What If DeSantis Doesn’t Run?

posted by Mark Lewis at Townhall

Everyone has kind of assumed that Ron DeSantis is going to run for President in 2024. Many Republicans like him, and some are becoming a little suspicious that maybe Donald Trump can’t win the job again. Journalists want DeSantis in the race because it would be great copy to have a DJT-versus-RDS primary for several months. Great copy means great money and possible Pulitzer prizes for telling the biggest lies. Democrats want him in because they think it would divide the Republican Party and produce an ultimate victory for them. Marjorie Taylor Greene is opposed because she thinks we need Republican governors. That’s true. It’s up to DeSantis to decide if he thinks he can do more good for the country from Washington than from Tallahassee. MTG’s argument wasn’t persuasive, at least to me. Of course, Trump doesn’t want DS to run because Trump doesn’t want ANYBODY to run but himself.  

I haven’t seen anything, anywhere, that hints that DeSantis will run—not from him at least. He has played the whole thing very coyly. He hasn’t said he will, he hasn’t said he won’t. He has done exactly the right thing so far—governs the state of Florida, runs for re-election, and wins big. And tell the press to “chill out.” That earns him a point or two in my book.  

Will he run? Maybe he doesn’t even know yet. A few thoughts.

1. Why would he want that job, part one? It baffles me why anybody, except a masochist or megalomaniac, would desire to be President of the United States. Half the people in the country immediately, and always, hate your guts, are constantly bad-mouthing and cursing you, calling you a liar, and wishing you were dead. And most of the rest of the world’s population feels the same way because they despise the United States. 90% of the time, when you open your mouth, what you say is moronic—in Joe Biden’s case, it’s 100%. The salary isn’t all that high. You live in a nice house, but only for, at most, eight years, and that house is in one of the most dangerous, horrible cities in the world. Why would DeSantis want the job? Right now, as governor of Florida, only about 10 million people loathe him; if he runs for president, that number will immediately jump to about 170 million. DeSantis doesn’t strike me as being a total fool.

2. Why would he want that job, part two? Well, perhaps he’s an arrogant narcissistic prick. I’m not singling out Mr. DeSantis for abuse here. I happen to think EVERY politician is an arrogant, narcissistic prick. “Hey, vote for me and I’ll solve all your problems and you will go to heaven!” is the height of conceit and haughtiness, but that is what every politician vomits out. It’s all about them, with an unbelievable self-righteousness and vanity that believes they know better how to run your life, and that Ukrainian thugs need your money more than you do. Those who can convince the most people that such is the case get elected to office; those who don’t, teach. Or something. Some can hide their narcissism better than others; Donald Trump is having trouble doing it right now, and his once-devoted followers are therefore leaking away. Successful politicians must be good actors (euphemism for “convincing liars”). It’s probably why Blake Masters lost his Senate bid in Arizona; he strikes me as being too “real.” But maybe he’ll learn over time.

I don’t especially like politicians, even those on “our” side, in case you can’t tell. Why should I like them? Look at all the trouble they’ve caused.

So, DeSantis. Will he or won’t he? I don’t know. He’ll decide, probably without asking me.

3. What if he doesn’t? Does that mean we automatically crown Donald Trump as our king? Not so much. But…who else?

Larry Hogan? Asa Hutchinson? Liz Cheney?

If the Republican Party nominates one of these traitors, I’m buying as much property in Thailand as I can. I’ll give you a good deal. But I can’t see any of those three have the slightest chance of winning the nomination.

There are others. Ted Cruz is likely to throw his hat into the ring again. Ted’s ok. His brain freezes occasionally, but he might make a decent President. Mike Pompeo has indicated he might want the Oval Office. I don’t know very much about him. I know he doesn’t like China, which is a BIG plus in my book, but he needs a little more examination before he gets any endorsements. Mike Pence? Mike’s a nice guy, but that may be his problem—he may be TOO nice. I want somebody who will kick some Democrat butt, not be a Mitch McConnell clone. Nikki Haley has a long way to go to prove she is worthy, as does Kristi Noem. I’ve read some suggestions that Chris Christie might be interested (an absolute no), or maybe Greg Abbott or Marco Rubio. I have heard nothing about the latter two wanting the White House, but that’s immaterial. I don’t hear everything. They are both good men but need vetting through the primary season. Glenn Youngkin has been mentioned lately. Maybe Glenn needs a few years as governor of Virginia before moving across the Potomac. But he’d certainly be better than some names on this list.

Those are some possibilities, some good, some horrible if DeSantis doesn’t run and Trump is unacceptable. Right now, the money is on a Trump vs. DeSantis battle. But the “money” was on a “red wave” this year, too. Money has no brains, and often the people behind it don’t, either.

The game is afoot. Let the fun begin.