republicans remained rather similar in their patriotism, with both reaching values above 80% before the election of President Donald Trump. However, modern patriotism among Democrats is dependent on who is in the White House, rather than any genuine love of America. During the time that Joe Biden was in the White House, Republican pride in being American bottomed out at 84%. Over the same period, Democrats rose to a peak of just 62%. One significant driver of this decline is Generation Z, born between 1997 to 2012, whose patriotism lags far behind previous generations. Just 41% of Gen Z is extremely or very proud to be American, and among young Democrats, that falls to just 24%. Partisanship is getting in the way of patriotism for Democrats Being proud to be American has absolutely nothing to do with being proud of our current leaders. In their fluctuations in pride depending on who is in the White House, Democrats have lost sight of this. I am one of the most critical people of our government out there, and I think of that as being borne out of my patriotism. Criticizing the government when it does not strengthen America's foundational principles is a patriotic act. My fellow columnist Rex Huppke has the right idea. "We can love this country and loathe the people in charge," he wrote in a recent column. "We can be simultaneously proud of this country and embarrassed of the things being done in its name." Tell us: This Fourth of July, are you proud to be an American? | Opinion Forum Now, obviously, I am no Democrat, but it saddens me that this same principle apparently does not hold for many of them. To many Democrats in modern times, it seems as if their love for this country is contingent on their preferred candidates being in power. Interestingly, this seems to be a problem unique to Democrats. While some Republicans seemingly faltered in their patriotism over the previous four years, they did not see the massive swing between the Biden and Trump presidencies that Democrats saw over the same period. This is all evidence of the fact that Democrats have attached their pride to a political movement, rather than to a love of America's founding principles. For some, this is a problem of them simply being blinded by partisanship. For others, however, it marks a much deeper problem. America's failures to live up to her founding principles at times are not evidence of those principles being bad; they are evidence of human nature being imperfect. Gen Z doesn't know how good we have it Much of Gen Z has been captured by the progressive left, many of whom do genuinely believe that America's institutions and system of government need to be torn down completely. These revolutionaries are responsible for the complete lack of patriotism among Gen Z. Opinion: Senate just passed Trump's Big Beautiful Bill - and made it even uglier Gen Z doesn't realize how lucky we are. We live in the greatest country and in the greatest time in history. There is no collective group that has it better at any point in history than we do right now. Many will disagree with me on this point, but they are mistaken. There is no place better constructed to safeguard your individual liberties than here. While we are very obviously imperfect in that goal, no other nation on earth is better equipped to pursue liberty through the freedoms that our Constitution protects. Tearing down the system that has led to such a wonderful place would be a mistake. Within a framework designed to preserve liberty is the best place to enact whatever political change it is that you want, unless your goal is not liberty. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Those who advocate against America's foundation might feel entitled - in the sense that they believe it is the job of government to provide for them - have taken the freedoms that we have for granted or are delusional about how good others have it. I do not know how to solve the problem of restoring patriotism to those who have lost it. I am sympathetic to the frustrations young Americans have with the state of our politics, and I am hopeful that Gen Z will learn that they are better off trying to change this country, rather than destroy it. America is a wonderful place, and you would do best to fight for your political causes within her structure of liberty, rather than attempting to tear it down. Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY and a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Will Trump's big tax bill come back to bite the GOP in 2026?
History, in this case, favors the Democrats' argument. The party that does not hold the White House typically wins the House in the midterm elections as voters express frustrations with the new president's policies. This trend applies regardless of party in modern history, with some exceptions. And public polling about the Republican bill already indicates voters aren't thrilled about it. A Fox News poll published in mid-June found 38% of respondents favored the legislation and 59% opposed it. Polls from Quinnipiac, The Washington Post, KFF and Pew reflected similar sentiments. "This will cost Republicans the House," said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Washington, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which is responsible for helping Democrats keep and win House seats. Democrats have their 'script' for 2026 The bill's Medicaid cuts are expected to leave 11.8 million Americans without insurance over the next ten years - a deeply "damaging" result that will drive up healthcare costs for families, DelBene said. Democrats have likened this bill to Republicans' 2017 attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, after which Republicans lost 40 seats in the House. "People want representatives that are going to stand up for them," she argued, "and this bill is an example of Republicans turning away from their constituents." Republicans have "written the script" for 2026, said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland. "I'm certainly going to be talking about it all of the time," he told USA TODAY. "I mean, nothing could better capture the way that the Republican party just serves Donald Trump and our would-be monarchs and oligarchs." It's not just Democrats who have identified the Medicaid cuts as a potential political threat. During a meeting with House Republicans on July 2, as GOP leadership scrambled to find the votes for the package, Trump said they shouldn't touch three things if they wanted to win elections - Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, according to the news site NOTUS. One member reportedly responded: "But we're touching Medicaid in this bill." Campaigning after Medicaid cuts Rep. Don Bacon, R-Nebraska, represents a swing district and recently announced he plans to retire from Congress. He has been a vocal opponent of the Medicaid cuts in the bill, but he said before the vote that he would approve the measure because it would save the average Nebraskan $141 per month in taxes and pour billions into the defense budget. Bacon said he believes the Senate's version, which implemented deeper cuts to Medicaid, makes it easier for Democrats to paint the package in a negative light during the midterm elections. "I could have defended the House bill every day. It was easy," he said. "But in the end, do I want to raise taxes on the middle class? No. Do I want to fix defense? Yes." Some Republicans are confident they can explain their reasoning to voters, including those who raised concerns about Medicaid cuts. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-New Jersey, argued before the vote that his concerns were allayed by provisions in the bill that would allow hospitals in his district to continue to draw down sufficient federal funds. "I've said all along that we have to do this in an intelligent way. I believe that it seems we've charted a way to do that. Where we started a few months ago, people were saying we're going to gut Medicaid. We're a long ways off from that." GOP confident tax breaks will carry them House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, said he believed the bill would prop up Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. "Every Democrat (in the) House and Senate voted no," Scalise said on July 3. "The American people are going to see great benefits from this bill, and they're going to know which party was fighting for them and which party was literally trying to hold up the vote for hours so that those families couldn't get that relief." "The Democratic Party still doesn't know why they lost in November. They're going to be reminded of that next year when they lose again," he added. The bill makes permanent the 2017 income tax cuts implemented during Trump's first term and pours $170 billion in border security funding. In a memo on the bill, the National Republican Congressional Committee indicated it plans to argue Republicans prevented "the largest tax hike in generations" and delivered a historic funding boost for border security. "This vote cemented House Democrats' image as elitist, disconnected, snobby, unconcerned with the problems Americans face in their daily lives, and most of all - out of touch," Mike Marinella, NRCC spokesman, said in a statement. "House Republicans will be relentless in making this vote the defining issue of 2026, and we will use every tool to show voters that Republicans stood with them while House Democrats sold them out."
