All Republicans need to do to win against this desiccated, corrupt, senile pervert is simply not to be weird and stupid, and to show the people that they are competent and capable of governing. But as Republicans, there are earnest doubts that they will be able to do this. There are a few things that indicate that they may very well return to form and blow the whole thing up, ensuring our country’s downfall under whoever is pulling Grandpa Badfinger’s strings.
You can’t make America great again by looking in from the outside and watching someone steal the election. We have to win.
There’s a legal fight problem at the doorstep, and that’s a problem because we clearly weren’t in the fight at all. I wrote about it a few days ago and I won’t repeat myself, but I will repeat it – if we fail to organize an organized, synchronized and financed legal operation, we are done. We know this madness is coming because it has hit us twice in the last four years. If we are not ready, we will lose again, even if we win.
Republicans also need to get their act together on several issues, including the fact that identity politics doesn’t work for Republicans when it comes to attracting people who are no longer inclined to be Republicans. You’re not going to get Black votes because you’re nominating a Black guy. You won’t get Latinx (sp) votes because you’re nominating a guy whose name ends in a vowel. And you won’t get girls’ votes just because you rule girl-girl or girl-guy, which is probably popular in some circles.
This brings us to Senator Katie Britt’s disastrous response to the State of the Union. A lot of ink has already been spilled about how terrible it was, but I think we can spill even more. What thought process led to this disaster? Look, Katie Britt seems like a nice enough woman, although last week she came across as a third-grade teacher trying to get her class to celebrate Kwanza, but whatever. I hope this doesn’t destroy her future and I don’t think it will, but it was a huge embarrassment and it was just ridiculous. Emotions, strange shortness of breath – Tik-Tokking of American politicians is the only reason to ban this miserable Chi-Com app. This whole fiasco was so republican – they let them alone by responding to this grumpy aged codger’s tirade, and turned it into something that made even people on our side say, “What the hell was that?”
Who’s the person who said, “Hey, Republicans are really worried about kitchen table issues, so why not put her at the kitchen table!” It’s that weird literalism you saw in ’80s rock videos where someone sang about a heated teacher or cherry pie and they showed it off. heated teacher Or a piece of cherry pie. You know, there’s something on the nose and it’s like, “Please stop.”
Yes, Katie’s kitchen was nice. We need to rebuild our kitchen because we had a giant leak, so I’m interested in kitchen design at the moment, but what the hell? Was this supposed to make all the frustrated suburban women think, “Well, I know what MSNBC says, but that Katie Britt sure looks like simpatico, and wow, what a beautiful tile backsplash!” This identity bullshit doesn’t work on Republicans. You don’t get suburban women by having someone pretend to be a suburban mom. She is a senator. She’s no longer a suburban mom. Sorry. Deal with it. You know how you convince rational suburban moms who aren’t on MSNBC? Put in someone who isn’t crazy, who is self-confident, and who she thinks will save her children and family from bankruptcy, rather than someone who acts honestly and emotionally on a “General Hospital” level.
Which brings me to who President Trump chooses as his vice president – it will be someone who must fit those requirements. We’ve talked about this several times recently, and the key criteria are: do no harm, have someone who can be president, and have someone who contributes to victory. A rumor I heard is that JD Vance is being seriously considered and JD is a solid guy. I don’t think it will hurt us – except that we will have to run an additional Senate campaign in a state that recently elected Democrats. He’s certainly competent. But what does he bring to the (non-kitchen) table electorally? Ohio? If you have to get to Ohio, you might as well pack now. I can live with JD Vance and he’s not a bad choice, but I’m not sure he’ll be the best strategic choice in 2024. I wouldn’t mind if he went it alone later.
No, the more I think about it, the more the choices narrow down to one fairly obvious one and one shadowy horse. The obvious one is Glenn Youngkin. He won’t be hurt by the mandate, and him leaving the governor’s office leaves us with Governor Winsome Sears, which is the exact opposite of the problem. Youngkin is absolutely competent and brings plenty of value when it comes to winning – and winning is job one. It makes Virginia, if not competitive, at least a place where Democrats will have to spend money. Rich donors will love him, including those Nikki who are afraid of Trump. And moderate suburban women, like the ones Katie Britt supposedly fancied, will look at him and say, “Oh, he’s totally normal. I can live with him. He could chill Trump.” (Spoiler: no one will scare Trump, but let him believe it). Politically, I think he’s a little softer than me, but basically everyone on Earth is a little softer than me, so I can handle it. Would he take it? Of course he will accept it. Everyone takes it.
The shadowy horse is Robert O’Brien and maybe it’s my bias, but I still think he’s a massive plus in every category. He won’t get a mandate because everyone respects him. As a former national security adviser, he likes Trump, and Trump likes him. He is absolutely competent and has been the best NSA in 50 years. He also adds a lot to the conversation when it comes to winning the election. First, donors will love him. He knows them all and will hopefully be able to coax the Trump-shy ones back into the sidelines. As a highly experienced trial lawyer, he will highlight how transcendently stupid Kamala Harris is. Finally, he’s a Mormon, and that’s one identity category that will have a huge impact on the swing states of Nevada and Arizona (if we don’t have Utah anymore, it’s over). We need these states to win the presidency. We also need to win Senate seats in these states. Robert O’Brien is uniquely suited to win over these people, and the identity works well for Republicans, where the identity already leans Republican but has doubts about Trump (see, e.g., Mike Pence and evangelicals).
And then there is Donald Trump himself. Sigh. Here’s the problem. Donald Trump cannot change. I’m not even sure we want Donald Trump to change, because the Donald Trump who sends mean tweets and gives stupid nicknames is also the Donald Trump who takes down the ruling class, so you have to balance annoying with awesome. But did he really have to decide to intervene on TikTok’s behalf, probably at the behest of a donor no one had ever heard of? Did he have to start hating on Ron DeSantis again since he didn’t do it for several months after DeSantis’ endorsement? All Donald Trump needs to do is act normal. Please maintain normality for a moment, Mr. President, and maybe reluctant people will feel comfortable enough to vote for you.
Across the room is my wife saying, “That’s not going to happen.” No, probably not.
However, there is no reason to further discourage DeSantis and Haley supporters. Doing so simply shows more of the same lack of discipline that we have found so frustrating and deeply self-destructive for eight years. I’m a die-hard DeSantis fan, and now that the primaries are over, I’m a die-hard Trump supporter, but not everyone is as objective and ruthless as I am. Some people are still driven by emotions. They are livid because Donald Trump and his minions were and are mean to them. I think they should get over it. I’ve learned to ignore mean tweets and I don’t care what the babbling crew of internet weirdos, meme makers and mutants who supported 45 online in the primaries have to say – and I also find it hysterical how the Trump campaign is now pushing these weirdos aside . But Trump doesn’t have to make things worse. Human nature says that if you offend someone, they won’t like you and won’t do what you want. Stop insulting people whose voices you need. It’s not that tough.
Will Trump listen to me? NO. Will Trump listen to anyone? Nor. But I have to say it. I don’t know if there’s anyone around him saying that, although it doesn’t matter if there is, because Trump will do whatever Trump does. I’ve never seen a guy more needy Chief Sergeant of the Commander-in-Chief to keep your bad instincts in check.
But the most annoying things about Trump are also the best things about Trump. This is a fixed price menu, not a la carte. Oh well. Anyway, if you’re livid at Trump and are thinking about not voting for him, swallow your pride and get over it. We must force you to apologize to the murderers for migration and remove them from office. And if that means we have to hear some stupid talk about “Ron Desanctimonious,” so be it.
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