33 Comments

Just remember and keep repeating: Twitter is NOT reality. This is especially true since Jack Dorsey left and turned the keys to the Twitterbox over to the cultural Stalinists.

If Twitter seeks to become a sort of leftist 4chan, then let it. Let the loons carry on; the rest of us can get along living in the real world.

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I completely agree. The best thing Trump can do is to pick one of those you listed, and support him/her! I strongly resent his hateful meddling in the Georgia governer's race. NOTHING good can come from that.

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I would love to see Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton run on the same ticket against any and all comers. Of course, they'd have to start their own third party to do this. I propose that it be the WLC Party. WLC stands, of course, for "Whiners Last Chance". Their motto could be "We will speak of no whine before its time." Should they win (which they surely will in this country today), the principal Cabinet requirement for inclusion would be octogenarians only. (Neither sex nor gender matters much once you reach this age!) The presidential theme could be CTTG, Crawling Towards the Grave. This would be Nancy Pelosi's single chance of becoming president. All she'd have to do is be the slowest crawler. China could easily take over the country by refusing to ship walkers to the US anymore. After an additional four years of our current idiocy, mumbling and drooling we'd finally get rid of the notion that old whines are better than new ones and political life can finally move on into the future - that is, if after more Trump, Hillary and Pelosi we even have one. In the meantime learn how to use chopsticks. It may save your life one day.

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Just remember that you must never put new whines into old goatskins. :-)

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Excellent humor Paul C!

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I don't trust the dumb-masses of the voting public to understand that hanging on to Trump's hope, whatever THAT may be, will be terrible for the GOP. For this reason alone we need voices like yours Erick to inform people the true conservative cause is beyond political parties. The whole reason Trump ascended to the highest office in the land is because the majority of Americans were sick and tired of the smell coming out of the swamp. While running for office in 2016 Trump stayed on message and the people gave him a chance. While in office he made progress toward goals of less government, more individual rights, and strong economic policies. In the end though the swamp swallowed Trump and actually draining it would have revealed just how comfortable he had become being a part of the swamp. Now, let's elect a guy with strong conservative values who knows how to deal with swamplands. Ron Desantis 2024. Out of the Florida swamps into the Washington swamp. As for any election the candidate with the more conservative values should be the one voted for if you're conservative. Regardless of the letter by their name. Come on America! Let's go!

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"Despite all their bellyaching about Trump being a threat to democracy, they sure are committed to keeping him popular with the GOP base through their nonsensical coverage."

There is a strategy here. Trump, as a firebrand, divides Repubs/conservatives, preventing a unified message of opposition to Dem policies as well as personalities. Liberal op-ed "journalists" realize their favorite donkeys are in danger, cashing in by keeping a division within conservative ranks an open sore.

As you say, if we elect Trump in 2024, we begin a lame-duck presidency from the outset rather than work toward a 2-term opportunity for developing policy momentum.

Trump's political capital should be held in reserve to provide support for a strong, united conservative message and candidate. Dividing conservatives now only serves Dem interests. MSM knows that. Nonsense is their new stock and trade. Don't follow them into this bog!

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Erick, how does the GOP, the party, prevent Trump from being their candidate in '24?

Is the candidate actually chosen though the primary process by the people?

Could Trump be ousted at the convention should he make it there?

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The way the rules are written in both parties, convention delegates who are pledged to a given candidate are committed to that candidate for the firat ballot. You would need a scenario in which no candidate had enough committed delegates to win a first ballot nomination for your question to be answered, "Yes".

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Second line should read, "first ballot".

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I see a real danger here. Should the RNC reject Trump, given his massive ego he could declare as an independent hoping for a "Murkowsky effect". This would, instead, divide conservatives and independents, electing whatever Dems put forth in 2024. Hoping Trump can cool his jets and consider what MAGA really requires in 2024.

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I am a conservative, Republican.

I don't negotiate with terrorists.

Trump is going to hand GA to Stacey Abrams so Trumpers can proclaim what Roger Dascombe said, "we will show them why they need us."

... 60% of Republicans really want a second Trump term, that number keeps declining.

But every day there seems to be less of them as the party looks forward to the future.

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To me, the better answer is for Trump to hit "pause" and let the dust settle. MAGA cannot be personality-driven, especially given the personality's inability to unite even its own party.

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There inlies the problem. MAGA is 100% about keeping Trump's ego great. Of you are wearing a MAGA hat and think otherwise you need to take off and put on a GOP hat.

If you don't protect your trademark you will lose it. I love Southern culture, but the Confederate flag was usurped by the KKK.

I don't care that much about Jan 6; it should not have happened. But MAGA represents that, and that is not productive.

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I think you left off Tim Scott from the GOP bench.

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Trump enjoys the limelight. He will milk it for his ego.

Whoever the Republicans nominate, it better be someone who values the Constitution and individual liberty. That is the lens I use on Election Day.

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Erick, you are assuming Trump would respect the constitution. Bad assumption.

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I doubt Trump will run. I think it is a bunch of hot air/air time [from both Trump and the press who can't stand not to talk about him]. This coming from a guy who didn't think Trump would get through the primaries.

I do think it is humorous...Erick pointing out sense when we're talking about politics here...funny.

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"Given that modern American presidents tend to win a second term, it would be silly for Republicans to restore President Trump to office wherein he could only stay four years." Probably the best argument I've heard for leaning into that "remarkable bench" of Republicans in the presidential mix. It's only been a year since Trump left office and Biden has done nothing but bolster Trump's causes, but despite that there's still been a cooling towards DJT. My hope is that the next three years is enough time to remove the emotion from a conservative decision that needs to be made intellectually.

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I would love to think about the National elections, but for now I can only think about the Stacey Abrams possibility. Please, please tell me that the conservative base here in Georgia, won’t let her succeed! Praying the Lord would have mercy on this State’s soul and keep her out of the governor’s seat!

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Yes, we need to pass the mantle onto a younger, less polarizing figurehead for the GOP. Part of me is concerned that no one on our side can generate as much enthusiasm and passion like Trump did and does. But, the downside is--he also motivates the opposition like no Republican has in my memory. I long for another Reagan personality with most of Trump's policies. We will have to get used to a new face of the Party that draws less than 1/2 of Trump's crowds. But that new leader will at least not scare off a large number of Independents.

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IMO, if we found a true Reagan-esque candidate, he or she would draw every bit as big a crowd.

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Are there any true conservatives out there? The longer a politician stays in office the more unconservative they become. I would like someone that spends money like it was their own, who makes policy like they were making it for their own family, you know someone who is BY the people FOR the people. The swamp really does need to be drained. Fire them all and start over, the really good one will pop up to the surface.

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I tell friends and family that we'd get better results from 535 sixth-graders.

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With all due respect to our former president (and extreme thankfulness for his established policies), arrogance, narcissism, and egocentrism tend to be communicable. The most vocal—as you continually point out—will always vocalize. Great analysis!

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Should Trump become the candidate, I will vote for him because the democrat party has gone completely insane and will do anything to have power. That being said, I sincerely hope that Trump doesn't even run, but that De Santis does. We would get good policy without the excess in controversial tweets.

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Agree!

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