FLORIDA POLITICS
Since 2002, daily Florida political news and commentary

 

UPDATE: Every morning we review and individually digest Florida political news articles, editorials and punditry. Our sister site, FLA Politics was selected by Campaigns & Elections as one of only ten state blogs in the nation
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Welcome To Florida Politics

Thanks for visiting. On a semi-daily basis we scan Florida's major daily newspapers for significant Florida political news and punditry. We also review the editorial pages and political columnists/pundits for Florida political commentary. The papers we review include: the Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Naples News, Sarasota Herald Tribune, St Pete Times, Tampa Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Tallahassee Democrat, and, occasionally, the Florida Times Union; we also review the political news blogs associated with these newspapers.

For each story, column, article or editorial we deem significant, we post at least the headline and link to the piece; the linked headline always appears in quotes. We quote the headline for two reasons: first, to allow researchers looking for the cited piece to find it (if the link has expired) by searching for the original title/headline via a commercial research service. Second, quotation of the original headline permits readers to appreciate the spin from the original piece, as opposed to our spin.

Not that we don't provide spin; we do, and plenty of it. Our perspective appears in post headlines, the subtitles within the post (in bold), and the excerpts from the linked stories we select to quote; we also occasionally provide other links and commentary about certain stories. While our bias should be immediately apparent to any reader, we nevertheless attempt to link to every article, column or editorial about Florida politics in every major online Florida newspaper.

 

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The Blog for Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Charlie's turn to be preznit

    My turn to be preznit

    image description

    Back at the ranch, "Florida revenue projections may worsen"



    The inside story: "passion, precision and a little bit a luck"

    "The Miami Herald requested behind-the-scenes access to both camps in the final days of the Florida campaign, in hopes of telling the inside story from whichever side was victorious. The McCain campaign declined. The Obama campaign agreed, as long as it was understood the story wouldn't appear until after the election." Here's the story: "Inside story: How Obama won Florida".


    Sad day

    One of the last independent voices in Florida traditional newspaper-world has lost his job: Daniel Ruth.

    "The Tampa Tribune is shedding more of its newsroom staff, laying off 18 employees, including a longtime columnist and the editorial page editor."

    Monday's cuts are part of a staff reduction across the Florida Communications Group, and the latest in an industry plagued by declining circulation and advertising revenues.

    Some 80 positions were cut from around the company. Daniel Ruth, a popular metro columnist, and editorial page editor Rosemary Goudreau, were among those cut.
    "Tampa Tribune lays off 18 newsroom employees". More: "Tampa Tribune Lays Off 18 In Newsroom" (Ruth has worked more than 36 years in the newspaper industry).

    For some of his recent work - which may explain why he was selected for termination - see "We Shall (Be) Overcome, With Chumps, Haters", "Pardon? Pennington Peppers Me For Being Feeney Meanie? Pshaw!", "Yet Another Dueling Banjos Moment" and "Isn't This 'First-Person' Account Of Republican Principles Just Precious?". More here, at least for now.

    Sad day.


    Betcha didn't know ...

    ... that Obama won because he campaign as a right wing nut. The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "How long it will take to revive the [right wing] brand depends in large part on whether Obama governs as he campaigned or whether he too forsakes the conservative themes that helped him win." "Conservatives Feel Forsaken By Party, Not Defeated".

    This silly meme - Obama won because he ran as a conservative - is right outa the RNC playbook, and the The Tampa Tribune editorial board less than subtly publishes the talking points.


    A fine idea at the time

    "Florida and U.S. Sugar have scaled back a proposed $1.75 billion land deal meant to boost Everglades restoration, significantly lowering the price tag and allowing the company to keep its sugar mill, two sources familiar with a tentative agreement between the company and the state told The Associated Press on Monday." "Sources: Florida's Everglades land buy revised". See also "Sources: Florida's Everglades Land Buy Revised".

    And did we forget to mention that the ... "Twist in Everglades deal sweeter for U.S. Sugar". More: "State, U.S. Sugar near land-only deal to cut price by $500 million".


    Who decides primary date?

