Florida Gov DeSantis praises Japan's defense build-up

*some

his haters

But RD's resume's SOLID, sitting Gov. of key state, we're not exactly talking Hussain Obummer here!

You mean the president who thrashed the Republicans twice and had some having hysterical meltdowns after believing the walls were closing in on Biden?

That president?

Others believe Afghanistan's sudden collapse in summer of 2021 triggered this Putin 'adventure' to push back, unleash inflation wave on world trying to get its economic footing after massive central banking money printing for years on end due to pandemic.

If he was dumb enough to base his plans on an event that is completely meaningless (in fact probably positive) for military readiness then he is a worse tactician than we thought.

Others believe Afghanistan's sudden collapse in summer of 2021 triggered this Putin 'adventure' to push back, unleash inflation wave on world trying to get its economic footing after massive central banking money printing for years on end due to pandemic.

exactly, Trump always campaigned on his opposition to the US Military Industrial Complex NATO WAR Machine

Gutter, started with pandemic MOST agree, seems it's ONLY getting worse sadly!

TaiwanIsNotChinaApr. 24 04:34 pm JS

God help us if Trump Lite gets into office.

Help me remember, did Trump make wars?

And during which US president's term has the world turned into a gutter that it is now?

How many have received personal invitations to White House/1600? RD has and so has moi!

Amazing how many HATE RD based on their mainstream media consumption, such simple folk out there!

But RD's resume's SOLID, sitting Gov. of key state, we're not exactly talking Hussain Obummer here!

ONLY big deal as rats jumping off 1600 ship, Ms. Rice today. RD only big deal due to his wife, she's brains, reminds us Bill Clinton circa. 1991.

News alert, Glen Youngkin, VA Gov will surprise to UPSIDE, no baggage, just watch, Trump-lite not so much!

Desantis isn't a diplomat.

Watching Rock-star ronnie choke on a T-ball question (What do you think of Trump leading you in the polls?) made me think that he should have his own bobble-head doll.

And then looking at him, I realized he IS HIS OWN BOBBLE HEAD doll.

It was just a pathetic whiff. He is really lucky that it happened here.

But this is the kind of "BDE" one can expect to see on stage from a bully, who like all bullies is a coward, on the debate stage.

It won't be because he is "only" 5'8" that he will seem small.

Desantis is not an American leader. He is just the governor of the State of Florida with a population of just 22 million and only 4.6 million voted for him.

Happy that Japan gets to see a true American leader in person.

They care about saving fetuses. They don't give a crap about actual babies.

Yes, unborn children who haven't been given a chance at life yet.

Folks RD just won 60% of vote in NOV, historical landslide by FL standards, HE"S VERY POPULAR there and FL's economy good relative to most other states.

Sure, 40% Don't LIKE RD in FLORIDA, SO WHAT

Trump 2024

DeSantis 2028

DeSanctimonious seems awful happy in that photo - interesting given what one Florida resident has said;

“Under Ron DeSantis, Florida has become among the worst states… to live… find economic opportunity… work… retire… raise a family… pay taxes…be safe… rent a home… have a baby… afford energy… die… be a teacher… be a doctor… be a police officer,” Trump’s campaign email states.

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/politics/2023/04/21/donald-trump-says-ron-desantis-created-misery-and-despair-in-florida/70139811007/

"Among the worst states" - this Florida resident doesn't think DeSantis is much of a "rockstar", does he?

nishikat

....the only thing the Trump party care about is woke,.guns,and saving babies

They care about saving fetuses. They don't give a crap about actual babies.

RD and others including Kennedy clan challenging Biden for d's nomination, understand given serious medical history, #46 life expectancy isn't great, already outlived most in his medical category...

RD's not just any Governer if you believe in betting/futures markets.

Most here do not understand how angry most parents are about US public 'indoctrination' education, that's what put RD in office.

Another Gov. to watch, Glen Youngkin, similar to RD but less baggage, more likable, young, smooth operator, like his 1600 chances at some point in next several decades, but RD and Trump could easily blow each other up and this guy slips in, Biden's WORST nightmare actually.

