Ron DeSantis agrees to debate Gavin Newsom on Fox News
Ron DeSantis agrees to debate Gavin Newsom on Fox News
The California governor has been trying to get his Florida Republican counterpart to engage. On Wednesday, he got it.
I don't know California politics other than as it relates to national. What's Newsom's angle here? I ask because, at least at a glance, this seems like a loser for him. The best he can hope for is to demolish DeSantis. Let's assume he does--and it's certainly not a sure thing (the deck is stacked against him with the ref playing for the other team, after all)--but so what? DeSantis's fire is almost already out, and if it doesn't die on its own or thanks to Mr. Orange Indictment, the Mouse will finish him. Newsom's already a rising star; if he annihilates DeSantis he's basically punching down, and he's taking a huge risk by even volunteering for this, since if he fucks up he's done in national politics before he even started.
The best I can come up with is that this is a play by the party at large to try to revitalize Florida Man's campaign by getting some free press on him, either to force Trump to spend more to squash him or try to get a repeat of 1972 (i.e., Trump as Muskie). However, that's giving the Democratic party a lot of credit and making some pretty cynical assumptions about their future plans for Newsom.
This has been Newsome's shtick for a minute. During his reelection campaign, he spent campaign funds advertising on Fox in Florida. He's been going to red states to give speeches. He gave an interview to Sean Hannity just a month or so ago. He's brandishing his reputation as a democratic fighter not afraid to go into hostile territory and news environments to stand up for liberal values.
DeSanits in particular has been a foil for Newsome since at least the coronavirus days when Florida was open and getting crushed under the delta wave. He regularly attacks DeSantis on abortion, book bans, teaching that slavery wasn't so bad, on and on. When DeSantis sent migrants on a plane to California, Newsome instantly reacted suggesting that DeSantis could be charged with kidnapping (this made his staff none to happy btw, Newsome can be like Trump in that he tweets out policy forcing his staff to react without notice).
Newsome is term limited, so he's done in 2026(?). He's been on the campaign trail trying to become Bidens number one bestest surrogate. He's building his brand for a presidential run in 2028. Also he just loves the spotlight. I doubt there is much logic to that beyond that.
And it doesn't matter what happens at the debate, so there's no real downside. Viral clips will be shared of good zingers each contestant got in, each side will talk about how their guy crushed the other guy. None of this will change anyone's mind. It's all just a show, and Newsome loves to be on stage.
I mean this in the least condescending way possible, but you don't understand how American politics works.
The absolute best scenario for Democrats is for the Republicans to split their ticket between Trump and DeSantis - or anyone else, but there doesn't seem to be anyone else thus far with his pull on the national stage.
It'll be Clinton-Bush-Perot but in reverse.
Probably partly related to Newsom's continual use of the "pied piper" strategy, trying to boost right-wing opponents so that he doesn't have to face off against anyone left of center.
He's doing this because he wants to run for President in 28 and he is cultivating his brand on the national stage.
It's a big gamble tho, you're right about that.
Yep, don't feed the trolls.
As a Floridian, you just have not looked in the right corners.
He required it to be live, that should help
Smart to not have an audience.
Yeah, that caught my attention, too.
This shows confidence. Hope we get the full uncut broadcast - I'll bootleg the hell out of this. Fox News YouTube won't get my views.
Faux angertainment
An SF Bay Area rich guy debating a Florida swamp chimp? I am going to smoke a nice sativa for this one… and make some popcorn… can’t forget that.
Edit: a word
Hey lets not insult the Florida swamp chimps with that comparison, I propose Gitmo Ghoul.
I’m not a big Newsom fan - I have a grudge against him for some of his decisions as governor- but if he pulls this off looking good, I will definitely be impressed.
I can’t imagine this going well. DeSantis will not properly debate, he’ll probably just try to talk over him. And Fox ‘News’ won’t do anything to properly moderate DeSantis, like muting his mic when he speaks out of turn.
That’s kind of my point - if he can turn something positive out of a no win situation, then he might have the charisma to stand up to the gop.
Newsom will soon discover what it's like to play chess against a chicken.
Newsom ‘bout to go mortal kombat on DeSantis. Finish Him!
It’s on Fox News so there will be no moderation for DeSantis while Newsom will be held to the strictest of standards. I expect a bunch of gotcha questions directed to Newsom with not enough time to properly answer while DeSantis gets softballs with all the time he needs.
