Opinion
By Dave Scott, 12-9-22
On November 8 Florida voters declared that they won’t tolerate higher taxes; teachers unions and their school indoctrination garbage; liberal prosecutors; rising crime rates; and the idiocy of woke culture. In a nutshell, they don’t want radical Democrats running anything in the Sunshine State.
A massive landslide victory by Republican voters turned the state fire engine red in the races for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and every state office last month. Not a single Democrat holds statewide office in Florida for the first time in more than 150 years.
Democrat candidates state-wide were tossed on the liberal rubbish heap by conservative voters fed up with their woke culture and identity politics. However, a couple of local woke remnants remain, hoping voters won’t take notice of their outrageous identity politics in this Tuesday, November 13 City Commission runoff election.
While Democrat-sponsored Fernandina Beach City Commission candidate and California transplant Mike Lednovich was waltzing up and down Centre Street proudly wearing a Black Lives Matter sandwich board, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was announcing that he would be handing out $1,000 bonuses to Florida first responders in law enforcement and in other professions, such as paramedics and EMTs.
Lednovich ignores the governor and like most left-wingers, obediently obeys his ideological indoctrinators never questioning the origins or considering the source of the Marxist claptrap they spew.
Does California transplant Lednovich know that BLM is an offshoot of Marxism because it replaces Karl Marx’s proletariat with black Americans as the agents of revolutionary change? Does he know that BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors, describes herself and her fellow organizers as “trained Marxists.” Does he know they used contributed funds for their personal use? It’s doubtful he knows or even cares about any of this. He won’t respond to questions from the media or local citizens groups. Why not?
Governor DeSantis made it clear that the BLM rioters, arsonists, and looters are not welcome in Florida and the state’s voters agreed November 8. Hopefully that conservative momentum will continue this coming Tuesday and toss failed Fernandina Commissioner Lednovich out of office and seat Republican and local husband, new father and local chiropractic clinic owner, Dr. James Antun in his place.
And while Governor DeSantis was focused on crime, education, and morality, Fernandina’s other Democrat City Commission candidate, Genece Minshew, the head of Pride Fernandina, was telling folks she wants to make Fernandina a “gay vacation destination,” organized pride parades and public LGBTQIA+ celebrations in Central Park.
Following Minshew’s Pride event in Central Park a local parent asked her if she supported “transspecies rights” because his daughter identifies as a cat. I’m not making this up, honest. Minshew responded saying: “Yes, we were very happy to give them a safe space to be themselves.” A “safe place” is a flashing red light meaning that certain opinions aren’t allowed and that those expressing opposing views do so at their peril.
A couple of weeks ago Ms. Minshew was presented a unilateral proclamation from Commissioner and Mayor Lednovich for something called “Transgendered Remembrance Day.” Apparently this was something Lednovich and Minshew cooked up prior to the Commission meeting since the mayor controls the agenda and can put anything he wants on it.
Minshew’s Republican opponent in this Tuesday’s election is life-long local resident and 23-year firefighter, Darron Ayscue, a husband, and father of two and long-time community volunteer.
Governor DeSantis legislated a Stop W.O.K.E. Act in Education bill, which removed detested critical-race-theory material from public schools and championed the Parental Rights in Education bill, banning LGBTQ issues through third grade and required schools to tell parents if their children receive mental-health service through the school.
Minshew, who founded, and heads Fernandina Pride doesn’t appear to be any more anxious to broadcast her LGBTQIA+ activities to area voters during her campaign than Lednovich does his support for BLM.
Lednovich’s BLM backing is worthy of condemnation because that group represents a violent threat. Minschew’s support of the LGBTQIA+ group isn’t violent, but adherents demand blind acceptance proclaiming that their gender spectrum and fluid sexuality is scientific fact and anyone disagreeing is a bigot and hater. Florida voters made it clear they don’t want their children indoctrinated with toxic theories such as gender ideology. Parents say they, not politicians, unions, or any other outside influence has the final say over the upbringing of their children.
I don’t care what the adult LGBTQIA+ crowd thinks and does with each other in private. However, I don’t want it forced on young people or have them taught that it is normal. Local institutions, schools, parks, and ball fields should not be pressured to treat boys as if they were girls or vice versa when it comes to sports, bathrooms, or locker rooms. I don’t want my taxes used to promote their activities or have the government – local or national – involved in telling children that they can change their sex. They can’t, nobody can, not even through surgeries or chemical castration. That doesn’t have anything to do with gay or transgendered rights. That’s child abuse.
A supporter of Minshew, and a former City Commissioner, contacted me this week telling me I should retract my comments recently about Minshew’s recent activities telling me I misrepresented the group’s slogan and intentions. To my surprise the caller, without any prompting, also admitted to being an atheist.
