Florida governor Ron DeSantis is either openly preparing for a break from the federal government or he wants his followers to *believe* he is. Either way, it's extremely dangerous for the future of the United States.
🧵
🧵
2. Yesterday DeSantis called for the reactivation of the World War II-era Florida State Guard. State Guards aren't inherently bad or unusual. They supplement the National Guard in 23 states.
What's unusual is De Santis' timing and motivation.
cnn.com/2021/12/02/pol…
What's unusual is De Santis' timing and motivation.
cnn.com/2021/12/02/pol…
3. DeSantis has watched the U.S. military shut down potential rogue states over covid vaccine requirements.
As a current U.S. Navy Reserve officer, he knows his way around the military. That means DeSantis knows he'll never fully control the Florida National Guard.
As a current U.S. Navy Reserve officer, he knows his way around the military. That means DeSantis knows he'll never fully control the Florida National Guard.
4. KEY POINT: DeSantis isn't reactivating the State Guard to *supplement* the U.S. military as was intended during World War II. He's doing it to *circumvent* the U.S. military. He wants an armed force that will act IN OPPOSITION to the U.S. military, not serve in its absence.
5. It's hard to overstate the danger in that intent. But let's keep going.
At his press conference announcing a desire to create his own military force, DeSantis displayed an image with the words "Let Us Alone." That's not an official motto or anything.
At his press conference announcing a desire to create his own military force, DeSantis displayed an image with the words "Let Us Alone." That's not an official motto or anything.
6. "Let Us Alone" comes from a proposed version of the first state flag of Florida when it entered the Union in 1845. It was never adopted because Florida officials at the time considered it too controversial and at odds with the very purpose of joining the United States.
7. Ron DeSantis is bringing back "Let Us Alone" after 176 years because his commitment to the U.S. is clearly waning.
So. Will Florida attempt to secede or otherwise attempt to break up the U.S.? Who knows. But Republicans are sending all the messages and they're not subtle.
So. Will Florida attempt to secede or otherwise attempt to break up the U.S.? Who knows. But Republicans are sending all the messages and they're not subtle.
Responses to this thread from DeSantis supporters are, of course, contradictory. There are two basic ones:
1. wHeRe iS yOuR TiNFOiL hAt, cOnSpiRaCy tHeOriSt
2. yes, you are correct, DeSantis is doing this and it is a good thing
1. wHeRe iS yOuR TiNFOiL hAt, cOnSpiRaCy tHeOriSt
2. yes, you are correct, DeSantis is doing this and it is a good thing
Just want to be clear about where I stand:
Do I think Florida is about to secede? No, I don't.
Do I think Republicans like Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott are systematically testing the fences like the velociraptors in Jurassic Park? Yes, I do.
Do I think Florida is about to secede? No, I don't.
Do I think Republicans like Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott are systematically testing the fences like the velociraptors in Jurassic Park? Yes, I do.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
