Now that the Supreme Court has unanimously destroyed the dreams of Davos to use January 6th as a means to keep him off the ballot, Donald Trump has passed the easiest of the hurdles in front of his returning to the White House.
Some things, politically, in the US still function.
This ruling was a lay-up. The SCOTUS had to rule decisively here.
Trump was never convicted of ‘insurrection.’ He was impeached and character-assassinated, sure, but none of that carries any weight of law. But, even if you somehow believe he was guilty of the crimes the Democrats accused him of, the facts of January 6th are so murky from that perspective, there was no way the SCOTUS could concoct a justification for his ballot disqualification.
At stake itself was the SCOTUS’ own validity as an institution. And if there is one thing I believe about organizations it is they always move to defend themselves if their leadership is honest.
Like it or not, the SCOTUS does not exist to enforce anyone’s opinion on reality. They exist to conclude whether an action is or is not constitutional. Did Trump ever lead an armed insurrection against the government? No.
Did he question a questionable election? Yes.
Is that unconstitutional? No.
Case closed.
But this case was an important first step to shut off the Nikki Haley insurgent strategy of handing delegates to her by default:
Take Trump off the ballot. She’s now the only “Repuglican” left to vote for. She gets to go to the convention with a bunch of unearned delegates to steal the election before November.
Oops. Now she gets further embarrassed on Super Tuesday.
Now the strategy backfires completely and he’s now Obi-Don Kenobi.
Unless somehow Jack Smith or the Fulton County Gang that Can’t Lie Straight put him in jail Trump is the GOP nominee.
So, now, how does Trump take this political resurrection and change the game completely?
With Biden’s disapproval rating reaching historic lows of 59% (6 out of 10 US votes HATE JOAH! Biii-Den!), the path to the White House for Trump goes through Vice-President Kamala Harris.
While conversations abound about subbing in Big Mike and/or Gavin Gruesome, the more likely threat from the DNC is Hillary, who is clearly angling back into the conversation as Biden falters.
But whoever Trump winds up running against, there is one person who Trump can leverage to drive even more people who hate him bat-shit crazy than he does.
And he knows who that is. So, as Primary Trump morphs, just like in 2016, into Candidate Trump, he will look to shore up his weaknesses.
Candidate Trump became a guy who preached bringing the US back from a dark place. He ran on a populist platform that incorporated the Bernie Bros (remember them) as well as the tradesmen.
He broke the Democrats’ Trinity of Victimhood – Unions, Minorities, young people — that was their base and squeaked to victory over The Hildabeast.
If you think it’s Trump’s team or even US ‘white hats’ pushing out this stuff about Biden, you may be missing the obvious player, Hillary.
If there is one thing I know for certain about Trump it is that he’s a master of media. He knows exactly how and when to push everyone’s buttons.
For that reason (and many others) Trump’s only real choice for running mate is Tulsi Gabbard.
At a minimum, right now, Trump is using Gabbard, bringing her into the VP conversation. She’s okay with this. She’s allowing herself to be used by him. It’s mutually beneficial.
I’m well on the record as being a Gabbard fan (some would say simp… whatever). It doesn’t matter whether you trust her or not. It’s not about you. It’s about perception. And, for better or worse, Gabbard has a now long track record of service to the country that is honest.
She was someone targeted from the beginning as someone the DNC could groom into shape. Young, attractive, woman of color, veteran. Boxes are ticking off left and right. And those are all attributes that she still has which Trump doesn’t.
When Hillary stole the 2016 primary from Bernie Sanders she resigned from the DNC. This is a woman who crossed Hillary Clinton and, so far, has lived to tell the tale. No mean feat in the 21st century.
Long story short, Gabbard has stones. Some would call them principles, but that’s a stretch to ascribe those to any politician. She told Davos to go scratch. She told Hillary to slag-off.
And in 2024, she’s an ex-Democrat ,on Fox News, headlining at CPAC etc. Is she a stalking horse for the establishment? I don’t think so. Is she a grifter who just wants to trade up from the collection of dead-enders that are the current Democrats? Maybe.
Again, I don’t care about these things, because here’s the real story.
Trump needs to run as a real Unity candidate. He’s destroyed the GOPe’s (GOP establishment) gaggle of neocons. Now, he needs to seal the deal with the emerging Radical Center I discussed in a recent article.
That {being for something better rather than against what is} becomes a decision point for a lot of people. It’s the moment when the established idea, brand, etc. wakes up to the threat and fights back. This is what the 16% chasm represents, that gulf between opposition and affirmation.
This is also what Davos and their ilk are truly exceptional at managing. They keep the Overton Window framed over irrelevant side issues to ensure that a new majority doesn’t “cross the 16% chasm,” by uniting over that better solution that doesn’t include them.
