Column: The push me-pull you of political populism – Omaha World-Herald

A Chinese proverb says, May you live in interesting times. Whether thats a curse or a blessing is up for grabs. Like it or not, Mr. Trump has certainly made things interesting. After his recent arrest, amid all the speculations and innuendos, here are several points I havent heard yet.

If you want it, here it is, come and get it, but youd better hurry cause its goin fast, Come & Get It, Badfinger by Paul McCartney

First, there is no comparison between Trumps Mar-a-Lago gaff and the actions of Pence, Biden, or even Clinton. Instead of cowboyn up, Trump went Watergate by lying and cover-up. Missing a play this obvious should concern inquiring minds as to Trumps abilities to make decisions under real pressure. Simply, he failed a test even a diminished Biden easily passed.

Second, Chris Christie pointed out that election results in 2018, 2020 and 2022 signaled Trump fatigue among voters. Election fraud is a debunked canard and voters widely rejected those claiming otherwise. If things remain as they are, a Trump vs. Biden rematch appears likely, and if, whats past is prologue, a Biden victory is imminent.

What? Not excited? While Biden was and remains, the best option since 2020, I have yet to meet anyone outside of MAGA-circles excited about either candidate. Another Trump vs. Biden race is, sadly, the best bad idea weve had by far.

Did I hear you say that there must be a catch? Will you walk away from a fool and his money?

Third, former Reagan speechwriter and Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan suggests a Trump Primary victory is the end of the Republican Party. Since 2016, independents and moderates have begun voting left of center. Noonan opines a third Trump campaign will solidify the divorce. America is best served by a healthy two-party system. If you think we have problems now, a multi-party system will be a real, here, hold my drink debacle.

Fourth, Trumps arrest is a golden parachute for Republicans. Instead of defending something so easily avoidable, Republican leadership should let the courts do the dirty work for them. By backing the judicial system, the GOP could elevate trust in our institutions of self-governance, side-step an obvious dumpster fire, and re-up their claim of being the law and justice party.

Regardless of party affiliation, if someone breaks the law, they should face the justice system. By allowing the courts to deal with Trump, Bidens viability as the guy who did and can beat Trump becomes challengeable, and, voil, both candidates are eased out of the race solving problems for both parties.

If you want it, here it is, come and get it, but youd better hurry cause its goin fast.

Finally, about every 100 years, Americans get to play whack-a-mole with populism. Our sixth president, Andrew Jackson served from 1829 to 1837, Nebraskas William Jennings Bryan, The Great Commoner was a national figure from 1896 to 1908, and Teddy Roosevelts Bull Moose Party (1912) and Ross Perot (1992 to 1996) lead us up to Trump (2016). By the mid-1990s, the Republican Party moved from Reagans conservative platform toward populism. Like the Democrats, along the way toward ideological purity, the GOP ejected moderates. Consequently, extremists in both parties have become more strident, intolerant and offering legislation less-representative of the majority of Americans.

As both parties demanded ideological loyalty, the bedrock of self-governance, civil debate, fell to the wayside and compromise became a dirty word. Healthy public discussions and political debates restrain extremism through the moderating effects of competing ideas, constructive dissent and respectful civil engagement. Paul Ryan, Jeff Flake, Liz Cheney, Scott Walker, Ben Sasse and Adam Kinzinger represented the future of the GOP. Alas, theyve left or were pushed out and, today, the GOPs presidential bench is discernably weak and the party is subject to the whims of, to quote Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, morons.

If theres been a silver lining, its been watching Congressman Don Bacons political evolution. Subjected to MAGA slings and arrows, Bacon was recently recognized for his cross-aisle overtures and participation in bipartisan groups such as Problems Solvers.

Former NYC mayoral candidate Ed Koch once said, If you agree with me on nine out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist. Many dont agree with Bacon on everything, but hes matured into an elected official who, even under stress or disagreement, demonstrates character and integrity.

And in these moments, there is hope.

Rick Galusha writes, "Like most things, stemming the Brain Drain asks individual Nebraskans to consider how their actions, words and values affect others and thereby the economy."

Rick Galusha writes, "Patriotism has always been complex.The global rise of right-wing political extremism coupled with the growth of religious conservativism suggests that many are, understandably, looking for stability in a world of constant change."

The Omaha Free Speech Society brings people together to discuss important political and social issues, we got to know our neighbors, practice verbalizing complex ideas, rebuild trust and share coffee and donuts.

