Cal Thomas: A new conservative wave

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Today is Thursday, June 13th, 2024. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Myrna Brown.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: And I’m Mary Reichard. WORLD Commentator Cal Thomas now with thoughts about what a shift to the political right in Europe might mean for the United States.

CAL THOMAS: The 1970s are remembered for many things: the end of the Vietnam War, Richard Nixon’s resignation from the presidency, American hostages held for 444 days by Iran, and—unfortunately—disco.

In 1978, Pope John Paul II became leader of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1979, Margaret Thatcher was elected as Britain’s first female Prime Minister. With two conservatives in power the political trifecta was completed with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980.

Those events make me hopeful that a second conservative coming may be about to happen. Once again, large parts of Europe are leading the way.

Mainstream news stories suggest fascism may be about to return to the continent. Using the preferred language of the left, Politico reports that “far-right forces made major gains” and that France’s National Rally is now “the leading ultra nationalist group in the next parliament.” Notice the word choices, including “ultra,” which they never define.

Shouldn’t Europeans be concerned in the same way as many Americans about open borders, high taxes, jobs taken by migrants, lawlessness, crime, and inflation? Add to that centralized government in Brussels, Russia’s hunger for expansion, and a general feeling of despair about where their countries and continent are headed. The European (and American) media continue to frame all things liberal as good—even when their policies fail—and conservative policies bad, even when their policies work.

What amazes in Europe and the U.S. is why so many voters seem double-minded when it comes to policies that work and policies that don’t. I think it has something to do with voters who cast ballots based on feelings and a herd mentality, including the vacuous “I’ve always voted this way.”

A debate and an election run strictly on issues and what has been proven to work in the past, and what hasn’t, would be the way to build and sustain strong nations rather than a “take mentality” based on what you think you are entitled to.

In the U.S., Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is planning a major legislative agenda should Donald Trump win the election and Republicans take control of the Senate and keep their House majority, or expand it. Predictions of a “red wave” didn’t materialize in the 2020 election or 2022 midterms, so Republicans should be humble while working harder this time.

The one unknown is Donald Trump. Unlike Reagan in 1980, Trump has a considerable amount of baggage. So far he has promised to finish the border wall and deport migrants who broke our laws to get here, keep taxes low, build up the military, and other things our system of checks and balances may, or may not, allow him to do.

Four decades ago events in Europe were a foretaste of what was to come in the U.S. Many of the circumstances were the same then. We are about to find out if conservatism with its workable common sense policies will return in November.

I’m Cal Thomas.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.