The only explanation is that there is a chance Trump drops out. Perhaps as part of a plea deal. Or the 14th amendment. Health. Needs the money for lawyers The election is more than a year away. Lots can happen.
Great read Chris. Do Desantis et al know something that the rest of us don’t know? It seems as if they are positioning themselves to get Trumps cult members without pissing off Trump. How else could you explain it?
I think that they are hoping against hope that he is forced out of the race somehow. I don't see it, personally, but it's the only thing that explains the strategy.
You have to remember that even if Trump is convicted for some of his crimes before the election, he’ll be out on appeal. And if he wins the election, he avoids jail time (President’s can’t be incarcerated), and will either pardon himself before he leaves office, which may not be legal (it hasn’t t been challenged before in the SC), or he resigns a day before his presidency ends, and is pardoned by his VP.
Per your second sentence, Kelly, the candidates don't know much about their own reality, much less know some secret Intel on the Secessionist-in-Chief.
Sadly, I think you may be correct. Unless he is jailed or a health issue. Yes, I know he can run even being in prison but he may not get that nomination. If he does, doubt he’d win the general election
This is a fair point. I think a BIG issue that DeSantis, especially, has grappled with is that attacking Trump doesn't really work -- and his voters turn on you.
You may well be right. There may be no hope of catching Trump as things stand . But things can change. DeSantis and Haley want to be the ones standing when others drop out. Their research must tell them that attacking Trump directly is futile. And they have money, so they might as well do something with it. How and why can things change? You and others note some reasons. I have noted the relative paucity of comments re the guilty pleas in Georgia. Suppose they keep coming? That's pretty likely, and with many co-defendants pleading out, Trump's peril increases. Suppose he is convicted in DC? Again , pretty likely. R primary voters might be crazy enough to stick with Trump no matter what, but if I were as ambitious as Haley and DeSantis, I'd want to be in the running to find out, and to stay as the alternative, you have to knock out the immediate competition.
Yes, Trump IS way ahead of the pack- and the only reasonable plan B is to position oneself in the scenario of a very possible conviction in Georgia, one in which he agrees to not run for elected office as part of a plea deal. This is what Haley and DeSantis are doing, and it makes perfect sense in that lizard-brain republican way.
Haley and DeSantis should just get in a boxing ring and have a pillow fight. I honestly think we're at the point now where Trump could be convicted of any of his crimes, thrown in jail and the GOP would still nominate him in a landslide. The only question is if he will win the election, or steal it somehow.
Aren’t they all really running for VP in order to (1) inherit Trump’s voters in 2028 or (2) take Trump’s voters from him, if he wins, is jailed and impeached, and the VP becomes President? Isn’t that why they aren’t attacking him? They WANT to be no. 2.
Great writing Chris. This line got me to pay for a subscription.
DeSantis going after Haley then is, well, sort of missing the boat. Or, maybe more accurately, like watching a bunch of 5 year olds play soccer. Sure, they enjoy it but man is it pointless. (I speak from personal experience.
Anyone with kids can relate. Keep up the great writing. La Cheeserie!
This whole thing is beyond ridiculous. I agree that they may be running/attacking in case Trump drops out. I don’t see that happening but might as well get in that position. The rest of the field have no money and will be dropping shortly. My mantra has been, there is no shortage of stupid/ignorance.
The only explanation is that there is a chance Trump drops out. Perhaps as part of a plea deal. Or the 14th amendment. Health. Needs the money for lawyers The election is more than a year away. Lots can happen.
Agree. But, based on everything we know about Trump, that seems to me like VERY wishful thinking.
Great read Chris. Do Desantis et al know something that the rest of us don’t know? It seems as if they are positioning themselves to get Trumps cult members without pissing off Trump. How else could you explain it?
I think that they are hoping against hope that he is forced out of the race somehow. I don't see it, personally, but it's the only thing that explains the strategy.
This is all hypothetical, but if Trump is faced with guaranteed jail time v taking a plea deal that means he can't run again...maybe?
But if I was a candidate, would that hypothetical make me want to continue staring at corn fields in Iowa? No.
Sam,
Trump his high on his own supply 24/7.
I used to think he was play acting and knew he was bullshitting his MAGA chumps.
Now, I think he actual believes his own lunacy.