The Omaha Free Speech Society brings people together to discuss important political and social issues, we got to know our neighbors, practice verbalizing complex ideas, rebuild trust and share coffee and donuts.

Community Columnist Rick Galusha writes, "When the nations founders met to write the U.S. Constitution, they cloaked the windows and forbade transcripts of the process so that participants could act and speak freely."

Community Columnist Rick Galusha writes, "We love our symbols and signs by sharing them on our cars, in our yards, and on social media. Why?"

Columnist Rick Galusha writes, "The voters have spoken: there are no victory laps this time."

Community columnist Rick Galusha writes, "As Nebraskas Second District knows, sometimes choosing the best candidates means crossing party lines ... Technically, this is called strategic voting but its just a practical approach."

Community Columnist Rick Galusha writes, "If the law is broken, regardless of party affiliation, officials need to be held accountable. But elected officials should be held to a higher standard of behavior."

Polling indicates voters are fed up with bickering and acrimony.

Occasionally, a reader suggests I am overly critical of Republicans. Its a reasonable criticism. Historically, political parties were monolit

"You gotta give the people what they want."

Columnist Rick Galusha writes: "At the heart of our model of self-governance are free speech and civic debate. I remind students their grandparents founded modern-day rights movements. It is through discussions that the language and norms develop for society to operate."

Columnist Rick Galusha writes, "While winning elections is the sole motivation of political parties, 'moving the goal posts' (or changing the rules) is monstrously unethical. Those who love this country and wish to see it continue shining freedoms beacon to the world can no longer sit by silently and allow this damaging subterfuge to continue."

Community columnist Rick Galusha writes: "Its time to weigh our own behavior while not turning a blind eye toward irresponsible actors."

Community Columnist Rick Galusha writes: "Are we defined by fear and anxiety, a $28 trillion monument to mismanagement, and manipulated societal division?"

"Take a bow for the new revolution."

We know empirically that when one strictly congregates with like-minded ideologues, they will increasingly spin further away from median voters views by becoming increasingly ideologically extreme in ideas and rhetoric.

Those who promote a known falsehood or stand by with a wink and a nod are actively dividing our nation and undermining our trust in the institutions that guide American democracy.

Federal spending and taxation demands hard, unpleasant, civil, public debate to determine national priorities. All of the above is no longer an option.

Our columnist believesNebraskas prairie populism is moderate, centrist and fed up with the growing hyperpartisanship of the last 30 years.

We need to remember those who died as well as those who served and those who suffered physical and mental injuries; these losses are personal, writes community columnist Rick Galusha.

Understandably, as groups stake their claim in the American dream, they want their journey, hardships and celebrations to be fully acknowledged.

All it took was a dry-land hurricane and just like that were helping neighbors and strangers. Helping others was the silver lining of Omahas recent windstorm, writes community columnist Rick Galusha.

'Those who imbibe in the toxic elixir of deceit are now finding each other and infecting society with a poison more subtle and dangerous than any virus or partisan activist.'

Its normal to be uncomfortable with change. Youre not alone. We all want a friendly smile, a kind word, affirmation and hope.

Unlike prior historical moments, this pandemics end will quietly creep into our lives as friends and coworkers sporadically get vaccinated.

The challenge of civics education is that one person's definition of "good" could be different than someone else's, which speaks to the importance of tolerance in our pluralistic nation.

History shows that democracies fail when political extremism abandons cooperation and compromise. During stressful times, democracies turn toward strongman leaders and right-wing authoritarianism.

Known as the principal agent problem, should elected officials be guided by their conscience or should they vote their districts preference?

This nation is facing a dark winter. We can choose to remain on a course of division and hyperpartisanship. Or we can look not to Washington, on stages or sports fields, but in the mirror.

From time to time, our nation and our community rely on moral leadership and common sense from its older members.

"To know Clare Duda is to know a laugh that explodes outward, filling the room, a smile that never fades, and the humble warmth of a man comfortable in his skin."

"If youve walked into a voting booth and thought, I dont like either of these candidates, you may be moderate. Dont worry, most voters are."

Rick Galusha, Ph.D., teaches political science at Bellevue University. Hes hosted a blues radio show for 30 years and was the president of Homers Music Stores. Galusha was active in the creation of the Old Market Business Association and served as the groups first president.

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Column: The push me-pull you of political populism - Omaha World-Herald