We have to set a quota on deposed wannabe dictators relocating in Florida.
If not, we may get a fame right here of being the Elba of the Americas.
I do know. I do know. Florida already has a well-deserved fame of being a haven for individuals in search of second possibilities and for anybody fleeing unsavory conditions.
Let’s be sincere. Most of us who’ve relocated to Florida are refugees from one thing — chilly winters, excessive taxes, Latin American poverty and crime, ungrateful youngsters.
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So, it could appear to be hypocritical of us to withdraw the welcome mat to different individuals in want.
But I suggest we make an exception for deposed dictators who see Florida as a sanctuary from their failed felony plots to thwart democracy and set up themselves as kings in perpetuity.
We took in one in all these dead-enders over the weekend. Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro slipped out of Brazil and moved right into a home in a gated neighborhood in Orlando — the place he was seen taking a neighborhood stroll.
Bolsonaro was imagined to be in Brazil, handing over the presidential sash to the person who beat him within the current presidential election, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
But, as an alternative, Bolsonaro hightailed it to Florida after saying, “We will not throw in the towel. We may have lost the battle but not the war.”
Donald Trump, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro learn from the identical script
Where have we heard that earlier than? Oh, yeah. From our personal deposed would-be dictator, Donald Trump, who additionally sought refuge in Florida after his plans to subvert presidential election outcomes flamed out in a violent failed coup on the U.S. Capitol. He has since written that the U.S. Constitition should be put aside to reinstate him on the White House.
Bolsonaro, who ran by saying he needed to “make Brazil great again,” refused to simply accept defeat on the polls in his current re-election bid. He claimed there was huge fraud within the Brazilian election, which was suppressed by “the fake news” media.
Apparently, wannabe despots simply borrow one another’s materials.
After dropping, Bolsonaro whipped up his supporters, who staged huge protests, which included storming the federal police headquarters, and in a single case, making an attempt unsuccessfully to detonate a bomb planted in a tanker truck stuffed with gasoline close to the worldwide airport in Brasilia.
Facing the lack of felony immunity after a brand new president was sworn in, Bolsonaro went to Florida with a purpose to get away from any felony fees that could be filed in opposition to him.
While Bolsonaro was establishing his new wifi password and rubbish pickup schedule in Orlando, Trump was ringing within the New Year with the My Pillow Guy and Rudy Giuliani in a Mar-a-Lago gathering in Palm Beach. It included a evenly attended “media availability” to kick off the night, so Trump may recite his drained grievances for the umpteenth time.
Like Bolsonaro, Trump can be making an attempt to remain a step forward of the potential felony prosecutions looming in his future.
“I think it’s a disgrace what’s happening with the FBI and the weaponization of justice,” Trump stated throughout his red-carpet New Year’s Eve saunter. “There’s never been anything like this, and it’s been disgraceful.”
Shared visions of future energy
And like Bolsonaro once more, Trump additionally claimed he’d be again in energy quickly, and that the current election was a rigged occasion that might quickly be erased.
“I think we’re doing really well. I saw poll numbers today that were fantastic,” Trump stated.
So unhappy.
You see? We’ve received our personal deposed dictator downside with out having to shelter Brazil’s sore loser.
And we actually can’t rely on Trump’s mini-me, Gov. Ron DeSantis, to do something concerning the dictator immigration downside occurring in Florida. In truth, Bolsonaro’s homophobia, immigrant scapegoating, and anti-vaccination posturing places the Brazilian proper according to DeSantis’ imaginative and prescient of a “free” Florida.
It’s solely a matter of time earlier than Trump and Bolsonaro get collectively for their very own pity celebration in Florida. I fear that we don’t have the infrastructure to deal with this. For starters, we’re going to wish a second pillow man for the increasing fluffer duties.
My large concern, although, is that Bolsonaro’s transfer to Florida goes to open the door for Russian President Vladimir Putin, one other despot who might quickly be in search of a cheerful touchdown someplace out of the best way.
Florida’s received to be trying good for Putin. Especially now that Bolsonaro has paved the best way.
Bolsonaro refused to sentence Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and like Trump, he’s an admirer of Putin. Russian flight capital has already made its approach to Florida, the place it has wolfed up intensive actual property holdings. So, Putin already should have a powerful gallery of appropriate Florida properties to select from.
As the Russian individuals proceed to be woke up to the disastrous, lethal struggle Putin has waged in opposition to Ukraine and its every day accumulation of human rights abuses, Putin may think about relocating for his personal security to a apartment in Sunny Isles.
Unless, we are saying sufficient is sufficient. We’ve received to take a stand.
We’ll take the tax-avoiding New Yorkers. We’ll take the impoverished Central American asylum seekers. And we’ll take the brand new retirees trying to play year-round golf and eat up all of the free samples at Costco.
But we’ve already received sufficient deposed wannabe dictators for one state.
Frank Cerabino is a columnist at The Palm Beach Post, a part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can attain him at [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.