The Case Against Townhall’s “Case Against Ron DeSantis 2024”
Full disclosure: The author below voted for Trump in both 2016 & 2020. Given the profound lack of confidence in the fidelity of national elections in America, he unregistered to vote.
A Townhall 1700-word article entitled The Case Against Ron DeSantis 2024 posted on November 24, 2022.
It reads essentially as a talking-points memo primarily directed toward for both DeSanti-hating Democrats and pro-Trumper Republicans.
The first line in the second paragraph is telling: “Understand that the case against Ron DeSantis is not a case against Ron DeSantis personally any more than it would be against Donald Trump as a person.”
That’s like writing: “Understand that the case against Joe Biden’s limp and feckless administration is not a case against Joe personally.”
Below are a dozen retorts to the Townhall piece listed as Assertions with Retorts:
1. Assertion: “We [Republicans] need to be ruthless in our vetting of the candidates,” for the 2024 POTUS nomination. It’s too soon to enter “the DeSantis Infatuation stage.”
Retort: What does “ruthless” mean? I missed the alleged parade of infatuated, half-naked palanquin bearers carrying DeSantis. But, sure, he a possible GOP candidate in 2024, But a long way from any “infatuation stage” of approval, so why target him? Some Democrat news outlets are doing that because they fear him. So, what’s Townhall’s motive?
2. Assertion: “The case against DeSantis is really the case against him winning the general election. And there is a case to be made for that.” He “…has yet to demonstrate that he’s the No. 1 guy in the GOP race, much less the general.”
Retort: I must have missed DeSantis’ announcement of his candidacy for the Presidency. When did that happen? This analysis from the author sounds like a preemptive strike? Might he want a job in some unidentified Republican or Democrat campaign?
3. Assertion: DeSantis’ “lane” is “competent and conservative” but a “based and belligerent” Trump came “within less than 50,000 in three states from winning again in 2020.”
Retort: Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades. That statement assumes 2020 was an honest election. I’m from Chicago where there hasn’t been one of those since Moses was a road guard on the Exodus.
4. Assertion: “Can DeSantis generate giant rallies, to the extent they matter?”
Retort: That’s just it. They no longer appear to matter. Brandon campaigned from his basement. And even the author characterizes Trump campaign announcement as a “listless announcement speech.” It’s been well established that giant rallies do not guarantee election success.
5. Assertion: “DeSantis will have to show some fire, and he does overlap into the based and belligerent. He fights, and he wins. Further, his fighting is disciplined and targeted.”
Retort: True. But perhaps the writer has not religiously followed DeSantis’ press exchanges on YouTube. As he states, “His tweets are not mean…and a lot of voters are exhausted by mean tweets.” When the liberal faux reporters ask DeSantis a biased-based question he responds directly and reveals the fraud of their queries. He doesn’t slap like Trump. He dissects. With a knife, not a hammer.
6. Assertion: “Can DeSantis get them (former Republicans too sissy to deal with Trump’s in-your-face vibe) to voter for him, or will his roughness make the wine women squeal and the wine males be ashamed?”
Retort: Analytical dissections of leftist ideology are more damaging than crass insults. Assertions 5- 6. round off the somewhat bi-polar configuration of the author’s case. Will DeSantis be so tough as to make wine women squeal and wine males ashamed? Or, is he not tough enough? What’s “tough” mean? Perhaps the author might consult DeSantis’ bio, including his service in the U.S. Navy. He’s tough enough.
7. Assertion: “How does DeSantis play outside the Land of Swamps and Falling Frozen Iguanas?”
Retort: The population of Florida in 2021 was 21.78 million. DeSantis was recently reelected Governor by a nearly 20-percentage margin of victory. Frozen Iguanas cannot vote in Florida. But dead people can in Illinois, and in several other blue states.
8. Assumption: “DeSantis has dared defy the Great Orange One by failing to take himself out of the running.”
Retort: I remember that the GOP 2016 POTUS debate stage was crowded with wannabees. In 2020, Trump coasted to the nomination. In 2024, he’s not an incumbent, nor does he deserve to be treated as one. It’s a new ball game.
