Making several sound points in an endorsement published by Newsweek — including that the border needs protecting; urban crime demands attention; appeasement never achieves U.S. international interests; and it would be swell if Republicans coalesced right now around a candidate who could trounce Joe Biden just about a year from now — the junior senator from Florida nonetheless lethally undermined his argument with his conclusion: The candidate for whom Republicans should forsake all others is … “my friend … Donald Trump.”

The future of our country depends on our ability to come together and throw Joe Biden and these radical Democrats, who are intent on destroying our country, out of office.https://t.co/0V2EBVh5Su

— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) November 2, 2023

Jeebus.

The timing is not coincidental. Scott, Trump, and the rival who most vexes both, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, shall appear at the luxurious, sprawling, 1,718-room Gaylord Palms Resort betwixt Orlando and Tampa Saturday. Each has a speaking slot during Florida Republicans’ annual Freedom Summit. So, right between DeSantis’ ribs, right?

As No. 45 is fond of saying, “We’ll see what happens.”

As noted, Scott’s missive makes an assortment of sound points. Where he gets it hopelessly wrong, however, is claiming “Republican voters are making their voices heard loud and clear.” We’ll take Things That Absolutely Have Not Happened Yet for $800, Ken.

There have been polls. That’s it. And they mean diddly. Also squat. They’re candy floss for MAGA, as well as the punditry who love to link “DeSantis” and “struggling campaign” in the same sentence, mostly because the Florida governor did not suffer them gladly during his rebellion against COVID group think.

Just now, random Republicans and GOP-leaners who answer canvassers’ calls are pretty much picking the candidate they’ve heard about. It’s A Christmas Story’s Ralphie going blank on Higbee’s Santa’s lap, agreeing to the suggestion of a football. 

As for Republican “voters” having “spoken,” take Scott’s reading of the electorate for what it’s worth, remembering that at the same time the National Senate Republican Committee he headed for the 2022 midterms performed miserably (five winnable Senate-flipping seats lost through Trump-inspired quackery run amok during the GOP primaries), the promised red tsunami washed over Florida and Florida alone.

Furthermore, DeSantis was (is?) unlikely ever to receive a warm embrace from Scott, the pair having cultivated a curious enmity since DeSantis’ 2018 election to succeed Scott in the Florida governor’s mansion. (Notably, while withholding his endorsement, in the run-up to the primary, Scott — then seeking the U.S. Senate — campaigned with DeSantis’ rival, GOP establishment pick Adam Putnam.)

As the Orlando Sentinel notes:

Scott, who was DeSantis’ predecessor in the governor’s mansion and had long been considered a potential 2024 candidate himself, has had a touchy relationship with DeSantis dating back to the often-awkward transition period in 2018.

Scott made more than 70 last-minute appointments after staying to finish out his term despite the new Senate being sworn in without him, and the two camps battled over who would appoint state Supreme Court justices.

Additionally:

News: Sen Rick Scott is breaking his rule of not endorsing in a FL primary & plans to back Trump over their home state Gov. DeSantis ahead of Saturday’s FL GOP prez candidate forum

Scott is friends w/Trump but has a strained relationship w/DeSantishttps://t.co/imwIHWraDA

— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) November 2, 2023

What we shall not do in any way, form, or fashion, is tie Scott’s declaration to his alleged seedy past as history’s biggest Medicare fraudster. Because, no matter how often the left and its mainstream media lackeys report it, the facts don’t support the charge. Read two thoroughgoing refutations here and here.

Executive summary: Perhaps motivated by displeasure with Scott’s (and others’) criticisms of HillaryCare, Team Clinton (a) altered interpretations of byzantine Medicare billing rules and (b) cracked down on all medical providers who hadn’t anticipated the change going back nearly 10 years. Among those who paid fines for the same “misdeeds” as Scott’s HCA: Harvard University Hospitals, University of Chicago Hospital, Yale Hospital, Duke University Hospital and the Johns Hopkins University Hospital.

Indeed, Scott’s falling out with the Columbia/HCA board was not over getting snared by the feds for bad behavior, but his righteous determination to fight the bait-and-switch charges in court. The board, less wed to principle, preferred to end the pain swiftly and without mammoth legal bills, so it settled.

So, no. This is not about one fraudster endorsing another, two fetid peas in a rotten pod. Rick Scott can be, simultaneously, a chap of principle and wrong in his pronouncements, and that’s what we have here.

No small number of Floridians are riled up.

Rick, Millions of Republicans will NOT be uniting behind Trump and rallying to support him. Why should we?

He's not a fiscal conservative, he spent more money than Obama or any other Democrat (even before the stimulus packages). We took on $8 trillion in debt on his watch, an… https://t.co/RyNvOjA3I1

— Josh Power 🇺🇸 (@JoshPower80) November 2, 2023

Moreover, possessed of a deep memory, Team DeSantis makes a salient point:

NEW: Florida Senator Rick Scott confirms his poor political instincts, endorses Trump over his home state governor @RonDeSantis.

Scott once said presidential voting decisions should be based on if you would "hire them to manage your life".

Nobody in their right mind would hire… pic.twitter.com/79pzgtJO3U

— Cryptid Politics 🇺🇸🐊 (@CryptidPolitics) November 2, 2023

 Listen, politicians do what politicians do. They make and break alliances like Taylor Swift does costume changes. Tectonic plates shift. The weather changes. Juries, come to think of it, make decisions. Stuff changes.

At best, Scott’s sloppy, spite-riddled endorsement is premature. Let Iowa caucusers do their do-si-do. Let Republicans in New Hampshire and South Carolina and even Florida cast their ballots. Come late March, the matter ought to have ripened sufficiently to make picking wise. Then’s the time to urge laggards to capitulate and the GOP to rally ’round.

At worst, Scott has recommended climbing aboard a bandwagon loaded with TNT, with smithereens and four more years of Democrats running the White House the ultimate reward.

Thanks, Senator. But we’ll wait on choosing your football.