The Morning Briefing: Tulsi Gabbard Is SO Close to Being Cool

Top O’ the Briefing

Happy Tuesday, dear Kruiser Morning Briefing friends. Derek still defends his “My yard, my dress code” policy despite the shrieks of horror from the neighbors.

There is a lot to like about former Hawai’i congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. Her military service. Her aloha vibe. The workout vids that she kept posting during the 2020 Democratic primary race. My personal favorite is the fact that Gabbard outlasted Kamala Harris in that primary after Harris had derisively dismissed her in the early days of the race. Harris did that, by the way, because Gabbard had just lit her up in a debate.

There’s also the fact that, unlike most prominent Democrats today, Gabbard occasionally gets something right. Matt has an example:

Former congresswoman from Hawaii and Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard blasted the Biden administration for promoting puberty blockers for children, which the FDA recently acknowledged can have devastating health impacts on children.

“The FDA made a disturbing, but not at all surprising announcement just a few days ago about children’s health,” Gabbard declared in a video posted to Twitter. “Now, if you haven’t heard about it, or, if you missed it, it is because the mainstream media and the Biden-Harris administration have been completely silent on it. This warning that the FDA issued was basically saying that puberty blockers can cause serious health risks for our kids. Unfortunately, at almost the exact same time the FDA issued this warning, Biden-Harris administration officials were making public statements actively promoting the use of puberty blockers and irreversible surgeries for kids.”

“Now, let’s be clear: this administration is dangerously promoting child abuse,” she added.

Amen, sister!

It’s moments like these that make it feel as if Gabbard is on our side.

But she’s not.

Tulsi Gabbard is still a proud Democrat. Unlike most of her contemporaries, however, she’s not an insane Democrat.

Democrats like Gabbard, Kyrsten Sinema, and — until this week — Joe Manchin are often referred to as “conservative Democrats.” Twenty-five years ago they would have merely been “Democrats.”

Unbeknownst to Americans born after, say, 1988, Democrats and Republicans used to be able to find enough common ground to keep things pleasant. I’ve been a conservative in the entertainment industry for decades, I know whence I speak. Modern Democrats, as we are all aware, have lurched so far leftward that Gabbard, Sinema, and Manchin are vestiges of the party that existed back in Reagan times.

The Democratic party of 2022 thinks that Gabbard’s agreement with the FDA in the quote above is transphobic. Still, she’s with them.

Despite the occasional Kumbaya moments that some on the right may think they’re having with Tulsi Gabbard, there’s quite an ideological gulf between her and even a squish Republican. Maybe one day she’ll wake up and realize that the loonies are giving her the itch to cross that gulf.

It would be nice to think that Gabbard is already moving in our direction, but for now, she is just reminding us that not all Democrats have to be crazy all of the time.

And, in a world with far too much AOC, that’s a relief.

The Mailbag of Magnificence

This week we will hit the mailbag today and on Friday. Again, if we need to do this more frequently, we will. I’m also going to try to make some time for private replies. Send your questions, comments, and praise to [email protected] for your chance to hop in the bag.

I’ve had several emails recently about the old Kruiser Control days on PJTV, many asking about a giveaway I would do every week. Here are two examples. First up, Babs:

Hey Kruiser,

So, you are a “ph” and not a “v” interesting…

I used to love Kruiser Control but what was with the little towel/hankie you kept waving around? Was it a sham wa? And why would anyone want to be rewarded with it? Just askin…

I tune into your morning brief just about every day.

Thanks a Lot,

Babs

And here’s one from our friend Damon:

Stephen, once upon a time I watched your web show nearly every episode, so of course now I have to check out the morning briefing daily as well.

I remember I once won a very stylish PJ Media screen wipe for making a comment on how some thumbnail on screen looked eerily like Mu’ammar Gaddafi dressed in drag. If I recall it caused you AND the staff to giggle once you saw the image.

Anyway, I would attach a screenshot of said screen wipe but I can’t find it. Oh how fleeting the glory days are. They come and they go.

Anyhoo . . . Keep up the good work. Being insightful, right, and witty all at the same time is a tough job but someone has to do it.

That thing affectionately became known as “Wipey,” and some people really enjoyed winning them, Babs! At one time I probably had at least a hundred of those things. I have no idea how one loses screen wipes that rarely get taken out of the house but Joe Biden’s America is filled with loss and negativity.

Here’s a note from Dr. Kim that started off really well in response to my use of the word “Spokesditz” for White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre:

Oh Lawd, that’s brilliant!

Dr. Kim then goes on to confuse me with another Townhall Mothership writer who may or may not be a friend of mine (you’ll figure it out). That’s not how we get on the Morning Briefing A-List. Try again soon, good doctor!

Sheila provides a perfect example of how to do that:

Good morning. After enduring this week of personal hell which, like a bad joke, even included dental work which was incredibly jarring yet the least painful part of the last 5 days, your opening paragraph about No Diggity played on an accordion made me smile broadly and laugh out loud for real. Weird Al’s got nothing on you.

Please, please do not do away with your opening lines of comedic gems. You make a lot of us smile.

Thank you for all you do!

A-List material all the way, and another vote for the opening paragraph! You’re a keeper!

Thanks to all who are writing. This is a lot of fun.