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Are the Anti-Trump GOP Forces Starting to Implode?
Politico ^ | 05/26/2023 | JONATHAN MARTIN

Posted on 05/26/2023 12:08:22 PM PDT by conservative98

A mission-control breakdown for DeSantis and smooth launch for Scott bode ill for those hoping to thwart the former president.

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NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Will this go down as the week that the grand plan to deny Donald Trump the nomination fell apart?

For months, high-level Republican lawmakers, donors and strategists eager to block Trump have described, in separate conversations with me, an endgame to the presidential primary.

When it becomes clear in the early state and national polling who is consolidating support, the most influential figures with ties to the lagging candidates will stage a sort of political intervention and tell them it’s time to quit and rally to the strongest alternative to Trump.

Such a plot always struck me as a bit far-fetched, for starters because politicians aren’t known for putting party ahead of self. Yet the appetite among elite Republicans to move past Trump was and is so immense I thought there could at least be a do-the-right-thing effort.

Yet as spring turns to summer, traditionally the period when presidential hopefuls consider whether they’re gaining any traction, this vision seems more fantasy than strategy.

In fact, if Trump does emerge as the GOP standard bearer next year we will look back on this week to grasp why, just like in 2016, he was able to take advantage of a divided opposition.

There was Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ muffed launch, the fitting, sad trombone conclusion to a preannouncement period in which his stock sagged, at least among political insiders.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to a crowd in North Charleston, S.C. ELECTIONS

‘It turned out to be a mistake’: Botched rollout puts DeSantis on his heels

Nobody was more thrilled about DeSantis’ decision to begin his campaign on a balky Twitter stream than his current and prospective Republican rivals: Trump sees his fellow Floridian as weaker today than at any point since last year’s midterm, and the other non-Trumps are hardly going to step aside anytime soon, even after DeSantis’ eye-popping first fundraising haul.

And if DeSantis needs any more evidence that his giving the Heisman to the press has earned him only bad will, well, he can just take a look at the headlines from a range of outlets. Don’t discount this: Complain as they may about the media, Republican primary voters are just as susceptible to the tides of coverage as their Democratic counterparts.

Shortly before DeSantis began his bid for the office of Washington and Lincoln in a chat room with other very online influencers, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) entered the race in a fashion that further underscored why it’s going to be so hard to dethrone Trump.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: antitrumpers; desantis; gope; pleaseclap; politico; timscott; trump; trump2024

1 posted on 05/26/2023 12:08:22 PM PDT by conservative98
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To: conservative98

continued:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/05/26/are-the-anti-trump-gop-forces-starting-to-implode-00098934


2 posted on 05/26/2023 12:08:40 PM PDT by conservative98
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To: conservative98; SoConPubbie

YES

3 posted on 05/26/2023 12:10:22 PM PDT by conservative98
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To: All

10% of Republicans have always voted Dem. And vice versa.

These insignificant fringe Never Trump Swamp Filth are different from the past in only one way. They do not seem to realize they are insignificant — because they are from the Swamp which has told them they are indeed significant.

They aren’t. Trump will win the general with Independents who hate the Swamp as much now as before.


4 posted on 05/26/2023 12:15:11 PM PDT by Owen
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To: conservative98

Bookmark


5 posted on 05/26/2023 12:17:53 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: conservative98

I would not so much call it an implosion. More of a run out of steam.


6 posted on 05/26/2023 12:18:14 PM PDT by taxcontrol (The choice is clear - either live as a slave on your knees or die as a free citizen on your feet.)
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To: conservative98

I’ve not went to Drudge for over 10 years.

Once, he was the go to. Before bought.


7 posted on 05/26/2023 12:19:47 PM PDT by Texas Fossil (Texas is not where you were born but a State of Heart, Mind and Attitude.)
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To: conservative98

Only candidate in my 63 years in US who gave up his luxurious life with immense popularity from both parties, to go America First & MAGA.

Compare that with smooth talking career politicians who helped China join WTO and export millions of middle class manufacturing jobs to China. All because the rich donor class makes bigger profits with cheaper labor.

There will not be another candidate for another 63 years.


8 posted on 05/26/2023 12:20:38 PM PDT by entropy12 (Food is most popular anxiety drug, exercise is the least popular.)
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To: conservative98

9 posted on 05/26/2023 12:22:20 PM PDT by DannyTN
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To: conservative98

The problem with being a never Trump Republican, you’re envious of Trump’s success, but you’re only that way because you barely succeeded in politics.

Its kinda hard to suddenly win when you don’t have the mindset to win, you never had it.


10 posted on 05/26/2023 1:40:25 PM PDT by Bayard
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To: entropy12; All

The “elites” discount what that means to a lot of his base. We know Trump isnt getting rich off thos. They are trying to destroy him and his family. Trying to make him broke and remove his legacy before and after serving.


11 posted on 05/26/2023 1:41:43 PM PDT by wiseprince (Me,)
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To: entropy12

“Only candidate in my 63 years in US who gave up his luxurious life with immense popularity from both parties, to go America First & MAGA.”
******************************************************
So true. I hate seeing the pictures of him living alone in a hovel, dumpster driving for a meal, using public transportation when he can scape together a few cents to take it. /s

You’re right Trump didn’t have to run and take on the job of being President, but Trump loves adulation as much as he does oxygen and there isn’t a better way to get it than to run for the presidency. Saying “You’re fired” on TV for fans doesn’t compare to cheering crowds at rallies and having people kiss your ass for an endorsement to office. Trump’s massive ego got rewarded well for his term in office. When good happened he took credit and when it didn’t he placed blame. His massive pride was satisfied with both responses. The fact that much good came from his presidency was very fortunate for us. But Trump parroting left wing talking points to attack his political rivals shows that what’s best for the country doesn’t outweigh what Trump thinks best for Trump.


12 posted on 05/26/2023 2:16:02 PM PDT by chickenlips (Polls can change at Warp Speed)
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Nope...imploding would require them to have gotten organized enough to have any traction to begin with. So far, they have not. DeSantis is diminishing himself with the COVID narrative he is parsing because he thinks it can damage Trump vs. running on his own success to prop himself up.


13 posted on 05/26/2023 3:50:44 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: Texas Fossil

I often forget that Drudge’s website even exists. Rumors were that it was sold, but that was never confirmed one way or the other. He has been personally quiet for a long time.


14 posted on 05/26/2023 3:58:42 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: Republican Wildcat

Yep


15 posted on 05/26/2023 9:12:13 PM PDT by Texas Fossil (Texas is not where you were born but a State of Heart, Mind and Attitude.)
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To: Owen

Nice thought but the dems control every part of the state election process in all the swing states plus they have roughly 6 million new guest voters to draw on. So any generic dem will beat any generic pub for president unless the pub can come up with 10-20 million new voters


16 posted on 05/27/2023 10:29:44 AM PDT by ckilmer (q)
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