From: allin
The discussion around Donald Trump and the Republican party focuses on electability, internal party dynamics, and perceived strategic maneuvers by both parties in the lead-up to future elections.
Trump’s Political Position and Future Prospects
Following recent political events, it was noted that there was widespread “high fives all over the Dems” because Trump announced his candidacy and a specific outcome seen as a loss for “Sax” occurred, leading to a perception that Democrats “won twice” [03:02:00].
The FBI has stated that Trump kept boxes in his basement to preserve mementos, not to sell state secrets [07:29:00]. This contrasts with earlier “wild conspiracy theories” [07:44:00]. The FBI’s raid on his home with armed personnel was described as “heavy-handed” [08:15:15].
Democratic Strategy Regarding Trump
The Biden administration is suspected of trying to keep Trump in the news and provoke him to run for president, believing he is an “easier candidate to beat” [08:29:00]. This strategy mirrors their actions in the Republican primaries where they supported “election denier” candidates, which proved successful [08:38:00]. This approach is seen as “hypocritical and sort of Machiavellian,” as Democrats simultaneously claim these candidates are a “threat to democracy” [08:50:00].
If Trump wins the Republican nomination, it is believed he “will lose the presidency” due to his “massively unfavorable” standing in midterm exit polls [09:14:00]. Democrats are “gleefully Blissful” about the prospect of a Trump nomination because he is considered “the best mega candidate of all” to defeat [09:50:00].
Republican Party Dynamics and Electability
There’s a significant concern among Republicans who want to “move on and have a chance of actually consolidating power” [09:43:00]. Recent polling after the midterms indicates that DeSantis is now the favorite among Republican primary voters across various demographics [11:40:00].
For the Republican Party to win elections, they need to “look out the windshield” and focus on the future, rather than relitigating the 2020 election, which has proven to be a “giant waste of time and a distraction” and potentially cost candidates losses [19:03:00].
Key Figures and Stances
- Rupert Murdoch: The head of the Republican Party, Rupert Murdoch, has seemingly “absolutely dissed Trump,” notably by downplaying his announcement in the New York Post [18:34:00].
- Ron DeSantis: Seen as a more electable candidate who could “get more done” [13:33:00] and appeal to moderates and independents, similar to his 19-point win in Florida [13:59:00].
- William F. Buckley: Historically, Buckley supported the “most electable Conservative candidate” rather than the most conservative, prioritizing electability for winning [18:05:00]. This is presented as a model for the current Republican Party.
Debates on Trump’s Legacy and Future
The debate on whether the Republican Party should explicitly disavow Trump and his actions, such as those related to January 6th and election denial, is ongoing [12:14:00]. It’s argued that while Trump is “less electable than DeSantis,” he possesses a unique ability to activate a “fervent base of that 30 or 40 percent of America that will show up for him” [16:55:00].
“Trump does a much better job than anybody else in getting his base activated” [16:43:00].
This makes him a “dangerous cocktail” [17:13:00] for Republicans to manage in primaries, as his base could secure him the nomination, but potentially lead to a general election loss [17:26:00].
Financial and Economic Considerations
The discussion around Trump also touches on his financial approaches, including a past suggestion to have a “more aggressive and thoughtful strategy of refining by pushing out these maturities way into the future” to save trillions [35:35:00]. This idea, though sounding “goofball” at the time, is now viewed as potentially smart in hindsight [35:37:00].
The broader conversation about fiscal responsibility and the national debt suggests that politicians need to be “smart enough and have the werewolf fell to say it doesn’t matter where this idea came from it’s really smart” [35:50:00] when it comes to long-term financial strategies.
Overall Themes for a Political Platform
A consensus on a platform for 2024 emerges with several key points:
- Control spending [58:41:00]
- Achieve energy independence [58:45:00]
- Stop fighting unnecessary wars and rethink foreign policy [58:47:00]
- Focus on “Excellence not excess” culturally [58:53:00]