Does Trump really want to win?
That may seem to be a preposterous question, but he does say and do things that obviously hurt his own candidacy. The question is, “why?”
I cannot know what his top campaign advisors tell him, but virtually every Trump-favorable political activist and strategist, who appears on television in his defense, keep advising him to forget the past grievances, the platitudes, the gratuitous insults, the name calling and picking needless fights. They virtually all suggest a laser focus on the critical issues where Trump has a decided advantage over Vice President Harris.
While Trump seems to believe he won in 2016 because of his pugnacious behavior, others (including me) believe he won despite it. He was pushed over the top by a GOP tsunami that was rolling across the nation at that time.
Lest we forget … going into 2016, the GOP held both houses of Congress, two-thirds of the governorships and two-thirds of the state legislatures. The earliest polls suggested a landslide for a generic Republican presidential candidate – with Florida Governor Jeb Bush the early favorite. Even better for the GOP was the fact that Democrats were hellbent on running the relatively unpopular Hillary Clinton – who lost out to President Obama in 2008.
Yes, Trump won in 2016, but his controversial candidacy and the split he caused in the Republican Party tamped down the GOP tsunami. Trump managed to squeak out an Electoral College victory while losing the popular vote. Trump’s victory was more the result of riding the residual of the GOP tsunami than creating the winning momentum. Neither Trump nor the GOP has done particularly well ever since.
Trump does not do well in the polls – never achieving a favorable rating above 50 percent. For the past year, he performed ahead of Biden – an 81-year-old, mentally impaired President with an unpopular track record on key issues. Had Biden stayed in, Trump would likely have led the GOP to an impressive victory.
At this moment, a Trump victory is still possible — perhaps even probably. But there is no guarantee that his current advantage will last. With Biden out, the potential for a GOP landslide is now off the table.
If Trump loses in November, the person most responsible will be … Trump. It is his to lose, and his personal behavior will be the reason if he does. Instead of concentrating his energy and resources on Harris’ unpopular record and his vision of the future, Trump burns up his airtime with counterproductive name-calling – referring to Harris as a “freak” … having a “low IQ … and so forth. Those kinds of comments do not win votes. But they do consume the airtime and print space from statements that would.
There is a downside in obtaining the release of hostages through a prisoner exchange. That argument can be made at the same time we celebrate the positive side – as many (including me) have. But congratulating Putin is outrageous, wrong morally and strategically stupid. It will cost Trump votes.
Gratuitously attacking Georgia’s very popular Republican Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was unnecessary and counterproductive. Trump needs the Kemp and Raffensperger voters to win the Peach State. Rapprochement would have been smarter than reproachment.
Trump had a gift in Biden. Contrary to his cheerleaders, Biden and his policies were not popular with the voters – and the polls showed it. When the mental acuity issue burst forward, Trump was estimated to be a certain winner — by Republicans AND by Democrats. The latter is the reason that Biden is no longer in the race.
Harris is a fully able opponent who is only tangentially associated with the unpopular policies of Biden. She embraced and supported them, for sure — but was not primarily responsible for creating them. It gives her a little wiggle room – and she is using the opportunity to redefine herself away from her past far left statements and actions.
Harris’ own policies – as she articulated in the past – are even further to the left of Biden. This gives Trump and Republicans an advantage if they focus on them.
Trump cannot stumble his way across the finish line this time. He cannot count on winning in the Electoral College while losing the popular vote. He is going to have to sharpen up his game – and give up the personal grievance approach to myopically expound on the real issues. Of course, that is if he wants to win.
So, there ‘tis.
Face it, Larry – Felon Trump is incompetent and senile. He never expected to get elected the first time, and all it did (besides bringing in boatloads of personal cash from his cult dupes) was to put the spotlight on his criminal activities. The only people he helped while in office were the truly rich who benefitted from his tax cut gift, at the expense of a trillion-dollar deficit. Unless you count all the racists and Neo-Nazis who were able to come out of the closet during his term.
