Controlling the media narrative is going to be critical for 2024, just as it has been in one way or another for decades. DeSantis has been making very good headway shaping public perception of Florida as a battleground for culture wars, with himself as the voice of reason. He appears on Fox regularly and manages to keep his name in the headlines.
Meanwhile under his tenure as governor, the number of registered Florida Democrats are down, and the number of registered Florida Republicans are up, in all 67 counties. The man was first elected by a razor thin margin of 32,000 votes, less than half a percentage point. Last November he was re-elected with a landslide, 1.5 million votes (nearly 20%) over Crist. Once a swing state, Florida is well on track to be deep red by 2024.
Doesn’t this speak to the fact that they aren’t voting based on what they say is important?
DeSantis was the incumbent governor. If you thought the economy was poor, wouldn’t you vote to change the governor, not retain him? And conversely, if you thought it was good, why would you vote to oust the governor (like 87% of the 20% that said it was good did)?
People say one thing is important to them and then they vote for the person they like, or is on their “team”.
It now appears that the Florida legislature is moving to repeal its “resign to run” provision so Meatball can remain governor if his presidential bid fails. On a pad, can’t link.
TBF that always sounded to me like a “careful what you wish for” kind of law. I mean sure, you don’t want to subsidize someone campaigning for a different office and leaving the job you’re paying them for in the hands of understudies, but at the same time you are putting hurdles on some potential contenders that others don’t have, and it was really an anti-challengers provision from those already in office.
Apparently it’s not just now that they started talking about it, Ron simply has made it timely
Other questions included whether the respondents thought Florida was moving in the right direction (most who said yes voted DeSantis) versus the nation (opposite trend). You see a lot of that dynamic in politics - lots of pointing fingers elsewhere. For example inflation was big in 2022 but it is considered a national issue, I don’t think DeSantis carried any blame for that in the public mind.
I don’t see DeSantis doing well on the national stage. He’s just not a performer. He has a weak, almost feminine voice. His manner doesn’t match his PR image. Combine that with his product - Book banning, racial suppression, immigrant rousting, government control of education, government control of business (Disney), government control of voting - I don’t believe it adds up to broad national appeal. The unqualified, incompetent Trump still commands total media coverage without baggage like a platform or performance in office.
So, Florida is on the cusp of rewriting its gun laws - the state legislature (which has a Republican supermajority) has passed a law that changes concealed carry laws. Concealed carry permits will still exist, but they (and their accompanying training/vetting requirements) are optional.
As long as someone is over 21, isn’t a convicted felon, hasn’t been adjudicated incompetent, and has waited at least 3 years since he had a domestic violence charge, it’s lawful to conceal carry a gun. You just need to carry a picture ID (if you forget it, don’t fret. It’s just a $25 fine).
What I find most stark, though, is the fact that it lets a person drive in their car with a handgun on their person (rather than secured in the vehicle). I have to think that this will only heighten the tension in police/citizen encounters.
DeSantis has said he’ll sign it.
Will this increase incidents of gun violence in the State? Is Florida going to be the site of the next spree killing?
I can see a DeSantis campaign being sunk by the tragedy of Florida being the site of some serious gun violence, and his specific signing of this upcoming law being traced backed to him.
Zero chance, it doesn’t matter what happens this is a huge positive for the GOP base. You could have daily school massacres and they’d still cheer this on.
Yep the solution to gun violence is always more guns. I would joke and say they will suggest all children carry miniature Gatling guns, but with Christmas photos of kids holding ar-15s, we’re not a million miles away from that
I think it’s premature to shovel dirt on his campaign now. He’s in a solid second place in the Republican polls, and the guy in front of him could very well be a convicted felon in a year. Still, he has one weakness: he’s extremely unlikable. He looks like the guy who laid off your dad at the plant. Or the used car salesman who sold you a lemon. No common touch at all. It’s one of those things you can’t explain, either you have the touch or you don’t.
If I were to advise him, I’d tell him to sit this one out. Either he gets creamed in the primary or he wins the primary with a convicted felon albatross on his neck.
He is getting a bit piquish. Probably frustrated by his post-peak-looking trajectory. I mean, I can identify with “don’t be a dick, dammit,” but he does not appear to be channeling CFEFWSG obnoxiousness effectively. Trying, maybe, but flopping.
