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I had a civil exchange with a courteous and open-minded MAGA yesterday, which for me was a welcome change from seeing so many nasty gifs and comments come our way every day. This man took a rational position, but I wasn’t prepared to do a deep dive, and didn’t want to rush a reply.
Today there’s more time, so I thought it might be best to post this open letter and send it to him by DM, but that's not an option for him, so I'll just post this, send it as a reply, and hope for the best. Please do add your own thoughtful and respectful comments to flesh out, enhance, and amend the macro points in this letter. Here goes: Why Nominating Makes Sense Point 1: Donald Trump is unlikely to win the general election (a) Trump is unlikely to beat Biden should he be the nominee. Yes, liberal pollsters are busy pushing the narrative that Trump is beating Biden in the battleground states. But even if this were true for the moment, consider the shitstorms that those same liberal pollsters, the liberal media outlets, the DNC, and last but not least, the Deep State DOJ, are going to unleash should Trump actually secure the nomination. Child’s play, IMHO, compared to what they did to him from 2016 through 2020; (b) What the liberal pollsters aren’t advertising, but what you can see from their internal data, is that Trump gets beaten badly by the generic Democrat, that is, anyone not named Biden. Given this data, and daily watching dead-man-walking Biden on TV, does anyone really think he’s going to be the nominee? Point 2: Donald Trump is unlikely to get much done (a) Even if Trump wins, there’s every reason to believe there will be no “honeymoon” awaiting him in Congress. In fact, the 2020 and 2022 election data strongly suggests that Trump no longer has true coattails, and is likely to face a Congress which is no less divided than it is right now, if not measurably worse; (b) Faced with such a daunting challenge, is it a good idea to have someone in the White House who is clearly showing cognitive signs that his age is starting to catch up with him. No, not as bad as Biden, but won’t the situation demand a much better standard than that? (c) Faced with such a daunting challenge, how will it serve America’s immediate needs to have someone in the White House whose most fervently expressed desire has been to exact revenge rather than actually complete the things he promised to do in 2016; (d) Faced with such a daunting challenge, and even with a focus on achieving things instead of exacting revenge, how will he be able to attract the kind of talented and experienced people needed to thread the needles. Every worthwhile new cabinet member already knows that 40 of Trump’s 44 former cabinet members have refused to endorse him for 2024, and many have explained how insufferable it was to work with him and accomplish things. If it were just a few formers, the claim that they were just disloyal traitors would have merit. But when it's 40 out of 44, something has to be off with the man at the top. Have new cabinet prospects any reason to believe it will be better this time around, with Trump having 91 felony charges weighing him down? Point 3: DeSantis has already proven he can win the general election Prior to 2022, Florida had been a deeply divided battleground state for decades. But after Ron DeSantis had been Governor there for just 4 years, he won in an historic 20-point landslide by assembling a coalition of voters that included winning the womens vote by 10 points, independents by 18 points, and traditionally democrat Hispanics by a whopping 24-point margin. What reason is there to believe that he can’t do the same thing in the remaining battleground states by telling the same demographic groups all that he promised and delivered upon in Florida? (If your answer is abortion, bear in mind DeSantis has repeatedly advocated that the voters in each State should be the ones who decide how their State should handle that issue ). Most importantly, DeSantis has very smart and well-educated lawyers, like himself, already hard at work examining voter laws in every State and strategizing the best way to either prevent ballot-harvesting in 2024, or beat the Dems at their own game wherever ballot-harvesting remains in play. Point 4: DeSantis has already proven his has long Coattails A key reason why DeSantis won big in 2022 and has gotten so many things done in Florida over the past 12 months is the fact that on his watch, Florida voters have switched their registrations from D to R in droves – from +D 257,175 in 2018 to +R 680,030 as of Nov. 2023, for an astounding total R gain of 937,205 voters. This is compelling evidence of the fact that DeSantis at the top of the R ticket next November is likely to strengthen the R majority in the House and give Rs a working majority in the Senate, and to increase those majorities during his tenure, especially if he serves 2 terms. Point 5: DeSantis has already proven he’s an exceptional Chief Executive The accomplishments of are almost too numerous to mention - fighting for freedom from Covid tyranny; ridding Florida of China's influence; reducing Florida’s debt by 25% while creating a multi-billion-dollar surplus, all without an income tax; firing liberal