Florida had a mini-Trump era. And we’re still here! |Column

It feels like a blitz, right?

For 49.5% of the countries that voted for the way I did in November, I didn’t even have a chance to scream “Receive!”. Before the next bomb. The stress has ceased as Donald Trump has returned to his seat at the oval office Bombardier since the election.

Trump wielded his Sharpies around, raining out explosive executive orders, causing massive fires, and ordered new cannonades every day (sometimes once an hour) to re-create and disrupt the federal government. He immediately began a tariff war, which had to retreat. He pays homage to the media owners. His billionaire companions are running through Amok. He has been added to his cabinet of curiosity, unleashing more waves of strange destroyers for federal agencies. Senate Republican majority Truckle and Buckle.

Many people on my side of my disparity vow to read, watch and listen to politics for their emotional wellbeing. That included me, sometimes. I think our side will shake it up after the first few months. But there is a certain defeatist instinct that we have to shake off. Give the day to Borg, the feeling that resistance is a waste.

Here in Florida, it’s not easy to pretend that we haven’t heard the sound of Jungle Mayhem in Washington. For one thing, Florida’s wildlife diversity concluded to serve the Trump administration is impressive.

His chief of staff, Susie Wills, is from Jacksonville. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took his first plane to Panama to nick back the canal. Florida’s Matt Getz’s incredible Justice Department nomination has been traded for the almost astounding Florida Pam Bondy. The former Florida Attorney General born in Tampa – a 2020 election denier, anti-Obamacare, anti-gay marriage and Fox News host – has been confirmed as the top law enforcement officer. of the United States.

If the new pandemic wipes out only the Floridian and Fox hosts, slim picking will remain for Trump. Well, there’s no need to worry about fighting a new pandemic. There’s no vaccine here anyway.

But in reality, Florida was already Petri cuisine for Trump’s crowds.

I have to start by saying I am happy with my adoptive status. I live in the purple area of ​​Tampa and have an overwhelmingly fun encounter. I am an older man living among my younger neighbors and a moderate liberal among many conservatives. One of my gym’s TV monitors shows Fox, another CNN. (No MSNBC. That would be too much.)

Speaking for myself, I think it’s a healthy way of life. It keeps me in touch with how others think. Liberals need to do that more. I supported the modest Joe Biden. I became a Harris man. But when Harris turned down a three-hour chat with podcaster Joe Rogan, I publicly said, “That’s it for us.”

••••

Since moving to Florida, one fascinating pastime has written about Gov. Ron DeSantis. For six years I have built a career from waking up and down the state and awakening, so I saw it with Jimlet’s eyes. If you’re biased towards Magazine, there’s a lot I like about DeSantis. It was now a dry run for what was happening nationwide.

DeSantis opposes indoctrination at schools, fired prosecutors, banned reporters, take over college, blame pronouns, encourage snitches, spark co-stars, hire a scary mud health chief, and more than Trump I isolated DEI early. He raised his own state police to protect him from equipped elections that were never the case.

(Whenever I go to DeSantis, I always say it fair: DeSantis was also ahead in a very important way: He kept schools open during the pandemic I thanked him, my children and grandchildren thanked him. He was not such a putt about everything else.)

But here is something unexpected. Desantis Tide suddenly changed in Florida. It’s not a political hue. Because things have not turned blue any more. However, checks and balances have been found in the wild. For years, DeSantis has controlled state legislators like Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, especially since he was upset by reelection. Everyone applauded, and the medallions on my chest rattled. But the group of major MPs in Tallahassee was finally sufficient.

Desantis, a reduced period-limited, is now the target of political backshots from the former national parliament. Fella finally went on a lame hunt. Before someone toasts, it’s at least partially a fight over who can beat illicit immigrants to the best.

When the scrap broke out, Desantis posted that he was the Wrangler of all their worst immigrants, and Daddy Trump loved him again. To prove that, he sent a post on a course in Palm Beach while playing golf with Trump himself! I’m guessing now, if any golfer was devastated with a guy irrigating the Trump course, they could have then jumped out of deportation. But that would have been a harsh lie to them.

••••

In my unpopular opinion, immigration is a new big lie. With this in mind, it wasn’t that new or everything started with baiting cards on an escalator. I know, that’s a problem. It’s high on the list of all people of urgent concerns, some of which are on our side. But I call it a fake. Yes, that’s a huge mess. It is unfair for those waiting in line, or those who put an unfair burden on some areas, and asylum laws require reform.