"Governor, polls show you falling farther behind Donald Trump in the race for the Republican nomination. Do you have any comment?"

"(Blank face stare) I, I, I, I'm not a candidate so if that changes, we will see (deer in the headlights gawk)"

Seriously, how is a local city counsel candidate, much less a presidential candidate looking to show his gravitas (or in this case, a total lack thereof) NOT prepared for this T-ball question?

Why is a state Governor meeting with a national prime minister, and not with a prefectural Governor?

Biden can just sit back and watch Trump and DeSantis further reduce each other's lack of popularity. Neither will beat Biden even if he'll be 82.

Does he also want to close Tokyo Disney and persecute LGBT+ in Japan???..

Can the Republicans win considering....

....their war against the woman's body

....the failed red wave

....more young and sexually active adults suddenly interested in voting Dem which is the party for reproductive rights

....the only thing the Trump party care about is woke,.guns,and saving babies

Well said !!..

Can the Republicans win considering....

....their war against the woman's body

....the failed red wave

....more young and sexually active adults suddenly interested in voting Dem which is the party for reproductive rights

....the only thing the Trump party care about is woke,.guns,and saving babies

Kishida looks uncomfortably excited greeting the governor's wife. Ron apparently likes watching.

Sorry meant to say can't!

Oh strong governor he can even win his fight with Mickey Mouse.

TaiwanIsNotChinaApr. 24 04:34 pm JST

God help us if Trump Lite gets into office

A lot of us, hopefully most of us, dread that happening.

You mean, God help the swamp, that would be a great thing if he would get into office provided Trump can't, it's a win, win either way.

No, I mean god help the country, as the Trumper party platform is surrender abroad.

RKL-The GOP are trying to block aid to Ukraine because so many have jumped on the Putin train when Trump did and they are having the same issue deciding their platform on China/Taiwan because the new Neo-con culture war outrage branch of the GOP are strict isolationists and oppose getting involved in any conflict.

The man is an unlike able bully with policies abhorrent to swing voters.

He won't win the nomination, but if he did, he would quickly be revealed on the national level for the fraud that he so obviously is.

The bashing he's taken from a cartoon mouse would look like a trip to the Magic Kingdom by comparison.

As a resident of Tampa FL, I can honestly say I'm not sure who is worse he or Trump. I'd lean Trump for all the laws that it appears he has broken, but policy wise DeSantis might be worse. He has embraced the scorched Earth political strategy and continuously uses government resources to abuse his detractors.

Desantis is losing to a indicted criminal like Trump,must have low self esteem

RKL ,the Democrats hold a solid plus 200 electoral vote for 2024 Google 270toWin

Kishida is very wise to build a relationship for a future US VP/president.

This is solely an issue for the Japanese and Americans.

You mean, God help the swamp, that would be a great thing if he would get into office provided Trump can't, it's a win, win either way.

lol

Seems people taking it really hard when they realize if the next President isn’t Trump it’s going to be this guy. 

cry harder.

lol, ooof my sides, stoppit!

Japan sees Russia running through Ukraine, China seriously threatening Taiwan, all while a Democrat president sits in the White House.

Japan is looking out for its future.

Trump is just to way over the top and he's so divisive that it pulls too strongly at the strings around our country's social fabric. We don't need him anywhere near the White House.

Only Trump-lite-like charachters can get a look in in the Republican party it seems. You have to match his lunacy to have a chance to be heard.

Sensible people need not apply. There's no way back.

Seems people taking it really hard when they realize if the next President isn’t Trump it’s going to be this guy.

cry harder.

One more thing. Buildup or not we abide by Article 9 which forbids participating wars. That is something that we need to make clear to DeSaintis: Japan hasn't in a war since 1945, the beginning of democratic Japan. We are antiwar, DeSaintis..

