Roger Stone is playing an interesting hand here and I wonder what his end game looks like? It’s an axiom of politics to keep things as civil as possible on the primary level because all those negative things you said about the other candidate are going to show up and bite you in the ass when the opposition party makes their political ads.
Right now what Roger Stone is doing is giving the Democrats a terrific gift, on the off chance that Donald Trump decides not to seek the 2024 nomination, which would put Ron DeSantis in line for it.
Calling DeSantis names like “piss poor candidate” is not going to look good in a Democratic ad two years from now. He of all people knows that. So what oh what is Stone doing?
Roger Stone issues a new statement explaining his beef with Ron Desantis, saying he just barely won his election only because Trump had to “drag him over the finish line” since he is a “boring and piss-poor candidate.” pic.twitter.com/3fDofladiO
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) January 19, 2022
And I don’t know if the Emerald Robinson crack was a red herring. Believe me, I’ve searched high and low for elaboration.
?So…Roger Stone says that Explore Talent girl, Emerald Robinson knows what @GovRonDeSantis was doing when he went missing… pic.twitter.com/kbgKFmK5FD
— Venture Capital (@kelly2277) January 18, 2022
The Explore Talent gals all wind up at Mike Lindell’s, eventually. Candace Owens is on the same side of the Big Lie as Mike, so is Mellissa Carone. Now Emerald Robinson is working for him. Maybe she won’t mess up the Big Lie like she did COVID. And of course Lauren Boebert gives moral support to Lindell and his cause from the sidelines.
Now here’s a thought.
In Florida, which corporate interest hates DeSantis? Big Sugar.
Which corporate interest funds Roger Stone (probably with bitcoin)? Big Sugar.@JaneMayerNYer @RonFilipkowski @CREWcrew
— ? (@gimleteyeLA) January 19, 2022
Stone’s bitch slapping DeSantis will have the desired effect. DeSantis isn’t going to stand up to Trump. The Bulwark:
But we can guess how this show will end, because we’ve seen it in re-runs for years now. DeSantis is going to fold like a cocktail umbrella. Here’s why:
In his newsletter yesterday, JVL explained the dynamics of this GOP slap-fight.
Ron DeSantis isn’t stupid. He’s seen the same things we’ve all seen. If you’re a Republican and you get crosswise with Trump, one of two things happens: You get pushed out of the party, or you eventually bend the knee in order to stay in the party.
We have so many examples it’s stupid.
What DeSantis should understand is that this choice is a trap. Because even the people who surrender after challenging Trump are politically maimed. They become damaged goods in the minds of Republican voters.
And Allapundit points out the inevitability of DeSantis’s blink:
The last thing DeSantis wants while he’s running for reelection as governor is the distraction of a public feud with Trump. If Trump starts needling him by name, he’ll be forced to either hit back, escalating the tension, or to ignore it and take the shots. Which will make him look weak anyway.
The prudent Machiavellian play is to say he’ll stand aside, getting Trump off his back, and then “reconsider” in 2023 after he’s safely reelected.
DeSantis will fall into line. I feel very safe in predicting that. And frankly, right now Trump has a lot more pressing issues than worry about some guy with a “bad haircut and an ill-fitting suit.” Trump’s got real problems.
Under other circumstances, I’d agree with your conclusion, Ursula. But two things make me think otherwise: 1) given that the entire Oath Keeper leadership is under indictment as we speak, I’d say Stone ALSO has bigger problems than DeathSantis and 2) DeathSantis may be looking beyond Trump in the same manner as Youngkin in Virginia. He has to know that Trump’s time is nearly up and wants the Orange Throne for himself.
Also worth remembering: Stone isn’t wrong about DeathSantis being a piss-poor candidate, as he barely squeaked into office back in 2022. Wonder how things have changed since…
I think you meant “back in 2018.”
So I did, Joseph. Time is rather distorted for me after two years of a personal lockdown so do excuse me.
As much projection as an IMAX multiplex,”some guy with a “bad haircut and an ill-fitting suit.” ” when referring to DeathSanta.
That’s always been Trump’s trademark.
I think this whole DeathSantis smear serves two purposes. Roger Stone is trying to deflect from his role in 1/6 and TFG can’t let any snub go. Remember back to the condo collapse, Ron-boy avoided tRump like the plague and has been giving him a wide berth since. TFG refuses to be ignored. So far, DeathSantis is playing this smarter than I would have given him credit for. In the end, I don’t care how or by whom the FL GOV is defeated. I just want him and all his rethug ilk out of office.