The Morning Briefing: Is Donald Trump Cocky or Just Chicken?

Top O’ the Briefing

It’s Tuesday, and Kruiser is still on vacation, enjoying every drop of liquid relaxation he can get his hands on. For today, you’re stuck with me again, so let’s have a bit of fun, shall we?

The big news that’ll dominate all week is Wednesday night’s GOP debate in Milwaukee. I don’t know why these debates happen so far ahead of even the first contests, but one thing’s for sure: the primary season goes longer than the interminable NBA seasons these days.

Guess who won’t be at any of the debates? That’s right, Donald Trump! Matt wrote about it, “After previously indicating that he would not participate in the first GOP primary debate in Milwaukee, which is scheduled for Wednesday, former president Donald Trump has announced that he won’t participate in any of the 2024 GOP presidential primary debates.”

Catherine told us about new polling in Iowa that is giving Trump a commanding lead (at least for now):

Trump’s lead has increased among likely Iowa caucusgoers amid his indictments, including after the latest one. “In the days before the indictment, Trump led DeSantis 38% to 20%. In the days after, his lead grew to 43% over DeSantis’ 18%,” the Register reported. Trump leads DeSantis among self-identified Republicans 51% to 20%.

If you’re banking on Trump to win it all, don’t rest assured just yet. Catherine also reported that the race in Iowa is a fluid situation:

Despite Trump’s significant lead, pollster J. Ann Selzer, whose firm conducted the poll, asserted that the race is not settled. She said the poll revealed 63% of likely GOP caucusgoers who list Trump as a first or second choice or are at least considering him as an option. DeSantis reportedly had 61% say the same things about him. Meanwhile, 52% of likely Republican caucusgoers say they could potentially be persuaded to switch their primary choice versus 40% who say their minds are made up.

Matt also pointed out the risk that Trump is taking:

Trump is taking a risk either way. If there is a significant number of GOP primary voters who are supporting him but could be swayed to vote for another candidate, Trump’s failure to participate in any primary debate will give his opponents free rein to define his record without Trump being able to defend himself.

We already know that Trump doesn’t have any issues with his sense of self-worth. From day one, he’s been convinced that he has the nomination sewn up. And while polling has largely borne that out, is it too early to be this cocky? Shouldn’t he face his GOP competitors (or “colleagues” to borrow Vivek Ramaswamy’s euphemism) head-on? If his record as president was as good as he boasts about, why not remind everybody within earshot of a debate about it?

On the other hand, what if Trump doesn’t want to take part in the debates because he’s scared? What if he’s worried that the other candidates will confront him on the parts of his presidential term that didn’t go so well — the failure to finish the border wall, the Fauci tyranny, the only slight siphoning of the top layer of the swamp? What if it’s the opposite of cockiness that’s driving him?

Either way, Trump may do himself a disservice by ghosting all the debates.

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Everything Isn’t Awful

DOG DOES NOT WANNA SAY BYE: As Bodie leaves for his freshman year of college, his dog Gus chases him down the road trying to get him to stay.

As they packed up the van to head to college, Gus continually jumped in the van and had to be removed several times. Any time a door… pic.twitter.com/la9m9EmhsP

— GoodNewsMovement (@GoodNewsMVT) August 19, 2023

Bee Me

Hilary Makes Landfall, Destroying Over 30,000 Emails https://t.co/H9fYxQ2zMg pic.twitter.com/lsXHb74rAt

— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) August 20, 2023

The (Guest Host Curated) Kruiser Kabana

Kabana Gallery

I happen to think that architecture is art, and Frank Lloyd Wright is my favorite architect. One day I’m going to make it to Fallingwater to see it in person!

"Form follows function – that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union."

– Frank Lloyd Wright#FrankLloydWrightFridays

What's your favorite FLLW quote? pic.twitter.com/wJ9rWyaPFw

— Fallingwater (@Fallingwater) August 5, 2022

Kabana Tunes

This past weekend, the brilliant double album “Ohio” by Over the Rhine turned 20 years old. OtR is one of my all-time favorite bands — their older stuff, that is. They’ve gotten too anti-conservative and anti-gun on their more recent albums for my tastes.

Anyway, here’s the first track from “Ohio,” which is also my favorite cut on the album.