Ron DeSantis

In a commentary that was both scorching and sarcastic, the editorial board of the Tampa Bay Times took Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to task on Sunday morning for hiding information on when Floridians can expect to have access to the COVID-19 vaccines.

DeSantis, who has been resistant to taking the advice from the CDC to help stop the spread of the COVID-19, has recently hinted the age for those getting the vaccine might drop in March, but that wasn't enough the local newspaper's editorial board.

Under a pointed, 'Hey Gov. DeSantis, why so cagey with Covid vaccine details?" headline, the editors pointed out that the governor is already taking heat from his opponents for "not having a detailed plan for rolling out more COVID-19 vaccinations. Your 'no-plan is a good plan' mantra isn't playing well in some circles."

That said, the editors pressed the governor to be more transparent with his longterm plans -- if he has any.

"This isn't spycraft," they wrote. "Giving Floridians a basic understanding of who comes next in the vaccination queue won't somehow give the virus a leg up, like spilling the details of the D-Day invasion. This isn't poker where deception is paramount. Show Floridians a few of your cards. They can handle it."

The editorial pointedly jabbed the Republican governor for "selecting two wealthy and predominantly white Manatee County ZIP codes to distribute an 'extra' 3,000 vaccinations," before applauding him for moving frontline health care workers and seniors to the front of the vaccination line -- but said beyond that, the public is being left in the dark.

"The main bottleneck has been the supply of vaccines, something largely outside of a governor's control," the editors admitted before adding, "All the more reason for you to dole out a few more details. Lately, you have indicated that teachers and law enforcement over the age of 50 could be next, but even then you couched it with 'probably' and 'I think.' On Thursday, you said the state will lower the age of eligibility for shots 'sometime in March.' You didn't say what the new age might be — 60? 55? Again, we don't need a 100-page treatise on where and how the state plans to distribute the vaccine over the next few months. But give us more than just dribs and drabs."

"A little more communication will allay fears and quell anxiety by helping Floridians determine where they fall on the schedule. Most residents are willing to wait their turn. They understand there isn't enough vaccine to go around yet, and they don't blame you for that. But you can help them by being more forthcoming, by treating your plan as less of a secret," they wrote before concluding, "We'd like to know a few more details about the rest of us."

You can read the whole piece here.

According to a report from Fox News on the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Florida, more than a few attendees said they feel Donald Trump has changed the focus of the Republican Party for the better but don't necessarily want him to be the GOP's presidential nominee in 2024.

Speaking with attendees at the conference that was moved to Florida this year due to avoid stringent COVID-19 restrictions in Washington D.C., the name of Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) was a popular choice for those with an eye on reclaiming the White House after Trump lost to now-President Joe Biden.

Seemingly every attendee expressed support for the twice- impeached Trump, with one stating, "I think President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party. He is still the leader even if he's not president -- at least of our party," but admitted it may be time to move on to a new candidate.

According to Val Biancaniello from Pennsylvania who was a Trump delegate in 2020 and claims he has a substantial amount of support among the conference attendees, "I really like Ron DeSantis in '24. I think President Trump has a huge role in our party ... fundraising and helping candidates get elected. His America First policy is still a very strong sentiment. If the theme of CPAC is 'America Uncancelled,' I think Ron DeSantis is really the face of that right now ... He's a proactive governor instead of a reactive governor."

Attendee Aaron Rosenthal from Florida agreed, adding he didn't want to see Trump "pushed out," but, "The way it stands right now, if I were to make my very own prediction, my hopes as a native Floridian is it's going to be our very own Ron DeSantis."

Carson Wolf, who admitted that he is attending CPAC with his parents, stated that Trump has "re-defined" the GOP as a populist party, but added it may be time to look forward instead of backward for the party's new standard-bearer.

"You know, we used to be so conservative and always sticking to the same rules and the same set of standards that haven't evolved. But he has pushed us forward in helping us become a more national populist side of things. I can see him as the Republican nominee, " he stated before confessing, "I personally really want to see somebody like Gov. DeSantis or somebody like Dan Crenshaw running. I think we need a new face, you know? But I love Trump and I'd be so satisfied to see him in 2024."

Attendee Aaron Timko suggested another nominee -- name-checking DeSantis and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) -- saying he wants "Somebody who is not Trump."

"Somebody in the Republican Party who can stand up to the media with a bit more regality than Trump can. Despite how wonderful he was for the country, we can't have a media focusing on him for the next four years instead of Biden," he suggested.

You can read more here.