Florida Gov Ron DeSantis launched his 2024 presidential campaign on Wednesday with a Twitter announcement plagued by technical glitches, stepping into a crowded Republican primary contest that will test his strength against former President Donald Trump and criticism that he's not ready for the national stage.
The 44-year-old Republican, an outspoken cultural conservative, initially announced his decision in a video posted on social media, but planned to discuss it further in a first-of-its-kind conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk on Twitter Spaces. But the audio stream crashed repeatedly, making it virtually impossible for most users to hear the high-profile announcement in real time.
“We need the courage to lead and the strength to win,” DeSantis said in a minute-long video posted on social media before the conversation with Musk. “I’m Ron DeSantis, and I’m running for president to lead our great American comeback.”
Despite the rocky start, DeSantis' announcement marks a new chapter in his extraordinary rise from little-known congressman to two-term governor to a leading figure in the nation’s bitter fights over race, gender, abortion and other divisive issues.
DeSantis is considered to be Trump’s strongest Republican rival even as the governor faces questions about his far-right policies, his campaign-trail personality and his lack of relationships across the Republican ecosystem. Still, he has generated significant interest among GOP primary voters by casting himself as a younger and more electable version of the 76-year-old former president.
The ultimate Republican nominee is expected to face Democratic President Joe Biden on the general election ballot in November 2024.
DeSantis joins a field that also includes former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen Tim Scott of South Carolina, former Arkansas Gov Asa Hutchinson and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Former Vice President Mike Pence is also considered a likely presidential candidate but has not yet announced a bid.
DeSantis tried to discus his presidential candidacy for the first time in a conversation on Twitter Space with Musk, one of the world's richest men who is increasingly considered a conservative cult hero. The meeting was moderated by Republican donor David Sacks, a tech entrepreneur who is close to Musk.
The event started off with technical glitches the Twitter owner said were due to “straining” servers because so many people were trying to listen to the audio-only event.
Musk a day earlier dubbed the event a historic first for Twitter, saying it will be “the first time something like this is happening on social media.” The event was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. EDT, but 20 minutes passed with users getting kicked off, hearing microphone feedback and other technical problems.
"This is a disaster. Not surprising,” tweeted senior Trump adviser Chris LaCivita.
Meanwhile, DeSantis and Trump have much in common.
DeSantis, who likely would not have become the Florida governor without Trump’s endorsement, has adopted the former president’s fiery personality, his populist policies and even some of his rhetoric and mannerisms.
Yet DeSantis has one thing his rival does not: a credible claim that he may be more electable than Trump, who faces multiple legal threats, including criminal charges in New York, and who presided over Republican losses in three consecutive national elections.
DeSantis, just six months ago, won his reelection in Florida by a stunning 19 percentage points — even as Republicans in many other states struggled. He also scored several major policy victories during the Republican-controlled Legislature’s spring session.
Aware of DeSantis’ draw, Trump has been almost singularly focused on undermining his political appeal for months. Trump and his team believe that DeSantis may be Trump’s only legitimate threat for the nomination.
Hours before the announcement, Trump argued in a social media post that “Ron DeSanctus” cannot win the general election or the GOP primary because of his previous votes in Congress on Social Security and Medicare.
“He desperately needs a personality transplant and, to the best of my knowledge, they are not medically available yet," Trump added. "A disloyal person!”
Trump allies dispatched a truck outside DeSantis' planned donor meeting running an attack ad describing him as “a swamp creature." The Democratic National Committee sent another truck warning of DeSantis’ “extreme MAGA agenda.”
The kitchen-sink attacks and nicknames won’t be DeSantis’ only hurdle.
He is a political heavyweight in Florida and a regular on Fox News, but allies acknowledge that most primary voters in other states don’t know him well.
A Florida native with family roots in the Midwest, DeSantis studied at Yale University, where he played baseball. He would go on to Harvard Law School and become a Navy judge advocate general officer, a position that took him to Iraq and the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
He ran for Congress in 2012 and won an Orlando-area district, becoming a founding member of the far-right Freedom Caucus on Capitol Hill.
Despite his lengthy resume, friends and foes alike note that DeSantis struggles to display the campaign-trail charisma and quick-on-your-feet thinking that often defines successful candidates at the national level. He has gone to great lengths to avoid unscripted public appearances and media scrutiny while governor, which is difficult, if not impossible, as a presidential contender.
