DeSantis Meets With Republicans on Capitol Hill, to a Lukewarm Response

[Right_in_Virginia]

DeSantis Meets With Republicans on Capitol Hill, to a Lukewarm Response
Ron DeSantis has not managed much momentum from his party in Congress, where he served before becoming Florida’s governor.
New York Times, Apr 18, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida on Tuesday made a rare return trip to Washington, where he served in the House before his run for governor, to mingle with about a dozen Republican lawmakers.

But his journey to Capitol Hill failed to spark much momentum in his expected presidential bid among Republicans in Congress, an important group for White House aspirants.

Representative Dan Meuser, who attended the gathering of about 100 people and who remains undecided in the race, left with the impression that Mr. DeSantis was close to announcing. “It’s a big decision,” he said. “It’s up to him.” And another attendee, Representative Dan Crenshaw of Texas, said, “I’m staying out of it.”

Representative Lance Gooden of Texas, meanwhile, sent out a statement endorsing Donald J. Trump — during Mr. DeSantis’s event.

Mr. DeSantis made time to have long conversations with every member who wanted to talk, according to attendees.

Mr. DeSantis is set to return to the nation’s capital on Friday to address a conference for the conservative Heritage Foundation before traveling to Austin, Texas, for an event.

From there, he will travel abroad on a trade mission that the governor’s office has not publicly announced. The itinerary includes Tokyo, where he’s scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, before heading to Seoul, Tel Aviv and London, according to people with knowledge of the planning.


More:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/18/us/politics/desantis-washington-republicans.html

[Right_in_Virginia]

Texas Republican Endorses Donald Trump — After ‘Positive Meeting’ With Ron DeSantis
Mediaite, Apr 18, 2023

Former President Donald Trump picked up another House Republican’s endorsement on Tuesday, but one that came with an extra bit of flavor as Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX) made the endorsement after meeting personally with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

Trump already has 46 endorsements from House Republicans, including Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Lauren Boebert (R-CO). He also is endorsed by 9 sitting U.S. Senators including Sens. J.D Vance (R-OH) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

“Today, after careful consideration and a positive meeting with Governor Ron DeSantis, Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX) announces his endorsement of President Donald J. Trump for the 2024 presidential election,” announced Gooden in a press release, adding:

While Congressman Gooden has great respect for Governor DeSantis and his accomplishments in Florida, he firmly believes President Trump’s proven track record and commitment to putting America first make him the best candidate in 2024. Congressman Gooden issued the following statement: “I met with Governor DeSantis, and while he has done commendable work in Florida, there is no doubt in my mind that President Trump is the only leader who can save America from the leftist onslaught we are currently facing.

President Trump is a tireless fighter, a champion of American jobs, a guardian of our economy, and a bulwark against the relentless invasion of our borders by illegal immigrants. He unyieldingly supported our military and veterans, and bravely stood up to the dangerous socialist agenda propagated by the radical left. I wholeheartedly endorse President Donald J. Trump for the 2024 presidential election and vow to fight alongside him to reclaim our country from the leftist forces that threaten to destroy it. Together, we will ensure a prosperous and secure future for our great nation.

https://www.mediaite.com/politics/texas-republican-endorses-donald-trump-after-positive-meeting-with-ron-desantis/

[Right_in_Virginia]

[Maj. Bill Martin]

 Seems like a lot of those swamp creatures are supporting Trump....

[Right_in_Virginia]

Politico Playbook
Apr 19, 2023

DONALD TRUMPS RON — It was supposed to be RON DeSANTIS’ big day on Capitol Hill. Yet DONALD TRUMP managed to overshadow him from almost 1,000 miles away.

In the 24 hours leading up to the Florida governor’s much-anticipated meeting with GOP lawmakers, two members from his own state — Reps. JOHN RUTHERFORD and GREG STEUBE — endorsed Trump. A third Floridian — Rep. BRIAN MAST, who was once considered close with DeSantis — told CNN’s Mel Zanona that he’ll soon follow suit.

And a few hours later, in a stone-cold act of political brutality, Rep. LANCE GOODEN (R-Texas) walked out of the DeSantis meeting and declared his support for Trump.

To be fair, DeSantis notched a couple small victories yesterday: Freshman Rep. LAUREL LEE, his former secretary of state, endorsed him, and his Capitol Hill event — where he spoke about his state’s policy agenda, decried the “radical” Biden administration, and offered to help expand the House majority, without once mentioning Trump — drew at least three dozen lawmakers.

But at the end of the day, Trump had picked up more endorsements from Florida than DeSantis could muster with his boots on the ground in Washington.

Not only did lawmakers leave the DeSantis event without delivering their backing, our colleagues Sarah Ferris, Ally Mutnick and Burgess Everett report, but several “tried to downplay their attendance, saying they went because the governor was a former colleague and they wanted to say hello".

It began over the weekend, when Trump traveled to Nashville for the RNC donor retreat and attended a meeting arranged by Sen. BILL HAGERTY (R-Tenn.) with most of the state’s GOP congressional delegation. Trump and his team were pleasantly surprised to learn the delegation was ready and eager to endorse him — and they did.

That got Trump’s people thinking: While he’d already received the endorsements of several prominent Florida Republicans, Trump’s team wondered if others in the delegation might follow suit — just as DeSantis traveled to Capitol Hill.

So on Sunday night, Trump officials sent emails to Sunshine State members asking if they would be willing to play ball. “Heck yes, I’d love to endorse him,” one lawmaker replied. (Beyond Mast, Rutherford and Steube, other members are expected to back Trump in the coming days, we’re told.)

“The amazing part of it is how easy it was,” one person close to Trump said, noting his team was shocked, for example, that Florida Rep. BYRON DONALDS — who had introduced DeSantis and his family at the governor’s Election Night victory party — was all-in when they called him up recently.

