After a competitive and often fractious 2023 mayoral campaign, a winner has emerged in the race between Donna Deegan and Daniel Davis.
It’s a new day in Duval.
With all precincts in, Deegan prevailed 52% to 48%, giving Democrats a welcome win just months after Republicans dominated the state in the 2022 Midterm Election. The win also gives Jacksonville its first ever woman Mayor in Deegan, a major milestone for the state’s largest city.
“We made history tonight. It’s a brand new day,” Deegan said. “You know what the best part is? Love won today.”
“I wanted to win this race for the people of Jacksonville. I wanted love to win,” Deegan added, stressing her “love over fear” approach to the campaign.
About one-third of Duval’s registered voters cast ballots in the contest.
Deegan, who Jacksonville residents knew as a longtime TV anchor in the area, said Davis reached out to congratulate her and pledged to work with her, offering a healing coda after a bruising campaign.
In his concession speech, Davis repeated that pledge, signaling an interest in healing the city and finding a way forward after a season of partisan division.
“We have to all come together now and move our city forward,” Davis said, in emotional remarks that were his most resonant of the campaign, albeit at the end.
Democrats mounted a mayoral campaign for the first time since Alvin Brown lost eight years ago, with Deegan emerging from the First Election with nearly 40% support, finishing roughly 15 percentage points ahead of Davis. Big fundraising and spending made Davis competitive down the stretch.
Despite its recent and historic support for GOP candidates, Jacksonville has a voter registration advantage for Democrats, with 40% of the electorate registered Democrat and just 35% Republican, according to the most recent L2 voter data.
In April, the candidate’s Building a Better Economy political committee raised more than $1.71 million. This was the single best month of fundraising for the Davis committee of all time.
Davis’ political committee closed April with roughly $940,000 on hand, having spent nearly $1.47 million in the same month. More than $1 million of that money went to the Duval County Republican Executive Committee for ad buys. Meanwhile, nearly $245,000 went to the Florida Courage political committee.
Davis tacked to the right ahead of the May 16 election, including holding a forum with Board of Education member Esther Byrd and School Board member April Carney in lieu of a final debate with Deegan. He also brooked controversy with a forum with partisan blogger Brendon Leslie, whose attendance at the January 6, 2021 insurrection in Washington, is controversial.
Davis also attempted to piggyback on Republican scare tactics used nationwide, arguing Deegan would turn the city into a crime-infested area. Davis at one point used the example of San Francisco as a warning, even though Jacksonville’s murder rate is triple San Francisco’s.
Polling suggested his strategy was not in vain, and may have been necessary to consolidate Republican support. But it appears that wasn’t enough.
A pre-election survey from St. Pete Polls showed Deegan up 48% to 46%, with Davis taking 83% of Republicans to 13% for Deegan. Davis also pulled 10% of Democrats in that survey, against 80% for Deegan.
A survey released in April from the University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab showed Deegan with a marginal lead over Davis, 48% to 47%, with 5% undecided. In that survey, he had 89% support among Republicans.
Deegan also becomes the city’s second-ever Arab American Mayor. Her cousin, Tommy Hazouri, was the first.
Kudos came in statewide for Deegan.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried hailed the win as “a new day for Jacksonville and a new day for Florida Democrats.”
“Tonight’s election victories are the result of amazing Democratic candidates and the hard work and dedication of the staffers and the volunteers who canvassed, phone-banked, and ensured that no voter was left behind,” she said.
“With her election today, Donna Deegan has begun to write a new chapter for the city of Jacksonville, Florida — one in which the needs of its residents are prioritized, their rights respected, and their freedoms championed. EMILY’s List is proud to congratulate Deegan on her victory today. We know she will be a pro-choice leader and changemaker for Jacksonville that will inspire Floridians for years to come,” asserted EMILY’s List President Laphonza Butler.
Multiple members of Ruth’s List Florida also congratulated Deegan on the win.
“Ruth’s List is thrilled to see Donna win this race and become the first woman mayor of Jacksonville,” said Christina Diamond, Interim CEO of Ruth’s List.
