Time for GOP candidates to concentrate on 2022
No matter what President Trump — or even millions of Americans – think about the 2020 presidential election, it is over. There is no chance – zero — that Trump will be entering the Oval Office before 2024 – if then.
Democrats and their media pals believe that the best – and perhaps the only – way to stop Republicans from gaining control of the House and even the Senate, is to make the 2022 midterm election all about a demonized Trump, what they have very successfully branded as “the big lie,” and their bogus narrative about an ongoing insurrection. They even say that if Republicans gain power, the Republic … the democracy … is at risk. Some go so far as to predict the end of the Republic.
Democrat strategists believe that by forcing Republican candidates into taking a stand on the 2020 election, those candidates will lose support no matter what position they take. If they say the election was stolen, they will be branded as nutty acolytes of Trump by the media – part of the Democrats’ bogus “cult” and “insurrection” narratives. Conversely, if they say that they believe Biden won the election, those on the left believe that there is a real possibility that a large number of the Trump base will not vote for them.
The best thing for all the GOP candidates can do is to stop opining about the 2020 election. Stop being intimidated by the Democrats and the media. Stop being dragged into the Democrats strategy.
If I may put on my political consultant hat for a moment, here is how I would handle the 2020 election controversy. As a candidate, I would issue a written statement as a final comment on the 2020 race. In the face of later inquiries, I would direct reporters to the written statement.
What would such a statement look, you ask? Like this.
For almost a year, there has been a contentious debate over the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. For the most part, the sides are settled between those who believe that President Biden won both the popular and the electoral vote. On the other side are millions of people who believe that the election was stolen through massive vote fraud. Neither side seems likely to change their minds anytime in the future.
President Trump is not on the ballot in 2022. Therefore, I see no need or value into participating in an acrid academic debate about his role in the Republican Party or his plans to run or not run for President in 2024.
In view of the partisan deadlock on those issues, it seems that bringing that debate into the 2022 midterm election serves no useful purpose. It will not change the outcome of the 2020 election nor determine the future plans of President Trump. Continuing this useless debate is only a distraction from the critical issues of the day and the important issues that need to be aired in the upcoming campaign.
If Democrats wish to make the 2022 midterm election about a past election that is settled – rightfully or wrongfully – and to campaign against a person who is not on the ballot, that is up to them. I will not engage them in that fantasy. I will not allow them to divert public attention from their failed policies and dangerous proposals of the Biden administration.
As a candidate for (fill in here), my campaign will be focused on the issues that impact on the voters – and the American people – relative to the office I seek. I will maintain my focus on the reasons I am running and why I believe that I would be the best person to represent the interests and welfare of the people.
I expect my candidacy to be judged on what I offer to the people in the next election – and not on what I may or may not believe about the past or future. I believe I am the best candidate for this office, and I will focus on making my case with the people.
This will be my final statement on the 2020 and 2024 elections as we enter the campaign season for the critically important 2022 midterm election.
To make this statement effective, candidates will have to avoid being suckered into the debate the Democrats would prefer Republicans to have. I would also not allow Trump’s myopic focus on the 2020 election to drag me into that debate from his side. If I were a Republican candidate in 2022, I would concentrate on the office I am seeking and the issues relative to that office.
Democrats well know that IF voters consider the Afghan disaster, the border crisis, accelerating inflation, increasing crime, the supply-chain crisis, worker shortages and double-talk on the Pandemic, there is no doubt that the GOP will win back the House, probably take the Senate and win offices across America.
Republican candidates throughout the land should not succumb to the Democrats’ – or even Trump’s — efforts to distract attention away from the 2022 election – and the issues that impact on the people directly. They should not by into debating the Democrats largely bogus narratives grounded in outrageous fearmongering.
2022 is the Republicans to lose. Unfortunately, it would not be the first time the Grand Old Party snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
So, there ‘tis.
The magic statement that you propose for Republican candidates is based on multiple lies. First, there is no “contentious debate” about the winner of the 2020 Presidential election. Biden won, Trump lost. Secondly, there is no “partisan deadlock”. Biden won, Trump lost.
