"Anyone But Rubio"

"Remember the saying 'Anyone But Bush' among Democrats in 2004 who feared a second term by George W. Bush?"

Florida Democrats are slinging a variation on the slogan for 2010: "Anyone But Rubio.''

To liberal voters, Republican Senate candidate Marco Rubio is a right-winging, tea-partying, oil-drilling, stimulus-hating, Obamacare-shunning, taxes-on-the-rich-cutting nightmare. And these Democrats are determined to stop him from winning on Nov. 2 by any means necessary, even if that means bailing on their own party's nominee, Kendrick Meek.

A vote for Meek is a vote for Rubio, the thinking goes, because Meek can't win. He's a lackluster Miami congressman lacking money, profile and oomph.

The strategic choice, the thinking continues, is Gov. Charlie Crist. The Republican-turned-independent has nearly twice as much money as Rubio and a statewide platform, not to mention that he knows how to campaign like the dickens.

Scott gets lobbyist love

"Republican Rick Scott did some political barnstorming through the state capital Friday -- holding a series of closed-door meetings with groups of lobbyists and association officials."

"I think he hit all the right buttons,'' said Associated Industries of Florida President Barney Bishop, who hosted a Scott breakfast meeting that drew about three-dozen people, including representatives of the oil, health care, broadcasting and outdoor advertising industries.

Charlie Misspeak

"When a television interviewer asked Gov. Charlie Crist about the national health care reform bill last week, Crist responded quickly, 'I would have voted for it, but I think it can be done better.' He went on to elaborate fluently on what was right and wrong with the bill, what he would have fixed before supporting it. There was only one problem. For months, starting the day the bill passed, Crist had repeatedly said he opposed it and would repeal it, and had backed a state lawsuit to overturn it."

"Misspeaking -- saying one thing when you actually think or mean another -- can happen to anyone, even a practiced public speaker and political figure. But with Crist, it seems to happen often:"

• In the best-known example, Crist told a television interviewer in November that he didn't endorse President Barack Obama's stimulus plan. In fact, he had repeatedly and enthusiastically backed it, including during a highly publicized Florida visit by Obama in the previous February.

• Two days after the health care comment, his campaign had to send out another clarification after Crist told a CNN interviewer he favored a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, which he has opposed in the past. The clarification: He was talking about a state ban, which he has supported – even though that ban endangers the right to same-sex civil unions, which Crist says he favors.

• Two days after the health care bill comments, Crist told another television interviewer his campaign will refund contributions from disillusioned Republicans who gave to him before he left the party – contradicting his previously announced decision on the subject.

Rivera and Garcia on the economy

"In the aftermath of the primary elections, District 25 congressional candidates David Rivera and Joe Garcia said the economy and unemployment are the main issues in a race attracting national attention."

Another key issue: a proposed Free Trade Agreement with Colombia that could generate business and jobs in South Florida.

But besides the Colombian issue, the candidates have different ideas about how to improve the economy.

Republican Rivera wants to reduce federal spending and taxes on small businesses, while Garcia, the Democratic candidate, wants to give loans to small businesses and invest in alternative energy.

Both candidates are after the seat left vacant by Republican Mario Diaz-Balart, who represented the district for eight years and is now running unopposed for his brother's old seat in District 21.

RPOFers asleep at the wheel

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Remember the nation's worst offshore drilling spill? The one that finally ended in July? You might want to remind the Republicans who run Florida's House of Representatives. They decided this week that they don't need to do anything about it until the spring." "Florida can't leave Gulf oil spill relief to Washington".

Slamming public employees

"Imposed salary, pension cuts leads to police union suit against Miami".

Scott surrogates to begin attacks on Sink

"Starting today, national political groups as well as surrogates for Republican nominee Rick Scott will begin pumping millions of dollars into television ads to paint contrasting portraits of Sink's background and policies before voters go to the polls."

Political veterans from both parties say the blitz of negative ads Scott absorbed in his primary make him damaged goods, and he may not have enough time to re-invent himself before the Nov. 2 election.

So, the alternative is to pour money into trying to define Sink, a former banking executive, as a liberal ideological disciple of President Barack Obama's health-care and economic-stimulus plans.

Palm Beach County Republican Chairman Sid Dinerstein said Sink's role in the merger between Bank of America and NationsBank that led to thousands of layoffs would be fair game, too.

"It's not like this race is Mother Teresa versus the devil," he said.

This week, Scott called Sink a supporter of "the socialist policies of President Obama."

But Sink suggested Scott must be confusing which race he is running.

"There are a lot of voters that know a lot about the fraud his company committed. They believe he committed fraud. But they know him better than they know Alex, and that's because of the unprecedented amount of money he's spent," Sink pollster Dave Beattie said. "There's a reason he had to spend a record amount of money to barely win his primary."