In an example of his level of media avoidance, his official Twitter account for governor posted a photo shortly after the FEC filing — a bill signing surrounded by dozens of bikers for legislation to help reduce motorcycle accidents in Florida. The media was not notified of the event ahead of time.
Late Wednesday, DeSantis’ office announced that he signed a broad election law bill that contains a provision allowing him to run for president without resigning his post as governor, exempting himself from a state rule known as “resign to run.”
Would-be supporters also worry that DeSantis has refused to invest in relationships with party leaders or fellow elected officials, raising questions about his ability to build the coalition he would ultimately need to beat Trump. By contrast, Trump has scooped up an army of endorsements in key states, including Florida.
Beyond the primary, DeSantis’ greatest longer-term challenge may rest with the far-right policies he enacted as governor as an unapologetic leader in what he calls his "war on woke.”
The Florida governor sent dozens of immigrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard off the Massachusetts coast to draw attention to the influx of Latin American immigrants trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. He signed and then expanded the Parental Rights in Education bill — known by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, which bans instruction or classroom discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in Florida public schools for all grades.
More recently, he signed a law banning abortions at six weeks, which is before most women realize they’re pregnant. And he removed an elected prosecutor who vowed not to charge people under Florida’s new abortion restrictions or doctors who provide gender-affirming care.
DeSantis also signed a law this year allowing Florida residents to carry concealed firearms without a permit. He pushed new measures that critics warn would weaken press freedoms. He also took control of a liberal arts college that he believed was indoctrinating students with leftist ideology.
The governor’s highest-profile political fight has come against the Florida entertainment giant Disney, which publicly opposed his “Don’t Say Gay” law. In retaliation, DeSantis seized control of Disney World’s governing body and installed loyalists who are threatening to take over park planning, among other extraordinary measures.
DeSantis has threatened to build a state prison adjacent to park property.
The dispute has drawn condemnation from business leaders and his Republican rivals, who said the moves are at odds with small-government conservatism.
DeSantis delayed his campaign announcement until Florida’s legislative session was over. But for much of the year, he has been courting primary voters in key states and using an allied super political action committee to build a large political organization that is essentially a campaign in waiting and already claims at least $30 million in the bank.
Super PAC adviser David Polyansky said Trump has made “significant strategic mistakes” on policy — especially abortion — that DeSantis' team is prepared to exploit.
And More than any of his opponents, perhaps even Trump, DeSantis is positioned to hit the ground running thanks to the super PAC’s monthslong efforts to install campaign infrastructure across Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, which will host the first four contests on the GOP’s primary calendar early next year.
In fact, the super PAC is already building out DeSantis' political operation in states that host primaries in March, signaling a very long road ahead to the Republican presidential nomination.
© Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
110 Comments
plasticmonkey
Do our Trump friends here support this statement?
CPTOMO
Excellent to see another strong candidate, along with Trump.
dagon
Sanctus:an ancient Christian hymn of adoration sung or said immediately before the prayer of consecration in traditional liturgies..
Is this Trump's new nickname or another episode of mental word salad?
Sure is going to be quite a primary race with seeing who can blame more of the nation 's growing, appalling wealth disparities and social problems on gender pronouns or students learning about the history of Jim Crow.
2020hindsights
Mr Charisma, himself. He has no chance.
CPTOMO
At least the focus will point to the same source for the problems caused by the current administration.
Maybe the Democrats will cart out Oprah!
Bob Fosse
She would beat both 45 and desantis, easily.
Cards fan
DeSantis and Musk two of the least charismatic rightwing figures.
proxy
Vivek Ramaswamy would be a great candidate. BTW STEVE PEOPLES, ADRIANA GOMEZ and ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE there is no guarantee that the republican nominee "will face Biden" as stated in the story. It could be Kennedy.
Cards fan
Lol he'd be a terrible candidate. I saw his little interview where he blamed millennials for being lazy and entitled. That'll only play in geriatric wings.
Lol it's not going to be Kennedy. He's a loon with minimal support.
Thuban
An RFK Jr. + Desantis ticket would heal the country. A Democratic President and a Republican VP with a Republican controlled Congress.
Balance, Unity and Compromise with a fresh start from two guys who seem willingly to stand up to America's lying media.
funkymofo
Makes sense that the GOP mascot is an elephant- their new guy got rinsed by a mouse.
