NEWS AND OPINION:

There was a lot mockery and criticism within the mainstream media after mysterious technical points compromised the debut of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on the presidential marketing campaign path. The New York Times, for instance, deemed it “the conference call from hell.”

Mr. DeSantis, nevertheless, adopted the occasion with an look Wednesday night on Fox News Channel that the community stated drew 2 million viewers. He adopted that, in accordance with a marketing campaign assertion, with a “robust slate” of a dozen TV, radio and podcast interviews on Thursday.

The candidate “is continuing to hit the ground running,” it stated.

Mr. DeSantis, nevertheless, doesn't want to fret a couple of preliminary imperfection, some say.

“When the history of the Ron DeSantis 2024 presidential campaign is written, his announcement will be just one chapter,” predicted Jim Geraghty, a National Review columnist who deemed all of the partisan cackling that erupted within the aftermath as “Overreaction Thursday.”

But what about Friday — and all the times to come back?

Mr. DeSantis seemingly has a formidable arsenal of political firepower ready to be deployed. Consider {that a} easy marketing campaign video launched Wednesday emphasizes that the governor is poised to “lead our great American comeback.” That video  — and the a lot criticized Twitter Space occasion — had been seen over 30 million occasions within the first 15 hours, in accordance with the DeSantis marketing campaign.

“I still believe that the key moments in the 2024 GOP presidential primary will be the first time DeSantis and Donald Trump are on the same debate stage, and the first time DeSantis challenges Trump to his face — and how that exchange plays out for the two men. It’s not that nothing matters until then, but it’s hard to envision anything being decisive before then,” Mr. Geraghty famous.

MOVING ALONG, PART 2

Road journey season approaches.

“Will you travel for Memorial Day or Memorial Day weekend this year?” asks a brand new survey by TheVacationer.com, a client journey useful resource,

It discovered that 36% of U.S. adults usually are not touring over the upcoming weekend. Another 21% will journey to attend a relative or good friend’s vacation get together whereas 18% will journey for a proper trip. Then there’s the 17% who will journey for a day journey to a getaway spot, plus 7% who will journey for a distinct or undisclosed motive.

But wait, there’s extra: 15% will attend a parade, 60% a barbecue or cookout, 25% a fireworks show and eight% a sporting occasion. A fifth will search out a lake whereas one other 20% is not going to take part in any of those seasonal actions — and 10% are glad to simply go to the films.

The survey of 1,021 U.S. adults was performed on-line on May 1.

GETTING GRAPHIC

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has supplied a well timed, sobering analogy to explain the nation’s fentanyl disaster Thursday, simply because the House handed a invoice which offers extra stringent and efficient punishment for individuals who deal within the substance.

“In March alone, 2,848 pounds of fentanyl were seized at the border — or the weight equivalent of one medium sized sedan,” famous a stark graphic issued by Mr. McCarthy’s workplace — and sure, it included a picture of a automobile.

Mr. McCarthy is just not mincing phrases both.

“The Biden administration’s refusal to secure our southern border has ignited a crisis. Every step of the way, President Biden has ignored the problem, ducked responsibility, and allowed the fallout of the crisis to affect American cities across the country,” he stated in a written assertion shared with Inside the Beltway.

“From the border, inflation, crime, and the debt ceiling, President Biden and Washington Democrats have failed to do their jobs. While they blunder our nation into crisis after crisis, House Republicans remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering solutions to the American people,” Mr. McCarthy famous.

THE POPPY REMINDER

The USAA Poppy Wall of Honor is a short lived set up honoring the greater than 645,000 American service members who gave their lives in service to our nation since World War I.

The 133-foot wall returns to the National Mall within the nation’s capital for Memorial Day weekend. It stands over 8 ft excessive and incorporates a particular panel to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from the Vietnam War.

“Memorial Day weekend has long served as the unofficial start to summer with many Americans getting together and enjoying the long weekend. However, it’s important to pause and reflect on the true meaning of the holiday – to honor and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country,” retired Vice Adm. John Bird, senior vp of Military Affairs at USAA, stated in a press release.

Honor a cherished one or share a remembrance through main social media websites utilizing the hashtag #PoppyInReminiscence. Dedications are also discovered at USAAdigitalpoppywall.com.

WEEKEND REAL ESTATE

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POLL DU JOUR

• 43% of registered U.S. voters say they're “extremely concerned” about political divisions throughout the U.S.; 49% of conservatives, 35% of moderates and 41% of liberals agree.

• 36% general are “very concerned” about political divisions; 34% of conservatives, 33% of moderates and 40% of liberals agree.

• 15% are “not very concerned” about political divisions; 12% of conservatives, 21% of moderates and 15% of liberals agree.

• 5% are “not at all” involved in regards to the divisions; 5% of conservatives, 9% of moderates and three% of liberals agree.

• 1% “don’t know” in regards to the problem; 0% of conservatives, 2% of moderates and 1% of liberals agree.

SOURCE: A Fox News ballot of 1,001 registered U.S. voters performed May 19-22.

• Follow Jennifer Harper on Twitter @HarperBulletin.

Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com