By Craig Pittman
The other day I was watching a campaign rally by the one reeeeally ooooold presidential candidate, and he was warning everyone about Project 2025.
“Some on the right, the severe right, came up with this Project 25,” he said, mangling the name a bit, perhaps because he’s showing signs of mental decline. He mentioned people were reading the plan and not liking it: “They read some of the things and they are extreme, seriously extreme.”
“Wow,’ I thought, “if even Donald Trump says Project 2025 is extreme, it must be wiiiiiiiiild.”
Project 2025, in case you’ve been too busy binge-watching “House of the Dragon” to keep up with the news, is a blueprint for Trump’s next term, mostly written by people who have worked for him.
Well, not the ones who’ve renounced him. Or the ones who’ve been sent to prison. Or the one vice-president he tried to have killed. But some others, no doubt hoping for jobs in the second Trump administration. Despite Trump’s efforts to distance himself from it, he seems likely to follow this playbook should he be returned to office.
The plan’s details are spelled out in a 922-page policy document produced by folks from the Heritage Foundation, an incredibly influential right wing think tank.
How influential? They’re the ones who came up with the idea for Mitt Romney’s “Romneycare,” which President Barack Obama liked so much he adopted it and it became Obamacare. Then the Heritage Foundation decided to oppose it — to no avail.
More Floridians have signed up for Obamacare than people in any other state, so you can see how important these Heritage Foundation studies can be for us. That’s why I was curious to see what Project 2025 would do for us in the “Free” State of Florida.
Well, folks, it ain’t pretty. Here be dragons.
The study is full of recommendations for clamping down on abortion, banning pornography, abolishing the Homeland Security and Education departments, killing the Head Start program for kids, and putting the entire executive branch, including the Department of Justice, under direct control of the president — no civil service protection.
Ed Benton, a constitutional scholar and political science professor at the University of South Florida, told NBC News the plan, subtitled “Mandate for Leadership,” is “a very far-right-wing approach to government.” It would be more accurate to call it Project 1875.
Meanwhile, the Heritage folks are already recruiting thousands of Trump loyalists to carry out these plans should Trump win in November. The recruiting is led by John McEntee, one of Trump’s former White House aides who was fired because his gambling habit made him a security risk. More recently, he founded the creepy The Right Stuff dating app. I think he may be single-handedly reviving Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign, but in a different context.
Heritage Foundation President Kevin “I’m Not Kooky, You’re the Kook Bwa-ha-ha-ha!” Roberts says Project 2025 is a blueprint for “the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.”’
By “left,” I think he means “anyone with a lick of sense.” I say that because this plan is so full of slashing that it must have been dreamed up by Norman Bates and his mom. We here in Florida will NOT benefit from its bloodletting.
No more free weather
Florida calls itself the Sunshine State, but that’s just a fib we made up to fool the tourists. The more accurate name would be the Super Stormy Lightning Capital, because we are the place with the most lightning strikes in the U.S.
We’re also the state that gets clobbered most often by hurricanes — double the number that have slammed into the No. 2 state, Texas. Think of us as the chin that North America sticks out at the Caribbean and says, “Hit me!”
This is why smart Floridians keep a close eye on the forecast. Weather conditions control our tourism industry, plus farming, ranching, athletics, and so much more.
“Think of how much of Florida’s economy is impacted by the weather,” said John Morales, who’s been a Florida meteorologist since 1991.
Yet Project 2025 calls for tying the hands of the National Weather Service, eliminating its role as a forecaster.
It would relegate the agency to only collecting data. Then private companies could use that taxpayer-funded info to create their own forecasts, which you’d have to pay for.
Morales said that would be a devastating change for Florida in particular.
“The National Weather Service’s core function is to save lives and property through issuing weather watches, alerts, and warnings,” Morales told me. “I don’t understand why you’d propose to get rid of that.”
I think it’s because some people want to make buckets of bucks from what’s been free. Can you imagine having to pay for weather reports the way we pay for streaming services? I’m picturing a typical Florida couple, sometime between June 1 and Nov. 30 in 2026.
“Honey, the wind’s blowing really hard, the storm clouds look threatening, and there’s a school of mullet swimming down our flooded street. Are we in the hurricane’s cone of uncertainty? Should we evacuate?”
“I don’t know, babe, that’s only available on the premium channel and we just have basic.”
We saw a similar money-grab seven years ago when Trump nominated Barry Myers, CEO of AccuWeather, to be the boss of the weather service’s umbrella (ba-dum-bum!) agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For years, Myers had “pushed for private companies to be able to use and monetize the weather reporting gathered through U.S. government satellites,” CNN reported then.
Fortunately, he wound up withdrawing his nomination citing poor health. I suspect what made him sick was that the Washington Post revealed that his company paid $290,000 to settle claims of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.
