Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Karl Rove says Ron DeSantis is ‘smart’ to skip CPAC and its ‘meaningless’ straw poll
Florida Politics ^ | February 28, 2023 | A.G. Gancarski

Posted on 03/01/2023 12:37:56 PM PST by conservative98

'Bush's Brain' says CPAC straw poll would be 'completely meaningless.' More evidence is emerging that Karl Rove is a big fan of Ron DeSantis as the 2024 GOP Presidential Primary field shakes out.

In comments on the Fox News Channel’s America’s Newsroom, the former George W. Bush adviser lauded DeSantis for his decision to skip the Conservative Political Action Conference later this week and to “very smartly” take a “measured” approach toward a 2024 rollout.

“Take, for example, this weekend. Rather than going to CPAC — which is a completely pro-Donald Trump crowd and having a number at the end that weekend where he’s made an appearance, and then there’s a straw poll and Trump wins the straw poll — rather than that, what’s he doing? He’s going to Dallas and Houston, Texas, and Orange County, California and speaking to the Republican county committees,” Rove said.

“They’re big galas in each one of those places, making a lot of friends and avoiding what is going to be a sure story at the end of it. ‘Oh, well, he came here and he obviously didn’t make a big impact, because Trump still took the CPAC straw poll,’ which is completely meaningless but nonetheless would be the story coming out of the weekend.”

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


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cannedham; cpac; desantis; karlrove; lol; rino; rove; thearchitect; trump; trump2024; turdblossomgop
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140141-147 next last
To: bray

“Is Rove his campaign manager?”

No, but keep in mind that Rove doesn’t really choose he’ll he support, as he’s a bundler for the BIG MONEY people, and right now they support DeSantis, until Trump is gone (of course).

What’s disappointing about DeSantis is that he doesn’t seem interested in putting some DISTANCE between himself and these Radioactive Republican Leaders.


101 posted on 03/01/2023 3:29:28 PM PST by BobL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: BobL

What’s disappointing about DeSantis is that he doesn’t seem
interested in putting some DISTANCE between himself and
these Radioactive Republican Leaders.

***********

He’d be stupid to do at this stage of the game. He needs all
the support/backers/voters he can muster.


102 posted on 03/01/2023 3:49:12 PM PST by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 101 | View Replies]

To: conservative98

The poll at CPAC is meaningless. I remember how Ron Paul kept winning it for years. Never meant a damned thing in terms of support for him.


103 posted on 03/01/2023 3:52:01 PM PST by GulliverSwift
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: deport

“He’d be stupid to do at this stage of the game. He needs all the support/backers/voters he can muster.”

It’s the trade-off - either he lines up with the money-men, or he lines up with the base. Personally, I think lining up with the base would have been the right move, as much of the need for money, for him, doesn’t exist - and that being getting name recognition and getting his policy positions known. The media is more than taking care of both.


104 posted on 03/01/2023 3:55:11 PM PST by BobL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 102 | View Replies]

To: BobL

He’s one of them so he;s not going to put any distance between them.


105 posted on 03/01/2023 3:55:25 PM PST by vivenne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 101 | View Replies]

To: vivenne

“He’s one of them so he;s not going to put any distance between them.”

Given his past, that may well be true. BUT, if true, he’s done the BEST impersonation of a populist Republican that I’ve ever seen.


106 posted on 03/01/2023 3:57:12 PM PST by BobL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 105 | View Replies]

To: The Iceman Cometh
Obviously, he's been a very good governor but I can't get excited over someone who is receiving the types of endorsements he is gathering.

Ron DeSantis is the only guy not named Donald Trump who has even the remotest chance at securing the GOP nomination, and right now he's in second place but still miles away from everyone behind him.

Of course DeSantis is going to receive the endorsements of the many Republicans who don't want Donald Trump to be the nominee, many of whom are RINO establishment stooges (though Trump himself had no problem endorsing RINO establishment stooges, --or hiring them).

As long as DeSantis continues to execute stalwart conservative leadership, to fight and win conservative battles (and he's far more conservative that Donald Trump even pretended to be), I don't give a fiddler's fart who endorses him.

107 posted on 03/01/2023 4:18:54 PM PST by Drew68 (Ron DeSantis for President 2024)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 97 | View Replies]

To: BobL

It’s the trade-off - either he lines up with the money-men,or
he lines up with the base.

**********

Personally I don’t think any GOP candidate has a chance at
the Presidency this time around. It ins’t talked about but
my opinion is this election is about getting the first female
President. It could happen at anytime now but my guess is
they will do it at two yrs and one day after the next swearing
in of Biden. They could do it any day now and if Biden would
resign then VP Harris becomes President. But I personally
think it is the plan for after the next presidential election.


108 posted on 03/01/2023 4:28:34 PM PST by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 104 | View Replies]

To: Drew68
As long as DeSantis continues to execute stalwart conservative leadership, to fight and win conservative battles (and he's far more conservative that Donald Trump even pretended to be), I don't give a fiddler's fart who endorses him.

We've been down this road before though. They talk the game then stab you in the back.

'Read my lips', Garbage wars in the Middle East hidden on separate budgets, Endless deficits, no movement at all on immigration.

I want to be a fan of DeSantis but this baggage he is starting to carry is going to turn off many of the supporters he needs.

DeSantis as the nominee? Meh. Get used to more of the same GOPe garbage.