"Scott wanted to privatize all of it"

Aaron Deslatte: "Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott could have to do some explaining about his past this fall, and not just what he knew about the Medicare and Medicaid fraud at his former company, Columbia/HCA."

See, he once wanted to privatize all of it: the government-funded health-care programs that pay for the check-ups, hospital stays and prescriptions for 45 million seniors and millions more poor people.

Before he was forced out in 1997 as CEO of the company amid the largest Medicare fraud investigation in U.S. history, Scott was a national player in the industry resistance to President Clinton's attempt to impose a national health care program. When Scott was still trying to expand his hospital chain, he told USA Today the state and federally run health insurance programs would be better off in the hands of profit-seeking companies. "Let us make a profit. So what?" he said in 1994.

He also had his eyes on Veterans Administration hospitals.

has said he wants to cut $1.4 billion from the $18-billion Medicaid program without providing any specifics on how, other than continuing a regional experiment launched by former Gov. Jeb Bush to turn over Medicaid patients to HMOs and other health-care networks.

Scott opened the door further last week by calling Democratic opponent Alex Sink "another liberal Obamacrat who wants to raise taxes, cut Medicare, and supports Obama's failed stimulus."

Voucher madness

"Florida does not regulate the more than 2,000 private schools that operate in the state. The schools set their own grading standards and curriculum, run their own finances and issue their own diplomas. That leaves parents dependent on unregulated accrediting agencies that have varying standards." "In Florida, scant oversight of private schools".

They all end up in Florida

"Balloon boy family moves to Florida".

Scott's free ride

"Now that he's mending fences with Florida's Republican establishment, gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott faces a full frontal assault from Democrats."

Democratic Governors Association executive director Nathan Daschle says Scott "represents the worst of American politics" and, in a letter this week, the DGA chief called on Republican Governors Association chairman Haley Barbour to stop campaigning for Scott.

Barbour, the governor of Mississippi, has participated in post-primary unity events around Florida and was scheduled to speak at the state party's meeting in Orlando Friday night.

Daschle sent copies of his letter to former Gov. Jeb Bush, RPOF Chairman John Thrasher and presidential aspirants Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney.

The RGA this week pitched in $2 million to the Republican governor's race to bolster the state party's sagging coffers. The association previously plunked down $2 million to fund ads against Democratic nominee Alex Sink.

Firing back, the DGA funneled $1 million into its party's gubernatorial race. That's on top of a $1 million check the DGA sent in July, said DGA spokeswoman Emily Bittner.

'Glades

"The cash-strapped South Florida Water Management District has 10 years to build at least 42,000 acres of treatment areas so that water flowing into the Everglades meets federal standards." "Under judge's order, EPA proposes rules for Everglades water cleansing".

"A five-second check"

"A Florida bill would require all employers to use a federal website to run a five-second check on the immigration status of new workers." "Federal website aims to crackdown on illegal hires".

From the "Crystal Ball"

Sabato calls the Florida Gubernatorial race a "toss-up" "Sixty Days to Go".

Chamberlin out

Lucy Morgan: "It’s a departure that has much more significance than a mere change in governors. Jill Chamberlin is retiring as director of communications for the Florida House, taking her practical advice and deep knowledge of government and its people with her." "Little known, but with a big impact".

Rubio cancels debate with Meek

"Marco Rubio postponed Sunday's nationally televised U.S. Senate debate with Kendrick Meek to be with his ailing father." "Marco Rubio's father's health deteriorates; 'Meet the Press' debate postponed". See also "Sunday's live televised debate between Rubio and Meek on 'Meet The Press' scrubbed" and "NBC cancels Sunday's Rubio-Meek debate".

"Florida is little more than shifting sand"

Steve Otto: "Remember Charlie Crist? Yeah, the guy who used to be the governor of Florida before deciding to ride off on his half-donkey, half-Republican beast to tilt the windmills of the United States Senate."

A lot of people wondered just where Crist was going to get the money to finance his senatorial campaign once he abandoned his Republican Party base. Kendrick Meek has demonstrated he is a viable candidate for the Democrats and Marco Rubio is on a roll for the Republicans.

On Wednesday, we learned Crist will get a financial boost on Oct. 7 when millionaire Marc Bell hosts a fundraiser at his Boca Raton place.

Bell is involved in many businesses but naturally the one drawing attention is his role as CEO of Penthouse magazine, as well as an adult meeting service.

That wouldn't be such a big deal considering the level and character of Florida politics. A little sex in a dying campaign can't hurt.

The problem: a Palm Beach Post article recalled the election of 2006. In that Republican primary, it was Tom Gallagher who accepted a $3,000 donation from Bell and was criticized by the Crist campaign. Gallagher later returned the donation.

Maybe there's a reason Florida is little more than shifting sand. It seems to fit those who would represent it.

