You can’t take the circus instincts out of the GOP. They’re baked in. This is what happens when a political party collapses in 21st Century America. When the Whigs were going under, pre-Civil War, none of them were teasing announcements about upcoming wonders to save the nation — which then turned out to be digital trading cards — because neither the technology nor the culture existed for such a mindset.
Not so in this era. Now, Republicans tease their every move, as if it is a thing of Olympian import, presumably so that we can start marking off the days on our calendar, as we breathlessly wait to see what marvels they reveal. Or, more truthfully, as we cynically wait to see what bottom they hit next. Before hitting a lower bottom, still.
Nikki Haley is taking a page from Donald Trump’s playbook, who else’s, and she promises great things on February 15. But Trump is wayyy ahead of her at this game and here is his passive-aggressive take down of Haley’s anticipated announcement that she is running for president.
Trump posts a video of Nikki Haley promising not to run for president in 2024 if Trump runs. pic.twitter.com/uE5JtVF72X
— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) February 1, 2023
Trump channeling his inner King Solomon, “follow her heart, not her honor.” Wow. What does that mean? “She’s stabbing me in the back, but I’m such a great guy, that I endorse it?” That’s one possibility. Or, a more sinister one, “Let her run, I’ll just run her over, like I do everybody.”
Take careful note, folks, it isn’t everyday that Donald Trump discourses on honor. You don’t want to miss a word.
NFT cards?
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) February 1, 2023
Lincoln Project is duly thrilled.
first one has been leaked pic.twitter.com/se8DNDa1yq
— Adam Beckwith (@damBeckwith) February 1, 2023
The word on Twitter is that 1) Haley is really angling to be Trump’s VP; 2) Trump is planning to offer her the VP spot anyhow.
You decide. Haley doesn’t poll substantially above Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo, in single digits. Jared Kushner’s parents love her, and have entertained her in their home, but it’s going to take a little bit more support than that to pull off the GOP nomination. It’s Trump’s to lose.
As always, let’s see what DeSantis does.
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