9. Assertion: “Another knock on DeSantis is some of the people allegedly supporting – a litany of RINOs, squishes, and cruise crew lovers like Paul Ryan and similar establishment fungi.”
Retort: So, who’s doing the knocking? The writer? This is not armed combat where the enemy of my enemy is my ally. It’s circular fire by comparison. The example is premature. It’s too soon to analyze and compare all the eventual camps. Roosevelt and Churchill once supported Stalin in the war against Hitler.
10. Assertion: “Another hit on Desantis is that he cannot unify the GOP.”
Retort: Who’s hitting who? Besides the author, and some of the MSM. This alleged hitting resembles a high school popularity contest over the selection of the Homecoming King & Queen – or in woke-speak, the top two “thems”. Hopefully, the voting public has not so devolved that it’s beyond reaching a consensus.
11. Assertion: “Another point against DeSantis is, Sure, he’s a good governor, but he has not proven himself nationally and Trump has.’’…“Will a Yale guy with a military background be able to win over hardhats and farmers?”
Retort: That reads like a prepackaged Democrat talking-point equating hardhats and farmers with Obama’s Gun-clingers and Hillary’s Deplorables. Obama was a Harvard man. He had an empty performance in the Illinois Senate and then the U.S. Senate. And he never served in the US military, nor did Joe and Donald. How did that workout for all of them?
12. Assertion: “And where will he get the money to fight?”…“DeSantis is an unknown quantity nationally.”…“If DeSantis wants the nomination, he’ll have to take it.”
Retort: What! You mean nominations are not handed out from the bottom of Cracker Jack boxes anymore? DeSantis has not announced an intent to run and a Townhall article is wondering how he gets the money to be successful? Bit early, isn’t it?
Close:
Question: Who benefits most from this analysis of the potential candidacy of the popular Republican Governor of one of the largest states in America?
Answer: The campaign brain trust at the DNC and the liberal media
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This article is not the opinion of Townhall. It was written and is the opinion of Kurt Schlicter. The article states “The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Townhall.com.”
This is the same disclaimer on this site. The opinions are of the writers, not the site.
How does “unregistering” and not voting for Trump or DeSantis help us beat Biden in 2024?
I. If it’s contrary to the opinion of Townhall why post it? Is it an on-line debating society? I saw the disclaimer. I’m not moved by it. Feel free to label me a dogmatist.
2. You really think Biden will be on the ticket in 2024?
a. Who is “us” ref. beating Biden? I’m party unaligned. There is only one party: the Uni-Party.
b. I vote in Texas. My GOP House candidate, running without opposition, is an empty suit back-bencher. When he first entered politics, he promised to, if elected, serve only 5 terms. He just got elected to his 10th. The only other key election was Abbott v. Beto. The people in TX are not going to vote for Beto. He’s a flake. But Abbott messed up in not monitoring the rolling black-out a while back by turning over control of the electrical grid to a group of folks many of whom lived out of state. Plus, he was slow to address the open border issue.
3. I no long trust the legitimacy of elections in the US. Like Stalin said, I”s not who votes but who counts the votes that matter.
According to your logic, because AFNN published your article then it agrees with your position to unregister and not vote.
You never read about Democrats withdrawing, not voting, and giving up.
Your position is the same as the libertarians who refuse to vote for the Republicans because they believe they are too good to vote for a Republican. The choice is between a Republican and a Democrat, and a Rep is better than a Dem.
It is obvious who “us” are.
1. “According to your logic, because AFNN published your article then it agrees with your position to unregister and not vote.” Every individual is still free to vote or not vote in America. Sounds like you believe voting is required for citizenship. Nowadays, it seems nothing is required.
2. “You never read about Democrats withdrawing, not voting, and giving up.” There’s truth to that. I knew someone in IL who moved to CA and returned to IL several election cycles later only to find he’d been voting in IL all that time.
3. “Your position is the same as the libertarians who refuse to vote for the Republicans because they believe they are too good to vote for a Republican. The choice is between a Republican and a Democrat, and a Rep is better than a Dem. It is obvious who “us” are.” The libertarians represent Hobby Politics. Rep is “better” than a Dem.” Better how?
