LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

the Florida voters seem to disagree with your final paragraph

---

that is true. Perhaps the the one thing for which RDS should be commended is his ability to turn a purple state blue. Rick Perry did it to Texas. Mike DeWine appears to be doing it in OH. But FL really isn't a swing state now. there are a lot of swing states that are on the blue end of purple. PA, MI, WI in particular. RDS isn't governor there. They barely know him. Millions of voters will first learn of him via Democrat attack ads. And very few of those crossover voters who find Trump's schtick objectionable are going to fall in love with RDS. RDS is Trump 2.0 (an apparently "new & improved" model)

Almost all of the 2024 polling we've looked at, primary and general, is nationwide universe. We need to start looking at state level polls, particularly in the looming battlegrounds: NV, AZ, WI, MI, PA, GA. I would presume RDS would run a bit better there than Trump, but maybe not well enough. But I'm guesstimating.

Here is a good in-depth take from Rasmussen. Very sensible results and analysis. Would note that we do not yet have a trend. Trump has rebounded closer to historical polling numbers in the GOP primary. He may well do that in the head-to-head with Biden this summer or fall. Biden is weak. His team is weak. And he's pushing bad policies. And Trump's biggest problem is with the GOP. They will mostly come home should he win the nomination, particularly if (as remains likely) RDS is on the ticket. To say it's early is to understate it. IT hasn't begun yet.

Warning to GOP:
Biden now leads Trump in rematch.

Find out why, and whose fault it is.

Discussion at Youtube:https://t.co/ekta768TOL@realDonaldTrump @GOPChairwoman @GOP @LeaderMcConnell @SpeakerMcCarthy @VP @JoeBiden pic.twitter.com/URkr4IUEKI

— Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) February 15, 2023

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

Which is it - strategy or person?

Those words have different meanings, you know ...

Oldbear83 said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

Which is it - strategy or person?

Those words have different meanings, you know ...

---

You decide for yourself. What I stated was pretty clear.

Douthat: She has generally offered herself as the candidate of Reaganite bromides and as a potential vehicle for members of the Republican gentry who wish the Trump era had never happened but don't particularly want to have any unpleasant fights about it. That's a vision that's neither inspiring nor unsettling; it's just dull and useless and unlikely to take her anywhere.

Goldberg: She's such a hollow figure that it's impossible to say what her vision is. "What I've heard again and again is that Haley's raw skills obscure an absence of core beliefs and a lack of tactical thinking," Tim Alberta wrote in a great profile of her in 2021. She'd most likely pursue a hawkish foreign policy, though, so she could be the candidate of those nostalgic for the George W. Bush administration.

Gray: Nikki Haley might be the last person in American politics still quoting Sheryl Sandberg. "We are leaning in," Haley told Sean Hannity last month. "It is time for a new generation. It is time for more leadership." But at 51, she's part of a political generation that can hardly be considered "new." Her candidacy feels trapped in the post-Tea Party, mid-Obama administration era when she rose to prominence.

Madrid: Haley will be the first of many candidates trying to connect with Trump's populist base while also resurrecting the establishment infrastructure that capitulated to him. If she can explain that she was against him before she was for him and now is against him again in a way that wins over voters and reassures party leaders, it may be inspiring for the sliver of Republicans who still maintain the party can return to the Reagan-Bush days, and unsettling for everyone else.

McCarthy: What's unsettling is that her vision is a prepackaged failure. She was a moderately conservative governor and something of a soft libertarian at a time when an aggressive neoconservatism was dominant in the G.O.P. But when she took to the national stage she proved unable to distinguish between the tough realism of Jeane Kirkpatrick and the tough-sounding but inept idealism of the George W. Bush administration. She imbibed Robert Kagan when she should have studied George Kennan.

French: She's a conventional Republican. If no one like her can gain traction, it will be a decisive signal that the Republican base has fundamentally transformed.

Coaston: Haley ought to be an interesting candidate daughter of immigrants, former governor of a state experiencing big population shifts, a U.N. ambassador but she seems to have no real basis to run for office. She's not a populist, and she's not a culture warrior.

Daniel McCarthy: The interventionist foreign policy that Ambassador Haley has made her signature theme in recent years is unlikely to resonate in an America First party.

