Whatever you thought about the governors' stunt... it turns out it was worse.

[Swede]

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=T0FiZwtCbtzw2K6KtLbDMw

[Omnipresent]

1. If Desantis used Florida taxpayer dollars...

To fly illegal immigrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, then Val Demmings needs to shout this from the roof tops.

Misuse of tax dollars, and human trafficking needs to be investigated.

[IL Dem]

4. My understanding is they are not "illegal" immigrants.

They are asylum seekers and were admitted on that basis. Asylum seekers are here legally.

[Pepsidog]

6. From what I understand Fla. legislators allocated 12 million tax dollars to pay for these stunts.

[Omnipresent]

8. Good!

We needs to call out these members of the legislature too.

They need to be exposed!

[yardwork]

15. How did this cost $12m? Who else got paid?

This is a gift to the Democrats if we use it. The ads write themselves.

[Pepsidog]

17. It's 12 million for this and other stunts. I'm sure they disguised it as something else but many

reports yesterday critical of Fla. for wasting money that could be used to help immigrants instead of this nonsense.

[crickets]

36. DeS. didn't spend all of it at once.

Apparently, he spent "only" $615,000. He still has well over $11,000,000 to play with.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217164623

[soldierant]

64. And he and Abbott have stated that this was not a one-off.

They will be doing more of it.

[yardwork]

65. I don't think that will serve them well.

[crickets]

68. No it won't, but they will stubbornly press the issue anyway. nt

[Skittles]

57. FROM COVID FUNDS

repukes absolutely DISGUST me

[yardwork]

70. Yes, they're disgusting. Always.

[avebury]

75. But the law requires relocating

immigrants from Florida, not Texas.

[TigressDem]

78. Ya' know? You are quite right. LOL nt

[TigressDem]

77. He used some of those funds, but not the full amount. 615K for the flights, though.

He did say he intends to spend the whole amount, and there are still buses en-route, I think.




https://www.local10.com/news/local/2022/09/16/state-spent-615k-to-fly-migrants-to-massachusetts-desantis-points-finger-at-biden/


https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/verify/immigration/florida-governor-desantis-12-million-program-transport-migrants-fact-check/536-7cb8159b-79c4-4f43-9c78-0fa009d9d2f5

[Danascot]

31. Desantis may have used federal covid funds for his stunt

https://www.masslive.com/news/2022/09/markey-accuses-florida-of-misusing-covid-funds-to-send-migrants-to-marthas-vineyard.html

“Florida therefore appears to be illegally using taxpayer money for theatrics intended to criminalize and stigmatize immigrants in search of a better life in the United States,” lawmakers wrote. “States should not be permitted to use COVID-19 relief funds for any parochial interest unrelated to the pandemic, particularly for naked political conduct that imposes severe and unjust harms on disadvantaged groups of individuals.”

[Omnipresent]

41. Good to know, Danascot.

Corruption smiles upon them.
I hope Desantis ends up in prison.

[TigressDem]

79. I don't think that is factual.

He does have a slush fund for it of 12 million.

As someone pointed out above, though, he did use funds for relocation of immigrants from FLORIDA, not Texas.

[sdfernando]

35. These were asylum seekers so here legally

Also please don’t use “illegal immigrants” as it is dehumanizing. No human is illegal. Call them “undocumented immigrants”

[DBoon]

50. therefore DeSantis and Abott can "relocate" anyone else they don't like

Since the legal status is not a concern to them, think of all the other groups they don't like who could be sent to other states

[Captain Zero]

84. Bus loud opponents to private prisons?

In the Midwest.
Why not?

[LeftInTX]

66. There are legal statements which pertain to immigration status

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1325
______________________

At this time, the asylum seekers are currently legal immigrants. They are free to move about the country.

If they were not considered legal immigrants, then DeSantis could be charged with serious crimes.

________________________

My great grandmother was considered a "legal alien". She never became a US citizen, but was in the US legally.

[IbogaProject]

61. The official term is Undocumented Migrant

Illegal Alien isn't a term of law but is often used with political intent. The official term adopted formally by the Biden Administration last year is Undocumented Migrant. The other term is inappropriate other than the Song by Genesis, or when speaking about Melania Trump.

[radical noodle]

81. Charlie Crist is running against DeSantis

Val is running against Rubio. I think Charlie is already calling for an investigation.

[Omnipresent]

86. Your right!

Crist needs to shout this from the rooftops.

[Blue Owl]

2. Uncle Ron's driving around in a windowless white van offering candy to kids

[DFW]

3. It was a cynical, ugly move

Pawns on a chessboard are treated with more respect than people are treated by Republicans.

