I woke up this morning to hear the results, so far, for the New Hampshire Republican Party primary. Thanks to the six Republicans in Dixville Notch, the totals so far are: Haley 6, Trump 0. Looks like it will be a rout.

Just for the record, I think American politics (by that I mean most American politicians) are sick, sick, sick. The mantra (if that’s the right word) seems to be: I hate all my opponents and I will tell you why, until they beat me, and then I think they are, and always have been, wonderful. That is just sick.

I would like politicians to say about their opponents one of the following two things: (1) ”___________ would make a good president, but we disagree on the following two points.”, or “__________ is dangerous and incompetent, and I am not going to change my mind if they become the nominee.” But they won’t.

We have now seen every Republican who started out as a candidate for the presidency and who has now dropped out change from telling us that Donald Trump is over the hill to telling us that Donald Trump is the best hope for America’s future. It is simply sick.

I had a law school professor (a very imposing fellow whom we will call Leon Lipson), who first told the story (at least first to me) of the beautiful clock in the town center tower that amazed you as you listened to it striking one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen. What? It just struck thirteen? Obviously, I can’t believe that that is correct. In fact, because of that, how can I even trust the first twelve?

By doing a 180 degree turn on their seemingly sincerely stated opinions, I not only can’t trust these politicians today, but I can’t take seriously anything they said earlier in their campaign and – in most cases – any time before. It is just sick.

“Well”, you say, “that’s just politics.” Right. And it is 100% wrong.

Not that I care, but what does Ron DeSantis think about Trump? No one (probably not even Ron DeSantis) has a clue.

I have been clear about Trump from the beginning. You have probably as we. But we aren’t politicians.

A few things are clear to me. First, barring personal disaster, Trump will be the Republican nominee, and most Americans will not vote for him. Unfortunately, Biden will be the Democratic nominee, and many Americans will not vote for him. The Trump base and the Democratic base will stay loyal, but what will the others do? Will they hold their noses and vote for one or the other – doing their civic duty and choosing, in their mind, the better of two bad choices? Will they stay home? Or will they vote for a third party candidate? And if it’s a third party candidate, who will it be? RFK, Jr., Joe Manchin, Jill Stein? Will the third party candidate tilt the race? It certainly is possible.

One other thing. When it is certain that the next president, which ever candidate it is, will be in his 80s at or about at the start of his term, the identity of the vice president becomes that much more important. I don’t think most Democrats want Kamala Harris in the White House. But look at the possible vice presidential selections that Trump is toying with: How does it sound to you? President Elise Stefanik. President Sarah Huckabee? President Matt Gaetz?

Just think about it.