Now AccuWeather is run by someone else, and the company has announced its opposition to that part of Project 2025. In a statement, the current CEO pointed out that the existing set-up “has saved countless lives and significantly reduced the adverse impact of weather on the economy by hundreds of billions of dollars.”
But Project 2025 doesn’t care about that. In fact, the Heritage folks are even out to sink NOAA — the agency, not the ark builder.
Too much climate science
Florida is on the front lines of climate change. We’re a mostly flat state surrounded by water on three sides and close to the equator. The rising sea level creeps further inland here and the temperatures climb far higher, even at night. Florida leads the nation in heat related illnesses.
Lest you think I’m exaggerating, consider this: Last week a Florida plant, the Key Largo tree cactus, became the first species in the world to be completely wiped out by climate change. The cacti, known for their height (up to 20 feet), were washed away by rising seas.
Project 2025 refers to stories like this as “climate alarmism.”
The report insists that NOAA “should be dismantled and many of its functions eliminated” because it’s “a colossal operation that has become one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry and, as such, is harmful to future U.S. prosperity.”
Yes, corporate profits are SO much more important than either science or saving lives.
What’s worse, the report says, is that the agency’s mission “seems designed around the fatal conceit of planning for the unplannable.”
Seems to me NOAA is focused more on planning how to avoid things we don’t want, such as further acidification of our oceans from soaking up excess CO2.
The report does recommend keeping the National Hurricane Center in Miami (phew!) but with one major change: “Data collected by the department should be presented neutrally, without adjustments intended to support any one side in the climate debate.”
I suppose that means it would be OK to mention that abnormally hot ocean temperatures are making hurricanes grow more intense more quickly. You’re just not allowed to mention WHY the water is hotter than Bobby Flay’s grill.
But hey, I’m no scientist. Of course, neither is the author of that section of the Project 2025 report. It’s by Thomas F. Gilman, a former Chrysler executive whom Trump installed as assistant secretary at the Department of Commerce.
Who’d know more about climate change than an auto executive?
In case you’re wondering, the entire energy section of the report was written by nonscientists: Kathleen Sgamma of the Western Energy Alliance, an oil and gas industry group; Dan Kish of the Institute for Energy Research, a think tank long skeptical of human-caused climate change; and Katie Tubb of the Heritage Foundation.
These folks are not advocates for the kind of clean energy that Florida’s utilities are heavily investing in these days. You can pretty much sum this section up in three words: “Drill, baby, drill!”
Then, since Project 2025 insists on ditching the rules put in place to protect the environment, we can stand by for another BP oil spill to defile our beaches.
Speaking of beaches, you’ll never guess what Project 2025 has in mind for them.
Equal treatment of abuse and neglect
Most of the ideas contained in the plan aim to cut the size of the federal government, regardless of the popularity of the programs. Thus, it makes sense to the authors to hang a bullseye on one of the most debt-ridden government programs in history.
Project 2025 calls for an end to federally subsidized flood insurance.
That would affect folks in Florida more than people in any other state. According to the Insurance Journal, Florida is the largest flood insurance market in the country, with 1.7 million homes covered by the federal program.
Federal flood insurance “should be wound down and replaced with private insurance starting with the least risky areas currently identified by the program,” Project 2025 says.
The 50-year-old National Flood Insurance Program is more than $20 billion in debt from repeatedly paying out claims for damages. But economists and insurance agents said ending it would disrupt home sales and mortgage loans across the country.
“It would mean the collapse of the lending market,” said one Fort Myers agent contacted by the Insurance Journal.
I called a couple of my knowledgeable Southwest Florida sources, starting with Jim Beever. He spent 16 years as a biologist for the state wildlife commission, then 17 years with the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council.
Beever told me folks in Southwest Florida “would not be happy” with Project 2025’s proposal. People whose homes were devastated by Hurricane Ian relied on federal flood insurance to cover their losses, he said.
“But a lot of the people who were here when the hurricane hit are not going to rebuild,” he said “Instead, new groups are coming in and building even bigger buildings.”
Of course, the new folks expect to be covered by federal flood insurance, too. They even expect a discount on the price, just like the earlier residents had. When it looked like they might not get one because of irregularities with the rebuilding effort, local officials started howling like dogs hearing a siren in the distance, until this week the feds relented.
No private insurer will do that. In fact, lots of private insurers have fled Florida in recent years, freaking out over the cost of our repeated climate-fueled disasters.
The other person I consulted about this is Wayne Daltry, who was Lee County’s “smart growth” coordinator back when such planning skills were valued.
Ending taxpayer-subsidized flood insurance here “would blow up much of the real estate industry, which I recall sort of leans to the right, so left and right get equal treatment of abuse and neglect,” Daltry told me.
Project 2025’s authors offered a perfectly logical explanation for this radical recommendation: “These subsidies and bailouts only encourage more development in flood zones, increasing the potential losses to both (the program) and the taxpayer.”
