You Know You’re Over the Target When . . .

 

Am I the only one who’s noticed how Gov. Ron DeSantis is taking even more flak than usual over his transporting migrants to Martha’s Vineyard? Why haven’t Gov. Abbott of Texas or Gov. Ducey been receiving their share of flak?

Now the illegal migrants are being represented by attorneys who claim that offers made to the migrants were fraudulent.

So what’s really going on?

First, let me offer some important background. Ron DeSantis is one of the most highly lauded governors in the country. He is also described as outspoken, fearless, and dedicated to protecting the people of Florida. He has defied the federal government on multiple occasions, ridiculed President Biden, and criticized the Biden administration for not taking responsibility for enforcing federal law. Let’s not forget that DeSantis is running for governor in November, and there’s been speculation that he could run for the Presidency in 2024.

That’s just for starters.

Studying the current situation with these migrants, there seem to be a number of factors that are in question. Here are just a few:

  • DeSantis and his team have been accused of using “a premeditated, fraudulent, and illegal scheme … for the sole purpose of advancing their own personal, financial and political interests.” These accusations are likely politically based, although they probably did think it over their plan before activating it (which could be construed as premeditating).
  • The lawsuit alleges “that the scheme involved DeSantis and other Florida officials working with unidentified defendants to identify and target migrants by ‘trolling streets’ outside a migrant shelter in San Antonio and other locales and that they lured roughly 50 migrants with McDonald’s gift certificates and free hotel stays, with the promise that if they boarded planes to other states they would get jobs, housing, educational opportunities and other assistance upon arrival.” DeSantis explained that many of these people were staying in tents in a San Antonio parking lot, without food, and shelter. Massachusetts does offer assistance to migrants.
  • The lawsuit included, “Defendants manipulated them, stripped them of their dignity, deprived them of their liberty, bodily autonomy, due process, and equal protection under law, and impermissibly interfered with the Federal Government’s exclusive control over immigration in furtherance of an unlawful goal and a personal political agenda. . . ” Since the migrants voluntarily offered to travel to MA (which probably sounded like a better option than the parking lot), and it would be difficult to interfere with federal law when the federal government was doing nothing to serve these migrants, it will be difficult for the lawyers to make these particular arguments.
  • As DeSantis spokesperson said–“The transportation of the immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard was done on a voluntary basis,” Fenske said. “The immigrants were homeless, hungry, and abandoned — and these activists didn’t care about them then. Florida’s program gave them a fresh start in a sanctuary state, and these individuals opted to take advantage of chartered flights to Massachusetts.”

Marco Rubio came to DeSantis’ defense:

‘Think about this, okay? People came into this country illegally, violating our laws and the first thing they do is get lawyers and use our laws to sue an elected governor, to sue a state,’ the senator said. ‘I mean, just think about that. They just got here, they’re not even here legally, they didn’t enter the country the proper way, and they’re immediately in court demanding rights and claims under our laws. This is outrageous. What other country in the world would that even be allowed? What other country in the world would even tolerate that?’

The fact that Rubio’s family came to this country legally must be somewhat irksome.

So here’s the way I see the situation. Biden has destroyed our immigration system. He has allowed the people on our southern border to be invaded. He has allowed drugs, trafficking, and other criminal activity to continue unabated. He continues to blame Trump for the havoc that he, Biden, has wrought. And he has the nerve to be upset with the actions of these governors.

We are definitely over the target.

Published in Immigration
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  1. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    How could I forget to mention that the MV residents must have been beyond angry. Too bad . . . 

    • #1
  2. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    DeSantis 2024.

    • #2
  3. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    How could I forget to mention that the MV residents must have been beyond angry. Too bad . . .

    Why would they be angry? Do they oppose illegal entry into the country or do they just oppose illegal entrants appearing in certain areas of our country?

    • #3
  4. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    How could I forget to mention that the MV residents must have been beyond angry. Too bad . . .

    Why would they be angry? Do they oppose illegal entry into the country or do they just oppose illegal entrants appearing in certain areas of our country?

    They’re always angry when they get exposed.

     

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

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):
    Why would they be angry? Do they oppose illegal entry into the country or do they just oppose illegal entrants appearing in certain areas of our country?

    H.mm.m…. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

    • #5
  6. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):
    Why would they be angry? Do they oppose illegal entry into the country or do they just oppose illegal entrants appearing in certain areas of our country?

    H.mm.m…. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

    Nope. I don’t wonder at all.

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

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    How could I forget to mention that the MV residents must have been beyond angry. Too bad . . .

    Why would they be angry? Do they oppose illegal entry into the country or do they just oppose illegal entrants appearing in certain areas of our country?

    They’re always angry when they get exposed.

     

    Perfect!

    • #7
  8. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    Puppet masters complain because they think they own the theatre. 

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

    Rodin (View Comment):

    Puppet masters complain because they think they own the theatre.

    Indeed. It will be interesting to follow this story . . . 

    • #9
  10. Mad Gerald Coolidge
    Mad Gerald
    @Jose

    MV only offered a 48 hour sanctuary.

