So just what are Floridians getting out of their GOP overlords that actually helps their major problems? Doesn't sound like they got anything this year, except much ado about nothing.
Yeah. He basically burned everything to the ground setting up for his presidential run. A bunch of stupid fights that either turned into long-term losses or just fizzled to nothing. Now he's governing a literally sinking state full of overpriced real estate and disgruntled GOP seniors.
I think they deserve each other, and everyone else should GTFO.
He wrecked the schools, the judiciary, anything he and his peeps could get hooks into. Florida was borderline when I got here in 2015. Now it's broken. All so Ron could go on Fox and preen.
We moved here in the February after RD was narrowly elected. I found it interesting that a lot of the culture war bills (most of which he probably would have signed) never made it to the floor of the legislature. I have also noticed he is trying to moderate how the book ban and "Don't Say Gay" bills are being applied. He is trying to make himself look less extremist and more of a "common sense" leader.
Do you think we should prepare ourselves for a Matt Gaetz governorship? Or Anna Paulina Luna? Now that this is a broken red state is there any hope of recovery?
Sorry for the confusion in my word choice. HE is not moderate, the LAW is not moderate--- BUT he and his administration has been MODERATING (softening) how the book removal law and "The Don't Say Gay" law are interpreted and applied in schools.
My wife wants to move to Portugal if Trump and his cronies get back in control of the federal government. Is Gaetz really that popular with the Republicans here? That's a scary thought.
Our plan is to make a break to the island nation of Santa Lucia.
I don't really think Gaetz is that well liked. I believe he would probably be beaten in a primary. But by what? Most of the Republicans here are pretty MAGAfied and whoever the GOP nominates will probably be elected.
The problem Ron DeSantis will always have is that he's Ron DeSantis. To know him is to despise him. He barely won statewide against a candidate who was later found drug addled in a hotel room with a passed out naked man and yes, he won re-election by 20 points against one of the greatest retread has-beens in Florida history, and point of fact in this campaign, in the early states, his polling numbers got consistently worse as time went on. But let's cut to the chase--I fervently hope Governor Ron DeSantis is the GOP standard bearer in 2028.
The cringiest part is the whining about the indictments.
That was Ron's big moment to step up to the line, and nobody else involved was anywhere nearly as well positioned.
Start with the Mar a Lago search by expressing concerns and reserving comment. And then as the story unfolds, pick the spot and swing.
DeSantis had MAGA curious and a little interested then, enough to be the non-Trump guy. And he was positioned to punch Trump in the biggest weak spot he has in the modern macho boi culture of the GOP.
Come out and say that as a former service member if the facts of the case are what they appear to be, he can't abide this. Hit on being a former JAG and cite the UCMJ chapter and verse and how badly jammed up a service member would be for half the offense.
Let the surrogates hammer on Trump's bone spur draft dodging while DeSantis plays the high road with some dips into "many people are saying" and etc.
Not only would he have stormed right back into the headlines, he still had DeSantis-friendly coverage from Fox and other odiferous organs.
Instead he revealed himself a base cur, a coward and a traitor to his oaths.
Would he have won? Dunno, but "God made a fighter" Ron. Never back down woo.
Let him slump into ignominy. He's a coward and an opportunist and he killed a fair number of people during the pandemic.
I honestly loath him more than Trump. Trump I see as a malformed, incomplete human, a basic beast that has no idea what he's missing in human connection but compensates for it with bullying narcissism.
DeSantis is smart enough to know what he's doing and what he's selling out and actively chose to do so.
LOL the more DeSantis goes out in public the more chance there is of him doing something weird. Does everyone forget all the total-doofus things he did on camera? He's not Trump, he doesn't have a cult that makes excuses for all his wackiness. Their campaign did the best thing they could do keeping him off cameras as much as they could.
RonnyD is a self-centered, cruel, angry man who has been a terrible governor. I live in Florida have watched him neglect the environment, disable schools and students and encouraged discrimination across Florida.
DeSantis, and his wife, are so politically ambitious and driven.
Give up, guy! You will never make it to the WH! People must cast their votes first, and secondly, you are not likable. Hear me? The “white boots” man will never make it to Washington!
