As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, and I have seen this roundly speculated already, I think DeSantis is high-functioning autistic (formerly known as Aspergers), the same diagnosis as my child. I just think this makes his interactions with other humans difficult and it obvious any training in trying to teach him the skills to overcome this has not worked. He just can't do retail politics. No matter how much his wife tries to pull the puppet strings as it is obvious she does.......
I think it's interesting that you, Chris, and everybody else says that DuhSantis's problem is his obvious discomfort with interacting with the rest of the world, without any mention of his petty revenge campaign with Disney, his "anti-woke" stance, his Christian nationalism, and the nasty, bigoted laws and policies he's introduced into Florida government. Do eating chocolate pudding with his fingers, inability to smile normally, and general wierdness trump (ugh) shredding people's right to exist as themselves?
I think others mentioned, but have you seen videos of the man eating? Unless I've seen doctored videos, but I doubt it. I watched one where he's in a sandwich shop and he pulverized most of a deli sandwich. The dude just continues spewing bullshit with his mouth stuffed full of meat. Rude, one might say.
Don't forget about the white boots during one of the hurricanes (who remembers which one at this point, right?), which were clearly gender ambiguous. No big deal unless you are the anointed anti-woke warrior. Let's say he has poor judgment, as in appointing a witch doctor as Surgeon General in Florida, a move I believe will help send him to prison for killing Floridians. He is political dead meat, no better off than the Zieglers right now. He's a complete fraud.
As soon as he went national, I pegged the guy as fake and rude. Some say an asshole, but that guy is not starting any fights personally. No doubt average person on the street could drop kick his ass into gator-infested waters in about 30 seconds flat. He's soft and exudes zero manliness, at least the kind of manliness the right wants. Same goes for Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz. Paper tigers.
He leaned way into the covid stuff. It's 2023, people really don't want to remember covid.
Woke woke woke woke. It's almost all he ever talked about, yet he could never really define what it meant and I think he misjudged how much people cared about it or again knew what it meant.
His refusal to engage in non conversative media. DeSantis is a smart guy, yet he spent way too much time in a bubble and it prevented him from expanding his base and getting his name out there.
I think we've also learned Super PACs bankrolling an entire campaign isn't the Death Star we feared it would be.
Being a stiff and awkward guy made it of vital importance for Desantis to nail all of the other aspects of his campaign. That is how he was elected governor..twice. Sadly for him, he got terrible advice re strategy. As he went after Mickey Mouse and kids books instead of focusing on policy issues, it made his weirdness stick out like a sore thumb.
Reagan, who wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, was outstanding in connecting with voters. With a bevy of great speech writers, the x-actor could simplify complex policy ideas and deliver them with a homey, down-to-earth touch. Ultimately, voters connected with him not because of his ideas but because they liked him and trusted he would try to do the right thing. DeSantis, on the other hand, does the exact opposite, expounding ad nauseam about his policy achievements, using cryptic acronyms, assuming the average voter is up to speed on all the far right hobby horse issues.
Is it any wonder that opposite methods yield opposite results?
Chris - can you also please turn your attention to Trumps desire that all e-car owners should "ROT IN HELL" (his words, not mine) on truth-social yesterday?
is he also suggesting that hybrid car owner should also rot in hell as well or just e-car owner only?
After Iowa and, maybe, New Hampshire, ol’ Ron will be a pudding-fingered neurally challenged afterthought. It IS weird how a guy who served in the military and was educated at some of our finest institutions can fail so utterly.
When the pandemic began, in the spring of 2020, our knowledge of the covid virus was squat. Although there was no definitive proof that wearing masks accomplished anything, and lacking any other alternatives, there was general acceptance that anything was better than nothing, and most people started wearing masks. Even DeSantis advocated for wearing masks.
IIRC, there was already chatter about DeSantis running for President someday, and he was far more moderate than the hard-right conservative he is today. But even then there were signs that this guy was socially inept. In April 2020 event (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=900573273689428), he is ill-at-ease, and puts his mask on incorrectly. I remember thinking "is this the best the republicans have to offer?". I always believed that it was this humiliation that made DeSantis become the anti-mask zealot he is today.
We're at the point now where DeSantis couldn't capture the republican nomination even if he was the only candidate running.
I think it's really important to make sure that as many people as possible know who and what Ron DeSantis really is, and you're helping there so thank you.
I would not have moved here in 2015 if I had known Ron was going to happen.
Suggestion if I may...can you give a 50,000 view of next few months. Not expecting it to be pin on. Just your take which I trust on likely scenarios??? Thanks from loyal fan.
His problem is he’s an asshole, and now everyone knows it.
As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, and I have seen this roundly speculated already, I think DeSantis is high-functioning autistic (formerly known as Aspergers), the same diagnosis as my child. I just think this makes his interactions with other humans difficult and it obvious any training in trying to teach him the skills to overcome this has not worked. He just can't do retail politics. No matter how much his wife tries to pull the puppet strings as it is obvious she does.......
Hmmm....Is she the ambitious partner of the pair?
No question!!!