JAMnews
6 hours ago
- JAMnews
Georgian Dream president ready to pardon jailed opposition if they request it and pledge to join the elections
Georgian Dream offered pardons to opposition Mikheil Kavelashvili, the president from Georgian Dream, stated that if imprisoned opposition leaders ask him for a pardon and confirm in the same request their intention to take part in the municipal elections in October, he will grant them a pardon. 'It is important that all opposition parties take part in the local elections and run a full campaign,' Kavelashvili said in the same statement. What Mikheil Kavelashvili stated: 'Several leaders of political parties are currently serving sentences in accordance with Georgian law. I propose that all of them submit a request for a pardon to me and confirm in the same statement their intention to participate in the elections. If such a request is received, I will immediately issue a pardon for the individuals concerned. Exactly three months from now, on October 4, 2025, local self-government elections will be held, during which the people of Georgia will elect mayors and city councils in 64 municipalities. It is important that all political parties registered in accordance with Georgian law and willing to participate in the elections fully engage in the electoral process. It is also important that all political parties have the opportunity to conduct a full election campaign,' the statement reads. The opposition responds with a refusal Secretary General of Lelo – Strong Georgia, Irakli Kupradze: 'Due to prison regulations, I wasn't able to learn the opinion of the leaders directly, but I can confidently say that Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze will not submit a request for a pardon. As secretary general of Lelo and their friend, I know the values they live by, the principles and dignity with which they defend the interests of the Georgian people, and their belief in victory. I believe I speak for them when I say: there will be no pardon request to an illegitimate president. We will show him the way – to the Russian ship.' The Coalition for Change announced that its imprisoned leaders also have no intention of requesting a pardon from Kavelashvili. It also stressed that the coalition will not participate in the municipal elections. 'By drawing opposition parties into these elections, Georgian Dream is trying to legitimize itself and is using imprisoned leaders as bargaining chips. Through its so-called president, the regime has confirmed that it needs the participation of pro-Western forces in a fake, criminal process called 'municipal elections,' because it is their only way to save themselves. To delay change, they are ready to strike any deal. With this proposal, the regime has admitted that political leaders were unjustly imprisoned—only because they refused to recognize the results of the rigged parliamentary elections and the legitimacy of the regime. Our position remains unchanged: at no stage will we cooperate with the regime or give it any legitimacy. The path to victory lies in non-cooperation and resistance. Until the end!' the statement said. Tina Bokuchava, leader of the party United National Movement: 'Mikheil Kavelashvili's statement proves that the Ivanishvili regime sees its only chance for survival in recognition and legitimization. I am convinced that this statement was written for Kavelashvili by other servants of Ivanishvili [the oligarch and honorary chairman of Georgian Dream]. I also firmly believe that no pardon is being offered to former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who is currently imprisoned.' On June 23, the court sentenced three opposition leaders to prison: Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze (leaders of Lelo – Strong Georgia), and Zurab Girchi Japaridze (one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change). On June 24, the court found Giorgi Vashadze, leader of the Strategy Agmashenebeli party, guilty of failing to comply with a temporary investigative commission created by the Georgian Dream parliament and sentenced him to seven months in prison. He was also banned from holding public office for two years. On July 1, Nika Gvaramia (one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change) was sentenced to eight months in prison. On July 5, former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili was sentenced to eight months in prison. They are all accused of refusing to appear before the same commission, called the 'Temporary Investigative Commission of the Parliament of Georgia on the Investigation of the Regime and Political Figures of the 2003–2012 Period,' referring to the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili. Georgian Dream announced the creation of this commission on January 9, 2025. According to faction leader Mamuka Mdinaradze, the commission will work for six months and prepare a report to be discussed and approved during the first week of the September parliamentary session. News in Georgia
