Ah, if he only was capable of grasping that influence is better that power, the world would be a better place. Alas, that is way beyond his intellectual capabilities.
I guess it is possible we see a scenario similar to the OP: he gives up the ghost. Or, for whatever reason, his support finally collapses, as so many sane people have thought would happen scandal after scandal. There must be a straw that breaks every camel’s or GOP elephant’s back.
Is it too late for Trump Jnr to enter the 2024 race?
If Trump withdraws, there will be a very clear Trump proxy. But that would be like a Clown Hall of Fame with a jack-in-the-box filling in for Bozo. All the true clown aficionados will stay home on Election Day.
My expectation is that whoever Trump endorses will fare about as well as those candidates he endorsed in the midterm elections.
I see a nasty side-effect of the OP’s scenario.
I would assume during the speech in which he’s leaving the race “for the good of the nation” he will make a pointed demand that -Biden- also do so due to “credible allegations” of corruption on behalf of Hunter. And his base and chunk of independents will eat it up.
And while the (R) candidates make on the air (and behind the scenes) appeals for Trump’s support, the PACs pay for tons of adds for Biden “to do the right thing”. Which will proooobably not be a big issue for Democrats as a whole, but will be blood in the water for those who “do their own research.” And simultaneously, I suspect even MORE (R) money will flow into RFK Jr’s coffers, and he’ll join the demand as well.
So -both- major political parties will become divided, outside influences will grow and prosper, and no matter who wins the election, there will be further division and sub-division of the political scene. Which sadly, will probably work in (R) favor, as with Congress divided, the President with limited support, that leaves the currently constructed SCOTUS to continue to “interpret” everyone’s rights in a noticeably partisan manner.
They should do this regardless of whether Trump runs or not. Make every GOP candidate for every office either defend Trump (and lose whatever passes for a moderate vote) or disavow Trump (and lose the MAGAt vote).
It won’t matter in a lot of districts, and some GOP candidates may be cagey enough to thread that needle, but if Dems can stick to this tactic we’ll see a blue avalanche next year.
He doesn’t. Nothing can be greater than Zeus, not even the child of Zeus.
He announces that his imprimatur will be bestowed on the candidate most closely representing the Trumpist ideal. Then decides none in the clown car do. The GOP candidate loses. Trump assumes the role as GOP kingmaker and draws on it’s largesse for a decade.
From the way you describe it, Trump is starting to act normal. So he wouldn’t endorse anyone. As for making a self-interested deal to get a pardon, that won’t work because the new President would remember what happened to Ford and renege. “I’d love to pardon former president Trump, but my lawyers just told me that most of the criminal counts are in state courts where I have no pardon power.”
Yes.
Trump is unpopular. So is DeSantis, but voters have made up their minds more firmly about Trump.
I’m not saying Trump can’t win, just that he is relatively unpopular
They aren’t much moving the polls now, and if he drops out they become even less significant.
If Biden gets a second term, and Trump’s health holds up, Trump is a 2028 top tier candidate. Doesn’t matter if Trump was a 2024 candidate, or if he is jailed. You can run from prison.
Definitely true but, currently, Trump is polling even with Biden.
For the most part. Biden is slightly ahead but it’s within the margin of error.
Here’s the weird thing though, it only recently got to be that close. For whatever reason, Trump has pulled even with Biden just recently. Biden was never that far ahead of Trump, maybe 5 points ahead at the most. But he has always been ahead of him. It’s only recently that Trump has gotten within a point of Biden.
Also, while polls showing support pretty even, much more people said they would “definitely not” vote for Trump, as opposed to Biden. There is a 10 point margin there. So I suspect the majority of the undecided votes in the polls would swing Biden’s way.
And note, this is a snapshot in time, from when they have been so close. I have a feeling that gap will widen as Trump’s trials start.
And note, this is a snapshot in time,
Regarding polling discussion, undecideds traditionally break for the challenger. From that standpoint, you could guess that if Trump withdraws, it helps the GOP, since Trump is refusing to admit he’s a legitimate challenger. And, less facetiously, I’d say that being president, in our current sour era, loses you popularity, and both Biden and Trump have been the president.
It also is that case that, in our sample size of two, undecideds break for Trump regardless of whether he is the challenger. In that sense, the Democratic ticket is an underdog regardless of whether Trump withdraws.
I would go even farther. For the true MAGAs, it would not matter if Trump were deceased. He’ll still be the front runner for 2028.
Oh man, I just thought of a neat twist…“I can only pardon Trump for his Federal crimes. He is so here pardoned. But since I can’t pardon him for State crimes, and I don’t want to leave him in peril of State-level arrest and incarceration, I’m placing him in protective custody. He will be put up in extreme luxury in a small cottage at Camp David until such a time as he is safe from State-level prosecutions.”
MAGAts are happy because Trump was pardoned, everyone else is happy because Trump is stuck in one spot for the rest of his life.
I’m not MAGA, and not happy to see people locked up.
I think we incarcerate way too many people in this country. It’s really outrageous, but the topic for other threads. However, regarding Trump, I will be very, very happy if he’s incarcerated. It doesn’t have to be for 10+ years (although that would be justified) but at least a year is necessary for him and his gang to learn a lesson.
Agree, others will follow the playbook if Trump and his gang of thugs don’t learn a lesson. Not that any of them have the ability to learn.
Tiffany and Mary Trump are the smartest ones of the bunch. Ivanka is distancing herself as fast as she can run in high heels.
Melania somehow managed to keep her head low enough to not get caught in the net. But I suspect that she is being advised by the KGB. Melania is either smart enough to keep her mouth shut, or is being told to. In the end it’s kinda funny. Melania is the biggest grifter of all (well a gold digger), just waiting for payday. I wonder what is in Trumps will though… Also wonder if there will be anything left, or if there was anything to start with.
Honestly, other than Barron, she’s the only one I have any sympathy for in this mass of crap. How sad would it be to play her role so well, avoid all the pitfalls inherent in being around Trump the last 10 years, and then, at the end of it all, getting stiffed in his will?
Supposedly one reason why Melania didn’t immediately move to the White House when he was elected was that she was negotiating a fair share of the estate for her son.
I can’t even imagine the cackle of hyenas fighting over his estate. The circus is going to be a fun one to watch.