Nikki Haley Voting For Trump
[guest post by Dana]
I guess I’m not surprised that Nikki Haley will be voting for Trump. She made a political calculation and because she wants a future in the Republican Party, she will suck it up and vote for someone that she called “unhinged” and “not qualified to be the president of the United States.” Party first:
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley plans to vote for Donald Trump, she said Wednesday in her first public remarks since exiting the Republican presidential primary more than two months ago.
Haley said Trump “has not been perfect” on policies important to her, including foreign policy, immigration and the economy, but President Joe Biden “has been a catastrophe.”
“So I will be voting for Trump,” said Haley…
I don’t know if this means she will be fundraising or stumping for Trump, but given the numbers she has been pulling (16% in Pennsylvania, and nearly 13% in Wisconsin), I think she’s right to exort him to reach out to her supporters and not assume they’ll just follow her lead (and move to Trump). Of course this won’t make a bit of difference to Trump, but she’s right to say it:
“I will be voting for Trump,” she said in a response to to a question from a moderator at an event. “Having said that … Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that they’re just going to be with him.”
The one thing Haley has been absolutely consistent on, and a point in which I strongly agree, is the war in Ukraine:
“Sending weapons to Ukraine and Israel isn’t foreign aid,” she said. “It’s an investment in a world in which authoritarian dictators cannot run roughshod over free countries.”
So, do we think that she will be a possible contender for VP? (Personally, I don’t think so. I don’t believe Trump wants someone smarter, more experienced, and vastly more knowledgeable to show him up.
BREAKING: Former presidential hopeful Nikki Haley announced Wednesday that she will support Donald Trump in the upcoming election. Let's take a look back at her comments about the former president during her campaign. pic.twitter.com/2QZckzFl5T
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) May 22, 2024
–Dana
I think she’ll run in ’28. She’s still young.
Dana (8e902f) — 5/22/2024 @ 3:44 pmThis whole mess is more than I can take.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 5/22/2024 @ 3:48 pmAnd I shudder at the comments that will appear and elsewhere regarding this. I mean, is it any wonder extraterrestrials do not want to talk with us? I mean, look at us.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 5/22/2024 @ 3:49 pmAs I said on the Open Thread, she’s angling for Secretary of State in the next Trump Administration. The only thing more important than what is best for the country is what is best for Darling Nikki. Entirely predictable.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2024 @ 5:19 pmShe may run, but her brand of Republicanism died during the primaries. She trailed DeSantis, who will certainly run, and he will inherit Trumpism.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/22/2024 @ 6:05 pm“The only thing more important than what is best for the country is what is best for Darling Nikki” That is a tension every politically ambitious American politician has to navigate. I’m interested in any specifics you can illuminate
steveg (c7df5c) — 5/22/2024 @ 6:07 pmSometimes you just have to grab a sh1t sandwich and dig in. Biden could have moved to the middle domestically and gotten a lot more cross-over than #NeverEverTrump, but he didn’t.
His budget for this year — mostly a wish list of what he’d do with a plaint Congress — was extreme. Income taxes on investments, each year, based on the paper value increase. But please don’t call it a wealth tax, and it’s only on those “billionaires” with $100 million in assets (already working it down). Central planning of transportation and energy. MORE benefits for Medicare recipients and no action on Social Security.
Handpicked committees driving social change by regulation and lawsuit. Open borders and government handouts for the “refugees.” And more and more control of the people.
Balanced against that is Ukraine. Not Israel — Trump would be more of a friend. And Europe is capable of taking care of Ukraine if needs must.
The real problem with Trump is his character and lack of impulse control. Is that enough? I can see people deciding this either way.
Biden could have moved to the middle.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/22/2024 @ 6:32 pmShe trailed DeSantis, who will certainly run, and he will inherit Trumpism.
After 4 years of actual Trumpism, that may not be a plus.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/22/2024 @ 6:33 pmI don’t believe Trump wants someone smarter, more experienced, and vastly more knowledgeable to show him up.
