Ron DeSantis has washed out.

[kentuck]

Trump is the only choice left for Republicans. There is no one to challenge him in the Republican Party.

They are a Party of corruption and criminality and they are all right with that. They re-assure themselves that, at least, they are not Democrats.

Democrats have to come to terms with the new reality. Republicans are never going to join them in fighting for the Constitution and the laws of this country. They are driving alone.

If there was ever a need for "bi-partisanship", it is now. But Party loyalty forbids it.

The battle to preserve this nation is the Democrats alone. They will get no help from the other side.

If the democracy is to be saved, it will be done by the Democratic Party. The corrupt criminals have taken over the other Party.

[Walleye]

1. Any traditional Republicans who don't like what's going on should come out in public

And support Democratic candidates in every election until the Republican party gets its act together. It’s the only thing that’s gonna work, Major electoral defeat. I have no respect for people who write in candidates as a protest vote or vote third party

[gab13by13]

5. Recently I noticed that Chris Christie,

not a favorite of mine, has come out attacking Trump, calling him a child for refusing to participate in debates.

He appears to be the only Republican "candidate" criticizing Trump.

[FSogol]

8. Except when Trumpy turns his gaze to Christie, he'll fall in line.

We've seen this show before.

[area51]

18. +1 n/t

[2naSalit]

29. Like the Eye of Sauron on Mount Doom.

[Walleye]

31. All the Republican candidates are afraid of Trump, because he might yell at them and call them names

[housecat]

55. so true

[plimsoll]

70. No, because his followers make credible death threats.

We forget that being a trump traitor is pretty much the same as “librul” in their minds.

[calimary]

71. Well, there is that.

[praxEs]

28. I worry about

Christie just as much as I do about Trump and DeSantis. Some journalists think he'll wait and jump in late after Trump sits for more trials and DeSantis is more fully exposed for the dumb-as-a-rock hater he is .. and I agree.

Wikipedia offers an extensive description of Christie's political history of favoring corporations over people and his authoritarian behavior. Besides, in a few years he will turn into a Trump lookalike. I believe he is dangerous because he lacks Trump's broadly known history of lawlessness and, by contrast, appears more reasonable.

And then there is this:

Chris Christie's Donald Trump Problem

The New Yorker

https://www.newyorker.com › Magazine › Chris Christie
Nov 21, 2021 — Christie has been Trump's friend, dinner companion, and adviser for two decades. He endorsed Trump early, wrote memos for him, prepped him for ...

[no_hypocrisy]

51. Christie is also an "ALEC Guy".

Makes legislation for the oligarchs.

[AllyCat]

7. They should, but they won't.

They only want to win and the power that comes with it.

[Walleye]

9. It's deeper than that, think their political party is stronger loyalty then their religion or family

[wnylib]

38. Or, they fear the consequences of breaking

from the party. They fear retaliation.

So, instead of advocating for them to openly oppose their party, I'd be satisfied if they quietly and privately voted for Dems. No fanfare. No public speeches. Just vote out the Republicans. That party might never be salvageable. When they are defeated, a new party, with a genuine commitment to democracy and good governance should replace them.

[Artcatt]

52. Don't forget what those "traditional" republicans are actually about:

Helping the wealthy at the expense of all else.

It’s really just that simple.

[jmowreader]

56. I agree with everything except part of the first sentence

Specifically, everything between "until" and the period.

The Republican Party is NOT going to "get its act together."

Let's say that in 2024, the election went 535-0 Biden. Which, if the GOP continues going full fascist as they presently are, is a non-zero possibility. There are a lot more Democrats in Idaho than you think there are. There are just enough Democrats in every red state that if we banded together and ALL of us voted like the future of our nation depended on putting aside "well, he hasn't been quite liberal enough for me" and filled in the little circle next to Dark Brandon's name, we would put a serious stomp on the GOP.

What would be the response of the Republicans? "We lost because we were too woke. In 2028 we're going to run on a platform of repealing the prohibition of ex post facto laws so we can throw pot smokers, gays, anyone who ever received an abortion and anyone else we don't like in prison where they belong, and we're going to execute anyone who ever performed an abortion."

