Patterico's Pontifications

2/1/2023

Nikki Haley Set To Make Formal Announcement About 2024 Presidential Run

Filed under: General — Dana @ 10:13 am



[guest post by Dana]

Nikki Haley is set to announce her bid for the presidency next week:

Cementing what has been in the works for months, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will formally announce she is running for president and will seek the Republican nomination for her party’s 2024 ticket, The Post and Courier has learned.

According to an invitation soon going out to her backers, Haley’s advertised “special announcement” will come Feb. 15 at the The Shed at the Charleston Visitor Center, a downtown gathering spot that could draw hundreds of supporters into the heart of the city’s tourism district.

The confirmation she is entering the race came Jan. 31 from a member of Haley’s inner circle.

Haley’s announcement would make her the second high-profile Republican to make an official announcement.

Last year, Haley said that she would not run if Donald Trump were running:

“I would not run if President Trump ran, and I would talk to him about it. That’s something that we’ll have a conversation about at some point if that decision is something that has to be made.”

Trump pointed out her reverse-course this weekend after talking with Haley about her presidential bid:

The former president revealed that Haley had called him recently to tell him that she is considering a possible 2024 run, with Trump responding that she “should do it.”

“I talked to her for a little while, I said, ‘Look, you know, go by your heart if you want to run,’” Trump said. “She’s publicly said that ‘I would never run against my president, he was a great president.’”

Also this weekend, Haley made pointed remarks about aging candidates the need to shake things up:

“The survival of America matters,” she told Fox News. “It’s bigger than one person. And when you’re looking at the future of America, I think it’s time for new generational change. I don’t think you need to be 80 years old to go be a leader in DC,” Haley said. “I think we need a young generation to come in, step up, and really start fixing things.”

While Haley ticks off some important boxes (first Indian-American female to a hold cabinet position, member of the South Carolina House of Representatives for six years, served two terms as the first female governor of South Carolina, and was the ambassador to the United Nations during Trump’s tenure), I’m not sure how much of a national profile she has given that she resigned from the Trump administration back in 2018. And her turnabout with regard to Trump will surely turn off some voters – possibly with both MAGA (she is betraying Trump) and NeverTrump (an opportunist who conveniently began distancing herself from Trump with an eye to 2024). The question is: can she bridge the two groups, reach moderates and independent voters? While it’s certainly early days and polling isn’t a reliable barometer at this point, I’ll just point out that Haley has consistently polled behind Trump, DeSantis, and even Pence…

–Dana

85 Responses to “Nikki Haley Set To Make Formal Announcement About 2024 Presidential Run”

  1. Good morning.

    Dana (1225fc)

  2. “I would not run if President Trump ran,” Haley told reporters on April 12, 2021.

    Promises, promises.

    With her fans emphasizing her gender and ethnicity, it seems to be just more identity politics. The only question should be is whether she is the best possible person to be President?

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  3. @Dana

    I’ll just point out that Haley has consistently polled behind Trump, DeSantis, and even Pence…

    I think polling has some uses, but in this regard, I’m not so sure its meaningful other than a rough gauge of ‘name brand’ recognition.

    I can’t find it at the moment (I’m trying!), but Trump was polling around 2% prior to his famous escalator announcement in 2015.

    I’m a fan of Haley and think she would mostly “move the ball” in the right direction.

    Is she perfect or near perfect? No. I do have some criticism of her.

    But, is she better than just about any Democrat? Light years better.

    Now is the time to work with the primary voters and donors to coalesce behind a candidate that can win. Let’s try to avoid another fractured primary fight, as that only strengthens Trump’s changes.

    I think having no more than 5 starting candidate should be ideal:
    Trump
    DeSantis
    Haley
    xxxxx
    xxxxx

    WHO can knock out Trump and still be able to stitch a coalition of Trumpers and Trump-skeptic voters?