Which is one of his character flaws. Reagan was no genius, but he knew how to find and make use of geniuses. He’d even let them take the credit. Trump is one of those people who not only has to be the one who wins, but everyone else has to lose.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/22/2024 @ 6:37 pmI hoped Nikki would reject MAGA but expected her to cave, and she met my low expectations. Sigh.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 5/22/2024 @ 7:00 pmJfk and lbj 1960. Reagan and bush 1980 and their are many other examples. Nikki could ask for support for Ukraine and nato to seal the deal as she is still getting 15% to 25% of republican party vote.
asset (1fba3e) — 5/22/2024 @ 8:45 pmI hoped Nikki would reject MAGA but expected her to cave, and she met my low expectations. Sigh.
I had hoped that you would reject socialism, but I see you have caved>
Unreasonable? No more than you are being.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/22/2024 @ 9:27 pm@12 are you going to reject socialism? Social security and medicare. Here comes the excuse why you wont!
asset (1fba3e) — 5/23/2024 @ 12:41 amWell, that was stupid, because that was an unreasoning comment.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 5/23/2024 @ 4:24 amBiden is pushing far left socialism. It’s a time for choosing.
NJRob (153cbd) — 5/23/2024 @ 5:43 amHere’s the game…
You have Democrats pushing their preferred policies…
vs…
Republicans pushing their preferred policies…
If you’re going to play this game (vote), you cannot ignore this premise.
What policies do you want to “win” on the field?
Does it really matter who the players are?
whembly (86df54) — 5/23/2024 @ 6:42 am@16 This is how you explain why politicians ends up supporting the eventual winner of their party’s nomination process.
Primaries is supposed to be a brawl, and supposed incur nasty mud-flingings.
But its normal for that when primaries ends, the former primary “opponents” supports the party’s nomination for the betterment of the party.
That’s why Haley is supporting Trump now.
She wants another crack at the Whitehouse in the 2028 election.
She also needs to be politically relevant till then… so, I agree she’ll be seeking SoS cabinet position, or even the VP.
whembly (86df54) — 5/23/2024 @ 6:50 amWell, that was stupid, because that was an unreasoning comment.
I accept your apology.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:04 amRead my previous posts from the last six months.
Rip Murdock (f17b34) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:09 amLook, Paul, you say that “Nikki has embraced MAGA” when shoe has not done any such thing. All she has said is that one sh1t sandwich is better than the other. You, however, have declared for Biden long ago, and so you have embraced Bidenism at least as much as Nikki has embraced MAGA.
And what does Biden propose? Much more government, heavy taxes, central planning of the economy and command economics in energy and transportation, and all of Trump’s protectionism and Buy American rhetoric. On social matters he’s beholden to the whackjob wing of his party.
What is it that you embrace there, and why is saying you embrace ALL of this different than your false claim that Nikki has embraced MAGA when all she has done is reject Biden.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:11 amAnother flip flop from Nikki Haley, probably the most consequential one. Throughout the primary campaign she treated Trump with kid gloves. Then when she was the last one standing she said Trump was “unfit” to be President. And now she endorses him.
She just shivved those 20% of Republican voters who have been voting for her despite her leaving the race.
Rip Murdock (f17b34) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:20 amShe just shivved those 20% of Republican voters who have been voting for her despite her leaving the race.
How would you know? I don’t feel shivved. All I see is someone making the better of two terrible choices.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:24 amAnd now she endorses him
She did not endorse him.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:27 am@22
Genuinely curious Kevin…
I’m not saying it’s going to happen… but, how would you feel if Nikki accepts the VP slot?
whembly (86df54) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:27 amI’ve added a collection of comments Haley made about Trump before yesterday’s announcement. Kissing the ring because she knows that’s on whom Republican power resides, and if she wants a future in the Party, she’ll do what’s required.
