McCollum, who is spearheading a lawsuit for 20 states fighting the federal healthcare overhaul as an unconstitutional mandate, wants Crist to approve the measure, HB 1143, imposing the new requirement on women.

McCollum ignored warnings about Rekers

"Disgraced psychologist George Rekers was labeled a 'right-wing, religious-based' expert witness and rejected for months by state attorneys defending Florida's gay adoption ban."

But when they couldn't find anyone else to replace him on the witness stand, Attorney General Bill McCollum overruled his trial attorneys, quickly hired Rekers, and paid him twice his agreed upon contract with no questions asked, according to documents released this week by McCollum's office.

Rekers, a psychiatry professor at the University of South Carolina, has been stripped of his credibility after reports surfaced that he hired a gay male escort to give him nude "sexual'' massages and accompany him on a recent European vacation. ...

Rekers had been used in a previous case involving the state DCF and was retained as an expert witness in an Arkansas case. But the lead trial attorney defending the state ban on adoption, Assistant Attorney General Valerie Martin strongly urged the state not to use him again.

"Dr. Rekers is a right-wing, religious based expert who I was reluctant to use - but nevertheless contacted him with no response,'' Martin wrote in a March 2007 e-mail to John Slye, DCF deputy general counsel.

Pill Mills

"Crist signs laws regulating pill mills, tattoo parlors". See also "Crist signs bill cracking down on 'pill mill' operators".

Keep it secret, keep it safe

Aaron Deslatte: "The indictment of former GOP Chairman Jim Greer is dominating the headlines. But it could also lead to a much broader exposure of the cottage industry of vendors who feed off the politicians in power."

Or, the issue could just drop off the radar – as seems more likely.

Amid the frenzy after Greer was forced out, when Republican leaders were frantically attempting to calm the nerves of donors, new Chairman John Thrasher ordered a forensic audit into credit-card spending and contracts between the party and outside vendors.

The Atlanta firm he hired, Alston & Bird, LLP, spent 18 months as examiner in Texas energy giant Enron's monumental bankruptcy case in 2002-04.

Its early findings on the credit-card charges of Greer and former executive director Delmar Johnson will be presented to the GOP's audit committee in two weeks. It's known that the auditors have turned up a few oddities: the party was renting an apartment across the street from its headquarters in Tallahassee, for instance.

But Thrasher is mum on whether any findings will be released.

Fl-oil-duh

"The last, desperate defense against the oil creeping onto the delicate shores and tangled marshes of the Gulf Coast are bits of plastic that at best can only keep some of the slick away."

Yet imperfect as they are, the booms are so precious some of them have been stolen and coastal counties are clamoring for miles more -- underscoring the helplessness that pervades communities along the Gulf of Mexico 45 days into the spill.

"The New Charlie"

"Crist's campaign has signed up the firm of SKD Knickerbocker, with co-founder Josh Isay becoming Crist's lead media consultant." "Charlie Crist's New Media Team Members Have Dem-Heavy Resumes". See also "Crist Hires Ex-Schumer Chief of Staff to Run Media Campaign".

Bill on the dole

"Republicans like to call it "welfare for politicians," but guess who criticizes the system and is one of the biggest beneficiaries? You got it — Republican politicians." "Public financing may be doomed in Florida, but McCollum sure needs it".

"We want jobs"

"The Overtown Alliance and dozens of residents met face to face with representatives of the University of Miami and county and city commissioners on Tuesday afternoon at Williams Park Community Center to deliver a message: We want jobs." "Residents of historically black Miami neighborhood demand jobs".

We don' need no stinkin' extensions

"107,000 Floridians lose jobless checks today".

A Chamber thing

The alleged Ponzi schemer was described "as a flashy guy involved in social activities who knew how to work the table at a Hialeah Chamber of Commerce dinner." "Jeweler accused of Ponzi scheme made political campaign donations".

AG differences

"When voters choose from among five candidates to be Florida's next attorney general, their decision could have a profound effect on some of the state's most highly charged issues, from gay adoption to health care reform." "Separating the candidates for Florida attorney general by key issues".

Crist's protection and rewarding of loyalists

Tim Nickens finds "more disturbing than Crist's flexibility on policy is his weakness for protecting and rewarding loyalists. Three of the most obvious examples: "

• Indicted former Republican Party chairman Jim Greer. Why Crist chose an obscure Central Florida fundraiser to lead the state party in 2007 remains mystifying. ...

• Sen. George LeMieux. After Sen. Mel Martinez resigned last year, Crist went through a charade of visiting with members of Congress and others about filling the vacancy. LeMieux never had held elected office, but he had been the governor's campaign manager and chief of staff.

There were better choices. ...

• Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Frank Peterman. Crist's top aides warned Peterman against flying so often at state cost, and the former St. Petersburg legislator kept doing it.

Rubio's extreme right wing positions could hurt him

"It's among Hispanic voters that some of Rubio's conservative positions could prove divisive."

Last fall he opposed the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, the country's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice, saying he had concerns about her case history and testimony on issues such as the Second Amendment right to bear arms. He opposes counting undocumented immigrants in the U.S. census and providing them a pathway to citizenship.

He suggested in an interview with a conservative publication, Human Events, that even illegal immigrant children who have spent most of their lives in the U.S. shouldn't be allowed to stay. He later told The Associated Press: "Young children have to go wherever their parents are."

And after initially expressing concerns about Arizona's immigration law, the nation's harshest, Rubio reversed his position and came out in support, saying subsequent changes aimed at preventing racial profiling have greatly improved it.

Sordid doings at the RPOF

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: "The indictment of Jim Greer for allegedly looting the Republican Party of Florida brings us another case of a political figure indulging a cold-blooded instinct to attack the vulnerable, particularly those sick enough to be hospitalized."

The tale of how Mr. Greer cast aside a veteran RPOF fund-raiser who didn't buy into his alleged scheme is the newest episode in a series. For previous episodes, think of former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich. He already was in the House in 1980 when his first wife, Jackie, underwent surgery for uterine cancer. Mr. Gingrich, a family-values guy, visited his wife in the hospital the day after the surgery to negotiate terms of their divorce. She is said to have thrown him out.

