Five years ago, when the MSGA movement and its founder, Donald John Trump were both flying high, Ron DeSantis, like most republican candidates felt they had to prove to voters just how Trumpy they were. After he had gained The Big Orange Guy's endorsement in the Florida governor's race, Mr. DeSantis ran a TV ad featuring himself and his kids. In the spot the future governor exhorted his son to, "build that wall," with a bunch of children's blocks. He read to his daughter from Trump's book, "The Art of the Deal." He also helped his kids paint a, "Make America Great Again," yard sign.
Yes, in 2018 it was, as they say, high tide and green grass for all things MAGA. However, by 2020 the winds had dramatically changed. Trump lost and while he and others were busy plotting a coup, Ron DeSantis quietly distanced himself from not only the former president himself, but the entire mob of lunatics who were following him down the rabbit hole of sedition and treason.
That didn't mean Governor DeSantis had seen the light, or been born again. It simply meant he realized Don Trump and his howling band of savants were losers. And the last thing a man with big ambitions wants, or needs is to be associated with losers.
This point was made crystal clear when the results of the 2022 mid term elections came in. Scads of Trump backed MAGA loons went down in flames. Ron DeSantis on the other hand, now making a name for himself without Donald Trump, cruised to victory.
None of this is meant to portray the Florida governor as some sort of kinder, gentler right wing soldier. This is a guy who spent $615,000 of taxpayer money to airlift 50 Venezuelans to Martha's Vineyard. They weren't even in Florida when he did it. All 50 were in Texas, applying for political asylum--because, you know, Venezuela is run by a fucking communist. In order to make the stunt technically legal, because the money he used was earmarked for shipping migrants out of Florida only, he made sure the plane made a brief layover in the Sunshine State before landing in Massachusetts.
His attacks on the LGBTQ community are well documented and he has recently gutted African American AP classes for high school students in his state. DeSantis' aim, he says is to, purge, " woke ideology," from the state's education system. In the past he has described America's history in the slave trade industry as, "forced relocation."
Ron DeSantis hasn't announced he is running for President, but everyone with a half brain, including Trump himself knows he is. Trump is so convinced the governor is in the hunt he has begun attacking him with the usual Trump school yard savagery. The former president claimed Desantis, "begged," for his support in 2018 and was so desperate he broke down in tears while doing so. He has called DeSantis disloyal and described him as a "RINO Globalist." He has also threatened to expose all the, "dirt," on the governor.
Of course we all know Donald Trump promises many things, but rarely delivers. So far his only real, "dirt," on Mr. DeSantis is the governor's about face on the COVID-19 vaccine. When it first arrived on the scene Brother Ron was an avid fan. Now that it turns out much of the republican base is against COVID inoculation's, or at least government mandated ones, he sounds close to being an all out anti-vaxxer.
It is doubtful Donald Trump is afraid of Ron DeSantis. In all reality he probably sees him as just another opponent needing to be personally humiliated and crushed, like all those pitiful GOP fools in the 2016 primaries. However, he has to see in Florida's governor a younger, version of himself. Not as rich maybe, but just as ruthless and maybe, in some ways, even meaner.
The real blood bath will begin in a year. And given the nature of these two beasts it will be at least ankle deep.
Hey, when it comes to republicans these days you only get two choices. It is either crazy, or crazier. There is no in between.
2-3-23
I wonder, what is the 21st century definition of statesmanship?
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