McCarthy: Did you ever wish Hillary Clinton was a Republican? Now she is!



https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/15/opinion/nikki-haley-president.html

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

Oldbear83 said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

Which is it - strategy or person?

Those words have different meanings, you know ...

---

You decide for yourself. What I stated was pretty clear.

---

Clear as mud.

🇺🇲 2024 Presidential Election Poll

(R) DeSantis: 47% (+1)
(D) Biden: 46%

(D) Biden: 48% (+2)
(R) Trump: 46%

Trump performs 7 pts worse than DeSantis among independents and 10 pts worse among White college voters@QuinnipiacPoll | Feb 9-14 | 1,429 RV https://t.co/FMPFjO07bK pic.twitter.com/2JsD8VPq7a

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) February 16, 2023

[There is plenty of megalomania to go around in our political class. But it may be a more helpful exercise to regard the spate of announcements primarily as the preamble to the race for the vice presidency. What virtues, if any, do the contenders bring to the bottom of the ticket?

Trump needs a wartime consigliere, an America First Dick Cheney. Mike Pence's selection in 2016 was a canny effort to unify the traditional GOP coalition members behind Trump, the Odoacer from Queens; in 2023, the GOP, for better or worse, is Trump. The 2024 vice presidential candidate should be selected for two qualities: First, an adherence to and an ability to articulate the America First policy line, much as Cheney was able to be the face of Bush's foreign policy; second, competence and brutality in staffing and administration.

Trump's first term was marred by a paucity of staff and feckless management, as a collection of officials both career and political actively agitated against his policies, especially his foreign policy. Because of the flexibility of the vice president's brief, a 2024 vice president can be devoted to the war within the admin. (Perhaps this is not what Walter Mondale had in mind when he invented the modern vice presidency, but our children sometimes surprise us.)

Who are the options so far? ]



https://www.theamericanconservative.com/its-happening-again/

Oldbear83 said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

Oldbear83 said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

Which is it - strategy or person?

Those words have different meanings, you know ...

---

You decide for yourself. What I stated was pretty clear.

---

Clear as mud.

---

I used to could throw a mean dirt clod. Might could again. Watch it.

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

Oldbear83 said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

Oldbear83 said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

Which is it - strategy or person?

Those words have different meanings, you know ...

---

You decide for yourself. What I stated was pretty clear.

---

Clear as mud.

---

I used to could throw a mean dirt clod. Might could again. Watch it.

---

I'm an old umpire, I know how to duck.

Redbrickbear said:

---

[There is plenty of megalomania to go around in our political class. But it may be a more helpful exercise to regard the spate of announcements primarily as the preamble to the race for the vice presidency. What virtues, if any, do the contenders bring to the bottom of the ticket?

Trump needs a wartime consigliere, an America First Dick Cheney. Mike Pence's selection in 2016 was a canny effort to unify the traditional GOP coalition members behind Trump, the Odoacer from Queens; in 2023, the GOP, for better or worse, is Trump. The 2024 vice presidential candidate should be selected for two qualities: First, an adherence to and an ability to articulate the America First policy line, much as Cheney was able to be the face of Bush's foreign policy; second, competence and brutality in staffing and administration.

Trump's first term was marred by a paucity of staff and feckless management, as a collection of officials both career and political actively agitated against his policies, especially his foreign policy. Because of the flexibility of the vice president's brief, a 2024 vice president can be devoted to the war within the admin. (Perhaps this is not what Walter Mondale had in mind when he invented the modern vice presidency, but our children sometimes surprise us.)

Who are the options so far? ]



https://www.theamericanconservative.com/its-happening-again/

---

good article. we have a deep bench. Any of them would be an asset in governance. Lots of gravitas. The only real question is which would be the biggest asset on the ticket. In that regard, I'd rank them in descending order:
DeSantis
Scott
Haley
Pompeo

Pompeo is the closest equivalent to Cheney in the gravitas department. but not having won statewide office is a problem. He's too far removed from his roots in a too small red state to potentially help add any electoral votes. Same for the work for which he is acclaimed. Foreign policy chops matter in governance but rarely win much in the general.

