The recount and final tabulations of the military and overseas ballots show that while Democrat Christine Jennings trimmed Republican Vern Buchanan's lead, Buchanan still had a narrow 369-vote edge.

"These are the official results," said Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent, a Republican. "Our job is done."

On Monday, the Florida Division of Elections is scheduled to make the Buchanan victory official when it certifies the results from Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, DeSoto and Hardee counties. The Jennings campaign would then have 10 days to challenge the results.

Jennings' attorney, Kendall Coffey, said no decision has been made on whether to proceed with a court challenge. But he did pan the recount process for its failure to show why 18,000 Sarasota County voters didn't have a vote registered in the congressional battle. While less than 5 percent of voters in the other four counties that make up the 13th District skipped the race, almost 13 percent did so in Sarasota.

"The recount was an important step in this election process, but ultimately it was an exercise that revealed nothing and did nothing to provide a real explanation for what went wrong with Sarasota County's voting system," Coffey said.

These are the leading explanations - faulty, paperless machines, turned-off voters, and bad ballot design combined with careless voters - to explain how the voting pattern in Sarasota could be so different from surrounding counties voting in the same race.

Jennings won Sarasota County, which recorded overwhelmingly higher numbers of undervotes than counties that used different voting machines, or even from Sarasota voters who cast absentee ballots.

But as a two-day recount concluded Friday and lawsuits appeared certain, it is unclear whether there ever will be a clear explanation for what happened.

When the state of Florida announced it would investigate Sarasota County's disputed congressional race, officials suggested they would turn over every rock to find out why more than 18,000 ballots registered no vote in that campaign.

"We are re-creating Election Day," Jenny Nash, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of State, said last week.

But now it's clear that when officials audit the race for House District 13, they will be "re-creating Election Day" only on a small scale, leaving many questions unanswered.

To most people, an "audit" is a form of torture invented by the IRS. But what happens when an election, rather than a taxpayer, is in the hot seat?

We've been asked that question lately as the state prepares to audit Sarasota County's disputed congressional election, in which Sarasota's blank-ballot rate was almost six times that of Manatee. ...

A three-page "audit plan [note: .pdf file]" for Sarasota County is posted on the state Division of Elections' Web site (http://election.dos.state.fl.us/). ..

Experts we've talked to say the plan looks comprehensive, but they want more specifics. The details of the parallel testing -- how many machines, who picks the participants and precincts, etc. -- could get particularly contentious.

The thoroughness of an elections audit may be its most important characteristic, but the value of the process ultimately depends on its transparency -- citizens' ability to witness the whole shebang. The secretary of state has pledged to conduct the audit in an "open and public manner."

That's a promise that must be kept.

Open Mouth ...

Insert Foot; Hotline explains:

"White rednecks" who "didn't show up to vote for us" partly cost GOPers their cong. majorities, Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL) told fellow Republicans today. And Putnam, seeking the post of GOP conference chair, chided ex-Chair J.C. Watts (R-OK) for ruining the conference's ability to serve its members.

Rubio Apparently Likes Baxley's "Ideas"

"Incoming House Speaker Marco Rubio announced Friday that Reps. Dennis Baxley, Marty Bowen, Ellyn Bogdanoff and Adam Hasner would be part of his leadership team when he takes over next week. Baxley, an Ocala Republican, will be speaker pro tempore, while Bowen of Winter Haven will become the next majority leader. Fort Lauderdale Republican Bogdanoff and Delray Beach Republican Hasner will have the jobs of majority whip and deputy majority leader respectively." "Rubio announces leadership posts". See also "Rubio names House leaders", "Rubio names House leaders" and "Rubio names four members to leadership team in House".

A "W.D." Story

"Florida's largest appellate court has quietly replaced its chief judge amid internal rancor and suggestions of political influence surrounding the bribery conviction and prison sentence of former Sen. W.D. Childers." "Chief appeals judge steps down".

More Mel

Can you imagine? "What may be good for Republicans may not be good for Florida."

As party chairman, though, Sen. Martinez will have to be gratuitously partisan. ...

Consider offshore oil drilling. Sens. Martinez and Nelson teamed up this year to block attempts to put rigs too close to the shore. President Bush and some of the party's biggest backers supported the plan. If it comes back, will Sen. Martinez go with his state or his party?

Sen. Martinez resorted to homophobia during his 2004 primary campaign, then led the 2005 Senate charge to intervene in the Terri Schiavo case. Later, he worked with Democrats to craft a good immigration reform bill and to protect the state's beaches. That role, not the one of party propagandist, is the one Florida needs him to play.

