In the spirit of taking a closer look at the new and frankly increasingly disturbing crop of GOP leaders, let’s head down to the political swamplands of Florida to examine the education and culture wars recently ignited by Gov.
Educational experts have deemed his policies as raising up a next generation of his base who are ignorant racists. Living in Florida, it’s a tragedy that will affect generations to come.
I think we’ll overcome this sooner than that. Maybe I’m in denial, but I saw a lot of people coming out of the bushes to support racial harmony in Mississippi in 1971-2.
At my public high school in Jackson Mississippi in 1972, 2 teachers, one white/one black created and facilitated a bi-racial student committee to help us connect across the barriers that separated us.
DeSantis is a stupid and hateful man. I wish the media would quit portraying him as intelligent and canny. He is neither. One can only consider him intelligent in comparison to Trump. He is a brutal and cruel man, who targets the most vulnerable in our society to further his political aims. He also has all the charisma, speaking ability and presence of a pile of shit, which will, I hope, destroy his chances on the national level. In Florida, he manages to dodge public appearances and media interviews for the most part. He won't be able to do that if he choses to run for national office.
I would add that he has been aided and abetted by the utter incompetence of the Florida Democratic Party, which seems hell-bent on helping to elect even the most incompetent Republicans.
As a person who is stuck in Florida because of family issues, I can honestly say that the thought of Desantis attaining national office is abhorrent. He is Trump 2.0-smarter and intentionally lacking any empathy or compassion. He will gladly destroy democracy and create a fascist state-as evidenced by the voting police he instituted here as well as using state funds as his personal discretionary fund to transport immigrants to the Vineyard without ANY accountability. He has blood on his hands for the way he handled the pandemic, the statistics that were NOT shared, and his lack of care for masking or vaccines. He has destroyed the educational process in Florida. I’m grateful you are clarifying for folks the threat he poses-he and his wife are true Adolph and Eva knock-offs. And the saddest part? So many people in this ridiculous state hang on his every word. Ugly, racist, bullying behavior has become the norm. This is no longer the “Sunshine State”- it’s the “Racist State”, thanks to him and his administration.
I refuse to set foot in states like FL and TX. I refuse to spend any money there or to do business online with any company based in those states. I do not want to contribute a single dime to their economy and tax receipts.
What's wrong with this attitude is that it's total surrender: the assholes have won. They must be beaten on the courts AND the voting booths, and if the courts back them, then votes (and their pocketbooks) are all that keep them out of power.
I unfortunately moved to FL 12-13 years ago. I should have done better research because unbeknownst to me, I relocated to the last county in FL to desegregate which did not happen until the 1970’s, forced by the DOJ. Signs still exist on some “redneck” businesses to the “West” that say “no coloreds allowed.” What a culture shock for me. I came from the Northeast and was raised to treat EVERYONE with respect. People keep moving to FL because “freedom” but it is not a very nice place to be. What they really want is to live among like-minded racist folks who do not get taught history in FL schools.
“Whether his follow GOP rivals or other leaders in the party will have the courage to publicly challenge his views remains to be seen, but so far it seems unlikely.”
Ya think?
Given there isn’t a single member of the GOP that has stood up in anyway at all to Trump, McCarthy, or DeSantis, why would want to even suggest that it “remains to be seen“?
There is more evidence for widespread voter fraud and the election having been stolen from Trump than there is that members of the GOP will stand up for anything.
And the constant belief that there is some chance that they will, that maybe they could be worked with in some bipartisan way, that they might be willing to negotiate in good faith, do some form of compromise is something we have just got to get over. Liberals keep looking at the ravenous monster, charging at them, waving machetes and they stand there thinking “well there might be a chance there gonna stop and put those away and we can reason with them.”
Liberals and Democrats claim to be the “reality based” people, and they keep living in this fantasy world. Stop it. 
What I found fascinating is that Florida apparently has an “office of Articulation” that decides what is or isn’t true history. Presumably to work there you need to adopt “Winston Smith” as your middle name.
