By Ray Cardello for November 17, 2022 Season 14 / Post 25

As much as I think the results of the Donald Trump Presidency will be considered one of the most successful in history, I hoped he would not re-enter the race for the White House. I believe that Trump was the right person at the right time for America, and he did a phenomenal job of getting America back on track and regaining her respect worldwide. He also successfully kept America out of armed conflict during his term. He is the only President to accomplish this in recent history. Controversy, two impeachment hearings, and COVID hampered progress in the last year of his Presidency and possibly cost him a second term.

With all the good I can say about the President, I still feel he is too polarizing a man to step back into the race to regain the White House, but with his announcement on Monday night, he is officially running for President in 2024.

Trump had tremendous success pushing his choices to the top in the Republican primaries across the country. His success rate was above 85%. His candidates did not do so well in the general election. These results indicate Trump’s strength within the Party, but he may still struggle with Independents and Democrats. He would need to broaden his popularity to have a successful Presidential run. I think his divisiveness will be stronger than his popularity and message and will spell defeat.

It is imperative that the Republican Party and voters put forward the best candidates possible at all levels in 2024. The Midterms were disappointing, and many point to good to marginal candidates but poor delivery of the Republican message. A more positive approach must be used to let America know how the country will improve by placing its trust in Republican leaders.

Many names are bandied about as potential candidates for 2024. Readers of my posts know I am hoping for a Ron DeSantis/Jim Jordan ticket to run against whoever rises to the top on the Left. I do not see that being Joe Biden, but the Dems did elect John Fetterman or his wife, so anything is possible.

Some names are DeSantis, Mike Pence, Rick Scott, Nikki Haley, Glenn Youngkin, Tim Scott, Kristi Noem, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio. There are others, but this list shows how deep the bench is for the GOP. Any of these people would be better than any Progressive that the Democrats will choose should Biden not run. Add Trump to this list, and we may have a very hot and damaging Primary that will divide and not unite the Party.

The House has to do its job, keep Biden bogged down, and minimize his damage to the country until we retire him to the Delaware coast. Politics in America is a 24/7/365 bloodsport, but the 2024 campaign will not heat up until the summer of 2023. In the meantime, I hope that in that time, the Republican leadership will develop a platform that Republicans can stand behind and that Independents will understand and embrace.