Could there be a silver lining to this debacle?
The day after Elon Musk departed the White House, his 130 day tenure having come to an end, I wrote and submitted a Resolution thanking him to the Saluda County Executive Committee for their approval. It passed unanimously. Shortly thereafter, it was one of three resolutions that passed out of the state resolutions committee for a vote at this morning’s State Executive Committee meeting in Columbia. In light of the recent, very public, falling out between Trump and Musk, the State Executive Committee tabled the resolution.
I understood that action, of course, even though I felt that it should have been passed anyway. Every one of the items in the resolution was still true. Most of the items involved contributions by Musk that benefitted mankind in general. The rest were those that, by the grace of God, benefitted the Republican Party by helping to elect Donald Trump President. None of those things become any less true if Trump and Musk never reconcile their differences.
The fact is, however, this sudden breach in a truly remarkable alliance, has shaken most America First Republicans to the core.
Musk’s earliest complaints were not against Trump, but against Congress. In that match-up, I would choose Musk any day. Notwithstanding a few courageous exceptions on the right side of the aisle, Congress has spent us into oblivion for four decades. Their recent failure to make more spending cuts in the Big, Beautiful Bill, infuriated me as it did Musk. I am sick of Congressional excuses, and I don’t buy most of them. So, choosing sides between Musk and Congress was easy.
When the attacks became personal between Musk and Trump however, the tie was broken in my mind. I had to go with Trump; yet, the whole time, my deep regret at their split and what it could mean to the country made me truly sick to my stomach. The repeated refrain going through my head was, “Say it ain’t so, Elon.”
I am seeing hints of a silver lining though. First, I have been proud of the reaction of most Republicans. A few have taken sides, but most have been pleading for a reconciliation. Like children who are praying that their two equally-loved parents will just kiss and make up.
Second, I have recognized that even though Democrats have been taking great delight in the “break-up,” I have heard nothing from either man that supports one single liberal policy. The Democrats are still wandering in the wilderness without a single compelling policy. None of the ones they currently espouse garner more than15-20% support.
Third, two things are happening at the same time that may have lasting positive consequences. As Republicans continue to support Trump and express disappointment with Musk’s over-the-line, personal comments about the President, have spurred deeper scrutiny of the Big, Beautiful Bill. There is a chance the tantrum may have worked.
What if – just what if – the Senate actually makes deeper spending cuts, the BBB passes anyway, Musk (rightly) takes the credit for it, and he and Trump make amends.
It is the stuff dreams are made of.
The Trump/Musk alliance, in my opinion, has resulted in more universal hope than I have sensed in American politics for over thirty years. I am truly praying all that hope can stay intact, because it sure has felt good.
