Remember when Leftists got their hate boners for Donald Trump after 2021 which resulted in legal proceedings that would make even Matlock say “fuck it”? Well, now that Trump’s President again, Leftists aren’t so keen on their tactics coming back on them.
This week (check local listings for the week in your area), California Governor and 80s movie villain stand-in Gavin Newsom and his wife got the business end of a Department of Justice investigation into “tax-related conduct.” Of course, Leftists including Newsom himself have complained about the weaponization of government agencies against them. And the Right has complained about the same thing under President Brick Tamland’s inept leadership.
So, let’s talk about it!
weaponization
What the Left thinks it means – using the power of the government to punish and oppress people
What it really means – a course of action that won’t end well
Over the past 20-30 years, politics has become one big pissing contest between Democrats and Republicans. Whenever one party does something the other doesn’t like, the other party takes time to do something to the first party doesn’t like in retaliation.
Actually, let me take that back. It’s not a pissing contest; it’s an acrimonious divorce.
Regardless, the Left took it to a new level after the 2020 election. No longer content to just launch investigations into Donald Trump’s dealings and what he did during his first Administration. They made it a point to use the legal system against him. In the short run, they were successful in getting the former (and current) President convicted on 34 felony counts on a case flimsier than a cheap toilet paper nightie. Then, there was the Georgia election interference case where the prosecution was more like a soap opera than a serious legal team.
And then in 2024, all that lawfare went to shit because Trump got reelected.
Now, I’m not a psychologist (but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night), but I’d have to say being targeted by the legal system with the Left cheering each and every decision might give Trump a chip on his shoulder the size of the Rock of Gibraltar. And with him not exactly being the “forgive and forget” type, you would have to be a fucking moron to think he wouldn’t try to get one back on the Left.
And as it turns out, the Left are fucking morons.
Back when the Left started weaponizing the judical system against Trump and his followers, I told some Left-leaning friends of mine it was a bad idea because it would come back to haunt them. And, surprise surprise, they could star in a remake of “Poltergeist” because it did. Instead of saying “we fucked up” though, they’re stuck whining about weaponizing the federal government against them.
To be fair, they may have a point, and this time it’s not on their heads. It’s never a good idea for the federal government to go after political enemies under any circumstances. The fact Lois Lerner was allowed to do that and still walks free sticks in my craw like you wouldn’t believe. Or maybe you would. I don’t want to speak out of turn.
Where the Left’s point gets blunted is when the investigations are related to actual wrong-doing, not just having the word “patriot” on your non-profit application. In this case, Newsom and his wife may be guilty of breaking tax law in relation to non-profits they’ve supported.
Of course Newsom is telling people it’s because Trump is trying to scare him away from running for President. But if I may give you some advice, Gav (I’ll call you “Gav” because it’s the tamest thing I could call you), it’s probably the fucking taxes.
But that doesn’t play well in San Francisco, so Newsom and the Left will play it off as weaponization. After all, it will continue the “Trump is out to get us” narrative, which will allow them to play victim (even if they’re nowhere near the epicenter of the shit show). After all, if he can do it to Newsom, he can do it to anybody, right?
Yes, yes he can. And so can you.
That’s why I have the same amount of sympathy towards the Left on his matter than I have fucks to give: zero. You Leftists got a short term victory that wound up meaning less than the box office gross of “Medea Goes to the Gynecologist.” Trump won, mainly because your choices were a doddering old man who more forgetful than I am after a bender with Willie Nelson and a woman who was more one-dimensional and vapid as most Hollywood starlets.
Put another way, you fucked yourselves because you thought there was no way for Trump to get back into office. How’s that working out for you, assholes?
Now, having said all that, I do have to warn both major parties this kind of back and forth shit doesn’t end well for anyone, and it has to stop before this war of words turns into a war with weapons. Folks, things are getting chippy out there between people who want to start shit and people who are waiting for shit to go down so they can fuck up their enemies, real or otherwise. I’ve felt America has been on the verge of another civil war (since the last one worked out so well) for quite a few years now. And right now, it looks like it’s going to be the DIY guerrilla forces on the Left versus the folks with most of the guns on the Right.
Let’s just say I’m taking the under for the Left to win that one.
In the meantime, I think both sides need to take a step back and realize what they’ve done is undercut the very principles of America. The government is supposed to be of the people, by the people, for the people. Turning the might of the federal government against the people without just cause only makes it harder for the country to operate because you assholes will just keep investigating each other.
Come to think of it, that may not be such a bad idea after all. Carry on!