    Can Haley do that? Remains to be seen.

    whembly (d116f3)

  4. Trump wants her as a spoiler. She won’t steal any MAGA votes from him. But if she steals enough of the I’m-Not-Trump vote from the rest of the pack, she could look forward to being Trump’s running mate. Make Kamala look like three-day old roadkill.

    nk (bb1548)

  5. She wants to win (of course – all national politicians see themselves as potential Presidents) but she has a limited chance to win. Ultimately she sees herself as Trump’s running mate.

    This is her attempt to be visible in national politics and increase her name recognition, as well as open the floodgates for others to run. Adding to the field helps Trump and they both know it.

    DRJ (265356)

  6. nk and I are in agreement. As usual.

    DRJ (265356)

  7. The only question should be is whether she is the best possible person to be President?

    I don’t think most voters see that as a relevant question anymore. The criteria now seem to be simply popularity not necessarily based on executive experience, or an ability to negotiate and work across the aisle, or being well-versed in history, philosophy, politics, and the Constitution. And of course, one of the most important determining factors includes who has the most money in their war chest.

    Dana (1225fc)

  8. I do think, ultimately, Nikki is doing this to raise her profile with the ultimate goal to be on the ticket.

    A DeSantis/Haley ticket has a nice ring to it, imo, that can definitely take on Democrats.

    whembly (d116f3)

  9. The criteria now seem to be simply popularity …… And of course, one of the most important determining factors includes who has the most money in their war chest.

    That may be, but it should be important to those who care about this country and follow politics. If presidential popularity is key, then Darling Nikki has a long way to go.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  10. To someone who was never thrilled with Trump and distrusts DeSantis, Haley is the best alternative going. I have a hard time seeing a better candidate for 2024.

    Haley has the ability to attract independents and even some centrist Democrats. She’s whip smart, and after the last two guys that’s a plus. Her attraction to centrist women is obvious and (can I say this?) she will attract some men with her looks.

    Now, I’m sure that Indian-Americans are not consider PoC (and certainly won’t be if they’re Republican), and the FIRST WOMAN!!!1! stories will be few and far between. But still, she’s different enough and young enough to make a Biden candidacy untenable.

    The Democrats may try to counter with Kamala, but she’s, well, stupid and that will be quite clear if the two were to meet. Nikki would be forgiven for thinking “Nice Doggie!”

    She’s quite capable of attracting NeverTrump and moderates, but would have more of a problem with MAGA — so her VP pick would have to address that. Perhaps Kristi Noem, unless the MAGA incels need to see a man on the ticket.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  11. I’ll just point out that Haley has consistently polled behind Trump, DeSantis, and even Pence…

    She’s running third now, with about 8 percent. Once she announces, she’ll get more recognition. Still, Trump has to implode before it becomes Nikki vs DeSantis.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  12. She’s running third now, with about 8 percent.

    Not according to the RCP average.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  13. I very much doubt that either DeSantis or Haley would agree to be Trump’s running mate. It’s a worse-than-thankless job and it alienates 80% of the voters. I’d expect someone more like Mike Lee.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  14. We’ll see how many of her positions she puts into the closet.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  15. Nk,

    If Haley becomes Trump’s running mate, the independents and moderates would likely pull their support. He has to be able to pull in more than just MAGA voters, but if he plans to use Haley to do that, then they both underestimate the incredible distaste for a Trump presidency, no matter who his running mate is.

    Dana (1225fc)

  16. Additionally, while being Trump’s running mate would increase her name recognition, that does not mean it would increase her popularity or support for Trump.

    Dana (1225fc)

  17. Not according to the RCP average.

    No, but in NH and SC (polls you linked yourself) she is. SC may be more important if the GOP moves their primary up with the Democrats’.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  18. Additionally, while being trump’s running mate would increase her name recognition

    Everyone remembers Spiro Agnew, too.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  19. she could look forward to being Trump’s running mate.

    It’s sad to think that you think that, nk. Why would she want to be Trump’s token toy?

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  20. When you consider other possible GOP contenders (Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo; Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, Rick Scott and Tim Scott, Chris Christie) they are all or were MAGA players. This will help Trump, of course, but if they throw their hats in the ring and then suddenly back away from or deny their MAGA creds, they’ll be seen as opportunists and flip-floppers, and thus, unreliable.

