The Republican Party is tearing itself apart. Once thought to be a shoo-in for the Senate seat, Gov. Charlie Crist is now in the campaign for his political life. Until now he has climbed the electoral ladder with astonishing success, considering he's basically a lightweight, whose strategy has been to stay tanned, keep smiling, stay on script, and tell everyone whatever they want to hear. He's become anathema to Republican conservatives for literally embracing President Obama in a photo-op and welcoming stimulus money.

But what should be a perfect opening for Democrats to score a victory is by no means guaranteed: They are more fundamentally divided than Republicans. A year ago, Florida went blue for Barack Obama because a powerful coalition came together to make it happen. But the tragic fact is: Obama has not had coattails. Democrats haven't been able to create an ongoing coalition to ensure success in turning Florida progressive; they splinter apart, especially on social issues.

The tragedy is that the Senate seat is for the Dems to lose.

Florida "Tea Party" infighting begins

George Bennett: "Conservative Tea Party activists hope to make a political mark in 2010, but an Orlando attorney's effort to run candidates under the 'Tea Party' label in Florida is being met with suspicion and outright hostility by many in the movement."

The flap illustrates the allure of the Tea Party brand, which was more popular than the Republican Party in one recent national poll.

It also highlights the decentralized, grass-roots nature of the Tea Party movement, which sprang up in Florida and across the U.S. in 2009 to rail against the federal stimulus bill and healthcare overhaul efforts. There are as many as 80 Tea Party groups in Florida alone.

South Florida Tea Party Chairman Everett Wilkinson and many other Tea Party organizers around the state oppose the idea.

"This is exactly what we're fighting against — political consultants and parties, politicians trying to make deals," Wilkinson said. Wilkinson wants Tea Party activists to influence the upcoming special election to replace U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, and other 2010 races — but not as an organized political party.

"We really are focusing on public policy and informing people. We already have problems with the two-party system and the deals being made. A third party is a third problem," said Wilkinson.

In addition to leading the South Florida Tea Party, Wilkinson is Florida director for a national organization called Tea Party Patriots and is on that group's board. But, while there is some national structure to the movement, activists say the Tea Party movement is really made up of autonomous, individual groups.

Palm Beach County Tea Party activist Fred Scheibl opposes O'Neal's third-party idea, but isn't surprised that someone is trying to capitalize on the name.

Even a broken clock ...

... is right twice a day: The Sun-Sentinel editorial board is "disappointed the Senate ruled out a public insurance option". "Health care bill worthy of passage".

"Democrats unusually active"

"The new year promises plenty of campaign activity, not only for statewide contests where every state post offers an open race with no incumbent, but for local politics and elections as well. The primary is Aug. 24 and the general election is Nov. 2. Lee County Democratic leaders say their party members will be energized early, with at least four primary races on the ballot for Democratic voters - an unusual number in a county dominated by Republicans." "State, local offices up for grabs this year".

HCR

Some snippets from the Sun-Sentinel's look at pending, by HCR William E. Gibson and Bob LaMendola:

About 27 percent of Florida adults under 65 were uninsured as of last year, third highest rate in U.S. That includes 600,000 people in Broward and Palm Beach counties ... Immigrant advocates say excluding the nearly 1 million undocumented Floridians would leave a huge gap in coverage, burdening providers who often are legally required to treat them despite not being paid.

Stop the madness

The Tampa Trib editors: "There is no doubt the nation needed to toughen the process of issuing drivers' licenses and identification cards. Consider: 18 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11 obtained drivers' licenses or ID cards in the United States to "establish" identifies in this country. Several of them came to Florida for flight training and obtained drivers' licenses."

But in trying to protect residents against murdering zealots, state and federal officials have gone overboard in requiring all applicants for drivers' licenses and ID cards to dig deep into their past to prove who they are.

The new paperwork requirements, which took effect New Year's Day, are mandated by Florida law and "Real ID," a federal law adopted in 2005. States were given time to comply.

The rules are so burdensome for longtime residents that anyone who needs to renew their licenses and identification cards better start the footwork several weeks in advance.

With the new paperwork requirements, Floridians are being hit with a double whammy, one that will likely result in more costs for people needing copies of documents.

Congress and officials in Florida and other states need to revisit this law to establish a reasonable coverage period or, better yet, have it apply only to new residents or those who have lived in a state for five years or less.

The across-the-board approach defies common sense.

After two years of governing Florida by shrewdly gauging the prevailing political winds, Crist strayed off course as the economy spiraled downward in 2009, his nice-guy image no longer effective as a balm for frustrated Floridians.

Quick with a warm smile and warmer handshake, the 53-year-old Crist has led a charmed political life as a state senator, education commissioner, attorney general and now governor. In the early years, approval ratings for the Republican from St. Petersburg soared in the 70s.

But by October 2009, there was a stunning turnabout. A Times/Herald/Bay News 9 poll showed his job performance was viewed more negatively (55 percent) than positively (42 percent) by Floridians.

Just a year ago, Crist appeared politically invincible as he harbored ambitions of heading to Washington.

But Rubio's technique is working. He's rising in the polls as Crist falls, in part because of the legacy of the governor's plans to fight global warming or restore civil rights for some ex-cons — positions anathema to many conservatives.

Sansom gets a pass

"An appellate court rejected an effort to revive criminal charges against former House Speaker Ray Sansom on Thursday, probably ending his court troubles."

DCA Judges Edward Barfield, Joseph Lewis and James Wolf agreed, holding that "we are without jurisdiction" and sent the issue back to circuit court.

Sansom still faces an Ethics Commission complaint and an internal House committee inquiry into his conduct.

The Destin Republican got an $110,000-a-year job at the college on Nov. 17, 2008, the day he became speaker.

Daily Rothstein

"6 more investors repay 'false profits' in alleged Sarasota Ponzi scheme".

