CONWAY — Say this if nothing else for President Donald J. Trump: He has made Americans care about politics again.
Gone are the days when politics was a specialist's game, when eyes rolled and conversation stopped when a president's name was mentioned at dinner, when only insiders and lobbyists — "cowardly lawyers and wretched babblers," in Napoleon Bonaparte's phrase from 1797 — cared about what committees of the House of Representatives were up to.
kAm%@52J p>6C:42?D 2C6 EC2?D7:I65 H:E9 A@=:E:4D — 2?5 2E E96 G6CJ D2>6 E:>6 6I2DA6C2E65 2?5 6I92FDE65 3J E96 DF3;64E] p82:?i %96 4C65:E[ @C E96 3=2>6[ 8@6D E@ %CF>A]k^Am
kAmxE 92D =@?8 366? 2 ECF:D> E92E[ 2D w686= @?46 AFE :E[ 9F>2?<:?5VD 92AA:6DE 52JD H6C6 HC:EE6? @? E96 3=2?< A286D @7 9:DE@CJ[ H9:49 :D E@ D2J E92E A6C:@5D H96? ?@E >F49 2E 2== 92AA6?65 H6C6 2=D@ A6C:@5D @7 8C62E 4@?E6?E>6?E] (6 5@ ?@E =:G6 :? DF49 2 E:>6]k^Am
kAm~FC 6C2 :D 7F== @7 ?6HD[ 2?5 7:89E:?8 @G6C E96 ?6HD[ 2?5 32EE=6D @G6C H92E 4@?DE:EFE6D ?6HD] %96C6 2C6 ?@ 3=2?< A286D 7@C FD — ?@E H96?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 C646?E (2== $EC66E y@FC?2=^}qr }6HD !@==[ >@C6 E92? a @FE @7 b p>6C:42?D FD6 D@4:2= >65:2 2E =62DE @?46 2 52J[ AC@5F4:?8 2 4C@H565 A286 7@C @FC 286] %96 AC6D:56?E EH66E65 2? 2G6C286 @7 >@C6 E92? `d E:>6D 2 52J :? E96 7:CDE 92=7 @7 E9:D J62C] %96 @E96C 52J[ 96 EH66E65 23@FE 2 7@C>6C p>6C:42? 2>32DD25@C E@ &<C2:?6 H9:=6 D96 H2D E6DE:7J:?8 :? E96 :>A6249>6?E 962C:?8D]k^Am
kAm%92E D2>6 y@FC?2=^}qr }6HD !@== 925 2? 6G6? >@C6 2DE@?:D9:?8 2?5 >@C6 D:8?:7:42?E 7:?5:?8i %@52J gf A6C46?E @7 p>6C:42?D C2E6 A@=:E:4D :>A@CE2?E :? E96:C =:G6D] x? yF?6 `hh_[ ;FDE >@?E9D 27E6C q:== r=:?E@? H2D :>A624965 2?5 E96? 24BF:EE65 :? 2 3:EE6C $6?2E6 EC:2=[ @?=J d_ A6C46?E @7 p>6C:42?D 4@?D:56C65 A@=:E:4D :>A@CE2?E] %96 %CF>A :>A6249>6?E :? E96 w@FD6[ H9:49 :D 2=>@DE 46CE2:?[ 2?5 9:D EC:2= :? E96 $6?2E6 H:== @44FC :? 2 G2DE=J 5:776C6?E 6?G:C@?>6?E]k^Am
kAm%96C6VD A=6?EJ @7 6G:56?46 E@ AC@G6 E92EVD ECF6] %96 C2E6 @7 p>6C:42?D G@E:?8 :? =2DE J62CVD >:5E6C> 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 6=64E:@?D[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ H2D 2DE@?:D9:?8j 23@FE 92=7 @7 E9@D6 6=:8:3=6 H6?E E@ E96 A@==D[ E96 9:896DE 7:8FC6 :? >@C6 E92? 2 46?EFCJ] %92E 4@>A2C6D 72G@C23=J H:E9 E96 C2E6 @7 G@E:?8 :? E96 J62C r=:?E@? H@? 9:D $6?2E6 24BF:EE2=j E92E J62C[ c`]g A6C46?E @7 p>6C:42?D G@E65]k^Am
