{"id":46940,"date":"2023-12-04T14:56:27","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T21:56:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/?p=46940"},"modified":"2023-12-14T03:12:57","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T10:12:57","slug":"trump-is-smart-not-to-debate-desantis-heres-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/trump-is-smart-not-to-debate-desantis-heres-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump is Smart Not to Debate DeSantis; Here\u2019s Why\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-42053 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Muths-Truths-FE.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Muths-Truths-FE.png 520w, https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Muths-Truths-FE-300x194.png 300w, https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Muths-Truths-FE-95x60.png 95w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>(Chuck Muth)<\/em>\u00a0&#8211; Since I know this edition of Muth\u2019s Truths is going to p*ss off some MAGAdonians, let me set the record straight.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>I first wrote\u00a0<u>FAVORABLY<\/u>\u00a0about a possible Trump presidential candidacy in 2011 after watching his speech at CPAC \u2013\u00a0<u>LONG<\/u>\u00a0before Trump actually took the plunge or most other Republicans even gave him a passing thought politically.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>I was on the board of directors for the \u201cDraft Ben Carson\u201d super-PAC months before Trump entered the race in 2016.\u00a0 But once Dr. Carson dropped out, I was all in for Trump.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>I voted for Trump in 2016, and again in 2020.\u00a0 And was an ardent MAGA supporter throughout the years in-between.\u00a0 I attended at least a half-dozen Trump rallies \u2013 which were awesome \u2013 and proudly wore my MAGA hat everywhere I went.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>But the sheen is off the shoe.\u00a0 The shine is off the apple.\u00a0 So let\u2019s get to it\u2026<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>Ron DeSantis scored a huge PR win last Thursday night when his debate with Gavin Newsom eclipsed Trump\u2019s highly-touted televised events back in the summer\u2026<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Trump Townhall in May: 3.3 million viewers<\/li>\n<li>Trump Townhall in June: 2.8 million viewers<\/li>\n<li>Trump Townhall in July 2.9 million viewers<\/li>\n<li>DeSantis\/Newsom Debate: 4.75 million viewers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Whether or not the debate moves voters in Iowa enough to provide a big upset win for RDS there next month is yet to be seen.\u00a0 But stranger things have happened in politics.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>Indeed, I read a post this morning indicating that a recent internal poll by one of the campaigns \u2013 not DeSantis\u2019 \u2013 shows Trump\u2019s lead in Iowa has been cut to just 9 points with six weeks yet to go.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>Look, I totally get why Trump is ducking GOP debates or a one-on-one with DeSantis. With his spotty record on so many things, he\u2019d be on defense all night. To recap\u2026<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>He totally blew it when it came to dealing with COVID.\u00a0 His Fauci-inspired \u201c15 Days to Slow the Spread\u201d stretched into years of lockdowns, closed businesses, and shuttered schools.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>For that, he gave Fauci an award before leaving the Oval Office.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>He never completed the wall, let alone force Mexico to pay for it.\u00a0 And he never repealed \u201cbirthright citizenship.\u201d<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>He didn\u2019t repeal ObamaCare.\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>He didn\u2019t stop the 2020 riots in major cities.\u00a0 Instead, just last week he referred to one of the riot leaders as \u201cA very respected representative of Black Lives Matter\u201d and characterized his endorsement of Trump as \u201ca great honor.\u201d<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>He didn\u2019t expand school choice.\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>He didn\u2019t cut spending.\u00a0 In fact, it sky-rocketed even during the two years he had a Republican House and Senate majority.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>He pushed U.S. Senate candidates \u2013 such as Dr. Oz and Herschell Walker \u2013 who went down in flames, and failed to rally enough support to win four critical U.S. Senate special elections in Georgia.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>He didn\u2019t drain the swamp.\u00a0 Instead, the swamp drained and ousted\u00a0<u>HIM<\/u>.\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>And the list of really lousy appointments and hires is a mile long.\u00a0 Remember Anthony Scaramucci?\u00a0 Lasted all of 10 days as Trump\u2019s White House Communications Director.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>And who can forget his appointment of Omarosa Manigault as director of the Office of Public Liaison?\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>She went on to write a \u201ctell-all\u201d book about her time at the White House and released secretly recorded tapes of conversations, including one recorded from inside the Situation Room.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>And for those who are unhappy with the failed management of the Nevada Republican Party over the past few election cycles, you can blame one person for it: Donald Trump.\u00a0 Without Trump\u2019s backing, the current leadership would have been ousted long ago.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>And some day I\u2019ll write up a detailed explanation of why and how the Trump campaign itself was responsible for not stopping the voting irregularities in key states that occurred in 2020. Bet you haven\u2019t heard\u00a0<u>THAT<\/u>\u00a0story yet.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>Worse, Trump has shifted his attacks from the left, the Democrats, and the media and onto fellow Republicans.\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>He now regularly attacks conservatives \u2013 such as Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds \u2013 as \u201cRINOs.\u201d\u00a0 Not because they\u2019re not conservative.\u00a0 But because they don\u2019t think he\u2019s the best candidate who can win next November or raise uncomfortable issues like those above.