“Tonight, Jacksonville voters sent a clear message, rejecting the status quo and signaling that we will no longer stand for unrelenting Republican attacks on our personal freedoms. The time has come to reclaim our rights and our futures. Donna will be an engaged mayor who will listen to the concerns of Jacksonville’s residents, and use her position to advocate for the best interests of her constituents, something that has been missing in state leadership.”
“This is a major victory for the people of Jacksonville, and shows that when we come together to fight for the issues that matter to Floridians, we can win,” added Susan Stackhouse-Bosquez, Ruth’s List Florida Board Chair.
“Donna is a fighter who refuses to give up, even in the face of great challenges, proving time and again that tenacity and determination are critical to success. She is an authentic leader with broad appeal who was able to garner support from NPA and Republican voters for this decisive win. We are excited to see her take office at a time when our state so desperately needs thoughtful and compassionate leaders.”
Deegan, now Jacksonville’s Mayor-elect, thanked Ruth’s List for their support, which she said helped push her over the edge.
“I am beyond grateful to Ruth’s List for being my very first organizational endorsement last year, particularly when all eyes were on the 2022 elections,” Deegan said.”
“They understand that early support is key to victory, especially in local races. They helped build momentum for my campaign, and provided guidance, training, and resources that helped sustain me through election day. I look forward to working with them to continue inspiring women to run for office, and win.”
13 comments
Good for the City and Its Future!
May 16, 2023 at 9:17 pm
Fantastic win for sanity in Jax. Any candidate associating in any way with the January 6 insurrection or its participants is not qualified to be in elective office.
Lenny's Losing Legacy
May 16, 2023 at 10:47 pm
Congratulations to Donna and her team, it was a good race for a mediocre candidate.
However, Davis was worse, he never set a vision, never really let us know who he was. He was over processed by his handlers who also lost most everything else today.
The good news is that the Baker/Patanakis/Black/Duggan loses are like a cleansing rain and in four years we can start anew with true conservative leadership.
Lenny and his team’s legacy will be one of wrecking balls and losing.
Pantinakis is fired
May 16, 2023 at 11:14 pm
Pancake is fired. Baker is done.
Conservative Republican
May 17, 2023 at 12:10 am
Glad to see the REC losing across the field. Yes, I like many other real conservatives crossed over to vote against the corruption of what the REC has become. Dean Black you should be proud of yourself and your losing legacy.
Tim Baker and Fat Pancake I hope every future candidate looks at this race, you had millions at your fingertips and still lost! Alexander, I hope this was your last campaign in Duval or anywhere! Your lowlife tactics, Lies, and slimy hit pieces speak volumes about your lack of integrity and character.
Jason Fischer, hope you had fun while it lasted. The REC hated you and made fun of you years ago, then warmed up after you won a race. Now that you’ve lost you’ll ask where are my friends, then you’ll realize you’re on an island by yourself. That’s what happens when you sell your soul. Good riddance.
Donna, congrats on your win! Don’t take us too far to the left.
whozlaughingnow
May 17, 2023 at 10:51 am
Stay classy, Tim Baker. Is that van with the huge “MOVING DAY” sign that Brandon Leslie parked in front of a vanquished primary candidate’s house is still there? Sounds like Tim will need it!!!!
JOHN MAYOR
May 17, 2023 at 7:57 pm
Greetings, everyone!… in case there is a problem with the Blog Host Comment widget, I am re-Posting the “6th comment” (that I don’t see here!) for the benefit of FP viewers!…
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Quite frankly, the child rape/ child abuse at Mar-a-Lago is equally as indictable as the theft of U.S. Government Top Secrets. And, in the light of the recent passage of the Adult Survivors of Child Abuse Bill by New York Governor Kathy Hochul (and company)… paving the way for writer Elizabeth Jean Carroll to sue Donald Trump for rape!… I can understand why Kathy Hochul has expressed her desire to keep DJT’s “kind” from infecting her State! Indeed, it is my hope that the Biden Administration will pass legislation that/ which will end any and all Statute of Limitations Laws in U.S. States, so that those adults (male or female) who have been sexually abused as children by an adult predator will be able to receive overdue Civil legal remedies (e.g., the several women who testified at the Ghislaine Maxwell trial, that they were sexually abused at Mar-a-Lago (etcetera)… but, whose testimonies– so far– have only resulted in the arrest, indictment and conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell!).