Cards fan
Ah, yes a anti-vax kook, and an authoritarian like DeSantis to "heal" the country. Right. Really got this the pulse of the country here. Lol
bass4funk
On one hand you can say, yes, on the other hand, you can’t tell another person what to think, how to vote or who he should be loyal to. We all have choices.
Either way, it’s good to have another strong Republican in the race.
dagon
More irony is Elon Musk supporting a candidate like DeSantis who demonizes gender fluidity. Of course it is all about the corporate tax breaks really but Musk's professed inspiration is the Scottish socialist SF author Iain Bank's Culture books and easily switching gender is a big part of the books, along with a moneyless post scarcity society.
bass4funk
DeSantis is Republican, nowhere near right wing, No more than Biden is left wing.
Musk is more libertarian in a lot of his political views.
CPTOMO
Look at what the country has now. Lol
Cards fan
Far, far better than an authoritarian, that's for sure!
bass4funk
Looking at the polls, most conservatives, traditionalists support it.
What?
Yrral
Only appeal he has is with insecure White Republicans voters,who make up the majority of the GOP
Cards fan
Lol he's very rightwing. He bans books he doesn't like, and bans any acknowledgement of LGBTQ people in schools.
Lol Biden isn't left wing.
Except for when it comes to things like subsidies or carbon credits, then he's all for that. He also censors free speech on his platform at the behest of authoritarian regime's like the Turkish government. So no, not "libertarian."
EFD
All the better not to see his head bobble or his sneering “grin”.
Rock star Ronnie, the winger of wannabes, is an unlikeable bullying jerk.
AND that doesn’t even begin to cover the fact that his policy prescriptions are widely unpopular.
Unlicensed concealed carry
6 week abortion ban
Censorship in schools and government interference in curriculum in secondary education.
Homophobia
Government interference in child health decisions
Government interference in business
These are REALLY unpopular among general election voters.
And to top it off, he’s an automatron - a robotic, impersonal, unempathetic jerk.
dagon
Musk's inspiration , Iain Banks is all about gender fluidity and socialism, unlike DeSantis.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/does-elon-musk-really-understand-books-claims-inspired/
Kurumazaka2.1
Don’t care for the Ron but he’s a legitimate candidate who has every right to run.
unlike the other guy.
EFD
A wannabe bully or a wanton criminal?
Gee, what a choice.
Ron-Ron vs. the sex offender: it’s like the philosophical question “If you are standing neck-deep in pig feces, and someone throws a bucket of vomit at your head, do you duck?”
Bob Fosse
This belief is almost as deluded as thinking will US President. He is right wing, and no matter how much ‘armor of god’ he has he is staying in Florida to keep getting humiliated by Disney and the courts which overturn his empty policies.
bass4funk
No, he’s absolutely not, but the liberals embraced him and then called him right wing when he brought Twitter. As a conservative, I will tell you this, Musk would never pass the Republican litmus test, because he’s very liberal on other social and global issues.
That’s not a right thing, that’s a morally common sense issue.
He not a Republican and he’s not a libertarian, so that just kind of narrows it down.
Then you are making my point for me.
bass4funk
The left often is on these issues
Seems like Disney isn’t moving the needle on the issue as they would like, love DeSantis is digging in his heels and taking on the fat rat.
Cards fan
I'm talking about DeSantis. Follow the thread. He's obviously rightwing.
A morally common sense issue. lol Right, people should only be allowed to talk about having a spouse if they're straight.
He's not a Republican, he just cozies up to them. Got it.
Superlib
One good thing about Trump will be watching him end DeSantis' political career.
He doesn't stand a chance.
EFD
The Twitter launch as glitchy and as robotic as his creepy laugh that can’t pass for natural.
It might be just a short-term thing but if he can’t get a tech AUDIO ONLY conference call going, this guy is really going to be a competent candidate?
I doubt it. He’s the Fred Thompson of the 24 race.
rcch
(
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign announcement was mired by repeated technical glitches on Twitter Wednesday evening, in a black eye for the social media platform.
The highly-anticipated announcement, set to be made via a conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk and tech entrepreneur David Sacks on Twitter's "Spaces" feature, was delayed as it appeared the platform was overwhelmed. Twitter's mobile app repeatedly crashed and users complained that they were unable to hear the broadcast.
Nearly 700,000 users logged in to hear the announcement roughly 20 minutes after it was launched. The event was then abruptly shut down without explanation.
