Trump in 2020
If it’s not too early to start talking about the 2020 presidential election here in the U.S., it’s interesting to see that Trump (if he’s still in office at that point), will have some competition for the Republican nomination. That’s news in and of itself, insofar as an incumbent president hasn’t seen a viable challenge from his own party in recent history.
Here’s a piece on the candidacy of former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, who had formerly run for office as a libertarian, and describes himself a “fiscal conservative and social liberal.” He sees the first Trump presidency as a “train-wreck,” and seems ready to absorb the verbal punishment that will certainly come his way in his attempt to avert a second one (again, if Trump’s still around to dish it out).
A few points. First, there is no such thing as a fiscally conservative presidency, though there are, of course, mountains of hypocrisy on the subject. When the debt rose under Obama, the president was jeered as a (Kenyan-born Muslim) socialist, but when it’s skyrocketing under Trump, it’s scarcely noticed.
Something else to watch for is the credibility of the GOP generally. We’ve seen 2+ years of nothing but grovelling to the president by congressional Republicans; we’ve heard virtually zero push-back against his lies, obstruction of justice, violations of the Constitution’s foreign emoluments clause, backstabbing his own supporters in favor of billionaires, and crippling America for his personal benefit. What on Earth are people to think when they hear this introduction? “I’m an honest guy, and I’m running as a Republican to serve you, Mr. John Q. American. Really. I’m not like ‘the best’ people in the last administration who are now serving prison sentences.”
Seems like an uphill battle, even in the unlikely event that no more Republicans are indicted, convicted, and shuffled off to jail over the next 18 months. We’ll see.
Craig,
Oh my goodness, it must really be difficult for you to witness that despite all your frustration, passion, hatred, wild claims etc, the President has not only ‘survived’, but is growing markedly stronger.
As even Nancy Pelosi realizes the political danger of a relentless pursuit of the President and backs away, toning down her rhetoric you must feel abandoned and betrayed.
The Mueller investigation hasn’t harmed the President, but has brought to light just how out of control and dangerous the FBI had become.
The US economy is defying all odds and bring unprecedented prosperity to America’s blue collar workers. As unemployment sharply declines and wages grow in a controlled and affordable fashion, the domestic economy expands to keep pace with a booming export economy.
The President is winning his trade battles and reversing a 30 year decline in US economic decline.
Even Stormy Daniels has finally run her race, and is no left facing bankruptcy as the public lose interest and the courts have dismissed all her claims, awarding the President full costs to be paid by both her and her odious lawyer.
The President has the full support of the GOP rank and file, which makes it difficult for any dissent from within the party. (although I believe the State of Emergency is a bridge too far).
The President’s poll ratings are averaging in the mid forties which is fairly normal for a second year President. President Trump can look forward to the Mueller report fizzling and a historically favorable trade deal with China and North Korea going into the 2020 election.
Cohen’s revelations had no impact, in fact it just made Trump’s opponents look desperate. Even the “Never Trumper’s” are beginning to distance themselves from Coomey and Macabe, who with every utterance look like a sleezy political operatives.
Manafort is already yesterdays’ news.
Yeah, Craig, I can understand how desperate you must be feeling watching the President shrug off all the crazy high drama of the last two years.
If I were you, I’d also be pretty desperate and start fantasizing about a GOP contender to try and beat the President, because placing faith in a herd of back biting, double dealing, weasels standing as Democrat nominees doesn’t at the moment seems a smart move !
Craig,
Most disturbing is the increasing number of reports from well informed and credible sources that the FBI deliberately lied to both Carter Page and George Papadopoulos about the material held by the FBI, in a effort to procure and coerce false testimony.
It would appear FBI agents were authorized by Comey and McCabe to pressure, threaten, and deceive both Carter Page and George Papadopoulos for unlawful purpose.
The agents went futher, actively conspire with known crimminals and discredited former British intelligence agent. The FBI made false and duplicitous statements to to deceive defence lawyers, and more importantly it now seems very likely withheld discovery of exculpatory material from the DoJ, Federal Judges and other parties.
It seems certain the FBI (or certain members of the FBI) opened an illegal and unauthorized investigation into not just the 2016 Trump campaign, but as early as the GOP nomination campaign.
How much of this is known and concealed by Mueller and his team, can only be guessed at, but the evidence is becoming overwhelming that some of these acts are born out of collusion between the FBI, intelligence operatives and the Obama administration, in a desire to assist Hillary Clinton’s campaign, and later to derail and depose President Trump.
Only six months ago, I would have discredited such accusations as implausible or wildly exaggerated conspiracy theories. It seemed to have little more substance that angry tweets by a frustrated and beleaguered President.
However today, the evidence from increasingly reputable sources coupled with a refusal to answer pertinent questions by the FBI or Mueller, is beginning to gather converts among even ardent Trump opponents.
The usually objective and reliable award-winning investigative journalist, John Solomon (no fan of Trump) writing in ‘The Hill’, is the latest among a number raising of journalists these concerns.
John Solomon’s conjecture:
“former FBI officials Comey, James Baker, Andrew McCabe, Lisa Page and Peter Strzok — all of whom played a role in the Russia probe and the FISA warrants — have some serious explaining to do. So does departing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who signed the fourth and final FISA warrant.
This suggests a much bigger scandal. The intentional misleading of the nation’s federal intelligence court oon may eclipse the Russia narrative that has dominated the media the past two years.”
….may not be so far fetched!
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/434054-the-damning-proof-of-innocence-that-fbi-likely-withheld-in-russian-probe
I don’t believe this misbehavior is indicative of a widespread conspiracy, more likely to be a small group of miscreants who caught up all the other players in the enthusiasm of the “Never Trump” movement, which so distorted the judgement of so many people who believed the “end justified the means” , failing to consider their actions had stepped over the line into criminality.
Still, if that’s the case, then 2020 may be a year the Democrats are being charged with corruption and collusion!
I hope not. The USA has seen enough corrosive infighting and at some stage public decorum must be restored. The majority of Americans need to once again be proud of their political system, leaders and institutions.
But first it seems, more dirty linen must be aired!
The nation deserves the truth.