    I think Trump will want a loyal follower over whom he can have more control. Female too. Kristi Noem or Marge, for example. Haley seems too independent. Also, her condemning comments about Trump after Jan. 6 are not something that he will ever let go of. The question then becomes: will Haley willingly degrade herself by putting herself under Trump’s thumb for four years? I just don’t see that happening. But stranger and even more distasteful decisions are made in politics all the time.

    My bottom line is: I believe that any woman who attaches herself to Trump in any way, loses the vote of suburban women everywhere.

    Dana (1225fc)

  21. I could see voting for Haley at the top of the ticket. Not found enough of her that I’d support a bad candidate just because she was on the ticket. So for me me Trump/Haley is something I’d vote against and Desantis/ Haley is something I probably wouldn’t vote for.

    Time123 (c4bc1f)

  22. No, but in NH and SC (polls you linked yourself) she is. SC may be more important if the GOP moves their primary up with the Democrats’.

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 2/1/2023 @ 11:19 am

    If Darling Nikki is running third or fourth in her home state (16 points behind DeSantis and 22 points behind Trump), that is hardly an endorsement. And the NH poll had her in third, 22 points behind DeSantis.

    Like I said, a lot of ground to make up.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  23. Nikki Haley’s 2024 prospects
    ………
    Haley’s big entree onto the national political scene came after a mass killing at a historical Black church in Charleston, S.C., in 2015. When a movement grew to remove the Confederate flag from the statehouse grounds, she jumped on board. The result: Something that two-thirds of the state had opposed the year before passed easily in the GOP-controlled state legislature. Soon, Haley was leaving office with an image that was 2-to-1 positive in her home state.
    ……..
    Perhaps the more overlooked evolution in Haley’s political career involves comments she made at the height of her popularity in 2018. Speaking to conservative students at a Turning Point USA conference, she made an impassioned case against Republicans embracing an “own the libs” mentality. It seemed a remarkable statement of intent, given how that ethos had subsumed the party and embodied Trump’s entire approach to politics.
    ……..
    By early 2020, though, the same Nikki Haley accused Democrats of “mourning” the death of Iranian Quds Force commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani.
    ……..
    …….. (W)e’ve also seen — in the cases of both Trump and DeSantis — that the party has a large appetite for owning the libs. And while Haley can try to run as a broadly acceptable electability candidate, voters looking for electability might already have a readily available option in DeSantis, fresh off his 19-point reelection win in what was until recently a swing state. DeSantis also more than quenches that thirst for owning the libs.
    ……..

    Darling Nikki loses the hardcore TrumpWorld voter over her joining the movement to remove the “stars and bars” from the SC state flag. They see it as the beginning of the effort to remove their precious Confederate statues and ending with the name changes to US military bases and ships.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  24. I can’t name a single policy position that Haley has taken a stance on and, judging from the post and the comments so far, nobody else can either.

    And yet people are already weighing in, based on nothing.

    The sad part is, I think this is how most people vote.

    JF (a2084c)

  25. I can’t name a single policy position that Haley has taken a stance on and, judging from the post and the comments so far, nobody else can either.

    And yet people are already weighing in, based on nothing.

    The sad part is, I think this is how most people vote.

    JF (a2084c) — 2/1/2023 @ 12:08 pm

    There is this.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  26. Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 2/1/2023 @ 12:12 pm

    Not that it’s a bad thing.

    Rip Murdock (800c1a)

  27. As much as I am a non-fan of Ms. Haley, I’ll vote for her over Trump without a nanosecond’s hesitation.
    In her plus column, I thought she did a stellar job as US Ambassador to the UN.