Month: June 2026
What Makes a Good Ally?
Happy Pride Month to anyone who celebrates it! (Please check local listings for the month in your area.) Because it’s that time of year again, thoughts inevitably turn to the topic of allyship. In the struggle for gay and trans rights, you need all the allies you can get, right?
Wellllllll…that’s a tricky question. On the surface, it’s pretty simple: do you support gay and trans rights, or are you a homophobic/transphobic asshole? (I said it was simple, not necessarily intellectually honest.) And most of us, I think, would agree people should be treated the same regardless of who they sleep with or identify as to the rest of the world. Especially Gen Xers like your humble correspondent. I care less about who you love than I do how you drive during rush hour.
This is the part that gets tricky. Not every ally is a good one, but if you’re not checking credentials at the main door and the bouncer lets you in anyway, you’re going to wind up like the LGBTQIA+ (or whatever it’s being called this week) is now. Namely, there are some people you’ve allowed in the party who should have been turned away at the door. People who are doing your movement direct harm for personal gain.
And I’m not just talking about Lily Tino here.
One of my Immutable Facts of Politics is the worst enemy of any movement is the movement itself. For the terminally Leftist out there, this means there will come a time when a movement will turn in on itself, creating little factions that compete for control of the movement. My fellow humans of a non-cis lifestyle, the LGBTQIA+ movement has not only reached that point, but had it happen more than a couple of times since I’ve been an adult. Physically, not maturity-wise.
And with every new party that enters the LGBTQIA+ Thunderdome, a new message comes out. We’ve gone from gays wanting to live their lives without being oppressed (which I’m totally cool with) to wanting gays and lesbians to get married (still totally cool with it) to protections for gays and lesbians against hatred (kinda cooling on the being cool with it because of the potential for misapplication) to including trans rights (now we’re getting away from the message) to trans rights being the most important part of the LGBTQIA+ movement (now you’ve lost me).
It seems with every iteration of the movement, we’re seeing less and less common ground to the point you’re starting to scare off the normies. That’s not a good thing. The way to gain acceptance is to not scare off the normies so we can see you as people, not as cartoonish villains with great fashion sense. (Kidding! I kid!)
People like the aforementioned Ms. Tino, Dylan Mulvaney, and others are doing more to hurt the cause than help it. Sure, they bring a lot of attention to trans rights, but it’s mostly negative attention. And if you peer behind the veneer a bit, you notice their motivations aren’t on a grand scale; it’s all about them. The movement takes a back seat when they’re in the spotlight, and they don’t seem to understand if normies get the “ick” from their antics, it’s not due to transphobia. It’s because they’re creepy as hell.
And it goes beyond the trans side of the movement, too. Pride parades have long been a source of concern, even with more gay-friendly people like your humble correspondent. There’s a reason the Right paints Pride parades as shameful Kink-apalooza events: it’s because there are members of the community who treat it like that. Whether it’s drag queen story hours or burly men in leather chaps who may or may not be wearing appropriate undergarments, the movement keeps shooting itself in the feet with a Gatling Gun and blaming homophobia/transphobia. Granted, some of it can be traced to that, but for the most part it’s not. It’s just we need more to go on than what gets the most attention because if that’s what most people see, that’s what they’re going to assume is the norm.
Outside of the movement, you have allies from all walks of life. The issue becomes when alliance moves into enabler territory, which brings us to…I don’t want to call them Karens because all of the Karens I personally know are good people…let’s call them Wine Mom-Americans. These are white women of a certain age caught in what I can only describe is Adolescence 2.0 where being catty is always in vogue and they make the NSA look like Boo Radley with their noses in places they have no business being.
Like the LGBTQIA+ movement.
Wine Mom-Americans treat the movement in terms of what they will get by being pro-LGBTQIA+. Read that carefully, kids. They are in it for themselves, not for the betterment of the people they claim to support.
Take Samantha Richardson, also known as Living Richardson online. To put it mildly, she is a classic narcissist. And by classic, I mean overbearing. She is an outspoken supporter of the LGBTQIA+ movement, but her sentiments have an I problem. To save you the click, here is the text of her June 1st Pride message:
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH 🌈
As a mom, advocate, and human being, I want my children to grow up in a world where people are judged by the content of their character and for not who they love, how they identify, or whether they fit into someone else’s idea of “normal.”
Pride is about visibility, belonging, and recognizing that for many people, simply being themselves has never been easy.
This month, and every month, I’ll continue to support a future where everyone has the right to live openly, safely, and authentically.
