A.G. Gancarski
Florida’s Governor is taking heat from the Tampa Bay Times and other outlets for having lost control of Republicans in the state in the wake of vociferous condemnation of the now-scuttled “Great Outdoors Initiative” to bring hotels and golf courses to parks.
But Gov. Ron DeSantis suggests those critiques are misplaced.
“First of all, I’ve never categorized (it) as me having a grip on anything,” DeSantis said while speaking to press at the Citrus County Property Appraiser’s Office in Crystal River.
DeSantis said as Governor, he simply has “an ability to set an agenda and deliver the agenda,” before chiding unnamed people for “misunderstanding politics.”
“They try to make everything so political about, you know, this person is dictating,” he said. DeSantis said that what people see as a “grip” on the Legislature really is an ability to work together with lawmakers on fighting “illegal immigration,” forging “economic policy,” and battling with “(Joe) Biden’s border crisis.”
DeSantis, who routinely posts conservative outlets’ articles on his X account, said he doesn’t pay attention to media talk.
“I’ve never been one to follow chatter at all. I do not care about it. I don’t read the chatter. I don’t listen to the chatter. I don’t do anything because the chatter changes, you know, on a daily basis, news cycles change. That is not the way you can be a leader, by worrying about chatter,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis disowned the aforementioned “Great Outdoors Initiative” on Wednesday, falsely claiming the state’s Department of Environmental Protection didn’t announce the plan on Election Day last week.
“A lot of that stuff was just half-baked and it was not ready for prime time when it was,” he said at a press conference. “And it was intentionally leaked out to a left-wing group to try to create a narrative.”
8 comments
rick whitaker
August 29, 2024 at 12:16 pm
has desantis started crying in public yet? let me know when someone spots him balling.
Michael K
August 29, 2024 at 12:18 pm
Grip. Therein lies the problem. Trumpism is more akin to the mafia than reorientation and compromise – in service to all people you are sworn to serve.
PeterH
August 29, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Fox’s polls posted yesterday and the new State polls today are clear red flag warning signs to the Trump campaign that Harr Walz is now favored by the electorate. There is nothing Trump can do to change the course of his eventual defeat and eventual court cases that could put him in prison. Where is Melania? Where is Ivanka and Jared? Where are Trump’s allies in the House and Senate?
As for DeSantis….. allowing Florida to be used as a ‘trial balloon’ for PROJECT 2025 will end his national political career. DeSantis really needs to explain to the Florida taxpayers the $1 million dollar Ben Sasse golden parachute. Educators never saw Sasse at work ….. and now he’s retired with a $1 million dollar departure grift?
bob the dog
August 30, 2024 at 7:44 am
Desantis knew long ago he has the personality of a potted plant. He would have never made it as a lawyer in private practice. He goes into the Military, poses in full combat regalia in front of a Humvee after Iraq, where the most dangerous weapon he wielded was a ballpoint pen. Shady Vance -same thing, he was a “press person” in the Marines. I do feel Desantis has a streak of honesty in his persona, unlike Vance, who is a practiced smooth and greasy ass kisser to advance his agenda. Vance is the Opus Dei Leonard Leo plant to capture Democracy after Trump dies in office ,or is impeached for doing something so incredibly stupid that even his lackeys object. Of the 3 mentioned here, Shady Vance is the scariest
Denny Nuwa
August 30, 2024 at 7:57 am
I finally agree with Desantis! I’ve “never categorized [DeSantis] as having a grip on anything” either. Now at least he admits it in public! That’s very difficult for Short Ron to say into a microphone unless he can jump up high enough to reach it.
LexT
August 30, 2024 at 8:00 am
Desantis is explicitly not trying to overshadow Donald Trump. So right now, Desantis is not going to be doing the same big flashy things. Desantis is not running for Governor or President. One misstep by the FDEP on state parks is not a yellow light that Desantis is losing his touch. Taking four years off for Trump to run a second time was not in the Desantis gameplan, but in politics, things change. At their hearts, Desantis and Trump are 90%+ aligned, so I am glad Desantis is allowing Trump to have the spotlight.
rick whitaker
August 30, 2024 at 9:11 pm
LEXT, are you saying desantis and trump are two rotten peas in a rotten pod, well then i agree.
Joe
August 30, 2024 at 11:11 am
Why don’t you cry about it, lil Governor Saddlebags?
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