    "The presidential election may be over, but a Democratic activist continued Monday to argue his case that Florida violated federal law when it moved up the primary date to Jan. 29. Jon Ausman of Tallahassee, a member of the Democratic National Committee, argued in federal court that by moving up the presidential primary, Florida interfered illegally with his party's procedures for electing delegates to its national convention." "Lawsuit Continues Over Florida Primary Date".


    45 minutes ... then off to select china

    "The state budget director said Monday economists might reduce Florida's already-shrunken revenue projections by up to $1 billion next week."

    Office of Budget and Policy Director Jerry McDaniel ... met with Gov. Charlie Crist for about 45 minutes to go over options and said the governor appears uninterested in any tax increases.
    "Florida revenue projections may worsen" ("Crist listened and they discussed some options but no decisions were made.")

    That's it ... "45 minutes" and all we get is that Charlie's "uninterested in any tax increases".


    "CARLOADS OF BLACK OBAMA SUPPORTERS COMING FROM THE INNER CITY"!!!

    "David Storck will step down as chairman of the Hillsborough County Republican Party ... Storck was involved in a controversy recently over an e-mail he received from a campaign volunteer and forwarded to political associates, containing language some considered racist. Storck said that's not why he's stepping down."Storck To Cede Hillsborough County GOP Post".

    Notice how William March - who managed to keep his job at the Trib - soft pedals the e-mail imbroglio, saying merely that it contained

    language some considered racist.
    "some considered racist". Come on Mr. March, is it too much of a stretch to concede that the e-mail is plainly racist; decide for yourself.

    "This is the e-mail forwarded by David Storck, chairman of the Hillsborough County Republican Party:"
    This e-mail was sent to me from one of our Volunteers in the Temple Terrace office. If you think it can help us win this election please pass it on. This election is now in our hands everyone can make a difference.
    Thanks
    Dave

    THE THREAT:

    HERE IN TEMPLE TERRACE, FL OUR REPUBLICAN HQ IS ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM OUR LIBRARY, WHICH IS AN EARLY VOTING SITE.

    I SEE CARLOADS OF BLACK OBAMA SUPPORTERS COMING FROM THE INNER CITY TO CAST THEIR VOTES FOR OBAMA. THIS IS THEIR CHANCE TO GET A BLACK PRESIDENT AND THEY SEEM TO CARE LITTLE THAT HE IS AT MINIMUM, SOCIALIST, AND PROBABLY MARXIST IN HIS CORE BELIEFS. AFTER ALL, HE IS BLACK -- NO EXPERIENCE OR ACCOMPLISHMENTS-- BUT HE IS BLACK.
    I ALSO SEE YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THEIR PROFESSORS FROM USF PARKING THEIR CARS WITH THE PROMINENT 'OBAMA' BUMPER STICKERS. THE STUDENTS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC TO BE VOTING IN A HISTORIC ELECTION WHERE THERE MAY BE THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT.

    THE COLLEGE PROFESSORS, PARTICULARLY IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES, FOR THE MOST PART HAVE LITTLE OR NO EXPERIENCE IN THE WORK-A-DAY WORLD.

    THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN MOSTLY ACADEMIC UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF LIBERAL COLLEGE PROFESSORS. FOR THEM, A LITTLE SOCIALISM AND ANTI-AMERICANISM IS A GOOD THING. AFTER ALL, IF TERRORISTS ATTACK US, WE MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO PROVOKE THEM.

    YOU AND I UNDERSTAND THE DANGERS THE POTENTIAL OBAMA PRESIDENCY PRESENTS TO OUR WAY OF LIFE. THE SUPPRESSION OF FREE SPEECH, INTRODUCING UNION INTIMIDATION IN THE WORKPLACE, INCREASED DANGERS TO OUR NATION BY TERRORISTS, CUTTING OUR DEFENSE BUDGET BY 25%, TURNING OUR TAX SYSTEM INTO A NATIONAL WELFARE SYSTEM AND ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT COULD DRIVE US INTO A DEPRESSION. ...

    David A. Storck Chairman
    Hillsborough County
    Republican Party
    Only "some" people thought that was racist, Mr. March? What's wrong with Hillsborough County?


    Ripple effect

    "Obama's victory ripples through Orlando-area churches".


    How many times did Charlie fail the bar exam?

