Trump Is Now Suggesting Ron DeSantis Is a Pedophile

[DenverFinFan]

People cheating social security makes me furious.  I get up to go to work every day while they relax and have fun.

GOP 2024!!!!

Hopefully it's DeSantis.

You have more in common with a homeless person or someone on disability then you ever will with a billionaire.

[CF DolFan]

You have more in common with a homeless person or someone on disability then you ever will with a billionaire.

Considering there are only about 700 in the US that is highly likely for just about everyone... hahaha

[dolphins4life]

You have more in common with a homeless person or someone on disability then you ever will with a billionaire.

What's that supposed to mean?

People on disability live lives of luxury.  People on food stamps live lives of luxury.  People on government assistance live lives of luxury.

Trump did MAGA

Hopefully DeSantis can in 2024.

[DenverFinFan]

What's that supposed to mean?

People on disability live lives of luxury.  People on food stamps live lives of luxury.  People on government assistance live lives of luxury.

Trump did MAGA

Hopefully DeSantis can in 2024.

No they don’t man. Do you know how hard it is to get disability? It took my friend 6 years. She gets 800 dollars a month and it took another two to get an apartment. She isn’t faking it. She doesn’t live some glamorous life.

What it means is you’re more likely to have some kind of life event that leaves you on the streets than you are likely to get rich.

[Spider-Dan]

The GOP presidential hopefuls still can't bring themselves to utter a single word against the Great Orange Emperor.  If you think we aren't headed for a repeat of the 2016 GOP primary, you're crazy.

Nikki Haley, like DeSantis, is afraid to confront Trump

One thing Haley didn’t do in her video was address the orange elephant in the room. She didn’t so much as mention former President Donald Trump, the current polling leader for the Republican nomination. That’s not necessarily a surprise. Since 2016, the GOP in general, and primary candidates in particular, have been afraid to criticize or oppose Trump, even as Trump himself has denigrated and smeared his rivals in the most noxious and irresponsible ways.

Defeating Trump requires, at some point, criticizing Trump. But Trump’s large, enthusiastic base in the party will brook no criticism. If the entire party stood against him, he’d probably be in trouble. But everyone is afraid of being out front; no one wants to share the fate of Liz Cheney, who denounced Trump’s coup attempt and got crushed in her primary. So Republicans boast about their toughness while trembling and genuflecting before their fascist overlord.

This pattern was well established in 2016. Trump’s attacks on his rivals during the primary were bigoted, cruel, and often utterly divorced from truth. In one debate he mocked Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as “Little Marco.” He insulted businesswoman Carly Fiorina’s looks. He did the same to Heidi Cruz, Ted Cruz’s wife. Perhaps most egregiously, he pushed a completely false conspiracy theory about Ted Cruz’s father, who he claimed had been involved in the assassination of JFK.

Trump’s rivals struggled to respond to these smears. The Republican Party largely refuses to believe sexism and racism exist; as a result, it’s difficult for people like Fiorina to accuse Trump of sexism, even when his crude attacks fit the bill. So other Republican candidates largely fell back on accusing him of being unserious or uncivil, or insisted that they’re above such mudslinging. [...]

In fact, the 2024 GOP contest is shaping up much like the 2016 contest. Candidates putatively running against Trump refuse to speak against him, or even to distinguish themselves from him. For example, during a recent CNN appearance, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu not only confirmed he’ll support Trump if he ends up winning the nomination, but distanced himself from his previous criticisms of him. [...]

Trump’s closest competitor in polls, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, hasn’t shown any more backbone. Trump last year gave DeSantis the nickname “DeSanctimonious.” He’s called him disloyal. And recently, based on little evidence, he accused DeSantis of grooming high school girls.

Trump himself has of course been accused by dozens of women of harassment and sexual assault. He is currently being sued for defamation by writer E. Jean Carroll, who says Trump raped her. A tape in which Trump boasted about sexually assaulting women almost derailed his candidacy in 2016. In response to Trump’s insinuations, DeSantis could easily, and rightfully, point out that Trump’s history of sexual violence is extensive and that it should be disqualifying.

