“What happened to Donald Trump?”
Thus begins the opening shot of the pro-Ron DeSantis Never Back Down super PAC’s assault against Donald Trump. It’s an ad that misses the mark, but speaks volumes about Ron DeSantis and his troubles.
First off, nothing has happened to Donald Trump. He is nothing if not entirely predictable and utterly consistent. The premise is an absurdity. It also lands like a slap delivered by someone who thinks this is an action outfit:
The ad demonstrates how lost in the fog Team Desantis is. Do they really believe that the way to MAGA hearts is through a cry of “we’re all in it together?” Do they think that lamenting a Trump attack makes DeSantis seem strong? Do they not understand the difference between weakness, softness and the grievance-based victimization that fuels MAGA outrage and lifts Trump? Don’t they understand that in MAGA eyes Trump’s attacks are evidence of his justice and the cries are evidence of their effectiveness?
It seems astonishing that a group of former Trump supporters who want his power have decided on a course of attack that accuses Trump of having changed and started lying. It’s incredible when you think about it. Even more incredible is the premise that after his 30,000+ former lies he has finally told the one that will break the spirit and devotion of his cult of personality. Just wait until the MAGA faithful discover Trump lied about Ron DeSantis wanting to cut social security. Cue the rebellion! Wait until Ivanka finds out. Who will tell Eric? What about Kimberly and Uday?
Most political ads don’t tend to produce a scent through the screen. This one was the exception. Could you smell the fear from Team DeSantis? Even while attacking Trump, they are afraid of both provoking and affronting him. It’s why the ad starts with a defense of Trump as the victim of DA Alvin Bragg. That is MAGA dogma, and it is as unchallengeable as the lie about the stolen election. DeSantis’s super PAC seems lost around the concept that within MAGA what the leader says is true. The leader never lies.
Ron DeSantis is afraid to brawl with Donald Trump. His political organizations are afraid and incoherent. He’s starting to remind me of another presidential candidate…
Since he seems to be following that super PAC strategy maybe a new logo would be in order: Ron!
For the life of me, I cannot figure out this rudderless DeSantis campaign.
If he wanted to show strength, he should have immediately called Trump a Yankee who doesn't belong in Florida the first moment Trump attacked him.
He should have called him a loser, that the Republican Party is done with, and he should have ended the speech by ordering Trump to leave Mar A Lago (because it's not written in the codes that he can live there).
But Ron is only strong enough to attack Disney or berate kids in public.
He’s soft. He has soft pudgy pudding fingers, his white go-go boots--Wellington does not make white boots---are soft. His political ad treads softly on his tough MAGA opponent. He’s conservatively moving forward and testing the waters. I don’t think he can swim with the big fish and he knows that too.