Trump’s Last Two Weeks Shaping Up to Be a Burn it All Down Tantrum
Sinclair Broadcast Group’s Stephen Loiaconi called me for my take on the last two weeks of the election and what it will mean for tight down ballot races.
A Democratic takeover of the House remains a longshot, but if Trump’s support keeps dropping, it is no longer an impossibility.
“The Republican Party’s grip on the Senate is tenuous, at best,” said Republican strategist Brian Fraley. “With Trump surrogates berating vulnerable GOP senators who have not drank enough orange Kool-Aid, the Trump campaign’s last two weeks is shaping up to be a burn-it-all-down tantrum that could put the balance of power in the House in jeopardy, too.”
“Trump may damage the brand, relationships, donor stream and infrastructure of the Republican Party so much, that a rebound in 2018 will be a lot tougher,” Fraley said.
Read the rest of the article here.
They Did What I Said They’d Do
A little over a week ago Fox 6 Milwaukee asked me why Donald Trump was coming back to Wisconsin when he was down seven points:
“Well he can’t win. But this isn’t about winning. This is about coming to Wisconsin and thumb his nose at Paul Ryan,” said Brian Fraley, a Republican strategist who is a Ryan supporter and has been outspoken against Trump.
Sure enough the other night at Trump’s rally in Green Bay, supporters chanted “Paul Ryan Sucks!” while Republican Party of Wisconsin Chair Brad Courtney stood on stage flustered. Courtney later put out a statement reaffirming the party’s support of Ryan. As I have said before, picking a fight with the most popular elected Republican in Wisconsin is just one of the thousands of stupid things Trump has done in the last six months.
Last night Fox 6 ran another story and wanted my take on where this puts the speaker now and for the future.
“There has to be tremendous anguish going on there, and a lot of conflict,” said Brian Fraley, GOP strategist. Fraley, a Ryan supporter who is outspoken against Trump, says the speaker is in a tough spot.
“When you have this kind of cult of personality, where does someone that’s an ideological thought leader and a proven conservative like Paul Ryan — how does he work with that?” Fraley said.
Paul Ryan hasn’t commented on the chants but numerous Wisconsin conservatives spoke out in support of him including the governor. You can watch the full Fox 6 story here.
My Thoughts on Charlie Sykes’ Semi-Retirement
I first met Charlie Sykes more than 25 years ago when I was a Senior at the UW. He was speaking at a conference of collegiate journalists in Evanston, Illinois and as the author of ProfScam was emerging as one of the most insightful critics of higher education at the time. He was so entertaining that when I found myself organizing the next year’s conference I had to lock him in on the panel. That’s right, I put Charlie I my panel long before he put me on his!
On Tuesday, my friend Charlie announced his retirement from his weekday radio show and weekly television program. After 25 years in local broadcasting, 23 with WTMJ, he’s heading into semi-retirement. He’ll continue to write and contribute to the conservative movement, but he’ll no longer have to drag himself out of bed at 4:30 every morning.
I’ve had the honor and good fortune of working for him and even guest hosting his show on occasion over the years. I can assure you he’s not going to disappear, as much as his many critics may hope he will. At 62, he’s just taking greater control over his schedule. Kudos to him.
A full analysis of his impact on local, state and national politics is intertwined with a look at the power of the medium of talk radio in general. Along with his colleague Jeff Wagner, and local talkers Mark Belling, Jay Weber, Vicki McKenna and Dan O’Donnell down the dial at WISN, Sykes has helped create and maintain an important crucible for conservative thought and news analysis in Southeast Wisconsin.
Rather than examine the medium itself, however, Sykes’ announcement affords me an opportunity to examine his unique impact on the community and causes I care deeply about. More…
#NeverTrump, 620 WTMJ, Brian Fraley, Campaigns and Elections, Charlie Sykes
My take on the 1st debate, Trump, Clinton and Lester Holt
Enough with the complaining about Lester Holt.
As someone who dislikes both candidates who were on the stage last night, I’m a good fit to analyze the first 2016 general election presidential candidate face-off.
You can always tell who lost the debate. It’s the campaign that whines about the moderator. Lester Holt did a pretty good job as the moderator. Keeping Trump’s erratic behavior in check is a lot like herding cats. Some Trump supporters are upset that Holt interrupted Trump more than Holt interrupted Clinton. But Trump is a bully in life and that includes on the debate stage. He was constantly interrupting and interjecting during Clinton’s answers. That’s his right. But, I think Holt provided a nice check on that. Holt sat back at times and let the candidates debate back and forth, which was a smart thing to do and takes a lot of self discipline.
I do think the one glaring omission was not asking her about the Clinton Foundation and what that says about her ethics and her decision making. However, it’s not fair to blame Holt for all the missed opportunities Trump let fly by as he was instead obsessed with defending just how wealthy he was, and defending Russia against claims of cyber espionage. Trump had several missed opportunities. You could tell he didn’t prepare; and, throughout the night, Trump’s thin-skin got the best of him. More…
What’s Next for Wisconsin Republicans? UPFRONT With Mike Gousha
Update on the Dump Trump Efforts
The effort to deny Democrat Donald Trump the Republican nomination for president continues. It most certainly remains a long shot, but it is not an impossibility.
I spoke with one of the #FreeTheDelegate leaders here in Wisconsin, Dane County’s David Blaska. He’s an alternate delegate from the 2nd Congressional District and has long fought the good fight for conservatives from the heart of ultra-liberal Dane County.
#FreeTheDelegates, #NeverTrump, #WiRight, David Blaska, Donald Trump, Roger Stauter, Tommy Thompson
An Open Letter to Wisconsin’s RNC Convention Delegates
Friends,
First, let me congratulate you on becoming delegates to the RNC convention in Cleveland next month. It’s an achievement I never attained. I did attend the 2004 New York convention as a guest so I know how exciting this gathering can be in any year.
However, this is an extraordinary year and as you well know, you have an extraordinary responsibility to do the right thing–not only for our party, but for our nation.
I recognize this advice is not only unsolicited, it may be unwelcome. I’m not figuratively wagging my finger at you or demanding you do anything. Rather, I sincerely ask you to consider the evidence at your disposal and prevent Donald Trump from becoming our party’s nominee.
Having gained the most pledged delegates, Donald Trump wants you to now enter into a political suicide pact with him. Please do not oblige him.
Trump Killing GOP Prospects in Wisconsin
Donald Trump’s rise has lead to a dive in GOP voter enthusiasm here, which not only takes Wisconsin off the electoral map for Trump in November, but it jeopardizes the re-election of GOP Senator Ron Johnson and gives Democrats increased hope for gains in the state assembly and state senate.
My analysis:
More…
Fraley,Public Policy,Social Media Medley
NRA Misfires with Their Unrelenting Trump Love
The NRA misfires with their unrelenting Trump Love, as they turn a blind eye to his past, and current, positions on the right to bear arms and the rights of individuals and organizations to speak out against their government..
Bad timing, National Rifle Association. I received this urgent fundraising appeal just days after you gave Donald Trump a tongue bath at the national convention in Louisville.
I understand that the NRA, the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, views Hillary Clinton as an existential threat to American’s 2nd Amendment rights. I’m not shocked that they would endorse her opponent, presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump.
For the sake of their own reputation, I would rather have held them hold his hand instead of engaging in a public display of affection that would make the most hormonal teenager go, ‘Ewww.’
