Even if he did manage to get elected, however, and given the disorganization in his previous administration, this sounds like this would end up as a half-baked executive order that would take a dash of luck to survive a court challenge. Frankly, I don’t think he would care. He would win the newscycle on right wing media on the day the EO was announced. He would also win the newscycle on the day the courts struck down the EO. (“All those disloyal Trump judges are actually enforcing the APA! Sad.”) Then his supporters would explain it all away yet another GOPe act of sabotage. The end result would be nothing, but Trump would remain as popular as ever with his base.

No thanks.

What we really ought to do is actually win an election and then start playing the “private cause of action” game as the left does. We know that even a successful EO would be wiped away as soon as Democrats take power again. We also know that Democrats have no interest in prosecuting or pursuing civil actions against companies that are censoring their opponents. So pass a bill creating a private cause of action for individuals whose speech is censored by social media companies for political reasons. Establish a plaintiff-friendly discovery process. Then sit back and see whether the social media companies wise up before or after they get sued into oblivion.

Republicans need to find the candidate who can do something like that (and I doubt that most GOPe figures would). The problem with Trump is that if you go with the showman, you’ll get a show, but not necessarily much else.

Shakin’ me head.

(Happy we’re in agreement.)

The reason I said on this post that it was his second announcement today is that the first one – the trading cards – was dealt with earlier, on the roundup post. There were also a few comments there about the cards.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-social-media-censorship-a-crime-section-241-us-code-government-private-conspiracy-civil-rights-speech-11670934266?mod=Searchresults_pos1&page=1

Trump stepped up when it was hard and did some great things. Granted. Kudos. Especially the Supreme Court. But Trump has lost the plot and it’s a problem.

I notice commenters here have been careful not to notice Trump’s other “big” announcement — his idiotic, ego-maniacal line of Trump Digital Trading Cards.

I saw that and at first assumed it was satire. But nooooo….

Trump has served many a useful purpose already. To name just one, and an important one, he has demonstrated for all who are willing to see, that the deep state emperor has no clothes. I appreciate that, and I give him credit.

If I’m biased against Trump, it’s in the sense that not only does he commit serious unforced errors, but in doing so he harms our cause; no need to plow that ground again.

But I genuinely mean it, I hope his “announcement *does* cause the issues to be discussed more widely”, and in that event, I will be happy to walk back my criticism — and beyond this comment thread. ** Keep me honest, okay? **

[I *certainly* concur with Chris B (8:14 pm): “No more whining about the stolen election and childish insults.” We have *serious* work to do.]

No more whining about the stolen election and childish insults.

Given that you acknowledge that there are some slight biases in the media and other sectors of society against Trump, and possibly your own (?), I doubt you will do much walking back.

Time will tell.