It is drop-out time for GOP candidates
Early on, I expressed my opinion that President Trump could only win if there were a large field of candidates. Frankly, I assumed that Republicans were smart enough to not let that happen. I should have known better.
Not only did a fairly large number of Republican presidential wannabes enter the race, but they were also – by and large – the most unlikely candidates to even come close to the nomination. Did they really think they had a shot?
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appeared to pose the greatest threat to Trump. Had he had the field to himself – or just one or two other Trump challengers – he may have fared much better. We might have been looking at a close Trump/DeSantis contest today. But with a dozen others taking bites out of the anti-Trump vote – and his own clumsy start – DeSantis could not build on his initial 20 percent support.
Instead of taking away votes from Trump, the challengers merely were fighting for a market share among themselves. The weakness of the challengers has enabled Trump to extend his lead – making him the predestined winner in the eyes of many politicians and pundits.
While Trump is in the very dominant position, I am not convinced that he is invincible. Politics is a profession in which anything can happen. Trump could lose out in his quest for the GOP nomination – but NOT as long as there are so many candidates playing in the kiddie pool.
As you approach the actual primary voting season, there is still time and a means for Trump to be beaten. The time to change the trajectory of the GOP primary race is NOW. That means (1) most of the candidates need to exit the race and (2) the remaining candidate or candidates must deploy a primary-by-primary strategy to build momentum behind one alternative candidate.
Some of the weakest of the weak candidates have already dropped out. You may not recall them by name since they did not attract much attention in the first place. They were given the coup de grâce by the rules set forth by the Republican National Committee (RNC), which prevented them from being on stage for the first debate, The RNC essentially reduced the field to 8 candidates in that debate.
Among those who we committed to political oblivion – and quickly dropped out – were California radio personality Larry Elders, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and former Texas Congressman Will Hurd. After the second Republican debate, the stage was reduced to six candidates with former Vice President Pence dropping out of the race.
Pence was the most significant candidate to drop out. Conventional wisdom based on history would have had him as a viable if not dominant candidate – but these are not conventional times. Based on the divisions in the Republican Party, there was no way in Hell that Pence would secure the nomination. Once he understood that he was not going to secure the nomination, he wisely dropped out.
The field of candidates is still too large. If there is any hope of defeating Trump in the GOP primaries, other candidates need to pack up and go home.
So, who should go and who should stay?
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum was very impressive on the debate stage, but it did not translate into a significant uptick in support. He needs to bow out.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott should go. I like him, but he has no chance of winning the nomination. It appears he will lose in his home state to South Carolina’s former Governor Nikki Haley.
Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy has built a small support base, but GOP voters do not see him as ready for prime time. He talks the talk but does not build confidence that he could walk the walk. In terms of politics, his best days may be behind him.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has staked his campaign on being the most anti of the anti-Trump candidates. His political pugilism will not get him the nomination. He has not even been able to get into third place.
If all those aforementioned folks would drop out, that would leave the contest between DeSantis and Haley as the most formidable challengers to Trump. In a previous commentary, I suggested that DeSantis should drop out and endorse Haley. In fact, I think they should all do that. (Just my personal opinion).
As long as he holds the second spot, DeSantis has no reason to give up – but it would be both a prudent and politically beneficial decision. At his age, he can pursue his presidential ambitions for years to come. He would enhance that prospect by possibly being on the ticket as Vice President.
One might make the same argument for a Haley departure, but I personally lean to DeSantis bowing out because I see Haley as the strongest candidate against Trump in the primaries – and would be the most formidable candidate in the General Election.
If the Democrat candidate is Biden – or Vice President Harris or California Governor Newsom – I would have to vote for a Republican administration – reluctantly if it is Trump, and enthusiastically if it is Haley.
Until there is a mass exodus from the GOP field, I concur with most observers that it will be Trump again in 2024.
So, there ‘tis.