Biden is still with it mentally, even if his body is slowing down, and will continue his term with honor. Felon Trump, how has no honor, even among fellow thieves, is still claiming his cognitive test was incredibly difficult (in itself a sign of increasing dementia) and that “only 2% of his supporters could pass that test” (I’ll let that stand, either as a comment on Felon Trump’s supporters, or his opinion of them – probably both).
Felon Trump is now polling 6 points behind Harris, and it’s only getting worse for him. It’s less than 3 months to the election. He’s on a sinking boat with electric batteries and sharks circling. Ain’t nothin’ gonna help him now.
Guess after today’s press conference with rational Trump who certainly wants to win.
He lied a lot like saying Shapiro the most popular PA governor is unpopular.
He said he protected Hillary from prison as he spent years chanting lock her up as he fist pumped the crowd into a frenzy.
Much bullshit on oil.
Said people fell from planes at heights above the world trade center; some did fall but not even close to Trump’s lie.
He said Harris ruined California as the first paid-for liberal prosecutor. Not even close on all counts.
That he won the FL case when his judge dismissed the case when he knows the appeal is under way. It’s going to the Supremes.
He claims 75% of the country is for Trump.
That DOJ weaponized NY case conducted by NY State. No proof.
Said Harris is scared of the press, short on knowledge and brains, which may be true or perhaps she’s busy doing first things first in the beginning two weeks of her campaign. Could ne true but based on her other efforts, again, be caredful what you ask for. Probably not smart to call her stupid so many times if trying to look rational.
Same with calling her a bad debater; got her the VP slot. JD Vance got his on his knees.
Basically it’s rational Trump running against Biden stating it will be a landslide.
For some reason, not a tough question from the press.
Only caught first hour, even Fox and Newsmax cut away.
Surreal and weally weird.
New Yorker had a short piece about Trump entitled: “Does Anyone in America Miss Joe Biden as Much as Donald Trump.” Good point, funny story, as the weird old man was so strange in his presser.
He, once again, went off on size, I mean crowd size, upset that Kamabla as he calls her, you know, part Kamala, part Black, a name JD Vance announced he would not use (uh oh, gonna be in the boss’ tool shed for a good ole porn star spanking for that one JD), Trump actually said his crowds were bigger than MLK’s “I have a dream speech.” Of course, he’s only off by a factor of 10 or more…….
And then he banged on Harris by banging on Biden…..and harping on her for not doing interviews……it’s been less than two weeks Don….. She has talked publicly to many groups. It’s not like she needs publicity or money right now….. That’s Don, not Kamala. It was just so weird. So old. Like watching a grandpa melt down full of senior moments. Even our old white guy, Walz, looks zippier, more common sense, plain speaking.
Here’s Harris and Walz replying to Trump’s news conference: *https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/harris-campaign-donald-trumps-very-good-very-normal-press-conference/*
It’s a rip snorter…..
If Biden is with it Mentally, give him your portfolio to manage.
Give him all your possessions to keep track of.
Let him run your lives or I should say ruin your lives!
I choose free will.
I choose to make my own decisions.
I choose to work for myself.
I choose Trump!
It’s doubly, even triply weird how the pro-terrorist faction of the not-see class keeps showing up on Horist’s comment board and erupting in explosions of Guinness-level lying. There are scores just in the handful of not-see posts that have emerged here at this moment. It’s a sure bet they’re all the same Goebbelsian America-hater, using different monikers.
It keeps me in stitches to read that Harris is not afraid to speak to reporters that she doesn’t already have in the bag, like MSMBC and CNN. Her head is full of mush. And the notion that VANCE, rather than Harris, achieved prominence on HIS knees boggles even a bigger Goebbelsian’s lyiin’ dimwittedness.
Harris is universally known for knee-padding her way to advancement as the open girlfriend of powerful Calif. politician willie Brown, which Harris refuses to deny. Brown was in his 60s and married; Harris was in her 20s. And that’s how Harris, who barely knows what a statute is, was appointed to higher office. Thereafter, she climbed the race card to advance. No member of the press that covered state politics in Harris’s early career disputes these facts.
