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McConnell's No. 2 weighs future as Trump reshapes Senate GOP
Politico.com ^ | 3/25/21 | BURGESS EVERETT

Posted on 03/25/2021 3:25:27 AM PDT by cotton1706

John Thune could eventually succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP leader. But first the second-ranked Senate Republican has to decide whether to run for reelection — with Donald Trump prepared to stand in his way.

As fellow GOP senators like Jerry Moran of Kansas or John Boozman of Arkansas announce their 2022 campaigns, usually with the backing of the former president, Thune is taking his time.

“In this day and age, these campaigns are so long. And I think they start way too early,” the South Dakota Republican said in an interview on Wednesday, noting he usually waits until the fall to announce his reelection bids. “We’re moving forward doing all the things that you do. And at some point, we’ll make everything official.”

Of course, that sounds a little like two GOP senators, Roy Blunt of Missouri and Rob Portman of Ohio, who sent all the right signals about running again — until they bowed out. Given his still-bright future in the party and $13 million campaign stash, colleagues are certain Thune runs again.

But his decision looms as the Senate GOP nears a serious crossroads, with five incumbents announcing their retirements and Trump waiting to engage in multiple Republican primaries as he tries to reshape the party’s Senate conference in his image. Several other senators are undecided on running again.

Thune acknowledged that the state of the Senate has nosedived during his 16 years in the chamber, which began when he shocked the political world and defeated former Democratic Leader Tom Daschle in 2004. He fears that things could become only more miserable for the GOP minority if Democrats kill the filibuster.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: elections
McConnell has been teaching Thune all his insidious tricks. Thune needs to be removed, like Eric Cantor was removed, to upset the Establishment's succession plans.

Oh, and Burgess Everett is basically Mitch McConnell's stenoghrapher. So this article has been carefully placed.

1 posted on 03/25/2021 3:25:28 AM PDT by cotton1706
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To: cotton1706

So, who is the primary alternative?


2 posted on 03/25/2021 3:27:31 AM PDT by TheConservator (Beware the tyranny of the woke mob. There has never been a greater threat to liberty.)
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To: cotton1706

So Thune is McConnells #2 eh? Figures.


3 posted on 03/25/2021 3:29:04 AM PDT by HighSierra5
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To: cotton1706

I would consider supporting a Republican if they stand up and say “Joe Biden wasn’t elected — he stole the office.”

If they aren’t willing to take that stand, I don’t think I’m interested in them.


4 posted on 03/25/2021 3:32:43 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy ("I see you did something -- why you so racist?")
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To: cotton1706

South Dakota deserves better than John Thune...

All of a sudden South Dakota politicians are in the news, Kristi Noem a darling of many conservatives a month ago has now gone “wobbly” as Margaret Thatcher once said...

Now the idiot John Thune is in line to be the top Republican in the Senate....with friends like this who needs enemies....

Until we rid ourselves of people like John Thune, we will continue to be a failed society...


5 posted on 03/25/2021 3:37:46 AM PDT by srmanuel
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To: srmanuel

Thune has demonstrated his willingness to deliver the political knife in the back.

Enough of the rascals!


6 posted on 03/25/2021 4:07:53 AM PDT by ptsal (Vote R.E.D. >>>Remove Every Democrat ***)
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To: TheConservator
So, who is the primary alternative?

That is what Trump is working on.

These pathetic RINOs like Thune keep getting re-elected because there is never a strong candidate against them in the primary.

Trump is going to have his vengeance on the back-stabbing RINOs who are up for re-election in 2022 by recruiting strong conservative primary challengers. And Trump will be personally campaigning for them.

I hate the RINOs who helped the Dems steal the election with a passion that should only be reserved for the Devil.

7 posted on 03/25/2021 4:35:47 AM PDT by HandBasketHell
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To: ClearCase_guy
“Joe Biden wasn’t elected — he stole the office.”

Bump!

8 posted on 03/25/2021 4:44:19 AM PDT by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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To: cotton1706

“...the South Dakota Republican said in an interview on Wednesday”

I wonder what he thinks of his governor caving on that SD tranny bill?


9 posted on 03/25/2021 4:51:03 AM PDT by BobL (TheDonald.win is now Patriots.win)
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To: cotton1706

With Noem’s political suicide dummy Thune might think he is safe, but he is not. It will just be someone else that OUR president backs that will beat him like a drum in a primary.


10 posted on 03/25/2021 4:54:17 AM PDT by jmaroneps37
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To: HandBasketHell
"I hate the RINOs who helped the Dems steal the election with a passion that should only be reserved for the Devil."

Your problem -- our problem -- is that nobody really knows who, exactly they were:

  1. Who, exactly, ordered, organized & paid for the Democrats' stolen election?

  2. Who, exactly, did it?

  3. Who all was in on it?

  4. Who knew about it ahead of time and let it happen?

  5. Who was bullied into silence?

  6. When push came to shove, who refused to do their duty?

  7. Who was 100% innocent of both the crime and its coverup?
Sure, it's easy & automatic to hate "the devil", but until you know all the facts, the wiser course is to reserve judgment until such time as they are learned.

And sometimes we never do fully learn...

11 posted on 03/25/2021 5:57:13 AM PDT by BroJoeK ((a little historical perspective...) )
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To: cotton1706

Thune is as bad as Mitch. They both need to go.


12 posted on 03/25/2021 6:48:03 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

All GOP Senators need to go.


13 posted on 03/25/2021 6:48:42 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: cotton1706

Do yourself, your constituents and the country a favor, John, and retire.


14 posted on 03/25/2021 10:02:34 AM PDT by Kazan
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To: ClearCase_guy
I would consider supporting a Republican if they stand up and say “Joe Biden wasn’t elected — he stole the office.”

That should be the litmus test. And, Thune obviously fails it.

15 posted on 03/25/2021 10:03:34 AM PDT by Kazan
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