As of right now I have to drag my ass to the polls on Monday morning so I can cast a vote for the library trustee election, because THIS is the fascist crap that will be elected if I don't do something about it:

https://www.cleanbooks4kids.com

These fucking nazis are literally advertising they're going to start burning books if they get in office.

[OMGWTF]

58. THIS! THIS! THIS!

Like Steve Schmidt said recently, the people in Empty Greene's and Bang-Bang Bobert's districts are not pulling their weight when fidiots like those two, keep getting elected. There are more of us than there are of them, but more people need to vote.

Proud to say that I have never missed an election in 49 years.

[Walleye]

60. I'm afraid you are correct about all of it

[no_hypocrisy]

2. DeSantis will still compete, if only for vanity and the grift that comes with

raising money for his campaign.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

3. off topic...but his heel lifts are hilarious

[dalton99a]

6. +1. Creepy dork with Napoleon complex

[Walleye]

10. So his trousers are too short, pathetic

[Captain Zero]

17. High water pants cuffs. He needs them in Floriduh.

nt

[speak easy]

19. He should wear white boots instead.

[Walleye]

23. Yeah he has to wade around in all that dying sargassum

[keithbvadu2]

15. A contest of heels between D & T?

[Ilsa]

21. Yeah, you can see how trump's foot sits higher at the heel

compared to Pence's heel. The back of the shoe cups the heel, but not on trump's shoes.

[Walleye]

25. So he wears make up, hairspray, and heels. Aren't they against dressing in drag?

[Ilsa]

30. Well, it's different for some people, you see.

The Thomases, Gorsuches, Trumps, Proud Boys, etc.

[keithbvadu2]

42. Ironic that you should mention Proud Boys.

This is what republicans find acceptable to display to children in public. Special Kilts

A national, tough guy organization, (Proud Boys), had several members print an obscene political message on their butt cheeks to proudly display in public. They bought and wore kilts for easiest display. To combine irony, satire, and sarcasm, the kilts were identifiable as coming from a LGBTQ-friendly company.

Oops! That's probably not the message they intended to convey.

Link to tweet

[Ilsa]

47. Oh yeah, I remember that episode of the new "Christian" morality! nt

[FalloutShelter]

49. Assholes on parade.

Have fun with this stunt in prison.

[OMGWTF]

59. My dad was Antifa, Class of 1945.

Do these smooth brains not realize that if you're anti-Antifa that means you are pro-fascism?

[jaxexpat]

13. You could be right about DeSantis.

He may picture himself as the Ron Paul of the roaring Twenty-Twenties.

[erronis]

63. Speaking of the Ron Paul moron, what has happened to Rand - his fanatical libertarian son?

Seems like Rand (named after some two-bit author) has decided to shut up for a while. That makes me suspicious about his new endeavors. Won't be in favor of the American people, for sure.

[Mike Nelson]

4. Hmm...

... Ron is probably thinking... (A) This is my first run, but the win will be down the road; and/or (B) If Don dies or bombs, I'm the anti-abortion anti-gay successor... Ron's setting a place for himself.

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. I have to admit that if I hear the someone is Republican

I just stay clear of them. I really don't want any part of that scene.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. Don't forget that Asa Hutchinson (Jr.) is in the race

and it seems the M$M is starting up the puff-piece machine for him as the anti-45 challenger and also trying insinuate (or even outright assert) that Dems "should fear" him.

[Walleye]

27. I am just waiting to see some Republican stand up to Trump and look him in the face, tell the truth

[erronis]

64. THIS. What you said. And you know none of them will unless tfg is down for the count.

Then they'll all pile on.

[niyad]

35. Who?

[BumRushDaShow]

40. Huckleberry Sanders' predecessor in Arkansas!

[niyad]

44. Believe me, I know. But how many non-political junkie types outside AR do?

Last edited Sat May 6, 2023, 08:40 AM - Edit history (1)

[BumRushDaShow]

53. LOL

That's why they are pumping him as a non-DeSatan/45 "alternative" (obviously Haley is not even on their radar)

For example - Politico (yes them, but they tend to quickly set a FUD narrative )

[DFW]

72. Actually probably a few, but have no fear

They are all in AR.