They said it

"The year in Florida political quotes".

"Redistricting is always the Rubik's Cube of politics"

"The looming national census — to be conducted this year — signals the beginning of the complex legal and political job that affects almost every facet of state government, including the 40 districts in the state Senate and 120 districts in the Florida House. Legislative leaders have hired lawyers and consultants and committees are planning public hearings on staking out Florida's next political landscape." "State legislative districts to be redrawn in 2010".

"Shrill demands from cut-at-any-cost anti-tax activists"

The Daytona Beach News-Journal editors touch on some of last year's disappointments:

Local governments' budget woes started long before the economy tanked. Driven by increasingly shrill demands from cut-at-any-cost anti-tax activists, city and county governments squeezed their property-tax rates to the point where they no longer kept up with service demands. ...

Building acres of strip malls, condominiums and endless rows of tract houses might be good for short-term construction jobs and part-time work flipping hamburgers. But without a more aggressive, targeted approach, the counties have little hope of attracting jobs that pay a living wage and industries that anchor the community. ...

It was the paradox of the decade. Every local government talked up "smart" growth. Few lived up to it. The lure of fatter tax bases through all the growth they could immediately grab proved more seductive than long-term stability and environmental balance. Don't blame voters.

Legal geniuses

"McCollum, other GOP AGs criticize 'Nebraska Compromise'".

Charlie hangin' in there

"Even before John McCain made his choice of Alaska's governor as his vice presidential choice on Friday, at least one member of the media was predicting Gov. Charlie Crist would cancel his nuptials to Carole Rome if he wasn't on the ticket." "Pundit pops cold quip about love and guv".

Columnists and editors share their wisdom

- The Miami Herald editorial board: "As South Florida starts to recover from the Great Meltdown, the five million who live here have the opportunity to strengthen our community with a laser-focused agenda that will create jobs, stabilize the housing market and open up credit for struggling businesses." "2010: Renewal and resolution".

- The Orlando Sentinel editors: "The bursting housing bubble hit Florida especially hard. Unemployment soared, growth slowed and tourists stayed home. Heading into the 10s, there are hints of a recovery. The stock market has reclaimed some lost ground, and homes are starting to sell again. But it's going to be a difficult time, and success will depend on leaders setting aside pettiness, abandoning extremism and working together." "What's behind what we think".

- The Tampa Trib editors: "The decade we didn't see coming".

- The St. Pete Times editors: "With a new year comes new opportunities to tackle big issues. Florida and Tampa Bay have more than their share. Here are six resolutions our elected leaders should embrace in 2010." "New year, new hope".

- Pamela Hasterok: "2010 will be better, right?".

- Fred Grimm: "South Florida had its share of lowlights in '09".

- Mark Lane: A '10s guy greets era early".

- Scott Maxwell: "The good, the bad and the idiotic of 2009".

No DWS

"There's one name you can scratch from the list of potential contenders for the U.S. Senate in 2010: Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the rising congressional star from Weston." "Time for House and home but not Senate".

Dyer takes a bow

"The number of murders in unincorporated Orange County and Orlando plummeted by roughly 38 percent in 2009 — a striking change after more than three record-breaking years of deadly violence." "Orlando-area murders drop by 38% in 2009".

For most presiding officers-to-be, that's a formality — but Democrat Amy Mercado could extend him.

Mercado is a Hispanic activist who organized the Central Florida Puerto Rican community for the Barack Obama campaign and knows the changing face of District 35, which stretches from Winter Park east to Union Park and south toward Orlando. Hispanics make up 20 percent of its registered voters, and Democrats (39 percent) now outnumber Republicans (35 percent).

"His priorities are very different than what the district needs at the moment," says Mercado, 36. "I have nothing against oil drilling per se, but it amazes me that he's even taking this on. This shows he believes he's a shoo-in for this seat."

Cannon says that "I promised myself when I ran that I would fight for what I thought was right and not what would have an impact on my election."

University of Central Florida political scientist Aubrey Jewett, who has written about the rise of the Florida GOP, said that — for the first time in years — nothing is certain.

"The Republicans have got to the point where the seeds of decline are there," he said. "Cannon has some potential challenges out there, the first of which is to make sure he wins his own district."

McCollum's political hackery

"Republican attorneys general in 13 states say congressional leaders must remove Nebraska's political deal from the federal health care reform bill or face legal action, according to a letter provided to The Associated Press today."

The letter was signed by top prosecutors in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Michigan, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington state. All are Republicans, and McMaster and the attorneys general of Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania are running for governor in their respective states. ...

While it's not uncommon for states to challenge federal laws in court, one legal expert said political bluster was likely behind the letter.

"I do think that it is some combination of the losers just complaining about the officiating, or complaining about how the game was played, in combination with trying to make the bill look as seedy and inappropriate as possible, for political purposes," says Andy Siegel, a former University of South Carolina School of Law professor now teaching at Seattle University School of Law.

"It is smart politics to try to tarnish it and make it look less like an achievement and more like some sort of corrupted bargain," he said.

Greer fight continues

"A dozen prominent political donors have added their names to the growing list of those calling for the resignation of embattled state Republican Party chairman Jim Greer. The letter, delivered this week, argues that Greer's spot at the top of the party hurts fundraising and morale among the GOP faithful. "

Party leaders will meet Jan. 8 and 9 in Orlando, and Greer's future as chairman should be a main topic of conversation. Activists say they will try to remove him as chairman at the meeting. Greer said party rules do not allow them to do so.

Former Ambassador to Italy Mel Sembler's name at the bottom of the letter is perhaps the most surprising. The St. Petersburg developer is a longtime backer of Gov. Charlie Crist, and his son, Brent, is close friends with the governor. Crist handpicked Greer as chairman and continues to support him. ...

In a letter to the party on Dec. 21, Greer called it "treason'' that some party members are "airing dirty laundry'' in an effort to oust him.

