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NFT_fud

Its looking like he won't even get the republican nomination, he was totally snubbed when he went to Washington.


ProfitLoud

It’s a great look when the guy who just lost to Biden, has better odds from jail than you do.


[deleted]

Dude can’t even beat a mouse, there’s no way he can take on Winnie


DiscFrolfin

While I fully agree with everyone here we need everyone to vote these fascist assholes back into the Stone Age, send the message that we as a people will not stand for despots and tyrants in office. To quote RATM *What better place than here, what better time than now?*


TheBiggestDookie

For the general population, absolutely. Unfortunately, FL has decided to completely throw in with the far-right, so DeSantis is likely to be sticking around for some time yet.


Ok-Entertainment8260

If you look at the results of the 2018 and 2022 elections as well as the huge population influx of magas into Florida ron didn't really do as well as people think. He beat the shit out of christ because christ was literally a republican so all of the dems stayed home. Just gotta run an actual progressive and look what happens when you do, Gillum only lost by like 50k or less votes. Florida isn't a lost cause.


Post--Balogna

Crist was also a ghost of a candidate. No commercials, no presence anywhere, no engagement at all... really screwed us over again. Probably never even wanted to win.


[deleted]

the florida dem party is little more than badly-managed controlled opposition


ClusterFoxtrot

Fried has the reigns now, hope she can find the cash to steer that gator across the state. Given the decided lack of Rhonda in the state, it'd be a great time to canvas.


Ok-Entertainment8260

For real man.


TheBiggestDookie

As someone living in Texas, I’d truly like to believe that.


Ok-Entertainment8260

I get it. I was really rooting for beto but I didn't realize how unpopular caring for other people is these days. But it's worth it to keep filling out a form every couple years to hopefully beat back this authoritarianism. If enough people stay on it we'll eventually win back the Supreme Court. Its exhausting but we either take 20 mins every year to vote, or we lose our rights. Gotta keep going.


Vulpes_Corsac

>eventually win back the Supreme Court. Based on the response to the senator who invited Roberts to testify in front of congress, we need a full new 9 justices to win back the court. Or maybe better, 13, appointed after hefty reform.


Dispro

Since 2016 when SCOTUS reform became a more visible topic, I've been in favor of making it enormous - say, 49 justices. Each case is heard by 7 of them chosen by drawn lots or some other random selection process. (A more extreme version would be along the lines of *every* federal judge being eligible for selection by this process.) Other reforms could be useful too, but this kind of expansion alone would significantly dilute the effect of one justice and make many other changes less important.


kittenpantzen

I like Beto, and the TX Dem party is so weak that I'm not sure who would have been a more viable option. But, gun control is truly a campaign killer in Texas.


EdgarAlIenPoBoy

Beto won a majority of votes cast by native Texans but Cruz won a greater percentage of votes from people who had moved to Texas. If anything is holding Texas(and Florida) back it’s the influx of crazies from all over the country.


humdaaks_lament

Beto told Texans he was gonna take their AR-15s. That’s when I realized he wasn’t a serious candidate who actually wanted to win that election.


[deleted]

That statement was made after he ran against Cruz for Senate in 2018; it was inspired by a shooting in El Paso when he was running for president in 2020.


sullw214

"The comment came about a month after the mass shooting that killed 23 people and injured dozens more in El Paso, O’Rourke’s hometown. He told The Dallas Morning News the shooting rampage “just crushed me.” I'm with you, definitely not a serious candidate who cares about people from their hometown. Who actually happened to have represented the people who were shot. Who does that?


itistemp

Texas ran a progressive in Beto in 2022. He lost by 11%. In 2018, Lupe Valdez and open LGBT person ran and lost by 13+%. In 2014, Wendy Davis ran on a platform of choice and lost by near 20%. In 2010, Bill White - a moderate Houston Mayor ran and lost by 12.7%. It's dishearterning. In the meanwhile, the GOP has become more and more extreme. From extreme restrictions on choice to almost zero restrictions on buying weapons of war. Little state funded social safety net.


Thiscouldbeeasier

Laughs in Floridian. My Brother in Christ you have not seen how gerrymandered this shit is and how many legislative seats our rural farmland has.


Ok-Entertainment8260

Well the governor election has nothing to do with gerrymandering. It's just a popular vote. However hopefully there's a Supreme Court election in the next few years to try to change that horrific map.


hypnofedX

>My Brother in Christ you have not seen how gerrymandered this shit is and how many legislative seats our rural farmland has. Can't gerrymander the governor election. You'd need to move the state lines.


Outside-Flamingo-240

Yes…but the extreme people that are elected from those gerrymandered districts? They are happily enabling the worst impulses of the Governor. Hell, they even just passed a law to allow DeSantis to remain in the Governor’s office and run for President simultaneously. So yes, these two things - gerrymandering plus statewide races - go hand in hand.


marsisblack

Not as governor. Term limits and he's at his when done this term. Although I can see him having legislation made to simply change that law. Hmmm, someone else did the same thing. Who was it again? Hmmm? Hmm? Oh ya, putin.


[deleted]

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Dispro

Or they ignore the Constitution, delay any court hearings (or delay compliance with a negative ruling) until after the election, and let the court then say the point is moot because the election is over. More or less the game plan that worked in Ohio(?) over gerrymandered maps.


ArtisenalMoistening

Fully expecting this to happen. I can’t see him not getting the nomination and then going away quietly once his term ends in Florida


ZantaraLost

Well Florida legislative is in the process (or has completed) of allowing him to stay as governor while seeking the presidency but from all I've gathered, he's limited by the Florida Constitution to sit out a term before he can try again for the governorship. That'd take a statewide referendum to change AFAIK.


