And thanks, Dubya and Karl Rove, too, for planting the seeds of this wildly chaotic political year more than seven years ago. You really left a mark.

The first domino fell in the spring of 2003, when news stories surfaced that the Bush White House was gently pressuring Mel Martinez to run for the U.S. Senate in 2004. ...

Let's try to enumerate the many ways this year in Florida politics is truly like no other.

If Crist and Sink win, the Republican Party would be abruptly shut out of control of the state's most powerful offices at a time when its former chairman is facing possible prison time for alleged misdeeds. That would represent a spectacular collapse of the GOP less than 15 years after rising to dominance in the Sunshine State.

That would be unprecedented — but in this totally unpredictable political year, not surprising.

Unemployment down slightly

"State unemployment rate falls to 11.4 percent, but rises in South Florida". See also "Fla. jobless rate trending down; Leon County unemployment rate up from May".

"Arrogant abuse of power by the Legislature"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "A Florida trial court has checked the arrogant abuse of power by the Legislature when it stuck a jumbled constitutional amendment on the November ballot to protect lawmakers’ own interests. Now, hopefully, Amendment 7 will stay off the ballot and attention will be focused on two legitimate redistricting amendments." "Fair districts, not self-interest".

Teabagger raising big bucks against Klein

"In Broward, Allen West -- a black Republican and retired army lieutenant colonel -- raised more than $1.4 million between April 1 and June 30, nearly triple the haul of about $510,000 by the incumbent, Democratic Rep. Ron Klein."

In his second quest to unseat Klein, who represents a swing district in Broward and Palm Beach counties, West beat his own fundraising record this quarter: Last quarter he raised $840,000. West has now raised about $3.5 million while Klein has raised about $2.4 million.

But thanks to leftover money from a previous election cycle, Klein is ahead in cash on hand with $2.9 million to West's war chest of almost $2.2 million.

Klein benefited from a wave of anger at President George W. Bush and the war when he ousted longtime Republican Rep. Clay Shaw in 2006. Klein easily beat West two years later, but this time West has attracted national media attention and more money as he has tapped into the anger of the Tea Party and voters' frustration with the economy.

Last year, Col. West gave a stemwinding speech in which he urged people to "fix bayonets" and "take back the country." It was a YouTube sensation, and brought in lots of donations. Col. West referred to the "tyranny" of the Obama administration. So we wanted to know what he considers examples of "tyranny."

As it turns out, "tyranny" to Col. West means President Obama's criticism of the Supreme Court during his State of the Union address. It means extracting $20 billion from BP upfront to compensate victims of the company's negligence. It means the stimulus package, the financial bailout and the health care bill.

Tyranny? Elected representatives cast those votes. Most of those representatives will go before the voters and have to defend their records. Those who believe that parts of the health care law are unconstitutional will get to make their case in court. That's democracy, not tyranny. In a democracy, sometimes your side loses.

Entrepreneurs in action

"Arrests made in $251M Medicare scams". See also "'Grandparent scam' still active in South Florida" and "Two Florida men charged with running commodities scheme".

RPOFer oil-hos at work

"Fearing a major victory for Gov, Charlie Crist, Florida Republican leaders are prepared to take drastic action next week -- even blocking a historic vote on a constitutional amendment banning offshore oil drilling. Legislators are expected to reluctantly convene a special session Tuesday called by the governor, then swiftly reject a plan that could drive his supporters to the polls." "Florida GOP leaders may block vote on drilling". More: "House may have votes to put a amendment on ballot banning oil drilling". Related: "Not all lawmakers focused on drilling ban", "Does shut down of drilling amendment next week shield GOP from exposing its rift?" and "Thrasher denies 'quid pro quo' in blocking a vote on oil amendment".

Even the Tampa Trib is unhappy: "Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul calls Gov. Charlie Crist's push for a voter referendum to ban near-shore oil drilling "smoke and mirrors" and suggests that he won't even have House members vote on the measure during the special session that begins Tuesday. But if there is anybody using smoke and mirrors, it's Cretul and the other legislative leaders who call Crist's proposal a waste of time." "Blocking Florida's coastal protections".

Fl-oil-duh

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Scientists late Friday were still testing the new cap BP placed over its runaway well in the Gulf of Mexico. But this week, at least for a moment, anxious residents across the oil-ravaged Gulf Coast states were able to relish a welcome sight. For the first time in the nearly 90 days since the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon exploded and sank, the nation was not standing by helplessly as up to 2.5 million gallons of oil a day spewed into the gulf." "At last, good news from the gulf".

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Feds: Test Results From Capped Well Not As Good As Hoped", "The eye of the oil spill: Major cleanup and legislative issues remain.". See also "BP: No evidence of new leaks in capped well" and "BP capped well holding as waiting period ticks by; robots discover no new leaks".

Yeah ... "Jeb!"'s teacher hating was a real success

"Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum announced his education platform Friday,"

saying he wants to make it easier to fire teachers by eliminating tenure and base their pay raises on classroom performance instead of seniority.

McCollum would also increase standards for teachers in the state's voluntary pre-kindergarten program for 4 year olds, expand a program that gives corporations tax breaks for providing private school scholarships for low-income students and require most high school students to take at least one course online. ...

McCollum largely embraces the educational philosophies of former Gov. Jeb Bush, with merit pay for teachers a key element.

New wingnuts on the block

The wingnuts who have taken over the News-Journal are starting to find their voice: "State doesn't need double drilling ban".

As Pierre Tristam reminds us, the Daytona Beach News-Journal in April of 2010 underwent a "transformation into Fox News in print". That was the day the editorial pages died in central Florida.

Iorio's legacy

"Mass transit may be Iorio's legacy".

Arizona dreams

"More than 1 million people in Florida are out of work. The oil spill is wreaking environmental and economic havoc. The state is one hurricane away from catastrophe. But anyone listening to Republican gubernatorial candidates Rick Scott and Bill McCollum would think that one of the most pressing concerns in this non-border state is illegal immigrants scaling palm trees and jumping over hibiscus bushes." "Candidate Rick Scott's focus seems fixed -- on Arizona".

"So far, Scott's 13-week introduction to voters has unveiled only paper-thin details on how he would create jobs. Scott, who would not comment for this story, announced Friday that he was planning to roll out more specifics in a six-day statewide bus tour beginning in Miami next week." "Rick Scott talks about himself — but not his policies".

Kosmas, Grayson laffing to the bank

"National discontent with Congress hasn't translated into dollars for Republican candidates looking to unseat Central Florida's two freshman Democrats."

Through the end of June, the seven Republicans facing U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson of Orlando have cash-on-hand that totals just about half the $1.4 million stockpiled by the firebrand lawmaker, according to federal election records. In the neighboring seat held by U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach, her advantage over her three top GOP rivals stands at more than a half-million dollars.

Never mind

"Tea Party Leader Mark Williams Removes Racist Blog Post".

RPOFers "dig into the wallets of lobbyists and big-givers"

Aaron Deslatte: "With a special session looming, the House Republican big dogs have returned to the capital city to dig into the wallets of lobbyists and big-givers."

