Is Ron DeSantis the Future of Trumpism?

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/ron-desantis-trumpism.html

No paywall
https://archive.ph/M8qFC

In late February, as daily deaths from COVID-19 tallied in the thousands across the country, Florida governor Ron DeSantis announced his latest effort to dismantle his state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Private businesses, he insisted, should stop requiring their employees to wear masks at work. Here was a perfectly selected message to build the brand he has established: Ron DeSantis, scourge of public-health bureaucrats, enemy of woke corporations, and friend of the little guy.

Both the form and content of the message reflected careful planning. As DeSantis spoke, he looked like a man who had been mimicking Donald Trump’s speeches in front of the mirror. He performed a series of hand thrusts, in which he drew his thumbs together until they were almost touching, then jerked them apart in quick horizontal motions, as if he were playing an invisible accordion. After five such accordion pulls, he swung his right hand, thumb pointing up, in a semi-circular motion back inward to the center. DeSantis tweeted out the clip, and any MAGA fan watching, even without the sound on, would have grasped the gist just through the eerie physical impersonation.

Republicans have collectively recognized that however much Trump may exasperate them, their president-in-exile will not be purged, nor will the changes he brought to their party be rolled back. He might, however, be co-opted. And if this is to happen, they have settled with remarkable unanimity on DeSantis as the person to do it.

People who do not ingest large amounts of conservative media may have difficulty comprehending the extent of the adulation both the Trumpist and the Trump-skeptical wings of the party have lavished on DeSantis. On a daily basis, the right-wing press churns out stories with headlines like “The Promise of Ron DeSantis,” “Could Gov. Ron DeSantis Be the Favorite GOP Frontrunner for 2024?,” “A Ron DeSantis Master Class in Rope-a-Dope,” “Media Keep Trying — and Failing — to Take Down Florida’s Ron DeSantis,” “Karol Markowicz on What Gov. Ron DeSantis Is Really Like: ‘So Real and Down to Earth,’ ” and on and on.

*snip*

[FloridaBlues]

1. Many people see he is trying soo hard to mimic trump. In his mind he is already the

Republicans choice for nomination in 24. Most press media here think that as well. God help us

[PortTack]

2. If he ends up being their nominee..all I can say is keep your head down! The shit slinging dotard

Will send his way will be non stop. Dotard will do his damnedest to turn his cult against deathsatan.

[empedocles]

3. Seems that trump's hate will land on desatan.

traitortrump is so unappreciated as a Dem asset.

[Hoyt]

4. He's one of many hateful enough to replace trump among the rube base.

[dameatball]

5. Here in Florida, he is the present. Media eats up the schtick for the most part. I see no

real challengers in this state unless something unforeseen takes place. It seems that Trump may indeed face big legal troubles prior to 2024, perhaps even up to conviction(s). A mutually agreed passing of the torch in exchange for pardons of any Trump convictions seems plausible to me.

I have no evidence, just opinion, but I think DeSantis will be a stronger candidate than Trump in 2024 and I think many in the GOP agree, although maybe not out loud.

Again, a lot can happen between now and then and I hope it does.

[UTUSN]

6. Unfortunately yes, "unfortunately" because he's not so stupid as Drumpf & therefore will be more

more effective and successful in foisting their detestable, repulsive agenda onto the country.