In just one week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has gone from menacing troll to docile figurehead. Obviously, it takes a natural disaster to put a (temporary) end to his political terrorism.
It’s clearly fun for DeSantis to treat Florida like his own fiefdom, proudly signing laws restricting the right to vote, limiting teachers’ ability to discuss inequality in the classroom, and punishing corporations that oppose its sectarian program. Apparently auditioning for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, DeSantis has cast himself as a foil to the Biden administration, filing lawsuits to undermine President Joe Biden’s agenda while taking public — and personal — blows against the president.
But Hurricane Ian made DeSantis sing to a different tune.
“I’m happy to let the president know if he wants to know what we’re doing in Florida,” DeSantis said at a press conference Tuesday.
“My take on all of this is like, you’ve got people’s lives at stake, you’ve got their property at stake, and we don’t have time for pettiness,” he continued. “We have to work together to make sure we’re doing the best job for them, so my phone line is open.”
Later that day he sang the Biden administration praise to Fox News host Sean Hannity.
“Well, Sean, you know, what I said today was my phone line is open,” DeSantis said. “When people’s lives and their property are at risk like this, we all need to work together, regardless of party lines.”
“I have a feeling that the administration wants to help,” he added. “I think they realize this is a really big storm, and there’s a lot of people that, you know, we’re working with locals. We’re working really well with them. And, of course, at the state level, but we really need everyone to work together to get people to meet their needs.
This is of course how the government should function. But Florida is lucky that the roles of DeSantis and Biden aren’t reversed (as it would like). Because history suggests he wouldn’t be as eager to provide aid as Biden.
Florida belongs to all of us, not just DeSantis and his right-wing cronies. DeSantis should think about that the next time he contemplates cruel political stunts.
On Wednesday, DeSantis asked Biden to endorse a major disaster declaration for Florida’s 67 counties, which comes with federal funds to help with the recovery effort. The president quickly approved it – as he should have. But many people online were quick to note that DeSantis voted against a 2013 bill while in the House that would have given New Yorkers similar relief after Hurricane Sandy.
Floridians are lucky the Biden administration isn’t so cruel. And politically speaking, DeSantis too.
During Tuesday’s episode of “The ReidOut,” retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, who commanded the joint task force that led relief efforts amid Hurricane Katrina in 2005, said that DeSantis benefited from a storm response system put in place during Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
“All the Governor has to do is read the script, and he’s doing a damn good job right now,” Honoré said.
Today, it is fellow Americans across the country who are keeping Florida afloat, not the self-absorbed, self-glorifying governor. Not to get all “this land is for you and me”, but the proof is in the pudding: Florida belongs to all of us, not just DeSantis and his right-wing cronies. DeSantis should think about that the next time he contemplates cruel political stunts like relocating migrants to try to own the libs.
Because the next “refugees” looking for accommodation could very well be of his condition. Taxpayers are called upon to fund Florida’s recovery, help resettle its residents, and show compassion for those who have suffered trauma. And the United States answers the call.
My countdown has begun for DeSantis to return to his normal depravity. But it will be a “normality” that he is counting on all of us to achieve.
Related:
#DeSantis #depraved #docile #seeks #federal #aid #Ian