Whatever Haley may lack in the vision thing, she is tough and plays the game well. One could question how much of an asset she'd be, but she could hardly be considered a liability to any ticket.

Scott is so grounded, I wonder if he could tolerate four years of close proximity to the golden haired bluster machine.

DeSantis is the obvious choice - highly successful large state governor palatable to both base and establishment. He will give Trump a serious test for the nomination. Might even win it.

more to come like this

JOY BEHAR: "These FASCISTS out there like DeSantis, they think we're gonna sit back and let them do whatever they want...We've seen this movie...many FASCIST tactics were coming down the pipe from Nixon and the rest of these FASCISTS. That's what they are." pic.twitter.com/XJ61IhXaAx

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 16, 2023

whiterock said:

---

more to come like this

JOY BEHAR: "These FASCISTS out there like DeSantis, they think we're gonna sit back and let them do whatever they want...We've seen this movie...many FASCIST tactics were coming down the pipe from Nixon and the rest of these FASCISTS. That's what they are." pic.twitter.com/XJ61IhXaAx

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 16, 2023

---

Definition of fascism to a liberal is one that love's one's country.

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

the Florida voters seem to disagree with your final paragraph

---

that is true. Perhaps the the one thing for which RDS should be commended is his ability to turn a purple state blue. Rick Perry did it to Texas. Mike DeWine appears to be doing it in OH. But FL really isn't a swing state now. there are a lot of swing states that are on the blue end of purple. PA, MI, WI in particular. RDS isn't governor there. They barely know him. Millions of voters will first learn of him via Democrat attack ads. And very few of those crossover voters who find Trump's schtick objectionable are going to fall in love with RDS. RDS is Trump 2.0 (an apparently "new & improved" model)

Almost all of the 2024 polling we've looked at, primary and general, is nationwide universe. We need to start looking at state level polls, particularly in the looming battlegrounds: NV, AZ, WI, MI, PA, GA. I would presume RDS would run a bit better there than Trump, but maybe not well enough. But I'm guesstimating.

Here is a good in-depth take from Rasmussen. Very sensible results and analysis. Would note that we do not yet have a trend. Trump has rebounded closer to historical polling numbers in the GOP primary. He may well do that in the head-to-head with Biden this summer or fall. Biden is weak. His team is weak. And he's pushing bad policies. And Trump's biggest problem is with the GOP. They will mostly come home should he win the nomination, particularly if (as remains likely) RDS is on the ticket. To say it's early is to understate it. IT hasn't begun yet.

Warning to GOP:
Biden now leads Trump in rematch.

Find out why, and whose fault it is.

Discussion at Youtube:https://t.co/ekta768TOL@realDonaldTrump @GOPChairwoman @GOP @LeaderMcConnell @SpeakerMcCarthy @VP @JoeBiden pic.twitter.com/URkr4IUEKI

— Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) February 15, 2023

---

Still putting those eggs in the Trump basket. SMH.

I hope that you and the American electorate wise up before it's too late. Trump isn't beating the Democrat nominee in 2024.

And the idea that most people's first exposure to RDS will be an attack ad is absurd. Guy has been getting play in the news for more than 2 years.

ATL Bear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

---

Yup. It is shocking how many Republicans just can't bring themselves to jump off the Trump train, despite the fact it went off the rails two years ago.

whiterock said:

---

Redbrickbear said:

---

[There is plenty of megalomania to go around in our political class. But it may be a more helpful exercise to regard the spate of announcements primarily as the preamble to the race for the vice presidency. What virtues, if any, do the contenders bring to the bottom of the ticket?

Trump needs a wartime consigliere, an America First Dick Cheney. Mike Pence's selection in 2016 was a canny effort to unify the traditional GOP coalition members behind Trump, the Odoacer from Queens; in 2023, the GOP, for better or worse, is Trump. The 2024 vice presidential candidate should be selected for two qualities: First, an adherence to and an ability to articulate the America First policy line, much as Cheney was able to be the face of Bush's foreign policy; second, competence and brutality in staffing and administration.

