In January 2016, then-Governor Nikki Haley was hand-picked by Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan to deliver the Republican response to Barack Obama’s final State of the Union address.
While she took a few shots at Obama, Haley spent most of her nine minutes on air doing the bidding of the party bosses by attacking the two leading Republican candidates for president at the time (Donald Trump and Ted Cruz) in an attempt to undercut their chances of winning the nomination.
Nikki’s attack on McConnell’s undesirables was so popular and effective that she received accolades from the mainstream media and the Obama White House praised her for showing such courage..
But that was then, and this is now.
Haley hopped aboard the Trump Train after the New York liberal won the nomination, and he rewarded her for compromising her convictions by making her the UN Ambassador. And as we all know, ever since the 2016 National Republican Conference, Republicans and the faux conservatives inhabiting the Swamp betrayed every last vestige of conviction they may have possessed in order to embrace Trumpism.
Haley was so popular with the party establishment in 2016 that there were rumors at the time Trump might pick her to be his running mate. Interestingly enough, this rumor is making the rounds again as Trump desperately looks for ways to save his shaky re-election.
Regardless of what happens to Haley in 2020, everything in her political life and every decision she makes is framed around the picture of her as President of the United States.
Ever since she resigned as U.N. Ambassador, Haley has been openly Trumpist. She defended Trump against impeachment — his bribe to the Ukrainian president was a “favor” not quid pro quo — and she attacked former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and former White House chief of staff John Kelly for attempting to “undermine” Trump on their policy differences.
With her rising status as a potential candidate in 2024, Haley’s endorsement has become a highly sought-after commodity in the marketplace of Republican politics, and she’s more than willing to oblige endorsement requests when it fits her plans.
It’s just been announced that Haley will endorse Georgia Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s campaign next week. Loeffler was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp (R) to replace the now-retired Johnny Isakson and must run to keep the seat in a special election in November.
She received the appointment even though Trump wanted Rep. Doug Collins to get the gig due to his unwavering Trumpism. However, since the appointment, Loeffler has repeatedly declared her love for all things Trump, and she voted to acquit him of impeachment charges.
Collins’ recent announcement to challenge Loeffler would appear to create a problem for Haley, but it won’t. Trump is rewarding the “loyalty” of those who supported him during impeachment, so he now favors Loeffler over Collins despite his record of Trumpism. So, Haley’s endorsement of Loeffler pleases Trump, pleases McConnell — he’s pledging his full support for Loeffler — and pleases the establishment.
As far as Collins’ future is concerned, if he beats Loeffler, he will likely be the next Senator from Georgia. And if he loses, Trump won’t hold it against Haley because the man Trump previously considered for a White House position will likely be offered a new job working for the Trump administration . . . assuming he wins, of course.
Like Trump, McConnell, and nearly everyone else in the GOP, Nikki Haley will say what she needs to say and do what she needs to do in the name of her self-centered political interests. She’s a part-time conservative and a part-time Trumpist, and that makes her a full-time fraud.
David Leach is the owner of the Strident Conservative.
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