A supreme irony is that certified race-card holder Harris is now revealing the titanium-strong streak of anti-Semitism that infests the entire left — the progressives, National Socialists, Social Democrats, Fascists, Marxists, garden-variety socialists, collectivists, Communists, Fabian socialists and other chips off the socialist block.
And the leftwerps here are united in their collective hope that the resurgent, insurgent left this century will complete the extermination of Jews that it attempted in the 1930s and 1940s.
Doug,
Got sources? Facts? Reality?
Glad to see you got your pc privileges back.
LOL.
Not-sees sure hate to be stepped on. But they practically beg for it.
To expand a bit on Horist’s review of Trump’s 2016 victory:
The collective number of votes for the triad of Jill Stein (Greens), Typhoid Shrillary and Gary Johnson (Libertarians) was almost 10 million higher than Trump'[s tally. Republicans have never come to terms with that fact. Shrillary only lost because she was such a cheater that the Crazy Bernie faction voted minor-party or refused to vote period on a presidential candidate, costing Shrillary millions of votes.
In my state of Michigan, Trump outpolled Shrillary by 10,000 votes. Stein and Johnson raked in around a quarter-million votes.
In every congressional district and every statewide race, winning Republicans amassed more votes than Trump.
Horist is dead-right: Trump didn’t author his victory. Johnson and Green did. And there’s virtually no possibility of a repeat.
Trump is a lifelong Donk. He registered as a Donk multiple times. He donated milllions to Donks and hard-left GOP’ers, including Kamala Harris, Pelosi, Reid and Schumer. His own kids couldn’t vote in the 2016 New York primary because they weren’t Republicans.
Horist is right about Trump’s opportunities. And his expectations that Trump will blow it in 2024 as he did in 2020 is very likely spot-on.
If Trump had only picked Tulsi Gabbard as a running mate, the election would have been in the bag.
From all indications, Quid Pro Groper Joe foisted Harris — whom Bidet truly loathes — on the party to boost Trump’s chances of victory. Then Bidet would have gotten the last word.
Larry, this seems like a turning of a page or a leaf in your opinion and consequently the commentary coming from it. This piece showed short passages of your past writings about Biden, Harris, the Left, and things Democratic Party related. All previous writings from you on PBP’s site were imagined and produced with very heated negativity impossible for any reader to miss. What your intent and purpose has been your readers had no doubts.
This piece mostly stayed on Trump and his handling of the election race as the GOP candidate. Your assessment has a bit of truth. Pugnacious is your description of his personality. That word is appt but is hardly half true. Trump’s character far darker than the media is allowed to portray, given code regulations.
But, should public knowledge include more of Trump’s crooked business dealings and many legal compromises he’s forced on others in business and in politics. He would not lose GOP loyal voter’s confidence. Given that a great majority in the GOP will readily say Christianity is their faith. Although, they will add they are spiritual worshipers and not committed to any formal religious church or denomination. Yet, they support Trump, his moral failings, unrepentant soul, and unabashed falsifier and all. His lies number many times more than any other individual known to have occupied the White House and he seeks to occupy the President’s Manse for 4 years at least come 1/20/25. If that comes to be, my confidence in the American voter’s intelligence, moral integrity, common sense, honesty, and gratitude for this nation’s constitutional promises.
This time in politics and culture our country is at a cross roads some American History specialist are comparing to the country just prior to the American Civil War.
You wrote the term existential in previous commentary.
