>

Anyone who turns in their neighbors to Ron DeSantis is genuinely pitiful.
If you can't hear those warning alarms blaring, you must be deaf. I mean, JFC! >

The conservatives obsession with this is concerning but I don’t know exactly why? The genitalia? Are they that uncomfortable with things that don’t concern or harm them? Wtf is with this party? >

It's just what fascism does. They go after marginalized groups first. >

The operatve word here being "first." Nobody would be safe except the  fascist sympathizers, whatever that identity that group might take. >

Even fascist sympathizers end up eating a boot. It’s the primary failing of populism. You’ve got to always have an enemy and eventually the enemy and your supporters are a Venn diagram with only one circle. >

Night of the Long Knives says hello >

This.  Sometimes the fascists purge their own before they go after others.  IE the republican party fighting amongst itself >

Like Boebert and Midge screaming at each other?
That was fun news, tho. >

Florida is becoming a fascist state and the fact University Presidents are in on it shows education in Florida is becoming a joke. >

You used “becoming” twice and it wasn’t needed >

The saddest part is the university system in Florida is actually really good and affordable. It might not last much longer. >

With all this going on there will be a brain drain with all of the graduates leaving the state to work in non-crazy states (not that there seem to be many remaining). >

Already started with me! Recent UF grad who just got the fuck out of Florida >

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
​
....Yeah somehow I'm reminded of this poem when I read what the repugs are doing. >

But for them, thats not a warning, its a game plan. >

Correct.  First, go after the trans.  Then the gays/lesbians.  Maybe go after people who are child-free since they must be homosexual for not having kids. >

After they force through historically unpopular abortion bans the next item on their agenda will be attempting to ban all contraceptives, as they've already begun taking about. The GOP wants government oversight in every private aspect of your life, from the doctors office to the bedroom. >

And then they'll quote 1984 and say it was about liberals.... >

Actual antifa author too lol >

I’ve been rapidly accelerating my plans to leave FL and this Nazi f**k behind.  Will be fun seeing him flop miserably in 2024 due to his complete lack of charisma.  Guy has the personality of a fence post. >


Will be fun seeing him flop miserably in 2024 due to his complete lack of charisma.

I can only hope you're right, because with Moore being decided, I have my doubts.
Furthermore, my faith in America has been shattered ever since 2016. I wish I could confidently say that DeSantis would lose, but I don't have that confidence. >

Has Moore been decided already? I haven’t heard anything about it recently. If so then democracy is over. >

No, but oral arguments for it concluded weeks ago. The final vote has yet to occur. >

I wish they would just do it then. Everybody knows what the decision will be anyway. >

They’re still trying to come up with some bullshit legal justification to vote their political affiliation. >

Alito is trying to decide if he needs to leak it. >

As a life-long, born and raised Florida resident, and fiancée to a transgender woman (we're in our early 20s) this is getting fucking terrifying.  
If anyone in a sane state/country (particularly Minnesota or Finland) has 2 jobs available, we're honestly looking to get out sooner rather than later. I can provide resumes upon request.    
Fuck DeSantis, I used to love my home. >

Now would be a very good time to look at your family tree to see if you qualify for citizenship in another country through descent. >

What sort of resources exist to explore this? I don't think we'll find anything on her side due to very short generational length, but maybe mine might have something. >

Ancestry .com and other similar genealogy sites are a pretty good place to start once you get an idea of some ancestor that came from another country. Check the country's citizenship laws though to make sure they pass down multiple generations. >

This shameless trumphumping science denying sociopath is going to turn out to be the next totalitarian ruler of our country if he manages to win the 2024 election. It is very early still, but he is highly favored by the Repugnicans. He also, unlike Trump, has a brain and is competent, possibly making him even more dangerous than Shitler was. >

