At the end of his legendary “We shall fight on the beaches” speech, Winston Churchill looked at the specter of defeat squarely in the face. He did not think it probable, but he was a realist.

“…and if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.” To me, that is perhaps the most evocative and inspiring thing the man ever said.

If we lose this presidential election to Joe Biden, and we might, fear not. Barring acts of God and unforseen circumstances, Donald Trump will still be on the scene and the Republican Party will still be his party.

Don’t get me wrong. In the end, as the British were not defeated in the final analysis of the war, I still think after the courts we will emerge victorious with about 280 electoral votes.

But that is not a certainty. If we win, the 2024 race still begins, but in the shadow of Trump. Even Mittens agrees with this.

Romney: Trump still "most powerful voice" in GOP https://t.co/a7wIzoZHGn pic.twitter.com/tEUTQp49yF

— The Hill (@thehill) November 9, 2020

If Trump wins now everybody will want his endorsement for 2024. Well, almost everyone. I bet Nikki Haley will still run against his legacy and split the party.

If he loses and tries the Grover Cleveland gambit, non consecutive presidential wins, then Haley will still run against him and perhaps accept the veep slot when he wins the nomination.

This is because I doubt Donald Trump is the kind of man who will go quietly into the night. He will take Robert Frost’s advice and rage against the dying of the light. I would guess, privately, he’s already planning the 2024 campaign and working out a schedule to barnstorm for 2022 Republican congressional candidates so he can take credit when we take back the House.

For if history is any indicator, almost every time since 1992 incumbent presidents lose the House in their first midterm. The non White House party usually has to pick up more seats for control than the Republicans have to going into 2022.

We will also be on offense, as they will have a dismal, sad, poor, destructive, and maybe blood stained record to run against. Donald Trump will know how to take advantage of it. The press will crow that Biden beat the virus, he restored the economy, he brought back decency to the White House.

But they won’t be able to completely cover up the disaster that could be awaiting us as a nation. When and if they try, it will make Trump and his people even more determined to avenge this possible loss. So it turns out the party after Trump is still his party. Good. Let’s get to work on keeping it that way.

This piece was written by David Kamioner on November 12, 2020. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

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