We have a new winner for Best Horist Comedy Sketch on “IT IS DROP-OUT TIME FOR GOP CANDIDATES” where he mentions reasons for every candidate save one as if the one has no issues that might, just might, make a sane person drop out. That’s hilariously the hallmark of head-in-the-sand humor OR Horist actually believes it’s not an issue for Republicans, the law and odor party,.
It’s a great day when you can say, “hey, vote for me, I’m going to jail….” Then again, those whacky Republicans govern like no other.
Law and Odor Party, wow, good one. Good thing I had my coffee on the table and not over my computer.
I think Larry did not mention Trump because his article is solely based on performance in the polls, not on behavior. But to your point, if a better Dem candidate or a good independent candidate run as well, Trump may not win. I am looking for Joe Manchin to primary against Joe or running as an independent. Dems are hoping he runs as a Dem, and many like him on both sides of the aisle. And he’s pretty squeaky clean and relatively impervious to Trumps goofy names and insults. So VOTE FOR MANCHIN AND KEEP ON DANCIN!!!
Again, Manchin does not have democratic or republican support, so exactly why would he run?
Is anyone in WV squeaky clean? Just saying.
Gavin Newsom is the one and he’s smart to stay out for now until Joe wins or gives up. Sans health, I think Joe’s in it to win it.
According to the latest news, many moderate and conservative Dems are secretly and quietly hoping he runs as a Dem, not as an Indy. That is hot off of the press yesterday. Also, many Independents like him and would prefer him over anything being offered in the primaries.
Here is why he might run:
1) *https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/21/manchin-presidential-bid-democrats-00102760*
2) *https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/05/why-joe-manchin-run-for-president-2024.html*
3) *https://www.forbes.com/sites/willskipworth/2023/08/10/joe-manchin-seriously-considering-becoming-an-independent-as-2024-presidential-bid-still-being-floated/?sh=6899777e130d*
Yup; I see it. But believe it I don’t. I think the dem support is weak and maybe indy’s but nit 100% sure on what that affects. Plus, he’s got a bear to wrestle in his own state where he will need all he’s got to be re-elected. Same with rfk; where do those numbers come from? But there they are. For now.
Yes it will be uphill for both. I think RFK wants to be president. I think Manchin has a fall back position that he likes which is being able to assert his will because he gets enough votes to have influence and electorates. It will be interesting.
Manchin looks to lose WV, he’s got a real fight there. How he could wage a war on two fronts with little financial backing looks rough. You would think if dollars were ringing at his door, he would jump at the Presidency. I am guessing the donors are not there yet.
RFK is probably funded by the right………..
The only 3 or 4 that have even a snowball chance in FL of surviving are Haley, DeSantis, Ramswamy, and Scott. The rest should drop out now and let legitimate candidates have the stage.
It really does not matter who Drops out and who stays.
At this point any of them can beat Biden!
As the American people are loosing their asses financially with our current clown President and as an embarrasment on the world stage.
I dought any of the mentioned above can do a worse job!
Sorry they do not listen to you more Larry. You have been very informed on this topic.
I fundamentally agree, time for many to drop out. Thanks Pence! But we will see him again somewhere if the GOP wins the POTUS contest.
I disagree on Burgum. He was very well informed and spoke the truth while not hiding anything. Its a darn shame so many people cannot recognize a quality candidate.
I agree on Scott. My agreement is because of his poor behavior and his way of treating Haley by talking down to her and not letting her speak. There is a reason he cannot win in his home state!
I agree on Vivek Ramaswamy. His self admission that he only voted for the first time eight years ago spoke volumes to me. And that finger wagging is something he does naturally and we will see it for four years on tv if he gets in. I hate finger waggers!!!
I agree on Christie. He is DA (confrontational with attitude) through and through and that will not play well across the aisle or internationally.
I sort of agree on DeSantis because he is Trump lite. Haley has international as well as state experience and we need that now more than ever. He would make an attractive VP who could get the conservative, evangelical, votes and lock in FL.