Very true, I’ve been saying this for the past two years. All those reasons and more scare me, he is absolutely hell bent on ramping up the culture war bullshit because he is very clearly a devout fascist, probably the best example of a of American fascism we have seen in recent years. 
What gives me hope however,
As others have pointed out, is that he has no charisma whatsoever. All his media appearances are heavily scripted and choreographed, he provides absolutely no entertainment value. Why does that matter? One of the many ways trumpf transformed the Republican Party was to turn it into a source of entertainment content, really capitalizing on anger-tainment. That’s what republican voters have come to expect, a strongman totalitarian leader who ridiculed his opponents into submission by sheer force of superiority and willpower alone. Never mind that trumpf was literally none of those things, aspiring, sure, but in reality he is, well we all know what a fuckin pathetic loser he is, we don’t need to dwell on him any longer than absolutely necessary. It’s easier to fake being those things if you have that entertainment value, it’s much harder to fake being entertaining and charismatic if you have no charm, allure, or magnetism to speak of at all. I’m gonna love the irony that defucktis will be eaten alive by the very same populist machine that they wanted so bad. Truly a paradigm for what is to come under a fascist dictatorship. >

“Don’t tread on me, tread on them!” >

That's clever. >

I can’t believe this hasn’t been said yet. Doesn’t this feel like a step towards genocide? Even just seeing the word “elimination” in the article was chilling.
Desantis knows what he is doing, and it’s despicable. >

Yes. Yea, it does. And is. >

This guy is actually dangerous. How is he popular? >

Re-read the first part of your comment and then think back to 2016. That’s what the republicans want. They want to strip the rights away from anyone they don’t like and they’ll vote for candidates who show that they’re willing to do that. >

First, they came for the communists…this shit is fucking terrifying. >

I don't say this lightly, this is Hitler shit. >

Every time I see a headline about DeSantis, it's literally just him being an asshole. He seems to avoid his job as governor completely but wields the office's power like it gives him the right to be a prick to whichever groups he personally dislikes. Man's a bully, nothing more, and his constituents are nothing but toadies. >

And that's why he's so popular.
The Southern Baptists have lost their minds over same-sex marriage being legalized and now directly threaten the American experiment. >

He wants to create concentration camps. >

Just wants to have them numbered and documented on a list.   History has shown us that’s never gone bad before.  /s >

He probably just wants to do something innocent and harmless like make them wear armbands signaling they're transgender so we know they use the right bathrooms. >

Maybe send them to some kind of camp to sort out there issues. >

Maybe he wants them to concentrate on what he views as their transgressions. >

DeSantis is out here freely showing everyone he's a Nazi >

I mean, how do you even deny the Nazi shit going on here… >

Ight imma head out of the south now. >

That's what they want too. This is the republican strategy. Maintain power with this culture war nonsense. It drives left leaning people away and riles up their base. They do this kind of stuff because they're scared of losing power. The hard truth though is that these states need MORE left leaning people moving to these places to end their minority rule. The problem is why would anyone on the left want to move to Florida or any very conservative place just to hope that their vote will eventually matter in tipping the scales for Dems? Move to a place like Florida when you see shit like this in the news? It's an understandably hard sell for most. >


That’s what they want too. 

Explicitly. 
Sen. Josh Hawley predicts the overturning of Roe v. Wade will cause a 'major sorting out across the country' and allow the GOP to 'extend their strength in the Electoral College'

"I think we will see a major sorting out across the country that is already underway, as we speak, as states move to change their laws or adopt new laws in response to this decision," he said. "I think it'll probably redraw some demographic lines around the country, and will lead to impacts in voting patterns, I think, all around the country."
Hawley said that individuals may make decisions about where they choose to live in the United States based on those laws, possibly relocating in the process.
"More and more red states, they're going to become more red, and purple states are going to become red, and the blue states are going to get a lot bluer," he said.

