Jeez, you would think it, yes?

After long years of COVID restrictions and a “Green New Deal” – along with the massive government spending, runaway inflation, and a deteriorating economy – and stupid Native American “land acknowledgments” and permissive criminal justice “reform” in big cities with mushrooming murder rates and LGBTQIA2S+ mania and college loan forgiveness, and whatever other excesses propagated by the Democratic Party and Biden Administration – whose frontispiece promised to govern as a moderate, but instead has placated the progressive wing of his party… you would think that voters would be ready to vote the other way – for the Republican Party.

As for me, I am so inclined.

You would think this would be true especially for those relatively few “swing vote” independents, like me, who might vote Democratic or Republican.

And that is true. At least for me. 

I used to “swing” Obama and Democrats, and now I am “swinging” the other way, as a “swing-voter.” But I am a fickle voter without party loyalty, so I might switch again, depending on specific circumstances and party stances. I probably will switch. But for now, I incline towards the Republicans.

But then you have Donald Trump, the albatross around the GOP’s neck. Most of the Republican candidates backed by Trump in last week’s midterms went down to defeat. Voters seemed to turn against the MAGA election-denying, conspiracy-theory whack jobs who ran for office. Voters like me want competent, pragmatic politicians who will do their job with a minimum of fuss. Trump is not that.

Trump is an unbearable narcissist. He is a blowhard. He is bad for the country; he is a shit stirrer. Trump is an amateur playing at politics. He wrecks things. He is a rank populist. When you think of a responsible adult in a position of power, that is anything but Donald Trump, in my opinion. I am pretty sure History will bear out my point of view.

And Donald Trump, aka “Captain Chaos,” announced the beginning of his campaign for the 2024 presidency last night:

Republican Party, hear me loud and clear: If Trump is the candidate, I will vote for the other guy – period! Be advised. Beware.

I can hardly believe Donald Trump, after so much that has happened, is still in the public eye. I am not alone. I suspect 80% of the country groaned in pain to see Trump announce his presidency last night, while the 20% who are members of Trump’s cult were excited at the prospect. But 80% is more than 20%. Much more. Did the GOP not learn anything from the 2020 and 2022 elections?

Yes, I’m a “Never Trumper” from way back.

So my response to “Trump for President in 2024” – “AH, NOPE!”

Rich Lowry and his fellow editors at the National Review put it better than I can minutes after Trump announced his candidacy, so you can read it there –

“No.”

National Review Editors
November 15, 2022 10:12 PM

Enough said.

Oh, one last thing.

Abortion.

Again, the Republicans can be their own worst enemy.

In the post-Dobbs v. Jackson world they allow pro-life extremists to pass state laws outlawing all abortions, without even an exception for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. These will prove unpopular measures among the electorate.

Again, as Rich Lowry explains, what Republicans should do on abortion is “occupy politically defensible ground, and then advance over time.” Banning all abortions without exception is neither reasonable practically nor politically defensible. But pro-life true-believers in the Republican Party will settle for nothing less, and in doing so they harm the GOP overall. My point of view: eschew the extremes. Move to the middle. Get elected.

I would be just fine allowing abortion for any reason whatsoever until around 15-17 weeks, and then banning it almost always unless there is a very good reason – just like so many other countries around the world do. This will prove a reasonable and popular moderate policy with respect to the hot-button issue of abortion.

The center, politicians. The center.

Move to the middle to get my vote.

More to the center to rule responsibly.

So Donald Trump in 2024?

The polite reasonable answer: No.

The impolite honest response: Are you f#@%ing kidding me?!?