Final weekend, I obtained 26 emails from former President Trump or allied organizations with topic strains: “The Nice MAGA King,” “Activate my Trump card” and “Model new Trump hat, ‘Let’s go Brandon.’” Amazingly, I even certified for “GREAT MAGA KING STATUS” (in crimson caps) with out donating a dime. And bear in mind, the “Nice MAGA King” moniker was a present quote from President Biden, which Trump has royally maximized.
Included within the 26 had been “TRUMP WAR” emails with Drudge Report-like crimson sirens spewing “information” from MAGA-world’s various actuality. Whereas “TRUMP WAR” calls itself the “#1 Drudge Various,” on Tuesday the actual Drudge Report’s headlines screamed some real-world actuality, “POLL: HALF REPUBLICAN VOTERS ABANDON TRUMP,” and “DESANTIS CONVENES DONORS.”
Then, on cue (no joke), a brand new Trump e mail arrived with blazing crimson caps: “CONGRATULATIONS! YOU WON A FREE TRUMP GIFT” — accompanied by a video of Trump dancing like a chugging choo-choo with clenched fists that I can’t un-see.
For those who ask, “Why don’t I unsubscribe?” my reply is, “I’ve prior to now.” Nonetheless, Group Trump’s emails are like COVID-19 — morphing into new strains and proof against deletion. However I discover it instructive to watch this repetitive, juvenile messaging, which is sure to be studied in political communication programs.
Since mid-June, there was a rise in Group Trump’s fundraising emails after the Home Jan. 6 committee started televised hearings. Is that to counter the barrage of devastating Trump-related revelations? And no shock when on Monday, ABC Information reported almost half one million {dollars} of Trump PAC funds had gone to pay regulation companies representing Trump-allied witnesses who had already testified or resisted subpoenas.
Then final week, in my postal mailbox was an official-looking white envelope from “President Donald J. Trump.” Inside, his identify and title had been prominently displayed on the letterhead however with out a fake presidential seal. It turned out the “Expensive Fellow Patriot” fundraising letter was from the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee, an arm of the Republican Nationwide Committee. And with Trump as their frontman, what might probably go incorrect in swing states the place the GOP should win seats to manage the Senate?
With Trump haunting my emails and snail mail, the explosive Jan. 6 committee hearings and polls displaying 61 p.c of Individuals towards the previous president making one other White Home run, a “Prepared for Ron” PAC – as in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis – caught my consideration.
In keeping with the Prepared for Ron committee’s information launch, its goal is “to encourage Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to run for President of america.” (Does the uber-ambitious 43-year-old governor want encouragement?)
The acquainted GOP identify co-chairing Prepared for Ron is Ed Rollins, the veteran Republican operative who was marketing campaign chairman of President Reagan’s 1984 landslide. Rollins additionally chaired Nice America PAC, which spent $26 million supporting Trump in 2016 however lower than $10 million in 2020.
Thus, is Rollins “prepared” to commerce within the MAGA King for a youthful mannequin? Perhaps, however in the meantime, he brilliantly triangulates the GOP’s previous, current and future. Let’s look at the technique:
Prepared for Ron’s solely web page is headlined, “DRAFT DESANTIS FOR PRESIDENT: SIGN THE PETITION” adopted by a paragraph that reads partly:
“The America-First agenda MUST be revived. Governor Ron DeSantis is the subsequent nice American president – like Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump – who will flip our nation round.” That is adopted by a video that boldly and unabashedly manufacturers DeSantis as the brand new freedom-fighting President Reagan.
Certainly, DeSantis is a rising nationwide star and on observe to win reelection. However, Prepared for Ron dangers drawing consideration to the sentiment expressed by Rep. Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) – the governor’s seemingly normal election opponent – who said, “DeSantis sees Florida as his political launching pad, I see it as my dwelling.”
Equally, a brand new anti-DeSantis group, DeSantisWatch, states in its first video, “The folks of Florida are nothing however a stepping stone for DeSantis’ ambition for larger workplace.”
Nonetheless, a DeSantis win would sign that Florida voters help his ambition to change into the primary U.S. president who’s a native-born Floridian. However, then, what can be his timing for a presidential announcement? Look to Texas Gov. George W. Bush in 1998 after he was reelected with 68.2 p.c of the vote. Bush waited seven months earlier than making his 2000 presidential announcement in June 1999. So watch DeSantis’s June 2023 schedule if he’s overwhelmingly reelected, at which level Ed Rollins ought to ship a defibrillator to the MAGA King.
Talking of the previous president, finally, Prepared for Ron means the Don is “Prepared for Retirement.” However how will Trump – along with his hyperactive e mail communications and president-titled Republican Get together mailings – be de-throned with out a Sport of Thrones-style blood tub?
The reply may very well be “royal adoration,” as illustrated in Rollins’s quote from the Prepared for Ron press launch: “The period of President Trump was fantastic, however now, since he isn’t at the moment working, we should prepare for a brand new chief, we have to be Prepared For Ron.” Mixed with the beforehand talked about assertion, “DeSantis can be an awesome American president – like Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump,” is the royal adoration translation: “Hey Don, you bought your GOP gold-plated legacy, now anoint your successor and go play golf.”
Upon reaching out to Prepared for Ron, I requested what occurs if Trump runs? Do they struggle or give up? In an e mail, Co-chair Lilian Rodriguez-Baz, the PAC’s chief authorized counsel, answered:
“We’re particularly selecting to keep away from collaborating within the countless hypothesis and hypotheticals for the 2024 race. Our focus is build up grassroots momentum for Ron DeSantis in order that he can carry the America First agenda ahead.”
Shifting “ahead” with the “America First agenda” whereas the MAGA founder is crazy-glued to the GOP throne means Prepared for Ron and Gov. Ron are royally careening in the direction of an uncivil Trump-style battle.
Nonetheless, probably the most doubtlessly vital intervening variable in fashionable political historical past is that if Legal professional Common Merrick Garland is “prepared” to defend the rule of regulation and produce King Trump to justice for felony actions regarding Jan. 6, 2021. After which, all of us have to be able to count on the surprising.
Myra Adams writes about politics and faith for quite a few publications. She is a RealClearPolitics contributor and served on the artistic crew of two GOP presidential campaigns in 2004 and 2008. Comply with her on Twitter @MyraKAdams.
