FLORIDA POLITICS
Since 2002, daily Florida political news and commentary

 

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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 Thursday, June 24, 2010

Florida teabaggers imploding

    Update: "Battling over names and rights, "tea party" groups sparred Wednesday in federal court in West Palm Beach. 'The defendant has overstepped his attempt at monopoly,' attorney Frank Herrera told U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra, contending that Frederic O'Neal had no exclusive right to the Florida Tea Party name." "Tea vs. TEA: Parties Battle in Court".

    "A group of tea party activists who say the "tea party" name has been hijacked for nefarious purposes tried to hold a news conference Thursday — but it was hijacked." "Tea partiers clash, accuse each of other of intimidation". See also "Florida teabaggers develop new strategy: spelling".


    Crist raising Dem dollars

    "By bolting from the Republican Party, Gov. Charlie Crist has one place left to raise big money in his race for the U.S. Senate: Democrats."

    A governor who once courted conservatives by calling himself a "Jeb Bush Republican" is getting help from liberal trial lawyers, union activists and even elected Democrats, who are shunning their party's Senate hopefuls, wealthy Palm Beach businessman Jeff Greene and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami.
    "Trial lawyers, union and Democratic loyalists are siding with Crist in U.S. Senate race".


    "Insults and accusations"

    "The top two Democrats running for U.S. Senate offered few prospective policy differences during their first debate today, choosing instead to level each other with insults and accusations." "Meek, Greene aggressive in first Democratic debate for U.S. Senate seat".

    The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "It is a shame that this week's debate between Florida's two leading Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate was not televised statewide in prime time."

    The first encounter between Palm Beach billionaire investor Jeff Greene and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami was entertaining, enlightening — and entirely disappointing all at the same time. These are two seriously flawed candidates, and Democrats have a difficult choice to make just two months from today.
    "Two flawed choices for Democrats".


    Rubio backpedaling on HCR

    "Senate candidate Marco Rubio (R-FL), who has been a darling of conservatives this cycle, may be shifting closer to the center on his opposition to President Obama's recently enacted health care bill. Today he told a group of bloggers that he would not repeal the ban on denying insurance coverage to people based on pre-existing conditions, Jim Geraghty reports." "Rubio: I Wouldn't Repeal All Of Health Care Reform".


    Public employee pension politics

    "Once they were considered a sacred perk for public sector employees. But pensions have morphed into an albatross for many municipalities, compounded by shrinking tax revenues, investment losses and longer life spans. Now cities such as Fort Lauderdale and Delray Beach are reining in costs for future retirees, with others ready to follow suit." "Municipalities begin slashing pension costs". See also "Some pension reforms in South Florida" and "Broward County workers boost pension payouts with overtime work".

    Michael Mayo parrots the usual League of Cities line in "Gathering pension storm could drown taxpayers in debt".


    Crist

    "Crist ceremonially signs condo bill at 3 South Florida locales".


    Looking to knock off Bill Young

    "Democrat looks to knock off longest-serving Republican in U.S. House "

    The congressional race in Florida’s 10th District is heating up as the longest-serving Republican in the U.S. House, U.S. Rep. Bill Young, is facing his most serious Democratic challenger in years: Sen. Charlie Justice, D-St. Petersburg.
    "Veteran Congressman Bill Young Faces Rare and Tough Challenge From Charlie Justice".


    HD 67

    "Four candidates slugged it out Wednesday night in a debate in a political race that is among the most competitive of local primary contests. The discussion among candidates running for Florida House District 67 ranged from questions about Gulf oil drilling to how best to balance the state budget." "District 67 fight: Debate focuses attention on race".


    Haridopolos funnels hundreds of thousands of dollars to McCollum

    "Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos is looking like the latest top Florida lawmaker putting his money behind fellow Republican Bill McCollum in his primary fight with multimillionaire Rick Scott."

    Haridopolos’ Freedom First Committee recently took in $500,000 from three Broward County companies, but quickly transfered most of the cash to another political committee whose leaders are supporting McCollum in the Republican primary for governor.
    "Another 527 Poised to Help McCollum".


    Fl-oil-duh

    "Even as tar balls wash up on Florida Panhandle shores from the April 20 oil spill, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio stands consistently behind offshore drilling." "Marco Rubio’s consistency on offshore drilling may cost him at the polls". See also "FL-Sen: Rubio supports oil because it's safe".

    "Pensacola Beach got the worst wallop so far in Florida from the spreading Gulf of Mexico slick, with eight miles of sticky oil arriving on the area's pristine sands." "Miles of oil washing up in Florida Panhandle".

    See also "NOAA: Undersea oil plumes came from BP well", "Oil gusher spews full force after mishap", "Oil threatens inland waters in Escambia", "Thompson: Spill couldn't come at a worse time for NW Florida tourism industry", "Gulf counties vent frustrations", "Myopic view of the spill", "People worldwide to join Florida activists' cause in 'Hands Across the Sand' protest", "Cerabino: Is it time to 'kneel, baby, kneel' our way out of the oil spill disaster?", "Storm season and oil spill: A lot of what ifs", "Gulf oil closes Fla. beach, nears Miss. islands", "", "Oiled-bird rescue expert watches, waits -- and teaches", "" and "More oil gushing into Gulf after problem with cap".


    "Lessons from a 1994 California Senate race"

    "In Florida politics, it’s the season of the deep-pocketed, self-funded candidate."

    People have watched in wonder as Jeff Greene and Rick Scott — two previous unknowns without any experience holding public office — have spent millions of their own money on TV, radio and print ads in pursuit of statewide office, and seen their name recognition and favorability ratings rocket as a result.

    Lessons from a 1994 California Senate race may offer clues to how Kendrick Meek and Bill McCollum plan to defeat their mega-rich opponents.
    "Lessons for Meek, McCollum on how to defeat a deep-pocketed opponent".

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