Ron DeSantis took his one shot, missed and had the bullet ricochet right back into him. He’s done forever in the Republican national sphere. Sure he probably could defeat Rick Scott and become senator if he wants but he will never ever even make it to March in a future primary. Think Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee & Rick Perry in 2016. All three had high exposure presidential campaigns in 2008 (Huckabee) or 2012 (Perry, Santorum) and they all didn’t even get past Iowa getting no vote in 2016.
The only caveat is if by 2028 they do a Ron DeSantis/Gavin Newsom “face/off” Nicholas Cage/John Travolta style then DeSantis could have a chance. But he would still need a brain switch too…
I wonder if DeSantis understands…if tump wins in Nov, there possibility won’t be a 2028. Tump will be for life. Then Don Jr can follow in Dad’s footprints…
My thoughts exactly. If Trump wins I wonder who he will appoint to be our new Governor in 2026? Grover Norquist used to say he'd like the Democratic Party to shrink so small they could be drowned in a bathtub. I'd be happy if we could do that to MAGA and MAGA adjacent. One can dream.
"THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM is that, in politics, candidates learn more from their losses than their wins. By that standard, DeSantis just earned a Ph.D. in running for president. During his campaign he was viewed as stiff and unrelatable, so he now posts slice-of-life pictures and social media videos that give glimpses of his everyday life and less-scripted thoughts. While he was campaigning, he was seen to be especially self-centered and ungracious. So now he’s making shows of gratitude to supporters and donors."
At this point in time, Gov DeSantis has not presented his PhD thesis; all of his actions have been the equivalent of classroom quizzes, the "final exam" will be his defending his academics. I fully expect that his thesis will be soundly rejected. A leopard can't change its spots, and DeSantis will remain a stiff, unpolished person, uncomfortable when facing his own constituents, and will never be cozy with the MSM. His shows of gratitude will be as authentic as those shown by the Mango Malignancy.
DeSantis might think that 2028 will be his year, but I doubt it. Should the Fulvous Flatulence get reelected [turns head and spits three times between index and middle fingers], then there will be no free and fair election for POTUS in '28 -- TFG will not voluntarily leave office and his inauguration will actually be a coronation. Should the Sandstone Snowflake not win this year, then I expect to see him try again (age and an obviously growing senility be damned), and DeSantis will have to confront the MAGA cultists one more time.
IMO, DeSantis is incapable of winning the support of enough voters to become POTUS in the '28 general election. Dems obviously won't aid him; centrists will remember his attempt to run to the right of the MAGA oberste Fuhrer, any moves to the left will be viewed as political theater and will not be taken seriously; and the New GOP (which will still likely be a wholly owned subsidiary of Trump Inc) won't get behind him because of his challenge for the nomination this election cycle.
DeSantis is a wanna-be Trump, without the overwhelming disregard for the law - but still a total lack of common sense. I remember clearly when he ordered all schools in Florida to not enforce wearing a mask during the COVID epidemic. A judge over-ruled DeSantis thank goodness.
Brian Butler's point of view is relevant and should be absorbed by all voters in the U.S. While he is not telling us anything new about Trump, he is reaffirming the character of this man who is convicted of being a liar, a fraud, a sexual predator/rapist, and is currently facing 91 criminal charges - not one or two, but 91 charges of breaking the law.
The laws in the United States are the underlying fortress that guides our society and country. Laws provide us a fair and independent process - to ensure that justice prevails and everyone is treated equally. I spent the majority of my career living and working in communist and dictator-led countries. These countries have ONE law which says "lay-low and do not anger the leader" or you end up in prison or dead.
I barely escaped Turkmenistan one day before I was to be imprisoned for holding "Christian" meetings in a Muslim country. It was a drummed-up charge and I was not "holding meetings, nor did I have a Bible in Ashgabat - the capitol of Turkmenistan. I designed and was operating a micro-credit multi-million dollar program of small loans to the poor so they could operate small businesses and generate extra income. Micro-credit is indicative of free markets and provides supplemental income to those with government assigned jobs - which is the entire population in a dictator-led country. If they had killed me, USAID and CAAEF would have pulled all program funds from Turkmenistan. Instead they just threatened me with prison, but allowed me to leave unharmed. The program and the money was then controlled by a local woman who worked for the local government - controlled by one man - named Turkmanbashi, he was fanatical about societal control.
