Island games
for exhibitionists…
Republican governors of border states in the USA are competing to outdo one another in acts of odd cruelty – now by chartering buses and planes to bring asylum seekers to northern, Democratic states or to the District of Columbia, as if to say, how do you like them apples!
Evidently inspired by a clever suggestion of the preppy television reactionary, Tucker Carlson, Florida’s erstwhile preppy Navy judge advocate and current governor, Ron DeSantis, is celebrating the latest delivery of a group of Venezuelans to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts (a state whose governor, alas, is also a Republican).
As one might expect, the citizens of this rich holiday island are treating the arrivals well, and telling anyone who asks just how well. In the past day or so, church groups, firemen, student translators, and the director of a homeless shelter have told reporters how far they have gone out of their way to help so as to show Mr DeSantis a few apples of their own.
What do Venezuelans think? Leaving aside for a moment the recently trafficked, whose opinions do not seem to matter to anyone, Talleyrand went to interview a few actual Venezuelans back in the governor’s home state, who, presumably, do matter in his upcoming bid for re-election:
— María Luz C., age 43. Hurrah for the governor! He shows the world how terrible the dictator Maduro is by drawing attention to the plight of our people. More sanctions for Maduro!
— Ignacio M., age 22. This is very unfair. I spent three months in a hot detention centre. I want a free holiday to this vineyard.
— Roberto Y., age 34. We are insulted. Venezuelans in Florida are kind and hospitable. We can take care of our own.
— Valeria M., age 15. I hate politicians.
— Enrique T., age 63. I have nothing to say. I am Cuban.