Talk Me into Supporting Trump Again

 

This came up today.

As Donald J. Trump weighs whether to open an unusually early White House campaign, a New York Times/Siena College poll shows that his post-presidential quest to consolidate his support within the Republican Party has instead left him weakened, with nearly half the party’s primary voters seeking someone different for president in 2024 and a significant number vowing to abandon him if he wins the nomination.

By focusing on political payback inside his party instead of tending to wounds opened by his alarming attempts to cling to power after his 2020 defeat, Mr. Trump appears to have only deepened fault lines among Republicans during his yearlong revenge tour. A clear majority of primary voters under 35 years old, 64 percent, as well as 65 percent of those with at least a college degree — a leading indicator of political preferences inside the donor class — told pollsters they would vote against Mr. Trump in a presidential primary.

Let’s have a discussion.  Should we, or should we not, encourage Mr. Trump to run again?

If he runs again, should we support him in the primaries over Mr. DeSantis, Mr. Cruz, Ms. Noem, others?

I take it as a given that all but one of us would support him in the general, if we are unfortunate enough to have him win the nomination.

My opinion (as someone who loves the man for his outspoken love of country and for all the good he did despite the array of forces stacked against him) is that we should not encourage him, not support him against other Republicans, but fall in line if he does get the nomination.  My logic is that his history makes him toxic.  He is likely the only candidate whom Mr. Biden could defeat.  If elected, he would be even more ineffective than he was in 2017, when he used a historic alignment of forces to accomplish no major legislation, to appoint three sterling justices, to move an embassy, and to otherwise do nothing of lasting importance.  Also, if re-elected, he could not stand for a third term of office.

Talk me out of it.

Published in General
This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 197 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. DrewInWisconsin, Unapologetic Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Unapologetic Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):
    Are they not doing a form of that now?  Does a day go by that the Dems do not call the GOP / Right, racist, sexist, hateful, homophobic, xenophobic, bigots.

    You forgot “transphobic” “UltraMAGA!” and “white supremacist.” And you really want to throw in “nationalist” and “populist” although those slurs against the right generally come from Republicans.

    • #121
  2. Ekosj Member
    Ekosj
    @Ekosj

    No Caesar (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    On the other hand, if Republicans nominate anyone else, DeSantis Youngkin… anyone …there is a contingent of Trump supporters who I think of as Only-Trumpers who will sit on their hands. That will be enough to tip the election to the Democrats.

    The recent surveys don’t support this pessimism.

    No one will be happier than me if I’m wrong

    • #122
  3. DrewInWisconsin, Unapologetic Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Unapologetic Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill (View Comment):
    A clear majority of primary voters under 35 years old, 64 percent, as well as 65 percent of those with at least a college degree — a leading indicator of political preferences inside the donor class — told pollsters they would vote against Mr. Trump in a presidential primary.

    Who is the use of the term “the donor class” describing here?

    Chamber of Commerce Republicans who just buy their candidates at whatever the going rate is.

    • #123
  4. DrewInWisconsin, Unapologetic Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Unapologetic Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    What IS the going rate currently?

    • #124
  5. Ekosj Member
    Ekosj
    @Ekosj

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Unapologetic … (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):
    On the other hand, if Republicans nominate anyone else, DeSantis Youngkin… anyone …there is a contingent of Trump supporters who I think of as Only-Trumpers who will sit on their hands.

    I’ve never met an “Only-Trumper.” I don’t think they exist in any sort of significant numbers.

    I have. They are convinced that every other politician is part of the swamp and only the Donald can muck out the stables. And there is something to be said for that position. I’ll go so far as to say “most other politicians”. But whomever the nominee is I’ll support them and go vote. But there are those who’ll say a plague on both your houses and stay home or just vote the down ballot closer to home races. But I hope you are right and they are few and far between.

    Based on the rallies, I think that there are a significant number of people who may have been motivated to vote for Trump as opposed to just sitting home. Capturing those people would be the challenge for a non-Trump ticket.

    This, I think, is spot on!

    • #125
  6. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Unapologetic … (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):
    On the other hand, if Republicans nominate anyone else, DeSantis Youngkin… anyone …there is a contingent of Trump supporters who I think of as Only-Trumpers who will sit on their hands.

    I’ve never met an “Only-Trumper.” I don’t think they exist in any sort of significant numbers.

