Even after Republicans seriously underperformed last night in an off-year election, they are trying to spin it as “It’s not a big deal, the blue states would have won anyway.” The strategy appears to be full steam ahead, in denial of a problem with voters. Suit yourself.

A recent comment by Johnson tipped me off to the real strategy, though. When Johnson quipped that the government might stay shut down until the first of the year, it occurred to me that he knows something about Trump’s health that we don’t. There are several posters on social media, some doctors who specialize in stroke patients and cardiology, who are speculating about Trump’s failing health. Between the jaw drooping on one side, the pee bottle in the leg, and the cognitive decline, something is clearly wrong. Some give him 4-6 months, or less. This is why I read past all of the posters who get their undies in a bunch over him running for a third term. Ain’t gonna happen.

I think Johnson is privy to this and is holding out for Trump’s failing health to force the issue on the 25th Amendment, at which point, Trump’s name in the Epstein files won’t matter as much because he’s not President anymore. It’s a brilliant strategy if it works, but risky. He’ll be taking the heat every day he doesn’t reopen the government. Democrats are wise to let healthcare premiums skyrocket and SNAP benefits disappear in the meantime, because until red state voters feel the pain in a very personal way, they are likely to continue to support Trump.