prosecutors, preventing riots, and bringing Florida’s crime rate to a 50-year low; protecting parental rights and insuring that their kids are well educated in the subjects needed to help them succeed, not indocrinated by harmful woke propaganda; etc., etc., etc. In addition, DeSantis is already at work assembling lists of potential cabinet members and others to help him accomplish crucial objectives such as really building the entire wall, really paying for it with Mexican remittances to Mexico, really dismantling the Deep State by going 3 and 4 and 5 levels deep; and really kneecapping the unelected administrative state by severely cutting its workforce and transferring many other unelected Libs to boondocks far away from DC. Point 6: DeSantis would make an exceptional Commander-in Chief Who better than a highly educated decorated veteran trained in mission-focus to make the right moves to restore and rebuild American military might and deploy it to all the right places, most notably to the Indo-Pacific theatre, where China must be held in check from advancing on Taiwan or elsewhere. Point 7: DeSantis would serve 8 years in the prime of his life. If you’ve been paying any attention to what DeSantis has been doing since May 24th, you cannot help but marvel at his extraordinary energy and unwavering determination in the face of relentless opposition from every direction. Have to think one of the things the military taught him was maximum efficiency on maybe 4+ hours of sleep? Imagine having a guy like that in the Oval every single day for two thousand nine hundred and twenty (2,920) consecutive days. THAT is a formula for “getting shit done.” Once again, it would be great to get thoughtful and respectful comments from anyone who feels they have something to contribute which would add more detail, context, and/or points to this letter. Thanks to all in advance.
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Well, here we are, six years after the LA County Republican Central Committee revoked the charter for the Beach Cities Republicans.
And now, they can't even get people to show up to their meetings, and they don't have the money to keep the lights on or the doors open.
Check out the latest report from Steve Frank:
Stephen Frank, Exclusive to the California Political News and Views, 11/20/23 www.capoliticalnewsandviews.com
WHY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN CALIFORNIA IS IRRELEVANT—LOOK AT THE LOS ANGELES REPUBLICAN PARTY
Los Angeles County has the most registered Republicans in the State. It has more Republicans than many States. Yet, on Saturday, once again, they were unable to have a quorum. This, even though they had Carl Demaio as a speaker, an important Treasurers report, endorsements, plans for GOTV (they do not have a plan, nor believe in voter registration. Literally, the agenda for this meeting did not have voter registration on the agenda—nor making sure we had candidates in every legislative district).
Saturday, Tim told those that attended why they couldn’t obtain a quorum for an early endorsement in CD28 (Bonnie Wallace, April Verlato, Mayor of Arcadia). Blame the bylaws for allowing Ex-Officios to be part of the quorum. They cannot be compelled to come. Robert’s Rules says it. It’s one thing he missed taking out of his LAGOP bylaws (he chaired the Committee that created the new by-laws and created this mess, making it difficult to have a quorum).
Chairman Tim O’Reilly always says that of the many purposes of RPLAC, the list does not include raising funds for the candidates. The candidates have to raise it for themselves. Then he cites the Democrat strategy. No sense of irony here. Democrats win elections with their fundraising strategy; Republicans lose with theirs.
Since Hollywood is in L.A. County, I guess he was auditioning for an actor’s job—now that the strike is over. He pretended to cry because of a conspiracy theory that forced the CRP to move the March convention to May. He claimed it was a conspiracy—and he was correct. The conspiracy was by the CRP to hold a convention the weekend before the March primary, forcing leaders and activists to be in San Jose instead of working on GOTV to assure our candidates got into the Top Two. To O’Reilly the truth is a conspiracy—sounds like the Democrats. He needs to act like an adult and stop whining and pretending to cry.
Then you have the Assistant Treasurer Karen Siegmund—not the Treasurer or the Chairman proposed a new fund raiser. LAGOP does not have dues. She wants everybody to pay $5 per month, preferably through their efundraising tool which is federal only. But since Chair O’Reilly says the LAGOP gives no money to candidates, what is this money going for and why not the general Account?
If everybody gave $5 a month for a year, it still would not pay off what is owed to the former Treasurer/ED, Julie Haff—who seems to be owed at least $15,000. Then you have the $1,000 a month for a LAGOP HQ, in Encino, that appears to be a sublease from Richard Sherman, the former LAGOP Chair, psychology office. In the July “treasurers report” it is listed as both an expense and a potential expense—whatever that means. The Executive Committee does not meet there—they meet via ZOOM. Anybody remember a Committee meeting at that address in the past year?
