The Coming War - Trump vs. Desantis

[Jaymann]

Sure, it should be said over and over from the highest rooftops, until the Florida Men succeed in burning down the Repugnicans.

[Grifman]

This is getting interesting fast:



I’m not clear as to why Republican leadership thinks the base will follow them to DeSantis now. The base can’t stand the leadership. And why now, when they’ve had plenty of previous opportunities to dump Trump.

[Little Raven]

I’m not clear as to why Republican leadership thinks the base will follow them to DeSantis now. The base can’t stand the leadership. And why now, when they’ve had plenty of previous opportunities to dump Trump.

Because it's becoming increasingly clear that Trump is a loser.

The Republican party is starved for wins. On the big stage, they do almost nothing but lose. To find a successful Republican President, you have to go back to Reagan. The reason so much of the party was willing to sell their souls to Trump was because he won, and they wanted that more than anything else. They still do. But it's getting harder to believe that Trump will deliver.

[Holman]

I’m not clear as to why Republican leadership thinks the base will follow them to DeSantis now. The base can’t stand the leadership. And why now, when they’ve had plenty of previous opportunities to dump Trump.

Because it's becoming increasingly clear that Trump is a loser.

The Republican party is starved for wins. On the big stage, they do almost nothing but lose. To find a successful Republican President, you have to go back to Reagan. The reason so much of the party was willing to sell their souls to Trump was because he won, and they wanted that more than anything else. They still do. But it's getting harder to believe that Trump will deliver.

Counterpoint: They were willing to sell their souls to Trump because he gave them permission to be their worst selves. And that's how he won.

Now that that Pandora's Box has been opened, it's possible that someone else might be able to do it even better than Trump. Look for DeSantis to lean into the Hate, since that's his path to Trumpian victory.

[Grifman]

But they still have a base problem, which is why they haven’t abandoned Trump before. After all, Trump’s mid terms were a blue wave, and he lost the presidency after that. And the base is not going to follow them to DeSantis. It’s a cult and you don’t replace the cult leader until he is dead.

Still, this is going to be interesting.

[malchior]

Right - the base is the problem. The election deniers are mostly taking their cues from the base. It is essentially part of a loyalty pledge to Trump in the end. I think DeSantis gets that though and if Trump doesn't burn himself to the ground, DeSantis is definitely positioning himself to pick up whatever comes next even if it's a little long-term which will almost certainly not be a return to normal for the GOP.

[Zarathud]

DeSantis existing is a problem for Trump. There can be only one.

So he’ll burn him down unless DeSantis humiliates himself before the Golden Don.

[Jaymann]

This is getting interesting fast:



I’m not clear as to why Republican leadership thinks the base will follow them to DeSantis now. The base can’t stand the leadership. And why now, when they’ve had plenty of previous opportunities to dump Trump.

I'm sure this sticks in the craw of Florida Man (Uno) like nobody's business, especially since it's coming from Fox News. Expect him to lash out big time, and, IMO make him more likely to run. It's always been and about narcissism, and almost nothing to do with politics. I don't expect the rank and file to denounce him, just ignore him and move on. To Florida Man (Uno) this is the worst possible outcome. If Putin deserts him it will be icing on the cake.

[malchior]

I don't expect the rank and file to denounce him, just ignore him and move on.

That's the problem they face. The rank and file still want him. This looks like "establishment" Conservatives trying to limit the damage. And railing and counterpunching against the establishment is what Trump is good at. This has as much chance as helping him in the end than hurting him. How many times have we seen this show now? How many times in the last 2 6 years has his political career been over? And some other star was rising. Too many times to count.

Still I agree that this makes it more likely he'll run. He is a child in many ways and they've challenged him. He can't let that go.

To Florida Man (Uno) this is the worst possible outcome. If Putin deserts him it will be icing on the cake.

Putin is more likely to support both of them and hope it causes more chaos. Friction points are a breeding ground for the most effective disinformation.

[Grifman]

Right - the base is the problem. The election deniers are mostly taking their cues from the base. It is essentially part of a loyalty pledge to Trump in the end. I think DeSantis gets that though and if Trump doesn't burn himself to the ground, DeSantis is definitely positioning himself to pick up whatever comes next even if it's a little long-term which will almost certainly not be a return to normal for the GOP.

My thought is that DeSantis hopes that Trump’s legal problems take him out, leaving DeSantis to pick up the pieces.

