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Post by aj2hall on Mar 31, 2023 15:02:18 GMT
www.npr.org/2023/03/30/1167042594/disney-desantis-board-reedy-creek-charlesSo what happens next? Can the board take power back? The Restrictive Covenant is binding, meaning Disney could easily sue the board for legal damages if it tries to overstep its powers.
And it's only severable "if any clause or provision" is "illegal, invalid or unenforceable under applicable present or future laws."
DeSantis' office thinks that it might be able to strike down the Covenant based on legality alone.
"The Executive Office of the Governor is aware of Disney's last-ditch efforts to execute contracts just before ratifying the new law," said Communications Director Taryn Fenske in a statement shared with other outlets. "An initial review suggests these agreements may have significant legal infirmities that would render contracts void as a matter of law."
DeSantis's office did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment and clarification.
Worst case, could DeSantis just pass a new law? Maybe, but any law that more broadly takes action against restrictive covenants or special districts could have wider-reaching consequences that DeSantis may want to avoid.
One of the governor's earlier plans to dissolve all special tax districts in the state fell apart after analysts pointed out that doing so might ultimately raise taxes for the counties next to Reedy Creek, frustrating local residents.
In the end, the board could be left to pursue a legal challenge to the Covenant, which could still take months to sort out in the courts.
The board hired four outside law firms to look into the contract, including Cooper & Kirk. DeSantis has paid millions to the boutique Washington, D.C., firm to help defend several controversial policies, according to reporting from the Orlando Sentinel.
NPR reached out to members of the board for comment but had not received a reply by the time of publication. Bridget Ziegler, one of the more high-profile members, said on Twitter that the board "won't stand for this" and "won't back down."
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Post by jennifercw on Mar 31, 2023 15:14:21 GMT
I believe the full clause is "Declaration shall continue in effect until 21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, King of England, living as of the date of this declaration," so it wouldn't extend to future generations. (Right?) That sounds right. The last survivor of the descendants sounds like future generations to me. www.npr.org/2023/03/30/1167042594/disney-desantis-board-reedy-creek-charlesAnd, in an extra detail that the internet is devouring, the term of the agreement was set using the "Rule Against Perpetuities" — which states that a policy will continue until after a certain person dies.
In this case, the declaration will continue "until twenty one (21) years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III." DeSantis, after all, frequently refers to Walt Disney World as a "corporate kingdom."
Savvy social media users also pointed out that the tactic resembled one that Republicans have used following recent election losses. In places like Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina and Wisconsin, GOP-led legislatures overhauled state election laws, shoring up their party power before handing the reins over to incoming Democratic majorities.
In a statement provided to NPR, Disney said the move was "appropriate" and "approved in open, noticed public forums in compliance with Florida's Government."
Sorry - I wasn't very clear! I should have said extend to future generations yet unborn. Paperslilly said "so long as the royal family keeps having babies, that clause will never kick in." but the descendants in question had to have been "living as of the date of this declaration". So I think it is 21 years after the death of a currently existing descendant. Still a long time but I don't think it just keeps resetting every time a new baby is born into the family. I could totally be wrong though!
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Post by aj2hall on Apr 26, 2023 17:24:07 GMT
Latest in the war on Disney www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/04/26/desantis-disney-lawsuit/Disney sues Gov. Ron DeSantis, alleging political retaliation The Florida governor is working with the legislature to overturn the entertainment giant’s latest oversight agreement. By Aaron Gregg and Lori Rozsa Walt Disney Co. is suing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) over what it calls a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” — a major escalation of the year-long clash between the entertainment giant and conservative governor.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida came the same day the governor’s handpicked board declared a Disney-friendly deal null and void. Disney and DeSantis’s office have been tussling privately for the past year, but the frequency and intensity of their sparring has intensified dramatically in recent days.
The standoff, which could have major political and economic consequences, began in early 2022 when Disney leaders criticized a controversial education bill advanced by DeSantis and other Florida Republicans. Disney’s resorts in Florida are some of the state’s prime attractions, but DeSantis expressed outrage that the company dare criticize the education bill and he began attacking the company, saying it had received preferential treatment for too long.
The governor, whom many consider a top presidential contender, has repeatedly turned to the state’s Republican-controlled legislature to help him rein in Disney. The first effort came in a special session in April 2022, when lawmakers dissolved the special taxing district created in 1967 to help the company develop and control its vast property near Orlando.
