Joe Henderson: Gov. DeSantis needs to come down hard on the GOP’s fringe
Ron DeSantis. Image via Scott Powers.

Ron DeSantis at Space Florida
He should tell those demanding an audit of Florida's 2020 election to sit down, shut up, and move to the kiddie table.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has no trouble speaking his mind when he believes it’s called for, or even sometimes when it isn’t. He now has a clear opportunity to forcefully use his voice in public service to all the people of Florida.

He should tell the fringe of his Republican base to sit down, shut up, and move to the kiddie table.

Stifle, get a grip, and catch a ride on the reality train.

He could do everyone a favor — Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike – by shooting down the needless, wasteful, and downright looney idea for an “independent” audit of Florida’s 2020 election.

The Governor himself touted how well-run that election was throughout the state, and he justifiably bragged about it. Florida, we know, hasn’t always been able to take a victory lap over the way it runs elections.

That’s not good enough in the bizarro world that is Lake County, though. Those people apparently won’t be happy until Republicans win every election 20-million-to-nothing.

The Orlando Sentinel reported the Lake County Republican Executive Committee passed a resolution calling for the audit. The group claims “a majority of citizens doubt that the November 3, 2020, election was conducted openly and fairly.”

No, a majority of the tin-foil-hat crowd believes that, but go on.

The committee said people “doubt the number of legal votes cast for each candidate equals the reported and certified results, in Lake County, the State of Florida, and the United States.”

Oh, hey, this is good.

The committee “demands” that the Legislature conduct an “immediate, open, transparent and independent full forensic audit, including a hand recount” of Lake County and the entire state.

I would demand that those folks, oh, never mind.

Rep. Anthony Sabatini is at the core of this farce. The Bart Simpson of GOP politics started this push by filing an audit bill in the House because … oh, who knows what goes on inside his head. Nothing worthwhile, I suggest.

Sabatini represents Lake County in the Legislature and announced a plan to run for Congress. Yeah, we need more of his kind in Washington because chaos and belligerence are great ways to govern.

So far, the “demand” has been met mostly with silence among GOP leaders. We need more, though, and DeSantis is the perfect person to deliver that message.

He could flash some of his famous impatience. DeSantis could put the lunatic fringe of his party on notice that he has no tolerance for garbage.

Yeah, that might upset those in the far-out right wing, but I’m good with that. Besides, there’s an upside worth exploring. Sane Republicans could realize they don’t have to play along with this junk.

Sabatini acts like he is back in middle school trying to rig the student council vote, and it has to stop.

It’s time for DeSantis to be the adult in the room.

Joe Henderson

I have a 45-year career in newspapers, including nearly 42 years at The Tampa Tribune. Florida is wacky, wonderful, unpredictable and a national force. It's a treat to have a front-row seat for it all.


7 comments

  • Alex

    October 6, 2021 at 7:46 pm

    Uh Joe….DeAnus IS a far right fringe Freedom Caucus racist conspiracy theory believing ignorant hater.

    If Trump tells him to have an audit, he’ll nazi salute and get right to work.

  • Charles

    October 6, 2021 at 7:59 pm

    Joe Henderson and his yellow journalism.
    Joe Henderson and his far left bias, hypocrisy, and dishonesty
    Joe Henderson demonstrating what’s wrong with America every day
    Joe Henderson is a bitter, unscrupulous bully
    Joe Henderson Florida’s Jackassery King

    • Alex

      October 6, 2021 at 8:48 pm

      Attacking the messenger shows who has nothing but BS.

    • Lorraine

      October 6, 2021 at 9:42 pm

      Joe H a bully ? You are squinting so much you can’t see that you are the bully

      Pick 20 people who know you & ask them to be honest – actually don’t bother as the old saying goes “ birds of a feather, flock together “ so your inner circle would probably , for you, be like looking in the mirror

  • PeterH

    October 6, 2021 at 11:13 pm

    The GQP fringe is currently propping up what is left of the Republican Party! If DeSantis loses the fringe ….. he’s lost his base!

  • Ron Ogden

    October 7, 2021 at 4:53 pm

    So a small county committee passes a resolution, and why the H– does that matter to Joe H–? It doesn’t; it’s just a convenient excuse for him to vent about how America’s polity–fed up to the hilt with devious, conspiratorial, globally-enthralled, power-mad Democrats–are fighting back. They are fighting back against people like him, and you. There is a H– of a lot of them out there, and there ain’t a H— of a lot you can do about them except pull on your black boots and your black shirts and try to declare them non-citizens. And you are, indeed, trying.

  • Robert Graves

    October 9, 2021 at 4:13 pm

    Brilliant piece! But what the author doesn’t take into account is the fact that the individual who is demanding the forensic audit is the one person in America who can permanently destroy the career of Ron de Santis with a snap of his fingers.

Comments are closed.


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