I haven’t posted a political opinion in a while, so here it is.

Conservatives need to move past Donald Trump. It doesn’t matter how you feel about his achievements, values or competency. It doesn’t matter if you legitimately feel he’s the best possible person for the job, and has proven himself in the face of extreme adversity. (I’d agree with the latter.)

It doesn’t matter. Get over it.

Because, in addition to doing his job he also set off the LONGEST, LARGEST TEMPER TANTRUM in the history of American politics. And unfortunately instead of assuaging his haters he fanned the flames like the masochist he appears to be… In any case, another Trump presidency would be a liability. While leaving his “love him or hate him” legacy behind us may possibly allow us to move ahead.

I say possibly because we now live in unprecedented times. Times in which federal agencies meant to protect us can be used as political weapons. Times in which citizens are handed their emotions by talking heads on a screen who are bought and paid for by politicians. Times in which the media chooses for us which demonstrations are forces for justice and which are acts of treason. Times in which our government holds political prisoners while we look the other way, because the media has justified what we would otherwise recognize as morally and ethically abhorrent. Times in which our social media experience (which for most of us, constitutes 90% of our social experience) is surreptitiously peppered with propaganda and talking points, even after we believe we’ve turned off the “news”.

That said, I think most of us want our country to have another chance, and we want to cure the brainwashed masses who were once our friends and neighbors. Sure, there are those on the right that are irrevocably bound to Trump through the forces of sheer outrage and defiance. (Doesn’t that remind you of something, from… oh, around 2016? Move on.)

There are other candidates to choose from. But we (myself included) need to weigh even these against the infantile emotional reactions that will be encountered whenever another Republican takes office.

We need to recognize that the best choice may no longer be the most reliable, but the least vilifiable.

We might have to adapt our thinking to that of the racist and sexist hordes that brought us Kamala Harris. [Please don’t believe I am saying that I want to see a conservative version of Harris. I would just like to try and elect someone competent that “moderate” democrats can stomach without having to deny their election and waste time and resources taking them to court.] Someone who can legitimately cross the aisle and speak respectfully and intelligently with the grownups there. We might have to choke down the bitter taste of ironic inequality and find a viable candidate who is not male and/or white.

And again, I say, you all need to take off your boxing gloves and break up with the Donald. He had a good run, did some good stuff, but he has NO chance of ever succeeding in politics again. They ultimately won. That is not to say Trump mightn’t win the 2024 election, but it will be a hollow and pointless victory. Don’t think they won’t go on another spending spree, using taxpayer dollars to support ridiculous, endless investigations and lawsuits, just to ensure the impotence of a Republican executive branch. It’ll be just as bad as if we elected a blubbering dolt like Harris, or a self-righteous mean girl like AOC. Let’s try for a functioning government this time, and avoid the hysterics.

So, if you don’t want to see another 4 years of deep state puppeteering – or much, much worse… Something so horrendous it’ll lead to civil war… Vote for someone else.

Suggestions:

Rubio –
Upside: leads with integrity and gets results; might be the most effective and predictable/reliable of the bunch. He’d probably do well with Congress.
Downside: already being vilified with slick slogans like “Don’t say gay”. The media already has the guy over a spit because they know he’s popular. It smells like 2016…. And Trump’s fan base have been paying attention to hit pieces on him, too – so he won’t get that cult crowd.

Haley –
Upside: she’s female – +1 for neo-feminists – and she would have a firm grip on foreign policy from day one. She’s also a good speaker. Has experience and a commendable record.
Downside: she flips on or backs off from social issues. I don’t see her forcing schools to go back to focusing on education (vs playing political games with other people’s kids).

Ramashwamy –
Upside: say it with me, he’s a brown person – +1 for leftist racists – he’s also young and an invigorating speaker, he seems like a nice guy, and he has an interesting last name, three traits Democrats have responded to in the past over experience. Also, a competent businessman turned out to be a good idea last time, and he might immediately implement a way to fix Biden’s mess.
Downside: he has a lot to learn, being new to the game, and most of us don’t know much else about him. He might not be well received by the career politicians in Washington.

Pence –
Upside: Decent human being with political history (which is typically an oxymoron). Would be pretty well accepted – and respected – inside the beltway.
Downside: Religious, and takes a little too much of his church into the state. Also, say it with me, he’s an old, white dude.

Scott –
Upside: Probably the most universally likable of the bunch. Firmly accomplished and politically savvy. Thinks before he speaks, which would be refreshing to see in the White House again for the first time since Bush Sr. He’s black, too (+2?) which could, again, make the perennial racists on the left happy.
Downsides: Soft spoken, and as such may not be as effective in the hot box. Not sure about his foreign policy. Far right racists who don’t watch the news will think he’s only in the running for one reason. It’s a stupid reason to withhold a vote, but it’s happened before.

So, conservatives, who is your favorite candidate and why is it still Donald Trump? 😉