Lunch with Brandon, and a pending departure

Today I had lunch with my friend Brandon and we talked about the ballyhooed election for governor in Virginia.

So what happened? Lots of theories were offered by talking heads on TV outlets. One of the most common observations was that the election was not about Donald J. Trump. Trump was not running for election. Certain letter writers to the E-R should remember this. Brandon suggested that these writers could have a secret manlove of the former POTUS and miss him. I offered that “If Democrats want to keep framing elections based on their dislike of Trump, they will be suffering even more defeats in 2022 than is projected.” To which Brandon exclaimed, “I’ll drink to that” and hoisted a mug of beer.

According to Brandon, Republican voters (mainstream Americans who pride themselves in their work ethic and values) were joined by most independents and a few Democrats who constitute the new “silent majority.” “Just ordinary folks who are fed up with Marxist/Socialist/Progressives who insist they know what is best and will do anything to impose their agenda on others,” Brandon noted before wiping pizza sauce from his mouth and continuing. “Then there is a realization that the Marxist/Socialist/Progressives are excellent at creating problems while solving none.”

I told Brandon that I’m moving out of California soon and no longer be eligible to comment in this space. That is my only regret. “Really? Can I go with you?”, he asked. To which I answered, “Absolutely. Let’s go Brandon.”

— Tom Neill, Chico