Although House leaders have balked at Gov. Charlie Crist's call to adopt a constitutional ban on near-shore oil drilling in a special session that starts Tuesday, they're not letting a mid-summer opportunity go to waste.

House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, and his two planned successors – Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, and Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary — raised cash for House races this week at the private Governor's Club near the Capitol.

On Monday, they'll be back at it, collecting checks for Reps. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange; Steve Precourt, R-Orlando; Doug Holder, R-Sarasota; and Rob Schenck, R-Springhill.

The trend isn't unique to this election. But it helps explain why the Republican-controlled Legislature is going to great lengths to scuttle the Fair Districts Florida redistricting amendments.

In the last six months, the Legislature had spent more than $650,000 on lawyers to fight Amendments 5 and 6 as well as defending the now-scrapped Amendment 7, which a Leon County judge removed from the ballot this month because he said it didn't make clear it would undermine the existing rule that legislative districts be drawn "contiguously." That cost is expected to grow as the legal fights work their way to the Florida Supreme Court later this summer.

SoFla Endorsements

The Miami Herald editorial board's endorsements in the HD 112 Dem primary and RPOF primary, HD 109 Dem primary (no RPOF primary), and the

"You're wrong," Holly

"A lawsuit challenging the federal health care legislation provoked the most conflict during a forum Friday for Florida's attorney general candidates."

Republican candidates Holly Bensen and Jeff Kottkamp pledged to continue the lawsuit filed by current Attorney General Bill McCollum against the federal government. ...

The legislation, she said, is unconstitutional.

"You're wrong," Democratic candidate Dan Gelber told Benson. It's a "moral stain," he said, that 4 million Floridians don't have health care coverage.

"Health care should be a right, not a privilege," he argued.

And the legislation doesn't violate the commerce clause, he said, noting that workers now give up a portion of their paychecks to Medicare.

"It's a frivolous lawsuit politicizing the Attorney General's Office, and the moment I am attorney general, I will recede from it," he said. "We need to provide health care to people in Florida, and that's that."

Democratic candidate Dave Aronberg agreed, and said Florida's attorney general used to put more emphasis on consumer protection, such as suing tobacco companies and businesses that sold flawed tires. "If we don't de-politicize this office, it will continue to be used as a plaything for partisan politics by people who want to run for the next office," Aronberg said.

"Scott and McCollum want to make you losers"

Stephen Goldstein: "The two Republican wannabes for this state's governor wanna deprive Floridians of the benefits people are already getting, or will soon get, from federal health care reform. Republicans have mastered the art of getting Americans to vote against their own self-interest, while fleecing them."

Rick Scott boasts that he "led the fight to defeat President [Barack] Obama's government-run public opinion" and "supports a state constitutional amendment . . . that prohibits the federal government from imposing President Obama's individual mandate." He claims to be for "free market principles" in healthcare. Natch! He made mega-millions as CEO of Columbia/HCA, which got caught using "free market principles" to defraud Medicare and Medicaid of gazillions and had to pay the biggest fine in U.S. history — $1.7 billion.

Bill McCollum boasts that he's "filed and leads a lawsuit joined by 19 other states ... to have federal health care reform legislation declared unconstitutional." In other words, as Florida's attorney general, McCollum is using your taxpayer dollars to sue the federal government — so you'll lose your benefits.

Scott and McCollum want to make you losers.

A right-wing look at 25 U.S. House races

Kevin Derby, at the right-wing Sunshine State News, takes a "look at the battle for Florida's 25 U.S. House seats", "Congressional Cash and More":

- CD 1: Jeff Miller Looks Headed for Another Term.
- CD 2: Allen Boyd Retains Massive Financial Advantage Over Crowd of Foes.
- CD 3: Challengers Lack Cash on Hand to Take on Corrine Brown.
- CD 4: Ander Crenshaw Looks Like a Lock.
- CD 5: Republican Rick Nugent Starts Strong for Open Seat.
- CD 6: Cliff Stearns has $2.6 Million Advantage Over Field.
- CD 7: John Mica the Favorite, but Heather Beaven's Fighting.
- CD 8: Some GOP Fund-Raising Success, but Nothing Like Alan Grayson’s $3.5 Million.
- CD 9: Democrats a Weak Threat to Gus Bilirakis.
- CD 10: Charlie Justice Struggles to Keep Up with Bill Young.
- CD 11: Kathy Castor Appears in Good Shape but Keep an Eye on Mike Prendergast.
- CD 12: Republican Dennis Ross Leads Pack for Open Seat.
- CD 13: Vern Buchanan Lapping the Field on Money.
- CD 14: Connie Mack Looks Headed Back to Washington.
- CD 15: Bill Posey Appears to be in Great Shape.
- CD 16: Tom Rooney Heavy Favorite for Re-Election.
- CD 17: Field of Officeholders Trails Rudy Moise in Money.
- CD 18: Looks Like Two More Years for Ros-Lehtinen.
- CD 19: Still Recovering from Special Election, But Deutch Looks Safe.
- CD 20: Wasserman-Schultz Enjoys Big Money Advantage.
- CD 21: 'Super Mario' Only Player in the Game.
- CD 22: Allen West Looks to Knock off Ron Klein.
- CD 23: Hastings Looks Favored to Win in November.
- CD 24: With $1.2 Million War Chest, Kosmas Awaits GOP Challenger.
- CD 25: Rivera and Garcia Look to Battle for Open Seat.

"Unpredictable campaigns, predictable answers"

Thomas Tryon: "Unpredictable campaigns, predictable answers from the campaigners. That's a seven-word summary of Thursday's seven-candidate, political marathon in Sarasota. For the first time, most of the major candidates running for governor and U.S. Senate were at the same venue." "Races for Senate and governor aren't politics as usual".

"The prospects are dim"

"A newly formed coalition of alternative energy advocates is calling on the Florida legislature to act on several proposals during the upcoming special session, but lawmakers have said that action next week appears unlikely." "Solar advocates push legislature to address renewable energy next week, but the prospects are dim".

Florida labor leaders are scrambling

"As the United States Senate stands poised to vote to approve an extension of federal unemployment benefits next Tuesday,"

labor leaders in Florida are scrambling to persuade the Florida legislature to fix a section of state law that will prevent Floridians from receiving a portion of those funds once they pass. But the office of state Speaker of the House Larry Cretul says lawmakers are “unlikely” to address the problem during next week’s special session, leaving thousands of Floridians without access to the federal lifeline.

Jeff-Jax

"Florida Democrats gathered for a weekend fundraising pep rally Friday, confident they can cash in on Republican troubles by reigniting some of the grass-roots enthusiasm President Obama stirred two years ago." "Florida Democrats confident they can reignite grass-roots enthusiasm of two years ago".

"You don't get that joke?"

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: "Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill walk into a bar. Kant orders one beer and declares: 'Everybody should drink like me.' Replies Mill: 'A round for everybody!' What? You don't get that joke? The way everybody in Palm Beach County is gabbing about ethics these days, I figured the county is full of experts on moral philosophy." "A sudden attack of ethics: Were McCarty, Newell treated unfairly?".

