3rd time in history of USA

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This is why I say probably anyone with Trump's platform (but not his attitude/narcissism/lack of morals) would be a wildly successful president. There has been plenty of good that has gone on recently. Unfortunately much of it is overshadowed.

That is true. There have been some good things, and some failures but we don't focus on most of them because of what a distraction the day to day stuff is with him. The sad thing is that you are right, as much as I dislike his rhetoric, he had a chance to be wildly successful by changing his tone after he was elected, but he never really stopped campaigning.

 

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This is the editor's letter in the current issue of The Week magazine, a great magazine that gives you opinions from all perspectives.

On the cusp of a new year, it is customary to express some hope and optimism. Summoning cheery thoughts about 2020, however, requires a bit more sunniness than I or, I suspect, most of you can muster. The year will likely start with the impeachment trial in the Senate, which is sure to degenerate into another depressing display of shameless hypocrisy and post-truth partisanship. The Democratic primaries will follow, unleashing a fresh round of generational warfare that will either leave people under 35 or over that age deeply dissatisfied with the nominee. And then we will move into the general election, which promises to be the ugliest presidential election of our lifetimes — a sustained Category 5 hurricane of negative ads, disinformation (of both foreign and domestic origin), and fear bordering on panic. In the Trump era, Republicans and Democrats have come to view each other as invading zombie armies hell-bent on their America's destruction.

The potential for an election disaster is very real. In one possible scenario, President Trump narrowly loses, denounces the results as a fraudulent coup — millions of illegal votes! hacking by Ukraine and China! — and refuses to vacate the White House. At his urging, armed supporters battle protesters in the streets. Would Mitch McConnell and other Republican leaders insist Trump leave? That's no longer clear. In another scenario, Trump loses the popular vote but wins again in the Electoral College. Traumatized Democrats can't bear this repeat of 2016, and refuse to accept Trump's legitimacy. An even more perilous scenario: The vote count is too close to call, with confrontational recounts in several swing states and perhaps a Supreme Court intervention. Democracies die, political scientists tell us, when the credibility of elections and vital institutions is eroded and the rule of law is destroyed. Let's hope our democracy can survive the next election, and the tumultuous year to come.

Lol. May not be that far off.
I am more optimistic about 2020, but recognize there is a chance it could go horribly wrong in a few different directions.

 

[HALL85]

So I was speaking to someone who is involved in national politics this week and they proffered what I thought was a bit crazy scenario. (So don’t shoot the messenger!).

She suggested that Trump is likely to win the election, and if he does he won’t retire early during his first term. Pence becomes president and he would choose Nikki Haley as his VP.

The thinking is that we are due for a correction/recession in the next two years and likely Trump doesn’t want to be here for that. For him, it’s also about winning and once he wins a second term, that’s infinitely more important than playing it out. I don’t buy conspiracy theories, but thought I would throw it out there since it came from someone inside the beltway.

 

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Yeah. Crazy scenario indeed. Doesn’t really make much sense for any of them to play it out that way.

 

[shu09]

So I was speaking to someone who is involved in national politics this week and they proffered what I thought was a bit crazy scenario. (So don’t shoot the messenger!).

She suggested that Trump is likely to win the election, and if he does he won’t retire early during his first term. Pence becomes president and he would choose Nikki Haley as his VP.

The thinking is that we are due for a correction/recession in the next two years and likely Trump doesn’t want to be here for that. For him, it’s also about winning and once he wins a second term, that’s infinitely more important than playing it out. I don’t buy conspiracy theories, but thought I would throw it out there since it came from someone inside the beltway.

I don't think that's far-fetched at all.

 

[Merge]

I don't think that's far-fetched at all.

If Trump resigns because he doesn’t want to be associated with a recession, it’s hard to imagine Haley wanting to be associated with it as well though. She would be better off stepping in for 2024 as a clean slate for the party than taking over and getting blame (undeservingly) for ruining the economy.

Better chance she is on the 2020 ticket than that scenario playing out in my opinion.

 

[HALL85]

If Trump resigns because he doesn’t want to be associated with a recession, it’s hard to imagine Haley wanting to be associated with it as well though. She would be better off stepping in for 2024 as a clean slate for the party than taking over and getting blame (undeservingly) for ruining the economy.

Better chance she is on the 2020 ticket than that scenario playing out in my opinion.

I think you are taking it to extremes. We are not talking about a ruined economy but rather a correction. Plus VPs typically don’t get blamed or get credit for anything a president does. The win for Haley is that it gives her more national exposure and options for 2024.

(Trumps plans) has a lot has to do with the make up of the Senate and House after the 2020 elections.

 

[Merge]

I think you are taking it to extremes. We are not talking about a ruined economy but rather a correction. Plus VPs typically don’t get blamed or get credit for anything a president does. The win for Haley is that it gives her more national exposure and options for 2024.

(Trumps plans) has a lot has to do with the make up of the Senate and House after the 2020 elections.

Yeah I was exaggerating the political spin, but I do think she is the future of the party with a really good chance of becoming president one day.

Joining during a weak economy would hurt her brand a bit. I think she (and the party) would be better off having her be a part of a campaign for months and reenergizing the base. Having her join during a correction or recession without campaigning would take all of the buzz out of a political star.

Anything is possible but that scenario doesn’t make much sense to me politically.