As Florida's COVID troubles worsen, DeSantis faces GOP pushback

[babylonsister]

As Florida's COVID troubles worsen, DeSantis faces GOP pushback
The worse COVID conditions in Florida become, the more Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) balks at policies designed to help address the pandemic.
Aug. 9, 2021, 8:00 AM EDT
By Steve Benen

snip//

What the governor has refused to do is adopt policies designed to help address the pandemic. As the New York Times reported over the weekend:

Mr. DeSantis has been unyielding in his approach to the pandemic, refusing to change course or impose restrictions despite uncontrolled spread and spiking hospitalizations -- an approach that forced him to undertake the biggest risk of his rising political career.

A Washington Post report added that the GOP governor is among the Republicans who've "decided new surges are tolerable and do not require a robust response to quell."

The passivity in response to tragedy is difficult to understand, much less defend, but it'd be a mistake to suggest DeSantis is doing literally nothing. He's already taken important actions such as preventing local officials from acting on their own to try to save lives, preventing Florida communities and businesses that want to impose modest restrictions to stem the tide of infections.

snip//

It is a position DeSantis, at least for now, refuses to consider. One can only wonder how much worse conditions would have to become before the governor changes course.


more...

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/florida-s-covid-troubles-worsen-desantis-faces-gop-pushback-n1276324

[bluedevil4]

1. My brother lives

in Florida and he likes his governor. We try not to talk politics because it separates us but my understanding is that that the governor is well liked and leaves masking up to the individual families. Then we talk about other things…. The end

[babylonsister]

2. I live in FL and know lots of

people who think he's dangerous and is killing his constituents.

[njhoneybadger]

3. Your brother is a fucking idiot.

[NJCher]

5. sigh

sometimes things just need to be said.

[obamanut2012]

7. He is not well liked, except by wingnuts

Even pretty RWNJ I work with got vaxxed, are masked, and are homeschooling their kids because of Delta, and they all loathe DeSantis.

[bluedevil4]

12. He's vaccinated

Why would you think he wasn’t?

[JoanofArgh]

9. DeSantis barely won his election and his

polling numbers have been horrible. He may be well likedamong your brother’s friends but a lot of people in Florida can’t stand him.

[Indykatie]

10. Bluedevil4 Just Found DU And is Already Sprouting GOP Talking Points. Is That Allowed?

[Hekate]

21. ****

I haven’t seen any other posts, but when in doubt, you can’t go wrong asking MIRT before the 100 post deadline. MIRT sees all and knows all.

Pick a name, any name, and PM them
https://upload.democraticunderground.com/101311900

[North Shore Chicago]

14. But but but....

DeSantis is not leaving it up to individual families!!

He is threatening the schools with removal of funds if they have a vaccination mandate!!

Your brother I'm afraid fell for the garbage hook, line and sinker. Good luck.

[bluedevil4]

17. Interesting

Thank you for telling me that

[Sunsky]

22. Many of us don't

but I'm sure like anyone else he has some supporters...The end.

[EYESORE 9001]

4. When his moneybags donors threaten to cut off the cash flow

THEN he will change his tune. Not before.

[gratuitous]

6. In spite of all this death and disease

The Times continues to characterize DeSantis' political career as "rising." What does it take for a Republican politician to commit career suicide? Clearly the impotently hostile response to the pandemic being carried out by DeSantis isn't enough.

[obamanut2012]

8. They are worng -- his internals are obviously tanking

[Xoan]

11. Yale and Harvard got some explaining to do.

[scarletlib]

15. I agree. What the hell is going on there.

Both have turned out large numbers of reactionary, and seemingly ignorant graduates.

[Chainfire]

13. DeSantis chose the wrong battleground and to admit it would cause him to lose face.

Let him die in the valley of the presidential campaign along with his loyal troops.

[scarletlib]

16. Hoisted by his own petard.

Read a tweet by Paul Krugman explaining the long con. Basically the Republicans have sold their base this truckload of hogwash and the base has bought it. DeSantis knows at this point that the virus is devastating his base and his poll numbers.

But he can’t just change his mind and say oops we were wrong. If he does his rabid all in base will turn against him.

[Phoenix61]

19. I think he was hoping for a national

mandate which would save his ass. He could rail against it but it would keep his base alive to vote another day. Biden’s smarter than that. If he forces a mandate he just empowers DeSatan and his ilk.

[scarletlib]

20. I think you're right.

[lame54]

18. Trump playbook...

Do nothing and lie like hell about your "progress"