(AK is Alaska)

Sorry, couldn‘t resist

[niyad]

76. Yikes!!! Thank You. I must have been asleep.

[DFW]

78. It happens to me a lot

I recognized the symptoms immediately!

[RandySF]

14. Long way to go yet.

[mollie8]

16. and then..

Nicki Haley was on last night and I turned her off. Pure politician. But she was on again this morning being interviewed and I left it on. Her talking points were not what Republicans have been spewing. She sounded reasonable and might be more of a threat than we think.

[tanyev]

33. She'll never win the GOP primary sounding reasonable.

[machoneman]

34. R's never vote for a woman for the highest office. Just watch!

[DFW]

73. They will if it's THEIR woman.

They vote party, never person.

[whopis01]

20. None of what you said was contingent on DeSantis washing out

I don’t disagree with what you are saying.

Just pointing out that DeSantis also represents criminality and corruption. His version is packaged in a (slightly) more presentable veneer. But that aside, the Republicans were going to be no less partisan, corrupt, or oppressive with DeSantis than with Trump. Perhaps a bit less of the random chaos and complete denial or reality. But not much.

[FSogol]

22. +1, Exactly. n/t

[SouthernDem4ever]

24. It's a little early to say trump will be the only choice even though it looks that way

I still don't see him getting enough support while in the middle of multiple civil suits and criminal trials. His bloviating isn't having the same effect this time.

[Tickle]

26. He hasn't even entered the race yet

Let him announce first 😁 then he'll get washed out

[bucolic_frolic]

32. The Republican Right can't go any further right

unless they delve into concentration camps. And they won't moderate their platform to challenge Trump from the middle. That's way too liberal for them.

[Mad_Machine76]

77. Are we sure

They won’t go there if their fuhrer goes there?

[boyedav1969]

36. The GOP have painted themselves into a corner

They LOVED how leveraging the tea party movement, gov'ment paranoia, and having a black president allowed them to rally voters, but now they're stuck with the monster they've created. They've really got no choice now but to go all-in with that faction, because the cult is not about to compromise in the other direction.

This isn't 2016's or even 2020's Trump. If...IF...he wins the candidacy, he'll get the votes of the MAGAts and people who only ever vote R, but it seems like at least some of moderates and independents he needs to win have taken note of who he really is. Plus, the GOP have further entrenched themselves on the wrong side of LGBT+ and reproductive freedom, in an era where an entire generation of new voters are coming of age and enthusiastically not wanting to put up with that crap.

Trump's going to lose the rape suit. He's also going to be indicted again, probably several times, and on more serious charges. That won't sway the cult or the hardcore party-line voters. But for some of the other voters who took a chance on him in 2016 and ended up not liking what they saw, this will further affirm to them that he's who they think he is.

Even candidates who may not have a chance to beat him in the primaries know there are still things to be gained by running against him, especially if he's a wounded candidate. I think it'll get nasty, and some of the supporters of whichever candidates don't win the nomination are going to sit out the election.

Of course we still have to fight hard. I think though that the dynamics that affected 2022 are going to do so again in 2024. Let's throw them a f'ing anchor. Trump's past his "best by" date. If the GOP didn't NEED the support of the cult, they'd back another candidate.

[SKKY]

37. I hope you're right. Trump will get smoked against Biden. Again.

I'm actually more worried about someone like Christie or another Wildcard getting in the race and shaking things up. But if it comes down to Biden v Trump? Sweet.

[Jarqui]

39. Republicans are about retaining power

They'll do whatever they have to - legal or illegal - to do so.

They want Democrats to commit to Joe for 2024.
The polls will show clearly, with the Trump legal problems mounting, that Trump can't beat Joe.
When the time is right, they'll throw Trump under the bus - making it look like the Dems did it in a way that he cannot run and offer a younger candidate who polls well against Joe.
They'll change their tune for the younger candidate.
The Republican media oligarchs who control 90+ % of US media will message accordingly so the 1% can keep their tax breaks.

