It would be nigh on impossible to improve on the recommendations for debate strategy published Thursday by our esteemed leader. But when breaking news reflects on cutting-edge advice — whether for good or ill — it bears noting.
Today’s fresh, noteworthy development arrives from the Florida Department of Commerce, and it pretty much reinforces everything in Ed’s reply to the blazingly dopey debate strategy memo unaccountably published by Never Back Down, the PAC alleged to support Ron DeSantis’ bid for the White House.
The news? Florida’s job growth is totally en fuego.
Florida’s private sector job growth rate increased by 0.5 percent (+42,800 jobs) in July 2023, five times faster than the national rate of 0.1 percent over the same period. Florida’s economic data continues to indicate economic stability and confidence among Florida’s workforce as the state’s labor force grew by 2.6 percent (+280,000) over the year in July 2023, faster than the national over-the-year rate of 1.9 percent.
Wait, bark the skeptics. Isn’t this fingers-in-the-pudding proof of Bidenomics’ success — that it works even in the crimson state of Florida? Tell that to the Tallahassee Democrat, which published an op-ed bemoaning DeSantis’ veto of $346 million in “free federal Inflation Reduction Act energy efficiency dollars” by retired state employee Meta Calder.
So, Florida’s economy is rocketing ahead of the rest of the nation even without — *ahem* — free Biden money. Perhaps the Sunshine State under DeSantis and a GOP legislative supermajority has something better going on.
Stipulated, the state secretary of commerce, a DeSantis appointee, is a homer. But he’s not wrong when he says:
“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida continues to lead the nation in supporting all key foundations for the success of job seekers and job creators alike, and the Florida approach continues to show the nation how to best give confidence to job seekers and job creators,” said Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “This month’s economic data is further proof that Freedom First policies – such as record investments in workforce education, modern infrastructure and workforce housing – are investments in opportunities for businesses and families alike.”
How does this apply to debate strategy? DeSantis will be the only candidate on the stage whose current executive and administrative decisions are being tested in a climate created and maintained by Joe Biden’s leftist string-tuggers. (The mayor of Miami does not count; he serves in DeSantis World.) The contrasts are equally startling and instructive.
Meanwhile, on a momentous Friday morning when record numbers of Floridians were headed to work, the Miami Herald — no fan of DeSantis or multiply-indicted ex-president Donald Trump — waxed comparatively gooey over a visit by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
In town, the story says, to present himself as the superior option to DeSantis and Trump, Christie also touted himself as “an alternative to their brand of politics.”
An alternative to politics that encourage business growth and surging employment? OK, we’re intrigued. We’re also not surprised the Herald is on board — especially on the same day its editorial page has its knickers in a twist because statute prevents — in the interest of preserving a tidy learning environment — male-born student Robert from insisting on being called “Roberta,” or even “Madeline.”
But we digress. Here’s — speaking of nicknames — Gov. Bridgegate:
“We have this group now, folks like Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump and Vivek Ramaswamy. And these folks who believe in big-government conservatism, if there’s something going on in the country that they don’t personally like, they want the government to pass a law to stop it,” Christie said, adding later that “they want to put more power in the hands of the government.” “That’s not what conservatives have stood for my whole life,” he said. “And if I’m President, I’m about empowering families to make decisions about their children’s lives, their education and their futures … ”
Who can take this guy seriously? Does Christie really think he’s not describing DeSantis down to the dot over the I when he praises the self-evident virtues of “empowering families to make decisions about their children’s lives”?
This just in: Education voucher awards in Florida are up 44% just since March, when DeSantis signed legislation making universal school choice the law of the state.
By Aug. 11, more than 382,000 students had received vouchers for the 2023-24 school year, giving them access to money for private school tuition, homeschooling services or therapies for children with disabilities, according to Step Up For Students, the private group that administers most of Florida’s scholarship programs.
That represents a 44% increase from a year ago when about 264,400 scholarships were awarded by the same date.
Meanwhile, back in New Jersey — where Christie was governor for two full terms just a little while ago — Trenton continues to do the bidding of the teachers unions, offering zero financial support for families who seek private school alternatives.
Some politicians talk. Others act. It’s abundantly evident into which camp Christie pitches his tent. DeSantis, too, for that matter. And a wide river runs between them.
Perhaps Never Back Down should consider the difference between talkers and doers before peddling middle-school sophistry as strategy again.