[Salviati]

5. Well, at least the white pawns are...

[GoCubsGo]

30. And, even that is debatable.

As long as the white pawns keep voting for them, and sending them money, they'll throw a few scraps to them, and piss down their backs when they're bending over to pick up those scraps.

[SergeStorms]

33. DeSantis thought it was a funny joke on Democrats.

Haha. Playing games with people's lives and wasting taxpayer's money. Hilarious. 😠

This is republican "leadership". And this buffoon wants to be president? Just think of all the funny pranks he could pull off then!

And these are the best candidates republicans can produce to run against Democrats? If Americans actually vote for these circus clowns the United States deserves to fail and devolve into complete chaos.

I've had it with these assholes. Republican politics have devolved into mean kid's pranks. Now there's something to be proud of. No answers, no solutions to earth shattering problems, just mean kid's pranks.

Republicans are a laugh a minute, aren't they?

[moose65]

42. It's ridiculous, isn't it?

The asylum seekers weren't even IN Florida. How heartless does DeSatan have to be to do this (don't answer that).

I swear, these people would do ANYTHING to "own the libs."

[Bayard]

7. Sickening

One more job for the Justice Dept.

[GreenWave]

58. Maybe we should carry portable jails around, like they carry guns.

A good guy with a jail stops a bad guy!

[DinahMoeHum]

9. Most of the "rich libs" summer residents left MV right after Labor Day.

So if deSantis was trying to troll them, he missed the mark. Big time.

Instead, he hit on the year-round residents. You know, the everyday people who keep the area viable/clean/healthy/safe, etc..

Stupid fuck.

[RoverSuswade]

11. I would love to see Santos get busted

I am sick of seeing his smirking face on television he is a true true asshole

[whopis01]

12. He hit his mark spot on

He doesn’t care about actually trolling any “rich lib”.

He wanted a stunt that would get national attention so he could turn to the MAGA crowd and say “look at what I did to the rich libs” and “look at what I am doing to protect Florida against illegal immigrants”. And he got exactly that.

The “rich libs” and “illegal immigrants” don’t even have to exist for him to get what he wants. He wants press coverage for a bullshit lie to get a message out to people happy to believe a bullshit lie.

[Ferrets are Cool]

24. This

[Bettie]

16. That's because they didn't want to draw the attention

of the really wealthy, successful lawyers.

Yet, they may have done just that.

[sop]

10. It gets much worse for Governor Ron.

Ron's "assistant" made the huge mistake of hornswoggling dozens of Venezuelan refugees fleeing Maduro's "communist" regime, likely thinking these immigrants were from Mexico or Central America. Problem is DeSantis just promised the Miami Venezuelan and Cuban communities that he would not "send refugees out of state."

DeSantis has been courting the powerful Venezuelan- and Cuban-American vote for years in South Florida. Like every other Republican politician since Nixon, DeSantis has been acting tough on communism, promising to overthrow the Maduro and Díaz-Canel (the current President of Cuba) governments, and vowing to help immigrants fleeing from communism.

Traditionally, it's been the most effective way for the GOP to get votes in Miami-Dade. Now DeSantis is in trouble with this important voting bloc just before an important election:

(From the Miami Herald) - "‘A new low’: What some Miami Venezuelans think of migrants taken to Martha’s Vineyard"

"Miami-based immigration activists gathered at the park Thursday to denounce Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration flying two planes full of asylum seekers, including 50 Venezuelans, to Martha’s Vineyard. The governor’s decision comes a week after he promised the Cuban and Venezuelan communities in Miami that he would not send refugees out of the state."

Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article265860501.html#storylink=cpy

[NoMoreRepugs]

18. The rest of the country will learn what we Floridians

already know, if the Little General’s lips are moving he’s probably lying.

[Samrob]

21. Communism isn't even a real issue anymore. Survival is the issue. We need to grab

that bull(shit) by the horns. Hitler was not a communist. Communism has been use for over hundred years by the wealthy capitalist to herd the mindless masses into capitalistic servitude. People need to know the difference between a dictatorship under any kind of economic system and fascism under an autocrat. People fighting communism are actually fighting for their wealth ore someone else's wealth. People fighting fascism are fighting for their lives and the lives of others.

[NoMoreRepugs]

23. This.

[90-percent]

26. NAZI'S

is short for national socialists. so adolph was a socialist. Therefore if a bad actor like hitler was a socialist, then of course socialism is REALLY BAD.