    I have. They are convinced that every other politician is part of the swamp and only the Donald can muck out the stables. And there is something to be said for that position. I’ll go so far as to say “most other politicians”. But whomever the nominee is I’ll support them and go vote. But there are those who’ll say a plague on both your houses and stay home or just vote the down ballot closer to home races. But I hope you are right and they are few and far between.

    Based on the rallies, I think that there are a significant number of people who may have been motivated to vote for Trump as opposed to just sitting home. Capturing those people would be the challenge for a non-Trump ticket.

    This, I think, is spot on!

    Only one data point, but I hadn’t voted for a repub since 2000 until 2020. Sat out 2016, but after seeing Trump in action and seeing the GOPe back-stab him, I donated enough to his 2020 campaign to get on AOC’s hit list. 

    BTW, I never voted Demo-rat, but just left the top slot blank. 

    • #126
  7. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    DrewInWisconsin, Unapologetic … (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill (View Comment):
    A clear majority of primary voters under 35 years old, 64 percent, as well as 65 percent of those with at least a college degree — a leading indicator of political preferences inside the donor class — told pollsters they would vote against Mr. Trump in a presidential primary.

    Who is the use of the term “the donor class” describing here?

    Chamber of Commerce Republicans who just buy their candidates at whatever the going rate is.

    You can not buy a politician.  Only lease them for periods of time or events.

    • #127
  8. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Unapologetic … (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill (View Comment):
    A clear majority of primary voters under 35 years old, 64 percent, as well as 65 percent of those with at least a college degree — a leading indicator of political preferences inside the donor class — told pollsters they would vote against Mr. Trump in a presidential primary.

    Who is the use of the term “the donor class” describing here?

    Chamber of Commerce Republicans who just buy their candidates at whatever the going rate is.

    You can not buy a politician. Only lease them for periods of time or events.

    Robert Heinlein had a great line in one of his stories: He’s an honest politician. He stays bought. 

    • #128
  9. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    OldPhil (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):
    Trump could announce he will step down after two years and one day

    He would never even consider such a thing.

    Nor should he.  Presidentin’ is a job.  Get busy.  

    • #129
  10. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    I’ve said this elsewhere …

    I don’t expect there to be a Trump 2nd term. Neither do I expect there to be Republican victory in 2024. Trump is too polarising a figure. If he runs, his candidacy will energise his opponents like no one else can. His detractors are legion and they will crawl over broken glass to vote against him. That includes Never-Trump Republicans.

    On the other hand, if Republicans nominate anyone else, DeSantis Youngkin… anyone …there is a contingent of Trump supporters who I think of as Only-Trumpers who will sit on their hands. That will be enough to tip the election to the Democrats.

    We might prevail in the House and Senate, but not the White House.

    This seems to overlook the quality, or lack thereof, of the Democratic candidate, as well as the present state of the economy. They cannot simply throw anyone out there and expect to win, although I agree that Trump would bring a lot of negatives.

    Quality? They ran FJB and Willie Brown’s side chick

    With an incredible (should we say fraudulent) campaign apparatus that overwhelmed the opposition with the country reeling from a pandemic. I have serious doubts that happens again

    Why on earth would it not?  

    • #130
  11. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Cassandro (View Comment):

    OmegaPaladin (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    I’ve said this elsewhere …

    I don’t expect there to be a Trump 2nd term. Neither do I expect there to be Republican victory in 2024. Trump is too polarising a figure. If he runs, his candidacy will energise his opponents like no one else can. His detractors are legion and they will crawl over broken glass to vote against him. That includes Never-Trump Republicans.

    On the other hand, if Republicans nominate anyone else, DeSantis Youngkin… anyone …there is a contingent of Trump supporters who I think of as Only-Trumpers who will sit on their hands. That will be enough to tip the election to the Democrats.

    We might prevail in the House and Senate, but not the White House.

    This seems to overlook the quality, or lack thereof, of the Democratic candidate, as well as the present state of the economy. They cannot simply throw anyone out there and expect to win, although I agree that Trump would bring a lot of negatives.

    They won with Biden. So yes they can throw anybody out there and win.

    Why not run Obama on a platform of Shut Up You Racist! and winning 500 percent of the vote? After that he would make all Republicans transition by force, nuke Israel, and eat your parrots.

    Don’t eat the parrots. Don’t eat anything that can verbally protest. Otherwise, I agree.

    Don’t eat the green ones, anyway.  They’re not ripe.  

