Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a historian at New York University abd a scholar of fascism. She wrote the following for MSNBC. Readers of this blog will not be surprised to read her assertion that DeSantis is no better than Trump, and may even be much worse, given his insistence that there is only one right way to teach, act, and think—and he decides what it is. I think of him as DeFascist.
She writes:
If DeSantis is becoming many Republicans’ answer to their “Trump problem,” his rise is because of his authoritarian sympathies and attitudes, not in spite of them. He promises a more “respectable”-seeming version of illiberal rule than the baggage-laden outrage specialist that is Trump. No wonder dozens of billionaires backed him even before his November re-election….
But let’s be clear: The man whom Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post celebrates as “DeFuture” would, in fact, continue Trump’s relentless attempts to turn back the clock on social progress in America by silencing and disenfranchising tens of millions who don’t fit into Republicans’ white Christian vision for the nation.
DeSantis has made Trump’s lines, and lies, his own.
From his education bills that ban the teaching of critical race theory in public schools to his crusades against commonsense public health protocols like mask mandates, DeSantis has made Trump’s lines, and lies, his own. His preference for ideology over science (his surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Lapado, has spread misinformation about Covid-19 prevention) had tragic consequences for Floridians.
Who can forget DeSantis mocking children who wore face masks? Or firing an elected county prosecutor who defied DeSantis’ hatred of abortion? Or endorsing extremists for school board races? Or spending millions to dupe Venezuelan migrants to fly to Martha’s Vineyard with false promises of jobs?
He may be worse than Trump because Trump was a fool. DeSanctis has the potential to be a fascist, unafraid to impose his personal views on everyone, using the power of government.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“Republicans’ white Christian vision for the nation,” is essential to understanding why Di Santis is a greater danger than Trump. Observation leads us to conclude that evangelicals and conservative Catholics (some working through the political arm of the bishops, the state Catholic Conferences), don’t prioritize proselytizing to potential converts. They, instead, influence the legislatures, the judiciary and, operate through the executive branches of government to implement compliance with their religion.
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The Republican party should be called out for what it is now: a heavily-funded, well-networked domestic terrorist organization. Too extreme in itself? Well, let’s look at what types are out of their own closets supporting them now, what the party itself promotes and who they are now producing because of it, all of it since Trump.
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Despite all his heinous qualities, Trump is a more flexible thinker than DeSantis. Trump comes from business where the “art of the deal” comes from compromise. DeSantis’ background is in military law. He sees the world literally in black or white. There’s no room for debate or nuanced opinions with DeSantis. People are either with him, or they are an enemy to be crushed. As a former member of the Freedom Caucus, DeSantis is firmly libertarian and pro-states rights. Nobody should vote for anyone for President that pushes the “free state of Florida” messaging, and who would also do everything in his power to undermine and restrict the functioning of the federal government.
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The Free State of Florida”
When thinking is free
DeSantis will be
The ring of a tree
A bad memory
Free to think
As Ronny says
Free to drink
The Looks of
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Free to drink
DeSantis fiz
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People said this in the spring and summer of 2016. “Cruz would be worse than Trump because he’s smarter and more capable.” Then it was “actually, you don’t want Trump gone because Pence is worse.”
Have we already (again) forgotten what Trump is? No, there is no candidate with a realistic shot at the Republican nomination who is worse than Trump.
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Alas, I can’t agree with you. Trump is definitely a terrible human without parallel, but he has these redeeming qualities: he is profoundly ignorant and slothful and incompetent and cognitively challenged. DeSantis has all of Trump’s narcissism and authoritarianism but none of those qualities that would render him ineffectual. He does have one glaring weakness in the latter regard, commented on above: he is unwilling to compromise. He’s an absolutist. And that is, in itself, a kind of profound stupidity. Pence the Dense also suffers from that one.
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So, DeSantis will know enough about how the system works to use it to bring about his vision of a Fascist Christian Nationalist U.S. And he will have no qualms about using state and paramilitary violence to accomplish this.
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Trump is a civilization-wrecking ball who destroys the norms and institutional trust necessary for a functioning democracy, who actively works to undermine democracy in the most fundamental ways short of a military coup, and who also has an outstanding record on the issues that conservatives care about most. None of this should need to be said, especially not here.
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Yes. Truly awful. But he wasn’t able to accomplish the things he wanted to accomplish–for example, to get his Border Patrol to shoot to kill unarmed asylum seekers. A future Fascist leader in the Trump mold but who is more capable might, with the Extreme Court at his back, accomplish just that. We are Germany in 1932.
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Lord save us from Pence. At least.
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Amen to that.
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The only defense against a DeRanged DeSantis is to vote, if only the Democrats could cooperate with their media messaging every day to combat the extreme right’s constant barrage of lies, conspiracy theories, hate and misinformation. Not just the few months running up to elections. Since the major news media leans right and not left, the Democrats will have to rely on Social Media more.
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DeSatan is a 2.0 version, a clone of trump who is a clone of every authoritarian tyrant and dictator in the historical record. They all use the same tactics to ascend to and hold power. DeSatan is a much greater threat because unlike trump, he is more articulate, he knows how government works and he is a much better manager. If DeSatan wins the nomination then look for the tell tale of a back room deal initiated by trump who will ask for a full federal pardon in exchange for his endorsement. Won’t save him from state charges but it will throw gas on his inevitable persecution claims.
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You nailed it, Jon.
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Comparing Republicans is like that party game where you pick what horror you would prefer. Would you rather be killed by fire ants or hyenas?
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If I have to be killed, I hope it’s in my sleep and without my knowledge. I could live with that.
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🙂
Since you appear to be of an atheist persuasion, I don’t think you will have to worry about “living” with the way you die.
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I so, so do not want to go in my sleep or in a sudden, traumatic accident. I want to be present for my death. I want to experience it. To be there for the mystery that this is.
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I laughed out loud. “…fire ants or hyenas.”
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DeSantis is a smarter version of the Orange IDIOT.
…………………………………..
The Republican leaders of Florida’s state legislature, which now boasts a GOP supermajority, expressed willingness to change state law to allow Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to run for president in 2024 without first resigning his position, Politico reports.
Why it matters: The move would lower the risk for DeSantis to enter what could be a crowded primary, in which a bruising confrontation with Trump is a near-certainty. DeSantis is unlikely to make a final decision until after the legislative session set to begin in March, per Politico.
Latest: Republicans nationwide are evenly split, 44%-44%, on whether they’d prefer DeSantis or Trump to win the GOP nomination in 2024, according to a new Quinnipiac poll.
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The break between the two camps is that one part enjoys being perceived as bullies (Trump’s Tucker Carlson brand) and, the other half prefers an image that softens them from appearing as the authoritarians that they are (DeSantis and the right wing religious).
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Linda,
In contrast to Trump’s monomania, DeSantis seems moderate and reasonable. His authoritarianism is cloaked, and it is more insidious. In some ways, he is worse than Trump, because he wants to control everything and everyone. The only speech he tolerates are from those who agree with him.
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Yes.
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Trump knew God didn’t anoint him. Di Santis believes a vengeful, conservative Christian God anointed him to leadership for life.
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All I learned from this mid-term election is that MAGA republicans are even worse than the Insane Dumb Clown. Many voters said no to election deniers.
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