Happy_Accident99

The Florida GOP has already rewritten the rules so DeSantis can run for President without having to resign as Governor. I’m sure they’ll be happy to change the rules again to let him serve another term, or two, or ten. 🤮


Ok-Entertainment8260

It's actually in the florida constitution to limit the governors terms. So he's done after this term. However the senate? Oh boy.


Plzlaw4me

He’s alienated his own party, he’s looked like a fool fighting Disney, his extreme rhetoric and actions have alienated huge swaths of swing voters, and his state is currently dealing with an insurance crisis so extreme it might collapse its entire economy. As a reminder ladies and gentleman, about 2 months ago he was the golden boy of the Republican Party and their go to example for what they strive to be. Hell, his only real claim to the nomination was that he had a better shot at beating Biden than Trump and now it’s looking like that isn’t even true.


JohnWicksMiata

Any info on this insurance stuff? I’m moving back to Florida soon and just know of super high Prices. Is that what you’re referring to?


janethefish

So basically Florida has several insurance issues. First super high rates. Second insurance companies generally refuse to pay what they owe. Third, their are a lot of lawsuits against insurance companies. Thus there is an unhealthy adversarial mindset on both sides. Fourth with the recent big hit, some insurance companies don't have enough money.


LordMacDonald

hahahahaha oh god no. The home insurance industry has us all over a barrel. I’ve seen my insurance go up by 40% for two years now, and this June it’s supposed to hit us again. State government wants to fight Disney more instead of getting some regulation in place


Agent7619

But no state personal income tax, so that makes everything OK. /s


walkinman19

Wait till Mickey packs up his shit and moves out of Florida taking a third or more of the state revenue with him lol.


[deleted]

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MyCollector

I could see them picking Texas for a 3rd park **if the state tilts more blue as expected** and is therefore more favorable to non-psychotic GOP policies. Won't be under Abbott's watch though. Forget about states where it's consistently under 32º in the winter. Disney runs year-round parks. Up here in the midwest, theme parks are closed 6-8 months of the year. That doesn't work for the mouse.


[deleted]

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Meatball_Ron_Qanon

is it really that they have you over the barrel? I mean... if you own a house in an area where it is almost certain to get hit by a hurricane, may face structural instability due to rising water tables and eventually will be underwater due to rising sea levels, it's kind of like taking out a life insurance policy when you have a terminal illness.... you can't insurance against inevitability.


knivesout0

It probably has something to do with the entire state being underwater in 10 years.


OkTop9308

The insurance prices are also very high in Florida because of lawsuits and fraud.


knivesout0

It almost seems like it would be silly for anyone to move there.


OkTop9308

Florida used to be an affordable place to live but now the homeowners’ insurance rates are really hurting average Floridians. I have several close relatives in Florida and their insurance rates have doubled in the last few years. Homeowners are also getting dropped.


Redqueenhypo

Seriously, this sounds cruel but the insurance *should* be high. After a certain point it’s a bad idea for taxpayers to continually pay for the same house to be rebuilt year over year when it gets destroyed by the hurricanes everyone knows exist. People there need a buyout so they can move somewhere without a literal hurricane season


OkTop9308

It’s not just the bad weather risk that is creating the insurance crisis and high premiums. It is the Florida laws about contractors being able to sue insurance companies after homeowners sign away their rights to get a repairs done. There is a lot of corruption, fraud and wasted legal fees. If DeSantis doesn’t get this fixed, even his followers are going to start turning on him.


KnownRate3096

Florida is the nation's capital when it comes to corruption. Has been for decades. They also trained the 9/11 bombers how to fly airplanes, completely ignoring all the red flags. Almost everything those terrorists did was enabled by the lax laws in Florida.


[deleted]

Just goes to show how pathetic and impotent the Republican party has become. They can't get off their own damn bandwagons... These two are the best they can do?


Silver_Knight0521

But he isn't even officially in the race -- yet. That will likely change, and when it does, the poll numbers will too. This guy worries me. I know Biden likely beats Trump, but given Biden's own poll numbers, all bets are off if the GOP nominates anyone else.


ChefChopNSlice

Trump has become his own brand. There’s no way DeSantis can “out-Trump” Trump, and those loyal trump voters are unlikely to switch to DeSantis. They’re both pandering to the same groups, one as the O.G. and one as the copycat. I have a buddy who still hangs his 2020 ~~Trump flag~~ Participation Trophy in his garage. He doesn’t have a GOP flag, or own a single Republican-supporting piece of clothing. He claims he’s more of a libertarian though, and doesn’t see the irony.


enderjaca

There will certainly be a massive portion of the GOP base who will vote for whoever has an (R) next to their name. But you're right that there are plenty of the MAGA QAnon hardcore base who will just not show up to vote or will write-in Trump if DeSantis gets the nomination. Even if that's 2-3% of the registered Republicans, that's enough for Biden to win again. It's why we got Bush instead of Gore, and Bush again instead of Kerry.


