Caution: The Road Divides Ahead

​EXIT of the DAY:
I-95n Exit 26 in FL To: I-595 , FL 736, Davie Blvd


Despite crusading against the Ivy League east coast elites, Ron DeSantis shares many characteristics of those so-called Washington Insiders. Perhaps some back story could help understand if he is any different and if he will take a different road as a politician.  

After graduating from Yale College and then Harvard Law School, the future Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis served as a Navy officer and attorney in the Judge Advocate General's Corps.  Yes, TV fans... Judge Advocate General stands for JAG, and JAG is the subject of the popular CBS TV series now in syndication.  But a JAG officer’s life  is not half as exciting as shown on TV.  While the original TV series was pitched in 1995 as “Top Gun” meets “A Few Good Men”  actual JAG work is legal work by attorneys — albeit lawyers in spotless Navy uniforms.

In his early 40’s, DeSantis is today the youngest governor of any state.  While being a vocal supporter of President Trump, he has supported locally enlightened policies. An apt snapshot for Ron DeSantis’ policies is his hosting a Python Super Bowl.  

Hunters were invited to the Everglades to hunt the invasive Burmese Python species which are wiping out local wildlife on an unprecedented level. In doing so, he appeals to conservative hunters as well as aligns himself with left leaning conservation groups.   The Governor posed for photographs in front of a huge snake. He hoisted a python skin football.  ​

​Following his inauguration, DeSantis increased bipartisanship with State Democrats. In stark contrast to Trump policy, he even started progressive reforms to environment and drug policies.  DeSantis allocated $2.5 billion for water resource projects including $360 million for the Everglades National Park. He also supported legislation to support marijuana legalization not to mention, appointed several Democrats to positions in his cabinet — moves that drew praise from liberal pundits.   DeSantis casually  told the Tampa Bay Times that he was "basically doing what I said I was going to do.”


Still DeSantis usually defers to President Trump’s base.  DeSantis attacked Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia’s support in the 2016 election. He urged Trump to shut down the investigation. This keeps him tops in the Trump sphere even while he creates a workable environment to do horse trading on a local level.

Never one to be easily pigeonholed, back in 2007, DeSantis was assigned to SEAL Team One and deployed to Iraq .


Did that mean he was a SEAL?… Well not Really but…


During the so-called Surge in Iraq, according to the Miami Herald,  DeSantis served as a senior legal advisor. The young lawyer was assigned to give legal advice to the SEAL Commander of Special Operations in Task Force-West in Fallujah. From his desk in an air conditioned office,  DeSantis helped ensure that the missions of both Navy SEALs as well as Army Special Forces were planned according to the rule of military law.  At the time, a lot of prisoners were picked up and transferred to Iraqi Authorities. Lawyer DeSantis was responsible for overseeing that this process was done legally.

Given his role, it is quite — well — interesting why he later touted photographs of himself tricked out in combat gear and hoisting serious firepower — when he really was dressed far more often as a Navy orderly who did paper work.  In other words, Governor DeSantis was a paper pusher not a soldier. DeSantis later made his association with SEALS a pillar of his campaign.  Mailers featuring that one photo of him in uniform and holding a gun were sent statewide.

​According to the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, there are more than 1.5 million veterans living in Florida.  Clerk or SEAL, every Veteran counts.   That said, we are not sure how many paralegals live in Florida.  Governor De Santis has not touted images of him working behind piles of books — even if it was his actual role in the military.

​Lawyer or soldier it may not matter much since hopefully, today he now wears a uniform with snake boots.


#RonDeSantis #GovernorRonDeSantis #FloridaGovernor #SEAL #JAG #SURGE #BurmesePythons #PythonSuperBowl