Twitter users from various parts of the political spectrum seemed to be able to agree on one thing: they do not like Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.).
On Thursday, news emerged that Sasse is expected to retire from the Senate, with four years left in his term, as he is likely to accept the job as the president of the University of Florida. And users who like and hate former President Donald Trump took their chances to criticize the senator.
Conservative commentator Josh Hammer wrote, “With Ben Sasse poised to take over the Univ. of Florida presidency, the UF board (filled with DeSantis appointees) has given us both (1) A chance for a real conservative senator from Nebraska; and (2) A well-above-average, pro-campus speech university president. Win-win.”
With Ben Sasse poised to take over the Univ. of Florida presidency, the UF board (filled with DeSantis appointees) has given us both (1) A chance for a real conservative senator from Nebraska; and (2) A well-above-average, pro-campus speech university president.
— Josh Hammer (@josh_hammer) October 6, 2022
Win-win.
“Ben Sasse leaving the US Senate is a good thing, replace him with a patriot like Ted Cruz,” wrote Brigitte Gabriel.
Ben Sasse leaving the US Senate is a good thing, replace him with a patriot like Ted Cruz.
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) October 6, 2022
Meanwhile, Florida state Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R) wrote, “The DUMBEST take on Con Inc. RINO Ben Sasse’s appointment as [University of Florida] President is: ‘But he’s better than other liberal university presidents!’ Folks, raise your expectations for one damn moment THEY COULD HAVE CHOSEN ANYONE IN THE WORLD TO RUN
“They chose trash anti-MAGA Sasse,” he added.
The DUMBEST take on Con Inc. RINO Ben Sasse’s appointment as @UF President is: “But he’s better than other liberal university presidents!”
— Rep. Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini) October 6, 2022
Folks, raise your expectations for one damn moment
THEY COULD HAVE CHOSEN ANYONE IN THE WORLD TO RUN @UF
They chose trash anti-MAGA Sasse
Trump fans were not the only ones to criticize Sasse.
Never Trump writer Tim Miller tweeted, “Excited for the youth of Florida who get to be molded by someone who will lecture them about the noble virtues after being unwilling to model them when tested by the moment.”
Excited for the youth of Florida who get to be molded by someone who will lecture them about the noble virtues after being unwilling to model them when tested by the moment. https://t.co/OQjo2XCZC0
— Tim Miller (@Timodc) October 6, 2022
Amanda Carpenter, another Never Trump commentator, wrote, “Ben Sasse is pursuing an opportunity in higher education? He’s perfect for that. That’s where people think about doing things, but never do.”
Ben Sasse is pursuing an opportunity in higher education? He’s perfect for that. That’s where people think about doing things, but never do.
— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) October 6, 2022
The Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin also chimed in, “Sasse is among those Rs who lacked the spine and courage to do what Liz Cheney has done.”
Sasse is among those Rs who lacked the spine and courage to do what Liz Cheney has done.
— Jennifer "Pro-privacy" Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) October 6, 2022
The comments from the conservative, pro-Trump users were not unexpected. After all, for some Trump supporters, once you break with the former president, you are dead to them.
But the Never Trump writers are confusing. And it really raises questions about what their ultimate goals are, and if they are simply driven by a pure hatred of the 45th president and the belief he has completely taken over the Republican Party.
It simply does not make sense to claim Sasse somehow did not meet a test that Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) did.
The Nebraska senator was one of seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. He criticized executive orders and pardons issued by Trump. He claimed the former president “kisses dictators’ butts” and “flirted with white supremacists.”
Sasse has also called out unfounded claims about the 2020 election being stolen, and he has criticized other members of his own party, such as Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.)
So short of becoming a Democrat and giving President Joe Biden a sloppy wet kiss live on MSNBC, what else do the Never Trump writers want Sasse to do? Do they expect him to use every chance he gets to criticize his party as Cheney does? That is simply a ridiculous standard.
But based on the reactions to the news, it seems that is exactly what Never Trump personalities want him to do.
Rubin tweeted, “Ya know, now that Ben Sasse is leaving the Senate. Why not join [Cheney] to campaign against GOP election liars/deniers. It might even impress his new employers. Otherwise his Senate career has been a total nothing burger.
Ya know, now that Ben Sasse is leaving the Senate. Why not join @RepLizCheney to campaign against GOP election liars/deniers. It might even impress his new employers. Otherwise his Senate career has been a total nothing burger.
— Jennifer "Pro-privacy" Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) October 7, 2022
Charlie Sykes of The Bulwark, a Never Trump site, suggested he will have to push back on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).
Sasse is headed to UF, which is, at the moment, ground-zero for an epic fight over academic freedom.
— Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) October 7, 2022
So, Sasse faces an immediate test: Will he push back against DeSantis’ attempts to throttle speech on the campus, or will he roll over (again)?https://t.co/2ZyGBEZhVV
Apparently, the Never Trump views it that it is not enough to vote to convict the president of your own party.
You must commit career suicide by publicly and repeatedly criticizing your party and fueling the image of it being a corrupt, craven husk of its former self that should be destroyed. And your reward if you choose to run for re-election after all that? Democrats will boost your primary opponents.
What a joke.