    Paul Montagu (8f0dc7)

  28. Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 2/1/2023 @ 12:12 pm

    LOL, she just lost Time123

    here’s a tip: If you’re going say “I’ll support Republican candidate X, but not Trump or DeSantis” best not spoil it by knowing what candidate X actually thinks

    JF (a2084c)

  29. Like I said, a lot of ground to make up.

    There are now only two candidates and those two candidates have the lead. Haley hasn’t been trying as yet, but she beats several (e.g Pompeo) who are. Give it a few months before you write the pre-mortem.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  30. JF, Haley did a good job as governor. She did a decent job in the Trump administration and has been ok in her response in Jan 6. Her other positions are generic republican. I don’t fully agree with her position on abortion but it’s not a deal breaker for me.

    As I said in the other thread I’m a getable vote for her. I’m not yet planning to buy yard signs but I’d be happy to support her over say, Governor Whitmere.

    Time123 (c4bc1f)

  31. I don’t fully agree with her position on abortion but it’s not a deal breaker for me.

    There is very little on her abortion position except that she supports states making the rules, and she signed a 20-week limit in SC. She also favors bills that treat a fetus as human in civil and criminal law. She believes that abortion is acceptable in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.

    DO you have more information that this? Because I don’t find this worth more than a quibble.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  32. Kevin M (1ea396) — 2/1/2023 @ 1:53 pm

    We’ll see if her position “evolves.”

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  33. Perhaps someone better will come along, or perhaps she will disappoint me, but right now of all those I know will run (Trump, Pence, DeSantis, Pompeo and Nikki) she is easily the best of the lot.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  34. Running for vice president. Another media darling dwarf with no base in the populist republican party. May siphon off a few votes from desatan who makes cancun ted cruz look like mr. charisma. Last I have seen 2% in polling. I still think if she got the nomination (she wont) nikki haley/tulsi gabbard ticket would give democrats a run for their money.

    asset (1107d0)

  35. nikki haley/tulsi gabbard ticket would give democrats a run for their money.

    Comedy Gold!

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  36. Trump just posted video on Truth Social of Nikki Haley saying that she would not to run against him if he ran in 2024.

    Dana (1225fc)

  37. Too early. DeSantis and Haley need to get out on the stump and show their chops. What are they going to emphasize, what is their tone, and how will they govern? Simply at this point, we can only speculate.

    I don’t see Trump picking Haley for VP….no way. He needs someone who will not pull a Pence. Loyalty will be everything and Haley has no incentive to soil herself for Trump. She still has future elections to consider. Trump will probably take Kari Lake (even though she lost) or Kristi Noem. He needs someone who is willing to say crazy things in his defense. I don’t think Haley would. I also think that Trump’s potential foreign policy…based on the things his cabinet members said he was trying to do….would be much different than what Haley would do (like, taking us out of NATO or withdrawing us from S. Korea). I just don’t think she wants to try and navigate that. Finally, I don’t think Trump can win. Why should she jump on a losing ticket?

    AJ_Liberty (5f05c3)

  38. …..Trump’s potential foreign policy…

    Is based on whatever benefits Trump.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  39. “she is easily the best of the lot.”

    This is the way I look at it. Like Kevin, she may disappoint ultimately, but if being insufficiently NeverTrump is the criterion, then you’re literally left with long-shots that have little hope in southern and western states.

    Haley can always argue that Trump’s numbers suggest considerable weakness in the general and that alternatives are needed. Trump should not be running. He should have been impeached…and he likely should be in prison. Why should I take her pledge to not run if Trump runs so seriously?

    AJ_Liberty (5f05c3)

  40. Additionally, AJ, Nikki Haley knows that if she becomes Trump’s running mate, she assumes all of his MAGA craziness, which would forever mark her politically and limit her future in politics. At 51 years old, she knows that her future as an elected official is wide open. Why on earth would she choose to be forever associated with the madness that is Trump? Nah, she’s far too shrewd to position herself in that way. She’s looking ahead to 2024 and beyond.

    Dana (1225fc)

  41. Trump just posted video on Truth Social of Nikki Haley saying that she would not to run against him if he ran in 2024.

    And Trump once again shows why he’s such a blessing to the Democrat Party. I wonder if they have him on stipend.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  42. Trump will probably take Kari Lake (even though she lost) …..