Is Bondi stable?

"Before she became the Republican nominee for Florida attorney general, Pam Bondi was a familiar face as a legal analyst on CNN and the Fox News Channel."

But Bondi may be best known for a custody battle over a St. Bernard.

Her 16-month fight with the Louisiana family that lost the dog after Hurricane Katrina played out on CNN, Fox News and the pages of People magazine. Then a Hillsborough prosecutor, she accused the family of neglecting the dog. Steve and Dorreen Couture and their two grandchildren wanted their dog back and resented Bondi for keeping him.

Both sides settled the case just before it went to trial. The terms were confidential, but reports at the time said Bondi offered to provide the St. Bernard with food and medication for life and to visit occasionally. The Coutures said they would keep in touch and send photos.

It seemed like an amicable ending. But three years later, the Coutures have little good to say about their former foe. Moreover, they say, she never kept her promise.

What's wrong with Hillsborough?

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Jim Norman wants to rise higher in public life this year by moving from the Hillsborough County Commission to the state Senate. Yet he refuses to answer how his wife managed to buy a second home with $435,000 in cash. The FBI is reportedly investigating. The only one not working to clear the air is the commissioner and future senator." "The $435,000 question".

Good question

"Crist late Friday ordered a review of a French company competing to build a high-speed rail line in Florida, saying he was concerned about questions over the company's role in the Holocaust." "Gov. Crist asks for review of French rail company, citing 'Holocaust' concerns".

Scott and Carroll talked up the importance of creating jobs in a struggling Sunshine State and Scott criticized Democratic rival Alex Sink for supporting "the socialist policies of President Obama.''

"Historic" laff riot

"Scott: 'Historic day' in choice of state Rep. Carroll as running mate".

"As Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott officially announced state Rep. Jennifer Carroll as his running mate Thursday, questions about when he chose the Fleming Island legislator and the experience she feels she brings to the ticket were left largely unanswered."

Touted for her legislative experience, Carroll would not give many specifics about her time in the state House. When asked about some of her proudest moments as a lawmaker, she encouraged a reporter to do some research.

"I don’t only have one," she said. "I have many, and you can certainly look up my resume."

When pressed on her tenure as a member of the Legislature, Carroll cited her work as chair of the House Economic Development Committee.

"There have been many measures that we put in place that created jobs, that reduced tax burden, reduced regulations on many companies to enable them to stay afloat," she said, without giving specifics.

Scott tried to characterize Carroll as the opposite of a career politician, although she has been a legislator in Tallahassee since her election in 2003 and was the head of Florida’s Veterans Affairs Department before that.

Lawson disses Meek

"State Sen. Al Lawson endorsed Gov. Charlie Crist for the U.S. Senate Thursday, saying "Charlie's always been there for us" when state employees, rural counties and universities needed help." "State Sen. Al Lawson endorses Charlie Crist for US Senate".

Crist releases internal poll

Daily Kos:

Given where public polling was on this race as recently as three weeks ago, it is hard to get a lot of confidence for Independent Charlie Crist based on the release of his own internal polling by Keith Fredrick. The new poll gives Crist a lead of just a single point, with Crist at 35%, Rubio at 34%, and Kendrick Meek well behind the pack at 17%. Crist did get some welcome news today, as he locked in a surprising endorsement in the form of state senator Al Lawson. Lawson just finished with a closer-than-expected primary challenge to Congressman Allen Boyd, one in which he challenged Boyd to his left. Lawson's defection is particularly notable, given that he is an African-American Democrat who is choosing Crist over Kendrick Meek, who is seeking to be the first African-American member of the U.S. Senate ever from the state of Florida.

Chiles will help Sink

Kevin Derby: "Lawton 'Bud' Chiles III made it official Thursday, pulling the plug on his gubernatorial campaign and endorsing Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink." "Endorsing Alex Sink, Bud Chiles Exits Gubernatorial Race". See also "Bud Chiles will help Alex Sink's campaign for governor".

Population growth

"Florida's population grew slightly in 2009 after a one-year decline broke a steady string of growth dating to the end of World War II, according to preliminary estimates released Thursday. The University of Florida reported the state added an estimated 21,000 residents in the last year, bringing the state's population to 18,771,768. From 2008 to 2009, the state lost more than 56,000 people." "After a year of decline, Florida's population sees a slight amount of growth".

Entrepreneurs in action

"Hallmark Industrial Services, a company dogged by allegations of immigration and worker safety wrongdoing, had been working on oil spill cleanup operations in Florida". "Oil spill contractor with immigration, labor woes was involved in Florida cleanup".

Labor Day Insult in the Works

Hilda Solis is "Fighting for Workers This Labor Day".

In the meantime, we will be preparing the latest edition of the "Annual Labor Day Insult". Previous editions are here, here and here.

