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Harley "Griff" Lofton's avatar

Florida (as usual) is a textbook case of Banana Republican hypocrisy. Last year Gov. Ron Desantis pushed through anti-riot laws which potentially could be used to stifle legitimate peaceful protests and demonstrations.

Because of some unfortunate temporary traffic blockages during BLM protests the legislature took time to signal its opposition to peaceful protesters disrupting traffic. One provision even gave motorists the "right" to ram protesters with their vehicles if the protesters were blocking traffic and the motorist "felt threatened". They would be immune from civil or criminal prosecution. A sort of vehicular stand your ground law.

Last year Cuban protesters shut down several expressways in solidarity with the protests of Cuban dissidents in Cuba. (I am still wondering how shutting down an expressway in Florida is supposed to win friends and influence people for Cuba but hey, Florida!) Nothing was enforced (because the law was on hold in Federal Court) But DeSantis merely suggested the Cuban protesters "please" not shut down highways--- but otherwise because of Cuban allegiance to the GOP probably would not have been dealt with by law enforcement nor would motorists be permitted to run them down.

Predictably Governor DeSantis issued statements of support for the Canadian Trucker blockade. A blockade that would be illegal in Florida under the very laws he promulgated.

And THAT is the Banana Republican Party in a nutshell. The party of law and order except when it isn't convenient to be so.

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Ken Peabody's avatar

I have to disagree somewhat with Sam Gerston. While I do agree that the approach of true conservatives forming a new party, that is a longer term solution. I think that the best approach for the immediate is for these people to vote D in the general election. Until the Rs are totally in a minority governing position they will continue down "the road to authoritarianism".

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