What does DeSantis want with us here in Japan? We are clearly for abortion and for Article 9 that has kept Japan out of wars after World War II. Unlike the U.S. we have a form of socialized medicine which is good (I've been hospitalized twice. DeSaintis, like U.S. conservatives, hated all the things I've mentioned. So why bother with us in Japan?

Desantis will never have enough voter appeal to win an election, but the nomination has to happen first.

God help us if Trump Lite gets into office.

You mean, God help the swamp, that would be a great thing if he would get into office provided Trump can't, it's a win, win either way.

The leaders of America's allies have to be polite to American politician. That does not mean that they like them all equally. Trump and his friends are almost universally despised.

OssanAmerica

Why is he doing this now when he hasn't announced his candidacy yet?

And, more importantly, who is paying for it? It has nothing to do with governing Florida, and is just a painfully obvious photo op for his presidential ambitions.

Jexan,lots of Republicans are delusional,their is not enough White voters,White voters cancelled each others out,who win the minority voters will win the Presidency forever

He certainly has his flaws, but he isn't Biden and he isn't Trump so I'll vote for him.

I like Joe Biden, but he's obviously lost his marbles at this point. He doesn't seem to be aware of what's going on. The majority of the US media leans left so they refuse to talk about it (if a Republican president's cognitive faculties were declining as Biden's obviously is, it would be a huge deal in the media). The DNC is well aware of this, despite their supporters being furious when it's pointed out, and they are in a panic behind closed doors, as it's been reported.

Trump is just to way over the top and he's so divisive that it pulls too strongly at the strings around our country's social fabric. We don't need him anywhere near the White House.

The prime minister of Japan is about the equivalent of a governor in the U.S. from this picture: maybe even lower. You won’t see a Governor of a prefecture in Japan visiting Biden or the POTUS.

I can agree that a strong Japan and US are good for both countries.

Florida is a use defense contractor state, not like California (who is?), but drone software companies have a huge footprint in Florida. DeSantis is looking at dual-use ... job/tax income for Florida AND national security for all friends of democracy. Can't say I disagree with him on those two aspects.

However, pretty much every other headline from him is visceral and nasty towards some group when it doesn't need to be.

Mr DeSantis cares only about Ron DeSantis!

Republicans will never be President for the next 100 years,due too young White women voting for Democrats

This was the mantra before the 2016 election. To paraphrase, “Demographics are destiny and they favor the Democratic Party remaining in power for the foreseeable future.” That didn’t work out so well, did it? Demographics are shifting away from the Democrats recent messaging. Their only chance is to restore the labor-friendly, working class-based values of the party’s past, but of that they show zero inclination.

Republicans will never be President for the next 100 years,due too young White women voting for Democrats

He doesn't look presidential. His own party doesn't even support him and America will vote for Biden over the bigot.

One of the many boring, predictable, ultra-leftist posts on this site. As for “his own party”, that may turn out to refer to Biden, especially if by some miracle Trump fails to win the Republican nomination. 14% of Democrats polled support RFK, Jr. who has always been a non-entity despite the famous name.

He's going to be the leader in 2032 when the USA breaks up into Free American Federation and Soviet Socialist Republic of America.

Great man. Would be a great president - a zillion times better than the incompetent half-senile one we have now.

He’s done an excellent job in Florida:

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3963585-trump-throws-new-insults-at-the-state-of-florida-in-new-attack-on-desantis/

protecting children:

https://www.wptv.com/news/political/donald-trump-suggests-ron-desantis-was-grooming-high-school-girls-with-alcohol-causing-governor-to-respond

and fighting for women’s rights:

https://apnews.com/article/florida-abortion-ban-approved-c9c53311a0b2426adc4b8d0b463edad1

I hope he has a good time in Japan.

I hope he visits Disneyland.

He deserves it.

He sure does.

Florida: where hope goes to die under thug DeSantis

would rather go to Kabul than Florida. Probably safer.

