Gov. Ron DeSantis Reads the Tea Leaves

 

Almost any action that Gov. DeSantis of Florida takes is attributed to his greedy aspirations to run for President of the US in 2024. The possibility that he may have goals other than amassing power against every Leftist minority group doesn’t enter the discussion. But I think the Governor sees other dangers on the horizon and he’s not waiting for the violent Left to create chaos in order to make preparations. He also is looking out for our citizens and our military, ignoring the protestations of President Biden.

DeSantis decided to resurrect the civilian volunteer force called the Florida State Guard, with retired Marine Lt. Col. Chris Graham as its director. Part of DeSantis’ motivation was to reach out to the military folks who were rejected by the federal government’s mandate for the military to be vaccinated for COVID-19:

‘When [Biden] came into office, he decided to impose a COVID vax mandate on the U.S. military,’ DeSantis added. ‘You had a situation where most people in our military are the lowest of the lowest risk for COVID, to begin with. Many of them had already had COVID and had recovered in 2020 into 2021, and yet he imposed these mandates on them. And that has had the impact of actually kicking people out who had served honorably, who just decided this is not what they want to do.’

Due to the personnel demands of the federal government on our National Guard, Florida has only 12,000 troops, even though our population has grown from 5 million to 22 million in the last 60 years. Unfortunately, the federal government has no interest in bolstering those numbers.

The beauty of re-building a Florida State Guard is that it will be used to help only Floridians. The federal government will not be able to force policies onto the organization.

Twenty-two other states have worked to build their own version of a State Guard, with mixed results.

Although people on the Left insist that DeSantis is in the process of developing his own personal militia, I believe he has more critical plans for the months and years ahead. Although Florida was spared much of the violence that took place in cities all over the country during the last couple of years, we may need to be better prepared for the future. Controversies over Roe v. Wade, possible new Covid mandates on the horizon, frustration over inflation and gas prices, concerns about crime, the latest eruptions over LGBTQ rights, are “matches” just waiting to be lit. So not only will DeSantis recruit rejections from the U.S. military branches, preparing a volunteer force that is already showing great popularity in its recruitment efforts, but we will be ready to fight the forces of evil and violence that could erupt in the months ahead.

Florida will be ready!

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  1. John Park Member
    John Park
    @jpark

    This is a smart move. A State Force can be a good contributor, supplementing the Florida National Guard in its work.

    • #1
  2. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    John Park (View Comment):

    This is a smart move. A State Force can be a good contributor, supplementing the Florida National Guard in its work.

    Exactly! I don’t know how long it will take them to get up to speed, but we might need them soon!

    • #2
  3. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    I’d be curious to learn if any of you live in states where your own State Guard has been set up in your own state, per the link above, and if there’s been any discussion about it. 

    • #3
  4. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    I’d be curious to learn if any of you live in states where your own State Guard has been set up in your own state, per the link above, and if there’s been any discussion about it.

    We have one here in South Carolina:

    https://sg.sc.gov/

    • #4
  5. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Stad (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    I’d be curious to learn if any of you live in states where your own State Guard has been set up in your own state, per the link above, and if there’s been any discussion about it.

    We have one here in South Carolina:

    https://sg.sc.gov/

    I saw that! And it sounds like SC is one of the states that has its act together, too!

    • #5
  6. Kevin Schulte Member
    Kevin Schulte
    @KevinSchulte

    This is Federalism at it’s best. I wish every red state Governor  would study how DeSantis governed and tailer those policy positions to there states. 

     

    Also, why don’t we have a Red Governors association that meets regularly to strategize how to battle Washington’s overreach ? 

    • #6
  7. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Kevin Schulte (View Comment):

    This is Federalism at it’s best. I wish every red state Governor would study how DeSantis governed and tailer those policy positions to there states.

     

    Also, why don’t we have a Red Governors association that meets regularly to strategize how to battle Washington’s overreach ?

