State of emergency declaration regarding Israel by DeSantis is 'politics at its worst'

Regarding the recent story in the News-Journal about Governor DeSantis declaring a state of emergency over the conflict in Israel, I feel compelled to voice my opinion. I can appreciate that the governor is grasping at straws in a desperate attempt to keep his presidential candidacy afloat, but this latest measure is just politics at its worst.

Like his previous attempt to deport immigrants, he is using other people’s problems and misery for his personal political advantage. Who is advising this man, and why is he listening to them? Or does he come up with these hair-brained schemes on his own?

The measure of a great leader lies in the quality of the people he surrounds himself with, and whose counsel he seeks. I believe that regardless of which is the correct answer, he has shown himself to be unsuited for the job as president.

Listening to poor advice or wasting public funds and state resources on political grandstanding are not the hallmarks of a leader. A wise man chooses his battles carefully. Cheap political stunts, especially those that seek to take advantage of tragic events, are not what we need in our future leaders.

I would be curious to know exactly how many Floridians are actually in jeopardy in Israel at the moment and are stranded with no way to return home. Enough to declare a state of emergency here?

We are where we are in this country today, with our paralyzed political system of extremes threatening the core of our very democracy largely because of this: politicians using every event to stir up the public to suit their purpose. It is time to call out these politicians whose only interests are their own and replace them with the men and women of character, integrity, and honesty that Florida, and indeed, our nation, deserves.

Donald Kanfer

DeLand

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Emergency declaration over Israel by DeSantis: 'politics at its worst'