Trump's first term was marred by a paucity of staff and feckless management, as a collection of officials both career and political actively agitated against his policies, especially his foreign policy. Because of the flexibility of the vice president's brief, a 2024 vice president can be devoted to the war within the admin. (Perhaps this is not what Walter Mondale had in mind when he invented the modern vice presidency, but our children sometimes surprise us.)

Who are the options so far? ]



https://www.theamericanconservative.com/its-happening-again/

---

good article. we have a deep bench. Any of them would be an asset in governance. Lots of gravitas. The only real question is which would be the biggest asset on the ticket. In that regard, I'd rank them in descending order:
DeSantis
Scott
Haley
Pompeo

Pompeo is the closest equivalent to Cheney in the gravitas department. but not having won statewide office is a problem. He's too far removed from his roots in a too small red state to potentially help add any electoral votes. Same for the work for which he is acclaimed. Foreign policy chops matter in governance but rarely win much in the general.

Whatever Haley may lack in the vision thing, she is tough and plays the game well. One could question how much of an asset she'd be, but she could hardly be considered a liability to any ticket.

Scott is so grounded, I wonder if he could tolerate four years of close proximity to the golden haired bluster machine.

DeSantis is the obvious choice - highly successful large state governor palatable to both base and establishment. He will give Trump a serious test for the nomination. Might even win it.

---

VP candidates for the Trump ticket?

LMAO!

You guys are a hoot...

Redbrickbear said:

---

[There is plenty of megalomania to go around in our political class. But it may be a more helpful exercise to regard the spate of announcements primarily as the preamble to the race for the vice presidency. What virtues, if any, do the contenders bring to the bottom of the ticket?

Trump needs a wartime consigliere, an America First Dick Cheney. Mike Pence's selection in 2016 was a canny effort to unify the traditional GOP coalition members behind Trump, the Odoacer from Queens; in 2023, the GOP, for better or worse, is Trump. The 2024 vice presidential candidate should be selected for two qualities: First, an adherence to and an ability to articulate the America First policy line, much as Cheney was able to be the face of Bush's foreign policy; second, competence and brutality in staffing and administration.

Trump's first term was marred by a paucity of staff and feckless management, as a collection of officials both career and political actively agitated against his policies, especially his foreign policy. Because of the flexibility of the vice president's brief, a 2024 vice president can be devoted to the war within the admin. (Perhaps this is not what Walter Mondale had in mind when he invented the modern vice presidency, but our children sometimes surprise us.)

Who are the options so far? ]



https://www.theamericanconservative.com/its-happening-again/

---

We are in trouble. Oi vey.

Ghostrider said:

---

whiterock said:

---

more to come like this

JOY BEHAR: "These FASCISTS out there like DeSantis, they think we're gonna sit back and let them do whatever they want...We've seen this movie...many FASCIST tactics were coming down the pipe from Nixon and the rest of these FASCISTS. That's what they are." pic.twitter.com/XJ61IhXaAx

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 16, 2023

---

Definition of fascism to a liberal is one that love's one's country.

---

She might be the dumbest personality on TV, and that is quite an accomplishment given the fierce competition.

At least she didn't call him racist. Yet...

Shocks me women still tune in to listen to these old hens. So easy to be a liberal when you have millions in the bank.

Mothra said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Redbrickbear said:

---

[There is plenty of megalomania to go around in our political class. But it may be a more helpful exercise to regard the spate of announcements primarily as the preamble to the race for the vice presidency. What virtues, if any, do the contenders bring to the bottom of the ticket?

Trump needs a wartime consigliere, an America First Dick Cheney. Mike Pence's selection in 2016 was a canny effort to unify the traditional GOP coalition members behind Trump, the Odoacer from Queens; in 2023, the GOP, for better or worse, is Trump. The 2024 vice presidential candidate should be selected for two qualities: First, an adherence to and an ability to articulate the America First policy line, much as Cheney was able to be the face of Bush's foreign policy; second, competence and brutality in staffing and administration.

Trump's first term was marred by a paucity of staff and feckless management, as a collection of officials both career and political actively agitated against his policies, especially his foreign policy. Because of the flexibility of the vice president's brief, a 2024 vice president can be devoted to the war within the admin. (Perhaps this is not what Walter Mondale had in mind when he invented the modern vice presidency, but our children sometimes surprise us.)