"The servers are straining somewhat," Musk was heard saying at one point.
MAGA War Room tweeted an image of the Twitter Spaces with the words "failing to launch…" photoshopped on.
)
You got off on the right foot, Ron.
Yrral
Republicans bring out the worst in their voters,they never offer nothing redeeming,the reasonable with an ounce of humanity
bass4funk
Not even close. Lol
And?
That’s a new one.
Kurumazaka2.1
well Cards fan he’s in Texas and it’s right there in the 2022 Texas GOP platform
Page 22, articles 155 and 156. Just the into sentences.
https://texasgop.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022-RPT-Platform.pdf
UChosePoorly
People aren't going back in the closet again, Bass. Not sure why you think they will.
EFD
Oh, and Bobble-head Ron Ron is going to get his ass kicked by Disney. As far as the law is concerned, it’s not even close.
I’m sure that will be a winner in a campaign.
Kurumazaka2.1
Don’t believe he does think they will go back to the closet by their own volition.
they’re gonna need a bit of proper encouragement from the State to get back in there.
lincolnman
Really? RINO Ron? Gov DeSoros? Ron DePlantis? Is this the best the Repubs can do?
According to a fellow Floridian, Ron has a record of "misery and despair" and has turned the state into "one of the worst in the US"...
https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/politics/2023/04/21/donald-trump-says-ron-desantis-created-misery-and-despair-in-florida/70139811007/
He also says his fight with Disney has been a "disaster", and "DeSanctus is being absolutely destroyed by Disney," Trump wrote. "His original P.R. plan fizzled, so now he's going back with a new one in order to save face," his post said. It then added: "In the meantime, this is all so unnecessary, a political STUNT!"
https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/trump/2023/04/19/trump-criticizes-desantis-on-disney-with-economic-disaster-in-florida/70129695007/
And Ron lectures us on morals when this Florida resident says he was "grooming underage high school girls"....
https://www.wptv.com/news/political/donald-trump-suggests-ron-desantis-was-grooming-high-school-girls-with-alcohol-causing-governor-to-respond
If all of that is true, then Ron doesn't stand a chance....
Or is this Florida resident engaged in malicious slander and lying? You know, like one person was recently successfully sued for and has to write a $5 million check...
What do the MAGA-faithful here say?
EFD
Those listening in were treated earth-shaking proclamations such as “We must look forward, not backward. We must have the strength to lead and the courage to win.”
Dear God, it’s like Chat GPT came to life, took some Ozempic, and decided to run for office except Chat GPT is more personable.
EFD
The guy nobody likes (even his House GQP Reps think he is a jerk), goes on a platform nobody listens to, to say things nobody wants to hear.
Desert Tortoise
Most candidates for President would announce their candidacy in front of a crowd of admiring supporters. Mr. DeSantis however exudes less warmth than one of those frozen iguanas that fall out of the trees in Tampa during a really cold winter. Not a press the flesh, kiss the babies kind of politician. Smiling looks painful. No charisma. Doesn’t seem like a coalition builder either, rather he seems to excel at picking fights with all and sundry. Not too sure that gets someone to the White House of even nominated. So far there is not even one thing among the policies he advocates that I support. Literally not one thing.
bass4funk
No one is asking them to.
I never thought that, nor implied that, not sure why you’re implying that.
Cards fan
You are if you're banning any and all acknowledgement of the existence of LGBT people
sunfunbun
DeSantis vs. Trump. That's pure folly.
GOP...wave the 'white' flag.
The USA is not going to go with a boring, unlikeable guy with extreme bias like DeSantis or Trump, the guy who's muzzled by a judge to protect Donald's brain from imploding.
Kurumazaka2.1
not sure why?
am I missing something? Is there an alternative facts way to read this?
UChosePoorly
Bass - not allowing people to be themselves or talk about themselves is pretty much the definition of forcing people back into the closet. What did you mean by your 'And?'
lincolnman
After seeing this video, it's easy to understand why RINO Ron chickened out and made his announcement via Twitter rather than in person where he may be asked a question that causes him to flip out..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_38Qkh4JxA&ab_channel=TheTimesandTheSundayTimes
He looks like he's channeling either Goofy or Daffy Duck...maybe those are his two favorite animation characters...
CPTOMO
The US already went with Trump.
And looking at what the US disputedly went with the last election, DeSantis and Trump are vast improvements.
