Ron De Santis formally announces presidential run.

"The die is cast".

 

54% of Prez. Trump's supporters want him to debate Governor Ron De Santis. Source: "Supporters of former President Donald Trump want to see him fend off his GOP challengers like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after Trump opted to skip the first Republican primary debate.

A new Economist/YouGov poll released Wednesday found that 54 percent of Republican voters who want Trump to win the party nomination think Trump should participate in the second debate next month. Only 19 percent of Trump supporters think he shouldn't."

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-supporters-pressure-him-debate-desantis-1823549

 

Franklin Graham lost credibility when he told his followers to get the covid vaccine


Franklin Graham believes Jesus would support COVID vaccine
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article250748454.html

 

Ok, so why didn't Trump lose credibility when he called himself "Father of the Vaccine"?

"Trump’s Latest Delusion: “I’m the Father of the Vaccine”

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/04/trumps-latest-delusion-im-the-father-of-the-vaccine

 

And then there's this.

Trump Bafflingly Says It’s “Great Honor” to Be “Most Pro-Gay President in America”

"Donald Trump tweeted on Thursday that it is a “great honor” to be the “most pro-gay president in American history,” as one gay Republican recently called him.

On Wednesday, the Log Cabin Republicans released a video featuring gay conservative and former U.S. ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, in which he claims that Trump is the first president in history to be “pro-gay marriage from his first day in office.”

https://www.them.us/story/log-cabin-republicans-trump-tweet

Open your eyes, Friends. There's no doubt De Santis is the Superior Conservative Christian Candidate. It is as clear De Santis is the Morally Superior Choice vis as vis Trump as Trump was vis a vis Clinton. When someone's supporting Baby-Murder, and another is not, obviously he's better. But when Two Candidates are Pro-Life, one of them has signed 6 week Heartbeat Bills, and is strongly Anti-Woke, while other is above, it should be equally clear.

 

Trump: "I could Shoot People" and not lose votes/their support.

Seems to be so, as that's kind of what happened with the vaccine.

Meanwhile, here is Pro-Life, Anti-Vax Conservative Champion De Santis:

"DeSantis seeks grand jury investigation of Covid-19 vaccines Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he plans to petition the state’s Supreme Court to convene a grand jury to investigate “any and all wrongdoing” with respect to the Covid-19 vaccines."

From: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/13/desantis-seeks-grand-jury-investigation-of-covid-19-vaccines.html It's so Clear that it's not even Close.

 

Governor Ron De Santis on Election Security:

"TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Last year, Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 524, which established the Office of Election Crimes and Security to be solely dedicated to investigating election law violations. Today, Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted the major accomplishments of the Office of Election Crimes and Security (OECS) during its first year.

“We have taken bold steps to ensure Florida is the national leader in conducting fair and secure elections,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Since the formation of the Office of Election Crimes and Security, we have held illegal voters and our election officials accountable, cracked down on ballot harvesting, and strengthened ID requirements for mail-in ballots. In Florida, we will not allow anyone to circumvent the will of the people or the law.”

“I commend Governor Ron DeSantis for his leadership in ensuring that Florida conducts elections with the highest degree of integrity, security, and efficiency,” said Florida Secretary of State and Chief Election Officer Cord Byrd. “Our goal at the Department of State is to diligently enforce and uphold our laws and assure Florida voters that our elections are held to the highest standard. With the addition of the Office of Election Crimes and Security, our staff remains dedicated to holding bad actors accountable and implementing policies that continue to strengthen our election system.”

https://www.flgov.com/2023/07/14/go...ring-first-year-of-election-integrity-office/

 

The 2024 election may very well be one of the most volatile times America has ever known. There is no perfect candidate, they all come with baggage. I pray that God in His mercy will give our country another chance. May we be blessed with a president who loves God, and will protect and defend the American values that made our country great. Pray for perseverance, a fair election, and for the protection of our presidential candidates.

 

Yes!! Agree!!