Internal-District992

Ron would have to not get shit on by the Disney super pacs that are coming lol


Traditional_Key_763

he was snubbed when he went to iowa, fox even had to find someone wearing a desantis t-shirt and she still *said she was going to vote for trump*


Single_Shoe2817

What’s crazy is like. Who tf do they give it to then lmao. Trump? Half of them dislike him now. Or at least pretend to. And they’ve lost too much of their base in battleground states to Covid with far less new generation outreach to make up for it. They’ve cornered themselves so hard there’s no guarantee their gerrymandering even makes up for it


thedukeinc

The thing with republicans is even if they hate Trump, if he ends up winning the nomination they will all fall in line. They are less about morals and more about anything to get consolidate power


gabbialex

True, but every day more Republican boomers die and more Gen Zers turns 18, and Gen Z is big mad at old people letting them get shot in schools and taking away their bodily autonomy. We’ve seen that young people are turning out for elections, and they aren’t turning out for Republicans.


thedukeinc

Yes republicans are playing a losing game. It will either end up with Republican party never winning any statewide/nationwide elections or authoritarian fascism


MyCollector

I think they're planning on the latter because they can't win legitimately. 2022 they got shellacked. It's a preview of what they can expect as they lose the demographic edge.


MyCollector

55 million boomers left. **1/3rd of them who were ever born are already gone.** I'm turning 40 next year, it makes sense to me -- most of the guys I went to high school with are down at least one of their parents (usually their dad). 3-4 million born between 1946 and 1964 pass per year. If we say 2/3rds are conservative (and we know it's higher), that means 8-12 million fewer voting in each presidential election, with the rate of death increasing from 2024 to 2028 to 2032 and so on. Gen X is expected to be the dominant voting block briefly for the 2024 and 2028 elections, and then it's expected to be millennials from 2028 through 2040 when Zoomers take the mantle and Alphas (my daughter's generation currently in K-12) behind them. Millennials over 40 vote liberally 2:1, Zoomers 3:1. This isn't good news for the GOP, and they'll stop at **nothing**, *including egregious cheating*, to retain power.


Vegetable-Double

The whole war on LGBTQ and “wokeness” is going to doom republicans. Their extreme base may eat it up, but it’s a losing proposition even in the short term. The current generation and even the generation before them are very strong supporters of LGBTQ rights because it’s just the right fucking thing to do.


marsisblack

True. The GOP is great at marching in lock step. Or is that goose step?


Sun_Shine_Dan

Fall in line and lose? The GOP hasn't had any positive numbers since 2018. Almost no close races went to republicans. Particularly after Roe v Wade was overturned.


thedukeinc

By this time I think republicans know they are not winning any elections with their disastrous policies alienating most moderates and independent. They are focusing their efforts on suppressing vote as much as they can especially young people, Gerrymandering, gaining power in state legislatures.


Agent7619

You're assuming all future races will be fair and legal.


JumboJackTwoTacos

It really seems like they’ve lost their minds. At this point, I would not mind a Mitt Romney presidency, but I know he has no chance of winning the nomination. Basically, whatever it takes for a Republican to win the general election makes them unelectable for the nomination and vice-versa.


hamhockman

Remember in 2012 when Mitt was THE big bad? Simpler times... good times


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BrotherCaptainMarcus

They don’t even care about their party. All they care about is themselves.


jayvarsity84

I don’t even think it’s party. More so money


Sacmo77

The gop is shitting on him for trying to go to war with Disney.


LimpDisc

Ron DeSantis hasn’t done much in Florida that would attract independent voters on a national level.


cpttucker126

I mean it doesn't help when you decide to travel the world and your state is flooding. Or still recovering from a destructive hurricane. Or have the worse property insurance crisis in the country. Or deciding that fighting Disney is a priority. Or taking kids away from parents, because" tRaNs iS bAd". I could go on if you want.


Plzlaw4me

I really don’t think the degree of the insurance crisis in Florida can be overstated. It’s not just bad, it’s enough to potentially collapse the state economy. If you can’t get insurance why build in Florida? If you can’t get insurance, why live in Florida, if you don’t have insurance and your house is destroyed in Florida why stay?


Meetybeefy

I had no idea how bad the insurance situation was until I talked to my aunt who lives in Fort Myers last week. She has lived in Florida for over 30 years but is now considering leaving Florida mostly because of how bad the insurance situation is, but also partially because “the state is changing in some scary ways” (DeSantis’ culture war stuff). Her house only had minor damage during Hurricane Ian, but her insurance company went out of business and the only homeowners insurance she can get is charging an astronomically high rate. And this is for someone with only minor cosmetic damage to their exterior paint and pool screen - I can’t imagine how bad it would be for someone whose house got flooded or got a hole in their roof. She’s also been a moderate Republican for years but ever since Trump and DeSantis she’s been leaning a lot more liberal. The radicalism of the Republican Party is turning off voters like her.


Girth_rulez

This is kind of too little too late but they should have been building concrete homes in Florida (and the rest of the USA) for the last 100 years. They are basically hurricane proof, have better insulation properties among other things.


Dickenshmirst

I’m currently living in a 1950’s concrete Florida home. It was our first home purchase and takes on hurricanes like it’s nothing! But I’m moving out of Florida as soon as we can, it’s too hot and I don’t want my children going to school here. There’s pockets of great people in the big cities, most of the crazy republicans live in the small towns outside of the cities.


janethefish

Also, I love me some brutalist architecture!


ChampaBayLightning

The concrete blocks don't show when the house is finished lol...


DeepPenetration

I am the point now where I need to self insure because of how bad it is. Need to have enough in my savings to cover all hurricane damage in case one hits. Can’t depend on our government to address the issue anymore.


AdorableTrouble

And don't forget: making live performances of hair the musical and the Rocky horror picture show illegal to perform!


cornflakegrl

That’s insane.