He believes that he will win all of the trials that he is dealing with...until he stands and hears the words "guilty."
After his sphincter relaxes, that's when he'll start being serious about his peril and talk deal.
You have to remember that even if Trump is convicted for some of his crimes before the election, he’ll be out on appeal. And if he wins the election, he avoids jail time (President’s can’t be incarcerated), and will either pardon himself before he leaves office, which may not be legal (it hasn’t t been challenged before in the SC), or he resigns a day before his presidency ends, and is pardoned by his VP.
Trump has this figured out...:)
Per your second sentence, Kelly, the candidates don't know much about their own reality, much less know some secret Intel on the Secessionist-in-Chief.
This almost feels like a race for 2028.
Could be! And neither of them want to piss of the Trump base in advance of that race.
Of course if Trump loses in 2024, joke is on them, since he'll just run again!
Sadly, I think you may be correct. Unless he is jailed or a health issue. Yes, I know he can run even being in prison but he may not get that nomination. If he does, doubt he’d win the general election
He’ll be 87 in 28’, and mostly dead, given his diet of fried chicken from KFC, and burgers from McDonalds...:)
The Caudillo de DeSantistan has absolutely destroyed (or proven) he has no national legs.
All 2028 election oppo on the Caudillo will post him as the assholic-fish he is.
The all-embracing prevalence of delusional and unreal thinking in all aspects of the Republican Party right now is truly something to astonish!
DeSantis and Haley are slugging it out to be the one to inherit the nomination were a health event or criminal conviction to take out the former guy.
Such a circumstance is the only one under which anyone other than the former guy wins the nomination.
That being the case, to attack the formrer guy is arguably a far more pointless strategy.
This is a fair point. I think a BIG issue that DeSantis, especially, has grappled with is that attacking Trump doesn't really work -- and his voters turn on you.
Ha! We wrote the same thing, simultaneously.
You may well be right. There may be no hope of catching Trump as things stand . But things can change. DeSantis and Haley want to be the ones standing when others drop out. Their research must tell them that attacking Trump directly is futile. And they have money, so they might as well do something with it. How and why can things change? You and others note some reasons. I have noted the relative paucity of comments re the guilty pleas in Georgia. Suppose they keep coming? That's pretty likely, and with many co-defendants pleading out, Trump's peril increases. Suppose he is convicted in DC? Again , pretty likely. R primary voters might be crazy enough to stick with Trump no matter what, but if I were as ambitious as Haley and DeSantis, I'd want to be in the running to find out, and to stay as the alternative, you have to knock out the immediate competition.
Best of the losers. What a country we live in.
Yes, Trump IS way ahead of the pack- and the only reasonable plan B is to position oneself in the scenario of a very possible conviction in Georgia, one in which he agrees to not run for elected office as part of a plea deal. This is what Haley and DeSantis are doing, and it makes perfect sense in that lizard-brain republican way.
Haley and DeSantis should just get in a boxing ring and have a pillow fight. I honestly think we're at the point now where Trump could be convicted of any of his crimes, thrown in jail and the GOP would still nominate him in a landslide. The only question is if he will win the election, or steal it somehow.
Chinese investment in my state & jobs -> good
Chinese investment in other states -> traitorous
You are so wrong! There is a point to 5 year olds playing soccer.
Aren’t they all really running for VP in order to (1) inherit Trump’s voters in 2028 or (2) take Trump’s voters from him, if he wins, is jailed and impeached, and the VP becomes President? Isn’t that why they aren’t attacking him? They WANT to be no. 2.
The stupidity never ends with these folks! 🤦♂️
Is it possible they are fighting for second place in case trump is taken out by the courts?
Great writing Chris. This line got me to pay for a subscription.
DeSantis going after Haley then is, well, sort of missing the boat. Or, maybe more accurately, like watching a bunch of 5 year olds play soccer. Sure, they enjoy it but man is it pointless. (I speak from personal experience.
Anyone with kids can relate. Keep up the great writing. La Cheeserie!
This whole thing is beyond ridiculous. I agree that they may be running/attacking in case Trump drops out. I don’t see that happening but might as well get in that position. The rest of the field have no money and will be dropping shortly. My mantra has been, there is no shortage of stupid/ignorance.