Guest Post by Kurt Schlichter
All the Republicans have to do to win against that desiccated, corrupt, senile old pervert is just not be weird and not be stupid, and to show people that they’re competent and capable of governing. But being Republicans, there’s considerable doubt that they can pull that off. There are several things that indicate that they may very well revert to form and blow the whole thing, ensuring our country goes down the tubes under the reign of whoever’s pulling the strings on Grandpa Badfinger.
You can’t Make America Great Again on the outside looking in and watching the election get stolen. We have got to win.
At the threshold, there’s the problem with the legal fight, which is a problem because we’re apparently not even in the fight. I wrote about it a few days ago and I won’t repeat myself, but let me repeat myself – if we don’t get an organized, synchronized, and funded legal operation going we’re done. We know the shenanigans are coming because they came at us twice in the last four years. If we are not ready, we will lose again, even if we win.
Republicans also need to get their collective head straight about a few things, including the fact that identity politics does not work for Republicans in terms of bringing in people not inclined to be Republican already. You’re not going to win black votes because you nominate a black guy. You’re not going to win Latinx (sp) votes because you nominate a guy whose name ends with a vowel. And you won’t win girl votes just because you run a girl-girl, or a girl-guy, which is probably a thing in some quarters.
This brings us to Senator Katie Britt’s disastrous State of the Union response. A lot of ink has been spilled about how terrible it was, but I think we can spill some more. What was the thought process that led to this disaster? Look, Katie Britt seems like a perfectly nice woman, though last week she gave off the vibe of a third-grade teacher who tries to make the class celebrate Kwanza, but whatever. I hope this doesn’t destroy her future, and I don’t think it will, but it was a huge embarrassment and it was just ridiculous. The emoting, the weird breathlessness – the Tik-Tokking of American politicians is alone reason to ban that miserable Chi-Com app. This whole fiasco was so Republican – they took a gimme, responding to that crusty old freak’s tirade, and they turned it into something that has even people on our side going, “What the hell was that?”
Who is the person who said, “Hey, Republicans are really concerned about kitchen table issues, so why not put her at a kitchen table!” It’s that weird literalism that you saw in 80s rock videos where if somebody was singing about a hot teacher or cherry pie and they show a hot teacher or a slice of cherry pie. You know, there’s on the nose, and there’s “Please make this stop.”
Yeah, Katie’s kitchen was nice. We have to rebuild our kitchen because we had a giant leak, so I’m interested in kitchen design at the moment, but what the hell? Was this supposed to make all the frustrated suburban wine women think, “Well, I know what MSNBC says, but this Katie Britt sure looks simpatico, and wow, what a beautiful tiled backsplash!” This identity crap doesn’t work for Republicans. You’re not going to win suburban women by having someone pretending to be a suburban mom. She’s a senator. She’s not a suburban mom anymore. Sorry. Deal with it. You know how you’re going to persuade rational, non-MSNBC suburban moms? Put up someone who’s not insane, who is confident, and who she believes will keep her kids safe and her family out of bankruptcy, and not someone doing earnest emoting worthy of “General Hospital.”
Which brings me to who President Trump will choose as his vice-presidential running mate – it’s someone who must fit that bill. We’ve talked about this before a couple of times lately, and the key criteria are not to cause any damage, to have somebody capable of being president, and to have someone who brings something to the ticket as far as winning goes. The rumor I have heard is that JD Vance is under serious consideration, and JD is a solid guy. I don’t think he’ll hurt us – other than to cause us to have to run an additional Senate campaign in a state that has elected Democrats in recent memory. He is certainly competent. But what does he bring to the (not kitchen) table election-wise? Ohio? If you’ve got to nail down Ohio, you might as well pack it in now. I can live with JD Vance, and he is not a bad choice, but I’m not sure he’s the best choice strategically in 2024. I wouldn’t mind seeing him run on his own later.
No, the more I think about it, the more the choices narrow down to one pretty obvious one and one dark horse. The obvious one is Glenn Youngkin. He won’t hurt the ticket, and his leaving the governor’s office leaves us with Governor Winsome Sears, which is the exact opposite of a problem. Youngkin is absolutely competent, and he brings a ton to the table as far as winning goes – and winning is Job One. He makes Virginia, if not competitive, at least somewhere Dems will have to spend money. Rich donors are going to love him, including Nikki’s Trump-shy ones. And moderate suburban women like the ones that Katie Britt was supposed to appeal to are going to look at him and say, “Oh, he’s totally normal. I can live with him. He might chill Trump out.” (Spoiler: No one will chill Trump out, but let them believe it). Politically, I think he’s a little softer than I am, but pretty much everyone on Earth is a little softer than I am, so I’ll make do. Would he take it? Of course, he’ll take it. Everyone takes it.