[malchior]

Right - the base is the problem. The election deniers are mostly taking their cues from the base. It is essentially part of a loyalty pledge to Trump in the end. I think DeSantis gets that though and if Trump doesn't burn himself to the ground, DeSantis is definitely positioning himself to pick up whatever comes next even if it's a little long-term which will almost certainly not be a return to normal for the GOP.

My thought is that DeSantis hopes that Trump’s legal problems take him out, leaving DeSantis to pick up the pieces.

That's definitely one scenario. There are several for sure where Trump unceremoniously is out of the picture and DeSantis is there to offer stability in the tempest that is sure to arise.

[Grifman]

[LordMortis]

After Monday night, I can put this is the realm of possible, which I could not before. Many have peeled from Trump this week to my but he still has a weaponized base, plenty of MAGAts in power, and two years to utilize them... though I guess for the first time in a long time, I see the possibility for flaming out and couldn't happen to a nicer guy than DeSantis. Still. I'll believe it when I see it.

[Blackhawk]

He does have a base.

And the fact that 'Trump's base' isn't the same as 'the Republican party' could end up being his greatest gift to us.

[Grifman]

This is interesting, opinions seem split but both sides have good reasons:

[Grifman]

Trump fires a new broadside:

[Alefroth]

We need to hear more about this ballot theft and sending in the FBI.

[pr0ner]

A follow up to that:

[Alefroth]

It's got to be lying, right?

[LordMortis]

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-desantis ... en-1758853

"The Fake News asks him if he's going to run if President Trump runs, and he says, 'I'm only focused on the Governor's race, I'm not looking into the future.' Well, in terms of loyalty and class, that's really not the right answer," the former president wrote.

His loyalty has been tested and found lacking. Trump will attempt to burn him to the ground if past performance is indicative of future results.

I'm totally now. As much as I never wanted to hear his name again, I'm hooked.

[malchior]

It's got to be lying, right?

That hits on all the disinfo cylinnders. Election denial is in there. He also could be intentionally dirtying up his possible adversary. "I used them ths way. Just like they have and will."

[Grifman]

[Unagi]

[Isgrimnur]

[Grifman]

[Alefroth]

What's the likelihood of Trump starting his own party?

[Carpet_pissr]

[Grifman]

Interesting, DeSantis leads Trump in some polling apparently;

[Grifman]

What's the likelihood of Trump starting his own party?

That’s a pretty expensive proposition and Trump is anything but an organizer, and whoever helped him would kill their own political future for a losing cause. I’d say it’s close to zero.

[pr0ner]

What's the likelihood of Trump starting his own party?

That’s a pretty expensive proposition and Trump is anything but an organizer, and whoever helped him would kill their own political future for a losing cause. I’d say it’s close to zero.

I think there was a time after he lost the 2020 election that he was floating starting his own party, but the Republican Party told him they'd stop paying his legal bills (which they have to do once he announces today anyway) so those rumors stopped.

[Grifman]

Return fire:

[Alefroth]

What's the likelihood of Trump starting his own party?

That’s a pretty expensive proposition and Trump is anything but an organizer, and whoever helped him would kill their own political future for a losing cause. I’d say it’s close to zero.

I think there was a time after he lost the 2020 election that he was floating starting his own party, but the Republican Party told him they'd stop paying his legal bills (which they have to do once he announces today anyway) so those rumors stopped.

Perhaps the time is riper now.

[Jeff V]

I'm still hoping Trump is incarcerated before the 2024 election, but the Donkeys don't seem to have it in them to see it through.

Desantis could certainly run on his own record, and hopefully be rewarded with a crushing defeat.

[Jaymann]

I'm still hoping Trump is incarcerated before the 2024 election, but the Donkeys don't seem to have it in them to see it through.

Desantis could certainly run on his own record, and hopefully be rewarded with a crushing defeat.

That could happen if MAGAt's stay home because he is not trumpy enough.

[Blackhawk]

I wouldn't put it past him to win from prison and pardon himself from his cell.

[Grifman]

Cracks appearing:

[Carpet_pissr]

‘Boebert then commented that 2024 is “in the far future.”‘

Translation: “too early to tell if Trump is truly toast at this point. If that becomes clear then I will throw him under the bus and side with DeSantis”

[Grifman]

Republicans tiring

[Octavious]

I really think he's done. His entire life of bs only lasts so long before it blows up in his face and he moves onto something else. Usually it's just a crippled company and not an entire country.

[Smoove_B]

Done? Please. He gets up on that stage and starts dancing and the GOP loses their mind.