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A Hard and Fearful Truth

Rodin
@Rodin
Join to bookmark22likesJoin to like42comments

There is a little spat going on on X: Vivek positively tweeted the following picture --

The Trump campaign has tweeted in response that Vivek "is not MAGA" and don't be deceived. This response is not, as some have claimed, confusing. Votes are about to be counted, and Trump doesn't want to split the MAGA vote with Vivek.

On the other hand, Vivek has a point: The more strength that Trump gains the more threatening he becomes to the powers that be. Tucker Carlson has asked, rhetorically, "what is the next thing that Trump opponents are willing to do?" If you think you are facing Hitler, what options are off the table?

Literally, Vivek may be campaigning to save Donald Trump's life. I wish it were not so. And it won't make me vote for Vivek if Trump is on the ballot (although Vivek is my Plan B). And this is not bad positioning for Vivek (even if he is taking some shots from Trump) if the unthinkable, and terrible, happens.

Vivek has been true (so far as I can tell) to constitutional norms that MAGA proponents hold dear. Vivek has not sought to benefit from the attacks on Trump. He has held himself out as a true alternative to the individual (Trump) but not the movement (Trumpism). Donald Trump is alive and wants to keep the votes that Vivek might garner. That is understandable. But so, too, is the gathering mortal danger that Trump is accepting as the fury of his opposition deepens.

Do you doubt the fury? I do not. And all the more because Trump is not the true target -- he is the warning. If they take him down, then they are coming after his supporters whether they have anything to do with J6 or not. Vivek offers himself to pick up the flag if it falls. His campaign is to keep that notion firmly in the minds of the voters. A little skirmishing with the Trump campaign only underlines it.

The Republican escalator is not the answer. Just as with Trump, our leadership needs to come from real world accomplishment, not professional politics.

This post was promoted to the Main Feed at the recommendation of Ricochet's members.

Discussion (42)

  • Susan Quinn@SusanQuinn

    Now that the Left knows how "dangerous" Trump can be, and has been, I've wondered about his safety. People are totally nuts toward him and their rage frightens me. Whether you like Trump or not, pray for his safety.

  • DonG (CAGW is a Scam)@DonG

    I think this is an interesting strategy by Vivek. It certainly has created a buzz at the last moments before the caucus and has planted the idea of caucusing for him to make him the preferred backup candidate. I don't see that moving move than a few votes his way. I very much like his response to Trump saying the America First movement started in 1776 not 2016. If Trump is a great candidate for 2016 and Haley for 2002 and DeSantis for 2020, Vivek is a candidate for 2024. He is the only candidate talking about rekindling soul of America. America needs another Calvin Coolidge, but not many Americans will vote for one.

  • Kevin Schulte@KevinSchulte

    Not sure how I feel about that image . Vivek is my 2nd choice too and an invaluable voice in our political/culture war . I do think Trumps response is run of the mill politics and not an attack . He knows Vivek is not an enemy . We all know what a real Trump attack looks like .

    This image makes sense in light of Vivek running for a Trump appointment .

  • Bob Thompson@BobThompson
    ReplyingtoDonG (CAGW is a Scam)

    DonG (CAGW is a Scam) (View Comment):

    I think this is an interesting strategy by Vivek. It certainly has created a buzz at the last moments before the caucus and has planted the idea of caucusing for him to make him the preferred backup candidate. I don’t see that moving move than a few votes his way. I very much like his response to Trump saying the America First movement started in 1776 not 2016. If Trump is a great candidate for 2016 and Haley for 2002 and DeSantis for 2020, Vivek is a candidate for 2024. He is the only candidate talking about rekindling soul of America. America needs another Calvin Coolidge, but not many Americans will vote for one.

    I think this comment starts to get at the difference between Trump and Vivek, assuming Vivek is as true to his words as Trump is in action. Trump's MAGA I see as more a gut approach that Trump has gained by being a true American living the terms of our original Constitution. Vivek is of a quality and type with the potential capability to adapt America's constitutional concepts without giving them up as the Left will do. Vivek has the potential capability to adapt America's national economy to a place in the world without allowing it to be exploited by the globalists, maybe less isolationist.

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