Opinion
By Steve Nicklas, 3-11-24
The Republican party has enough RINOs to surpass the population at White Oak Conservation in Yulee. But these are a different species, with different spellings.
These RINOs are Republicans In Name Only. And like the protected rhinos at the local preserve, they are also endangered. In a Darwinism-type evolution, traditional RINOs are nearing extinction.
It is the dawning of a powerful “America First” age, sweeping away these globalists like a tsunami under Donald Trump. It is systematically eliminating Republicans who only pretend to be conservative and to prioritize America first. These backstabbing RINOs are dangerous politically. Washed-up Republicans like Mitt Romney and niece Ronna, Kevin McCarthy, Paul Ryan, Mike Pence, Liz Cheney and the latest, Mitch McConnell.
And another seismic shift is being felt inside the Republican National Committee. The RNC has been neutered by ineffective and wasteful chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel.
By directive of Trump, McDaniel has resigned. This should have happened sooner. In her place, two co-chairmen were appointed recently, Michael Whatley and Lara Trump.
Of the two, the dynamic Lara Trump is taking a lead role, as a big-game hunter of RINOs and a staunch advocate of America First policies. She is the daughter-in-law of the former president. Whatley was the highly regarded chairman of the North Carolina Republican party.
In their first week, the dynamic duo has done more than McDaniel did in eight years. The new team started by firing 60 RNC staffers who were probably as unproductive as McDaniel.
“We’re getting to work – things are changing rapidly,” Lara Trump says. “The RNC needs to be the leanest, most lethal political-fighting machine ever seen in American history.”
The RNC will establish an election-integrity division, with longtime Trump attorney Christina Bobb serving as special council. The division will include trained poll watchers, poll tabulators and both paid and volunteer attorneys. It is an important step to restore confidence among Republican voters.
In addition, an all-hands campaign to register Republican voters will be conducted at UFC fights, at NASCAR races and at country music concerts. Or anywhere else conservatives gather. The RNC will also launch a massive ballot-harvesting process, involving churches of all types.
“We can leave nothing to chance,” Lara Trump says. “We have to fight fire with dynamite.”
Corralling the RINOs will also strengthen the RNC’s activities. These big-government types have always opposed America First policies, focusing on the borders of foreign countries like Ukraine more than our own, for instance.
A thorny cleansing process is nearly complete. It is a renewed Republican party, led by Trump and Trump 2.0.
Steve Nicklas is the managing partner of Nicklas Wealth Management in Fernandina Beach. He is also an award-winning columnist. His columns regularly appear in weekly newspapers in Northeast Florida and in Southeast Georgia, and on his website at www.SteveNicklasMarketplace.com. He has published a book, “All About Money,” of his favorite columns from the past 20 years. The book is available on Amazon. He has also done financial reports for area radio stations and for National Public Radio in Jacksonville. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 904-753-0236.
The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida.
The long-running “Investing in Today’s Financial Markets” series will return in April to the Nassau County Council on Aging.
The classes cover stocks and bonds and mutual funds and popular vehicles like IRAs, 401ks and insurance/annuities. The series has been offered locally since 2001 by financial advisor Steve Nicklas, originating at the Florida State College campus in Yulee.
The upcoming schedule is: Investing in stocks, April 2; Investing in bonds, May 29; and Developing a financial plan, June 27. Classes begin at noon, and lunch is provided. The COA can be reached at 904-261-0701.