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To end, we may very well discover– i.e., given the PROVEN VERACITY of the allegations of C̲H̲I̲L̲D̲ R̲A̲P̲E̲/ C̲H̲I̲L̲D̲ ̲A̲B̲U̲S̲E̲!– that the ACTUAL REASON that this character became involved in the 2016 U.S. Federal Elections races, was to H̲I̲D̲E̲ from these allegations within the SMOKE SCREEN of a Federal Presidential Election campaign (AND THROUGH THE ASSISTANCE OF– HOW SHALL I PHRASE IT?– “LIKE-MINDED” “OFF-SHORE INTERESTS”!… AND– QUITE CONCEIVABLY!– “LIKE-MINDED” “ELECTORAL COLLEGE MEMBER INTERESTS”!… SEE, PROVERBS, 28:1!)!… A̲N̲D̲ I̲N̲ ̲T̲H̲E̲ ̲G̲U̲I̲S̲E̲ ̲O̲F̲ ̲S̲E̲R̲V̲I̲N̲G̲ ̲H̲I̲S̲ ̲C̲O̲U̲N̲T̲R̲Y̲! And, is it beyond our imagining that “certain interests” which deal in GLOBAL CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING (and, even if only for perverse “personal pleasures”!… for a price!), would want to continue with such “dealings” U̲N̲E̲N̲C̲U̲M̲B̲E̲R̲E̲D̲? And, to be honest!… I wouldn’t put it past this “POTUS HUCKSTER AND HUSTLER” to have played the RNC, his “alleged” R̲A̲P̲E̲ ̲V̲I̲C̲T̲I̲M̲S̲, their families and America, in order to delay the “cuffs of justice”!… i.e., in the light of what we’ve come to learn about his PROVEN “MISOGYNIST HUBRIS (to put it mildly!)”! In other words, such DYSIC BEHAVIOUR by Trump, I̲S̲ ̲N̲O̲T̲ “O̲U̲T̲ ̲O̲F̲ ̲T̲H̲E̲ ̲B̲L̲U̲E̲”!
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NOTE: IN A FAILURE BY THE FBI TO HOLD DONALD J. TRUMP TO ACCOUNT, ONE MUST BE H̲I̲G̲H̲L̲Y̲ ̲S̲U̲S̲P̲I̲C̲I̲O̲U̲S̲– Y̲E̲A̲, ̲D̲I̲S̲T̲R̲U̲S̲T̲F̲U̲L̲!– OF A̲N̲Y̲ “INTELLIGENCE AGENCY” THAT WOULD DIRECTLY AND/ OR INDIRECTLY UNDERESTIMATE THE S̲E̲R̲I̲O̲U̲S̲ ̲T̲H̲R̲E̲A̲T̲ THAT SUCH BEHAVIOUR POSES TO AMERICA’S CHILDREN, AND TO AMERICA’S FAMILIES!… LET ALONE, TO THE “ALLEGED” VICTIM! AND!… A̲N̲Y̲ SUCH FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE FBI TO GO AFTER DONALD J. TRUMP, SHOULD COMPEL THE QUESTIONS: A) IS THE FBI OF ANY FURTHER VALUE TO AMERICANS?; AND B) WHO ARE THE “INSTIGATING AUTHORS” BEHIND THESE R̲A̲P̲E̲ REPORTS?… AND, IS THERE A̲N̲Y̲ ̲V̲E̲R̲A̲C̲I̲T̲Y̲ TO THESE REPORTS? AND RE THE LATTER QUESTION, ANY SUBSTANTIVE PROOFS FROM MEDIA REPORTS THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE GUILT OF DONALD TRUMP, WOULD SUBJECT THE VERY F̲B̲I̲ (BUT, ETC.!) TO “JUSTIFIABLE LEGAL CROSS-EXAMINATION”, R̲E̲G̲A̲R̲D̲I̲N̲G̲ ̲T̲H̲E̲ ̲F̲B̲I̲’S̲ ̲C̲O̲M̲P̲L̲I̲C̲I̲T̲Y̲ I̲N̲ F̲E̲L̲O̲N̲I̲O̲U̲S̲ ̲C̲R̲I̲M̲E̲S̲… E.G., IN THEIR GREEN-LIGHTING OF DJ TRUMP’S 2016 U.S. FEDERAL ELECTION RUN, FOREKNOWING (AND, WHO SHOULD HAVE FOREKNOWN!) TRUMP’S COMPLICITY IN THE ALLEGATIONS BROUGHT FORWARD (I.E., AND IN THAT EVENT, IF THERE BE– AND INDEED!– ANY “U̲N̲T̲R̲A̲M̲M̲E̲L̲E̲D̲, A̲N̲D̲ ̲U̲N̲T̲A̲I̲N̲T̲E̲D̲” U.S. JUDICIOUS JUDICIAL JUDICARE, AND BRAVE AND IMPARTIAL “INTELLIGENCE” AGENCY/ POLICING AUTHORITY LEFT STANDING IN THE U.S.A., THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SUCH FELONIOUS CONDUCT BY A FEDERAL INVESTIGATIVE BODY, SUCH AS THE F.B.I.!).