I am on the fence with Haley. She has a better chance than DeSantis but she has an Alpha edge on her which may be due to being a woman and always having to fight harder for the same results. She will play well with conservatives, evangelicals, some independents, but not well with female Dems on the abortion issue. She may get a surprising amount of the black vote. The right VP pick could make the difference with her. Darn shame she can’t have Condoleeza Rice as a VP! I love that woman!!
I agree that Joey B, or Gavin or Harris are all not starters with many Independents, but, we would swallow Joey B again but only if he has a good VP choice.
Truth is that I do not like any of the choices except Burgum, but I could swallow Haley or Desantis. Again, Manchin will change all of the current dynamics!
As far as Trump, well, he may be the first POTUS ruling from jail. He should use Elvis Presley’s “Jail House Rock” song for his campaign theme. Modify the words a little and make a video, it would be killer!!!
I still say you will be surprised with Newsome. He’s articulate, plain speaking, good on the fly, and is making a lot of good moves for his future. You pointed out CA issues, I need to look more, but San Fran does not bode well………Mayor Pete has sort of back-burnered himself, not going to be his time unless he gets some worry lines on his brow :>)
How would anyone vote for Biden again. Unless they are paid to vote for him. On tape he made phone calls with Hunter about Burisma. Hunter traveled to many, many countries with Joe. Biden s whole family got rich off of his position. Look at the bank statements. He used aliases to keep it hidden. Will not hear most, if any of it, on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR, Washington Post, N.Y. Times. The First and NEWSMAX are the only news I trust. The ratings are most watched and trusted. Fox was up here, until they dropped Tucker Carlson. Biden signed the open border nonsense. Record number of illegals coming in. There is no argument that this is wrong. Increased drug(fentanyl) deaths. Lot of drugs coming from China. Drug cartels have increased profits and smuggling, trafficking, sex trafficking children, and the residents along the border are seeing their property being stolen, urinated on, etc. That alone, is a grounds for Impeaching Joe. Then he stops building the wall. The supplies were already paid for. Says walls do not work. They do work. Border agents are overwhelmed. I could not imagine working in those conditions. Thousands of people. They are so overwhelmed that agents are quitting and releasing thousands without vetting. Recently, Biden had the wire at one border in Texas being taken down. A judge stopped that.by the way, where are these illegals going to work, sleep, go to the bathroom? It’s a common sense question that is ignored like the rest of the questions Biden does not answer. So who is going to drop out of race was the original question? At this point anyone can do a better job than Biden. Next, Biden gave away our reserve fuel. Really. Blamed the fuel crisis on Russia. This started before Russia. The Alaskan pipeline workers woke up one day and were told they have no job. Thanks Joe. January 6. Hmm! Trump said go peacefully. If you do research, you know there was a person planting explosives at both the Democrat and Republican sites prior. Hand is getting tired. We are only on reason 2. So people are let in the Capitol by the Capitol Police. Others are breaking windows and causing chaos. According to the Capitol Police Chief, he National Guard was requested before January 6. Ignored by Pelosi. After January 6, Pelosi calls the National Guard and they sleep on concrete in parking garage. What! As expected, no one showed up. By the way on January 6, Pelosi ran her mouth about what time lunch is served. On tape. So this was not an insurrection. But, the infamous mainstream media and the uneducated others, stated it that way. Democrats played along. I was scared by Ocasio. She was in another building. The FBI, Wray, has said he did not know how many agents were there. He is the FBI chief. So now there are all these accusations, not proven, Trump did this, did that. January 6 Committee was biased. Why didn’t they show the full tapes? Why wasn’t there a jury? Why were their no Republicans? Cheney and Kissinger were already supporting Democrats and hated Trump. Nothing came of it. Thousands of dead people, UPS truck drivers dropping blank ballots off. Witnesses have under oath, stated this. Show the details. Anyway, if you subscribe to NEWSMAX, you can watch and listen. Greg Kelly is the best. Judicial Watch has thousands of lawsuits against Biden. With facts. If you would subscribe to The Verdict. This covers everything the news media hides. Leave it at that. Your turn.
