On social media Tuesday, erstwhile Republican senatorial candidate Roy Moore got hammered for hinting at another run.

Earlier this year, Democrat Doug Jones — who bested Roy in the 2017 special election — taunted the cowboy-hat-wearin’ former Alabama Supreme Court Justice:

“If he really believes [the election was stolen from him], and if the Republican Party really believes that, then they all ought to just step aside, have a press conference with him and let’s just do it again.”

More recently, Roy taunted Republican Rep. Bradley Byrne, who’s set to challenge Doug Jones next go ’round. He posted to Twitter, “What is Bradley so worried about? He knows that if I run I will beat Doug Jones.”

Hmmm…

Cowboy Roy subsequently took quite the sizable slam from Trump, Jr.:

“You mean like last time? You’re literally the only candidate who could lose a GOP seat in pro-Trump, pro-USA ALABAMA. Running for office should never become a business model. If you actually care about #MAGA more than your own ego, it’s time to ride off into the sunset, Judge.”

You mean like last time? You’re literally the only candidate who could lose a GOP seat in pro-Trump, pro-USA ALABAMA. Running for office should never become a business model. If you actually care about #MAGA more than your own ego, it's time to ride off into the sunset, Judge. https://t.co/Twg9isFRkY

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 28, 2019

Ouch.

Roy’s campaign got into a bit of trouble last time due to some hefty sexual allegation.

Yet, as reported by Politico Tuesday:

He has expressed interest in running again next year, and many Republicans expect him to mount another campaign for Senate, a worst-case scenario for the party’s hopes of winning back the seat.

…

Republicans in Washington have vowed to oppose Moore and think the former judge would put the Alabama race in jeopardy again. Jones won by less than 2 percentage points in 2017 and is the most vulnerable incumbent senator on the ballot in 2020.

In light of his Bradley Byrne brag, Roy took a lashing from others across the Republican landscape.

Former White House staffer Cliff Sims had this to say:

“Narrator: ‘…And thus, in true Trump-era fashion, Roy Moore’s decades-long career in Alabama politics came to an end—on Twitter.'”

Narrator: “…And thus, in true Trump-era fashion, Roy Moore’s decades-long career in Alabama politics came to an end—on Twitter.” https://t.co/Z9b0LaMZOB

— Cliff Sims (@Cliff_Sims) May 28, 2019

Republican strategist Arthur Schwartz launched a missile:

“They are not having a good afternoon over at @RealJudgeMoore headquarters (someplace at least 300 yards away from any elementary school or shopping mall).”

They are not having a good afternoon over at @RealJudgeMoore headquarters (someplace at least 300 yards away from any elementary school or shopping mall). https://t.co/wmRhw3SDv5

— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) May 28, 2019

Minnesota House Republican Caucus Director of Public Affairs Andrew Wagner was more direct. Or perhaps he was runnin’ out the door and just didn’t have time to elaborate:

“You are such a moron.”

Certainly clear.

From a purely strategic point of view, whatever the realities behind allegations during the 2017 election, it seems to me that Roy Moore making another go at it probably isn’t the best idea for the party.

Trump Jr. is right: Somebody should be able to clean Doug Jones’s clock. That someone may be Bradley Byrne. If Roy could narrowly win due to some sort of red-state revenge vote, in my opinion, it would certainly be a marketing mess for the GOP. The media’d probably say those letters stand for Goofy Old Perverts.

What should DEM stand for?

I look forward to your suggestions.

Actually, I take back my marketing/media comment; if Republicans cared what the media had to say, they’d be in a whole lot more trouble than Roy Moore. And we’d be under the watchful eye of President Clinton.

Lastly, to be clear, I have no opinion of whether Roy did anything wrong. If he was unjustly accused of bad behavior, I can fully understand a desire to be vindicated through congressional victory. If he is innocent of wrongdoing, I hope he takes the path which makes him happiest, whether it makes other people happy or not.

-ALEX

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