What "vaunted Bush money machine"?

"The vaunted Bush money machine in Florida has yet to step up for John McCain

Some of Florida's most elite Republican fundraisers quietly grumble about McCain, cite his campaign's lack of outreach or just gripe about the tough economy. Others say no candidate could match the financial performance of Jeb and George Bush in Florida, while still more say the Bush family network has been succeeded by a new, Charlie Crist generation of money-raisers jumping enthusiastically behind McCain.

Regardless of the explanation, the numbers are striking.

"Florida Bush donors trickle to McCain".




House Race Update

"Florida's status as a key battleground state this fall won't be limited to presidential politics. Democratic national campaign strategists say their party can wage competitive races for at least five U.S. House seats now held by Florida Republicans, and that a sixth good Democratic challenge could emerge in the Tampa Bay area. That's a bundle of congressional seats from one state to be up for grabs." A real in depth look at these races here: "Florida Is Home To Many Political Battlegrounds".

Over the week end the Cook Political Report revised 33 of its House Race prognostications; here's the Florida update:

- FL-08 Ric Keller Likely Republican to Lean Republican
- FL-09 Gus Bilirakis Solid Republican to Likely Republican
- FL-18 Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Solid Republican to Likely Republican
- FL-21 Lincoln Diaz-Balart Likely Republican to Lean RepublicanCook explains that,

while it's not likely that a majority of the races moved from "Solid" to "Likely" Republican will become competitive by November, the poor national climate for the GOP and the DCCC's unprecedented financial edge makes even very difficult districts for Democrats worth keeping tabs on.

Cook Political Report (subscription required).

On the preznit side, "every expert has an idea, and there's widespread agreement, even among opponents. But like most advice, giving it is easy. The skill comes in doing it." "Obama, McCain face Fla. battle".




The law, in its majestic equality, ..."

"... forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

– Anatole France, Le Lys rouge ch. vii (1894)

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "The slow, dissatisfying resolution of the case sends a message to the public that there's a different system of justice for the wealthy who hire high-powered lawyers. Epstein's legal team included West Palm Beach defense attorney Jack Goldberger, Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz, who defended O.J. Simpson against murder charges, and Kenneth Starr, the prosecutor who pursued then-President Bill Clinton for lying about sex with young women." "Rich man fought the law and he mostly won".




Pig

In a puff piece condensed and adapted from the cover story in today's New York Times Magazine, the The St. Petersburg Times's gives us this garbage today - "On May 16, Limbaugh delivered a monologue on what you can't say about Obama:"

- "With Obama we started out, we couldn't talk about his big ears 'cause that made him nervous. We've gone from that to this:

- Not only can we not mention his ears, we can't talk about his mother.

- We can't talk about his father. We can't talk about his grandmother unless he does, brings her up as a 'typical white person.'

- We can't talk about his wife, can't talk about his preacher, can't talk about his terrorist friends, can't talk about his voting record, can't talk about his religion.

- We can't talk about appeasement. We can't talk about color; we can't talk about lack of color. We can't talk about race.

- We can't talk about bombers and mobsters who are his friends. We can't talk about schooling.

- We can't talk about his name, 'Hussein.' We can't talk about his lack of experience. Can't talk about his income. Can't talk about his flag pin. This started out we can't call him a liberal. It started out we just couldn't talk about his ears. Now we can't say anything about him."

"Rush is right ... where he wants to be". Class act, that Limbaugh fellow.




Whatever

"LeMieux, who left the governor's office Jan. 1, initially refused to disclose the contents. Crist's office insisted the book was not a public record, even as Crist has promoted greater openness in government. After months of off-and-on negotiations, LeMieux agreed to copy most of the contents for the St. Petersburg Times. LeMieux said he withheld only notes of personal or nongovernment political matters." "What was on Crist's to-do list in black book".




AARP

"The nation's largest seniors group is running television commercials in Florida and three other swing states, attempting to force presidential candidates to address health and retirement issues." "AARP runs health ads in Fla, 3 other swing states".




Gambling

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "If Mr. Crist's method was wrong, his logic is not. By granting exclusivity to the Seminoles, Mr. Crist effectively stemmed the spread of gambling by ending expansion efforts by the state's ever-expansionist parimutuel industry." "We think: Crist should work with legislators on gambling".

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Crist overreached on pact with tribe".




Them greedy public safety workers

Today's news: "South Florida: 100 firefighters respond to blaze on river freighter".

Tomorrow, or shortly thereafter, expect to read the editorial boards thanking

the hundreds of firefighters who have courageously and tirelessly worked around the clock ...

And

Risking their lives to protect strangers may be standard operating procedure for firefighters, but it should never go unappreciated.

Who could disagree with that?

To be quickly followed with this: "Time to cut Firefighters' "platinum", "lavish", "outlandish" and "sweet pay plans".

Heck, they've started already with the cops - The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Officers want too much"




Can't always get what you need

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Qualifying for public office ended on June 20; technical challenges have been issued and apparently resolved in at least one key legislative race, House District 9, which was held for eight years by term-limited Rep. Loranne Ausley. Though the letter of the law has been applied, it is unfortunate that now voters' choices for her successor are reduced." "What we need".




Panhandle blues

"High gasoline prices and a sour economy are taking a toll on family budgets, and that means business owners in vacation destinations such as Florida are sweating over whether the summering hordes will come their way. The summer season is crucial in Florida's Panhandle, where a stretch of sugar-white sand beaches from Pensacola to just south of Tallahassee draws huge numbers of visitors from across the Southeast." "Panhandle tourism low on gas".




Amendment mess

Jim Saunders does his magic: "when Floridians go to the polls, they also likely will face a series of proposed constitutional amendments that deal with hot-button issues such as same-sex marriage, school vouchers and property taxes. Here is a rundown of the amendments, identified by their ballot numbers:" "Making sense of the amendments".




Confederacy of Dunces

So nice to know that these idiots manage to find time to get together:

Every April, Limbaugh hosts a weekend at his Palm Beach estate for his closest friends. This year, the guest list included Roger Ailes, Mary Matalin and Joel Surnow, a creator of the television series 24 and a leader of the small Hollywood conservative community. The event is social but hardly nonpolitical.

Anyone looking for an informal gathering of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy could do worse than this. Limbaugh is also close to Karl Rove, who dined with him a few weeks earlier in Florida, Justice Antonin Scalia and Justice Clarence Thomas (who officiated at Limbaugh's third wedding). He describes fellow Floridian Matt Drudge as a buddy.

Every man a king.




No tubes

"Tubes designed to safeguard beaches on Florida's west coast from erosion and protect the coastline condos from floods and hurricanes are facing their own blockade. A group says the tubes are ugly yellow bean bags that disrupt the appearance of the coast and make surfing next to impossible at Upham Beach in St. Petersburg and other popular spots." "St. Petersburg: Petition seeks to rid coastline of tubes".




Dead man (still) walking

John Hill: "Ralph Hughes' death last month is also a political obituary. No single person spent as much of his own time and money as this concrete magnate did to push Hillsborough's Republican leadership to the conservative fringe. His passing not only creates a void; it could fundamentally alter the face of Republican politics immediately — and for years to come." "Even in death, Hughes will be GOP force".

Ruth gets mail: "'The fact that state Sen. Ronda Storms is currently infecting our state government is enough to scorn, but sadly there are many more neocons that will continue their influence long after Hughes has gone.' And those were some of the nicer thoughts offered up in memory of Ralph Hughes." "Reader Comments Offer Insights Into Humanity's Potential For Ugliness".