Cotterell's quiz

Bill Cotterell quizzes his readers this morning

1. Supervising the unloading of a moving van in front of the Governor's Mansion at this time next year will be (a) Alex Sink, (b) Bill McCollum, (c) Paula Dockery, or (d) someone not yet in the race.

2. In Washington, the junior senator from Florida will be the negotiably honorable (a) Charlie Crist, (b) Marco Rubio, (c) Kendrick Meek, or (d) Maurice Ferre.

3. Florida's all-new Cabinet will be (a) two guys named Jeff and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, (b) CFO Jeff Atwater, Attorney General Dan Gelber and Agriculture Commissioner Cary Baker, (c) Atwater, AG Jeff Kottkamp and a Republican agriculture commissioner, or (d) Agriculture Commissioner Scott Maddox, Attorney General Dave Aronberg and Baker.

4. U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Monticello, will (a) be re-elected with his customary 60 percent-plus vote, (b) win by a career low of less than 55 percent, (c) survive a tough primary with Al Lawson, then win big over token Republican opposition, or (d) lose.

5. Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer will (a) keep his job in a Pyrrhic victory that makes it not worth having, (b) keep his job as a face-saving favor to Crist, then leave in a few months to spend more time with his family and day job, (c) turn it over to Allan Bense in the name of party unity and be cheered by the same people now throwing stones, or (d) be so thoroughly vindicated that Crist's successor begs him to stay on indefinitely.

6. Speaking of vindication, former House Speaker Ray Sansom, R-Destin, will (a) claim victory when the attorney general's office either doesn't appeal the dismissal of charges against him or loses that appeal, (b) claim victory despite a blistering Ethics Commission report that says his actions don't quite violate the rigid confines of Florida's toothless-watchdog laws, (c) claim victory when the House gives him a reprimand, preceded and followed by laudatory speeches by members who'll say his budgeting sleight-of-hand was no worse than what most appropriations chairmen do, or (d) all of the above.

7. The "tea party" backlash against federal fiscal policies will (a) become the new operating principles of the Republican Party, (b) fade away like the Townsend Clubs of the 1930s, Gene McCarthy campaign of the 1960s and nuclear freeze movement of the 1980s, (c) be proved wrong when the economy comes roaring back, thanks to President Obama, or (d) continue to get a lot of news attention but not have much real effect.

8. The big story of the 2010 legislative session will be (a) final resolution of the Seminole casino gambling compact, (b) how they deal with a couple billion more in revenue shortfalls, (c) how they finally get serious about corruption, including the legal bribery known as campaign finance, or (d) how they don't get serious about it but pretend they do.

"Oversight and transparency are inadequate"

The Tampa Trib editors: "If not for political considerations and some questionable staff decisions, Alex Sink's proposed reforms for the board that oversees state pension investment funds probably would enjoy bipartisan support."

But Chief Financial Officer Sink, a Democrat, is running for governor. So that makes her sensible suggestions radioactive to Attorney General Bill McCollum, a Republican also running for governor, and to Gov. Charlie Crist, who faces a tough GOP primary in his campaign for the U.S. Senate.

They happen to be her fellow trustees on the Florida State Board of Administration, which manages the state's $112 billion pension fund.

But Sink is correct. Oversight and transparency are inadequate - her own office demonstrates that.

The St. Petersburg Times reports three weeks after Fort Lauderdale lawyer Scott Rothstein's firm made a $200,000 contribution to the Democratic Party at a Sink fundraiser, her chief of staff, Jim Cassady, urged SBA officials to consider it for legal work. This never happened. Rothstein, who normally gave to GOP candidates, is suspected of running a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme from his law office. He awaits trial on federal fraud and racketeering charges.

Cassady and SBA officials deny any favoritism and say his involvement only resulted in courtesy calls. Perhaps, but his involvement is troublesome, and Sink should ensure the episode is thoroughly scrutinized.

RPOFers running Florida like a business

"Just when public schools thought they would get a break from budget cuts, the state is giving them some more bad news: They're losing money again, in large part because the state underestimated enrollment. ... Central Florida's seven counties will lose a combined $11 million." "Region's schools lose out on $11M".

Lane's list

Mark Lane: "Everybody's running lists this week of things that happened in 2009. That's a newspaper tradition. My tradition, however, is to celebrate the end of a year by running a list of things that didn't happen in Florida." He starts with this:

1. The Florida economy (and/or real estate market) bounces back. Our real-estate bubble burst earlier than other states, giving Florida more time to work through things. First in, first out, as we like to say. ...

5. Gov. Charlie Crist cruising toward re-election as governor. No strong Democrat challenger seen. Despite grumblings on the right, no significant Republican challenger emerges.

6. Big-name Democrats announce they're running against incumbent Sen. Mel Martinez in 2010. The state's chief financial officer, Alex Sink, is seen as the frontrunner, say Tallahassee insiders.

7. Gov. Crist appoints retired senator Connie Mack to fill U.S. Senate seat after Sen. Martinez steps down. "It would just be too brazen to appoint some crony who never held elected office just to keep the seat warm," says one Tallahassee insider.

8. Gov. Crist appoints former attorney general Jim Smith to fill U.S. Senate seat after Martinez steps down. "It would just be too brazen to appoint some crony who never held elected office just to keep the seat warm," says one Tallahassee insider.

9. Marco Rubio drops Senate bid. The former House speaker made the announcement after failing to raise enough money to launch a statewide campaign. ...

Bonus. State of emergency in Okaloosa County. So many state buildings were built there while Rep. Ray Sansom was House speaker that the county started sinking into the Gulf of Mexico under their combined weight. Sansom orders a study be conducted by Northwest Florida State College, where he is a vice president.

