this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2024
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Florida state Rep. Susan Valdés announced Monday she is defecting to the Republican Party — immediately after being re-elected as a Democrat.

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[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 149 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

I don't understand how this isn't illegal in some way. It's misrepresentation of your goals in taking the position. Unless she's just going to call herself a Republican but vote with Democrat lines, which would be even weirder.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 74 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I don’t understand how this isn’t illegal in some way.

Who is going to arrest her? DeSantis?

She's a Cuban ex-pat whose harshest criticism of the GOP was that they were too much like Fidel Castro. She ran unopposed twice, after the Dems cancelled the primary and let her waltz through unopposed. Now she's facing an entrenched majority GOP that happily rewards turncoats and completely freezes out the rump opposition. This is her last term in office before retirement, so she can flip the bird to her constituents and cash out at last. Why are you surprised she flipped?

[–] Atelopus-zeteki@fedia.io 22 points 2 weeks ago

Not surprised, just calling it as I see it, despicable and deplorable.

[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz 30 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It's the inherent flaw in representative democracy. You elect a person and empower them to just do whatever they think is best, with the assumption they'll do what they said and what you supported them for, but there's no enforcement or law requiring it. They just presumably want to be reelected, but if the deal is good enough or they think they can get reelected some other way, they can flip you off and you're screwed.

[–] yuknowhokat@lemmy.world 20 points 2 weeks ago

This is why, when George Santos was found to be lying, the argument that there's no need to expel him from Congress because people will unelect him is bullshit. George Santos ran on being a completely different person than he turned out to be and so completely misrepresented himself. This is very much what what's her face OP posted did. Waiting until the next election cycle for that position doesn't really do the Justice needed, does it?

[–] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

A politician? Misrepresenting their goals? Changing them after being elected? Impossible!

You must be young.

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 33 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Not young. I get your point, but I think you understand mine. There's a huge difference between not fulfilling campaign promises and totally voting opposite the party you were elected under. So I toss it back...do you think this is fine or okay, or even typical, and we should just shrug it off?

[–] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

I think it's typical, yeah. I don't think it's fine. I have no expectation of things ever being fine in government so I'm hardly surprised.

I also think it's less egregious (so far) than, for example, Obama running on "hope and change" then renewing or expanding all of Bush's worst excesses, the things we hoped he would change.

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[–] _cryptagion@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 2 weeks ago

Political parties aren’t technically part of the government. Why would lying to them be a crime?

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

What law was broken? And if there isn't one (there isn't), how would you craft such a law?

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 9 points 2 weeks ago

The only thing that I can think of is some type of vote of no-confidence by the people who were tricked. Maybe a way to petition through the state to call for a new vote. Something besides some letters and phone calls that will be ignored, and wait another election cycle.

[–] ramsorge 86 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

People always get mad at me when I say that half the democrats are actually GOP but have been paid to run under a different party to trap the people voting blue down the ballot.

Everyone is getting played and we are just arguing with each other instead of DDDing those fuckers.

[–] p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)
[–] OhStopYellingAtMe@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago

Diners, Drive-ins & Dives.

[–] ramsorge 1 points 2 weeks ago
[–] Scubus@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I believe they are referring to adjusting her

mentality

[–] p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 weeks ago

I believe they need to actually answer the question of what the hell DDD stands for.

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[–] SanctimoniousApe@lemmings.world 12 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

What would increasing her bust size accomplish?

[–] ramsorge 3 points 2 weeks ago
[–] Good_morning@lemmynsfw.com 1 points 2 weeks ago

Honestly I'm shocked at everything post DDD, like you gotta have balls to publicly screw people when we're teetering on the edge. In Florida of all places.

[–] Garibaldee@lemm.ee 43 points 2 weeks ago

The Democrats running "moderates" and then reaping what they sowed when the "moderates" shockingly aren't loyal to them

[–] DeadWorld@lemm.ee 26 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Why does this keep happening. What's going on with the vetting structure within the dem party?

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 29 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

From Hillsborough Democrat Susan Valdés switches to Republican Party

But there was little indication Valdés was contemplating such a move until Monday. She ran to be the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee chairperson earlier this month. She attended a Kamala Harris debate watch party in September at a meeting of Hillsborough County Democrats, and she’s posted numerous times to X about the dangers of Donald Trump’s policy platform — particularly when it comes to immigration.

She flipped because the Republicans are freezing the entire Democratic Party out of the legislative process and she lives in a district that's been curdling conservative like old milk. Florida has been overflowing with "conservative Democrats" for decades. The party's been so desperate for wins that they've taken to running former Republicans for statewide office.

