11 Sep Drop Out, Donald. Please.
It will be good for America, good for your political party, and good for you. Surely the latter point should be of some importance in your consideration, Mr. Trump. Let me repeat: it will be good for you.
While “good riddance” will be the consensus in much of the United States and around the world if Donald Trump were to drop out of the presidential race following last night’s debate, this post attempts to make my case directly to Mr. Trump in a constructive, nice way like any good Minnesotan would.
Good for America
Mr. Trump, I convey this initial section as a fellow, proud American. I believe that politicians should be guided by basic leadership principles like honesty, peace, dignity, service, and integrity, and that our nation should be administered through principles such as freedom, law and justice, equality, and limited government. All of these principles flow from the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bible. (See Politics, Principle Based.)
Unfortunately, your principles seem to be self-gratification, self-aggrandizement, self-promotion, and self-serving revenge.
As a result, your candidacy deludes 35 percent of the population (those who admire you or your “policies”), disturbs 40 percent (those who disapprove of you), and depresses the other 25 percent (those who genuinely just want a fresh start for our country).
In addition to a reduction in divisiveness and unprincipledness, America stands to benefit in other ways by you dropping out, even at this late point in the election cycle. First and very substantively, our nation is less likely to impose inflation-causing tariffs or economy-harming (and vindictive) mass deportations if you are not our president.
Second, if you drop out now, there will be no violence when you lose. (See 6 January 2021.)
Of almost equal importance is that with you out, the “tone at the top” of our country will improve. I am a big believer in tone at the top, and I think you, as a businessman, are, too. While our national tone will not be perfect after you are gone, it will have to be better than if you were anywhere near the top.
In short, you dropping out is the best way to make America great again.
Good for the Republican Party
Now I am speaking as one who cares deeply about what it means (or what it should mean) to be a Republican and the values the party upholds – or at least used to uphold.
From a purely electoral standpoint, the best chance for the GOP to win U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and state legislative seats is for your cloud not to be hanging over those races. You see, having the Trump name on the ballot drives Democrats to vote, and they will vote against your party in the down-ballot races as well, to ensure that you won’t be able to accomplish your goals in case you do win. In other words, your coattails are counter-productive.
When the race to the bottom was you against Joe Biden, either of you would have been a political lame duck had you won. Now, it is just you. Therefore, if you truly do believe in conservative or Republican policies, they could be better advanced by someone else.
Lastly, I know you care about popularity in your own race, also. Much to your personal consternation, you have seen how the Democratic party has benefitted in the polls and rally turnouts since Joe Biden exited the contest. You come across as the only old guy left screaming at the clouds and telling your enemies to get off your lawn. A younger candidate with a forward-looking message and a generally better “vibe” would improve your party’s chances in the 2024 presidential election. (See Harris, Kamala.)
Good for You
Now, speaking as a former politician myself – one who saw he could not win and cared about my life and legacy – I should be talking your language. I’m talking here about what is in it for you.
First, your legacy. Despite your many failings to accomplish things you promised in 2016, people today still consider you as having been good for the economy, strong on the border, and one who “stood up for America in the world” when you were in the White House. Many people continue to express respect for your presidency.
More recently, you get some credit for driving your even-more-senior opponent out of the race. Now, if you do the same with yourself, your legacy will be the man who put America’s decade-long national nightmare behind us. History will honor you for prioritizing the country above yourself in the end. (See Biden, Joe.) You can prove that you really did put America first.
As to your personal life, I am here to tell you it is fun to be a former politician. And you will have the added benefit of being able to negotiate away your legal problems if you no longer are viewed as a “threat to democracy.” You may be amazed by how quickly those felony charges against you are dropped, the civil lawsuits are settled, and you can go back to playing a ton of golf. I have heard you say you are good at golf. Please just go play golf. Please and thank you.
Written by Quentin R. Wittrock, founder of Principle Based Politics.
Look for his posts each week, as this blog will explore and promote the idea of principle in politics, both as to individual elected leaders and our federal government as an institution.
Principle Based Politics does not endorse or support any particular political candidate or party.
Anonymous
Posted at 12:55h, 11 SeptemberDropping out would be best. JD Vance at the top of the GOP ticket? That won’t float either, not like
a Baby Ruth candy bar in a public pool!
Spot on Q spot on!
Karen Wintering
Posted at 13:07h, 11 SeptemberA+
Anonymous
Posted at 13:39h, 11 SeptemberWell said.
Trudy Johnson
Posted at 14:23h, 11 SeptemberAgree and yes, very well said. Trump dropping out would do all of us a favor. He could stop embarrassing himself and we could still put Nickie on the ticket.