Who are the options so far? ]



https://www.theamericanconservative.com/its-happening-again/

---

good article. we have a deep bench. Any of them would be an asset in governance. Lots of gravitas. The only real question is which would be the biggest asset on the ticket. In that regard, I'd rank them in descending order:
DeSantis
Scott
Haley
Pompeo

Pompeo is the closest equivalent to Cheney in the gravitas department. but not having won statewide office is a problem. He's too far removed from his roots in a too small red state to potentially help add any electoral votes. Same for the work for which he is acclaimed. Foreign policy chops matter in governance but rarely win much in the general.

Whatever Haley may lack in the vision thing, she is tough and plays the game well. One could question how much of an asset she'd be, but she could hardly be considered a liability to any ticket.

Scott is so grounded, I wonder if he could tolerate four years of close proximity to the golden haired bluster machine.

DeSantis is the obvious choice - highly successful large state governor palatable to both base and establishment. He will give Trump a serious test for the nomination. Might even win it.

---

VP candidates for the Trump ticket?

LMAO!

You guys are a hoot...

---

whiterock is a company man and his company is Republican. Trump is the leader of the company so toes the line.

Mothra said:

---

ATL Bear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

---

Yup. It is shocking how many Republicans just can't bring themselves to jump off the Trump train, despite the fact it went off the rails two years ago.

---

When will you jump off?

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

ATL Bear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

---

Yup. It is shocking how many Republicans just can't bring themselves to jump off the Trump train, despite the fact it went off the rails two years ago.

---

When will you jump off?

---

I think he jumped a while back

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

ATL Bear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

---

Yup. It is shocking how many Republicans just can't bring themselves to jump off the Trump train, despite the fact it went off the rails two years ago.

---

When will you jump off?

---

Never really been on the Trump train, if you had been paying any attention. I held my nose and voted for him twice, because I am reasonable and a pragmatist who understood he was far better than the alternative, as we are seeing on a daily basis.

I understand you are more rigid, unyielding, and not nearly as conservative as I am, so I wouldn't expect you to understand. But you NT's never cease to amaze me with your preference to cut off your nose to spite your faces.

Osodecentx said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

ATL Bear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

---

Yup. It is shocking how many Republicans just can't bring themselves to jump off the Trump train, despite the fact it went off the rails two years ago.

---

When will you jump off?

---

I think he jumped a while back

---

To be clear, if it's Trump v. Biden/Newsom, you can bet I will hold my nose and vote for Trump again over those two progressive yahoos. I prefer peace and prosperity to woke culture and World War III.

Osodecentx said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

ATL Bear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

---

Yup. It is shocking how many Republicans just can't bring themselves to jump off the Trump train, despite the fact it went off the rails two years ago.

---

When will you jump off?

---

I think he jumped a while back

---

He may complain every mile of the way, but as you can see he's still on board.

Mothra said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

ATL Bear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

---

Yup. It is shocking how many Republicans just can't bring themselves to jump off the Trump train, despite the fact it went off the rails two years ago.

---

When will you jump off?

---

I think he jumped a while back

---

To be clear, if it's Trump v. Biden/Newsom, you can bet I will hold my nose and vote for Trump again over those two progressive yahoos.

---

Understood

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

ATL Bear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

---

Yup. It is shocking how many Republicans just can't bring themselves to jump off the Trump train, despite the fact it went off the rails two years ago.

---

When will you jump off?

---

I think he jumped a while back

---

He may complain every mile of the way, but as you can see he's still on board.

---

Were you on the Trump train when you voted for him in 2016? Full-throated MAGA back then?

I suppose that if you define a willingness to vote for Trump over the woke alternative as being on the Trump train, I've given you far too much credit. I've always known you are a bit of an oddball, but a smart poster who shared somewhat similar values.

Perhaps you're not as bright and your values have changed far more than I suspected.

Mothra said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

ATL Bear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

---

Yup. It is shocking how many Republicans just can't bring themselves to jump off the Trump train, despite the fact it went off the rails two years ago.

---

When will you jump off?

---

I think he jumped a while back

---

He may complain every mile of the way, but as you can see he's still on board.