Be the you you’ve always been. Proudly. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
#pride
Sure, she says all the right things to appear to be an ally, but there’s definitely a “look at me being an ally” vibe there. And because it’s not about the movement so much as it is about being the center of attention, people like Ms. Richardson will justify anything so long as she can still be seen as an ally.
That, ladies and gentlemen, is classic enabling behavior.
And, as cool as it sounds to have someone like her let you do what you want without judgment, you kinda need to have someone tell you to stop and think about whether your momentary freedom will result in a harder road later on. Unfortunately, I don’t think there are a lot of people willing to say “Whoa” when the movement is heading for a rhetorical brick wall.
Or, in some cases, lobbying for people who would throw you off a brick wall from a great height.
Seriously? Queers for Palestine? That’s like supporting PETA while working at a kill shelter. But I’m sure PETA would never let that happen…oh, wait…
Looking for struggle buddies who want to kill you isn’t going to help the movement and will (and already has) caused members of your community to meet a gruesome end. But, hey, liberation for a group that wants to kill you won’t totally backfire on you and will only result in those people who want to kill you to take up for your cause, amirite?
Here’s the bottom line. If you want to really see a day when nobody cares who you love, you have to give the normies something to work with here. And that starts with recognizing the difference between allies and enablers, and between people who support the cause for selfless reasons and people who support the cause for selfish reasons.
I volunteer to be the ally you need right now. I don’t care who you love, but I will also be there to keep you from going down a path that will make your lives harder. My goal is simple: I want you to be happy, partially because happy people tend not to shoot up schools, but mostly because I love to see people who aren’t me loving life. There’s enough messed up stuff in the world that we need to all have some joy in our lives, and even though I’m straight (or cis if you prefer) I see you as people, not as labels.
There are a few caveats, like not being a jerk, but I’ll let you do you if you extend me the same courtesy. Oh, and don’t ask me to pay for it. You don’t need my sanction nor my wallet to do you. Besides, the economic prosperity of the LGBTQIA+ community makes me consider switching sides, but then I have to break it to my wife and that’s going to be a thing.
Anyway, I wish you the best this month. If current conditions continue, you’re going to need all the good vibes you can get.
Leftist Lexicon Word of the Week
The eyes of the world (or at least the part of the world that cared about this) were on the nation-state of Texas and the Karmelo Anthony trial. If you’ve been living under a rock (which may not be such a bad thing these days), Anthony was accused of murdering Austin Metcalf in April of last year. In a decision that took less time than a PBS pledge break, the jury convicted Anthony, with a sentence of 35 years in prison with the possibility of parole after 17.
Although this piece isn’t about the death penalty, let me make myself crystal clear: any time a murderer gets even a little amount of time at the Gray Bar Hotel, he or she beats the rap. Sure, prison isn’t exactly the Ritz Carlton, but every breath taken by the perp is an insult to the victim and his/her family.
One of the more interesting aspects to the trial was introducing the concept of self-defense as a legal argument. Typically Leftists treat self-defense like it’s a job application, but they occasionally toss it out there in the hopes they can convince a jury, legal or of public opinion, the alleged perp didn du nuthin. But, it’s still worth a gander.
Or a goose if you’d prefer.
self-defense
What the Left thinks it means – an unnecessary tool used by the right wing to justify killing people in cold blood
What it really means – one of the fundamental rights we have, and one the Left wants to remove
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: The Left is all about control over our lives. From their economic policies to their domestic policies, they want to have a say in whatever we do. We got a really good look at what that’s like during COVID by watching how Democrat Governors handled lockdowns.
Spoiler Alert: It fucking sucked.
But there was one positive that came out of it, namely we got to see what Leftists like Gavin “I Have the Hair of an 80s Movie Villain” Newsom, Gretchen “The Gretch Who Stole Christmas” Whitmer, and Andrew “I Didn’t Know Putting COVID Patients With Old People Would End So Badly” Cuomo let their masks (figurative and literal) slip to show what their endgame was. They were amongst the first to institute strict lockdown procedures and amongst the last to lessen those procedures when COVID started winding down.
Oh, and memo to Taylor Lorenz. You can take off the mask now. You look like an idiot, and this time not because of what you say or write.
The Left has the same fascination with control when it comes to self-defense. If they can’t force you to become victims, they will punish you through laws, regulations, and general dumbfuckery. Look at how they push for more gun laws when the existing ones aren’t stopping people from shooting others. It’s their standard MO, like “thoughts and prayers” but with more forms to fill out.
