Post #42919 by PucksFool on the US Policy board

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David Pepper in his news letter looks at why a 3rd term is impossible and why Trump keeps bringing it up like a bad burrito.

https://davidpepper.substack.com/p/a-third-trump-t...

Here's where he gets to the why.
The Point: Loyalty and Discipline

So what’s really going on if the path to three terms seems non-viable?

To me, the answer is very clear.

Being a lame duck puts Trump in a terribly weak position from the outset.

Trump knows full well that without the threat of another term, his power and sway could fade very quickly—especially as his poll numbers tank. And this is not just with respect to Democrats or the country writ large, but is especially the case within his own party.

And as a personal matter, I guarantee you nothing irks Trump more than the talk of other Republicans even thinking about being president after him—let alone taking early steps to get ahead in that competition.

So, even dangling out the prospects of a third term complicates things for 1) those who might move too aggressively with an eye on 2028 (no doubt that’s already happening on the inside of GOP circles), and 2) anyone tempted to break with him thinking he won’t be relevant much longer.

(In this context, since Musk can’t run for president, his getting attention doesn’t threaten Trump as much.)

And remember, this all comes after Trump has experienced a decade of GOPers embracing nearly every one of his outrageous and lawless positions. That the 2020 election was stolen. That ending birthright citizenship is constitutional. Thinking he can gut voting rights via an executive order. Canada and Greenland and the lawless deportations under the Alien Enemies Act (as if we’re at war with Venezuela). He’s even gotten them to call to impeach judges who dare to stand with the Constitution against his lawless acts.

Because he’s seen all that, just as we have, he knows the GOP lemmings are dumb enough to parrot his third term nonsense. And since the battle in the GOP is over who is most loyal to Trump, he knows (and he’s right) that once a bunch start to talk that way, no one will be brave enough to say otherwise—including people like JD Vance, who would otherwise be ramping up for 2028.

My guess is, he is already pressuring other Republicans to echo his calls for a third term. And we know that that is exactly what many of them will do (as others try to duck the issue entirely).

And the louder the talk grows among Republicans that they support a third term (and start to echo ridiculous arguments as to why it’s Constitutional, when it clearly isn’t), the more that echo chamber will keep 2028 suitors from daring to come forward.

And all this maximizes Trump’s lock on power and a compliant GOP for as long as possible, even if there still is no viable legal path to get that third term.

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