---

Were you on the Trump train when you voted for him in 2016? Full-throated MAGA back then?

I suppose that if you define a willingness to vote for Trump over the woke alternative as being on the Trump train, I've given you far too much credit. I've always known you are a bit of an oddball, but a smart poster who shared somewhat similar values.

Perhaps you're not as bright and your values have changed far more than I suspected.

---

If you're willing, that's enough to keep him in the race. He knows that many who rail against him now will fall in line eventually.

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

ATL Bear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

---

Yup. It is shocking how many Republicans just can't bring themselves to jump off the Trump train, despite the fact it went off the rails two years ago.

---

When will you jump off?

---

I think he jumped a while back

---

He may complain every mile of the way, but as you can see he's still on board.

---

Were you on the Trump train when you voted for him in 2016? Full-throated MAGA back then?

I suppose that if you define a willingness to vote for Trump over the woke alternative as being on the Trump train, I've given you far too much credit. I've always known you are a bit of an oddball, but a smart poster who shared somewhat similar values.

Perhaps you're not as bright and your values have changed far more than I suspected.

---

If you're willing, that's enough to keep him in the race. He knows that many who rail against him now will fall in line eventually.

---

That's why we have this little thing called the "primaries." It's a chance for those of us not on the Trump train to make our voices heard.

But when it comes to the general election, I guess one has to ask if they prefer proxy wars with Russia, economic despair, and woke policies to one last Trump term? I think for most conservatives, even those who prefer someone else to Trump, the answer should be obvious.

Mothra said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

ATL Bear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

---

Yup. It is shocking how many Republicans just can't bring themselves to jump off the Trump train, despite the fact it went off the rails two years ago.

---

When will you jump off?

---

I think he jumped a while back

---

He may complain every mile of the way, but as you can see he's still on board.

---

Were you on the Trump train when you voted for him in 2016? Full-throated MAGA back then?

I suppose that if you define a willingness to vote for Trump over the woke alternative as being on the Trump train, I've given you far too much credit. I've always known you are a bit of an oddball, but a smart poster who shared somewhat similar values.

Perhaps you're not as bright and your values have changed far more than I suspected.

---

If you're willing, that's enough to keep him in the race. He knows that many who rail against him now will fall in line eventually.

---

That's why we have this little thing called the "primaries." It's chance for those of us not on the Trump train to make our voices heard.

But when it comes to the general election, I guess one has to ask if they prefer proxy wars with Russia, economic despair, and woke policies to one last Trump term? I think for most conservatives who prefer someone else to Trump, the answer should be obvious.

---

If your analysis is correct, the question is moot. He can't win another term. All he can do is lose to Biden again, leading to more war, wokeness, and despair. The best way to prevent this is to send a clear message now: never Trump.

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

ATL Bear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

---

Yup. It is shocking how many Republicans just can't bring themselves to jump off the Trump train, despite the fact it went off the rails two years ago.

---

When will you jump off?

---

I think he jumped a while back

---

He may complain every mile of the way, but as you can see he's still on board.

---

Were you on the Trump train when you voted for him in 2016? Full-throated MAGA back then?

I suppose that if you define a willingness to vote for Trump over the woke alternative as being on the Trump train, I've given you far too much credit. I've always known you are a bit of an oddball, but a smart poster who shared somewhat similar values.

Perhaps you're not as bright and your values have changed far more than I suspected.

---

If you're willing, that's enough to keep him in the race. He knows that many who rail against him now will fall in line eventually.

---

That's why we have this little thing called the "primaries." It's chance for those of us not on the Trump train to make our voices heard.

But when it comes to the general election, I guess one has to ask if they prefer proxy wars with Russia, economic despair, and woke policies to one last Trump term? I think for most conservatives who prefer someone else to Trump, the answer should be obvious.

---

If your analysis is correct, the question is moot. He can't win another term. All he can do is lose to Biden again, leading to more war, wokeness, and despair. The best way to prevent this is to send a clear message now: never Trump.

---

Prevent what? Voting against him isn't going to prevent anything either, other than another Trump term.