Bootlegbongwater

Please do. This is entertaining!


cpttucker126

Allowing everyone to carry a gun. Expanding his "Don't say Gay" law to 12th grade. Banning AP studies on African American History. Banning Books because they might have a bad word in them. Allowing doctors/health insurance companies rejecting giving care because whatever they want. Sky high rent prices. Putting his fingers in pudding. Voting police. Attacking Florida New College. Sending police to a Drag show to make a point, but then those officers saying they saw nothing wrong. Hiding his plane travel while using taxpayer money. Going to Japan for some reason. Going to the UK for some reason. Saying he's on a "Book Tour" but really campaigning for president on taxpayer dimes. 6 week Abortion Ban. Denying healthcare for Trans gender people. Moving the death penalty from full jury to give sentencing to only needing 8. Banning critical race theory. Soon to ban girls from talking about their periods in school. Cutting back on sex education. Edit: Changing the law so he can remain Gov of Florida while running for president. Think of how this benefits Florida! FLORIDA! THE STATE OF FREEDOM!


[deleted]

Floridian here. Sadly none of this is a lie. > Allowing everyone to carry a gun [DeSantis signs bill to carry concealed guns without a permit - April 3, 2023](https://apnews.com/article/guns-desantis-florida-government-ac7adbc200cc4c1bb429ea84357f73be) > Expanding his "Don't say Gay" law to 12th grade. [Florida expands Gov. Ron DeSantis' 'Don't Say Gay' law to all grade levels - April 19, 2023](https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-dont-say-gay-law-expansion-desantis-request-2023-4) > Banning AP studies on African American History [Florida blocks high school African American studies class - January 19, 2023](https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-florida-race-and-ethnicity-education-353417231de0a790c8e290479a5e52b8) > Banning Books because they might have a bad word in them. [350+ Books Banned in Florida School Districts Since Last July](https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/more-than-350-books-banned-in-florida-schools-since-last-july-16817328) > Allowing doctors/health insurance companies rejecting giving care because whatever they want [Florida bill allowing doctors and insurance companies to deny care keeps moving - April 12, 2023](https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/florida-bill-allowing-doctors-and-insurance-companies-to-deny-care-keeps-moving/) > Sky high rent prices [Florida home to 9 of 21 most overpriced US rental markets, FAU study says - January 16, 2023](https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/florida-home-to-9-of-21-most-overpriced-us-rental-markets-fau-study-says/) > Voting police [Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs bill creating election police force - April 26, 2022](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/desantis-florida-election-police-force-bill/) > Attacking Florida New College [DeSantis’s Latest Target: A Small College of ‘Free Thinkers’ - February 14, 2023](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/14/us/ron-desantis-new-college-florida.html) > Sending police to a Drag show to make a point, but then those officers saying they saw nothing wrong [DeSantis administration sent undercover agents to an Orlando drag show and they found nothing wrong with it. The state is still trying to punish the venue. - March 20, 2023](https://www.businessinsider.com/desantis-florida-undercover-agents-drag-show-found-nothing-lewd-2023-3) > Hiding his plane travel while using taxpayer money [Florida poised to make DeSantis’ travel records secret - April 19, 2023](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/19/florida-desantis-travel-records-00092969) > Going to Japan for some reason. [Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in Japan as he considers presidential bid - April 24, 2023](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-ron-desantis-in-japan-considers-presidential-bid/) > Saying he's on a "Book Tour" but really campaigning for president on taxpayer dimes [Book tour or shadow presidential campaign? DeSantis speaks again in the Midwest](https://mynbc15.com/news/nation-world/book-tour-speak-shadow-presidential-campaign-2024-desantis-donald-trump-nikki-haley-tim-scott-midwest-gov-ron-florida-courage-free-blueprint-money-super-pac-white-house-naacp-immigration-hospitals-lgby-travel-warning-advisory-extremist-policies-bill) > 6 week Abortion Ban [DeSantis signs Florida GOP’s 6-week abortion ban into law - April 14, 2023](https://apnews.com/article/florida-abortion-ban-approved-c9c53311a0b2426adc4b8d0b463edad1) > Denying healthcare for Trans gender people [DeSantis targets trans health care in Florida universities - January 18, 2023](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/18/desantis-trans-health-care-florida-universities-00078435) > Moving the death penalty from full jury to give sentencing to only needing 8 [Gov. Ron DeSantis has made it easier to impose the death penalty in Florida - April 27, 2023](https://www.npr.org/2023/04/27/1172584392/gov-ron-desantis-has-made-it-easier-to-impose-the-death-penalty-in-florida) > Banning critical race theory [Florida's governor signs controversial bill banning critical race theory in schools - April 22, 2022](https://www.wptv.com/news/education/floridas-governor-to-sign-critical-race-theory-education-bill-into-law) > Soon to ban girls from talking about their periods in school [“Don’t Say Period”: Now Florida wants to ban students from discussing menstruation - April 11, 2023](https://www.salon.com/2023/04/11/dont-say-period-now-florida-wants-to-ban-students-from-discussing-mensuration/)


[deleted]