"Plenty of drama as Election Day draws near"

"The race to succeed U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, a five-term Republican running for state agriculture commissioner, has been sleepy so far, without the aggressive fundraising and campaigning of other competitive Florida congressional districts. But the district will likely see plenty of drama as Election Day draws near."

Three front-runners — a Republican, a Democrat and a tea party candidate — are vying to represent the sprawling, heavily agricultural region, which runs from southern Hillsborough County to the outskirts of Orlando.

The contest could hinge on whether Randy Wilkinson, running under the tea party banner, splits the Republican vote with GOP front-runner Dennis Ross, allowing Democratic favorite Lori Edwards or perhaps 2008 Democratic nominee Doug Tudor to pull out a victory.

What's wrong with Hillsborough?

"Hearing set for lawsuit on Dingfelder's candidacy".

Crist still on top

" Crist raised $1.8 million for his independent U.S. Senate campaign in the past three months, trailing Republican Marco Rubio but conserving millions of dollars more for the last few months of the campaign. Rubio reported a monster-sized $4.5 million haul earlier this week -- replacing Crist as Florida's fundraising champ. Still, Crist's latest donations were up from the $1.1 million he collected in the previous three months before he ditched the Republican Party." "Charlie Crist leads in money race for U.S. Senate". See also "Crist's fundraising is down in 2nd quarter".

In a poisonous political atmosphere, it now appears nothing will be accomplished next week, and the hostility between the independent governor and Republican-led Legislature will be worse than ever.

Teabaggers ponying up for Rubio

"Crist raised $1.8 million for his independent U.S. Senate campaign in the past three months, trailing Republican Marco Rubio but conserving millions of dollars more for the last few months of the campaign."

Rubio reported a monster-sized $4.5 million haul earlier this week -- replacing Crist as Florida's fundraising champ. Still, Crist's latest donations were up from the $1.1 million he collected in the previous three months before he ditched the Republican Party.

"I couldn't be more delighted. It's uncharted territory,'' said Crist, who leads the polls.

What's more, Crist said he has $8.2 million in the bank, compared to Rubio, who has $4.4 million. Crist has been increasingly leaning on Democratic donors. ...

Rubio blew through $4 million between April and June, mostly on television, mail and fundraising, according to Burgos. Crist's expenses were far less -- roughly $1.2 million. ...

The Democratic front-runner, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami, collected $1 million in the past three months. That leaves him with $4 million in the bank, slightly less than Rubio. Meek spent less than $700,000 during that time period, compared to $5.8 million by his chief opponent in the Aug. 24 primary, billionaire Jeff Greene.

... but Crist still ahead

"But the increase in Crist's overall fundraising total is good news for the governor's Senate bid, as are polls that continue to show him with the advantage in three-way race for Florida's open Senate seat. The TPM Poll Average for the contest shows Crist with 36.6% of the vote, Rubio with 32.6% and embattled Democratic party candidate Kendrick Meek -- who faces an increasingly tough primary of his own -- with 14.7%" "AP: Crist's Fundraising As An Independent Goes Up". But see "Crist Fund-Raising Machine Sputters".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Clear Channel wants trees that block its billboards in South Florida cut down".

Fl-oil-duh

"BP stopped the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico for the first time in almost three months. Pressure tests over the next two days will determine whether a new cap on the well can remain in place." "Gulf oil spill choked -- and now we wait"

See also "Sea creatures cause tar ball scare in Sarasota Co.", "BP chokes off the oil leak, waits to see if it holds; Fla. cheers long-awaited news", "Some have trouble believing BP stopped oil leak", "House panel OKs overhaul of oil drilling agency" and "Gulf geyser stops gushing, but will it hold?".

"Bondi's "I can see Russia from my back porch!" moment"

Daniel Ruth: "Think of this as Pam Bondi's "I can see Russia from my back porch!" moment. ... Ah, the woman is a natural — in any party." "Bondi's shifty response to sudden right turn".

"A quiet death"

"NASA's plans to return astronauts to the moon by 2020 died a quiet death Thursday when a key Senate panel approved a new course for the agency that terminates the Constellation moon-rocket program and instructs NASA to build a new rocket for a yet-undefined mission." "Plan kills NASA's Constellation moon mission, adds shuttle launch".

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Better course on space". The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Bill Nelson space plan looks like the better deal".

HD 104 and 108 endorsements

The Miami Herald editorial board endorses in "HD 108" and "HD 104".

Scott's "speech"

"Republican candidate for governor Rick Scott wasted no time Wednesday and immediately filed an appeal of federal Judge Robert Hinkle's decision to deny his request for an injunction to block the release of state funds to his rival under Florida's public finance law."

He also asked for the fast-tracked ruling since the state is scheduled to cut a check to Attorney General Bill McCollum, Scott's GOP challenger, by Aug. 6, a week after Scott files his expense report. The millionaire health care executive is expected to show he has exceeded a $24.9 million spending cap, triggering the release of public funds.

More nukes?

"Activists and supporters shared their thoughts on Florida Power & Light's proposed expansion of the Turkey Point nuclear power plant." "FPL's Turkey Point expansion plans debated".

Gelber BP Issue

"The fire ignited by Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, over the loose ties Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, has with BP will likely continue a slow burn over the next five weeks leading up to the Aug. 24 primary. And despite polarizing his own party and being criticized on his ethics, Aronberg says he plans to continue to fan the flames." "AG Race: Dave Aronberg Won't Back Down from Dan Gelber BP Issue".

Publicity stunt for failing campaign

"A Republican state lawmaker is calling for a censure of Gov. Charlie Crist over his move to bring legislators back to Tallahassee next week to vote on a proposal that would constitutionally ban offshore oil drilling in Florida. Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Orlando, also a candidate for Congress, announced Thursday that she was filing a resolution to censure the governor during next week's session." "Lawmaker Wants Crist Censured".

Good luck

"Labor leaders Thursday called on Gov. Charlie Crist and the leadership of both houses to expand the focus of the special session to change state statutes so unemployed Floridians will be able to receive extended unemployment benefits. " "Florida AFL-CIO Calls for Special Session to Tackle Extending Unemployment Benefits".

Ballot secrecy

"Ballot secrecy compromised in Fla., other states".

State parties in a predicament

"With his retinue of notorious celebrity friends, including former pimp Heidi Fleiss and boxer/convicted rapist Mike Tyson, and his previous history running for office as a Republican, billionaire Jeff Greene is not the kind of candidate the Democratic machine would necessarily put up for U.S. Senate."

Many Republican officials see multi-millionaire businessman Rick Scott’s controversial past running a chain of hospitals that ultimately admitted to massive Medicare and Medicaid fraud as insurmountable baggage in the general election for governor.

Yet both candidates have made inroads in their respective primary battles, and their success puts the state parties they hope to represent in a predicament: stay neutral in the intra-party races or actively offer endorsements.

What's wrong with Hillsborough?

