It’s Time for Trump to Exit Stage Right.
The entire nation should be grateful to Donald Trump for what he accomplished in four years. He built the strongest economy in the world, kept inflation in check, reinvigorated NATO, recognized China as our greatest competitor, achieved energy independence, renegotiated onerous trade deals and restored pride in America. Make America Great Again should never offer an apology.
The problem is that Trump was never temperamentally qualified to be President. Of course, neither is Obama nor Biden. Were Trump my patient, I would refer him to a psychiatrist for diagnosis and treatment of multiple problems, beginning with a misplaced world view. He is not the center of the universe, although he appears to believe himself to be. He also appears to believe that he deserves the loyalty and support of everyone, which is not true. In a fit of pique, he established Truth Social, which doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. He offers endorsements for public office based on celebrity or public support of him, neither of which produced high-quality candidates. Left to their own devices, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona and Colorado Republican Parties could have produced far superior candidates and given control of the Senate to the Republican Party.
Hurting Both Parties
Not only has he hurt the Republican Party, but he has also seriously damaged the Democrat Party. It has become lazy, and doesn’t need to govern, only to win elections, which is easy so long as it can swing ten percent of the electorate by pointing at the nearest Republican and proclaiming, “Nazi Domestic Terrorist Trumpist.” Half of the country is reviled, and the other half doesn’t need to do anything constructive. That is a recipe for catastrophe, otherwise known as the Biden Administration. With Trump around to kick and wave the bloody shirt over, the intellectual prowess of the Democrats is not directed toward solving problems but toward winning elections regardless of damage to the country.
The current embarrassment known as electing a Speaker of the House is a result of Trump insisting that Republicans should imitate Democrats and surrender to the most out-of-step faction in the party. As much as I loathe tribalism and tribalists in the political processes, I despise tribalists who are acting like religious zealots more. I do not believe the Republicans will be able to elect a Speaker so long as there remains a deluded minority who believes that personal slights or lack of personal adoration is a perfectly fine basis on which to select a Constitutional Office that is second in line for the Presidency.
Trump Can Fix This
Trump can fix the mess by announcing he is withdrawing from the 2024 election, endorsing Ron DeSantis or Glenn Youngkin, and telling the world he wants to spend time with his grandchildren. He needs to let the party know that surrendering to its most extreme wing is what Democrats do, not Republicans. Perhaps Mike Pence could carry that message and be better received. Whatever happens, Republicans are proving that they cannot govern, which can only encourage Biden’s industrial-strength stupidity demonstrated clearly in the results he’s achieved.
You are a voice of reason, Bill.
I only hope more conservatives will accept your advice.
Right now, I am disgusted as I watch 5 asses bray at 200 house members and/or house members in waiting.
Yay! I love it when I disagree with an article because then I know I'm not just fully in an echo chamber.
Let's assume Trump does what you say and drops out now, what happens next?
The press starts attacking DeSantis as Trump 2.0, and they continue attacking until the election. Years and years of purely negative coverage leads to a DeSantis loss.
With Trump in the race, the press is forced to attack him with both barrels. By comparison, DeSantis will seem like the sane one. Once DeSantis is the nominee, the media would attempt to pivot, but it would just be another blatantly political move.
IMO in order for DeSantis to win (assuming fair and free elections), Trump needs to be in the race for as long as possible.