Trump has a VP problem, doesn’t he? What might he do? The logical choice would be Nikki Haley, but “logical” isn’t in his (limited) vocabulary (neither apparently is “utterly incompetent” - see MTG, KL and SP below). I think he might nix Nikki because, as CC has pointed out, he likes to surprise people and control the narrative. Plus he likes to “make” obscure people - and boast about it. Most important, Nikki H might outshine her boss - big NoNo. Ditto for Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kari Lake and Sarah Palin. Kim Reynolds probably DeSantis-ed herself out of contention - also she and Kristi Noem have extreme abortion records, which he well knows is political danger (Though Kristi Norm possesses the ULTIMATE VP qualification - in July 2020 she presented OrangeMan with a model of Mount Rushmore with his face added!). That leaves…Glenn Youngkin, who was also recently politically wounded by abortion. Or Adam Laxalt, who’s from a state that can’t swing the outcome.
I wholeheartedly agree w your analysis on the above-mentioned veep candidates. Realistically,I think, Trump needs a VP that can (help) carry any of the battleground states -PA, OH, GA,AZ-and a few others.
Chris---Any darlings of the right that can shore up electoral support in any of these toss-ups that could tip the scales Trump's way?
If he picks KL it will let us Arizonans off the hook of possibly having her as a U.S. Senator (God forbid). If he doesn't pick her hopefully we Arizonans will manage to shut her down again. However, if she is the Republican winner, and Sinema stays in the race, it might get dicey. Simema pulls votes from both Lake and Gallego, but probably more from Gallego. Also, Lake will be running a more centerist campaign and trying not to alienate the McCain wing of the party to the extent she did two years ago. BUT, she is still Kari Lake and, like Trump, she probably can't keep the crazy contained. It will be interesting. Scary, but interesting.
Would love to get your thoughts on Gavin Newsom at the Hannity debate. Political misfire? Political genius? I just think it's odd to voluntarily agree to attend a debate that was 90 minutes of why your state is terrible.
To clarify: The debate was essentially 2 on 1: Every question Hannity asked was a leading question about how awful California is and pointing out how it lags behind Florida in xx.
I just drove through California yesterday in fact!
Liz Cheney claims she's considering a 3rd party run for President. It's hard to imagine she would draw votes other than those of swing voters who would otherwise go for Biden. She's smart, and she has to know that her running would help Trump. What do you think she's doing?
Politics/elections used to be - for lack of a better word - my hobby. Like when I was in high school in the '90s I kept VHS recordings of election debates and covered my walls with hand-drawn electoral college results from decades past. I always enjoyed it... until about 2016. Now I'm still fascinated, but more so out of dread or foreboding than excitement. I'm curious if your feelings have taken a similar turn? Do you still "enjoy" what you cover, or does it feel more like war journalism now?
Two related questions: As the non-MAGA Republicans give up and retire, will the GOP be so filled with politicians with so little regard for governing, and every regard for simply getting attention, that (eventually??) the voters get tired of the shenanigans and stop voting the pretenders into office? Second question: Will enough non-MAGA Republicans exit the GOP, yet still desire to govern conservatively, that eventually they could coalesce into a new-GOP party that becomes viable? What do you think?
Admittedly I haven't looked very hard, but is there a simple explanation as to why congress hasn't taken at least the minimal step toward immigration control of simply changing or updating our asylum laws? The laws, which I think date back to post WWII, after we learned about all the Jewish people we rejected and consigned them to their deaths, don't seem relevant today. Wouldn't be in the interest of both parties to make changes since this law is obviously being exploited by human traffickers coaching their clients on what to say and how to say it? Wouldn't the Dems have the most to gain since Fox News and the MAGA crazies are beating them to death over the border every day?
Do you think Gavin Newsom is now actually running a shadow campaign for 2024 to be the "emergency" Dem nominee if Biden needs to drop out for any reason? (I think he is & that it's a prudent move).
...and Chris, don't leave off abortion. A woman's right to health care and not be made into a second class citizen by MAGAS. And Biden needs to learn to say ABORTION.
Hey Chris happy December, I was wondering if the House GOP opens an impeachment inquiry as expected and Biden does get impeached by the house, I was wondering do you se any Moderate/Conservative Democrats (Manchin, Sinema, Josh Gottheimer, Jared Golden, etc) voting to impeach or convict as well?
I think Trump will win the presidency next year even though he will loose the popular vote because the electoral votes from red states. Would you care to comment. By the way, I enjoy your blog tremendously. So much great information. Thanks,
Chris, just read your piece on Vivek. I see where you’re going with thinking he just wants popularity for its own sake, but on the other hand isn’t he the most likely front runner for trump’s vp pick? He’s a business man who has never said a bad thing about trump, will gladly pick fights with politicians in both parties, and isn’t afraid to say crazy and outlandish things publicly- isn’t he exactly who trump (although not his campaign) would want to pick? Thanks!
Trump has a VP problem, doesn’t he? What might he do? The logical choice would be Nikki Haley, but “logical” isn’t in his (limited) vocabulary (neither apparently is “utterly incompetent” - see MTG, KL and SP below). I think he might nix Nikki because, as CC has pointed out, he likes to surprise people and control the narrative. Plus he likes to “make” obscure people - and boast about it. Most important, Nikki H might outshine her boss - big NoNo. Ditto for Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kari Lake and Sarah Palin. Kim Reynolds probably DeSantis-ed herself out of contention - also she and Kristi Noem have extreme abortion records, which he well knows is political danger (Though Kristi Norm possesses the ULTIMATE VP qualification - in July 2020 she presented OrangeMan with a model of Mount Rushmore with his face added!). That leaves…Glenn Youngkin, who was also recently politically wounded by abortion. Or Adam Laxalt, who’s from a state that can’t swing the outcome.