But that move quickly caused concerns about what would happen with Disney’s tax and debt burden. Local government officials called it “a $1 billion debt bomb” and said they could have been forced to raise taxes on property owners to pay for what Disney’s district used to fund, such as roads and other services.
DeSantis ordered another special session in February to address that issue by keeping the tax district, but replacing the board selected by Disney — called the Reedy Creek Improvement District — with a new panel. DeSantis chose the five new board members and called the agency the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board. When the new board held its first meeting in March, members said they discovered that the outgoing Disney board had handed over most of their power to Disney. That’s what they voted to overturn on Wednesday.
In its legal complaint, Disney accused DeSantis of punishing it for protected speech, threatening its business operations, jeopardizing its economic future in the region, and violating its constitutional rights.
“Having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials.”
The latest volley in the running feud between DeSantis and Florida’s largest employer over LGBTQ issues comes as Disney appeared to have thwarted the governor’s plans to control much of what the company does with its vast theme park property. What started with criticism over a controversial education bill has turned into a high profile tug-of-war between two of the state’s most powerful entities: Disney, which employs more than 75,000 people, and DeSantis, who is expected to announce his bid for the GOP presidential nomination in the coming weeks.
The new board said it may have to raise taxes on Disney to pay for attorneys to fight the company in court. DeSantis has floated the idea of building another theme park on Disney property, or even a state prison.
Within days of those comments, a group called Disney Defenders launched a petition drive to get a constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot that would reestablish Reedy Creek and protect it from political interference. “Regardless of what happens in the courts, this path gives us, the citizens of our state, the power to take action,” said Chris Wills, a self-described lifelong Disney fan who started the petition drive. “I’m very confident that as we have these conversations with voters and neighbors, Disney fans and people who don’t care about Disney, that people will agree this is severe overreach by the government.”
Meanwhile, business goes on as usual at the Magic Kingdom. Matt Roseboom, the editor and publisher of Attractions Magazine, which covers Disney and other theme parks, said the Disney-DeSantis feud hasn’t impacted visitors to the Florida park. “The average guest that’s coming to Disney probably has heard something about the feud, but it’s really not affecting anything,” Roseboom said. “I think everybody’s pretty confident that Disney is not going to have to have a prison in the Magic Kingdom. I think people are just more making a joke out of it right now.”
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Post by aj2hall on Apr 26, 2023 17:37:46 GMT
How ironic that Republicans who pushed for conservative judges and cheered for the Citizens United decision protecting corporations' freedom of speech and unlimited campaign funding are now complaining when that freedom of speech is used against them. Similar to McConnell's complaining about companies speaking out against voting restrictions. Republicans are happy to take money from companies but expect them to stay quiet. www.nytimes.com/2023/04/26/business/disney-desantis-board-florida.html“A company has a right to freedom of speech just like individuals do,” Mr. Iger said at Disney’s annual shareholder meeting this month. “The governor got very angry over the position Disney took and seems like he’s decided to retaliate against us, including the naming of a new board to oversee the property, in effect to seek to punish a company for its exercise of a constitutional right. And that just seems really wrong to me.”
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casii
Drama Llama
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Jun 29, 2014 14:40:44 GMT
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Post by casii on Apr 26, 2023 19:07:16 GMT
They have a good case and I don't think they would've sued unless they were sure of winning.
DeSantis is over his skis.
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Post by hopemax on Apr 26, 2023 19:40:32 GMT
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oh yvonne
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Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Apr 26, 2023 19:41:07 GMT
Well it's about time Disney stops playing games with Desantis and pulls out the big guns. That little wannabe nazi nincompoop is just coming off an embarrassing trip to Japan where he stuttered all over the place saying that hadn't announced his bid for the Presidency yet.
I can't wait to see what happens next. Is Ron gonna back down? Idiot.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Apr 26, 2023 19:41:22 GMT
However I heard today that Disney will be laying off 4000 this week with more to come. Streamlining the operations
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oh yvonne
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Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Apr 26, 2023 20:11:37 GMT
However I heard today that Disney will be laying off 4000 this week with more to come. Streamlining the operations unfortunately almost none of those affect Florida. It's mostly Burbank and some offices in NY and CT.
