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I’m reading an article titled “A shadow over the Sunshine State- Ron Desantis is Donald Trump’s and the coronavirus’s favourite governor” in “The economist”.

This article is criticizing governor Ron Desantis of Florida who are in step with the White House and overly political in handling the coronavirus crisis.

Please help me understand the colored parts! ?

The following is the last paragraph of the article.

Anyone might think he was a diehard economic populist. On the contrary, Mr DeSantis is a pretty standard-issue small-government conservative, (1)albeit with a pragmatic streak of his own. For example, he has sought to redress the environmental vandalism of his predecessor, Rick Scott, by appointing high-level science and climate-resilience advisers and investing in watershed conservation. This has won him plaudits across the political divide-even as he has praised Mr Trump to honour his debt. Last year Mr DeSnatis passed legislation to ban havens for illegal immigrants known as “sanctuary cities”. In a state where a fifth of the population is foreign-born, this was divisive-and also unnecessary. (2)There were not any in Florida.

(1)

In my understanding, this paragraph is quite sarcastic pointing out that what he has done come of his political calculations and lack of authenticity. And “a pragmatic streak of his own” means his tendency to take advantage of issues to show off. Is my understanding right?

(2)

I do not understand what this sentence means. I interpreted it as “He passed a law that dose not allow havens for undocumented immigrants. But this measure actually has no effect on Florida because there has never been havens in the state ever.” Is that right??

And the following is not actually a part of the article but on the same page with the subtitle “DeSantis Spiritus”

For all the disruption to conservatism he promised, Mr Trump has changed it (3)at an elite level remarkably little. He has promoted opportunists such as Mr DeSantis, willing to ingratiate themselves to him, (4)not populist firebrands. This is at least better than it might have been (remember Steve Bannon?). So, it must be said, is Mr DeSantis: his pre-pandemic governorship was far better than his campaign gave reason to expect. Even so, the virus has exposed the weakness of a patronage system with Mr Trump at its apex.

(5)Mr DeWine is able to compensate for Mr Trump’s shortcomings because he owes him nothing. Mr DeSantis owes him everything-which forces him to accentuate them. Much good may that do him.

Floridians appear to be turning against him. (6)They of all Americans recognise a bungled disaster response. Meanwhile Mr Trump, having at last recognised the disaster America faces, is making nice with all the governors. He says they are America’s frontline. This suggests he means to blame them for what is to come.

(3)

I don’t see what ‘at an elite level’ means. Does the phrase mean “not open but closed, just for the privileged”? If so, I don’t think the phrase is aligned with the sentence. Could you interpret the sentence for me? T.T

(4)

Mr DeSantis is not “a populist firebrand” but “an opportunist”. Is it right?

(5)

What does “compensate for” mean in this sentence? Criticize? Make/force President Trump (to) fix his shortcomings?

(6)

Does this phrase mean “They who are all Americnas”? If so, is there any difference between “They of all Americans” and “They who are all American” in nuance?

Thank you so much for reading my questions teachers! ???

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

ANNE202(1)In my understanding, this paragraph is quite sarcastic pointing out that what he has done come of his political calculations and lack of authenticity. And “a pragmatic streak of his own” means his tendency to take advantage of issues to show off. Is my understanding right?

I don't follow politics, which is probably a good thing here. I can't say I see sarcasm. The "pragmatic streak of his own" is his catering to issues often considered to belong to the Democrats to win votes on that side.

ANNE202(2)I do not understand what this sentence means. I interpreted it as “He passed a law that dose not allow havens for undocumented immigrants. But this measure actually has no effect on Florida because there has never been havens in the state ever.” Is that right??

Yes, that is what it says.

ANNE202(3)I don’t see what ‘at an elite level’ means. Does the phrase mean “not open but closed, just for the privileged”? If so, I don’t think the phrase is aligned with the sentence. Could you interpret the sentence for me? T.T

The elite level is the upper echelons, the party bigwigs, the career politicos. Trump promised to drain the swamp, the swamp being the venal Washington apparatchiks and parasitic bureaucrats. That can be considered a populist platform. He might have fostered anti-establishment politicians at the top in keeping with that promise and philosophy, but he has not.

ANNE202(4)Mr DeSantis is not “a populist firebrand” but “an opportunist”. Is it right?

That is what it says.

ANNE202(5)What does “compensate for” mean in this sentence? Criticize? Make/force President Trump (to) fix his shortcomings?

De Wine can supply policies and ideologies that do not move in step with President Trump's. From the point of view of Republican party-building, this can be said to compensate for, to make up for, deficiencies in Mr. Trump's vision for the party.

ANNE202(6)Does this phrase mean “They who are all Americnas”? If so, is there any difference between “They of all Americans” and “They who are all American” in nuance?

You are not quite getting it. It is an extension of an expression that usually goes "You of all people should know something", which means that if we consider everyone, you are the one person among them who would be expect to know it. You (out) of all people should know, for some obvious reason. The writer adapted the expression a bit clumsily, with "they" (Floridians) in place of "you" and "Americans" in place of "people". I guess the reason Floridians should know is that they get clobbered by hurricanes pretty often.

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