They’re not wrong. But Florida developers and politicians don’t want anything to stand in the way of disaster-prone development, not even common sense. Something tells me that’s the section of the 900-page plan that will be tossed out first.
Except for that, though, I feel like we in Florida have been given a sneak peek at what could be forthcoming should Project 2025 be implemented.
So much of what it proposes nationally is already being implemented here by Gov. Ron “Why Is Legal Weed Is More Popular Than I Am?” DeSantis. We’re seeing it all, from abortion limits to the disruption of public education to deleting climate change from state law and even science textbooks.
Next thing you know, DeSantis will make the Project 2025 handbook required reading for Florida’s schoolchildren. They’ll have to read it aloud in the classroom, right after they pledge allegiance to the Orange-Faced Elder-in-Chief.
Craig Pittman is a native Floridian. In 30 years at the Tampa Bay Times, he won numerous state and national awards for his environmental reporting. He is the author of six books, including the New York Times bestseller Oh, Florida! How America’s Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country, which won a gold medal from the Florida Book Awards. His latest, published in 2021, is The State You’re In: Florida Men, Florida Women, and Other Wildlife. In 2020 the Florida Heritage Book Festival named him a Florida Literary Legend. Craig is co-host of the “Welcome to Florida” podcast. He lives in St. Petersburg with his wife and children.
Jane K says
Great article. Wake up FL! Reject the Cheeto!
Dave in Sebring says
This comment tells you all you need to know about Democrats, especially Democrat women. Has nothing to do with issues. This woman has read as much of the 900 Pages of Project 2025 as I have of “Dreams from My Father”, zero. All these numbskulls can do is make childish references to Trump’s hair color. Pathetic.
Ray W. says
And yet, Dave in Sebring, Jane K is not entirely wrong.
I oppose former President Trump because he espouses political violence. He says that there will be blood in the streets if he is not elected. He promises to crush vermin if he is elected. These two comments provide a solid foundation to reject former President Trump. Political violence abounds in today’s environment.
I am not saying that you are wrong to oppose references to hair color as a basis for a good argument. But a person can be right and wrong at the same time. You are one such person. And your use of the degrading term “numbskull” greatly weakens your argument.
Ed P says
Ray W,
You of all people know you are using President Trumps “bloodbath” comment out of context. For someone with your cerebral persona, you sir, are being intellectually dishonest and purposely misleading all readers of your post.
I will not debate Trumps character with you, it may in fact be indefensible but he absolutely did not mean the bloodbath comment as you indicate anymore than Biden meant the “bullseye” comment.
Trump was speaking to the fact that China is building auto plants in Mexico and the UAW leadership is not opposing and leaving the possibility that the auto industry could be decimated by cheap foreign imports which Trump would impose massive tariffs to prevent that from occurring.
The US auto industry much like the energy industry is not simply a part of the economy but is the economy. It is important.
Spin it how you want but this time based solely on the use of his comment, you are not maybe right, less right, or any thing in between. You crossed your own ethical line .
Pierre Tristam says
Ed P, commenting on May 13: “This will in fact be my last post on Flagler Live, probably to the joy of some.” Understanding of course that for so many on the right these days, “facts” are a relatively alternate current. But it’s much easier to concede that resistance is futile: like everyone else (as our numbers continue to show), you find FlaglerLive irresistible. Now if only you showed occasional intellectual honesty, Ray might not have to spend any of his time refuting alt-nonsense.
Ed P says
I did break my word when I said I would stop posting, however in the short span of 2 days he referenced the above subject twice, ( here and JD Vance article) and you did not address the situation. Why?
The truth is always the truth and should not be distorted on purpose. You and Ray both are guilty since neither of you are “gullible”.
My point is you both know it’s deceptive. Some Flagler Live commenters may not.
Ps. I’m wrong many times but always own up to it. Deflection and name calling is what chased me from the site.
Sherry says
Thank You, Pierre!
Ray W. says
Hello Pierre.
Ed P., once again, falls for a false argument. A person can intentionally evoke two different meanings with one phrase. In the French manner of speaking from centuries ago, a person was considered both clever and coy when speaking this way, though one of the meanings was intended to be considered risqué’. The double entendre (two understandings) form of speaking was and is to convey a special idea within a different idea.
I have been listening to and watching former President Trump for nearly a decade. He knows what he is saying, and he means what he says when he says it. His stock in trade is political violence. And to think Ed P. came out of retirement to argue against this? That Trump only had one meaning and that it is intellectually dishonest to accept any other meaning as true? Ed P. just might think that when then-President Trump promised prior to January 6th that it was going to be wild meant the Trump wanted people to joyously and boisterously appear on the 6th to celebrate the constitutional process. He didn’t intend to overthrow the government.
Trump meant blood on the streets if he is not elected. That he also meant that the auto industry might suffer should China continue to partner in Mexican automobile manufacturing was a convenient subterfuge.