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The dilemma for any CONSCIONABLE American Investigative Agency desiring to hold Donald Trump to Criminal Account (to start!), however, is weighing the implications of arresting “MR. POTUS (a.k.a., MR. PHEWTUS!)” in full Public view! Their difficulty is knowing precisely when and how to effect a PUBLIC ARREST!… and then, afterupon having done so, determining how best to safeguard innocent citizens from LEGIONS of W̲A̲R̲P̲E̲D̲ T̲R̲U̲M̲P̲I̲A̲N̲ ̲F̲O̲L̲L̲O̲W̲E̲R̲S̲! And, the FBI DARE NOT pursue– at least, yet!– whether there was a PAYOUT to the victim by Trump, for fear of inadvertently igniting civil unrest by these same hoards (e.g., like the White Supremacists of Charlottesville, and those that “storm trouped” the U.S. Congress on January 6, 2021!… BUT, ETC.!)!
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Nevertheless!… and if the FBI can create a “window of opportunity” to effect an efficient and effective arrest, then the FBI should proceed to, DEFEND THE INTERESTS OF AMERICANS!
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All the Best!… and may God find you Blessworthy!
JOHN MAYOR
May 17, 2023 at 8:38 pm
THE YET TO BE REVEALED TRUTH OF WHY TRUMP PURSUED THE U.S. PRESIDENCY
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Greetings, everyone!… in case there is a problem with the Blog Host Comment widget, I am re-Posting the “6th comment” (that I don’t see here!) for the benefit of FP viewers!… which I have also now amended!… and so, please discard my earlier scripting!…
.
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Quite frankly, the child rape/ child abuse at Mar-a-Lago is equally as indictable as the theft of U.S. Government Top Secrets. And, in the light of the recent passage of the Adult Survivors of Child Abuse Bill by New York Governor Kathy Hochul (and company)… paving the way for EJC’s lawsuit of Trump!… I can understand why Kathy Hochul has expressed her intent to keep DJT’s kind from infecting her State! Indeed, it’s my hope that the Biden Administration will pass legislation that/ which will end any and all Statute of Limitations Laws in U.S. States, so that those adults (male or female!) who have been sexually abused as children by an adult predator will then be able to receive their respective due Civil legal remedies (e.g., the several women who testified at the Ghislaine Maxwell trial that they were sexually abused at Mar-a-Lago [but, etc.]… but, whose testimonies– so far– have only resulted in the arrest, indictment and conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell!).
.
