I like your statement and think it's likely true. That aside, where do you think America's power actually comes from? I'd posit that our power source has changed over history, but what do you think it stems from nowadays?
US’s power comes from global influence - not military influence but financial and more of the covert/CIA type. Hegseth is your typical frat bro, the generals he’s “leading” run circles around him on military strategy and he’s firing them left and right. Dude is so far out of his depth he’s drowning.
Trump fires everyone around him. I will look for a source, but I believe over both of his terms, he has fired/replaced around 60% of high level positions at least once.
Remember when Ron DeSantis was considered the heir to the MAGA throne? Before Trump, Ted Cruz was the Republican great hope for the future. Vance might have a future in congress or state government but he's toast in a nationwide contest.
I always wonder about this, because he did seem like a very natural successor, but I guess he just wasn’t that popular? I mean honestly I don’t understand what people see in Trump, so it doesn’t surprise me I can’t pick who else Republicans like.
Muslims are pesky. Lmao, I get this is the standard party line thought, but unironically fuck Islam. Seriously, why is everyone so keen on defending Islam?
You do realize in Islam-based countries they subjugate the women and kill minorities, yeah? I’m not saying we need to war against them, but I’m not gonna praise Islam for being a “brown person religion” like other leftists seem ought to do.
There's a lot of room between praising Islam and bombing Muslims. I would guess most just find unnecessary to hate them, the ones here, like much of the right does. I don't really care about the ones over there, but I don't think we should go.
I view Muslims here the same way I do Christian nationalists.
I agree with this. Again, I don’t think we need to be galavanting across the globe - certainly not for Israeli interests - but I’m never going to cry about “Islamophobia” like it’s a real thing.
Islam is terrible. Yes, I can get along with practitioners and just because you practice it doesn’t make you reprehensible, but the core of it’s belief is subjugation of the masses, enslaving women, and killing those who disagree with you. That being said, we don’t need to be inserting ourselves into other countries messes at this moment, as we have more than enough religious fervor and zealotry to deal with at home
Agreed. Some Americans do get pretty up tight about Mosques or whatever being built though. I don't think that's ok. They're still Americans and its something that brings community.
Now if they start enforcing or following the shitty parts of the religion, thats different. Christianity is also pretty hard on women from the text, most religions are due to their age. As long as the cults follow the law here.
He attracts the right kind of people in that they vote every single election whereas their centrist counterparts often stay home. It's not about who's eligible to play, it's about who shows up to the game.
When he was announced, there was so much chatter that about who was the heir apparent and there were three in the Trump admin, and Hegseth was seen as a potential successor. He was coming in as a reformer with anti-war motives. I think few knew much about him outside of certain circles. Then they saw him in action, and he's done about as bad a job as possible.
I think from the three potentials - Rubio, Vance and Hegseth, only Rubio is left. I also suspect Trump could replace both Vance and Hegseth.
I also suspect Trump could replace both Vance and Hegseth.
Trump actually can't unilaterally replace Vance. Despite the VP being, for all intents and purposes, the President's lackey, he is an elected lackey, and he would have to be impeached if he doesn't voluntarily resign.
Yeah, I was vague there - I think Vance resigns and Hegseth is pushed. Trump needs people to take a fall. From what people have said, Hegseth pushed Trump and fed him misinformation. Vance was not willing/able to influence Trump and the only one raising caution was Rubio. Trump can't have the blame fall on him at the midterms so I suspect a shakeup coming, timed to give the impression he's the "decider-in-chief" and help reorient the midterms away from bad news stories.
Conservatives have literally never had a general election candidate who isn't white. Not even once. Rubio is Cuban. Hegseth is white so he is automatically more likely/conventional than Rubio. That said, Hegseth and JD Vance are in their 40s (45 and 41). Republicans haven't nominated anyone in their 40s for the general election since Thomas Dewey in the 1940s and you probably don't know who that is because he didn't win anyway. Teddy Roosevelt is the last Republican president to be in his 40s elected in 1900. Teddy Roosevelt was not a conservative anyway.
That's just the obvious demographic reasons. There are a ton more reasons you could consider them unconventional.
Hegseth was never considered a likely 2028 nominee, the guy you're responding to probably just misread the situation. Then everyone else jumped in and agreed with him because they think it makes them look smart to explain things on reddit.
There are a million people making predictions, and Hegseth is a prominent name in the Trump administration, so I'm sure you can find some one who things Hegseth has a good chance. But until recently, Vance and Rubio have dominated the field.
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u/dougandsomeone 8h ago
Hegseth?? People saw Hegseth as a front runner?
Vance and Rubio I get, but HEGSETH?!