Donald, Don’t Do it

 

This is precisely the kind of petty behavior that confirms my belief that Trump should not be elected again. He’s decided that certain key people should state that they will step down if Trump decides to run for President in 2024. And he has Ron DeSantis in his sights.

Recently I heard a reporter ask Mike Pompeo, who I believe would be a very fine presidential candidate, if he would step down from a candidacy if Trump decided to run. Pompeo indirectly stated that Trump’s candidacy wouldn’t stop him from running. Chris Christie said something similar on Fox. But both of these men don’t have a high probability of being elected.

Why is Trump attacking? Ron DeSantis is a real threat.

I know we’re a long way from 2024, but Trump wants to get in his digs early.

Trump’s first attack was indirect. DeSantis was asked about his vaccine status, and he said he’d received the vaccine, but did not reveal whether he’d had the booster, and Trump wanted everyone to know that he did have the booster. Trump’s thinly veiled response: last week he seemed to swipe at DeSantis as ‘gutless’ politicians who dodge the question out of fear of blowback from vaccine skeptics.

How does Trump know that, and why does he care?

It turns out that Trump was booed recently at two speaking events in Alabama and Dallas when he encouraged people to get the vaccine. In contrast, DeSantis has kept current on the outcomes of getting the vaccines and the booster, and is highly critical of Anthony Fauci, the man whom Trump relied on.

In addition, Trump takes credit for getting DeSantis elected. (I don’t know if he’s mentioned how, until recently when DeSantis criticized lockdowns, DeSantis frequently stated his support for Trump.) But Trump demands loyalty, and he expects DeSantis’ loyalty to extend to declining a nomination for the Presidency.

Trump is entitled to wish for whatever he likes, including a lifetime support for his running a third time for the Presidency. He’s entitled to be disappointed, even angry, at DeSantis for not agreeing to step down if Trump runs again. But he’s wrong on several other counts. First, he’s going to garner criticism should he decide to run if he demands that DeSantis not run. Second, if he criticizes DeSantis because the governor won’t step down, his input could actually increase DeSantis’ chances for the nomination. Third, he could be threatening the chances of the Republican party winning the Presidency, due to the self-serving demands he’s making, which will suggest that the Republicans can be as inept as the Democrats. Finally, he could jeopardize the future of the country if he has a role in the Republicans losing the Presidency.

If Trump could be the adult in the room (as Biden tries to claim he is) and say he’d be “disappointed” if DeSantis would win, I’d be fine with that. And we don’t know what he’ll say over the next couple of years: he could back off or dial it up.

But I’m not holding my breath. Stay tuned.

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  1. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Jim McConnell (View Comment):

    Aside from DeSantis, both benches are very, very shallow, aren’t they?

    I actually think that the Republican Party has a pretty deep bench.  In David Drucker’s book “In Trump’s Shadow” https://ricochet.com/1077984/book-review-in-trumps-shadow-by-david-drucker/, he lists Tom Cotton, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Mike Pompeo, Mike Pence and Nikki Haley along with Donald Trump. 

    To that list I would add Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie and a half dozen senators.   

    • #61
  2. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    I think that this internecine battle will be so negative and toxic that the losing primary voters will be so angry with the winning side, that they will either not show up for the general election or will even vote for the Democrat candidate.  

    Actual conservatives never vote Democrat. Only fake ones do.

    • #62
  3. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Also, Nikki Haley and Chris Christie would make me vote third party. 

    • #63
  4. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    I think that this internecine battle will be so negative and toxic that the losing primary voters will be so angry with the winning side, that they will either not show up for the general election or will even vote for the Democrat candidate.

    Actual conservatives never vote Democrat. Only fake ones do.

    The Greatest President of the Twentieth Century, Ronald Reagan, voted for FDR 4 times.

    • #64
  5. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Flicker (View Comment):
    Are you really saying that Trump is demanding that Christie and Pompeo should not run? 

    I’m demanding Christie doesn’t run.

    • #65
  6. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    Also, Nikki Haley and Chris Christie would make me vote third party.

    Those two aren’t the only ones listed who would make me stay home. Along with a few GOPe senators. 

    • #66
  7. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Flicker (View Comment):
    article you cited was pure propaganda.  It used snippets of quotes — often one-word quotes (and without showing the context) — to make its points, or rather implications.  It headlined a “feud” that may not exist.  You say that Trump demands loyalty from DeSantis, but I see that nowhere.  And your videos are stilted and from left-wing sources.