Then there's the weird case from 2004, when White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales and White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card invaded the hospital room of Attorney General John Ashcroft. The two White House staffers tried but failed to get Mr. Ashcroft - recovering from gall bladder surgery, sedated and barely conscious - to sign off on a program to conduct warrantless domestic surveillance.

Mr. Greer's efforts to push aside Meredith O'Rourke fit into that pattern. The details are contained in a Florida Department of Law Enforcement affidavit used to indict Mr. Greer this week on six counts of fraud, theft and money-laundering.

Knowing that Ms. O'Rourke was in a Tallahassee hospital, Mr. Greer "called her to demand that she meet him in Tampa to sign the contract," and that if she didn't sign that very day, "the offer would be gone and her contract terminated."

What could Ms. O'Rourke do? "She checked herself out of the hospital, against her doctor's advice, and drove several hours to Tampa." Once there, however, "she was handed a contract that amounted to a nearly 85 percent pay cut."

When Ms. O'Rourke objected, "Mr. Greer raised his voice, slammed his hand on the table and said, 'You don't want to take it to that level.' " She still refused to sign. "Before she got out of the parking lot, her BlackBerry e-mail account controlled by Mr. Greer already had been canceled."

Embarrassing

This may be the most ignorant thing written by a newspaper editorial board for at least a week. The Tampa Tribune editorial board claims that

once a union member, a public employee has pretty close to lifetime job security and benefits at great cost to taxpayers.

Unionization "creates a powerful, permanent constituency for bigger government – one that is motivated, well-funded and organized," writes University of South Florida economist Donald Bellante, who co-authored an article published last year by the libertarian Cato Institute.

"Now, as an economic downturn threatens state and local government revenues, officials who want to keep their fiscal situations under control would do well to look skeptically at public-sector bargaining."

Just look at what has happened in California. The power of unions to threaten and cajole lawmakers is arguably the central reason the Golden State is broke and private industry is fleeing.

Whooppee!

"McCollum Vows to Take on Water Management Crisis".

Papers please

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Attorney General Bill McCollum and state Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, say Florida needs an immigration law like Arizona's controversial show-me-your-papers legislation. Given the legal challenges to the new statute - including the threat of a challenge by the U.S. Justice Department - Florida should not rush to follow Arizona."

As for Florida, neither Mr. McCollum, who is running for governor, nor Rep. Snyder, who is seeking reelection, have cited crime or any other urgent reason for this state to enact an immigration law. Rep. Snyder, a former police officer, said it is an issue of human rights and public safety. "Undocumented immigrants live in a shadowy netherland where they are easily taken advantage of and they don't enjoy the same rights that you and I enjoy," he said. "If they're a victim of crime, they're afraid of law enforcement and they're easily preyed upon because of their illegal status."

RPOF getting desperate

"There’s a new powerbroker behind Florida Republicans -- former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. Huckabee has moved to Florida and is playing an increasingly prominent role in the Sunshine State’s politics." "Mike Huckabee Gets Active with Florida Republicans".

First Amendment freedoms of teachers, staff and students

"Crist has signed a school prayer bill that prevents schools from infringing on the First Amendment freedoms of teachers, staff or students unless they sign a waiver. The legislation (HB 31) originally would have allowed prayers at noncompulsory school activities including assemblies and sports events at the request of a majority of students." "Crist signs bill protecting First Amendment rights".

A right wing perspective

From the http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/">Sunshine State News: "Political Bits and Pieces".

Charlie chats with The Hill

"The Hill's J. Taylor Rushing recently spoke with Florida Gov. Charlie Crist about the loneliness of his Independent Senate bid, his decision to keep his old party's donations and the strength of the Tea Party movement. Here's the latest installment:" "Crist: Tea Party 'a positive'".

"Florida politicians are trained sometime around kindergarten"

"As oil seeped toward Florida's coast Friday, endangering the livelihoods of God-knows-how-many people in an already shattered economy, as well as God-knows-how-many turtles and dolphins and birds and all manner of wildlife, Gov. Charlie Crist took time out to hustle for cash."

Florida politicians are trained sometime around kindergarten to not, under any circumstances, ask for money when other, less geographically fortunate, people are frantically buying bottled water and batteries and canned tuna as a hurricane looms. America's worst oil spill qualifies as a similarly sensitive crisis.

Charlie who?

"Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp Doesn't See Crist Much".

Laff riot

"Mike Jennings, a lobbyist for Prudential Financial Inc., presents a sustained exemplary performance award to Gary VanLandingham, director of the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, on Friday at the Civic Center." "Fla. salutes state employees".

"An unconstitutional tax"

"A Leon County judge ruled yesterday that court filing fees may not be used as a source of income for the state’s general fund, finding that fees used to pay for government programs outside the court system amount to an unconstitutional tax." "Judge: Court fees must remain with the courts".

A lifelong Democrat, Chiles is poised to test the theory that 2010 is the Year of the Outsider. Another high-profile candidate, Gov. Charlie Crist, recently left his party to run as an independent in the U.S. Senate race. ...

Democrats likely won't be pleased with Chiles' move, as it could set him up as a spoiler who would draw votes from Sink.

"Politically, his candidacy looks likely to hurt Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the Democratic contender for governor, and to help Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum — or GOP challenger Rick Scott, who faces McCollum in the primary.

Sink and Chiles would likely draw from the same segment of Democrats and independent moderates motivated by concern for education, environment and government ethics.

With Gov. Charlie Crist leaving the GOP and running as an independent for the U.S. Senate, and political newcomers running serious campaigns in both parties for governor and Congress, this is a good year for non-incumbents and outsiders.

Greer scandal could Crist the most

"Continuing his stunning -- some say long overdue -- fall from grace, former state GOP chairman Jim Greer was assailed by a Republican National Committee spokesman on Thursday." "National Republican Party Piles on Greer".

"The arrest of former Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer could hurt Gov. Charlie Crist the most." "Crist can't escape blame in Greer debacle". Related: "RNC Weighs In On Ex-FL GOP Chairman Greer's Arrest".

"The governor said he was unaware of alleged fraud committed by the former state GOP chairman, but did not say why he disregarded repeated calls for his ouster." "Crist vague on why he supported Greer to the end" ("Likewise, Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum avoided talk about his involvement in the Greer matter").