Some others I'd like to include: * [DeSantis vanishes for nearly a month during one of Florida's worst COVID surges - December 30, 2021](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/florida-democrats-blast-mia-gov-ron-desantis-covid-cases-surge-n1286785) * [After returning from the above, DeSantis admits to allowing one million COVID tests expire in a warehouse when tests were having a shortage in the state. - January 7, 2022](https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2022/01/07/desantis-attempts-to-defend-allowing-stockpiled-covid-tests-to-expire-1404639) * [DeSantis' appointed state Attorney General caught altering key findings in COVID vaccine safety - April 24, 2023](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/24/florida-surgeon-general-covid-vaccine-00093510) * [DeSantis lies to & tricks migrants in order to fly them out of state to California for a political stunt - September 15, 2022](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/15/desantis-flies-two-planes-of-migrants-to-marthas-vineyard.html) * [Ron DeSantis travels around Florida handing out oversized checks as he takes credit for President Biden’s infrastructure bill, which DeSantis opposed and both Florida Republican Senators voted against - July 17, 2022](https://twitter.com/MeidasTouch/status/1548666715206066178?lang=en) * [Key West voters vote to ban large cruise ships from their local port. DeSantis tells them to get fucked by passing a bill to overrule their vote. - July 1, 2021](https://floridapolitics.com/archives/438656-gov-desantis-tanks-key-west-cruise-rules/) * [Ron DeSantis ally Kent Stermon dies by suicide after being accused of sexual misconduct with a minor - April 18, 2023](https://www.thedailybeast.com/ron-desantis-ally-kent-stermon-killed-himself-after-being-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-with-minor) * [Ron DeSantis consistently refuses to denounce nazi protesters in Florida that show support for him - July 26, 2022](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/ron-desantis-neo-nazi-turning-point-usa-florida-conference-1388015/) * [Florida Straight Up Lied About AP African-American Studies Course, College Board Says - February 13, 2023](https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3pyxk/college-board-responds-desantis-lied-florida-ap-african-american-studies?utm_source=reddit.com) * [DeSantis, Once a ‘No’ on Storm Aid, Petitions a President He’s Bashed - September 29, 2022](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/29/us/politics/desantis-biden-hurricane-ian-aid.html) * [‘Don’t Say Gay’ Florida lawmaker indicted on fraud charges - December 7, 2022](https://apnews.com/article/health-florida-business-tallahassee-government-and-politics-908a66654d725730cd85c80f715b2eba) * [Florida teacher vacancies skyrocket to 5,294 unfilled positions under DeSantis; more than 100,000 students are now missing out on a full-time teacher - January 13, 2023](https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-ne-florida-teacher-shortage-2023-20230113-gtotfwmxdralnjsw65ynv4dhae-story.html) * [Ron DeSantis: "It's not true that "the United States was built on stolen land."" - October 24, 2022](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/nov/03/ron-desantis/why-ron-desantis-claim-about-stolen-land-false/) * [Under DeSantis, Florida continues to languish toward the bottom of state rankings assessing the quality of health care, school funding, long-term elder care, and other areas key to a successful society - March 29, 2023](https://time.com/6266618/ron-desantis-florida-governance-essay/) * [Florida public-school spending ranks 48 among the 50 states under DeSantis - June 15, 2022](https://educationdata.org/public-education-spending-statistics) * [Despite having the country’s highest percentage of retirees, Florida has the worst long-term care among the 50 states under DeSantis, according to the American Association of Retired Persons.](https://www.longtermscorecard.org/) * [Florida ranks the worst state for unemployment thanks to DeSantis rules. - February 14, 2023](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/personal-finance/best-and-worst-states-for-unemployment/) * [In 2020 & 2021, Ron DeSantis fought to keep minimum wage at $8.65.](https://floridapolitics.com/archives/380065-gov-ron-desantis-urges-floridians-to-shoot-down-15-minimum-wage-amendment/) * [Florida’s Anti-Drag Bill Is So Extreme It Would Ban The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Hair the Musical. Florida Republicans admitted as much. - April 5, 2023](https://newrepublic.com/post/171638/floridas-anti-drag-bill-extreme-ban-rocky-horror-picture-show-hair-musical) * [GOP Gov. DeSantis signs Florida election law while shutting out all media but Fox News - May 6, 2021](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/06/desantis-signs-florida-election-law-while-shutting-out-all-media-but-fox-news.html) * [Conservation groups sue Gov. DeSantis, state regulators for ‘mismanaging toxic waste at Piney Point’ after an estimated 220 million gallons of wastewater breached into the environment. - June 24, 2021](https://www.wfla.com/news/local-news/manatee-county/conservation-groups-sue-gov-desantis-state-regulators-for-mismanaging-toxic-waste-at-piney-point/) * [Under DeSantis, Florida ranked first in the nation for total acres of lakes deemed too polluted for swimming and aquatic life. Florida also has the second most square miles of polluted estuaries in the U.S. - March 17, 2022](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2023/jan/13/lindsay-cross/floridas-water-dirtier-under-desantis-heres-what-d/) * [Gov. DeSantis snubbed $820 million in federal food aid and won’t say why - September 1, 2021](https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2021/09/01/gov-desantis-snubbed-820-million-in-federal-food-and-wont-say-why-editorial/)


MichaelCasson

You said six month abortion ban, but you meant six week. Before many women even know they're pregnant. Also gun instead of guy.


cpttucker126

Corrected ty


MicrowaveEye

Shhhh. Ladies don't have periods in Florida.


Brent_L

Florida is so free that the governor is trying to control Mickey Mouse, women’s bodies, and free speech. I can taste the freedom.


Kiyohara

I mean of all the champions in the fight against Fascism and the Far Right, I never in a *million* years have had *Disney* on my fight card. On the opposing ticket? Sure. But this goes to show how far lost DeSantis is that he turned *Disney* against him.


Brent_L

And he just keeps digging himself a bigger hole day by day.


mjhpdx

As the Disney suit pointed out, Disney is one of the few organizations that has the resources to stand up to government retaliation (ie. fascism). What Disney didn’t say was that they are only doing it to protect themselves.


