Donald Trump is pursuing a mind-boggling election strategy.
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It’s another example of how Trump and MAGA are attempting to undermine faith in the coming election. Trump lost the popular vote in both 2016 and 2020, so he might be making a preemptive strike at the legitimacy of the results should he lose the popular vote a third time. Still, it’s not clear why he’s telling his supporters not to vote at all. Perhaps it’s another example of the former president and convicted felon’s cognitive decline.
I served with a guy like this. He would always put himself at a disadvantage in any contest or game. If he won "he was so good he overcame you even at a handicap", if he lost "yeah, but even with a handicap it was close"...so annoying.
That's like the dating strategy Todd Gak had used on Elaine in Seinfeld--he made a bet with her that Dustin Hoffman was in Star Wars, saying he'd buy her dinner if he was wrong. She took him up on the bet, and since he was wrong he bought her dinner. The whole dinner had the makings of a date, though it had never been explicitly called one. It gave him cover, if the date didn't go the way he liked he could always refuse another one without rocking the boat too much (or he could fall back on the bet excuse if she doesn't show further interest too)... He'd found a "dating loophole" lol
I think it's also he can't stand to lose now. He was fine the first time, it was to launch his brand. Now it would be an insult to him, so he'd rather quit than lose.
Trump only ever escalates, he never deescalates. So no, he would never quit. But you are absolutely right that losing again would be a huge insult to him. Bigger than before.
He's already been told he has "the votes" now and has won.
So if that turns out not to be happening the closer we get to November's results, to him it will be a purely fraudulent steal.
Anyone who's going to vote for the Mango Mussolini has already decided to and nothing can convince them not to.
Likewise, everyone else who's ever heard of him would never in a million years vote for him.
Contrary to the perennial Dem election strategy Plan 1992, there's hardly any undecided voters. The only ones who truly are undecided have deliberately not followed politics for the last 8 years and are unlikely to vote.
So yeah, he already has all the votes he's going to get and won't lose any. Let's just hope that he's wrong about having enough to eke out an EC win.
I guess it simplifies the game plan. If there is only one outcome to prepare for, it's easier to organise what you're going to do.
Plus, it gives him a face save.
"NO, we did not lose that FRAUDULENT ELECTION. I told the GOOD people not to vote, and they did not. I will be holding my OWN, FREE ELECTION in florida on friday."
Honestly, I kinda hope that's what demented don does. Hold a fake election that means less than nothing and have all his idiots not vote in the one that matters.
He'd lose, and wouldn't be able to try his Couping 2: Electric Boogaloo
This man is genuinely retarded. If I didn't think his ego was as huge as it is, I'd think this is a tactic to save face when he gets crushed in November.
I mean, he's incredibly unsubtle. Maybe he knows deep down that in a straight vote he's going to lose, so people voting isn't going to matter vs the amount of crime that's going to be committed in early November?
Perhaps he and his brain trust are somehow thinking they should abandon democratic process and peaceful transition of power altogether and actually try to stage a literal coup. Watch what the legislative leadership does. Johnson in particular. He’ll probably try some sketchy bullshit on January 6, 2025.
I swear I read that certain states have put in laws where they can ultimately refuse the outcomes of elections if they so choose, and the SCOTUS is already primed to be the deciding factor. I don't recall if that was pure doom 'n gloom from his 2020 tantrums though
If this demented rapist tanks the Repubs this election (again, but harder) just to be able to get some good whines that would be hilarious. I hope it happens and McConnell has a fatal heart attack with rage over it.
Probably because he doesn’t want to continue selling the country out to Putin as part of his obvious debt to him, and the only way out is to lose without looking like he’s actively trying to.