But Trump’s tantrums over the attention DeSantis is getting — and his threats to tell unflattering stories about the guy who just brought in all of Florida, including Miami / Dade — are tiresome, petty, and harmful to the MAGA brand. Especially while DeSantis is dealing with a second hurricane, and Ted Cruz is already stumping for Herschel Walker in the Georgia runoff.
Yes, the corporate media and GOP establishment shadow-puppeteers like Paul Ryan are trying to blame Tuesday’s underwhelming showing on Trump. And yes, they are wooing DeSantis as a potential Trump killer. But the facts are that Trump had a 93% win rate as a midterm kingmaker, with several races still undecided, and obvious missteps like Dr Oz notwithstanding. And don’t think for a second DeSantis doesn’t see this. He recognizes Trump’s value to the movement.
So just because the GOP establishment wants to push DeSantis over Trump doesn’t mean they can control DeSantis. They may think they can, but if anyone governed a state as unapologetically on the cultural right better than DeSantis — despite the media’s hatred of him as a Trump proxy (remember, both the Lincoln Project and the Jonah Goldbergs and Bill Kristols of the world detested DeSantis’ bluster) — show me.
Remember: Sonny died in a boisterous hail of gunfire. And that’s because his enemies learned to use his personality against him. Michael took power and grew the family brand — all while giving them an air of legitimacy. And yet he was the most ruthless of them all.
Trump announcing his intention to run again — if indeed he does on the 15th —may prove to be the death knell of MAGA in 2024.
(via Instapundit)
[It’s great to see Jeff blogging again. And I’m always a sucker for a Godfather reference. — Ed]
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