It should come as no surprise the blue states have the strictest gun laws in the country. Yet, these gun laws don’t result in lower gun-related death rates, with blue states recording some pretty high numbers. So, why would Leftists continue to push for more gun laws?
They’re dumbfucks.
Oh, and they want to control people’s lives.
But this goes beyond whether Jethro in Pigfuck, Arkansas or J’wan in New York City wants to pack heat. It can come down to whether Jethro or J’wan can protect himself/herself at a moment’s notice if the situation arises. And with the police being minutes away in most cases (if they even show up at all), that firearm may be the only thing saving Jethro and J’wan from getting robbed or worse.
To give a little grace, 911 can only respond so quickly, and they’re acting as a middle man to alert the police, but they don’t pass any savings onto you. Instead, it makes the possibility of the police showing up just in time to catch the robber smaller than the chances Hunter Biden starts a rehab clinic. Every second that goes by without law enforcement affects the likelihood of capturing the criminal. A lot of times the only thing working in the police’s favor is how fucking stupid the perps are. Not a sucker’s bet by any stretch of the imagination, but not something I’d be willing to risk a life on.
Aside from trying to pass more laws that criminals will ignore because they’re fucking criminals, what else do Leftists suggest? Let’s take a brief look.
– Shoot a shotgun through the door
– Call 911 and then hide or escape until the police show up. But they also say the police are racist and need to be defunded.
– If someone breaks into your house, offer to help them rebuild his/her life.
– Focus on prevention.
– Blame Republicans (naturally)
And these tactics work soooo well, Democrats are still victims of crime from carjackings to home invasions to murder, and many, many more. Being called soft on crime and having attorneys backed by our good friend Uncle George Soros decide not to prosecute actual criminals so they can, surprise surprise, commit more crimes doesn’t help them.
Nor does it help us.
Although the Left is eager to buy the concept of self-defense when it comes to Karmelo Anthony, they aren’t so quick to adopt it when it’s someone they don’t like using it. Just ask Kyle Rittenhouse, who had a legitimate self-defense claim. Even the much-maligned (and justifiably so) George Zimmerman had one. That doesn’t mean the Left has to accept it as legitimate, however. In fact, I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say they would reject most self-defense claims out of hand, except if they see political gain from it or…now this is the weird part, they’re the victims.
I know! I was as shocked as you are.
The point is the Left isn’t going to be a consistent defender of self-defense. Of course you could always self-identify as an oppressed group and watch their heads fucking explode, but there is another way.
Fuck ’em.
Not literally, of course. Never stick your dick in crazy, kids. That goes double for Dylan Mulvaney.
What I mean is you don’t need the Left’s sanction to protect yourself from those who would do you physical, mental, emotional, or fiscal harm. And given how relying on the government to move faster than molasses on a glacier is like relying on Hunter Biden to not do all the crack in a crack den, you’re better off doing it yourself. Take self-defense courses, arm yourself (legally, of course), install cameras, do what you need.
One additional thing I can suggest having lived on the mean streets of a moderately sized Midwestern city, be aware of your surroundings. Know where you are, who is around you, and have at least 2 different means of escaping a bad situation. That alone will help you as much as being strapped.
There is one caveat to any self-defense option you take. You cannot live your life in fear, and yes there is a difference between being afraid and being prepared. Fear is a great motivator, but it motivates you to do the wrong things. Being prepared means you can act calmly and decisively. Most people out there don’t give two fucks about you, or even enough fucks to want to fuck up your life. They’re dealing with the same societal shit you are and may be just as frustrated as you.
This is where you need to show a little humanity if only to spread some light in these dark times. This may seem counterintuitive when dealing with self-defense, but it’s a lot better way to go through life. Being prepared and humane makes you John Wick. Being prepared and anti-social makes you the Punisher. There’s a huge difference, namely in choice of work clothes and vehicles.
In the Karmelo Anthony case, it was a lack of humanity that caused Austin Metcalf’s death and, appropriately enough, negated his self-defense defense. See, the thing about self-defense is you can’t initiate conflict and use it. Call it the “Talk Shit, Get Hit” Principle. Self-defense is always reactionary, which is weird Leftists don’t like it because they’re usually in favor of reactionaries.
Regardless, you don’t have to play by the Left’s rules on this matter. They need you to be victims so they can swoop in and “protect” you via ineffective and illogical laws and enforcement. You don’t have to be one, though. You have the ability to defend yourselves and your loved ones and, even in the bluest of blue states, you’re better off taking a chance on getting arrested than getting killed.