As an aside, welcome back, Ed P. Again, not that I agree with you, but it is important that you have a voice. I hold out hopes for your voice as a reliable bastion of conservatism. I do agree with you that one of the two meanings was the auto industry. It was just the lesser of two meanings. Trump could have made the auto industry the primary reason. All he had to say was that autoworker blood would be on the street. He didn’t.
Ed P says
Ray W,
Thank you for your explanation. You reach back a few centuries and to a foreign language in an attempt to gaslight.
First and foremost you leave yourself zero room to be wrong and align with the liberal front that virtue signaling and use of dog whistles has been perfected by Trump.
Do you honestly think he is that smart and adept at using double entendres? Do you think he is the smartest person in the room?
Of course not!
I listened to his words, watched the video as well as read his script of the speech and read your response multiple times and slept on it. And still the word gaslighting from you haunts me.
I am more willing to take people at their word, based on facial expression and voice inflection.
I stand by my post. I don’t think I fell for a false premise, did you?
Ray W. says
Hello Mr. Tristam.
As an addendum, I wish to recount a 24-year-old incident, about which I have commented before.
During the 2000 Gore-Bush Volusia County recount, I was one of four lawyers who represented the Gore effort before the Canvassing Board. Four Republican lawyers also appeared before the Board.
On the second of four days, during a break, one of the Republican lawyers left a legal pad on the table. On it were written numbers, just numbers. I copied them down. They turned out to be the numbers of each of the majority Black voting precincts, so I inferred that one of the possible main focuses of the Republican effort was to try to challenge votes in only Black precincts. I had read and reread the voting statutes. When the Republican lead lawyer began arguing about possible signature shortages in precinct return forms, which could be proof of ballot stuffing, I formed the hypothesis that the Republicans intended to challenge vote counts in Black precincts. The law at the time held that if there was a shortage of signatures in a precinct compared to the number of ballots in the bin, then ballots would be removed at random until the number of ballots matched the number of signatures. If a Black precinct went 9-1 for Gore, then removing ballots randomly from a Black precinct’s total carried a 90% chance that it would be a Gore vote removed from the total count.
Sure enough, the challenge to vote-signature totals came to a head. The Board ordered an examination of all 172 precinct return documents. I was assigned to head up the Democratic effort in the effort.
The next morning (the third day), as the Democratic and Republican teams left the main recount room in the County Administration building to walk to a large room in the Division of Elections building across the street, I talked to a young deputy who had been assigned to provide security in the room. A Republican poll watcher had already been removed by force by deputies a few days earlier after he agitatedly yelled and gesticulated to the Canvassing Board members when they originally voted to hold the recount. These were high-stakes proceedings.
I told the deputy to please just observe the demeanor of the members of the two factions throughout the day. I said this recount was serious business and he would soon see how people react in serious situations. I commented that a Democrat would vote for a Republican if a Democrat thought the Republican was the best choice, but that a Republican would never vote for a Democrat. I emphasized that Republicans hate Democrats; they just did (and do), and that they can’t stand being around Democrats.
Throughout the day, teams of Republicans and Democrats entered and left the room. Some replaced members of the two teams participating in the examination of the forms. Some were couriers, bringing or taking documents or notes to or from their teams. In the middle of the afternoon, the deputy came over to me and leaned down to whisper in my ear. You are right, he said. All of the Republicans are “assholes”, he said.
I knew of the importance to the Republicans of this portion of the recount, because the Republicans sent their lead attorney to the Division of Elections room. For the first two days of the recount, this attorney had been the only one to speak to the Canvassing Board on whatever issue that came up. On the third day, he was assigned away from the Canvassing Board, to lead the Republican effort in a different building across the street. It had to be important to the Republicans for them to send their main attorney away from the Canvassing Board.
Sure enough, once the forms prepared by the 172 precinct captains were scrutinized, the Republicans argued to the Canvassing Board that they wanted signature reviews in all of the Black precincts, at the very least. The Canvassing Board ordered precinct signature reviews in 21 of the 172 precincts, but only three of those 21, by my recall, were Black precincts. The signature reviews took most of the fourth and final day of the recount, again, in the Division of Elections room. All 21 precincts studied had enough signatures to cover the number of ballots in the bins. No ballots were randomly culled from the precinct totals.
In a few of the precincts, there indeed were the opposite scenario, that more signatures existed than did actual ballots in the bins, which could mean a number of things. It could mean that a person signed in and received a ballot, but never voted, and carried the ballot out of the room, which was and is unlikely. It could also mean that a voter signed in and then a precinct worker decided to deny a ballot to a voter, claiming that a voter’s signature on file did not match the signature of the voter when he or she signed in to vote, and the voter left without casting a ballot (this happens more than you would think, which was why at the time the legislature had made it a misdemeanor for a precinct worker to fail to offer the voter a “provisional” ballot if the precinct worker claimed that the signatures allegedly did not match – this scenario happened to my older daughter in the 2004 election in another county). It could mean other things, too.
