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View Full Version : I'm Not Sold On DeSantis



Kathianne
06-13-2023, 11:49 AM
though I find much of what he does, not the way he says what he's done or is going to do great, but what he has accomplished thus far. Past is indicative of future. Something to consider:

https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2023/06/13/desantis-war-plan-against-a-weaponized-doj-could-it-work-n557638


DeSantis' war plan against a 'weaponized' DoJ: Could it work?
ED MORRISSEY 11:21 AM on June 13, 2023

...

Real Clear Politics’ Philip Wegmann offers an exclusive look at Ron DeSantis’ plan to deconstruct the Department of Justice and rebuild it into an organization devoid of partisan politics. According to Wegmann, the Florida governor has spent months researching and planning this project, which might go so far as to eliminate the FBI and maybe even relocate the DoJ outside of the Beltway. The idea is to return to the vision of law enforcement that the founders had, Wegmann reports, which is that it should be as subsidiary as possible (via Gary Gross, who has more thoughts):


“We’re not going to let all this power accumulate in Washington, we’re going to break up these agencies,” DeSantis said during a private strategy session over the weekend, excerpts of which were obtained exclusively by RCP. He vowed in that call to order “some of the problematic components of the DOJ” be uprooted, reorganized, and then promptly “shipped to other parts of the country.”


This fits with one of the central themes of the DeSantis campaign, namely that he’d be “an energetic executive,” a president with the focus and attention to detail necessary to make the most of his Article II powers. On the stump, the governor regularly wins applause from primary voters for promising not just to wage war on the so-called deep state, but to end it.


The goal, according to senior outside advisors, ought to be returning the DOJ and FBI to a more limited “pre-9/11” mission.


The first step might not even be relocation. A better plan would be to eliminate the FBI’s brief for counterintelligence, which it continually mixes into its law-enforcement functions in ways that keep backfiring. Operation Crossfire Hurricane is only the latest example; this problem goes back to the days of J. Edgar Hoover, and “reforms” only appear to temporarily alleviate the problem. Domestic counterintelligence should be handled by a separate agency, one that can partner with the FBI when needed but with better protections for civil liberties in the US. We don’t need to build a “Gorelick wall,” but we do need law enforcement to be separate from intel work. Otherwise, we end up with “disinformation” projects and quashing of speech and dissent.

...

Practically speaking, almost certainly not. Perhaps everyone has forgotten the massive “scandal” of George W. Bush’s second term, in which he asked for the resignations of most US Attorneys after the midterm elections went sour. US Attorneys, mind you, are political appointees that serve at the pleasure of the president, and replacing them is usually not an issue. However, that’s usually only at the start of a term, not in the middle.


When Bush tried to do that in December 2006, the media and Democrats went nuts, and turned it into a four-alarm meltdown. They claimed that Bush was trying to obstruct investigations into fellow Republicans. They also argued, with more accuracy, that Bush was attempting to appoint “temporary” prosecutors to get around a new Democrat-controlled Senate. A recent change in the law (the PATRIOT Act) allowed for indefinitely long “temporary” appointments for US Attorneys without Senate confirmation, and that was a loophole that may have been too seductive to ignore.


The upshot? A dozen or so Bush administration officials resigned, including Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, his depute Paul McNulty, Harriet Miers, Karl Rove, and others. Whatever reform was intended (if any) was lost in the massive chaos and political beating that Bush and his team took for nearly two years over it.

...

The lesson here is clear: It’s better to work with Congress than to work around it. Besides, if the intent in this plan is to adhere more closely to the vision of the founders, a brute-force exercise in executive power doesn’t seem like an authentic approach to it.


The good news on this front is that any election that put DeSantis in the Oval Office would likely produce big down-ballot gains for the GOP, especially if DeSantis faced off against Joe Biden in the victory. Right now, Democrats’ only turnout strategy is to get Donald Trump nominated for a rematch. Without Trump, Democrats lose at least a third of their voter enthusiasm, and maybe more than that. If DeSantis wins the office, he should have enough power in Congress to get these reforms passed into statute and budgetary outlays, which would make the reform much more long-lasting and reliable.

