30 Dec The Year’s Highest Clicks
Donald Trump is one of a kind. I mean, who else in a single year could face nearly 100 felony counts in four jurisdictions, get convicted of the first 34 to go to a jury, be hit with hundreds of millions of dollars in civil verdicts for defamation and fraud, get shot in the head while giving a speech, almost get shot while playing golf…and end the year ready to move back into the White House?
Along the way, Mr. Trump won his party’s nominating primaries easily, won a huge immunity decision in the United States Supreme Court, basked in praise and adoration at his party’s convention, won the presidential race by an electoral college margin of 312 to 226, and was named Person of the Year by TIME magazine. In July, he selected an author and senator, J.D. Vance, as his vice-presidential running mate, and now he has chosen a cabinet of loyalists. Together, with the help of the richest person in the world – “first buddy” Elon Musk – the Trump Party is endeavoring to stand Washington, D.C. on its head.
Given all of the above, it comes as no surprise that three of the five most popular posts on this blog featured our soon-to-be-president-again. The other two related to him in many ways, as well. I guess all of us have to admit that we collectively cannot take our eyes off one Donald J. Trump.
The Top Five
I will count down PBP’s (Principle Based Politics’) MVPs (most viewed posts), in reverse order. Not including my Quentin for Congress posts through a separate campaign entity, I authored 40 political commentaries in 2024. The following received the most clicks:
- #5 Why Walz for the Big Dance? (Aug. 12, 2024). This post analyzed the efforts of Kamala Harris to overcome Trump’s popularity in rural areas of “swing states” by choosing Minnesota’s governor, Tim Walz, as her running mate. In retrospect, it appears she may have chosen the wrong dance partner.
- #4 Trump Asked Me to Be His VP (April 30, 2024). I was pulling your leg here, of course, but it worked to bring attention to some serious points about Mr. Trump.
- #3 Biden Finally Out (July 22, 2024). For years, I had begged Joe Biden to retire from politics – or, for his party to force him to do so out of fear of enabling a Trump comeback. As one of my best buddies told me, this post involved me nearly breaking my arm patting myself on the back.
- #2 Drop out Donald. Please. (Sept. 11, 2024). I was absolutely wrong on this one. My premise was that Mr. Trump was being eclipsed by Kamala Harris and, following their debate, would lose. I argued it would be best for the country, for his party, and for him personally to quit before suffering defeat. Oops.
- #1 We Will Survive and Maybe Thrive (Nov. 6, 2024). Perhaps we all should read this hopeful essay again. It was written in the middle of the night, just after Donald Trump’s election victory had been declared. Now, with the perspective of two months having passed since then, revisiting it may raise your level of optimism for 2025 and beyond.
Revisiting My Predictions for 2024
In each of the past three years, Principle Based Politics has attempted to forecast the coming year. My attempt in Predicting 2024 (Dec. 28, 2023), however, was so off base that I am self-revoking my prognostication credentials.
My incorrect guesses included that when both “Messrs. Trump and Biden see they are not wanted, we still think they will take themselves out of the race to avoid embarrassment.” Half right is still wrong. Compounding that error, was this: “If it is Trump versus Biden, who will win? We still predict Biden, but we are getting less sure about that all the time…and almost any non-Biden Democrat would defeat Trump. Therefore, we still predict the next president will be a first-timer.” Wrong, wrong, wrong.
I also predicted that Israel’s battle against Hamas would end in 2024, as would the war between Russia and Ukraine. Neither happened. At least I was right that Taiwan would not be invaded by China this year.
After everything that happened in the last 12 months, there is no predicting 2025. At least not by me.
Written by Quentin R. Wittrock, founder of Principle Based Politics.
This blog explores and promotes 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.
If there is the typical year-after-the-election lull in political interest during early 2025, we may publish less frequently than in the past.
Ted
Posted at 12:52h, 31 DecemberThank you for sharing these insightful posts, Quentin! Have a blessed and happy new year!
James Loerts
Posted at 14:12h, 31 DecemberI predict that my predictions for the future are no better than yours. 2024 was quite a ride.
Lynn Nehring
Posted at 15:06h, 31 DecemberThank you for all the work you put into these posts! 2025 will be very interesting.
Darren Knight
Posted at 21:44h, 31 DecemberIt will be a very interesting and unpredictable year ahead. Nostradamus couldn’t predict what will happen in 2o25. Thankfully, the abysmal/corrupt flunky that currently is on permanent vacation–instead of acting as Prez–will be gone very soon. God Bless America.
jeffrey l Wressell
Posted at 18:37h, 01 JanuaryThank you for your insights, Quentin! Happy New Year to you and your awesome family!
Jeff
JILL VER MULM
Posted at 22:10h, 01 JanuaryAlways enjoy reading these Quentin; thanks!