Consider it the ultimate DIY project.
Leftist Lexicon Word of the Week
Since Donald Trump’s second inauguration, there’s been a lot of attention paid to illegal immigration, which is a continuation of Trump’s first inauguration where he paid a lot of attention to…illegal immigration. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say there’s a pattern here…
The latest battleground is at the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey. Allegations of poor conditions prompted Leftists to do what they seem to do on the regular these days: bitch and moan. Things got so bad, Mayor Ras Bakara instituted a curfew that was lifted a few days after it was initiated.
So, Summer of Love 2.0 anyone?
Actually, I think a closer look at Delaney Hall might be in order, if for no other reason than to give me something else to write about besides Graham Platner who has a literal Nazi tattoo. Oh, and is a total scumbag.
Delaney Hall
What the Left thinks it means – a horrible place indicative of Trump’s cruel treatment of undocumented aliens
What it really means – an ICE detainment facility that has turned into a focal point of stupidity
Delaney Hall is a relatively new building, but it already has a history which include, surprise surprise, protests. (Hey, if Uncle George Soros is willing to part with some of his cash, I’d be willing to protest full time, too!)
Where things got chippy was during a 2025 “oversight” inspection conducted by Rep. LaMonica McIver and two of her fellow New Jersey Representatives. And by oversight, I mean “making a fucking spectacle of herself,” where Rep. McIver tried to throw hands and wound up catching 3 felony charges for, you know, trying to throw hands at ICE officers.
The fact McIver isn’t trying out for a reboot of “Orange Is the New Black” is beyond me, but it set off a series of stunts where Congresscritters would bypass normal operating procedures and just show up whenever they wanted and expected, nay, demanded entry.
How’d that work out for ya, dipshits?
Not very well, but it created a framework by which Leftists could ratchet up their protests. After all, shouldn’t a Congresscritter be allowed to see the facility using Congressional oversight authority?
Yeaaaaaah. Not really.
Congressional oversight may be broad in nature, but it has to be related to the functions of Congress, not some capricious whim that Leftists thinks covers the powers of the legislature. ICE is a part of the Department of Homeland Security, which puts it in the Executive Branch, as is Customs and Border Protection. The role of Congressional oversight includes making sure laws are being carried out.
You know, like immigration law?
Anyway, the investigative part of Congressional oversight is typically done by having show trials…I mean PR stunts…I mean Congressional hearings. Although, to be fair, I would prefer more listening at these hearings, so calling them “hearings” is a bit misleading.
Much like what’s going on at Delaney Hall.
The Left has to try to make detention centers look and sound like concentration camps because it fits in with their existing “Trump is a Nazi” narrative. The problem? The narrative doesn’t fit the reality. The detainees get decent meals, which is vastly different from what was served at concentration camps. As far as the other allegations of subpar conditions, that’s subject to debate based on Tom Homan’s recent visit to Delaney Hall. Say what you will about the man (and believe me Leftists have said a shit-ton), Homan isn’t exactly the type to sugarcoat anything, especially if it’s bullshit. Just ask the Socialist Socialite.
This brings us to the “who benefits” portion of the program. On the one hand, we have Tom Homan, who admittedly has a vested interest in keeping Delaney Hall open due to his position as Border Czar. On the other hand, we have detainees, prison advocates, and politicians who have a vested interest in shutting down Delaney Hall. Both have reasons to lie or at least distort the truth to protect their positions.
That’s where we have to dig a little deeper and ask why someone on either side of this discussion would lie. Homan has been in law enforcement for decades prior to his current role and has a track record of dealing with illegal immigration. His “why” can be distilled down to wanting to protect his image and/or the Trump Administration. Not necessarily admirable if he lied, but understandable.
The same can’t be said for the detainees, advocates, and politicians, however. The Left has built a Kobayashi Maru (or at least they think they have) by boosting the claims of mistreatment, malnutrition, and medical malpractice. (And with that, I have earned my Unnecessary Alliteration Merit Badge from the Snark Scouts.) The problem? Their claims can’t be verified independently. Consider it Schrodinger’s Detention Facility. If you can’t see the detainees, you can’t tell if they’re being mistreated, but if you do and the detainees aren’t being mistreated, you either have to reject the narrative (rendering it all bullshit from the jump) or you have to perpetuate it (rendering it all bullshit after the jump).
And remember, kids, Leftists are smarter than us. Just ask them.
