Wednesday, July 13, 2022

IS ELON MUSK WHAT RON DeSANTIS NEEDS TO BEAT DONALD TRUMP?

Donald Trump and Elon Musk have been trading insults. Fox News reports:
Former President Donald Trump continued his war of words with billionaire Elon Musk on Wednesday, saying he could have made Musk drop to his knees.

Trump made the comments on his Twitter-esque social media platform Truth Social. Musk said earlier this week that it would be best for the country if Trump decided to "hang up his hat & sail into the sunset," and suggested there should be an age limit for the presidency.

Trump lashed back by going after Musk's companies.

"When Elon Musk came to the White House asking me for help on all of his many subsidized projects, whether it’s electric cars that don’t drive long enough, driverless cars that crash, or rocketships to nowhere, without which subsidies he’d be worthless, and telling me how he was a big Trump fan and Republican, I could have said, ‘drop to your knees and beg,’ and he would have done it," Trump wrote.
What Trump is doing to Musk is what I expect him to try to do to Ron DeSantis in the 2024 primaries, assuming they both run: He'll look for weaknesses, then troll DeSantis gleefully. That should finish DeSantis off the way Trump's insults finished off Lil' Marco and Lyin' Ted! Right?

Maybe not. Many of the commenters at that Fox story seem to be on Musk's side -- and on the side of DeSantis, who's recently been endorsed by Musk. A few selected comments:
Trump shouldn't run in 2024. he gets distracted too easily ANYONE insults him and he's more concern with the insult then moving a progressive agenda. DeSantis has proven he can respond to an attack but also move on and get conservative ideas moved forward.

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I voted for Trump in 2020, but I don’t like his personality. I voted for him because I believe that his policies good for the country. I agree with Elon that it’s time for younger generations. Trump’s personality never change. Mr. Trump, whatever you did for someone that you did for the country not for yourself. Remember that you represent the country.

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I voted for Trump twice, but it's time for DeSantis. He's everything Trump is but without the all of the childish drama. There is no excuse for him to be acting as he is towards Musk, it's so petty.

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Well said and I 100% agree. Time to get a mature adult in there that will attract independents. I voted for him 2x as well, but it's DeSantis' turn.

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You know for how much Trump brags about being this bad "A", I have yet to see one person cower to him, one back down. Unless they are already whipped in the first place and were yes men from the get go. No one is cowering after standing up to him in the first place.

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I’m with Musk and Ron; although I voted for Trump both times; he is just too abrasive(which I believe is what cost him the last election) , I hope and pray he does not get the nomination next time. Ron DeSantis would make a great President I think.
It's not as if Musk is a mature, thoughtful adult in comparison to Trump. He's the same kind of immature social media troll Trump has always been -- he even posted a Grampa Simpson GIF in response to Trump.



In fact, Musk now seems to be what Trump was in the base's eyes from 2016 through 2020: a rich guy who's perceived as the greatest genius in the business world (despite highly public business failures), and who his spends much more of his time launching preadolescent verbal attacks on enemies than he does being a serious businessman. The commenters above may be chiding Trump for his emotional response to Musk, but they sure seem to have enjoyed Musk's emotional responses to his enemies the past couple of months.

If Musk intends to remain a DeSantis ally, he may be just what the governor needs. The GOP base is extremely fond of DeSantis, but he's uncharismatic and humorless, and he can't even pretend to be rich. In these ways, he doesn't match up well with Trump. But Musk is a rich, happy troll. Musk is Trump 2.0. DeSantis can project seriousness, while Musk can show up at DeSantis rallies in his ridiculous cowboy hat and sunglasses, or attack Trump on social media, and thus give the fans a vicarious thrill by behaving like a happy, untouchable asshole. Right-wingers have a sick idea of fun, and Musk might give them what they want, on DeSantis's behalf.

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