If I were a budding Democrat governor and I had questions about anything of consequence as I began my new job, I’d look at Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott— and do the opposite of everything they do. In other words, I’d run my state just like Andrew Cuomo, Gavin Newsom, and Gretchen Whitmer run their respective states. And if I were a Republican? DeSantis and Abbott would be my guys.

DeSantis provided yet another executive leadership example of why he’d be one of my go-tos on Wednesday when he announced he was awarding $1,000 pandemic bonuses to every first responder in the state of Florida. In a news release from the Governor’s Office, DeSantis said of the bonuses, which he called “a small token of appreciation”:

“Supporting our law enforcement and first responders has been a top priority for my administration, and it has never been more important than over the last year.

“As a state, we are grateful for their continued service to our communities. This one-time bonus is a small token of appreciation, but we can never go far enough to express our gratitude for their selflessness.”

Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis commended DeSantis for the gesture, adding that Florida’s first responders have “performed with honor and distinction” throughout the pandemic.

“When the Coronavirus came to Florida, our first responders worked overtime to protect our communities and get people the care they so desperately needed.

“I say all the time that these men and women work 24/7, 365-days a year to protect our communities – and they performed with honor and distinction during this global pandemic.

“The bonus checks that Governor DeSantis proposed, and secured from the Legislature, means a lot to these first responders and their families who had to live through this crisis.”

“With his hard work, Patronis continued, “the governor has made it very clear that Florida loves and appreciates our first responders, which means a lot to these heroes.”

In a Wednesday tweet, DeSantis took a thinly veiled shot — at which he is very adept, and I say that in admiration — at lunatic left-wing lawmakers who have backed the asinine and potentially disastrous “defund movement.”

Some want to defund the police.

In Florida, we’re funding them & then some by providing all of our heroes $1,000 bonuses. This represents more than 174,000 first responders across the state!

🚔🚒🚑 pic.twitter.com/ZMcB9T620g

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 5, 2021

Acknowledgment of the hard work involved, and appreciation for a job well done.

You know, just like NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio bestows on the NYPD, Portland’s wingnut Mayor Ted Wheeler showers on the Portland Police Department, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom staunchly supports tougher law enforcement against “peaceful protesters.” Or not.

Meanwhile, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer — more like “The Wicked Witch of the West” (North, as it were), in the eyes of many Michiganders — announced a week ago that future easing or tightening of her infamous draconian lockdown policies would be pegged to “MI Vacc to Normal” (aw, how cute, right?), a new four-phase plan, as reported by The Detroit News, which consists of four vaccination thresholds.

Michigan Gov. Whitmer says:
-6.7 million doses have been administered, “and we’ll likely hit 7 million this weekend”
-1 in 3 MI residents are fully vaccinated
-MI ranks 9th nationally for vaccinations
-96.4% are returning for 2nd doses. https://t.co/NHRJs2fHTx @detroitnews

— Sarah Rahal (@SarahRahal_) April 29, 2021

Which is going over in Michigan pretty much like every other lead balloon the power-crazed Whitmer has gleefully dropped on Michiganders for more than a year.

Michigan Gov. #Whitmer to Tie COVID Vaccinations to Reopening! SHe should be arrested! Will she be responsible for bad effects of the Vaccine?https://t.co/ev2HJnE03r

— Janet (@girlsgetaways) May 4, 2021

As Govs. Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott continue to do their respective things, Gretchen Whitmer, Gavin Newsom, Kate Brown & Co. continue to do theirs.

If there are better examples of in-kind contributions gifted to the Republican Party on a daily basis than from the likes of the aforementioned clown car, I am unaware of what they are.

Recent RedState stuff of interest:

A Cop Calls BLM Rioters ‘Terrorists,’ the City Issues an Apology and She Loses Her Job

‘Cancel Culture’ Loons Losing Their Minds Over Disneyland’s Revamped Snow White Ride

BREAKING: Study Exposes PolitiFact’s Frequent Makeout Sessions With Biden’s Buttocks