Respectfully disagree with everything posted.
Trump (who I voted for twice - and will do again if he is the nominee) is not more conservative than Reagan -IMO. Different world, different eras - no need to quibble over who was more conservative.
Trump has significant shortcomings that he is unlikely to correct.
1. He's too old to be president again. Though he is healthy and lucid today that could change in a heartbeat for anyone his age and under sustained pressure. Simple human fact.
2. He is terribly undisciplined. He loves being in the spot light, but does not do the unglamorous work to be prepared to pass good legislation, hire good people or execute well prepared executive orders.
3. He is self absorbed in the extreme. See uncountable references to loyalty too…him. Not the country or policy - him.
4. Because of 2 and 3 he does not often hire (or retrain) good people. Look at litany of terrible hires in his first term.
5. He's not a fiscal conservative. Debt spending in first 4 years as evidence.
6. He did not build the wall. He managed a pause to illegal immigration; which has since been overrun.
7. He did not drain the swamp - it is more powerful than ever.
8. He was unprepared for election fraud before the 2020 election, after or today. He has no plan. He supported the RNC head.
I could go on…..
Desantis is effective at implementing lasting policy in his state. He's disciplined, prepared, young and relentless.
Voters have a right to choose who they want as a representative. We should have competitive primaries. They should make everyone better who participates. Embracing Trump is everything wrong from an analytical starting point. It's not about the man. It's about the country.
Regardless - the cliche remains true - we get the government we deserve. We look like the republican primary voters want Trump again. That's what we will appear to be getting.
When he is unprepared to challenge massive mail in voter fraud before or after the election. Own it. When he can't get good people to work for him and embraces Laura Loomer types (or Michael Coen, Roger Stone, past his prime Rudy Gulianni) etc.. don't be surprised. It's of his own making because it always has to be about him. He needs help, but can't get it or does not prepare to find it.
Hooper Drives the Boat