I’m calling this group they are afraid of, “The Radical Center.”
And every time I bring Gabbard up in the VP conversation I hear a whole lot of side issues discussed without actually addressing the core goals of how to save the country from collapsing into conflict.
So, allow me to make one of my lists of reasons why Trump has only one real choice for VP:
- Former Democrat Congresswoman, veteran, former Trump critic.
- Loudly rejected the Democrats for becoming something unrecognizable
- Stood up to Hillary Clinton
- She destroyed Kamala Harris in a DNC debate
- Is fundamentally populist in most of her positions
- Is NOT dogmatic about key issues, having shifted off previous positions on guns, abortion, etc.
- Is not a warhawk, but rather supports Trump’s views on foreign policy
- She’s a negotiator and a moderate.
- She’s a patriot with a strong sense of honor and duty.
- Ran a pure grassroots campaign for President in 2020, no outside donor support.
If you look at the totality of Gabbard’s record you see someone who is the opposite of Trump, but who winds up in the same place he did.
Politically, she is someone who neuters all of the Democrats’ screeching about Trump hating women, being a Nahtsi, and dog whistling for the alt-Right.
If he picks Gabbard as his running mate he neuters all of those narratives with normies, softens Trump’s bombast, while leaving the media and Davos with nothing but “he’s pandering” as their fall back position.
That will backfire on them hard and they will take the bait, hook, line, and sinker.
And, like her or not, Gabbard is no Sarah Palin for them to pick apart. She’s seasoned at this level of the game.
Lastly, she is Globalist/Neocon Insurance as Trump is more compromised on this front than she is. And when you run through the Senate right now, who can you point to that doesn’t have huge stalking-horse-for-globalist vibes? Rubio? Scott? Rick or Tim?
Go through the Senate of possible people to succeed Trump and give me a good name you can trust to survive even the transition period between November and January.
If you could then some of them would have already tried for the job during the primaries. None of them wanted the Ron DeSantis treatment.
Of all the options for Trump only Gabbard is the person who can reach out to voters that matter, the ones in swing states/counties who are looking for our politics to focus on country first and ideology second.
The fundamental problem with all of this is that Trump is not a hard-ass. He’s a deal-maker. Gabbard is a consensus-builder. We need a hard-ass. You go to war with the Generals you have and the army you’ve built, not the ones you want.
Trump isn’t the General for this war I want, he’s the one I’ve got. And if my alternative is Harris, Gruesome, or Hitlary, then I want Trump to have the best possible VP for the job. I don’t want Mike Pence 2.0, which is how I see any of the mannequins in the Senate.
Will Trump do this? I have no idea. Should he do it? I honestly don’t think he has a real choice.
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I agree, although I see Ben Carson as another good VP pick for current times. But, his age is an issue. I can’t see him as a 2028 POTUS. Tulsi has the clear advantage over Ben in that regard. That Vivek gets mentioned as a potential VP is alarming.
Ben Carson is not a good choice at all. We need to turn the page demographically
Trump better snag Tulsi before RFK does. I don’t think he’s clever enough to do it. Drawing out “Who’s gonna be my VP?” keeps attention and drama focused on Trump, which is what he lives for. It also keeps all the various VP wannabes bending the knee and kissing his ass, which is the second thing he lives for. He’ll prefer to drag it out until this summer, which might be too late.
I love you Tom but Trump is not the answer. He appointed Bolton and other swamp creatures after claiming he would drain the swamp. The true populist choice is obvious #RFKJr2024.
Maybe. But RFK isn’t winning anything.
RFK is getting 24% in swing states and that was 4 months ago. Hes getting 37% for 35 and under and 33% for 45 and under per a gallup poll. The youth knows the truth and will carry him. Covid wiped out old ppl the demographics have changed. Even exit polls show that Perot would have won if the ppl who liked him just voted for him. Dont let MSM convince everyone of the wasted vote. Hes our only hope. We had 4 years of trump he doesnt care abt regular americans and had the same lobbyists as Reagan Nixon and the other crooks.
RFK could be a Perot figure but he torpedoed himself with his Israel stance. I appreciate your enthusiasm but there is almost no way he beats Trump. He may come in second (in a fair fight) but he’s not beating Trump. If anything he will ensure Trump wins
I dont diagree about Israel but at least he can explain his position in great detail for 2 hours in a debate w. Dave Smith and stands by his principals. I hope you’re wrong about the election for everyone’s sake. It sickens me when we finally have someone with integrity who is serious about breaking up the uniparty and the corruption, and everyone convinces themselves its not possible. Hell be on the ballot in all fifty all we have to do is vote. Thanks for all you do love the content
Wouldn’t it be better to have a real choice between two people the Uniparty doesn’t want than two they do? The way things are headed, that may be where we end up. Which is also why we really have to be expecting a major curve ball between now and election day
I’m taking the libertarian approach and will never vote for the duocracy again unless something changes dramatically
Bolton complains about his own selection, too. He says Trump never took his advice.