That may actually be benign. I know that when it comes to getting credit on the college level for courses taken at a community college, "articulation" is the term people use for how to value the credits. So maybe that's what is meant here: how to value completing an AP course designed by the College Board.
I think DeSantis if far more dangerous than Trump. If this man becomes President and the House and/or Senate has a Republican majority, that’s the end of America as we know it. Such scary times.
I’m seeing a lot of similarities between the current GOP’s stance and that of the Nazi party in the 1930s. This statement just solidified that view:
“A man who will silence those [with] whom he disagrees — in the classroom and beyond — will one day find a reason to silence you as well.”
In March, 1933 (two months after becoming Chancellor) Dachau was opened to incarcerate all of Hitler’s political opponents. From there, we see how Hitler and the Nazis used them.
I just wonder, how would they react if a German exchange student objected to teaching the Holocaust, since it "made them uncomfortable to be confronted with this issue" (Nevermind that we are taught about the Holocaust in Germany throughout our high school career).
(Most of us actually are deeply conscious of our past, and the common feeling is that we cannot be held personally responsible for what happened, but we have a personal responsibility to make sure it never happens again)
I mean, this clearly would be a topic where the white American students have no reason to feel bad about the actions of their (great-)grandfathers, but under the letter of the law, it could not be taught...
I am sure that would fly well with the Jewish community and the many veterans among the retirees in Florida...
... & this Idiot thinks he should run for POTUS !?!? ....Fat chance the "Woke" people all around this Country would let him anywhere NEAR the Oval Office !!! Pshaw & Pffftt !!!
Florida May end up being “where intelligence goes to die” - surely these laws will affect both students & professors who may then look elsewhere.
Educational experts have deemed his policies as raising up a next generation of his base who are ignorant racists. Living in Florida, it’s a tragedy that will affect generations to come.
I think we’ll overcome this sooner than that. Maybe I’m in denial, but I saw a lot of people coming out of the bushes to support racial harmony in Mississippi in 1971-2.
At my public high school in Jackson Mississippi in 1972, 2 teachers, one white/one black created and facilitated a bi-racial student committee to help us connect across the barriers that separated us.
If Texas doesn’t beat them to it….. as a native Texan I’m horrified by the current political climate.
My city and county are blue! I appreciate Florida because it makes Texas look a teeny tiny iota better
And courage as well
The thought that DeSantis could "out-trump, trump" triggers my gag reflex.
DeSantis is a stupid and hateful man. I wish the media would quit portraying him as intelligent and canny. He is neither. One can only consider him intelligent in comparison to Trump. He is a brutal and cruel man, who targets the most vulnerable in our society to further his political aims. He also has all the charisma, speaking ability and presence of a pile of shit, which will, I hope, destroy his chances on the national level. In Florida, he manages to dodge public appearances and media interviews for the most part. He won't be able to do that if he choses to run for national office.
I would add that he has been aided and abetted by the utter incompetence of the Florida Democratic Party, which seems hell-bent on helping to elect even the most incompetent Republicans.
Aging gamer, a dead earthworm would be considered intelligent compared to Trump.
Or even a turnip.
100%
As a person who is stuck in Florida because of family issues, I can honestly say that the thought of Desantis attaining national office is abhorrent. He is Trump 2.0-smarter and intentionally lacking any empathy or compassion. He will gladly destroy democracy and create a fascist state-as evidenced by the voting police he instituted here as well as using state funds as his personal discretionary fund to transport immigrants to the Vineyard without ANY accountability. He has blood on his hands for the way he handled the pandemic, the statistics that were NOT shared, and his lack of care for masking or vaccines. He has destroyed the educational process in Florida. I’m grateful you are clarifying for folks the threat he poses-he and his wife are true Adolph and Eva knock-offs. And the saddest part? So many people in this ridiculous state hang on his every word. Ugly, racist, bullying behavior has become the norm. This is no longer the “Sunshine State”- it’s the “Racist State”, thanks to him and his administration.