Rivera allegations

"A Democratic donor from Miami has filed a complaint against state Rep. David Rivera, asking the Federal Election Commission to investigate whether the Republican congressional candidate violated campaign finance laws by 'coordinating' attacks on Democrat opponent Joe Garcia with a political committee intended to remain independent."

The complaint, submitted by criminal defense attorney William Barzee, alleges there is a link between Rivera's campaign and a group named Voters Response. The link, Barzee says, is Rivera spokeswoman Sarah Bascom, of Tallahassee-based Bascom Communications & Consulting.

Federal campaign finance reports show Rivera's campaign has not made any payments to Bascom.

Voters Response, a Florida electioneering committee that has sent out fliers attacking Garcia in the hotly contested race, has twice made payments totaling $3,000 to Bascom Communications, according to the reports.

"It's outside the rules,'' said Barzee. "It's wrong and it's avoiding accountability.''

Unlike Florida law, federal campaign-finance law prohibits candidates from coordinating their campaign efforts with third-party groups.

But Bascom and David Ramba, who heads Voters Response, said the committee is not working with Rivera.

Bomb scare

"Miami Airport Evacuated After Bomb Scare".

"Suspicious financial arrangement"

The Tampa Tribune editors: "State Rep. Kevin Ambler's lawsuit may not undo his Republican primary loss to Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman in the state Senate District 12 race. It may forever cast him as a sore - and litigious - loser."

Yet the effort could benefit the public if it serves to cast light on a suspicious financial arrangement that allowed Norman's wife to pay cash for a $435,000 lakefront home in Arkansas.

Norman says there are other investors in the house, and they want to stay out of the limelight. But no investors are listed on the deed, which is highly unusual for a real estate investment.

The 2006 transaction has been subject to all sorts of rumors, and Norman blames the accusations on dirty politics.

But he has refused to provide the specifics that could quickly put an end to the matter.

Right wing poll puts Scott on top

Daily Kos: "Team Ras-sie put both Rick Scott (FL-Gov) and Dino Rossi (WA-Sen) out in front today. The only poll that can come close to being construed as positive for Dems is the relatively small lead for GOP incumbent Sean Parnell in Alaska."

FL-Gov: Rick Scott (R) 45%, Alex Sink (D) 44%

Florida bankruptcies up

"Bankruptcies in South Florida up 5.7% in August".

Campaign roundup

"Chiles endorses Sink as he bows out, Scott barely leads Sink in new poll, Crist won't say who should be the next governor." "Campaign roundup for Thursday".

"Unlike other schemes, this one's legal"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Unlike other schemes to disenfranchise voters, this one's legal. That doesn't make it any less outrageous. And it doesn't excuse legislators for allowing it."

In 1998, Florida voters, by nearly 2-1, amended the state constitution to open primary contests to all voters, regardless of registration, when the winner would not face opposition in the general election. The intent was to ensure that all voters could have a say in choosing their elected representatives.

But two years later, the state Division of Elections issued an advisory opinion that upended the amendment. The opinion said a single candidate entering a race as a write-in would be enough to limit the primary to one party's voters — even though write-ins don't have to pay a filing fee or collect signatures like other candidates, and don't even appear on the ballot.

Republican or Democratic candidates who have little appeal outside their parties would rather run in closed contests. And in the years since the Elections Division cleared the way, scores of primaries around the state have been closed thanks to write-ins.

Usually these candidates don't even bother to campaign. They have no hope or intention of winning. There's no obvious motive for them to run other than to close a primary. State Sen. Dave Aronberg, a South Florida Democrat who tried for years to close the loophole, said write-ins usually are registered with the party whose primary they wind up closing.

"Legislature lavishes tax dollars on an influential few"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "An opulent $48 million courthouse being built for the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee highlights the hypocrisy of a Legislature that purports to be fiscally conservative but lavishes tax dollars on an influential few." "In contempt of state taxpayers".

Wingnuts go after Grayson and Kosmas

"For those few Florida voters unfamiliar with attacks ads, the latest TV spot by the conservative Americans for Prosperity offers a classic take on the genre."

It features ominous music, testimony from everyday people and unflattering pictures of its targets: Democratic U.S. Reps. Alan Grayson of Orlando and Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach.

"Both supported Nancy Pelosi's liberal agenda," one grandmotherly woman tells the camera, moments before the ad condemns their support of the $787-billion stimulus bill.

Americans for Prosperity paid about $420,000 to run the 30-second commercial for two weeks on Central Florida over-the-air and cable stations. The ad is part of a nationwide campaign by the Republican-Libertarian group – underwritten in part by New York billionaire David Koch -- and marks the opening salvo in what's expected to be a barrage of spending by outside organizations in Florida before the Nov. 2 general election.