    Trump demands loyalty from everyone. Remember his attack on Pence. It wasn’t in that article. “Stilted videos”? Do you want longer videos that cover irrelevant info? My comments in this post list my lack of support for him. I’m not going to list them again. 

    I’ll list another: a significant portion of Dems appear to be coming to our side. I don’t think Trump will get their votes. I can’t prove that.

    • #67
  8. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    Now I can think of one very good reason to vote for Trump.  The Dem’s despicable Russian hoax fraud, the incalcitrant resistance to every Trump proposal, even when it made good sense, the liberal media’s downright open hostility to Trump EVERY SINGKE DAY, the deep state working behind the scenes to undo and even sabotage the proposals of the President of the United States,  and then the Dem’s rigging of the election process in 2020 all in essence nullified Trump’s presidency.  THEY CAN’T BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THAT!  That would mean they can willingly sabotage any duly elected Republican they so wish.  They have to pay for that.  [And don’t think I haven’t forgotten the traitorous NeverTrumpers who supported them.]

    • #68
  9. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):
    article you cited was pure propaganda. It used snippets of quotes — often one-word quotes (and without showing the context) — to make its points, or rather implications. It headlined a “feud” that may not exist. You say that Trump demands loyalty from DeSantis, but I see that nowhere. And your videos are stilted and from left-wing sources.

    Trump demands loyalty from everyone. Remember his attack on Pence. It wasn’t in that article. “Stilted videos”? Do you want longer videos that cover irrelevant info? My comments in this post list my lack of support for him. I’m not going to list them again.

    I’ll list another: a significant portion of Dems appear to be coming to our side. I don’t think Trump will get their votes. I can’t prove that.

    For some reason Trump reminded me of Jimmy Malone (Sean Connery) explaining “The Chicago Way” to Elliot Ness (Kevin Costner) in The Untouchables. Ness in this case is the GOP. At some point soon, it will be “here endth the lesson.” 

    • #69
  10. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Percival (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):
    Are you really saying that Trump is demanding that Christie and Pompeo should not run?

    I’m demanding Christie doesn’t run.

    I’m demanding that he does run. A few miles every day. It would do him some good.

    • #70
  11. Ed G. Member
    Ed G.
    @EdG

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):
    article you cited was pure propaganda. It used snippets of quotes — often one-word quotes (and without showing the context) — to make its points, or rather implications. It headlined a “feud” that may not exist. You say that Trump demands loyalty from DeSantis, but I see that nowhere. And your videos are stilted and from left-wing sources.

    Trump demands loyalty from everyone. Remember his attack on Pence. It wasn’t in that article. “Stilted videos”? Do you want longer videos that cover irrelevant info? My comments in this post list my lack of support for him. I’m not going to list them again.

    I’ll list another: a significant portion of Dems appear to be coming to our side. I don’t think Trump will get their votes. I can’t prove that.

    In fairness, I demand loyalty from people too. 

    Also in fairness, Trump brought new people to our side too. 

    • #71
  12. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):
    Are you really saying that Trump is demanding that Christie and Pompeo should not run?

    I’m demanding Christie doesn’t run.

    I’m demanding that he does run. A few miles every day. It would do him some good.

    If he starts now, he just might make the Canadian border by the time of the election.

    • #72
  13. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Ed G. (View Comment):
    In fairness, I demand loyalty from people too. 

    I don’t. If I want loyalty, I must earn it; I don’t expect it just because I demand it.

    • #73
  14. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Percival (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):
    Are you really saying that Trump is demanding that Christie and Pompeo should not run?

    I’m demanding Christie doesn’t run.

    He can’t run.

    Added later: I see I’m late to this fun fest.

    • #74
  15. Franco Member
    Franco
    @Franco

    I rarely scroll through the comments, so if this has been said consider this a brand new iteration:

    This doesn’t have any links, or quotes or citations. Even when we do get those – or some of them – it doesn’t mean something is true. This is especially true when applied to things that have an overt political outcome.

    What are the courses and quotes for this speculation? 

