The Republican primary race 2020 - still rather lean

[T.Lex]

The unstable part, vanishing behind a phony story and then getting caught out of the country with a mistress. Infidelity in leadership is so common it doesn't register on the radar any more, but an elaborate hoax like this one is spooky.

 

[Leadeye]

I'll have to admit not knowing what that's from, not up to date on tv.

 

[T.Lex]

I'll have to admit not knowing what that's from, not up to date on tv.

Its from a movie - The Birdcage with Robin Williams and Nathan Lane (and Gene Hackman and a young Calista Flockhart, among others).

I think you'd like it. Its an action/suspense, in which Williams and Lane run a night club that's a front for the FBI as it runs a sting operation on a corrupt congressman (Hackman).



ETA:
Don't let the online descriptions fool you, the whole point is to not spoil the big twist at the end.

 

[Blackhawk2001]

The purpose of attempting to "primary" Trump at this point is either because the prospective candidate is totally insulated from recognizing what Trump's supporters like about him or because the candidate is being supported by "Never Trump-ers" who would rather see Democrats win than deal with a less-than-perfect Republican President. Also, I would imagine anyone attempting to run against Trump will be quietly supported by Democrats because it will force Trump to spend campaign funds to counter his intra-party opposition. At this point, gun-control controversy aside - I don't see anyone being able to seriously challenge Trump or even to seriously inconvenience his re-nomination.

 

[HoughMade]

Unfortunately, Mr Sanford strikes me as unstable. Having an affair is one thing, but his was completely off the rails. He fled the country and aides were covering for him, claiming he was hiking the Appalachian Trail or something. He turned up six days later in Argentina:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Sanford_extramarital_affair

Also, South Carolina is one of the few southern states that does not have LTCH reciprocity with Indiana; I know that is not dispositive or the end all, be all, but I also think it is telling about his attitude toward 2A issues.

Yeah. Talk about burying the lead.

Say what you will about Trump, he's never run away...from everyone except his mistress...for a week WHILE IN OFFICE.

 

[T.Lex]

The purpose of attempting to "primary" Trump at this point is either because the prospective candidate is totally insulated from recognizing what Trump's supporters like about him or because the candidate is being supported by "Never Trump-ers" who would rather see Democrats win than deal with a less-than-perfect Republican President. Also, I would imagine anyone attempting to run against Trump will be quietly supported by Democrats because it will force Trump to spend campaign funds to counter his intra-party opposition. At this point, gun-control controversy aside - I don't see anyone being able to seriously challenge Trump or even to seriously inconvenience his re-nomination.

Well, I would really rather see a conservative elected POTUS. Which means I don't have a candidate from either party yet.

 

[Blackhawk2001]

Well, I would really rather see a conservative elected POTUS. Which means I don't have a candidate from either party yet.

So you're not willing to settle for a President who has generally advanced conservative causes, even though he's not a conservative himself? As opposed to far-left candidates?

 

[T.Lex]

So you're not willing to settle for a President who has generally advanced conservative causes, even though he's not a conservative himself?

Sure. I voted for both Bushes.

As soon as someone like that runs, they'd be the frontrunner for my vote.

As opposed to far-left candidates?

If my choices again are between candidates that I believe are too far left of my principles, I'll use that time to go to the range.

 

[bwframe]

 

[BugI02]

I’m not sure what these guys hope to accomplish. There is no way they will win the nomination, right around a zero percent chance. I wish we had a better choice, but we don’t. When was the last time a sitting president lost in the primaries?

Put on your orange jumpsuit and kneel submissively before your black-clad executioner. It's not about winning or effecting change, it's about proving You're Better Than That®

Self immolation, that'll show 'em

 

[BugI02]

In term of electability, Trump's election itself was an exercise in splitting both parties, to everyone's surprise (including Trump).

The delineation between Democrat and Republican middle ground is blurred right now. A moderate - from either party - could find himself (or herself) electable.

I'm not thrilled with Sanford, and I'm not sure I'll even be willing or able to vote for him (its unclear if he can put together the national campaign infrastructure to even get on enough ballots). But, perhaps, his opening of the door could allow someone better to follow into the room.

