DeSantis is a 'very dangerous individual' because he has 'already absorbed all the lessons of Trump'

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

but doesn't have any of the baggage, an expert on fascism argues

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis could be the GOP's natural successor to former President Donald Trump as a 2024 presidential candidate, and he doesn't come with Trump's drama, an expert on authoritarianism told Insider.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a historian at New York University, and the author of the book, "Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present." She has studied the backsliding of democracy, from the US to Russia, and elsewhere.

In a wide-ranging interview, she told Insider that in light of the January 6 hearings, Trump might have to be prosecuted in order to save American democracy ahead of the 2024 election. In that context, she said that DeSantis could take his place as a populist nominee.

"What we do find in history is prosecution, in the longer term, is one of the only things that deflates these guys' personality cults, because those cults are founded on the idea that they are invincible, they are infallible," Ben-Ghiat said. "Now, if that does happen to Trump — DeSantis has already absorbed all the lessons of Trump."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/desantis-is-a-very-dangerous-individual-because-he-has-already-absorbed-all-the-lessons-of-trump-but-doesnt-have-any-of-the-baggage-an-expert-on-fascism-argues/ar-AAYvK9m

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

1. Well, he has baggage now.

Have you seen Florida??

[SharonClark]

2. Lots of baggage but all those snowbirds keeping going there and boosting "his" economy..

[rubbersole]

3. DeSantis' response to covid continues to demonstrate his inability to care about Floridians

His presidential ambitions consume all his actions. He keeps catering to the Nazi base which already supports him. Normal voters are increasingly concerned. I don't think he will be reelected governor. That might not matter to the faux news crowd.

[JohnnyRingo]

4. More startling, he's learned from Trump's mistakes.

It's bad enough to have the blueprints, but it's immensely valuable to know where DJT went wrong so mistakes aren't repeated.

[BlueJac]

5. Absolutely!