Dana (8e902f) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:28 amRip trying to cause further unrest to aid his preferred candidate. No surprise there.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:29 amIIRC, Paul has actually declared that his choice of which State to reside in has, by mere happenstance, rendered him free to vote for ridiculous 3rd party candidates because “because.”
“My vote doesn’t count! Electoral College!! 😩”
To Patterico’s credit, that even though he lives in a state that has a similar problem of what choices a conservative actually has in a presidential election, he has decided that a vote for Biden is the true statement of conscience.
I respect that.
BuDuh (25b897) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:36 amI’m not saying it’s going to happen… but, how would you feel if Nikki accepts the VP slot?
Allahpundit talked about this. IF, and I mean IF, you accept that Trump is going to win then it makes sense to have a voice of reason there that he cannot fire and who does not have to do what he tells her to do. Unlike the position of a cabinet member, Trump’s dealing with an unaligned VP would be transactional.
I don’t think Trump will do it though. Haley would be the opposite of “impeachment insurance” — a faction in the GOP would WANT to have her move up. Might also increase the incentive for some to take a shot.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:41 amKissing the ring because she knows that’s on whom Republican power resides, and if she wants a future in the Party, she’ll do what’s required.
Just like Teddy Kennedy shook hands with Jimmy Carter after a bruising floor fight in 1980. He still thought that Carter was a traitor to Liberalism, but the Party came first in the end.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:45 amThe timing of her statement seems specificly timed according to McClatchy:
https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article288654155.html
I wonder why they cut the quote of her brother’s tweet?
Here it is in its entirety:
I get that they linked the tweet, but I think they should have quoted it completely for the sake of the particular storyline.
BuDuh (4214e4) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:53 amWell, if the Convention demanded that she run, I suppose she’d have to.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:57 amGotta tell you, #17 (and #20) has the right take on this. You always say you will vote for the nominee if you are a politician if you care about having a future in your party. If you don’t give a Rip about your future political prospects, you can take the Kinzinger approach.
Now, is Nikki going to barnstorm the nation for Trump? Is she going to give a big speach at the convention? Or will she stay at home and do the think tank thing for the next few years? We’ll see.
Appalled (aa0edd) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:58 amWhat will be interesting is the DNC in August if Trump is leading by double digits.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 7:59 am“Does it really matter who the players are?”
One player is rightly accused of multiple felonies involving obstruction of justice and conspiracy to disrupt a congressional proceeding. So, it kind of does matter. Character is destiny…and voting for Trump validates the crimes he has committed and the crimes he will commit in the future. Your vote buys your collusion.
“All I see is someone making the better of two terrible choices.”
Unfit is unfit. Chaos is chaos. The biggest policy decisions that the President controls to a large degree are foreign policy and national security. Trump is a big question mark on Ukraine, his support of NATO, and frankly his support for other defensive alliances like South Korea and maybe Taiwan. He had good people around him for his first term. He now understands that those good people will say bad things about him….and there’s no higher capital in Trump land than loyalty and adulation. We will see yes-men and loyalists, recess and acting appointments as necessary.
We will also see a perverse politicization of the DoJ, with whatever “retribution” means. Jack Smith’s cases are not a weaponized DoJ, but the consequence of a castrated GOP Senate failing to do its constitutional job with impeachment. If you want to see a weaponized and politicized DoJ, then please continue to rationalize Trump as the lesser terrible choice.
Haley’s decision is disappointing, but the degree of disappointment will depend on where she goes from here. She did say unfit; she did say chaos A LOT; she did mock Trump’s decision making and her need to sit him down. There may be a Trump criminal conviction that is looming in a couple of weeks and there are still felony charges out there. Her best play remains saying as little as possible. For sure not joining the parade of suckups beclowning themselves outside courtrooms and on cable news. Haley hasn’t gotten much for her “vote pledge” and she’s diminished her ability to lead the GOP opposition movement, but I hope there’s another chapter to this story. Kevin is correct that the GOP has morphed and is still feeling its way through populism and Trumpism. If you’re not concerned about Trumpism and its potential for awfulness, I think you have blinders on…and there’s no excuse….