Fl-oil-duh

The Miami Herald editors: "Lift liability cap for oil spills". Related from Paul Flemming: "BP payments remain a mystery". Meanwhile, "Gulf Blowout II Ripples Across Florida". See also "New oil rig explosion causes political firestorm in Florida".

Oil? What oil?

"Republican House Speaker Larry Cretul shot down a special legislative session to study oil spill remedies, saying no urgent action was needed." "House speaker nixes special legislative session on oil spill". See also "Legislative Leaders Pull Plug on Special Session" and "Florida leaders kill plan for fall special session on oil".

The Cuba thing

"In a year when the political refrain is jobs, neither candidate wants to risk being seen as out-of-touch by emphasizing an issue that affects a vocal minority in the sprawling, diverse 25th congressional district, which stretches from Homestead and Doral and across the Everglades to near Naples."

Yet Cuba is a passionate point of contention in the fiery race between Rivera, a Republican, and Garcia, a Democrat. The two Cuban Americans -- who at different times each worked for the same powerful Cuban-exile group -- back the trade embargo and a ban on U.S. tourist travel, but are otherwise at odds on greater engagement with the island.

Scott's "steroidal disdain for the press"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "If Mr. Scott really wants to get to work as Florida's next governor, ducking appearances and having his mother speak on his behalf is the wrong way to go about it."

The electorate deserves candidates for the state's highest office who won't just advertise but who also defend their policy positions in public. Instead, Mr. Scott has shown a disdain for debate and public forums that include his opponents. And he has exhibited a steroidal disdain for the press which, if it had the chance, would simply challenge Mr. Scott face-to-face in much the same way the public would.

"Goodbye, Charlie"

Rubio lapdog, Mike Thomas says "Goodbye, Charlie. Enjoy the time you have left." "Charlie is flipping, flopping, fumbling and losing".

Chiles effect is "not cut and dry"

TPM: "So what should we make of the withdrawal of independent candidate Bud Chiles from the Florida gubernatorial race, and his endorsement of Democratic nominee Alex Sink? At first glance, it would seem that this is a pure plus for Dems -- but a closer look shows that it's not so totally cut and dry." "Will Indy Chiles Dropping Out Help Dem In FL-GOV Race?".

Related: "Chiles drops out of governor race, throws support to Sink", "Bud Chiles to endorse Democrat Alex Sink for Florida governor" and "Chiles throws support to Sink in Fla. gov's race".

"Some pretty rough neighborhoods"

"If U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek expects to win Florida's U.S. Senate race, his road to victory will run through some pretty rough neighborhoods."

Meek, who is polling a distant third in a three-way race with Republican Marco Rubio and independent Charlie Crist, finished behind Jeff Greene in 34 of 67 counties in the Democratic primary. In 20 counties, Greene garnered an outright majority in the four-candidate contest.

While Meek racked up landslide margins in his home base of Southeast Florida, the rest of the state proved problematic for the Miami congressman. If Meek has any hope of winning this fall, or even being competitive, he will have to dial far beyond his 305 area code.

A Sunshine State News analysis suggests that Greene voters won't necessarily come home for Meek in those counties. Even if the congressman stumps through Florida's rural counties where he performed poorest, he will face gale-force headwinds.

Party boy

"The Republican Party is supplying $2.5 million in advertising support to Marco Rubio's Senate campaign in Florida, a sizable commitment to a candidate the party once tried to push out of the contest."

The money from the National Republican Senatorial Committee is the maximum the party can spend in coordination with Rubio. A party official said the money will be devoted to television ads at a time that is agreeable to Rubio's campaign.

"Hot issues in November’s election"

"The two major party nominees in the race for governor threw some jabs at education Wednesday, setting the stage for what will be one of the hot issues in November’s election." "Primaries Done, Statewide Candidates Focus on Education".

Teabaggers = RPOF

"Leaders of the Florida TEA ('Taxed Enough Already') Party chose Tallahassee Wednesday to promote their 21 candidates across the state and to endorse Rick Scott, the Republican gubernatorial candidate." "TEA Party Backs Rick Scott for Governor in November".

FCAT follies

"How FCAT will change".

Marco's "huge taxpayer rip-offs"

The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "Since St. Petersburg Times senior correspondent Lucy Morgan detailed the evolution of this palatial building, the Republican legislative leaders with their fingerprints all over it have been pointing away from themselves. U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio was House speaker when money for the new courthouse was approved. He claims that the project was a Senate, not a House, priority. That's not how everyone remembers it."

Intense lobbying for the building came from 1st District Court of Appeal Chief Judge Paul Hawkes and Judge Brad Thomas — Republican insiders with friends in high places. Hawkes is a former legislator from Crystal River, and both men are former staff members for the Legislature and former Gov. Jeb Bush.