Mothra said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

ATL Bear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

---

Yup. It is shocking how many Republicans just can't bring themselves to jump off the Trump train, despite the fact it went off the rails two years ago.

---

When will you jump off?

---

I think he jumped a while back

---

He may complain every mile of the way, but as you can see he's still on board.

---

Were you on the Trump train when you voted for him in 2016? Full-throated MAGA back then?

I suppose that if you define a willingness to vote for Trump over the woke alternative as being on the Trump train, I've given you far too much credit. I've always known you are a bit of an oddball, but a smart poster who shared somewhat similar values.

Perhaps you're not as bright and your values have changed far more than I suspected.

---

If you're willing, that's enough to keep him in the race. He knows that many who rail against him now will fall in line eventually.

---

That's why we have this little thing called the "primaries." It's chance for those of us not on the Trump train to make our voices heard.

But when it comes to the general election, I guess one has to ask if they prefer proxy wars with Russia, economic despair, and woke policies to one last Trump term? I think for most conservatives who prefer someone else to Trump, the answer should be obvious.

---

If your analysis is correct, the question is moot. He can't win another term. All he can do is lose to Biden again, leading to more war, wokeness, and despair. The best way to prevent this is to send a clear message now: never Trump.

---

Prevent what? Voting against him isn't going to prevent anything either, other than another Trump term.

---

To prevent him going any further with his destructive and most likely doomed campaign.

Sam: "He knows that many who rail against him now will fall in line eventually"

Sam speaks like the NT cultist he is.

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Osodecentx said:

---

Sam Lowry said:

---

Mothra said:

---

ATL Bear said:

---

whiterock said:

---

LIB,MR BEARS said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Mothra said:

---

I am curious, if Ron DeSantis had an affair at some point, would that affect your ability to vote for him? I mean you've already come out fully throated supporting Trump despite what a piece of **** he is. Is it really going to sway you if DeSantis had an affair at some point while Trump was banging porn stars when his third wife was pregnant?

---

Nope.

And I haven't come out full-throated to support Trump.
All I've done is point out that he is, in fact, electable. For some reason, that triggers you.

---

here is my trigger

Picking a strategy (person) that motivates the opposition, motivates a large portion of the undecided against you and causes a large portion of like minded people to sit out the process.

Nothing about that sounds like a winning strategy and that triggers me.

---

I know GOP chairman who would try to destroy anyone who went out and tried to register black and brown voters. Absolutely refused to do it. Stay away from Black or Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, etc....

The rationale?
"They aren't our voters. All we will do if we go try to organize them is increase turnout for Democrats."

Moderate GOP'ers always want to pick the Mitt Romney types who look the part and say nothing that would excite the GOP base (because presumably doing so would antagonize independents and motivate the Democrat base.) Blah blah blah, nuance and matte hair gel, giving speeches that sound like undecipherable characters from Peanuts.

"I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" - when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.
Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?
Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people.
Let us explore ways to ward off socialism, not by increasing government's coercive power, but by increasing participation by the people in the ownership of our industrial machine.
It is time to reassert our principles and raise them to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
--Ronald Reagan, CPAC speech 1975

Trust me, RDS is going to fire up Democrats just as much as Trump. Indeed, that's one of the most enduring things about RDS - he has the right enemies. So hug the cactus buddy, and get ready for incoming arty.

---

Trust me. You don't understand where Trump is today. He no longer excites bases he made in roads in before, and he's continuing to lose and alienate bases he requires in order to win. You're elevating a fairy tale based upon a perception of Trump that expired several years ago. The sooner he is sidelined and can get his tantrum and bridge burning over, the more likely DeSantis or whomever can move forward trying to win the election. Of course, it's possible Trump would try 3rd party since he doesn't have a magnanimous cell in his being. The first step is to stop propping him up and lying to ourselves that he can win.

---

Yup. It is shocking how many Republicans just can't bring themselves to jump off the Trump train, despite the fact it went off the rails two years ago.

---

When will you jump off?

---

I think he jumped a while back

---

He may complain every mile of the way, but as you can see he's still on board.

---

Were you on the Trump train when you voted for him in 2016? Full-throated MAGA back then?