 

I remember some in 2021 were saying "it's all over" and Conservatives will never win an election in America again etc. Fast forward to 2022, and Gov. De Santis did. Governor De Santis showed that it could be done. And not only that, he won by record margins of 20 points - and that despite Trump starting to attack him.

Anyway, the contrast between De Santis and Trump is clear:

1. De Santis signed a 6 week Heartbeat Abortion Ban, and Trump called it too harsh.
2. Trump called himself "the most Pro-Gay-President in History", De Santis has taken bullets for his tough, Pro-Marriage,Pro-Family, Conservative stance.
3. Trump called himself "Father of the Vaccine", De Santis has pushed the Supreme Court to investigate "all wrong doing with respect to Covid vaccines".
4. Trump bragged about committing fornication and fingering the genitals of multiple women. De Santis is a Faithful Husband to his wife, and stood by her in a difficult time when she had Breast Cancer. Men will be Presidents as they have been men.
5. Trump called his "battle" with STDs while committing fornication "his own personal Vietnam". De Santis is a Military Veteran.
6. Trump increased the debt by 8 Trillion Dollars, and De Santis ran Record Budget Surpluses in Florida.
7. Under Governor De Santis, Florida is Ranked the No 1. Economy in America. See the Source below.

"Now, more recently on COVID, Florida, we said no to all this, and we led the way and really led the way in dragging this country out of perpetual lockdown. We protected our people’s ability to earn a living, our businesses’ ability to operate, our kids’ ability to be in school in person five days a week. We bucked the elites when we did that. No governor faced more incoming fire during those periods of time than I did because we were standing out and saying, “We’re going to do what’s right. We are not going to simply subcontract out our leadership to people like Dr. Fauci. We refuse to let Florida descend into some type of Faucian dystopia where people’s livelihoods were ruined and their freedoms were curtailed.”

(10:26)
We fought for Floridians who were being ignored by the elites, whose livelihoods hung in the balance and who did not have a voice. We were their voice and we were their fighter. And the results …

(10:47)
And the results are that Florida continues to lead the way. Our economy is ranked number one amongst all 50 states by CNBC. We’re ranked number one in new business formations, number one in economic growth amongst large states. And our economy has grown way more than the nation’s as a whole. Since I’ve been governor, we’ve actually paid down 25% of our state’s total debt, and we’ve run budget surpluses every year."

From: https://www.rev.com/blog/transcript...ts-in-economic-policy-announcement-transcript

De Santis makes Trump look like a Woke Liberal in comparison. De Santis is as clearly more Conservative than Trump than Trump was to Hillary Clinton.

I wish there were more Catholic Conservatives and others in the Media etc saying this. I respect Franklin Graham and the Evangelical Conservatives who have higlighted Governor De Santis' accomplishments for the Conservative Cause. Catholics, so far as I can see, are either divided or largely silent.

 

"DeSantis Picks Up Endorsements From Conservative Iowa Voices
By Hank Berrien
•
Aug 31, 2023 DailyWire.com


Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has recently picked up a few endorsements from influential conservative voices in Iowa, where the first GOP primary will be held — the latest coming from a former GOP leader in the state.

Former Co-Chair of the Republican Party of Iowa Cody Hoefert endorsed DeSantis in an op-ed published by The Gazette on Wednesday, calling him “a battle-tested leader who can get our country back on the right track, who fights for our shared principles and can deliver results for the people.”

https://www.dailywire.com/news/desantis-picks-up-endorsements-from-conservative-iowa-voices

 

I wish we could go back to the 80’s. I miss those days. People read newspapers, signed checks, bought affordable homes, had great jobs, etc etc.

 

Yes. Me too. They really were " the good old days" in so many ways.

 

Above Daily Wire Article, continued:

"DeSantis also recently received the endorsement of another notable voice from the state, popular radio host Steve Deace, who praised DeSantis’ strong leadership.

“I’ve seen a lot of good people come and go, but frankly I have never seen it, when it comes to the issues that are going to decide the future for our children and grandchildren, who has more knowledge, more willingness, more resume, in understanding them, what to do about them, and then actually doing it. I’ve never seen anything like what Ron DeSantis has done in Florida,” Deace said.

