The one thing Trump doesn’t do will never happen to anyone else

DeSantis vs. Smith: Failing to Govern in a People’s Best Interest: CNN Observations of the Case for Ron Sheldon

DeSantis is just like any other politician, he isn’t perfect. He fumbled his attempt to navigate the GOP’s stance on the war in Ukraine, as well as those who like him admit his stage presence lacks charisma compared to more skilled politicians. The likelihood of Trump winning the GOP nomination would increase if RonSheldon struggled to transition from Florida to the national stage.

If his wager pays off, it will be a sign not just of his continued dominance over the Republican Party but also of something deeper: an ongoing revolt against “the best and brightest,” the notion that only certain people, with certain talents, credentials and subject matter expertise, are capable of governing.

Editor’s Note: Patrick T. Brown is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative think tank and advocacy group based in Washington, DC. He is also a former senior policy adviser to Congress’ Joint Economic Committee. You can follow him on the micro-blogging website. The views expressed in this piece are his own. There are more opinions on CNN.

The Two-man Race for the 2024 Reelection Candidate: The Case For Ron DeSantis, A Socially Conservative Florida Governor

For a while, the fight for the Republican Party’s nomination in 2024 was looking like a two-man race. If you believe the polls, it currently seems like it’s down to one.

Former President Donald Trump has inarguably benefited from a rally-round-the-flag effect from his recent indictment. It seems Republican primary voters love few things better than sticking a finger in the eye of the political establishment, and there’s no better way to signal that than telling pollsters they’re planning on supporting Trump in his 2024 reelection bid.

But the race for the nomination is far from over. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was neck and neck with the former president just a few months ago, may have lost a step or two in more recent polling. But his track record of successful governance in Florida should force GOP voters to think long and hard about what version of their party they want to put forward.

Republican primary voters might like style over substance if there is a third Trump presidential nomination. But if they are serious about not just making liberals mad but advancing actual policy, GOP voters should consider other names, starting with the Florida governor.

DeSantis is also starting to build important connective tissue around his expected run. He has gotten the endorsements of two libertarians, including Texas’s Chip Roy.

Christopher Rufo, an activist for anti-critical race theory, was appointed to the board of the New College of Florida. Recognizing key figures and institutions on the right in this way suggests a DeSantis administration would be serious about delivering on conservative principles.

He puts together a list of legislative accomplishments that include culture war fights. He signed an education freedom program that will give parents the chance to find the school that is best for their child. He stuck to his guns when it came to his efforts to give parents more of a say in their children’s classrooms.

And, in a few days, he could solidify his reputation as a governor with impeccable conservative credentials. The “Heartbeat Protection Act,” a ban on abortion in Florida after six weeks’ gestation, would mark a tremendous commitment to the socially conservative wing of the party. If he used his political capital to make gains in limiting abortion in Florida, his track record may go up in elevation.

Another South Carolina is making travel plans for Iowa and New Hampshire for key campaign veterans, despite the fact that there hasn’t been much political fire for the former US ambassador to the UN. Sen. Tim Scott seems to want to take his optimistic vision for an “opportunity agenda” to the voters.

While Trump had some interest in announcing his focus on chartering “freedom cities” and flying cars, the motivating impulse behind his campaign remains the same as it has always been, a former real estate developer against his many enemies.

If GOP voters decide their primary operating principle is to enrage the media and “own the libs,” they will nominate Trump. If the party is serious about delivering its rhetoric of a more pro- family, pro-worker focus and is aware of the electoral limitations of Trump’s style, it will soon have another alternative staring it in the face.