Desantis.
The Republican Party has cultivated a political class and base in which total victory of the republicans and acquisition of total power is the only acceptable and only valid outcome of any election; and for which there is near total acceptance of any possible action that maintains, cements or empowers that result.
They have cultivated a self contained bubble where everyone outside is trying to destroy them, and so the nature of political discourse is about destroying the opposition - not about the actioning or discussion of policy that will make anyones lives actually better; and is currently going through a period where absolute loyalty to a figurehead is the primary measure of political suitability.
The issue with Trump, is that his level of narcissism, and qualities that resonate in this crowd vastly exceeds his intelligence, and the intelligence of those around.
I was never that worried about Trump, as much as I have been as to whether an intelligent, Trump like figurehead would come next, and utilize these cultivated aspects of the party into means to really cease power.
The issue is that the Republican Party is now functionally fascist. The cultivation and loyalty of Trumps base, and the sheer unhinged nastiness is identical to the late 1920s Germany, there are some subtle differences; the open hostility to democracy is implicit in action - not explicit; and the populist target of ire and rage that is exploited for power is not the Jews; but spread over a number of groups.
They want to gain and maintain power; and to do that they will need the military and police, and potentially armed outside groups to be loyal to the leader. They need to have wide support for violent suppression of unrest, support for democratic restrictions that will ensure their victory, and enough tools of the state, judges, etc to exercise and maintain that control.
They’re not that far off actually; but If Desantis is able to rally Trumps base - he has the intelligence and knowledge to cross the hurdle. But saying that, Trump is not far off.
I can very much imagine a theoretical 2028. 4 years of desantis unpopular Republican policies; replacing the deep state and military with loyal republicans. Replacing the judiciary with ultra loyal republicans. Suppressing votes, supporting citizen militia intimidating the vote, machinery of various states still Republican. Loses the election - declares victory, states won’t certify democrat wins, mass unrest put down by loyal police and loyal military, martial law, political opponents harried - and eventually openly suppressed, non sympathetic media shut down - and is able to maintain grip on power, suppression and law changes continue to be harsher, less transparent and better suppress any non-Republican from winning elections, Republican supporters cheering every one of them.
Out of all the barriers that would prevent the above happening, almost of them have been removed over the last 12 years, and accelerated under Trump; with many of others being felt out. If Desantis were to get into power he would be much more effective at removing the remainder than Trump would be.