"Commissioner refuses to say how wife paid for $435,000 home".

Let's try another one

"Billionaire self-funded Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene has a new campaign manager. The last one quit after two months." "Greene deals with campaign staff shakeup, defends job creation claims".

It's your Party, Connie

"Representative Connie Mack sent a letter to Florida legislators and Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday, urging them not to pass immigration legislation at a special session next week." "Mack sends letter to legislators urging them not to pass Arizona-style immigration legislation".

McCollum laff riot

"McCollum spoke with passion about the lawsuit he filed in conjunction with 19 other states that questions the constitutionality of the federal health care reform bill, calling it a 'landmark on individual liberties,' and guaranteeing that it would find its way to the Supreme Court." "Bill McCollum: Health care lawsuit is ‘landmark on individual liberties’".

"Slimy accusations, divisive strategies"

Scott Maxwell: "Last week, gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott's campaign went after his Republican primary opponent, Bill McCollum, for having previously supported New York City's "pro-homosexual rights" Mayor Rudy Giuliani."

The claim was as steeped in distortion as it was intolerance. Suggesting McCollum is gay-friendly is almost as silly as suggesting he is charismatic. The guy is at the forefront of discrimination in this country, leading the charge to take foster children away from loving parents who happen to be gay. ... when you consider all of his tactics — slimy accusations, divisive strategies and his past involvement in a scandal — this guy who claims to hate career politicians sure seems to be a quick study.

Second session?

"With the Legislature going into special session next week to consider backing a constitutional amendment to ban oil drilling in state waters, Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, is now ready for a second oil-related session to be held at the end of summer -- and he has the backing of the House speaker." "Senate President Jeff Atwater Calls for Second Special Session".

Too old for those civics classes

"In a meeting with the Tallahassee Democrat editorial board, prior to an evening forum with Leon County Republicans, four of the GOP contenders in the 2nd Congressional District praised Attorney General Bill McCollum's federal lawsuit challenging the new law. They generally agreed that the federal government has exceeded constitutional limits and said the nation's economy can only be revived by reducing deficits and holding down taxes." "GOP contenders for Congress air views".

"Potential spoiler"

"A crowded race for Kendrick Meek's seat features experienced politicians and a big-fundraising potential spoiler." "District 17 candidates stress economic development".

McCollum's political stunt

"Florida is backing Arizona in its fight with the federal government over who can enforce U.S. immigration laws, Attorney General Bill McCollum said Wednesday." "Florida joins states supporting Arizona immigration law with court brief".

"Financial bonanza for Florida television stations"

"The independent committees being used by both candidates in the Florida Republican primary for governor could end up providing a financial bonanza for Florida television stations at a time when broadcasters have been suffering financially during the recession."

The reason: The independent committees don't get the big discount campaigns get when they buy television ads. They have to pay full price, which could be a premium of 50 percent or more over the usual prices for political ads.

Both Bill McCollum and Rick Scott are using independent committees instead of their campaigns to do some of their campaigning.

In McCollum's case, that's to avoid going over the $24.9 million spending limit he agreed to as a condition of receiving public financing money for his campaign. Spending by the independent committees doesn't count toward that limit.

Scott has another reason for using his independent committee. He's not taking public financing, but under the public financing law, if he spends more than $24.9 million, McCollum gets extra public money to equal the amount by which Scott goes over that figure.

But there's a catch: Federal law and FCC rules say a television station must give a political campaign its "lowest unit rate" for all advertising purchases.

Special Session

"The first bills filed for next week's special legislative session have nothing to do with what Gov. Charlie Crist called lawmakers together to discuss."

# Enable law enforcement officials to check on a person's residency status during routine stops or arrests, using the federal E-Verify program created for employers to check on a worker's status.

# Require proof of legal residency or citizenship for receipt of certain public benefits. The prohibition would not include emergency or crisis care or immunizations for communicable diseases.

# Prohibit a person from working for any state agency if he can't prove he is a legal resident or citizen. The proposal doesn't include any measures to penalize private employers who hire illegal immigrants.

Entrepreneurs in action

"Two Florida men charged with running commodities scheme".

McCollum defends Millionaire's amendment

"Republican Bill McCollum's struggling gubernatorial campaign scored a big victory Wednesday when a federal judge rejected an attempt by his primary opponent, Rick Scott, to stop him from receiving potentially millions of dollars in campaign funds from taxpayers."

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle refused to throw out Florida's campaign finance law that gives candidates public money to combat well-heeled opponents -- such as the freespending Scott -- who don't follow state spending caps. Scott is expected to blow through the state's $24.9 million cap for the governor's race by this weekend, leaving McCollum eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match of any spending over that amount.

However, Hinkle said the U.S. Supreme Court may ultimately disagree with him.

FCAT follies

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Now, after being billed more than $3 million in fines for leaving the state in the lurch, NCS Pearson has produced late results that do not track with each student's scores from the previous year. The drop in scoring -- most of it in schools serving high-achieving students -- is suspect and deserves an independent look." "Florida earns F for accountability".

Fl-oil-duh

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Is anybody genuinely afraid that the oil and gas industry won't have sufficient influence in Washington as the commission dissects what went wrong with the Deepwater Horizon well and recommends changes to improve drilling safety and emergency response procedures?" "A gusher of oil lobbyists: Charges that the industry will get short shrift are silly.".

See also "BP: Well Test Back On Track After Cap Repair", "Congressman To BP: Stop Stonewalling On Oil Well Data", "BP begins testing new cap over Gulf oil leak", "Oil hits Louisiana's largest seabird nesting area", "Suit filed seeking more details on dispersants" and "AG: Firms other than BP could be liable for spill".

"Typical Tallahassee sleight of hand"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Faced with a $3.2 billion budget deficit last session, state lawmakers engaged in a typical Tallahassee sleight of hand. They quietly grabbed federal stimulus dollars - while loudly decrying the program - gobbled up gambling money and raided trust funds to cobble together a $70.4 billion budget." "Reining in spending habits".

That Columbia/HCA thing

"The question dogs gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott wherever he goes: What was your role in Columbia/HCA's Medicare fraud?"

On Tuesday night, it was asked by a shouting, finger-pointing attendee at a South Florida Tea Party meeting in Delray Beach.

Scott, the front-runner in the GOP primary, calmly gave the same explanation he gives in his TV ads: The company made mistakes and he accepts responsibility because he was CEO.

"He didn't answer it,'' Harry Klein said after his confrontation with Scott. ``I wanted a simple answer that would have told us what happened. He did not answer the question.''

Foreclosures

"Tampa area foreclosures on track to outpace 2009" and "Volusia, Flagler foreclosures still high".

Scott and Greene "unknown and untested"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Rick Scott and Jeff Greene have earned vast sums of money in the private sector, but they are unknown and untested politically. Private business executives have to recognize that running for public office requires more transparency, particularly when their opponents have long public records." "Public deserves answers".