Florida may be "going bag free" ... Teabaggers in a dither

"Saying that plastic bags pose a threat to sea turtles and other marine mammals, clog storm water drains and mar the landscape, Florida regulators are considering following the lead of San Francisco, Ireland and Mexico City in going bag free." "Florida officials look at bag ban".

The "Space Caucus"

"Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and members of the 'Space Caucus' are vowing to cushion the blow of at least 3,500 layoffs when the shuttle fades into history as early as next year." "'Space Caucus' vows to ease blow of shuttle layoffs".

"Sliced up underwater sea grass beds all around Florida"

The St. Pete Times editors: "Boat propellers have sliced up underwater sea grass beds all around Florida, impairing the environment needed to nurture marine wildlife. The Ocean Foundation, a Washington-based organization, says it has come up with a way to pay for repair of those damaged beds: Allow developers to pay a 'mitigation fee' when their projects will destroy sea grasses, and use the money to replant grasses elsewhere in boat-scarred beds." "Sea grass plan doesn't cut it".

The developers club

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Dan Shalloway's defense of his role in the corruption scandal that felled his former partner, ex-Palm Beach County Commissioner Warren Newell, is that it's OK to conceal the truth. The Florida Board of Professional Engineers bought that defense in October, whittling a proposed $10,000 fine to $2,000."

It's not surprising then that one of the four board members who voted in Mr. Shalloway's favor had undisclosed ties to Mr. Shalloway and the engineering company he founded, now known as Engenuity Inc. As The Post's Charles Elmore reported Sunday, Bijay Panigrahi, CEO of BPC Group in Orlando, rents an office from Engenuity next to Engenuity's offices on Belvedere Road in West Palm Beach. Mr. Panigrahi proposed the two firms partner on a South Florida Water Management District contract. He met with Mr. Shalloway to discuss the deal before dropping the idea, undoubtedly after the bad publicity from the Newell scandal.

No "massive development"

"State officials scooted under a legal deadline on Christmas Eve, delivering a bah humbug message to a request from Volusia County and the Miami Corp, the county's largest private landowner. The Florida Department of Community Affairs, the state's chief planning agency, filled 13 pages with reasons why the Volusia County Council should not change the county's long-term comprehensive plan and allow a massive development the company proposed." "State advises Volusia to kill massive growth plan".

Weird

"You know you're living in a weird state when the governor promotes a pay-per-minute sex chat line. Or when a congressman asks the House speaker to move a day's worth of votes so he can watch a college football game." "This was the weird that was Florida".

Sounds like a plan -- unless this is just one more ruse to continue to lower corporate taxes, as Gov. Charlie Crist now proposes, without any real diversification in Florida's economy.

The tough truth is that Florida can't continue to count on new subdivisions and condo flippers to bail it out. More people are moving out of the state than are moving here, and economists are predicting that even when growth returns it will be slow going.

Tax incentives and fewer regulations for developers aren't the solution. Neither is oil drilling as close as five miles from Florida's coasts as Mr. Cannon has proposed. Those are desperate measures that will hurt Florida residents' quality of life and not help the unemployed in the long term.

It's unfortunate, too, that Gov. Crist appears to have gone AWOL.

Campaigning for the U.S. Senate, the governor hasn't devoted the time he should to finding more ways to rev up Florida's economy. He should have been calling a job summit a year ago.

His proposal this month to cut corporate taxes is more campaign ploy than reality check. Corporate taxes in Florida may need some tweaking in certain sectors, but they are not anywhere near as high as in most other states.

Without an income tax and having resisted any common sense approach to applying sales taxes to some services like lawncare and legal fees, Florida's tax structure -- not its tax rate -- remains the real culprit.

It's unfortunate, too, that Gov. Crist appears to have gone AWOL.

Campaigning for the U.S. Senate, the governor hasn't devoted the time he should to finding more ways to rev up Florida's economy. He should have been calling a job summit a year ago.

His proposal this month to cut corporate taxes is more campaign ploy than reality check. Corporate taxes in Florida may need some tweaking in certain sectors, but they are not anywhere near as high as in most other states.

Without an income tax and having resisted any common sense approach to applying sales taxes to some services like lawncare and legal fees, Florida's tax structure -- not its tax rate -- remains the real culprit.

Crist is off his game

Michael Putney: "Charlie Crist is off his game."

Charlie Crist is off his game. Way off his game, which was spectacular when it was good. He had the easy rhythm of public life down perfectly. Deferential to the Legislature (even when it didn't deserve it), easily accessible to the media (on a first-name basis with most) and wildly popular with most Floridians, Democrats as well as Republicans. Nowadays, Democrats have pretty much abandoned him, and hard-core GOP conservatives are flocking to Marco Rubio. Charlie's not only lost his mo, he's lost his mojo.

Low tax state begs for more fed cash

"The region's publicly funded job-service agency has exhausted the money set aside early this year for training scholarships. The scholarships were partly funded by $4 million in federal stimulus money that became available in April." "Orlando-area job-training money runs out".

How long will the rest of the nation subsidize Florida's irresponsibility?

Full-body scans

"Full-body airport scans? Reps. Hastings, Rooney, Wexler opposed them in June vote".

McCollum Laff riot

"Florida's attorney general said Tuesday that he is looking at possibly suing the federal government over concerns about proposed health care legislation moving through Congress."

"Upon initial review, this appears to be contrary to the freedoms we, as Americans, have enjoyed for the past 233 years," McCollum said in a statement released by his office before a telephone conference with reporters. "I'm not opposed to health care reform as such although I'm not happy about this particular bill."

He rejected several questions about his motivation being political. ...

Several Republican lawmakers last week asked McCollum to review the legislation being pushed by President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress.

Entrepreneurs in action

"Yellow Pages moving jobs from St. Pete to India".

