Friday, September 29, 2023
The GOP Debates
Sept. 27: As I write this, the Republican debate is on! "Exciting!"
The seven candidates who are debating are, taken as a whole, the choice of 33% of Republican voters. Donald Trump has the other two-thirds, if any polls are to be believed. Apparently the candidates are debating which one of them should have the full one-third, and the debate seems an exercise in futility.
There are only two of them who would be suitable as President. America is being dismantled by the left. If America and liberty are to be preserved, it will be absolutely necessary to deal harshly with the administrative state and with the left. The only two candidates on stage who give an inkling of understanding this are Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy. The others are supporters of the status quo on these essentials, especially with the administrative state (or in Doug Burgum's case, apparently oblivious to such issues).
It seems likely that Trump will be the nominee, and if he isn't, the Republican Party will have a difficult time assembling voters. The task of the Democrat Party will be so much easier they might be able to win honestly. I suspect a non-Trump GOP candidate will draw fewer votes than Trump did in 2016, never mind 2020. I think a large percentage of Republican voters think the party leadership has contempt for them, and the feeling is mutual. It's a bit early for predictions, but I suspect a Democrat will "win," by hook or by crook, in 2024.
Hence I'm ignoring the debates.
Sept. 29: This was to be posted two days ago, but it was hung up in drafts. Here it is, two days late. The world can now stop holding its breath.