Iowa evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats also signaled his support for the Florida governor when he hosted DeSantis at an event earlier this month while expressing doubts about GOP frontrunner Donald Trump
“So I do believe the president has a self-inflicted ceiling, and I think others are looking for who else it could be, so we could turn the page to that next generational leader,” Vander Plaats told Fox News’ Neil Cavuto in the wake of another indictment against Trump.

The endorsements from Hoefert and Deace come as polls in Iowa are tighter than national polls, which show Trump with a commanding lead over DeSantis and the rest of the field.

“I was privileged to help lead our state through two Republican caucuses,” Hoefert wrote. “I understand the critical role Iowa plays in putting candidates through the wringer on a national stage.” DeSantis, he said, has been the only GOP presidential candidate who pledged to visit every county in Iowa, adding, “DeSantis is doing what it takes to earn Iowans’ support.”

He also praised DeSantis’ record during the COVID lockdown, saying he ensured Floridians could “keep their jobs and businesses open, send their kids to school, and freely worship in person at church.” Echoing radio host Mark Levin’s assertion that the Florida governor had already led a conservative “revolution” in his state, Hoefert said he was “the only candidate in the race who has fought back against the radical left’s woke agenda and won,” having “set the national standard to defend the innocence of our children in the classroom, eliminating Critical Race Theory and expanding school choice.”

Hoefert also made a point of acknowledging his respect for the Trump administration, but said “we need a new leader without constant distractions and excuses. I have heard from Iowans from every corner of the state who supported Trump through every battle, but they are ready to move on.”

Trump “has now refocused his energy on petty battles like attacking Kim Reynolds and claiming her victory as his own. Iowans see straight through his blame game, and are tired of his inability to stay focused on the issues,” he opined. “America needs a leader who will inspire and get the job done, not point fingers when things don’t go their way.”

 

Op-Ed referenced above: Why I'm endorsing Ron DeSantis.
https://www.thegazette.com/guest-columnists/why-im-endorsing-ron-desantis/

Cody Hoefert

Aug. 30, 2023 9:22 am


Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis waves to the crowd as he attends an event Friday, March 10, 2023, in Davenport, Iowa. (AP Photo/Ron Johnson)
As the former co-chair for the Iowa Republican Party from 2014 to 2021, I was privileged to help lead our state through two Republican caucuses. I understand the critical role Iowa plays in putting candidates through the wringer on a national stage.


There has never been a more crucial time for Iowans to select the Republican nominee who can beat Joe Biden in 2024. Iowa, we must choose wisely.

America desperately needs a battle-tested leader who can get our country back on the right track, who fights for our shared principles and can deliver results for the people
After thoughtful consideration and prayer, I have decided to endorse Ron DeSantis for President.

Ron DeSantis grew up in a blue-collar family, paid his way through college, volunteered to serve in the Navy and go to Iraq after 9/11, is a proud husband to Casey, and father to three young children.

He is the only candidate who has pledged to visit all of Iowa's 99 counties. (So far, he has visited 53.) While others take it for granted, DeSantis is doing what it takes to earn Iowans' support.

During COVID lockdowns across the country, DeSantis ensured Floridians could keep their jobs and businesses open, send their kids to school, and freely worship in person at church.

He signed the Heartbeat Bill into law, Florida’s strongest pro-life protections in state history, and is the only candidate in the race who has fought back against the radical left's woke agenda and won. He set the national standard to defend the innocence of our children in the classroom, eliminating Critical Race Theory and expanding school choice. He supports law enforcement, fought to expand and protect our 2nd Amendment rights, and cut taxes for Florida families.

Much like Gov. Kim Reynolds here in Iowa, DeSantis has demonstrated that he will never back down from his principles and convictions. I'm confident that President DeSantis would bring that same "service over self" leadership to the White House.

