Instapundit links to a Los Angeles Times article reprinted outside the LAT paywall at msn.com. Its topic is a comparison of the programs of CA Governor Newsom and FL Governor DeSantis.
Reynolds believes the column is too favorable to Newsom. I read it and mostly disagree as I found it to be relatively balanced for a normally left-leaning outlet like LAT.
One claim the column makes with which I’d quibble is that people don’t move from a place where their politics, and hence culture, is in a decided minority. Their argument is that jobs prevent doing this.
Actually, it turns out that employers like red state policies and tend to move operations there. When jobs move to red states it creates opportunities for like-minded people to follow the jobs.
The article emphasizes CA and FL have a number of non-political similarities, including beaches, warm weather, theme parks, serious agriculture, and urban sprawl. That makes a comparison of the two political models more relevant as there is less non-political “stuff” confusing the choice.
The article’s thesis is that at some future point - 2024 or 2028 - Americans will be challenged to pick which model they find more appealing as the two governors square off head-to-head in the presidential race. With the caveat that much can change between now and then, I’d call that a likely outcome.
To date, neither governor has demonstrated much crowd-stirring personal charisma. However the Biden and Bush presidencies have demonstrated there is no absolute requirement for presidential charisma or, sadly, competence.