Wes Biden won’t get the votes. That’s where election fraud comes in. They got away with it last time and they know how to do it again
Wes, you have so many misstatements and misinformation as to be a liar of the conspiracy theory style. Let’s just do 1.6.2021. Trump, in his style, got so close to inciting a riot, if you can’t see it, you are blind to his glories. He said many things including “peacefully,” but also “fight like hell or you won’t have a country anymore,” “we will never give up,” “we will stop the steal,” and much more. It’s not legal incitement, but it worked, didn’t it. If that’s what you want. His co-hosts on that stage called for war amongst other incindiary statements. Check them out on how they whipped up the crowd.
Perhaps one overlooked Trump passage was this: ““When you catch somebody in a fraud, you are allowed to go by very different rules. So I hope Mike has the courage to do what he has to do, and I hope he doesn’t listen to the RINOs and the stupid people that he’s listening to.” Or perhaps from the horses mouths is better…… One protestor said: “Trump’s words and actions are nefarious, causing pain and harm to the world,” later adding that the day’s actions “left a scar Trump is responsible for.” Many of his own people blame him for what happened and why it happened. They ARE the ultimate judges. I will let you look it up, but it’s stated in many a case, under the threat of perjury and no one, and I say no one, is stepping forward to do that.
The rest of your facts on 1.6.2021 are just bogus lies made up by Trumplicants .
I will stop there but your other ascertains are just not valid or supported by facts. Pelosi does not control the Capitol Police, I don’t even know why you focus on the House and not the Senate. No one from police opened doors inappropriately. And the only guy who did nothing, the guy in charge of National Defense, from all comers — foreign or domestic, watched it all for over three hours, doing absolutely nothing except chuck burgers at the wall for some poor worker to clean up after. Three fucking hours mate. He did nothing. He watched on TV. Enjoying the mess he made.
Give it a break. He lied to you. The people arrested confirmed they were lied to and set upon the Congress like a pack of wild dogs is set loose. In their OWN words. Not the press. Not the left. These are Trumplicants.
Just as the people sending him to jail are not Democrats, they are Trumplicants. You can call them rats deserting the mother ship, but they are telling the truth. Trump lies. You have to know that at least.
Wes Biden; what part of the crime family is he in?
Meanwhile, finally you caught us in the big lie. That’s right, we did it. And you can’t figure it out either.
It was easy. First, infiltrate the oval office. All you got to do is say the secret words, “Trump is cool”, and they let you right in. Then, tell Trump he can win if he just calls geogia, puts fake electors in place, and then covers his tracks by sending thousands of useful idiot sheeples to the Capitol by telling them that’s where the porta potties are. Worked like a charm and it will work again. They can’t figure it out and plenty of Trump sheeples still out there standing down, standing ready.
I agree Frank, you guys can do it again. GOP really has not learned that much. And I would love to see Trump be a two time loser! Just think about how much you and Larry will have to talk about! I think if Manchin runs he will pull more votes from Trump than Joey B.
Two time loser? He already lost the popular vote, twice. He lost impeachment, twice. And soon he will lose more in court for a twice-twice-twice…….