DKnight
Posted at 16:26h, 11 SeptemberGovernor Desantis would have been better than Trump. Although, the media and the dems would have called Desantis a “threat to democracy”, “nazi”, etc.–just as they do with Trump. But you have Trump derangement syndrome on steriods. We have a complete fake representing the democrat party, with the pro-democrat/anti-republican media supporting her. We have Trump v. Harris. Which candidate is better for the country? Which candidate has better policies? Despite what some of his supporters say, Trump has never been a good debater. I actually don’t think he was much better than Biden during their debate. Mr. Wittrock, I respectfully suggest that you consume too much information from ABC, MSNBC, CNN, NBC, CBS, Star Tribune, Wash Post and NY Times, etc. Maybe you might get a little more information from “evil” FOX news, together with some other sources. Propaganda carried that debate performance for Harris. We don’t have a good choice–but we still have a clear choice. Our country is foundering under the Dems and Harris/Biden. Orange man has a better path forward–without regard to debates or the media. Unfortunately, neither candidate can be replaced at this point. The best policy direction is clearly presented by the GOP and its candidates–yes–even with Trump at the top of the ticket.
Quentin
Posted at 16:39h, 11 SeptemberI was looking for your comment, Darren. Thanks. I get most of my political news from the Wall Street Journal and the Economist. Excellent sources.
Paul Silseth
Posted at 17:11h, 11 SeptemberSorry to say I will be voting for him if he stays. But you hit this one way out of the park. Thank you so much. Exactly what is needed and we have the resilience to put it together in a short time.
DKnight
Posted at 17:43h, 11 SeptemberQunetin–I sometimes am a little too sharp in my comments. Your blog is a good thing–and we can all learn from successful people like you. I simply get frustrated with aspects of our political world. I believe we both do. Keep doing your deal–it is worthwhile.
Quentin
Posted at 17:54h, 11 SeptemberAs lawyers, we get used to differing opinions, so no problem at all. Keep commenting!
KAREN SCHREMPP
Posted at 18:42h, 11 SeptemberI’m grateful God is in control!
ctractenberg@foxrothschild.com
Posted at 10:37h, 12 SeptemberI like to think that character is destiny, and the destiny of the Republican party (and certain news outlets) is tied to a disreputable person. Republicans, rise up and be strong and take back the party.
Michael Hoffman
Posted at 19:02h, 13 SeptemberQuentin: Normally, I agree with your articles. However, you missed the mark on this recent one.
Many people, do not care for President Trump’s sometimes caustic personality and occasional crude language. However, our voting decisions should be based, primarily, on the candidate’s positions and policies on key issues. This is especially true when the opposing candidate (i.e., Kamala Harris) has positions are inherently vile, evil and bigoted.
Bigotry has no place in our society. Bigotry comes in many forms: race, gender, faith and age. Kamala Harris (like many in the Democratic party) is filled with age-hatred and age-bigotry. She spends significant time and money encouraging the most disgusting and bigoted of all actions: that is the killing of the most innocent of all human life – a young, infant child in his/her mother’s womb.
We easily forgive the brave firefighter’s crude language that might be might use while carrying a family member to safety (while risking his own life). Trump’s language might occasionally be crude. However, in no way does it compare to the vile, disgusting, anti-life policies promoted by Kamala Harris. She knows abortion is wrong – which is why she euphemistically uses the term “healthcare” to describe the killing an innocent child.
The candidate that should drop out of the race is Kamala Harris. She is the candidate of death, the candidate of hatred, and the candidate of age-bigotry. As for me (and as a Catholic), I will forgive Trump’s occasional crude language and, because of his policies, I will vote for Donald Trump.
Quentin
Posted at 19:25h, 13 SeptemberThanks for your well-expressed opinion, Michael. My suggestion to Donald Trump has nothing to do with his language. I believe it is in the best interest of the country and the Republican Party if he steps aside and allows a more principled Republican to replace him on the ballot.
Anonymous
Posted at 04:33h, 16 SeptemberI’m watching football with my sons–and the broadcast is interrupted about another attempt to shoot Trump. I felt compelled to hit your blog with another post. All of the distaste, outright hatred and disgust that is aimed at Trump, by democrats and republicans, and everybody else, is terribly misplaced. Within a very short time period, there were flunkies on NBC, CNN, MSNBC, etc.–blaming Trump for this societal dysfunction. It would take much more than a quick post to explain the problems that we face in this country. But Trump, a man with issues, who I did not vote for the first time he ran for prez, is not the problem. It is the leftist control of information flow in our country that is the problem–a huge problem. Again, it would take too long to delve into the scope and depth of the problems with our institutions, and Trump is a threat thereto, to cover in a quick post. Suffice it to say that our country has a deep sickness and Orange man is not the cause of it. Biden and Harris and Obama–yes the former prez who sicked the FBI on Trump and started the dangerous nonsense about Trump way back in 2016–are part of this sickness–big parts of it. Trump is called a threat to democracy and a nazi on a daily basis. He is not the threat. The left and the media are the threat. We had better all wake up–and quickly.
JerryWaltrip
Posted at 11:54h, 22 OctoberIt seems that most candidates use generalities like “concept” when specifics might tell us more about their approach to problems.