Just in time for the peaceful assemblies after the election, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to add a cool new way of standing your ground. You do it with your car. You don’t exactly stand, though. You put the pedal to the metal.
You think I jest? Here is how it looks on the governor's Web site .
Prohibition on Obstructing Roadways: 3rd degree felony to obstruct traffic during an unpermitted protest, demonstration or violent or disorderly assembly; driver is NOT liable for injury or death caused if fleeing for safety from a mob.
Notice the capitalized, italic NOT. That is how he wrote it.
This is just one of the obviously or probably unconstitutional new laws he told the Legislature it needs to pass in a special session no later than when The Don decides the election was invalid.
Here are some other new crimes:
Prohibition on Harassment in Public Accommodations: 1st degree misdemeanor for a participant in a violent or disorderly assembly to harass or intimidate a person at a public accommodation, such as a restaurant.
RICO Liability: RICO liability attaches to anyone who organizes or funds a violent or disorderly assembly.
Here are some enhanced penalties:
Mandatory Minimum Jail Sentence: Striking a law enforcement officer (including with a projectile) during a violent or disorderly assembly = 6 months mandatory minimum jail sentence.
Offense Enhancements: Offense and/or sentence enhancements for: (1) throwing an object during a violent or disorderly assembly that strikes a civilian or law enforcement officer; (2) assault/battery of a law enforcement officer during a violent or disorderly assembly; and (3) participation in a violent or disorderly assembly by an individual from another state.
It goes on. It is worth looking at all of his brainstorms to get the full impact of how he has internalized The Don’s version of Black Lives Matter and other protests.
To recall: “Congress shall make no law … (abridging) the right of people to peacefully assemble.” That is part of the First Amendment. Under the DeSantis improvement, if you and six others take signs to the federal courthouse, and an eighth person comes along (say, an undercover cop; it happens) and throws a brick through a window, you can be charged under the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) act, with enhanced penalties.
Yesterday there was a little dust-up in which police had to intervene. Some Democrats were putting on a Biden demonstration on a corner that Trump capos use ever Friday. The Ds chose a day when the Rs wouldn’t be there, but the Rs showed up and tried to force them off the “sacred ground.”
If Gov. DeSantis had us fully protected now, some folks could be in jail today waiting, with no bond allowed, for a hearing whenevrer.
Has a democracy ever unraveled slowly?
ReplyDeleteGod help us. How popular is DeSantis, not that opinion polls are always accurate? However, I cling to the hope that we are not completely down the tubes because 70 percent of people in Michigan support Gov. Whitmer's response to covid despite the "My governor is an idiot" signs proliferating out here in the cornfield.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen poll numbers on DeSantis. His Democratic opponent in the last election was arrested recently in Miami Beach, passed out with two other guys. He announced he has a drinking problem, but not a drug problem, and is bisexual. Aside from Val Demings or maybe Kathy Castor, there is no one in the congressional delegation likely to be able to take on DeSantis.
ReplyDeleteDid you know that at one point Florida Congress members chaired the House foreign affairs, budget and transportation committees at the same time? Now we have Ted Yoho and Matt Gaetz there.
DeSantis started well as the not-Scott (the former governor who has gone on to sleazy stupidity in the Senate) and observer of climate change. (Scott had banned state scientists from mentioning climate change or sea rise.) But as the pandemic grew, he attached himself so tightly to Trump (who votes illegally from a non-residence in Florida) that you couldn't tell them apart if Ron didn't honk through his nose when he talks. The virus has done his public standing no good at all.
Are you sure DeSantis doesn't have a drinking problem? Lord, I saw him on the NewsHour tonight making some kind of incoherent defense for opening Florida wide open. Wondering if this is in hopes of luring the "snow birds" to return for the colder months? Speaking of ...
DeleteI have not seen my (even more elderly than me) neighbor outside all summer, but she and her late husband went to Florida from Thanksgiving to Easter every year. She has a rash of co-morbidities and risks, but her family and the other neighbors constitute a steady stream of visits over there. Maybe they all whip masks out of their pockets before they go in the door, but I doubt it. I'm seeing promiscuous and unmasked social interaction between families and kids all summer. (I have a big "Chemo Patient: If you don't have a mask, please don't knock" sign on the door, so I we have not been invited to the festivities.)
My concern is that the part-time Florida residents from hither and yon will be bringing fresh batches of covid for the rest of Florida right after they've had a big, hearty Thankgsiving dinner with extended family.
I don't think Gov. Ron has a drinking problem. He does think too much, and he shouldn't because he is not good at it. But you have to understand: Florida's whole economy rests on taxing everything Yankees and Canadians do down her between October and April. No New Yukkers, No Hoosiers, No Je Me Souviens = no revenue. We used to get a few million from rich Floridians, but Jeb Bush got rid of those taxes at the end of the last century, and by then the rich Floridians had figured out how to live here but domicile their money in Arizona. So it's up to your neighbors, or we drive on dirt roads.
Delete"Je Me Souviens", you get Quebecois wintering down there?
DeleteOui!
DeleteGeez. The more liberal media is going full-on grand mal seizure mode, lying on the floor, eyes rolling to the back of their head, contemplating the probable nominee to the vacant Scotus seat. They need to get a grip. They can't do anything about it, and they still need to stay focused on the election. And not lose moderate voters by over reaction.
ReplyDeleteThe fulfillment of dying wishes is not written in the constitution nor in the cold reptilian hearts of the Republican legislators. I agree the whining and crying should stop. I'd prefer a cold enraged stare with the words "Do what you will but we're gonna fn get you for this".
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