Proud Boys have their own agenda. Grown adults. Biden on tape . Just look at the phone records. Bank statements signed by him. Oh! They do not show that on CNN, MSNBC, and all the mainstream media. They will show Trump walking to and from the courtroom. Fanni Willis, Jack, have no good record. Willis says she will get Trump no matter what. They try and dig up anything and everything. In the real world, our border is faced with millions of people that should not be here. Thousands just walk right in. Run away. According to Mayorkas, the border is secure. Biden pays terrorists, Iran. Don’t worry we will use that correctly. Against us. How many bad things is the Biden administration going to do? Sold Americans out. Mainstream news media just keeps reporting on Trump. Never mind the threat coming through the border. Inflation and spending out of control. Ban guns. Here we go again. These wackos mismanagement skills are pathetic. Open and build treatment centers for drug addicts. Build more homeless shelters. Help these people get a job. Stop the stealing, and rioting, burning of businesses. More police. Stop using George Floyd and others as a reason for violence. By the way, he died from fentanyl and a weak heart. According to the coroner. Not the media. These Democrats, and some Republicans are pushing Socialist, Marxist, Communist Policies. CRT is a Marxist idea. Been going on for years. They hate America. Yet we pay them to destroy us. Is that rational. People on college campuses are siding with Hamas. So babies heads are cut off, people burned alive, kidnapped. Elderly shot and beaten to death. Something is wrong with our society. It’s called evil. These people do not believe that Jesus is the savior. They say In the name of Allah. Using violence is not what God said. Love thy neighbor as thy self. Do good, not evil. Repent and be Baptized then the Holy Spirit will give you understanding. It works. Be not afraid of those that kill the body. But those who destroy the soul. Everyone dies. I try and help at least one person a day over the last 40+ years. Others do as well. Does that earn me Heaven. No. My Faith by prayer, and God’s promises. I have studied other Faiths and Religions. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, but by me.” Not all Religions and Darwanism are right. All think they are. Pray in Jesus Name. It works. Governments fall. See that everywhere.
Proud Boys were invited by Trump to 1.6.2021. Many have blamed him, his words, in open court. Look up the transcripts.
If you have Biden by the evidence, take him to court. Impeach him. Do something more than trot out the same old horseshit.
If you can’t win, you blame the system, the prosecutors, the press, the liberals. It’s never your fault for being a fraudelent, grifting, lying, POS.
If it’s to be, it’s up to me.
Try it. Called personal responsibility……freedom to think.
What a puff piece of introspections, another comedy piece by the humorist Horist.
“Frankly, I assumed that Republicans were smart enough” to realize that Horist is a Republican too. .
“Did they really think they had a shot” or are they all just as smart as Horist….
‘Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appeared to pose the greatest threat to Trump” as day late, dollar short, PR man’s nightmare Ron who amazingly looks like a constipated Mickey Mouse — check the ears! The man finally did an MSNBC interview, he was meh.
Pence — really, that’s all you got to say? What a milk toast review.
“So, who should go and who should stay” thus speakith the truth from the self-professed political Lord Larry……(and comedy sketch artist)
“North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum was very impressive” since Horist went on drugs…..watching paint peel has more excitement.
“South Carolina Senator Tim Scott should go. I like him,” he’s the only black we got “but he has no chance of winning” because he’s black and we’re Republicans, “It appears he will lose in his home state” because he wouldn’t make the handshake tour at Cracker Barrel. He thought they were actually crackers.
“Vivek Ramaswamy…….”talks the talk” if you are like Horist and will buy a bridge from Chris Christy. “his best days may be behind him” which, since he has had no days as a politician, is just freakin funny.
“Chris Christie……..His political pugilism” of telling the truth “will not get him the nomination” or “even been able to get into third place” because we’re Republicans, we don’t need no stinkin Truth. We gots Horist shit, Newsmax, and Hannity. Apparently Horist has not put two n two together vis-a-vis his Christie pugilism and his Spanky story on his own behaviors and style…….
“He would enhance that prospect by possibly being on the ticket as Vice President,” the same sage advise I gave Kamala Harris…..
“If the Democrat candidate is Biden – or Vice President Harris or California Governor Newsom – I would have to vote for a ”digitally raping sexual abuser with business criminal convictions as he cheated, defamed, and abused his way into history because he’s a Republican, in name, since Republican nee Independence nee Democrat nee Republican nee Independent (like Tom :>) nee now Republican. You gotta follow the bucks……and Democrats won’t give him a penny. And if he is convicted one time, two times, three times more —- still a go, go, go for Republicans and probably Horist too,
STORY BECAUSE HORIST refuses to quit calling me names in the honor of free speech, no matter how low he must go. Enjoy it, suck on it, let it become part of you :>)