I suspect that Trump chose Bolton to play the role of “Bad Cop” in some art-of-the-deal negotiation schemes.
I picture a Chinese negotiating team quietly seething as it sits across the table from this mustachioed walrus. Then, just when they’ve had enough of being threatened with annihilation and are ready to pack up and leave, in walks Trump with a better offer.
Love the idea. Not sure church would go along with it, but hopefully Trump has repented from his Pence experience, and will be willing to tell church to pound sand especially after most of them threw him under the bus anyways.
Trump’s lines:
“I’m announcing my choice for vice presidential candidate today. I’m choosing as my running mate Tulsi Gabbard.
I’m choosing her because she’s a progressive, if you like labels. I don’t like labels, but if you like labels, she’s a progressive. And like the people who want to vote for me, a lot of progressives are worried about the direction of our country.
Yes, they’re worried about our country.
That’s why I’m choosing Tulsi. She won’t be a token. She’ll be sitting at the table, for all the progressives, when all the big decisions are made. She won’t always get her way, but she’ll be at the table. And her voice will be heard.”
You’re welcome, Donald.
IMHO the only one who can be a “hard ass” is Tucker Carlson. I want him to be advising Trump. I think Tulsi will tend to go along with anything Trump wants. Tucker will speak his mind, and it’s the sharpest mind around.
Are General Flynn and Steve Banon elligible?
Yes, but ye gods, please no.
I think that Tulsi would be a great choice. I agree, he needs a bridge to younger generations.
The problem is that Trump has not shown the ability to make great choices in personel.
Makes me wonder how “The apprentice” lasted so long:)
The way I see it is, The Uniparty cannot allow a fair election, so they will steal it again. But I will vote for Trump again, even if he is in a jail cell by then.
If Martin Armstrong’s computer is right, nobody is going to accept who “wins”anyway and the world will decend into chaos.
I agree fully Tom. I have always liked her positions and she will go a long way in preventing WWIII which should be the #1 priority given the neo-con crazies in both parties wanting a war with Russia.
Kennedy has many paths. The youth, minorities and women will vote for him. Dont give up on Bobby! 34% in recent NBC poll:
https://pos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bill-NBC-Executive-Summary-Presentation-d1a.pdf
RFKook won’t get 3.4%, let alone that comical 34%.
And…Nikki Haley just dropped out. Good call!
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/nikki-haley-ends-presidential-campaign-trump-gop-primary-rcna134811
I agree, she is smart (has it all over every other female like Nikki Haley or Kamala), has a good background (military service) and has all the attributes of being female and non-white. Plus she’s not a pushover on the debate stage. I’d like to see a rematch of her in a debate with Kamala.
I believe Trump trusts and respects Dr. Ben Carson and one easy card for the globalists to play to further destabilize/fracture the US is a race war. Having a brilliant, black man on the ticket largely takes that obvious play off the table. Carson is impressive and pricipled and his mature, calm demeanor acts as a nice counterbalance to Trump’s trumpiness. 4 years of Trump cleaning house while Dr. Carson learns the lay of the land and then he can step in as the steady, gentleman with gravitas to help our nation heal. Tulsi will make herself useful to the country, I’m sure, but I’m hoping it’s not as VP unless she becomes Carson’s veep.
Tulsi is Hawaiian raised which means she may believe in entitlements … meaning Hawaiian raised people believe in being “taken care of”; that’s their mentality … coming from a Monarchy of Kings & Queens w/lots of ancestor worship. These people are great, warm hearted but not so much self-starters; however they are great at helping each other. It is something needing more a closer look… if she were to become President after Trump, it makes one wonder what direction she’d lead us in … would she be as Border oriented like Trump … or would she welcome more outsiders into our country. One needs to remember that she did choose to join the Democrate Party before she realized how far left it had become.
I personally am impressed w/her but she’s so smooth & polished … kind of makes me wonder who she is deep down.
She has that ‘Obama depth thing’ which I fell for & now wonder how I could have been so blind.
Also, as far as I have been able to tell, she’s not raised a hand to help the native Hawaiian people who have been methodically displaced from their heritage lands in Lahina Maui. I have been watching … it seems she either doesn’t want to get involved, doesn’t care about them, or maybe just being very careful she doesn’t get pulled into something that will give us a better view of her potential as a leader … or lack thereof.
I like Tulsi too; however her polish & smoothness makes me uncomfortable & remember how I believed Obama to only find out later how I’d been fooled. What’s that sayng “fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me”.. she seems like a female version of Obama …
so I’m glad Trump is taking his time to pick a vp.