ANGELO LYNN

From a contrarian’ perspective, Trump’s 51% blowout of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and others still suggests there were almost 48 percent of Republicans who preferred someone other than Trump.

That Trump’s win was as large as it was expected is no small feat. But Trump also has huge negatives among Republicans, is facing multiple legal challenges over the next year, and panders to his conservative supporters while alienating moderate voters. In short, it’s a primary result that needs perspective.

Moreover, Trump’s tendency to say outrageous things may be OK with the lemmings of his party, but it doesn’t sit as well with independent thinkers, who make up the largest block of American voters.

Consider his comment of a few weeks ago when he was trying to establish a case for presidential immunity to elude any responsibility for inciting the Jan. 6 riot. At that time, he said he could order the assassination of his primary opponent in an election and not be prosecuted because the president has unlimited immunity. Seriously?!

Newspapers and news stations, as well as the late-night shows, played it up, but Republicans have gotten so used to dismissing outlandish and inappropriate talk from Trump that they brushed it off, even though he has also said in plain terms that one of the first things he’ll do if elected is seek revenge on his opponents and those not loyal to him. (If that sounds dictatorial, you’re not wrong.) 

But here’s the odd thing: Did Trump not think President Biden might take him up on that suggestion as a way to contain an out-of-control candidate who’s says on Day 1 he’ll be dictator? Or did he just trust President Biden was too beholden to democracy to take such undemocratic and irresponsible actions?

Angelo Lynn