Scandal began with Anonymous Letter

"A mysterious letter mailed to a 76-year-old retiree in Fort Myers, Florida led to the eventual indictment of former Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer, according to the The Florida Independent."

Gary A. Lee, the chair of the Lee County Republican Executive Committee and a former Congressman from New York (and a member of the state Republican Party's audit committee), told the Independent that he received a letter with no return address in late December 2009. Inside, he found a contract between the Republican Party of Florida and a fundraising group called Victory Strategies.

Reflected glory

"Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum was snubbed by Eric Holder, and he’s not letting it go." "McCollum blasts Holder for snub, again".

Fl-oil-da

Update: "Tar Balls Wash Up on Pensacola Beach".

"Florida Gov. Charlie Crist says"

oil from the massive Gulf spill is now within four miles of the Panhandle coast.

Crist said sheen was spotted during a fly over Thursday. That's down from seven miles Wednesday.

The wannabe speaker from Winter Park

Scott Maxwell: "Less than two weeks before oil began jetting from the ocean floor in the Gulf of Mexico, a state-commissioned report proclaimed the risk of drilling was extremely minimal."

It said a major spill should be expected only once every 100 years.

Even then, the report said, we might be talking about 1,000 barrels — approximately the amount of oil currently spewing into the Gulf every hour or two.

You might laugh at the report — if you hadn't spent $200,000 to create it.

Actually, State Rep. Dean Cannon decided you should spend it.

The up-and-coming House speaker from Winter Park had been steadfast in his push to allow drilling just a few miles off the Florida coast — until the BP explosion.

Cretul don't like hardball

"Critics charge that Gov. Charlie Crist slashed the budget of a hospital in Gainesville that serves thousands of poor people out of political spite. ... Critics say the only changes between the budget recommendation and his veto is that Crist left the Republican Party and had a war of words with House Speaker Larry Cretul, whose district includes Shands." "Crist slammed for hospital-money veto".

"Political Uglies"

Stephen L. Goldstein: "Recently in Florida, two political Uglies with nothing to recommend them but deep pockets aspire to run the world according to them."

Democrat Jeff Greene is aiming for the U.S. Senate. He calls himself an "outsider" and brags about his business success. He knows so little about the Senate, he thinks it's a place where he can foster fundamental change to benefit average Americans, not the tradition-bound trash heap of democracy it's become. Another Florida Ugly devoid of political experience, Republican Rick Scott, just announced that he and his money are running for governor. He not only has an estimated $300 million "in the bank," but he's willing to spend gobs to defeat Bill McCollum in the primary.

Political Brand Names and Celebrities give politics a bad name. But Uglies are unbearable, especially since their ranks appear to be increasing. They are proof that we need public financing of campaigns. Taking private money completely out of politics would put lobbyists out of business, end corporate control of public policy, and give Grassrooters an outside chance to represent "the people"—and that would be a far cry from ugly.

McCollum's Rekers-gate

"The hiring of a now-disgraced psychologist to defend Florida's ban on gay adoption was done over the objections of the main attorney defending the case for the state, according to records made public Thursday."

"Extremely wealthy candidates vying for high public office"

Kingsley Guy: "Florida this year has two extremely wealthy candidates vying for high public office."

Jeff Greene is seeking the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat and Rick Scott the Republican nomination for governor. Both are positioning themselves as successful businessmen outside the political mainstream.

Given the mess created by the professional political class, being an outsider could work to their advantage. Yet, if I were a betting man, I'd wager against both of them.

Greene's past includes friendships with Mike Tyson and Heidi Fleiss, and he made some of his fortune by shorting subprime mortgages, hardly a credential that will win him votes among middle-class homeowners.

Scott ran a company that committed the most massive Medicare fraud in history.

The political baggage aside, neither candidate has made the case he is more qualified than the professional pol he is running against.

Voters aren't dumb.

Your papers pleeze

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Proving that they know how to read polls, politicians in Florida have been lining up behind Arizona's controversial new law cracking down on illegal immigration."

Republican candidate for governor Rick Scott has made support for the law a major plank in his platform, and goaded the GOP front-runner in the race, Attorney General Bill McCollum, into endorsing the idea. The leading Republican for U.S. Senate, Marco Rubio, also is backing it. Last week, the chairman of a state House panel on crime, Republican William Snyder of Stuart, said he's interested in passing a law in Florida like Arizona's.

Scott travels to (Little) Havana

"Gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott stopped in Little Havana Thursday at the popular Versailles restaurant to grab a café cubano and chat up the locals -- in English. The GOP hopeful doesn't speak much Spanish and admitted he had never had Cuban coffee, but he said he's going to step up his courting of Hispanic voters with more campaign stops and soon-to-air Spanish-language television ads." "Scott seeks Little Havana votes".

"What exactly does Greene stand for?"

"Despite polling numbers far behind those of Rubio, Crist and Meek, self-made billionaire and Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Greene has nevertheless managed to acquire a good amount of media exposure for himself. But aside from the private jets (Greene reportedly owns three), lavish Palm Beach lifestyle and celebrity friends, what exactly does Greene stand for?" "Jeff Greene’s lavish lifestyle and celebrity friends have garnered national media attention, but what is his political agenda?".

Wasserman Schultz reassures senior citizens

" With Republicans using the new federal healthcare law as a political weapon against Democrats, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, tried Thursday to reassure senior citizens. Her self-described mission at the Joseph Meyerhoff Senior Center in Hollywood: to correct 'so many falsehoods' propagated by 'special interests' that want 'to scare senior citizens.' She also told people not to believe that the healthcare law will bring about a socialized, government takeover of healthcare." "U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz touts healthcare reform in Hollywood".

The scheme: set up a "shell company'' called Victory Strategies LLC to secretly divert party fundraising money to himself, according to state prosecutors. He, along with the party's executive director, Delmar W. Johnson III, then made sure no one else knew about it.

But Johnson struck a deal with prosecutors and told them everything.

Other GOP leaders now trashing Greer either actively shielded him from attacks, ignored numerous warnings about his management, or worked to hush the controversy.

At a time when Republicans across the country are expecting to ride an electoral wave in November, the Florida GOP is consumed with scandal and public corruption investigations on a scale never before seen in the state. The Greer case is just one of several ongoing state and federal investigations under way involving prominent Republican leaders and money-raisers.