Never have seen or heard of a process to un-register to vote.
The author’s credibility goes downhill from there.
It’s simple. You send a registered letter to your County Voter Registration Office (or similar name like Elections Administration) and request to de-register to vote and have a return letter sent indicating that that request has been honored. That way it makes it less likely that someone will fraudulently use you name to vote. It’s how Lyndon Johnson won is second effort to be elected US Senator from Texas. See: https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2007/11/hillarys_texas_money_bundler_1.html
I understand your point but I believe Kurt Schlichter was just playing devil’s advocate. His previous column was a case FOR Ron DeSantis. The real race hasn’t even started yet. Let the chips fall where they may and may the best man win. We fight it out in the primaries and then unite behind the candidate. The crazy Dems are not a choice for any sane person, period.
That’s worthy and hopefully wish – that uniting behind a candidate thing. Democrats do it routinely. But after the 2020 election, the GOP were less than united behind their elected President. Their true sentiments only came out after he was gone.
See: https://canadafreepress.com/article/how-the-2024-potus-election-could-include-a-spoiler
“4. Assertion: “Can DeSantis generate giant rallies, to the extent they matter?”
Retort: That’s just it. They no longer appear to matter. Brandon campaigned from his basement. And even the author characterizes Trump campaign announcement as a “listless announcement speech.” It’s been well established that giant rallies do not guarantee election success.”
No, that’s a question, not an assertion. I have nothing against DeSantis, but why does anyone think he has the fuel to get across the finish line? He has yet to declare his candidacy. So why all the animosity between the pro Trump and the yet to be declared pro-DeSantis crowds?
I’ll make an assertion. How about the one who has those crowds at rallies, who got candidates across the finish lines, and is already a known quantity, who is already a declared candidate, not given any positive consideration?
My guess is that Trump still ticks against some folks personalities. I will vote for the winner of the primary, but my primary vote will be for Trump, because he has done the dance and in the face of all the push back, cheating and Democrat charges, all proven false, he can deliver.
Until one takes into account all the aberrancies in the 2020 election, trying to assert that large crowds, repeatedly, and wherever they are found, do not make popularity among the masses more valuable than the evil claimed by polling, is a bad argument. We just got through seeing how accurate polling was, yet still appear to believe in its veracity, which is a fool’s errand.
That’s my opinion.
And I largely share your opinion, Mark.
Democrats do enough to win. Republicans do enough to compete.
It’s the Globetrotters vs. the Washington Senators, often. (Senators one only one ‘game’.)
If DeSantis is the nominee, I’ll re-register to vote.
Including stuff and harvest ballots, take over electronic databases and change results, etc. That’s what Democrats do. Republicans are forced to bend their knees and coop what Democrats are already doing to win elections, when the problem lies in the security and fairness of the overall election systems, in many states.
Some pretty popular people on the right are suggesting that we do what Democrats do, to start winning elections, which is just a sick perversion of allowing the left to set the rules, when it used to be, before the 2020 election cycle, you knew who won that night. That’s the biggest clue that something is completely broken, when the left can manipulate a system that has served us for decades, to steal elections. Sorry if I went a little off topic, but we just have different ideas on how to remain sane in an insane time.
Actually, I like that idea of yours about de-registering. In many states, it used to be that if you missed one or two elections in a row, you were removed from the rolls. I think that got quashed by some guy, like Marc Elias, or George Soros, along with some help from some useful idiots at the state and local levels.
What has been allowed to stand, for now, two election cycles in a row, is the new standard for allowing the left to permanently control the election process. In that scenario, there is no such candidate on the right who can beat that rigged system. It will take a civil war to undo the damage that has been allowed to be set in concrete.
I’m going to predict, right now, that Herschel Walker has a snowball’s chance in winning that Georgia runoff, because, even Georgia did not do enough to secure their elections. We can’t even compete, nowadays.
Well written, Mr. Berwind.
I don’t know where we go from here as a nation.
The Democrats are corrupt. And the Republicans are weak.
I think we’re sailing into the perfect storm.
I don’t know about perfect, but it is a storm. Thanks. I’ve enjoyed the discussion.