I'm being very very facetious, of course, but, this belief is NOT UNCOMMON within MAGA-LAND. Or among other POORLY EDUCATED fellow Americans.

-90% Jimmy

[G2theD]

46. OMG - thanks for letting me off the hook

I was just about to school you on the issue. I hang out on Truth Social with a cadre of liberals slapping up the magats on issues like this. They are so stupid it stings. The average IQ must be around 90.

At least once or twice a day some yokel will start trying to school us on this crazy, and we all start salivating and attack like a group of sharks. And no matter what, no matter how many links you post, they won’t give up their beliefs.

Same thing if you dare mention our democracy being in danger. “We are a republic not a democracy, you dumbass”. You try to explain we are both and they won’t accept it.
My theory is they associate democracy with democrats, so when they learned we were a republic (republican) they were thrilled they can bash us over the heads with it. And in their squirrel brains they do. We just laugh hysterically of course.

Most of these people are deep down the babbit hole. They are in a cult and no amount of facts or reason can get them out. They poo poo the NYTIMES and WaPo as “liberal rags”, to let you know how brainwashed they are. Very sad.

[90-percent]

56. you're on truth social

dude, you got guts and intestinal fortitude. i dont have the drive or courage to go there, so i depend on"spys" like u to keep me informed of the maga hive-brain.


to quote my hero and source of a good portion of my value system; "People will agree with you only if the already agree with you. You do not change peoples minds" - Frank Zappa

nice to meet you. Don't hate me cuz I'm a 1954 boomer. My contribution to destroying the future of humanity is there, but I did it somewhat less than the morbidly wealthy sociopaths that own and run everything.

-90% Jimmy

[G2theD]

87. I'm a 1954 boomer too!

It was a very good year. But father time is starting to catch up. I have kids and possibly grandkids one day so I hope we can send MAGA to the dustbin of history.

The MAGAts think they are going stump us by asking, “So, you against making America great again?”. I say, “If that was making America great again, then no, I don’t want any part of that”.

A bunch of braindead morons!

[90-percent]

88. we boomers gotta stick together

to ward of younger generations that may want to hunt us down like rabid dogs for fueling climate change past the point of no return.

-90% Jimmy

[G2theD]

89. Boomers get blamed for everything!

Most of us had nothing to do with any of it. Bad corporations enabled by bad government is mostly to blame.

[LeftInTX]

55. Yep! - I see it all the time

Didn't Trump call Hitler a communist?

[Wicked Blue]

27. Not only cruel

but cruel and stupid

[llmart]

43. I could be very wrong about this but...

didn't the Cuban-American and Venezuelan communities go heavily for Trump in Miami Dade? I seem to recall reading that on here and some of us were surprised at the numbers after what he did separating families.

[Sky Jewels]

53. The FL Cuban community has always been wacko hard right

dating back to the Bay of Pigs days. A lot of them have a "I got mine; screw you" attitude towards Spanish-speaking immigrants.

[NQAS]

13. Here's what I want to see next week

Announcement of expedited criminal investigations into everyone involved in this and similar stunts. For human trafficking, kidnapping, and anything else they can think of.

The lawyer in the video and others should file civil lawsuits against DeSantis and everyone else involved, to the tune of billions of dollars.

Announcement of demand for return of federal funds from Florida and Texas for anything associated with asylum seekers and reallocated to Massachusetts.

I read that this plane left from a military base. I want to see everyone connected with this part of the story Court martialed.

Every tsa agent involved in the scheme must be removed from their positions.

UN announcement of investigation into human rights violations.

Expedited processing of the asylum claims, or immediate approval of asylum claims.

What gets my blood boiling is that almost none of this will happen. Because we are a broken, savage nation.

[hvn_nbr_2]

19. +1

[InstantGratification]

28. I agree with much of this

I disagree with your point about the military personnel. They would not have had any knowledge of the status of these people. The ground handlers servicing the aircraft wouldn't know anything at all about the people boarding the plane. Most of them would never even see the immigrants. Ditto the control tower, they would know the aircraft type, the registration number, the number of "souls on board" (the FAA term to differentiate the living and any dead being transported) and the proposed takeoff time, route and destination. They don't get involved in handling people, they handle air traffic.

Another point is that airfield is a dual use facility. Others here at DU have pointed out that around 90% of the flights are general aviation aircraft. Not sure what the breakdown is for commercial and military traffic, but it would be 10% combined. Having civilians there would be utterly routine. Depending on what story they were fed by the people pulling this stunt, all of the people in the terminal could have been completely in the dark about what was going on.