As soon as former Republican House Speaker Ray Sansom was indicted for allegedly misappropriating taxpayer money, the Florida Democratic Party aggressively worked to cast the scandal as part of a broader pattern of pervasive GOP corruption.

Subsequent revelations about big spending on GOP credit cards and criminal charges against top fundraisers have largely borne that out. Republicans blasting Greer for allegedly stealing from the party were silent over Sansom allegedly stealing from taxpayers.

Are the Democrats ascending?

Strikingly, there is little indication at this early stage that Democratic candidates in Florida are positioned to take advantage.

Fl-Oil-Da

"The BP oil slick drifted perilously close to the Florida Panhandle's famous sugar-white beaches Wednesday as a risky gambit to contain the leak by shearing off the well pipe ran into trouble a mile under the sea when the diamond-tipped saw became stuck." "BP faces another setback; oil slick threatens Fla.".

See also "Gulf spill workers complaining of flulike symptoms", "After 12 hours, BP frees saw stuck in oil gusher", "Oil would kill mangroves, corals", "New oil spill ad campaign in works", "BP oil spill leads to Florida fishery disaster declaration", "Spill could kill in large numbers: South Florida's vulnerable ecosystem could be devastated", "'Coast is clear' in South Florida as oil spill threatens Panhandle", "Tempers heat up near Florida border as oil washes up on Alabama shore", "Crist asks feds to declare state fishing industry a disaster", "Oil slick poses challenge to tourism industry", "Gov. Charlie Crist on oil spill: 'We need to protect state'" and "Oil spill criminal case difficult against execs".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida’s luck may be running out, and it needs to prepare for the worst. Oil from BP’s runaway spill is just a few miles from the Panhandle." "As oil nears, prepare for worst".

Paranoid much?

The Sun Sentinel editors think "Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum should have been invited to a regional meeting called by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. The invitees included attorneys general and U.S. attorneys from Gulf states."

"So why did we get left out? The Justice Department said the decision was guided by a desire to meet with the states most directly impacted by the spill right now. If so, that's poor judgment. But it'd be even worse if, say, the decision were politically motivated — payback of some sort for McCollum's legal challenge to the Obama administration's health care reform legislation." "Holder wrong to leave Florida officials out of meeting".

Bud Chiles to Jump

"The namesake son of Gov. Lawton Chiles is expected to announce his candidacy for governor today on an outsider platform of "taking a broom to the system" of big money in Florida politics." "Chiles' son may announce candidacy".

A Hillsborough thing

"State prosecutors confirmed Wednesday they are reviewing a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into possible wrongdoing by [Hillsborough] County Administrator Pat Bean and County Attorney Renee Lee." "State prosecutors reviewing FDLE investigation of Bean".

The Tampa Tribune editors: "It's time for Pat Bean's farewell".

Thomas slams Crist veto

Mike Thomas writes that Governor "Crist has put the finishing touches on his four-year campaign to destroy the property-insurance market in Florida." "Charlie Crist's veto ensures we'll face insurance woes".

Jeb! laff riot

"Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told New York Republicans on Wednesday that the GOP must become the new party of reform, smaller government, capitalism and patriotism — and become far less grumpy. ... Bush, 57, who lives in the Miami area, runs two foundations and a small consulting firm and delivers paid speeches. Often mentioned as a presidential candidate in 2012, he says he has no interest in returning to elected office." "Jeb Bush preaches capitalism for GOP revival".

"Only Republican friends"

The Hill: "Since he quit his party, Crist says he has discovered that people he thought were friends turned out to be only Republican friends, who dropped Crist after he left the GOP. Crist has lost so many campaign staffers that his sister is now running his third-party effort." "Crist says he's 'lonely' on campaign trail".

"A high ideal in theory"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Sprinkled throughout the U.S. Constitution is the notion that accused criminals are to be treated fairly and justly."

A high ideal in theory, but too often dogged by judicial breakdowns in practice. When that happens, the system locks up someone like James Bain. He received a life sentence for the 1974 rape of a 9-year-old Lake Wales boy. Only he didn't do the crime. After serving 35 years, Mr. Bain finally tasted freedom in December after DNA testing exonerated him.

Tragically, Mr. Bain's plight isn't uncommon in Florida.

Allowed insurers to raise rates if they show the "mitigation" discounts were too high and to pass to customers the costs of advertising and agent commissions without interference from regulators.

Expanded a provision from last year allowing insurers to raise premiums by up to 10 percent a year for certain back up coverage costs without full oversight from regulators. The bill this year would have allowed inflation and other costs to be included in the provision.

Limited the time policyholders have to file a windstorm claims to three years after a hurricane, down from five years, and allowed insurers to withhold part of most claims until the homeowner has a contract to make repairs and "as the work is performed."

Impeachment? Incarceration?

That's about what some pious GOP legislative leaders suggested would suit the Republican-turned-independent governor.

House Speaker Larry Cretul said Crist's vetoes amounted to an "abuse of power."

Senate budget chief J.D. Alexander said Mr. Crist "prefers a drive-by, hit-and-run approach to governing." "Hit and run" – that's criminal, isn't it?

It ain't me ...

"Gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott is not shrinking away from attacks on him for having headed a company that committed Medicare fraud."

Looking squarely into the camera, the candidate chides McCollum for focusing of Scott's track record over his own. "That's what career politicians do," he says. He then acknowledges that his company was fined by the government for Medicare fraud.

"Unfortunately, that's true," he says, noting quickly that he was never charged or questioned personally in the case.

Perhaps he should sue?

"McCollum says he was left out of oil spill meeting". See also "Florida attorney general not invited to meeting to discuss Gulf oil spill".

Spill, baby! Spill!

The oil is almost here:

An oil sheen was confirmed about nine miles off the Florida coast, and officials are saying it could hit the white sands of Pensacola Beach as soon as Wednesday.

"Bits and Pieces"

Kevin Derby's "Political Bits and Pieces".

Once a teabagger ...

"At a stage in the campaign when many statewide candidates would be trying to moderate their message to appeal to general election voters, Senate candidate Marco Rubio continues to emphasize a platform that appeals to conservative Republicans and the Tea Party movement." "For Senate candidate Marco Rubio, no swing to the left".

What's next ... secession?