What there is, is a rather large group of Republicans in Congress who are maintaining the Big Lie because anything else would infuriate Trump, and they’re scared to death of his wrath. If they’re running for office again, they deserve to lose for their cowardice. And there is an ever-shrinking group of Trump’s followers who have been conned by Trump. But there is no argument about who won.
The third lie would be that the candidate (using your statement) doesn’t want to make his race about Trump… The very purpose of the statement is to invoke Trump’s name, yet hide behind the fig leaf of being above the fray. It’s a cowardly declaration that allows the Big Lie to continue while trying not to say it.
A few members of Congress have come out and said that Biden won the election. I don’t necessarily agree with their policies, but at least they have the guts to tell the truth. The only way for candidates to get past Trump’s influence will be to admit that he lost. If they lose because of it, well, Republicans are to blame. They could have criticized his lying and criminality, had two impeachment opportunities to stop Trump, could have disavowed and condemned him after the Jan 6th coup attempt, and didn’t have to keep maintaining the Big Lie. It’s their own fault that they will lose the elections.
“There is no chance – zero — that Trump will be entering the Oval Office before 2024 – if then.” What a weird statement to even have to make…think about it. Meanwhile, the Trumpets in Congress filibuster the voting rights Freedom to Vote bill a second time; hell, they filibuster Congress from even debating the topic of Voting Rights. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is stalled too. Republicans don’t even want to talk about voting rights in Congress. Voting Rights are not on the Republication agenda. Not now. Not tomorrow. Last time Meanwhile in the states, voting restrictions are being passed madly in Trump-land across the nation. According to the Brennan Center, 19 states have passed 33 RESTRICTIVE VOTING laws. Sssssh, Republicans don’t want to talk about it…. Not that laws have not been passed to make voting easier, but ssssssh, Republicans don’t want to talk about it. Now Larry tells us they don’t want to talk about the 1/6/2021 violent insurrection in the Capital intended to overthrow the US election, and then the duly elected government while telling us they wanted to lynch Mike Pence and run over Nancy Pelosi, ssssssh, Republicans don’t even want to talk about voting rights….or as Larry notes: the 1/6/2021 insurrection.
Last time, Republicans voted overwhelmingly for the national voting rights act; now they are the party that does not want to talk about voting rights in Congress. It is Voldemort to them.
And Larry is worried about 1/6? Well, that seems to be voting rights on steroids to me. People in Georgia will be arrested for giving food and water to those forced to wait in long voting lines. Wanna bet they will be really long due to lack of polling places and staff? In Kansas and Iowa, if you bring a ballot from a disabled veteran or other person to the polling place, you will be arrested. In Texas, voting officials who even suggest using mail-in ballots will be arrested. Same thing if they attempt to address bad conduct of poll watchers like when they harass voters. Texas also bans any drive-through voting or 24-hour voting —- that would be a criminal act.
That’s just the 33 bills; there’s 495 more in the wings. The worst part is a number of these bills allow partisan players to summarily overturn elections and put their choice in office. About 8 states do this meaning we have 8 states that are not a Democracy anymore. They are authoritarian states just like authoritarian countries like Venezuela where you can vote, but it just doesn’t matter. IOW, there is really no vote in those states anymore.
And Larry does not want to talk about 1/6 which was an attempt on voting restrictions on steroids.
Larry, your party has a lot they can’t talk about:
– healthcare track record (it’s easy, but hard, so we won’t do it)
– family values
– tax and spend (here, Republicans have flipped it to “don’t tax the rich and spend like a drunken sailor)
– national defense (how many died on your watch to covid VERSUS any other country on Earth)
– economy (it goes up, it goes down, way down on your watch. You can always blame covid, see national defense)
Well, you’ve always got illegal aliens and Chicago gun violence…..BLM….antifa….
Good luck, but I think Republicans have little to talk about and lots to hide right now. I think you need a new, non-Trumpian party.
Perhaps as this reconciliation bill disappoints progressives we will follow suit someday. But not in 2022.
