Red.

Meat.

That’s all I can say about every word I’ve heard out of my governor’s mouth.

Gov. Ron DeSantis: "Florida was a refuge of sanity, a refuge of freedom […] We choose to navigate the boisterous sea of liberty, rather than cower in the calm docks of despotism." pic.twitter.com/wehvC1wXG8

— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) January 3, 2023

He was sworn in for his second term today at the statehouse in Tallahassee. It was a barn burner of a speech in front of a packed house.

…“When the world lost its mind, when common sense suddenly became an uncommon virtue, Florida was a refuge of sanity, a citadel of freedom for our fellow Americans and even for people around the world,” he said regarding the COVID-19 lockdowns.

“We choose to navigate the boisterous sea of liberty, rather than cower in the calm docks of despotism.”

Unbelievably refreshing. And American to the core. On an interesting note, DeSantis (as well as LtGov Jeanette Nuñez) took his oath with his hand on a 1782 Aitken bible, lent to the governor for the occasion by Glenn Beck.

…This Aitken Bible was endorsed by the Founding Fathers in the U.S. Congress in 1782 and is the first and only edition ever so authorized.

In addition to being the last Bible commissioned by Congress, this King James translation also happens to be the first English Bible printed in North America. Previously, the only Bible printed in North America was the Eliot Indian Bible in the Algonquin language.

Governor DeSantis blasts Permanent Washington: The federal govt "wields its authority through a sprawling, unaccountable, out-of-touch bureaucracy that does not act on behalf of us, but instead looms over us and imposes its will on us."#FLInauguration2023 #TheFreeStateofFlorida pic.twitter.com/XefrAjDPnG

— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) January 3, 2023

The governor certainly was sounding the clarion call to return to government by the constitution, not fiat.

“…But fight we must. We embrace our founding creed. That our rights are not granted by the courtesy of the state but are endowed by the hand of the Almighty. We reject the idea that self-government can be contracted out to technocratic elites who reduce human beings to mere data points. We insist on the restoration of time-tested constitutional principles so that government of, by, and for the people shall not perish from the earth…”

🚨At #FLInauguration2023, Governor DeSantis slams the "jet-setters in Davos", calling out the WEF as one of the greatest threats to our freedom today🚨pic.twitter.com/2l6QjBHG5L

— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) January 3, 2023

The governor’s penchant for walking the walk has also got the state in pretty terrific shape, even with the awful setbacks we’ve suffered, like the disaster and ongoing recovery that was Hurricane Ian. The budget numbers came in for October, and they’re humming.

A monthly revenue report from the Office of Economic and Demographic Research for the month of November showed Florida collected $447.2 million over the forecast assumptions, with slightly more than 92% of the total gain coming from sales tax.

The state raised $3.68 billion during the month of November, but it was projected to gain $3.23 billion.

…Under Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida’s budget surplus has continuously broken projections.

Florida’s budget surplus for Fiscal Year 2021-22 hit $21.8 billion, making it the highest in state history.

Florida’s revenues even exceeded pre-pandemic estimates by more than $8 million. No money from the Federal Government is included in the $20 billion reserves.

DeSantis recently announced that Florida’s unemployment rate dropped to 2.6 percent and Florida’s job growth continues to exceed the national rate.

The unemployment rate has reached the lowest percent among the nation’s top ten largest states and 1.1 percent lower than the nation’s.

People are drawn to the state because of the chief executive’s attitude toward his citizens. We come first, it’s demonstrably true and that means something to folks who live in places where their rights and wishes go ignored by their elected officials.

Florida is #1 in tourism

We are #1 in economic freedom

Florida is #1 in education freedom

We are #1 in parental involvement in education

Florida also ranks #1 in public higher education

— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) January 3, 2023

DeSantis laid out the plenty left to do – there are always things to be done better – including tax relief, parental rights, corporate oversight, etc.

Florida pulled together to overwhelmingly re-elect this governor, handing him an all-Republican cabinet, majorities in both state houses, and a conservative state Supreme Court. So far he’s earned every bit of that trust.

This state is one place we can look forward to 2023 what Washington does. We know someone’s got our back.