If you want to know why Trump endorsed Dr. Mehmet Oz…
…in the Pennsylvania senatorial GOP primary, here’s a good explanation.
Sounds reasonable to me.
The New Neo
A blog about political change, among other things
…in the Pennsylvania senatorial GOP primary, here’s a good explanation.
Sounds reasonable to me.
He could have and should have endorsed Kathy Barnette.
As usual, the conservatives criticizing Trump fall for the media narrative before they get all the facts…
Mehmet Oz makes a good living being paid to say stuff on TV, some of which is wacky and questionable. That doesn’t make him a bad person necessarily. It makes him, like Trump, another guy in show business. The rise of reality programming and infotainment have seriously blurred the lines between actors and non-actors, national politicians and national media figures.
Which is why I think Globetrotters vs Generals is a better model to describe national politics than Left and Right, but I digress.
And some people fall for the narrative that there are only two choices, From the cited article: “Ryun, though, says that, as between Oz and Dave McCormick, who is the other Republican running in Pennsylvania’s Republican primary, Oz was actually the better choice: “There are no credible MAGA candidates in the Pennsylvania Senate race; this isn’t a potential Jim DeMint versus Oz situation, so Trump really has two choices: Oz or McCormick.”
No, there is third choice. And a very good conservative choice, Kathy Barnette. And that choice would be all the more credible if she received Trump’s endorsement.
One only has to open one’s eyes to see she is the better choice.
Oz doesn’t seem to be committed to any credibly conservative causes. It’s campaign talk. His strong point, in Trump’s eyes, in my opinion, is that McCormick was NOT a Trump supporter. Personal loyalty is nice, and to Trump, it’s essential. But when Trump ran, he presented a platform I supported. Oz?
Trump would (or should?) rather pick nobody than pick a loser – best is to pick a maybe who becomes a winner because of Trump.
I’m sure Trump is more interested in winning than in the platform of the winners. I used to be sure that was somehow short term thinking – but I’m no longer sure.
“America loves a winner, and will not tolerate a loser” (GC Scott as Patton)
Getting the GOP to be rid of GOPe CoC war-lovers is a necessary step to the long term health of America.
I hope every single candidate that Trump endorses, wins – and I hope he endorses good folk. (In that order)
Some of the candidates running against McCormick and Oz may be desirable and appealing if you look at their program and properties carefully. What strikes me about them is that most of them have been unsuccessful candidates in less demanding campaigns (U.S. House &c). Only one (Jeff Bartos) seems like a man with something better to do than run for office (he owns several businesses). One does wonder where are the ambitious Republicans who might be interested in serving in Congress. You have two Republicans who have been elected statewide, you have the congressional delegation. Presumably you’ve got a pool of county executives. That’s apart from businessmen more suitable than McCormick. (Former Gov. Corbett at age 72 may just wish to remain retired).
My suspicion is that you have a crew of wealthy donors who are the go-to source to finance statewide campaigns in Pennsylvania, that they want McCormick, and that there isn’t anyone else right now who can do an end-run around them.
Reading a capsule biography of McCormick, he looks like Mitt Romney. Very able, and quite untrustworthy.
Art Deco wrote: “…unsuccessful candidates in less demanding campaigns (U.S. House &c).” There is some truth to that, but on the other hand someone like Kathy Barnette has a better chance to win a statewide election for US Senate than a House seat. Her district (my district), PA 4th Congressional, is overwhelmingly blue, returning the loathsome Madeleine Dean time after time.
I have been reading all about the Wizard of Oz since in Pa and not voting for him any way. Maybe if Trump won in 2024 Oz might be manageable but 2 years without he will be a Rino.
Right now and until I can’t I will be voting for Kathy Barnett in May and November.
Quiet frankly. I think Trump is stuck on the last election. I hope he doesn’t run. He was the perfect person at the time, but not now. He, even as president, made some dubious choices for cabinet etc, so I don’t think who he endorses holds much weight, at least with me.
I am entirely unfamiiar with all of the contestants but Oz. That said, the problem with electing a RINO like Oz is that it ensures his reelection for potentially many, many terms. Think Graham. The Grahams and McConnells will never defeat the left, just slow them down.
In general, 90%+ of incumbents are reelected. I have to wonder if the people advising Trump even considered suggesting to Trump that he consider endorsing the reportedly more conservative Kathy Barnette.