Here is a link in google maps. You can see a ramp with military C-5s and another with civilian aircraft. You can also see the markers for civilian businesses that operate there

[link:https://www.google.com/maps/@29.3865319,-98.5808281,2857m/data=!3m1!1e3|

[NQAS]

49. Maybe

But I’d still like to see it investigated.

[CrispyQ]

80. We are within 60 days of the governors elections.

Will that stall the investigation?

[ecstatic]

85. +1000. nt

[samsingh]

14. this sounds like desantis kidnapped the migrants

[if..fish..had..wings]

20. Why hasn't the FBI arrested DeMantis on kidnapping charges?

Please, please, please. when these anti-democratic thugs break these laws, ARREST THEM

Thanks for the video, I am proud and ashamed.

[magicarpet]

22. Fascists just having a little fun,...

Tucking it to the Libs,..

Tucking it to the less fortunate,..

Tucking it to those in need of temporary housing,..

Tucking it to those often escaping violence,..

Tucking it to those seeking asylum,..

Tucking it to the innocent by promising to provide safe transportation to a specific destination,.. then sending them somewhere entirely else.

Perpetrating the crime of kidnapping and human trafficking.

Fraudulently promising temporary free housing, employment, and transportation during their efforts to seek asylum. Deceptively offering some level of comfort while they negotiate the often stressful and arduous process of seeking asylum and dealing with the immigration authorities.

Fraudulently altering the paperwork and important entry documents of legal asylum seekers. Intentionally and knowingly giving an incorrect new change of address - which is against the law. Fraudulently setting up immigration office check in meetings only days later - but are intentionally and fraudulently scheduled at immigration offices thousands and thousands of miles from the location you were sent after being illegally kidnapped to some unknown destination. All of the above done to make the process of seeking asylum contrary to proper and timely filing of required documentation - making any hopes for receiving asylum for you and your family null and void and eventually denied.

The specific intent of all this misdirection, fabrications, prevaricating lies, kidnapping, fraud, falsifying and fraudulently altering immigration paperwork and documentation had one purpose in mind. To gum up the immigration process. To gum up the documentation and application to legally seek asylum. Prevent the applicant their opportunity for a fair hearing with immigration authorities for their request for asylum to be heard. Trash the whole asylum application process. Force the application to be denied. Force the commencement of the deportation process to remove the failed applicant from American soil.

THIS IS HOW FUCKING FASCIST GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS OF GETTING THE JOB DONE.

This is despicable and unAmerican - and totally devoid of Christian teachings, preachings or thought.

These Nazis need to read the inscriptions on the Statue of Liberty and get their heads screwed on straight rather than backwards.

What the fuck is wrong with these people ?

[SalamanderSleeps]

29. Perfectly stated! +1000

I was taught that in the U.S. no one should fear the state, especially our guests. The Republican party governs by intimidation.

They're like a stupid spoiled child with a big mean dog.

[Liberal In Texas]

25. Bet this video won't be aired on FOX.

And should be on other outlets big time.

[duhneece]

32. Enraged! I'm fucking enraged nt

[hamsterjill]

34. DeSantis is a horrible human being.

But unless someone stops both him and Abbott, they will continue to do this because their base is lapping it up.

Despite all of the talk, I see NO evidence of anyone trying to stop them. If anyone has information that disputes that, I would LOVE to see it. Please share.

But Abbott has been doing this for a while and nothing has been done to stop him yet. So I am skeptical that anything will be done.

Dems need to be all over this!!!

[llmart]

44. I don't remember any consequences to trump and his toadies...

back when they were caging children and separating them from their mothers/fathers. I was just as outraged back then as I am now, but history tells me no one ever does anything about the mistreatment of these people.

Right now I am so sick of the way this country has gone for quite some time that I'm actually glad I'm in the last part of my life. Even on a personal, day-to-day basis I run into people who are just so damned nasty and hateful over the smallest things. I pretty much keep to myself and my very small circle of acquaintances and still someone I cross paths with always reminds me of just how many angry people are out there.

[hamsterjill]

47. I totally understand.

I’m in my mid sixties and I feel the same way. I feel like it’s only going to get worse. I would LOVE to see something that would make me believe otherwise, but I don’t see it. Dems talk and talk and talk, but when it comes to actually getting something done to stop this crap, I see nothing happening. I see investigations, but no indictments. I see Trump, et al successfully stalling all of the legal processes. You’d think that there would be SOMEBODY, SOMEWHERE who is a bigger asshole than Trump is who could outsmart him and put him in his place. I’m waiting…

Oh, and that person is NOT a Merrick Garland. We already know that much.