…

"I would look for Republicans, as a result of this in time, to extend their strength in the Electoral College," he said. "And that's very good news for those of us who want to see Republican presidents elected, that want to see a Supreme Court that remains conservative." >

It’s fucking insane that he openly says “if the exact same people move different places, and nobody changes their mind or opinions on anything, it makes us more likely to win the election.     
It shows part of how fucking ridiculous the electoral college is… when the EXACT SAME voters produce different results for a NATIONAL ELECTION if they move around within the country a little >

How is this legal? >

They're just asking for the amount of students who have sought treatment, not their names. Its very finely crafted to not violate HIPAA laws. >

For now >

Of course. Just like the Nazis, these people will operate within the law as long as they can until they're ready to strike. Then the law can be damned, because they have the power. >

Of course. Just like the Nazis, these people will operate within the law as long as they can until they're ready to strike. Then the law can be damned, because they have the power. 
What? They are not operating within the law!
They attempted a coup and no one stopped them. They changed the rules to stack the Supreme Court and no one stopped them. Now they are changing the laws one level at a time and NO ONE IS STOPPING THEM.
They are militarizing the police and normalizing the notion that it is not the responsibility of the police to protect the citizenry and no one is stopping them. They have infiltrated the military, the fbi and the cia.
They are transferring wealth to the chosen at a record pace and no one is stopping them. 
There is no protection for us. It is already "law be damned".
We didnt finish it after the Civil War. After they complete the destruction of democracy, history will say no one stopped them. >

Why has it become so politically normalized to target us like this? We're people for pity's sake... >

Cis people flat out hate us and refuse to understand >

The same people who don't want to register their guns out of the paranoia that they'll be seized will have no problem with people being registered. >

Right out of the fascist playbook; othering, disdain for human rights, and rampant sexism. >

Remember folks, when Republicans do crazy shit like this it is to deflect our attention away from even crazier shit that they are doing >

I don't know, I think we're seeing a lot of primary crazy right out in the open now, it's come to that. >

True. I think in the earlier days, they definitely deflected. But now that they know that they can get away with fascism in the open, they're not hiding it as well >

I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are  headed toward a confrontation with fascism. >

Aren’t we already kind of in a confrontation? I mean Trump literally tried to seize power on Jan 6th after months of denying that he had lost. >

We are, but people refuse to believe it.  They either support a fascist dictatorship (because they are pissed off same-sex marriage is legal) or they have their head in the sands. >


Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking state universities for the number and ages of their students who sought gender dysphoria treatment, including sex reassignment surgery and hormone prescriptions, according to a survey released Wednesday.
Why he’s conducting the survey wasn’t completely clear. 

…

“We can see cuts in funding for universities to treat students with this condition, and I think an all-out elimination of services is certainly on the table,” said House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell.
The survey was released the same day the university presidents voted to support DeSantis’ anti-woke agenda and to reject “the progressivist higher education indoctrination agenda” and committing to “removing all woke positions and ideologies by February 1, 2023,” according to a Department of Education news release.

…

The current memo asks universities to “provide the number of encounters for sex-reassignment treatment or where such treatment was sought” as well as data for students referred to other facilities. It says to protect students’ identities when completing the information.
The survey requires a breakdown by age, regardless of whether the student is age 18 or older, of people prescribed hormones or hormone antagonists or who underwent a medical procedures like mastectomies, breast augmentation or removal and reconstruction of genitals. >


The survey was released the same day the university presidents voted to support DeSantis’ anti-woke agenda

I get this creeping feeling that the reason Ben Sasse is at UF is DeSantis keeping him nearby and involved in the "right fights" in preparation for running together for the White House. >

As someone who can see the mansion Sasse is moving into out their bedroom window, I hate this comment. >

Throw your cigarette butts into their yard for me. >

Increased gun checks, database or a registration system? NO! Government over reach! Slippery slope! Confiscation is next. rabble rabble don't tread on me
Literal government database on transgender individuals? YES, save me government! It's all on the level. No future actions will be taken.  rabble rabble please tread on them
Absolutely ridiculous. Repubs still can't see the obvious slide into fascism. >

Fuck the increased gun checks. Arm yourself. If you’re an at risk category being targeted by these fascists, learn how to use a weapon. Even if you’re a sympathizer on their side, buy a weapon, get comfortable with it. >

It's our constitutional right to be able to arm & defend ourselves, and our country's foundation is rooted in revolution. I would not be surprised if these two points eventually come to a head in our modern time given how the nation's politics are going. Though, first we could take some pointers from the French on protests and strikes before any escalation. But if all peaceful avenues are sealed, violence then becomes an unsurprising reaction. >