@Peter Neil: If there was money to be made then they would fly to Florida. There simply isn't the projected revenue to make worthwhile as a one and done route from Japan. There are bilateral agreements in place to operate the route between Narita and Miami actually for one airline from each country. Instead ANA fly to Houston and JAL to Dallas putting passengers into United and American onwards. No need for the 30+ hour times quoted above.

Anyone BUT Trump, please.

fighting for women’s rights. 

Almost spit my drink at that one. Good to have a chuckle at the end of the day.

Let’s see what percentage of the women’s vote he gets at any level especially among the women of his home state who’ve seen their rights reduced to a Hand Maiden’s tale.

No, it’s the WH or bust for this one-hit “wonder.”

Its gonna be “bust.”

Interesting that DeSantis quietly signs a draconian forced motherhood abortion ban for Florida, then quickly skips town and heads overseas.

Sure looks like he's scared and running away.

Mr. Noidall

He’s done an excellent job in Florida protecting children and fighting for women’s rights. 

Women's rights? Yeah right, he just removed their reproductive rights.

Clay

RD will probably hold off until 28 but Trump's got LOTS of legal and other risks so RD playing it smart to keep all options on the table. Who's perfect? NOBODY

Could well do, but he's burnt so many bridges, I doubt he can ever get elected president. His anti-woke sentiment gets older as time goes on. It will only be a burden to him.

Sometimes it's about not winning, its OTHER guy LOSING! e.g. 2020!

RD will either side-step or try to get on Trump's ticket, got lots of time unlike his geriatric peers. Suspect SC Senator Tim Scott or a Lady Gov's got inside VP lane w/Trump 2024.

RD will probably hold off until 28 but Trump's got LOTS of legal and other risks so RD playing it smart to keep all options on the table. Who's perfect? NOBODY

Odd, no mention of Kennedy ELITE who just announced he's running AGAINST Biden for 2024 Nomination?! See below article, good read, Joshua C.'s straight shooter.

FOX News

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. warns against 'system of socialism for the rich' as 2024 democratic candidate launches campaign to challenge President Biden

Story by Joshua Comins

Clay

They sure look like Presidential couple as many compare her looks to Jackie O, he's not as handsome but has a STRONG resume and track record as Gov, nobody wins by 20pts in re-election in Florida until RD did so in Nov.

Yeah, not going to happen. He can't out-Trump Trump. His nasty woke cultures wars aren't winning any friends and voting in a ridiculous abortion ban after 6-weeks will not win him presidency.

Well, he's happy because puppet Kishida does just what he's told and bolsters the failing US economy with a massive purchase of useless arms and weaponry.

Disney outsmarted Desantis. Imagine what the world would do to him.

Why is he doing this now when he hasn't announced his candidacy yet?

When I fly to Florida I never go direct. ----LA/SF stopover. -----Chicargo-----West Palm Beach 30+ hours but three legs.

Why would Japanese fly 15+ hours non-stop to Florida? There’s a reason there are no direct flights.

Why is the Japanese Government especially the PM entertaining him? There are more than 50 Governors for almost all states in the US and if they all start to come to Japan and meet the PM then all hell will break loose! Seems like the American Ambassador in Japan was too accommodating to arrange this all even though he is a Democrat and DeSantis a Republican! Trump must be fuming back home at this and when he returns as President ( highly likely it’s going to be a close race between him and Biden ) he’ll get his revenge on Japan! Trump holds grudges forever so anyone getting cozy with his Republican challengers will get the full wrath of his fury!

Nice to have a presidential hopeful visiting Japan. Shame about Mrs DeSantis’s dress sense though

Minneapolis is a HUB for Delta. Hence the flights there.

There aren't any non-stop routes to Florida up until now, even though the slots are in place, I do know that JAL and ANA both looked at operating but there wasn't enough premium business expected to justify the route and this is post 787/A350 launch which makes these 'long and thin' routes feasible.

I'm a bit shocked the Origin/Destination traffic isn't there. Surely Florida much have business outside Disney? I mean even Minneapolis has a non-stop flight again to HND.