Weatherford whines about unions

Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, whines about the teachers' unions this morning: "Union's position on grant hurts teachers". This from a teacher, Andy Ford, who also happens to be president of the 140,000 Florida Education Association: "Proposal for federal school funds is flawed".

Yaaawwwnnn ...

"Top 10 Central Florida power players".

Tampa Bay nation's worst

"Tampa Bay nation's worst in October home price index". See also "The Tampa Bay area had the worst performance during October as measured by an index of housing prices in 20 national markets." "Tampa Bay area home prices show worst decline".

Wingnuts mobilized

"The congressional debate on overhauling the nation's health care system may have taken a break for the holidays, but U.S. Rep. Ron Klein faced some pointed questions about the plan on Tuesday." "Klein faces tough crowd on health care overhaul".

2009

"The year began with a special session in the first days of January to deal with state budgets swimming in red ink and ended with a December special session to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on rail projects." "2009: The year in Florida news".

Crist and McCollum shudder in fear of unions

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "With more than $100 billion in investments, Florida has the nation's fourth-largest pension fund. For the nearly 1 million public employees and retirees counting on the fund — and the taxpayers who would cover any shortfalls — Florida can't afford anything less than strong supervision."

CFO Sink has been calling for better oversight of the agency since a crisis two years ago exposed serious management problems. Her proposals include adding a trustee with investment expertise and one enrolled in the pension plan as an employee or retiree. But her reform push seems to have hit a political roadblock. ...

Critics of Sink's proposals warn that adding a public employee or retiree to the trustees would give unions undue influence over state investments. But it's hard to imagine that a single trustee could carry out a union takeover.

The argument from Gov. Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum that everything's OK now makes sense only until the next crisis. Both could show that better protecting Florida's assets is more important to them than petty politics by getting behind the push for more reform.

Time to cut taxes!

"State reports 201 child abuse deaths in 2008".

Daily Rothstein

"A complaint filed in the bankruptcy case involving Scott Rothstein's former law firm tries to reclaim nearly $4 million from attorney Steven Lippman, who had worked at the firm." "Complaint seeks $4M from lawyer in Scott Rothstein firm".

Pressure mounts on Greer

"Republican Party donors call for resignation of state chairman". And they are: Richard Beard, Tampa; William Becker, Vero Beach; Seth Bernstein, Orlando; Ambassador Charles E. Cobb, Miami, J.C. Demetree, Jacksonville; Earl Durden, Panama City; Ed Easton, Miami; Mark Guzetta, Boca Raton; Charles Hilton, Panama City; Ambassador Al Hoffman, Ft. Myers; Ambassador Mel Sembler, St. Petersburg; Ambassador Ned Siegel, Boca Raton. See also "Major GOP donors call for Jim Greer to step down".

The best we can do?

"Finances bleak for Miami-Dade's public hospital system".

"Stop rationalizing business as usual in Tallahassee"

The St Pete Times editors: "A year ago, Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom was stubbornly defending his new high-paid position at Northwest Florida State College, his reward for quietly steering millions in public money to the school. Now, his college job and the speakership are long gone, and the disgraced Destin Republican remains under state indictment and federal investigation."

The criminal charges and legislative sanctions against Sansom should be fully pursued in 2010 and he should be held responsible for his misconduct. But there is a broader opportunity here. It is time to stop rationalizing business as usual in Tallahassee. The governor, the Legislature and the courts need to take a stand, strengthen corruption and campaign fundraising laws, and hold the state's elected leaders accountable. As their New Year's resolution, Floridians should demand it.

Water and oil don't mix

"The Legislature may decide whether the South Florida Water Management District can impose a year-round watering limit." "Watering limits could face challenge in Legislature".

Top 10 Florida political stories of the year

"Top 10 Florida political stories for 2009". A different list: "Weak economy, high unemployment voted top stories of the year in Florida".

Daily Rothstein

"Fort Lauderdale lawyer Scott Rothstein was a Republican ATM. In four years, he and his law firm gave $650,000 to Republican candidates and the state GOP. They gave nothing to Florida's Democratic Party and just a pittance to state candidates."

On Sept. 9, the state Democratic Party received a $200,000 check from Rothstein's firm, money he had pledged to donate at a fundraiser he hosted at his home for Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink.

About three weeks after the $200,000 contribution was recorded, Rothstein's firm landed on a list of law firms being considered for potentially lucrative work with the State Board of Administration - with an assist from Sink's chief of staff.

Sink, who along with Gov. Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum oversee the board, said there was no connection between the contribution and her deputy's intervention for Rothstein's firm. She said she didn't know her chief of staff had put in a word for the law firm until the St. Petersburg Times asked her about it.

Can they fly with Kevlar?

"20 whooping cranes learning to migrate to Florida".

Florida's "folly"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editors: "Since 2001, when it was at $1.62 billion, the Department of Corrections' budget has increased by 50 percent. It's at $2.43 billion today, a 5.7 percent increase over last year's $2.3 billion. The department's budget devours almost 10 percent of the state's general revenue to maintain a total payroll of 30,500 that keeps 100,000 inmates in prison -- a 3-to-1 per-inmate ratio. That's about eight times better than the state's teacher-pupil ratio. Despite a crime rate that has fallen steadily through the decade, the inmate population has risen 46 percent since 2001."

Criminals aren't getting more violent or committing more crimes. The state's incarceration laws have been made harsher since the mid-1980s (when Florida abolished parole) and the 1990s (when Florida harshed up mandatory sentences on adults and youthful offenders and ended the release of any state prison inmate before he or she serves at least 85 percent of a sentence). Yet, criminologists cast serious doubt on the effectiveness of harsher sentences, which contradict the principle of rehabilitation. It's called a department of corrections, not a department of punishment.