It isn't the vetting structure that's the problem. The Florida party is rotten to the core. It has been fully co-opted by business interests, social conservatives, and anti-Cuba reactionaries. It's just a second Republican Party without any pull. Why not flip?

[–] thefartographer@lemm.ee 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Well said. In 2016, the Democratic party took the stage to demonstrate how they can shoot themselves in the foot. In 2020, they showed that the bullet wound wasn't healing because they keep putting their finger inside to feel the sweet pain. In 2024, they shot themselves perfectly through the same bullet wound, causing no new damage and impressing a lot of people while other said, "I'm tired of these morons acting like idiots." So they said "wait! Wait! We have a new trick!" And then shot themselves in the head.

There are some members of the party who are legitimately trying to help the country and their constituents, and there are plenty who want to be career politicians and have been willing to play ball with the corporate investors.

On the one hand, I hate that she's done this. On the other hand, she's possibly prevented or at least delayed being prosecuted or persecuted by the utterly insane Florida GOP. Maybe this was true malice, but after this year's performance and results, I wouldn't have much faith in the Democratic party rescuing my ass in Florida.

[–] Flocklesscrow@lemm.ee 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

All the more hilarious that Kamala sent Hillary to campaign for her in Florida (and Bill to Michigan) just weeks before the election. Fucking pathetic state of affairs.

[–] ramsorge 8 points 2 weeks ago

Vetting? It’s called they are being paid to run under one, then flip. It’s a con.

The vetting structure of the party embracing corporate money and actual Republicans?

[–] UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml 24 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

So it seems the democratic party is incapable of vetting the people they allow into the party. Kyrsten Lea Sinema and now this?

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, you can't get fooled again.

State level electoral reform will give the citizens of the USA the freedom to democracy as they best see fit, secure in the knowledge their vote will still be cast if their preference doesn't win.

Who the fuck could be against democracy? Republicans? Well duh.

How about the democratic party? What do they think of democracy?

[–] gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 weeks ago

Not twice, third at least: Marie Alvarado-Gil (Elected D, now R, CA) is also traitorous scum

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 22 points 2 weeks ago

This should be illegal to the pii t of jail time as it's -down to its core- just plain fraud

[–] slickgoat@lemmy.world 21 points 2 weeks ago

If the Dems are openly allowing themselves to be assfucked by the GOP like this, then screwing around with the electoral margins are the least of their problems.

[–] ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml 16 points 2 weeks ago
[–] ieatpwns@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I’m waiting for the Dems to pick up this tactic

[–] DeadWorldWalking@lemmy.world 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The Dems suck the same billionaire cock as the Republicans.

[–] DrFistington@lemmings.world 16 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, but at least they aren't afraid to take a hard bite now and again if they don't like what they taste. Russpublicans will slurp that filthy shit up and beg for more.

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[–] ramble81@lemm.ee 10 points 2 weeks ago

So what’s it take for a recall vote?

[–] L0rdMathias@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Putting politics aside, why don't more people do this? Until a law fixes it, it's clearly a viable strategy and it rarely goes unpunished. Low risk high rewards, literally every single party plant should run against their own party and then immediately defect if they end up winning.

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 5 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Probably because it ruins your chances of being elected for anything ever. The person in the OP is retiring after this term so she doesn't care but for a politician in the middle of their career it's basically suicide.

[–] L0rdMathias@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

True for most people yes, but at least one person will blindly believe that their party will have their back when their constituents turn on them. The laws show no sign of changing and seem to actively encourage this behavior. The question refines to: Why wouldn't a political party just always tap into the pool of fodder to use for this particular strategy?

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 2 points 2 weeks ago

I mean it doesn't matter what your party thinks if people simply won't vote for you.

The question refines to: Why wouldn't a political party just always tap into the pool of fodder to use for this particular strategy?

Probably because the number of politicians in the US, especially those in high enough office to matter for stuff like this, isn't high enough for the law of large numbers to apply.

[–] UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago

I don't know, maybe the next election in 2 years a democratic candidate would absolutely love to tour around the state with her on the campaign trail.

[–] AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 weeks ago

Needs an adjustment.

[–] chemicalprophet@lemm.ee 7 points 2 weeks ago

What dipshits still believe this fauxmockracy is worth defending?!! 🏴🏴🏴🔥🔥🔥

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

What a piece of shit traitorous cunt.

[–] Eryn6844@beehaw.org 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] ramsorge 4 points 2 weeks ago

Susan was paid to scam us

[–] errer@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The margin in the house is so close that this is a pretty meaningful flip…

[–] Fisherswamp@programming.dev 7 points 2 weeks ago

She's a state senator

[–] Infomatics90@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 weeks ago

ew. that sucks.

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