Election Eve

Big fun today, as I headed off after work to the Bernie Moreno rally in Brecksville.  It was...interesting?  Not exactly a large crowd, and while yes, we are Republicans and have jobs and such, I would have expected a bigger bunch.  I was also one of the youngest people there, which is gratifying for the ego, but...not exactly boding well for the future.  Anyways, it was a double event, with Tommy Tuberville -- Roll Tide -- leading off.  Neither Bernie nor Tommy are exactly dynamic speakers; I remember the Cruz/Vance rally I went to two years ago, and they both really knocked the house down.  Tommy has the advantage of being a coach, and sort of knew how to move a crowd, but Bernie is more the staid type.  I was vastly amused by the fact that he introduced his large and extended family, but not his son-in-law... that said, it wasn't a bad speech - he hit the points he needed to make, stressed the need to vote, mentioned that the turnout was good in the early vote, etc.  I even got a picture with him, and he seemed more...natural there, in the photo line, than during the speech.  Let's hope he wins!

One of my coworkers mentioned that the early voting numbers are definitely up for the GOP this year, and he was of the opinion that this is a big shift to the GOP.  I don't know; I think it is more likely that GOP voters are just voting earlier this year.  Not saying there might be more GOP voters out there, but I think this is more of a redistribution of the vote.  To be sure, if the issue is that people are less likely to vote on Election Day, so you get those votes "banked," I see it, but... you will still need Election Day turnout to win.

What abolishing Education Department could mean for higher ed
Oh, I don't know; one, it would be a signal that we are cutting government, getting rid of waste, etc.  Two, the Treasury Department could easily handle loan payments, I would think.  Three... if the whole point of being a Republican is to cut government and leave issues to the states, isn't this one way to do it?

Why do people still back Trump, after everything? 5 things to understand about MAGA supporters’ thinking
I think the whole "still" thing is a bit of a tell, given that -- as the author notes -- the economy and immigration are huge problems for the Dems right now.  I would argue that for many -- sadly not most -- voters these are the largest issues, and Trump-- for better or worse -- has an advantage.

Why the Next President Should Pay Heed to the Republic of Z - POLITICO
Interesting!

‘I Think We’re in Trouble’: Is There a Future for MAGA After Trump? - POLITICO
Well, as the Donald is 78, and given his dietary habits...the point I am making is that we might have to face this issue sooner rather than later.  Now, I think Vance -- both as the nominee and through his talking points -- is the main guy to take over, but there is also something to be said for DeSantis.  The other thing of course is that the message will change slightly with the new messenger.  I would prefer we deal with this from a position of strength, if you will, over the next four years, instead of weakness...