CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – I should have known better about Donald Trump. He makes a lot of mistakes.
His first big blunder came as a candidate. Speaking about Arizona’s late senator John McCain, Trump said “I prefer war heroes who don’t get caught.” It was a shockingly calloused comment. McCain was a victim of torture while a POW in Vietnam. Trump got out of military service because of bunions and a letter from a family-friendly podiatrist.
McCain was not above payback. Republicans were one vote short in the U.S. Senate of overturning Obamacare. McCain turned towards the camera and pointed thumbs-down.
Both men have oversized egos. They also agree on most, but not all, of the issues of the day. They could have been allies on many, many things that conservatives care about. Instead they fought needlessly.
Donald Trump did that far too often. Ted Cruz, Scott Walker, Lindsey Graham, Mike Pence, and Nikki Hailey are all reliable conservatives. And they all faced Trump’s wrath.
Was Trump treated unfairly as president? Absolutely. More than anyone who’s been in the White House during my lifetime. But that doesn’t excuse unforced errors.
Trump’s endorsements have been a mixed bag. J.D. Vance is a senate winner in Ohio. John Masters is a spectacular loser in Arizona. In Wisconsin, Trump inserted himself in the GOP primary for governor. He backed eventual nominee Tim Michels, who had never held political office, was a poor debater and a lazy campaigner. Rebecca Kleefisch was a better, more qualified candidate. Trump backed the wrong horse, and Wisconsin will be stuck with Tony Evers for the next four years.
That’s why I’m turning my attention to Florida’s Ron DeSantis. He and Trump are both pugnacious and conservative. But DeSantis makes fewer mistakes, and has coat-tails. Florida is now solidly Republican because their governor has delivered the goods.
Donald Trump referred to his possible opponent as Ron De”sanctimonious”. Trump doesn’t learn from his mistakes. He doesn’t even acknowledge he makes them. Name calling isn’t smart, especially if Trump should need a pardon from President DeSantis someday.
Chris Conley
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