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Post by papersilly on Apr 26, 2023 20:13:54 GMT
Is Ron gonna back down? Idiot. of course not. if anything, he will double down and try something else to stifle disney. in the meantime, his board will have to raise taxes for their legal fees. like disney said, they have the resources to fund their suit. the question is, how will the citizens feel about their taxes going up just so desantis can wage his battle against disney?
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Post by Gem Girl on Apr 26, 2023 20:25:25 GMT
That loudmouth idiot is a rolling dumpster fire. He was stupid to poke the mouse; they've got a fleet of lawyers who are probably vastly more sophisticated than anybody who'd work with him. If there's any upside, it may be that seeing him act like a punk and trash a good corporate neighbor out of personal pique will make anybody considering him presidential think anew.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Apr 26, 2023 20:26:02 GMT
Is Ron gonna back down? Idiot. of course not. if anything, he will double down and try something else to stifle disney. in the meantime, his board will have to raise taxes for their legal fees. like disney said, they have the resources to fund their suit. the question is, how will the citizens feel about their taxes going up just so desantis can wage his battle against disney? The tax payers and legislature don't seem to mind blowing their monies. They spent millions flying immigrants all over, flying DeSantis all over the WORLD or where ever he is NOT near Flooding in/near Ft Lauderdale. He missed the residential tower being evacuated because it might likely fall...
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Post by Lurkingpea on Apr 26, 2023 21:08:14 GMT
However I heard today that Disney will be laying off 4000 this week with more to come. Streamlining the operations That is true. I don’t think it has anything to do with DeSantis though. Nor the theme parks in general.
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Post by Lurkingpea on Apr 26, 2023 21:12:26 GMT
That loudmouth idiot is a rolling dumpster fire. He was stupid to poke the mouse; they've got a fleet of lawyers who are probably vastly more sophisticated than anybody who'd work with him. If there's any upside, it may be that seeing him act like a punk and trash a good corporate neighbor out of personal pique will make anybody considering him presidential think anew. I agree. Disney wouldn’t be filing suit unless they were very sure they could win. I can’t believe that anyone who would defend him can think they will win. They would only take it on for name recognition. Disney has much deeper pockets than DeSantis. It will be interesting to see what happens. Shocking that some residents of Florida back him. This is going to hurt residents first and foremost.
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Post by papersilly on Apr 26, 2023 21:19:23 GMT
i like the little blurb disney made about filing the suit because they have the resources where other small business who want to express their free speech don't. big business also protecting the small business....well played disney. makes me glad bob iger is back at the helm.
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Post by Gem Girl on Apr 26, 2023 23:09:20 GMT
That loudmouth idiot is a rolling dumpster fire. He was stupid to poke the mouse; they've got a fleet of lawyers who are probably vastly more sophisticated than anybody who'd work with him. If there's any upside, it may be that seeing him act like a punk and trash a good corporate neighbor out of personal pique will make anybody considering him presidential think anew. I agree. Disney wouldn’t be filing suit unless they were very sure they could win. I can’t believe that anyone who would defend him can think they will win. They would only take it on for name recognition. Disney has much deeper pockets than DeSantis. It will be interesting to see what happens. Shocking that some residents of Florida back him. This is going to hurt residents first and foremost. Some portion of the Republicans have a long tradition of voting against their own interests. www.huffpost.com/entry/republicans-voting-against-their-own-interests-its_b_596cec66e4b07f87578e6ab7
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dawnnikol
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Sept 21, 2015 18:39:25 GMT
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Post by dawnnikol on Apr 26, 2023 23:38:05 GMT
"The likelihood is that this bait and switch will continue until poor and middle class Republican voters realize that their fear and hatred has made them complicit in the longest-running con game in political history."When Hell freezes over, because it's more important to "own the Libs" while the politicians laugh all the way to the fucking bank.
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lizacreates
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Aug 29, 2015 2:39:19 GMT
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Post by lizacreates on Apr 27, 2023 1:39:49 GMT
That sounds right. The last survivor of the descendants sounds like future generations to me. www.npr.org/2023/03/30/1167042594/disney-desantis-board-reedy-creek-charlesAnd, in an extra detail that the internet is devouring, the term of the agreement was set using the "Rule Against Perpetuities" — which states that a policy will continue until after a certain person dies.
