LOSING LUSTER

The luster of Ron DeSantis is beginning to fade as his anti-woke agenda draws more attention thanks to the Florida Legislature that willingly makes his wishes Florida law. In his five years as governor, he has built his political base by attacking transgender people, gays, teachers, doctors, Disney, authors, newspapers, unions, school boards and anyone who disagrees with him.

His political formula is simple but effective. Hold daily press events that appear to be press conferences but really are staged, well-scripted political performances. Then, rotate the appearances between his cultural war agenda, handing out checks and trips around the country promoting his presidential ambitions.

Sprinkled among these press events are appearances by First Lady Casey DeSantis, during which she hands checks and gets celebrated for her compassion, leadership and motherhood.

Last week opened with Gov. DeSantis announcing in Lake Buena Vista with Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and state lawmakers at his side that "Disney's corporate kingdom is over." The Florida Legislature would nullify the Reedy Creek Improvement District's agreements with Disney and punish the state's top tourist attraction. And, of course, state lawmakers did just that.

On Tuesday, April 18, he announced the award of more than $13.6 million for innovative technologies and short-term solutions to aid in the prevention and mitigation of harmful algal blooms. He didn't hold a press event because he traveled to Washington, D.C., to court GOP members of Congress for his expected 2024 presidential bid.

On Thursday, April 20, Gov. DeSantis signed Senate Bill 450, which reduced the number of jurors needed to hand down a death sentence to only eight out of 12, joining Alabama as the only other state that doesn't require a unanimous jury vote. The Alabama threshold is 10-2.

He balanced the private signing ceremony with announcements of an international trade mission and the activation of the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to help businesses dealing with flooding in Broward County.

On Friday, April 21, the governor traveled to Maryland to speak at the Heritage Foundation's 50th anniversary Leadership Summit, which was fitting since DeSantis has pledged to make New College of Florida the Heritage College of the South. He used the speech to take a shot at Donald Trump.

"We reject the culture of losing that has infected the Republican Party in recent years," he told the friendly audience before listing his many accomplishments, which included his signing of the bill prohibiting abortion after six weeks of pregnancy.

Touting the six-week abortion ban bill (SB 300) was interesting because DeSantis signed it in another private ceremony late at night. He did the same thing with HB 543, which allows individuals to forgo getting a permit to carry a gun.

The bills for permit-less gun carry, abortion ban and lower threshold for the death penalty are problems for DeSantis both in and out of Florida. Political observers believe the governor, with the help of a compliant Florida Legislature, may have outrun his coverage by failing to listen to the majority of the voters and only pleasing the alt-right segment of the Republican Party.

His former colleagues in Congress and other Republicans have begun talking to the media about DeSantis's arrogance and social awkwardness. Locally, Republicans have shared DeSantis makes his predecessor Rick Scott seem downright charismatic.

Former GOP Congressman David Trott told Politico that he sat next to DeSantis for two years on the Foreign Affairs Committee without the Florida congressman ever speaking to him. Trott said, "I think he's an asshole; I don't think he cares about people."

Then, there's a photo circulating of 10 Florida members of Congress, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, dining with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, April 20. They have endorsed Trump over DeSantis. Many praised the former president's interpersonal skills over DeSantis' political approach. Ouch.

Staged events might work in Florida, but DeSantis will find it harder to win primaries unless he can develop a warmer persona.

{in} rick@inweekly.net