In a raucous victory for border supporters and armchair activists nationwide, President Trump is poised to sweep his pen over a piece of legislation that has Democrats reaching for their tissues. In the classic style of political theater, chants of “USA” swept through the Republican ranks as Trump’s latest legislative triumph headed to his desk, primed for approval, right on time for the Fourth of July festivities. It’s almost as if they planned it that way.
Meanwhile, chaos descended on the other side of the aisle. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries apparently tried his best to win a gold medal in time-wasting, channeling his inner filibuster with an epic eight-hour, 44-minute monologue that accomplished little more than testing the patience of everyone in earshot. Is there a prize for setting such records? If there is, it should come with a plaque reading “Nothing of Substance Said.”
But the grandstanding didn’t end there. The opposition roared about dire consequences, certain that this bill would spell doom and gloom for America’s youth and vulnerable. Oddly, the same party that often champions free-for-all policies now seems to be wringing their hands over the children. Remarkable timing, wouldn’t you say? As Republicans cheer for more border security and gun ownership rights, Democrats bemoaned what they labeled as a legislative apocalypse, painting pictures of starving children, closed hospitals, and seniors adrift.
Let’s take a moment to savor this so-called “big beautiful bill.” Not only does it satisfy the fiscal conservatives with cuts, but it also manages to strikingly align with the rights enshrined in the Second Amendment. A century-old tax on guns with short barrels and suppressors? Sliced to zero. Try finding a Democrat who’ll want to celebrate that victory. There’s something almost poetic in the way Republican unity coalesced around such policies, particularly when former President Joe Biden has hurriedly re-entered the fray, decrying the bill as all that is wrong with the world, though why he didn’t join the Democratic chorus earlier is anyone’s guess.
This latest chapter in political clashing exposes how the Democratic playbook has shifted significantly over the years. Once upon a time, they might have seen this as a chance for bipartisan collaboration. However, these days it seems they’re content to offer little beyond accusations of cruelty. Yet, one can’t help but notice a faint irony. While the Democrats remain preoccupied with points about healthcare, they conveniently sidestep how unmanaged borders strain the very systems they’re so concerned about. It’s almost as if they can’t see the forest for the ballots.
As Republicans look forward with pragmatic optimism, perhaps Democrats will one day realize that the shouting matches over social issues may not effectively address the country’s long-term challenges. Bringing back common-sense talk and shelving melodramatic outcries for a moment might serve them well. After all, political stunts make headlines, but solutions make history.