But the urgent foreign threat is not. On this vast land, immigrants who do not live here receive little legally desirable American jobs. They are far more law-abiding than their citizens. Fentanyl is smuggled through legal border crossings. The data shows that immigrants ultimately contribute more than they take. The US fertility rate is declining. It needs a population. We need sane and expanded legal immigration rules. Ronald Reagan, the official GOP Saint, provided a conditional pardon to 2.6 million unauthorized immigrants in 1986.

But hypocrisy here in Florida is crazy. Every person in power knows there is no way that one million immigrants can be expelled from this state alone. They are sources in 12 industries, from agriculture to construction, food service, hospitality and personal care.

This condition, especially this condition, is crippled if the immigrant actually leaves. Don’t worry about eggs. Each orange costs $5. The lawn at Siesta Key’s mansion is brown. With these e-fast food tablets you can get even more outrageous “suggested chips” options. Retireers will rapidly increase each other’s oxygen tanks and hire health aides. Of course, these Florida industry bosses maintain their workforce with winks and nods.

••••

For a long time, nods and Kurtsey were only directed at DeSantis. no longer. Now, we have to pay attention to Tallahassee’s awakening towing. Simply opposed the best way to chase after desperate people, some small balances have been restored. Personal stories to be told over the next few months may shatter family life and at least move some hearts.

But no, the pushback did not change the state of our souls, or the souls of our nation. The pursuit of recognized enemies and ratting continues to be official policy in Florida, like the new Washington. But here there was a pause, if not a turn. A sparkle for us who cannot see the light.

DeSantis was a bully. As you know from popular culture (a little surely fewer from history), the bullies are eventually retrieved. It takes time. But if that happens when it happens here, then the Washington Republicans will eventually push back. If Florida is the guide, this level of Trump Strongman excess stimulates pushback. Even the poodle, or even the senator, will break the string if it’s cramped too long.

Especially when they see their weaknesses in the future.

Resistance flickers in the first few weeks. Curmudgeons, editor of the Wall Street Journal, have already called Trump’s tariffs a modest scheme and are making a “silly” move. In our known universe, the Republican president is not opposed to the WSJ’s editorial page on key issues of business and profit. Like most bullies, Trump retreated from tariffs when faced with him.

What else has Trump trampled on in three months? In 6? In a year? Judges, governors and state officials have already been pushed back. In the blue states, the governor imagines “Trump suppression” their state. Threatened federal workers are eager to avoid it. Some media wobbles, and more media are getting stronger. (Unfortunately, all of the high-tech platforms are with Trump.)

When Trump becomes his own lame duck, maybe we’ll have to wait until the midterm of 2026? When the second half is ongoing, can you see the end without his main threat packing a punch? perhaps. But it will probably be faster than that.

This is Trump who has launched 1,000 failed or bankrupt businesses, from Trump steaks to Trump mortgages to Trump scents, to Trump shuttles to Trump casino colleges. He has a vaguely fast burn rate. Today, it’s Greenland, Panama and the Gaza Riviera. You get an idea. Like his tariff war, Trump can’t get ideas, launch them, and then focus. The idea is best not to crash and burn and not be drawn into it.

And what about your hope…? Here, we had a slight change in force as DeSantis, a practice lap, was driving for the Trumps, but we had a normal, almost seasonal speed. Resistance against Desantis has erupted – Hark! Another branch of the government! – Just like Desantis has reached his second year mark. There was no change in heart on either side. However, there was a change in gravity. At least the value of the species.

There’s a season for everything, said both evangelist and folk singer Pete Seager. Time to plant, time to harvest. There are lots of crazy, vindictivic mows, and there are no tools to stop many of them. However, there are few frets. Excessive pain will flourish. Another Folk Original James Carville says he forced Trump to punch himself. Bide your time. And while you wait, organize, gather seeds, and do something useful for yourself or someone else.

There are no difficult predictions here. I was wrong enough in the last election. DeSantis is resilient, like Trump. But the bully is trampled down. Desantis was trampled down. And Trump is always overstepping.

Guest columnist Barry Golson covers the Tampa Bay senior scene. His writings have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Playboy, Forbes and Earp. He is the author of “The Gringos of Paradise” (Scribner). Contact him at gbarrygolson@gmail.com.