To end, we may very well discover– i.e., given the PROVEN VERACITY of the allegations of C̲H̲I̲L̲D̲ R̲A̲P̲E̲/ C̲H̲I̲L̲D̲ ̲A̲B̲U̲S̲E̲!– that the ACTUAL REASON that this character became involved in the 2016 U.S. Federal Elections races, was to H̲I̲D̲E̲ from these allegations within the SMOKE SCREEN of a Federal Presidential Election campaign (AND THROUGH THE ASSISTANCE OF– HOW SHALL I PHRASE IT?– “LIKE-MINDED” “OFF-SHORE INTERESTS”!… AND– QUITE CONCEIVABLY!– “LIKE-MINDED” “ELECTORAL COLLEGE MEMBER INTERESTS”!… see, Proverbs, 28:1!)!… A̲N̲D̲ I̲N̲ ̲T̲H̲E̲ ̲G̲U̲I̲S̲E̲ ̲O̲F̲ ̲S̲E̲R̲V̲I̲N̲G̲ ̲H̲I̲S̲ ̲C̲O̲U̲N̲T̲R̲Y̲! And, is it beyond our imagining that “certain interests” which deal in GLOBAL CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING (and, even if only for perverse “personal pleasures”!… for a price!), would want to continue with such “dealings” U̲N̲E̲N̲C̲U̲M̲B̲E̲R̲E̲D̲? And, to be honest!… I wouldn’t put it past this “POTUS HUCKSTER AND HUSTLER” to have played the RNC, his “alleged” R̲A̲P̲E̲ ̲V̲I̲C̲T̲I̲M̲S̲, their families and America, in order to delay the “cuffs of justice”!… i.e., in the light of what we’ve come to learn about his PROVEN “MISOGYNIST HUBRIS (to put it mildly!)”! In other words, such DYSIC BEHAVIOUR by Trump, I̲S̲ ̲N̲O̲T̲ “O̲U̲T̲ ̲O̲F̲ ̲T̲H̲E̲ ̲B̲L̲U̲E̲”!
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NOTE: IN A FAILURE BY THE FBI TO HOLD DONALD J. TRUMP TO ACCOUNT, ONE MUST BE H̲I̲G̲H̲L̲Y̲ ̲S̲U̲S̲P̲I̲C̲I̲O̲U̲S̲– Y̲E̲A̲, ̲D̲I̲S̲T̲R̲U̲S̲T̲F̲U̲L̲!– OF A̲N̲Y̲ “INTELLIGENCE AGENCY” THAT WOULD DIRECTLY AND/ OR INDIRECTLY UNDERESTIMATE THE S̲E̲R̲I̲O̲U̲S̲ ̲T̲H̲R̲E̲A̲T̲ THAT SUCH BEHAVIOUR POSES TO AMERICA’S CHILDREN AND TO AMERICA’S FAMILIES!… LET ALONE, TO ANY “ALLEGED” VICTIMS! AND!… A̲N̲Y̲ SUCH FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE FBI TO GO AFTER DONALD J. TRUMP, SHOULD COMPEL THE QUESTIONS: A) IS THE FBI OF ANY FURTHER VALUE TO AMERICANS?; AND B) WHO ARE THE “INSTIGATING AUTHORS” BEHIND THESE R̲A̲P̲E̲ REPORTS?… AND, IS THERE A̲N̲Y̲ ̲V̲E̲R̲A̲C̲I̲T̲Y̲ TO THESE REPORTS? AND RE THE LATTER QUESTION, ANY SUBSTANTIVE PROOFS FROM MEDIA REPORTS THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE GUILT OF DONALD TRUMP, WOULD SUBJECT THE VERY F̲B̲I̲ (BUT, ETC.!) TO “JUSTIFIABLE LEGAL CROSS-EXAMINATION”, R̲E̲G̲A̲R̲D̲I̲N̲G̲ ̲T̲H̲E̲ ̲F̲B̲I̲’S̲ ̲C̲O̲M̲P̲L̲I̲C̲I̲T̲Y̲ I̲N̲ F̲E̲L̲O̲N̲I̲O̲U̲S̲ ̲C̲R̲I̲M̲E̲S̲… E.G., IN THEIR GREEN-LIGHTING OF DJ TRUMP’S 2016 U.S. FEDERAL ELECTION RUN, FOREKNOWING (AND, WHO SHOULD HAVE FOREKNOWN!) TRUMP’S COMPLICITY IN THE ALLEGATIONS BROUGHT FORWARD (I.E., AND IN THAT EVENT, IF THERE BE– AND INDEED!– ANY “U̲N̲T̲R̲A̲M̲M̲E̲L̲E̲D̲, A̲N̲D̲ ̲U̲N̲T̲A̲I̲N̲T̲E̲D̲” U.S. JUDICIOUS JUDICIAL JUDICARE, AND BRAVE AND IMPARTIAL “INTELLIGENCE” AGENCY/ POLICING AUTHORITY LEFT STANDING IN THE U.S.A., THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SUCH FELONIOUS CONDUCT BY A FEDERAL INVESTIGATIVE BODY, SUCH AS THE F.B.I.!).