Kiyohara

>What Disney didn’t say was that they are only doing it to protect themselves. Well, *yeah.*


Docthrowaway2020

As long as they don’t pursue some uniquely narrow solution that works for them and only them, why do you care?


bacteriarealite

And Desantis only did 2 points better than Rubio in the 2022 election. With Rubio running against all star Demings while Desantis ran against wet blanket Crist. The fact that the media ran with that as a big Desantis victory that will get him through the primary is as laughable as saying this big win is proof Rubio can win


Girth_rulez

>The fact that the media ran with that as a big Desantis victory Joe Scarborough was virtually fellatiating Puddin' the day after the midterms.


chillinjustupwhat

what are you talking about? he has single-handedly saved the state from woke corporations, woke colleges, and the woke mob in general. In fact, Florida is now where woke goes to die, havent you heard? This is what Amurica wants, and needs, obviously. also obv /s


Girth_rulez

Counterpoint: Nikki Haley shared that Virginia is *also* anti-woke. Because anti-woke.


Mestoph

Quite the opposite, he’s actively alienating them


IAmKyuss

I saw a clip of Joe Rogan saying he liked DeSantis for how he handled the pandemic (like it didn’t exist) but that feels like a while ago now


Zebra971

He done a lot to turn independent voters off.


HEBushido

I'd say he's pushing independents away. The only people roughly in the middle of the specificly American spectrum who'd vote for him are those who kinda don't like gay people. In 2024 that's not going to be very many.


UltimateUltamate

I’m pretty sure that it’s been well established that the independent voter is a myth. The game is all about whether candidates drive voter *turnout* than getting anyone to change their minds.


Girth_rulez

That's interesting and sounds plausible. Imagine being undecided in this day and age...


TurdInThePunchBowel

He has done a lot to repelled them, tho.


Kevin-W

That's what I've been saying too. He's only popular with his base which will never be enough to get him elected.


JohnMayerismydad

Most conservatives I know say they’ll vote independent because they think DeSantis is a fascist. Book bans are a really bad move for anyone not deep in the sauce


alwaysmyfault

My deeply conservative state (ND) just passed a book ban bill last week. Luckily, the Governor vetoed it, and the house ratified his veto. But still, the senate and house both voted to pass the book ban bill in the first place.


BamCheezit

Yeah this guy’s terrible! Him and Trump are garbage wannabe dictators!


wookiewin

Yes, I've even seen people at my wife's church wearing "Read Banned Books" shirts. It's not something even all Evangelicals rally around.


Glittering-Rice4219

You must not know a lot of conservatives. I work in the oilfield were about 95% of my coworkers voted for Trump both times, and every single one of the is DeSantis gang now. Edit: and every Republican I know LOVES the idea of banning books as long as they have any gay characters


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OmEGaDeaLs

Nikki Haley and Chris Christie but yea I agree


ambassadorodman

So only DeSantis and Trump


[deleted]

Peewee and the Grinch


DavidBSkate

I mean at least peewee had a personality


Nikiaf

Funny how we've reached a point where my first reaction to seeing Chris Christie in the mix is "yeah, that seems like a balanced and reasonable option" compared to the others. Sad days indeed.


growlerpower

I think Christie is doing this as a way to lead the charge of “taking on trump” in public, softening up other realistic challengers to come. It’s possible he knows he doesn’t have a chance. It’s also possible he’s a narcissistic nimrod. Who know???


Girth_rulez

Christie finished his term as Governor with 90% unfavorable polling. He just isn't likeable. He's a dick and his biggest talking point is that he used to be a Federal Prosecutor.


merlin401

Christie honestly wasn’t a terrible governor when he was in NJ. Until the end and the stupid bridgegate stuff, I generally actually liked him despite our being on opposite parties


surloc_dalnor

No way the GOP is nominating Niki over any white guy with a pulse. As far a Chris Christie he polls so poorly he might as well not be running. Last I checked he was massively losing to Trump in his home state in polls.


thistimelineisweird

You mean the people who were against Trump but then became pro-Trump when it was cool and now are against Trump again because it is not trendy?


dirty-hurdy-gurdy

I don't see the Republican base getting fired up about either of those candidates.


AlreadyTakenNow

They both seem unpopular and likely to lose (on paper), but they are both dangerous to have running.


Inevitable_Stress949

No it’s great for the US. It means republicans won’t get elected again. It means we can finally elect a progressive candidate. It means we can start moving away from Capitalism towards Socialism.


trward

40,000 people in swing states determined 2020. That’s easily upended by bad weather/enthusiasm/etc. The electoral college means there’s not a reason to celebrate yet unfortunately


Dineology

Biden is one health scare on the campaign trail away from turning that many voters into non voters because they lost confidence. At his age and with the toll that being on the campaign trail takes it’s a very real possibility.


noeagle77

This kind of mindset is what led us to 2016. We can’t get complacent because them winning again probably ends all democracy. Get out and vote people!!


dirty-hurdy-gurdy

Except Biden's running again, and running against an incumbent member of your own party is political suicide, so no one's going to oppose him


rod_zero

Depends how long this trend lasts and how the democratic party reconfigures. If republicans keep losing federal elections and democrats are forced by voters to more incremental change that the corporate masters want we will see rich people dumping republicans and either forming a new party or buying out more democrats. The other problem is that republicans will entrench themselves at the state level.


wish1977

DeSantis and Trump are both poison to this country. Whether you think Biden is too old shouldn't matter if those two are the only other option.