[Chakaconcarne]

41. He's just waiting in the wings for all of the Trump indictments to land...

but I don't believe he or trump will be the front runner.

Kind of how it seems to work with the GOP... what I've noticed over the years, anyway especially when all of their potential candidates have baggage.....They have these supposed front runners that take the media attention, questions, hits in the beginning and at the last minute the true runner shows up.... Less time to get battered and to have to answer questions...

But I guess now they just stopped trying to tell the truth, so past may not much reflect the future anymore... we'll see.

That is my opinion.

[sellitman]

43. But her emails?????

[Tarc]

45. DeSantis is just as horrid of a human being as Trump, just with a more polished veneer

Him getting the nomination would have been arguably worse, as many NeverTrumpers would have returned to the fold.

[jmowreader]

57. DeSantis is arguably WORSE than Trump

[Marthe48]

46. It is icky

To even think of any kind of alliance with r's. When I was growing up, mobsters were killing storeowners because they wouldn't pay protection money, trying to take over Las Vegas, and organizing crime, when working peole were trying to organize unions.

There was not even a sniff of finding middle ground with the criminals. They were the bad guys and they were harming our country. Now, r's are just as bad, if not worse. They get to wear a cloak of respectibility, which they haven't earned and don't deserve. If we are to get our country back, we all need to stop the preferential treatment of common thugs and criminals.

[dameatball]

48. This describes both of my neighbors to a tee.

[Joinfortmill]

50. I have some hope.. a close relative, an Independent, despises Trump. He will vote for Biden.

So, I do hope there are many other Independents like him out there....

[forthemiddle]

54. I don't think it will be DeSantis

But I’m not yet convinced it will be Trump either.
Looking back at history the front runner, at this point, rarely becomes the nominee.
This may be different with Trump because, although not officially, he is still somewhat the incumbent.
I just have a feeling that Trump and Desantis may cross each other out, and someone else will come from behind.
I’m not sure who yet, but we will see.

[dai13sy]

61. Is this really true?

Oh, please, please, please - make my dreams come true. Did he disappear, did he fall off the Earth? If I never had to see his face or hear his voice again, I would be content. Well, if truth be told, there are others, but you can't wish for everything all at once.

[Wonder Why]

62. There is only one thing that counts for any of them - getting re-elected so if

kissing Trump's ass gets it, that's what you do. If he is going to take them down with him, they will suddenly find a "backbone" and criticize him. For now, they keep quiet so they can say they never left him or they haven't said anything in his favor - whichever is best for them.

[OneTotalMook]

75. Don't Forget Kemp..COVID bona fides..Gratuitous Distance From Trump..

[republianmushroom]

65. like the posting

[DemocraticPatriot]

66. goodnight Ronny... he will only be remembered

as the fascist governor of Florida---

a state that I had hoped to someday visit, when I was a child---

but now it seems I never will....




I would still like to visit Key West someday, since Hemingway once lived there....
but that would be my only reason to cross state borders into Florida,
for the rest of my life.

[AdamGG]

67. I never thought I'd long for the days of more ethical Republicans...

like Dick Cheney and Richard Nixon

[bluboid]

68. words of wisdom, kentuck. thanks.

[Septua]

69. If democracy is to be saved...

..it will be the voters who do it in swing states; and that's assuming voter suppression tactics don't keep Democrats from voting. The Democratic party will have to try to sell democracy to the independents and undecided; same as 2020.

[DFW]

74. I don't think Trump is the only choice

If I were a Republican of the „not-THAT-crazy“ faction, I would surely be laying VERY low right about now. Who wants to share negative headlines with the present nut cases? If you want to present your self as the voice of reason during a production of „Marat-Sade,“ it‘s best to wait to be able to present yourself as a breath of fresh air later on, and be noticed as such, rather than join „the usual gang of idiots“ too early, and thus be counted among them. In April 2019, how many among us were seriously contemplating candidate Biden?