If anyone is looking forward to an end to China's bullying, and to the Russia and Ukraine incident, then Trump is the way to go again.
wallace
Ron&Don is like a dud hand of poker.
sunfunbun
Marriage is a legality invented by human beings. Bible people will say something perceived that homosexuality is not to be recognized as a thing, or whatever it is. Conservatives think same sex marriage should not be allowed. They often have bias against gays and anything that does not adhere to their existence that goes beyond their obstinate boundaries.
I always wonder what the heck they're thinking when Adam and Eve got together and made babies out of wedlock. There were no marriages when so and so begat so and so. They were all naughty! Oh no!
People who get married, get legal advantages to being married not afforded to unmarried couples. Whatever benefits, etc. It isn't necessary to show one's love for another person, but marriage and its legalities should be allowed to be fair to every person, not just the selected one's.
Ask Cheney's daughter, and maybe even Cheney, if he agrees. It's so narrow to not have empathy and care for all people to have the same shake in life. If you believe you are some sort of superior being or entitled because you are not gay, and cannot give gays people the time of day, it does show an Aryan attitude.
Desert Tortoise
Anyone who thinks Mr. Trump was a better President than Mr. Biden needs their head examined. I mean that in all sincerity. I cannot even fathom what a catastrophy the war in Ukraine would be if Mr. Trump were still President. The Russians would be rolling through Poland and Mr. Trump would pull out of NATO before he would defend it.
Bob Fosse
I was referring to your original comment. Nothing to do with ‘the left’.
‘Digging in his heels’ is another way of saying wasting a lot of time and money to achieve absolutely nothing. Just like Kevin.
What’s the deal with admiring stubborn toothless losers?
bass4funk
Farce, we are talking about exposing kids to outrageous perverse drag shows unnecessary inappropriate.
Fighto!
Little man de Santis is basically self-sabotaging his own career. He will be torn to shreds by Trump. Zero contest.
As Trump has hinted at before, he has plenty of dirt on wee little Ron - his background, his connections. his dealings and his lack of honesty.
This will be like watching a yappy, annoying Chihuahua going up against a Doberman! Bring it on!
lincolnman
Now that Ron has thrown his hat into the ring, there's only one choice for his running mate...
Fellow Repub, inventor of the cancer cure, finder of Elvis, and self-admitted drag queen George Santos...
What a team, don't you think?
Ron and Georgina 2024!
Bob Fosse
No. You are focusing on a very very small issue and ignoring the much larger and much more serious issues affecting children such as poverty and guns. Both serious issues in Florida especially.
But sure, Disney and drag shows are more important.
That’s why desantis has zero chance nationally. He and his supporters are small minded, totally tone deaf and unable to budge on anything for the greater good.
Cards fan
lol No we're not. Drag shows aren't happening at school.
Desert Tortoise
The problem with defining marriage in terms of religion is the fact that marriage has a legal definition that has important and valuable rights associated with it such as inheritance, making medical and end of life decisions for a spouse, rights to a spouses pension and significant tax advantages. That is why in a nation like the US marriage cannot be confined to being strictly religious. To do so would deny rights to those whom religions shun and refuse to marry.
Desert Tortoise
I guess playing doctor is ok for kids but a drag show isn't? Or raiding your buddy's dad's stash of porno mags?
bass4funk
For libs it’s a small issue, for conservatives and traditionalists it’s a big issue.
So why don’t the Dems want to address the issue in mostly minority areas and bring attention to if?
Why are the Dems on these issues incognito?
Our kids don’t need mental grooming by the left.
I disagree
Yeah, the left keep saying this.
Joe Blow
Or you could bury your face in the muck and suck it in by voting Dem.
EFD
Ever notice that a whole bunch of those pols raging about drag queens in fact, have a drag queen video in their background?
One wonders what Rock star Ron-Ron has in his closet (besides Ozempic of course)?
Desert Tortoise
My internet is back up so I can cut and paste again. Lucky you!
No, we had parents and relatives teaching us that if god wanted whites to marry other races he would not have separated the races on different continents. That's the "grooming" we got from our parents. Looks like you took those lessons a little bit too much to heart perhaps. We were also taught over and over and OVER again that black people smelled. Mexicans too. That is how we were "groomed". And then there was the story that Jews killed christian infants for their blood. Nice stuff we were taught by out good honest, cough cough, "god fearin' " parents.