    • #131
  12. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    BDB (View Comment):

    Cassandro (View Comment):

    OmegaPaladin (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    I’ve said this elsewhere …

    I don’t expect there to be a Trump 2nd term. Neither do I expect there to be Republican victory in 2024. Trump is too polarising a figure. If he runs, his candidacy will energise his opponents like no one else can. His detractors are legion and they will crawl over broken glass to vote against him. That includes Never-Trump Republicans.

    On the other hand, if Republicans nominate anyone else, DeSantis Youngkin… anyone …there is a contingent of Trump supporters who I think of as Only-Trumpers who will sit on their hands. That will be enough to tip the election to the Democrats.

    We might prevail in the House and Senate, but not the White House.

    This seems to overlook the quality, or lack thereof, of the Democratic candidate, as well as the present state of the economy. They cannot simply throw anyone out there and expect to win, although I agree that Trump would bring a lot of negatives.

    They won with Biden. So yes they can throw anybody out there and win.

    Why not run Obama on a platform of Shut Up You Racist! and winning 500 percent of the vote? After that he would make all Republicans transition by force, nuke Israel, and eat your parrots.

    Don’t eat the parrots. Don’t eat anything that can verbally protest. Otherwise, I agree.

    Don’t eat the green ones, anyway. They’re not ripe.

    I suggest not trying to eat any animals that has biting power a few times stronger than yours.  They basically fly around with can openers on their face.  I have seen some of the Amazons take apart a master key lock in about 3 days.

    • #132
  13. Cassandro Coolidge
    Cassandro
    @Flicker

    BDB (View Comment):

    Cassandro (View Comment):

    OmegaPaladin (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    I’ve said this elsewhere …

    I don’t expect there to be a Trump 2nd term. Neither do I expect there to be Republican victory in 2024. Trump is too polarising a figure. If he runs, his candidacy will energise his opponents like no one else can. His detractors are legion and they will crawl over broken glass to vote against him. That includes Never-Trump Republicans.

    On the other hand, if Republicans nominate anyone else, DeSantis Youngkin… anyone …there is a contingent of Trump supporters who I think of as Only-Trumpers who will sit on their hands. That will be enough to tip the election to the Democrats.

    We might prevail in the House and Senate, but not the White House.

    This seems to overlook the quality, or lack thereof, of the Democratic candidate, as well as the present state of the economy. They cannot simply throw anyone out there and expect to win, although I agree that Trump would bring a lot of negatives.

    They won with Biden. So yes they can throw anybody out there and win.

    Why not run Obama on a platform of Shut Up You Racist! and winning 500 percent of the vote? After that he would make all Republicans transition by force, nuke Israel, and eat your parrots.

    Don’t eat the parrots. Don’t eat anything that can verbally protest. Otherwise, I agree.

    Don’t eat the green ones, anyway. They’re not ripe.

    I wondered why they had no taste.

    • #133
  14. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    I’ve said this elsewhere …

    I don’t expect there to be a Trump 2nd term. Neither do I expect there to be Republican victory in 2024. Trump is too polarising a figure. If he runs, his candidacy will energise his opponents like no one else can. His detractors are legion and they will crawl over broken glass to vote against him. That includes Never-Trump Republicans.

    On the other hand, if Republicans nominate anyone else, DeSantis Youngkin… anyone …there is a contingent of Trump supporters who I think of as Only-Trumpers who will sit on their hands. That will be enough to tip the election to the Democrats.

    We might prevail in the House and Senate, but not the White House.

    This seems to overlook the quality, or lack thereof, of the Democratic candidate, as well as the present state of the economy. They cannot simply throw anyone out there and expect to win, although I agree that Trump would bring a lot of negatives.

    Quality? They ran FJB and Willie Brown’s side chick

    With an incredible (should we say fraudulent) campaign apparatus that overwhelmed the opposition with the country reeling from a pandemic. I have serious doubts that happens again

    I dunno. You can scare some of the people some of the time but you can scare those same people over and over. 

    • #134
  15. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Doctor Robert (View Comment):

    TBA (View Comment):

    Doctor Robert: Talk me out of it.

    Nah, bro.

    All I want to convince you to do is to vote for him if he does become the Republican candidate in the general election.

    I’d like him again but I’m not married to him – though I will admit to a cussed streak that makes me want him to succeed after so many nasty people have lied, cheated, and stolen to prevent him from succeeding. I don’t automatically love underdogs, but I do have a soft spot for the screwed-over.