"Local [Brevard County] legislators want to mirror Arizona's new law that would enable police on routine stops and arrests to ask and determine whether a person is in the country illegally. Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, said he plans to introduce such a bill to help curb illegal immigration, because the federal government has failed to do so."

"We are a sovereign nation of 50 sovereign states," Workman told a crowd of about 70 at a town hall meeting Tuesday at Melbourne City Hall. "We have to remove ourselves from the bosom of the federal government."

"What's that smell?"

"Florida's governor was supposed to lock down outgoing Sen. Mel Martinez's seat for the GOP as soon as he declared his candidacy. Crist won the endorsement of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, raised an astonishing $4.4 million in the first reporting period of his campaign and led former state House Speaker Marco Rubio by more than 30 points in a June 2009 primary poll."

But like Specter, Crist had severe liabilities from the start — and did even less than Specter to address them. His open support for the stimulus bill and literal hug of President Barack Obama enraged the GOP base — not since Joe Lieberman embraced George W. Bush has one image so defined a Senate campaign. Crist's efforts to reconnect with the party faithful were either transparently political (announcing he'd oppose Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation) or inept (denying he'd offered full support for the Recovery Act, before conceding that he had). The fact that Crist is actually more viable running without a party is a testament to his disastrous performance as a GOP primary candidate.

Teabagger gets herself fired

"Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and Attorney General Bill McCollum urged a North Florida state attorney Tuesday to rehire a prosecutor who was fired last week for expressing her 'originalist' view of the U.S. Constitution at Tea Party rallies and other conservative events."

KrisAnne Hall's dismissal will also be the subject of a protest Thursday at the Suwannee County courthouse. Independent congressional candidate Paul McKain issued a statement Monday saying he would attend to show support for the ousted assistant state attorney, who headed felony prosecutions in Hamilton County.

"News reports state that Ms. Hall was speaking about educating oneself on the Founding Fathers and the U.S. Constitution," McCollum wrote to State Attorney Robert "Skip" Jarvis. "As you know, the Constitution's First Amendment vigorously protects free speech, particularly political speech."

Hall, 40, was told by Jarvis to stop speaking at public events and in radio interviews. He said last week he received a complaint from a citizen who said she was associating with "fringe" political groups.

Greene once a GOPer

"Records show that Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene spent most of the time since 1977 registered with no party affiliation and was once a Republican before moving back to Florida in 2008 and registering as a Democrat." "Palm Beach billionaire and Democratic Senate candidate was once a Republican".

Greene refuses to disclose tax returns

"Unlike his U.S. Senate rivals, Democrat Jeff Greene -- who reaped millions off the subprime mortgage market that helped wreck Florida's economy -- is not releasing his tax returns. ... It's become standard practice for high-profile statewide candidates in Florida to release their tax returns." "Democratic Florida Senate candidate Jeff Greene hasn't yet released tax returns".

Maxwell

Scott Maxwell: "On readers' minds: Making contact with politicians".

Race to the "top"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Quiet as it's been kept — this second time around — Florida's Race to the Top grant application provides reasons for concern ... Should Florida join the winners' circle in September, local districts will have the chance to opt out of accepting the federal money without consequence. This is a safeguard that wise education stakeholders may want to keep in mind, because the money comes attached to a good many requirements." "Before we leap".

The rich are different

The Miami Herald's Michael Putney: "Are Florida voters so fed up with experienced politicians they know that they'll replace them with inexperienced, millionaire outsiders they don't? That's the question that hangs over the Senate and governor's races. Along with a more personal one: Are Rick Scott and Jeff Greene on an expensive ego trip or do they truly aspire to become public servants?"

Greene, a Democrat who lives in Palm Beach, and Scott, a Republican from Naples, are richer-than-Croesus candidates running for Senate and governor, respectively. Both boast of being outsiders who will go to Washington and Tallahassee to "shake things up.''

Such claims are largely fatuous; political neophytes lucky enough to get elected have to sit back and listen before they start shaking things up.

Greene spent most of his adult life in California, where he once ran (and lost) for Congress -- as a Republican. An anomaly, Greene says, since he was raised a Democrat.

He insists he understands Florida well since the family moved to Fort Lauderdale when he was a teen and he accompanied his father as he serviced vending machines. The son has risen: Forbes estimates Greene's net worth at more than $1 billion, thanks largely to shorting the housing market in credit default swaps. Try explaining that in the capital of foreclosure.

What's a teabagger to do?

When common sense and wingnuttery collide:

- Ben Brooks, a lawyer and Republican state senator from coastal Alabama, says he's no fan of big government but he expects an aggressive federal response as a gunky oil spill threatens the Gulf of Mexico.

- All along the Gulf Coast, where the tea party thrives and "socialism" is a common description for any government program, conservatives who usually denounce federal activism suddenly are clamoring for it.

Take Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican elected in 2007 when Democrat Kathleen Blanco opted not to seek re-election after she was widely panned for a bumbling response to Hurricane Katrina two years earlier.

Since April 20, when a gulf rig exploded and blew out an underwater oil well about 50 miles south of Louisiana, Jindal has been a ubiquitous presence in the fishing communities and barrier islands along his state's fragile coastline. He's been out on boats and up in Black Hawk helicopters, doors open, to survey the spreading, rust-colored swath of crude.

Jindal, a possible 2012 presidential candidate, has demanded a stronger response from the Obama administration, accusing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of dragging its feet in approving Louisiana's plans for protective berms - a plan that took three weeks to approve.

- Jindal is a fiscal conservative who made headlines last year by rejecting some federal stimulus money, then distributing other stimulus funds by handing out oversized cardboard checks to local officials.

A bipartisan group of attorneys general from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida sent Obama a letter May 6 asking for federal help in documenting information about oil company BP PLC's response to the blown well.

"We recognize that BP has stated publicly that it will live up to its obligation to pay all claims arising from this environmental and economic disaster. We hope that BP will," the five attorneys general wrote. "But we would be remiss in our responsibilities if we did not consider the possibility that enforcement or litigation efforts may be required in the future."

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, who is in a Republican primary for governor, posted the letter on his state website, with other information about the oil spill.

