Chris - in the last Mailbag, you mentioned that even if Trump were elected in 2024, "we still have Congress and the Supreme Court". Why don't you think Trump will just plow through/around these institutions and guardrails? Do we really have enough checks and balances for someone who doesn't respect the rule of law or our constitution and believes a President has absolute power? Especially if civil service roles are filled only with people loyal to him. Maybe I am being too dark here but I worry!!
Everyone (including you) are talking about the “unprecedented” Iowa caucus results achieved by Trump. Is this really a fair apples-to-apples comparison versus Bob Dole? I mean, Trump is a former President of the United States. Wouldn’t a better comparison be against other former Presidents? I know the dynamics are a bit different, with usually a much smaller field and a presumed pick from the start, but one could argue that Trump is a presumed pick from the start here too. I guess what I am saying is that I am not as impressed as the media that the former President, and leader of the party, scored “only” 51% of the votes. Am I wrong?
One of the questions from recent CBS News poll asked what is the most important candidate quality. Forty percent of Republican caucus voters said, “shares my values”. With fifty percent plus of the Iowa Republican caucus voters backing Trump and rhetoric bashing immigrants and praising dictators, what does this say about Iowa Republicans?
Hey, I'll take a shot. Their idea of democracy is not, and never was, the same as yours or mine. Their conceptions of personal autonomy and responsibility would probably shock you, and a good number of them simply believe there is no provision for the separation of church and state. Their politics have been woven into their religion, and their religion is increasingly calling for the overthrow of our government. Many also believe the world is going to end…soon, as always. This means it becomes imperative to elect Trump (or DeSantis, or a megachurch pastor in Texas that nobody talks about who came in 5th).
Why is it that Haley can’t gain traction in her home state? I thought she was a relatively well liked governor. Am I wrong or is it just the Trump factor which I still can’t figure out.
It is because a majority of the GOP electorate there are racists, and have always been so. They've always known they were being pandered to by Haley, the Bushes, all of them. As soon as they found they could vote for the real deal, the party became theirs.
A long time ago, presidents got elected with a "front-porch campaign." They'd stay at home attempting to project dignity, give speeches nearby, and get elected. More recently, presidents would use the "Rose Garden strategy," which seems like the same idea, but for re-election. They'd stay at the White House, focus on "governing not campaigning," and get re-elected. Is the front-porch campaign basically what Biden did in 2020 -- though due to COVID -- and the Rose Garden strategy what he'll do this year? And if so, is it a good idea?
Cindy Adams of the NY Post is saying that the Obamas are quietly reaching out to donors regarding a Michelle run. Yes I know it is the NY Post but do you think there is any truth to this?
I’ve been thinking a lot about the condescending Politico article that basically made fun of Iowans, their pizza, etc. I don’t really care that Hillary’s campaign thought Pizza Ranch was silly. Do you this kind of writing adds to the feeling by many Republicans that the “elite” media is out to get them and contributes to the divisiveness in our society?
Chris you pointed out in your write up Tuesday about the many pundits trying to put a spin on Trump’s dominance in Iowa. What will happen when the same thing happens in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada,etc.? Is reality going to set in that Trump will be the nominee? And then what?
Chris - The Dispatch reported these earned media statistics by Ax Media, an arm of Axiom strategies: "from August 23 through Monday’s Iowa caucuses—Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis received $1.2 billion worth of earned media; Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and ex-U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, received $942.4 million; and wealthy biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy received $489.2 million." I tried to find more details about what media outlets were studied to determine these stats. Have there been any quantitative comparisons of earned media coverage consumed by likely GOP Primary voters? I'm thinking of Fox, Newsmax, OAN, Bannon's War Room, Breitbart, Right Side Media. Have you come across such stats? Could you enlighten us about the impact of media consumption on candidate preferences?
Is there a reason why you don't write and comment on the sitting President's policies and Democrats. An independent observer will notice that most of your political commentaries and analysis revolve around Trump and the Republicans. To keep it fair and balanced, why don't you comment and analyze the President's and Democrats politics too. I understand that the Democrats aren't having Primaries so there may be less political news coming from them. Keep it balanced and fair to both sides . Biden and Trump
NH isn't running a Democratic primary that will produce delegates because they aren't supposed to be having the first Dem primary this time, but they are still running *something* because they are mad about that. My understanding is that some NH Democratic voters who decide to participate are planning to write in Biden, even though the results don't really matter. That's already somewhat odd. My question is: if Nikki Haley had roared forward in Iowa, NH Democratic voters would have crossed party lines and voted for her in the Republican primary, leaving Biden with very few write-in votes. Since the opposite happened, what will take place instead with those who usually vote in the Democratic primary, will it matter at all (that is, in the tone of the press coverage, though obviously not in the delegate count), and will it be negative or positive for Biden?
Chris - in the last Mailbag, you mentioned that even if Trump were elected in 2024, "we still have Congress and the Supreme Court". Why don't you think Trump will just plow through/around these institutions and guardrails? Do we really have enough checks and balances for someone who doesn't respect the rule of law or our constitution and believes a President has absolute power? Especially if civil service roles are filled only with people loyal to him. Maybe I am being too dark here but I worry!!