Mike Johnson is going to be his VP pick.
Wow, that is a SCARY thought.
I wholeheartedly agree w your analysis on the above-mentioned veep candidates. Realistically,I think, Trump needs a VP that can (help) carry any of the battleground states -PA, OH, GA,AZ-and a few others.
Chris---Any darlings of the right that can shore up electoral support in any of these toss-ups that could tip the scales Trump's way?
If he picks KL it will let us Arizonans off the hook of possibly having her as a U.S. Senator (God forbid). If he doesn't pick her hopefully we Arizonans will manage to shut her down again. However, if she is the Republican winner, and Sinema stays in the race, it might get dicey. Simema pulls votes from both Lake and Gallego, but probably more from Gallego. Also, Lake will be running a more centerist campaign and trying not to alienate the McCain wing of the party to the extent she did two years ago. BUT, she is still Kari Lake and, like Trump, she probably can't keep the crazy contained. It will be interesting. Scary, but interesting.
Would love to get your thoughts on Gavin Newsom at the Hannity debate. Political misfire? Political genius? I just think it's odd to voluntarily agree to attend a debate that was 90 minutes of why your state is terrible.
You would legitimately choose to live in Fla over CA?
I'm trying to understand the last part...."your state is terrible". Are you talking about Fla or CA or both?
To clarify: The debate was essentially 2 on 1: Every question Hannity asked was a leading question about how awful California is and pointing out how it lags behind Florida in xx.
I just drove through California yesterday in fact!
100% agree Sam. It was def a loaded deck against Newsom. Given those facts, I think he held up pretty well.
Questions were absolutely part of a stacked deck. Thanks for the clarification!
Why is Tuberville relenting on military promotions except for 4-star generals?
Liz Cheney claims she's considering a 3rd party run for President. It's hard to imagine she would draw votes other than those of swing voters who would otherwise go for Biden. She's smart, and she has to know that her running would help Trump. What do you think she's doing?
Thx, I was about to ask about this. But you stated the question far more eloquently than I possibly could.
Politics/elections used to be - for lack of a better word - my hobby. Like when I was in high school in the '90s I kept VHS recordings of election debates and covered my walls with hand-drawn electoral college results from decades past. I always enjoyed it... until about 2016. Now I'm still fascinated, but more so out of dread or foreboding than excitement. I'm curious if your feelings have taken a similar turn? Do you still "enjoy" what you cover, or does it feel more like war journalism now?
Excellent question Michael. You and I are cut from the same cloth! I rem being a young lad and asking my Mom to stay up late for debates and such.
No where near as enjoyable for me either now, but dammit if I can't stop watching the Trainwreck in real time.
Does George Santos get any retirement benefits as a result of him serving in Congress?
No. You need to serve at least 5 years before any benefits kick in
Two related questions: As the non-MAGA Republicans give up and retire, will the GOP be so filled with politicians with so little regard for governing, and every regard for simply getting attention, that (eventually??) the voters get tired of the shenanigans and stop voting the pretenders into office? Second question: Will enough non-MAGA Republicans exit the GOP, yet still desire to govern conservatively, that eventually they could coalesce into a new-GOP party that becomes viable? What do you think?
Admittedly I haven't looked very hard, but is there a simple explanation as to why congress hasn't taken at least the minimal step toward immigration control of simply changing or updating our asylum laws? The laws, which I think date back to post WWII, after we learned about all the Jewish people we rejected and consigned them to their deaths, don't seem relevant today. Wouldn't be in the interest of both parties to make changes since this law is obviously being exploited by human traffickers coaching their clients on what to say and how to say it? Wouldn't the Dems have the most to gain since Fox News and the MAGA crazies are beating them to death over the border every day?
Crystal Ball Time:
1) What is the probability that the Democrats gain control of both houses of Congress in 2024?
2) How significant would that be as a firewall against a Trump Presidency if he wins?
Do you think Gavin Newsom is now actually running a shadow campaign for 2024 to be the "emergency" Dem nominee if Biden needs to drop out for any reason? (I think he is & that it's a prudent move).
1. Will this be the last debate of the 2024 presidential race (either party or the two finalists)?
2. What do you hope to get for Christmas?
3. Will the 2024 presidential race end up before SCOTUS, and if so, what will be the claim?
I'm gonna hop over Terry and ask - What do you want ME to buy you for Christmas?
What should the Biden/Dem message be in Purple and Red states?
...and Chris, don't leave off abortion. A woman's right to health care and not be made into a second class citizen by MAGAS. And Biden needs to learn to say ABORTION.
Hey Chris happy December, I was wondering if the House GOP opens an impeachment inquiry as expected and Biden does get impeached by the house, I was wondering do you se any Moderate/Conservative Democrats (Manchin, Sinema, Josh Gottheimer, Jared Golden, etc) voting to impeach or convict as well?
And on the flip side, how many Republican members might vote against it?
Can you comment on the power dynamic of Republican Senators? I cannot tell what is going on. Thanks for the interesting writing.
Hello Chris,
I think Trump will win the presidency next year even though he will loose the popular vote because the electoral votes from red states. Would you care to comment. By the way, I enjoy your blog tremendously. So much great information. Thanks,
Leonardo
Chris, just read your piece on Vivek. I see where you’re going with thinking he just wants popularity for its own sake, but on the other hand isn’t he the most likely front runner for trump’s vp pick? He’s a business man who has never said a bad thing about trump, will gladly pick fights with politicians in both parties, and isn’t afraid to say crazy and outlandish things publicly- isn’t he exactly who trump (although not his campaign) would want to pick? Thanks!