    Great question, Kevin. I just wonder if every Red Governor would be on board with DeSantis’ strategies?

    • #7
  8. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    They do! It’s rga.org.  I don’t know how often they get together and actually strategize, but you’d think they would. Good point, Kevin!

    • #8
  9. Kevin Schulte Member
    Kevin Schulte
    @KevinSchulte

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Kevin Schulte (View Comment):

    This is Federalism at it’s best. I wish every red state Governor would study how DeSantis governed and tailer those policy positions to there states.

     

    Also, why don’t we have a Red Governors association that meets regularly to strategize how to battle Washington’s overreach ?

    Great question, Kevin. I just wonder if every Red Governor would be on board with DeSantis’ strategies?

    I suspect most of our red governors are of the GOPe sort. I hail from Missouri and we have a red government. That red government helped Trump Eric Grietens out of office. Now Eric was no moral paragon but had he been a Democrat (nuff said). So even though we are a red state, we are not pushing anything near a Maga agenda like Ron. 

    • #9
  10. Terry Mott Member
    Terry Mott
    @TerryMott

    Texas has a State Guard.  Ashamedly, I don’t know much about it.  Years ago, a talk radio host I listened to was a member of the Texas State Guard and talked about it on air a few times. My understanding from his comments was that it’s exclusively a disaster response and assistance institution, with no weapons or military training.  Their web site states that it’s a military force, but maybe they just do logistics, a significant military concern:

    The mission of the Texas State Guard (TXSG) is to provide mission-ready military forces to assist state and local authorities in times of state emergencies; to conduct homeland security and community service activities under the umbrella of Defense Support to Civil Authorities, and to augment the Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard as required.

    (https://tmd.texas.gov/state-guard)

     

    • #10
  11. Buckpasser Member
    Buckpasser
    @Buckpasser

    Amazing that wacked out lefties can’t believe that someone does something because he actually believes it and not for some political gain.

    • #11
  12. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Buckpasser (View Comment):

    Amazing that wacked out lefties can’t believe that someone does something because he actually believes it and not for some political gain.

    Doing the right thing isn’t a priority–unless they deem it right.

    • #12
  13. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Terry Mott (View Comment):

    Texas has a State Guard. Ashamedly, I don’t know much about it. Years ago, a talk radio host I listened to was a member of the Texas State Guard and talked about it on air a few times. My understanding from his comments was that it’s exclusively a disaster response and assistance institution, with no weapons or military training. Their web site states that it’s a military force, but maybe they just do logistics, a significant military concern:

    The mission of the Texas State Guard (TXSG) is to provide mission-ready military forces to assist state and local authorities in times of state emergencies; to conduct homeland security and community service activities under the umbrella of Defense Support to Civil Authorities, and to augment the Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard as required.

    (https://tmd.texas.gov/state-guard)

     

    They could consider this a viable opportunity instead of college. Great experience!

    • #13
  14. Red Herring Coolidge
    Red Herring
    @EHerring

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    I’d be curious to learn if any of you live in states where your own State Guard has been set up in your own state, per the link above, and if there’s been any discussion about it.

    SC and it is actively used. 

    • #14
  15. Red Herring Coolidge
    Red Herring
    @EHerring

    Terry Mott (View Comment):

    Texas has a State Guard. Ashamedly, I don’t know much about it. Years ago, a talk radio host I listened to was a member of the Texas State Guard and talked about it on air a few times. My understanding from his comments was that it’s exclusively a disaster response and assistance institution, with no weapons or military training. Their web site states that it’s a military force, but maybe they just do logistics, a significant military concern:

    The mission of the Texas State Guard (TXSG) is to provide mission-ready military forces to assist state and local authorities in times of state emergencies; to conduct homeland security and community service activities under the umbrella of Defense Support to Civil Authorities, and to augment the Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard as required.

    (https://tmd.texas.gov/state-guard)

     

    That frees up military people to be the pointy end of the sword. 

