If Tucker Carlson wanted to run for the GOP presidential nomination, there’s a real chance he could win. He is a populist, like Trump. He’s charismatic. He’s the best-known political/media figure on the right. He’s 53. FDR was 50 when he announced for president. Tucker’s a believer (Episcopalian), married to his first wife. He prays. He’s articulate, well-spoken, smart entertainer. His father is a Marine. He’s unafraid to go after — with humor — the potentates who run the country. He collects the right enemies, including, now, Rupert Murdoch. On the other hand, he has no experience building and running any kind of campaign organization. He has no visible friend who could step forward and make up for this shortcoming, people like the team that helped Gen. Eisenhower in 1952. He lacks money on the scale Trump has it, a big handicap (though one observer thinks Tucker's fame would make him an instant “online fundraising juggernaut”).  With decades of public exposure behind him, Tucker...

Protesters at Albany State University of New York, while shutting down a conservative free speech event during Holy Week, trashed and discarded one attendee’s Bible (see above). To me, religion explains today’s split America. Look at Democratic-backed candidate Janet Protaswiecz's April 4 Wisconsin state Supreme Court election victory. It shows abortion’s enduring power in the aftermath of last Summer’s Roe v. Wade's reversal.  Protasiewicz defeated her conservative opponent by 11% . The Democrat’s ads pounded home her backing for abortion, an unusual tactic in a judicial election. Protasiewicz’s win gives Wisconsin progressive justices a 4-3 majority, enough to overturn the state's 174-year-old total abortion ban — restored once Roe v. Wade was gone. Earlier, this blog identified Roe v. Wade’s end as the reason Republicans so underperformed last November. “Right to Choose,” important to conservatives on most issues, on abortion works for progressives. Choice prevaile...