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DeSantis' Ukraine u-turn: Florida Governor now says his 'territorial dispute' comments were 'mischaracterized', calls Putin a war criminal and says Russia is 'basically a gas station with a nuclear weapons'
Daily Mail ^ | March 22, 2023 | Geoff Earle

Posted on 03/22/2023 6:11:33 PM PDT by McGruff

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sought to clean up comments where he called Russia's brutal war on Ukraine a 'territorial dispute' after drawing rebukes against 'isolationism' but praise from Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

'Well, I think it's been mischaracterized. Obviously, Russia invaded — that was wrong. They invaded Crimea and took that in 2014 — That was wrong,' DeSantis told Piers Morgan in an interview more than a week after his initial comments.

He also rolled out tough talk against Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him a 'war criminal' and saying he should be 'held accountable,' while dissing Russia as 'basically a gas station with a bunch of nuclear weapons' during a week when Putin huddled with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: bidensneoconbuttboys; desanctimonius; desanctus; desantis; florida; gasstationwithnukes; meatballron; putin; rondesantis; rontheneocon; russia; russiansuicide; sergeilavrov; ukraine; ukrainewar; warcriminal; zelenskyworshippers
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To: McGruff

Oops!

Wind shifted.


41 posted on 03/22/2023 6:37:38 PM PDT by TomGuy
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To: hinckley buzzard

Is he wrong?


42 posted on 03/22/2023 6:37:56 PM PDT by cowboyusa (There is no co- existence with Pinks and Reds)
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To: BlackAdderess
"it is not statesmanlike to call them a gas station with nukes."

Well, it makes no sense to poke the bear with a stick. It's all about flies and honey, and a little forethought could go a long way...

43 posted on 03/22/2023 6:38:22 PM PDT by unread ("It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required." W. Churchill.)
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To: cowboyusa

>> What did he say that’s untrue?

Which DeSantis are you talking about? The first DeSantis that showed up to the party? The second one? the third?

Or do you think they’re all correct?


44 posted on 03/22/2023 6:39:54 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (Truth is not hate speech.)
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To: BobL

Even though I despise Zelensky, our current welfare client, I don’t think Russia was right to invade Ukraine either. Does that make me GOPee also?


45 posted on 03/22/2023 6:39:57 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (FBI out of Florida!)
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To: R0CK3T
Calling Russia a 3rd rate power is Neo- Con? Is opposing the chi coms who killed 2 Million Americans Neo- Con? Russia and Ukraine are a distraction.
46 posted on 03/22/2023 6:40:48 PM PDT by cowboyusa (There is no co- existence with Pinks and Reds)
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To: Flavious_Maximus

If he does that, he’s dead to me. I moved down here from the socialist Hell that is Maryland in part because he was running the state. I don’t need him becoming just another part of the greasy, globalist, elitist GOPee b@st@ards.

If he does that, then I nominate Byron Donalds for Governor.


47 posted on 03/22/2023 6:43:04 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (FBI out of Florida!)
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To: McGruff

Oh my, is he trying to lose? Maybe so.

Not ready for prime time.


48 posted on 03/22/2023 6:43:09 PM PDT by Baldwin77 (The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws. -Tacitus)
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To: Nervous Tick
He's consistent. What is going on in Russia and Ukraine is not our business. Putin was wrong to invade, and China is the foreign threat. Cultural Marxism is the biggest Domestic threat. Same red threat.
49 posted on 03/22/2023 6:43:40 PM PDT by cowboyusa (There is no co- existence with Pinks and Reds)
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To: AC86UT89
Where’s the guy who was the best governor during Covid?

Probably jealous that Kemp reopened Georgia first.

50 posted on 03/22/2023 6:43:54 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (FBI out of Florida!)
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To: McGruff

Being strong on his position when first asked his thoughts, then “clarifying” after being called out by the GOPe and the left for not sufficiently backing those that are determined to lead us into a war is not a good look. DeSantis has had plenty of time to determine his position on the Russia/Ukraine conflict, although one does allow for slight changes in position based upon the current status of the war.

