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Show Me the Money!
Writing about Gov. Ron DeSantis is always so satisfying for me, that I rarely pass up an opportunity to celebrate his latest accomplishments. And as I was writing this post, I realized that living in a country that is plagued with selfish, unethical, and dystopian activity, where we can’t trust our federal leadership and bureaucrats, where we are constantly bombarded with distortions or suffer from a lack of candor and information, we have the opportunity to switch our attention to those who may actually save this country. And Ron DeSantis leads the pack.
Now I’m not just talking about governors, although there a number of them who have gained my attention and respect. But I’m talking about legislators and even media representatives whom I believe can be counted on. They are almost always consistent in their positions, they are risk-takers and they repeatedly expound on their commitment to the people of this country, and their allegiance to this country transcends the positions they hold. Jim Jordan and Rick Scott are two legislators who immediately come to mind. They won’t be pushed around, and are not afraid to alienate people. Mollie Hemingway, Byron York, Holman Jenkins, and David Harsanyi are four journalists who are fearless as well. I’ll speak more to their relevance to this country.
But going back to my latest praise for DeSantis . . .
He refuses to back down from the universities. These institutions have corrupted the minds of our citizens in unconscionable and destructive ways. And we have allowed them to become an arrogant elite. DeSantis was temporarily stopped in his actions against the Woke agenda, but has responded with a new effort:
This memo comes almost two months after a judge temporarily blocked DeSantis’ ‘Stop WOKE’ Act from restricting race-related curriculum and conversation in colleges and universities, which is still being battled out in the courts. WOKE in the bill stands for ‘Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees.’
The law restricts lessons and training on race and diversity in schools and in the workplace, particularly anything that discusses privilege or oppression based on race, or whether someone ‘bears personal responsibility for and must feel guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress’ due to U.S. racial history.
‘No one should be instructed to feel as if they are not equal or shamed because of their race,” DeSantis said in a statement on the signing of the bill. ‘In Florida, we will not let the far-left woke agenda take over our schools and workplaces. There is no place for indoctrination or discrimination in Florida.’
In spite of the temporary hold on the WOKE act, DeSantis continues his crusade:
Chris Spencer, director of DeSantis’ Office of Policy and Budget, sent a memo Dec. 28 to Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. and state university system Chancellor Ray Rodrigues, who oversee the college and university systems.
‘As the Executive Office of the Governor prepares policy and budget proposals ahead of the 2023 Legislative Session, it is important that we have a full understanding of the operational expenses of state institutions,’ Spencer wrote in the memo.
The memo said colleges and universities are required to ‘provide a comprehensive list of all staff, programs and campus activities related to diversity, equity and inclusion and critical race theory.’
In addition, they are directed to detail ‘costs associated with the administration of each program or activity,’ including a description of the activities, paid positions and how much of the money is provided by the state.
Diaz and Rodrigues are required to collect and submit the schools’ responses by Jan. 13.
No one is surprised that professors at Florida universities are appalled:
United Faculty of Florida President Andrew Gothard, said Wednesday his union is ‘deeply concerned’ about the Dec. 28 memo, which he called a ‘horrible directive.’
‘Attempts such as these by the governor to chill speech and to intimidate those he disagrees with into remaining silent, altering their curriculum, and silencing their students are an affront to democracy and the American way of life,’ Gothard, who is a professor at Florida State University, said in a statement to The News Service of Florida.. ‘Let those who supported Governor DeSantis in the recent election heed this warning: A man who will silence those whom he disagrees — in the classroom and beyond — will one day find a reason to silence you as well.’
It’s ironic that a professor is warning Americans that they will be silenced, since they are the ones who have tried to silence anyone who disagrees with their Woke agenda. DeSantis is demonstrating that the public universities in Florida may no longer develop anti-American and destructive curricula with abandon. He has the right to demand accountability from those who receive state funds, whether they protest his goals or not. My response to all those who are unhappy with his actions to protect Americans:
Deal with it.
I wonder if some universities will ignore the memo. Or make excuses for not responding on January 13. And I wonder if and how DeSantis will respond to their non-compliance.
And to those people of influence that I mentioned earlier who agree with his ultimate goals, whether they are in government or in the media, please take note. We are counting on you to continue your efforts and inspire others to get on board. And we thank you for your efforts.
Who are those whose efforts you celebrate as protectors and defenders of this country?
Published in Culture
You are already behind in Florida and the left already has energized. Your DeSantis is merely a speed bump in their long-range plans. You have radical lefties in the legislature willing to organize.