Oh, no report has been made on the John Eastman event. It looks like they lost money on it—but do not expect a report anytime soon. And, it appears NO money is going to the Eastman Defense Fund. I was informed by an officer of the LAGOP this was not a fund raiser—and they were not kidding.
And it only gets worse:
https://capoliticalnewsandviews.com/heard-on-the-tom-toms-25/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=heard-on-the-tom-toms-25
If Trump wants the 2024 nomination, though, he must learn
from Odysseus in Homer's eponymous epic poem. Sure, the suitors took him for
dead and took over his home. Odysseus was the rightful king of the castle, but
he had to fight for it. Instead of staging an epic comeback, Trump has turned
into a cantankerous deposed monarch who thinks we should restore him to the
throne. That's not how politics works. Andrew Jackson was denied the Presidency
in 1824 due to a Corrupt Bargain in the House of Representatives. Old Hickory
didn't pout but plotted, planned, and won the Presidency in 1828.
Trump needs a primary. I want a knock-down drag-out fight
for the GOP brass ring. And right now, Trump is not earning it. Instead, he
reminds me of former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie past his first-term
prime: lots of bluster, no muster.
Trump still surrounds himself with bad people. They told
him to endorse Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-Texas)
in a fraught primary when the opponent was the real deal. Gonzales is now
talking up open borders and voted against the House Rules package effected by
the dedicated MAGA populists in Congress.
Trump lined up behind McCarthy for Speaker and expected
everyone to follow. The next generation of America First politicians knows you
never settle but fight for more. Trump inaugurated a movement, but now the
movement is moving past him. Nothing showed this more than conservative
Congressman Matt Rosendale (R-Montana) dismissing the former President's plea by
phone on the floor of the House. Conversely, Trump refused to weigh in on the
RNC Chairmanship, the more consequential race. DeSantis did, even if his candidate
lost. Leadership means fighting for what's right, even if the
outcome is likely lost.
Trump tells South Carolina: "Let's go after the Deep
State, the Democrats, and the RINOs." And standing next to him during that
rant? Lindsey Graham, the biggest Deep State Democrat RINO in the
country. Former Governor Sarah Palin tells
DeSantis to "wait your turn." It sounds like
McCain-Establishment Kool-Aid talk to me. Oh Yeah! She abandoned her
governorship, couldn't get elected to Congress, but wants to play king-maker?
Hit the road, Mammy Grizzly.
Politics is not the Art of the Deal; it's the Art of
"I Win, and You Lose." Trump still doesn't get this, either. DeSantis
does. DeSantis has accomplished the most aggressive, radically right-wing
agenda of any governor: a pro-growth, low-tax agenda and bear-hugging culture
wars. He has beaten down Big Business, Big Pharma, Big Labor, and Big Academia.
As a result, the little guy in Florida feels like "The Man," and they
have DeSantis' leadership to thank for that.
He outlawed sanctuary cities with more vigorous
enforcement. He signed into law E-Verify mandates. He has taken on the Florida
teacher's unions with gusto, pushing for more limits on their political power.
He has been pressing for gun freedoms in a state gun-shy on the Second
Amendment for the last twenty years. His Parents Rights in Education Bill has
inspired similar reforms across the country. DeSantis is a conservative, and
even Democratic voters support him!
His election reforms are impeccable, too. Trump tweeted and
whined about voter fraud during Election 2020. As soon as he was elected,
DeSantis removed the corrupt Registrar of Voters in Palm Beach County, then
cleaned up the election laws. Despite banning ballot trafficking and universal
mass mail-in voting, DeSantis wisely recognizes that if "legal
cheating" exists in your state, USE IT. Only recently has Trump joined
this bandwagon. Trump is playing catch-up, while DeSantis has already caught
on.
Politics requires a keen sense of what works, what's
possible, and knowing what is going on. At this point, one wonders if Trump is
paying attention. It's 2023, not 2015. Riding an escalator doesn't impress
anymore. I want results, and DeSantis is outdoing Trump on many fronts.
Trump still pushes the vaccine. DeSantis has said,
"Stop!" Trump locked down the country, but DeSantis reversed course
within two weeks, and Florida enjoyed unprecedented freedom with little
COVID-19 backlash. Leadership changes when things aren't working and learns
from circumstances. DeSantis has led on stopping the sex mutilation of minors
and LGBT indoctrination, too, and opposed the DIS-Respect for Marriage Act.