Instead, DeSantis followed the unsuccessful Fiorina playbook, blandly suggesting he’s above the fray.

“I don’t spend my time trying to smear other Republicans,” DeSantis said last week, taking the high road where Trump opponents have so often gone to die.

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Anyone who believes that you can take the high road and beat Trump in a GOP primary is delusional.  Trump is going to absolutely wipe the floor with these cowards.

[CF DolFan]

Not surprising but I have the complete opposite take. I think they let him destroy himself. With every desperate attack on DeSantis he has lost support and yet DeSantis hasn't had to do anything. Nikki Haley stood up to Don when she worked for him so I'm pretty sure she is capable of doing so again and when Ron has to debate he will be perfectly capable.

DeSantis is well liked in the GOP and has accomplished things so he doesn't really eed to dignify a desperate man's back yard shit show. Republicans aren't looking for reasons to turn on him like Jeb Bush who everyone already didn't like or Ted Cruz who can be hard to like. Trump will try to paint them as RINOs like Jeb because that worked last time but everyone except for his cronies already knows that isn't true.

[Dave Gray]

I tend to agree with you, CF, but the one thing that scares me is that they tried this strategy before and it failed them hard.  They tried to ignore him instead of facing him head on and by the time they did, it was too late.

Trump is a unique politician.  He's going to go after anyone.  He doesn't care about party loyalty.  There is no bigger picture for him.  So, a lot of the things that would be off limits to other politicians won't be for Trump.  He's going to go after Desantis for banning books, for voting against social security, etc -- all the stuff that will hurt the GOP in the general, he doesn't care.

[Spider-Dan]

"Trump was a fantastic President who did an incredible job.  I don't have any disagreement with his amazing policies at all.  And the 2020 election was very sketchy, so I can't disagree when he says he should be President today.

But in this primary, um, please vote for me instead of Trump... who, again, is Really Great and who I would totally support myself!"

How exactly is this strategy supposed to work to win a primary?  It's nonsense.

[dolphins4life]

"Trump was a fantastic President who did an incredible job.  I don't have any disagreement with his amazing policies at all.  And the 2020 election was very sketchy, so I can't disagree when he says he should be President today.

But in this primary, um, please vote for me instead of Trump... who, again, is Really Great and who I would totally support myself!"

How exactly is this strategy supposed to work to win a primary?  It's nonsense.

What I don't get is, Trump DID do a great job.  Biden came and ruined everything, yet people still support Biden.

It's a tough row to hoe for ANY Republican candidate anyway

Low class = Support the Democrats because they get government assistance and are not affected by inflation
Middle class = Support Republicans because they ARE affected by inflation and the economy
Upper class = Support the Democrats because they are not affected by inflation because they make enough money
Super Rich = Support Republicans.

This is why I get really angry when people here tell me i'm voting against my own interests.  It's a complete and utter lie. 

[dolphins4life]

It should be noted that I have yet to hear DeSantis state ANYTHING about his intention to run for president.  I mean, he's a got a pretty sweet gig in Florida.  Maybe he doesn't want to give that up.  Sadly, according the people I know from Florida, he hasn't been able to protect the state from Bidenflation.

[Fau Teixeira]

What I don't get is, Trump DID do a great job.  Biden came and ruined everything, yet people still support Biden.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

What I don't get is, Trump DID do a great job. 

This video does a great job at explaining the disconnect between Trump supports and detractors.  In the video the presenter lists Trump's accomplishments and explains why others don't see them as accomplishments.  Watch until the end. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M6CXhUS-x8

[Spider-Dan]

Great video.  Beau always puts out quality content.

I don't disagree with his conclusion, but I also think labels have limited value.  When we are at the point of literal dues-paying KKK members saying, "I'm not a racist... I just think blacks and Jews should live in a separate society," what meaning does the word "racist" even have to them?  The right has embraced the appearance of tolerance but not any of the principles.  And so it is with Beau's conclusion: conservatives will reject the label he mentions while vigorously cheering the principles involved.