ACORN keeps resurfacing with new leaders and new names.
They are organizing and grooming.
They are not waiting until kids go to college.
They are already outworking Republicans at the grassroots level. It won’t take long to see if one man is enough to go against the left’s machine.
Not surprised. If DeSantis wasn’t flexing his muscles, they would have used some other excuse.
You can be sure they will minimize DeSantis and conservative power. Why would they do otherwise? Meanwhile, let’s hope Republicans wise up and try to cut them off.
Ironically, it is people who originated from or remain outside of our country that seem to be the strongest supporters of our past system. Jordan Peterson, Gad Saad (The Parasitic Mind, which I am now reading), Ayan Hirsi, Julian Assange, Douglas Murray, Steve Hilton, etc. are just a few who come to mind. People who lived under Marxist/Communist/Fascist/Socialist rule know well how fragile our Constitutional Republic is and how essential it is for us to live our best lives.
Love your optimism. We shall see. The question is this, should he resign and run, who’s in the wings with equal or greater fight? Will your state legislative have courage or seek the easy path?
However, unable to find a proletariat class to rise up against the country, hence the cultural rather than class revolution, the Democrats have started importing a proletariat class to rise up in revolution.
I’m not necessarily optimistic. But caving in to their darkness is, to me, the cowardly way out. And I refuse to do it.
I looked up People Power for Florida. It’s basically Anna Eskamani. They’ve raised very little money over the last five years. Not only that, her audience is made up of people who’ve shown little interest in politics. She will do everything she can to make them sound impressive, but I’m not. I’m not saying we should ignore her; in fact, we should take her seriously. But it’s too early to be overly worried:
https://www.transparencyusa.org/fl/committee/people-power-for-florida-69953-pac?cycle=2018-election-cycle
Notice the steady, upward trend and the peak activity election year Q3 s. That is a considerable amount for recruiting Orange and Seminole county youngsters. It follows a Democrat trend of concentrating in select urban areas while ignoring most red counties. Their website lists donors and addresses.
I wonder if their donors know they are listed.
At least in Florida, Republicans are recruiting new voters in larger numbers than Democrats. I found this article encouraging: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/florida-republicans-register-9-new-voters-for-every-1-new-democrat-in-months-leading-to-midterms/ar-AA13wzmJ
Addresses included.
Unlike the Democrats who seek out and attack conservatives, I don’t think the Dems will have to worry about us.
Due to better ground game or DeSantis’ popularity?
The article indicates both. We’re actually sending people out to do recruiting.
Florida is definitely a bright spot. This is why I push for our strongest to be governors. I have little confidence DC will fix itself.
Journalism is part of the problem. Journalists cannot be part of the solution.
If someone accused me of political optimism, you know what I would tell ’em?
I would say…
I’m not necessarily optimistic. But caving in to their darkness is, to me, the cowardly way out. And I refuse to do it.
Let me cut you off before you criticize me. (I know what you are thinking.)
I don’t think there is anything wrong with saying exactly the same thing Susan said, do you?
If I can’t say it any better, why shouldn’t I copy her?
I was happy to see this from my Governor:
It’s hard for me to argue with your point, RH. I’ve been struggling with the choice for a while!
Some people have complained about Abbott, but overall I think he’s one of the good guys!
But not all journalists are part of the problem, for example those I mentioned. I want them aggravating the daylights out of their colleagues!
Seminole is fighting. They were traditionally red, went blue in 2020, and moved back to red in 2022. It’s hard with Orlando residents moving the Seminole burbs for the better schools, but there’s fight in Seminole county.
Any journalist that bolsters the dangerous delusion that journalism is about Truth is indeed part of the problem.
I was a registered voter in Seminole County from 1980-2000. They supported all our absentee voter requests while I was in the military. With relatives there, it was easy to keep up with the who is who and what. I no longer have those connections and have lost track. It used to be solid red.
There’s a lot of residents here who think it still is solid red, but they think there was something fishy with 2020. With Orlando schools being a train wreck, it isn’t that surprising that we are getting spillover. And I am worried. There are questionable people in high places here. But I’m still new and I don’t know the local politics very well. Lack of a newspaper affects that.
Is there any evidence that Biden actually reads anything himself?
If anything, that letter – if read at all – will be read by someone who will likely just toss it in the trash.
He is leagues ahead of the super squish governor of Indiana, Eric Holcomb.