HD 45

"In a move that has been anticipated, [Republican] Kathryn Starkey officially announced today her resignation from the Pasco County School Board effective Nov. 2. State law required Starkey to resign the board seat because she is running for the District 45 seat of the Florida House of Representatives." "Starkey resigns from Pasco board to run for Florida House".

PSC prospects

"The top vote getters from the legislatively-dominated council were former state Sen. Curt Kiser who was hired as the PSC's general counsel in November, and Kevin Wiehle, staff director for the Senate utilities committee -- each received 11 votes. Receiving 10 votes each were James Baumstark, a retired nuclear engineer formerly with Progress Energy and Sen. Lee Constantine, a Republican state senator from Altamonte Springs who retires this year because of term limits." "PSC nomination panel trims list for 2 openings". See also "28 candidates to interview for spots on PSC".

Greene calls his mother

"What do you do if you're a carpetbagging billionaire with a party-hearty past trying to connect with ordinary Florida voters? Call your mother. Because even if you don't like U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene, a 55-year-old real estate tycoon who moved to Florida in 2008, you'll love his mother Barbara, an 83-year-old canasta-playing, line-dancing resident of Century Village in West Palm Beach for more than three decades." "In new ads, U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene lets mom do the talking".

What the RPOFers call and infringement on "freedom"

"The Public Service Commission has ordered Florida Power & Light Co. to refund nearly $13.9 million to customers for a 2008 outage." "Fla. Power & Light to refund $13.9 million".

Crist's veto pen

"Crist vetoes three bill limiting governor's power; signs tax credit bill for movie industry".

Thrasher neutral

"Most of the GOP establishment is backing Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum for governor over multimillionaire health care executive Rick Scott, but you won't see state party chairman John Thrasher taking sides." "Thrasher 'neutral' in clash of GOP candidates for Florida governor".

"They have talked a good game"

"A state panel is narrowing a field of 60 applicants for two seats on the Florida Public Service Commission. The PSC Nominating Council will decide Tuesday in Tampa which applicants to invite for interviews June 10 in Orlando." "Panel narrowing field for 2 Fla. PSC appointments".

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "State lawmakers have talked a good game about reforming the Public Service Commission. They have talked a good game about making sure the PSC acts as an impartial utility regulator. Now they, and the PSC nominating council that helps narrow the slate of candidates, have an opportunity to send a message about the PSC's fairness. They can do so by placing chairwoman Nancy Argenziano and Commissioner Nathan A. Skop on the short list for new terms." "Lawmakers must not play politics with PSC nominations".

You might call it hubris

"LeMieux has been escalating criticism of President Barack Obama's response to the oil spill, but amid the tough talk is the thin line LeMieux walks on the overall issue of drilling. ... LeMieux had been advising a secretive pro-oil drilling coalition pushing a bill through the Florida Legislature to open the Gulf Coast to drilling. LeMieux has refused to detail the extent of his work, citing attorney-client privilege." "LeMieux dilemma".

Wingers go after FlaDem plastic

The right wing Sunshine News comes to the defense of the RPOF this morning: "While attacking the Republican Party of Florida for reckless credit-card expenditures, the Florida Democratic Party racked up plenty of charge card expenses of its own. In 2008, the state Democratic Party paid $6,294 in 'card member services,' according to records obtained by Sunshine State News. A group called "Florida Mainstream Forum" expended $20,057 for 'ML Credit Card Services' and $3,223 to American Express in 2006, according to the reports. The expenditures were generically listed for travel and 'other disbursements.'" "Florida Democrats' House of (Credit) Cards".

It used to be easy

Thomas Tryon: "For decades in Florida, it was easy - even for newspaper commentators -- to close the political argument for more oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The people were against it. Period. End of argument." "On offshore drilling, the tide has turned again".

See also "BP engineers prepare for next bid to stop oil flow", "Snapping turtle rescued with signs of oil" and "'Flotels' await oil spill cleanup workers on Gulf".

'Glades

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The Obama administration appears to be fulfilling its pledge to get the feds moving on the restoration of the Everglades, the vast hydrological network that is essential to South Florida's environment and its water supply."

The other day the National Park Service announced it would recommend adding 5.5 miles of bridges to the Tamiami Trail.

This would be a major achievement since the road that runs from Miami to Naples blocks the natural flow of water to the Everglades

Movin' on up

"Steve Geller has made his move in his bid to unseat Broward County Commissioner Sue Gunzburger: He has rented a Hollywood condo in order to officially reside in the district." "Geller rents condo to run". See also "Geller running for County Commission district far from home".

Race to the "top"

"Schools in line for federal grants".

Jenkins back

"Nate Jenkins, now the Democratic National Committee's southern regional director, is working closely with the Sink campaign and is expected to spend considerable time working out of Florida." "Sink aided by Obama campaign veterans".

"Want to bet who gets the contract"

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "Citizens Property Insurance Corp. still doesn't get it. Last year, the state-run insurer was forced to drop its plan to hand a $60 million, no-bid contract for managing home inspections to a private company with limited experience. Now it has cut another sweet deal with the same company to do thousands of inspections this year while the original contract is competitively bid. Want to bet who gets the contract when it is finally awarded?" "Another dodgy deal from Citizens".".

HD 21

"A rematch between two conservatives is shaping up in the 21st House district as Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Keystone Heights, will face former Putnam County Commissioner Linda Myers, the Democratic candidate he defeated by the skin of his teeth in 2008." "Conservatives Battle in Rematch for House Seat".

Foreclosure mess

"An attempt to fix the sloppy legal work plaguing thousands of foreclosure cases in Florida has been ineffective, and has now caused a legal mess of its own." "Legal mess over foreclosures deepening".

Solar-energy

"Florida Power & Light Co.'s newest solar-energy plant will have enough mirrors to cover 80 football fields. But those mirrors will focus sunlight onto surfaces that add up to slightly less than the area of a single football field. That concentration of solar power will generate temperatures of more than 700 degrees — hot enough to make electricity for 11,000 homes." "Florida takes giant step with huge solar-power plant".

Veto please

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Crist should mark the start of another hurricane season today by vetoing a property insurance bill that would make it too easy for insurers to increase premiums. That is the right decision, but it also underscores that Florida has yet to figure out how to make coverage more available and affordable. Forecasters expect a busy hurricane season, yet the best Floridians can do is make their own preparations and hope the state’s recent luck does not run out."

