Posted on 05/27/2021 4:35:35 AM PDT by Kaslin
It’s way too early to be planning for 2024, yet far too many people are focused like a laser on it. If Republicans don’t retake the House and/or Senate in 2022, there won’t be much left to defend by 2024. That’s where the focus should be. But because, in conservative circles, there’s little attention being paid – meaning clicks, cable news bookings, etc. – to anything unrelated to former President Donald Trump, too many people needed for those 2022 victories are pandering for attention rather than the cause.
Donald Trump has always been the focus of attention, everywhere he went. Growing up in Detroit, there was no reason on Earth I should have known about a real estate developer in a city I couldn’t find on a map. Yet, as a kid, I knew who he was. I knew about his wealth, I knew about his helicopter, I knew about his plane, his divorces, pretty much everything. I knew all this before The Apprentice, which I loved.
Trump wasn’t the richest man in the world, or even the richest man in New York. He probably wasn’t even the richest man living in Trump Tower. But he probably was the most famous in all those circumstances.
When he won the presidency, I was shocked. I voted for him, but didn’t expect a win. And his presidency was significantly more conservative than anyone could have expected.
That being said, a lot of the drama and problems of his presidency, which squandered political capital that could have been used to accomplish more, were of his own making. Not every question and attack has to be answered; most were elevated by his responses. His “fight” was, at least to me, his most appealing characteristic – I’ve always wanted to see a Republican fight back harder than past Presidents had, and it worked. But at some point, when not deployed selectively, the method overwhelms the message, a point of diminishing returns.
If one thing could have changed about the Trump Presidency it wouldn’t have been to turn down the intensity, it would’ve been to turn it off occasionally; to let the insignificant things go.
I say this knowing his sparring matches with some media charlatans are what endeared him to many, I enjoyed the hell out of them too. But I could’ve done with fewer of them and more accomplishments. Less arguing with reporters about the border and more action on the border, for example.
It’s hard to put my finger on one specific thing, one missed opportunity, that has me hesitant about fully embracing a return for Trump in 2024. It’s more the whole thing. If he were the Republican nominee, I’d absolutely, wholeheartedly, and happily vote for him. But I’m not locking in my vote for him or anyone yet; 2022 has to take priority.
If a primary came down to Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis or Kristi Noem, I don’t know how I’d vote. Both of those Governors seem to have learned the lessons of fighting hard, have a track record of conservative accomplishments, and have fought back against left-wing media attacks without being consumed by them.
Every once in a while, you need to say something that will tick off your audience. Not because you want to, but because you think it. Every writer, pundit, and TV personality holds opinions and have thoughts that go against what is “popular” with their audience. Most people avoid putting those thoughts down out there, but I know enough of these people to know they all have them. It’s just a matter of whether you want to be honest or liked. It’s easier to be liked; it’s better to be honest. Then you don’t have to try to remember which lie you told which people.
Donald Trump is a force to be reckoned with in the Republican Party, but he is not the only force, nor should he be. The Republican Party thrives when conservatives have to earn their way, not have it handed to them; to prove themselves continually. The party doesn’t “belong” to anyone, it belongs to all of us.
The idea that the 2024 nomination is Donald Trump’s, if he wants it, is a bad idea. He may well earn it, but it is up for grabs right now. As it should be. (Personally, I kind of hope he doesn’t run, focuses on helping the party across the board, not from the top. But that’s just me.) But the focus has to be on 2022, because without a win in at least one of the Houses of Congress and the ability to hold the Biden administration in check, there won’t be much left to fight over.
I think this guy is looking for a Republican who doesn’t fight as hard as Trump. Funny — the Democrats are looking for that too.
Elections, they are so White Supremacist and last century. By 2024, the elections, if any, will be Venezuelan style. Supreme leader will control all and anyone who is not a true believer will be dealt with extreme prejudice.
They should go f*** themselves. The only GOPer who gets my vote if he runs is Trump. Because Trump is the only GOPer I can trust.
Yep
Forget it Jake, it's Townhall.com
Let’s be clear, the swamp Repubs and Democrats are aligned on going back to politics as usual where it’s all about them and power. Anyone who threatens this, like Trump, must be eradicated as soon as possible because he speaks truth and is an advocate for the people and not politicians.
What the Republicucks need to do is at least start talking about impeachment of the Braindead one.
Trump is the only one who’s proven his mettle against the Dims and mainstream media. Governor DeSantis of Florida also appears to be tough against the enemy, but he’s only battle proven in Florida. If he can stand up nationwide, like Trump did, he’d be a formidable candidate, too.
Either way, I’m staying focused on 2022 first. We need to destroy the Dims.
Trump's place in the GOP is cemented, and he is the only person right now that can rally us true conservatives to the polls in 2022.
The author is correct about focusing on the midterms. I get that. But the problem is in implying that we can't win with the idea of Trump being the main messenger.
I think that I could easily get behind Ron DeSantis if he were to win the 2024 nomination. But for now, it's Trump's party.
DeSantis and Noem are politicians trying to appeal to Trump’s base. Nothing more. Trump talked about the globalist pukes, China and the border without a fore runner to test the waters for him because he actually believes it.
I look at it this way. Al Secord, Mark Messier, Bryan Trottier, Bob Nystrom were dominant players in their era that could do it all. Could those guys in their prime play at same level in the run and gun nearly no check NHL today? Conversely would punks like Marchand and Tom Wilson get away with the cheap shot crap they pull back when Nystrom was on the ice?
Right ON—Trump was cheated out of the election—we know that and all these RINOs trying to end Trump before he even says he’s running are Democrat Progressive shills posing as Conservatives. Its not running a GOP the Media likes—its about running one we need. We have had it with the Bush/Romney Vichy Republicans. They got nothing done but wars.
I like Hunter and regularly read his articles. That said, overall I don’t agree with him here. TRUMP WAS absolutely and unequivocally the best President in my long life time starting back around Truman. The OVERALL trait about TRUMP that endears him to the 80 million that love him is that he is 90% HONEST! He is always and dependably most interested in doing what is best for the American people not the EU, not the Globalists, not for making himself or family rich. This point alone negates Hunter’s thesis. TRUMP should be thought of NOW as the 2024 nominee. He earned it.
Noem showed us she has no fight.
2020 was a Venezuelan election.
The candidate has to want to win, expect to win, and have an attitude that he will win no matter what.
We need to destroy the Dims.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not going to do that by re-electing Assistant Democrats.
First we have to weed out the TransRepublicans.
Um, we need to give the Presidency right now to the rightful winner of the 2020 race.
I will stay home if a never Trumper type cheats to the nomination. I would never have said that before, but I will do that now. No more voting for the lesser of two evils.
Ain’t gong to work Republicans.
I’m okay with Trump playing the role of party boss. His term accomplished what I voted him for — disruption and reconfiguration of the Republican Party. In office, like Hunter wrote here, I feel he was much more timid than he could have been to make real change to the Deep State.
While Trump selects and promotes candidates for the next several elections, I would be happy to see either DeSantis or Paul as president.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.