    • #75
  16. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Franco (View Comment):

    I rarely scroll through the comments, so if this has been said consider this a brand new iteration:

    This doesn’t have any links, or quotes or citations. Even when we do get those – or some of them – it doesn’t mean something is true. This is especially true when applied to things that have an overt political outcome.

    What are the courses and quotes for this speculation?

    Many of your answers are in the OP and in the comments. Sorry about that.

    • #76
  17. Ed G. Member
    Ed G.
    @EdG

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Ed G. (View Comment):
    In fairness, I demand loyalty from people too.

    I don’t. If I want loyalty, I must earn it; I don’t expect it just because I demand it.

    I didn’t say I expect unearned loyalty or that my demand is the controlling factor. 

    Does Trump think the loyalty he demands (if in fact he actually demands anything) is unearned? 

    • #77
  18. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Flicker (View Comment):
    article you cited was pure propaganda. It used snippets of quotes — often one-word quotes (and without showing the context) — to make its points, or rather implications. It headlined a “feud” that may not exist. You say that Trump demands loyalty from DeSantis, but I see that nowhere. And your videos are stilted and from left-wing sources.

    Trump demands loyalty from everyone. Remember his attack on Pence. It wasn’t in that article. “Stilted videos”? Do you want longer videos that cover irrelevant info? My comments in this post list my lack of support for him. I’m not going to list them again.

    I’ll list another: a significant portion of Dems appear to be coming to our side. I don’t think Trump will get their votes. I can’t prove that.

    He may demand loyalty from his subordinates, but I haven’t seen where he demands loyalty from DeSantis.  Where did you get this?

    And yes, hit pieces on Trump can sway the low-information middle.

    To paraphrase: As God as my witness I thought you liked Trump.

    • #78
  19. Jimmy Carter Member
    Jimmy Carter
    @JimmyCarter

    Franco (View Comment):

    I rarely scroll through the comments, 

    Then why should anyone read Yer’s?

    • #79
  20. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    I think a number of you wouldn’t be satisfied unless there is an entire video where Trump says literally that he expects DeSantis to be loyal which means he must declare he won’t run–now. Trump is too crafty to do that; he’s the one who will drag out the speculation. That gives him lots of free publicity, just like the first time around, and he’ll just keep at it for the next couple of years. Because my guess is that DeSantis won’t declare for a while. But he knows (and Trump knows) he’s been warned.

    • #80
  21. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Ed G. (View Comment):
    Does Trump think the loyalty he demands (if in fact he actually demands anything) is unearned? 

    You’d have to ask him. But his expecting Pence to delay the electoral count really ticked him off, and he saw it as a sign of disloyalty. And all the people who didn’t support him on his declaration about the last election–he’d call them disloyal. If you don’t do what he expects/demands of you, it’s a betrayal, even if you think the expectation is unfair or inappropriate.

    • #81
  22. Jim Kearney Member
    Jim Kearney
    @JimKearney

    The Left Wing Media, determined to hurt both men they deeply fear, are meme-ing to pit the GOP’s most successful President against its most successful Governor. Maybe the Left has opened a new category below allyship (recently accepted as coinage by Webster.) Call it accompliceship (f/k/a useful idiots) — getting enemy writers to repeat their destructive narratives.

    Even if there is private friction between these guys, why propagate the Left’s latest anti-Trump storyline? Let it remain private. Here’s Donald J. Trump having an unexpressed thought. Let it remain so!

    Usually I ignore conservative anti-Trump sentiment. He’s so much better at demolition jobs, and nature takes its own course with micro-sliver populations. Never Trump magazines decline or disappear; pundits go into exile; “likes” have trouble elevating to “1.”

    I’ll just state this for the record. President Trump, who received the greatest number of votes of any GOP Presidential candidate ever, should be nominated by acclamation if he deigns to join the battle in 2024. Those who run against him without his consent and approval are either (a) hell bent on the Vice-Presidency, but way overeager for media exposure; or (b) a subversive swamp creature playing a private game of Family Feud.

    President Trump, as he reminds us, had quite the life before all this. He’s still reasonably rich, he’s got an astoundingly beautiful wife to grow old with, and now investors are pouring billions into his new media company. He’s fully aware, like all of us in our 70’s, that he isn’t getting any younger, but he feels the weight of 75 million souls being cheated, either by intent or by fate, of finishing his great works. We should all be begging him to run again. I love DeSantis and Pompeo, but 75 million is a big number, and I’d bet about 25 million of those never heard of our two wonderful paisans.

