A.G. Gancarski
Florida’s First Couple is due for a fresh set of honors this November from a conservative standard-bearer.
National Review is honoring Ron and Casey DeSantis with the William F. Buckley Jr. Prize as “conservative leaders who have shaped our nation.”
The ceremony will be held Nov. 5 in Palm Beach at the Breakers, and it is definitely a big-ticket event.
While $1,000 is the price of admission, especially committed National Review and DeSantis backers can opt for the $100,000 “Buckley Circle” package that promises a “table of ten with prime seating location, member of National Review editorial staff seated at table, prominent recognition in digital program, and trustee reception before the gala.”
The event comes roughly a year before the gubernatorial election that the First Lady has teased running in. National Review has definitely stoked the fires for that potential endeavor, describing her as “a potential gubernatorial candidate who would be, at minimum, formidable.”
“Take the Casey DeSantis Buzz Seriously” advised one article that calls her “awfully darn sharp,” with “retail politics skills are as good as they come” and “high name recognition, and the fundraising machine that propelled Ron DeSantis in 2018 (more than $58 million) and 2022 (more than $177 million).”
The First Couple spoke at a National Review event in March, where Casey DeSantis said “we’ll see” when asked if she would run. That messaging is acutely familiar to Floridians, who have heard it on a number of occasions since.
Since March, Casey DeSantis’ brand has been tarnished by controversies related to the Hope Florida Foundation, the charitable arm of her signature state initiative. Foundation money from a Medicaid settlement was routed toward political committees and weaponized in political ads against an amendment that would have legalized recreational pot.
The Legislature investigated the cash flow to no immediate effect, but the upcoming year’s budget reveals significant defunding for Hope Florida, with money removed for “hope navigators” and the office at large in the ongoing appropriations deliberations.
2 comments
TC
June 10, 2025 at 12:09 pm
Buckley was an old school conservative who died before well before Trump and Trump-clones like DeSantis twisted the GOP’s old conservatism into the hate-filled beast it is today. It is highly doubtful that Buckley would have had kind words for the ham-handed DeSantis.
Larry Gillis, Director-at-Large, Libertarian Party of Florida
June 10, 2025 at 12:18 pm
WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY, JR, WAS ALWAYS A GOOD READ.
Out of respect for his profound abilities as the founder of “National Review”, the New York Times icily referred to his “salon wit”. (This was their way of using an ice pick, not a cleaver). He is still missed by many of his devoted readers, including me.
For that matter, the droll novels of his clever son Christopher are always mandatory reading (“The White House Mess”, “Florence of Arabia”, and “Thank You for Smoking” come to mind).
However, I do not know the present worthiness of “National Review” or of this award. I remember that JFK’s Pulitzer was the product of some serious politicking by his father. I suspect there is always some politicking in these awards. Anyway, congrats to Florida’s original “Power Couple”. BTW, if they are looking for some serious reading, I’d suggest they begin with the platform of the Libertarian Party of Florida: https://www.lpf.org/platform
Bon appetit.
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