Posted on 05/03/2023 9:07:32 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
The easiest way to cut through the pretending nonsense is to ask the obvious question, ‘Why now?‘
The Florida Republican Legislature is changing the Sunshine Laws in Florida to block people from reviewing the travel records of the Florida Governor. [HB1495 Link]
The claimed justification is security, to protect the governor and high-ranking state officials. However, the obvious timing of Ron DeSantis pending run for the White House, in combination with his administration refusing to give details on who/how the funding for his private charter flights have been taking place during the “book tour,” makes the new law much more suspicious as constructed.
As noted within a Politico article on this subject: […] flight tracking records show that a private chartered jet last week flew from Austin, Texas, to Japan to South Korea to Israel to London and then, over the weekend, stopped in Boston before finally winding up in Tallahassee. Those stops coincide with the governor’s movements for the past week.
No reply at all — It has been previously stated that this trip is being paid by private donations to Enterprise Florida, the public-private economic development agency that is about to be dismantled by the Legislature. But a spokesperson for Enterprise Florida has not responded to questions as to why a chartered jet — which is likely to be tremendously expensive — was used for DeSantis’ trip. The agency was also asked about how much this will ultimately cost. (read more)
If we stop playing this silly game of pretending, we will accept the billionaire donors who are funding the ‘STOP TRUMP’ operation are likely the same donors who are funding the ‘BOOK TOUR’; who are the same donors who funded the new branding and consulting group in 2022; who are the same donors funding the apparatus of the DeSantis stealth campaign. More succinctly, his control handlers.
The need for control is a reaction to fear.
The professional Republican apparatus in Florida needs to control what is visible about the construct of Ron DeSantis 2024. If you ask my opinion, I will tell you from all appearances this fear is connected to a reality that Ron DeSantis ’24 was planned long, long ago. Likely before the 2020 presidential election year.
As a result of decades of grassroots activist work in the state of Florida, much of it led by the patriotic Tea Party movement, the sunshine state has/had some of the most transparent public information laws in the country. Florida is/was well known for the ability of citizens and media to keep government officials in check through public records requests. I have personally used them and will attest to the sunlight process that was always available.
Ever since the people behind Governor Ron DeSantis began conducting a stealth presidential campaign based on fraud, deception, brand imagery and pretense, those same Florida Sunlight Laws are viewed as a risk. The arc of this DeSantis legacy, including the legislative changes he champions as good for the state, does not end in a good place.
If you follow the process to its natural conclusion, what’s predictable is a voter swing in the other direction. Then Democrats will have a lot of powerful tools they can weaponize against their opposition. Tools, currently created by DeSantis, will be used by a host of carpetbagging non and new-Floridians who are putting the state on a path for future misery.
You only need to look at what took place on the floor of the Florida House of Representatives today to get a sense of the legislative crisis they are gleefully creating. This is what DeSantis leadership in the state looks like right now:
HAPPENING NOW: Florida lawmakers dance on House floor pic.twitter.com/nvEga2tJkL
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) May 2, 2023
The only “Moron” on this thread is the one that ignores how bad this makes DeSantis looks and deflects with some nonsense of the “governor’s success”.
I’m blown away by your argument and supporting information. Well done!
DeSantis actually delivers on conservative platforms and this is the result. What a bunch of dolts.
The only morons are those that ignore and refuse to vet stories like these. If it’s true, why is it being done?
Valid questions.
You don’t think DeSantis is being targeted? You don’t think he should take measures to protect his safety?
Not every candidate is a billionaire with unlimited funds for personal security.
These always-Trump-all-the-timers are starting to open a lot of eyes.
How does it protect his safety not to reveal travel records after the travel has taken place? This stinks to high heaven of a man with something to hide.
How does it protect his safety not to reveal travel records after the travel has taken place? This stinks to high heaven of a man with something to hide.
Easy to predict future travel plans based on past behavior. OpSec 101.
Actually it is. Past behavior informs future activities.
This is very basis stuff.
Come on, pull the other one. That is a real reach.
If a DEMOCRAT in public office took trips out of the country on a donor’s dime and had the identity of that donor shielded from public view by a state legislature, you wouldn’t find a single Freeper weighing in to defend the crooked jackass.
