I won’t get into all the predictions and tea leaf reading I’ve been right about since predicting Obama would be president back in 2006 (I certainly can’t discuss my correct analysis of the 2016 race) but hear me out on this, because we need to inoculate ourselves from this move, and insure Trump is in fact our opponent in 2020.
First some assumptions:
1) Trump is lazy
2) The GOP wants the Trump nightmare to end nearly as much the DNC, to help all of their tight races that depend on suburban women.
3) Pence is a loyal GOP solider who will do whatever it take to win especially if he gets to pick Judicial nominees.
4) Trumps biggest concern is staying out of jail.
5) Perception is more important than reality in Trump world.
6) Trump sees his administration as show driven by ratings.
So here is the inevitable Trump Idiocracy season two plot twist I see coming.
Imagine a the RNC inteligencia has gathered in the oval office. Maybe Frank Luntz is tasked with leading the strategy pitch to Trump and it goes like this:
Donald here’s the situation: You can’t win. The polls all show it. Suburban women hate you. It’s a fact. We got eight senate seats where we need suburban women on our side Donald. Here’s what you need: You need another term, or at least half of one to run out the statute of limitations on the fraud cases from NY you’re facing. So here it is Donny, Imagine this: It’s the night before the Democratic nominating convention. They’re about to nominate old, white, establishment Joe Biden as their candidate, and this is where you steal all their thunder by announcing this: You’ve decided that you’ve accomplished almost everything you’ve wanted in just four years, and you have one more gift for America, the first female president Nikki Haley. Nikki Haley will be named your running mate and you’ve promised to step down “a very short period of time” into your second term to make her president. Mike pence will be your chief of staff and be in charge of all judicial nominees. Nikki has committed to making him her VP once she’s elevated to president. Now Donald you don’t actually have to step down. It’s all a con, just like you were gonna release your tax returns. “a very short period of time” could be 3 years, eleven months, and 28 days. You know, you wanna see the wall complete and it just keeps getting delayed. Whatever it takes. But here’s what it gets you:
1) No debates You really wanna be answering questions about stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen, and all the people in jail from your 2016 campaign. Nikki will be taking over the presidency so you send her out to debate Biden.
2) Your name is still on the ballot you still do your rallies. You still get your base out, but the educated suburban Republicans get to convince themselves that you’re not the one they’re voting for. They get to convince themselves they’re voting for Nikki. The first woman president!.
3) You get to “own” the media once more by saying “see they told you I was power hungry and wouldn’t give up the presidency well, I’m not only not seeking a third term I’m gonna cut my second term short. I’ve accomplished in 4 years what most presidents couldn’t do in eight” You claim victory! This is your absolute best chance to win and avoid legal issues. Admit it Donny it’s a beautiful plot twist. You go out on top a winner, avoid jail, and make a historic move to place the first woman president in office. It will be great TV Donald, plus all this stress will be over sooner.
This is the move we need to inoculate ourselves against by:
1) Talking about it as a real possibility (because it is) and pointing out it will be a con just like his promise to release his taxes.
2) Not over hyping Trump will never leave office hysteria.
3) Nominating a strong female populist like Warren.