Trump playing Thune and Noem off against each other is a senseless and sorry sight for Republicans.

[TexasTowelie]

President Trump’s vindictiveness comes as no surprise, but his latest political and petulant assault (as depicted above in an image from thedailymail.uk) on our senior Sen. John Thune is exceptionally venomous. Trump tweeted this morning (Jan.1) that “I hope to see the great Governor of South Dakota @KristiNoem, run against RINO @SenJohnThune, in the upcoming 2022 Primary. She would do a fantastic job in the U.S. Senate, but if not Kristi, others are already lining up. South Dakota wants strong leadership, NOW!”

Calling Thune, one of Trump’s most dependable loyalists in the U.S. Senate, a “RINO” is bad (and inaccurate, considering Thune has voted Trump’s way 94% of the time) enough, but suggesting that our Gov. Noem should primary Thune in ‘22 is a smackdown of politically Olympian proportions.

A showdown between South Dakota’s two leading Republicans is a sure way to split the party and create many years of hard feelings within the GOP. Back in the 1980s, Bill Janklow and Jim Abdnor fought it out during a GOP primary, leaving a legacy of bitterness between what essentially became two factions in South Dakota’s Republican Party. The year was 1986, and the GOP split opened the way for Democrat Tom Daschle to win the seat and hold it until 2005.

Riding as high as it is now, the South Dakota Republican Party doesn’t need to create an internal political blood feud instigated by Donald Trump’s meddlesome, trouble-making show of favoritism towards Kristi Noem.

Read more: https://www.sdstandardnow.com/home/trump-trying-to-play-thune-and-noem-off-against-each-other-is-a-sorry-sight-for-republicans-not-only-that-it-doesnt-make-much-sense

[Mike 03]

1. Thune has been interesting to watch. It was allegedly Thune who called that

meeting of GOP senators back in late July or early August telling them that if Trump couldn't get it together by Labor Day to "cut him loose." Of course, that didn't happen, but the news analysts said that, coming from Thune, they thought it was a (potentially) significant moment.

As the assistant majority leader, or whip, he is the second highest ranking GOP member in the Senate?

[hatrack]

2. Soulless Hack vs. COVID Queen - let the bloodletting begin!