"In conclusion, yes, we should worry. It’s early, but short of Trump behind bars in the next 12 months, or Biden’s elevation to hero status, there’s little on the horizon that will significantly alter the election dynamic in 2024. I suppose if Democrats thunder a blue wave this November, things could change, but that’s really not supported by polling. At best, it’s divided, and some Trumpist GOP candidates could lose, but many others can win. The more that win in November, the more political power Trump gains."
I think the biggest determinant for 2024 (short of one of the two candidates kicking the bucket - not unlikely at these ages) will be the GOP's midterm performance in a few months. Structurally, the GOP should rout the Democrats in November, and expectations are high. The key number I keep wondering about is how many of Trump's chosen candidates (e.g. Vance, Walker, Masters) have to win for him to hold or expand his power over the GOP and whether he'll hit that number in a few months. He already cost the GOP control of the Senate once with his BS in 2020 and the GA special elections - will the party be patient enough for him to do that again?
Is it pure genius or simply evil incarnate? I'm always intrigued by the question when writers try and explain/rationalize trump. He might just be the greatest showman on earth; even more certain he has perpetrated the greatest and longest running con in modern history. No one has done it better.
If you watch long enough, you come to understand, when you have no filters, no issues with right or wrong, no sense of morality, everything becomes attainable. Most people aren't built that way. After a while, it's not the money, it's the love of the rube buying into the bullshit.
Ultimately all of us who believe in following the rules, playing by the book or believing in those scales of justice have no choice but to try and do the right thing. Taking those documents was illegal. The choices were ignore it or go get them. Kudos to those who believe in the rule of law.
Once they knew he had them and once they knew his lawyers claimed they had sent them all back (which they knew was a load of crap), they did the right thing. Trump being trump looked at the cash windfall and did what he always does, Play the con and make millions.
You tell me Steve, is there ever a point where his behavior is too much? We know there are no norms, no integrity, no sense of honor. Should they have simply turned a blind eye? It's why every morning i eagerly await opening and reading the Bulwark. Why every morning The Racket News is after the Bulwark and why EE's newsletter is flushed without the barest of glances.
I do not believe Trump will ever win another presidential election. He would fall two or three million votes short of the worst possible candidates - Joe Biden or Kamala Harris. Too many people want free stuff, a socialist economy, open borders, minimal military and the new democrat world order. Evidently none of that matters to Trump haters. It's disappointing to hear that polls indicate Governor DeSantis would not fare well. He should be able to attract enough Republican voters to run a close race. The only other hope is that one of the perennial Republican losers could pull in enough democrats and independents who are fed up with the incompetence of the Harris / Biden fiasco.
"In conclusion, yes, we should worry. It’s early, but short of Trump behind bars in the next 12 months, or Biden’s elevation to hero status, there’s little on the horizon that will significantly alter the election dynamic in 2024. I suppose if Democrats thunder a blue wave this November, things could change, but that’s really not supported by polling. At best, it’s divided, and some Trumpist GOP candidates could lose, but many others can win. The more that win in November, the more political power Trump gains."
I think the biggest determinant for 2024 (short of one of the two candidates kicking the bucket - not unlikely at these ages) will be the GOP's midterm performance in a few months. Structurally, the GOP should rout the Democrats in November, and expectations are high. The key number I keep wondering about is how many of Trump's chosen candidates (e.g. Vance, Walker, Masters) have to win for him to hold or expand his power over the GOP and whether he'll hit that number in a few months. He already cost the GOP control of the Senate once with his BS in 2020 and the GA special elections - will the party be patient enough for him to do that again?
Is it pure genius or simply evil incarnate? I'm always intrigued by the question when writers try and explain/rationalize trump. He might just be the greatest showman on earth; even more certain he has perpetrated the greatest and longest running con in modern history. No one has done it better.
If you watch long enough, you come to understand, when you have no filters, no issues with right or wrong, no sense of morality, everything becomes attainable. Most people aren't built that way. After a while, it's not the money, it's the love of the rube buying into the bullshit.
Ultimately all of us who believe in following the rules, playing by the book or believing in those scales of justice have no choice but to try and do the right thing. Taking those documents was illegal. The choices were ignore it or go get them. Kudos to those who believe in the rule of law.
Once they knew he had them and once they knew his lawyers claimed they had sent them all back (which they knew was a load of crap), they did the right thing. Trump being trump looked at the cash windfall and did what he always does, Play the con and make millions.
You tell me Steve, is there ever a point where his behavior is too much? We know there are no norms, no integrity, no sense of honor. Should they have simply turned a blind eye? It's why every morning i eagerly await opening and reading the Bulwark. Why every morning The Racket News is after the Bulwark and why EE's newsletter is flushed without the barest of glances.
Kind of says it all doesn't it?
I do not believe Trump will ever win another presidential election. He would fall two or three million votes short of the worst possible candidates - Joe Biden or Kamala Harris. Too many people want free stuff, a socialist economy, open borders, minimal military and the new democrat world order. Evidently none of that matters to Trump haters. It's disappointing to hear that polls indicate Governor DeSantis would not fare well. He should be able to attract enough Republican voters to run a close race. The only other hope is that one of the perennial Republican losers could pull in enough democrats and independents who are fed up with the incompetence of the Harris / Biden fiasco.
Perhaps, as this thread argues/hopes, the dropping of pretense and outright threats of violence will dispel any notion of a "good" Trump: https://twitter.com/juliettekayyem/status/1564257825886539778?s=20&t=IEU94RxHSVWyLo2ZZLxr6Q