I find myself in agreement with physicsguy. Trump will continue to surround himself with bad choices. America needs a fighter but a Grant not a Sherman. Sherman was a fine tactician. Grant was a superb strategist.
Trump proved himself to be a tactician, fighting each battle with the Left, he never saw the whole picture. Took little note for far too long of the Deep State operatives in his administration; Fauci, Collins, Birx, McMaster, Kelly, etc.
It’s all about personal loyalty for Trump not allegiance to principle because he’s not a man of principles but of gut instincts and cultural allegiances.
De Santis is I suspect, a strategist.
Tactics win battles. Strategy wins wars. We are in a war not simply in a series of decisive battles.
Geoffrey, you realize that Grant was Sherman’s superior in the chain of command? You realize that Sherman and Grant worked together to defeat the Confederates? You realize that Sherman’s March to the Sea through GA and then up into the Carolinas was an essential part of the victory over the Confederates, and probably prevented Lincoln’s loss in the election of 1864? You realize that Grant’s and Sherman’s campaigns were coordinated?
A tactician/strategist strawman.
You realize that Sherman was a master of tactics, logistics, and strategy?
You realize that Sherman loathed the press and was not a politician?
Read the book “Grant” by Ron Chernow.
Both were great men.
In any event: DeSantis 2024.
Om,
Yes I have long realized much of what you list. The one exception to which I disagree is in your assertion that Sherman was also a great strategist. Grant drew up the strategy. He counted on Sherman’s tactical brilliance to execute the most critical part of that strategy. Cutting off the South’s logistics by destroying the Atlanta railroad hub accomplished the fatal blow of eliminating both the South’s ability to manuever its forces as needed through its interior lines and resupply its forces.
PS: Sherman’s known loathing for reporters and politicians has nothing to do with his expertise being in tactics rather than strategy.
And yes, both were great military commanders. Lincoln was a great man. Far more than either Grant or Sherman.
From Wickedmedia
William Tecumseh Sherman (/t??k?ms?/ te-KUM-s?; February 8, 1820 – February 14, 1891) was an American soldier, businessman, educator, and author. He served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861–1865), achieving recognition for his command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the scorched earth policies that he implemented against the Confederate States.[4] British military theorist and historian B. H. Liddell Hart declared that Sherman was “the first modern general”.[5][6]
My recollection from “Grant” by Ron Chernow was that Grant and Sherman worked together to develop the strategy. As regards logistics, it was Sherman’s mastery of that essential element that allowed his victory in Georgia and the Carolinas IIRC.
The Wikipedia author is assigning Grant’s strategic thinking to Sherman. Look there’s no doubt that they worked together, besides their complementary positions, they were friends since West Point.
Grant laid out the strategy, no doubt with input from Sherman, especially on how best to make the strategy work, which of course is tactics. Strategy: what to do. Tactics: how to do it.
Sherman wasn’t concerned with the campaigns Grant assigned to his other generals. His focus was destroying Atlanta’s railyards and cutting the South in half. He was not directly engaging Lee and was not in a position to see the overall picture.
BTW, Grant not Sherman is considered the first modern general because he was the first general to see the campaigns he assigned to his subordinate generals as an interactive whole. Each individual campaign reinforcing the other in a manner that forced the enemy to react in a pre-envisaged reactive movement. Prior to Grant, in war generals played checkers, move by move. Grant was the first to play chess.
Sorry Geoffrey but Liddel Hart has a bit more credibility.
I will cast a ballot for Trump if he is the candidate. I do think all parties would be better off if he passed the baton. If it’s deSantis, fine. If it’s Cruz fine. If it’s Rand Paul, OK. The fredocon donorist wing of the Republican Party took about 25% of the primary and caucus vote in 2016, having won just over half in 2012 and about 3/4 in 2008. Be amusing if someone like Bob Corker entered the race in 2024, hoovered up all the clandestine support the Capitol Hill / K-Street nexus could muster, then Jebbed! out.
I’d think a great deal more of the congressional caucuses of Bitc* McConnell and Kevin McCarthy were sent to the back benches come January. Yeah, I know. From my mouth to God’s ears.
DeSantis 2024. He has demonstrated competence at running a large state and at making leftist opponents and “news” media twist into pretzels.