I suppose that if you define a willingness to vote for Trump over the woke alternative as being on the Trump train, I've given you far too much credit. I've always known you are a bit of an oddball, but a smart poster who shared somewhat similar values.

Perhaps you're not as bright and your values have changed far more than I suspected.

---

If you're willing, that's enough to keep him in the race. He knows that many who rail against him now will fall in line eventually.

---

That's why we have this little thing called the "primaries." It's chance for those of us not on the Trump train to make our voices heard.

But when it comes to the general election, I guess one has to ask if they prefer proxy wars with Russia, economic despair, and woke policies to one last Trump term? I think for most conservatives who prefer someone else to Trump, the answer should be obvious.

---

If your analysis is correct, the question is moot. He can't win another term. All he can do is lose to Biden again, leading to more war, wokeness, and despair. The best way to prevent this is to send a clear message now: never Trump.

---

Prevent what? Voting against him isn't going to prevent anything either, other than another Trump term.

---

To prevent him going any further with his destructive and most likely doomed campaign.

---

That will end one way or another if he loses the primary or the 2024 election, will it not?

There is a possibility, however unlikely, that Trump wins in 2024. For that reason, because he is far superior to the woke alternative, conservatives should vote for him if he's the nominee. And since he will most likely be dead, or term limited by 2028, I see no danger in pulling the trigger for him in 2024.

Culty Sam: "most likely doomed campaign."

Quoting 2015's cultists now, he is.

Mothra said:

---

whiterock said:

---

Redbrickbear said:

---

[There is plenty of megalomania to go around in our political class. But it may be a more helpful exercise to regard the spate of announcements primarily as the preamble to the race for the vice presidency. What virtues, if any, do the contenders bring to the bottom of the ticket?

Trump needs a wartime consigliere, an America First Dick Cheney. Mike Pence's selection in 2016 was a canny effort to unify the traditional GOP coalition members behind Trump, the Odoacer from Queens; in 2023, the GOP, for better or worse, is Trump. The 2024 vice presidential candidate should be selected for two qualities: First, an adherence to and an ability to articulate the America First policy line, much as Cheney was able to be the face of Bush's foreign policy; second, competence and brutality in staffing and administration.

Trump's first term was marred by a paucity of staff and feckless management, as a collection of officials both career and political actively agitated against his policies, especially his foreign policy. Because of the flexibility of the vice president's brief, a 2024 vice president can be devoted to the war within the admin. (Perhaps this is not what Walter Mondale had in mind when he invented the modern vice presidency, but our children sometimes surprise us.)

Who are the options so far? ]



https://www.theamericanconservative.com/its-happening-again/

---

good article. we have a deep bench. Any of them would be an asset in governance. Lots of gravitas. The only real question is which would be the biggest asset on the ticket. In that regard, I'd rank them in descending order:
DeSantis
Scott
Haley
Pompeo

Pompeo is the closest equivalent to Cheney in the gravitas department. but not having won statewide office is a problem. He's too far removed from his roots in a too small red state to potentially help add any electoral votes. Same for the work for which he is acclaimed. Foreign policy chops matter in governance but rarely win much in the general.

Whatever Haley may lack in the vision thing, she is tough and plays the game well. One could question how much of an asset she'd be, but she could hardly be considered a liability to any ticket.

Scott is so grounded, I wonder if he could tolerate four years of close proximity to the golden haired bluster machine.

DeSantis is the obvious choice - highly successful large state governor palatable to both base and establishment. He will give Trump a serious test for the nomination. Might even win it.

---

VP candidates for the Trump ticket?

LMAO!

You guys are a hoot...

---

The commentary is not advocacy, just noting that at this time Trump at the top of the ticket remains the most likely scenario.

2024 National Republican Primary

Donald Trump: 46%
Ron DeSantis: 23%
Mike Pence: 7%
Nikki Haley: 6%
Mike Pompeo: 3%
Marco Rubio: 2%
Ted Cruz: 1%
Tim Scott: 1%

Head-2-Head:
Donald Trump: 56%
Ron DeSantis: 44%

Harvard Caps/Harris | RV's | Feb 15-16https://t.co/6mkIE5tf2f pic.twitter.com/lvMaTX9N5j

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) February 17, 2023