    • #15
  16. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    If you want to encourage Ron DeSantis to run go to:

    https://donation.edonation.com/readyforron/launch-text/donate?bundlerid=&cat=&mid=&sc=&sid=ite&utm_campaign=launch&utm_medium=enstxt&utm_source=email

    • #16
  17. Red Herring Coolidge
    Red Herring
    @EHerring

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    If you want to encourage Ron DeSantis to run go to:

    https://donation.edonation.com/readyforron/launch-text/donate?bundlerid=&cat=&mid=&sc=&sid=ite&utm_campaign=launch&utm_medium=enstxt&utm_source=email

    No, need strong governors to rejuvenate federalism and stand up to the oppressive DC culture. Our Presidents can’t fix DC. A bunch of strong states can. The path forward is through a growing collective of strong state governments reclaiming their power. 

    • #17
  18. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Red Herring (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    If you want to encourage Ron DeSantis to run go to:

    https://donation.edonation.com/readyforron/launch-text/donate?bundlerid=&cat=&mid=&sc=&sid=ite&utm_campaign=launch&utm_medium=enstxt&utm_source=email

    No, need strong governors to rejuvenate federalism and stand up to the oppressive DC culture. Our Presidents can’t fix DC. A bunch of strong states can. The path forward is through a growing collective of strong state governments reclaiming their power.

    Incidentally, another Governor who has done that is Brian Kemp in Georgia.  We have some great governors; historically, many of the best Presidents were former governors; see Reagan, Ronald.

    • #18
  19. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    I’d be curious to learn if any of you live in states where your own State Guard has been set up in your own state, per the link above, and if there’s been any discussion about it.

    I didn’t know there were such things. This is interesting to learn about.

    And of course the left would accuse a state of setting up a personal militia, given that that is what Nancy Pelosi has done. 

    • #19
  20. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    The Reticulator (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    I’d be curious to learn if any of you live in states where your own State Guard has been set up in your own state, per the link above, and if there’s been any discussion about it.

    I didn’t know there were such things. This is interesting to learn about.

    And of course the left would accuse a state of setting up a personal militia, given that that is what Nancy Pelosi has done.

    The New York Guard was active in the aftermath of 9/11. It provided logistics, medical, and communications support to the people working at the World Trade Center site. It is one of the largest in the country and has been around since the Revolution. It can’t be nationalized and can only be deployed outside of the state on the governor’s say-so. None of the folks freaking out about the Florida Guard so much as raised a peep.

    • #20
  21. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    Tennessee also has a State Guard, I’ve aged out.

    • #21
  22. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    The movement to strength national guards is vital.  It gives States an alternative should the Democrats steal the next elections which they will try and might actually pull off.  Then states who can do so will have to ignore the federal government, including federal taxes.  Crazy?  it’s be the only alternative.   The Chinese own Biden and will destroy the country.  The woke fools have no idea what they’re playing with.

    • #22
  23. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Terry Mott (View Comment):
    My understanding from his comments was that it’s exclusively a disaster response and assistance institution, with no weapons or military training. 

    It’s the same here in South Carolina.  However, there’s no need to train the State Guard because most of the people here already have weapons and some kind of training . . .

    • #23
  24. Terry Mott Member
    Terry Mott
    @TerryMott

    Stad (View Comment):

    Terry Mott (View Comment):
    My understanding from his comments was that it’s exclusively a disaster response and assistance institution, with no weapons or military training.

    It’s the same here in South Carolina. However, there’s no need to train the State Guard because most of the people here already have weapons and some kind of training . . .

    As I recall that radio host tap-danced around questions about whether the Guard members ever brought their own weapons when on duty.  Something like, “It’s against regulations,” to a yes-or-no question.  Not, “No, that’s against regulations.”  Simply, “That’s against regulations.”

    • #24
  25. cdor Member
    cdor
    @cdor

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    nuff

    But Gary, if we support DeSantis for POTUS that means President Trump can’t have his well-deserved second term. Surely you wouldn’t want that, would you?