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/23/2024 @ 8:11 amMy preferred candidate (Chris Christie) dropped out a long time ago. I’ve got no one to vote for when it comes to President.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 8:32 am@34
Likewise, if you’re not concerned about a 2nd Biden administration, you’re a civic disaster.
whembly (86df54) — 5/23/2024 @ 8:41 amIf Darling Nikki thinks she is preserving her “options” to run in 2028, she is delusional. Nobody will remember her four years from now. She will be way down the list:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 8:48 amYour lack of comprehension of the Electoral College bears repeating.
It is interesting, though, the folks who are most offended by protest votes are the hardcore partisans on the left and the right. Must be that weird binary mentality that goes with.
One, there’s no apology for you to accept.
Two, if you’re going to quote me, Kevin, then don’t make sh-t up because I didn’t say “Nikki has embraced MAGA”. I said “I hoped Nikki would reject MAGA” and she didn’t, she’s voting for Trump and therefore MAGA and all that comes with. I really don’t why you’re having kittens about a non-controversial comment.
Um, that’s a lie. You’re lying, Kevin. I declared that I’m NeverBiden. Just like with Trump, never voted for him and never will. Go figure out another way to channel your anger.
To answer your question about what I’m embracing, it’s traditional conservatism, always has been, and neither candidate offers such a thing. What are you embracing, Kevin, other than being an asshole. You’re not voting for Trump or Biden either.
Paul Montagu (895dc0) — 5/23/2024 @ 8:52 amI would also add Donald Trump Jr. to the MAGA up and comers.
Over the next four years Haley will not be in a position to do anything that will have an impact that she can run on in 2028:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 8:54 amBy joining the Hudson Institute (an elite conservative institution if there ever was one), it shows she still doesn’t get the fact that the new Republican Party is a populist party. It’s the same wine and cheese crowd that voted for her.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 9:05 am“if you’re not concerned about a 2nd Biden administration, you’re a civic disaster”
Most of this is in your mind by imagining worst-case liberal domestic policy and then pretending that the filibuster will disappear. Biden will have no mandate…and in fact his approval ratings suggest that he will need to tack to the middle, especially on border security. Democrats will lose big in 2026 otherwise. We can survive his attempts to pander. It’s harder to see a happy ending if we abandon Ukraine and NATO…and weaponize DoJ. I’ll own if Biden imposes a wealth tax. Will you own it if Putin appeasement leads us toward a war over Taiwan?
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/23/2024 @ 9:11 amDidn’t make a difference in the general election result.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 9:23 amBoth choices that can actually win are significantly bolstered by protest votes. You have to force yourself to not realize that. But go ahead vote for someone who has no chance because “electoral college faux-protest.”
BuDuh (4214e4) — 5/23/2024 @ 9:29 amMost of this is in your mind by imagining worst-case liberal domestic policy and then pretending that the filibuster will disappear
It’s the flip side of saying Congress will restrain Trump.
The only real difference is a number of GOP Senators will not vote for that, but all Democrat members of the Senate (except for two who are not running for re-election) now say they will vote to end the filibuster. Under the “Appeal the Decision of the Chair” nuclear option they only need a majority to do that.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 9:46 amOnly if Haley swallows Trump’s attacks on herself and her husband. She would need to be a real masochist to join a Trump Administration.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 9:49 amBiden will have no mandate…and in fact his approval ratings suggest that he will need to tack to the middle, especially on border security.
Why? He could have done that now and his failure to do so is likely to elect Trump.
It’s harder to see a happy ending if we abandon Ukraine and NATO…and weaponize DoJ
All these threats. My gosh. Do you suppose it is possible that compromise might happen? Take immigration, for example. Trump threatens to use the military to round up all the illegals, but do you really think that will turn out well for him? Instead, he might be able to get a total rewrite of immigration law, badly needed for decades, out of the hands of the extremists on both sides who won’t budge.