The Transition Thing

"There are a whole lot of people in this capital city who are wondering if they're going to have jobs two months from now and a whole lot of people who are eager to replace them." "Crist transition team has large task to fill new administration".

Welcome

"Struck by their sudden celebrity status in the nation's capital, congressmen-elect Ron Klein and Tim Mahoney were warmly embraced by Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill this week and instantly recognized by their Republican adversaries at the White House. Full of smiles and praises, Democrats were delighted to greet the South Floridians and their fellow newcomers to Congress because they will give the long-suffering opposition party majority control of the House of Representatives." "Washington welcomes Klein, Mahoney to Capitol Hill". See also "Democrats surge ahead; Crist, Mahoney triumph".

Hard Times

"Former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley attended funeral home visitation Friday for his father, who died of complications from cancer this week. Foley had been in seclusion since checking himself into an Arizona facility for treatment of alcoholism Oct. 1." "Foley: 'It's just been a real hard time'". See also "Friends provide support for Foley".

Lie Down With Dogs

"David Caton, the executive director of the socially conservative Florida Family Association, has a long record of supporting discrimination against homosexuals and opposing what he calls the 'radical homosexual agenda.'" "Misguided".

Oh yeah, he also has "a long record of supporting" Republicans.

Special Session

"The incoming leader of the Florida House says he and his Senate counterpart agree in principle that they need a special legislative session to handle property-insurance problems, but they have not decided when to do it." "Special session comes down to timing".

Greer

"Jim Greer, a 44-year-old Oviedo City Council member and member of the Seminole County Republican Executive Committee, will succeed Carole Jean Jordan after a formal election early next year. ... U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, hailed Greer as tireless and savvy, and both a principled conservative and pragmatic problem-solver. ... Greer, president of a consulting firm that trains and certifies employees for the hospitality industry, this election cycle gave $15,000 to the state GOP and $10,000 to a political committee backing Crist, called the Conservative Values Coalition." "Crist taps campaign activist to lead GOP". See also "Crist names James Greer GOP state chairman".

LeMieux

"Greer's selection, however, is one more sign that 'Maestro' George LeMieux will wind up taking a lead role in the governor's office. LeMieux, who helmed Crist's campaign, has reportedly been weighing whether to run the party, or to work for Crist. The prime issue for LeMieux is the impact a job such as chief of staff would have on his family." "Whither George LeMieux?"

Byrd's Baaack

"Old politicians should not die, but they should fade away. Former Florida House Speaker Johnnie Byrd of Plant City is making a power play to take over the institute that bears his father's name: The Johnnie B. Byrd Sr. Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute at the University of South Florida in Tampa." "Byrd power play stains good work".

Another Great "Idea"

"The House Spaceport and Technology Committee is being eliminated in the chamber's new committee structure." "Space committee faces chopping block".

Slowin' Down

"State's school growth spurt slows".

Outa Here

"Homeowners: Taxes force residents to move".

Apparently, elimination of the opprobrius "intangibles Tax" - Jebbie's signature "achievement" - just wasn't quite enough to keep folks from leaving.

"Fee"

On Thursday, "Florida's Board of Governors unanimously approved a University of Florida proposal for a $1,000-a-year student fee that would be used to boost the school's national ranking and hire more teachers." "$1,000 UF fee moves closer to state OK".

Friendship Counts

"Bense friend gets House job despite past arrests".

I Am Shocked!

"A 10-year Department of Juvenile Justice employee said Friday he was fired because he wouldn't go along with a coverup of the seriousness of an altercation between guards at a boot camp and a boy who later died." "Ex-official: Resisting boot camp coverup cost him job".

"Mammoth Rate Increases"

"A thankfully quiet hurricane season is poised to end with a jolt anyway -- the mammoth rate increases proposed this week by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. This umpteenth reminder that Florida's insurance net is a mess ought to put further pressure on state lawmakers to meet in special session and make meaningful insurance reforms." "Insurance".

The manual recount as a whole is almost over. The results of that count must be reported to the state Division of Elections by Saturday at 5 p.m. The election is expected to be certified by Monday, after which both campaigns will have 10 days to challenge.

The recount, however it turns out, won't address the key concern voting rights groups have been pressing all week: the surprisingly high undervote in the race, which some have blamed on touch-screen machines. More than 18,000 people, or nearly 13 percent of those who cast ballots in Sarasota County, didn't vote for either candidate, considered an undervote.

In comparison, less than 3 percent of absentee voters -- who used paper ballots instead of touch-screens -- skipped the race. In surrounding counties, the undervote rate in the race was less than 5 percent.