This story is relevant because it describes Trump as well. He is not just a liar, a bully, a criminal, and probably a traitor, but an archaistic individual who wishes to return our form of government to obsolete, ancient, and medieval times - centuries ago when King's ruled through terror, torture, murder and prisons that were comparable to the Gulag where Navalny died in Siberia. It's time for Americans to WAKE UP.
Our country is considered a civil society, where the rule of law is critical to daily operations and the safety of all citizens. Imagine a busy intersection where there are no traffic lights and no police to help people navigate. It results in horns honked, disorderliness, and a morass of confusion and traffic accidents. This is the world that Trump proposes - where the only laws that apply are the ones Trump wishes to work for his benefit.
"On June 1, 2020 and amid the George Floyd protests in D.C., Law Enforcement officers used tear gas and other riot control tactics to forcefully clear peaceful and lawful protesters from Lafayette Square to create a path for Trump to walk from the White House to St. John's Episcopal Church and to hold up a Bible for a photo op." Trump does not attend this church and this was an attempt to appeal to potential voters in the Bible Belt region of the U.S. (Wikipedia) This was an affront to the First Amendment right to the freedom of assembly.
In July 2020, Trump sent federal agents to Oregon to combat the protests against police brutality and racism. These rioters were escorted into unmarked cars by men wearing no identification. This is NOT how a democracy works. Trump believes that the use of force is justified, but Oregon's Governor called Trump's action as "simply adding gasoline to a fire." ((NPR, July 2020). He feels that he can do whatever he wishes - including ignoring all others or laws. Trump's followers demonstrated their willingness to create violence when on Jan. 6th a mob of Trumpers attacked the U.S. Capitol building in an attempt to stop the legal process of counting votes for the legal transfer of Presidential power. "Approximately 749 federal defendants have had their cases adjudicated and 467 have been sentenced to periods of incarceration." (AP News, Jan. 2024). "Washington's federal courthouse remains flooded with trials, guilty plea hearings and sentencings. The hunt for suspects is far from over." (Ibid).
Trump admires "strong dictatorial men". His recent visit with Viktor Orban, Hungary's dictator is an example. Hitler was estimated to have murdered about 6 million human beings, but another million or more died on the battlefields attempting to stop Hitler's regime. History says that Stalin, who was perhaps the most vile dictator of all times, killed over 20 million people. Putin has been compared to Stalin and is proud of this assessment. This is relevant because Trump openly admires and emulates Putin.
Putin acquired his dictatorial skills while working in East Germany as a Russian spy. He brought these tools back to Russia, and is now ruling the largest nuclear armed country in the world as a murderous dictator. He has threatened global peace AND the stability of his arch enemy the United States. Over the last 25 years he had plotted the demise of our form of government and he has used Donald Trump as his stooge. Trump sold his soul and our country to the Russians at least 20 years ago. (From Democracy to Democrazy).
The majority of cyber attacks into the U.S. come from Russia - disrupting our food/supply chains, our financial and banking systems, our hospital and medical care, our military and security, and perhaps this year most importantly our elections and probably our polls. As CNN or NYT says that Trump is leading in the polls - I cringe. The polls sway voters, and Putin knows this. He also is shouting to the whole world that "Trump will win the 2024 election." So what do you think he knows that we do not?
Butler was just another person used and abused by Trump. His report sheds more light on to Trump's behavior and disregard for our national classified information and top secret military information. More importantly, there appears to be documents missing. I would not doubt that this information - perhaps critical U.S. nuclear capability and military secrets are now in the hands of Putin and have emboldened him to say yesterday "Russia warns that they are ready for nuclear war." (Reuters, 3/13/2024)
I wrote From Democracy to Democrazy (by Graham) with one purpose - to warn Americans of the disastrous consequences if Trump is re-elected President of the United States.
I don't think Republicans have as short a memory as DeSantis hopes they do.
Yes, he ignored the MSM, but he has a PERSONALITY problem that isn't going to go away.
So just what are Floridians getting out of their GOP overlords that actually helps their major problems? Doesn't sound like they got anything this year, except much ado about nothing.
Yeah. He basically burned everything to the ground setting up for his presidential run. A bunch of stupid fights that either turned into long-term losses or just fizzled to nothing. Now he's governing a literally sinking state full of overpriced real estate and disgruntled GOP seniors.