However, “walking back” or “clarifying” his statement at this point shows a bit of tendency to go where “the winds send him”. His latest statement seems to indicate a desire to please the media who have been jumping on his original statement since the day it was released. DeSantis can’t start listening to the media as to what he should believe. They will have him tied in knots.

The media will complain about something he said today, and then complain tomorrow when he clarifies his position. They will then create a narrative that will be used forever and begin each reporting segment on the issue by stating something such as, “DeSantis has waffled on his position since day one of Russia’s attack on Ukraine”. They will try to make him look indecisive on foreign policy.

I’ve watched this scenario happen over the past several decades with various politicians on multiple issues. Such tactics have taken plenty of qualified candidates out of the running. The left and the media have round-table discussions dissecting each statement by conservatives as they narrow down the best way to attack. They are good at it having perfected their tactics over the years.

DeSantis is going to have to get tougher because they haven’t really started attacking him yet.


51 posted on 03/22/2023 6:43:55 PM PDT by CFW (old and retired)
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To: Yogafist

“Of course, he is going to answer to the donors, and the Republican party. He is beholden to them, unlike Trump he can’t stand on his own, he needs the party and the support. That is his problem, he will do whatever the deep state tells him to do.”

Clearly the case here, but I’m not as sure that he needed the party support in that everyone already knows his name and had been full MAGA, he would have developed his own support structure.

As it is, seems like he’ll now be spending a lot of time on the beach, since he just handed Trump the nomination.


52 posted on 03/22/2023 6:44:59 PM PDT by BobL
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To: McGruff

He’s possessed by the ghost of McCain?


53 posted on 03/22/2023 6:45:07 PM PDT by Farcesensitive (K is coming)
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To: odawg

He could make a good candidate for 2028, however. Let Trump do 2024.

54 posted on 03/22/2023 6:45:43 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (FBI out of Florida!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
No, you realize that Putin is bad, but no threat to us. China is yanking Biden AND Putin's chain, and now they are working on Zelinsky.
55 posted on 03/22/2023 6:46:03 PM PDT by cowboyusa (There is no co- existence with Pinks and Reds)
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

The authors, the music, and the scientists that made do with a lack of resources and invented brilliant things anyway. Their government sent artists to the gulag in Siberia, and do you know, they even managed to find that the hair of Siberian weasels make the finest watercolor brushes!

I think there is good and bad, though Putin seems pretty foul. They do certainly have a problem with their army though. Bombing maternity hospitals, children’s hospitals, civilian housing, what the heck?! All those civilians tortured and buried in mass graves in the woods, disgusting!


56 posted on 03/22/2023 6:46:54 PM PDT by BlackAdderess (Evidently the fringe left has seen "something nasty in the woodshed" Ala Stella Gibbons)
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To: cowboyusa

Whatever! Vote for Ron if you’re in love with him.

Your tenacious yapping and ankle-biting don’t change my mind, because they’re just YOUR OPINION, not the unassailable fact you believe them to be. You are, however, annoying and that’s not a great way to make headway.


57 posted on 03/22/2023 6:47:48 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (Truth is not hate speech.)
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To: Farcesensitive
MCain would have gotten us into World War 3. DeSantis thinks that Russia is a detraction.
58 posted on 03/22/2023 6:47:54 PM PDT by cowboyusa (There is no co- existence with Pinks and Reds)
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To: Nervous Tick
Trump has the same opinion. It's an America First position. China is the threat, and the Democrats share there ideology and are weak. We need another Joe MCCarthy
59 posted on 03/22/2023 6:50:18 PM PDT by cowboyusa (There is no co- existence with Pinks and Reds)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

My only comment is that if the United States didn’t want this war, there would have been no war.


60 posted on 03/22/2023 6:50:56 PM PDT by BobL
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