The outcome of this "paper" recount, mandated under Florida's post-2000 election law, is probably a foregone conclusion. About 18,380 nonvotes are destined to remain "undervotes" in the 13th Congressional District race where Republican Vern Buchanan leads Democrat Christine Jennings by 396 votes.

Still, the recount volunteers -- most past retirement age, many straining through bifocals -- pressed on, scrutinizing printed ''ballot summaries'' from Sarasota County's electronic voting system, not actual ballots.

"It's a meaningless ritual," said David Dill, a Stanford University computer science professor and voting machine expert. "This is their fig leaf to say they're complying with Florida's recount law."

Unlike actual paper ballots, with their notorious hanging chads, the printed ballot summaries reveal nothing new about a voter's intent, leaving very little for even the teams of partisan lawyers assembled here to argue about.

Charlie's Promise

Let's see if Charlie's "charm" works on more than blithe editorial boards; Cabinet officials might be a tougher sell.

If Charlie really believes that felons should have their rights reinstated automatically (as he specifically promised in the campaign), he is going to need to bring all his fabled "charm" to bear on the Cabinet:

Incoming Gov. Charlie Crist might have a tough time making good on a campaign promise to automatically restore the voting rights of felons who have completed their sentences.

The three members of the incoming Cabinet, which also serves as the state's clemency board, all said Thursday they would not be in favor of restoring rights to felons convicted of violent crimes such as murder and sexual offenses even after they had done their time. One isn't convinced the system needs changing at all.

It's not clear whether Crist is committed to restoring voting rights of all felons who have served their sentences.

"Crist [Chastized] for 'Radical Homosexual Agenda'"

"Organization chastises Crist for 'radical homosexual agenda'". See also "Group wants no changes to governor's hiring form" ("Concerned that Gov.-elect Charlie Crist will be blocked from hiring anti-gay activists, a statewide conservative group [the Tampa-based Florida Family Association] is urging its members to complain to incoming Senate President Ken Pruitt about proposed changes to a questionnaire for high-level gubernatorial appointees.")

"Dreadful System of Taxing Property"

"Florida voters have given themselves a dreadful system of taxing property. The best that can be said of it is that it does a good job of sheltering most homeowners from rapid increases in taxes. But it overtaxes newcomers, businesses, renters, seasonal residents, first-time home buyers and those who move to new homes. Often the overtaxing is outrageous and every year it gets worse." "State Must Cook Up Tax Reforms That Homeowners Will Swallow".

New RPOF Chief

"Gov.-elect Charlie Crist began putting his stamp on the Florida Republican Party on Thursday by positioning a key campaign activist to become the GOP's next state chairman. Jim Greer, an Oviedo City Council member who also served as Crist's Seminole County chairman, is expected to be introduced tonight by the incoming governor at the party's quarterly meeting in Orlando." "Oviedo official set to lead state GOP". Scoop: "Maxwell scoop: Florida's next top Republican will be local too".

How Brown ... ?

How brown can one man's nose possibly get? This brown: "Florida gentleman good for GOP".

Wonder Where Mel Is On This?

This could be huge for Florida's economy:

A federal report released Wednesday exposed mismanagement of tens of millions of dollars meant to promote democracy in Cuba and spurred renewed calls for lifting travel restrictions to the communist island.

Two legislators [Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. and Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass.] from the Cuba Working Group, a bipartisan congressional group that favors easing the embargo, called for the investigation by the Government Accountability Office and quickly seized on its findings to demand greater freedom of travel to Cuba -- this time with a Congress controlled by Democrats.

More Charlie

"Crist goes on 5-star retreat »".

The Transition Thing

"Crist Transition Team Grows" See also "More transition help for Crist".

Bill Cotterell writes that "McCollum's transition team is set for review".

Now That He's Gone

"Florida opens full criminal probe into former Rep. Mark Foley". See also "State plans probe as Foley grieves for his father".

Audit ... What Audit?

"The man who polices Florida's Office of Financial Regulation [OFR Inspector General Robert Dyar] has not audited his own department for three years, even though it's required by law, according to a recent report." "OFR Inspector general's job conduct, qualifications face renewed scrutiny".

House Whip

"Bogdanoff gets top post in House". See also "Bogdanoff to be majority whip".

But It Isn't a "Tax"

"Leaders of the Florida university system gave their blessing Thursday to a proposed $1,000-a-year student fee that would enable the University of Florida to pay for 200 more professors and 100 academic advisers." "Leaders like UF's $1,000-fee idea". See also "State board backs two new fee plans for universities" and "$1,000 UF fee moves closer to state OK".

