A "guy perceived ... as having no principles"
"Crist has" [...]
The AIF and Florida Chamber's "stagnant lakes and estuaries"
"After losing on the legal front, a powerful coalition of agriculture and business interests, wastewater utilities, water managers and tax watchdogs is mounting a lobbying assault on" [...]
Now that Leader Reid has gotten the 60 votes to start the lengthy health care debate in the Senate, it is imperative, in my opinion, that the Obama Administration reload and double up their leadership on the other major pending issues--war strength levels, jobs and the economy, financial reform and energy. I realize the [...]
Thank the Chamber and AIF
The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "No employer can be happy with Florida's nearly 12-fold increase in unemployment compensation taxes next year. It will hit nearly 500,000 of them at a" [...]
RPOF "in a fix"
Aaron Deslatte: "For decades, Floridians have essentially" [...]
"Research 2000 for Daily Kos. 11/16-18. Likely voters MoE 4% (1/26-28 results)":
Charlie Crist (R) 47 (57)
Marco Rubio (R) 37 (4)
"These trendlines are bleak for Crist, and there's little chance of him surviving."
Remember, Rubio hasn't [...]
Crist in "free-fall"
Adam Smith: "Crist, 53, is in a free-fall among likely Republican voters, say Crist supporters and detractors alike, while Rubio's trajectory is heading straight up. Crist's credibility among hard-core Republicans is practically gone," [...]
On November 7th, I submitted a Diary entry titled, "Voters Will Forgive Almost Anything, Except..." The remaining part of the sentence is:
1. Stealing from the public treasury,
2. Breaking your word,
3. A hypocrite--do what I say, not what I do,
4. Voting wrong on incendiary issues, like abortion, pay raises, and immigration, [...]
Club for Growth continues attack on Crist
Chris Chocola, president [...]
Sink supports gay adoption
"Alex Sink, Florida's chief financial officer and the leading Democratic candidate for governor,"
Back in August, RNC Chairman Michael Steele announced that, in a stroke of political courage, his party was going on record to oppose any cuts in medicare for seniors, during the Health Care Reform debate. His spinmasters dubbed the Party's new position as the "Medicare Manifesto." At the time, the [...]
RPOF "going to implode"
Aaron Deslatte: "Crist for all his recent missteps -- showed Republicans one way to keep winning statewide elections, by moderating the social issues with pragmatism, emphasizing fiscal restraint and playing to the" [...]
After reading the hard copy of your hometown newspaper, should start your web-day with the Florida Progressive Coalition.
Our digest of, and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry follows.
RPOFer "'emergency' meeting"
William March: "In another political blow to Gov. Charlie Crist, dissension in the" [...]
Crist leaving Floridians an "economic disaster"
"Florida is among nine states barreling toward an economic disaster similar to California's ongoing fiscal crisis, a new study warns." "Report: Florida among 10 states facing budget disasters".
[...]
RPOF "could not have failed more"
"Florida Republican leaders worked hard to thwart any costly and potentially" [...]
Our digest of, [...]
Chapter 10 of my book, The Golden Years...The Florida Legislature, '70s and '80s, includes reflections on campaigns and public service. Among them is number 16, on page 158, which reads in part: "...the certain three influences on political decisions are either, or all of sex, religion and money." I was not [...]
Crist: "The Man Who Can Do Nothing Right"
Mark Lane: "Recall that when he ran for governor in 2006, Charlie Crist was considered as a vague lightweight with a love of vaporously symbolic, law-and-order-sounding nonissues. A" [...]
In my book, The Golden Years...The Florida Legislature, '70s and '80s, I remind readers that anything said by an office holder is public record. However, my experience is that voters will forgive almost anything said in public, or even done, including declaring bankruptcy, enduring adultery, and an occassional ill advised vote. But, public [...]
Man, that was fast.
[...]
"Epic struggle for the soul of the" GOP
Update: The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza writes this morning that the "new ad being run in Florida by the Club for Growth should send shivers down" [...]
Crist "entangled with trio of scandals"
Updated: "Crist downplays ties to Rothstein"
"Is Something Rotten In The State Of Florida?"
While most of the press was covering the national elections, few in Florida reported on the passing of a Florida political giant--former State Representative Marshall Harris (D., Miami). Marshall served in the House of Representatives from 1966 to 1974, and brought a new meaning of accountability to the legislature, as the [...]
Dockery makes a [...]
Another fine fundraiser biting the dust
"The politically influential Fort Lauderdale law firm that Scott Rothstein created just a few years ago has attempted to oust him amid a criminal investigation into his business dealings, sending" [...]
As many expected, the Republican Party and even some of press is starting to "blow off" Vice President Joe Biden, as less than a serious player in the Obama Administration. I understand the temptation--I have met and talked to him before. Although gregarious, he tends to over-speak and veer from [...]
"Bottom is falling out" of Crist campaign
"Crist's political troubles are reflected in new poll numbers that show even most fellow Republicans don't like the job he's doing in Florida."
Crist, Rubio race "suddenly sizzling" and nasty
"An anonymous Web site aimed at embarrassing Republican Gov. Charlie Crist's political rival appears to have backfired after one of Crist's top political advisers admitted that he helped develop" [...]
I mean, the guy's got Doogie Howser written all over him.
But, I can agree with him on this [...]
Young under ethics investigation
"About half the members of the House subcommittee in control" [...]
Many were surprised when Speaker-Designate Dean Cannon (R., Winter Park) proposed legislation to look at oil drilling in Florida, as the 2009 Session was winding down. It had the appearance of a clandestine move orchestrated by "big oil", but now that the sponsor has asked for public hearings around Florida, the tendency [...]
The best they can do?
"National Republicans met with two potential challengers to U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson on Wednesday as the GOP establishment continued to search for a candidate who can topple the outspoken freshman Democrat from" [...]
Our digest of, and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry follows.
Charlie smashing "most overrated Governor" poll resultsOn the heels of Forbes considering Charlie for the title of "America's Worst Governor?" Charlie's now leading in the Washington Post's poll for "most overrated Governor in the country". Go [...]
"Charlie is becoming the new Tom Gallagher"
Adam Smith: "When people talk about the threat Marco Rubio poses to Charlie Crist's Senate plans, Crist backers tend to invoke two words: Tom Gallagher. He was the last" [...]
"All Rubio needs to turn Crist into toast ..."
"Eric Eikenberg is wise beyond his 33 years. So why did he just trade a high-stress job for a very high-stress job?"
It is almost exactly a year to go until the 2010 mid term elections. Although there is still time for a surprise candidate to surface in the races for the U.S. Senate, Governor, the Cabinet or the Congressional and Legislative races, the field seems pretty well set. So, it might be interesting [...]
Charlie's placeholder a drill shill
"Up until he was appointed as Florida's newest U.S. senator, George LeMieux was" [...]
LeMieux embarrasses himself, Crist and Florida
The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "In his initial floor speech, LeMieux opted for partisan rhetoric over honest debate about the growing federal deficit."
Rubio rolling
"A new poll from Quinnipiac University out today would seem to justify the recent jitters we've seen coming out of Gov. Charlie Crist's camp: upstart U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio has cut the" [...]
Billy gettin' desperate
"Republican Bill McCollum's campaign for governor says Democratic rival Alex Sink is ducking tough issues."
Sink's "crossover support"
"Democrat Alex Sink has handily out-raised Republican rival Bill McCollum in the early stages of what could be the priciest race ever for Florida governor next year. At least part of the explanation:" [...]
