Let us speak to each other without pretense, guise or dishonesty.  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is in the 2024 race specifically because he was told by the right wing of the UniParty apparatchik that Donald Trump would be removed from contention.   The people in control of the Republican corporation – namely donors, multinational corporations, Wall St firms and Sea Island billionaires – convinced the Florida governor he would not have to run against Donald Trump.

All of the plans, strategies, schemes and operational roadmaps that followed are a direct outcome of this core tenet; Donald Trump must be removed because he cannot be defeated.  Thus, we are seeing every element of the professional Republican apparatus focused on supporting that intention. Every beneficiary who operates within the financial system of Republican politics, including the financially dependent punditry, must align with that core objective.  This is what we are seeing.

However, that said, those institutions, power brokers, conscripted influence agents, donors and media entities, are not able to fracture the Donald Trump support.  This reality actually speaks remarkably well to the commonsense, pragmatism and general disposition of voters.  Quite simply, people can see through the schemes, and there is a great awakening all around.  [CBS Poll Link]

I have oft repeated that I see a 4:1 pattern, a ratio, within data that has been present ever since 2015 when Donald Trump presented himself as the touchstone of Republican and UniParty politics.

In essence, after years of Republican pretenses, Donald Trump called their bluff and said to the republican politicians, “If you really believe what you have been telling the voters, then prove it.” Subsequently, Trump put the platform that voters want in front of the Republican politicians and pundits.  The rest is history.  Trump exposed the lies within the Republican false advocacy and manipulation, and he put the UniParty in the spotlight.  One of many examples was the GOP refusing to overturn ObamaCare.

With the ruse exposed, and with decades of lies from professional Republicans now clear to the Republican voting base, that is why the liars cannot fracture the Trump movement. Yes, boil all of the lies, pretenses, fabrications and cons down, and this is what remains.  The Republican apparatus is never going to be trusted. Trump has proven his worth, and Donald Trump holds command because his core America First platform is honest and best.

(CBS NEWS) Republican primary voters say they’re far more concerned that Donald Trump’s indictment is politically motivated than his alleged conduct being a national security risk – and there’s no evidence it’s hurt his status as the clear front-runner for the 2024 nomination, at least not yet. He remains well ahead of rivals in both consideration and vote choice.

[…] even if he’s ultimately convicted of a crime in the matter, they overwhelmingly feel he should still be able to serve as president again.

Interviewing for this survey was conducted both before and after the indictment was announced and made public, and there’s no evidence that it has hurt Trump’s standing in the primary contest. Respondents were recontacted after Friday’s DOJ announcement and asked additional follow-up questions on the matter.

At this stage of the race, it’s always important to consider what the electorate wants even more than any horse race. And on that front, despite the rhetoric from the campaign, GOP voters prioritize economics over so-called culture war issues.

They put a lot more importance on a candidate having a plan to lower inflation and lower taxes than they do on topics being discussed on the trail like, for instance, limiting the rights of transgender people and a national abortion ban. (read more)