---

Back on topic, I found this article about Nikki Haley to be telling:

Allow me to remind you that Elise Stefanik exists. She was once the kind of Republican that Haley claims to be, but led by her ambition and fueled by her liquid-nitrogen cynicism, she has since fused herself to Trump. (And it’s paying off for her: At 38 years old, she’s the House GOP conference chair.) To win in 2024, Haley and every other Republican candidate are going to turn into some version of Trump, or Stefanik, or Vance, and this makes every one of them untrustworthy around the levers of national power.

To note this is not to be a permanent friend or foe of any one party. Rather, it is a recognition of political reality. As a former Republican, I’d welcome the spirited primary between, say, former Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland, Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, and former Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts. But because I currently live on this planet, I recognize that the GOP race is going to be a Trumpier-than-thou contest among imitators of Trump’s hideous shtick, all of them pretenders to Trump’s gilt-and-glitz throne.

Donald Trump is still the leader of the GOP and its choice (so far) for president in 2024, and Haley, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and others, is courting Trump’s base. This means appeasing people who refuse to hold Trump responsible for trying to overthrow our government.

Essentially, as long as all the viable competing options against Trump are just Trump-lite, none of them have any chance of defeating him.  I'm sure CF would quickly agree that the Republicans least like Trump - your Larry Hogan, Charlie Baker, Chris Sununu types - have 0.0% chance of winning a GOP presidential primary.

As long as the voters are captured by Trumpism, the party is beholden to Trump.  Why would you vote for an imitation when you can have the genuine article?

[dolphins4life]

Great video.  Beau always puts out quality content.

I don't disagree with his conclusion, but I also think labels have limited value.  When we are at the point of literal dues-paying KKK members saying, "I'm not a racist... I just think blacks and Jews should live in a separate society," what meaning does the word "racist" even have to them?  The right has embraced the appearance of tolerance but not any of the principles.  And so it is with Beau's conclusion: conservatives will reject the label he mentions while vigorously cheering the principles involved.

---

Back on topic, I found this article about Nikki Haley to be telling:

Allow me to remind you that Elise Stefanik exists. She was once the kind of Republican that Haley claims to be, but led by her ambition and fueled by her liquid-nitrogen cynicism, she has since fused herself to Trump. (And it’s paying off for her: At 38 years old, she’s the House GOP conference chair.) To win in 2024, Haley and every other Republican candidate are going to turn into some version of Trump, or Stefanik, or Vance, and this makes every one of them untrustworthy around the levers of national power.

To note this is not to be a permanent friend or foe of any one party. Rather, it is a recognition of political reality. As a former Republican, I’d welcome the spirited primary between, say, former Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland, Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, and former Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts. But because I currently live on this planet, I recognize that the GOP race is going to be a Trumpier-than-thou contest among imitators of Trump’s hideous shtick, all of them pretenders to Trump’s gilt-and-glitz throne.

Donald Trump is still the leader of the GOP and its choice (so far) for president in 2024, and Haley, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and others, is courting Trump’s base. This means appeasing people who refuse to hold Trump responsible for trying to overthrow our government.

Essentially, as long as all the viable competing options against Trump are just Trump-lite, none of them have any chance of defeating him.  I'm sure CF would quickly agree that the Republicans least like Trump - your Larry Hogan, Charlie Baker, Chris Sununu types - have 0.0% chance of winning a GOP presidential primary.

As long as the voters are captured by Trumpism, the party is beholden to Trump.  Why would you vote for an imitation when you can have the genuine article?

What principles?

Trump gave us

Energy Independence
Secure Borders
China in Check
Peace in the Middle East and between Ukraine and Russia
A booming economy with no inflation
A booming housing market
Low gas prices

That's why he did a great job.

Biden has given us the EXACT opposite of these.

[dolphins4life]

We liked Charlie Baker in MA.  He responded very well to the pandemic.  We never had any hospital crises.  He set up emergency hospitals well ahead of time and we didn't even have to use all of them.