The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has long been something like the WEF of the right. Conservative thinkers and emerging politicians came together to exchange ideas and network. In recent years, however, the CPAC has degenerated into a Trump rally dominated by extremists and conspiracy theorists.
The annual conference was held last weekend. The party founding of the Grand Old Party (GOP) and any rivals to Trump in the presidential primaries gave the event wide berth. They had a convenient excuse ready. Serious allegations of sexual harassment have been made against Matt Schlapp, the CPAC chairman, and that is not an environment to be seen in.
However, these are premeditated reasons. Those hoping to run as a Republican presidential candidate in 2024 do not want to be seen with Donald Trump right now. Ron DeSantis and Mike Pence therefore demonstratively stayed away from the CPAC. They did well. The event turned into a Trump festival, and after a few opening acts like Steve Bannon, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz warmed up the crowd, the star himself took the stage. “I am your warrior. I am your judge,” Trump thundered. “And to all who have been wronged and cheated, I am the avenger.”
At the same time, Trump stressed that he is still the undisputed leader of the Republicans. “We are way ahead of all the other candidates,” he said. “Going back to the White House is their worst nightmare, but it’s also the only hope this country has left.”
In fact, a quick poll of CPAC participants found that 62 percent want Trump as their presidential candidate. Ron DeSantis, his only serious competitor to date, only got 20 percent. But the result is deceptive. The constant whining about alleged election manipulation and the Republicans’ unexpectedly poor performance in the midterm elections are having an effect. Trump fatigue is spreading within the Grand Old Party, the ex-president is no longer as powerful as he would like to be.
Trump lacks the money for the rallies
That is why Trump feels compelled to return to the tactics that got him into the White House: he positions himself as the ultimate outsider, also fighting against his own party establishment, which is fighting against both the Rinos (Republicans in name only) as against the Democrats, and who, as a billionaire, does not depend on donations.
He can really use these donations. One of the reasons Trump hasn’t held any of his infamous rallies is that they cost a lot of money and the ex-president apparently doesn’t have this money right now. Powerful financiers around Charles Koch no longer want to support him.
Many of the Republican billionaires rely on Ron DeSantis. Instead of going to the CPAC, Florida’s governor made a pilgrimage to a Club of Growth meeting. This club houses the main patrons of the Grand Old Party, and although the meeting took place just a few miles from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, the ex-president was emphatically not invited.
Although DeSantis has not yet officially announced his candidacy, it is clear that he will run against Trump. Not only is he courting the wealthy, he’s also on tour promoting his new book. It is no coincidence that this tour takes him to the state of Iowa. This is where the first primaries take place – at least for the Republicans, an important milestone.
It has now been agreed that there will be a duel between Trump and “Trump with a brain”, as DeSantis is also called. It’s gonna get ugly. Trump has already fired the first volleys and insinuated that DeSantis would have groped underage girls. Trump also claims that Florida’s governor wants to cut retirement benefits and “make wheelchairs jump over the cliff.” He also experiments with nicknames, such as “Ron DeSanctimious” (Ron the hypocrite) or “Fleischklopp”.
Florida’s governor is still holding back and has so far avoided directly attacking his former patron. But anyone who thinks “Trump with a brain” is a softie is wrong. All people in the Sunshine State should be able to carry concealed weapons without passing an exam. All diversity and equality programs should be removed from the university curriculum. Private schools should be encouraged, the death penalty imposed without a unanimous jury. Furthermore, the right to abortion must be curtailed and it must be made easier to sue the media.
At this point, it seems that only a slightly modified Trump clone can pose a threat to Trump. A depressing finding for the few traditional conservatives within the GOP. Larry Hogan is one of them. The former governor of Maryland has just dropped out as a presidential candidate. In the New York Times, he explains this as follows: “As for the next election, I am very concerned. We cannot afford to field Trump again and lose for the fourth game in a row. (…) Too much is at stake, so I can’t be responsible for being part of a large field of candidates and possibly helping Trump win the primaries.”
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
