Jacob Ogles
Gov. Ron DeSantis may have the support of most sitting state lawmakers. But are Republicans already out of office smearing the Governor to the national press?
One unnamed former legislator accused DeSantis of vindictiveness to The Washington Post.
“People are terrified of them,” the former state House member said.
The comments appear in a profile on the Governor and First Lady Casey DeSantis, a subject of growing national fascination as DeSantis runs for President.
The comment signals that there are plenty in DeSantis’ orbit who don’t like the way he has operated as Governor in the past five years.
“These guys are not normal politicos,” the lawmaker told the Post. “There’s no inner circle, because they just chop off heads and move on so quickly.”
It’s hardly the first time Republicans in the Legislature have suggested the Governor doesn’t act in good faith.
Sen. Joe Gruters, a Sarasota Republican, is the only sitting GOP state lawmaker so far to endorse former President Donald Trump for President over DeSantis. After DeSantis vetoed millions in dedicated spending for Gruters’ district, the lawmaker suggested that was retribution.
“The Governor is clearly upset I endorsed Donald Trump for President, and so he took it out on the people of Sarasota County,” Gruters said.
But most sitting members of the Florida Legislature have endorsed DeSantis for President, with 100 backing the Governor as of now.
That said, many asserted that when a mass number of lawmakers endorsed DeSantis days ahead of the budget signing, fear of retribution played into their political calculus. And besides Gruters, those Republicans who have not endorsed DeSantis have not endorsed anyone.
For the past few years, the Legislature has been increasingly compliant with DeSantis’ wishes. That was true this year, as most of DeSantis’ priorities were passed early in Session. That included social conservative victories many saw as bolstering the Governor’s standing as he entered the Presidential Primary, including laws such as a six-week abortion ban and permitless carry.
17 comments
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
June 19, 2023 at 9:00 am
Good morinting America,
Oh look this article has it’s base in “one un-named former legislature [the insertion of the qualifier as a “former House member” is designed to provide the reader a level of “legitamancy”]. Then we obverserve the article was given birth by the dook 4 brains gutter feeder “WAPO”.
NO, just NO – even the most syncophant of the lowest of the low dook 4 brains lefty’s can smell the pervasive fragrence of B$ wafting thru their nostrels as they attempt to find an ounce of truth in this total pack of lies.
Thank you America,
Earl Pitts “Breath In The B$” American
Cheesy Floridan
June 19, 2023 at 9:46 am
Earl, I think this article and the WP article are accurate in what DeSantis is like and how vindictive he is. This isn’t the only example of him using his power to make people do what he wants or threaten them. You fail to see it.
Scott
June 19, 2023 at 2:28 pm
You fail to see how brainwashed you are and the intentional damage to our nation being done…..anyone who votes for this train wreck in the whitehouse is an enemy of the state.
Sheryl Stover
June 22, 2023 at 2:33 am
I agree with you. I have heard many things about DeSantis for 2024 and they are not good. It sounds like he is exactly how he is being vindictive. If you notice how he was in his first term and how he is now, it’s a completely different person. I won’t vote for DeSantis for 2028 either.
Dave Jenkins
June 20, 2023 at 9:34 am
If only Earl had graduated from grade school, he would have been able to write coherent statements and could have avoided the descent into the cult that has made him the pariah of his family and neighborhood.
Native Floridian
June 20, 2023 at 10:52 am
Excellent observation.
Cheesy Floridan
June 19, 2023 at 9:49 am
Ron DeSantis is vindictive and if you don’t agree with him or support him then he will make it a personal mission to make your life hard. He is supposed be helping the people of Florida ALL THE PEOPLE not just the people who voted for him. He isn’t. He threatened the Rays, is attacking Disney, and now took away money for projects for Sarasota. Not to mention made people in the gov. solicit money for his campaign from the people who were trying to get him to sign off on their projects. Tell me I’m not hte only one who sees this for what it is. Earl does not and thinks DeSantis is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Sheryl Stover
June 22, 2023 at 4:06 am
Who is Earl? But you have DeSantis exactly for who he really is. down completely. He is not the man you think he is. There is a reason that President Trump doesn’t accept donations from the same place as DeSantis. President Trump is his own man and won’t be owned by anyone. If DeSantis thinks that he will have it easy because of his donors that have ties to the CCP, he’s an idiot because they will immediately demand that he does certain things that benefit them. Payback’s a Bitch
WiseOld1
June 19, 2023 at 9:58 am
Finally someone gets it. Sure, Ron DeSantis is ‘vindictive’ – that’s because he a Narcissist.’ That is what I’ve said all along. Research the symptoms of narcissistic behavior (NPD) – and you’ll see that it describes this man to a ‘T.’ This T meaning, totally. America, believe me, we’re in for a wild ride if DeSantis gets elected.
Irene
June 24, 2023 at 10:57 am
Sorry to say this but so is TRUMP…
We are damned either way. I won’t vote for either one . Or Biden.
Earle Kirkwood
June 19, 2023 at 11:35 am
Ron DeSantis is a mealy mouthed political hack who should never be president…
jane of Jupiter
June 19, 2023 at 2:01 pm
I don’t want Ron DeSantis to win the election for selfish reasons…I want to keep him in Florida..He is the best thing that has ever happened here…He makes Florida proud….Everything he stands for is for the people who came here legally, and he wants them safe and healthy…
Joe the Farmer
June 19, 2023 at 2:16 pm
Perfect! Keep him! Trash belongs in the garbage dump.
David E Bruderly
June 22, 2023 at 10:09 am
Safe and healthy? Tell that to the 20,000 people who died of Covid-19 because of he Hired a quack Surgeon General to implement his failed Covid policies. .And rather than enacting policies to prevent Pollution he throws money at Band-Aids.He does not represent everybody; he panders to people who put their religious beliefs and political ideology above fact and science based interpretation of those facts. He is an ambitious, narcissistic tyrant Who is running Florida like a military prison camp.
Blake
June 19, 2023 at 2:32 pm
I wouldn’t call the whitehouse a dump but very close there is a pedo their pretending he runs a nation….but normal healthy people know better.
Frank miller
June 19, 2023 at 3:22 pm
God will deal with the governor of this state of Florida, I hope He’s a praying man.
Shelly Justice
June 22, 2023 at 6:02 am
I feel better that some people in Florida are waking up. I voted twice for Ron. I noticed that not long after he ran for second term, he captured Trump’s mannerisms. Then I noticed some things that don’t make sense, ie appointments to colleges that will eventually fail.
Ron apparently has forgotten that Florida relies on tourism, and many teachers rely on part time employment to stretch their earnings. Eyes opened, he will not be the nominee.
Anytime the media blasts a sitting President, you have to question consequences. Trump delivers , Ron won’t
Comments are closed.