As for weaponizing the DoJ … it’s been weaponized for years, just ask Ted Stevens. It’s just been a Democrat fief and Trump wants to change that. Having had “civil servants” refusing to accept policy changes he has a legitimate beef with the current system. I’m not concerned with him ordering USAs to prosecute named individuals (as opposed to, say, violent protesters) since the courts won’t abide malicious prosecutions.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 9:54 am“Only Trump could offer amnesty”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 9:55 amDidn’t make a difference in the general election result.
No, it didn’t. It may have made a difference down-ballot — the Democrats held the House until 1994.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 9:57 amhttps://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-807_3e04.pdf
This is the SC redistricting case favoring the GOP’s legislative redistricting.
…and Alito’s pretty dang spicy towards the dissent:
whembly (86df54) — 5/23/2024 @ 10:03 amJustice Thomas’ concurrance:
whembly (86df54) — 5/23/2024 @ 10:04 amKevin M sounds more and more like he will follow Haley’s lead. 😉
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 10:17 am@51, that’s what I’m hearing. The constraints will hold Trump…and the Democrats are willing to do ANYTHING. Once you’re there, the next step is Bill Barr.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 5/23/2024 @ 10:48 amhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mgQaFlo_p8
BuDuh (25b897) — 5/23/2024 @ 11:27 amKevin M sounds more and more like he will follow Haley’s lead.
I had planned on voting Libertarian, but then they went MAGA. MAGA without party loyalty is double-plus ungood. Right now I plan on leaving the line blank, but it would really help a lot if Biden didn’t pander to the worst of his party. If I eventually DO cast a vote it will be “against Biden.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 12:49 pmThe Court should extricate itself from this business and return political districting to the political branches, where it belongs.
Failing that, they should opt for a total ban on gerrymandering. Right now they have to decide WHY something is gerrymandered, which requires mind-reading (or accepting that one party is immune).
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 12:52 pmI’m wondering how people will vote if the US recognizes Palestine.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 12:54 pmThe SCOTUS leaker must’ve delivered some bad news to libs about upcoming decisions because THEY. ARE. FREAKING. OUT!
whembly (86df54) — 5/23/2024 @ 12:58 pmThere are three strong arguments against Donald Trump:
1. NATO and Ukraine
2. J6
3. Mental capacity and demeanor
But are they enough? No, I’m not kidding. Joe Biden is an utter failure. Yes, he gets a pass on #1, but he is no better on #3, and J6 isn’t relevant as far as Joe Biden’s actions.
On everything besides NATO and Ukraine, Biden has either doubled down on Trump’s policies or chosen paths that are worse than Trump chose or would have chosen.
And even on J6, I find the Democrats not without fault regarding their adherence to elections. They have an ongoing conspiracy to evade the Electoral College and their party tried VERY hard to allow Congress to extra-Constitutionally disqualify a President-Elect for past actions by a majority vote. Their claim that their heart is pure here just does not fly.
Yes, Trump should have been convicted in his second impeachment, but he wasn’t and we are here now as a consequence. The question is Trump or Biden, not some wishcasting about wistful choices, and Biden is a terrible candidate, too.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 1:06 pm#57
If the leaker had bad news (presumably about the delays and fact finding the Supremes require in the immunity case), he or she would leak it to the media right now.
Appalled (aa0edd) — 5/23/2024 @ 1:20 pm@15 your idea of the communist revolution is here if your taxes are raised a little bit! Biden is a corrupt crony capitalist whos job like clinton is to keep the left base from taking over the democratic party and as a by product protect you conservatives from the rathe of the left.
