Wale Bablo, Fargo

Given the barrage of criminal investigations surrounding the former president, it is almost impossible to turn a blind eye on what is left of his political future. In normal instances, any candidate marred in such judicial tussle typically relinquishes his/her political aspiration just based on the unfavorable optics. However, as Trump as demonstrated time after time, he is incapable of sensing political shame when there is one. In fact, it appears he interprets situations as he is now as a great pivot which affords him to assume the status of a political martyr. As one can imply from his recent campaign, the combination of victimhood plays and whipping up of sensationalist trope seems to be his latest modus operandi at accruing political mileage he might have lost.

However, it is almost safe to assume some republican leaders in DC, and frankly, numbers of republican electorates are covertly hoping these investigations puts Trump away from the presidential ticket. Those that are not neck deep in the doctrine of “Save America” have the clairvoyance of what is to come if Trump emerges as the republican nominee. The question that should continue to circulate the minds of most conservatives is “Is Trump a better candidate today than in 2015?” A former president whose tenure was ravaged with a cacophony of blunders, mishaps and almost daily dramatic episodes which culminated in the infamous Jan 6 ransacking of the legislative branch, and now drowning in legal battle should give any conservative a pause. Aside the history, on a more substantive level, what has he got to offer for his second streak after miserably failing on policies issues during his last presidency?

Revisiting the question of if Trump values align with conservatism, is a totally different topic. Moreso, the question of whether he can win the presidency again on a republican ticket is almost a certain no, especially given Biden`s bid for second term. While Biden might not be the shinning beacon of progressives’ enthusiasm, he does have the ears of moderate republicans — a group Trump remains to struggle with. There is a figurative load of baggage attached to Trump by the waist, waiting to drag him and all others sprung to his tentacle down on the big stage. While Trump can ride on the rugged horse of sensationalist rhetoric during primaries, Republicans are on course to lose the presidency and the House if they decide to stick to the old gun. Perhaps, the potential indictment of Trump will let the party loose of his strong hold and thus allow for a reformation towards true conservatism embodied by fiscal responsibility, intellectual policy discussions and recruitment of genuine constitutionalists rather than the fringed culture-war experts parading the halls of Capitol wearing the republican badge.