In the 2000 Volusia recount, there was no evidence of voter fraud. The recount was completed on time and certified as valid by the Canvassing Board to Florida’s Secretary of State. Gore picked up 151 votes.
The moral of the story? I have been a Hegelian for a long-time. I knew how much Republicans hated Democrats, even back then, and that a recount that threatened Bush’s narrow vote lead in Florida would bring out the worst in them. Throughout the four days, some of the Republican lawyers made snide, unnecessary comments. Some were outright hostile. Sometimes I returned the hostility.
In the end, all I did was ask a young deputy to watch and listen. He came to his own conclusion about the differences between Democrats and Republicans when the stakes are high. Political hate is nothing new. I knew how it would manifest itself. I am not claiming that hostility is one-sided. As a Hegelian, I believe that if one side introduces hostility into an atmosphere, an opposing measure of hostility is almost sure to follow.
My consistent argument to FlaglerLive readers over the past three and a half years is that we are in the early phases of a long-term period of political violence that might last decades. Members of both parties will likely become more and more violent in their acts and rhetoric until we exhaust ourselves. Some on both sides fantasize that ever more violence will bring political success. Some will make political violence the theme of their campaigns. These politicians will try to hide the theme by using double entendres, so that they and others can later claim they didn’t mean what they said. Lying will become normal. But the theme remains. Themes and imagery of political violence brings votes and followers.
And here we are. Ed P arguing that blood in the streets doesn’t mean blood in the streets. It has to mean something else. It just has to!
Sherry says
Thank you, Ray! Your last sentence says it all!
Ed P says
How can you paint with such a broad brush?
“Republicans Hate Democrats”
Hate is as extreme as you can go and totally opposite of Love. Yet, we toss these words around with little if any thought. I listen to people who just love a meal or hate the rain. It makes the words practically meaningless. Similar to the liberal labeling people racist….ect. I hate nothing or anyone, no one. So all Republicans don’t hate Democrats.
Now back to the bloodbath comment.
My final question is when did you become proficient in Trumpian mind reading with such accuracy?
Why is it impossible that Trump misspoke? Used the wrong word? Shit, we all know he’s not perfect.
Why aren’t liberals more open minded to listen to the right?
Shouting down the right, shutting down alternate speech or the exchange of ideas is the “soup du jour”
The pious stance that the left is the only correct path forward is total nonsense.
The open borders provide some insight. 2 years ago the left dominated the narrative that illegal immigrants benefited the country. “They help the economy.”
I posted that it was unsustainable . The reality is, it is. The cost of feeding, housing, and educating them is exceeding 5 percent of the entire country’s budgets. States and municipalities are struggling. The current influx of illegals is not a net positive and may never reach a net positive. In fact it will cost trillions more to provide a legal pathway to citizenship because of social programs that would be provided. We have mortgaged our children’s future and taken much needed funding away from our veterans and homeless for strangers.You can only stretch a rubber band so far.
Laurel says
Dave in Sebring: Your general judgement of women, especially Democratic women, tells all we need to know about you.
Trump has given permission to his fans to put down all people who are frightened by women, LBGTQ, dark skinned folk and those who practice a different religion, or no religion.
By the way, it’s not the color of his hair, it’s the color of his poorly applied makeup
Laurel says
Trump gives permission to put down people his fans fear, like women. This is obvious, and we all knew Harris would be put down on gender and race. Tedious.
Sherry says
@dave in Sebring. . . Your words ” all you need to know about Democrats, especially Democrat(ic) women.”
Precisely what do you mean by that? You do understand what bad grammar and name calling says about you, right? LOL! Are you OK?
Billy says
Dems propaganda, fake news!
Pierre Tristam says
I very much wish it were, billy. Alas, no.
Laurel says
Billy: Please explain just how and why this is “Dems propaganda, fake news.”
Jim says
Here, let me help Billy out…..
If you are a Republican and you don’t like what you see or hear, you immediately default to “Dems propaganda, fake news”. You just have to understand that Billy does not want to hear or see any “facts” that contradict the Republican position that there is no global warming, women need to have children regardless of their view or health issues, Putin is good, transgenders are evil, all Muslims are terrorists, Mexicans are murderers, rapist and thieves, love law enforcement (except when they stand up against Trumpers – re: Jan. 6), books are bad, Christianity is the national religion, Trump is sent from God, the more fossil fuels we burn, the better and other fact-challenged beliefs. If you point out the problems with their position, they are like your computer glitches – immediately default to the Home page!
Don’t worry about ol’ Billy and his buddies – they don’t absorb information – they watch Fox News, er- entertainment!!!
Sherry says
Right On Jim! Thank you!
Cynthia says
I doubt you’ll hear anything from Billy, since he doesn’t have a clue
c says
‘Cause that’s what he was told :)
Deborah Coffey says
Brace yourself, Billy. Fake news isn’t the same thing as no news. You won’t even know until the hurricane hits you. Be a brave Republican while it rips your roof off.
