My national politics interest has waned to coincide with the Democrat party takeover of 2020. Maybe it was just a Trumpian hangover for me and others. However, I’m starting to shake it off. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made me laugh last week when he fired back at President Biden over the southern border. It was a Trump-like take, but with a little more political tact in terms of delivery.
If Trump would take 2024 off and endorse DeSantis, I like the guy’s chances. He checks a lot of the boxes, Yale Law, served in the Navy, governor experience, blah, blah, blah. My two favorite things are that he can throw out a good one-line rebuttal, like he did last year when he told a reporter, “You can whiz on my leg but don’t tell me it is raining.” But, beyond a quick wit, he holds this qualification for high office; DeSantis was a main cog in a little league baseball team that made it to the Little League World Series. That checks my “mentally tough” box.
He was part of a team in 1991 from Pinellas County, Florida that made it to the World Series for the first time since 1948. Four of his teammates would go on to be drafted, yet DeSantis was the primary pitcher and hit in the middle of the order for the team.
I hope this is not a harbinger for his political career, but his team was bounced from the series by losses to California and the Dominican Republic; two areas I doubt he does well with in politics, either.
Anyway, he’s my new political man crush. Carry on.
Living along Interstate 29 provides all of us a nice window into the Sturgis rally that began on Aug. 6 and ends on the Aug.15. I get a kick out of watching the different groups head north through our area. It really is an eclectic grouping of people. You see the real hardcore bikers that are simply strapped on a loud bike with a small bag of essentials (smokes and condoms, I assume) and some leather. They are your stereotypical bikers. They look tougher than me. I don’t park close to them at convenience stores.
The second group looks more like me. Middle aged men and women, often driving fancy Denali trucks and such, with trailers hauling their bikes to South Dakota. They are usually eating at Applebee’s or Longhorn Steakhouse as they pass through town. I suppose they unload the bikes within a few miles of the events and then roll into town, smelling much better than the aforementioned “stereotypical” bikers.
They all look equally excited for the adventure and even if Dr. Fauci doesn’t see the fun in their pleasure, I look forward to seeing them head north each year and wish them the best of adventures, regardless of their respective odor.
Is the Dominican Republic a state yet? Or is that after Washington DC? Did we buy Greenland yet or did we have to scrap that plan to pay for COVID?
A friend of a friend told my wife that the new Patrick Mahomes homestead is being built in the Loch Lloyd area of Cass County. I warned you people. Platte County economic development professionals should hang their heads in shame for letting this happen. Cass County? Are you kidding me? I have no idea if the friend of the friend of the friend is correct, but if so, some heads should roll around here.
(Guy Speckman can be reached at gspeckman@me.com or watching bikers and the Little League World Series)