Greene loses manager

"Florida Senate candidate Jeff Greene, the free-spending real-estate billionaire challenging Rep. Kendrick Meek for the Democratic nomination, has lost his campaign manager a little more than a month before the August primary." "Greene loses campaign manager".

PSC diversity

"Gov. Charlie Crist responded to critics who said his appointees to the state Public Service Commission didn't offer enough diversity and on Wednesday appointed two blacks to the embattled utility board."

Crist named Miami state Rep. Ron Brisé, a Democrat, and Jacksonville Councilman Arthur Graham, a Republican, to replace David Klement and Benjamin ``Steve'' Stevens, who were ousted by the Senate when it failed to confirm them. Their primary reasons: because they either lacked diversity or experience.

Rubio still hot

Howard Troxler: "As matters stand today, Rubio is still being edged in the polls by his principal rival, Gov. Charlie Crist, running as an independent, partly because Crist is in the oil-spill limelight. Crist is a rock star too, just of a different brand, his main assets being likability and a genial populism. Rubio, in contrast, has a focused message that he delivers brilliantly in settings such as the one Tuesday in Gulfport. The test is translating it into all the superficialities of modern elections. " "Though Crist has the cameras, Rubio's still red hot".

Rekindling the enthusiasm

"Two black legislators and a former lawmaker trying for a political comeback started a campaign Tuesday to rekindle the enthusiasm President Obama sparked two years ago." "Group of current, former lawmakers trying to rekindle minority voting spirit".

'Glades

"Opponents Lash Out at Water District Over Land Deal".

"This is one scary goober"

Nancy Smith: "Either Bill McCollum doesn’t know a principle from a prawn or he’s as slippery as a Mississippi swamp. Either way, this is one scary goober." "Bill McCollum: Pardon Me While I Pick Your Pocket".

McCollum veers right(er)

"Bill McCollum: Health care lawsuit is ‘landmark on individual liberties’".

Thomas on Meek

Mike Thomas: "This is a column about waste, fraud, abuse and self-destruction by U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek." "Why would Meek oppose savings for Medicare?".

"An imperfect plan"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Members of a U.S. Senate subcommittee were scheduled today to take up a new blueprint for space policy from the panel's chairman, Florida Democrat Bill Nelson. It's an imperfect plan — not surprising for the product of a bipartisan compromise. But it's better than the likely alternative." "Better course on space".

Attorney General Bill McCollum, the one-time frontrunner and Republican establishment favorite, has one hope to keep up: Florida's public financing system for statewide campaigns.

That's the system that Republicans — including many of the people supporting McCollum — have for years derided as "welfare for politicians." GOP legislators even put an amendment repealing the system on the November ballot this year.

Today, lawyers for Scott and McCollum go into federal court in Tallahassee, where Scott has sued to throw out a portion of the law that provides matching money for a candidate whose opponent exceeds a state-mandated spending cap, as Scott says he will do. If Scott's motion prevails, McCollum's campaign may well be doomed.

Wingnuts run wild

"With the push for an Arizona-style immigration law already playing a central role in the Republican primary for governor, a pair of Florida legislators Tuesday sought to add the issue to next week’s special session on oil-drilling." "Arizona-Style Immigration Bills Filed for Special Session". See also "State Rep. Ambler files immigration bills for special session".

Special session

"Pressure is mounting for legislators to expand the special session next week to revamp Florida's laws to help ailing Panhandle residents recover from the financial hit of the oil disaster. A committee of the Senate's leading Republicans and Democrats, along with Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, are urging Gov. Charlie Crist and the House to go beyond the debate over putting a constitutional amendment on the November ballot when they meet July 20-23 to including economic relief for thousands of businesses, individuals and governments." "Charlie Crist may ask lawmakers for Panhandle relief". See also "No deal reached yet on how to handle special session".

New poll

"As a new poll showed Gov. Charlie Crist holding his lead over Marco Rubio in the Senate race, Rubio began a series of policy announcements with a speech advocating tax cuts he said are necessary to prevent national decay."

Rep. Kendrick Meek, meanwhile, released a new video underlining his claim to be "the only Democrat" in the race for Florida's Senate seat.

He also got an endorsement from the Florida Planned Parenthood chapters, which cited his 100 percent voting record on Planned Parenthood's women's health, gender equality and reproductive rights issues.

The July 9-11 Reuters/Ipsos poll of 600 registered voters showed Crist, a no-party candidate, maintaining his lead over Republican Rubio 35 percent to 28 percent, with Meek at 17 percent. The poll has a 4-point error margin.

Crist held almost the same lead with Jeff Greene listed as the Democratic candidate instead of Meek.

Most other recent polls have also shown Crist narrowly ahead of Rubio.

Crist also got favorable ratings on his job performance from 53 percent of poll respondents.

Money talks

"Since jumping into Florida's Republican gubernatorial primary in April, millionaire hospital executive Rick Scott has spent a fortune beating the heck out of the Republican establishment's choice, state Attorney General Bill McCollum. McCollum is now nearly out of money, and hoping Florida's public financing laws will bail him out. Though the race is not over yet, Scott is looking more and more like a frontrunner -- a development that could leave Republicans with an eccentric, disgraced CEO to carry their flag into the open race for governor in the fall." "How A Super Rich Republican Is Burying And Bankrupting A GOP Favorite In Florida".

Out-of-state rats take work from Floridians

"Work got under way in April on a $200 million Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority project, and the parking lots at SWA have been filling up with out-of-state license tags ever since." "Half of jobs at PB County solid-waste project going to out-of-state workers".

Fl-oil-duh

"A pivotal moment in the Gulf oil crisis was derailed Tuesday evening when officials announced they needed more time before they could begin choking off the geyser of crude at the bottom of the sea." "Key test on Gulf oil spill cap hits unexpected snag".

"As sea turtle nesting season gets into full swing on Volusia and Flagler county beaches, a large-scale effort is under way to rescue sea turtles trapped by the growing oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. " "Rescuers rush to save sea turtles, move eggs to safety".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Kenneth Feinberg made clear that the oil compensation process will be claimant-friendly and Florida will not be overlooked." "Oil claims chief eases Floridians' fears".

See also "BP says no to Crist's request for $50 million", "Apalachicola Bay oystermen fight for livelihood -- and identity", "Gulf oil to keep flowing while cap is analyzed", "Gulf Oil Still Gushing After Cap Efforts Suddenly Halted", "Now that new cap is on leak, BP prepares for tests to see how it holds oil", "", "Gulf oil to keep flowing while cap is analyzed", "Scientists say Gulf spill altering food web", "Turtles relocated from Gulf released into Atlantic" and "Obama administration bills BP for $99.7 million".

Rubio's same old song and dance

"Marco Rubio outlined almost two dozen ideas Tuesday to revive the economy and deal with the Gulf oil spill, and took some digs at his former GOP rival, Charlie Crist." "Rubio lists his plans for Senate".

Consider these shining points of light:

• Extending the Bush-era income tax cuts.

• Cutting corporate taxes.

• Eliminating inheritance, capital gains and dividends taxes.

• Opposing a cap-and-trade plan to limit carbon pollution.

