As it is increasingly clear that Trump will — after indictment — end up running a third party campaign outside the GOP… and thus, by default, make DeSantis the front runner, not surprisingly, Paul Mirengoff turns to defending DeSantis. Charming.

[I think the regular GOP would be smarter to run Nikki Haley, as their “reform” candidate… but either way, if Trump makes a third party run… no GOP candidate will win. It will be a Democratic White House in 2024, no matter who the Democratic Party ends up nominating.]

So — to the “merits” — such as they are, in Paul’s. Paul tries to say that left leaning voices are smearing DeSantis by calling him “divisive”. That is ironic, because “the divisive” label is probably underselling the argument.

Mirengoff studiously avoids mentioning the “Don’t Say Gay” campaign run by DeSantis’ FL GOP, and steers clear of the FACT that DeSantis is actively limiting what teachers may teach, and which books students may read in Florida public schools… down from 1.2 million, in the early 2000s, to only about 6,300 — now approved for school library shelves, under DeSantis’ book burning commissions.

So — the well-educated, Constitution understanding analytical-thinking people of America, in any general election nation-wide, will see DeSantis as a… dictator. Not just divisive, but opposed to the pluralism embedded in the Bill of Rights.

The US Supreme Court has legalized gay marriage and outlawed discrimination in businesses’ hiring based on homosexuality as an affront to the Bill of Rights, and the Fourteenth Amendment. It has long held that the state may not lawfully ban reading materials that do not advocate sedition.

[Oh. And, as imaged at right — he (with TX Gov. Abbott’s active help) kidnapped people with federal court dates, and drove or flew them thousands of miles from their hearings — interfering with federal law enforcement, and left them penniless at Christmas-time, in the New England’s winter snow. Most thus were prevented from attending their federal court dates. That is a straight up, separate FELONY violation of 8 USC § 1103, et seq. — by DeSantis personally, acting under color of law. The chief law enforcement agent of Florida. Damn. That too will be… disqualifying… on a national stage.]

But these are the Florida governor’s openly articulated goals. Unlawful goals. And, in some cases — completed lawless actions.

All of which offend our shared notions of a system of ordered liberty. That is… he’s a latter-day brownshirt.

Not just being… “divisive“.

[In any event, that Unconstitutional playbook — which works marginally well, in backwater, panhandle fifth grade educated Florida… erh, won’t — in a nationwide general election.]

So… cheers, moron.