    The two have much in common: election denialism, TV, and possibly committing felonies.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  43. As some point, the whole insufficiently [NeverTrump | MAGA] thing has got to end, or there is no way out. The only thing that is clear is that Trump himself has so many negatives, so many erstwhile Republicans who WILL NOT vote for him, that he cannot win a general election. Will no one rid us of this man?

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  44. Dana (1225fc) — 2/1/2023 @ 2:43 pm

    At this point, even Pence would decline.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  45. It’s also rumored that Lake and Blake Masters will be running for the US Senate in 2024.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  46. BTW< if Trump trashes Nikki, is she somehow wrong to trash him back. Talk about glass houses.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  47. Trump will trash Darling Nikki, but she will not respond in kind. She will stay out of the gutter, but she will need to denounce Trump and his politics at some point, if only to declare some independence from him.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  48. Kevin, agree with you that her position is fine.

    Time123 (c4bc1f)

  49. She’s whip smart, and after the last two guys that’s a plus.

    Trump is many undesirable things, but dumb isn’t one of them. Ignorant, sure. Proudly, stubbornly so. But unintelligent? No.

    lurker (cd7cd4)

  50. Ignorant, sure. Proudly, stubbornly so. But unintelligent? No.

    Willful ignorance is stupid.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  51. She will stay out of the gutter, but she will need to denounce Trump

    All she really has to do is roll her eyes.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  52. We’ll see if her position “evolves.”

    I expect to see the national party move to 13 weeks. Some state parties will stick with total bans, but that’s just not going to work nationally without a HUGE change in public opinion.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  53. I expect to see the national party move to 13 weeks.

    Parties don’t matter, it’s the position of individual candidates that matter.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  54. Not only Haley but all of Trump’s opponents will need to defend themselves, an unavoidable gutter, if for no other reason than they cannot be seen to be taking it lying down, but they will always be at the disadvantage of looking like him.

    Trump has the advantage that there is no perception of him, good or bad, that is not already set in stone. Nothing that will either raise him or lower him in people’s esteem.

    nk (e0e7aa)

  55. Willful ignorance is stupid.

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 2/1/2023 @ 5:30 pm

    Intelligent people do lots of stupid things. They believe lots of stupid things. That doesn’t make the people themselves unintelligent.

    lurker (cd7cd4)

  56. He has a low animal cunning. And daddy’s money to hire people to do his thinking for him.

    nk (e0e7aa)

  57. “I think we need a young generation to come in, step up, and really start fixing things.”

    From last weekend’s Open Thread:

    The one Republican message that keeps failing

    ………
    Republicans have performed poorly in three elections in a row and yet they’ve maintained all of their key leaders…… McConnell is now the longest-serving Senate leader in American history. McCarthy has had a top leadership position in the House GOP since 2010. McDaniel, by winning a fourth term, will be the RNC’s longest-serving chair since the Civil War.

    The three races had unique dynamics, but they had one big thing in common: Republicans making the case for “fresh leadership” all failed.

    That losing message is worth keeping in mind as the GOP turns its attention to the 2024 presidential primaries, which will feature frontrunner DONALD TRUMP against a large field of candidates arguing that it’s time for someone new to be in charge.
    ………
    ……… (T)wo years after the attack on the Capitol, a few months after Trump helped lead Republicans to an historically disappointing midterm election, and amid several investigations at the state and federal level that could lead to criminal charges against him — and the rise of at least a dozen potential serious challengers — Trump remains the most likely 2024 Republican presidential nominee.
    …….

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  58. Meh! Leaders! McConnell is the only one who has remained there on merit. Competence and accomplishments.

    McCarthy and McDaniel are there by virtue of being handmaidens. We saw it with our own eyes.

    nk (e0e7aa)

  59. @56. I’m not saying he’s Stephen Hawking, just considerably smarter than Joe Biden. Functional intelligence after adjusting for Trump’s stubborn ignorance? He may be no smarter than Biden, maybe even dumber. But native intelligence? I think he’s a lot smarter. That’s my impression anyway.

    lurker (cd7cd4)

  60. F.B.I. searches joe biden’s head finds nothing.

    asset (121017)

  61. Intelligent people do lots of stupid things. They believe lots of stupid things. That doesn’t make the people themselves unintelligent.