The dark horse is Robert O’Brien, and maybe my bias is talking here, but I still think he’s a big plus in every category. He won’t hurt the ticket because everyone respects him. As the former National Security Advisor, he likes Trump and Trump likes him. He’s absolutely competent, and was the best NSA in 50 years. He also brings a lot of things to the table in terms of winning the election. First, the donors will love him. He knows them all and, hopefully, can talk the Trump-shy ones off the sidelines and into the game again. A very experienced trial lawyer, he will highlight how transcendently dumb Kamala Harris is. Finally, he’s a Mormon, and that is one identity category that would have a profound effect in swing states Nevada and Arizona (If we don’t have Utah already we’re done). We need those states to win the presidency. We also need to win the Senate seats in those states. Robert O’Brien is uniquely suited to win those folks over, and identity works for Republicans where the identity already leans Republican but has doubts about Trump (See, e.g., Mike Pence and evangelicals).
And then there’s Donald Trump himself. Sigh. Here’s the problem. Donald Trump can’t change. I’m not even sure if we want Donald Trump to change because the Donald Trump who sends mean tweets and bestows stupid nicknames is also the Donald Trump who defeats the ruling class, so you must take the annoying with the awesome. But did he really need to decide to intervene on behalf of TikTok, likely at the behest of a donor no one’s ever heard of? Did he have to start dissing Ron DeSantis again after not doing that for a couple of months following DeSantis’s endorsement? All Donald Trump has to do is be normal. Just be normal for a little while, Mr. President, and maybe reluctant people will be comfortable enough to vote for you.
There’s my wife across the room saying, “That’s not going to happen.” No, probably not.
But there’s no good reason to alienate DeSantis and Haley supporters further. Doing so simply shows more of the same lack of discipline we’ve found so frustrating and profoundly self-defeating for eight years. I am a died-in-the-wool DeSantis fan, and now that the primary is over I’m a died-in-the-wool Trump supporter, but everybody’s not as objective and ruthless as I am. Some folks are still driven by emotion. They’re mad because Donald Trump and his minions were and are mean to them. I think they should get over it. I’ve learned to ignore the mean tweetisms, and I’m completely indifferent to what the babbling halfwit crew of internet weirdos, meme-makers, and mutants who supported 45 online in the primaries have to say – and I also think it’s hysterical how the Trump campaign is now sidelining these freaks. But Trump doesn’t have to make things worse. Human nature says that if you insult somebody, he’s not going to like you and not do what you want. Stop insulting people whose vote you need. It’s not that hard.
Will Trump listen to me? No. Will Trump listen to anyone? Also no. But I’ve got to say it. I don’t know if there’s anyone around him saying it, though it doesn’t matter if they will because Trump’s going to do whatever Trump does. I have never seen a guy more in need of a command sergeant major to keep his bad instincts in check.
Yet, the most irritating things about Trump are also the best things about Trump. He’s a fixed-price menu, not a la carte. Oh well. In any case, if you’re mad at Trump and thinking of not voting for him, swallow your pride and get over it. We need to get Mr. Apologize to Murderers for Misimmigration-statusing Them out of office. And if that means we have to hear some stupid ramblings about “Ron Desanctimonious,” so be it.
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Vote harder. This time will be different. Trump will balance the budget, hire competent people, outlaw experimental gene therapies, and drain the swamp. All in the first 100 days. Believe in the plan all you unwashed unbelievers!
Ya just gots t’ believe! With the smallest bit of faith you could . . . drain the Swamp! Hallelujah. All hail the mighty Ballot! Glory be to omnipotent .Gov!
“It is vain to fight totalitarianism by adopting totalitarian methods. Freedom can only be won by men unconditionally committed to the principles of freedom. The first requisite for a better social order is the return to unrestricted freedom of thought and speech.”
― Ludwig Von Mises, Omnipotent Government
“The state is a human institution, not a superhuman being. He who says “state” means coercion and compulsion. He who says: There should be a law concerning this matter, means: The armed men of the government should force people to do what they do not want to do, or not to do what they like. He who says: This law should be better enforced, means: The police should force people to obey this law. He who says: The state is God, deifies arms and prisons. The worship of the state is the worship of force.”
― Ludwig von Mises, Omnipotent Government
https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2696881-omnipotent-government-the-rise-of-the-total-state-and-total-war
The country is burning to the ground and we opened the gates to the enemy and invited them in. No “mean” DC pol is going to save the country now. We The People are going to have to do that if we can. But, I am going to vote for DJT just to watch the full-on unhinged meltdown of the left AGAIN. The only upside of living in Clown World are the constant belly laughs at the sky screamers and charlatans who promise to leave the country but never do. Ammo up. If somehow DJT does beat The Borg and becomes president, the sky screamers are going to go absolutely, violently apeshit.