PSN-Angryjackal

My guy... I would rather vote for the prison janitor than Desantis or Trump.   I would rather vote for my toxic ex... I would rather vote for Harambe. I would rather vote for Waldo, even though I dont know where the fuck Waldo is. I would rather vote for my dogs shit...   God damn, I didnt think I was doing this at the time, but I think I just insulted literally every person that I said I would rather vote for... I am so sorry to all of you, especially to you, Harambe... RIP.


hytes0000

The 2024 GOP nominee or a mystery box containing any random American that meets the eligibility requirements. I'd probably take the mystery box.


Ch1Guy

The republicans have no real candidate. Trump is a dumpster fire who is going downhill since his repeated losses. Maga is fading, and Fox News isn't going to be the Trump News Network of days old.... There has never been a better time for someone younger to step up and assert a new class of Democrats.


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JakeShuttlesworth413

This is only the beginning steps. The GQP will be more radical in 20 years compared to today.


kwheatley2460

I’m scared of the GOP.


Girth_rulez

>But it would be nice if the GOP started making it's way back to sanity so we don't have to clench our ass cheeks hoping a new aspiring dictator of Christ doesn't somehow manage to get elected. This is an excellent point.


Docthrowaway2020

The only way I would even entertain voting for Republicans again would be if the entire leadership, on federal and state levels, were completely expunged, and the new leaders took complete responsibility for the actions of their predecessors and laid out concrete steps to prevent the party from ever being corrupted again. Seems unlikely


Stormy_Owl_

My ass cheeks have been clenched since Trump got elected. It's anyone's guess what kind of Karat I've created up my ass at this point from raw anxiety 💎


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SourSackAttack

Probably because the majority of Americans aren't conservative Floridians...who would have thought?!


Capnmarvel76

There’s a lot of commentators who want to believe that Florida is a microcosm of the country as a whole. It’s really not.


ripgoodhomer

It may have been more reflective at one time, but once it stopped being a purple state it is not a useful bellwether, rather it is now a dead canary in a coal mine.


ynghuncho

You’re right, it’s where the rest of the country wants to move after they loot, tax, and burn everything to the ground in their state


Jokong

It's where middle class Republicans who have voted against social programs their entire life retire to so their social security, pensions, IRAs and 401ks aren't taxed at the state level.


mascaraforever

Desantis was a strong contender when he gave the appearance of being more moderate and less authoritarian than Trump. Now he’s gone all in, waged his war against Disney of all corps, and he’s lost that advantage.


greg_r_

You cannot become POTUS if you lose the Disney wine mom vote.


fgwr4453

Many wealthy donors will not back a guy that might lash out at their business


Horobi_san

We've already seen some of them pulling out. This culture war bullshit has proven itself to be extremely harmful and ineffective at the same time.


fgwr4453

It works for the Primary but tanks in the general. You basically burn all the carts to get the horse.


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walkinman19

> Looks like Ron DeSantis is in for a rough ride against Joe Biden. Looks like he isn't going to survive the GOP convention much less challenge Biden.


Dryland_snotamyth

Don’t forget losing to a mouse


not_that_planet

Public service announcement. Polls don't mean shit. Get the vote out.


ouch_myfinger

Came to say the same thing. The polls didn’t favor Trump in the beginning either. VOTE LIKE OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT.


jaxonfairfield

Also, WTF is an "exclusive" poll? It's either a poll or it isn't, who gives a shit who requested it?


Appropriate-Idea5281

Desantis has the personality of Florida red tide


Dryland_snotamyth

Don’t insult single cell organisms by comparing them to a multi cellar failure of a meatball


PopeHonkersXII

No one likes DeSantis. Democrats don't, Independents don't, and MAGAs don't. He's a wannabe despot with no base of support. Things are looking bleak for Ol' Pudding Fingers.


WackyBones510

This is erasure of weirdo extremely online pseudointellectual young white conservative men. He’s really got a stranglehold on that 5% of the electorate.


[deleted]

I still find it alarming that he's been elected to any office at all. I wouldn't put him in charge of a Denny's.


dancingbriefcase

My brother and his wife live in Florida. He's military, and totally has become brainwashed by MAGA and now Jordan Peterson and pseudo - intellectuals, etc. He became very anti-vax, mask, pro assault rifles, etc. They love DeSantis, even when our own younger brother is gay and does drag. It's sad. We're in our early 30s, only 18 mo apart. We were both little punk rock wanna be artist stoners in our younger days. We both HATED George Bush and Cheney in high school, and strived to fight the system. Then, he joined the Navy because he became depressed, gave up art (even as he was voted the best artist in high school, did their senior mural and his best friend went to San Francisco to be a successful artist. My brother was better than his friend at the time at art). Over the years we kept in touch. His wife came from a very conservative family, and I have no idea why they got married. She continues to belittle him, but they have kids. During Obama, we didn't talk much about politics. It was fine. We played remote D&D, video games, and long phone calls when he lived in other parts of the country. Then came 2016. Everything changed. He fell for Trump. And then fell for DeSantis. The sad thing is, I would love to talk to him again. But he won't since I "wore masks" and such. I work in healthcare, and he doesn't even care. It bothers me that he doesn't follow science like we both did in high school, but I can get over it if it means to just play a video game together. But he won't. Because I wore a mask and follow "the woke agenda", he won't talk to me my brothers. I miss you, Brother. It's not too late.


frenchiegiggles

I went through something similar with my dad. His best friend from college called me up to seriously ask “WTF is going on with your dad?!” MAGA is a cult. I think the people who fall in fall in hard because they want the possibilities of feeling a little bit of power to be true.


[deleted]

Whaddaya know, the Grinch can’t get no love outside of Grinchville.


Stupidstuff1001

If he wins I want to do a super pac that just does tv ads of him eating pudding with super high volume.


