# DeSantis can't win the GOP nomination or the general election in 2024 {How Trump plays into this is allowed} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 23, 2023, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249 "2023-02-23T18:07:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/501 "2023-04-18T09:49:37Z")
It’s funny how Biden is seen by Republicans as senile and yet he skillfully outflanked them at the SOTU address on Social Security and Medicare. The unknown quantity with DeSantis’ run will always be Trump and Trump supporters, some of which have gone over to the Ron side but others are still full-fledged followers of TFG. How the 2024 primaries pan out will depend on how that base picks sides in the end, and it could still go either way. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/502 "2023-04-18T14:53:35Z")
> **[DeSantis escalates battle with Disney in new legislative push](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/florida-governor-desantis-moves-nullify-170147670.html)** > > (Reuters) -Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday fired another shot in his battle with Walt Disney Co, saying the state's Republican legislature would take steps to nullify the company's effort to circumvent state oversight of Walt Disney World. ... I wonder how public perception of DeSantis will be affected by Disney’s lawyers handing him his ass. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/503 "2023-04-18T16:03:11Z")
DeSantis is being criticized for his campaigning while severe flash flooding has struck Ft. Lauderdale, a city just north of Miami. > **[DeSantis slammed for out-of-state politicking amid Fort Lauderdale flooding](https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2023/04/14/desantis-slammed-for-out-of-state-politicking-amid-fort-lauderdale-flooding/)** > > While the heavily Democratic Fort Lauderdale was dealing with historic flooding Thursday morning, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was having breakfast with members of the Summit County, Ohio R… Supposedly, big money donors are concerned. > [@](#): > > “What the fuck is wrong with RD?” one participant wrote after DeSantis did not curtail his out-of-state publicity tour to return home [amid massive flooding in the Fort Lauderdale area](https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-desantis-ohio-fort-lauderdale-timeline-20230414-4xf4jh5u7vb5lmrwwkr5igpqzq-story.html)… But that’s not their only complaint > [@](#): > > Several other top donors to DeSantis were livid about the governor referring to the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine as a “territorial dispute,” with at least one major donor calling DeSantis to urge a walk-back, a source with knowledge of the outreach and another person briefed on it say. “My understanding is that the message was: ‘If we wanted a fucking MAGA candidate, we would donate to Donald Trump,’” the second source says… > > Other donors have begged DeSantis’ close associates to convince the governor to stop being such a “damn wimp” — in the words of one DeSantis donor — with Trump, imploring him to hit back harder against Trump’s attacks, according to two donors to DeSantis… > > Other conservatives have taken to predicting that DeSantis is potentially the second coming of [Scott Walker](https://thedispatch.com/article/is-ron-desantis-just-scott-walker-2-0/), another Republican governor and conservative-media darling who many thought would be the favored candidate in a presidential primary — only to flame out before any ballots were cast. > **[Key DeSantis Donors Rip Him in Private Chats: 'What the F-ck Is Wrong With RD?'](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/ron-desantis-donors-donald-trump-uncertainty-1234716875/amp/)** > > Ron DeSantis' donor prowess fueled his rise to Trump’s top GOP rival, but the money men are getting anxious. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/504 "2023-04-18T18:37:49Z")
Sounds like he’s doin’ great! 😆 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/505 "2023-04-18T20:01:16Z")
Perhaps they’re concerned that RD’s policies will prove real popular and he’d be elected, but he’s not actually going to just let the fat-cats run the country to their liking. Whatever else you care to say of Trump, he was so busy stuffing his own pockets that he really didn’t much care how much others were stuffing theirs. RD might not be so … preoccupied. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/506 "2023-04-18T23:50:55Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Just came across an excellent/scary article, based on GOP primary voter focus group evidence, highly relevant to the thread: That is indeed interesting. Among other things, it implies a nationally popular Republican must be a non-politician (like Trump). As in, has never held elective office. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/507 "2023-04-19T00:22:57Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > So in a debate with Biden, Biden would be his somewhat plodding but very likeable self and just saying what he means and thinks, whereas DeSantis would be trying to land clever punches but would end up looking like he’s trying too hard and seeming like the dick he is. It wouldn’t go well for him. Or badly. > **[Presidential Debates Have Shockingly Little Effect on Election Outcomes](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/presidential-debates-have-shockingly-little-effect-on-election-outcomes/)** > > The upcoming debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump may be one of the least consequential in decades, experts say Even professional pundits can’t accept this, but it is true. The American presidential debate that mattered was the very first one in 1960. Nixon wore the same color suit as the set background. DeSantis (and Biden) would not make that mistake because the handlers all know about it. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/508 "2023-04-19T00:36:45Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Perhaps they’re concerned that RD’s policies will prove real popular and he’d be elected, but he’s not actually going to just let the fat-cats run the country to their liking. Indeed. The War With Disney can be a signal that RonDe is, as I put it in another thread, leaning in the direction of a putinist fascicm, of expecting the big capitalists to be subservient to the political ruler and being willing to use the power of the state to punish them for political dissent. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/509 "2023-04-19T00:38:26Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Among other things, it implies a nationally popular Republican must be a non-politician (like Trump). As in, has never held elective office. It does, and it gives an explanation, other than an own-the-libs race focus, for the Ben Carson and Herman Cain boomlets I can’t forget. But your mentioning the above reminds me of some limitations of the focus group approach. I can’t believe them incapable of voting for a politician – that’s just what they say in front of other Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/510 "2023-04-19T12:10:04Z")