I asked the irate caller why Minshew and Lednovich refused to answer any of the questions submitted to them about their positions on a variety of local issues and the response was: “Because the questions were stupid.” The caller’s answer speaks for itself.
Click here to see the list of “stupid” questions submitted by the local chapter of County Citizens Defending Freedom (CCDF) that all other candidates but Minshew and Lednovich answered: Voter Guide for Nassau School Board and Fernandina Council Election- 2022.
Fernandina Beach residents also have an opportunity this coming Tuesday, December 13 to endorse the traditional Judeo-Christian values endorsed by the majority of Floridians and reject the woke ones and identity politics of extremist local Democrats Minshew and Lednovich.
Historically runoff races in Fernandina have seen low turnouts ranging from 20-24 percent of eligible voters (11,668) which means that only about 2,400 voters will decide the future of the city. So, turnout is key.
The last time Minshew ran she lost by just 38 votes. Obviously every vote is vital to the city’s future. Will Fernandina maintain its Norman Rockwell atmosphere with Antun and Ayscue or will it turn into the hellscape of “It’s a Wonderful Life’s” Pottersville with Lednovich and Minshew?
Tomorrow, Saturday, December 10, voters are invited to participate in an Antun-Ayscue rally at the corner of Sadler and South 8th Street 8:30-10 am. There will be a neighborhood walk-throughs following the rally. Not convinced? Bagels and coffee will be provided.
***
Speaking Of Law & Order: Governor DeSantis’s efforts to invest in crime prevention and keep Florida citizens safe is working.
In Florida crime rates decreased dramatically by almost 10 percent, according to the state’s annual crime report.
According to the report crime in the Sunshine State decreased overall in 2021 by 9.5%. Murders were down by Murders down 13.9% , robberies down 23% and assaults down 5.4%.
Last November, when Governor DeSantis invited police officers to relocate to Florida, he said, “NYPD, Minneapolis, Seattle, if you’re not being treated well, we’ll treat you better here: you fill important needs for us, and we’ll compensate you as a result.”
Shortly after his invitation, at least 14 NYPD officers left New York City to join the Lakeland Police Department, located near Tampa. They cited DeSantis’ recruitment plan and a hostile work environment in a city whose leadership they said turned its back on police.
Six new recruits joined the Cape Coral Police Department in Lee County. Two relocated from New York; one relocated from Maryland, one relocated from Georgia, and two are new to the profession.
All six officers were sworn into the Cape Coral Police Department prior to Hurricane Ian and served the community during response and recovery efforts. Recruits from other states receive bonuses of up to $50,000.
***
Things I Wish I’d Said: “If you want to eat kale, that’s up to you. I don’t eat kale, you know why? Because kale tastes to me like ‘I’d rather be fat.’” – Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy.
***
Thinking About Buying An Electric Car? If you’re considering purchasing an electric car because you believe it will benefit the environment and help reduce dependence on fossil fuels you’d be wrong….very, very wrong.
An article by Roger D. McGrath in “Chronicles” magazine details why. He says a midsize electric vehicle requires a battery pack that weighs at least 1,000 pounds, which typically includes about 30 pounds of lithium, 60 pounds of cobalt, 130 pounds of nickel, 90 pounds of copper, 190 pounds of graphite and roughly 500 pounds of steel, aluminum, manganese, plastic, and other materials.
Supplying these materials for the battery pack requires processing – using fossil fuels – of at least 50 tons of ores. Multiply all that by 30 million for just California’s cars and light trucks – 900 million pounds of lithium, 1.8 million pounds of cobalt, 3.9 million pounds of nickel ….The numbers are staggering and that just for mid-sized vehicles.
He uses California as an example because that state’s whacky governor has banned the sales of gasoline-powered vehicles beginning in 2035.
McGrath’s number are for just mid-sized cars. Batteries for GM’s Hummer weigh in at 3,000 pounds, twice the weight of a Volkswagen bug.
The companies that produce these batteries are mostly based in China, which is responsible for nearly 80 percent of the global production for EV batteries. All of those firms are state owned or subsidized by the Communist government of China.
***
Overheard At PJD’s Beer & Wine Garden: “What happens if you get scared half to death twice?”
Drinking, Dining & Dancing: Piano man John Springer is back on a regular basis. The popular and personable tuxedo-clad local singer and musician who performs musical quizzes and takes requests, will sit at a baby grand piano every Friday and Saturday evening 7-10 pm at the upstairs dinning room of the recently renovated Crab Trap, the corner of Alachua and North 2nd Street downtown. He will be joined tomorrow, Friday, December 10, and most other Fridays by his drummer sidekick, Rob Taylor. The last time Springer appeared on a regular basis was at the Beech Street Grill before the current one opened and for several years at the now defunct Alley Cat on Centre Street. It’ll be fun to have him back. I’m told there’s no cover and no minimum.
Republished with the author’s permission. Read The Dave Scott Blog– subscribe Free
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida.