It would be folly. Legislators are looking for a better way. Texas is their example. Texas sentences mirrored Florida's. So did its exploding population. So, Texas changed its corrections approach, focusing especially on drug rehabilitation and education for inmates and sustained rehabilitation programs after release. (Criminologists point to drug rehab's effectiveness: Just 6 percent of violent offenders who have undergone rehab recommit crimes after their release, compared with 33 percent of those who don't get rehab. Yet, in Florida this year, the prison system's drug-treatment programs were cut by $6.2 million, education programs by $3.4 million.)

Off topic

Priot to the Detroit incident, drooling anti-union fool, "Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., ha[d] placed a hold on the president's choice to head the TSA over the senator's concern that the new leader would let TSA screeners join a labor union." "Key security agencies lack permanent leaders". Tom Blackburn asks: "Are we really going to pay the 40 Republicans in the Senate $174,000 apiece for doing nothing all year?"

Meantime, the Orlando Sentinel, goes for the GOPer spin in its online front page, asking the following: "Fire Homeland Security chief?"

Chiles sick to his stomach

"Lawton "Bud" Chiles: Charlie Crist 'makes me sick to my stomach'".

Florida Power & Light

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Just before Christmas, Florida Power & Light learned that, for the company, it shapes up as an unhappy new year." "Dimming demand of FPL".

Toothless

"A complaint that Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, violated House rules by allegedly soliciting contributions during a legislative session was dismissed today by House Rules Chairman Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton."

Galvano ruled that the complaint was not valid because it was based on a report from The Palm Beach Post, and not on “personal knowledge.”

Six-figure salaries

"A visit with the highest-paid government employees would take you from the University of South Florida, to the state Legislature in Tallahassee, to the Southwest Florida Water Management District in Brooksville."

That's where you'll find the biggest share of people getting six-figure salaries among the two dozen state and local government agencies – employing more than 200,000 people – that are tracked by TBO.

It's a level of pay that's coming under greater scrutiny in tight economic times by a public that's always skeptical of who's on its payroll.

Foley whines

Foley whines: "'This is the senator that hired his staffer and then took her on trips…and divorced his wife….and they had me run out of town.'" "Mark Foley, on Facebook, weighs in on Democratic Sen. Max Baucus".

Oil and water to mix

"Opponents of South Florida's new year-round watering rules are taking their fight to the Legislature, opting for legislative muscle over courtroom battles." "New South Florida water rules dodge appeals, but face test in Tallahassee".

GOP has "released the rats"

Anthony Man writes that "tea party supporters and related groups have picked up where the demonstrations left off. They are active throughout the United States and in South Florida, where they're holding regular protests, preparing to register voters and recruiting more and more followers."

So far, the movement is loosely organized, and it's impossible to say how many tea party supporters there are in South Florida. Activities depend on participants' energy and interests.

tea partiers have gathered, rain or shine, with signs and American flags every Saturday for more than 40 straight weeks at the intersection of Oakland Park Boulevard and Federal Highway. Demonstrators can bring signs addressing whatever issues they consider most important.

In Palm Beach County, tea party organizers are conducting voter registration drives, looking for an office and seeking volunteers who speak Hebrew, are willing to make phone calls, and are able to knock on doors.

So are members of related groups, such as the 9-12 Project, whose members in Miami-Dade have been lobbying state legislators. Spawned by Fox News commentator Glenn Beck, 9-12 members say they're dedicated to returning the United States to the sense of unity felt the day after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"For far too long the silent majority has been silent," said Beth Culbertson, of Parkland. Culbertson, who has participated in the Fort Lauderdale protests and is starting similar weekly events in her city, said her goal is "awareness, for Americans to wake up. We have corruption. We have big taxing, big spending, big government. Enough. Stop with the spending. Just stop with the spending. Just stop it. This administration is driving us over a cliff. It's not all this administration. It's the one before it, too. We have had enough. It's not about left. It's not about right. Our common ground is freedom."

Sid Dinerstein, chairman of the Palm Beach County Republican Party, said he thinks the tea party movement ultimately will help his party. "While we can't predict how this will play out, the country needs the discussion that the tea party people are asking us to have."

A growing and vibrant tea party movement could also threaten the Republican Party, by stealing away voters from its base.

"How do you really manage these things? It's like trying to put the genie back in the bottle," said [Robert] Watson, the political science professor. "You've released the rats to terrorize your enemy, but how do you get them back in the pen?"

From the "just say 'no' crowd"

"U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller will host town hall meetings next week to discuss health care." "Miller to host town halls on health care".

Perhaps Mr. Miller will explain what his plan is, inasmuch as he voted against the House bill and opposes the public option.

Foreclosure mediation

"Facing one of the worst foreclosure crises in the nation, Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Peggy Quince ordered judges statewide Monday to starting sending foreclosure cases to a new "managed mediation" program in which financially strapped homeowners can try to negotiate a way out of losing their homes."

Florida's court system expects to have nearly a half-million homeowners in foreclosure proceedings when the ball drops on the New Year later this week, flooding court dockets statewide. Quince noted in her administrative order that "the crisis continues unabated."

Gambling, restoring ex-felons civil rights, abortion, the federal stimulus, energy and others. Attorney General McCollum is considered a conservative policy wonk and Crist is a populist who prefers to think in general terms while leaving the details to staff.

So it was a just a little bit odd recently when McCollum mailed a fundraising letter in which he said if elected governor he wants to be "a leader who will carry on the conservative legacy of Governors Charlie Crist and Jeb Bush." That's because many Florida Republicans don't consider Crist to be a true conservative.

Despite the mailer, don't expect McCollum to campaign as a Crist conservative. He's already being cautious about what he says about the current governor. While McCollum will talk about his views, he isn't always forthcoming about his opinions on Crist.

Asked about the fundraising letter and who he is more like, conservative, policy-minded Bush or Crist, and McCollum replied, "I'm not going there."

The next time someone whines about state employees ...