    Some stupid things ONLY intelligent people believe. Like Marxism.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  62. He has a low animal cunning. And daddy’s money to hire people to do his thinking for him.

    Yes, but Bs hire Cs.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  63. “I think we need a young generation to come in, step up, and really start fixing things.”

    There’s really only two campaign strategies: “Back to Basics” or “A Bright New Day.” DeSantis has got the former locked up, so Haley has got to go for the sunshine.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  64. I think he’s a lot smarter. That’s my impression anyway.

    He has successfully relied on the fact that about half the voters have two-digit IQs. This has been the winning formula since Brutus tried to speak to the mob’s intellect and Antony spoke to their hearts.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  65. Thursday’s WORDLE in 3, usual starting word (SLATE).

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  66. She’s been my gal but in this mix for this cycle, don’t see her breaking out as the ultimate nominee under current circumstances. But it keeps her on the stage and not lost to history a la Chris Christie. Pompeo is likely going to run as well and he will beat her up on international issues given his tenure as SoS & at CIA…

    But a Trump/Haley; Trump/DeSantis ticket has a chance to beat the Biden/Harris disaster more for the condition of the economy than the characters in the running. OTOH, a Biden/Clinton ticket can win and should the ailing, aging 80-plus year old Joe foolishly decide to run and it looks desperate, Kamala gets the Eagleton shove and insurance policy Hillary jumps aboard then ultimately walks into the Oval when he resigns over health issues or cashes in him chips. He’s bound to get a younger primary challenger this cycle, too.

    DCSCA (469b4c)

  67. Interesting:

    Rep. Elise Stefanik, who became a GOP favorite by aggressively defending former President Trump, is in position to be a bigger player on the national stage — possibly as his 2024 running mate.

    Stefanik (R-N.Y.) will be a prominent voice on the high-profile House panel investigating what Republicans call the “weaponization” of U.S. law enforcement and security agencies against conservatives.
    ……..
    Trump recently fueled speculation in GOP circles about his interest in Stefanik, 38, by saying she could be elected president in 2028. He called her a “rocket ship” and a “strong boss.”

    “I want to congratulate Elise on her success,” Trump said at a fundraiser in Florida. “Man, is she moving fast. At this rate she’ll be president in about 6 years.”
    ……..
    Trump “is fond of her because, you know, tough likes tough,” said Mike Caputo, a Trump friend and adviser. “The president respects her because he sees himself in her.”

    Stefanik has a direct line to Trump, a person familiar told Axios, and they speak on the phone regularly.
    ……..

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  68. Trump/Haley; Trump/DeSantis ticket……

    Only if the VP buys into Trump’s conspiracy theories…..

    And Biden (or Harris) won’t be the Democratic nominee. My guess Biden will decline to run due to “health” reasons, and Harris is too unpopular.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  69. Biden will get the Feinstein treatment.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  70. Biden will get the Feinstein treatment.

    If not the Eagleton treatment.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  71. OT: So, Hulu is going to present a “documentary” series based on the 1619 project. I don’t have a Hulu subscription, but I would cancel it if I did.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  72. Biden will get the Feinstein treatment.

    If not the Eagleton treatment.

    Kevin M (1ea396) — 2/2/2023 @ 9:13 am

    The Eagleton treatment would have occurred during the 2020 Democratic Convention.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  73. @68. “Here’s the deal; really, I’m not kidding; no joke; the truth, that’s a fact, Jack’… reality is not a Biden forte. He’s a cranky, angry, old, stubborn Irishman in denial. He’ll run– errr, shuffle, because he believes the same suckers who’ve bought his senatorial spiel of tall-tales, 18-wheeler, 2 million miles riding Amtrak w/an engineer key, in prison w/Mandela boasts– will keep buying it. You see, he’s plagiarized Jake and Elwood’s act: he’s ‘on a mission from God’… to save America’s soul. And, of course, always… for Beau.