kAmQ%96 :?E6C6DE :? E9:D Wa_a_X 6=64E:@? :D 36J@?5 36=:67[Q D2:5 y2>6D r2CG:==6[ E96 G6E6C2? s6>@4C2E:4 A@=:E:42= 4@?DF=E2?E] Q%96 :?E6C6DE :D?VE F?FDF2=] xE :D DEC2E@DA96C:4]Qk^Am
kAmpD 4C@H5D 96C6 :? }6H w2>AD9:C6[ D:E6 @7 E96 7:CDE AC:>2CJ[ 2?5 x@H2[ D:E6 @7 E96 7:CDE 42F4FD6D[ 56>@?DEC2E6[ :?E6C6DE :D 2D 9:89 ?@H[ `` >@?E9D 7C@> E96 6=64E:@?[ 2D :E 4FDE@>2C:=J :D C:89E 367@C6 E96 86?6C2=\6=64E:@? 32==@E:?8]k^Am
kAmQ%96 EFC?@FE 7@C E96 s6>@4C2E:4 42?5:52E6 6G6?ED 92D 366? G6CJ 9:89 4@>A2C65 E@ H92E x 92G6 D66? H:E9 A2DE AC:>2C:6D[Q D2:5 {:?52 {] u@H=6C[ 2 A@=:E:42= D4:6?E:DE 2E s2CE>@FE9 r@==686 96C6] Q!6@A=6 2C6 6?6C8:K65[ 3FE ?@E ?646DD2C:=J 4@>>:EE65 E@ 2 A2CE:4F=2C 42?5:52E6]Qk^Am
kAm}@E E92E 2== E9:D 24E:G:EJ 2?5 D6?D6 @7 :?G@=G6>6?E :D 4C62E:?8 2 4@F?ECJ @7 4@?E6?E>6?E] %96 A@== D9@H65 E92E cb A6C46?E @7 p>6C:42?D 92G6 DE@AA65 E2=<:?8 23@FE A@=:E:4D H:E9 C6=2E:G6D @C 4=@D6 7C:6?5D H:E9 H9@> E96J 5:D28C66] p3@FE 2 BF2CE6C @7 p>6C:42?D 92G6 3=@4<65 @C F?7C:6?565 7C@> u2463@@< A6@A=6 H9@ 9@=5 A@=:E:42= G:6HD 5:776C6?E 7C@> E96:CD]k^Am
kAm}@C >:89E 2== E9:D :?E6C6DE 2?5 24E:G:EJ >2<6 2 5:776C6?46] x? 2? 6J6\@A6?:?8 3@@< E@ 36 AF3=:D965 E9C66 H66<D 367@C6 E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 AC:>2CJ[ Q!@=:E:4D xD 7@C !@H6Ci w@H E@ |@G6 q6J@?5 !@=:E:4D w@33J:D>[ %2<6 p4E:@?[ 2?5 |2<6 #62= r92?86[Q E96 %F7ED &?:G6CD:EJ A@=:E:42= D4:6?E:DE t:E2? w6CD9 2C8F6D E92E 2 =@E @7 H92E A2DD6D 2D A@=:E:42= 24E:G:EJ 96C6 2?5 6=D6H96C6 :D D@F?5 2?5 7FCJ[ D:8?:7J:?8 ?@E9:?8]k^Am
kAmQ'@C24:@FD=J 4@?DF>:?8 A@=:E:4D @C E:?<6C:?8 @?=:?6 D66>D 92C>=6DD[ 3FE :EVD 2 AC@3=6> 7@C EH@ >2:? C62D@?D[Q w6CD9 D2JD[ 2C8F:?8 E92E E92E 7@C> @7 A@=:E:4D D:>A=J >2<6D E9:?8D H@CD6] Q~FC 4@==64E:G6 EC62E>6?E @7 A@=:E:4D 2D :7 :E H6C6 2 DA@CE 27764ED 9@H A@=:E:4:2?D 3692G6] %96J :?4C62D:?8=J 36=:6G6 E96J 36?67:E 7C@> 7665:?8 E96 C65 >62E @7 @FEC286 E@ E96:C C6DA64E:G6 32D6D[ 4@?DE2?E=J 8C2?5DE2?5:?8 7@C E96 492?46 E92E 2 G:56@ @7 E96>D6=G6D H:== 8@ G:C2=] x? EC62E:?8 A@=:E:4D =:<6 2 9@33J[ H6 92G6 56>2?565 E96J 24E E92E H2J]Qk^Am
kAm%96 DECF88=6 7@C E96 s6>@4C2E:4 ?@>:?2E:@? 96C6 2?5 :? x@H2 C6>2:?D :? 7=FI] u@FC 42?5:52E6D — 7@C>6C ':46 !C6D:56?E y@D6A9 q:56? yC][ $6?D] t=:K236E9 (2CC6? 2?5 q6C?:6 $2?56CD 2?5 |2J@C !6E6 qFEE:8:68 @7 $@FE9 q6?5[ x?5:2?2 — C6>2:? :? E96 E@A E:6C] p3@FE 92=7 @7 =:<6=J 42F4FD\8@6CD :? x@H2 :?5:42E6 E96J 2C6 @A6? E@ 492?8:?8 E96:C >:?5D 367@C6 u63] b[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 C646?E "F:??:A:24 &?:G6CD:EJ A@==] %96C6 :D ?@ C62D@? E@ E9:?< E92E }6H w2>AD9:C6 G@E6CD 2C6 >F49 5:776C6?E]k^Am
