Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Pence came out and said "no room in the Conservative movement for putin apologists"

This is what the Russian apologists don't get when they talk about Russia being pushed into a corner by NATO regarding encroachment on Russia's borders. I can't speak for all the Baltic countries, but since gaining independence, Estonia has not been a big Russia fan. Given Estonia's extreme physical proximity to Russia, it's natural enough to conclude that the only way they could have assurances of real and lasting independence from Russia was to be part of some defensive pact like NATO, and sure enough that's exactly what it joined.

He might be. However it is.my opinion that if Trump manages to win the nomination that at least one republican will stand as an independent such as Cheaney or Pense. As well Bush may come out and canvas against him as well.

You will find that a lot of the Republican Senators will have a similar attitude to Pence. They behave more like old-school Republicans, because most of them literally are (It's pretty hard to dislodge a Senator in a non-swing state - Chuck Grassley of Iowa is currently running for another 6 year term at the age of 89 years old)

The problem is in the House. There most of the districts are gerrymandered and therefore have uncompetitive general elections. That means that the "real" election is often the primary. In deep red districts this has led to Republican primaries where the candidates have tried to outdo each other in adhering to all things Trumpian - often leading to some genuinely insane winners. Most of these can be found in the "Freedom Caucus", which includes the likes of Paul Gosar, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan. They only make up a small minority of elected Republicans in the House but crucially, the hold the balance of power. Kevin McCarthy would sell his own grandmother to become speaker so it's nothing for him to throw the people of Ukraine under a bus. He knows that that's what the MAGA wing will want and he'll be prepared to deliver it if it means he gets the Speaker's gavel.

There is a chance but there's no chance that they'd be elected. That ship has sailed. It's Trump's party now. In the unlikely situation that he is unable to run in 2024 their nominee will be someone who has bought into Trumpism, like Ron De Santis. Moderates, like Mitt Romney, would have no hope.

What you have described there is similar to the election of Truss in the UK. I can never understand the fixation with general membership being allowed to select political leaders. The older Conservative leadership would be white and old business money. They dreamed of empire. It's similar to UK labour where trade unions hold too much sway in the contest.

You end up with idealists deciding the outcome of the leader of a party. These people have no short term not to mind longterm thinking/plan

Plenty of people on social media and increasingly joining telegram channels. These places are notorious for not only unfounded false information but creating feedback loops where that's the majority of what people see.

The whole point of the standing is not to get elected but to just get 1-3% of the vote in the presidential election. That all it takes to stop Trump

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Perot_1992_presidential_campaign#%3A%7E%3Atext%3DHe_failed_to_win_any%2Cfinish_first_in_a_county.?wprov=sfla1

While neither George Wallace.or Ross Perot got elected it is taught that they effect the outcome of the election. Basically they would be running as a stopper

Deputy envoy of Russia to UN denies export of Iranian drone to Russia, threatens to review relationship with UN secretary office, if UN send experts to study Russian drones in Ukraine

Obama and his administration warned of that years before. Trump didn't have an original or helpful idea by himself.

Because it's hard to turn down cheap and convenient energy, even when the attendant risks are pointed out. As the state of the planet today vividly testifies.