Bob Fosse
Which is why the next US President will be a Democrat.
I was talking about Republicans, and Florida. Stay on point if you can. Just answering everything with ‘but Dems’ is childish.
See above.
The only drag making news recently has been Santos, oh and Giuliani getting motorboated by 45. But that’s just harmless fun, right? All other drag is evil, right?
Of course you do. You have to, too much invested and too late to change your mind about anything. You’re in for the long ride, get your excused free day and set your sights on 2028.
A lot of the GoP are saying it too.
Desert Tortoise
Oh yeah and there was the time in the 8th grade I brought home two of my buddies from junior high, both African Americans. After they left my god fearin' parents told me to never have them over again. They were as nice as can be but they were black. A lesson learned early in life. Don't call me "woke" because I have been the way I am since I was a kid. I can see with my own eyes how African Americans are mistreated in this nation and for me it is not a new revelation. I learned if from my family at a very early age. You seem to have learned the opposite.
EFD
With pleasure, Joe.
The vast majority of the electorate is going to be right there with me.
When it’s Joe vs. the Sociopath or Joe vs. the Chat GPT automatron, THATS an easy choice to make.
lincolnman
OK MAGA-nation - now that DeSantis has formally announced his candidacy, its time to "fish or cut bait"...who do you support for the Repub nomination?
Donald Trump who DeSantis says is a Loser, who mistakenly delegated the nation's COVID response to Dr Fauci, and is defending "woke" by criticizing his war on Disney...
Or Ron DeSantis who Trump has said is a "phony", a "RINO", and a "disaster"...in addition to being a "groomer"...
We should note that Trump-supporting QAnon also believes DeSantis is a George Soros stooge and that he is a "plant" by the Globalist Deep State...
Who do you support and who do you believe?
wallace
Drag shows were never on the school curriculum.
itsonlyrocknroll
Governor Ron DeSantis
https://www.flgov.com/
Wall Street Journal .......DeSantis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwuroTeY36E
A conservative with a capital C ?
wallace
bass4funk
you have always been anti-LGBT regardless of the reality.
Which schools had drag shows?
Why are drag shows perverted? They have existed for a very long time.
CPTOMO
What are you basing this claim on? Funny.
Regardless, this is an issue for the US voters.
And we would be happy with either DeSantis or Trump. Or any Republican other than whatever the Dems roll out of the dusty closet.
We are looking for a safer world. You know, one where China isn't expanding its influence around the world while the US does nothing. Kind of put a stop to the Ukraine-Russia conflict--you know, like back when Trump was leading the world.
wallace
Strip clubs are allowed but drag shows are banned? There are 4,042 Strip Clubs businesses in the US as of 2023. 110 in Florida.
wallace
So that counts you out.
Bob Fosse
My point exactly. You’ll have to try again in 2028. Get your ducks lined up because you’ll have some explaining to do next year.
cleo
Wow, really? I thought, if that's what's going on things are really a mess. Gotta look a bit deeper, I thought. Call in Mr. Google.
*Your search - fat bearded men in tutus twerking for 4-year-olds - did not match any documents.*
Have you got a link, bass? Coz Mr. Google doesn't know anything at all about these twerking perverts.
And I'm sure there must be lots of them around for it to be such a major national issue affecting the Presidential race.
An unconsionable slur against all Dobermanns.
And Chihuahuas, come to think of it.
dagon
The person endorsing DeSantis' announcement, Elon Musk, has said his favorite author is Iain Banks, whose book 'Excession', features a woman who became a man and impregnated her formerly male lover then performed a violent forced abortion on said person when they cheated.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/books/1997/may/20/fiction.sciencefictionfantasyandhorror
The whole anti-woke agenda is one of the most absurd jokes ever played on the American people.
funkymofo
Agreed-
https://www.npr.org/2022/05/27/1101734793/southern-baptist-sexual-abuse-list-released- just an example among hundreds.
But the Right want the church in charge. Let's audit the Christians and see which group is the greatest threat to children, drag queens reading books to kids or the crimes against children literally too numerous to count- still covered up, still happening. Such hypocrisy.
This is such an obvious distraction by a party that has nothing to offer beyond knee jerk attacks on minorities and shooting beer cans.
Desantis has nothing, an empty vessel propelled by hate.
EFD
As ignorant of all things LGBT as it is on the law.
Huh, what are the odds?