Frank …. I see you watched MSNBC. You are basically regurgitating what I also so on Morning Joe. Other than that you are just conjuring your old talking points. Nothing here worth a response from me. Republicans — including me — are doing a lot of talking about a range of important issues — crime, immigrations, inflation, and even pushing back on the left wing bs.. We just are not going to have the left limit the agenda of public discussion. When is the last time MSNBC has covered the border crisis and rising crime. Was no on Morning Joe today. Oh .. I also watch CNN and FOX. You should, too. MSNBC is the worst in terms of left-wing propaganda. I am only thankful that FOX draws more viewers in every time slot than CNN and FOX combined. Maybe that is why Biden’s favorable rating is dropping so much. You should be seeing my commentary on the current ratings fairly soon.
Well, given the 2021 death statistics, that comment I made about national defense will get interesting as we parse 2021 deaths as to how many biden, how many trump. Not to mention the fact that most are unvaccinated, and we know who they predominantly are. So, that one will get interesting as the 2021 finishes and 2022 unveils.
Meanwhile, beyond your gaff saying “FOX draws more viewers in every time slot than CNN and FOX combined,” although I understand the typo, remember there is only Fox and there’s, as you folks constantly remind us, a world full of liberal MSM to choose from. However, no Larry, I watch them all, just have a hard time no puking after five minutes of Hannity or Tucker I have to either tune out or throw up. Given Tucker is now legally an entertainer allowed to exaggerate and lie, I get what you are saying. Don’t feel bad, Rachel is legally in the same boat as Tucker as I am sure the rest would be too if the lawsuits were filed.
Barely watch MJoe but isn’t he a Republican?
Nonetheless, I am amused that you broad-brush all as propaganda, very convenient way to dismiss. I can substantiate all, even the covid deaths, even under Joe’s watch. Easily. Joe’s covid count may be a bit spin-full, but it’s factual.
“Republicans — including me — are doing a lot of talking about a range of important issues — crime, immigrations, inflation, and even pushing back on the left wing bs.” Hmmm. Frankly all I see message-wise rom Republicans is the word NO and how terrible we are. I see very little in terms of plans or programs that would deliver reasonable success UNLESS such plans take something away from some minority demographic.
Take Health Care for example. Hard to find any plans whatsoever in 2021. The old ones just suck. Nothing comprehensive like the ACA at all.
Or family values —- got any anymore? It was your keystone.
Economy — hey, the numbers speak for themselves. Check the stats, blame covid, good luck
Tax and Spend — again check the numbers, see who were the winners and losers. I live in NJ, I have a largish property, guess where I sit.
I can understand why no factual pushback and the propaganda broad brush, but have yet to see much more than bashing coming from your side of the aisle. Can’t wait to see real ideas, plans and programs. Will be a yuge improvement over the past four years of Republican chaos management.
Frank … a quick response. (1) you one assume you know who all the unvaccinated are — and I assume you think they are Republicans .. right wingers … Trumpers. First, we know that the largest unvaccinated group is black Americans. You see a lot of resistance from police in major cities — mostly Democrats. Healthcare workers in New York. I do not know the actual breakdown of the unvaccinated by political line up … but neither do you … and you apparently are not considering those groups that are not likely Republican rednecks.
Ooops. I thought I corrected that “combined thing.” I must have not hit “save” before I sent it.
You say you watch FOX, and then admit you do not … at least not for more than 5 minutes. I rarely watch Carlson or Hannity. I like Ingraham a bit more. And I would agree that those three are commentators with a specific point-of-view … propaganda, if you like. But most of the FOX day is better news and much more balanced. Hell … even Carlson, Hannity and Ingraham will have people with the opposite view on occasion. The 24-hour line up on MSNBC us ALL one-sided. Every hour as the left-wing version of Carlson and Hannity … ergo propaganda in my judgment. Never an alternative viewpoint. CNN is slightly better than MSNBC, but they have Lemon, Cuomo — and their morning show is one-sided propaganda. As is their Jon Avlon and his misnamed “Reality Check.”
Finally, … you are off the chart if you think the more conservative outlets and policies are doing more bashing than the Democrats. Come on, man. (Hmm where did I get that from). You cannot be that un-objective.
Get ready to cry after the midterms you dumbass