Disclaimer: I went for a memey title, but hear me out. Also, I want to stress this is a theory, not something I think is reality...just something that could possibly be real. I don't think it's the likeliest explanation, but it's something that popped into my head. We'll see what happens if she drops out today, too.
What this comes down to is the age old question: Is an organization - in this case the GOP - more evil, or more stupid? Essentially, are they running things competently?
They don't seem to want Trump. But they know swapping him out would be a disaster. What if Nikki Haley is a sacrificial cutout to try to dampen the blow? Here's my idea: They're pushing Haley to stay in, precisely because she's hated but, if Trump gets taken out one way or another, they're not going to put her in as the candidate, even if she's still in the race...they're going to swap back to DeSantis, who recovered some of his popularity after dropping and endorsing Trump, and was also polling higher. It would make the whole process seem much more palatable to some. I personally don't think it would be enough, but it's certainly better than running Haley.
Essentially, Nikki Haley is in the race to be hated, so the GOP can stab Trump in the back and swap back to DeSantis or something, and pretend it's for the good of the people and the party.
And, since I know we probably still have some DeSantis fans, I'm not even saying he's in on it in this hypothetical situation. He could be, in one version, but it's certainly not required. Dropping out and endorsing Trump was a fairly natural move, and is in no way a condemnation on DeSantis.
No matter what happens, this election cycle is going to be a chaotic mess. The cleanest option is somehow a Trump v Biden rematch. Anything else gets even stupider, and even less representational.
That would be a very smart 5D chess move.....so probably not the truth.
The Republican party without MAGA or Trump are idiots focused on short-term personal enrichment than any long term plan or goals. If they were, they wouldn't have weakened themselves to essentially have Trump takeover, they'd have a clear line of succession after turtleneck and that guy who was speaker wouldn't have been so humiliated.
I'm more worried about dems assassinating Trump than any plan from the Republicans, the most they could be is accomplices..
I don't see why they would be concerned.
In 2020, Biden was declared the winner 4 days after election day. Worst case scenario, they have to string it out for a full week this time around. Who's going to stop them from bringing in however many boxes of fake ballots it takes for them to get the desired result? Nobody.
Who's going to ensure signature verification is done properly? Nobody.
Who's going to get a real audit done in time to expose the fraud? Nobody.
I don't enjoy being black-pilled fwiw. I would love to be wrong.
I plan to put a large wager on the Democratic nominee for the emotional hedge. Not that I'll be excited to win that bet. But I might as well get something out of being fucked in the ass.
I don't think that's how they'd do it. Again, if you attribute any level of competence to them, which is getting harder and harder to do.
Their best move, if they want Orange Man out of the way, is something more subtle like poisoning. Trump's an old man; unless they want major conflict, they'd take him out in a way that can be written off as 'old man dies of oldness.' Heart attack or what have you.
I think the left siding with Palestine is the only sane thing they've ever done
If they do that, id expect it to happen after the inauguration. That way they can use Trump's popularity to install whoever they put on the ticket as VP.
I hate to sound cynical, but let's be real: Trump is a fat 79-year-old man. He will go to his apotheosis soon enough one way or the other (which is why it's so stupid for them to go to war with him, unless their true reason is to deter future challengers to their power).
By assassinating him, they will make him a martyr who belongs to the ages. Nothing would be better for the Trump movement. He'll be to the American Republic what Gracchus was to the Roman Republic, as he in some sense already is.
I agree but think of it this way:
Given ALL the actions they have done so far, do you think they aren't dumb and spiteful enough to try ANYWAY?
Heh. Fair point, although I don't think it's exactly at 5D chess levels; it's basic underhanded in-party election...guiding, which is pretty on brand for either party.
Again, I agree, but also think "win current election but without Bad Orange Man" can still be considered a short-term personal enrichment goal. And it's retarded, so still absolutely on brand.
I'm not worried about the Republicans or their plans; it's going to be what it's going to be, and if they want to make our system into even more of a joke, that's on them.
As to assassination, it's a concern, but I don't think a major one. So far their assassination attempts have been contained to the lawfare field, and it's likely - but not certain - that it will stay there.
I will say, I wish Trump was better at surrounding himself with competent people. A man of his means...it should be very hard to take him out without causing a major ruckus, but I don't trust he has things locked down to the point where he couldn't easily be poisoned or otherwise made to just drop dead seemingly from natural causes. So anything is possible.