NOT Again

[Kathianne]

Please!

https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/71...ate-prospects/

[jimnyc]

Looks like you need to login to read the article. Can you copy a fair use amount of it?

[jimnyc]

Found a way around it!

Here's a piece:

Former President Trump could have been an important asset for the GOP, turning out voters as it seeks to regain control of Congress in next year’s midterm elections. But, out of office, he’s continuing his destructive behavior, endorsing weaker candidates in contested primaries, squelching the campaigns of erstwhile allies, and elevating not-ready-for-prime-time contenders in must-win Senate contests.

His erratic behavior since losing the presidential election—exemplified by his conspiracy theorizing and suppression of the GOP vote in Georgia’s Senate runoffs in January, handing Democrats the majority—is only accelerating as the midterms draw closer. It’s leading to increasing Republican pessimism about their chances of retaking the Senate majority next year, even as the political environment is awfully favorable on paper to the party out of power.

When he was in office, Republicans were often able to redirect Trump’s worst political impulses into constructive behavior. There’s no doubt he was a one-man turnout machine, helping Republicans in redder states prevail despite his political vulnerabilities. He acted transactionally, backing vulnerable members in exchange for their loyal support, even endorsing a frequent critic like Sen. Ben Sasse, all but ensuring that the independent-minded Nebraskan wouldn’t speak out against him until he prevailed in a primary.

But now that he lacks tangible political power, he’s showing little willingness to play ball with party leadership. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rick Scott made headlines in declaring that the party wouldn’t engage in competitive primaries, and he has said he hoped Trump would follow suit. But since then, Trump has picked his favorites with abandon, elevating a leading election denialist like Rep. Mo Brooks to front-runner status in Alabama, opposing party-backed Sen. Lisa Murkowski in Alaska, and urging a political novice like former NFL star Herschel Walker to run in a must-win Georgia contest.

“We can’t let this guy pick our candidates if we want to be in the Senate majority,” said a senior Republican strategist involved in Senate races.

[SassyLady]

Found a way around it!

Here's a piece:

Former President Trump could have been an important asset for the GOP, turning out voters as it seeks to regain control of Congress in next year’s midterm elections. But, out of office, he’s continuing his destructive behavior, endorsing weaker candidates in contested primaries, squelching the campaigns of erstwhile allies, and elevating not-ready-for-prime-time contenders in must-win Senate contests.

His erratic behavior since losing the presidential election—exemplified by his conspiracy theorizing and suppression of the GOP vote in Georgia’s Senate runoffs in January, handing Democrats the majority—is only accelerating as the midterms draw closer. It’s leading to increasing Republican pessimism about their chances of retaking the Senate majority next year, even as the political environment is awfully favorable on paper to the party out of power.

When he was in office, Republicans were often able to redirect Trump’s worst political impulses into constructive behavior. There’s no doubt he was a one-man turnout machine, helping Republicans in redder states prevail despite his political vulnerabilities. He acted transactionally, backing vulnerable members in exchange for their loyal support, even endorsing a frequent critic like Sen. Ben Sasse, all but ensuring that the independent-minded Nebraskan wouldn’t speak out against him until he prevailed in a primary.

But now that he lacks tangible political power, he’s showing little willingness to play ball with party leadership. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rick Scott made headlines in declaring that the party wouldn’t engage in competitive primaries, and he has said he hoped Trump would follow suit. But since then, Trump has picked his favorites with abandon, elevating a leading election denialist like Rep. Mo Brooks to front-runner status in Alabama, opposing party-backed Sen. Lisa Murkowski in Alaska, and urging a political novice like former NFL star Herschel Walker to run in a must-win Georgia contest.

“We can’t let this guy pick our candidates if we want to be in the Senate majority,” said a senior Republican strategist involved in Senate races.

Why does the GOP think he still has so much power with the voters?

[Kathianne]

Why does the GOP think he still has so much power with the voters?

I would guess that it would be that well over 60% of self-identified Republicans appear to repeatedly respond to polling in supporting his positions, whether or not they appear to be for him or for the good of the country. To this day, well over 50% still felt he did nothing wrong after the election and it WAS 'stolen.' They are not using any caveats as in, 'I'd feel differently if the state legislatures had been utilized.'

The loss of those two Senate seats were predictable and preventable. He kept at it in spite of that. So far Manchin and more surprisingly Sinema have prevented the full impact of those losses from being realized.

There were and are legitimate concerns on how our elections are conducted. The Democrats certainly want to make it easy for anyone, legally or not to vote. However the focus isn't on using the state legislatures to prevent a repeat, though more than 1/2 are GOP controlled, rather the focus is on punishment of those seen as disloyal to one man and giving him redemption.

[Kathianne]

Related:

https://hotair.com/karen-townsend/20...answer-n395620

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Why does the GOP think he still has so much power with the voters?

Because he does!
But the GOP's problem is they see it as power he took from THEM!
Power that they no longer have. And worse yet-power they can not harness/control.
That Trump the outsider does not play their political game and instead truly does represent the people-
you know he actually believes in this nation and its laws. And actually is patriotic....
They SEE that as huge problem because THEY are so damn used to kisssing the dems asses. --Tyr

[jimnyc]

Why does the GOP think he still has so much power with the voters?

I also think a lot/some of it is on the left, the MSM - they would love to extend any Trump drama and Trump blame for as long as they can. Bush did it!