    From my post: “I take it as a given that all but one of us would support him in the general, if we are unfortunate enough to have him win the nomination.” I’m not the one in question, btw. But I hope very much that he is not the nominee.

    What kind of monster expects someone to read a whole post before commenting?! 

    • #135
  16. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    DrewInWisconsin, Unapologetic … (View Comment):

    What IS the going rate currently?

    A CNN sinecure and three get-out-of-cancellation-free cards. 

    • #136
  17. Mowgli Coolidge
    Mowgli
    @Mowgli

    Here is my 2024 Dream Team:

    DeSantis / Haley – Ticket shows there are grown ups in the room who are young, thoughtful, experienced and can communicate.

    Pompeo – Sec of State who successfully  didn’t start wars (with Condi Rice as special aide for Russia negotiations)

    Cotton – Sec Def

    Allen West – Sec Homeland (build the wall)

    Thomas Massie – Sec of Energy (get the pipelines built, nuclear fast tracked)

    Scott Walker – Sec of Transport (fix supply chains – dock worker unions)

    John Campbell – Sec of Treasury 

    Bobby Jindal – Sec HHS w/ special mandate to lead changes in CDC, FDA to prevent another COVID disaster. 

    Shellenberger – Sec of HUD (author of SanFransicko)

    DeVos – Sec Education

    Laura Ingram – Press Secretary 

    • #137
  18. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    E. Kent Golding (View Comment):

    EB (View Comment):

    BDB (View Comment):

    EB (View Comment):

    The @eb

    Problem being that in 2016  it was Hillary relying on her Dem colleagues and their methods of gaming the election to put her in office. She won’t be in the election in 2024, but…

    Those methods will still be in  existence during this year’s midterms and the 2024 election.

    I never knew what threw her into such a snit after Trump’s acceptance speech – that she basically disappeared. But I finally realized that she and she alone knew how  if the Dem Party people in Pennsylvania, Michigan and a few other places had just cheated a infinitesimal  tiny bit more, she would have achieved the Oval Office.

     

    • #138
  19. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    I am upset with him for not following Eisenhower and JFK’s example and putting Fed troops on the line at the very beginning of the 2020 Summer of Rampage Because We Are Grieving.

     

    If you are referring to school segregation , federal troops were deployed because minority civil rights were being violated by state authority, very different from failure to act responsibly in the Summer of Rampage. As a matter of fact there is a continuing case of this by DA’s in Ca and NY today and no reason for federal intervention, it is a state matter or a matter for individual legal action.

    Civil rights are civil rights. The right to life is a top priority when “civil rights” are being discussed. Civil rights of a minority based on skin color do  not matter any more than the right of any American  to not be brutally killed by Communist-inspired traitors.

    Plus the BLM  thugs descending on the crowd of African Americans out for a stroll on a sunny Aug weekend in Chicago were taking the lives of a minority, so there is that. A great number of the people killed by the AntiFa and BLM over that summer were people of color. Being killed by baseball bats wrapped in barbed wire, or being pummeled to death with iron pipes is not at all  something I can imagine Eisenhower or JFK stomaching.

    Even if those traitors are revered by the Left and supported by millions of dollars by big corporations.

     

    • #139
  20. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill (View Comment):
    A clear majority of primary voters under 35 years old, 64 percent, as well as 65 percent of those with at least a college degree — a leading indicator of political preferences inside the donor class — told pollsters they would vote against Mr. Trump in a presidential primary.

    Who is the use of the term “the donor class” describing here?

    I have no idea what the reporter writing that article on the recent polling meant when using  that expression.

    Maybe it was assumed by the author that if a person goes to college they then become  a professional like a doctor, CEO or attorney.

    But the more recent election  contests in the US show the power of small time donors, who pony up under a thousand bucks a piece  even if they are only a janitor, hair stylist or truck driver. Obama did quite well with small time donations. Bernie Sanders did too, except he stepped side when the Clintons had the DNC swipe his enormous donation monies and put the funds  into a pot destined for Hillary’s campaign coffers.

    • #140
  21. Doctor Robert Member
    Doctor Robert
    @DoctorRobert

    Mowgli (View Comment):

    Here is my 2024 Dream Team:

    DeSantis / Haley – Ticket shows there are grown ups in the room who are young, thoughtful, experienced and can communicate.

