Let’s face it: Ron DeSantis sold us a story. When he ran for a second term as Florida’s governor, he did so with the swagger of a limited government crusader, a man of the people standing up to the heavy hand of government. But, as it turns out, DeSantis wasn’t running to serve Florida; he was setting the stage for a personal PR campaign, pushing his book and laying the groundwork for a presidential run. The limited government hero we thought we were getting? Nothing more than a well-crafted persona.
DeSantis played coy with his presidential ambitions for months, pretending he was laser-focused on Florida when everyone knew he was eyeing the White House. By the time he finally announced, the magic was gone. The buzz had fizzled, and what we saw on the national stage was a candidate who lacked energy, excitement, and the ability to connect with a broader audience. DeSantis built his reputation on being bold and fearless, yet his presidential run was a flat, uninspiring mess.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, DeSantis shot to national fame for keeping Florida open when other states were locking down. He was hailed as the defender of personal freedom, the face of resistance against government overreach. But let’s dig a little deeper. His pandemic response was the exception, not the norm. Since taking office, DeSantis has shown a penchant for expanding government power rather than curbing it.
Just look at his war with Disney. When Disney’s CEO criticized his “Parental Rights in Education” bill, DeSantis didn’t just push back with words. He went nuclear, using the power of the state to strip Disney of its special status. This wasn’t about protecting freedom or promoting limited government—it was about using the government’s might to silence a critic. That’s not the behavior of a leader who believes in free markets or free speech; that’s the behavior of a man who can’t stand being challenged.
And it didn’t stop there. DeSantis has a pattern of bulldozing anyone who dares to oppose him. When local officials took stances that clashed with his agenda, he didn’t just argue his point—he removed them from office. In a state that supposedly values local governance, DeSantis repeatedly used his power to overrule the will of local voters. If this is his idea of limited government, I’d hate to see what big government looks like.
His latest obsession? Policing what people can and can’t put into their own bodies. For someone who champions personal freedom, DeSantis has a curious fixation on using the state to enforce his own brand of morality. Whether it’s restricting access to substances or medical treatments, he has shown time and again that he’s more than willing to expand government authority when it suits his agenda. It’s classic big government overreach, wrapped in the language of “public safety.”
So why are Florida Republicans still cheering for this guy? It’s baffling. Maybe they’re still dazzled by his defiance during the pandemic, buying into the image of DeSantis as the bold leader who stood up to federal mandates. But if you peel back the layers, you see a politician who talks about liberty while constantly flexing his government muscle to control businesses, silence dissent, and dictate personal choices. It’s the kind of power grab we expect from career politicians, not so-called champions of freedom.
I’ll admit, I was fooled too. I voted for DeSantis in his last gubernatorial race, thinking he was the real deal—a leader who would fight to limit government overreach and uphold individual liberties. But watching his power plays and his dull presidential campaign, it’s clear he’s not the freedom-loving conservative he pretends to be. He’s just another politician addicted to power, willing to use the state as his personal tool.
DeSantis’s presidential campaign only confirmed what many of us feared. On the national stage, he was lifeless, lacking the depth and charisma needed to connect with voters beyond his base. For someone who thrived on controversy in Florida, he seemed lost when it came to delivering a compelling vision for the country. His brand of conservatism doesn’t hold up well when scrutinized beyond state lines.
And let’s not ignore his glaring hypocrisy. Here’s a guy who rails against big government interference, yet he has no problem using state power to impose his will on everyone else. When you strip away the rhetoric, DeSantis isn’t fighting for liberty. He’s fighting to impose his own brand of governance, whether Florida’s citizens like it or not. That’s not limited government—it’s authoritarianism with a smile.
So here we are, with a governor who talks a big game about freedom and limited government while showing a disturbing eagerness to wield power when it suits him. It’s time Florida Republicans ask themselves what they really want: a leader who genuinely believes in shrinking government, or a power-hungry politician disguised as a freedom fighter?
The truth is, DeSantis has shown us who he is. He’s not the principled conservative he claims to be. He’s a career politician with a penchant for control, and he’s willing to use the full force of the government to get what he wants. For those of us who truly believe in limited government, this should be a wake-up call.
I won’t be deceived again. DeSantis had his chance to prove he was different, that he was a leader who understood the value of personal freedom and local control. Instead, he’s proven to be a master of political theater, using the state as his prop while pushing an agenda that’s anything but limited government.
If we want real champions of liberty in office, we need to look beyond the soundbites and the flashy headlines. We need to demand leaders who don’t just talk about limiting government, but who live by those principles every day, even when it’s inconvenient. DeSantis had us convinced he was that leader, but his actions have told a different story.
Florida deserves better. The country deserves better. It’s time we stop falling for the grandstanding and start holding our leaders accountable. Because at the end of the day, real liberty doesn’t come from politicians who use government power as a weapon—it comes from leaders who understand that the government’s role is to protect our freedoms, not to decide how we live our lives.
Written By: Stephen Despin Jr. | Founder/Contributor
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