I think it's interesting that you, Chris, and everybody else says that DuhSantis's problem is his obvious discomfort with interacting with the rest of the world, without any mention of his petty revenge campaign with Disney, his "anti-woke" stance, his Christian nationalism, and the nasty, bigoted laws and policies he's introduced into Florida government. Do eating chocolate pudding with his fingers, inability to smile normally, and general wierdness trump (ugh) shredding people's right to exist as themselves?
I think others mentioned, but have you seen videos of the man eating? Unless I've seen doctored videos, but I doubt it. I watched one where he's in a sandwich shop and he pulverized most of a deli sandwich. The dude just continues spewing bullshit with his mouth stuffed full of meat. Rude, one might say.
That's just gross.
Don't forget about the white boots during one of the hurricanes (who remembers which one at this point, right?), which were clearly gender ambiguous. No big deal unless you are the anointed anti-woke warrior. Let's say he has poor judgment, as in appointing a witch doctor as Surgeon General in Florida, a move I believe will help send him to prison for killing Floridians. He is political dead meat, no better off than the Zieglers right now. He's a complete fraud.
A treat for us would be a "live" conversation with you and Maggie Haberman fielding questions from your subscribers!
Hit it right on the head, Chris.
Thanks Judi!
As soon as he went national, I pegged the guy as fake and rude. Some say an asshole, but that guy is not starting any fights personally. No doubt average person on the street could drop kick his ass into gator-infested waters in about 30 seconds flat. He's soft and exudes zero manliness, at least the kind of manliness the right wants. Same goes for Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz. Paper tigers.
Happy Boxing Day, Chris!
A few issues with the DeSantis campaign:
He leaned way into the covid stuff. It's 2023, people really don't want to remember covid.
Woke woke woke woke. It's almost all he ever talked about, yet he could never really define what it meant and I think he misjudged how much people cared about it or again knew what it meant.
His refusal to engage in non conversative media. DeSantis is a smart guy, yet he spent way too much time in a bubble and it prevented him from expanding his base and getting his name out there.
I think we've also learned Super PACs bankrolling an entire campaign isn't the Death Star we feared it would be.
Being a stiff and awkward guy made it of vital importance for Desantis to nail all of the other aspects of his campaign. That is how he was elected governor..twice. Sadly for him, he got terrible advice re strategy. As he went after Mickey Mouse and kids books instead of focusing on policy issues, it made his weirdness stick out like a sore thumb.
Very good call, Jeff. I( think this is 100% right.
Reagan, who wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, was outstanding in connecting with voters. With a bevy of great speech writers, the x-actor could simplify complex policy ideas and deliver them with a homey, down-to-earth touch. Ultimately, voters connected with him not because of his ideas but because they liked him and trusted he would try to do the right thing. DeSantis, on the other hand, does the exact opposite, expounding ad nauseam about his policy achievements, using cryptic acronyms, assuming the average voter is up to speed on all the far right hobby horse issues.
Is it any wonder that opposite methods yield opposite results?
well said, Chris.
Thanks, Mark.
Chris - can you also please turn your attention to Trumps desire that all e-car owners should "ROT IN HELL" (his words, not mine) on truth-social yesterday?
is he also suggesting that hybrid car owner should also rot in hell as well or just e-car owner only?
It might be a “HYBRID ROT” - basically a partial rot in hell, or he will say “rot in hell” (in lower case) to hybrid owners...
Why are we talking about DeSantis?
He still gas double digit support in IA and nationally!
After Iowa and, maybe, New Hampshire, ol’ Ron will be a pudding-fingered neurally challenged afterthought. It IS weird how a guy who served in the military and was educated at some of our finest institutions can fail so utterly.
When the pandemic began, in the spring of 2020, our knowledge of the covid virus was squat. Although there was no definitive proof that wearing masks accomplished anything, and lacking any other alternatives, there was general acceptance that anything was better than nothing, and most people started wearing masks. Even DeSantis advocated for wearing masks.
IIRC, there was already chatter about DeSantis running for President someday, and he was far more moderate than the hard-right conservative he is today. But even then there were signs that this guy was socially inept. In April 2020 event (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=900573273689428), he is ill-at-ease, and puts his mask on incorrectly. I remember thinking "is this the best the republicans have to offer?". I always believed that it was this humiliation that made DeSantis become the anti-mask zealot he is today.
We're at the point now where DeSantis couldn't capture the republican nomination even if he was the only candidate running.
DeSantis is yesterday's news. Write about more relevant topics/people!
Stan, I think studying why DeSantis failed is a worthwhile endeavor. Sorry if you disagree!
I think it's really important to make sure that as many people as possible know who and what Ron DeSantis really is, and you're helping there so thank you.
I would not have moved here in 2015 if I had known Ron was going to happen.
He might be 'yesterday's news', but it's worth revisiting why he didn't succeed outside of Florida.
Agree!
Great piece nice ane readable.
Suggestion if I may...can you give a 50,000 view of next few months. Not expecting it to be pin on. Just your take which I trust on likely scenarios??? Thanks from loyal fan.