Another Post-Election Surprise

"Citizens Property Insurance is considering another round of large rate increases, following orders the Legislature gave it six months ago." "Citizens Property Insurance looks to raise rates again". See also "Citizensmay seek record rate hike" and "Citizens panel backs hiking windstorm rates 56%".

The Priorities Thing

"State runs out of money for court-appointed attorneys".

Howdy Doody To Take The Reins?

Adam "Putnam, 32, will learn if he becomes the third-ranking Republican when the conference casts secret ballots today for its leadership team, including minority leader, whip and other posts." "Putnam could get No. 3 GOP post in House".

Scionti

"New state Rep. Michael Scionti was first a loyal son, social worker, reserve deputy, prosecutor and soldier." "Not a political animal".

Contempt

"After a judge"

threatened last month to fine the Florida Department of Children and Families for failing to timely remove mentally ill people from jails as state law requires, an agency spokesman sounded a conciliatory note. "We are very eager," the spokesman said, "to work with the judicial system to solve this problem."

But when Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Crockett Farnell held a compliance hearing Thursday on that contempt order, DCF demonstrated its eagerness in a peculiar way. The agency's attorney showed up long after the proceeding had ended.

This, in a nutshell, is why the criminal justice community in Florida is fed up with the state. Sheriffs, prosecutors, public defenders and trial judges are demanding answers. But the only responses DCF seems willing to offer are those packaged by its press office. There will be a day of reckoning for such arrogance.

State law says DCF must, within 15 days, remove any mentally ill person sitting in jail and deemed incompetent to stand trial. In practice, more than 300 are sitting in jail cells across the state waiting, on average, 82 days for treatment.

Lee Hearts Castille

"Colleen Castille, secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection since February 2004, said in an interview that she will not seek to keep her post during the administration of Gov.-elect Charlie Crist, who takes office Jan. 2." As usual, Charles Lee has nothing but praise for the Republican:

Audubon of Florida lobbyist Charles Lee praised Castille's efforts to preserve land, including a deal this year in which the state spent $310 million to buy 74,000 acres of the Babcock Ranch in southwest Florida. He called Castille an improvement over Bush's first DEP secretary, David Struhs, who resigned in early 2004 to become vice president of a paper company.

"I only wish Colleen had been Jeb's first pick for DEP secretary," Lee said.

Linda Young, director of the Clean Water Network of Florida, said Castille has been even friendlier to polluters than Struhs was.

"What we've seen happen is some of the worst toxic algal blooms statewide that we've ever had in the history of Florida," Young said. "I think Colleen Castille was a huge disappointment."

The computer expert, Professor Alec Yasinsac of Florida State University, is a registered Republican who actively supported GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Gallagher this year and loudly protested Democratic tactics in the 2000 presidential recount. ...

Here's what he told the Tallahassee Democrat on Dec. 3, 2000, while wearing a ''Bush Won'' sign on the steps of the Florida Supreme Court: "I'll never be a passive political participant again." It was a week before the case was decided.

Such comments "definitely raise concerns," said Jennings spokesman David Kochman. "It appears the government is part of the problem, we need to make sure that everyone's vote is counted accurately and we would hope the experts the government looks to are unbiased and nonpartisan."

If a recount in Sarasota fails to award Democrat Christine Jennings a seat in Congress, she has a final recourse: The newly Democratic-controlled U.S. House.

Thanks "Jeb!"

"Jeb Bush's insurance reform committee produced a long list of recommendations Wednesday to redraw policies, regulations and laws, but not directly force lower rates." "Insurance panel makes recommendations". See also "Insurance industry's push for breaks picks up steam", "Insurance Reform Panel Submits 50 Suggestions" and "Hurricane insurance panel finalizes recommendations".

In any event, "Special session on insurance up to Crist".

Where's Mel?

"Environmentalists boycotted a public hearing Wednesday on plans to open a new area off the Florida Panhandle to oil and natural gas drilling as a protest against what they said were efforts to unfairly squelch opposition. The Minerals Management Service held the hearing in Panama City on plans to open more areas around the country to drilling, including about 2 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico south of Pensacola." "Environmentalists boycott offshore drilling hearing". See also "Activists boycott drilling hearing".

"Severe Overcrowding"

"State cites 4 schools in Palm Beach County for severe overcrowding".

See 'Ya

"Storms, Scott Leave County Commission".

The Lame Duck Waddles

"Governor Bush spends day on biosciences".

