Posted on 03/06/2023 11:47:26 AM PST by GulliverSwift
According to five Republicans familiar with the discussions, the governor’s top lieutenants have quietly recruited a network of conservative social media influencers as part of a broader attempt to circumvent the mainstream press and appeal directly to GOP primary voters nationwide.
And who are, according to the three Republicans who received the initial pitch, among the ranks in DeSantis’ digital army?
Jack Murphy, a podcast host and self-described “alpha-male giga chad” involved in a quasi-professional cuckolding porn scandal. John Cardillo, a former Newsmax TV host and unregistered arms dealer who allegedly stiffed the Ukrainian government for $200,000 worth of body armor plates. Christian Walker, Herschel Walker’s right-wing influencer son who helped tank his father’s Senate campaign. David Reaboi, a Hungary-loving and Qatar-hating bodybuilder with longstanding ties to John Bolton. And Caleb Hull, an ex-Trump digital strategist who has said some very, very racist things.
This is the DeSantis A-team, and they’re fighting a battle for a presidential campaign that hasn’t even started yet—with plenty of DeSantis face time, dinners, and photo ops.
The effort has picked up steam ever since Christina Pushaw, DeSantis’ perennially online rapid response director, moved from the governor’s office to his campaign in August of last year.
Pushaw, who has deep connections in right-wing media, has been reaching out—either in person or through intermediaries—to recruit conservative influencers, promising to boost their follower count and engagement with the help of an alleged “bot farm,” according to three Republican influencers who received the pitch.
“I didn’t realize I was being used,” said one of the conservative influencers who agreed to be interviewed on the condition of anonymity.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
This 'columnist' rattles off a list of names comprising "DeSantis’ digital army" -- It would be wise believe that when it is available from other, more reliable sources.
As far as 'bots' goes, however, I guess you missed this bit in the New York Post:
Network of Twitter bots praises Trump — but slams Haley, DeSantis: report
Vs.
Thirty six geeks from the Ron DeSantis Young Republicans Club inside Stewart Millhouse's mother's basement.
And the media is concerned about Stewart Millhouse's operation whose budget can't afford Bagel-Bites mini pizzas.
desantis was running for reelection for florida governor last august of last year (2022)...
not president...
they conveniently ignore the fact that desantis was running for reelection for florida governor last august of last year (2022)...
not president...
I’ve nothing against DeSantis, but I see it like this.
Trump started this movement in 2016. He owns it. He was torpedoed in 2020 and gets another shot.
We need DeSantis in Florida for another four years. The democrats will be tough enough to beat the way they run elections.
DeSantis need to join forces with Trump, back him in 2024 and then run in 2028. He has plenty of time.
And the collective following counts of these 5 Never Trumpers?
Maybe equal to a Brett Coooper (she’s on our side)?
MAGA is gowing across the Fruited Plain.
Cross the MegaMAGAKing and his Army at your perile.
Roll MAGA, roll!
So they picked FIVE out of what, 500 or more “pitched” by Pushaw? Daily Beast is so pathetic.
If only DeSantis had waited until 2028 he would have been president.
desantis never announced he’s running for president...
Don’t all politicians have PR people? If not, wouldn’t that be stupid? Are they secret because we don’t have a list of their names? Are all of Trump’s PR people listed somewhere?
I have 77 emails from Trump and his sons and team since 2/11. I know I’ve thrown some out along the way. Thus far, DeSantis sent one rally alert back in August, and I have yet to receive anything from anyone that is even remotely negative about Trump.
I’m confused. I’m seeing stories of bots promoting Trump, and then of bots supporting DeSantis.
https://nypost.com/2023/03/06/network-of-pro-trump-bots-attacking-haley-desantis-report/
Are there no bots supporting the left at all? See, even the bots are tired of the democrats!
I can smell the fear from way up here in the northwoods of Pennsylvania.
Ron is gathering steam, and the Trumpeteers are shaking in their boots.
Trumpers are now posting Daily Beast articles and agreeing with them??? HAHAHAHA! You people are so scared.
DeSantis posters have been doing the same thing, posting unnamed sources from the NY Times, CNN, AP and the unabashedly unfair and unbalanced Fox.
For example the poorly sourced claim that Trump is planning on calling Ron, “meatball” and “Tiny D”.
Haha’s all around.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yeah, what they don’t understand is the media has been working tirelessly in spinning up a feud between the two for some time.
But hey, clearly some are falling for it.
Influence away, but it won’t change anything...
Trump, short of some major black swan event is the nominee. I know all sorts of establishment/nevertrumper’s are whispering in Desantis’s ear to run... but I think honestly he’s quite foolish to run this round.
The breadth and depth of Trump’s support is bigger than anything I’ve seen in decades.. the Establishment continues to miscalculate. Odds of Desantis harming his long term prospects are far greater than the odds of victory IMHO.
Desantis won’t even show his face at CPAC, but he’s going to somehow unite the party and win?
Sounds like the same nonsense the same bunch of fools were feeding regarding OZ last cycle.
At this point Desantis is viewed positively by most, he takes on Trump and it gets ugly, that viewpoint will turn in a heartbeat... go ask Cruz about that. He was generally viewed well by the GOP voters, until his horrible misteps in the 16 cycle.
I see possible long term damage to Desantis way more than the likelihood of short term gain.
We’ll see how this plays out, but I fully expect the Primary to go much like the last CPAC Straw Poll... Trump will dominiate... may be a stray state here or there where someone can win like OHIO last time, but it won’t be enough to stop the juggernaut.
Folks will have been waiting nearly 4 years to ensure their voices are heard after the flagrant theft of 2020, establishments thinks these folks are going to abandon Trump, or stay home, they are smoking some really really good stuff.
Then supply the proof, because just claiming something doesn’t make it so.
Why is it okay to use Italian slurs now? Whatever you may think of someone, their heritage is like skin color, something they have no control over. Stick with what they can change, make your criticism meaningful. Otherwise, name-calling just comes across as childishness. Freepers should be better than DUers.
It’s somewhat hypocritical to glom onto “meatball” as if Trump’s purported use of it made it okay, and then keep repeating it when Trump said he didn’t use it.
See 35.
Desantis either is all in with the establishment GOP, or he’s being played by them IMHO. Either way I see little chance for upside if he tries to take on Trump this cycle.
I know the GOP/Uniparty Establishment and Nevertrumpers want to take Trump out... but I truly don’t see it happening.
Desantis’ odds of harming himself long term are far greater than his odds and taking Trump out in the Primary....
It doesn’t matter that Fox News has banned Trump, it doesn’t matter the right wing media are going all in on anyone but Trump etc etc etc... None of that is going to matter... The establishment thinks it will, and will be learning a hard lesson when the votes get counted.
Desantis has a promising future ahead of him, but odds of him taking on Trump this cycle and winning are far far lower than the odds he will harm his brand far far more long term.
Swedes make excellent meatballs
Great post.
DeSantis is so far going about this smart. He’s the logical alternative should Trump suddenly have to drop out (he’s 77) for health reasons, but DeSantis is really putting himself in position for 2028.
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