I think they deserve each other, and everyone else should GTFO.
He wrecked the schools, the judiciary, anything he and his peeps could get hooks into. Florida was borderline when I got here in 2015. Now it's broken. All so Ron could go on Fox and preen.
We moved here in the February after RD was narrowly elected. I found it interesting that a lot of the culture war bills (most of which he probably would have signed) never made it to the floor of the legislature. I have also noticed he is trying to moderate how the book ban and "Don't Say Gay" bills are being applied. He is trying to make himself look less extremist and more of a "common sense" leader.
Do you think we should prepare ourselves for a Matt Gaetz governorship? Or Anna Paulina Luna? Now that this is a broken red state is there any hope of recovery?
The thing is, there’s no such thing as a moderate book ban. Once he went in on book banning, he was all in. There’s no taking back that bet.
Sorry for the confusion in my word choice. HE is not moderate, the LAW is not moderate--- BUT he and his administration has been MODERATING (softening) how the book removal law and "The Don't Say Gay" law are interpreted and applied in schools.
https://apnews.com/article/florida-dont-say-gay-bill-settlement-987904b3e19122d719cf468034746b6e
https://www.thedailybeast.com/even-ron-desantis-thinks-florida-book-removals-have-gone-too-far
My wife wants to move to Portugal if Trump and his cronies get back in control of the federal government. Is Gaetz really that popular with the Republicans here? That's a scary thought.
Our plan is to make a break to the island nation of Santa Lucia.
I don't really think Gaetz is that well liked. I believe he would probably be beaten in a primary. But by what? Most of the Republicans here are pretty MAGAfied and whoever the GOP nominates will probably be elected.
Measles.
The problem Ron DeSantis will always have is that he's Ron DeSantis. To know him is to despise him. He barely won statewide against a candidate who was later found drug addled in a hotel room with a passed out naked man and yes, he won re-election by 20 points against one of the greatest retread has-beens in Florida history, and point of fact in this campaign, in the early states, his polling numbers got consistently worse as time went on. But let's cut to the chase--I fervently hope Governor Ron DeSantis is the GOP standard bearer in 2028.
He ruined the best college in Florida for clout.
Literally, blood on his hands.
No one likes him. He’s not likable
He is also a lousy governor.
The cringiest part is the whining about the indictments.
That was Ron's big moment to step up to the line, and nobody else involved was anywhere nearly as well positioned.
Start with the Mar a Lago search by expressing concerns and reserving comment. And then as the story unfolds, pick the spot and swing.
DeSantis had MAGA curious and a little interested then, enough to be the non-Trump guy. And he was positioned to punch Trump in the biggest weak spot he has in the modern macho boi culture of the GOP.
Come out and say that as a former service member if the facts of the case are what they appear to be, he can't abide this. Hit on being a former JAG and cite the UCMJ chapter and verse and how badly jammed up a service member would be for half the offense.
Let the surrogates hammer on Trump's bone spur draft dodging while DeSantis plays the high road with some dips into "many people are saying" and etc.
Not only would he have stormed right back into the headlines, he still had DeSantis-friendly coverage from Fox and other odiferous organs.
Instead he revealed himself a base cur, a coward and a traitor to his oaths.
Would he have won? Dunno, but "God made a fighter" Ron. Never back down woo.
Let him slump into ignominy. He's a coward and an opportunist and he killed a fair number of people during the pandemic.
I honestly loath him more than Trump. Trump I see as a malformed, incomplete human, a basic beast that has no idea what he's missing in human connection but compensates for it with bullying narcissism.
DeSantis is smart enough to know what he's doing and what he's selling out and actively chose to do so.
DeSantis in 28? I don't think so. And thankfully he's term
limited. Quietly fade away.
Ron DeSantis
The Fat Lady has been singing for a year.
You're irrelevant now.
LOL the more DeSantis goes out in public the more chance there is of him doing something weird. Does everyone forget all the total-doofus things he did on camera? He's not Trump, he doesn't have a cult that makes excuses for all his wackiness. Their campaign did the best thing they could do keeping him off cameras as much as they could.
RonnyD is a self-centered, cruel, angry man who has been a terrible governor. I live in Florida have watched him neglect the environment, disable schools and students and encouraged discrimination across Florida.