Priorities

"Florida - the fourth-largest state in the nation - boasts only one university in the nation's top 50. UF ranks 47th, according to U.S. News & World Report. Does anyone think 47th is good enough?" "Fee Increase Calls Question On Strategy For State Universities". See also "Let UF charge more".

Speaking of Priorities

"After raiding public defenders' trust funds to pay for last year's deficit, the state is running out of money to pay court-appointed attorneys at a much faster pace this year." "Lawyers for poor face loss of pay".

Oliphant

"Oliphant avoids fine for 2002 vote".

Laff Riot

"New state House speaker reveals 20 'innovative ideas'". See also "'100 ideas' on Rubio's agenda", "New state House speaker gives preview of ideas package", "Incoming House speaker promises ideas over ideology" and "Ideas? Incoming Speaker Boasts 100".

Paper Trail

"Spurred by electronic voting controversies last week in Florida and elsewhere, two representatives Wednesday called on Congress to require a paper trail for all electronic ballots. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Delray Beach, cited the ongoing recount in Florida's 13th congressional district - where more than 18,000 Sarasota County voters electronically cast ballots for local, state and federal offices but not for the House seat - as an example of why a paper trail is needed." "Paper trail bill backed by Wexler". See also "Call for paper trail, new election".

More Mel

"Some grumble over choice of Martinez to head GOP" ("Martinez was tapped for the top job at the Republican National Committee, spurring complaints from conservatives who fear he will push for relaxed immigration laws.") See also "Martinez To 'Reach Out To Hispanics'" and "Martinez Meets With Prez".

Cuban "Dissident" Cash Cow

"Democrats, emboldened by a new report that criticizes lax oversight of millions in aid to Cuban dissidents, are sharpening their knives for an assault on the Bush administration's strict economic restrictions."

The 57-page report comes at a tough time for the White House, barely a week after the midterm elections, and could provide fodder for critics of U.S.-Cuba policy to push for changes in the new Democrat-controlled Congress. It's also egg on the face of some of the Cuban exile groups in Miami and Washington who receive money for this $73.5-million program.

The Education Issue

"Conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc., the extensive survey was conducted Oct. 2-11 and asked respondents a range of questions, including their views of government and their hopes for the future."

I wonder how the "Jeb!" has saved Florida education crowd will explain this away: "60 percent rated the state's overall performance in providing education as only fair or poor.". "Poll shows Floridians question leadership".

Stickin' With Jebbie

Why force 13-year-old children to choose what jobs they might want when they grow up?

Yet, ludicrous as it sounds, that's what's about to happen. Under Gov. Jeb Bush's "A-plus-plus" plan, outgoing middle school eighth-graders are being asked to look at a list, then choose a major course of study for high school. ...

Rep. Bob Allen, a Republican representing Merritt Island, returned my call ... Allen said he didn't realize the bill "required" students to pick a major and said he "thought it was an option for those students who wanted."

The bill, Allen said, was pitched by his party as "a key component of the governor's A-plus-plus plan," and Republican lawmakers were expected to vote for this if they meant to "stick with" the governor.

The Political Payback Begins

"The new Research Natural Area"

will be added to the existing Tortugas Ecological Reserve, where fishing has been prohibited since 2001. Combined the two areas will prohibit fishing in 261 square miles.

The area is designed to help overfished species such as grouper and red snapper recover. It also will provide scientists with a living laboratory and divers and other visitors with recreational and educational opportunities.

"It’s good for the fish; it’s good for the ecosystem; it’s good for fishermen," said University of Miami marine biologist Jerald Ault, who testified in support of the plan.

The only dissenting vote was cast by Attorney General Charlie Crist, also Florida’s governor-elect.

"I am reluctant to restrict a freedom from individual recreational fishermen and fisherwomen," Crist said.

GOP "Mastermind"

From a coupla days ago: "The man who made the prescient decision to keep Crist away from his president is unknown to most Floridians but has emerged as one of the most powerful men in Florida: George LeMieux. The 37-year-old Fort Lauderdale lawyer and former Broward County Republican chairman, who had never run a statewide campaign, was the mastermind behind Crist's victory." "'Maestro' fashioned Crist's win".

Whatever

"McCollum to announce his transition team »".

Mahoney

"Mahoney accepts his victory in the U.S. House of Representatives District 16 race on Tuesday evening at the Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa in Jupiter." "Taking over for Foley".

Now that the Election is Over

"Economic slowdown lowers incoming tax estimate". See also "Budget-surplus estimate cut by $466M".