I’ll try to post Part 2 of this diary between 7:00-9:00 pm ET. Thanks for your support.
Andrew McCarthy of the National Review (see article excerpt below) points out a real dilemma for the Republican Party. While Trump is adept at hogging the media limelight and framing his predicaments in such a way that his base seems to blindly support him — regardless of what Trump is accused of by his detractors and prosecutors — the reality is quite different.
This unwavering support may solidify the 35%-45% of the GOP base that Trump needs to win the 2024 nomination and enable him to raise huge amounts of money. At the same time, his behavior is a distinct turn-off for independents and Democratic voters. All in all, getting indicted — with more indictments looming for Trump — is a serious net negative for the GOP. The intensity of support for Trump within the GOP does not translate to the same level of support from the larger electorate.
The end result, McCarthy believes, is going to be another humiliating defeat in the presidential election for the Republican Party, propelling Democrats to retain the United States Senate and regain the US House of Representatives.
Consultant Frank Luntz outlines offers a playbook for other GOP presidential aspirants — How to Make Trump Go Away — but it is unlikely to work. Dan Balz of the Washington Post — What’s at Stake in 2024 — believes that deepening success in red states doesn’t necessarily mean that the GOP can expect similar results in blue or battleground states.
A major issue that has bedeviled the Republicans is abortion. The revocation of Roe vs Wade has proved to be a burden likely to bury the GOP in upcoming elections.
“They underestimated the tenacity and perseverance of the anti-abortion movement. Over the course of 50 years, it embedded itself into the GOP infrastructure and worked to get ‘pro-life’ judges appointed to state and federal judgeships. It engineered legislation designed to be litigated before those judges, who in turn kicked appeals up to the Supreme Court. And there those appeals died or were denied, due to ‘settled law.'”
“‘Settled law’ unsettled when The Federalist Society, The Trump administration (especially Vice President Pence) and Sen. Mitch McConnell decided to reward the pro-life movement’s hard work and unswerving loyalty with three ‘not-settled-law’ Supreme Court picks. In short order, Roe v. Wade was tossed out. The new law of the land was Dobbs v. Jackson.”
“Republicans are stuck with it now, much to their chagrin.”
Andrew McCarthy (National Review): “Don’t be fooled by snapshot polls showing Trump beating Biden — which Democrats are hyping because, for now, they want us to think he can win. He can’t. Don’t allow the intensity of Trump’s base supporters to mask how deeply unpopular he is with the country writ large. He had consistently low job-approval ratings as president… Trump could never again win a national election after the 2020 coup attempt, the Capitol riot, and his continued delusional insistence that reelection was stolen from him.
“Moreover, the demagogic riffs that make MAGA crowds swoon — and that Trump doubled down on at this week’s Mar-a-Lago rally (because why wouldn’t an arraignment be the occasion for a rally?) — are exactly what most Americans find deeply disturbing about him. If he’s the nominee, the Democrats will retain the White House by ten points or more, with the tide sweeping the Senate and the House their way, too.”
Drag Queen
His Racism Comes Through
Nightmarish
Hopeless Addiction
Trumped
Headed for Disaster?
Attribution for the Above Cartoon: Matt Wuerker @wuerker
Grumpy Trumpy Felon from Jamaica in Queens! - A Randy Rainbow Song Parody
Venturing Into the Unknown
The Scream
About Damn Time
Up To His Old Tricks
Ultimately, the Law Will Get Him
Swindler-in-Chief
Exposed: The Emperor Has No Clothes
Sliding Toward Oblivion
Conspiracies All Around Him
Milking it for All It is Worth
… And Throw the Key Away!
Will He Remain Silent?
So Long, Donald
MAGA Maniacs
Orange By Association
The Hapless GOP
Where Do They Find People Like Her?
More Trouble Ahead for Trump