Posted on 02/26/2024 4:21:29 PM PST by conservative98
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Gov. Ron DeSantis sure seems to be acting like a candidate again — and he’s picking new fights with the most powerful Republican in America.
During a lengthy call last week with more than 200 pledged delegates to his former presidential campaign, DeSantis shot down any speculation that he’d be Donald Trump’s vice president, warned the former president against using “identity politics” in choosing a running mate and blamed Trump’s campaign team for relentlessly attacking him before the governor dropped out of the presidential race in January.
DeSantis held the call the same week he traveled to Indiana and South Carolina, where he pushed for states to back a constitutional amendment setting congressional term limits — a position he constantly mentioned on the campaign trail.
The moves by the governor, including a press conference to trumpet his legislative battles with Disney and a sendoff of Florida National Guard to the Texas border, has once again raised questions about his motives, especially considering that he endorsed Trump for president and criticizes Trump’s rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
“I think he is just very frustrated that no one else is saying these very obvious things and so feels the need to say them himself. Like the boy in ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes,’” said Jason Osborne, the New Hampshire House majority leader who backed DeSantis’ presidential bid.
That viewed was echoed by Rob Stutzman, a Republican adviser for Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign.
“I question how strategic he’s being,” Stutzman said. “I’d lean towards catharsis. Cheaper than therapy.”
It wouldn’t come as a surprise if DeSantis mounted another presidential run in 2028. The governor has hinted that he’s open to another bid since dropping out and, during a press conference in Florida on Friday, told an audience that “of course” he would do it all over again.
But his attacks also represent a very consistent characteristic of the governor: Railing against those he perceives to be against him. He regularly bashed political opponents like President Joe Biden and Democrats, punished Disney for publicly opposing legislation accused of being anti-LGBTQ+ community and denounced “liberal” media outlets. The fact that DeSantis is training his broadsides against Trump — and even conservative media outlets — strikes some as DeSantis being DeSantis.
“DeSantis seems to be liberated since the campaign ended,” Stutzman said. “Even toward the end he was a better candidate than he had been, seemingly unburdened by expectations or contorted strategies. I would think his criticisms of Trump and conservative media are sincere.”
After DeSantis’ comments to pledged delegates surfaced, key Trump supporters took direct aim at the governor. Chris LaCivita, a top Trump strategist, called him a “sad little man” on social media. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that “Ron tucked his tail between his legs and he should have scurried off into the shadows of obscurity.”
And even though Trump floated DeSantis as a possible running mate on Tuesday, the former president’s campaign by Thursday — the day after DeSantis call leaked — closed the door on that option.
DeSantis’s campaign and administration declined to comment.
But DeSantis may have his sights on something much larger than being Trump’s No. 2. POLITICO previously reported that several supporters said they expect him to run for president again and predicted he will start raising money for state-level political activities later in the year.
He hopes to force Trump to pick a weak VP that will be an easier 2028 opponent
This guy is a disgusting toad.
I already thought his post-gov career in politics was over. Now I’m sure of it.
He hopes to force Trump to pick a weak VP that will be an easier 2028 opponent.
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No one has to force Trump to make a bad pick, he has repeatedly proven himself to be the master of that.
How about hanging out in Florida and doing your job for a change, Ron? I will say that the one thing I agree with him from this article, is that Trump shouldn’t focus on identity politics when choosing a running mate.
As far as his recent term-limits campaign, it’s nothing more than a political stunt. I’m in favor of term limits. Trump is in favor of term limits. Most conservatives are in favor of term limits, and have been for 30 years. And yet we’re still talking about it. Unless he has some new and effective strategy for actually making it happen, all his talk is of little consequence. It would likely be one of those issues that would quickly be put on the back burner once in office, if he ever made it to the White House.
The problem is that, as President, it’s difficult to leverage Congress into passing a term-limits amendment when their cooperation is needed on other more immediate issues. I’m not saying there isn’t a way to make it happen but it’s a tough problem to solve - a lot easier to talk about than to accomplish.
Doesn’t matter. He is a lift-wraring. Reepazoid just salivating over the possibility that the greatest president in the last 50 years goes to jail.
I was being kind.
lol. ..
are Trump supporters telling desanctimonious to hold daily “media availability events” about things he should have been doing for Florida, but ignored doing because desantis was soooooo busy campaigning for president?
as the media gets tired of reporting low information events,
how soon will desanctus resort to holding a media availability event to announce he successfully completed a going to the bathroom event?
The VP is useless. So if you're ambitious, it's not the best way to become the POTUS.
Well, it was shown Trump can pick bad people, when he supported and endorsed desanctimonious for governor...
And Trump acknowledged it was a mistake...
This is where he gets it wrong.
“I have heard that they’re looking MORE in identity politics. I think that’s a mistake. I think you should just focus on who the best person for the job would be, and then do that accordingly.” - Ron DeSantis
Really, you’ve heard that, Ron? Trump said nothing about identity politics. Who said he’s not picking the best person? Trump was given Laura Ingraham’s list and he said those are good people. That’s not playing identity politics. That’s just being smart. And Ron is just preaching and just trying to make himself look good to his delegates.
Good point. I doubt he has any inside knowledge about Trump’s thinking process regarding his VP pick. People close to Trump don’t even know, so how would DeSantis? It’s just another example of DeSantis trying to undercut Trump while trying to pass it off as advice. DeSantis is in no position to give advice. Successful elder statesmen give advice, not pathetic losers. “DeSanctimonius” fits him perfectly.
Overall US election history you are right. In recent times it come to be viewed as a springboard to run for the presidency.
Given the two most recent examples Pence & Harris it now may be reverting back to the norm.
Given the two most recent examples Pence & Harris it now may be reverting back to the norm.
Biden and Bush 41 are notable exceptions.
Pence & Harris are typical folks you'll expect in a VP.
The POTUS does not like it if his VP is too ambitious.
And Nixon!
That’s excellent that Trump is now acknowledging his mistakes.
Any idea when DJT is going to acknowledge that his Covid policies did to the American economy, education, health care, elections and freedoms what Francesco Schettino did to the Costa Concordia?
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