Commentary
This is a phenomenological, not prescriptive exercise.
So, I’m not defending anyone or anything.
Rather, we want to understand and explain what is happening or has already happened.
I might add, but it surprises me.
Also, I don’t know much about the system.
It may be something of the nature of a political gestalt shift: a sudden change in narrative gains power and followers the longer it lasts.
However, it is questionable whether it is decisive or whether it is as powerful as it seems.
Perhaps it’s a temporary wrinkle in The Narrative rather than a permanent change.
Of course, I’m talking about a sudden change in the narrative about Donald Trump.
That shift has a natural consequence, a corresponding shift in the story about Ron DeSantis.
At the end of October, the narrative was that Trump had stitched together the base of the Republican Party.
Everyone loved Ron DeSantis. But no one thought he could challenge Donald in the 2024 election cycle.
Megyn Kelly’s message on “The Rubin Report” a few weeks ago epitomized general speculation about Trump and DeSantis.
Kelly said that if Trump were to run for office, he would crush any opponent, including DeSantis.
“Do you really think the hardcore MAGA will ditch Trump for DeSantis?” she asked. “No. … They like DeSantis. But they don’t think it’s his turn.”
Additionally, she said Trump supporters “think DeSantis owes his political career to Trump. …they will never cross Trump.” [DeSantis]”
is this still?
Do not know.
But even before the midterm elections, I noticed cracks and cracks in this façade.
Trump made fun of DeSantis, calling him “DeSantimonias.”
It is shaking its head and wagging its tongue.
Everyone, including Trump supporters, thought it was unkind.
It may have been imprudent.
Anyone who remembers a string of nicknames in the past for his political opponents, like “Low Energy Jeb,” “Little Marco,” etc., was downright Trumpian.
DeSantis appears to be challenging Trump for the Republican nomination. Mr. Trump is preparing.
But I suspect that Trump’s Trump-style mockery may have played a minor role in his sudden disgust.
A bigger factor was the outcome of the midterm elections, in which the prophesied red wave did not materialize and many of Trump’s backed candidates lost to Democratic-backed mail-in candidates.
But I suspect the most important element of the newly crafted anti-Trump DeSantis narrative lies elsewhere.
I think it’s the product of a carefully coordinated intervention by powerful media and anti-Trump forces.
Some think Murdoch’s media empire is sympathetic to Trump.
it’s not.
But still perceived as conservative or at least Republican-friendly (not the same), many assume he must be friendly to Trump as well.
A quick look at the coverage Mr. Trump has received in Fox, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post and elsewhere should rectify that impression.
Like Republican establishments such as Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney and Liz Cheney, the huge concessions to the media have deeply frustrated Trump.
It’s not because of January 6th, or because of Trump’s edgy rhetoric, as it’s sometimes said.
That’s because of his anti-globalist, pro-populist, pro-American worker stance.
Trump represents an existential threat to the globalist paradigm where national sovereignty balks at transnational ambitions.
I consider it a true and unpardonable misconduct by Trump, and Michael Anton was probably right when he said this summer: Don’t let Donald Trump be president again if they can help it. ”
Anton saw the reality of that expression of political power in the egg.
As he wrote, polls said Trump could not be challenged.
But to the prevailing consensus, he couldn’t.
It took me a while to realize that reality.
But now it’s exposed.
What does that mean going forward?
Still do not know.
DeSantis is the flavor of the month. We know he has tremendous appeal in Florida.
It is unclear how he will perform on the national stage.
Trump promised a “big announcement” on Tuesday, November 15.
Most observers don’t believe he’ll promote Joe Biden’s favorite ice cream flavor at Trump Tower.
Most people believe he will announce his candidacy for president in 2024.
how does it come?
There are many who assure us that Trump’s days in the sun are over, he was yesterday’s news.
I don’t know if they are correct.
But I remember a lot of people in 2016 saying Trump can’t, he can never win, he won’t survive if he wins.
For four years we have been told that “bombs” have been dropped and that “the wall is coming” to hasten Trump’s eclipse.
It might be true this time.
perhaps.
I will wait and see.
Views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Epoch Times.
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Roger Kimball is editor and publisher of The New Criterion and publisher of Encounter Books. His latest book is Critical Temper: Intervention from the New Standard at 40.