kAm%92EVD 3642FD6 96C6 :? E96 vC2?:E6 $E2E6[ 2 ?6H 5J?2>:4 :D E2<:?8 9@=5 E92E 92D E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ @7 D4C2>3=:?8 2== E96 2DDF>AE:@?D]k^Am
kAm%9:D C246 2=C625J H2D F?FDF2= 3642FD6 @7 E96 AC6D6?46 @7 EH@ 42?5:52E6D 7C@> DE2E6D 3@C56C:?8 }6H w2>AD9:C6[ (2CC6? W@7 |2DD249FD6EEDX 2?5 $2?56CD W@7 '6C>@?EX] x? 2 AC:>2CJ H:E9 2 9:DE@CJ @7 72G@C:?8 42?5:52E6D 7C@> ?6:893@C:?8 DE2E6D — 7C@> $6?] y@9? u] z6??65J @7 |2DD249FD6EED :? `he_ E@ 7@C>6C v@G] |:EE #@>?6J[ 2=D@ @7 |2DD249FD6EED[ :? a_`a — E92E AC6D6?E65 2? F?FDF2= AFKK=6 7@C AF?5:ED 2?5 2? F?FDF2= 492==6?86 7@C A@=:E:42= AC@76DD:@?2=D]k^Am
kAmqFE ?@H[ H:E9 E96 6?ECJ :?E@ E96 C246 @7 7@C>6C v@G] s6G2= !2EC:4< @7 |2DD249FD6EED[ E96C6 2C6 E9C66 }6H w2>AD9:C6 ?6:893@CD :? E96 AC:>2CJ 7:89E] &?=:<6 E96 @E96C EH@[ H9@ 92G6 :?G6DE65 >@?E9D 2?5 >:==:@?D :? E96:C 42>A2:8?D[ !2EC:4< :D ;FDE 86EE:?8 DE2CE65] w6 92D >:DD65 E96 492?46 E@ A:4< FA E96 62C=J DFAA@CE @7 E96 24E:G:DED H9@ 42? 4C62E6 2? @C82?:K2E:@? 2?5 2 3FKK[ EH@ G:E2= 724E@CD :? 2 DE2E6 E92E AC:K6D :ED A@D:E:@? 2D 2 A@=:E:42= 2C3:E6C]k^Am
kAmp?5 J6E q@DE@? E6=6G:D:@? :D 2? :>A@CE2?E :?7=F6?46 :? }6H w2>AD9:C6[ 2?5 8@G6C?@CD — H9@ AC6D6?E 3F586ED[ 7246 C6A62E65 DECF88=6D H:E9 DE2E6 =68:D=2E@CD 2?5 2C6 E96 7@4FD @7 2EE6?E:@? 5FC:?8 =@42= EC2865:6D 2?5 4C:D6D — C646:G6 >@C6 4@G6C286 E92? 5@ D6?2E@CD[ H9@D6 H@C< :D 72C 7C@> =@42= DEF5:@D 2?5 @FE @7 E96 C2?86 @7 q@DE@? E6=6G:D:@? 42>6C2D]k^Am
kAm%92E >62?D E92E !2EC:4<[ F?=:<6 2?@E96C =2E6 6?EC2?E[ 7@C>6C |2J@C |:4926= q=@@>36C8 @7 }6H *@C<[ 5@6D ?@E 6?E6C E96 C246 96C6 7C@> 2 DE2?5:?8 DE2CE] %9FD 2 ?6H a_a_ BF6DE:@?i r2? E96 q=@@>36C8 3:==:@?D 4@>A6E6 H:E9 >6>@C:6D @7 !2EC:4< 92?5=:?8 EC2?D:E 4C:D6D 2?5 7:89E:?8 7@C 42D:?@ 82>3=:?8nk^Am
kAmk6>ms2G:5 |] $9C:3>2? :D E96 7@C>6C 6I64FE:G6 65:E@C @7 E96 !:EED3FC89 !@DE\v2K6EE6] w6 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>Qm5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>k^2m[ @C 7@==@H 9:> @? %H:EE6C 2E $9C:3>2?!v] %96 !F=:EK6C !C:K6\H:??:?8 ;@FC?2=:DE 92D 2 G242E:@? 9@>6 :? z62CD2C86]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.