I'd think many are positioning themselves for the VP slot (unless they get lucky) and/or positioning for 2028. My guess is Christie is also thinking a rehabilitation tour.

Ideally there is a strong and viable candidate to Trump but, right now, the more splintered the GOP the better. A dark horse may arise.

...better for whom? Trump, presumably. He's already got around 35% of the party base on firm lockdown. In a 1:1 battle he might have some trouble, but if it's him against a clown car of aspirants each pulling a few votes here and there, that's great for him.

See 2015-16.

I think there is a guy that stands on a street corner and yells about being from planet Zebob that has a better chance of winning the nomination than Christie.

If you were going to create a non-MAGA candidate to beat Trump, what would they look like? I just can't picture one at all.

A moderate evangelical that's willing to go toe to toe, highlight Trump's flaws, and call him out on his religious pandering. Like I said, it's threading the needle but doable.

Nearly anyone else needs to pull part of the MAGA base away from Trump and none of those candidates seem to understand not showing weakness is the top thing MAGA looks for. Own the libs is 2nd because if you're weak you're not going to own the libs hard enough. DeSantis doesn't get that and it's why Trump has been able to bury him.

Maybe a young military guy? That seems to be the go-to Republican candidate in TV shows when they want to portray him as widely popular.

It is not "nearly anyone else", it is anyone. You cannot win the nomination without somehow pulling some MAGA support, period. It is too big a percentage of the party now. I would say a moderate has to somehow appeal to at least 10-15% of that base more than Trump or a Trump-lite. And to hope to win the general, they have then keep 70-80% of them on board and voting while pulling a majority of moderate independents. (All numbers pulled from my butt, yet I don't think far off)

What's his positions? How is going to thread the needle of getting at least some of the extremist support without losing more moderate support? I have a hard time imaging the platform. Pro-choice but banning late term abortions? How does he back off on the Anti-CRT, Anti-woke garbage, yet still sell him self to evangelicals? I think the financial part is easy. The classic GOP "I'm going to cut your taxes, reduce the deficit, and spend more money on defense than can possibily exist in the world" lie people will always buy.It is all the social issues that will be the mine-field.
I mean, really big charisma would make a huge difference. An ability to destroy Trump verbally while not breaking a sweat is a must as well.

Sounds like it's almost time for the 2024 Republican Nomination Thread

My brother and I were just talking about this. His exact quote was, the GOP needs another Eisenhower.

Done.

Straight Pete Buttigieg

The first vote dealing with the debt limit law. Typical political games.

The Democratic strategy is to force as many GOP lawmakers as possible to vote for the rule - before swooping in with enough votes to make it pass. pic.twitter.com/QFDTfmiIPm

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) May 31, 2023

What's going on there?

Dems trying to force the GOP to have the majority of the vote. It is in protest of the whole process.

Is there an actual point to this protest? It looks like silly nonsense from my perspective.

It means something to them. It is the same performative stuff that goes on pretty regularly in the House. I predict as much earlier.

To be fair, there is a reason that does make some sense. Minoroty Leader Jefferies told McCarthy that the bill must pass with at least a majority of the Republicans voting for it. If a huge number of Dems vote for it, it will allow the Republicans political cover to vote against it. That would protect them from primary attacks that they "caved to the WH".

Trump could always die too. Or have a massive stroke or something. Or be charged with a lot more stuff. Or murder and eat a baby. Who knows.

The latter few would increase his support. The first, when it happens, will result in him being treated even more as a religious figure than he is already. Not to mention, the conspiracy theories will be OFF THE HOOK!

If Trump died while campaigning he'd be the GOP Tupac. There'd be so many conspiracies about him being alive and sightings, ect.

The more votes from the GOP the better for McCarthy.

In the end, there were only 29 "nay" votes from the GOP. Only 52 Dems voted "yay."

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29 is a terrible number. He is so weak.

Tje vote on the actual bill is getting overwhelming support. 268-90 right now.

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71 no's, now.

The Dems actually outvoted the GOP by 20 in the final count.

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Bronconick, that was for the rule vote.

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Now off to the Senate.

Good luck and more power to her. If one isn't happy in the US, take the initiative and remake your life somewhere else. Plenty of other immigrants willing to take her place.

But somehow I doubt she's thought through this well, and suspect she won't be happy in the long run. Assume she'll be able to return if she so chooses (dual citizenship and all that).

Tara Reade: Woman who accused Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993 defects to Russia | CNN

Does sort of beg the question, why didn't the Republicans call her to testify in congress?

I guess it isn't fully over yet, but the House's part of it is.

McCarthy took Biden from "we won't negotiate" to an intensely-negotiated deal. And he got his conference to pass it. And there does not appear that there will be a formal challenge to his Speakership--just a lot of hot air blown his way.

He deserves credit--this could have blown up in the GOPs face several times as they stepped on rakes (which is clearly what the White House was expecting/hoping for). And it didn't. He did pretty much what he said he was going to do the whole time.

‘Manipulative, deceitful, user’: Tara Reade left a trail of aggrieved acquaintances - POLITICO

Because even by republican standards she isn't remotely believable.

You know how easy that is to pass off as character assignation, though? "The Dems are just attacking the victim..." "Believe women!" etc. etc.
I can't help but wonder if there isn't a bigger smoking gun out there. One other than she doesn't come off as credible, because that has never stopped Republicans before.

Not a great look.

Today President Biden unfortunately took a fall at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation.

If you are mocking him for falling, grow up.

If you are calling for the 25th Amendment, you should probably read about what the 25th Amendment is intended for.

Just because someone trips… pic.twitter.com/YdphBEBOK7

— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) June 1, 2023

One fall for a guy his age can have a lot of bad consequences. He really needs to consider not running (no pun intended) in 2024.

He tripped over a poorly placed sandbag, so of course the ghouls are pivoting to claiming he's blind.

Our country is irredeemable at this point.

Dude is 80 and he bounced up like he was 25. That's the bigger story. I'm 54, and I fall probably once a week. I don't bounce up like that.

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This should be a thing at presidential debates. Every candidate gets shoved to the ground, and we can see how quickly they get back up. The shover could be a celebrity, like maybe the Rock.

How is this not a thing yet?

I would buy that on PPV even.
Meanwhile, Senate has the debt ceiling bill up fir vote. They expect it won't officially pass until midnight because they have to slap down 11 amendments first.

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Presidential combine

"I voted for Wilbur, his policies are garbage now, but his short-shuttle was off the charts!"

Presidential burpee contests!

Presidential Olympic Games ... running, cycling, swimming, and definitely boxing & Greco Roman wrestling.

I've no doubt Biden is in better physical shape than Trump. He should actually challenge him to some series of physical events. A triathlon or something. Trump says no he looks like a coward. Says yes and he gets embarrassed.

Karaoke contest. Not singing, but the warmup exercise.

Trump would get a bone spurs waiver.

Good luck trying to shove Christie to the ground.