DeSantis doesn't want any smoke with Trump...I can see Trump obliterating him on a debate stage delivering numerous viral soundbites while DeSantis mumbles and stumbles
That's a weak ass response and the base wants a strong man. DeSantis should've hit him back with the epistein lines but he's afraid of him. He has no chance in hell to win a heads up. Not being right isn't the point. You need to one up him which he can't do I've had 4 posters bet me 25 bucks each cuz they thought DeSantis would win. I saw through it months ago. DeSantis is a phony who hides behind a hand picked media. He's not ready for prime time Nd I was right.
I think he is smart to not try to get into that game. He has nothing to win by doing so. He can assess his chances, and "worst case", he will just ride it out as governor and then run 4 years later. By stooping down to Trump's level, he would be playing a game the opponent has a lot more experience in, and is better at. He would never "out-Trump" Trump, so it is smart to not even go there.
You're telling me something I told you a week ago. That's why I bet 125 bucks and was willing to wager any amount. No republican can out trump the Donald. It's not possible. Folks here didn't wanna believe it. DeSantis should sit back stay in Florida and then come for the white house in 2028 against kamala. He beats kamala and becomes president. Sit back and ride it out and don't be a moron. You'll be president in 6 years. He has bunch of donor money behind him which is pushing him but his wife needs to knock sense in him.
I don't remember if you offered that bet to me, but I wouldn't have taken it. Yes, I am in agreement with what you post. He hasn't declared he is running, but he doesn't need to. Stuff can still happen. Trump might end up in additional legal trouble. Trump is old. Etc. But yeah, he would "lose" a debate to Trump, because Trump doesn't care about anything, and whatever ludicrous thing he says, his "base" would see him as the winner. It's a sad state of affairs, but it is what it is. As a Florida resident now (non-voting), I am happy with DeSantis as governor. I would be worried about Trump winning again, it would divide the country further. But I also don't really see any stars like Obama and Clinton in the Democratic party right now.
I don't know what the answer is. The 2016 field tried to not stoop down to Trump's level but he still won. His hardcore base loves the insults and no other contender can match him for shear disgusting, immature behavior.
What you don't get is "stars" bring out the opposite hatred in the opposition party. It's a zero sum at the end of the day. That's why they both got clobbered in the midterms. Biden doesn't pretend to be a star and this is why REPUBLICANS voted for democrats in the midterms. It was a +3 republican environment and dems won big in midterms. Having non stars and having boring non super partisan leaders is the only way to win in politics now. Dems are winning left and right like never before right now
This is what I tried telling folks long time ago pages ago. Trump isn't a republican. He doesn't care about anything other then winning. He will destroy anything in front of him. I just don't understand how folks didn't see this month's ago. What did you folks ever see in DeSantis that you thought he would get in the mud with trump. You can't. Trump is like a suicidal bomber. He just doesn't care about anything other than glory and frame. Trump is going raise so much money as the republican nominee. He'll siphon off hundreds of millions of dollars as the last heist. He doesn't care if biden wins LOL. HES NOT EVEN A REPUBLICAN. He just wants $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
My question is whether Trump really wants to be President, or really wants to be kingmaker. I do wonder whether there is a scenario where Trump grifts for months, maybe even debates before the primary, and then says, I think it’s time for a new generation of leadership and throws his support to the candidate who promises to pardon him. Of course, that would depend on (1) Trumps ability to acknowledge he cannot win a general election (highly questionable given his narcissism), and (2) whether Trump would trust the Republican nominee to follow through with the pardon. The former is within Trumps control. The latter is not, but if the nominee welches, Trump could make life hell for him, even from behind bars.
The last thing Trump would ever want is to be "kingmaker". He doesn't care about any cause. He only cares about himself.
I’m one of the best takers even though I think there is a good chance that Trump wins the GOP nomination. I don’t think it’s as certain and I still think it’s possible for a non Trump candidate to win. This is an exactly because of how the Republican primaries are run. If a non Trump candidate can win early the nature of GOP primaries would then make It hard for Trump to catch up. The money for a non Trump candidate is out there now that Koch and The Club for Growth are not supporting him. Right now DeSantis is the biggest name that could do that. I don’t think DeSantis has to out Trump Trump. In 2016 Trump was a shock to the system and his attacks were unexpected. Everyone knows who Trump is and what he does. I don’t think even within GOP circles they have the same relevance as before.
Being kingmaker is power. Power to grift. Power to control his rivals and adversaries. Trump absolutely loves power.
Besides the fact that Trump hates DeSantis and he's going to work to destroy him, the route for Trump is that there looks to be a gazillion GOP candidates running, which is going to make it hard for anyone but Trump to win those early states. Like 2016, Trump loses if it can quickly get to 1v1, but right now, it looks like it's going to be a whole clown car running. And the Iowa and NH GOP are largely Trump-dominated - or at least they were in 2022. If I had to bet on an underdog candidate, I think someone like Brian Kemp might be the answer. He's a way more likeable version of DeSantis and if Georgia becomes an early state as Dems are trying to do, it gives him an opening to win an early state. And he's directly taken on the anti-Trump coalition and successfully won in a landslide.
I think it really matters if we're going to start seeing early coalescing around an anti-Trump candidate. the Primaries are still a year out and many things could change before then. DeSantis, Nikki Haley, or someone else could still be that candidate and groups like the Club for Growth are prepared to put in a lot of money behind them.