I refuse to set foot in states like FL and TX. I refuse to spend any money there or to do business online with any company based in those states. I do not want to contribute a single dime to their economy and tax receipts.
I talked friends out of moving there...
I live there now, but not for much longer. Florida is becoming more and more of a fascist cesspool.
What's wrong with this attitude is that it's total surrender: the assholes have won. They must be beaten on the courts AND the voting booths, and if the courts back them, then votes (and their pocketbooks) are all that keep them out of power.
I unfortunately moved to FL 12-13 years ago. I should have done better research because unbeknownst to me, I relocated to the last county in FL to desegregate which did not happen until the 1970’s, forced by the DOJ. Signs still exist on some “redneck” businesses to the “West” that say “no coloreds allowed.” What a culture shock for me. I came from the Northeast and was raised to treat EVERYONE with respect. People keep moving to FL because “freedom” but it is not a very nice place to be. What they really want is to live among like-minded racist folks who do not get taught history in FL schools.
Educate and organize!
“Whether his follow GOP rivals or other leaders in the party will have the courage to publicly challenge his views remains to be seen, but so far it seems unlikely.”
Ya think?
Given there isn’t a single member of the GOP that has stood up in anyway at all to Trump, McCarthy, or DeSantis, why would want to even suggest that it “remains to be seen“?
There is more evidence for widespread voter fraud and the election having been stolen from Trump than there is that members of the GOP will stand up for anything.
And the constant belief that there is some chance that they will, that maybe they could be worked with in some bipartisan way, that they might be willing to negotiate in good faith, do some form of compromise is something we have just got to get over. Liberals keep looking at the ravenous monster, charging at them, waving machetes and they stand there thinking “well there might be a chance there gonna stop and put those away and we can reason with them.”
Liberals and Democrats claim to be the “reality based” people, and they keep living in this fantasy world. Stop it. 

You’re right, but it feels like a battle that just can’t be won at times
It does. But it definitely can be. If we stop worrying about being accused of being rude. .
Ok, so, we need t-shirts.
"Just Another Woke Ideologue"
- proceeds to benefit a diversity/minority scholarship for a Florida student
What I found fascinating is that Florida apparently has an “office of Articulation” that decides what is or isn’t true history. Presumably to work there you need to adopt “Winston Smith” as your middle name.
That may actually be benign. I know that when it comes to getting credit on the college level for courses taken at a community college, "articulation" is the term people use for how to value the credits. So maybe that's what is meant here: how to value completing an AP course designed by the College Board.
Ah!! I've hovered around academics my whole life and never knew that.
I think DeSantis if far more dangerous than Trump. If this man becomes President and the House and/or Senate has a Republican majority, that’s the end of America as we know it. Such scary times.
I’m seeing a lot of similarities between the current GOP’s stance and that of the Nazi party in the 1930s. This statement just solidified that view:
“A man who will silence those [with] whom he disagrees — in the classroom and beyond — will one day find a reason to silence you as well.”
In March, 1933 (two months after becoming Chancellor) Dachau was opened to incarcerate all of Hitler’s political opponents. From there, we see how Hitler and the Nazis used them.
I just wonder, how would they react if a German exchange student objected to teaching the Holocaust, since it "made them uncomfortable to be confronted with this issue" (Nevermind that we are taught about the Holocaust in Germany throughout our high school career).
(Most of us actually are deeply conscious of our past, and the common feeling is that we cannot be held personally responsible for what happened, but we have a personal responsibility to make sure it never happens again)
I mean, this clearly would be a topic where the white American students have no reason to feel bad about the actions of their (great-)grandfathers, but under the letter of the law, it could not be taught...
I am sure that would fly well with the Jewish community and the many veterans among the retirees in Florida...
Are we white people so sensitive that we need the savior Ron DeSantis to ‘protect’ us?
... & this Idiot thinks he should run for POTUS !?!? ....Fat chance the "Woke" people all around this Country would let him anywhere NEAR the Oval Office !!! Pshaw & Pffftt !!!
"War on woke" = "War on informed empathy"