[LeftInTX]

67. That's because the asylum seekers are legally in the US and free to travel

Additionally, Abbott is working with the NGO's behind the scenes.
The immigrants he transports have all agreed to go to the new location
I think much of this is "for show".

Yes, Abbott dumps people miles away from resources, it sends cities scrambling (Most transports involve direct transfer to a shelter or host family..not dumping them in front of city hall)
Abbott doesn't provide courtesy calls to cities...

__________________________

Probably the best response by Democratic cities should be: "Yes, we got this", because really that's what it is.

Instead, Abbott and DeSantis are getting a kid out of watching Democrats get riled up and then accusing them of hypocrisy.

Democrats should point out that when the federal government transfers immigrants that it does not dump in front of city hall for "shock value"

____________

Now what DeSantis did, may be illegal...I don't know...

So far Abbott appears to be guilty of being unethical, mean and sadistic, but apparently he is pretty crafty at skimming the law.

Heck, yesterday he accused Biden of "being a murderer and criminal because Biden's open border policies are responsible for all these deaths"...blah, blah, blah...

[crickets]

69. "The immigrants he transports have all agreed to go to the new location"

But they agreed because they were lied to. It seems like that should be a factor, along with the way their addresses were deliberately misreported so that they would be unable to appear on time for appointments in faraway cities.

[LeftInTX]

71. They have all agreed to go to Chicago, NYC and Washington DC

It would be crime if these arrangements prevented them from their court appearances.
I have heard one thing and then other.

Abbott is working with NGO's, so it is quite possible that their court appearances may have been changed to their new location.

Keep in mind, Abbott is doing this as a campaign stunt and for shock value.
It's a campaign stunt PR stunt pure and simple.

[hamsterjill]

73. As I keep saying...

We need a bigger asshole on our side!

Yes, Abbott is masterful at “skimming the law”. We need someone who can outsmart him. In fact, we need someone who can outsmart them all, including Trump. Surely, there IS someone, right?

[LeftInTX]

74. Yep! 100%...Wish we could find that person!

I think the Texas GOP has hired people who spend their entire lives doing nothing but finding legal loopholes for the Texas GOP!

[hamsterjill]

76. Yes, and they have the money stockpiled

To pay those people and/or entice them to “push the envelope”. Unfortunately, that means we must fight fire with fire if we want to win.

It wasn’t our choice, but that’s the playing field in all reality.

[Historic NY]

37. they need to those federal employees that faked the docunents

[nancy1942]

38. Horrifying.

Sadistic and inhuman. So sickening.

[elias7]

39. Desantis is a cruel child who, in another country, would be a feared regional despot

Anyone who revels in such out of place antics is being pulled into a cruel place

[DBoon]

51. we should fly him to minsk

Belarus needs another dictator in training

[grantcart]

40. Criminal investigation will take months. How about a civil suit on Monday?

[DemocraticPatriot]

63. DeSatan needs to get the same treatment as those rightwing SC Justices

Protest him where he lives.

[MontanaMama]

45. Nothing these psychopaths do surprises me.

You know they’re laughing their asses off behind the scenes.

[irisblue]

52. What type of pizza you like Menowin?

Apparently the Tombstone 🪦 🍕

[marble falls]

54. Aw, he's no fun, he fell right over!

[Brainfodder]

59. Removed means so bad MOD had to delete?

Hadn't seen one of those in a bit.

[marble falls]

62. He got alerted on and the post was hidden. But because he's a low count poster, he's locked out.

[Ford_Prefect]

60. This sounds so much like Project Veritas on an unlimited budget.

The same vile minds were behind it I am certain. Anything at all to Own The Libs, the more cruel the better, and not one thought for the law or the people it may hurt.

That there may have been DHS agents involved is disturbing.

[Cha]

72. Of Course it is!

And it’s a Crime

[mwb970]

82. What despicable, heartless people MAGA republicans are.

This is evil in action.

[anarch]

83. "shameful and inhuman" - a nice succinct description of today's GOP in general n/t

[grantcart]

90. See reply #40. I said civil suit by Monday. I was one day off.

Their xerox was broke 😄

[LeftInTX]

91. You called it!

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.248428/gov.uscourts.mad.248428.1.0.pdf

Defendant Jane Doe took pictures of their immigration documents. However, I don't know if they did anything criminal with them or what....I don't think it's a crime to take pictures because I have had pic of my driver's license taken....

[grantcart]

92. The great thing about civil suit is that the plaintiff can compel depositions