¿Romney? I wouldn't think people that stupid would be able to remember to breathe between now and November 2020

 

[HoughMade]

I have a simple rule of thumb- you get ONE loss in a presidential election. No Romney.

Could I be persuaded to vote for someone who is an actual conservative? Sure. Given the binary nature of elections, will I probably vote for Trump again? Probably.

Do I wish it were possible to nominate the corpse of Fred Thompson? Possibly.

Herman Cain is probably fed up with the dirty nature of politics and wouldn't want the pay cut.

 

[T.Lex]

For me as a conservative, the point is to examine options other than Trump. The Dems clearly aren't providing any.

So, again noting the binary nature of USian politics at this point, a primary challenge to Trump makes sense. At the end of the day, if Trump is the more popular choice among Republicans, then there's no problem.

The money that would go to support the Trump challenger was never going to go to Trump anyway. And even a weak challenger will allow Trump to get his base to pony up millions more than if his only challenger was a socialist.

Regardless what the polls say, I don't see the American electorate electing any of the current Dem slate. Which, again, would only leave Trump.

 

[BugI02]

I have a simple rule of thumb- you get ONE loss in a presidential election. No Romney.

Could I be persuaded to vote for someone who is an actual conservative? Sure. Given the binary nature of elections, will I probably vote for Trump again? Probably.

Do I wish it were possible to nominate the corpse of Fred Thompson? Possibly.

Herman Cain is probably fed up with the dirty nature of politics and wouldn't want the pay cut.

Believe it or not, I would love it if it were possible to set up a centrist party that would draw equally from left and right from the get-go, so it wouldn't weaken only one side, and we could dismantle the whole binary choice thing and members of the centrist party would be free to align with either side on issues and would be courted as such. 1/3 1/3 1/3 would be ideal

I just don't see any way to be 'raptured' out of the 'tribulations' it would take to get there. So Trump until something better is on my ballot

 

[spec4]

At this point I don't care if Trump is a conservative or not. I tend to believe he is. There is no way I would ever vote for a Dem because of what they stand for. I've had much pleasure watching Trump take on the left like no GOP POTUS ever. They hate him as we all know, so let's hope for a big outbreak of TDS shortly after the election.

 

[T.Lex]

At this point I don't care if Trump is a conservative or not. I tend to believe he is. There is no way I would ever vote for a Dem because of what they stand for. I've had much pleasure watching Trump take on the left like no GOP POTUS ever. They hate him as we all know, so let's hope for a big outbreak of TDS shortly after the election.

I think you're looking for the Dem primary thread.

This is more about those who might challenge Trump from the right, rather than the left.

Although, while it is difficult to imagine a challenge to Trump from the Republican left, I guess it is theoretically possible.

"If you like your coal mine, you can keep your coal mine."

 

[JettaKnight]

That means I'm probably up to about 50 votes!

That beats the number of quality posts you have.

 

[JettaKnight]

I still want to cast a vote for Mitch Daniels, but he's way too sane to hit the trail.

 

[KG1]

For me as a conservative, the point is to examine options other than Trump. The Dems clearly aren't providing any.

So, again noting the binary nature of USian politics at this point, a primary challenge to Trump makes sense. At the end of the day, if Trump is the more popular choice among Republicans, then there's no problem.

The money that would go to support the Trump challenger was never going to go to Trump anyway. And even a weak challenger will allow Trump to get his base to pony up millions more than if his only challenger was a socialist.

Regardless what the polls say, I don't see the American electorate electing any of the current Dem slate. Which, again, would only leave Trump.

Do you really need an affirmation that Trump would be the popular choice by supporting a primary challenge that would most likely fail?

Your primary challenge might have a chance if Democrats voted in it. I just don't see enough turnover in the Republican party for another candidate to be able to defeat Trump in a primary.

 

[bwframe]

If you want Trump to lose the primaries, you have to be doing your best to make sure Bill Maar get's his recession.

Of course that's another R word, so likely a fail the same as Russia and Racist...