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Top Three Takeaways – October 26th, 2021
- Ladapo is on the ropes. Florida’s newly nominated and not yet minted Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, came under immediate fire from critics once nominated by Governor DeSantis. Not one to buy into vaccine and mask mandates he was an instant target of those in favor of them from South Florida to Washington D.C. But over the weekend he made himself a different kind of target. The kind that led to the President of Florida’s Senate, Wilton Simpson condemning him too. As the story goes Dr. Ladapo was to meet with South Florida State Senator Tina Polsky as part of the interview process for an upcoming confirmation vote. The meeting was to take place in Polsky’s office. When Dr. Ladapo and two staffers arrived unmasked she asked if he was vaccinated, when he declined to answer she asked him to wear a mask, telling him she has a “serious medical condition”, he declined – while instead offering to meet outside which she declined. And that was the end of that. Since that encounter Polsky has come forward with the news that she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer while offering a repudiation of Dr. Ladapo. Not a good look for a prospective Surgeon General ahead of a confirmation vote. That’s what prompted Senate President Simpson to say this: It’s disappointing given the health challenges Senator Polsky is currently facing. It shouldn't take a cancer diagnosis for people to respect each other's level of comfort with social interactions during a pandemic. What occurred in Senator Polsky's office was unprofessional and will not be tolerated in the Senate. While there is no mask mandate in the Senate, Senators and staff can request social distancing and masking within their own office. If visitors to the Senate fail to respect these requests, they will be asked to leave. Polsky praised the bi-partisan support. So now the question is if the senate, when it comes time to vote, will Ladapo be asked to leave again but this time for good?
- 100%. That’s the voting record of Florida’s Democrats in Congress compared to Joe Biden’s agenda. It remains 100%. There is no distance between a single Florida Congressional Democrat and Joe Biden. That matters not only for what’s happened under this administration thus far, but also for what may soon be. As we’re hearing about the possibility of a deal being close on the highly inflationary George Constanza inspired Human Fund reconciliation package which would also include a vote to pass the previous “bi-partisan” deal of actual semi-infrastructure as well, Florida’s Democrats continue to represent Joe Biden’s interests 100% of the time. And unless you 100% approve of Joe Biden’s performance as president, they’re not representing yours. Just so there’s no confusion that means the following Florida representatives continue to vote to support 100% of Joe Biden’s policies in Congress – Al Lawson, Stephanie Murphy, Darren Soto, Val Demmings, Charlie Crist, Kathy Castor, Lois Frankel, Ted Deutch, Debbie Wasserman-Shultz and Frederica Wilson. This is especially important in understanding the extremism of every Congressional Democrat in Florida, it’s instructive in the context of next year’s midterm elections and it’s important to note in real-time with voting underway in the primary races to replace the late Alcee Hastings in Congress. Will there be a candidate who emerges who will provide more balance for South Floridians, representing their interests, or will it simply be another Democrat quick to sell you out in favor of Joe Biden? Speaking of Joe Biden...
- Let’s Go Brandon. Know what the number 1 song on iTunes was yesterday? That one. Let’s Go Brandon, don’t expect to hear it on the radio, don’t expect to hear it reported in the news, but sure enough the top song to start the week is Byron Gray’s “Let’s Go Brandon”. The song which is, naturally, a breakdown of Joe Biden’s endless failures, includes the lyrics I’m a Christian so how do I say this...Let’s Go Brandon and it became an instant cult classic. Oh, and what was the third top iTunes hit behind Adele’s Easy On Me? Lets Go Brandon by another artist – Loza Alexander. Now, that one’s a little rougher around the edges with the actual “Let’s Go Brandon” chant that kicked off the phrase featured prominently. Still, it includes the satisfying lyrics... I say it with a passion as I pull up in the Aston. Don’t nobody want this commie because we’re not in China. Let’s Go Brandon, but we all know what the saying means. If you really want to get the lead out that one's all about it. But anyway, if you wanted to know just how awful our dumpster fire of a president is as he gets ready to go to Rome... The first and third most commonly purchased songs on iTunes will never be played on the radio and they share the same name. And it’s something an ever-increasing number of Americans identify with. So, now when you’re filling up at the gas pump and thinking “Let’s Go Brandon” - you can be playing it. Whichever version you choose.