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DeSantis’s Challenge: When, and How, to Counterattack Trump
New York Times ^ | Feb. 12, 2023, 12:45 p.m. ET | Michael C. Bender and Maggie Haberman

Posted on 02/12/2023 11:58:09 AM PST by conservative98

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida prizes preparation and the way it allows him to control his political narrative. But suddenly, he was on the verge of going off message.

He had traveled to a Central Florida warehouse this past week to promote a $2 billion tax cut proposal when he was confronted with the inevitable: an especially ugly attack from former President Donald J. Trump that seemed to warrant a strong response.

Mr. Trump had insinuated on social media that Mr. DeSantis behaved inappropriately with high school girls while he was a teacher in his early 20s. As a reporter asked for his reaction, the Florida governor — standing amid kitchen stoves and boxes of baby diapers — inhaled sharply. He straightened the papers in front of him and raised his open palms to interrupt the question.

But instead of slamming the former president, Mr. DeSantis demurred.

[cut]

But Mr. DeSantis’s above-the-fray posture carries risk. One of the central tenets of the modern Republican Party under Mr. Trump has been the willingness to fight, ruthlessly and tirelessly.

While the Florida governor has successfully portrayed himself to conservatives as a cultural warrior, his actual experience mixing it up with powerful opponents is thinner. He was barely tested last year during his re-election bid, his first since emerging as a national political figure.

[cut]

Taking on Mr. Trump is complicated. Republican rivals have been unable for seven years to thwart his personal attacks or to dissuade an abiding loyalty to the former president among about one-third of the party’s voters.

There is often little room to question or debate Mr. Trump without being cast by him and his allies as a political adversary, or even a traitor to the country.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons; Politics/Elections; US: Florida; US: New York
KEYWORDS: 1trump2024; 2024; actliketrump; attack; attackattack; concerntroll; concerntrolling; concerntrolls; cultofdesantis; desantis; desantisaintrunning; desimps; dnctalkingpoint; dnctalkingpoints; fakenews; fakerivalry; gop; gope; haggymaberman; lockdownhypocrite; lockdowns; maggiehaberman; meatballron; mediawingofthednc; michaelcbender; mitchmcconnell; nevertrumpers; newyorkdesimps; newyorkslimes; nytfordesantis; nytimeslovesdesantis; obama; partisanmediashill; partisanmediashills; presstitutes; rondesantis; ronlims; shutdownron; smearmachine; smokybackroom; tds; trump; trump2024; trumpthinskin; walterdurantytimes; whydoestheleftluvron; zot; zothenevertrumpers; zottheconcerntrolls; zotthedesimps
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To: conservative98

That looks a lot like the phony Gavin Newsom shit eat’n used car salesman grin.


41 posted on 02/12/2023 1:00:45 PM PST by lewislynn ( Trump has accomplished more in one 4 yr term than any President in your lifetime)
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To: Drew68

“McConnell, Ryan, McCarthy, McCain, Romney, Ben Sasse, and Susan Collins? All received Trump’s endorsement.”
***

He also interfered in our 2022 PA election.

Now we’re screwed & run by democrat fascists at all levels.


42 posted on 02/12/2023 1:02:17 PM PST by Dr. Scarpetta ( )
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To: Hostage
A "glowing article" from the New York Times, uh-huh.

The same Maggie Haberman that Trump sat down THREE TIMES with for interviews for a book she's writing about him and then whined about what she reported.

"The failing New York Times only prints lies about me! When do you want to do that next interview, Maggie?"

43 posted on 02/12/2023 1:03:13 PM PST by Drew68 (Ron DeSantis for President 2024)
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To: Hostage

The article wasn’t glowing in reference to DeSantis at all. It correctly portrayed him as someone, like others, who will have trouble overcoming the horde of Trump zombies, who think that wise cracks and tough talk, alone, actually make a good President. THAT was the point of the article. No surprise you missed it.


44 posted on 02/12/2023 1:03:25 PM PST by Golden Eagle (The LGBT indoctrination agenda is designed to outlaw the Bible, and anyone who believes it.)
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To: conservative98

He’s finished if he runs against Trump. He’ll be squashed like Ted Cruz and never be a contender for the nomination again.


45 posted on 02/12/2023 1:06:52 PM PST by Kazan
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To: Just mythoughts

you’re criticizing florida governor ron desantis for believing in God?...