THE STEPBACK: It’s a troubling sign for DeSantis if he can’t convince more Republican lawmakers, who know better than most how Trump can be a general-election liability. It certainly doesn’t bode well for his appeal to the common GOP voter, who probably isn’t as concerned about electability, the core of DeSantis’ pitch.


https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2023/04/19/how-trump-ambushed-desantis-in-d-c-00092761

[Kamaji]

Seems like a lot of those swamp creatures are supporting Trump....

Is that any surprise?  Trump apparently finds the swamp rather comfortable.

[libertybele]

Is that any surprise?  Trump apparently finds the swamp rather comfortable.

So much for Trump 'draining the swamp'.

[LMAO]

So much for Trump 'draining the swamp'.

But his suckers, er, I mean supporters think he will.

Not that I believe Desantis will, either.

[Wingnut]

So much for Trump 'draining the swamp'.

He is repopulating it. 

[Right_in_Virginia]

Seems like a lot of those swamp creatures are supporting Trump....

Good spin job.  It sure helps move the focus away from DeSantis falling short on his knees at ground zero of his political career.

Well done.   

[libertybele]

He is repopulating it.

 

[libertybele]

But his suckers, er, I mean supporters think he will.

Not that I believe Desantis will, either.

DeSantis has made no such promise, Trump has. 

DeSantis has a GOP majority in both State houses; he's done well.

[Kamaji]

Good spin job.  It sure helps move the focus away from DeSantis falling short on his knees at ground zero of his political career.

Well done.   

DeSantis is just getting started; he'll be acting as an actual leader - as opposed to a twitter potty-mouth - long after the Orange Clown is dead and cold.  It's the Orange Crybaby who has fallen short, and is now doing his level best to sabotage everyone else because, well, because he's owed another term as president.

[Right_in_Virginia]

[Right_in_Virginia]

johnny maga
@_johnnymaga

Not surprised



9:12 AM · Apr 19, 2023

Photo: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/fabiola-santiago/article266871596.html

[LMAO]

DeSantis is just getting started; he'll be acting as an actual leader - as opposed to a twitter potty-mouth - long after the Orange Clown is dead and cold.  It's the Orange Crybaby who has fallen short, and is now doing his level best to sabotage everyone else because, well, because he's owed another term as president.

That orange clown is going to be the GOP nominee for 2024 and a fourth time election loser

I just see no way to stop that at this point, except to let it happen and let nature take its course.

[Right_in_Virginia]

MAGA War Room
@MAGAIncWarRoom

Rep. @VernBuchanan (FL-16) endorses @realDonaldTrump for 2024 🇺🇸



3:33 PM · Apr 19, 2023

[berdie]

Seems like a lot of those swamp creatures are supporting Trump....

This endorsement has me confused. For a couple of reasons. He's my rep and been pretty well consistent. Gooden hasn't been in Congress long enough to rate some kind of "head line" for an endorsement.

I did email him to get a better explanation. But, truthfully, I don't care too much about endorsements so it really doesn't matter.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

I just see no way to stop that at this point, except to let it happen and let nature take its course.

Maybe it can't be stopped, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try.  Because if we don't try, there will be no debate within the party about which issues are important or what the direction of the party should be moving forward. Reagan lost to Gerald Ford in 1976, but fighting for those ideas and losing in 1976 set the groundwork for him winning in 1980. 

The idea of not challenging Trump because he would be hard to beat seems cowardly to me.  That's going to mean going after Trump hard on a lot of issues, including his personal conduct and other things.

At the very least, it might be entertaining.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Good spin job.  It sure helps move the focus away from DeSantis falling short on his knees at ground zero of his political career.

Well done.   

DeSantis can fight Trump, and if he loses, come back and try again for the nomination in subsequent elections.

When Trump loses in 2024, either in the primary or the general election, that will be it, and we'll be rid of him for good.

Much rather be where DeSantis is than where Trump is.

[corbe]

   NYT, Politico, what's next Mother Jones?

[Maj. Bill Martin]

This endorsement has me confused. For a couple of reasons. He's my rep and been pretty well consistent. Gooden hasn't been in Congress long enough to rate some kind of "head line" for an endorsement.

I did email him to get a better explanation. But, truthfully, I don't care too much about endorsements so it really doesn't matter.

A lot of them are scared of Trump.  They all see how vindictive he is, and how he will try to destroy anyone, regardless of party, to get what he wants.  No real percentage in backing DeSantis now and risking Trump's wrath or that of his supporters - certainly not before knowing whether or not DeSantis' candidacy will catch on.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Much rather be where DeSantis is than where Trump is.

[libertybele]

Maybe it can't be stopped, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try.  Because if we don't try, there will be no debate within the party about which issues are important or what the direction of the party should be moving forward. Reagan lost to Gerald Ford in 1976, but fighting for those ideas and losing in 1976 set the groundwork for him winning in 1980. 

The idea of not challenging Trump because he would be hard to beat seems cowardly to me.  That's going to mean going after Trump hard on a lot of issues, including his personal conduct and other things.

At the very least, it might be entertaining.

I don't find anything about Trump entertaining anymore.

This country is in real trouble and the last thing we need is him making a mockery of the election/campaign process again.

[libertybele]

A lot of them are scared of Trump.  They all see how vindictive he is, and how he will try to destroy anyone, regardless of party, to get what he wants.  No real percentage in backing DeSantis now and risking Trump's wrath or that of his supporters - certainly not before knowing whether or not DeSantis' candidacy will catch on.

It's a shame that candidates are afraid of Trump.  The leftists have nothing to worry about; he goes easy on them. 
So far he's left Haley alone; obviously he doesn't see her as a threat like DeSantis.