Tag: Ron Desantis

Disney vs. DeSantis: The Mouse Snaps Back, Will Host Gay Rights Summit in Florida

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Los Angeles Magazine: “Now, as tension remains high, Disney has put a major conference to promote LGBTQ+ rights in the workplace in Florida, to take place right in [Disneyworld], on the calendar for this September, as the Miami Herald reports. The event will host some of the most prominent names within the global business world; it’s also ultimately, a direct rebuttal to DeSantis’ crusade against diversity training.

“The summit — to be hosted in collaboration with longstanding sponsor Out & Equal — comes nearly a year after DeSantis sparked the feud when passing the state’s HB-1557, dubbed the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill. In its essence, the legislation bans any education regarding sexual orientation or gender identity in pre-4th-grade classrooms. And when Disney clapped back at this bill, which doesn’t require legislative approval, DeSantis upped the stakes for ‘the most magical place on Earth.’”

Frum: Is Ron DeSantis Flaming Out Already?

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From former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum at The Atlantic:

DeSantis will be a candidate of the Republican base, for the Republican base. Like Trump, he delights in displaying his lack of regard for everyone else. Trump, however, is driven by his psychopathologies and cannot emotionally cope with disagreement. DeSantis is a rational actor and is following what somebody has convinced him is a sound strategy. It looks like this:

1. Woo the Fox audience and win the Republican nomination.
2. ??
3. Become president.

Written out like that, you can see the missing piece. DeSantis is surely intelligent and disciplined enough to see it too. But the programming installed in him prevents him from acting on what he sees. His approach to winning the nomination will put the general election beyond his grasp. He must hope that some external catastrophe will defeat his Democratic opponent for him—a recession, maybe—because DeSantis is choosing a path that cannot get him to his goal.

Rubio Distances Himself from DeSantis’ Ukraine Remarks

Buck Banks

“I don’t know what he’s trying to do or what the goal is. Obviously, he doesn’t deal with foreign policy every day as Governor. So I’m not sure. I can’t speak to that. I can’t compare that to something else he did or said over the last few years because he doesn’t deal with it every day.”

— Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, distancing himself from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ apparent flip-flop on the war in Ukraine, on the Hugh Hewitt radio show.

DeSantis Greeted by ‘Ron DeFascist’ Graffito at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley

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Library greeting Florida's MAGA extremist governor Ron DeSantis who is promoting fascism in a new book, Courage to Be Free
Graffito at the Reagan Library greeting Florida’s MAGA extremist governor Ron DeSantis who is promoting his fascist agenda in a new book, “The Courage to Be Free”

Ventura Star: “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke to hundreds of supporters at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley on Sunday, potentially marking Ventura County’s first event of the 2024 presidential primary.

“DeSantis appeared to promote his new book, “The Courage to Be Free,” which was published last week. During his speech, however, DeSantis sounded more like he was on the campaign trail than a book tour….

“Not everyone at the Reagan library on Sunday was thrilled DeSantis paid a visit. Roughly 100 protesters from Ventura and Los Angeles counties lined the entrance to the campus, many carrying protest signs or LGBTQ pride flags…

[…]

‘Emperor with No Clothes’: DeSantis Mocked for Irritation over Question about Ukraine

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Alternet: “The Times of London’s David Charter, the newspaper’s U.S. editor, ‘writes that when he asked Mr. DeSantis how he would handle American relations with Ukraine, the governor referred ‘to Biden being ‘weak on the world stage’ and failing at deterrence.’

“Mr. Charter pressed for more detail: ‘How would a President DeSantis handle the conflict in Ukraine?’

“DeSantis, it appears, grew irritated.

“‘Perhaps you should cover some other ground?’ the governor replied. ‘I think I’ve said enough.’

“That is not going over well with many.

[…]

DeSantis Criticizes Biden’s Ukraine Trip on Fox

Buck Banks

“I and many Americans are thinking to ourselves, Ok, he’s very concerned about those borders halfway around the world. He’s not done anything to secure our own borders here… we have a lot of problems accumulating here.”

— Putative presidential contender Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Fox News while President Joe Biden visited Ukraine on President’s Day, reported by Message Box.

Christie: DeSantis Unknown Outside Tallahassee

Buck Banks

“He’s done a good job as the governor of Florida. I don’t think anybody can argue with that, but that’s very different than running for president of the United States. None of us really know what he’ll be like on the national stage. If he decides to run, I’ll be interested to watch and compete with him.”

— Former Gov. Chris Christie (R) told The Dispatch that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ (R) strong early polling numbers in a Republican presidential primary aren’t worth much.

DeSantis Is in a Tough Spot

Buck Banks

“It’s a really tough situation for DeSantis. If he starts punching at Trump, he’s going to anger a lot of the people he needs to vote for him. But if you are viewed as weak and cower in response to attacks from Trump, that will be seen as a proxy for how you will be seen as a Republican nominee and how you’ll be as president.”

— — Democratic strategist Tommy Vietor, quoted by the New York Times.