    • #10
  11. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Mad Gerald (View Comment):

    MV only offered a 48 hour sanctuary.

    Starring Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy.

    • #11
  12. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    This notion that transporting the migrants to MV was cruel was first reported on NPR last week. I found it rather surprising. Martha’s Vineyard would be worlds better than the detention centers and parking lots the migrants are living in. Who wouldn’t want to live on MV? It’s beautiful. If you’re poor, better to be poor in a very wealthy place than in a very poor place.

    From the quotes in the OP, I see that the DeSantis lawyers are responding forcefully to that accusation the same way I would: Are you kidding? Beautiful Martha’s Vineyard instead of the ghettoes around the major cities?

    This welder seems to have become the spokesperson for the MV 50. He’s probably being paid:

    Pablo Plaza spent three months walking through South and Central America hoping to end up in Utah, where he wants to find work in his field of welding and engineering to support family back home.

    Instead, he ended up on Martha’s Vineyard.

    The 28-year-old Venezuelan immigrant was one of almost 50 people flown by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to the Cape Cod island by charter plane on Wednesday, in a pointed political move.

    “I feel — deceived. Deceived, and upset. They played with our feelings,” he told GBH News in a Spanish-language interview outside of St. Andrews Church in Edgartown. Plaza was in San Antonio, Texas, earlier this week with other recently arrived migrants when he was approached and offered a ride on the plane. According to numerous reports, the planes flew from Texas to Florida, then on to North Carolina and, finally, Martha’s Vineyard.

    “They offered to help me travel, to find lodging, and … they tricked me,” Plaza said. NPR previously reported a woman identified as “Perla” was recruiting immigrants to get on the plane. Nonprofit publication San Antonio Report reported Thursday that a 27-year-old immigrant claims he was paid $200 in cash by “Perla” to convince people standing outside San Antonio’s migrant resource center to board the flight.

    I guess he didn’t know where Utah is. And this is my favorite part of the story:

    “A lot of us are parents of families. We have homes and people who rely on us. And to do that, to play us, if you know what I’m saying, to use us like tokens,” he said. “And none of us are pieces to be used on their chessboard.”

    . . . When asked if his family was with him, Plaza said, “Thank God, no.”

    Plaza is keeping track of his experience in a notebook. “I’ve been writing everything down because someday I’d like to write a book about this journey,” he said.

    “I’m a fighter. I know I can do this. And I’d like to greet the person who sent us here. … Thanks for using us like chess pieces,” he said.

    He’s going to write a book? The streets in America are paved with royalties. :-) :-)

    • #12
  13. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    The only crime that DeSantis perpetrated was by making those who have been talking the talk lo these many years face the prospect of having to walk the walk. And those Gucci loafers weren’t made for walking.

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

    . . . and more good news:

    The Venezuelan government, led by Nicolás Maduro Moros, is deliberately freeing prison inmates, including some convicted of extortion, murder, and rape, according to a new report.

    A source inside US Customs and Border Protection provided Breitbart with an intelligence report from the Department of Homeland Security which instructed agents to look for released Venezuelan inmates attempting to enter the US.

    The intelligence report warned agents the released convicts have been spotted as recently as July, as part of migrant caravans traveling to the US-Mexico border from Tapachula, Mexico. However, the report does not specify the location or destination of the released inmates.

    • #14
  15. navyjag Coolidge
    navyjag
    @navyjag

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    DeSantis 2024.

    This is why Susan.  And the American version of Pravda, the NY Times, is on it.  DeSantis is now the primary target. 

    • #15
  16. Nohaaj Coolidge
    Nohaaj
    @Nohaaj

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    . . . and more good news:

    The Venezuelan government, led by Nicolás Maduro Moros, is deliberately freeing prison inmates, including some convicted of extortion, murder, and rape, according to a new report.

    A source inside US Customs and Border Protection provided Breitbart with an intelligence report from the Department of Homeland Security which instructed agents to look for released Venezuelan inmates attempting to enter the US.

    The intelligence report warned agents the released convicts have been spotted as recently as July, as part of migrant caravans traveling to the US-Mexico border from Tapachula, Mexico. However, the report does not specify the location or destination of the released inmates.

    Releasing murderers from prison is a stated goal of Senate candidate Fetterman, and he allegedly is still leading in the polls. 

    • #16
  17. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Nohaaj (View Comment):
    Releasing murderers from prison is a stated goal of Senate candidate Fetterman, and he allegedly is still leading in the polls. 

    I think he will lose, for a number of reasons. It would be for the best.

    • #17
  18. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Nohaaj (View Comment):

    Releasing murderers from prison is a stated goal of Senate candidate Fetterman, and he allegedly is still leading in the polls.

    I assume fake polls. But the fakers know that a certain percentage of voters will want to vote for the perceived winner regardless, so faking poll results to a particular candidate actually directs votes to that candidate.