• Repealing health care reform and replacing it with a tax cut for those who buy their own health insurance and more limits on malpractice lawsuits.

... Speaking of Teabaggers

"Tea Party Billboard Compares Obama To Hitler, Lenin". Related: "Right Wing Rallies Around Tea Party After NAACP Condemns Movement".

"Deep ties to utility companies"

"Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to announce his replacements for his two ousted appointees to the state utility-regulation board on Wednesday, and will choose from a list of eight applicants that includes many with deep ties to utility companies." "Utility links color Florida Public Service Commission picks".

Perhaps we should be increasing wages?

Mike Thomas apparently has a problem with supply and demand: "If illegal immigrants go, produce prices would skyrocket".

Greene's jobs

"Billionaire Senate candidate Jeff Greene is spending millions on TV and campaign mailers casting himself as the 'proven job creator,' but proving how many jobs he has created isn't so easy." "Greene's jobs record unclear".

Bondi ... never mind

"Pam Bondi is running for attorney general as a conservative Republican, but for much of her adult life she was a registered Democrat." "GOP attorney general candidate Pam Bondi has Democratic roots".

FCAT follies

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Public school accountability will not work unless there is confidence in the accuracy of the testing system. This year's delayed FCAT results and potential anomalies have raised enough questions that the state should not release school grades until an audit is complete. " "School grades and FCAT uncertainty".

"Manufactured outrage"?

"Dave Aronberg should drop his manufactured outrage over Dan Gelber's alleged links to BP."

Sen. Aronberg of Greenacres faces Sen. Gelber of Miami Beach in the Aug. 24 Democratic primary for Florida attorney general. The job is enormously important. Incumbent Bill McCollum, a Republican running for governor, has shown how politics can sidetrack the office. Under Mr. McCollum, Florida is wasting resources by opposing federal heath insurance reform and trying to keep gay people from adopting children.

Sen. Aronberg, by focusing on an irrelevant aspect of the BP disaster, is showing no better sense of priorities than Mr. McCollum. Here's the so-called issue:

Sen. Gelber worked for the Akerman Senterfitt law firm, which in May accepted BP as a client after the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill. After he learned in early June that BP had hired the firm, Sen. Gelber took several weeks to wrap up his cases and then resigned. Sen. Gelber said in an interview he didn't leave immediately because that would not have been professionally responsible.

Goin' down

"Lenders on pace to take back 50,000 South Florida homes this year".

Scott "deceitful" and "heartless"?

"The St. Petersburg Times hammers Florida gubernatorial hopeful Rick Scott today in an editorial that describes him as "deceitful" and "heartless." The editors accuse Scott of "shamelessly exploiting the tragedy of a family of a severely disabled young woman" in order to "burnish" his pro-life bona fides." "Florida Gov Candidate Assailed By Local Newspaper".

Teabaggers can't find "Everglades" in the U.S. Constitution

"Tea partiers and a Republican political action committee say they will descend on South Florida Water Management District headquarters today to protest the agency's purchase of U.S. Sugar property for Everglades restoration." "Tea Parties Boiling Over Crist's U.S. Sugar Deal".

New commercials

"With six weeks to go until the primary, the two leading Democrats battling it out for their party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by George LeMieux released new commercials to hit Florida's airwaves." "Dem Candidates in U.S. Senate Race Release New Ads".

Federal help, please ...

"With 30 state banks failing since 2007, and BP oil lapping at Gulf shores, the Florida Bankers Association is pleading for relief from Washington." "Florida Banks Plead for Relief from Regulators".

"Algal blooms and fish kills"

"Recent algal blooms and fish kills in the St. Johns River have begun to make their way into the increasingly heated 2010 election cycle."

U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Jacksonville, along with Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Tallahassee, recently made headlines when they proposed to add a rider to an amendment that would impact funding to the EPA and likely halt regulation of runoff into the St. Johns.

Now Crenshaw’s Republican primary opponent, Troy Stanley, is calling out the congressman for his ties to industries polluting the St. Johns.

Reaping the rerwards

"Mel Martinez to be Fla. chairman for JPMorgan Chase".

Gaming the election process

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Once again in Hillsborough County and other communities throughout Florida, write-in candidates have gamed the election process, slamming precinct doors in the faces of hundreds of thousands of registered voters and violating the spirit of the state constitution. It's time for the Legislature to call this what it really is - a sham - and finally take steps to stop it." "Disruptive write-ins".

McCollum counter sues

Yesterday: "Outspent by Rick Scott, his independently wealthy GOP opponent, Bill McCollum asked a court to rebuff Scott's bid to deny him matching campaign funds from the state." "Cash-strapped Bill McCollum files to keep public funds".

"Historic policy shift"

"Seven former political prisoners from Cuba smiled and gave victory signs Tuesday after they and their families were flown to freedom [sic] in Madrid, the first of 52 dissidents the Cuban government has promised to free in a historic policy shift." "7 Cuban dissidents find freedom in Spain". Related: "Tiny plastic foam boat carries Cuban migrant to US".

but his strength will be tested as the campaign moves to the general election. While he has raised the money to compete on TV -- the ultimate battleground in Florida politics -- he still has to show he can appeal to more than hard-line conservatives and tea partyers.

Already, momentum has cooled with Crist dropping out of the GOP primary to run as an independent. The conflict and contrast that riled up Rubio's supporters and drove a media story line has been sapped.

And Rubio's record on property taxes invites questions about his effectiveness. His ideas were big but mostly failed, even though his party controlled the Legislature. In the end, Crist prevailed with a simpler -- and less substantial -- property tax relief plan.

Greene in Tally

"Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene will do some campaigning in the state capital today. Greene, a Palm Beach County billionaire real estate investor, is in a close race with U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami Gardens for the Democratic nomination to succeed Sen. George LeMieux in Washington." "U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene visits Tallahassee today".

Fl-oil-duh

"The smallest victims are the biggest challenge for crews rescuing birds fouled with oil from the Gulf of Mexico spill. There's no way to know how many chicks have been killed by the oil, or starved because their parents were rescued or died struggling in a slick." "Babies of the oil spill face an uncertain future".

See also "45 pelicans affected by oil spill moved to Florida", "States Look at Oil Spill Laws, but Florida's Future Murky", "South Florida sanctuary takes in oily birds from Gulf", "BP reports progress on oil cap; Gulf Coast waits" and "Tests: No crude oil in tar balls found along Florida coast".

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "South Floridians watching efforts to protect sensitive Panhandle coastlines and bays can only hope that the efforts will work, and, if the blowout makes it to the Atlantic side of the state, that our region will have learned enough to avoid any mistakes made during clean-up operations in other parts of the Gulf Coast region." "Lessons from the Gulf oil spill will help South Florida".

Race to the bottom

"The Obama administration's attempt last week to kill Arizona's tough new immigration law had both of Florida's GOP candidates for governor racing to upstage one other's support for tough enforcement." "Arizona immigration law an issue in Florida's GOP governor's race".

