Gutless in Mar-a-Lago
Trump is a bully, and like all bullies, he is a coward.
His empire of malice is collapsing, and his end days are at hand. His poll numbers are faltering and the structural cracks are starting to show.
Trump is afraid. He has taken refuge in his version of the Führer bunker. Tucker Carlson will be there, playing the role of a mop-haired Goebbels, spewing conspiracies, replacement theory calumnies, racial antagonism, Putin’s propaganda and vitriolic smears, while the broken Trump is hidden, coddled and puffed up. The so-called “champ” won’t fight in next week’s debate. The bully can’t take a punch, and there is a heavy hitter on the debate stage. Trump is terrified of Chris Christie like Elon Musk is terrified of Mark Zuckerberg. Their egos can’t stop the shit talk, and their character can’t back it up. Though they may be rich, they are brittle and small. All the money in the world can’t buy grit and toughness. Guts are like grace and as it was once explained to Elaine Benes upon the occasion of her first encounter with Mr. Pitt, “you don’t want too much grace or you won’t be able to stand.”
Trump has neither. No matter. There will be other lesser cowards and imbeciles for Chris Christie to hunt and devour during the evening. There will also be consequences for Trump.
Trump’s greatest political danger isn’t being seen on the debate stage. It is not being seen. At the exact moment that indicators are flashing that Republican voters are ready to move on from their criminal leader, Trump is going to create the perfect setting to imagine the world beyond the one where his ubiquity is omnipresent and suffocating. Guess what? The voters are going to like it. He won’t be missed. That is Trump’s greatest risk. How much of the show and his power are utterly illusory at this point? Soon, we will know.
What matters heading into the first debate are the tea leaves that are already present. DeSantis is done. Ramaswamy is an inch deep. Nikki Haley is invisible. Tim Scott is lined up for the win in Iowa, while Christie is lining up to win New Hampshire. Trump, meanwhile, will likely be sentenced to prison. That is the structure of the race, and everything that is predicted to happen, according to the experts in Washington, DC, seems less certain to me everyday. The American people don’t like being told what to do — and they like the politicians and media much less.
Chris Christie should look into the camera and call Trump out. He should cut him to pieces with his humor, wit and prosecutorial skill. Trump doesn’t have to be there to be politically prosecuted by Christie. In fact, an unfiltered exposure to the truth will be refreshing for the Republican audience viewing at home and the absence of Trump’s venal bullshit, lies and bluster may be restorative for their souls — at least for an hour.
There is no question whatsoever that Trump will watch every second of the debate, and that is all you need to know about its relevance and who it will be about. There is a truism in presidential politics when it comes to tactical maneuvers that seek to avoid debates, primaries, or set advantageous primary schedules. Usually it achieves the exact opposite result than the intended result. Such are the vagaries of political physics in America.
Christie has been written off by the DC pundit class. The overwhelming majority have never been involved in an actual political campaign, let alone a presidential, and never mind the New Hampshire primary. It is a foolish prediction.
What has always been true of Chris Christie as a 2024 presidential candidate is that he had to face the reality that his candidacy was outside his control in the sense that he needs events to shape outcomes that make his lift-off possible that are completely beyond his capacity to engineer them. A simpler way to put it is that he is like a surfer waiting for a wave. It may not come…or maybe it will. Either way, when or if it does doesn’t matter if the auger isn’t in position. Trump’s cowardice has turned the proverbial ball over to Christie, whose highly experienced, small, tight team of professionals will see this in their sleep. Trump’s absence in the first debate is a political disaster only outdone by his 91 felony counts. For whatever reason, many millions of Americans regard Trump as tough and strong. This shows he isn’t.
By the way, imagine if Governor John Dutton were running for president. Would he skip the debate because the former governor of New Jersey was going to possibly kick his ass? No, he would not. Neither would John Wayne. Can you imagine?
Speaking of men, what is it about the MAGA men that makes them so skilled at running, hiding and evading?
Remember Josh Hawley going from fascist inciter to inspired sprinter:
Ted Cruz is like the Shohei Ohtani of hide and seek — if being found out was the purpose of the game. It was the closet for January 6th, and Cancun for lethal ice storms.
By the way, while in hiding, it is widely known that Cruz was uncomfortably sweaty. When Lying Ted and Sweatin’ Ted come together the party is always just getting started.
Donald Trump is like a giant Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade balloon. He is deflating, leaking and decaying. It may be a bit to soon to see with the naked eye, but it is happening.
Chris Christie actually knows Trump. He should tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about him. He should also look Ron DeSantis in the eye, and tell him the meanest thing that Trump ever said about him. Chris Christie’s debate strategy should be to make DeSantis cry on stage, and Trump scream at home.
Meanwhile, the historically inept candidacy of GRD can keep focused on the Ramaswamy threat and showing emotion. I do have one question about the DeSantis debate memos. Why no guidance on attire? Does that mean DeSantis is wearing his “commander in crisis” outfit? Will he be pulling up his white rubbers on a dry day to connect with the little people? The excitement never ends. Perhaps a post-debate pudding will ease the sting of humiliation. As they say, “With malice towards none, with charity for all,” right?
The circus will look different without its malevolent clown in chief. He won’t be far though. He will be with Tucker Carlson, just two guys looking out for you, your family and our country, hiding out, making nice memories in the dog days of summer.
This month’s Ask Me Anything
Thanks to those who have become a Premium subscriber to The Warning podcast. I’m so grateful for your support. I hope you’re enjoying the content so far, and welcome feedback as we continue to grow it.
It’s that time again for another Ask Me Anything session.
Please submit any questions that you have for me no later than Sunday, August 20 at 12 pm EST. I’ll select a few to answer. Access to this feature is exclusive to Premium podcast subscribers. If you’d like to join, you can do so here:
Premium podcast subscribers can submit questions for me no later than TODAY at 12 pm EST. I’ll try to get through as many of them as possible.
Look forward to hearing what you have on your mind!
Steve
Video commentary: Why Donald Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene would be a DISASTER in 2024
In an essay earlier this week, I made reference to Marjorie Taylor Greene’s comments that she is considering running for the Senate, or being Donald Trump’s running mate in 2024. You want my reaction to this? Here it is.
If you’d prefer to read the transcript, you can do so here.
Steve, I would love to see you broadcast your message beyond the Warning community, to share your insight that Trump is "not the inevitable Republican nominee". It's needed to counter the constant mainstream media declarations that he is, to shine some light on alternatives and how to achieve a different outcome. Maybe that means publishing op-eds in local papers such as
The New Hampshire Union Leader, right-leaning publications such as the Wall Street Journal and other popular more global newspapers such as The Guardian. Please consider letting your voice be heard more broadly.
Cleverly and insidiously placing Ted Cruz and Shohei Ohtani together in one sentence was not on my literary bingo card. Ever Steve. Nice one. And then there's this gem, "Donald Trump is like a giant Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade balloon. He is deflating, leaking and decaying." Nice bowl of Word Wheaties you consumed this morning Steve. Thank you from Miami.