It's almost like it just reads this bunk on "citizen-journalism" sites and swallows it hook, line and sinker.....
EFD
But when a rightist goober knocks up a teen under the age of consent, that is just "God's will", eh?
Who has caused more sexualiztion of children in the aggregate: Drag Queen story hour or Southern "Family Values"?
(Highest rates of teen pregnancy - and STDs, and Abortions but I digress - are in the bible belt FYI. I am sure that is just a coincidence.)
lincolnman
Our eyes and ears...
As far as selection, but as a US citizen, I'm fine with others offering their opinion - seems you're for "cancel culture"...
Calling Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney....
You know, like in 2017 when the Trump administration firmly stood up and denied Xi's Hong Kong takeover...
And refusing to send military aid until Zelenskyy launched a bogus investigation..
And "Trump was leading the WORLD"????? So when did that election occur?
bass4funk
Hmm…apparently you haven’t seen Bidens poll numbers. Yikes! Not going to happen.
They are fine, the Dems lost it and Dade County, it’s over for the left
As Well as the Trump, DeSantis gutter snipping attacks.
Is that what the left tells their base?
Never to late to change anything.
2024 as well as 2028 without a doubt!
We really don’t care what the shrinking Washington establishment thinks.
Blacklabel
Usuals obsessing over nothing.
He won’t be the nominee until 2028, don’t worry,
Cards fan
Agreed. DeSantis is nothing. And neither are his rivals.
Clay
RD's smart, has great wife and family, huge political success, winning 60% in Florida in Nov Governer's race, largest landslide in modern history there, young, and Florida's having great economic success relative to US.
Most important, he's not #46, with huge problems and record low favorability 1.5 years out. Most in his party and nationally do not believe he's mentally or physically fit, not to mention many influence peddling schemes now under Congressional investigation regarding "Biden Inc.'
Long ways to go, stay tuned folks, while US inflation remains biggest problem of all, RD has backing of two of world's 10 richest, so he'll have means. His best risk hedge would be to get on #45's ticket as VP, though a SC Senator has his eye on that VP slot as well.
Imagine the contrast, Biden and RD debating, sad really and it's getting sadder by the day.
lincolnman
Ray Epps?
OK, so you're Team Trump 2024 - and agree with him that Ron is a "RINO", a "phony", and his fight with Disney a "disaster"...
Believe me, we aren't..
itsonlyrocknroll
Social media has brought societies tolerance split between political groups to a breaking point.
I am not sure where Governor Ron DeSantis fits in.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual has brought the question of right into the highest echelons of front line political thinking.
And could well determine at least partly in the next US Presidential election.
Women's and girls safe spaces
Drag Queens in schools etc.
Abortion a fundamental human right protected under numerous international and regional human rights treaties.........
Could well become the central issues that decide the next choice of US President
opheliajadefeldt
He has the charisma of a wet face flannel..........no wait, my flannel has more personality too.
Bob Fosse
I’m glad you agree with me. I’ve stated several times that desantis 2024 run is a complete waste of time and money.
Well done!
nishikat
If Desantis wins he wins. But I have full confidence that if he loses he will concede - so I'm not worried about Desantis trying to destroy American Democracy since that would be the people's choice. Unlike Trump and Trump people who think that Biden stole the election from Trump. But there is one big problem. What about Trump? MAGA is about Trump and Trump is about MAGA. The only person who can run for MAGA is Trump and only Trump. It's all about Trump and nothing but Trump. Just Trump. Desantis can't run because the only person who can run on MAGA is Trump.
One issue is Desantis wants to control the woman's body. Will young people (Attention FOX viewers: this means from the age of 18) be turned off from Desantis because they want to enjoy what young people like to do so much and Republicans hate this? Because if I were in that generation, there is no way I would vote for Desantis). I would travel 100 miles if I had to in the case of voting against Desantis. I would vote Biden over any (evangelical) Republican even if Biden were encased in a human sized jar of formaldehyde. It's NOT about the economy, it's about freedom of what I want to do with my body (then we can worry about the economy later)
Also, it's curious that Desantis wants to destroy Florida's No. 1 tax payer. Why is Desantis against Disney. Disney had a plan to move a lot of their employees and big tax base to Florida from California (often six figure salaries) but cancelled this.
itsonlyrocknroll
Aided by a legion of professional skilled advisers, and supporters with deep pockets Ron DeSantis could be guided persuaded to spin his presidential candidacy bid.
bass4funk
I would disagree with that, worth every penny.
