NBC’s Chuck Todd had it quite the post was published on Wednesday before Monday’s meeting of the Iowa Republican Caucus. “How to choose your battle with Trump” says the headline, just days before the contest featuring former and potentially future President Donald Trump poll average +35.2. From there, the article gets even crazier, considering its subtitle focuses on disbanding former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY). “Analysis: Former Republican Liz Cheney could play a key role in the electoral battle against Donald Trump in 2024. However, it depends on the path she chooses,” we read.
Cheney is indeed A ex congresswoman who lost the August 2022 primary to incumbent Republican Harriet Hageman by almost 40 points. She has become even more hyperbolic in her criticism of Trump, especially since she has a book to promote.
The entire basis of the song is rather nonsensical. “It’s the last week before the 2024 primary elections officially begin – and if you’re wondering what happened to the debate over the future of the Republican Party, you’re not alone,” Chuck began his article with a mention. Actually, given Trump’s lead in the polls, that’s not the case, especially if that lead continues.
Todd continues to go from this angle:
But historically, this lack of focus on Trump — and the future of the party and nation that Trump promises — is head-scratching. When historians look back on this campaign 50 years from now, they will undoubtedly examine it through the prism of whether the GOP wanted Trump or a fresh direction. But this is not a campaign that is actually taking place.
There is little discussion about the direction of the GOP. While I have no doubt that both Haley and DeSantis believe the GOP is headed in a terrible direction under Trump, neither seems to have the courage to say so.
Again, the GOP appears to be doing this NO they want a fresh direction, not if Trump is renominated. A different candidate could have nominated us and then we would have a different answer. What needs to be “investigated”?
Todd is speaking out about former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, even claiming to speak on their behalf as well. In doing so, he undermines how Haley and DeSantis must appeal to Trump voters to take away their support from the former president, lest either of them become the candidate instead, he also insults the entire GOP base. The recognition focuses on the “disinformation ecosystem.” After the insults, Todd admits that Trump’s victory is certain and goes on to state that Haley and DeSantis either have no future in the party or will seek Trump’s blessing in 2028:
It is clear that neither the former UN ambassador nor the governor of Florida has the courage to say that Trump’s first term and his leadership were a failure. DeSantis skirted the edges of this argument by noting his own success leading the Florida GOP compared to the disastrous electoral record Trump achieved as leader of the national GOP. But even this hit by DeSantis is at best bank-shot attack.
Of course, any Trump opponent in the Republican Party must contend with the disinformation ecosystem that Trump and his cronies have built so successfully. The reality of Trump’s term has sunk into the memory of the GOP electorate quite effectively.
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Unfortunately, it takes political humiliation before many politicians tell the truth to power (see Christie, Chris). I imagine both Haley and DeSantis will have even more to say about Trump and Trumpism once they lose this campaign to him. That is, if they determine they have no future in the GOP under Trump’s leadership. One gets the impression that both of them are under the illusion that they will somehow manage to find their way in this moment and return to the Trump camp enough to take the position of the obvious heir to the throne in 2028.
Todd even seeks recognition for former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. “Frankly, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who is still actively running, is the only candidate who has combined an anti-Trump message with an anti-Trump message in an attempt to remind Republicans what the definition of conservatism was for the real Reagan. Currently, his message has completely fallen apart, but when 50 years from now, historians When they get their hands on this election, they will find one example of a Republican fighting for a different conservative concept,” he proposes. To be fair, Todd seems to have an interesting definition of “active running.”
With this in mind, it’s no wonder Todd was so supportive of Liz Cheney.
Todd also references this comment Cheney went to NPR about defeating Trump and that building a new party or rebuilding the GOP “will take time.” “This is not something that can happen before the 2024 elections. And honestly, I’m afraid that if we focus too much on it, we will distract from Donald Trump’s defeat in ’24,” she mentioned.
Todd certainly had some thoughts on this:
I understand her pragmatism and reasoning. However, I wonder if it’s time to try walking and chewing gum at the same time. There is no doubt that the most reliable person on the future of the GOP is Cheney. She followed Trump from a position of strength in the party, not weakness – unlike Christie, for example. She could easily have prioritized her own political future, but she didn’t. To oppose Trump, she staked her safe and sound seat in the House of Representatives.
She doesn’t appear to be solely focused on reaching the presidency, and that alone could escalate her credibility as a spokesperson for a future truth-based conservative movement. And there are quite a few voters who would most likely vote for Republicans who simply cannot stand Trump. Cheney must find a way to connect and lead this segment of the electorate if he hopes to achieve his short-term goal of denying Trump the keys to the presidency.
However, he saves his most amusing claims for the end of this section because he sees Cheney as someone who could apply his “considerable influence to challenge Trump.”
Todd seems to really believe what he’s saying here, in a way that tries to guilt readers into agreeing with him:
How Cheney uses his considerable influence to challenge Trump as an individual and Trumpism will be a huge factor in whether Biden receives a second term. She’s the best right-wing lawyer against Trump, but she can’t become former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and go from reputable Republican to Democratic convention speaker. The more she looks like a Democratic surrogate, the less influential she will be among the very voters she wants to rally to stop Trump.
By the fall, Cheney must still be seen as a credible supporter of a fresh conservative movement rooted in the traditions of American democracy if she wants to convince voters that a vote for Biden is a vote for a chance to remake the right wing without Donald Trump.
It’s not an effortless task, but she seems as prepared for the task as anyone currently running for president. And if you care about a hearty American democracy, you should care about growing a hearty conservative movement as much as you care about a hearty liberal or progressive movement.
Even though the headline doesn’t mention Cheney, it does Very there was a lot of focus on Todd’s appearance to promote this track. The post he shared on his X account mentioned Cheney and the photo featured was of the former congresswoman. The post received a lot of interest, as did our sister site Twitchy highlightedwith nearly 800 responses pointing out how ridiculous it is to classify Cheney as an “anti-Trump conservative” who has “credibility among the right.”
Any “credibility” that Todd himself may have thought he had, especially among GOP voters, appears to be in grave danger after making such a tongue-in-cheek post.
What role should/could Liz Cheney play in 2024? Candidate? Founder of a fresh party? No other anti-Trump conservative enjoys greater credibility among the right. How is he using his influence to both stop Trump and fix the GOP? https://t.co/pjk9exQ4mb
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) January 10, 2024