... direct them to this information, summarized by Bill Cotterell: "About this time every year, the Department of Management Services puts out a neat little report containing everything you could possibly want to know about state employment, plus a lot of stuff that probably never occurred to you."

The size and cost of state personnel remain at the bottom nationally. In 2008, the average state government had 216 employees per 10,000 population; Florida had 118. Also, the average payroll expenditure was $69 per state resident nationwide, but only $38 in Florida. The state was tied with Illinois for the lowest ratio of actual employees to population, and we ranked 49th in authorized full-time positions (103) per 10,000 residents.

Another fine Jebacy

"Florida's weak economy, with its high unemployment and foreclosure rates, was the state's top story in 2009, according to a vote of newspaper editors conducted by The Associated Press." "Weak economy, high unemployment Fla.'s top story".

"It feels like home"

Mark Lane: "You want to get a strong, personal grasp of Florida history? Florida history that applies right to where you are now? Here's where to start: Your home's title binder."

To the practiced eye, the average Florida land title search has a grand, multigenerational sweep that is at once comic and tragic. It is breathtaking in its scope. International in its reach. It touches aspirations and petty scams that stay strangely constant over decades.

Many concerned citizens look upon our current economic misfortunes and how we've been brought down by international fraud, experimental finance, rollercoaster land values, and unsustainable expectations falling to Earth and feel it's The End of the World as We Know It.

But in Florida, it feels like home.

"Goes without saying, right? Not in Florida"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "More than 100 legislators approved the bill this month that fosters passenger train systems throughout Florida. Nine people, however, soon will be charged with moving those train systems forward, helping shape, sustain and sometimes connect them"

The group of nine can pull it off if two things happen, above all others:

First, the governor, Senate president and House speaker must appoint exceptionally qualified people to the commission. Goes without saying, right? Not in Florida.

Last year Gov. Charlie Crist appointed the wife of his top lawyer to be chairwoman of a commission that handles labor issues. Sara Gonzalez's qualifications amounted to being a dermatologist's assistant.

Duh ...

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "After three years of no pay raises for state employees, this would be a modest but meaningful incentive and career motivation that would cost taxpayers no additional money at all." "Our Opinion: Free classes for state workers is a win-win situation".

Wonder what "chain gang Charlie" thinks?

The Miami Herald editors: "Florida's Supreme Court puts an end to humiliating juveniles". "Court made right call in limiting juvenile shackles".

Just the way they like it

The St. Pete Times editorial board: "The Florida Ethics Commission is like a police agency with few weapons, little investigatory scope and no authority to lock up an individual." "Ethics watchdog needs teeth".

Corporate welfare flops

"Buoyed by more than $100 million of public assistance, Central Florida's 'medical city' is emerging with a spate of new biomedical-research and health-care buildings in a far corner of Orlando. Yet it is not the property-tax cash cow that some officials had expected." "Medical city isn't helping tax rolls".

"Reality demands a different economic model"

"Florida is a growth-a-holic that based its economy on the premise of endless expansion. For decades, new residents came in waves, bringing with them hopes for a fresh start and demand for everything from housing to stores to restaurants."

Now the state faces what once was unthinkable.

Forecasters say the days of dizzying growth are over. Last year, in fact, the state lost population for the first time since World War II. Florida will grow again once a recovery takes root, demographers say, but at a slower pace.

That reality demands a different economic model – a sustainable strategy less dependent on the arrival of others.

"Dirty secrets"

"2009 was the year some of our region's dirty secrets, previously only whispered about in the corridors of power, came to light." "2009: A year of corruption and arrests in South Florida". Related: Michael Mayo: "'Does it ever stop?' asks reader outraged by corruption cases".

More: "Complete coverage : The fall of Scott Rothstein".

Florida Panthers

"The Seminole Tribe has applied for a permit to expand a rock mine in a remote corner of northwest Broward County, in a proposal that could generate opposition from environmentalists concerned about the Florida panther." "Seminole Tribe applies to expand rock mine in west Broward; environmentalists concerned about Florida panther".

The rich are different

"Ivana Trump forcibly removed from Palm Beach plane".

The public backlash over federal bailouts and a $1.4 trillion deficit, however, has hurt Crist, and his efforts at spin have been disastrous. He even told viewers of CNN recently that he didn't endorse the stimulus, which is hard to square with his appearance in Tampa with Barack Obama in support of it.

For his part, Rubio recently told a Tampa television station that, despite all of his criticism, he would have accepted the federal money, or at least most of it, but that he wouldn't have hugged Obama as Crist did. I guess that means Crist's support wasn't all that bad after all.

The big winners in this GOP comedy routine are the Democrats, who justifiably criticize both Crist and Rubio for flip-flopping.

Forget the past, and cast the debate forward. Advocate a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Get behind a proposal for an independent panel to address budgetary and entitlement reform, with its recommendations given to Congress for an up or down vote. Back a strong defense, but insist the nation begin to wind down its unsustainable defense and aid commitments to other countries so it can get its own economic house in order.

In 1994, Newt Gingrich engineered a political shift of tectonic proportions through the Contract with America. The contract stressed economic and government reform, but Gingrich insisted it leave out social issues such as prayer in public schools.

Republican candidates should copy Gingrich's game plan. The surest way for the GOP to blow its momentum is for it to engineer another Terri Schiavo escapade, or in any way look as if it wants to turn the United States into a theocracy.

Evil "union bosses"

"Former Broward union boss to leave prison in May".

Charlie's latest

Aaron Deslatte: "Crist's campaign is finding it increasingly necessary to blast Washington in order to protect his right flank from GOP rival Marco Rubio, whom polls show is now neck-and-neck with the once-unbeatable Crist." "Can it be? Charlie Crist, Marco Rubio agree bill raises taxes".

Imagine that

"States that have already broadly expanded health care coverage are pushing back against the Senate overhaul bill, arguing that it unfairly penalizes them in favor of states that have done little or nothing to extend benefits to the uninsured." "States With Expanded Health Coverage Fight Bill".

