"It’s hard to run for president and not be forced into a position where everything you do is a response to the frontrunner, especially one who commands so much loyalty from the party base that nearly one-third could follow him on an independent spoiler campaign."
The thing is that Trump isn't the frontrunner. As JVL's article today shows, DeSantis is. According to polls he leads head to head, in a 3 way, and even in a 10 way race. The voters for the rest of the field obviously are not part of Trump's die hard base, probably fear he can't win the general election, and are likely to either split or break for Ron. So Ron's strategy of just playing rope a dope, to avoid pissing off Trump's fan base is likely to work. Plus, I think it weakens Trump if DeSantis responds as he has by touting his "accomplishments" instead of striking back.
His real problem is that Trump is not likely to go gently into that good night. He may not make a third party run but it's hard to believe he won't be outside the tent shooting in if he is snubbed, and that enough of his true believers won't sit on their hands to cost Ron the general election.
Loving the newsletter, Joe. You are doing the best Hill coverage in digital media form because you both a.) gain actual and important information from Congresspeople themselves; AND b.) never forget that this isn't just a big fun game in "this town", but the fight over the potential future of liberal democracy.
Is it assumed that Trump’s shocking style of campaigning brought out a lot of non-voters, especially in the Midwest and South? If so, are those voters now permanently politically active, or will they fade away without Trump?
That phenomenon occurred following Obama’s presidency, with Black voters, if my memory serves. They did not show up for Hillary, after the enthusiasm bulge with Obama.
If yes, then Republicans should be worried, because I think they lost a lot of their sane historical base, because of Trump’s despicable behavior. Hopefully it’s a lose/lose for the future of the GOP. They richly deserve obscurity.
Why do I think 2024 is shaping up to be a contest between two "non-candidates"? (as in 2016, when we had a so-called choice between the two most eschewable candidates possible?
"I pledge never to take a dime of corporate PAC money, and will fight tirelessly to fight the corporate control of Congress. I support efforts to ban Congress people from trading stocks. No one in Congress should be able to use information received as part of their office to enrich themselves. I also support other solutions like a ban on Congress people becoming lobbyists after they leave office, overturning Citizens United, getting money out of politics, and more."
Romney seems to understand what a good Republican presidential candidate should strive to be while basically acknowledging that such a person is unlikely to win.
Sigh…must be so disheartening for a principled person like him to come to grips with what the Republican Party has become.
Why, really, do a bunch of non-entities run for president? What's the real reason? And who wastes time and money on these campaigns? I'm asking sincerely.
TFG has one big advantage over any other "main-stream challenger: He does not care if he burns it all down. He will just found a new "party" as his personal cash cow with one or two "loyal" donors. Given that perspective, he can say and do whatever he wants, knowing that he will draw 25-30% of the potential "R" voting base. Alone, that would not be enough to win, but enough to deny any "R" candidate the Oval Office, thus ending that person's political aspirations for the foreseeable future.
Perhaps that will convince what remains of the GOP that it was not wise to clutch an asp (I won't use the correct last letter for decorum reasons) to your breast, believing it to be a wonder-weapon.
Love this newsletter. Its like having a personal insider letting me peek behind the congressional curtain. Thx Joe!!
They're all jokes, but Haley is too broad to be funny. As if the scrotum-tanning beards are going to vote for an Indian woman.
"I reached out to Thanedar’s office"
What, it's in arms's reach? Drop the therapy-speak and use real English, please.
Mike Pompeo? Corrupt, crazy, Dunning-Kruger effect example. Yech.
"It’s hard to run for president and not be forced into a position where everything you do is a response to the frontrunner, especially one who commands so much loyalty from the party base that nearly one-third could follow him on an independent spoiler campaign."
The thing is that Trump isn't the frontrunner. As JVL's article today shows, DeSantis is. According to polls he leads head to head, in a 3 way, and even in a 10 way race. The voters for the rest of the field obviously are not part of Trump's die hard base, probably fear he can't win the general election, and are likely to either split or break for Ron. So Ron's strategy of just playing rope a dope, to avoid pissing off Trump's fan base is likely to work. Plus, I think it weakens Trump if DeSantis responds as he has by touting his "accomplishments" instead of striking back.
His real problem is that Trump is not likely to go gently into that good night. He may not make a third party run but it's hard to believe he won't be outside the tent shooting in if he is snubbed, and that enough of his true believers won't sit on their hands to cost Ron the general election.
Only DeSantis has the will and the public record to outdo Trump in cruelty and bigotry, the two biggest values of the Republican Party.
Loving the newsletter, Joe. You are doing the best Hill coverage in digital media form because you both a.) gain actual and important information from Congresspeople themselves; AND b.) never forget that this isn't just a big fun game in "this town", but the fight over the potential future of liberal democracy.
Just a word, apparently Desantis has vowed no Advanced placement classes in FL. Evidently like t**** he loves the uneducated. Small wonder
Is it assumed that Trump’s shocking style of campaigning brought out a lot of non-voters, especially in the Midwest and South? If so, are those voters now permanently politically active, or will they fade away without Trump?
That phenomenon occurred following Obama’s presidency, with Black voters, if my memory serves. They did not show up for Hillary, after the enthusiasm bulge with Obama.
If yes, then Republicans should be worried, because I think they lost a lot of their sane historical base, because of Trump’s despicable behavior. Hopefully it’s a lose/lose for the future of the GOP. They richly deserve obscurity.
Why do I think 2024 is shaping up to be a contest between two "non-candidates"? (as in 2016, when we had a so-called choice between the two most eschewable candidates possible?
Thanedar's campaign site, https://shriforcongress.com/government-reform/. has:
"I pledge never to take a dime of corporate PAC money, and will fight tirelessly to fight the corporate control of Congress. I support efforts to ban Congress people from trading stocks. No one in Congress should be able to use information received as part of their office to enrich themselves. I also support other solutions like a ban on Congress people becoming lobbyists after they leave office, overturning Citizens United, getting money out of politics, and more."
Romney seems to understand what a good Republican presidential candidate should strive to be while basically acknowledging that such a person is unlikely to win.
Sigh…must be so disheartening for a principled person like him to come to grips with what the Republican Party has become.
“South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is gearing up for what the Wall Street Journal described as a “unity and optimism” campaign.”
Yeah, that’ll sell to people that want all grievance, all the time. Scott better find a way to work in the carnage.
Could they be waiting for indictments? Then they gasp and clutch their pearls and say "if I had known that I wouldn't have kissed his @#$!
Why, really, do a bunch of non-entities run for president? What's the real reason? And who wastes time and money on these campaigns? I'm asking sincerely.
TFG has one big advantage over any other "main-stream challenger: He does not care if he burns it all down. He will just found a new "party" as his personal cash cow with one or two "loyal" donors. Given that perspective, he can say and do whatever he wants, knowing that he will draw 25-30% of the potential "R" voting base. Alone, that would not be enough to win, but enough to deny any "R" candidate the Oval Office, thus ending that person's political aspirations for the foreseeable future.
Perhaps that will convince what remains of the GOP that it was not wise to clutch an asp (I won't use the correct last letter for decorum reasons) to your breast, believing it to be a wonder-weapon.