Whyyyyyyy? That’s my question ... well as a follow up, WTFFFFF? I just don’t get half this country.
Everyone (including you) are talking about the “unprecedented” Iowa caucus results achieved by Trump. Is this really a fair apples-to-apples comparison versus Bob Dole? I mean, Trump is a former President of the United States. Wouldn’t a better comparison be against other former Presidents? I know the dynamics are a bit different, with usually a much smaller field and a presumed pick from the start, but one could argue that Trump is a presumed pick from the start here too. I guess what I am saying is that I am not as impressed as the media that the former President, and leader of the party, scored “only” 51% of the votes. Am I wrong?
One of the questions from recent CBS News poll asked what is the most important candidate quality. Forty percent of Republican caucus voters said, “shares my values”. With fifty percent plus of the Iowa Republican caucus voters backing Trump and rhetoric bashing immigrants and praising dictators, what does this say about Iowa Republicans?
https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/01/16/6c18b50d-5745-462a-9d4d-3196d25fb993/thumbnail/620x349/2ce8fd5db7a19d77a123e7ba85b07bbc/pasted-image-0-3.png?v=50926e3bde2e7c9caafa13eb3f9693b5
Hey, I'll take a shot. Their idea of democracy is not, and never was, the same as yours or mine. Their conceptions of personal autonomy and responsibility would probably shock you, and a good number of them simply believe there is no provision for the separation of church and state. Their politics have been woven into their religion, and their religion is increasingly calling for the overthrow of our government. Many also believe the world is going to end…soon, as always. This means it becomes imperative to elect Trump (or DeSantis, or a megachurch pastor in Texas that nobody talks about who came in 5th).
In your lifetime, what is the best single season team you have seen in the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, and why?
Why is it that Haley can’t gain traction in her home state? I thought she was a relatively well liked governor. Am I wrong or is it just the Trump factor which I still can’t figure out.
It is because a majority of the GOP electorate there are racists, and have always been so. They've always known they were being pandered to by Haley, the Bushes, all of them. As soon as they found they could vote for the real deal, the party became theirs.
Hello-
Do you think there is any way that Haley could win NH, raise a ton of quick money, and use that money to buy her way into a victory in South Carolina?
( It IS her home state, after all!)
Thx.
What can Biden do to win in November? It just seems that his approval rating keeps sinking lower, and Trump's lead (in polling) is holding steady.
What do you see for Haley in the future? I hope she runs for President again someday.
A long time ago, presidents got elected with a "front-porch campaign." They'd stay at home attempting to project dignity, give speeches nearby, and get elected. More recently, presidents would use the "Rose Garden strategy," which seems like the same idea, but for re-election. They'd stay at the White House, focus on "governing not campaigning," and get re-elected. Is the front-porch campaign basically what Biden did in 2020 -- though due to COVID -- and the Rose Garden strategy what he'll do this year? And if so, is it a good idea?
Cindy Adams of the NY Post is saying that the Obamas are quietly reaching out to donors regarding a Michelle run. Yes I know it is the NY Post but do you think there is any truth to this?
I’ve been thinking a lot about the condescending Politico article that basically made fun of Iowans, their pizza, etc. I don’t really care that Hillary’s campaign thought Pizza Ranch was silly. Do you this kind of writing adds to the feeling by many Republicans that the “elite” media is out to get them and contributes to the divisiveness in our society?
Chris you pointed out in your write up Tuesday about the many pundits trying to put a spin on Trump’s dominance in Iowa. What will happen when the same thing happens in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada,etc.? Is reality going to set in that Trump will be the nominee? And then what?
Chris - The Dispatch reported these earned media statistics by Ax Media, an arm of Axiom strategies: "from August 23 through Monday’s Iowa caucuses—Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis received $1.2 billion worth of earned media; Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and ex-U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, received $942.4 million; and wealthy biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy received $489.2 million." I tried to find more details about what media outlets were studied to determine these stats. Have there been any quantitative comparisons of earned media coverage consumed by likely GOP Primary voters? I'm thinking of Fox, Newsmax, OAN, Bannon's War Room, Breitbart, Right Side Media. Have you come across such stats? Could you enlighten us about the impact of media consumption on candidate preferences?
Is there a reason why you don't write and comment on the sitting President's policies and Democrats. An independent observer will notice that most of your political commentaries and analysis revolve around Trump and the Republicans. To keep it fair and balanced, why don't you comment and analyze the President's and Democrats politics too. I understand that the Democrats aren't having Primaries so there may be less political news coming from them. Keep it balanced and fair to both sides . Biden and Trump
NH isn't running a Democratic primary that will produce delegates because they aren't supposed to be having the first Dem primary this time, but they are still running *something* because they are mad about that. My understanding is that some NH Democratic voters who decide to participate are planning to write in Biden, even though the results don't really matter. That's already somewhat odd. My question is: if Nikki Haley had roared forward in Iowa, NH Democratic voters would have crossed party lines and voted for her in the Republican primary, leaving Biden with very few write-in votes. Since the opposite happened, what will take place instead with those who usually vote in the Democratic primary, will it matter at all (that is, in the tone of the press coverage, though obviously not in the delegate count), and will it be negative or positive for Biden?