46 posted on 02/12/2023 1:07:26 PM PST by heavy metal (smiling improves your face value and makes people wonder what the hell you're up to... 😁)
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To: Kazan

desantis was sworn in for his second term as florida governor almost 6 weeks ago...

desantis issued a statement 3 weeks ago instructing people not to donate any money to any organization that claims he’s running for president in 2024...


47 posted on 02/12/2023 1:10:20 PM PST by heavy metal (smiling improves your face value and makes people wonder what the hell you're up to... 😁)
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To: Dr. Scarpetta
Yes Ron has a state to run while Trump is going to give a DNA sample in a sexual assault lawsuit.
OH for crying out loud. Grow up.

Trump accomplished more in one 4 yr term than any President in your lifetime.
In spite of you wishful thinking ankle biters.

48 posted on 02/12/2023 1:11:03 PM PST by lewislynn ( Trump has accomplished more in one 4 yr term than any President in your lifetime)
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To: heavy metal

Ah, he has yet to demonstrate said belief.. making Hollywood campaign ads are not even on the list.. pretending not to be running for president when he has been laying the ground work for years is unadulterated deception.


49 posted on 02/12/2023 1:12:22 PM PST by Just mythoughts (Psalm 2. Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?)
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To: Golden Eagle

Too bad for you that the “Zombie Hordes” lap you up and spit you out.

But hey! You can always find some GOPee friends in Maricopa! Go there!


50 posted on 02/12/2023 1:14:48 PM PST by Hostage (Article V)
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To: heavy metal

“desantis issued a statement 3 weeks ago instructing people not to donate any money to any organization that claims he’s running for president in 2024...”
***

Yes, he’s not running for president.

He’s running Florida and raising his young children, plus taking care of his wife who had cancer.


51 posted on 02/12/2023 1:18:40 PM PST by Dr. Scarpetta ( )
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To: Just mythoughts

desantis is destroying wokeness and protecting floridians children from leftists indoctrination and the lgbtq grooming in education...

educate yourself about everything florida governor ron desantis has done right for us floridians...

your willful ignorance is on full display...


52 posted on 02/12/2023 1:20:45 PM PST by heavy metal (smiling improves your face value and makes people wonder what the hell you're up to... 😁)
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To: lewislynn
Trump accomplished more in one 4 yr term than any President in your lifetime

A lot of it NO President had done before, like instituting nationwide lockdowns, suspending rent payments, suspending school loans, rushing out DNA modifying injections disguised as "vaccines," presiding over the greatest election theft in history, culminating in an unchaperoned protest at the nation's capitol when the electoral college count was being conducted. It was quite a term.

53 posted on 02/12/2023 1:21:26 PM PST by Golden Eagle (The LGBT indoctrination agenda is designed to outlaw the Bible, and anyone who believes it.)
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To: Dr. Scarpetta

exactly...

desantis isn’t leaving the warm welcoming climate of florida and moving his family to the harsh miserable climate of washington dc anytime soon...


54 posted on 02/12/2023 1:23:33 PM PST by heavy metal (smiling improves your face value and makes people wonder what the hell you're up to... 😁)
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To: M_Continuum

“DeSantis should continue to ignore Trump.”
***

No problem.

DeSantis is an outstanding lawyer and military veteran who knows how to handle himself.


55 posted on 02/12/2023 1:24:20 PM PST by Dr. Scarpetta ( )
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To: Dr. Scarpetta

Yup.


56 posted on 02/12/2023 1:25:33 PM PST by M_Continuum
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To: for-q-clinton

Correct. The Slimes and dishonest Maggie Haberman.


57 posted on 02/12/2023 1:35:18 PM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: devane617
DeSantis needs to simply sit back and watch the show.

That would be good advice to any minor league player. Stand back, watch, learn. DeSantis is minor league.

58 posted on 02/12/2023 1:38:42 PM PST by BlackbirdSST (Trump WON!!! He will win 2024!)
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To: heavy metal
you’re criticizing florida governor ron desantis for believing in God?...

There is no reference in the Bible that God worked an 8th Day just to put DeSantis on the scene. I know you are a broken record but you couldn't have missed that nonsense.

59 posted on 02/12/2023 1:46:34 PM PST by BlackbirdSST (Trump WON!!! He will win 2024!)
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To: conservative98

Well look at The NYT spilling ink for DeSantis. NYT seems worried about DeSantis. WoW! Has NYT taken a bit of a liking to DeSantis? He’s so charismatic.


60 posted on 02/12/2023 2:16:52 PM PST by McCarthysGhost (q)
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