Third parties split the vote and usher in the party you don't want.
Better to vote in America First candidates and increase their numbers in the House and the Senate. Better to vote in a Republican president (it's going to be either Trump or DeSantis) who can start to clean things up.
Trump certainly has his flaws but if he could restrain his need to be a headline 24/7 he could withstand TDS. The problem is that the “swamp” is so pervasive that he’ll need to have an effective cabinet on day 1, no more idiots like Jeff Sessions or back stabbers like “Mad Dog” Mattis, Rex Tillerson or John Kelly who have their own agendas. On day one he’ll need to purge the heads and aligned flunkies at the JustUs Department and all of the Intelligence agencies who conspired to create and perpetuate the Russia, Russia, Russia hoaxes before they can organize again. Just as important, he needs to de-classify the “secrets" the swamp creatures have hid behind for decades so Americans can fully appreciate the extent of their duplicity . Once he has a solid America First team in place, he should refrain from engaging in personal attacks and instead caricature his critics with humor, a la Reagan. Hiring a good team of joke writers would be worth every penny he has to spend. God knows there’s plenty of material to work with.
I understand the reticence in supporting Trump again but despite all the TDS and the unprecedented assaults he had to endure as president, even his critics have to marvel at what he achieved. There’s no doubt he made mistakes during his first term but that’s what rookies do. Whatever else Trump is, he ain’t no dummy. And if elected again, he wouldn’t be a rookie.
"Once he has a solid America First team in place, he should refrain from engaging in personal attacks and instead caricature his critics with humor, a la Reagan."
I'm sorry to say he simply isn't capable of that. Plus past 70, health is tenuous. Biden is, of course, a textbook case of how fast cognitive decline can hit (although he was never more than mediocre, at best). Trump will be in his eighties if he were to win in '24. We can't afford to take that risk. The world is too dangerous and the enemies to America too numerous, here and abroad, to not have a vigorous, healthy leader. Trump should have cleaned out the Aegean Stable at Justice when he had the chance. Now we need a leader who will do so.
Trump should hire you as an advisor; you are correct on all counts. Easiest decision to make: dump Jared and Ivanka as advisors. Jared did a good job on the Abraham accords, but that's it. His advice, along with others, to Trump during the early stages of the pandemic, IMO, killed any chance he had at overcoming the rigged election. (I know, easy to say in retrospect.)
Trump should also figure out how to get McConnell and McCarthy out of their lead roles in the Senate and House. They are swamp creatures.
I think the overall theme would be "forget short term popularity - work to become recognized by history as the second administration to save the union (the first being Lincoln)".
Trump is not going to dump Jared and Ivanka. He loves them. They love him and he doesn't have to worry about their loyalty. They are also VERY smart people. Jared is brilliant at getting things done and doesn't have an abrasive personality. He has humility and steps back from the limelight. If you want a job done and done well Jared is the man.
It is not going to be possible to challenge McCarthy for 2022. However, if Trump continues to endorse candidates for the House and they win, then the challenge can come in 2024. I nominate Jim Jordan.
Yes, Jared probably is loyal and Trump probably does love him and Ivanka. I'm not so sure that he shouldn't worry about their loyalty. I agree that both Jared and Ivanka are very smart.
But Jared's political instincts, in line with his non-abrasive personality, are to avoid creating waves. He was central in convincing Trump to keep Fauci, Birx, and Redfeld on board even though Trump knew the right thing, not the political thing, to do was to dump them.
Perhaps Jared's role could be as a "do-er". Just don't rely on him for political strategy or advice.
I agree with you. One of Trump's short comings is his loyalty. Jeff Sessions was the very first Republican Senator to endorse him. Sessions had an illustrious record as a prosecutor in Alabama so it wasn't a bad pick on paper. Sessions is an honorable man with a strict code of personal ethics. When he gave his word about recusing himself it hamstrung him. He was also too timid. Rex Tillerson was not a politician and was in over his head. Pompeo was an excellent replacement.
Unfortunately Trump is not going to be able to ape Reagan and Reagan's charming ability to use humor to calm the situation and bring it back into perspective.
With all of Trump's personality quirks I would go down on my knees in gratitude if we could get him back into the White House now.
Trump did a great job, was unduly vilified and castigated and should be honored for that. But as an elder statesman. The inescapable fact is that he would be in his 80s if elected. That's simply unacceptable.
