Florida

babylonsister

(171,056 posts) Sun Apr 19, 2020, 10:29 AM Apr 2020

A pandemic is not the best time to find out your governor lacks leadership

A pandemic is not the best time to find out your governor lacks leadership
John Romano | Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has confused, confounded and pretty much ignored local leaders during the coronavirus crisis.
By John Romano
Published Apr. 3

Two weeks ago, the mayor of St. Petersburg called Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez to talk about coronavirus preparations.

Rick Kriseman asked his former colleague in the Florida House of Representatives if she could pass on his concerns and maybe arrange a conversation with Gov. Ron DeSantis to talk about logical solutions.

Since then, Kriseman has gotten two phone calls from U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.

He has participated in an urban mayors conference call arranged by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.

He has talked a couple of times to U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist.

And he still has not heard back from the governor’s office.

Maybe it was an oversight. Maybe DeSantis is working tirelessly and doesn’t have time for individual phone calls or even a group chat with the mayors of Florida’s largest cities.

Or maybe there is a disconnect between the Governor’s Mansion and the rest of the state.

Because, right about now, that’s what it feels like. It feels like DeSantis has been indecisive and out of touch. In a time of crisis, it feels like the governor of Florida is holed up in an ivory tower with the doors locked tight.

“It’s frustrating when you hear that he’s sitting down and having meetings with the Florida Chamber (of Commerce) and Associated Industries (of Florida). These are two of the largest business and industry-related lobbying groups in Tallahassee," said Kriseman, who added that DeSantis also failed to respond to a March 20 letter from a group of mayors asking for relief for homeowners and renters facing financial hardship.

“He has time to talk with the lobbyists, but he doesn’t have time to talk to any of us on the local level. That’s frustrating."

This isn’t about policy decisions, either good or bad. In these unfamiliar times, there are few perfect answers.

This is about leadership. In the end, that’s what Floridians want from their governor. Most of us are probably willing to follow in whatever direction the governor chooses, but we’d like to know that he has arrived at these decisions in a logical and thoughtful manner.

Instead, DeSantis spent a great deal of time ceding authority to local municipalities. He said he was reluctant to act because he was awaiting further instructions from the White House. And then, boom, he issued an executive order on Wednesday that seemingly took authority away from local governments. Hours later, he issued another order that specifically said his orders trumped the locals.

And then during a Thursday news conference, he backed away from that, too. Except, he suggested, when it comes to churches.

So are you clear on all that? Yeah, neither are local officials.

more...

https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2020/04/03/a-pandemic-is-not-the-best-time-to-find-out-your-governor-lacks-leadership/?fbclid=IwAR31w2Y-gqhbF43fizf1M7SJObJEchE_fbCZk_t8ScRc63V9-TUFBJrX0Tg

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A pandemic is not the best time to find out your governor lacks leadership (Original Post) babylonsister Apr 2020 OP

Florida governor is part of insaneville where t-rump is master . . . Iliyah Apr 2020 #1

I'm not convinced he legitimately won the election. Pacifist Patriot Apr 2020 #4

Oh, I think DeSantis 100% lost obamanut2012 Apr 2020 #8

I voted for Graham in the primary and was disappointed she lost. Pacifist Patriot Apr 2020 #9

Same, 100% for Graham obamanut2012 Apr 2020 #10

Logic tells me... FarPoint Apr 2020 #2

And getting worse. That piece was published over two weeks ago and as relevant as ever. Pacifist Patriot Apr 2020 #3

Now you tell me. McMaster, you sucker, you! nt Shermann Apr 2020 #5

desantis did run as a trump cultist rampartc Apr 2020 #6

DeSantis is an idiot. CaptainTruth Apr 2020 #7

Iliyah

(25,111 posts)

1. Florida governor is part of insaneville where t-rump is master . . .

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Sun Apr 19, 2020, 10:37 AM

Apr 2020

Still shaken head on Floridians voting for him.

Pacifist Patriot

(24,653 posts)

4. I'm not convinced he legitimately won the election.

Reply to Iliyah (Reply #1)

Sun Apr 19, 2020, 10:48 AM

Apr 2020

Florida has had notoriously squeaky margins on a lot of big races for the last couple of decades. Until we have transparent auditable elections, I'll remain unconvinced that several GOP monsters are in office fair and square.

And even so, plenty are in office without a majority of voters casting a ballot for them. Scott won the 2010 gubernatorial election with 48.8%. DeSantis won in 2018 with a more impressive 49.6%, but Gillum had 49.2%, so still a higher percentage of voters than preferred Scott in 2010.

Being a purple state means only nudges are necessary to decide an election. And we all know the GOP excels at nudges when it keeps them in power. Hell, we now know they will literally kill people to stay in power.

obamanut2012

(26,067 posts)

8. Oh, I think DeSantis 100% lost

Reply to Pacifist Patriot (Reply #4)

Mon Apr 20, 2020, 01:31 PM

Apr 2020

He lost -- or, perhaps, barely won -- against a weak candidate. Gwen Graham would have pounded him. People didn't want him as Governor.

I have nothing at all against Gillum, and I really liked his policy stances, and I think a better running mate (ie Graham) would have handily won the election.

I used to think he was "only" evil and horrible, but now I also think he is stupid as hell. PBC leadership can also be bonkers, but I feel much more confident in my PBC and town leadership.

Pacifist Patriot

(24,653 posts)

9. I voted for Graham in the primary and was disappointed she lost.

Reply to obamanut2012 (Reply #8)

Mon Apr 20, 2020, 01:36 PM

Apr 2020

I had nothing against Gillum either, but Graham just seemed like a really strong candidate with the experience we needed.

I didn't think it was possible, but DeSantis is shocking me with his idiocy. I already had a low opinion of his morals, ethics, and governance. I had no idea he was this damn stupid.

I don't think what Brevard county has could be described as leadership in any way whatsoever. Not sure what to call it actually.

obamanut2012

(26,067 posts)

10. Same, 100% for Graham

Reply to Pacifist Patriot (Reply #9)

Mon Apr 20, 2020, 02:10 PM

Apr 2020

100% backed Gillum in the GE.

I mean, he is definitely a Trump Toady, but he is stupid AF, it is shocking to me how stupid he is. He is as bad as Trump, he is just a bit more urbane and flaunts his military service.

I know he is opening everything up in 10 days, except maybe down here, since he hates SOFL.

FarPoint

(12,334 posts)

2. Logic tells me...

Reply to babylonsister (Original post)

Sun Apr 19, 2020, 10:39 AM

Apr 2020

It would be deemed logical that the citizens who minimize the effects of the pandemic/ COVID 19 would change their opinion once seeing friends, family and neighbors die or suffer from the Virus....Yet, they remain in denial...they will and are categorizing the losses as something that has happened every year anyways ...like with heart disease, common flu, diabetes....They will NOT CHANGE.

Even when we look around the world, this is not an American problem but a global problem/pandemic...yet the deniers, trumpsters are a CULT Group...we can not effectively deprogram them...

I guess my point is...we must practice stringent infection control ourselves...24/7 for at least another 2 years!. Secondly, we must all work together for a secured November Election...I have a sick feeling about this too being sabotaged some how, some way.

Just thinking this morning...