I was in the military. I know how to use a firearm. I never really had any around the house until recently, but about two years ago, I decided I needed a few, shotgun and pistol,  just for home defense, as I have a family and a new baby. I’m looking now at purchasing an AR given the violent and divisive rhetoric coming out of the right side of the aisle. I have LGBT family members, if they’re gonna spray paint blue dots on lawns during a heated election, I feel like I have no choice. >

As someone very leftist currently in Florida I'm increasingly convinced I need to distance myself from socialist/communist groups or contacts before that info leads to serious issues from a fascist state government >

Conservatives are at war. They want a genocide.
It was never about "the children". >

That's terrifying. I can't imagine how it must be for the folks stuck in FL. >

DeSantis will be gone in either 2 years if he wins the Presidency or 4 years due to term limits.
I'm more concerned about what follows him. >

DeSantis as president would be terrifying >

Agreed.  But he has no charisma, he is not wealthy, and his actions are alienating large voting blocks.  He will not even win the republican primary. >

That’s a familiar attitude >

Watch this guy real carefully. >

What’s bonkers is that he thinks this plays well for his presidential plans.  If people came out to vote out trump this is significantly more overt than trump was with no clear indication that it would be a winning plan for the country. >

Idk, not long ago I would have agreed. But every month something new comes out that should be the end for a bunch of these assholes and it somehow gives them more power and approval. 
At this point, I don't doubt this polls well with whoever he's catering to. These people have some insane think tanks crunching all the data. None of this is done blindly. Heck, to get all the Florida university presidents on board? Like wtf. 
So yeah, I won't underestimate anything else coming from them. The House has shown to also be heavily compromised only a week into the term, so we really are in uncharted fascist waters. >

I don’t know that it gets them more approval.  Their elections were significantly worse than they should have been last election.  It might poll well with who he’s catering to but the question is why is he catering to a small rabid group.  Trump proved that group doesn’t suffice to get you elected.  He needed the broader appeal he had in his first election.  Unless his goal is to stay in Florida, which doesn’t SEEM to be the case… it’s a really weird play.
I don’t disagree that we’re in uncharted waters and that people should be super cautious though. >

"I WANT TO KNOW ALL ABOUT YOUR GENITALS, I WANT TO BE INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE SEXUAL PARTS IN YOUR PANTS. GENITALS ARE REALLY THE ONLY THING I CARE ABOUT."
-typical Conservative >

If you are a student and you ever feel your privacy has been violated - you have rights:
Report a FERPA Violation here
Also contact your University Registrar and file a formal complaint. >

This will be used to arm anti LGBTQ legislation. More attempts by Republicans at convincing people to vote against their own self-interest because of cultural fears.
Republicans obsession with stamping out anything related to LGBTQ folks is abhorrent, prejudiced, and selfish. >

This jackass gets a crumb of power and he cannot go one day without making an ass out of himself abusing it. 
And republicans, notably, love him for it. 
Remember this if he ever tries to pretend he's some moderate instead of the open bigot he loves to be. >

The Nazis asked for the same kind of info on people >

I'm an intern at the Florida governor's office. This story is incredibly one sided and is missing many key details. Governor Desantis is doing his best to ensure conservative family values in this country. He's working hard day and night collecting pictures of transgenders genitals and has been personally cataloging them for hours on end. 
He's working so hard, I sometimes hear him moaning from his office. Poor guy never quits. >

Had me for a second. >

Democrats should seek the details of Republicans who use birth control or have had an abortion.  Just to mildly threaten them as they do to others >

The only suspense is whether this "better than Trump" strategy will work.  How weak is the American voters mind? >

they thought the "you're fired guy" from TV would make a swell president and then some of them tried to overthrow the government to keep him there >

that's pretty weak.  how far can we go? >

Yeah fuck that. Next thing you know everyone will have to wear badges that mark their birth genitals. >

Or go naked. >

So in Florida they want to know how many transgender people are at their universities that don’t affect anyones way of life but they give no shits about their Covid numbers and how many people died during the pandemic. Got it, guess fascists have to have their priorities straight. >

FL needs to get the Russia treatment, they should get sanctioned and companies need to start pulling out of the state.