Ron DeSantis is Spoiled
DeSantis sat down with Tucker Carlson
Last Friday, Tucker Carlson interviewed Ron DeSantis at the Family Leadership Summit. DeSantis explained to Tucker how he would take on the Deep State. “With me, on day one, you get a new director of the FBI.” He says there are thousands of political appointees, and “you got to have your people in there on day one.” Otherwise, these “career bureaucrats, they just take over.” DeSantis wants to hold them accountable. And to do that, he wants to fire everyone. And according to him, Article II of the Constitution gives him the power.
The people are fed up with the failed state of our union. The debt is mounting. Our borders are a mess. We have increased crime, massive income inequality, and a faltering education system. We are monitored by Big tech and Big government. DeSantis is telling his supporters he would stand up for them and take on the failed administrative state of our government. And he would do it with his people. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas exemplifies his people because, according to DeSantis, “he doesn’t budge.”
Suppose we dig deeper into what DeSantis says. In that case, we discover he is actually describing a system of government called the Spoils System—the practice of appointing government positions based on political loyalty and patronage rather than merit or qualifications. This gives power to the political party in charge. When DeSantis says, “your people,” he’s saying his party's people. And when he says, “on day one,” he’s saying it doesn’t matter if they are qualified or doing a good job. If they aren’t part of his party, they have to go.
The United States has experienced two prominent Spoils Systems periods in our history: the Antebellum period and the Gilded Age. The key results of these periods were the weakening of administrative competence, corruption, and inefficiency. Spoils System provides fertile ground for corruption and cronyism. It undermines transparency, accountability, and the public's faith in government. It creates a sense of entitlement among party loyalists, limiting opportunities for new voices and fresh ideas to enter the political arena. It diverts resources from critical public services and programs to fulfill political obligations. This misallocation of resources hampers social and economic development, compromising the overall welfare of the citizens.
Also, in the interview, Tucker asks DeSantis about the Ukraine-Russia border dispute. He criticizes the DC foreign policy elites saying, “They are doing a blank check policy without telling us when we will have achieved our objective.” Then redirecting the question, he says, “I wish the DC elites cared as much about our border as they do about the Ukraine-Russia border.” He then lays out his plan on how to deal with it, which includes military force. His complaint about the Ukraine-Russia border dispute concerns a lack of direction and purpose. His plan to take on the US-Mexico border is direct, and he passionately delivers it.
DeSantis is clever. He knows how to pull levers. The interview allowed him to highlight his political acumen, leadership strengths, and policy objectives. He knows how to lead a conversation and is a concise communicator. DeSantis wants to be a leader for the people. He wants to take on the Deep State and the DC elites. He wants the power to fire thousands of political appointees. And he wants the power to use military force at our border.
Living in Swamp (otherwise known as Northern VA), I’ve spoken with many employees of the administrative state. It’s hard to miss them. They are my neighbors. They aren't the scary, power-hungry villains the politicians make them out to be. The Bureaucrats, as DeSantis calls them. Like DeSantis, they tell a story of incompetence and corruption. But according to them, corruption and incompetence mostly come from the political appointees. Even when a department gets a qualified appointee, the appointee is replaced if the party loses the election. In some cases, entire projects are dumped and started from scratch for no reason other than a change of power. As a result, millions of taxpayer dollars are spoiled.
DeSantis went to Yale University, taught history, and attended Harvard Law School. He is very well educated. He should know that a Spoils System concentrates power into the party. He is a clear communicator. He will lead with authority and prioritize America's interests. He will prioritize loyalty over competency. In this interview, DeSantis is clear. He wants power. And he wants to wield it like a King.