asset (bd2091) — 5/23/2024 @ 2:04 pmAll you conservatives ringing your hands and gnashing your teeth over voting for biden. The lesser of two evils is still evil! I as a usually loyal democrat I have no problem voting third party when the DNC tells me I have to vote for what ever crap they throw against the the wall that sticks. NO! Every morning hillary wakes up hating all of us bernie supporters who voted for Jill Stein in 2016! “They” tell you voting third party is throwing away your vote in a meaningless exercise then spend all their time trying to keep third party candidates off the ballot! If they lose as clinton and gore did by a margin less then what the third party gets you didn’t throw away your vote you drove a stake thru their evil heart and they know it. Watch youtube 2016 election night coverage when corporate media (especially msDNC) realize Jill Stein is preventing clinton from winning Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Thats why democrat party prevented green party ballot access in 2020.
asset (bd2091) — 5/23/2024 @ 2:23 pmThat will never happen. The pro-Israel voting bloc is much larger and politically influential (through campaign contributions and congressional lobbyists) than the pro-Palestinian bloc. Congress would overrule any recognition by the Administration.
Palestine is a political fiction. You might as well recognize Kurdistan.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 2:46 pmRegarding Nikki’s speech yesterday, Rip has it right (take a bow), because the issue wasn’t her statement that she’ll vote for Trump, because she already said in her campaign suspension speech that she would support the Republican nominee. For NeverTrumpers, the time to be really irritated with her was 2½ months ago (and I was), not yesterday, because all she did yesterday was reiterate her position. Last March, she didn’t endorse Trump, let alone embrace him, and that also didn’t change yesterday, where she said she’ll vote for Trump but referred back to her March 6th suspension.
Also not an issue is talk of her being Trump’s VP, in part because Trump already scratched her off his list and, also, why debase herself like Tim Scott playing a blue-suited, red-tied Stepford Wife in front of an NYC courthouse.
No, the real issue is that she was auditioning to be Trump’s Secretary of State. But first, read her speech in its entirety, here. It was a good conservative foreign policy talk, and most of her discussion was about foreign policy. You can also tell it was an audition because it was smart and well prepared, and it appeared to surprise the host a little at how put together her talk was.
Not only that, consider where she decided to make her first public appearance since leaving her campaign. It was the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank that, unlike the Heritage Foundation, isn’t a Trump subsidiary and is solidly in support of Ukraine’s defense against Putin’s war against them. Luke Coffey is one of the Hudson guys I follow on the X, because of his expertise.
As I see it, mainstream media covered her completely wrong, and so did most of us here. They (and we) picked up on the sensational, that she’ll vote for Trump, which was old news before the equinox, not the purpose for her being there. If I were Nikki, I’d be a little dismayed at how it was covered, because her statement about Trump was a fraction of what she actually talked about.
Also, a word on voting, endorsing and embracing. As I see it, those are differing levels of support, where “voting for” is the lowest level (Haley), endorsing is a higher level (DeSantis) and embracing is all in on Trump (Tim Scott). Haley is nowhere near Tim Scott, and you could see that in her Q&A, where she clearly said she’ll vote for Trump because (in her opinion) Biden is worse.
Paul Montagu (1e8339) — 5/23/2024 @ 2:51 pmTake a bow Rip?? How about take a bow Fox News Debate Squad in 2023?
GOP candidates give a show of hands if they would support Trump if convicted
I truly believe that not many people pay attention. This “support,” no matter how the parsers wish to rate it, has been baked into the cake for quite some time.
BuDuh (25b897) — 5/23/2024 @ 3:12 pm64. Nikki Haley:
What does she mean by that?
He told Russia (and everybody else) that we knew he was planning to do so. He even told China to tell Russia not to do so. He tried a little appeasement, saying that if it was only a minor incursion, he wouldn’t do anything.
What he didn’t do was convince Vladimir Putin that his attack plan would fail.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 5/23/2024 @ 3:23 pmWhat’s this? The Russian invasion of Ukraine came first. Why can’t she say: ” Without the Afghanistan debacle, Russia likely would not have invaded Ukraine.”
The Hamas attack on Israel is less of a connection to the debacle in Afghanistan because the attack was always designed to elicit an Israeli response, and Hamas was not expected to prevail militarily. And besides the United States had already shown by its aid to Ukraine that all that Biden was avoiding was any commitment of U.S. troops, however minor. None were expected in a Gaza war.