Bob Fosse
That’s because every prediction you make is wrong and you keep clinging to pointless dreams and insignificant issues.
bass4funk
Nope, not in 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2022 we got the house so….right all those times.
lincolnman
OK, so you're Team DeSantis 2024 - and agree with him that Trump is a "Loser", outsourced our COVID response to Dr Fauci, and is trying to poison his supporters by recommending they get the vaccine...
Or is DeSantis lying about that?
bass4funk
No, neither of them are. I like both men.
I have two words for the good doctor and since this is a wholesome family site
Depends on how you want to see it
Superlib
In DeSantis' Florida, teachers can be fired simply for showing a movie that has a gay character in it.
Florida is investigating a teacher who showed a Disney movie with a gay character
https://www.npr.org/2023/05/16/1176334055/florida-investigating-teacher-disney-movie-gay-character-desantis
The crime being investigated? From the school board who started the investigation:
"'While not the main plot of the movie, parts of the story involves a male character having and expressing feelings for another male character," the note reads in part. "In the future, this movie will not be shown.'"
Why?
"that the movie may violate Florida's "Parental Bill of Rights," a law signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis last year."
Translation? A gay person exists in the movie so it will never be shown again.
Conservatives change "existing" to "promoting" to make them feel less like the bigots that they are. A gay character in the background with no lines drinking coffee? Well that's promoting homosexuality to kids. Then tack on something about the left trying to make kids gay to break up the family unit to bring down the country.
That's not a joke. People actually believe teachers are actively trying to turn kids gay in an effort to end America as we know it.
In the end, conservatives will lose this war. It will be a blip in the history books as the younger, more accepting generation comes online and gets into power.
EFD
Then you better get your little b under control because it seems to disagree.
wallace
Never post a single excuse for Biden, why would I?
The US needs a time limit on being president. Both Biden and Trump are too old to serve another term.
lincolnman
So you don't support either of them? You believe what both say about the other?
But that's what DeSantis said Trump did - is what DeSantis says true or a lie?
DeSantis agrees with you that the vaccine is poison - Trump says it's safe and his supporters should take it.
Is DeSantis correct, or Trump?
EFD
That last pic at the bottom.
There's 3 guys asking if they know anyone with a line on some Ozempic.
Looks like Rock star Ron Ron found a dependable dealer.
All that huffing and puffing was probably his version of cardio.
wallace
Trump also criticized DeSantis for applauding the arrest of some Trump supporters who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. He reposted a screen grab from a 2021 Tampa Bay Times article in which the governor is quoted as saying, “I actually am glad to see some of these people being arrested from the D.C. thing, because I think the prosecutions will really make a difference.”
bass4funk
Bigots, just look how Dems treat the very people that vote for them and then get back to me with the bigot accusation please.
Taken way out of context as usual, this is exactly why no one takes the left seriously on this and most crazed radical progressive issues.
When you put the emotion aside you are seeing a lot of transgender issue being pushed on the kids.
I disagree.
That might be true to an extent, we will get through this progressive madness.
Well, depends where you live
EFD
From the "Two Lies can both be true" school of thought.
bass4funk
Scroll up and read verbatim what I wrote.
He has his opinion and Trump has his.
I didn’t take it and never would. Both men can believe what they want on that issue.
Desert Tortoise
The state has absolutely no right to do so. None.
wallace
What will Desantis do about gun laws if he were to become president? Today is one year since the mass shooting of the Texas school kids.
19 children and two teachers were killed inside their classrooms at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
Parents are still waiting for a report on the shootings.
Family members and friends shared photos and memories of their loved ones who were killed.
Then the Florida gay club shooting in 2016 when Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old man, killed 49 people and wounded 53 more.
Florida Parkland School shootings in 2018. 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fire on students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the Miami suburban town of Parkland, Florida, United States, murdering 17 people and injuring 17 others. Now serving 34 consecutive life sentences.
wallace
And Alex Jones who you also support has his opinions but very expensive ones.
Superlib
Didn't read past that. Waste of my time.
Have a good night.
Raw Beer
Yeah, it should be Kennedy, but I doubt they will let him. BTW, perhaps I missed it but I have yet to see any mention on JT of him running....
Jeremiah
DeSantis vs. Trump?
I don’t know.
DeSantis vs. Biden?
Goodbye, Biden.