It’s most dire meaning has consequences at this time, if divisions are not resolved in a peaceful compromise. Divisions today are unlike those that separated states geographically, North vs South. Present time divisions are political philosophy (Identity) based. Therefore, different opinions are personal and not always private. One philosophy can not lawfully banish and demand removal those with a different philosophy ( worldview). Constitutional principles and laws protect the individual rights of all residents within USA boarders
Some on the conservative right banded together for the purpose of writing a document the Executive Administration would implement and secure more powerful influence over the two other branches, as well as all personnel across government employees in every department. The document now compiled is 1,000 pages and the policy blueprint the executive branch would rely on in decision making, domestic policy and foreign policy. This document is referred to by either, The 2025 Project, or Project 2025. Its creation, in some minds, is designed to be the replacement of our nation’s laws as stated in the US Constitution. The originators of this work of fiction and tyranny against America and its citizens are associates of Trump during his presidency. Some were high level advisors and policy makers.
Assuming Trump’s return to the executive office and his position in determining policy over governance. Their ambition was optimistic. As a group they determined that divisions among the American electorate would weaken representation in Congress and SCOTUS has no actual authority in matters of executive branch policy, until a matter reaches the Supreme Court
The plan for PROJECT 2025 depends on Trump’s election win and Trump’s acceptance and resolve to
implement its points. Implementation would be a tough slugging process and ruthless determination.
Trump himself is on the record stating, first, he never heard of a Project, second, he stated he thought it was the work of ultra-right conservatives unknown nut cases. Third, he told reporters who posed the question, he passed, saying, no comment.
My hope for this country and all Americans is for the good of all, the majority will vote to elect Trump’s opposition to be POTUS for the next four years.
A candidate with a message denying our country’s Greatness, contending that he alone will make us Great, again. He, for intimating a baseless conspiracy theory about diminished status, should be summarily dismissed from contention, in the first place. Second, his speeches contain traitor like language. Who says things in public that his handlers have to interpret for the press. We listened and know what was said. He can not so easily walk back his words released on the public
For instance the speech I heard he said, I am so far ahead of crooked Kamala in votes, you don’t have to show up to vote. Another Trump quote: When you vote this November and I’m President, I promise, you will not need to vote ever again.
What do those who heard him actually speak these two statements think he was saying. Should we take him at his word. Or, must we discount what he said because he often fabricates ideas on a whim and later disavows having ever said it. If, for example, reporter asked Trump, do you know these people (names of the Project 2025 co-conspirators). Trump, predictably, denies ever hearing the names and positively does not know any of the men.
His memory is, then called into suspicion. Several of them worked for him and spoke with him in the Oval. If his recall is that diminished. Is his mental capacity up to his claims and certainly if he was president?
Go figure, the pundits on your side of the fence have vouched for him and continue your alleged loyalty. You all hang by a virtual thread that is his supposed Great Policies.
I say, Trump had better put-up in real time or shut up. Time is becoming short.
This has been my contention for a month or two…… Has he and/or family been threatened by the deep state to “gracefully loose”? He would still remain a hero to we minions that support him, but he would still loose!!! After the attempt on his life, how can he assure the safety of his family and loved ones…….. What would you do in such a situation??????
Makes no sense Robert.
Who is the deep state and how would they even deliver that message?
The”deep state” if it even exists is defined as entrenched political operatives at lower levels in the bureaucracy. More like red tape than killer elites.
The attemp on his life, a nick on the ear, was perpetrated by a lone wolf depressed Republican, not the deep state. .
Perhaps a more interesting conspiracy theory is that the shooting is a wag-the-dog blood bulb job with a youthful useful idiot taking the fall so Trump could raise more pity money from his sheep. I mean no one guarding the roof, doctors gagged, and Trump immediately OK. His hand picked, loyal, secret service guys and Roger Stone planned it all.
The best explanation is Trump is old, he’s in a rut repeating the same old weirdness, but as I said months ago, it’s crazy sounding now. Crowd size, 2020 !election rigging, Kamabla, doesn’t know where he is, doj weaponized, judges crooked, juries tainted, revenge, retribution, dictator for a day, electric sharks,, and then embracing crypto for a donation, ev’s ok for cash, tik tok ok for big bucks, jd vance vp for donor dollars, the list of his selling out gets longer.
I said it a year ago. Listen to him, this is Trump 2021, not 2016, and if the money slows down, he’s gone