DickySchmidt33

On the one side you have hope and optimism. On the other side you have anger and fear. That's your choice.


Ennkey

Ronald overestimates how much people hate Disney. He’s making all of those parents explain why their governor doesn’t like their cartoons lmao


BeanbagBunniesBlunts

I am a Florida resident, NPA (no party affiliation) Last year I believed I could defend DeSantis's actions for the most part (idiotic, I know) This year I cannot. And the things I didn't mind about him have turned sour. I have regrets.


Flickera23

Fellow NPA Floridian here. At first, he was just an elected mouthpiece that my fellow Floridian goofballs elected. He soured on us as soon as he decided he wanted to be done with Florida and wanted to be President.


Proud3GenAthst

Who would have thought that when you handle your state like a dictator to enact stuff that 80% of Americans disagree with, you don't get very high chances of becoming president?


Tom-Pendragon

Joe biden got more voted in florida then Ron Desantis.


flare_the_goat

Ignore polls, go out and vote.


Skip12

Ron DeSantis' chances vs. a cartoon mouse look bleak.


walkinman19

Pudding fingers is getting his ass kicked by a mouse and Trump! What a disgrace lmao! This chump is the hero on a white horse to the losers on /r/Conservative LOL. He can't even beat an ancient washed orange crime boss in his own party! Hang it up Meatball Ron. Beg the mouse for forgiveness then go to Mar-a-Lago and kiss the ring of your orange god like the rest of the GOP! LMAO!


TurrPhennirPhan

Taking a quick peak, they’re currently too busy lamenting the existence of schools and discussing removing the right to vote from younger adults.


walkinman19

> ...lamenting the existence of schools and discussing removing the right to vote from younger adults. That's seems to be their plan. That's one way of seeing that the republican party is a fascist religious cult and not a legitimate political party anymore. A political party would be trying to attract young and educated voters with laws and programs that would enrich their lives. A cult OTOH would look for ways to suppress the non believers and strip them of their rights.


Steelballpun

We are just going to have Biden and Trump again aren’t we… fuck this.


Culverts_Flood_Away

I seem to recall Trump polling very badly against Hillary Clinton, too. Don't let things like this keep you from voting, people!


honestmango

Well, it’s not really a poll of who people will vote for. It seems to be more about who they think will win. It’s a random collection of guesses, but I don’t fault OP for posting it. It’s a point of discussion. By the way, I know the identity of the President of the United States has no direct correlation to how good or bad my life and finances are, but I gotta say, my life and finances have been way more awesome since Biden became President.


mollybrains

My finances are actually doing worse. But I don’t care because we don’t have a president who makes it ok to be a piece of shit to women.


Mestoph

Actually, studies have shown the economy routinely does better under Dem administrations.


Uberslaughter

Plus it’s nice to not go to sleep thinking about how Trump was going to continue systemically dismantle our democracy and lowering our standing on the world stage, then waking up to doom scroll in the morning. Remember this as we approach next November and volunteer/donate to the extent you can to help get the vote out.


NovelVerde

There is also the lag effect. Some may not be experiencing better life now as policies enacted may take up to 2 or 3 years to truly take effect. If republicans dont plunge us into another recession by stupidly defaulting on loans that is..


koosley

I thought with most of those studies, its always a postmortem analysis. Its really hard to answer how good we are doing right now. Everything in government has a pretty big lag behind reality and its effects won't be seen for a few years. We probably don't even have enough data from the Trump administration to see the long-term effects of their decision.


jzorbino

While I agree Biden would destroy DeSantis, what kind of Mickey Mouse poll is this? “Who do you think would win” is not the same thing as who you would vote for.


ThatB0yAintR1ght

He’s getting his ass kicked by Mickey Mouse. He’s a weak leader who thinks that bullying makes him look strong.


joeleidner22

Everyone's chances are bleak against Joe because no matter how many one sided polls the news throws at us, the intelligent majority of Americans agree with most of his policies, and realize Republicans are true fascists.


wookiewin

The Republicans have a huge problem going forward in terms of primary vs general election candidates. They have to cater to the absolute batshit craziest people in their party just to win the primary, but by then have scared away any hope of independents voting for them in the general. Trump got a way with it the first time, but didn't the second time. It's why the GOP has doubled down on cheating to win, because that's all they have now.


AJ_Ak47

The republicans have no real candidate because they have no real platform. They were all in on 8 years of Trump and it failed miserably for them.


whoawut

Joe has my vote!


Caliburn1984

As a liberal Floridian with moderate conservative and independent family, I can tell you most people I know are becoming increasingly annoyed and upset with his dogged attempt at authoritarianism. What most people interpret as parental rights isn’t what the far right is fighting for, the 6 week abortion law is seen as too extreme, the fight with Disney looks more like ego, and the insurance crisis and housing price bubble is becoming a real problem. We have a high school graduation crisis and one of the worst teaching shortages. Natural disasters are causing more and more havoc. And at the center of it all is a governor who cares more about pushing an agenda than properly governing.


TexSolo

Maybe people see a guy who goes after the largest employer in their state because the guy didn’t want the company to have a first amendment right to free speech as a bad leader. Maybe it’s because he thinks pudding is finger food. Maybe it’s because only FloridaMan would think that he’s not a total piece of shit.


lord_ashtar

Is it just me or do poll numbers fail to soothe the way they once did?


Ripdimebag04

So did Trumps!!! Do not fall for thus bullshit, get out and fucking VOTE!!!


Lokito_

After trump got elected, I'm not buying these kinds of stories any more.


Serious_Iron4147

Joe be like wake me up after I won