Laurel says
Deborah: A few years back, I approached a woman at a Trump booth, at a local event, and asked her how she could support a man who bragged that he could do anything to women and he could grab them by the pussy (assault). She had absolutely no idea what I was talking about! She said she had never heard that. Fox Entertainment did not cover that story! Fox Entertainment covers what their viewers want to see (ratings, of course) . Then, Fox Entertainment backs Trump’s claim that the other channels provide “fake news.”
Yet, the viewers are good with that instead of being outraged.
BillC says
@Billy How do you know it’s fake news, are you a scientist, climatologist? You must be in the boat business. :)
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
Billy this directly affects you, but hey keep your head in the sand long enough and your butt gets burned.
Judith G. Michaud says
Billy, try reading 2025 before you make a ridiculous comment! tRump’s goal is to stay out of prison and be a dictator until he dies! He and his MAGA cult are so desperate that they will cheat in any way they can to get that convicted felon in! I wish the Dems knew about the fake electors in 2016, we wouldn’t be in this mess ! I sure hope they are on it this time !
Laurel says
““But a lot of the people who were here when the hurricane hit are not going to rebuild,” he said “Instead, new groups are coming in and building even bigger buildings.””
Are y’all watching how these buildings are being built today? Back in the 40’s, and before, houses and buildings were built out of wood, but it wasn’t just any wood, it was Miami Dade, heart of pine. So tough, you had one hell of a time pulling a nail out again. I mean seriously, getting one nail out is a project. The rafters were much, much bigger and thicker. The houses were built to last, and there are many left in my home town of Ft. Lauderdale. In the early 50’s, the building changed. Then, the houses were built from concrete block. There were a lot of two bedroom, one or one and a half baths, they were (and still are) solid as rocks. We all had shutters (we were stunned when we first moved here and saw no shutters!). There was no climate change yet, and there was no concern over flooding.
Today, the houses are built of matchsticks. Nothing close to what was, nowhere near. The houses and buildings today are made of pressed wood, often exposed to moisture before finish, with mold setting in before finished, with trusses and studs barely enough to hold walls up. They are being built in low lying areas, vulnerable to flooding. There is no way in hell we would ever consider buying any of this crap! It’s really disgusting.
Joe D says
Laurel: SO TRUE!
I’m retiring from Maryland , which has EXTENSIVE coast areas, subject to storms and flooding. Since the mid 1980’s, new coastal construction REQUIRED that ALL homes be elevated 8-10 ft off the ground, with only ground level garages and storage areas allowed ( no living space). When I was looking to buy in Flagler Beach, I was AMAZED at the lack of ELEVATED construction ( even $million dollar new construction). Even the 2005 Florida Hurricane related legislation was more concerned with WIND, than FLOODING! I had decided on a home area where the townhouses were poured concrete (inside walls included)/concrete slab floors/concrete slab roof/ all elevated 8 ft off the ground with parking underneath. There were only 28 units, so it took LITERALLY 20 years to have one come on the market I could AFFORD. The real estate agent told me he could show me “much cheaper” properties in the area ( yes, ALL flat on the ground, with minimal protection from ocean or intercoastal flooding)! No thank you.
The decision proved to be correct. The only damage from Ian was losing the HVAC rooftop “hurricane” cover, and with Nicole…No damage!
The construction gained me SIGNIFICANT insurance discounts currently (even though I got dropped from SECURITY FIRST/GEICO….because I had no “proof” the roof was less than 10 years old). The roof was a SOLID CONCRETE SLAB with insulation foam layers. Because of the elevated construction with a “spillway,” ( the carport underneath). I don’t need Flood Insurance.
All this conversion from GOVERNMENT to PRIVATE insurance, is scary…PRIVATE companies are out for one thing.. PROFIT!
Project 2025 is ABSOLUTELY frightening…if I can find the link DIRECTLY to the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 website, I’ll try to add it later to this site.
The most frightening aspect of Project 2025 is putting most of the branches of government DIRECTLY under the President! The original founding fathers did not want a KING to control the country, that’s why the separated the powers into independent branches (it prevented ONE branch from completely overpowering any of the other branches—-it’s called “CHECKS and BALANCES”—-our founding fathers KNEW what they were DOING, even THEN!
IM Yellowstone says
Laurel – I, too, grew up in Fort Lauderdale from the mid-50s onward. I lived on North Ocean Blvd when that address was pre-Galt Mile and ‘outta town’. I went back after 60 years to see it for the last time. All those old homes are still there – just as they were – still as beautiful as the people who lived there.
After living from Florida’s Atlantic to California’s Pacific and back, it is amazing to see the old Fort Lauderdale we knew still intact. Nothing matched it – well maybe Newport Beach was the one exception!