DeSantis, and his wife, are so politically ambitious and driven.
Give up, guy! You will never make it to the WH! People must cast their votes first, and secondly, you are not likable. Hear me? The “white boots” man will never make it to Washington!
Ron DeSantis took his one shot, missed and had the bullet ricochet right back into him. He’s done forever in the Republican national sphere. Sure he probably could defeat Rick Scott and become senator if he wants but he will never ever even make it to March in a future primary. Think Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee & Rick Perry in 2016. All three had high exposure presidential campaigns in 2008 (Huckabee) or 2012 (Perry, Santorum) and they all didn’t even get past Iowa getting no vote in 2016.
The only caveat is if by 2028 they do a Ron DeSantis/Gavin Newsom “face/off” Nicholas Cage/John Travolta style then DeSantis could have a chance. But he would still need a brain switch too…
I wonder if DeSantis understands…if tump wins in Nov, there possibility won’t be a 2028. Tump will be for life. Then Don Jr can follow in Dad’s footprints…
My thoughts exactly. If Trump wins I wonder who he will appoint to be our new Governor in 2026? Grover Norquist used to say he'd like the Democratic Party to shrink so small they could be drowned in a bathtub. I'd be happy if we could do that to MAGA and MAGA adjacent. One can dream.
"THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM is that, in politics, candidates learn more from their losses than their wins. By that standard, DeSantis just earned a Ph.D. in running for president. During his campaign he was viewed as stiff and unrelatable, so he now posts slice-of-life pictures and social media videos that give glimpses of his everyday life and less-scripted thoughts. While he was campaigning, he was seen to be especially self-centered and ungracious. So now he’s making shows of gratitude to supporters and donors."
At this point in time, Gov DeSantis has not presented his PhD thesis; all of his actions have been the equivalent of classroom quizzes, the "final exam" will be his defending his academics. I fully expect that his thesis will be soundly rejected. A leopard can't change its spots, and DeSantis will remain a stiff, unpolished person, uncomfortable when facing his own constituents, and will never be cozy with the MSM. His shows of gratitude will be as authentic as those shown by the Mango Malignancy.
DeSantis might think that 2028 will be his year, but I doubt it. Should the Fulvous Flatulence get reelected [turns head and spits three times between index and middle fingers], then there will be no free and fair election for POTUS in '28 -- TFG will not voluntarily leave office and his inauguration will actually be a coronation. Should the Sandstone Snowflake not win this year, then I expect to see him try again (age and an obviously growing senility be damned), and DeSantis will have to confront the MAGA cultists one more time.
IMO, DeSantis is incapable of winning the support of enough voters to become POTUS in the '28 general election. Dems obviously won't aid him; centrists will remember his attempt to run to the right of the MAGA oberste Fuhrer, any moves to the left will be viewed as political theater and will not be taken seriously; and the New GOP (which will still likely be a wholly owned subsidiary of Trump Inc) won't get behind him because of his challenge for the nomination this election cycle.
DeSantis' political future is bleak, if not dead.
fnord
DeSantis is a wanna-be Trump, without the overwhelming disregard for the law - but still a total lack of common sense. I remember clearly when he ordered all schools in Florida to not enforce wearing a mask during the COVID epidemic. A judge over-ruled DeSantis thank goodness.
Elizabeth www.democrazy2020.org
Brian Butler's point of view is relevant and should be absorbed by all voters in the U.S. While he is not telling us anything new about Trump, he is reaffirming the character of this man who is convicted of being a liar, a fraud, a sexual predator/rapist, and is currently facing 91 criminal charges - not one or two, but 91 charges of breaking the law.
The laws in the United States are the underlying fortress that guides our society and country. Laws provide us a fair and independent process - to ensure that justice prevails and everyone is treated equally. I spent the majority of my career living and working in communist and dictator-led countries. These countries have ONE law which says "lay-low and do not anger the leader" or you end up in prison or dead.