In this case, the declaration will continue "until twenty one (21) years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III." DeSantis, after all, frequently refers to Walt Disney World as a "corporate kingdom."
Savvy social media users also pointed out that the tactic resembled one that Republicans have used following recent election losses. In places like Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina and Wisconsin, GOP-led legislatures overhauled state election laws, shoring up their party power before handing the reins over to incoming Democratic majorities.
In a statement provided to NPR, Disney said the move was "appropriate" and "approved in open, noticed public forums in compliance with Florida's Government."
Sorry - I wasn't very clear! I should have said extend to future generations yet unborn. Paperslilly said "so long as the royal family keeps having babies, that clause will never kick in." but the descendants in question had to have been "living as of the date of this declaration". So I think it is 21 years after the death of a currently existing descendant. Still a long time but I don't think it just keeps resetting every time a new baby is born into the family. I could totally be wrong though! You’re correct. Future generations cannot be considered because that violates the Rule Against Perpetuities. That rule stipulates “life in being at the creation of interest”; in other words, the life that’s already existing at the time of creation of the document. It can get rather clunky, so we usually word it as “…who have been born before the date of this agreement” to make it clearer.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Apr 27, 2023 1:56:05 GMT
That would mean William's youngest Louis or Harry's Lilbet?
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Post by hopemax on Apr 27, 2023 2:15:12 GMT
That would mean William's youngest Louis or Harry's Lilbet? It doesn’t have to be the youngest at the time of the contract. It’s whichever grandchild lives the longest. It could be Lilibet, but as the future King, and presumably access to the best lifestyle and health care, it could also be George. Even though he is the oldest. The Queen outlived her younger sibling.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Apr 27, 2023 2:30:09 GMT
That would mean William's youngest Louis or Harry's Lilbet? It doesn’t have to be the youngest at the time of the contract. It’s whichever grandchild lives the longest. It could be Lilibet, but as the future King, and presumably access to the best lifestyle and health care, it could also be George. Even though he is the oldest. The Queen outlived her younger sibling. Ok
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Post by aj2hall on Apr 27, 2023 3:36:47 GMT
Given the queen's longevity, it seems possible a great grandchild of the queen could live another 100 years. Long past DeSantis and much longer than his reign.
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Post by elaine on Apr 27, 2023 10:05:04 GMT
DeSantis has been very clear as to the very fact that he *is* trying to punish Disney for their stance welcoming and supporting LQBTQ people.
Idiot.
He’s the one who easily and publicly gave a wealth of evidence against himself.
Disney probably waited this long to file suit on the advice of their lawyers. The Disney lawyers probably waited until DeSantis gave them enough evidence to make the case airtight.
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Post by smasonnc on Apr 27, 2023 12:54:23 GMT
"The likelihood is that this bait and switch will continue until poor and middle class Republican voters realize that their fear and hatred has made them complicit in the longest-running con game in political history." Not gonna happen. They love this guy here in Florida. They'll be like cows in a flood watching the waters rise until their hooves turn up and they drown. They cling to their fear and hatred as if they'd fall off the earth if they let go.
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Post by aj2hall on Apr 27, 2023 16:43:59 GMT
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/april-26-2023?r=1f0orz&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=emailToday, the Walt Disney Company sued Florida governor Ron DeSantis over his “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” and attack free speech. Disney’s former chief executive officer last year spoke out against the governor’s law prohibiting teachers from mentioning sexual orientation or gender identity. The lawsuit says that DeSantis’s attack “now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights.”
“For more than half a century,” the lawsuit reads,” Disney has made an immeasurable impact on Florida and its economy, establishing Central Florida as a top global tourist destination and attracting tens of millions of visitors to the State each year. People and families from every corner of the globe have traveled to Walt Disney World,” but that relationship is now in jeopardy, the lawsuit warns. “A targeted campaign of government retaliation—orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech—now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights.”
Meanwhile, DeSantis is overseas on what has been billed as a trade mission.
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lizacreates
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Aug 29, 2015 2:39:19 GMT
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Post by lizacreates on Apr 27, 2023 18:11:03 GMT
When you have someone this petty and belligerent it makes you think this might be someone who’ll get this country into a war if he becomes president. Doing all this to feed the anti-LGBTQ zealotry of the MAGA crowd?