Sen. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, who was chairman of the House committee that oversaw court expenditures, said after he refused to fund the courthouse, Hawkes and Thomas enlisted help from Richard Corcoran, then Rubio's chief of staff, and from Hawkes' son Jeremiah, who was Rubio's general counsel. Dean says that the decision about the money was left to Rubio and his budget chief, Rep. Ray Sansom, and the final budget included $7.9 million to start work on the building.

Rubio is campaigning for the Senate as a fiscal conservative, yet his tenure as House speaker features two huge taxpayer rip-offs that rewarded political friends and associates: One is the $6 million set aside by Sansom for an airplane hangar for a friend and political contributor. Sansom now faces grand theft charges for that arrangement. The other is this unnecessary and luxurious courthouse that was originally slated to provide each judge on the appellate court with a 60-inch flat screen television and individual kitchens — accoutrements that have disappeared since the public attention.

Stem cells

"Area lawmakers urge Congress bypass judge, pass law allowing embryonic stem cell research".

Send the check, just don't hug me

"Despite fierce opposition from GOP leaders, state agencies are seeking federal help." "Florida is going after millions tied to health care reform".

Outa here

"The threat of illegal immigration may have been a political flashpoint in the recent Florida primaries, but a new study suggests that fewer undocumented immigrants call the state home. The analysis by Pew Hispanic Center in Washington, D.C., found that more illegal immigrants have been leaving Florida than have moved in during the past few years. A small percentage have become legalized." "Florida's illegal immigrants have fled state".

Not enough

"In the wake of a rash of fish and bird deaths likely due to toxic blue-green algal blooms in the St. Johns River, there are renewed calls for standards that dictate how much nutrient runoff citizens and businesses can dump into Florida’s fresh water. The recent gulf oil spill brought to light the fragility and importance of waters on the state’s economy and ecology, but the ocean isn’t our only at-risk body of water."

The St. Johns has long suffered the effects of nutrient pollution, but the past several months have been undoubtedly worse than usual. Those fish and bird deaths, plus the sudden appearance of a bizarre foam, are just a few of the symptoms of nutrient overload, and it is becoming apparent that the agencies governing Florida’s water bodies need to accelerate the adoption of a stringent set of rules to protect them.

Probably not a contingency fee arrangement

"Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene accused The Miami Herald and St. Petersburg Times in a libel lawsuit filed Wednesday of orchestrating a "plan to assassinate [his] character'' that cost him the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in Florida."

Greene, who lost to Miami U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek by 26 percentage points, said the newspapers published stories about his real estate dealings in California and his 145-foot yacht Summerwind that were "knowingly based on false information.''

"Defendants . . . published the articles with the goal of destroying the personal, business and political reputation of Greene,'' the suit claims.

Fl-oil-duh

"BP oil spill claims czar Ken Feinberg has overpromised and underdelivered, Florida officials and others said Wednesday. Feinberg's new claims process, called the "Gulf Coast Claims Facility," isn't any more popular than the maligned BP process it replaces, members of Gov. Charlie Crist's Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force learned Wednesday, as they heard a litany of complaints from Panhandle claimants." "Despite critics, Feinberg says he's paid $17 million in 3,000 emergency oil-spill checks".

"Alternative parties hold some sway"

"If they voted as a bloc, Florida's third-party members could have a decisive impact on close races throughout the state, including some in Central Florida. More than 350,000 Florida voters are registered as members of political parties other than the Republican Party of Florida or the Florida Democratic Party, records show." "Alternative political parties hold some sway in Florida".

Ambler wants election voided

"Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman has refused to discuss who helped his wife buy a $435,000 lakefront home in Arkansas, but a lawsuit by his political nemesis claims conservative activist Ralph Hughes was the source of the money."

The lawsuit, filed by state Rep. Kevin Ambler, charges that Hughes loaned Norman $435,000, which Norman never disclosed nor paid back.

Ambler, defeated by Norman in last week's Republican primary for state Senate District 12, wants the results of the election voided and election officials to declare him the nominee. Ambler argues that Norman was not a legally qualified candidate because he didn't disclose the loan from Hughes or ownership of two boats purchased in conjunction with the Arkansas home.

The Tampa Tribune has also learned from sources at two government agencies that the FBI has begun investigating Norman's finances in relation to the Arkansas house purchased by his wife, Mearline, in 2006. The sources requested anonymity.

Spokesmen for the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office said they could not confirm or deny an ongoing investigation.

"Legislature’s deceptive efforts ... to amend the state Constitution"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The Florida Supreme Court has properly responded to the Legislature’s deceptive efforts to get voters to amend the state Constitution to suit its political purposes." "Florida’s high court stands up for voters".

Lawton "Bud'' Chiles III is expected to abandon his independent bid for governor.His departure would make it a two-way race between Democrat Alex Sink and Republican Rick Scott -- a contest in which Chiles, a former Democrat, was expected to play spoiler.