Entrepreneurs in action

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Wellcare Health Plans Inc. is not fully paying for its sins. The Tampa-based insurer has been accused of bilking taxpayers of hundreds of millions of dollars by using fraudulent practices that were integral to the company's profit-making. " "Don't let WellCare off lightly for fraud".

"Florida races tend to be easy on incumbents"

"Underneath the loud tussling over who Florida's next governor and U.S. senator will be runs a quiet political battle that could have far more lasting ramifications."

The Fair Districts Florida website explains the stakes this way: "In the last 6 years, there have been 420 elections for State Senator and State Representative. Only three incumbents have been defeated! After all, their districts are specially designed for them! With virtually certain seats, legislators have no incentive to be responsive to their constituents and they see no reason to compromise for the public good."

We aren't going to address finger-wagging between the two sides. But Fair Districts' election statistics are ripe for a Truth-O-Meter item. We wondered, are Florida elections really that predictable?

The short answer is yes.

We checked the state Division of Elections site, which lists every state Senate and House candidate since 1996. It also lists the outcomes of each race, including primaries, special elections, runoffs and general elections.

In the past six years, Florida has held three regularly scheduled general elections and 17 special elections for Senate and House seats. By definition, special elections don't feature incumbents, so those campaigns are not relevant to our count.

In 2008, there were 141 seats up for grabs. In 2006, there were 140, and 2004 saw 142 seats enter into play. That amounts to 423 potential general elections in six years. There are many more elections if you count individual primaries, runoffs and general elections.

Freidin said her "420" figure was based on the number of Senate and House seats that might have been up for election during those three cycles.

From 2004 through 2010, many Florida incumbents won re-election when candidate qualifying closed because they drew no opponents. In 2004, every incumbent won re-election.

Of the incumbents who drew rivals, exactly three were defeated during that six-year span:

• Republican Rep. Sheri McInvale of Orlando lost her 2006 general election to Rep. Scott Randolph, a Democrat from Orlando. Two Republicans, an independent and a write-in candidate qualified in June 2010 to run against Randolph.

• Republican Rep. Susan Goldstein of Weston was trumped in the 2006 general campaign by Rep. Marty Kiar, a Democrat from Davie, who was re-elected in June 2010 when no other candidate qualified to run.

•Democratic Rep. Tony Sasso of Cocoa Beach failed to keep his seat during the 2008 general election. The winner was Rep. Steve Crisafulli, a Republican from Merritt Island who was re-elected in June 2010 without opposition.

Fair Districts Florida's larger point that Florida races tend to be easy on incumbents still rang true after further scrutiny.

Johnny Jones passes

"Everglades activist Johnny Jones dies".

Laid-off teachers

"For about 500 laid-off Broward educators, this will be a summer spent in limbo as they wait to learn whether they'll be rehired by August. Many thought the careers they loved were recession-proof, but like 1 million other Floridians they are now jobless." "Laid-off Broward teachers searching for work".

Papers please ...

"The Department of Justice last week filed a lawsuit challenging Arizona’s controversial immigration-enforcement law S.B. 1070 — which requires law enforcement officials to 'determine the immigration status' of a person if there is a 'reasonable suspicion' that the person is an undocumented immigrant. "

In Florida, politicians and activists have argued the merits of importing S.B. 1070 to Florida, with high-profile Republican gubernatorial candidates Bill McCollum and Rick Scott, among others, both pledging support for the Arizona legislation.

But Florida law enforcement officials may not even need the backing of a new law. Section 287(g), a provision in the federal government’s Immigration and Nationality Act, has enabled select local Florida officers to perform immigration enforcement for years, and its implementation is drawing criticism for trampling on immigrants’ civil rights.

West rakes it in

"Add Florida Republican Allen West to the list of bomb-throwing political personalities raising cash off their knack for connecting with the country's most exercised activists."

West, a former Army colonel challenging Democratic Rep. Ron Klein, raised $1.4 million in the second quarter of 2010 – an astonishing ...

Republican officials expect West's haul to be the largest of any non-incumbent GOP candidate for the last three months. It brings his overall fundraising for the cycle to $3.5 million and he ended June with $2.2 million on hand.

That's all you got?

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Candidates for the state Legislature invariably offer up two things: an earful about how their opponents don't measure up, and, if they represent the majority party that controls what gets done in Tallahassee, a flavor of what Floridians can expect after the election." "What's in store for Florida".

"On the mend"

"After the worst year in the home building business since the Great Depression, Southwest Florida builders and their subcontractors are getting busy again." "Home building in Southwest Florida is on the mend".

There were the thousands of dollars dropped in Las Vegas restaurants, a casino resort and a Wayne Newton concert.

She says she saw thousands more in questionable expenses for trips and swank accommodations in Boston, Beverly Hills and Miami.

And she says she was among the first Republican staffers to voice concerns about a $200,000 party contract with a shell company called Victory Strategies, which is now at the center of the fraud and theft charges against former Chairman Jim Greer, who has pleaded not guilty. ...

Now a witness in the state criminal case against Greer, Wright is breaking months of public silence to detail for The St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald the problems she saw at party headquarters under Greer and his right-hand man, Delmar Johnson, who is avoiding jail time in return for testifying against Greer.

"McCollum's latest 'me, too' moment"

"The Obama administration's attempt last week to kill Arizona's tough new immigration law had both of Florida's GOP candidates for governor racing to upstage the other's support for tough enforcement."

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum wrote to Gov. Charlie Crist asking that state agencies and, if possible, state contractors use E-Verify, an Internet-based system to confirm the legal status of all employees.

"Having been involved with the immigration issue for a long time, it seems to me that the key to all this, to making it work, is to enforce the sanctions against employers who hire illegal aliens," McCollum, a former congressman, said Wednesday.

But Rick Scott billed it as McCollum's latest "me, too" moment on immigration. The previous week, Scott had called for all employers in the state to use E-Verify.

About Jeff

"At the peak of the housing frenzy, California landlord Jeff Greene made a shrewd move that countless American investors and homeowners wish they would have mimicked. He bet that borrowers who took out subprime mortgages would default. The trade paid off big, netting Greene profits of perhaps $500 million, perhaps $800 million - all for an investment of about $24 million. Greene's win pushed him from millionaire to billionaire and was detailed in the 2009 book The Greatest Trade Ever." "How Senate candidate Greene made hundreds of millions betting that supbrime mortgages would default".

Where was "Jeb!"?

"1983 document shows Florida's oil strategy largely unchanged".

Agjobs

"In the heat of immigration debate across the nation, growers and farmworker advocates are pressing for passage of the federal legislation known as Agjobs. The bill, which has been on the brink of passage several times, continues to have widespread support from agricultural groups, farmworker advocates and religious organizations across the state." "Push resumes for AgJobs bill to allow farmworker illegals to stay".

Fun with petards

Howard Troxler has a little fun with petards, reminding us that

millionaire and nouveau candidate for governor Rick Scott filed a lawsuit against the state's "public financing" for candidates. His goal is to block any assistance for his Republican opponent, Bill McCollum.