It also turns out that — surprise, surprise — the insurance industry played a large role in writing the bill. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported Monday that newly released state e-mails show the Office of Insurance Regulation practically begged industry lobbyists to write parts of the legislation. No wonder Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty now wants Crist to sign the bill into law.

Second amendment?

"Boy accidentally shot 12-year-old friend".

Standing up for gay members of the military services.

Opposing more restrictions on abortions.

Calling for a ban on oil drilling off Florida's shores.

Rejecting a bill that would have eliminated tenure for school teachers.

Appealing to AFL-CIO members for their union's endorsement.

Yet, these are the recent moves of Gov. Charlie Crist, a former Republican who is now running as an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate.

And thus far it seems to be working for Crist. A new poll from Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Alexander Snitker showed Crist with 40 percent of the general election vote, leading all the U.S. Senate candidates.

Perhaps Rubio really is a wingnut

Jim Stratton, an Orlando Sentinel employee, overlooks one thing in his predictable piece this morning about how Rubio will now slide to the middle - perhaps Rubio really is a wingnut: "Marco Rubio became a Republican hero by running as the anti-Crist."

He outflanked Gov. Charlie Crist to the right, railed against an overreaching government and gave voice to a legion of cranky Tea Party voters.

It made Rubio an election-year phenom, chased Crist from the party and left Rubio with a leisurely stroll to the GOP nomination. Now, with his path clear, the former Florida House Speaker has a luxury he hadn't anticipated.

He can slide into general-election mode months ahead of time, softening some of the hard right edges and trying to broaden his appeal. The only caveat: He must be careful not to alienate the voters that brought him to prominence.

Speaking of wingnuts

"Former Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi, who is running for attorney general, is defining herself as a pro-business, pro-Second Amendment and pro-life Republican, surprising many who had expected a more moderate candidate." "Bondi exits courthouse, takes a right".

Bill rewritten by insurers' lawyer

"A property insurance bill passed by the Florida Legislature this spring was scaled back and rewritten by industry lobbyists, new state e-mails show."

The bill, originally intended to crack down on companies that used a loophole in state law to pad profits, was largely rewritten by a lawyer working for the insurers -- at the behest of the state agency that regulates insurers, the e-mails show.

The bill was approved by lawmakers the last day of the session and now awaits approval or veto by Gov. Charlie Crist. The governor must act by Tuesday or the bill automatically becomes law.

Records released last week show that in the final days of the session, the deputy commissioner in the Office of Insurance Regulation, Belinda Miller, asked industry insiders to draft language for the bill.

She approached several industry consultants, including Claude Mueller, an attorney and former state insurance regulator whose clients in the past year included property insurers who ran afoul of state solvency requirements. One of them, American Keystone, was ultimately shut down.

On April 5, the day before a Senate committee was scheduled to meet to consider the bill, Miller pressed the consultants to provide draft legislation.

"Are you going to have language tonight?" she wrote in an e-mail to Mueller and a lobbyist at Meenan & Blank, a Tallahassee firm whose insurance clients include the Tower Hill group.

She named Senate staff members that she said "need it."

Spill Baby! Spill!

"More than a month after the BP PLC spill began, the disaster's dimensions have come into sharper focus with government estimates that more than 18 million gallons of oil — and possibly 39 million gallons — has already poured from the leaking well, eclipsing the 11 million gallons released during the Exxon Valdez spill." "Deepwater mystery: Oil loose in the Gulf". See also "Oil disaster shows a divide from physical world", "Summer of oil looms for beleaguered Gulf Coast", "Gulf Coast beachgoers unfazed by oil spill", "Panhandle tourists put aside oil spill for holiday" and "What's next: A dispiriting summer of oil and anger".

Laff riot

"PolitiFact: GOP refund request from Crist had a few holes".

"Republican-led Legislature is out of synch with voters"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "A recent statewide poll has confirmed what many Floridians already knew: The state's Republican-led Legislature is out of synch with voters, including most of those in its own party."

Voters are divided on offshore drilling, with 44 percent supporting drilling and 44 percent opposing it. Yet for two years, the most powerful Republican leaders have pushed to allow drilling in state waters as close as 3 miles from shore.

Fifty-five percent of voters want Crist to veto HB 1143, which inserts government into women's health care by forcing nearly every woman seeking a first-trimester abortion to have an ultrasound, view its images and have it described to her.

Fifty-three percent support Crist's veto of SB 6, which would have banned school districts from offering tenure to new teachers and based teacher pay raises in part on student performance on standardized tests.

The poll also showed more Republicans (49 percent) than Democrats (43 percent) are dissatisfied with the state's direction, even though the Republican Party has controlled both chambers of the Legislature for 14 years. ...

Tallahassee is out of touch with what Floridians really want: pragmatic, middle-of-the-road government, not ultraconservative ideology from entrenched power fueled by special interests.

But what what would the teabaggers say?

Did you know that

Scott's unprecedented spending on TV ads could wind up giving McCollum some help. Under Florida's public campaign system, McCollum is eligible to receive matching money from the state for every dollar Scott spends above $24.9 million. If Scott spends $30 million in the primary, McCollum would receive about $5 million from the state.

"You might say it will 'DROP' off"

Bill Cotterell: "The rush to sign up for the Deferred Retirement Option Program will probably slow considerably — you might say it will "DROP" off — now that Gov. Charlie Crist has prevented a major cut in interest on pension deposits." "Crist's veto may slow the run on DROP".

"One serious headache for voters"

"Three ballot questions. Two lawsuits (and counting). One serious headache for voters."

The next round of redistricting won't start until late 2011. But with competing groups vying to change the rules of the game, it is already messier than usual.

On one side of the debate is FairDistrictsFlorida.org, a citizens initiative responsible for Amendments 5 and 6. Backed by teacher and service employee unions as well as the Florida NAACP and ACLU, Fair Districts claims its proposals would end gerrymandering.

Congressional and legislative districts could not be drawn to favor or disfavor incumbents under the Fair Districts plan, and could not diminish opportunities for minority voters to elect candidates of their choice.

Districts would have to be contiguous and compact wherever possible, following pre-existing city and county boundaries.