And, contrary to Leftist squawking points, dropping in unannounced but with a full camera crew and a throng of humanity backing you up isn’t the proper channels to visit Delaney Hall, or any detention facility anywhere. Before you can step foot in a prison, you have a cadre of investigation about facets of your existence that make the TSA look like rubber-stamping paper pushers. What these Congresscritters and their minions want to do is circumvent the rules because…reasons.
That means the detainees, advocates, and politicians all have a vastly different why than Homan. Their why comes down to protecting the power they have and playing hard and fast with established protocols for a political end.
When put that way, the “who benefits” clearly doesn’t bode well for the Left. Granted, Homan may have similar motivations, but he hasn’t tried to make every illegal immigrant into a sob story where he or she just wants a better life.
Kate Steinle was unavailable for comment.
Look, discussing immigration is like tap dancing in a minefield wearing clown shoes, but there are reasons why we have laws on the books. Instead of trying to prevent said laws from being enforced because your fee-fees get hurt, change the fucking laws. Sure, that would require you to win House and Senate elections while maintaining a favorability rating just south of leprosy, but that’s what you signed up for when you were elected.
As far as Delaney Hall’s alleged lack of oversight, let me put it this way. The Trump Administration is under the microscope so much they have glass slides permanently affixed to their asses. If they were truly as horrible as the Left claims, we would know about it because you Leftists wouldn’t shut the fuck up about it.
By the way, Chicken Little called. He wants his bit back.
Even with all that, I still think the Trump Administration should allow Congresscritters and critics to visit Delaney Hall with some conditions I put together.
1. They have to sign a contract binding them to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth under threat of libel/slander.
2. Everyone who goes inside gets an accountabilibuddy to make sure they abide by the terms of the contract.
3. Everyone who goes inside spends a full day inside so they get an actual day in the life.
4. Both the interested party and the accountabilibuddy have to wear bodycams.
5. If the interested party leaves the facility and fails to tell the truth, he/she (still two genders, kids) must get a tattoo on his/her forehead reading “Liar.” The judges would have also accepted “I’m A Dumbass” for people with more forehead space than brains.
6. Public mockery.
Okay, so I threw in that last one because I want it to happen, but you get the picture. The only way to get a true sense of what Delaney Hall is like is to ensure there is as little wiggle room to lie as possible. My humble proposal will go a long way towards getting the transparency necessary to ensure conditions are habitable.
Plus, I want to throw some business to the tattoo artists out there!
The Fall of the Kingmaker
Bob vander Plaats has been making bad endorsements for the past decade. The latest in this long line of losses was the endorsement for Adam Steen for Iowa Governor in this week’s primary election. And the first was picking Senator Cruz over the people’s choice of Donald Trump in 2016.
Donald Trump was a guest of The Family Leader a year or two before he decided to run for President. And Bob himself made a couple of trips out to NYC and Trump Tower. He spent time with the future President. But throw it all away.
He could have been a great voice for Christ and supported Trump’s bid for President in 2016. But he didn’t. The question has always been “why didn’t Bob vander Plaats do this?”
There have been several possibilities floating around for years. They had a falling out was one. The companionship formed with Steve Deace is thought to be another. And on the surface these are all valid reasons. But they too are just more symptoms of the Kingmaker’s fall.
No the real reason is due to the loss of the one person that kept Bob vander Plaats from being his own worst enemy. That one person, in Bob’s own words, “knew where they bodies were buried,” at The Family Leader.
The same person who was wrote the very letter that was given to then governor candidate for the 3rd time, Bob vander Plaats, on the night he lost that primary race. The letter that offered him the presidency and CEO position at the Iowa Family Policy Center that would later be renamed as The Family Leader.
That person was Kristen Rheinherren, nee Major. The Director of Development at the Iowa Family Policy Center. She is 100% responsible for text of that offer that Bob took. She wrote that recruitment letter.
And in June 2015, Kristen resigned from The Family Leader to pursue other opportunities. The date is strikingly haunting considering it’s when Bob started down that path of bad endorsements just after that departure.
Since 2015 Kristen hasn’t been around to give her voice to the staff meetings and private meetings with the leadership of The Family Leader. Kristen you see was a prayer warrior the likes of which are rarely seen. And without her, The Family Leader has suffered.
Bad choices in endorsing candidates and causes, one after the other. None of which Kristen would have supported and could have possibly talked Bob out of endorsing them publicly.
Kristen passed from this world and into Christ’s loving arms in 2020. So there is no way for her to ever return to The Family Leader to offer her thoughts and speaker her mind. And they will likely to continue to be more and more irrelevant in Iowa and national politics in the future.