Leadership looks like this
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis addressed Manatee County on Thursday and discussed three actions that he is taking following Hurricane Helene and the ongoing strike by longshoremen.
He listed three executive actions.
First, the time limits on renting were lifted. Residents who needed a place to live while they repaired their homes are no longer limited to 30-day periods, for example.
The Governor also authorized supervisors for elections in the hardest hit counties, such as Taylor and Manatee to make accommodations to ensure that people can still vote, just like they did after Hurricane Ian.
DeSantis then said that it was “unacceptable” to have the dockworkers strike on the East and Gulf Coasts affect residents who needed supplies to rebuild their homes and businesses.
The governor stated that “under my direction, the Florida National Guard, as well as the Florida State Guard, will be deployed in critical ports to maintain order and, if possible to resume operations which would have been shut down otherwise during this interruption,”
Internet wags responded to Governor DeSantis’s remarks about the port operations in an apparent case of wishful thinking. (WARNING: Implied harsh language)
DeSantis is about to f*** this guy up. pic.twitter.com/6XPLb2S3Lk
— Florida Dad (@FloridadadD) October 3, 2024
Putting aside the humor, Ron DeSantis is in stark contrast with the Harris/Biden Administration’s half-measures and delayed responses.
Governor DeSantis has stated that the Florida National Guard, and the Florida State Guard, will be instructed to open ports where possible. However, it is unclear how this will happen. He also described other measures such as the suspension tolls to improve the flow of goods throughout the state.
At my direction, the Florida National Guard and the Florida State Guard will be deployed to critical ports affected by the strike to maintain order and, where possible, resume operations.
It is unacceptable for the Biden-Harris administration to allow supply chain interruptions… pic.twitter.com/KfzVbBgI10
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 3, 2024
The Biden-Harris Administration cannot allow the supply chain to be disrupted, causing harm to people still suffering from a Category 4 hurricane.
The Harris/Biden Administration is also promising to give $750 each to the victims of storms. This is a fraction of the money that the federal government gives to illegal immigrants. This is not even a drop in the bucket compared to how much we have dumped in Ukraine.
Leadership is about action. Action. Governor DeSantis did not consult with political advisors or look at current polling. He also didn’t stick his finger in the air and see which direction the wind was blowing. These executive actions will assist people who are affected by the hurricane. They will allow people to vote in affected areas in Florida, help those with storm damage get the goods and services they need to start their recovery, and, if possible, open the ports to help all areas along the path of Hurricane Helene.
We saw a young Republican on Tuesday night at the vice-presidential debate who was a promising rising star. We saw another on Thursday in Manatee County.