    Trump could easily think, “maybe I’d live longer and accomplish more politically with this media company.” Media moguls like Sumner Redstone wield imperial power into an even older demographic, but men trying to make it through their 70’s in the White House have been known to meet a powerful foe in cognitive decline. 

    For now, 45 is focused totally on doing the right thing to save the country via the mid-term election of 2022. Governor DeSantis, whose wife has been ill, has a re-election campaign to run in addition to the great state where everyone seems to be moving, thanks in part to him. Maybe next year this will all work itself out. I’m rooting for a bunch of Vice-Presidential debates and primaries instead of the usual, with Secretary Pompeo, Governor DeSantis, and others under consideration debating under our future President 45/47’s supervision. The Apprentice, writ large. Like everything the Great Man does.

    • #82
  23. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Jim Kearney (View Comment):
    Usually I ignore conservative anti-Trump sentiment. He’s so much better at demolition jobs, and nature takes its own course with micro-sliver populations. Never Trump magazines decline or disappear; pundits go into exile; “likes” have trouble elevating to “1.”

    We can disagree. That doesn’t make me a NeverTrumper. And just because he won big eight years ago doesn’t mean he’ll repeat it. Time for him to retire with his millions and beautiful wife.

    • #83
  24. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    I’m gone for the night, but carry on!

    • #84
  25. Franco Member
    Franco
    @Franco

    Jimmy Carter (View Comment):

    Franco (View Comment):

    I rarely scroll through the comments,

    Then why should anyone read Yer’s?

    I am probably one of the most avid readers of comments on this site. I understand what you are saying, but don’t read it then, but I just read yours.

    There’s no citations or quote marks. A far as Im conserned that’s enough to comment and with a preemptive apology. If that’s not enough for ya…

     

    • #85
  26. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Jim Kearney (View Comment):
    The Left Wing Media, determined to hurt both men they deeply fear, are meme-ing to pit the GOP’s most successful President against its most successful Governor.

    We should do the same thing with their two strongest candidates, who are … ahhh … umm …

    Don’t rush me.

    • #86
  27. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    The Greatest President of the Twentieth Century, Ronald Reagan, voted for FDR 4 times.

    The Greatest President of the 21st Century should be elected again.

    • #87
  28. Ed G. Member
    Ed G.
    @EdG

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Ed G. (View Comment):
    Does Trump think the loyalty he demands (if in fact he actually demands anything) is unearned?

    You’d have to ask him. But his expecting Pence to delay the electoral count really ticked him off, and he saw it as a sign of disloyalty. And all the people who didn’t support him on his declaration about the last election–he’d call them disloyal. If you don’t do what he expects/demands of you, it’s a betrayal, even if you think the expectation is unfair or inappropriate.

    Did he call them disloyal? I’ve heard other terms but I don’t recall Trump using that terminology of loyalty and betrayal. I could be wrong.

    Did he demand anything of Pence? I don’t recall it that way. Again, I could be wrong. 

    What was the expectation/demand that others thought was unfair but which Trump considered to be a betrayal?

     

    • #88
  29. EB Thatcher
    EB
    @EB

    Ed G. (View Comment):
    Does Trump think the loyalty he demands (if in fact he actually demands anything) is unearned? 

    No. He thinks it’s earned.  But in reviewing his  history (before, during, and after the presidency) what you mostly see is the loyalty running only one way – and incredibly thin-skinned reactions when he perceived slights where there were none.

    I really like Nikki Haley.  It amazes me that she was able to serve in his administration and come out seemingly unscathed.  I can’t decide if that’s a pro or con.  On the one hand – if she could handle Trump, she could handle ‘most anything.  On the other – how exactly did she handle him?

    • #89
  30. EDISONPARKS Member
    EDISONPARKS
    @user_54742

    I would hope this Biden debacle would convince the voter that the stress and workload of being POTUS is not a job for old men.

    Yes there could be exceptions, and Trump could be one of them, but the statistics would tell us the odds are things would go exactly as one would expect when placing any octogenarian in a high stress, heavy workload position which the Country and free world relied upon for competent performance …. poorly …. as this Biden experience can attest.

    Nothing against octogenarians …. I’m right there with you in 20.

    • #90
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