The Illogical Election

CAL THOMAS

For release: 10/20/26

The illogical 2026 elections

By Cal Thomas

If politics was logical, Republicans should be leading in the polls and looking  forward to maintaining, even expanding,

their congressional majorities.

Putting aside President Trump’s annoying personality, his vulgar language

and his narcissistic behavior – as difficult as that might be for many people –

Republicans should be asking voters these questions: Do you remember why

you voted out the Democrats two years ago because of their economic and crazy

policies like transgender athletes in women’s sports? If you do, why would you return them to the majority in Congress which will result in investigations and another possible impeachment of the president and members of his cabinet?

Will that improve your life?

Yes, the Iran war is frustrating, but the unacceptable alternative to stopping the fanatical Iranian regime from getting a nuclear weapon is allowing them to have one. Do you know nothing about their fundamentalist doctrines that teach they

have a duty to kill Jews, Christians and anyone else who believes differently from

them?

Are you unaware of recent economic progress? According to the Unleash Prosperity newsletter, which offers insider updates on what’s happening with the economy: “After four months ofdecline due to high energy prices, real household income showed a rebound in

August and September. Median household income rose to $88,667 in August, nearly the highest income level ever, and up to Trump’s second term began!  In his four years in office real incomes barely budged under Biden.” According to the Census

Bureau, the poverty rate fell to 10.2 percent last year, the lowest on record dating back to 1967.

It gets better.

The president promised to control the southern border and he has. A White

House press release makes the case: ‘Illegal border crossings have plummeted to their lowest level since the 1970s, with migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border dropping dramatically in 2025. The U.S. achieved negative net migration 2025 – the first time in over 50 years– reversing decades of unchecked migration and restoring control over our sovereignty.” Plus, the administration

claims to have deported 500,000 immigrants with criminal records. Yes, there has been some overreaction by ICE, but this pales when compared to the crimes committed by the deportees.

Want more?

Except in big cities like Chicago and St. Louis where, to some, murders appear to have become the “new normal,” the administration can legitimately brag about the decline in overall crime.

According to FBI data, violent crime in America dropped 9.7 percent in 2025 – the largest one-year decline in history. Nationally, murder fell 18.1 percent, robbery fell 18.5 percent and America’s violent crime rate is its lowest since 1900. Trump and the Republican Congress

made tax cuts permanent. The downside is they didn’t attack the $40 trillion debt. The president also significantly reduced

the number of federal employees and repealed 129 regulations for every new one, according to the Office of

Management and Budget.

Plants and manufacturing jobs have returned or been brought to America.

Ford is moving Lincoln production out of China starting in 2030. Toyota is shifting a major portion of its Tacoma production from Mexico to Texas in 2030.  Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and others are expanding U.S. production. Power plants and refineries are being built.

Why don’t more people know this? It’s because the major media largely ignore it, preferring to focus on the horse race and Democrats, who have no policies.

It takes time to turnaround the failures of the Biden and Obama administrations, but things are moving in the right direction. Putting Democrats

back in the majority in the House, Senate, or both will stall this progress.

If only the president would make the campaign less about himself and start

asking some of the above questions for voters to ponder, or would it be illogical to expect that of him?

Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (HumanixBooks).

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