I think Chris Christie was right when he said: “That’s not the guy I want sitting across from President Xi and negotiating our next agreement with China or sitting across from Putin and trying to resolve what’s happening in Ukraine.”
Such a foolish and misguided undertaking by DeSantis. Disney ain’t playin’. That’s four constitutional rights violations they’re alleging, and in reading their complaint, they can substantiate each one.
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Post by hop2 on Apr 27, 2023 20:16:00 GMT
When you have someone this petty and belligerent it makes you think this might be someone who’ll get this country into a war if he becomes president. Doing all this to feed the anti-LGBTQ zealotry of the MAGA crowd? I think Chris Christie was right when he said: “That’s not the guy I want sitting across from President Xi and negotiating our next agreement with China or sitting across from Putin and trying to resolve what’s happening in Ukraine.” Such a foolish and misguided undertaking by DeSantis. Disney ain’t playin’. That’s four constitutional rights violations they’re alleging, and in reading their complaint, they can substantiate each one. Ha ha ha ha ha ha 😂🤣 Chris Christie is the king of being petty. ( Bridgegate ) But he is also the king of there not being any direct evidence linking any payback to him. Pot meet Kettle, Kettle meet Pot
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lizacreates
Pearl Clutcher
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Aug 29, 2015 2:39:19 GMT
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Post by lizacreates on Apr 27, 2023 21:02:25 GMT
When you have someone this petty and belligerent it makes you think this might be someone who’ll get this country into a war if he becomes president. Doing all this to feed the anti-LGBTQ zealotry of the MAGA crowd? I think Chris Christie was right when he said: “That’s not the guy I want sitting across from President Xi and negotiating our next agreement with China or sitting across from Putin and trying to resolve what’s happening in Ukraine.” Such a foolish and misguided undertaking by DeSantis. Disney ain’t playin’. That’s four constitutional rights violations they’re alleging, and in reading their complaint, they can substantiate each one. Ha ha ha ha ha ha 😂🤣 Chris Christie is the king of being petty. ( Bridgegate ) But he is also the king of there not being any direct evidence linking any payback to him. Pot meet Kettle, Kettle meet Pot I don’t deny Bridgegate and I'm certainly not defending his involvement, but you’ve conflated my comment with that of Christie’s. Christie is not the one saying DeSantis is petty. I am the one who said DeSantis is petty. What Christie was referring to is not pettiness, but DeSantis’ failure to foresee Disney's pushback ("...seeing around the corner"). Meaning if you do not have the requisite foresight, how can you effectively negotiate with perceived threats like China and Russia.
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Post by papersilly on Apr 27, 2023 21:08:54 GMT
DeSantis’ failure to foresee Disney's pushback ("...seeing around the corner"). Meaning if you do not have the requisite foresight, how can you effectively negotiate with perceived threats like China and Russia. well said.
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Post by aj2hall on Apr 27, 2023 22:12:15 GMT
I'm not a fan of DeSantis or Christie, but I actually agree with Christie. DeSantis seems very short sighted with his fight against Disney and in terms of his presidential ambitions. He might be winning over Trump fans, but his extreme abortion bill will not help him in a general election. I would not trust the presidency with someone who is only interested in short term goals and doesn't seem to be playing a long game.
For someone who is supposed to be Trump 2.0 without all of the baggage, DeSantis's tendency towards retaliation against political enemies is really alarming, too. Not just Disney, but he also managed to fire a prosecutor that he didn't like. There was a clip of him chastising high school students who were wearing masks. I imagine DeSantis has a temper that rivals that of Trump.
He also seems to stumble through interviews with anyone outside of the Fox bubble and doesn't seem to think well on his feet. He mostly avoids mainstream media and when he does talk, he seems ill-prepared for easy, basic questions.
There are a couple of mysteries surrounding DeSantis, too. Where did he disappear around Christmas 2021? Did he have covid or was he on vacation? And where was he on 9/11? He's 44, so he would have been 22 at the time. 9/11 was a defining moment. He most likely remembers but doesn't want to say. He had just graduated from college and was teaching at a private high school in Georgia. It doesn't fit into his narrative of attacking schools and colleges as liberal institutions indoctrinating our children. Nor do his degrees from both Harvard and Yale but they're harder to hide.
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