    Pompeo – Sec of State who successfully didn’t start wars (with Condi Rice as special aide for Russia negotiations)

    Cotton – Sec Def

    Allen West – Sec Homeland (build the wall)

    Thomas Massie – Sec of Energy (get the pipelines built, nuclear fast tracked)

    Scott Walker – Sec of Transport (fix supply chains – dock worker unions)

    John Campbell – Sec of Treasury

    Bobby Jindal – Sec HHS w/ special mandate to lead changes in CDC, FDA to prevent another COVID disaster.

    Shellenberger – Sec of HUD (author of SanFransicko)

    DeVos – Sec Education

    Laura Ingram – Press Secretary

    Almost perfect.   Substitute Ann Coulter for Laura Ingram and I’m on board!

    • #141
  22. JAW3 Coolidge
    JAW3
    @JohnWilson

    I’m not going to talk you out of anything.  The polls tell the tale at the moment and Trump leads the GOP field so he’s the likely candidate for the moment.  Let’s see what the midterms bring and after that if Biden remains in office.  It’ll be a brand new game then.  I’ll vote for Trump easily but that’s me.  

    • #142
  23. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    We will lose if we dump Trump, but would probably lose if we run him.  He has to remain the candidate and when the Democrats pick someone other than Biden, Trump leaves and backs the Republican who will probably be De Santis.  That’s how we win because the Democrats will manufacture 10 to 20 percent of the vote and if the candidate is Trump too many  will ignore the fraud.  I don’t think folks understand how the next Presidential election is about the future existence of the US.  If Democrats win they will continue to centralize and that will destroy the country.  Folks seem to think that the most complex economy in man’s history can be run by a bunch of technocrats or narrow digital companies from the top.  That’s insane. 

    • #143
  24. Roderic Coolidge
    Roderic
    @rhfabian

    I didn’t vote for Trump in the primary, but I voted for him in the national election because the Democrats didn’t give me a decent alternative, and I don’t think they ever will.  In fact, the possibility is becoming less and less likely.

    I suspect it may go the same way in 2024.  I won’t vote for Biden/Hillary/Mrs. Obama/et al., and I won’t waste my vote.

    • #144
  25. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    I am upset with him for not following Eisenhower and JFK’s example and putting Fed troops on the line at the very beginning of the 2020 Summer of Rampage Because We Are Grieving.

     

    If you are referring to school segregation , federal troops were deployed because minority civil rights were being violated by state authority, very different from failure to act responsibly in the Summer of Rampage. As a matter of fact there is a continuing case of this by DA’s in Ca and NY today and no reason for federal intervention, it is a state matter or a matter for individual legal action.

    Civil rights are civil rights. The right to life is a top priority when “civil rights” are being discussed. Civil rights of a minority based on skin color do not matter any more than the right of any American to not be brutally killed by Communist-inspired traitors.

    Plus the BLM thugs descending on the crowd of African Americans out for a stroll on a sunny Aug weekend in Chicago were taking the lives of a minority, so there is that. A great number of the people killed by the AntiFa and BLM over that summer were people of color. Being killed by baseball bats wrapped in barbed wire, or being pummeled to death with iron pipes is not at all something I can imagine Eisenhower or JFK stomaching.

    Even if those traitors are revered by the Left and supported by millions of dollars by big corporations.

     

    I suspect that Eisenhower or JFK would be just fine with anything that kept them in power and got them their way.  

    • #145
  26. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    BDB (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):

    I’ve said this elsewhere …

    I don’t expect there to be a Trump 2nd term. Neither do I expect there to be Republican victory in 2024. Trump is too polarising a figure. If he runs, his candidacy will energise his opponents like no one else can. His detractors are legion and they will crawl over broken glass to vote against him. That includes Never-Trump Republicans.

    On the other hand, if Republicans nominate anyone else, DeSantis Youngkin… anyone …there is a contingent of Trump supporters who I think of as Only-Trumpers who will sit on their hands. That will be enough to tip the election to the Democrats.

    We might prevail in the House and Senate, but not the White House.

    This seems to overlook the quality, or lack thereof, of the Democratic candidate, as well as the present state of the economy. They cannot simply throw anyone out there and expect to win, although I agree that Trump would bring a lot of negatives.

    Quality? They ran FJB and Willie Brown’s side chick

    With an incredible (should we say fraudulent) campaign apparatus that overwhelmed the opposition with the country reeling from a pandemic. I have serious doubts that happens again

    Why on earth would it not?

