As many would know, Donald Trump is running again for President. Here's NBC source and here's Fox source.
Not everyone in the Republican party is happy with Trump running again. Still, the support he currently has is heads and shoulders greater than what he had when he launched his campaign in 2015.
However, unlike the lackluster huge cadre of 2016 elections and the practically invisible contests against Trump in 2020, now he has someone to content with, that speaks the same language.
A. What do you think are Trump's reasons for running again? Ego? Patriotism? Self-preservation? Correcting a wrong?
Personally, I think that it is Ego and self-preservation and, with all due respect, I think that if someone actually thinks that Trump is back in the race because of Patriotism or to correct the "injustice" of 'stolen' 2020, they have not been paying attention to Trump ... ever.
B. Do you think Ron DeSantis can challenge Trump effectively? Not necessarily if he will win the nomination, but whether DeSantis will run and if he runs, whether he will try to Out-Trump the Donald.
Personally, I think Trump starting to focus on DeSantis will eventually lead the not-pacifist Florida Governor and new-star to respond to Trump in a way Trump won't like. And Trump throws huge tantrums when people fight back against his insults. And the brewing fight will eventually make the decision for DeSantis.
Or, DeSantis may call Trump, agree to wait for his term to end (or be part of the government) and then run in 2028. DeSantis is still young. <== there would be a folly there, as we saw from Hillary from 2001 to 2016. Being the lighting rod for the other party for 6 years will seriously energize the Democrats against him, as the constant attacks against Hillary demonized her and made every Republican come out and vote against her. Or the Sarah-Palin lesson that it is actually better to be demonized than forgotten...
However I am not sure DeSantis has learned the lessons of recent history to avoid the pitfalls.
Still, I think DeSantis will eventually decide to run. Not yet, as to not get the full Barage from Trump for 2 years. But at some point in early 2023.
And as Biden has said, it would be entertaining to see these two take on each other.
C. Do you think there's a civil war brewing between MAGA and old-guard Republicans? Like it was in 2015 with Graham saying that having to choose between Cruz and Trump is like choosing whether you prefer to die by gunshot or poison? Or do you think it will be like 2017 that every Republican very quickly forgot his misgivings about Trump and jumped on the MAGA wagon?
Personally, I think the past 6 years have seen many of the Republicans with a modicum of backbone kicked out. There are more people ready to bend the knee and a small core of fanatic followers in the senate and house. Trump didn't have that in 2015 and still he beat the crap out of the other Republicans.
So, I expect that there will be resistance now and they will eventually fall in line. Either behind Trump or DeSantis.
Personally, I don't think there's anyone else other than DeSantis that could seriously challenge Trump for the Republican nomination. Not after the Media start giving Trump free time, telling his voters AAAAALL of what they want to listen.
Sidenote: Yeap, the media telling voters "Trump wants to be horrible to immigrants! He is crude and speaks about boobs and how he can grab them by the ----- ! He is an authoritarian that will crack down! He will start antagonizing EU and China while cozying up with Russia!" etc actually HELPS Trump win the nomination.