Mercado to take on Cannon and "the culture of corruption"

"Conventional wisdom says the likelihood of successfully taking on the speaker-designate of the Florida House — especially someone with the fund-raising abilities of Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park — ranges from poor to … you get the picture. But that's not stopping Amy Mercado. The Democrat and Hispanic activist has picked up the endorsement of U.S. Rep. (and U.S. Senate candidate) Kendrick Meek of Miami and promises a vigorous campaign against 'the culture of corruption' in Tallahassee. " "Cannon faces challenge".

Do you tip your hotel housekeeper?

"Of all the workers travelers encounter, hotel maids are most likely to be stiffed at tip time."

Often unseen by guests, they are known only by the crisp pillows they plump or fluffy towels they hang.

"Sometimes they slip under the radar, but they are incredibly deserving," says Dan Post Senning of the Emily Post Institute in Burlington, Vt. "They deserve a tip of $1 to $3 a day."

Hotel maid: $2-$5 per day, left daily

Bellhop: $2 first bag, $1 per additional bag

Skycap: $2 first bag; $1 per additional bag

Doorman: $1-$2 for carrying luggage or hailing a cab

Concierge: $5-$10 if they get you tickets or reservations

Taxi driver: 15 percent plus $1-$2 if they help with your bags

Room service waiter: 15 percent

Private excursion or tour guides: 10-15 percent

Group tour guide or driver: $2 daily

Airport or hotel shuttle drivers: $1-$2

If "government is the problem", why not resign?

The Tallahassee Democrat editors: "Both Mr. Cannon and Mr. Haridopolos have said they want bipartisan participation. That would be ideal, if a bit hard to finesse in an election year."

The two men, in a My View published in Wednesday's Democrat, curiously paraphrase Ronald Reagan, saying "government is not the solution to the problem; government is the problem."

As government leaders, they do have to be part of the solution. But to date the Florida Legislature hasn't been able to agree on the worth of federal stimulus dollars — even though government construction has been about the only game around for the last year.

When the stimulus dollars run out, what then? This is the great conundrum, and one that will take a sincere commitment on the part of all players to keep their eye on the ball — that 600-pound elephant in the room that's looking for a gig, not their next election.

We hope they can rise to the calling of bipartisan problem-solving far better than they have in the past. Florida has never needed it more.

Sentinel goes after Grayson (again)

Alleged journalist Jane Healy does the RPOF's bidding (yet again): "It's hard to pick this year's most outrageous Florida politicians. The competition is stiff."

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson. What exactly is wrong with this man? Before he assumed office last January, representing much of Orange and Lake counties, he had earned a reputation as an arrogant bully.

But a lot of candidates act like that in a campaign, only to be brought back to earth when they reach the hallowed halls of the U.S. Capitol. Sorry, but not in this case. Grayson even seemed to have upped the ante.

By now everyone should be familiar with his antics surrounding the health care bill, in which he said the Republicans' plan is for sick people to "die quickly." That is, anyone watching cable TV talk shows. Grayson lunged from one to another, with the hosts all too happy to have a congressman who would shoot from the hip at the slightest provocation.

He became too much even for them, though, when he called a female lobbyist turned Federal Reserve official a "K Street whore."

But Grayson's latest foray into the public eye may be the worst. He is trying to get jail time for a Republican Lake County activist* who has created a Web site called mycon gressmanisnuts.com. It's parodying Grayson's Web site called congressmanwithguts.

Grayson has asked the U.S. attorney general to investigate the woman who started it*, and accuses her of lying because she doesn't live in his district. This sounds like a man with too much time on his hands.

With his Harvard law degree, doesn't he know that parody is famously protected by the First Amendment? Can't wait to see what he cooks up next year.

Yaaawwwnnn ...

Scott Maxwell: "The 25 Most Powerful People in Central Florida".

"Crist fumbles" 'Glades restoration

Mike Thomas: "The world's largest empty swimming pool, a massive 26-square-mile reservoir two years in the making, sits high and dry in the middle of the Everglades, abandoned after taxpayers invested $280 million building it."

The original intent was to store water that would be used to nourish the nation's most endangered swamp. But last September, the South Florida Water Management District paid the contractor $12 million just to walk away from the job.

The district blames environmental groups for filing a lawsuit against the project, which is complete rubbish. They supported the reservoir and wanted to see it finished. Their litigation was aimed at ensuring the water in it would go to the Everglades and not farmers. This is clearly documented in court records, correspondence and even a news release put out by the Natural Resources Defense Council when the lawsuit was filed.

So why blame the environmentalists?

A more realistic explanation is that the district ran out of money. And the reason for that is Gov. Charlie Crist's intervention in the ongoing Everglades-restoration project.

In June 2008, Crist announced a blockbuster deal to buy out U.S. Sugar Corp. and use its 187,000 acres of farmland to store and cleanse water in the massive swamp. But it morphed into a sweetheart deal for U.S. Sugar.

And now it's very much a tossup whether Crist's plans will save the Everglades or doom them.

This isn't easy for me to write because, as a big Glades guy, I was one of those who showered Charlie with confetti 18 months ago.

Fire away

"Florida's 2005 Stand Your Ground law, which broadens a citizen's right to use deadly force, is vexing courts across the state." "Stand your ground law vexing Florida courts".

Medicare Advantage

"Seniors worry about Medicare Advantage cuts".

Speaking out of both sides of her derriere

"Republican gubernatorial candidate Paula Dockery is taking shots at embattled state GOP Chairman Jim Greer, urging him to 'come clean' and open the party's financial records to the public. But that concern didn't stop the Lakeland state senator from raising coin for the party." "Dockery on both sides of fence?"

"New rules"

"New rules to take effect on sinkholes, property taxes".