Fair Districts collected 1.7 million signatures to add its proposals to the 2010 ballot. Honorary co-chairs of the left-leaning group include former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham and former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. Gov. Charlie Crist, now a no-party candidate for U.S. Senate, also has endorsed the amendment.

But state lawmakers — primarily Republicans — are fighting it, claiming its mandates cannot be accomplished legally.

Florida laws, after all, make it easy for politicians to shake people down for money. You just have to know how to play the game.

In fact, if you do it right, you can shake people down for a lot more than a measly thousand bucks.

That's part of what the state attorney accused Fernández of doing — asking a developer for $1,000 worth of campaign money in exchange for championing his project.

But compare that to the legislators who get tens of thousands in campaign cash from special interests who also want their legislation championed. That's completely legal.

Why? Because there's a fine line between criminal activity and business-as-usual in this state.

"The people's governor"?

The newspaper company employees sure will miss their Charlie if he loses: "The people. At once vague and powerful, it's a sentiment that Gov. Charlie Crist hopes will propel his campaign for U.S. Senate." "The progress of a‘people’ person".

"freedom - from responsibility"

Randy Schultz: "For Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, his lawsuit to nullify the federal health care law is about freedom. When Republican counterparts joined the lawsuit, Mr. McCollum welcomed them to the fight against this 'encroachment on our freedom.'"

At issue is the provision that requires every American to have health insurance. During the legislative session, Republicans gave Mr. McCollum - who, not coincidentally, is running for governor - a shout-out by passing the Health Care Freedom Act, a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that supposedly would exempt Floridians from the mandate to have insurance. House sponsor Scott Plakon called the federal law "anti-freedom."

In fact, the amendment is symbolic. If the federal law stands, states have to follow it. Imagine Alabama, after Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, arguing that the state could ignore it.

But on this argument about "freedom," I guess that if you think long enough and hard enough, and in the right way, Mr. McCollum and his supporters in the Legislature are right. This is all about freedom, just not in the way that they believe.

Their opposition to the health care law is about maintaining the freedom of some Americans to make the rest of America pay for that "freedom."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida ranks last - at 56.2 percent - in the rate of residents without private health insurance. Which state ranks first? Massachusetts, which under its plan that resembles the new federal law requires residents to have insurance.

Mr. McCollum's frivolous lawsuit and the Legislature's silly amendment won't raise Florida's ranking one point. Mr. McCollum and the Legislature have no competing plan of their own to cover any of Florida's uninsured. But they're just exercising their own kind of "freedom" - from responsibility.

"Florida Republicans are twisting themselves into pretzels"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida Republicans are twisting themselves into pretzels over Arizona's extreme effort to crack down on illegal immigrants."

Attorney General Bill McCollum was against it, then for it and for bringing it to Florida, then for it — but not in Florida. His opponent in the Republican primary for governor, hospital executive Rick Scott, is all for it everywhere and rips McCollum in a television ad for initially being against it. U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio is all over the map: He was against it, then he was for it, then he hedged on Miami Spanish television. Now he supports it — but not in Florida.

The reason for these tortured contortions is obvious. McCollum and Rubio are trying to appeal to largely white, conservative Republican voters by embracing Arizona's new law without offending Florida's diverse population. It is impossible to do both, and they are adding fuel to a divisive debate that will make it more difficult to find real solutions to immigration issues.

Teabaggers running the last moderates outa the GOP

"Gov. Charlie Crist's unraveling and Rubio's ascension in Florida was the first sign of turmoil for the establishment. Once an odds-on favorite to move to the Senate, Crist now is a former Republican and an independent in an unpredictable three-way race with Rubio and Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek." "GOP Senate hopes ride with tea party activists".

Mary Ann Lindley: "This election year could be just a bizarre as 2000, but in a different way, with Gov. Charlie Crist leading us into what may be a new way of electing leaders outside of the traditional and over-stuffed two-party system."

The governor was brave enough to abandon the Republican Party, or acknowledge, I think fairly, that the party had already abandoned him. Its hard-right turn has also put off many moderate Republicans who crave a more centrist alternative, though not necessarily Crist.

Undecideds lead AG race

"With fewer than 100 days before the Florida primary, the race for attorney general, considered the second-most important state office after the governor, is stuck in a stalemate, with competitive primaries on both sides and no candidate able to pull ahead." "Leading the Florida Attorney General's race: 'Undecided'".

To Brooksville!

"Senate candidate Meek comes to Brooksville".

Nine amendments

"There are nine proposed amendments to our state Constitution on this November's ballot. Nine! That's gonna take some reading in the voting booth." "A look at the nine amendments on Florida's ballot".

"What has Jeff Greene done?"

"Do a Google search for Democratic Senate hopeful Jeff Greene’s name this morning and you’ll see an ad from indie Senate candidate Charlie Crist over on the side that says “What has Jeff Greene done? Experience matters” and includes the Crist campaign’s Web address. The Crist campaign’s seven-word dig at the billionaire Democratic Senate aspirant drew a response of more than 300 words this morning from the Greene campaign." "Crist’s 7-word Google jab at Democrat Greene draws 300+ words of response, measure of satisfaction".

Daily Rothstein

"Fate of Rothstein, Gallagher in hands of 'southern gentleman' judge".

More Bushes

"A wedding at a Miami Catholic church drew two former presidents and a former Florida governor -- all of whom were related to the groom, 26-year-old John Ellis Bush Jr." "Generations celebrate as Jeb Bush's son gets married".

Fail

"Yet another mix of risky undersea robot maneuvers, containment devices and longshot odds is being prepared to fight the uncontrolled gusher feeding the worst oil spill in U.S. history." "BP turns to next attempt to stop gushing oil in Gulf of Mexico after top kill fails".

More: "Scientists: Subsurface oil from Gulf gusher may be heading toward Florida coast", "BP moving on after top kill effort fails to plug Gulf oil leak" and "BP turns to next attempt after top kill fails".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "BP grossly misstated the amount of oil spewing from its collapsed rig in the Gulf of Mexico. It stalled in providing a live camera feed of the broken pipe gushing oil a mile beneath the sea surface. It misled the nation about how well its latest attempt was going to plug the runaway well. Five weeks after this disaster started, there still is a surprise around every corner."

This is the company the nation should trust to process claims for damages to incomes and property? The government needs to take over the claims process and send BP the bill.