Trump made some poor personnel choices, but this was in part because he couldn’t get some conservatives to work with him. If we take back the White House, we need an executive who can assemble an effective team of other competent people. If Trump intends to run, he should shift focus forward on what he wants to do with the second term, not on the failure to stop the electoral manipulation the last time.
Trump 2024.
First, we were cheated out of fair elections. True the Vote has the receipts. And we need to stop treating the 2020 election tampering as old news and start fixing the process
Second, when Democrats start coming after Casey DeSantis and their kids, implying prostitution, collusion, transgenderism, racism – will he, his wife, his kids, his brothers, sisters, wife’s brothers, sisters be able to take it and will he push forward or will he go the John Roberts route?
Republicans/conservatives always think if we just nominate someone kinder, gentler, the Democrats/liberals will go easier on us. No one kinder or gentler than Clarence Thomas. Have they ever let up on him? No. In fact now they’re throwing even more mud his way.
Trump is battle tested.
Trump 2024
Pennsylvania GOP voter here, Trump has lost me entirely with his endorsements meddling. I will never trust him again after voting for him 2016 and 2020, where he should have been able to pull off a victory instead of that failure. Oz is a disaster, and Trump spoke out against Bill McSwain, claiming as US Attorney for Eastern PA he should have challenged the 2020 electoral vote.
Democrat Josh Shapiro will be the next governor unless the Republicans can choose a winner from the crowded field of fourteen candidates. Mostly they are no-hopers or typical hack Pennsylvania politicians with limited statewide appeal.
I know and have met several of them, and Bill McSwain is the only one of the bunch who could conceivably both put together a credible statewide candidacy in November and if successful in the election give some decent leadership once in office. Trump’s pique over the election challenge could give us fiercely ambitious and radical leftist Josh Shapiro instead.
The Senate race includes people like Carla Sands and Kathy Burnette who talk a good game to the party faithful, but can’t win in November, and wishy-washy Jeff Bartos, an unconvincing and weak general election candidate. For better or worse, David McCormick is the only realistic option, and people I know who know him are encouraged that he will be about the best Pennsylvania can put in the Senate.
Trump should butt out and let Pennsylvania Republicans make their own choices.
Thanks for that input, Rob.
Trump has endorsed Ted Budd here in North Carolina, and he’s leading Pat McCrory in polls at this point. I support Budd, not particularly because of Trump, but because McCrory would be another Republican squish like Tillis. When there’s a better choice than a squish, who can win the general election, that’s a good choice.
“Sorry Geoffrey but Liddel Hart has a bit more credibility.” om
Ah, the logistical falsity of “an appeal to authority”.
“Liddell Hart was the outstanding advocate of the limited liability policy – the commitment of the fewest possible troops and ideally none at all to a European alliance. Liddell Hart argued defense was markedly superior to the attack in modern land warfare and that weapon development actually increased this superiority (p.612).” [my emphasis]
Hart conviently ignores the bankrupt defenses of the French Maginot Line and the German defense at the Normandy beaches on D-day.
“To the scientific mind, experimental proof is all-important, and theory is merely a convenience in description, to be junked when it no longer fits.
To the academic mind, authority is everything, and facts are junked when they do not fit theory.” ~ Robert A. Heinlein
Sorry Geoffrey but Liddel Hart actually has a written, reviewed, and critiqued record as a historian, do you?
He made a statement about W T Sherman as the first modern general which you find to be in error. So you trot out some other topic unrelated to W T Sherman to undermine the credibility of Liddel Hart.
Your ego is showing. Please produce some evidence to show your standing as an analyst of the Civil War, WWI, or armored warfare doctrine in the inter war years; those things are called evidence.
Quoting R.A. Heinlein, a science fiction writer, is weak tea. History and credibility are the topics here, not fiction
BTW I’be read all of RAH’s work, file under misspent youth.
Trump has endorsed Charles W. Herbster in the NE Governor’s race. Herbster gave Trump $1.6m. Herbster was accused last week of groping 8 Republican women, including a State Senator.
David McCormick is the only realistic option,
McCormick was among the crew (which included Ted Olson, Steve Schmidt, and Nicolle Wallace) who singed on to an amicus curiae brief urging the Supreme Court to declare conventional matrimonial law to be ‘unconstitutional’. He would never have a realistic option of winning a vote from me if he ran in any jurisdiction in which I was living.