    • #25
  26. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    cdor (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    nuff

    But Gary, if we support DeSantis for POTUS that means President Trump can’t have his well-deserved second term. Surely you wouldn’t want that, would you?

    Surely you jest.  See my post at https://ricochet.com/1273379/peggy-noonans-advice-to-trump-voters/

    • #26
  27. OmegaPaladin Moderator
    OmegaPaladin
    @OmegaPaladin

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    cdor (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    nuff

    But Gary, if we support DeSantis for POTUS that means President Trump can’t have his well-deserved second term. Surely you wouldn’t want that, would you?

    Surely you jest. See my post at https://ricochet.com/1273379/peggy-noonans-advice-to-trump-voters/

    Peggy Noonan also voted for Obama, so pardon me if I don’t listen to her advice.

    • #27
  28. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Rodin (View Comment):

    Tennessee also has a State Guard, I’ve aged out.

    Some excuse. . . ;-)

    • #28
  29. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    John Park (View Comment):

    This is a smart move. A State Force can be a good contributor, supplementing the Florida National Guard in its work.

    Exactly! I don’t know how long it will take them to get up to speed, but we might need them soon!

    If the weather wars inflicted on California are any indication, a big worry for Floridians is the manipulation of elements bringing in a cluster of hurricanes this coming August.

    We had military leaders circa 1992 to 1999 bragging about the Air Force being able to manipulate the weather by 2025.

    The ability is now well honed and put into practice almost daily here in Northern California. (At least on any day or series of days when rain is a possibility. With the volcano going off in Guatemala, rain could have occurred on 7 of the last 15 days. Instead we had one 15 hour period of a very pleasant drizzle, but not enough to make up for the past 11 years of  intense, wildfire enhancing drought forced into existence by this program.)

    From a 1996 report issued to the Air Force in 1996:

    Executive Summary
    In 2025, US aerospace forces can “own the weather” by capitalizing on emerging technologies and
    focusing development of those technologies to war-fighting applications. Such a capability offers the war fighter tools to shape the battlespace in ways never before possible. It provides opportunities to impact operations across the full spectrum of conflict and is pertinent to all possible futures. The purpose of this paper is to outline a strategy for the use of a future weather-modification system to achieve military objectives rather than to provide a detailed technical road map.
    A high-risk, high-reward endeavor, weather-modification offers a dilemma not unlike the splitting of the atom. While some segments of society will always be reluctant to examine controversial issues such as weather-modification, the tremendous military capabilities that could result from this field are ignored at our own peril. From enhancing friendly operations or disrupting those of the enemy via small-scale tailoring of natural weather patterns to complete dominance of global communications and counterspace control, weather-modification offers the war fighter a wide-range of possible options to defeat or coerce an adversary. Some of the potential capabilities a weather-modification system could provide to a war-fighting commander in chief (CINC) are listed in table 1.
    Technology advancements in five major areas are necessary for an integrated weather-modification capability: (1) advanced nonlinear modeling techniques, (2) computational capability, (3) information gathering and transmission, (4) a global sensor array, and (5) weather intervention techniques. Some intervention tools exist today and others may be developed and refined in the future.

    End of Part One

    • #29
  30. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    Part Two:

    https://www.globalresearch.ca/the-ultimate-weapon-of-mass-destruction-owning-the-weather-for-military-use-2/5306386

    Weather-modification, according to the US Air Force document AF 2025 Final Report,  offers the war fighter a wide range of possible options to defeat or coerce an adversary”, capabilities, it says, extend to the triggering of floods, hurricanes, droughts and earthquakes:

    ‘Weather modification will become a part of domestic and international security and could be done unilaterally… It could have offensive and defensive applications and even be used for deterrence purposes. The ability to generate precipitation, fog and storms on earth or to modify space weather… and the production of artificial weather all are a part of an integrated set of [military] technologies.”

    I emboldened the word “domestic,” above.

    • #30
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