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>And for those who blame Trump\u2019s failures on the left, the Democrats, the (true) RINOs, the media, and the Deep State, let me ask you this\u2026<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>Why would it be any different in a second term?<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>In fact, it will likely be\u00a0<u>WORSE<\/u>\u00a0since everyone will know Trump was a \u201clame duck\u201d who can\u2019t run again.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>And in light of how Trump has treated and attacked past appointees and staffers \u2013 such as Kaleigh McEnany, perhaps the best White House press secretary Republicans have ever had &#8211; what competent, conservative is going to want to risk their career and reputation by working in a second Trump administration?<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>Bad management and bad judgment.\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>Why should we believe things would be any different in a second term when his primary focus is going to be getting revenge on those he believes have done him wrong or have been \u201cdisloyal\u201d?<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>Talk is cheap.\u00a0 And conservatives are right to question why this time would be different; why Trump would actually fulfill his promises and not just pay them lip service or shoot out some \u201cmean tweets.\u201d<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>These are all\u00a0<u>LEGITIMATE<\/u>\u00a0questions to ask of the former president and it doesn\u2019t mean we hate Trump.\u00a0 It means we want to\u00a0<u>WIN<\/u>\u00a0instead of losing again. And we think we have a better shot with a different candidate.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>Look, Trump is still expected to be the nominee.\u00a0 And if he is, I\u2019ll support him in the general.\u00a0 But DeSantis supporters are\u00a0<u>NOT<\/u>\u00a0the enemy.\u00a0 They\u2019re fellow conservative Republicans.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>It\u2019s not \u201cdisloyalty,\u201d as Trump sycophant Rick Grenell and others claim.\u00a0 It\u2019s a political difference of opinion among kindred spirits.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>The enemy is the legion of opponents to conservatism, not conservatives who simply think RDS has a better shot at not only winning next November, but of delivering on his promises.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>Unfortunately, too many MAGA supporters appear to believe they have to burn the conservative village to the ground to save it.\u00a0 It\u2019s a dangerous game fueling an internal GOP civil war that could cost us the White House next year.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>If Trump is really so far ahead and inevitable as the GOP nominee, why have a cow and viscerally attack folks who have developed \u201cTrump Fatigue\u201d and are supporting someone else?<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>Knock it off. We have elections to win.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/><strong>FAMOUS LAST WORDS<\/strong><br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u201cTrump calling for unity is the proverbial olive branch. You only offer that when you realize one of two things: you need those you\u2019ve attacked, or you\u2019re losing and are trying to save face in hopes of those you\u2019ve attacked nonstop don\u2019t call your bluff. \u2026<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u201cYou (Trump supporters) said you didn\u2019t need our votes. You\u2019ve doxxed us, smeared us, tried to ruin our livelihoods, called us every name under the sun, spread nonstop lie after lie about one of the prominent figures in the conservative movement that is actually getting things done, accused us of being in league with the pedo-loving Lincoln project, and the list goes on.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u201cWe\u2019ve stood on actual conservative values and principles while you now stand as pro-choice, pro-vaccine, and pro BLM because you serve the cult of personality over the constitution. \u2026<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u201cYou don\u2019t get to throw the first punch, and then when you realize the opposition is gaining momentum, call for unity.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u201cAlmost all of you praised DeSantis prior to his announcement to run. You loved him and gave your support in the fight against Disney while your man sided with them against DeSantis and the people of Florida. He also sided with Bud Light who pushed the trans agenda.<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u201cYou said we were \u2018never Trumpers.\u2019 Well guess what, good luck getting him elected without us. Who radicalized us? You did. We weren\u2019t your enemy until you *made* us your enemy.\u201d<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/><strong><em>&#8211; Podcaster John Burk in a tweet response to MAGA critics<\/em><\/strong><br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/>\u00a0<br aria-hidden=\"true\" \/><em>Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, publisher of Nevada News &amp; Views, and founder of CampaignDoctor.com.\u00a0 You can sign up for his conservative, Nevada-focused e-newsletter at MuthsTruths.com.\u00a0 His views are his own.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Chuck Muth)\u00a0&#8211; Since I know this edition of Muth\u2019s Truths is going to p*ss off some MAGAdonians, let me set the record straight.\u00a0I first wrote\u00a0FAVORABLY\u00a0about a possible Trump presidential candidacy in 2011 after watching his speech at CPAC \u2013\u00a0LONG\u00a0before Trump actually took the plunge or most other Republicans even gave him a passing thought politically.\u00a0I [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":42053,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[748],"tags":[3466],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46940"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46940"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46940\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46942,"href":"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46940\/revisions\/46942"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42053"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46940"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46940"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nevadanewsandviews.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46940"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}