The resident DeSantis obsessive (onetruephilosoraptor) made me think about this with his latest Trump-critical post. On one hand, Jeb Bush has been seen at DeSantis events. On the other hand, Caitlyn Jenner has been seen hanging out with Trump's kids/niece. Neither have officially endorsed any candidate but their feelings are clear.
On one hand you have a dude who, through his very public existence, helps in some way to normalize trannies. On the other hand you have a GOP, Inc dweeb who wants to bring America back under the control of the uniparty. It's a very tough choice, but I have to say Jeb is worse. People like the Bushes and Rupert Murdoch have megalomaniacal visions and still exercise significant influence over the country, whereas Caitlyn Jenner's delusion is personal and far less impactful.
The main difference between you and me is that you approach your assessment from a lens that Trump is still an anti-establishment force and that it makes him the best candidate.
I will argue that Trump is not even anti-establishment these days. In 2015 he could credibly say that he was an outsider. Today things have changed.
He has created his own establishment in the GOP and conservative movement that I would call Populist Inc. You have grifters like Rogan O'Handley(DC Draino), Sebastian Gorka, Raheem Kassam, Alex Bruesewitz and Laura Loomer who have created their entire careers off Trump's brand. They spend more time attacking fellow conservatives, fomenting outrage and viciously attacking anyone not for Trump. It is a campaign that will fail to win swing votes.
It is tragic that the Trump 2024 campaign is being run by these populist Inc grifters.
You seem to be skeptical of DeSantis because you dislike Dave Rubin and you think that i am coming off too strong.
Meanwhile you don't seem to care about the rise of Populist Inc where they don't even care about winning elections and enacting policy. They only care about grifting off Trump. They would still be happy if Trump becomes the nominee and loses the general. They can just yell it was rigged again and the grift continues.
I see how the Trump 2024 campaign is being run and I have no honest hope that he can win a general election because he absolutely repulses swing voters and the campaign is making terrible optics by vicously attacking his own fellow hires like Jenna Ellis for merely dissenting with them.
Meanwhile DeSantis 2024 can appeal to swing voters and get enough populists to win a general. Clearly DeSantis won't be getting the most extreme OnlyTrumpers like TheImp, DoritoPence and a few others on this board but those people are certainly less in quantity than swing voters.
There is a path to victory for the DeSantis campaign and a likely defeat for the Populist Inc run Trump 2024 campaign.
DeSantis has a good record in Florida that makes me believe he would be a good conservative President and not a Bush retread.
I believe DeSantis has demonstrated he is great on policy and I just think he is much more electable than Trump.