Tea at Trianon: We Lost a Battle, Not the War

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Friday, November 6, 2026

We Lost a Battle, Not the War

From Direct Line News:

The 2026 election is behind us. The road to 2028 and 2030 begins today, and Republicans cannot afford to waste another minute.
Well, last night certainly didn’t go the way we wanted.
I’m not going to sugarcoat it, make excuses, or try putting lipstick on a pig. Republicans took some punches. We lost races we wanted to win. Some of those losses hurt.
But my friends, we lost a battle, not the war.
I’ve been involved in Republican politics for more than four decades. I’ve seen great victories, embarrassing defeats, and just about everything in between. If I’ve learned one thing, it’s that political fortunes change.
Today, we dust ourselves off and get back to work.
Our Principles Didn’t Lose Their Value Overnight
I remain convinced that Republican principles of limited government, lower taxes, free enterprise, and individual responsibility offer the better economic approach.
Government cannot tax, spend, and regulate its way to prosperity. You don’t generate lasting economic growth by making businesses jump through more hoops or taking another bite out of family paychecks.
Look at Maryland.
Governor Wes Moore and the Democrats in Annapolis still haven’t solved our structural budget problems. Maryland’s own fiscal analysts project a $2.57 billion structural deficit in fiscal 2028, growing to $3.44 billion by 2030.¹
And what should taxpayers expect next?
More tax hikes? More fee hikes? Some imaginary new thing to tax that nobody has thought of yet?
Sometimes I wonder whether Annapolis has a committee whose sole responsibility is discovering something Marylanders haven’t been taxed on.
I’m joking, of course. Unfortunately, the budget problems aren’t funny.
Washington’s Next Two Years Could Be a Circus
Democrats have regained control of Congress, and I’m concerned about where their priorities will lead.
We’ve already heard talk of investigations, subpoenas, and possible impeachment proceedings.² Congressional oversight has its place, but Americans didn’t send representatives to Washington to stage another two-year political food fight.
People want affordable groceries, reasonable energy bills, attainable housing, and opportunities to get ahead.
Democratic leaders say affordability is on their agenda. Good. Let’s see whether they deliver results or spend their time pursuing political investigations and expanding government programs.
I also reject the notion that Americans must embrace socialism to solve economic problems. Markets aren’t perfect, but government control isn’t some magical cure.
And while we’re discussing principles, antisemitism has absolutely no place in American politics. Not on the left. Not on the right. Nowhere.
The Road to 2028 Starts This Morning
Here’s where Republicans need to stop complaining and start organizing.
If you’re thinking about running for office in 2028 or 2030, start today.
Not next summer. Not six months before filing deadlines. Today.
We need to recruit candidates for County Executive, County Council, the General Assembly, Congress, and local offices. We need candidate training, fundraising networks, better communications, year-round community involvement, and serious proposals addressing affordability.
And we need to compete in places we’ve practically surrendered without a fight. (Read more.)