It is suspected that the purpose was to upend the deal being negotiated between United States, Saudi Arabia and Israel. If there’s any mistake here it is not conducting the negotiations in total secrecy and springing the agreement on the world by surprise, or perhaps taking too much time to reach a conclusion.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 5/23/2024 @ 3:34 pmHe’s still that way, and he’s that way with regard to Israel, also. Always afraid of escalation and World War III.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 5/23/2024 @ 3:37 pmWhat would Nikki have done to “deter Russia”, short of preemptively sending US troops to Ukraine?
Because there is no evidence that Putin would have been deterred from attacking Ukraine no matter what happened in Afghanistan. Putin has his own nationalist reasons for doing so, which is his belief that Ukraine belongs to Mother Russia.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 3:42 pmA video I constantly linked to in posts about Haley.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 3:43 pmRip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 2:46 pm
The difference is that there are many people with Palestinian passports, recognized throughout the Arab world.
They are not issued by Hamas, even for people restricted to the Gaza Strip, but by the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.
Israel opposes giving more authority to the PA, (and cut off half the tax money it is giving to the PA because it campaigned for diplomatic recognition) and even the Biden Administration opposes empowering the PA, except it’s dreaming of a reformed version of it, with no plans as to how to get to that point.
Russia and China want the PA to give some cover to Hamas control of Gaza but the PA has too much sense to get involved with Hamas more than they already are.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 5/23/2024 @ 3:46 pmThe Saudis won’t sign an agreement with Israel unless it contains guarantees of a “two-state solution” involving the Palestinians, which means it is unlikely to ever happen as long as Netanyahu is in power.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 3:46 pmThe Palestinian “Authority” is a fictional government. It doesn’t control any territory, provides for its own defense or public services, or oversee a viable economy. It has “authority” over nothing.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 3:50 pmRip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 3:42 pm
He didn’t even get started until the takeover by the Taliban started happening. By all accounts, the Russian military buildup on the border with Ukraine -that is the planning of an invasion and takeover of all of Ukraine – began in August, 2021.
It’s not that Putin was interested before – it’s that till then, he was deterred from expanding the war in Ukraine. (he kept it going on a low simmer since 2014, in order to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO because NATO would not admit a member that didn’t have a de facto stable border.)
But when Putin saw that President Biden wasn’t willing to tolerate even minimal loss of U.S. troops to hold a country, the United States lost its deterrence, and Putin began planning a full takeover of Ukraine.
And he doesn’t have the sense to attempt to cut his losses.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 5/23/2024 @ 3:55 pmDidn’t mean to diminish your hero’s parade.
Here you go:
🏆
In the spirit of Bold Stances, who are you voting for in November?
BuDuh (4214e4) — 5/23/2024 @ 3:59 pmRip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 3:50 pm
Except money (and matters like passports.)
https://www.quora.com/Does-Palestine-have-its-own-passport
Part of one answer:
It’s not a state, though. And it doesn’t have a legitimate government. Partly because it claims rule over Gaza, so that’s one reason for not holding elections. Not that elections in which only terrorist groups run would be fair.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 5/23/2024 @ 4:05 pmEvery office except President.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/23/2024 @ 4:08 pmVideo of Nikki Haley embracing MAGA
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 4:43 pmCongress would overrule any recognition by the Administration.
IIRC regarding China, it’s not Congress that does the recognizing.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 4:46 pmYou might as well recognize Kurdistan.
MUCH better than Palestine. They’d give us bases.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 4:47 pmPaul Montagu (1e8339) — 5/23/2024 @ 2:51 pm
Did not see this earlier. I agree with Paul here completely. My problem with her as SoS is mainly that she’d get her ass fired the moment that Trump wanted to get a foreign golf course approved.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 4:49 pmWhat he didn’t do was convince Vladimir Putin that his attack plan would fail.
