The Making Of The President 2024

If Theodore White was still with us he would have to write , “The Making of the President, 2024!” It is an amazing story. One if written for a TV series 20 years ago would have been dismissed as unrealistic.

One might try to guess what are the main reasons we are where we are. While covering James Carville for his recent documentary film back in Oct, I witnessed as he proclaimed that what just happened could not and would not happen. I recall Nancy Pelosi saying, “Trump will never be President again, never.”

A year ago it seemed like Trump would not be even capable of getting the nomination. Mr. DeSantis and Ms. Haley seemed to be on top of the who’s next list. At the same time every other night many Democrats were pronouncing that President Biden was sharper than ever with his Press Secretary claiming him the most effective and successful President ever!

Then the game changer happened. Trump started getting indicted all over the place, unfortunately by only non-conservative Democrat prosecutors. Even the two republican Presidential front runners publicly said Trump was being wronged. This is not a “if the glove fits acquit,” story but many folks don’t like to see a man kicked when he’s down, especially those who did, do and will always support Trump. To half the country it seemed partisan and unfair. While the other half , hello Ms. Maddow, talked gleefully about all the possible jail time he was definitely going to receive.

The more Trump was publicly legally prosecuted and humiliated the more both his poll numbers and fundraising rose. His trials dominated all news shows. Tawdry salacious details from women were discussed all night on cables shows as if the trial was a hot can’t miss Netflix series. It was J.R. Ewing Trump. Trump was the talk of the world. Not always complimentary. Yet there he was seated in court everyday powerless to the “rule of law” in courtrooms that his supporters screamed partisan.

Now with a White House messaging staff “bragging” about the economy as everyone else watched all expenses and costs race higher, poll numbers moved. This was perplexing. What was wrong with these White House people ? Did they not know: “it’s the economy stupid?”

Then came the primaries. Trump in between handling a host of high visibility trials still campaigned and dominated as money rolled in after every ruling that MSNBC cheered as a coming to Jesus moment. To be fair many Fox folks were in shock, for the what’s next folks, Trump was old news. Who could survive these trials? Yet almost everyone perhaps at least also thought, “Thank God this is not happening to me. I’d go nuts.”

What followed is now folklore. The assassination attempts, the photo, the debate, and the clumsy changing of the candidate, the press blitz, the enthusiasm that Harris must win! And the epic what “border” problems? White House messaging saying no problem at the border was crazy, right?

Swing states did not swing, young voters did not vote as expected, minorities voters perhaps felt the sting of the economic situation and who knows maybe America is still not ready for a woman president. The bottom line is there are almost no disputes who won.

The inauguration is at hand with only one thing certain, 2028 there will be no Donald Trump on the ballot and (lol) perhaps 20 on each side confident and ambitious candidates in the primaries and debates. It starts sooner every presidential election cycle, buckle up for “The Making of the President-2028!