Did you hear there’s a new Civil War? That’s right. It’s Trump versus DeSantis and GOPers against the Ultra Mega MAGAs and their King. It’s a horrible, terrible war in which the GOP is smashing itself to pieces, dontchaknow. According to the always reliable and fair legacy media and Democratic Party. They would never make things up or mislead Americans. Said no one ever.
The Democrats new GOP civil war narrative is dumb, but it provides the media with an excuse to ‘report’ on that instead of Biden’s embarrassing gaffes during his G20 trip to Bali. Or how the Republicans won the midterm popular vote 51%-47% facilitating their takeover of the House of Representatives. And there’s no reason to notice Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer both announcing they would not be running again for the House Democratic leadership positions.
Not only did the Democrats lose the House with a 221-214 margin, their grand plan to scare Trump out of running for president again didn’t quite pan out. The former president did indeed announce he is running for a second term adding to the media’s insistence of the calamity of the civil war.
There are so many headlines so it must be true. Googling “GOP Civil War” generates 676 million results. Axios breathlessly announced, “A Republican civil war is erupting at virtually every level of the party…this is only the beginning…”. “The Republican Civil War Starts Now” Newsweek opined with a generous topping of hope. NPR helpfully asks, “GOP Civil War: What’s It All About?” The answer? Not much. Like meringue, it looks like there’s a lot there but it’s just something whipped up on purpose to look substantial.
This new narrative is about the Democrats hoping and wishing and praying that the GOP burns itself out before the 2024 presidential race so the Democrats can continue to burn the country down without suffering any more rude interruptions, like competitive elections.
While there’s no civil war, there are differences of opinion, and some conservative leaders are indeed very unhappy that Trump is running again, and that’s their prerogative. Some have said he shouldn’t run at all. Not surprisingly, at least one expressing dismay has his own interest in becoming president.
The pathetic bitterness fueling the establishment’s desperation to keep Trump from running is a bizarre thing to watch considering the national conversation about the importance of our democracy and commitment to election security. When asked by a reporter about Trump running again, President Biden said he would make sure Trump wouldn’t take power. “We just have to demonstrate that he will not take power if he does run, making sure he — under legitimate efforts of our Constitution — does not become the next president again.”
What? Can someone tell the Democrats that’s not how this works?
The nation has been lectured about Trump, his supporters, and the GOP posing a “threat to democracy” by the very same president who comfortably says to a room full of people, including reporters, that their plan is to “make sure” a candidate they don’t like won’t become president.
Exactly how would this sort of political thuggery generate the public trust a government rests upon? This is exactly the sort of corruption Americans have been so concerned about and contributed, in part, to support for Trump.
As for the GOP, its talent bench is deep and ambitious and that’s a good thing, and everyone who imagines they can lead this nation to prosperity and safety should welcome the opportunity to convince the American people that they are the best choice for president.
For those not drowning in derangement syndrome, Trump’s announcement was lauded by most as cool, calm, and focused. His tone was not as pugilistic as some had expected, drawing praise. As the “civil war” narrative was rolled out, even Governor Ron DeSantis came out and told everyone to cool their jets. “DeSantis…dismissed a reporter’s question about Republican infighting following the party’s mixed results in the 2022 midterm elections…‘We just finished this election, OK? People just need to chill out a little bit on some of this stuff,’ DeSantis said at a press conference.”
DeSantis is admired by the Republican grassroots, and he has proven himself capable of handling the slings and arrows lobbed his way. He is impressive, and if he wants it, very well could end up in the White House someday.
Most every GOPer mentioned as a possible presidential candidate has things to crow about. But I also remember another political star, four-term governor of Texas Rick Perry, was widely expected to be the frontrunner when he announced his presidential run in 2012. And he was, until the debates of the campaign season revealed a man not ready for the top job and his support dwindled. He announced in August 2011, and was out in January 2012.
The GOP will emerge with the strongest candidate for 2024 only if everyone runs allowing voters of all parties and opinions to see the victor vanquish his or her opponents with better ideas and policy.
If certain politicians are too afraid to run against Trump, how can they confront the scourge of today’s Democratic Party? If they don’t have confidence they can convince the GOP base to vote for them with Trump on the field, how can they overcome the machine the Democrats have in place?
Like him or not, everyone should want Trump to run again so our final statement can not just be made, but be trusted by all of us. And if there is someone to whom the torch should be passed for the GOP, the only way of knowing that for sure is to have everyone compete.