DeSantis’s Challenge: When, and How, to Counterattack Trump

New York Times ^ | Feb. 12, 2023, 12:45 p.m. ET | Michael C. Bender and Maggie Haberman

[conservative98]

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida prizes preparation and the way it allows him to control his political narrative. But suddenly, he was on the verge of going off message.

He had traveled to a Central Florida warehouse this past week to promote a $2 billion tax cut proposal when he was confronted with the inevitable: an especially ugly attack from former President Donald J. Trump that seemed to warrant a strong response.

Mr. Trump had insinuated on social media that Mr. DeSantis behaved inappropriately with high school girls while he was a teacher in his early 20s. As a reporter asked for his reaction, the Florida governor — standing amid kitchen stoves and boxes of baby diapers — inhaled sharply. He straightened the papers in front of him and raised his open palms to interrupt the question.

But instead of slamming the former president, Mr. DeSantis demurred.

[cut]

But Mr. DeSantis’s above-the-fray posture carries risk. One of the central tenets of the modern Republican Party under Mr. Trump has been the willingness to fight, ruthlessly and tirelessly.

While the Florida governor has successfully portrayed himself to conservatives as a cultural warrior, his actual experience mixing it up with powerful opponents is thinner. He was barely tested last year during his re-election bid, his first since emerging as a national political figure.

[cut]

Taking on Mr. Trump is complicated. Republican rivals have been unable for seven years to thwart his personal attacks or to dissuade an abiding loyalty to the former president among about one-third of the party’s voters.

There is often little room to question or debate Mr. Trump without being cast by him and his allies as a political adversary, or even a traitor to the country.

[conservative98]

“DeSantis has been getting the benefit of an announced presidential candidate — and all the media attention that comes with that — without having to get involved in every dogfight, because he is operating under the auspices of a governor who is doing his job,” said Josh Holmes, a Republican strategist and top adviser to Senator Mitch McConnell, the minority leader.

------------------------

“It’s a really tough situation for DeSantis,” said Tommy Vietor, a Democratic strategist who worked for Senator Barack Obama in his brutal primary race against Hillary Clinton in 2008. “If he starts punching at Trump, he’s going to anger a lot of the people he needs to vote for him.” But, Mr. Vietor noted, “if you are viewed as weak and cower in response to attacks from Trump, that will be seen as a proxy for how you will be seen as a Republican nominee and how you’ll be as president.”

Another glowing article on Ron Desantis. Democrats and media and Mitch MConnell worried.

[TexasFreeper2009]

DeSantis doesn’t need to attack Trump, Trump will sink or swim based on his own actions.

[thegagline]

DeSantis should ignore Trump. Trump is his own worst enemy.

[for-q-clinton]

NY Times trying to divide MAGA/America First!

[Dr. Scarpetta]

“DeSantis should ignore Trump. Trump is his own worst enemy.”
***
I agree.

[Fungi]

Bingo. This article is not about DeSantis; it’s a hit piece on Trump.

[heavy metal]

desantis issued a statement 3 weeks ago instructing people not to donate any money to any organization that claims he’s running for president in 2024...

[Mr. Lucky]

Exactly.

[devane617]

DeSantis needs to simply sit back and watch the show. Trump will take care of the rest.

[Drew68]

NY Times trying to divide MAGA/America First!

No, that would be Trump's childish, petulant behavior.

[Just mythoughts]

Saint Desantis has to stay silent unless he resigns his governorship, or he gets special consideration from the Florida legislature… He is suppose to be the governor of Florida, not running for the office of president.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

“Trump’s childish, petulant behavior…”
***

His behavior is tedious, boring, and a turn-off, IMO.

[Timber Rattler]

He doesn’t have to. Trump is his own worst enemy.

[heavy metal]

your lord god trump still insists the experimental shots are “safe and effective”...

[alloysteel]

Everyone seems to think that Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump are going to square off in a one-on-one battle for the nomination for the Presidency of the United States on the Republican ticket.

Ron DeSantis is the Plan B if Trump should stumble badly in his quest for the nomination, but so far, Trump is right on the path, and DeSantis is holding fire. There are some out on the daily beat that WANT a fight to ignite between Trump and DeSantis, but that is only to weaken BOTH candidates.

Besides, Ron DeSantis has a state to run for the next four years, can’t be gallivanting off on some wild goose chase.

[McGruff]

NY Times is loving us bloodying each other.

[Mariner]

Good luck with that Ron.

We look forward to seeing that little scuffle, before you take the exists like so many before you.

No Republican who has taken on Trump still has Presidential aspirations. Most will never hold higher office than they have now.

A few have been outright expelled from the party.

I’d pay to watch DeSantis suffer the same fate.

[Rockingham]

DeSantis ought not to run against Trump. DeSantis should instead run a shadow campaign in which he would aim to become Trump's most obvious and capable successor and the GOP's just-in-case nominee if Biden and the Democrats make it impossible for Trump to run.

If DeSantis nevertheless runs against Trump, even when Trump attacks him, DeSantis ought to be nothing but complimentary and respectful of Trump and full of praise for his accomplishments as President. In effect, DeSantis would then be running as Trump's successor, not as his opponent, and would direct his attacks on Biden and the Democrats.

Trump and the Democrats would be utterly flummoxed if DeSantis took that approach. And DeSantis might manage to pry the GOP base away from their support for Trump without wrecking the party.

[Seaplaner]

“DeSantis should ignore Trump. Trump is his own worst enemy.”

*** I agree.

And I agree with both observations.

Mark Twain once wrote...Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.

I'm not calling Trump a fool, of course, but I'll offer the observation that his petty name-calling and divisive swipes at fellow GOPers do not make him look wise or presidential. Feuding with him would not be a beneficial strat.

Trump would so help himself if he were to modify his tone and outlook to be more genial and upbeat and accepting of potential allies. Sadly, he appears to be increasingly toxic, in some circles, despite pleas for him to act more presidential.