In the general they will vote for “Heroic Whoever (R)” and they will do so in huge numbers to prevent “Evil Embodied (D)” from DESTROYING AMERICA!!1! as they’ve been told will certainly happen if they don’t. Whether “Heroic Whoever (R)” is a pol or not is utterly immaterial in that contest. In the primaries they may or may not vote at all depending on their individual enthusiasm. But, tautologiclly, some (R) will win the (R) nomination whether with huge turnout or lackluster turnout. So whether it’s a politician or a non-politician is almost moot in that contest too. But … If one wants to place a bet ahead of time on who the nominee will be then insider/outsider matters a lot. It’s yugely important for consultants, pundits, party strategists, and Dopers. Celebrity “outsider” non-politicians have been very successful in being elected all over the world in the last 15-20 years by no-nothing populist-leaning parties of both left and right. Here in the USA it’s the Reactionary Right that has embraced no-nothing populism, and so is best positioned to put up a celebrity as a solution. I think somebody like e.g. Sean Hannity would be a very formidable candidate for the R nomination. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/511 "2023-04-19T18:39:53Z")
[DeSantis is losing ground in Florida and his trips to DC aren’t getting him anywhere](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://news.yahoo.com/desantis-keeps-losing-home-state-162601615.html&ved=2ahUKEwj_rPucy7b-AhUQLUQIHbRJCyYQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2H8qi7__EthHKBsWC4hN7a) > Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ personal appeal to congressional Republicans in DC on Tuesday night appears to have spectacularly backfired, as Florida lawmakers continue throwing their support behind Trump in the 2024 presidential race. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/512 "2023-04-19T19:46:20Z")
I think this dickhead is over now: > **[‘So unnecessary’: Republicans pile on DeSantis over Disney](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/18/chris-christie-ron-desantis-disney-00092505)** > > “I don’t think Ron DeSantis is a conservative, based on his actions towards Disney,” Chris Christie said. Yeah, they’re trying to score points on the dumb bastard (Christie is considering running–hahahaha!), but they are _solid_ points about him not being a real conservative, etc. But the real reason DeSantis is over is that he’s threatening to build a prison next to Disneyworld. Uh huh. The right likes to pretend to be the party of law and order as well as business, and then it threatens to weaponize criminality against a pillar of the state’s economy?! WTF/SMH/ETC. In this whole sordid affair, DeSantis seems: - Petty - Vindictive - Anti-business - Not focused on actual priorities - Motivated by personal grievances - Non-small-government-oriented - Out of fucking control He’s done. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/513 "2023-04-19T19:49:35Z")
Not to mentioned ineffective, outsmarted by his target, and made to look like a fool. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/514 "2023-04-19T19:59:39Z")
Right! Playground bully got the beatdown. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/515 "2023-04-19T20:33:41Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > … > In this whole sordid affair, DeSantis seems: > > - Petty > - Vindictive > - Anti-business > - Not focused on actual priorities > - Motivated by personal grievances > - Non-small-government-oriented > - Out of fucking control > > … I will point out that list could easily be applied to the other unmentionable R front runner. Which list has certainly seemed like a recipe for success for That Other Guy. Then again, That Other Guy seems to have a lock on that particular lane in the R primary race. Which suggests DeSantis needs a different schtick & quickly or he will in fact be done. At least as to 2024. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/516 "2023-04-19T21:10:24Z")
Let’s hope DeSantis doesn’t collapse too completely. Remember, the best-case scenario is that he (or another person not Trump) wins the nomination by a nose, and Trump destroys the GOP by blasting the nomination as “stolen” while attempting to run as an independent. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/517 "2023-04-19T21:27:34Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Then again, That Other Guy seems to have a lock on that particular lane in the R primary race. As others have said, if the original band is playing (even if old and tired) why book the tribute act? ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/518 "2023-04-19T21:36:04Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I will point out that list could easily be applied to the other unmentionable R front runner. Which list has certainly seemed like a recipe for success for That Other Guy. Trump is criticizing DeSantis for being anti-business in this case, and Trump was arguably pro-business in most respects. FWIW, Biden has actually kept most of what Trump did in terms of tariffs, trade agreements, etc. Even Trump’s tax cuts are still around. Trump’s bad characteristics are popular with the MAGA base when he is winning (and I guess also when he claims he was cheated out of a win). DeSantis is clearly losing. I don’t think he gets the MAGA props when there’s a beta dawg alert out on him. > [@](#): > > Then again, That Other Guy seems to have a lock on that particular lane in the R primary race. Which suggests DeSantis needs a different schtick & quickly or he will in fact be done. At least as to 2024. Being a dick and getting punched in the dick is all he seems to have at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/519 "2023-04-19T22:23:28Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > As others have said, if the original band is playing (even if old and tired) why book the tribute act? 😄 I saw that someone on Twitter called him “Diet Trump”. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249/520 "2023-04-19T23:49:44Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I saw that someone on Twitter called him “Diet Trump”. That questionable perception is why he can win a general election. As to wining the nomination, I don’t think he will. But those battles are unpredictable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/desantis-cant-win-the-gop-nomination-or-the-general-election-in-2024-how-trump-plays-into-this-is-allowed/980249.md?page=27)