    "Eighteen lawyers applied to fill a pending vacancy on the Florida Supreme Court; most had applied before. The applicants aim to replace veteran Justice Harry Lee Anstead, who was appointed by Gov. Lawton Chiles in 1994. Anstead, 71, will retire Jan. 5 to comply with the state's mandatory retirement age for justices. Anstead's resignation gives Gov. Charlie Crist his third appointment to the seven-member bench this year. Crist will get his fourth pick when Justice Charles Wells, another Chiles appointee, retires in March." "Florida Supreme Court applicants are familiar faces".


    And so it goes ...

    "Sure, the 2008 elections only finished last week, but in Tallahassee, it's not too early to start looking forward to 2010 -- or even 2012."

    Potential legislative candidates have already opened campaign accounts that signal their interest in running for Senate and House seats during the next two elections.

    Aaron Bean, a Fernandina Beach Republican who was forced out of his House seat this fall because of term limits, and Jacksonville City Councilman Art Graham have opened accounts in Senate District 8.

    They want to replace Sen. Jim King, a Jacksonville Republican who will be term-limited in 2010. The district includes parts of Volusia and Flagler counties.

    Meanwhile, incumbent Carey Baker, R-Eustis, and Rep. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, have opened 2010 campaign accounts in Senate District 20, which includes parts of western Volusia County.

    Three Republicans have opened accounts to try to replace Rep. Sandy Adams, an Orlando Republican who will face term limits in 2010 in House District 33, which includes parts of western Volusia. Those potential candidates are Paul Ackerman of Winter Springs, Jason Brodeur of Sanford and Andrew Jones of Oviedo.
    "But the jockeying doesn't stop with the 2010 elections.": "Campaign 2010 gets under way".


    "Internet voting"?

    "U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is trying to get federal funding for states and counties that replicate Okaloosa County's overseas military and absentee Internet voting program." "Fla. Sen. seeks to expand Internet voting".


    I thought Hispanics won't vote for Black candidates

    "President-elect Barack Obama, a senator from Illinois, scored big with Hispanic voters — capturing 66 percent of the vote. Among younger Hispanics, the number was 76 percent." "Obama won a huge majority of Hispanics, exit polls show".


    "Reactionary ogre" wants to rewrite history

    "Karl Rove's Florida Frankenstein", in an effort to recast himself prior to his next race with phoney chattering about bipartisanship and all that.

    image description
    Let's not forget that Mel was one of the worst McCain surogates, essentially accusing Obama of being a communist: "Where I come from, where I was born, they tried that wealth redistribution business. It didn’t work so good down there. That’s socialism, that’s communism, that’s not what Americanism is about."


    Perhaps Dubya will pardon him.

    "Former Mich.-based airman's record won't be erased". He's no Marc Rich, but maybe Dubya will give the guy a break.


    Fix Cuba

    The Palm Beach Post editorial Board:

    In 2004, when he was running for reelection and needed votes in Miami, President Bush decreed that Cubans in America can visit Cuba only once every three years, not annually. He also limited remittances - money sent home - to $300 every quarter. The restrictions have been an affront. President Bush tried to punish a dictatorship by dictating where Americans can travel and how they can spend their money. Beyond that, the restrictions - like the broader embargo in place for four decades - were self-defeating. Whenever Fidel Castro and, now, Raul Castro needed a bogeyman to blame for rotten economic times, the evil U.S. government and its vindictive embargo provided a scapegoat. And how does forbidding Americans to travel to Cuba help spread American ideas to Cuba?
    "Cuba: Drop storm flags".


    Learn early, learn often

    "Voters of tomorrow practice at precinct".


    Overdue "housecleaning" in Hillsborough

    "Housecleaning is under way at the office of Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson, who lost his job last week to challenger Phyllis Busansky after numerous poll problems and a protracted vote count." "New Hillsborough elections chief shakes up staff".


    Volusia and Flagler bucks

    "Barack Obama beat John McCain on Election Night in Volusia and Flagler counties. But even before that, he was winning the battle for the wallets of Volusia and Flagler voters." "Obama wins area battle for the bucks".


    Election audits

    "Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Ann McFall announced Monday that the required post-election certification of the voting systems audit is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m., Friday in the first-floor conference room at the Department of Elections, Historic Courthouse, 125 W. New York Ave., DeLand." "Election audit begins Friday".


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