...

Black Diamond
06-13-2023, 12:07 PM
What are the chances his house is raided in the next six months?

hjmick
06-13-2023, 02:33 PM
DeSantis will never get my vote, nor will Trump.

My moderate sensibilities liked Christie's town hall the other night, but it's still early.

Kathianne
06-13-2023, 02:35 PM
DeSantis will never get my vote, nor will Trump.

My moderate sensibilities liked Christie's town hall the other night, but it's still early.

I agree with both statements, though the first is difficult if it appears that "Biden"/Harris seem inevitable. I actually posted on Christie/CNN townhall. Please if you wish, comment on that, as I've been hearing quite favorable news on CNN townhalls.

Gunny
06-15-2023, 12:27 PM
DeSantis will never get my vote, nor will Trump.

My moderate sensibilities liked Christie's town hall the other night, but it's still early.The one person besides Hitlery rating below Trump with me in 2016. I'll stay home if Christie is the Republican nominee. He's too moderate. He'd have to run as a Democrat in TX. He's only a conservative by comparison to the Romper Room he's playing in.

That being said, DeSantis has lost some stock with me from watching this pissing contest with Disney. I personally feel Disney should be shut down and not allowed to market to children in any way whatsoever. But what I feared he would do with Trump, DeSantis has done with Disney by lowering himself to wallowing in the mud with the pig. It's personal and its showing. We need someone above that, IMO.

Kathianne
06-15-2023, 12:33 PM
The one person besides Hitlery rating below Trump with me in 2016. I'll stay home if Christie is the Republican nominee. He's too moderate. He'd have to run as a Democrat in TX. He's only a conservative by comparison to the Romper Room he's playing in.

That being said, DeSantis has lost some stock with me from watching this pissing contest with Disney. I personally feel Disney should be shut down and not allowed to market to children in any way whatsoever. But what I feared he would do with Trump, DeSantis has done with Disney by lowering himself to wallowing in the mud with the pig. It's personal and its showing. We need someone above that, IMO.

I don't like his behavior with Disney either, for much the same reasons. With that said, I'm well aware I'm never going to agree 100% or even 90% with any candidate. I'd count myself grateful for 70's and a C. I do like much of what DeSantis has done in FL and what he's articulated for what he'd attempt if he would win. In many ways though, he's got the Trump predilection for fighting or so it appears thus far.

Christie is more liberal, but some of that can also be used for getting something done. My problem is the whole Bridgegate which made him seem very Chicago-like.

BoogyMan
06-15-2023, 07:55 PM
What are the chances his house is raided in the next six months?

I would say better than 70%.

fj1200
06-16-2023, 08:40 AM
I'll take the under.

Gunny
06-17-2023, 12:26 PM
I don't like his behavior with Disney either, for much the same reasons. With that said, I'm well aware I'm never going to agree 100% or even 90% with any candidate. I'd count myself grateful for 70's and a C. I do like much of what DeSantis has done in FL and what he's articulated for what he'd attempt if he would win. In many ways though, he's got the Trump predilection for fighting or so it appears thus far.

Christie is more liberal, but some of that can also be used for getting something done. My problem is the whole Bridgegate which made him seem very Chicago-like.

Not sure what it is about Christie. Any one thing, anyway. Instant dislike much as I originally had for the Donald back in the 80s. Could be my instant distaste for disheveled slobs with big mouths :)

I'm not trying to tell anyone who to like or not, btw. I'm sure most choices so far are better than the 2 that appear to be steamrolling down on us whether or not we like it.

I'm sort of wishful thinking on Scott. Right now, he's a one-trick pony, IMO. Running on he's black, Republican and crawled out of poverty to get where he is. Although, that argument has been forced on him by the leftards up to and including our former, half-black President. I wonder does Obama know how stupid he looked claiming to be black and being President, telling a man claiming blacks can make it he's ignoring history, yada, yada yada. Obviously, being black is secondary to party :rolleyes: