Rubio and Trump on Ukraine; Stefanik on Neo-Nazi Gun Control in NYS

8:11 AM Monday.

Regarding How Trump's 28-Point Plan for Ukraine Shocked the World, I am wondering if Secretary Rubio and President Trump are expertly balancing a good cop-bad cop relationship with President Zelensky, or if Trump is caving to the Vance-Carlson wing of the GOP, which is presently swimming in some very dark waters (cf. Why Republicans Are Fighting About the Nazis | The New York Times). I don't know, what does Congresswoman Stefanik think about making an appearance on Tucker Carlson - would it be good for her electability in New York, or would it drag her down, unless perhaps Carlson admits that his interview of Fuentes was a bad judgment call? The GOP is not looking to mobilize the Groypers in New York, is it? These are disturbed individuals who need treatment. They are probably red flag cases. But Stefanik does not support New York State red flag law - she believes it infringes on the Second Amendment. I don't know, I tend to think that neo-Nazis need mental health treatment and they shouldn't be allowed to own firearms in New York State. 

Maybe Stefanik is just too extreme to win the governorship. I definitely don't think Hochul is the worst governor in America. I don't think we should speak about any of our governors that way. But Stefanik's ad rollout was pitched for NYC in the wake of Mamdani's election. Maybe that is why it has the feel of a Bruckheimer summer blockbuster trailer. Stefanik still has a lot of room to shape her campaign. She could flip me from Hochul before all is said and done. But I think I am probably a lot more conservative than Stefanik when it comes to the Second Amendment. I mean conservative in the European and Australian sense that I don't want to see guns in any but the most responsible of hands here in New York State. I don't think non-citizens should be allowed to have guns unless they are specially permitted for hunting, sport, or foreign dignitary security details. I think naturalized citizens should probably have to go through a waiting period to own a personal firearm. I think red flag laws should be rigorously used by NYS social services and law enforcement. I support the NYS ban on automatic weapons and would like to see tougher restrictions on semi-automatic weapons, too. My guess is that if Stefanik wants to win in New York, she will need to demonstrate a moderate-to-liberal Republican stance on many issues, including gun control. That's what Governor Pataki did.

It looks like there are only two Republican governors of blue states right now, and they are both in the northeast (Vermont and New Hampshire). According to Google Gemini, "Phil Scott is a quintessential moderate, socially liberal, and fiscally conservative Northeastern Republican, whereas Kelly Ayotte is a conservative who has more recently aligned with the MAGA base and Donald Trump."

It will be very interesting to see which way Stefanik develops, and how Hochul responds. This is an important race to watch.

End 9:38 AM.