No wonder Jebbie likes Scott

The irrelevant "Jeb!" Bush has discovered he loves Rick Scott.

"Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott is prepared to be Florida's next governor and has the background for the job, former Gov. Jeb Bush told some 200 GOP loyalists Tuesday. Bush, who was Florida's governor from 1999-2007, formally joined ranks with the Republican nominee at a Republican Party unity rally in Jacksonville after supporting Attorney General Bill McCollum in last week's primary."

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, head of the Republican Governors Association, joined Scott and about 200 mostly elderly supporters at a Miami-area community center.

Scott's campaign called the appearances a "unity tour," a week after a terse exchange between Scott and the governors' group over a primary ad attacking McCollum.

Senate President Jeff Atwater and incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon emphasized Republican teamwork was needed to send Scott to the governor's mansion in November instead of members of what they called "Obama's team."

former Gov. Jeb Bush is joining the board of Tenet Healthcare, the national hospital that has been working to clean up its image and performance since dealing with widespread allegations of fraud. ...

The hospital chain has been struggling to emerge from a series of legal and financial problems. Earlier, it paid $10 million to settle a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into Medicare fraud allegations. Last year, it reached an agreement with the federal government to pay $900 million to settle allegations of Medicare fraud.

Florida in the front lines

"Needing to pick up 39 seats to take control from the Democrats, Republicans are dreaming of picking up more U.S. House seats -- and Florida is in the front line of their effort to take the gavel from U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as they focus on four possibilities to pick up seats." "Florida Becoming Front Line in Battle for Congress".

Special session needed

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Is the time for a special legislative session that in July Speaker Larry Cretul and Senate President Jeff Atwater said would be more appropriate in September? No." "Our Opinion: Special session on oil issues deserves full attention".

"A blow to Republican legislative leaders"

"The Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld lower-court decisions to remove three legislatively drafted constitutional amendments dealing with property tax breaks, redistricting and the federal health-care reform from the Nov. 2 ballot."

Leon County judges had removed Amendments 3, 7 and 9 from the ballot this summer because they deemed their summaries for voters to be too confusing — and a majority of the justices on Florida’s high court agreed, delivering a blow to Republican legislative leaders who had pushed the measures.

Earlier this month, House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon took the unusual step of appearing before the court to defend Amendment 7, which would have given lawmakers broader power to draw political districts regardless of other standards currently in the Constitution. Critics said it would have also weakened Amendments 5 and 6, which are also on the ballot and seek to limit lawmakers’ power to gerrymander districts.

"Political hacks" take it in the shorts

Scott Maxwell: "In wrestling terms, Florida politicians have suffered a pile-driver, full-nelson and double-knee gut-buster. All within the last few weeks. And all delivered by judges who say political hacks don't have the right to thwart the people's will, or trample on the state constitution, just because they want to." "Legal smackdowns should send politicians a strong message".

Sink's school plan

"Democratic gubernatorial nominee Alex Sink's education plan proposes sending education decisions back to locals and strengthening state standards." "Sink unveils plan for school changes".

Crist "a campaign chameleon"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Charlie Crist seems to have become a campaign chameleon, shifting shape and changing colors depending on where he is and to whom he's talking." "Charlie, who are you now?".

Rubio "supporters eager for more"

Tom Jackson "Two months remain in the dash to Election Day. Two months to work the stump speech and tilt the fence-sitters. Perhaps the best thing about the Taste of Marco Tour: He left his supporters eager for more." "Rubio blitz leaves backers hungry for more".

RPOFers urge Scott to pretend ...

... that he never said those things. "The '800-pound gorilla' at Tuesday's closed-door meeting between the newly crowned Republican nominee for governor and Hispanic state legislators wasn't their strong support for his former rival, according to one participant."

It was Rick Scott's hardline stance on illegal immigration.

Scott has championed Arizona's new crackdown that requires police to question suspected illegal immigrants and says he wants to bring a similar law to Florida. Some Hispanic Republicans say they hope the issue will take a back seat to the economy between now and the Nov. 2 general election.

Early-Retiree insurance

"Sixty-nine Florida businesses and government entities have been accepted into a new federal program designed to help employers and unions maintain health coverage for early retirees not yet eligible for Medicare." "Early-Retiree Insurance: a Broken Bridge?".

"Reminiscent of Fiasco 2000"

"It's not deja vu all over again. There are no 'butterfly' ballots, no presidency at stake, no Supreme Court arguments and no candidates by the name of Bush or Gore."

But Sarasota County's latest recount battle is reminiscent of Fiasco 2000 in one key respect: It again proves that human error can lead to some very controversial election results.

The error this time is a certain lack of foresight on the part of two people, Kathy Bolam and Kathy Dent, in connection with last week's primary vote.

