Rolling The Dice. . .

(Rolling The Dice. . .)

In the past, when there is some conflict, its eventual resolution could require the commitment of additional resources. This can be especially true on a battlefield. For example, the Battle of Gettysburg began when a Confederate contingent moved into the Pennsylvania town for a consignment of shoes. When that force was confronted by Union cavalry, Re-enforcements were called upon and about the same time, a Union corps arrived from the south. There was an initial skirmish north of Gettysburg where the Federals were bested. There was a retreat through town but what lay south were a series of hills and ridges. High ground in other words. At this point, both sides were re-enforced as Union divisions and Confederate divisions and. over three days in July. 1863, the fate of the nation was decided. Over some shoes.

Like Federal and Rebel armies converging on Gettysburg, so similar efforts are being played out in the Senate race in Georgia between Democrat Raphael Warnock and Republican Hershal Walker. The stakes in the Peach State today are almost as high as the 250+ year old battle that took place in the Keystone State. In addition to all the fund-raising and the endless campaigning, stump speeches and so on. The Georgia Senate race will determine if Senate Majority Leader, Schumer has only fifty members in which he would be necessarily constrained, or if Warnock is victorious, giving Democrats fifty-one, which means that Schumer can proceed with his various Senate rule changes.

A wild card will be Donald Trump. Tonight, the former President will announce his candidacy to be President of the United States. Again. Trump is a big reason why the GOP lost Georgia the last time, in the 2020 run-off when both Republican contenders were defeated. His speech this evening will in all likelihood doom Mr. Walker. That being said, there still will be no shortage of effort in the attempt by other senior Republicans to salvage Walker's candidacy.

As ill-advised as a Trump Presidential announcement would be, in a similar vein, it is equally frivolous to hold Republican Senate leadership elections now, or within the week. For Senator McConnell, who once more is leader of a Minority Conference as per his wish, for him to stand for another term as Senate Republican head, with the responsibility for the recent GOP carnage, Senator McConnell could lose.

Whatever the ultimate outcome, Democrat and Republican are sparing nothing. That being said, however, one can say that Warnock has the advantage. Walker has too much Trump baggage. If the announcement does take place and it is as expected there will be no end to the alienation. It is not that Trump is not going away mad. It is that he won't go away.