I’m going to spend the rest of my afternoon posting clips of high-level officials on that Signal text chain demanding “accountability” for Hillary Clinton’s mishandling of classified information.
When a former Trump official comes out with a story demonstrating Trump’s unfitness for office, nihilistic Trump defenders leap into action, questioning the motives, context, or credibility of the individual making the claim. They’re doing this right now with General Kelly.
They want you to forget the cumulative weight of the accusations against Trump coming from a raft of his own former employees. Kelly is far from alone in warning the American people that Trump is a threat to the country. Let’s start with Trump’s former Vice President:
“The American people deserve to know that President Trump asked me to put him over my oath to the Constitution. … Anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be president of the United States.” —Mike Pence
I don’t think saying “Trump is uniquely unfit and dangerous and therefore I will use my unique position of influence to argue that’s what’s gone wrong with the conservative movement is that some conservatives are actively supporting Harris to stop Trump” is the stand you think it is.
Look, my initial response was prompted by your claim that some conservatives support for Harris was a driver of the sad state of the conservative movement. Which is silly. Trump and Republicans and GOP voters are responsible for that and it’s why some conservatives find themselves supporting Democrats.
But my real objection is actually to what you said above. I know you and Jonah see Trump for the threat he is. Which is why I find it baffling that you want to beef with people who are actively doing something to oppose that threat.
I’ve conducted 14 focus groups since the debate. Some top lines from the swing voter groups:
1. Almost ALL want Biden to step aside. They don’t think he can do the job for four more years.
2. They have a negative impression of Kamala Harris, but it’s an impression, not locked in. Mainly don’t know what she does.
3. The preferences for an alternative are all over the map. But Whitmer/Shapiro/Newsom are the top picks. Basically they just want someone younger.
3a. (We’re talking to a lot of swing state voters, so there are a disproportionate number of PA/MI voters in the groups, so less surprising to hear Whitmer and Shapiro from those folks)