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I was born in a DC suburb, lived in DC, went to school through the 7th grade in DC. My mom was an employee of the US Department of Agriculture. Even when we moved to the MD suburbs, life centered around the city. As a child I never understood why DC residents were disenfranchised, although I should have realized that the city was, at that time, controlled by the Southern Democrats who were usually the center of Federal power; that should have been the tip-off.

As a student of, and, for many years, a teacher of US history, I understood why but grew more and more incensed that the city residents, surrounded by the history of the nation and living amidst the many symbols of the idea of "all ... are created equal" were never granted the franchise, the political voice in their own destiny. DeSantis' view is the vocalization of that situation, a clear statement of what many across the US believe--DC residents are either "too close" to power or "too Black" to be trusted with the ballot.

In his elite education, DeSantis never caught the meaning of "with liberty and justice for all." I don't for a minute blame his teachers and professors. DeSantis is a political black hole--light undoubtedly once entered but it has never shown outward again.

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Excellent summary of the state of whatever he calls his mind of not-my-governor.

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Aug 2, 2023Liked by Kevin M. Kruse

It's also really pathetic to see a man who claims he's running for President defend a former President from charges that he tried to overturn an election. I mean, what's the point of running if you're going to validate everything that the guy you're running against says?

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Living in DC both during and after the insurrection, there is complete justice in the trial taking place in DC. The winter of 2021 in DC was horrific - our city was traumatized, occupied by National Guard who were needed to protect us, and physically divided by fencing. All this brought on by the defendant. Saying he shouldn't be tried in DC shows the same level of contempt for DC's citizens that Trump, DeSantis and all the MAGA blowhards show for the majority of US voters who don't support them.

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Um ... you left out that a significant number of Americans residing in Washington, DC, are, you know, not white. Since there isn't a single loyal republican who is antiracist, well, there you go.

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author

Oh did I?

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