The way the law works, a candidate who agrees to limit his own spending can get matching funds from the state when another candidate goes over that limit.

Since Scott has spent a bazillion dollars so far, McCollum is in line for some state cash.

Interestingly, the Republican Legislature hates public financing and has gutted it over the years. There's even another amendment on this fall's ballot, proposed by the Legislature, to eliminate it altogether.

Yet the incoming leaders of the Legislature, Dean Cannon in the House and Mike Haridopolos in the Senate, are supporting McCollum over the outsider Scott.

What irony! Unless their own guy gets some of that "welfare for politicians" that they hate, they could end up with the Other Guy as governor. In a more literate era, I would say they were being hoist by their own petard, but that would involve explaining what a "petard" is, so never mind.

RPOFer hypocrisy

"Conservative Florida Republicans have long opposed the state's public campaign financing program, calling it 'welfare for politicians,' in the words of its leading opponent, former Gov. Jeb Bush. But some of those same people are now helping their favored candidate for governor, Bill McCollum, collect as much public financing money as possible, to prevent his campaign from being overwhelmed by the spending of his mega-millionaire, self-funding opponent Rick Scott." "Campaign funding rules skirted in gubernatorial race".

No heart, no soul in Pasco

"It would be a pretty safe bet to say that Mike Fasano and Bill Bunting have crossed each other off their Christmas card lists. The Republican Party of Pasco seems to reflect nationwide trends of a split between more moderate forces and vehement conservatism."

The contrast is plainly seen, too, between a more middle-of-the-road approach by state Sen. Fasano, R-New Port Richey, and the often-feisty conservatism of Bunting, the GOP state committeeman for Pasco. They have been butting heads of late.

"Bill Bunting lives in his own little world," Fasano said through his chief legislative assistant, Greg Giordano. "This senate office has too much to do (serving constituents) to worry about what Bill Bunting says or does. We don't have much contact with Bill Bunting these days."

Legions of pajama-clad voters"

"Legions of pajama-clad voters could decide Florida's ballot long before the August primary."

Elections officials have begun sending out hundreds of thousands of vote-by-mail ballots creating an unprecedented army of absentee voters in an unpredictable election year rattled by vulnerable incumbents, a desolate economy and the sudden emergence of two wealthy, political upstarts.

With the ballots poised to arrive weeks before a slate of scheduled debates or other opportunities for voters to learn about the candidates, the emergence of the home as the polling place of choice for so many voters lends further uncertainty to a year already testing many of Florida's political traditions.

Sorry, Charlie

"White House isn't backing Crist, party chief says".

Fl-oil-duh

"Underpromising with hopes of overdelivering, BP said Sunday that it is making progress on what could prove its most effective effort yet to contain the Gulf oil leak, but cautioned that the verdict could be several days away. A new cap being placed atop the gusher is intended to provide a tight seal and might eventually allow the oil giant to capture all the crude leaking from the well for the first time since an April 20 oil rig explosion set off the environmental crisis. But several prior failed attempts to stop the leak have made BP PLC careful to keep expectations grounded." "BP happy with new oil-leak effort, but no promises".

See also "Crist to announce legal 'Dream Team' for oil spill response", "BP: Cap on gushing well removed, oil will flow freely into Gulf for two days", "BP: Latest containment effort may be 2-5 more days", "Navy blimp hovers over Gulf on oil spill duty", "New cap could contain spill this week, BP says", "Graham: Capping blown-out well doesn't fix spill" and "".

Graham hoses Lawson

"Former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham praised Rep. Allen Boyd Saturday as a moderate "work horse" who can withstand partisan pressure from both extremes in Congress."

Introducing Graham at a noon rally, Boyd said they worked together on many state and federal issues important to North Florida farming, transportation and economic development. He said he will be with Graham, co-chairman of a presidential commission on the oil spill, during a listening tour of coastal communities today.

"He said to me one time, 'Allen, you can't govern from the end zone. You have to govern from the 50-yard line,' and I've always tried to mimic that," Boyd said. "I've watched him over his career and that is what he does."

Graham, who served two terms as governor and 18 years in the U.S. Senate, said Boyd's 14 years in the House have made him a key member for agriculture appropriations. While other members have staked out hard positions on the left or right, Graham said, Boyd votes pretty much in the political center.

"He is an important part of that frankly diminishing group of people who live around the 50-yard line," said Graham. "That's the kind of congressman who is in increasingly shorter and shorter supply. You've got one and you should keep him."

Boyd faces state Sen. Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, in the Aug. 24 primary and five Republicans are seeking the GOP nomination to face the Democratic nominee in November.

Heaven help us

"Have months of Fox News hyperventilating and right-wing fear mongering over our supposed socialist-in-chief finally paid off? A majority of voters now think President Barack Obama is a socialist, at least according to one new poll." "Poll: 55% Of Likely Voters Think Obama's A Socialist".

Heaven help us, Part Deux

"On Its 50th Birthday, Why Is 'To Kill A Mockingbird' Being Attacked?".

The Party of "no"

"While Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's call for a special session on offshore drilling may have fired up partisan politics statewide, one UF expert expects that the session likely will not lead to a constitutional amendment banning oil drilling making it onto the November ballot." "Special session could lead to nothing".

GOP complaint against Crist dismissed

Missed this last week:

The Federal Elections Commission announced yesterday that it found no evidence of wrongdoing in six complaints, including ones against Charlie Crist's Senate campaign and President Obama's Victory Fund.

The complaint against Crist, filed late last year by Tampa Republican Club president Liz Wessel, alleges that he and a lobbyist friend violated FEC law when his friend, Rich Heffley, created an anti-Rubio web site without disclosing who he was.

The FEC ruled that "volunteer internet activities," even in collusion with the candidate, "do not require disclaimers and do not constitute contributions."

"He does not publicly disclose potential conflicts"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Ash Williams, the chief investment officer for Florida's pension fund, oversees $134 billion. Yet he does not publicly disclose potential conflicts of interest when he invests public money." "A conflict of state, personal interests". Related: "Ash says deals based on merits, not pals" and "Williams blurs line between state, personal business".

Yaawwnn ...

Mike Thomas: "Generous pensions for public workers gut budget". Our response: "Alleged Journalists at it again".

"Remarkably little visible campaigning so far"

"Central Florida voters will decide more than 100 races on the Aug. 24 primary ballot, with candidates fighting for everything from city commission seats to a six-year term in the U.S. Senate. But even though it's the busiest election season in memory, there's been remarkably little visible campaigning so far." "Election looming, but campaigns slow to start".

"Yacht owners didn't build the Intracoastal Waterway"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Critics say that if passenger rail were practical, private investors would happily build it and reap the profits. They're half right. If profits were to be had, many people would be trying to capitalize. But that's no justification to refuse to subsidize better mobility on corridors where road expansion is impossible or would cost much more than a rail line."

Even The Trib editors recognize the vacuity of the same old arguments of the Ayn Rand/Milton Freedman dead enders. After all, as the editors aptly put it,

Yacht owners didn't build the Intracoastal Waterway.