What Have You Got To Lose (Redux): Tactical, Operational & Strategic

By now, every sentient person in these United States is aware that President Trump (alleged by the left) made some “racist” comments about Representative Cummings’ district. This, in response to Cummings’ downright insulting harangue towards the Director of Homeland Security during a hearing on border security and migrant detainee conditions.

President Trump starting this past Sunday and continuing through the middle of this week, launched a barrage of tweets about the rat infested conditions in West Baltimore (Cummings’ district) stating the the Congressman might should focus on the squalor endured by his constituents, rather than telling lies about border conditions.

As this feud has developed, we’ve seen a host of sources, many of them liberal press and politicians, on camera stating essentially the same thing as President Trump regarding the conditions in Baltimore. In one instance, a liberal reporter is on camera roundly excoriating The President, when a rat photo bombs her spot by running past her in the background.

The President has clearly won this tactical fight. The Democrats can continue to scream “raayycciss!” all they wish, but Donald Trump owns this particular piece of terrain. All that remains, is to send the prisoners to the rear for interrogation, redistribute the ammo and plan for the next fight. That’s the tactical part.

The operational part is the election in 2020. Remember then Candidate Trump’s, “What do you have to lose?” to several Black audiences? As I pointed out in an earlier article, President Trump must (and likely will) visit Baltimore, San Diego, Detroit and a number of other Democrat run, third world, U.S. cities. While there, he’ll be able to point out that Representative Cummings has been in office since 1996…over two decades. Then he will pointedly ask, “What has Representative Cummings done for West Baltimore?” Next, he will point to a number of significant accomplishments of his administration. Finally, he will say again, “Try supporting me. After all, what have you got to lose?”

I discussed this with David Webb** the other day on his morning show. He added an important component. Republicans don’t need to go into Blue areas with the intent of changing party affiliation. “Don’t try to change folks from Democrat to Republican. Just help fix problems.” That will cause them in the privacy of the voting booth to vote their consciences. Party affiliation can come later.

If the economy keeps roaring, there is a visually significant piece of new border wall built, and the Democrats keep responding to his twitter feed like cats chasing the red dot, I see a blowout in 2020.

But what abut 2024 and beyond? That’s the Strategic level that most folks don’t give the President credit for operating on. It starts with changing the rules. My colleague Kira Davis notes

The rules in 2019 are that if you’re White, any non-White person is unassailable regardless of their personal character or their personal responsibility.

But Donald J. Trump doesn’t play by these silly rules. The Squad Coven found out abut this. Shortly thereafter, so did Civil rights “icon” Rep. Elijah Cummings. Heretofore “unassailable,” he was indeed assailed by The President regarding squalor and corruption in his district. This is the single most important concept the Republicans who follow the Trump Administration need to learn if they hope to retain Congress and the White House past 2024.

It’s OK to fight back! It’s OK to fight back, even when your assailant is a member of a protected class. It’s OK to fight back, even when your antagonist is a member of a protected class and allegedly a “civil rights icon.” Here is why this is so important. Democrats cry “raaayyyccciiisss!” at the drop of a hat. Heretofore, Republicans scurry away mewling apologies. This doesn’t give time for the true story to play out.

In this latest case, President Trump pointed out what a third world crap hole Rep, Cummings’ district is. Democrats immediately threw the race card. President Trump, not following the weak kneed Republican playbook, doubled down on the attack. This gave time for the facts to come out…and they did. Within 72 hours it turned it that in some areas of Cummings’ district the conditions are so squalid and the violence is so prolific, that those residents could legally apply for asylum—in Mexico!

This is the strategic message for Republicans. Stop allowing leftists to intimidate you. Make your case and stick with it. It’s true that the Democrat lie will travel around the World before the truth can saddle its horse, but if you hang on, it will eventually catch up and prove you right. This has been the hallmark of the Trump Presidency. Take it to heart…for 2024, and beyond.

**David Webb can be found on Sirius 125 M-F 9-12AM EST

Mike Ford, a retired Infantry Officer, writes on Military, Foreign Affairs and occasionally dabbles in Political and Economic matters.

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