I greatly respect the Trump administration's accomplishments, but we need a new leader without constant distractions and excuses. I have heard from Iowans from every corner of the state who supported Trump through every battle, but they are ready to move on.

Certainly Trump accomplished great conservative wins, but he has now refocused his energy on petty battles like attacking Kim Reynolds and claiming her victory as his own. Iowans see straight through his blame game, and are tired of his inability to stay focused on the issues.

DeSantis is the only candidate with the courage, energy, and fortitude to end the weaponization of government, secure the border, and undo the inflation and energy crisis caused by "Bidenomics." America needs a leader who will inspire and get the job done, not point fingers when things don't go their way.

This election is too important to sit on the sidelines. Iowa Republicans must choose a candidate to beat Joe Biden and reverse our nation’s decline. Ron DeSantis is the man for the job.

I encourage Iowa Republicans to join me in supporting Ron DeSantis at your caucus site on Jan. 15, 2024.

Cody Hoefert served as the Co-Chair of the Republican Party of Iowa from 2014 to 2021."

 

Welp, I can't stay out of this discussion. One thing I always like to look at is Vegas odds. Vegas has an uncanny ability to be very accurate. Ron has quite a bit of work to do to get back to where he was at the beginning of the year.

https://www.thelines.com/odds/election/

 

And so it begins: "De Santis overtakes Trump in Poll
"After the five-day convention—which included speeches from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Florida Congresswoman Kat Cammack and former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake—36.6 percent of the attendees indicated that they wanted to see DeSantis as the next Republican presidential candidate. Trump trailed with 35.4 percent of the vote."

https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desantis-overtakes-trump-poll-1823863

 

"Faced with hurricane, Trump, DeSantis respond in dramatically different ways As a major storm threatened the Florida coastline Monday morning, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference from the state’s emergency management headquarters, warning residents about the storm’s danger while flanked by state and national guard leaders. Less than an hour earlier, Donald Trump had delivered a very different message to the public. The former president and GOP presidential front-runner, posting on social media, promoted an unsubstantiated rumor that DeSantis was dropping out of the presidential race to run against GOP Sen. Rick Scott, choosing to attack his rival even as Idalia began gaining strength over the Gulf of Mexico. “Now that’s an interesting one, isn’t it?” Trump wrote, one of dozens of political attacks the Republican candidate launched from Truth Social even as the storm inundated Florida and other southeastern states with water.

For Florida’s two most prominent politicians, the week was a study in contrasting leadership styles. While DeSantis responded to the natural disaster in ways the public has long expected its government officials to act — holding press conferences and offering apolitical directions about managing its impact — Trump ignored the storm for days, instead posting a litany of insults aimed at his political adversaries while highlighting positive poll numbers for his campaign. By the time Trump mentioned Hurricane Idalia in a Wednesday afternoon post, he had already posted more than 140 times on Truth Social since Monday on a multitude of subjects, even dredging up an old letter the late actor Kirk Douglas sent him in 1998. (The count of Trump’s posts includes times in which he reposted messages from other accounts.)

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article278837009.html

See also: "Hurricane Ron DeSantis
If he can do the executive job, maybe his skill at small talk is immaterial."

https://www.wsj.com/articles/ron-desantis-hurricane-idalia-florida-a4ec7f61

 

Ron DeSantis on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RonDeSantis/status/1702038064934096952

"
It was an honor to meet His Eminence @CardinalDolan today and discuss issues important to the Catholic community: religious freedom, education choice, promoting a culture of life, and more. As president, I will stand strong for people of faith, defend religious liberty, and end the weaponization of government. Anyone in the federal bureaucracy who has been targeting Catholics will be held accountable starting on Day One of the DeSantis Administration."

 

Steve Deace on the above: "Whoever has won the Catholic vote has won every single post-Roe presidential election except for one. The 2000 election, which was the first in over a century when a candidate won the presidency without the popular vote." https://twitter.com/SteveDeaceShow/status/1702072006919831824

Imo, every serious Catholic Pro-Life Organization should endorse Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis is the most Pro-Life Catholic Candidate by a mile.