Editor’s Note: From the Back Forty is Liberty Nation’s longest-running and most popular weekly column. Capturing the truth each week from heartlanders in flyover states, LN gives voice to the hard-working Americans otherwise ignored by the coastal elites.
It was all about pink slips this week as Heartlanders head-scratched over the release of Tucker Carlson at Fox News and Don Lemon at CNN. But, between discussing the rank and merit of both television personalities, it was game on for Florida’s governor as the state’s Republican legislature paved the way for a presidential run.
Another Republican Soon to Declare?
Gov. Ron DeSantis has not yet declared his bid for the Republican presidential nomination: But you can’t fool all the people all the time. He has made the rounds in Iowa and New Hampshire, met with world leaders (or attempted to), and has Nigel Farage’s new conservative party, Reform UK, as an ally.
The governor is just now fresh into a four-year term for the good people of the Sunshine State and would have had to resign to run for president. Thanks to the Republican legislature, DeSantis got that problem out of the way. Instead of entirely rescinding the law that prevented a sitting governor from running, they redefined the exempt offices to include that of president and vice president. Stay tuned for an announcement coming soon on a platform near you.
Social media commenters were not straight-up fans of DeSantis running against Donald Trump. In Salinas, KS, Karilea Rilling Jungel said, “Not now, Sir. Prove yourself first.” Ross Cates in Alvin, TX, was all in, writing a new ticket, “Trump/DeSantis.”
But some folks were throwing a fit about changing the game’s rules: Stacee Pickard, for one, commenting, “No. He can resign and follow the rules like the rest of us if he wants to run for president. Rules for thee but not for me.” But in League City, TX, Paul Johnson reminded us that this was nothing new for either party: “Before the Democrats start foaming at the mouth, Texas did the same thing for Lyndon Johnson.”
Of course, some folks think Tucker Carlson may toss his preppy self into the primary fray – though he claims allegiance to neither of the two main political parties.
Pink Slips for Promotions
Fans of Tucker Carlson of Fox News and Don Lemon of CNN were astonished when both personalities were sent packing earlier this week. While Lemon seems to have mostly faded from view, Carlson is the hottest free-ranging topic on tongues from coast to coast. Heartlanders have long tuned into the bow-tied commentator for insight and intelligent analysis. And considering his popularity, many conservatives have now turned away from the network altogether following his ouster.
Carlson’s replacement show, “Fox News Tonight,” had around 2.6 million views on Monday night, reported Show Buzz Daily. But Tucker’s explanation video, which looked like he was in his basement, accusing the country of being a “one-party state,” had 23.3 million views as of publishing time for this article. The tweet containing the video had been seen 78.3 million times. More than the entire Fox News programming. Rasmussen Reports polled 945 likely voters and found “Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Likely US voters have a favorable impression of Carlson, including 36% who have a Very Favorable opinion of him.” On the other hand, Fox News had a 52% favorability score.
According to Judy Jones Dixon Kimbler in West Virginia, this hashtag is popping up on social media platforms: “Trump / Carlson 2024.” However, no hashtag that says “Biden/Lemon 2024” has yet been found.
