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November 12, 2022
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On Friday, we featured a reader letter on the future of the Republican Party as it relates to President Trump and the way he’s handling –- or not handling –- this post-election moment. She felt that it’s time for Trump to step back.

Trump has been reacting wildly on social media (Truth Social now instead of Twitter) in the very style that at times has put off even some of his most ardent supporters, and newly incomprehensible as well. He’s coming off as vengeful and bitter, and that’s not a good look if he’s getting ready to announce another run for President.

Certainly the pressure was on him to provide the coattails for the GOP, especially for certain candidates he’d endorsed. And the outcome is turning out to be disappointing and uneven, given the expectations many of us had. Losing the House would have been a disaster in many ways, but at this writing, late Friday, we’re almost sure of taking it. Still, another disappointment has hit, as it was reported Friday that Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly, a reliable Biden rubber-stamper, will keep his seat, with a win over GOP candidate Blake Masters in Arizona.

Note:  In speaking of this apparent win, I’m setting aside for the moment the serious vote-counting issues in Arizona and Nevada, which are addressed elsewhere in the newsletter. On Friday, we also asked questions about the Maricopa County recorder’s office, which it seems has found a loophole in Arizona law to continue taking money from an organization funded by Mark Zuckerberg. There’s no reason to trust the election in Arizona when it’s this partisan and even run by none other than gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs, Kari Lake’s GOP opponent!

But, aside from that, it does appear that there was quite a red wave, much more, I'm sorry to say, than is apparent in the appropriation of actual seats. Aaron Kliegman reported for JUST THE NEWS that according to Cook Political Report, Republican actually won 52.3 percent of the total ballots cast, at least as of late November 10, with the Democrats coming in considerably lower at just 46.2 percent. We checked for an update early November 12, and Republicans were still in the lead, though their margin was a little narrower, 51.8 percent.

This report is updated regularly, so you can check here to see how we’re doing.

https://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/house-charts/national-house-vote-tracker/2022

Kliegman wrote: “It’s unclear at this point what explains the glaring incongruity between the GOP’s underwhelming performance in terms of winning seats on the one hand and its significant lead in the popular vote on the other.” That’s something to look at, certainly. But those overall percentages are at least something to celebrate --- and they’re no doubt very concerning to Democrats looking ahead to the next election.  Marc Elias must be lying awake nights coming up with more ideas for putting a thumb on the scale in 2024.

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/red-wave-after-all-gop-winning-popular-vote-wide-margin-despite

Certain races, however, particularly the Senate race in Pennsylvania where Trump-backed Dr. Mehmet Oz lost to cognitively-impaired far-leftist schlub John Fetterman, so irked President Trump that he took to his own social media platform, Truth Social, to say some extremely ill-advised things. The worst of all was his totally nonsensical jab at Virginia GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin, which seems as though it might have been posted while Trump was under heavy medication. (One almost hopes we could find out that it was.) In a rant saying Youngkin wouldn’t have been able to win the governor’s race without him, he referred to the name Youngkin –- “Young Kin” –- as “sounding Chinese.”

This comment, seemingly from the planet Saturn, came on the heels of Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears’ remark that with these midterm election results, Trump should leave GOP politics. “A true leader understands when they have become a liability,” she told FOX NEWS on Thursday. “A true leader understands that it’s time to step off the stage, and the voters have given us that very clear message.”
Yes, that comment was surely upsetting fro Trump to hear.  But he reacted early Friday morning by taking that swipe at Youngkin, perhaps unwittingly proving Sears’ point.

Youngkin stayed above this. “Listen, you all know me,” he told reporters. “I do not call people names. I really work hard to bring people together...that’s not the way I roll and not the way I behave.”

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/all-things-trump/youngkin-responds-trump-dig-thats-not-way-i-roll

The NEW YORK POST spoke to sources who had been around Trump as returns came in, and they didn’t paint a pretty picture. Trump had focused his ire on the increasingly popular GOP Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis when DeSantis had said nothing to provoke him, violating President Reagan’s “11th Commandment” about not speaking ill of others in the party. Trump succeeded only in making Republicans long for someone like Ronald Reagan at the helm of our party instead of what we have. And that makes the more measured DeSantis look even better.

https://nypost.com/2022/11/11/donald-trump-is-ranting-and-raving-over-lackluster-midterm-results-sources/

Given what Trump has been put through by his political enemies ever since he first announced he was running for President, it’s amazing he came through it in one piece. He is still standing after attempts on every front to destroy him, and we love him for that. But he needs to demonstrate for us that the saying, “What does not kill us makes us stronger,” is true in his case. (Research has shown that this is not generally true.) Trump needs to be stronger, not flailing. Wiser, not more emotional. More strategic, not more impulsive. If he has been weakened, if he is now more of a political liability, he’ll need to understand that it’s time to embark on another phase of life, outside of politics, for the good of the country he loves.

Given all that the left have done to try to take Trump out, how ironic would it be if they were able to just stand back now and let him do it to himself?

On the other hand, when Dan Bongino addressed this issue during his Friday podcast, he said he’s not worried that a primary contest between Trump and DeSantis will weaken the party. Judging from history, he believes this would strengthen it, no matter how much aggravation and airing of dirty laundry is involved. It’s good, he said, “because by the time you get to the general, all the dirty laundry’s been aired.” He also reminded us how hard Trump campaigned for Ron DeSantis in his first, very close election, saying that’s probably what placed him in the governor’s chair. He credited Trump for Florida’s move to “red.”