    • #18
  19. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    There seems to be a general program to try to preemptively knock Gov. Desantis out of future national politics (because he is clearly a very strong candidate who would be so clearly superior to any of the apparent offerings from the Democrats), but I think the current spike in activity is because, as noted in some earlier comments, the Martha’s Vineyard stunt so clearly and so thoroughly exposed the insincerity of the Democrats and other “liberals.” And “liberals” do seem to get angry when their true thoughts are exposed. 

    • #19
  20. ctlaw Coolidge
    ctlaw
    @ctlaw

    Lawsuit:

    https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/65362095/alianza-americas-v-desantis/

    • #20
  21. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):
    There seems to be a general program to try to preemptively knock Gov. Desantis out of future national politics (because he is clearly a very strong candidate who would be so clearly superior to any of the apparent offerings from the Democrats)

    There’s also been a concerted effort by fake Republicans (like those at The Dispatch) to whip up an internecine battle between Trump and DeSantis.

     

    • #21
  22. Locke On Member
    Locke On
    @LockeOn

    navyjag (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    DeSantis 2024.

    This is why Susan. And the American version of Pravda, the NY Times, is on it. DeSantis is now the primary target.

    Yup, they are scared ****less of DeSantis 2024. They’ve gotten it through their heads that’s the alternative to Trump 2024. Expect him to be the target of every bit of slime, slander and lawfare they can muster between now and then.

    • #22
  23. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Locke On (View Comment):

    navyjag (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    DeSantis 2024.

    This is why Susan. And the American version of Pravda, the NY Times, is on it. DeSantis is now the primary target.

    Yup, they are scared ****less of DeSantis 2024. They’ve gotten it through their heads that’s the alternative to Trump 2024. Expect him to be the target of every bit of slime, slander and lawfare they can muster between now and then.

    I believe the New York Times is already writing pieces to the effect of “Trump really wasn’t so bad . . . DeSantis on the other hand is Satan incarnate!”

    • #23
  24. Bob Thompson Member
    Bob Thompson
    @BobThompson

    I was just thinking of the use and meaning of the words tolerate or tolerance. I didn’t look it up. I always thought it meant to accept an idea or behavior one didn’t necessarily agree with. The Left tolerates only what they agree with and is intolerant of what they disagree with. Then they engage in all these polemics about tolerance. The Left does not tolerate tolerance.

    • #24
  25. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):

    There seems to be a general program to try to preemptively knock Gov. Desantis out of future national politics (because he is clearly a very strong candidate who would be so clearly superior to any of the apparent offerings from the Democrats), but I think the current spike in activity is because, as noted in some earlier comments, the Martha’s Vineyard stunt so clearly and so thoroughly exposed the insincerity of the Democrats and other “liberals.” And “liberals” do seem to get angry when their true thoughts are exposed.

    I think we can be confident that most liberals/Democrats are not hearing the truth about Martha’s Vineyard.

    • #25
  26. DaveSchmidt Coolidge
    DaveSchmidt
    @DaveSchmidt

    Bob Thompson (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    How could I forget to mention that the MV residents must have been beyond angry. Too bad . . .

    Why would they be angry? Do they oppose illegal entry into the country or do they just oppose illegal entrants appearing in certain areas of our country?

    The MV folks are the the epitome of NIMBY.

    • #26
  27. DaveSchmidt Coolidge
    DaveSchmidt
    @DaveSchmidt

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):
    There seems to be a general program to try to preemptively knock Gov. Desantis out of future national politics (because he is clearly a very strong candidate who would be so clearly superior to any of the apparent offerings from the Democrats)

    There’s also been a concerted effort by fake Republicans (like those at The Dispatch) to whip up an internecine battle between Trump and DeSantis.

     

    David French?? 

    • #27
  28. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    DaveSchmidt (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):
    There seems to be a general program to try to preemptively knock Gov. Desantis out of future national politics (because he is clearly a very strong candidate who would be so clearly superior to any of the apparent offerings from the Democrats)

    There’s also been a concerted effort by fake Republicans (like those at The Dispatch) to whip up an internecine battle between Trump and DeSantis.

     

    David French??

    David French is too busy claiming to be Mr. Super Perfect Christian.

    • #28
  29. OkieSailor Member
    OkieSailor
    @OkieSailor

    These attacks on DeSantis are the best reason to be hopeful for 2024 because it just means they see him as the best hope for a Republican victory if not a landslide then. So, get the attacks going early and often and see if they can make anything stick or even (They HOPE) get him to back off and decide not to run. They are in for a real surprise on that one.  Can Trump step aside and let DeSantis win? I doubt it so get ready for a primary fight if DeSantis decides to take him on, which I fervently hope he does. He fights, sort of like Trump, except he does so intelligently and takes on the Dims with facts not innuendo.

    • #29
  30. Zafar Member
    Zafar
    @Zafar

    If  they’re asylum seekers, it isn’t against the law to seek asylum at the border. (Yet.  You might think about changing the law.)  Who are these people? It’s unclear.

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/09/17/desantis-migrants-marthas-vineyard-cape-cod/10410896002/

    • #30
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