Probably because his administration thought it would succeed and was trying to get Zelensky and Co to escape to the West.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 4:51 pmIn the spirit of Bold Stances, who are you voting for in November?
Rip consistently says that Haley Republicans will vote for Trump. Now, that doesn’t mean that Rip will, of course.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 4:53 pmWhat does this mean regarding down-ballot candidates that are either endorsed by Trump, endorse Trump, or both endorsed and endorse?
BuDuh (4214e4) — 5/23/2024 @ 5:27 pmHe didn’t say he was voting for GOP candidates.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/23/2024 @ 5:48 pmAccording to yahoo news Tulsi Gabbard is leading candidate for trumps veep. He should be smart and cut a deal on foreign policy with Nikki Haley for veep ;but probably fears the deep state would pull a “Dallas” to get Haley in the oval office.
asset (f8d793) — 5/23/2024 @ 9:23 pmTulsi is a she.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/24/2024 @ 6:45 am@86, you need to work on your asset-filter. Sentence 2 is shifting to what Trump (he) should do. But you’re correct, Tulsi is a she. It will be interesting whether we see Tulsi more now that Noem appears to have shot her chances. My suspicion is that team Trump will start to feel her out and see how he talks/looks on the trail and in front of the media. Is she as dogged an apologist as Noem? Does she help with women in swing states? I certainly place her as a contender.
AJ_Liberty (24bf19) — 5/24/2024 @ 7:58 amWould love to see Tulsi (who is Hindu) be the choice, if only to see Nevertrump and the Left persist with the Christian Nationalist narrative in typical bullheaded fashion. Other than being a woman, she is everything Kamala is not.
lloyd (2af360) — 5/24/2024 @ 8:11 amThe recognition of the People’s Republic of China didn’t generate a political firestorm; while recognizing a terrorist state called Palestine would generate a huge political firestorm. And given Biden’s full-throated support of Israel (even if he disagrees with their strategy), it is impossible to imagine his Administration recognizing a terrorist state. And Congress can certainly block any money being spent in support of such a recognition.
Ain’t gonna happen.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2024 @ 10:23 amWhere I live there aren’t any candidates who endorse or are endorsed by Trump.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2024 @ 10:25 amI’ve said that good percentage of Haley voters will vote for Trump. I have consistently said that I will be voting for all of the offices on my ballot, except for President. Why that is hard to understand, I don’t know.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2024 @ 10:27 amKurdistan exists in no way, shape, or form. It is another fantasy country.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2024 @ 10:29 amExcellent point.
BuDuh (4214e4) — 5/24/2024 @ 10:39 amOBE-As I implied in my post 90, I won’t be voting for any GOP candidates that have endorsed or are endorsed by, Donald Trump. The local GOP candidates where I live are focused on quality of life issues, not national tribalism. Steve Garvey, the sacrificial lamb, I mean Republican Senate candidate, will get my vote despite he was set up to lose.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 5/24/2024 @ 11:07 amTrump hints Nikki Haley will have a job (at least temporarily) in a future second Trump Administration/
Or some people want to read it that way (I don’t think Trump was hinting at that at all)
https://www.newser.com/story/350786/trump-hints-at-role-for-haley-in-future-administration.html
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 5/24/2024 @ 2:17 pm81.
But that was not immediately. And that was the political appointees, who were ready to give up almost right away.
The only way that revealing all that the United States knew about the Russian forces made sense was that at least somebody in the U.S>government thought a Russian takeover wasn’t a sure thing.
It meant that the Ukrainians would know where the Russians were and people in the military know how that gives the defense an advantage,
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 5/24/2024 @ 2:25 pm@91 consider voting third party like I will do. Why? It helps with furthering this democratic republic.
asset (8f2c08) — 5/24/2024 @ 8:31 pmKurdistan exists in no way, shape, or form. It is another fantasy country.
They said that about Israel once.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/24/2024 @ 9:02 pmAnd that was the political appointees, who were ready to give up almost right away.
If only Biden knew.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 5/24/2024 @ 9:03 pm