California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) took a swipe at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s ® standing in the GOP presidential primary during a debate Thursday on Fox News.

“This is just a reminder…It’s a question some people are probably asking — I know Nikki Haley’s campaign is asking: When are you going to drop out and at least give Nikki Haley a shot to take down Donald Trump in this nomination,” Newsom said. “She laid you out.”

“You wish,” DeSantis shot back.

  • themeatbridge
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    10 months ago

    Haley doesn’t want DeSantis to drop out or to face Trump head to head. She would then be a target, and she would alienate Trumpers still clinging to him like dingleberries.

    She wants DeSantis in the race as a Trump-like surrogate she can use as a punching bag. She wants to present herself as the rational choice among irrational people. Nobody can beat Trump at the polls, at least not without completely blowing up the party.

    So one of two things will happen:

    Trump wins the nomination and chooses Haley as his running mate.

    Trump is unavailable to be the nominee either because he’s in prison, he’s been kept off the ballot in court, or his health cannot hold up against the rigors of canpaigning. If that happens, Haley can step into the role and collect those dingleberries in her basket without ever saying a negative thing about Trump.

      • themeatbridge
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        410 months ago

        I’m sure she’d rather be President, but I don’t see her attacking Trump directly, which anyone who is going to beat him in an election would need to do. Unfortunately for everyone, attacking Trump is political suicide for conservatives.

  • Flying Squid
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    1510 months ago

    This was such a pointless exercise. Doubly so since it was on Fox News.

    • @protist@mander.xyz
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      3410 months ago

      Pointless for you and me, sure, but I’m all for a strong Democratic voice getting airtime on Fox News.

      • Flying Squid
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        810 months ago

        I guess, but they’ll just brainwash their viewers into denying any good points he may have made. They have the memories of goldfish.

        • TWeaK
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          310 months ago

          Exactly.

          DeSantis: “Allegations about me wanting to increase business with China and owning a business that manufactures for Chinese military have been debunked.”

          Republican supporters: “Well that must be true then!!”

          • @nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de
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            710 months ago

            That’s not how they do it!

            They start babbling about woke agendas and pedos while making viewers scared of brown people coming over the border to terrorize you.

    • ZeroCool
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      1910 months ago

      It may have been a pointless debate but I thoroughly enjoyed this burn from Newsom; "The one thing we have in common is neither of us will be our party’s nominee in 2024.

      • Flying Squid
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        1410 months ago

        I read a couple of articles about it and the only thing that I really found amusing was Hannity getting so frustrated that they were both ignoring him that he said, “I’m not a potted plant here!”

        • themeatbridge
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          810 months ago

          Can we get multiple sources on that claim? I’d hate to just take his word for it.

            • themeatbridge
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              10 months ago

              See, this is why we need to present both sides in a fair and balanced debate of ideas. Is Sean Hannity a potted plant? Some say he’s more of a slimy sea creature like a slug or sea cucumber. Did you know that the sea cucumber will expell its intestines as a defense mechanism? Hannity has so far not commented on the status of his intestines, whether he’s ever expelled them out of fear or even for his own sexual pleasure. I know that’s a graphic, salacious thought, but it’s our responsibility as journalists to present the facts to you and let you draw your own conclusions.

              • Flying Squid
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                310 months ago

                You make a lot of valid points. I wish to argue against the potted plant claim because potted plants are generally wanted and cared for from the moment they sprout and Hannity was almost certainly not.

                • themeatbridge
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                  210 months ago

                  You, friend, have not been to my sunroom. It’s like the prequel to Little Shop of Horrors where we find out why Audrey II hates people so much.

  • AutoTL;DRB
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    310 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    The exchange came during a question posed by the debate’s moderator, Fox News host Sean Hannity, about how the two men would counter China’s aggression.

    Newsom was referring to comments Haley made about DeSantis during the third GOP primary debate in Miami earlier this month.

    During that event, Haley, who has been steadily gaining on DeSantis in many early-state polls following her strong debate performances, accused her opponent of seeking to strengthen business ties with China.

    “Ron, you are the chair of your economic development agency that as of last week said Florida is the ideal place for Chinese businesses,” Haley said.

    DeSantis had earlier hit Haley about her relations with Beijing during her tenure as South Carolina governor.

    Both men sought to stake out a strong position against China during the Fox News debate, a unique event that saw a presidential contender squaring off against a non-presidential candidate in prime time.


    The original article contains 343 words, the summary contains 152 words. Saved 56%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!