Eye on Jacksonville had a front row seat for the tremendous tribute to America’s best governor.
We rode in the lead boat in the DeSantis Flotilla Saturday with hundreds of boaters following in our wake along the St. Johns River.
John Williams of Lamb’s Yacht Center was the captain of the Bounty and provided the ride.
We went from Lamb’s to the Hart Bridge, turned and cruised past the River City’s imposing skyline, bathed in sunshine.
The Republican Party of Florida leadership was in town for their quarterly meeting and they stood on board the USS Orleck, moored on the Northbank, to wave as boats passed by festooned with American flags and banners that said, “Don’t Tread on Florida.”
“We love the gov,” Eye founder Billie Tucker told media interviewing her when they asked what it was all about.
Media helicopters and drones buzzed around and at least two outlets, First Coast News and News4Jax, gave it good coverage. The local liberal mini-newspaper gave it scant notice but that was to be expected. Ironically, we passed the rubble of the building that housed the paper when it was conservative and thriving. DeSantis is up for re-election this year after four years of accomplishments that dwarf those of his predecessors. He has even led improvements to education and the environment, which Democrats pretend to care about. With the help of the Florida Legislature, he has championed helpful tax cuts and fair political districts.
For all that, he has been continually criticized by the leftwing press. There are a few people of little consequence running against him but, barring a stolen election, DeSantis is expected to win.
After a circle and another pass, the flotilla broke up although many stayed in the area to enjoy the beauty of the river and the day.
Considering the price of gasoline to power the boats – a gift from the federal government that is inflating to cover its profligate spending — it was amazing the event had such a turnout.
There has not been such a display of appreciation for a politician since a boating demonstration for Donald Trump on the river a few years ago.
