1) Trump’s Dilemma
Let’s consider that Trump never wanted to be president and just thought his running would just be a great publicity stunt.
Those who remember the TV show the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour might remember comedian Pat Paulsen. In the show, Pat was introduced as a political candidate running for president. In Paulsen’s skit, he would propose some really crazy political objectives just for laughs from the audience but he actually got some write-in votes in real elections as a form of protest.
In later interviews with brothers Smothers, they would always mention how well their TV ratings did whenever Pat Paulson did his shtick.
I believe that Trump glommed on to this fake politician idea figuring that all he would have to do is say a few crazy things like Paulsen did (Trump’s Plan A); He may get a few protest votes, but he would be ‘thrown out’ by the time any real convention came around to nominate him. Trump probably has said more than 200 things that should have eliminated him from running but he was nominated anyway.
The dilemma for Trump is that his plan A didn’t work. Getting thrown out would mean he would not be able to be in an actual election; If people couldn’t vote for him, he couldn’t lose (or win). He hates to be seen as a loser, but he can’t see himself as president. What to do?
2) Why plan A didn’t work (or why people would vote for him)
a) The “Make America Great Again” can mean a lot of things to many people. It is important to the wearers of the MAGA hats to never discuss what it actually means because it would give away the faith of the MAGA church. I’m not sure if Pat Paulsen ever used that slogan, but I can imagine he could have put it to good use. MAGA folks will vote for Trump no matter what. Whatever, the MAGA movement is a real thing, and like “Trump’s Dilemma” will be discussed in political science classes for years to come.
b) Conservative elites don’t play that. There is a real fear that too many liberal judges on the Supreme Court would be real bad. So bad that it’s better to have an evil clown as president than have a bunch of judges who think climate change is a real thing.
c) Obama did it. I’m gonna guess that a large percent of Trump supporters believe that Obama was born in Kenya, he’s not a real ‘merican, and has a questionable religion. Oh, he has a funny name too. The liberal elite did a real bad thing by getting him elected and now they have to pay! In politics, the needle sways left then right and back again over time, but having this Obama in office pinned the needle way way left, so something has got to be done about it!