Trump also would be ineligible to be re-elected in 2028. I'd want a reliable conservative (like DeSantis *seems* to be) in for (hopefully) two terms to have any shot at turning this ship around. So even if I trusted Trump to follow through with good policies, he would be finished in 2028 and we need more continuity of leadership than that.
That's just his massive ego. His advisors and family need to work on him. I love Trump. Really do and respect all the good he did. But sometimes those you love embark on the wrong course and need reminding.
I really don't want Trump to run, primarily because of the TDS hangover. In addition, I believe Trump would select the same type of cabinet and administrators who hurt him terribly during his POTUS tenure.
Ah but if DeSantis runs there will be DeSantis derangement syndrome. Count on it.
The Democrats are masterful at lies. Have you seen Newsom's ad about CA vs. FL? It's hilarious. I live in Florida. The ad is a complete 180 on the truth.
I don't doubt they will go after DeSantis. But DeSantis doesn't have a lifetime of bad behavior as a NYC playboy to draw upon. And the media has already used up all the public's goodwill.
They will lie about DeSantis. But I don't think it will give them the traction that Trump did.
I agree, because DeSantis doesn't have the immature ego Trump has, who made EVERYTHING about himself. From what I've seen, DeSantis has, like Trump, the cajones to withstand the lackey media and their firehose of hate, hyperbole, and lies, but with the added strength of self control and restraint—unlike Trump who couldn't help mouthing off like a juvenile who can't let the slightest slight go by.
I wonder if DeSantis wants to put his family through the Dems despicable hate tactics that Trump’s wife and son went through, also Kavanaugh. Dems are vicious and they have no boundaries or concept of decent behavior
Hm. I replied to this, but it doesn't show. Something like this:
Naw. Most people *here* in this echo chamber. But naw. You'd like to believe people will forget, no doubt. Many believe that and convince themselves it's true. Doesn't change much tho.
We still have a lot of dross to clean out of the Republican Party. I’m still of the mind we need “The Patriots Party” to form up and step up.
I'm of the same mind. But I'm keeping an open mind at least until '24. I don't think it's too early to *think* about it tho.
Third parties split the vote and usher in the party you don't want.
Better to vote in America First candidates and increase their numbers in the House and the Senate. Better to vote in a Republican president (it's going to be either Trump or DeSantis) who can start to clean things up.
DeSantis, I hope. Trump would be a disaster, if only because TDS has occluded too many people's ability to see clearly.
Trump certainly has his flaws but if he could restrain his need to be a headline 24/7 he could withstand TDS. The problem is that the “swamp” is so pervasive that he’ll need to have an effective cabinet on day 1, no more idiots like Jeff Sessions or back stabbers like “Mad Dog” Mattis, Rex Tillerson or John Kelly who have their own agendas. On day one he’ll need to purge the heads and aligned flunkies at the JustUs Department and all of the Intelligence agencies who conspired to create and perpetuate the Russia, Russia, Russia hoaxes before they can organize again. Just as important, he needs to de-classify the “secrets" the swamp creatures have hid behind for decades so Americans can fully appreciate the extent of their duplicity . Once he has a solid America First team in place, he should refrain from engaging in personal attacks and instead caricature his critics with humor, a la Reagan. Hiring a good team of joke writers would be worth every penny he has to spend. God knows there’s plenty of material to work with.
I understand the reticence in supporting Trump again but despite all the TDS and the unprecedented assaults he had to endure as president, even his critics have to marvel at what he achieved. There’s no doubt he made mistakes during his first term but that’s what rookies do. Whatever else Trump is, he ain’t no dummy. And if elected again, he wouldn’t be a rookie.
"Once he has a solid America First team in place, he should refrain from engaging in personal attacks and instead caricature his critics with humor, a la Reagan."
I'm sorry to say he simply isn't capable of that. Plus past 70, health is tenuous. Biden is, of course, a textbook case of how fast cognitive decline can hit (although he was never more than mediocre, at best). Trump will be in his eighties if he were to win in '24. We can't afford to take that risk. The world is too dangerous and the enemies to America too numerous, here and abroad, to not have a vigorous, healthy leader. Trump should have cleaned out the Aegean Stable at Justice when he had the chance. Now we need a leader who will do so.
Trump should hire you as an advisor; you are correct on all counts. Easiest decision to make: dump Jared and Ivanka as advisors. Jared did a good job on the Abraham accords, but that's it. His advice, along with others, to Trump during the early stages of the pandemic, IMO, killed any chance he had at overcoming the rigged election. (I know, easy to say in retrospect.)