Laurel says
IM Yellowstone: I so miss it! Remember when 84 was a two lane road, lined by trees and a canal? Have you seen it lately? It’s pretzel overpasses, all immediately east of the airport is gone, and the runways go over US1.
Gault Ocean Mile! Now, Commercial Blvd is a sea of cars, but Lauderdale by the Sea has a lovely beach.
We used to take the bus, from Stranahan Park to Coral Ridge Shopping Center, which was the other side of the world to us teens! :)
My family had a clothing store on Los Olas for 30 years. So much only left in my memory.
Maria says
In response to Trump’s post in July, PROJECT 2025 REITERATED THAT IT WAS SEPARATE FROM THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.
“As we’ve been saying for more than two years now, Project 2025 does not speak for any candidate or campaign. We are a coalition of more than 110 conservative groups advocating policy & personnel recommendations for the next conservative president. But it is ultimately up to that president, who we believe will be President Trump, to decide which recommendations to implement,” a statement on the project’s X account said on July 5. (REFERENCE: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-is-project-2025-trump-conservative-blueprint-heritage-foundation/)
Trump AND the Heritage Foundation deny it is an agenda for Trump. The left thinks if it keeps repeating it often enough, the sheep will believe it.
Local double taxpayer says
Finally somebody with some common sense that knows the truth about project 2025. The left tries to make it sound like Donald Trump wrote it himself and is going to implement it on day one.
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
No Maria the left isn’t repeating it enough, because people like yourself continue to be sheep for a 34 Time Convicted Felon who is backed by a plan that directly affects you.
The dude says
Then. ah… what is Project 2025 exactly?
If it isn’t policy proposals, what is it’s actual purpose?
TV says
Then go read Trump’s agenda 47 and tell me how much different it is from Project 2025!
Jim says
Thanks! Now that you’ve pointed out Donald Trump is denying Project 2025 I feel so much better. After all, Donald Trump has never once lied to the American public about anything! We can all sleep better now!!!
Deez Nutz says
And we all know that trump has never lies!
c says
“Trump AND the Heritage Foundation deny it is an agenda for Trump” – the patron saints of Truth and Honesty ….
Sherry says
@ maria. . . although trump is NOW (due to negative polling) saying he knows nothing about “Project 2025”.
However, let’s look at some actual “FACTS”. . . Here are trump’s exact words from 2022:
Trump spoke highly about the group’s plans at a dinner sponsored by the Heritage Foundation in April 2022, saying: “This is a great group, and they’re going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do and what your movement will do when the American people give us a colossal mandate to save America.”
The Project 2025 web site says:
The project is backed by over 100 conservative organizations, many led by close allies of Trump, including Turning Point USA, the Center for Renewing America, the Claremont Institute, the Family Policy Alliance, the Family Research Council, Moms for Liberty and America First Legal — the latter of which is led by Stephen Miller, a top former Trump adviser.
Former Trump administration officials who have been directly affiliated with Project 2025 include former Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, former acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, former deputy chief of staff Rick Dearborn and former Justice Department senior counsel Gene Hamilton.
Vought, one of the key authors of Project 2025, is also the Republican National Committee’s platform policy director.
Laurel says
Thank you Sherry. I think that Trump supporters don’t believe any such thing could happen even though he has claimed that “it will be fixed. You won’t have to vote again.” It is actually too much for Americans to believe, I get that. The problem is that if they don’t believe it now, it could be too late after the election.
Yep, everyone is “crooked” and “horrible” except Trump. That…they believe.
Realist says
Hi Maria. Maybe that’s because Trump keeps repeating the same lies over and over and the right believes him. Just sayin’. Last go round, the platform he ran on and the reality of his presidency were two completely different things. Kudos to getting all those judges, though.
Toto says
Oh Maria,you’re so in the dark….so gullible. Please stop listening to FOX news! Have you heard Trump tell his crowds “this is the last year you’ll have to vote” What does this mean? Elections for the public will cease. New leaders will be appointed, thus no need for elections. We will be deprived of many freedoms, and be under the control of these pseudo extreme so called christians. The hypocrisy makes me gag. Do they really believe they’re doing Gods work? Never has Jesus ever instructed anyone to purge the world of anyone, anyone they disagree with or judge to be wrong. These extremists will be judged as they judge. These folks are not ultra conservative, they’re ultra extreme. How dare they force their agenda on us. Let them go to Russia.
Michael says
Craig…I’m sure you read the 800+ pages or this project before you wrote this. Let me lay out the four major points of Project 25:
The Real Policy Recommendations
*Secure the Border and stop the invasion of illegals, The “Border Czar”, now the Democrat Candidate after her successful coup did nothing.
*Unleash American Energy, getting us back to energy independence
* De-Weaponize the Federal Government and Dismantle the Deep State which continues to show it’s ugly face
* Improve Education – Eighth-grade math and reading proficiency fell between 2019 and 2022 to the lowest rates in at least 15 years. The public-school student-teacher ratio dropped from 15.9 in fall 2019 to 15.4 in fall 2020 and remained unchanged in 2021
Sherry says
@michael. . . Some Mighty Extreme “Cherry Picking” there! Out of over 900 pages, and that was all you could find acceptable, even to you? WOW! That really does say it all!
