Are there enough MAGAs in this country to elect Ron DeCynical?

Created
Fri, 24/02/2023 - 06:00
Updated
Fri, 24/02/2023 - 06:00
In his newsletter today, Dan Pfeiffer notes the contrast between President Biden and Ron DeSantis on President’s Day, when Biden went to Kiev and DeSantis went to Fox: On the other side was Florida Governor and putative Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis appearing on Fox and Friends to slam President Biden for his offering “blank checks to Ukraine.” DeSantis told the hosts: This moment was revelatory in two key ways. First, it demonstrated the challenge for Republicans trying to run against the Fox News caricature of “Sleepy Joe.” It’s hard to overstate the stature gap between a commander in chief astride the world stage and a Governor chopping it up Steve Doocy on a cable morning show. You can’t credibly argue that Biden isn’t up to the job, when he is blazoned across every screen doing the job in historically courageous ways. Presidents usually win reelection in part because they have the consistent opportunity to create made-for-media moments that dominate the national conversation. Second, DeSantis’s decision to criticize Biden on Ukraine policy while the President was in a warzone speaks to the emerging isolationist politics in the Republican base that will shape the primary with potential consequences for the 2024 general election. The Politics of Ukraine Since the Vietnam War, Americans have had limited appetites for prolonged engagements overseas. This dynamic was greatly accelerated by George W. Bush’s poorly conceived and even more poorly executed War in Iraq. There is a rhythm to it. An event like the Russian invasion of Ukraine occurs. It dominates media coverage…