109 posted on 03/01/2023 4:42:48 PM PST by The Iceman Cometh (F*ck Joe Biden!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 107 | View Replies]

To: conservative98

Call me whatever, but the absolute last thing I want is Karl
Rove involved in anything having to do with the future of our
party and nation.


110 posted on 03/01/2023 4:55:43 PM PST by DoughtyOne (I pledge allegiance to the flag of the USofA & to the Constitutional REPUBLIC for? which it stands.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BobL

Wonder what percent of Rove’s money comes from China?


111 posted on 03/01/2023 5:05:54 PM PST by bray (Order at TheRepublicofTexas.store)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 101 | View Replies]

To: The Iceman Cometh
We've been down this road before though. They talk the game then stab you in the back.

And Trump didn't?

"Build the wall!" Lock her up!"

Sure, he gave us a few miles of wall but he also championed an immigration bill that included a pathway to citizenship for dreamers and their parents. DeSantis wisely voted against it.

And in the end, he gave us a gun ban that nobody who voted for him asked for, he spent like a drunk Democrat on Covid relief, and then he campaigned on a $500 billion black reparations package. What the hell was MAGA about that?

And Hillary remains free as a bird.

112 posted on 03/01/2023 5:12:27 PM PST by Drew68 (Ron DeSantis for President 2024)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 109 | View Replies]

To: conservative98

As a Trump 2024 supporter, I would like to mention two phrases of encouragement towards the people lining up for the Florida Governor:

“Thank You” &

“I like what I’m seeing and hearing.”

:)


113 posted on 03/01/2023 5:34:20 PM PST by unclebankster ( Globalism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: heavy metal

I take my apology back. What will you say when he finally makes it official?

Bookmarked....


114 posted on 03/01/2023 5:50:06 PM PST by mlitefan (Long time lurker...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: Drew68

“And Hillary remains free as a bird.”

***************

Trump was President not the AG. No AG that wanted to lock up Clinton was getting through a Senate confirmation.
Besides, it was campaign rhetoric, nobody is throwing a former First Lady in prison.

Oh wait......you’re “goo goo ga ga” over the little man from Florida.

Is DeSantis saying he will?(He can be Trump’s AG in 2026 after his term ends)


115 posted on 03/01/2023 5:50:58 PM PST by unclebankster ( Globalism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 112 | View Replies]

To: lodi90

The Only Trumpers would rather go down with the Trump ship than have a chance to win with another candidate. I don’t expect DeSantis going to run now since it’s becoming clear Trump World is on a kamikaze mission.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Talking points from DU. Awesome...care to have an actual debate?


116 posted on 03/01/2023 5:51:41 PM PST by mlitefan (Long time lurker...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: SoConPubbie

rump, unfortunately, has killed his chances with too many white suburban women IMO to win. He’s also very up there in age by 2025-2028. Of the non-Trumps, RDS is by far the best choice.

This message Proudly brought to you by Globalists, the GOP Establishment, and Deep-State Membership everywhere!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for calling this out! We need more of this.


117 posted on 03/01/2023 5:54:55 PM PST by mlitefan (Long time lurker...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right; rb22982

“I don’t care much about the age thing. But yes, you are right about Trump killing his chances with the suburban soccer moms.”

So that’s the accepted wisdom now? What is that assertion based on? Trump got 12 million more votes in 2020 than he did in 2016. Did this supposed loss of suburban soccer moms occur before 2020 or after?


118 posted on 03/01/2023 6:22:26 PM PST by mbrfl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: Drew68

“Sure, he gave us a few miles of wall...”

A few miles of wall? He clearly built more than a few miles of wall. He replaced hundreds of miles of ineffective barrier with new, secure fencing. He also built 47 miles of new primary wall and 33 miles of new secondary wall. It was quite an accomplishment, actually, and very effective at reducing illegal immigration.

While there are still gaps that he was unable to fill before he left office, the secure fencing in the other areas allowed border agents to focus on the remaining unfenced areas, to great effect. If Biden had continued that policy, we wouldn’t be experiencing the flood of illegals that we currently are. There wasn’t a politician in the GOP who would have dared to even suggest building a high security barrier, in 2016, nor was there anyone who could have gotten as much of it built as Trump. Period.

‘And Trump didn’t [stab us in the back]?”

You can call that stabbing us in the back, but I call it getting as much done as he was able, under the circumstances. Certainly there are things that remain undone, but Trump accomplished a lot on immigration, trade and tax policy, as well as national security. He also nominated three conservative SC judges, whose presence on the court has mad all the difference on a number of ruling - not the least of which was the Roe v. Wade reversal. And he stuck with them through the nomination process where previous Republicans Presidents would have pulled their nomination and offered up a compromise candidate, under the pressure.

“[Trump] campaigned on a $500 billion black reparations package.”

Source? I hope you’re not relying on this obviously satirical article:

https://www.theroot.com/report-trump-gop-seriously-considering-reparations-to-1824239062


119 posted on 03/01/2023 8:04:15 PM PST by mbrfl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 112 | View Replies]

To: RandFan

Rove is a snake.

He hates Trump, and knows he will win the straw poll.

Which Rove knows will be bad for his boy DeSantis


120 posted on 03/02/2023 1:39:38 AM PST by Syncro (Facts and Truth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140141-147 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson