The Patriot Post® · Reader Comments

Editor’s Note: Thank you for sending comments on our news, policy, and opinion — we review every one of them. Here are a few reader perspectives, which don’t necessarily reflect those of The Patriot Post.

Some Mark Alexander articles draw near-record responses from readers. The most recent case in point was “Trump, the Midterm Election Red Ripple, and 2024,” which flooded our inbox. Surprisingly, though some of Donald Trump’s most vociferous supporters registered objections, and we respect those views, the vast majority of responses were favorable — consistent with the views of an increasing number of notable conservative political analysts. In the wake of Trump’s 2024 announcement, here is a cross section of those comments, from the Left Coast to the Right:

Every Republican needs to read this entire article, including and especially Donald Trump. … When I read the Winsome Sears quote at the end of Alexander’s article, I knew it was over. … Trump is the only Republican I’ve ever seen who takes allies and turns them into enemies. Reagan sought to build a broad coalition. Trump wants to narrow his coalition only to those who are slavishly loyal to him. This is a losing strategy. … Trump should fade away. It would be nice if he did it gracefully by helping the younger Republicans who should be taking leadership, but he won’t. … I voted for Trump twice. Unfortunately, he has been a huge disappointment, letting his narcissistic ego run wild. … Trump will do nothing but hurt our country by attacking candidates who can unseat Democrats two years from now. … The name-calling of Ron DeSantis a few days before the election is the worst, but he has slandered all who had served him from the beginning. His ultimately serves nobody but himself. … Trump is toxic! He is a divider. Let’s move on! … Trump forgets he was elected the first time around because voters were willing to take a chance on a political newcomer rather than on Hillary Clinton. Now he has reverted to the type of behavior that is more suited to getting ratings for a reality show. … Trump’s work is done here. He accomplished some great things for America and left his successor in good stead, only to have him squander everything. That remains to be fixed but it won’t be Trump as the fixer.

And representative of those who disagree: 

You are bailing on Trump so I’m done with you. … You are not MAGA. Sad. Do better. … Don’t agree. I am ultra-MAGA. … You’re a RINO. … Turn on Trump I turn on you. … You’re an establishment outfit.

Alexander responds: 

I agree with virtually everything Trump said in his 2024 announcement, and we have written endlessly in support of his administration’s long list of achievements, especially foreign policy successes — an amazing record for a one-term president. He noted all the new black and Hispanic voters who came into the GOP during his tenure. He noted the relentless deep state attacks on his administration and on him personally. He noted the surge of inflation impacting the family budgets of all grassroots Americans. He noted the invasion across our southern border — millions of illegal immigrants invited into our country by Biden. He noted the Demos’ bloody crime surge. 

However, Trump is now the lightning rod for all the deep-seated Demo hatred and fear, and they demonstrated they know how to use those emotive sentiments to their advantage in 2020 and 2022, and will do so again in 2024.

Elsewhere:

Re: “Trump 2024: ‘This Is a Movement’”

This article is balanced, broad, and concise. One more fact must not be ignored: If conservatives allow it, the news media will exploit the differences in loyalties for the various GOP candidates, exacerbate frustrations, and try to prohibit unified support for the final GOP nominee. If this happens, and if conservatives stubbornly demand “my way or the highway,” then regardless of the GOP nominee, the Democrat nominee will win in 2024. I implore the GOP nominee to credit Trump and his supporters. No POTUS in memory delivered more campaign promises, and no POTUS suffered more unjust vilification than Trump. —Missouri

For Trump to get my vote (and I suspect the votes of a lot of other people who voted for him twice), he will have to do two things: First, quit talking about the 2020 election. People want to focus on matters that Trump could conceivably do something about rather than on a past election, which nobody can do anything about. Second, he needs to muzzle himself and stop railing against anyone who ever irks him about anything. Unless he cleans up his act, as a nominee, he will get trounced. If he’s not the nominee, he’s likely to get people to stay home like he did in Georgia two years ago, with similar results. His virtues do not include being a team player. —Illinois

Even if Trump manages to remain perfectly on-message from now to the election in 2024, it is inescapable that Democrats will hang “J6,” “insurrection,” and “impeachment” around his neck like an albatross. For swing voters, that’s probably enough to remind them why they don’t want Trump. We can’t afford this gamble. —California

Trump needs to exit the national scene, and Republican elected leaders have to unite in demanding publicly that he depart. He’s an unhinged narcissist who will never change his behavior. The 2024 election cycle will be a colossal train wreck if he’s still around — he has to be marginalized NOW! —California

If he wasn’t self-assured and somewhat brash, he would not have achieved all he has. If he runs for president and has Ron DeSantis on the ticket with him, that gives DeSantis four years to learn the ropes and get his ducks in a row, then two terms in the Oval Office. Do you think we might be able to straighten out this beloved country by then? The status quo needs to go. That is why he won in 2016. —Montana

In 1991, I heard some network pundit say that Bush’s handling of Desert Storm guaranteed his reelection. The Democrats did have trouble finding a candidate until they kicked over a rock in Arkansas and found a loyal party philanderer, married to a harpy, to put on the ballot. Bush countered with the most anemic campaign in history. Up pops H. Ross Perot. He spoke clearly, enthusiastically, and, unlike Bush, seemed to have a pulse. Foolishly, I and a significant percentage of other voters went for Perot, condemning the country to 30 years (and still counting) of the Curse of the Clintons. I voted for Trump both times, but now I fear that if not nominated, he will run as a third party, which assures defeat for himself and the Republicans. —New Hampshire

Re: “On Trump — 2022 and 2024”

I will always appreciate what Trump did for the country in so many ways. But now it’s time for him to bow out. He’s had his turn, and younger qualified folks should have their chance. With his constant mean, disrespectful comments, he forgets Ronald Reagan’s message to his fellow Republicans: Don’t badmouth your party. I don’t hear Democrats badmouthing each other; they seem to circle the wagons for their own — Republicans should do the same. Might help to win elections. —Georgia

Re: “In Brief: Beware Declaring Trump Toast”

Republicans need to answer these two questions: 1. If the GOP was guaranteed to win the White House in the next election, who would it like to have as president? I would guess the vast majority would say Trump. 2. If it turns out to be a total war within the GOP election process, who would the GOP choose to go against the socialist Dems? Likely the majority would say DeSantis. I’m a big supporter of both of these men and pray they act like men and not bad boys in the school yard. —Florida

Re: “RNC: Higher Prices on the Menu This Thanksgiving”

The problem is that Americans supported this problem. Otherwise they would not have voted to support Democrats in the 2022 election. The liars in the mainstream media continue to lie to protect the liars in Washington. All of the problems we are having have been caused by the media refusing to report the news. The MSM has dreams of a One World socialist utopia and will do anything to achieve its end. —Michigan

Re: “The Times Hedges Its Bets on Transgenderism”

When parents allow children to take puberty blockers, and doctors are willing to prescribe and administer them, you know the world has gone insane. Personally, I would recommend that any parent or doctor who permits/participates in this madness be charged with crimes. In the case of a doctor, his medical license should be removed. —Florida

Re: “England Across the Atlantic”

ENCORE! It is rare that historical events are explained with such perspicacity. Ms. Linda Moss Mines blends political philosophy, intrigue, civics, cultural traditions, religious aspirations, conflicts, military battles, the insatiable search for riches, and the struggle for human survival together into this succinct accounting of pre-colonial and original colonial settlement attempts, baking a meal that nourishes, delights, and satiates the starving soul. My only criticism is I want another meal, and another, and… 
Keep up the outstanding lessons! Thank you. —Missouri