.
The dilemma for any CONSCIONABLE American Investigative Agency desiring to hold Donald Trump to Criminal Account (to start!), however, is weighing the implications of arresting “MR. POTUS (a.k.a., MR. PHEWTUS!)” in full Public view! Their difficulty is knowing precisely when and how to effect a PUBLIC ARREST!… and then, afterupon having done so, determining how best to safeguard innocent citizens from LEGIONS of W̲A̲R̲P̲E̲D̲ T̲R̲U̲M̲P̲I̲A̲N̲ ̲F̲O̲L̲L̲O̲W̲E̲R̲S̲! And, the FBI DARE NOT pursue– at least, yet!– whether there was a PAYOUT to the JANE DOE VICTIM (but, conceivably, payouts to others!) by Trump, for fear of inadvertently igniting civil unrest by these same hoards (e.g., like the White Supremacists of Charlottesville, and those that “storm trouped” the U.S. Congress on January 6, 2021!… BUT, ETC.!)!
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Nevertheless!… and if the FBI can create a “window of opportunity” to effect an efficient and effective arrest, then the FBI should proceed to, DEFEND THE INTERESTS OF AMERICANS!
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All the Best!… and may God find you Blessworthy!
JOHN MAYOR
May 21, 2023 at 3:56 am
P.S.:…
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Question: 1) Are Trump’s recent “directions” to Republican members pertaining to their “strategic and tacti̲c̲ initiatives” to address the efforts by Democrats to raise the Debt Ceiling higher, a legitimate attempt to mitigate/ end the impact of America’s mounting debt on American citizens (at least!), or, an attempt by DJT to derail current DOJ efforts to effect a number of longstanding criminal indictments pending against him?… as a default on the debt would throw a “financial smoke-screen” in the way of Jack Smith (and yea, in the way of countless others also addressing his criminality/ dyscivility!), and thwart an efficient and effective expediting of the criminal/ civil matters presently being pursued.
JOHN MAYOR
May 22, 2023 at 2:42 am
P.S. to the P.S.:…
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youtube.com/watch?v=wWM1wXdogxc
JOHN MAYOR
May 26, 2023 at 11:40 am
The Debt Ceiling answer is as follows… and it requires your aid to effect…
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realclearpolicy.com/articles/2023/05/26/five_facts_on_how_the_debt_ceiling_crisis_could_be_resolved_901858.html
JOHN MAYOR
May 26, 2023 at 1:04 pm
P.S.:…
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Specifically, a “TRillionaire (see, -ary and -aire within etymonline.com, for ‘pertaining to that/ which’/ ‘pertaining to one engaged in’) Unitary (for ‘characterized by unity’… see, etymonline) Mint (for ‘to stamp metal to make coins’… see, etymonline) Platinum coin (or ‘TRUMP coin’)”… and/ or pejoratively, a “TRUMPED coin”!
JOHN MAYOR
May 30, 2023 at 7:43 am
Jacksonville should be “party central” this summer!… and, so, I ask that the readers and supporters of FP encourage our “politi̲c̲l̲y̲ sensitive entertainment community (e.g., Taylor swift, Demi Lovato, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Lewis Black, Bette Midler, Jamie Lee Curtis and etcetera)” to get their “buns” down to Jacksonville to help Donna Deegan, and to “drown-out” the MAGA NOISE “flooding” the “Floridian airwaves”! And if there is any community in America wherein an “entertaining challenge” should be mounted against the “KITTEN ABUSING AGENDA” and “DESANTIS SNOT AGENDA” of the “broken wing” of the GOD, it’s JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA!
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All the Best!… and may God find you Blessworthy!
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P.S.:…
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I just gave myself an idea!… needed: a DONNA DEEGAN CONCERT HALL! GO DONNA DEEGAN!… GO JACKSONVILLE!… GO BIDEN!
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BTW, my name for Jacksonville’s event is, JUDGE KARMA, and the headline acts’ opening scores are, youtube.com/watch?v=rg18Kf4en2o and youtube.com/watch?v=CWCMGIG1Y54.
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