Skibum says
There are more than enough very disturbing things within the conservative’s “Project 2025” bible they are hoping to force upon America if Trump gets back into the White House. In fact, I think the word disturbing is too mild… more like shocking and abhorrent is what I would call the entire manuscript. For them to even suggest getting rid of NOAA and making weather forecasts part of private companies that we would have to pay in order to know what our local weather forecast was going to be is unconscionable! But not to worry, we would all be able to rest at ease because one of Trump’s minions could always hand him a sharpie during one of his wacko press conferences so we could watch him doodle on a piece if paper what the weather pattern for tomorrow looked like. After all, he talks to the smartest person in the room… uh, that would be himself, because he has a “great mind”.
Despite his denials about knowing anything about Project 2025 or the people involved in it, more than two dozen of its authors and contributors were part of Trump’s previous administration, so (gasp!) he is just lying his ass off once again because he thinks we are all idiots. Anyone who doesn’t believe the facts about who the people are who wrote or contributed to this disastrous piece of crap, here are a couple of links with factual information for disbelievers:
https://www.newsweek.com/project-2025-ex-trump-contributors-republicans-election-1922933
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-project-2025-author/
Wallingford says
Project 2025 should scare anyone with a brain. Veterans who sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy are having benefits eliminated. Many of our freedoms will be taken away.
Pete Duhart says
Trump tells Christian voters “If I’m elected you won’t even have to vote anymore”.
Story here:
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/27/nx-s1-5054272/trump-christian-wont-vote-anymore-speech
Laurel says
Pete Duhart: He actually did, honestly, tell his fans “I’m not a Christian.” Do you think it was the bullit that grazed his ear? Maybe? No? Okay.
Greg says
This is democratic crap. It is NOT supported by Biden. More democratic scare tactics. That’s the only way they feel they can win
Marlee says
Project 2025…..
….. is led by two former Trump administration officials: Paul Dans, who was chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management and is director of the project, and Spencer Chretien, former special assistant to Trump and is now the project’s associate director.
AND…..Authors of many chapters are names from the Trump administration, Russ Vought, who led the Office of Management and Budget; former acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller; and Roger Severino, who was director of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services.
And…don’t forget….John McEntee, former director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office under Trump, is a senior advisor to the Heritage Foundation.
TV says
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2024/07/18/what-is-agenda47-what-to-know-about-trumps-policy-agenda-if-elected-as-he-speaks-at-rnc/
Stephen says
Why would Trump want to follow project 2025. He made the great state of Iowa welcome pornography. He even slept with a porn star. It will be a great movie Trump and Stormy do the Whitehouse.He will be in the greatest movie hit of all time.
Kennan says
I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re on, but if you think the heritage foundation and project 2025 is in place to trim fat, then you’re crazy! Project 2025 and the heritage foundations effort To disingenuously Dupe Americans into thinking that they’re being responsible. They are doing nothing less than cutting out our organs. We all know we can’t live without organs . No heart . There goes afterschool programs, programs for kids, no liver, or kidneys! The ability for a woman to make choices for her own body. Gone. No offense, but if you have a penis, you need to shut the fuck up on this one . It’s funny how all these conservatives that based most of their decisions on tenuous Bible passages, decide they’re so invested in the welfare of the unborn baby, but once you’re born, you’re on your own. They fail on so many different levels and contradict themselves. The Heritage foundation. Really? Who’s heritage are we talking about?
Probably a good idea to keep our eye on the ball. Trump in his last rally stated several times that if reelected evangelicals may never have to vote again. Let me repeat….. If Elected evangelicals will never have to vote again. Not a joke. Take this man at his word. He doesn’t like elections. He wants complete and unadulterated power. I’m not enchanted by the Democratic Party on several levels these days, but if you guys want to vote for a career criminal, and you think that’s OK? then be my guest. You’re not voting for the safety and sanctity of the country or even your own interests. Politics in this country unfortunately it’s no longer about issues, it’s about personalities. I’m going to do whatever I gotta do to not vote for one side because I hate it. Half the time I don’t even know why, so I’ll just vote for this one because I hate the other one so much, without even a thought or care about policy, Issues, America, or my own interests.
The two party system is broken By virtue of the fact that they are so far apart that our tax dollars and our unheard voices simply Pay for the giant food fight we see before us today. We are a laughing stock.
Sherry says
THIS FROM WIKIPEDIA. . . Just the Highlights of Project 2025.
Sherry says
Here is a link to the Project 2025 web site:
https://www.project2025.org/
Just a thought says
I love the vastly overused term Fake News.
The right calls us sheep, yet they blindly follow Trump and repeat everything he says. Hmmm….