Apologies to readers for the several annoying typos in this article, some of which I'll blame on my stupid computer's "autocorrect" function, but most of which are probably my own fault. Anyway, because it's a newsletter -- sent via email to subscribers -- a Substack article can't be edited after publication, and so I must grit my teeth at these embarrassing glitches.
The Jeb campaign of 2016... I said at the time that if the R's nominated Jeb Bush it would be proof positive that they were colluding to put Hilary! in office. No one wanted Jeb Bush for president, including Jeb Bush.
To feel Mr. Trump had some issues in 2016 was understandable. The whole time my fear was his transactional nature would lead to him making deals with Pelosi and Schumer. That he did not make deals was a reason I did support him in 2020.
Mr. Trump had issues in 2016, and still has issues today. That's not the point. The point is, he beat Hillary, and my hunch is that she would have beaten anyone else.
As to fears around his 2016 candidacy, I was afraid that somehow the GOP Establishment would find a way to cheat him out of the nomination and he'd then run a third-party campaign that would wreck everything, like Perot did in the 90s.
Do you remember in 2015 one of the first things Trump did was take out Charles Krauthammer and Jonah Goldberg for criticizing him? Being a psychiatrist, Dr. Krauthammer was able to work his way out of it, but Jonah couldn't take the blow to his ego and never recovered. This includes getting on X just before the Nov. 2024 election to boast about the obscure candidate he was voting for instead of Trump or Biden because muh principles.
What's amazing is how Marco Rubio was able to absorb the "Little Marco" abuse, get over it, and remain a good soldier long enough to become Secretary of State.
Good point, and not only that, but so far much better than I anticipated. I was dubious when I heard of his appointment thinking it was another ill-fated sop to the party establishment, but he seems to be anything but a cypher to this point.
Dropped my National Review subscription upon receiving that Never Trump issue. Haven’t really missed it, given what I’ve heard about its continued hatred of all things Trump.
I subscribed to NR for twenty years and went on their post 2016 election cruise. After a year unsuccessfully campaigning against Trump, they began to insult his supporters. They have been wrong on every issue since Buckley died and, worse, became uninteresting and a chore to read.
Apologies to readers for the several annoying typos in this article, some of which I'll blame on my stupid computer's "autocorrect" function, but most of which are probably my own fault. Anyway, because it's a newsletter -- sent via email to subscribers -- a Substack article can't be edited after publication, and so I must grit my teeth at these embarrassing glitches.
As I read somewhere else, "autocorrect is my worst enema".
I know how you feel.
Goldberg was interesting...25 years ago.
I used to be a big fan of his, considered him a kind of political mentor - bought all 3 of his books on release back in the day.
Seeing his fall feels like watching Obi-Wan Kenobi go to the dark side. Just plain heartbreaking.
Yeah, I just think he's been with the smart set and Trump broke his brain.
The Jeb campaign of 2016... I said at the time that if the R's nominated Jeb Bush it would be proof positive that they were colluding to put Hilary! in office. No one wanted Jeb Bush for president, including Jeb Bush.
"Please clap"
To feel Mr. Trump had some issues in 2016 was understandable. The whole time my fear was his transactional nature would lead to him making deals with Pelosi and Schumer. That he did not make deals was a reason I did support him in 2020.
Mr. Trump had issues in 2016, and still has issues today. That's not the point. The point is, he beat Hillary, and my hunch is that she would have beaten anyone else.
As to fears around his 2016 candidacy, I was afraid that somehow the GOP Establishment would find a way to cheat him out of the nomination and he'd then run a third-party campaign that would wreck everything, like Perot did in the 90s.
Do you remember in 2015 one of the first things Trump did was take out Charles Krauthammer and Jonah Goldberg for criticizing him? Being a psychiatrist, Dr. Krauthammer was able to work his way out of it, but Jonah couldn't take the blow to his ego and never recovered. This includes getting on X just before the Nov. 2024 election to boast about the obscure candidate he was voting for instead of Trump or Biden because muh principles.
What's amazing is how Marco Rubio was able to absorb the "Little Marco" abuse, get over it, and remain a good soldier long enough to become Secretary of State.
Marco could be the best SoS since Seward (who was a shoo in for the 1860 nomination) or even JQA (wrote the Monroe Doctrine)
Gotta man up. Marco did
Good point, and not only that, but so far much better than I anticipated. I was dubious when I heard of his appointment thinking it was another ill-fated sop to the party establishment, but he seems to be anything but a cypher to this point.
Dropped my National Review subscription upon receiving that Never Trump issue. Haven’t really missed it, given what I’ve heard about its continued hatred of all things Trump.
The National Review ended themselves forever when they went along with the Scamdemic
I subscribed to NR for twenty years and went on their post 2016 election cruise. After a year unsuccessfully campaigning against Trump, they began to insult his supporters. They have been wrong on every issue since Buckley died and, worse, became uninteresting and a chore to read.
"Time-warp" is appropriate. These folks are still stuck on Watergate, to the point of arrested development.
Substack is the only way to go.