Seeking Solace ?

(Seeking Solace ?)

So, Donald Trump won the New Hampshire Primary, an eleven-point margin over Governor Haley. This result, however, is giving the impression that the former U.N. Ambassador has life in her campaign because Trump was not able to deliver a more decisive outcome. As one has been saying for days, the Granite State can be a queer animal. Because Haley was not wholly eviscerated, she can still raise money, she can hold rallies and continue to campaign.


But for how long ? New Hampshire is over but that is the only state with the requisite independents and so-called "free thinkers" that could defy conventional thinking, that, in this case, a major Trump whopping of Haley, that did not quite come to pass. So, in final analysis, Governor Haley secured some breathing room, at least enough to get her to South Carolina, where the margin for Trump is more significant.


The Haley episode is a double-edged sword and does pose some risk to Donald Trump. The Haley voters this time will need to become Trump voters when the time comes. For her part, realizing that she herself has no path to the Nomination, barring some un-foreseen happening to Trump. That being said, how Trump manages this relationship Haley, at least in the short term, when the point is reached where her continuing the race is not a practical matter. Trump, for his part, can again be magnanimous towards Haley because a victor needs no excuses.


At the same time, a victor still needs votes and those available can come from those for Nikki Haley. To complete the picture, both Trump and Haley need the mutual recognition that, as the last two standing, they cannot achieve collective success as remaining separate entities. This not meaning that Trump needs Haley as his pick for Vice President; Trump has apparently already made his choice, but Haley, when the time comes, needs to be on board and give Trump her endorsement.


Which will be painful. The greatest source of crocodile tears is a politician who just admits defeat. Can one really think that Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswami, Tim Scott or Doug Burgham remain enthusiastic for Donald Trump out of the public eye ? How many curse Trump under breath ? The Trump campaign is a jigsaw that has to be assembled before Election Day, Right now, Nikki Haley is an outstanding piece.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Siege Of The Alamo

(Siege Of The Alamo) Any visitor to Downtown San Antonio will recognize the City's most famous landmark, the Alamo. An old Spanish mission that means "Cottonwood" in English was the site where the likes of Jim Bowie, William Barrett Travis and Davy Crockett and about another 185 Texians defended the Mission and its compound for thirteen days against the Army of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana and his 5,000 troops. The garrison was finally reduced on March 6, 1836. However, the Texian defeat at the Alamo and another one at Goliad, bought time for General Sam Houston time to fall back and then face Santa Ana at San Jacinto. There, Houston's army surprised the Mexicans and yelling "Remember the Alamo, Remember Goliad !" all but wiped out the Mexican force. Santa Ana was captured and was forced to recognize the Republic of Texas. Which is now the State of Texas and, like 1836 Texas War of Independence, there is a new invasion from Mexico. Not the armed body o
Read more

TEQUILA !

(TEQUILA !) Happy Cinco de Mayo or May 5th. One can hope that a lot of you out there are awash in inebriation, seeking to mainline tequila shots or enjoying a nice margarita on the patio. Or, in other words, relax. Take a breath. De-compress. May 5th as it happens is the anniversary of Mexico's victory over French "occupation" of Mexico by Emperor Maximillian, brother to Austrian monarch Maria Theresa in what has been called the Battle of Puebla. The reason France was in Mexico in the first place was that Mexico, after the Mexican-American War and a more civil conflict called the Reform War, had bankrupted Mexico City. Mexican President at the time was Benito Juarez, who repudiated all foreign debt, of which France, Spain, and the United Kingdom were all major holders. A naval expedition was dispatched to Veracruz and France's Napoleon III thought it would be a good idea to establish a French "empire" in Mexico. But, on May 5th, 1862, in the aforementioned B
Read more

Intended Consequences

(Intended Consequences) For those Readers who live in the Tri-State area, who had the earthquake this morning, just be still.  There is a postulate called the Law of Un-Intended Consequences. Basically, it says that even with the best intentions, negative results sometimes happen. However, there are also instances when a negative result is precisely the desired outcome. Like with the Israel- Hamas war where the Biden Administration continues to press for an all but unilateral ceasefire on the part of Israel. In California, the new $20/HR minimum wage is wreaking havoc on the fast food industry. And finally, after depleting the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, oil has now become too expensive. How many times must the Biden Administration think it can influence Israeli affairs ? How many times must Israel ignore it. Threats from the President have become redundant at this point but is Biden really prepared to cut Israel loose ? In the middle of the greatest crisis Israel is facing since the
Read more