By Dr. Derek Ellerman
Whether you were ready for it or not, the Republican primary race for the 2024 presidential nomination started in earnest yesterday – assuming it hadn’t started already.
While that sort of thing usually elicits grumbles, I have to admit, I’m a bit of a sucker for it now that Donald Trump is the centerpiece.
I may be a bit unusual, but I find the man to be absolutely hysterical.
At any rate, if you’re anything like me, you’re dying to see how this primary is going to shake out.
First blood goes to Trump, whose allies seized on what should be a pretty effective line of attack: Ron DeSantis’ record on entitlement programs while in Congress.
REUTERS/IPSOS POLL: Donald Trump holds 29-POINT lead over Ron DeSantis
March 20:
• Trump — 44% (+14)
• DeSantis — 30%APRIL 3:
• Trump — 48% (+29)
• DeSantis — 19%• Other likely rivals polled in the single digits. (Mar 31-Apr 3, n=706)https://t.co/SGXiQZab66 pic.twitter.com/xqgm7ewfn0
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) April 4, 2023
DeSantis Wants Cuts to Social Security, Medicare
Somehow, it seems people have forgotten that DeSantis was a Congressman for Florida’s Sixth Congressional District. Trump’s aim is to make you remember that he was.
It’s not your imagination – you’ve heard lots of talk about the entitlement programs in recent months. And to Baby Boomers, there may be no bigger “third rail” than those two massive programs.
Let’s take a look at the ad:
"Think you know Ron DeSantis? Think again," so says the new MAGA Inc. ad.
Here's a look at the new spot from the Trump-backed PAC. It aired for the first time this morning. https://t.co/hXexTQWrAu pic.twitter.com/RoF75SttBs
— AdImpact Politics (@AdImpact_Pol) March 31, 2023
Let me tell you, if you’re retired or near retirement age, you’re not going to want to hear about how DeSantis:
- Voted three times to cut Social Security
- Voted twice to cut Medicare
- Voted to raise the retirement age to 70
Now to someone my age, this sort of attack doesn’t really land, but that’s because Social Security, Medicare, and maybe even the U.S. as presently constituted will probably not exist in 2050.
But if you are of a certain age, it reeks of betrayal. After all, thanks to the temporary insanity of the 1930’s and the New Deal, Americans have been told for nearly a century that if they keep handing over their coppers to Uncle Sam, a nice, shiny “retirement account” has been held in trust for them for when they retire.
There’s obviously no such thing, but people have indeed had significant chunks of their checks taken from them against their will on every paycheck, and have every right to expect that it’s coming back sooner or later.
Never forget that 94% of all Ron DeSantis campaign money originates from Wall St, Hedge Funds, multinational corporations and Billionaire control donors. Only 6% comes from baseline voters. https://t.co/qLEil6wWCu
— TheLastRefuge (@TheLastRefuge2) April 4, 2023
Trump vs. DeSantis
While this is the first major media buy for the cycle, it by no means marks the first shots fired in the shadow 2024 primary.
Trump has taken advantage of DeSantis’ “no man’s land” status in between actually declaring a 2024 campaign and trying to “warm up” his run for President.
That’s left him open to body blow after body blow from Trump.
Just one quick example – Trump calling DeSantis the pizza boy:
And who can forget the genius of “Ron DeSanctimonious”?
It’s been a mostly one-sided affair so far, but DeSantis did have some rather clever backhanded digs himself, like telling Piers Morgan, “In terms of my approach to leadership, I get personnel in the Government who have the agenda of the people and share our agenda. You bring your own agenda in you’re gone. We’re just not gonna have that.”
As I’ve mentioned before, that’s one that hurts. It’s my biggest complaint about Trump.
And aimed squarely at the suburban voters who think Trump is too “mean,” DeSantis shrewdly let it be known that he has no idea what “goes into paying hush money to a porn star.”
On the other hand, DeSantis was able to put it all aside and do the right thing in announcing that he would refuse to cooperate with any extradition of President Trump from Florida to New York.
The Don will have to return that kind gesture at some point.
Here’s to 2024!
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Don’t get me wrong – I like Donald Trump – but his attacking Ron DeSantis on this level is to my mind “Not on !”
Anyway – there’s a long way to go before 2024 – and time for everyone to remember who the real snakes in the long grass are – Demonratically speaking of course !
The only person who will benefit from Dumpster Fire Donnie winning the primary is Biden. Thats reality.
I disagree. Trump’s primary baggage is his record as POTUS. Biden’s primary baggage is his record as VP and his record as POTUS, neither of which compares to Trump. Joe is trippin’ if he thinks the voters will pick him over Donnie, especially after the weight of all this media persecution collapses due to voters becoming numbed by it.
People were fooled by Joe when he emerged from Obama’s shadow. Now he has to face his very public record. That’s reality.