I really hope I'll get to vote for Newsom for President some day.
That could be interesting.
I don't know too much about Newsom, he has some pretty far left views I'm not a fan of, but also has done some things notably good.
I'm pretty excited for this, I lean conservative, so I want to see DeSantis debate against someone fairly competent, and I'd like to see more of Newsom, as he's being talked about being a potential presidential runner in 2028.
Overall, I really want to see more governors come together and debate problems and solutions in their states, that's the beautiful thing about America. We have 50 states that can tackle issues differently as their population sees fit, the point is to try out solutions and hopefully use other states policies to improve your state or see that it doesn't work.
Far left? Are you fucking high?
And what solutions has DeSantis come up with that are good? Banning books? Teaching kids slavery had its good points?
Far left? Are you fucking high?
No, not yet.
Despite your hostility, I'll entertain you. You know, a civil person, like someone else that responded to me, would have asked why I thought he was far left.
And what solutions has DeSantis come up with that are good?
I liked his covid policy, and many people did too. Keep schools open, protect the vulnerable. The economy kept going, the state grew and his popularity blew up. Even far left folks like AOC wanted to visit to get away from her NY restrictions. He's been good for the Florida natural environment as well as economy.
Banning books?
I think we may have different views on this, schools are locally funded by tax payers. Tax payers should get a say in what books they pay for in schools. If parents think 'gender queer' is too perverted for 3rd graders, I think it's the parents right to have a voice and say in that.
Teaching kids slavery had its good points?
I actually read the portion the media is blowing up about. It's in a ~200 page text book that has one sentence saying that some slaves picked up skills that helped their lives post slavery. It's really not that big of a deal, is truthful and only a problem for people wanting a headline.
What do you define as "far left"?
Assault weapon bans for the wrong citizens
sanctuary cities/states
negligence of the problem of homelessness and actively encouraging it
Restricting sales of certain cars & insane gas taxes
Covid shut downs
I gave you an upvote because unlike most of your compatriots you seem to be open to new ideas, and evaluating positions on their merits based on your comment. I don't see where anything you said was out of pocket really, even if I disagree with your conservative leaning ideology.
I'm not a fan of the instant downvote when someone outs themselves as a conservative as contentious or unjustifiable as that position may seem here on Lemmy.
I would certainly not agree with your position that Newsom is far left politically, as he has pretty much shown himself to be a boilerplate Corporate Democrat and Nancy Pelosi Acolyte. Which, I am not really a fan of, but I do think he has balls.
I appreciate the upvote, unfortunately the way she goes on social media, if I saw I'm conservative at all, instant downvote.
As I mentioned I don't know too much about him, but do know some of his notably left positions:
'assault' weapon bans for some citizens (I'm against exceptions in these cases, my state just passed an AWB, but current and former law enforcement are exempt, that's just saying that this population, that has a high rate of DV, have more rights than the other citizens)
Him being proud of being a sanctuary state/have sanctuary cities. The left wants more federal government power, but if it's inconvienent for them, will not enforce laws that the nation has passed. They're also the ones that get pissed if a republican state doesn't want a federal law enacted.
Fighting against private businesses (walgreens) for making decisions that the governor doesn't like. If someone is pissed at how DeSantis has handled disney, they should be more pissed at Newsom's handling of Walgreens.
Overall, I really want to see more governors come together and debate problems and solutions in their states
If this is important to you, why do you affiliate with the Gaslight Obstruct Project party? Or when you say "debate" do you mean poo fling?
If this is important to you, why do you affiliate with the Gaslight Obstruct Project party?
Or when you say “debate” do you mean poo fling?
No, I mean debate.
Newsom has some balls for agreeing to Hannity as a moderator
When you speak the truth, you don't need a special referee. Bernie went on a Fox News town hall and got an audience to mostly all raise their hands in support of Medicare for all.
We all have more in common, once we all sober up...
You do however need an impartial one. Going on Fox to debate facts is a bit like train to explain quantum physics to a duck.
It won't work and everyone will think you're weird for trying.
Fox doesn't have right wing leadings, it's straight up propaganda. Truth and objective reality are completely irrelevant. They're the one saying trump will run from prison, which obviously he won't be allowed to do, but they say it anyway, they are not going to care about the truth.
Looks like Lemmy has not seen Newsom debate. And apparently didn’t see Newsom school Hannity on his show last month.