Never Trumpers have a decision to make

[Celerity]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/never-trumpers-have-a-decision-to-make/2019/07/01/1f1e9c6a-9c2f-11e9-9ed4-c9089972ad5a_story.html?utm_term=.2efce7919738

Never-Trump Republicans and independents may be shocked to hear this, but the Democratic Party is likely to nominate a Democrat for president. That means they’re not going to nominate someone who thinks exactly like a Never-Trump Republican. Break out the smelling salts. I think several refugees from the GOP, pontificating on Twitter and the nation’s leading op-ed pages, just fainted dead away.

I, for one, have pretty much had it with the chorus of center-right voices braying that the Democrats are heading for certain doom — and the nation for four more years of President Trump — if the party picks a nominee who actually embraces the party’s ideals. Elections are choices. These Never Trumpers will have to make one.

Anyone who watched last week’s two-night candidates’ debate should be confident that the eventual Democratic nominee is virtually certain to support universal health care, comprehensive and compassionate immigration reform, reasonable gun control, measures to address climate change and bold steps to address income inequality. No, this is not a Republican agenda. Outcasts from the GOP will have to decide whether to accept it, in the interest of ending our long national nightmare, or reject it and stick with a president who kowtows to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.

But don’t blame Democrats for supposedly driving moderate voters into the arms of Trump. For one thing, if Never-Trump Republicans were such brilliant political analysts, they’d never have lost control of their party to Trump in the first place. For another, polls show that the Democratic agenda has broad public support. Yes, Trump is going to yell “socialism.” But Democrats could nominate the ghost of Ronald Reagan and Trump would still try his best to paint the apparition red. That’s his only play, whether the nominee is comfy-slipper Joe Biden, firebrand Bernie Sanders or any of the others in between.

snip

[Turin_C3PO]

1. That's what I've been saying.

I’m sick of people saying we need to temper our agenda to satisfy right wingers. It’s absolute bullshit. America is ready for a progressive agenda.

[AlexSFCA]

2. never trumpers will vote for third party

last time they voted for mcmullin. Not sure if he will run again. trump will probably have gop primary challenge also.

[Celerity]

3. Weld is primarying him

Bill Weld and the Rationale of a GOP Challenge to Trump

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2019/06/28/bill_weld_and_the_rationale_of_a_gop_challenge_to_trump.html

Bill Weld is running for national office again. In 2016, he was former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson’s running mate on the Libertarian ticket for president. This time, his sights are set on the top job as he challenges President Trump for the Republican nomination.

“It’s good for the country to have somebody put the president to his proofs,” the former Massachusetts governor told “Morning Joe” this spring. “Maybe ask him some ‘why’ questions, like: ‘Why do you think it’s good to insult our military allies? Why do you praise dictators? Why are you so angry about everything all the time?’”

Telling voters that “America Deserves Better,” Weld’s campaign is rooted in the premise of common decency and “presidential” behavior from a Republican holding the nation’s highest office. Yet, Weld’s potential as a candidate, and his platform itself, are more than just hand-wringing over Trump, political consultant Liz Mair told RealClearPolitics. “He’s in the race because he has a different vision of where the country needs to go that has not been covered off by Trump’s vision and has not been covered off by the Democratic field,” she said. Weld’s goal is “not to stick it to Trump.”

Mair spent time with the candidate on the 2016 campaign trail, and sees his record as crucial to understanding the alternative that Weld presents to the president from a conservative lane. Weld received “A” and “B” ratings on the Cato Institute’s fiscal report cards while in office, making him one of the most fiscally responsible office holders in the nation from 1991 to 1997. “That is arguably very relevant right now for fiscal and economic conservatives who may be happy about tax cuts and the regulatory aspects of the Trump agenda, but who are probably not happy about where debt and deficits sit. They are worried about the long-term fiscal health of the United States,” Mair said.

It’s particularly difficult to fit Weld into a classic conservative mold, however, because of his liberal views on the environment and marijuana legalization. He hopes that in crossover primary states (of which there are 20) his positions will attract independents and even Democrats who are not satisfied with the other options on the table. (Weld claims to have won independent voters at a 6-to-1 clip over opponents in his two races for governor.)

snip

[customerserviceguy]

4. I'll be surprised

if Weld gets more than 10% of the GOP primary vote anywhere outside of Massachussetts.

[Celerity]

5. I agree but Weld just needs to get Rump to do something truly insane and drive

his support down with centre right Rehtugs and indies

Weld knows he has no chance to win

but he is very intelligent and hates Rump

he will hopefully fuck him up at least once or twice in a nationally exposed way

every wee bit helps

An example of wee bits is that if Hillary had only gotten A-A support (turnout and % of support) in 2016 equal to the last 5 or 6 previous elections (on average) in just 4 cities (Milwaukee, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia) she would be POTUS now. Obama in 2008 had more defections from Hillary 2008 primary voters than Hillary had defections from Sanders 2016 primary voters but he made up for it amongst us (I am part black) black folk (I was only 12 in 2008 so I could not vote, and obviously did vote for Clinton in 2016.)

[customerserviceguy]

7. Trump won't even bother to debate Weld

And if Weld pushes one of Trump's buttons, Trump will just dismiss him with a nickname (maybe "Wishy-washy Willie" or something like that) and will save his fire for the Democratic candidates still left in the race.

No GOPers outside of the Never Trumpers will even care.

As for Hillary's lack of full-throated support from the African-American community; well, she didn't have to pick the most boring white man in Virginia to be her running mate.

[Drunken Irishman]

6. McMullin has shifted dramatically to the left since 2016...

I doubt he'd run again.

[Wounded Bear]

8. It would be nice to see a RW 3rd Party for a change...

Instead of our vote being split by faux-Liberal candidates like Stein and Nader.