    Better preparation by the Republicans and a diminished response to the pandemic.  It’s already happened in Wisconsin.   Speculation that Democrats will just find new ways to cheat is just that.

    • #146
  27. Cassandro Coolidge
    Cassandro
    @Flicker

    Django (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Locke On (View Comment):

    As things stand, I would support DeSantis over Trump, were DeSantis to run.

    That said, I would happily vote for Trump again if he were the nominee, and I’d be ecstatic for a Trump/DeSantis ticket. Four years to break things, and eight to remake them.

    Reason for the ranking: In spite of ‘the very best people’, Trump’s greatest weakness was in recruiting and qualifying staff members and agency heads. This left him vulnerable to being played and/or undermined in areas beyond the view or competence of himself, his family, or his closest allies. To be sure, this was as much a fault of the GOP establishment’s giving him the cold shoulder as it was his, but that was part of the environment and his task to overcome. I rate Trump as a D on overall personnel.

    What would change my mind is some evidence that Trump recognizes this limit and has a plan to overcome it. Perhaps a collection of gray hairs near the end of their careers, who has no illusions left and are willing to spend four years of agony to save the country from the unelected elites before they drive us to civil war.

    ETA: Under no circumstances would I vote for a Dem nominee.

    How do you think that DeSantis would evaluate the situation? Would he run against Trump?

    I doubt it. I think that if Trump decides to run, DeSantis would realize that opposing him would be a bad move politically, no matter which of them received the nomination. Trump’s bound to be Trump, and will vigorously campaign against any challenger.

    It seems to me that the wiser choice for DeSantis, if Trump decides to run, is to strongly support Trump and position himself for the VP position. I think that this would be attractive to Trump, too, as DeSantis is well-positioned at present as Trump’s most likely successor.

    Obviously, this is speculation, but it seems to make sense to me. What do you think?

    Agree.

    A couple of ricochetti have said Trump would “go scorched Earth” against DeSantis if DeSantis runs. My crystal ball is currently under repair, but my best guess is that would turn a lot of supporters against Trump — me, for one — and guarantee a Demo-rat win in 2024.

    I don’t even know what “scorched earth” means in this context.  Trump embraced former foes, once elected.

    • #147
  28. Cassandro Coolidge
    Cassandro
    @Flicker

    Fake John/Jane Galt (View Comment):

    Here is another thing about Trump. If he did win, who would work for / with him? They are already arresting and harrassing all that did last time. Why would anybody take that risk? People have families and fortunes and futures to consider. It is why we all bend to the Left. Fear of destruction focus the mind. Especially in a all risk little or no gain situation.

    If he won, he would have to set new rules right away.

    • #148
  29. Cassandro Coolidge
    Cassandro
    @Flicker

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    How do you think that DeSantis would evaluate the situation? Would he run against Trump?

    I doubt it. I think that if Trump decides to run, DeSantis would realize that opposing him would be a bad move politically, no matter which of them received the nomination. Trump’s bound to be Trump, and will vigorously campaign against any challenger.

    It seems to me that the wiser choice for DeSantis, if Trump decides to run, is to strongly support Trump and position himself for the VP position. I think that this would be attractive to Trump, too, as DeSantis is well-positioned at present as Trump’s most likely successor.

    Obviously, this is speculation, but it seems to make sense to me. What do you think?

    I really doubt that DeSantis would take the Vice-Presidency, although I’m also not convinced that he would primary Trump. He is presently running a state, and, regardless of any assurances from the Trump camp, anyone who is Trump’s VP is going to be a minor character. There is also the possibility that Trump might lose.

    I think Trump relies on good and capable assistants, excellent even.  And he delegates a lot.  And I don’t think he wants anyone to be a minor character.

    • #149
  30. Cassandro Coolidge
    Cassandro
    @Flicker

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Ekosj (View Comment):
    On the other hand, if Republicans nominate anyone else, DeSantis Youngkin… anyone …there is a contingent of Trump supporters who I think of as Only-Trumpers who will sit on their hands. That will be enough to tip the election to the Democrats.

    I’d love you to point those people out.

    Where are they?

    The backstabbers are the Never Trumpers, not Trump supporters. We are not the people who refused to back the GOP Nominee.

    If this group actually exists in big enough numbers to sway the General, Trump will win the Primary.

    Yeah, there certainly was a double standard on supporting the nominee, wasn’t there.

    • #150
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.