But Trump was certainly wrong, Bongino (who lives in Florida) said, to call DeSantis an “average” governor, when he is an excellent governor. “He took what Trump started,” he said, “and ran with it in the state of Florida.”

“The best approach right now is to slow down,” he cautioned. It should be about the party right now, and the races currently at stake. “There’s no rush,” he said; “there’ll be more than enough time to attack each other [on issues].’ He’s confident they’re “not gonna hurt each other” but strongly warns they must NOT make it personal, because voters will be deeply alienated by that. I would say this warning might have come too late for Trump, though, as we’re already seeing him alienate them.

What do you think? Here’s the podcast; his remarks on Trump/DeSantis start about 43 minutes in…

https://bongino.com/ep-1893-about-that-trump-desantis-feud

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Comments 31-40 of 403

  • Diane Secrease

    11/14/2022 07:34 AM

    I agree that Trump needs to step back from the spot light. There has been too much water under the bridge, and he will only continue to weaken the Republican Party. I believe he needs to work in the background. We as a party have got to come together, or we will always be defeated.

  • Mark Hannah

    11/14/2022 06:53 AM

    We all know that Democrats lie, cheat, and steal in order to gain and retain power. They have been doing it forever and always will. However, the number of manufactured ballots is a small percentage of the real ballots that are actually cast by real people who are actually citizens of the USA, present a real ID, and vote only once. So, that means we have a real problem with people having been so indoctrinated with leftist ideology that they are willing to go along with whatever their elitist masters make them do, no matter how painful and destructive it is to them as individuals and to this nation as a whole. I thought we outlawed slavery in this nation, yet there are an enormous number of people who have willingly given up their liberty, and have accepted continual pain and suffering. These slaves of the elitists are the real reason we did not see a true reaction from a freedom loving America, where no democrat would have been elected to any office as repudiation for what they have done to us. Slave owners use the numbers of their slaves to increase their voting power, which was the reason for the 3/5ths Compromise. Yet, here we are 235 years later and the elitists are allowed to compound their own voting power by using the enslaved residents within our large cities, the modern equivalent to plantations.

  • Kathleen Riley

    11/14/2022 06:17 AM

    As much as I have been a long-time Trump supporter, it's becoming painfully obvious that he lacks the "thick skin" needed to go the distance. His recent outbursts prove his inability to accept reality (yes, they cheated! Again!) and plan the comeback, not the revenge. All he accomplishes is to give the Dems talking points to gain more votes for themselves. Yes, the Dems once again fabricated the vote count (who does the actual counting anyway?), and it's past time we get to the bottom of That. Everyone's frustrated by this. But to go after DeSantis? Mr. Trump, please take your frustrations out another way. We are ALL frustrated and angry. But we don't sink to name-calling; only in kindergarten!

  • Robyn Paige

    11/14/2022 02:17 AM

    I voted for Trump twice after much praying, I honestly don't think I can a third time with his behavior. Personal attacks, belittling are not acting like the Christian he claims to be, quite the opposite actually. He is not our savior no matter how much he likes to think he is.

  • Verlene Schmier

    11/13/2022 10:47 PM

    AGREE. I supported and admired, was happy with his policies and especially the energy policy. Best economy. But...as so dissappointed that he has stumped to name calling. He needs tostep aside and let this country try to heal. You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I pray for this country to return to God.

  • Phyllis McCoy

    11/13/2022 10:23 PM

    I'm not sure why people keep expecting Trump to be a glossy and lying politician! I didn't vote for him to be my pastor or like other smooth lying politician! I voted for him to be the bully he is to push back strongly against the elite and the lying politicians and to uncover all the corruption that is inherent in DC. I also prayed that GOD would protect Trump and his family during his battle against the corruption and GOD kept him and his family safe. Did Trump always choose advisers who had his best interests at heart...nope! But I bet he did the best he could with who he had to choose from. Many new politicians (Kari Lake & DeSantis, etc.) have followed in Trump's footsteps and have achieved great success (when there isn't fraud working against them!) and praying that we'll have many more conservatives and Christians like Trump! Does he rub some people the wrong way? Yep and the MSM keep working at it to keep people (The ones who can't think for themselves) thinking that way! Sad, huh? Not many politicians out there who truly LOVE America and will work hard for the American workers.

  • Gwenda Brewer

    11/13/2022 10:22 PM

    I THINK TRUMP SHOULD NOT RUN FOR PRESIDENT. HE IS TOO MOUTHY AND AS YOU SAID, HE IS BITTER.

  • Norma Holmes

    11/13/2022 10:13 PM

    Could Trump legallt take the enormous amount of $$ he has acquired towards reelection, create a foundation dedicated to one if his mist cherished causes eg homeless veterans? He needs a new cause to champion .

  • Diane Skeldon

    11/13/2022 10:09 PM

    I agree with you Mike about Trump. I believe he should not run because of the way he's been acting since to 2020 election. At this point, I would have a very difficult time voting for him in 2024.

  • Norma S Holmes

    11/13/2022 10:06 PM

    Mike can you think of an “out” Trump could take in his life right now? Think! Plant idea with family members! He accumulated $$— how could he legally use it for an exit?