Trump should also figure out how to get McConnell and McCarthy out of their lead roles in the Senate and House. They are swamp creatures.
I think the overall theme would be "forget short term popularity - work to become recognized by history as the second administration to save the union (the first being Lincoln)".
Trump bringing his family into his presidency looked so amateurish, like being president was the same as taking over a business
We're on the same page.
Trump is not going to dump Jared and Ivanka. He loves them. They love him and he doesn't have to worry about their loyalty. They are also VERY smart people. Jared is brilliant at getting things done and doesn't have an abrasive personality. He has humility and steps back from the limelight. If you want a job done and done well Jared is the man.
It is not going to be possible to challenge McCarthy for 2022. However, if Trump continues to endorse candidates for the House and they win, then the challenge can come in 2024. I nominate Jim Jordan.
Yes, Jared probably is loyal and Trump probably does love him and Ivanka. I'm not so sure that he shouldn't worry about their loyalty. I agree that both Jared and Ivanka are very smart.
But Jared's political instincts, in line with his non-abrasive personality, are to avoid creating waves. He was central in convincing Trump to keep Fauci, Birx, and Redfeld on board even though Trump knew the right thing, not the political thing, to do was to dump them.
Perhaps Jared's role could be as a "do-er". Just don't rely on him for political strategy or advice.
I agree with you. One of Trump's short comings is his loyalty. Jeff Sessions was the very first Republican Senator to endorse him. Sessions had an illustrious record as a prosecutor in Alabama so it wasn't a bad pick on paper. Sessions is an honorable man with a strict code of personal ethics. When he gave his word about recusing himself it hamstrung him. He was also too timid. Rex Tillerson was not a politician and was in over his head. Pompeo was an excellent replacement.
Unfortunately Trump is not going to be able to ape Reagan and Reagan's charming ability to use humor to calm the situation and bring it back into perspective.
With all of Trump's personality quirks I would go down on my knees in gratitude if we could get him back into the White House now.
Trump did a great job, was unduly vilified and castigated and should be honored for that. But as an elder statesman. The inescapable fact is that he would be in his 80s if elected. That's simply unacceptable.
DeSantis 24.
Trump also would be ineligible to be re-elected in 2028. I'd want a reliable conservative (like DeSantis *seems* to be) in for (hopefully) two terms to have any shot at turning this ship around. So even if I trusted Trump to follow through with good policies, he would be finished in 2028 and we need more continuity of leadership than that.
It seems Mr. Trump has decided to run, regardless of our doubts.
That's just his massive ego. His advisors and family need to work on him. I love Trump. Really do and respect all the good he did. But sometimes those you love embark on the wrong course and need reminding.
100%
I really don't want Trump to run, primarily because of the TDS hangover. In addition, I believe Trump would select the same type of cabinet and administrators who hurt him terribly during his POTUS tenure.
Ah but if DeSantis runs there will be DeSantis derangement syndrome. Count on it.
The Democrats are masterful at lies. Have you seen Newsom's ad about CA vs. FL? It's hilarious. I live in Florida. The ad is a complete 180 on the truth.
It sounds like he is speaking to young children in a condescending voice too.
I don't doubt they will go after DeSantis. But DeSantis doesn't have a lifetime of bad behavior as a NYC playboy to draw upon. And the media has already used up all the public's goodwill.
They will lie about DeSantis. But I don't think it will give them the traction that Trump did.
I agree, because DeSantis doesn't have the immature ego Trump has, who made EVERYTHING about himself. From what I've seen, DeSantis has, like Trump, the cajones to withstand the lackey media and their firehose of hate, hyperbole, and lies, but with the added strength of self control and restraint—unlike Trump who couldn't help mouthing off like a juvenile who can't let the slightest slight go by.
Well to be fair Leah Rose the slights were anything but slight.
I wonder if DeSantis wants to put his family through the Dems despicable hate tactics that Trump’s wife and son went through, also Kavanaugh. Dems are vicious and they have no boundaries or concept of decent behavior
Plus, most Americans don't view Jan 6 as the people here do.
I think MOST people don't give a sh#* about that anymore. Old news and so much more to be concerned about. Like the subject of this article.
Hm. I replied to this, but it doesn't show. Something like this:
Naw. Most people *here* in this echo chamber. But naw. You'd like to believe people will forget, no doubt. Many believe that and convince themselves it's true. Doesn't change much tho.