He doesn't look presidential. His own party doesn't even support him and America will vote for Biden over the bigot.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis praised Japan's push to bolster its defenses as he kicked off an international tour in Tokyo on Monday before a possible presidential run.

Does Governor Ron DeSantis know anything about Japan's pacifist constitution? "We very much applaud your efforts to bolster your defenses," tells DeSantis to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida., who was recently nominated by Time magazine as one of the most important persons of the year for his efforts to boost Japan's defense spending. 

Will the U.S. military presence in Japan be reduced in proportion to Japan's boosting of its defense budget? What if it will be strengthened on the contrary all the more?

They seem to be all part of the same gang trying to make Japan a deja vu militarist country.

@Blacklabel predicting 16 years with the a President of the same party in the White House.Has that happened post-war?

He first has to get over the hurdle l keep having to repeat. But here we go again; the the only time a U.S. President has served non consecutive terms was a Democrat in the 19th century.

Keep hope alive!

I welcome Mr DeSantis, future president of the USA!

You are VERY welcome here, sir!

@Blacklabel predicting 16 years with the a President of the same party in the White House.Has that happened post-war?

I don't mind DeSantis actually.

There aren't any non-stop routes to Florida up until now, even though the slots are in place, I do know that JAL and ANA both looked at operating but there wasn't enough premium business expected to justify the route and this is post 787/A350 launch which makes these 'long and thin' routes feasible.

Aww, just look at little Ron cos-playing as a President. Sleazy lil' Ron clearly wearing his 3-inch heels too.

Trump is going to eat him alive. Zero contest.

Yeah, original Trump will instead not the “lite” version. 

he is 2028 and 2032.

lol. Enjoy your 86 year old President.

You have a whole lotta hope. I have to admire that. Don’t go changin’

"We very much applaud your efforts to bolster your defenses," DeSantis told Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the 40-minute meeting, referring to Tokyo's decision to overhaul security strategy and boost defense spending.

Governor DeSantis covered the enemies foreign of Japan like China and NK but what of the ones domestic?

Japanese sure do love that Tokyo Disneyland with their woke agenda.

And there is a lot of pressure about the position of textbooks on Japan's historical legacy.

I wonder whom will teach whom on the best way to culture war while keeping the corporate welfare flowing to your cronies.

DeSanctus is being absolutely destroyed by Disney. In the meantime, this is all so unnecessary, a political stunt.

America's rapidly tiring of constant overseas wars that could easily escalate and Ukraine's not coming to close anytime soon, just like Biden's not getting any younger!

70% of Americans just polled do not want Biden to run again, TOO OLD, they want someone like RD/40's, Biden's ONLY chance is against Trump, it's obvious!

Desantis does not give a hoot about Japanese politics or culture.

*that’s not gonna happen.*

Yeah, original Trump will instead not the “lite” version.

he is 2028 and 2032.

Trump claimed if he wasn't governor he would be an unemployed lawyer.

where under DeSantis' form of authoritarianism, businesses are pressured to have the state of Florida determine how businesses are managed and what beliefs they are allowed to hold,

Replace "state of Florida" with "LDP" and you have the Japan model.

They sure look like Presidential couple as many compare her looks to Jackie O, he's not as handsome but has a STRONG resume and track record as Gov, nobody wins by 20pts in re-election in Florida until RD did so in Nov.

he told Kishida, saying he hoped to meet with airlines to "try to do something about it".

I hope Japanese airlines do not add businesses in Florida, where under DeSantis' form of authoritarianism, businesses are pressured to have the state of Florida determine how businesses are managed and what beliefs they are allowed to hold,

Today  04:34 pm JST “ God help us if Trump Lite gets into office. “

Relax…;

that’s not gonna happen.

[ "We understand it's a tough neighborhood out here with North Korea and the rise of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party)," DeSantis added. "We really believe that a strong Japan is good for America and a strong America is good for Japan. So we commend you on that, and we hope that our country is there with you every step of the way." ]

I agree.

God help us if Trump Lite gets into office.