You can do all the dissembling and excuse making you want, but it doesn't change the callousness, or the underlying attitude with which these transports have been conducted. As for whether or not passengers on these buses were better off, some undoubtedly managed to get closer to their desired destinations, but some ended up farther away, and many had no idea where they were.
Also, 30 minutes is way more than enough time for someone in sub-freezing weather, wearing only light-weight clothing, to experience severe frostbite or hypothermia. (It was probably a bit cold on the buses, too.) It's clear that these transports were done with little to no concern for these folk’s well-being - and I doubt they mentioned this action with anyone on 'the left' before implementing it. [BTW, a great many of those folks are seeking LEGAL asylum to escape dire situations in their countries, where often their lives are in danger.]
Neither DeSantis nor Abbott showed real leadership with how they attempted to deal with a problem that several consecutive Presidential administrations and Congresses have not addressed adequately or at all. Neither tried to do anything to improve the immediate problem, they just tried to make a point, at the expense of people in a crisis situation. They could have shown some statesmanship, maturity, problem solving skills, or simply human decency.
Instead, both chose to pass up an opportunity to distinguish themselves, in spite of their presumed Presidential aspirations, possibly earning the respect of many (even outside their party) by seeking to even temporarily alleviate the situation via coordination with governors (and others) in other states. They just played politics, further revving up the anti-immigrant sentiment exploding throughout our nation - and being fanned by 'conservative' media. I guess they were playing to their base to get attention, which they certainly did.
The reasons why might be illuminated by looking at what was on cable TV last week. The 'left leaning/progressive' channels broadcast live the final meeting of the January 6th Committee and seemed to be covering nothing but the vast amount of what seems to be extensive, incriminating documentation and actual transcripts of testimony (by Republicans) published in their report - which went way beyond events on January 6th. At the same time, the 'right leaning/conservative' channels seemed to be only covering the crowds accumulating at our borders from primarily Central and South American countries, while SCOTUS considered Title 42.
No wonder all over the country people's heads are exploding about different 'realities'.
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