After all, what else can a “strong" man do?

Terre Haute Tribune Star, November 25, 2025

 Letter: In Trump mindset, someone must pay

To the Editor:

"Very disappointed in Indiana State Senate Republicans, led by RINO [Republicans in Name Only] Senators Rod Bray and Greg Goode, for not wanting to redistrict their State, . . .”

This, in the Tribune-Star, Nov. 15, 2025, is a message from President Donald Trump. It’s his usual “I speak, you listen” Truth Social online way of communicating. His faithful, be they rote obedient Republican voters or trembling office holding sycophants, know the tone, know the threat, know they are once again being placed in an awkward, no-win situation.

Three recent events in Vigo-land dramatically indicate local citizens are reaching the end of Trump’s leash and lash. There was the impressive “No Kings” Vigo Courthouse demonstration, the rousing Debs Award dinner honoring Bernie Sanders, and state Sen. Greg Goode’s city hall listening session on the subject of redistricting Congressional seats in Indiana.

There is no evidence that I have seen indicating Sen. Goode heard what he listened to on Nov. 1, 2025. Comments and the survey taken at the time show that voters in his district overwhelmingly oppose any redistricting plan. They firmly reject turning Indiana’s Congressional delegation from one-party rule to one-party total control rule on gerrymandering steroids.

Goode’s hesitation to commit to this clear rejection, however, is not good enough for Trump and his hit man, J. D. Vance. Trump’s threat is, as reported in the Tribune-Star, “Any Hoosier Republican not backing redistricting ought to face a challenge in his or her next primary election, wrote the president.”

And so it goes: The act, even the appearance of disagreement, is more than enough to send this dangerous, impulsive president into retribution mode. After all, what else can a “strong man” do? He must win every time, whatever facts or circumstances prevail. In Trump’s narrow mindset, someone must pay if they disagree with his every call. Indiana’s Goode and Braun today. All of us every day and tomorrow.

— Gary Daily