Trump went all in on this anti-family folly, then celebrated with the Log Cabin
Republicans at Mar-a-Lago, rebuffing the evangelical voters who
got him elected.
President Trump has become all talk, selling NFTs. DeSantis
is walking the walk, guaranteed. He is smarter with the media, too. Trump
slugged at the media but then got dirty with them. DeSantis sets up press
conferences with supporters. He silences biased reporters with quick quips
while humiliating Joe Biden. DeSantis doesn't rush to corporate media's camera
for attention. He rolls them, then steamrolls them.
From Congress to the Governor's mansion, DeSantis has been
on a mission to accomplish. Today's populist Republican party grassroots are
tired of politicians who want us to feel good; no more RINOs who say the right
things on Fox News, then screw us over with betrayals and broken promises.
DeSantis promises and keeps delivering. We need a president who wins, not just
retains what little remains once Biden is gone.
Trump
was a street brawler, but DeSantis is a UFC fighter: sleeker, less flashy, but
executes the win quicker, faster, and more robust. We need results, not
rhetoric. I don't want rallies; I want to win elections and the culture war. I
am not interested in the establishment (and yes, Trump is turning into their
latest successor). DeSantis looks like the man to be President and the man to
beat.
We need someone who puts the country first, not himself. Trump cares about himself. DeSantis cares about the United States.🚨🚨 BREAKING: @RonDeSantis just released his second TV ad in Iowa, featuring Gov. @KimReynoldsIA.
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) November 15, 2023
"The most effective leader that I know."pic.twitter.com/xHIAU8G7ha
Gov. @KimReynoldsIA talks to @clayandbuck about why she’s supporting @RonDeSantis for president: “I’m tired of losing!”
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) November 16, 2023
“I want somebody that can give Republicans a hope and a vision, somebody that knows they’re going to follow through with what they say they’re going to do,… pic.twitter.com/zp1YFmoEbW
These statements summarize everything I like about DeSantis!
Holy cow! This is so 🔥🔥🔥
— Jo Thomas (@rthomas86) November 17, 2023
Ron DeSantis is an effective, determined, bold, intelligent, mature, proven, conservative leader with integrity.
I’m #withDeSantis because 👇#DeSantis2024
Video credit: The Glenn Beck Program pic.twitter.com/jiqmtn7xjn
Here's a SHORT list of reasons supporting Israel IS in America’s interest (via @DreaMGriff28)
)1. U.S.-Israeli alliance contributes more than ever to American security, as bilateral cooperation to deal with both military and nonmilitary challenges
2. Israel remains a counterweight against radical forces in the Middle East, including political Islam and violent extremism.
3. Israel prevented the further proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the region by thwarting Iraq and Syria's nuclear programs.
4. Israel and the US work together to develop sophisticated military technology, such as the David's Sling counter-rocket and Arrow missile defense systems
5. Israel's military research and development complex has pioneered many cutting-edge technologies that are transforming the face of modern war, including cyberweapons, unmanned vehicles (such as land robots and aerial drones), sensors and electronic warfare systems, and advanced defenses for military vehicles.
6. Economically — The United States-Israel Free Trade
Agreement, established in 1985, was the first free trade agreement entered into
by the United States. Since its entry
into force, trade between the countries has increased ten-fold to $49 billion
in 2016. The reopening of the Israeli
market to U.S. beef in 2016 is a sign of Israeli interest in further opening
our trade relations.
Israelis now invest close to $24 billion in the United States, nearly triple what it was a decade earlier.
7. The U.S.-Israeli economic and commercial relationship now spans IT, bio-tech, life sciences, health care solutions, energy, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, defense industries, cyber-security, and aviation, to name just a few sectors
8. Critical components of leading American high-tech
products are invented and designed in Israel, making these American companies
more competitive and more profitable globally.
Cisco, Intel, Motorola, Applied Materials, and HP are just a few
examples.
9. Cooperation in addressing water issues: Water is another
area where the United States and Israel are increasingly working together. After addressing their own century-long water
crisis via breakthrough technologies in desalination, recycling, conservation,
management and irrigation, Israelis are now working more closely than ever
before with Americans—especially in the Southwestern United States—to help us
tackle our huge water challenges. The new reverse osmosis desalination plant in
Carlsbad, California, designed by IDE, an Israeli company, is one of the
largest and most technologically advanced in that region
Israel is our ally. Our ally suffered a horrific terrorist
attack. Defending our ally isn’t just something we should do morally it is in
America’s interests
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