    “Fortunately, our country always manages to survive patriots like you.” – Bob Munson [Walter Pidgeon] ‘Advise & Consent’ 1962

    DCSCA (0d3fe9)

  74. The Eagleton treatment would have occurred during the 2020 Democratic Convention.

    She’ll get an offer she can’t refuse… bumped up to ‘the front office’ — ambassador to the Court of St. James or such… and the seasonerd, vetted, credentialed pants-suited fireplug will waddle to the podium, nod her head knowingly,. join the ticket at the convention and give the Rs a run for the money– and walk into the Oval when Joe joins Beau for lunch.

    DCSCA (0d3fe9)

  75. The Eagleton treatment would have occurred during the 2020 Democratic Convention.

    OK, the other Eagleton treatment.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  76. ambassador to the Court of St. James

    France. Wouldn’t want to offend the Brits.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  77. Or Canada … she’d fit right in with Trudeau.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  78. @76./@77. LOLOLOL Yes, those are good fits as well.

    DCSCA (0d3fe9)

  79. If HRC has the medical secret potions to survive an abbreviated yet still tough campaign schedule, why would Joe B not partake for himself plus Trump probably takes the 3x strength version already.

    Good catch Kev, she did spend her HS years in Montreal.

    urbanleftbehind (3dae16)

  80. @79. The pants-suited fireplug has craved to drink the ‘Oval time’ since ’69. ‘Tis a powerful drug…

    DCSCA (a5ff5e)

  81. @80: There’s at least one Lewinsky joke I’m not making here.

    Kevin M (1ea396)

  82. Of Trump’s 30% die-hard supporters, I always wonder what would he have to say or do for them to move on? Is it possible for another candidate to even sway their vote?

    One response we get a lot is “I loathe his behavior but really like his policies”. I struggle to disambiguate the two. A leader must be able to build a broad consensus for his policies or else they have little chance to survive the end of his administration (see Reagan’s broad tax restructuring and military buildup). It’s tough to do if you’re personally despicable. This also tends to suggest that there are no other Republicans who share broad elements of “Trump’s policies” that don’t suffer from loathsome behavior. Most Republicans favor a less regulations on business, a controlled border, a reasonable tax environment, a tougher stance against unfair Chinese trade practices, conservative justices, and a capable military. Why exactly do we need Trump?

    I think some are kidding themselves…or think they are in on the joke and that liberals and NeverTrump just don’t understand when Trump is trolling. Maybe, but probably not. I think people are just rationalizing bad behavior, because it doesn’t take much discipline or smarts to do the wrong thing. It’s easy to be an a$$, feed one’s ego, and insult teammate and foe alike. It’s harder to be diplomatic. Trump appeals to our worst instincts….and many like that. We do need a revival of sorts. What has happened to those “Book of Virtues” people that were some prominent in the GOP?

    AJ_Liberty (5f05c3)

  83. Ambassadorships used to be important. In the 21st century they are the home of political hacks.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  84. Surprise, surprise:

    Donald J. Trump refused to say he would support the next Republican presidential nominee if it was not him, exposing a potential quagmire along the party’s path toward reclaiming the White House in 2024 and showcasing, once again, the former president’s transactional spin on political loyalty.

    In a radio interview on Thursday, the conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt asked Mr. Trump if he would support “whoever” wins the party’s nomination next year. Mr. Trump announced his third presidential campaign in November and faces a number of potential Republican challengers.

    “It would depend,” Mr. Trump said, adding, “It would have to depend on who the nominee was.”
    …….
    Minutes before Mr. Trump’s interview on Thursday, Larry Hogan, a Republican who is the former Maryland governor and a consistent Trump antagonist, said on the same radio program that he would back the Republican nominee.
    ……..

    I’m shocked!

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  85. TRUMP and the Dems love snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. I mean Trump and Biden. Are these 2 decrepit morons the best we can do? But we have younger morons waiting in the wings. SMH as the kids say.

    JRH (bb4162)


Powered by WordPress.

Page loaded in: 0.0958 secs.