Let’s go back and look at how this story changed over time:
1. First, a legitimate question was raised about why the governor of Florida was making trips to all these foreign countries. The answer was: “He’s working hard as governor, promoting Florida as a great place to do business.”
2. At that point, a legitimate question was asked about how much the Florida taxpayers were paying for these trips. THIS was when it suddenly came out that they weren’t paying anything because DeSantis was having his travel expenses paid by private donors.
3. And now the obvious question should be asked: Who are these donors?
Let me fill you in on something: “It’s nobody’s business” is the worst answer you can give to that question.
Have you read the actual amendment to the existing statute?
Here is a link
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1616/BillText/c1/HTML
Notice it pertains to information held by law enforcement agencies. The following excerpt shows just what type of information is exempted from public disclosure.
“The disclosure of such records, including security,
72 operational, and logistical plans; mansion security, facility
73 operations, access, screenings, and clearances; personal
74 information unrelated to official duties of the protected
75 individuals; risk, vulnerability, and threat assessments; travel
76 information relating to the protected person and law enforcement
77 agents and personnel providing the security or transportation
78 services; and identifying information of sworn and nonsworn
79 personnel engaged in a security or transportation services
80 operation or detail”...
It is a sorry come to pass when the word of the Leftist press is taken as Gospel by Conservative news sites or blogs.
Read the bill which is an amendment to existing Statute.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1616/BillText/c1/HTML
Try reading the bill.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1616/BillText/c1/HTML
Some excerpts. This explains who has these records and what they pertain to.
“(10)(a) Records held by a law enforcement agency relating
45 to security or transportation services provided under subsection
46 (1), subsection (5), or subsection (6) are exempt from s.
47 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. “
The following gives specifics of the information to be exempt from public disclosure.
“The disclosure of such records, including security,
72 operational, and logistical plans; mansion security, facility
73 operations, access, screenings, and clearances; personal
74 information unrelated to official duties of the protected
75 individuals; risk, vulnerability, and threat assessments; travel
76 information relating to the protected person and law enforcement
77 agents and personnel providing the security or transportation
78 services; and identifying information of sworn and nonsworn
79 personnel engaged in a security or transportation services
80 operation”
This is not at all about travel records. As in “Whom did the Governor or FL Supreme Court Justice meet with?” But about keeping information that could make officials or sites vulnerable to attack confidential.
I’ve read none of your reply.
It’s simply AMAZING at the lengths “conservatives” on this board will go to vilify anyone who comes within arm’s reach of Saint Trump.
The question is not what’s in the law. The question is why now.
Come on, pull the other one. That is a real reach.
Yes, that’ just what we all said when receiving this training prior to overseas deployment. Oh, you weren’t there?
Just a stupid, stupid piece of legislation.
Will DeSantis veto it?
Re: 35 - Let me clarify. It’s stupid because of the timing. I also question if it is even needed.
But the timing is bad if DeSantis declares.
It’s sad when people are so partisan that they read into honest criticism so robustly. My criticism of DeSantis has nothing to do with Donald Trump; it is solely related to DeSantis, his backers, his words & actions.
There have been times when Freepers are fiercely divided on topics. This is one such topic. I will endeavor to refrain from any comments on DeSantis threads. His supporters are not open to consideration of alternate interpretations of his gestalt and thus comments only provoke discord. The future will enlighten us all.
Excuse me but trips by Governors are not like troop deployments. Why are not all travels by Government officials in every state hidden at all times? Why do we have sunshine laws. Are the officials in charge of arrangements so inept that they cannot reveal who is paying for travel and who meetings are with w/o giving logistic details that would allow sabotage. Exactly why is the Presidents schedule & his travel detail shared?
That is exactly the question. But to answer your question. IMHO it is because there is ever growing evidence that Antifa and similar groups believe and act upon the premise that direct confrontation or action should be the first response to what and who they don’t agree with. Their insanity is encouraged by the media and is no longer restrained by thought of consequences. Which are often moot thanks to Soros funded DAs.
The timing trumps the general growth of violence & political targeting. The premise is being floated to obscure the true motivations of the timing.
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