Sorry to hear you’ll toss your vote to the Bag o’ Rocks, Colorado.
Seems such a waste to gather entertainment by pissing off the incognizant.
What’s the alternative, Freindo?
Pissing off the incognazant for laughs is the hors d’oeuvres before cutting them down in the streets without mercy. My vote changes nothing but my amusement for myself. The storm is coming no matter who any of us vote for.
Caspisce now?
Lighten up, Francis. Vote DJT and enjoy the coming laughable sky screaming clown show before the actual screaming starts. I have a wonderful sense of humor until I don’t.
Where I live my vote doesn’t count, so will consider writing in Vlad or Orban.
Gosh, I hope so. Apeshit is easier to clean up than power mad shit.
Sorry Kurt, a large part of the Republican Party are crypto-Democrats. The uniparty is controlled by PTB and are just actors in the diversion that are created to keep the sheep under controll while the looting goes on and on. The Republicans aren’t dumb they are bought.
Lara Trump has announced the main goal of the RNC at present is to stop voter fraud. Good luck, Lara.
I guess just do whatever mental gymnastics you need to avoid admitting the Uniparty is your enemy.
This clown don’t fucking get it yet…..I skip his writing and head just to the comments for entertainment…..
So…what you’re saying is that you find more value in the comments of total strangers than you attribute to this squat to pee republican.
Can’t say I blame you at all.
“squat to pee republican.”
german?
Maybe Canadian.
Land of 57 states.
Theoretically he could still be president into 2029. By then he wouldn’t even be capable of gibberish. They’d just wheel him onto Congress for the State of the Union and Dems would applaud as he drools into a cup.
C’mon Kurt,turn out the lights…….the party’s over……you don’t have to go home,but you cant stay here…….appreciate your optimism but the commenters seem unanimous!
If Kurt owned funeral homes, no one would die.
How GOP/conservatives (all ten of ’em) could win . . . from a Jew, who would like to beat up Soros:
.
More of this author’s humorous, but earnest, exhortations to GOP on #winning strategies (and their endlessly losing ones):
https://www.takimag.com/contributor/David%20Cole/328/
David Cole’s always interesting. And knows Cali.
Taki does have a rather diverse roster, though Cole is usually the last one I read-if I even have time.
“If any considerable number of the people believe the Constitution to be good, why do they not sign it themselves, and make laws for, and administer them upon, each other; leaving all other persons (who do not interfere with them) in peace? Until they have tried the experiment for themselves, how can they have the face to impose the Constitution upon, or even to recommend it to, others? Plainly the reason for absurd and inconsistent conduct is that they want the Constitution, not solely for any honest or legitimate use it can be of to themselves or others, but for the dishonest and illegitimate power it gives them over the persons and properties of others. But for this latter reason, all their eulogiums on the Constitution, all their exhortations, and all their expenditures of money and blood to sustain it, would be wanting. VIII. The Constitution itself, then, being of no authority, on what authority does our government practically rest? On what ground can those who pretend to administer it, claim the right to seize men’s property, to restrain them of their natural liberty of action, industry, and trade, and to kill all who deny their authority to dispose of men’s properties, liberties, and lives at their pleasure or discretion? The most they can say, in answer to this question, is, that some half, two-thirds, or three-fourths, of the male adults of the country have a tacit understanding that they will maintain a government under the Constitution; that they will select, by ballot, the persons to administer it; and that those persons who may receive a majority, or a plurality, of their ballots, shall act as their representatives, and administer the Constitution in their name, and by their authority.”
― Lysander Spooner, No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority
https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2095916-no-treason-the-constitution-of-no-authority
The assumption being that the entire GOP isn’t filled with the same kind of Deep State TRAITORS that infest the democrat party, or that they wouldn’t purposely sabotage races in order to hold onto power (for the Deep State), even if that meant more democrats in office, etc. LOL Same shit…both parties.
Never misunderestimate the ability of the republicans to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. They have a long and storied history of doing just such a thing.
People like Ryan, Romney, Cheney, and Buck give us the frequent reminder that the party has trust issues and has ever since the Contract With America.
I read where Buck is bailing out early to give the democrats a chance to narrow the majority of the republicans.
But they’re the Washington Generals, that’s what they do.
Might as well ask a chicken to be a wolverine.
Truth be told, there are a lot of very competent players on the Generals; can’t say as much for the Republicans in Congress.
The Reflublicans will not do anything that will get them a blackmark on their Uniparty card.