I barely escaped Turkmenistan one day before I was to be imprisoned for holding "Christian" meetings in a Muslim country. It was a drummed-up charge and I was not "holding meetings, nor did I have a Bible in Ashgabat - the capitol of Turkmenistan. I designed and was operating a micro-credit multi-million dollar program of small loans to the poor so they could operate small businesses and generate extra income. Micro-credit is indicative of free markets and provides supplemental income to those with government assigned jobs - which is the entire population in a dictator-led country. If they had killed me, USAID and CAAEF would have pulled all program funds from Turkmenistan. Instead they just threatened me with prison, but allowed me to leave unharmed. The program and the money was then controlled by a local woman who worked for the local government - controlled by one man - named Turkmanbashi, he was fanatical about societal control.
This story is relevant because it describes Trump as well. He is not just a liar, a bully, a criminal, and probably a traitor, but an archaistic individual who wishes to return our form of government to obsolete, ancient, and medieval times - centuries ago when King's ruled through terror, torture, murder and prisons that were comparable to the Gulag where Navalny died in Siberia. It's time for Americans to WAKE UP.
Our country is considered a civil society, where the rule of law is critical to daily operations and the safety of all citizens. Imagine a busy intersection where there are no traffic lights and no police to help people navigate. It results in horns honked, disorderliness, and a morass of confusion and traffic accidents. This is the world that Trump proposes - where the only laws that apply are the ones Trump wishes to work for his benefit.
"On June 1, 2020 and amid the George Floyd protests in D.C., Law Enforcement officers used tear gas and other riot control tactics to forcefully clear peaceful and lawful protesters from Lafayette Square to create a path for Trump to walk from the White House to St. John's Episcopal Church and to hold up a Bible for a photo op." Trump does not attend this church and this was an attempt to appeal to potential voters in the Bible Belt region of the U.S. (Wikipedia) This was an affront to the First Amendment right to the freedom of assembly.
In July 2020, Trump sent federal agents to Oregon to combat the protests against police brutality and racism. These rioters were escorted into unmarked cars by men wearing no identification. This is NOT how a democracy works. Trump believes that the use of force is justified, but Oregon's Governor called Trump's action as "simply adding gasoline to a fire." ((NPR, July 2020). He feels that he can do whatever he wishes - including ignoring all others or laws. Trump's followers demonstrated their willingness to create violence when on Jan. 6th a mob of Trumpers attacked the U.S. Capitol building in an attempt to stop the legal process of counting votes for the legal transfer of Presidential power. "Approximately 749 federal defendants have had their cases adjudicated and 467 have been sentenced to periods of incarceration." (AP News, Jan. 2024). "Washington's federal courthouse remains flooded with trials, guilty plea hearings and sentencings. The hunt for suspects is far from over." (Ibid).
Trump admires "strong dictatorial men". His recent visit with Viktor Orban, Hungary's dictator is an example. Hitler was estimated to have murdered about 6 million human beings, but another million or more died on the battlefields attempting to stop Hitler's regime. History says that Stalin, who was perhaps the most vile dictator of all times, killed over 20 million people. Putin has been compared to Stalin and is proud of this assessment. This is relevant because Trump openly admires and emulates Putin.
Putin acquired his dictatorial skills while working in East Germany as a Russian spy. He brought these tools back to Russia, and is now ruling the largest nuclear armed country in the world as a murderous dictator. He has threatened global peace AND the stability of his arch enemy the United States. Over the last 25 years he had plotted the demise of our form of government and he has used Donald Trump as his stooge. Trump sold his soul and our country to the Russians at least 20 years ago. (From Democracy to Democrazy).
The majority of cyber attacks into the U.S. come from Russia - disrupting our food/supply chains, our financial and banking systems, our hospital and medical care, our military and security, and perhaps this year most importantly our elections and probably our polls. As CNN or NYT says that Trump is leading in the polls - I cringe. The polls sway voters, and Putin knows this. He also is shouting to the whole world that "Trump will win the 2024 election." So what do you think he knows that we do not?
Butler was just another person used and abused by Trump. His report sheds more light on to Trump's behavior and disregard for our national classified information and top secret military information. More importantly, there appears to be documents missing. I would not doubt that this information - perhaps critical U.S. nuclear capability and military secrets are now in the hands of Putin and have emboldened him to say yesterday "Russia warns that they are ready for nuclear war." (Reuters, 3/13/2024)
I wrote From Democracy to Democrazy (by Graham) with one purpose - to warn Americans of the disastrous consequences if Trump is re-elected President of the United States.
Elizabeth www.democrazy2020.org