Bolam, a county Charter Review Board candidate, conceded a very close race too soon. Worse, she did it by e-mail -- which is considered legally binding by the Florida Division of Elections. When she tried to undo her decision and get a recount, it was too late, state law suggests.

Bolam (down by 136 votes, according to the election supervisor's Web site) should accept the result and learn from what amounts to a beginner's mistake. She apparently plans to formally contest the decision, however.

Teachers = their union

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board can't get it through their heads that the teachers union is not comprised of a bunch of Bolsheviks, but rather the teachers themselves: "Don't give on merit pay reforms".

Sore loserman

"State Rep. Kevin Ambler, who lost a bitter Republican primary election to Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman for the state Senate District 12 seat, has named his opponent in a lawsuit filed Tuesday."

Ambler, who has represented state House District 47 for eight years, did not immediately concede defeat to Norman after the election. An Ambler spokesman said the state representative planned to take some time to consider his options.

The lawsuit marks Ambler's first public response since the primaries. Neither Ambler nor his Tallahassee attorney, Mark Herron, could be reached for comment.

Norman issued a statement late Tuesday critical of Ambler's action. He urged his opponent to end his campaign.

More RPOFer legislation bites the dust

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Local governments -- and the taxpayers who pay for them -- got a fair shake when a judge struck down a controversial 2009 growth-management bill that put an undue financial burden on cities and counties." "Good riddance to sprawl-promoting law".

Politics is funny sometimes in Florida.

One day people call you a fraud who ripped off taxpayers and financed smut, the next day they hail you as a visionary leader, job creator and good friend. One day you're denouncing special interest and lobbyist money, the next day you are courting it.

Such is the case with Rick Scott, the mega-rich businessman ['who has more baggage than J-Lo on a camel safari'] who stunned the GOP establishment last week by beating Bill McCollum for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Only a week ago, state and national party leaders treated Scott as a dangerous pariah, but now they're eagerly embracing him and hoping for forgiveness.

Whether Sink can capitalize on the rancorous split in the GOP remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the efforts of Thrasher and others to present a unified front will provide some much-needed comedy, if nothing else.

Expect staged photo opportunities of Scott posing with ex-McCollum backers, pained smiles all around. It will also be intriguing to see how party godfather Jeb Bush devises to appear enthusiastic about Scott, when the truth is the opposite. ...

McCollum will face mounting pressure from GOP insiders to hold his nose and praise a man whom he truly believes is unqualified to be governor.

With his résumé reeking from one of the nation's worst health-care ripoffs, the new GOP gubernatorial nominee is now being courted by the same stalwarts who did everything in their power to sink his self-financed excursion into politics.

Scott's surprise victory last week over Attorney General Bill McCollum was a gift to the Democrats and a blow to the wobbly state Republican machine.

Now comes the fun part, when all the GOP bigshots who spent months trashing Scott now pretend that they didn't do that, or didn't really mean it if they did.

Listen to this kissy-face lie from incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos: "When you people check the record, you'll see it's only positive from me.''

Haridopolos, a vocal supporter of McCollum, was one of numerous Republican leaders who helped raise millions of dollars for attack ads against Scott.

Free Choice Kerfuffle

"There’s no doubt Florida’s business community holds a lot of sway when it comes to electing the state’s next governor. Associated Industries of Florida boasts the most powerful business lobby in the state and the Florida Chamber of Commerce claims the largest membership with 139,000 businesses in its group."

One issue important to both of them, affecting endorsements and fund-raising for the candidates, is the Employee Free Choice Act, or card-check.

Card-check is currently being considered in Congress. It was co-sponsored by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and is expected to be taken up by the Senate this fall. The bill would change the way unions can organize by getting rid of the secret-ballot system, and allowing businesses with as few as 10 employees to become unionized.

Many in the business community worry that getting rid of the secret ballot would allow unions to intimidate employees, essentially checking their cards while voting.

AIF president Barney Bishop says that’s one of the major reasons they are not endorsing Alex Sink, even though she’s described herself as a business-friendly Democrat.

"She’s a business person who just happens to be a Democrat," said Bishop. "And that dog just ain't going to hunt."

Bishop says one of his primary concerns with Sink is that she will side with Congress and the White House when it comes to the union-favored card-check legislation.

Scott claims he was "a victim of Bill and Hillary Clinton's wrath"

Myriam Marquez the other day:

Hi, it's me again!

With his ah-shucks, Opie Taylor demeanor and his "Let's get to work!'' slogan, Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott pulled it off. He beat seasoned politico Bill McCollum in the primary by campaigning against his own party.

At his victory party in Fort Lauderdale Tuesday night, I marveled at the rise of a businessman who just a decade ago was forced to leave the company he created after a multibillion-dollar criminal scandal. Scott maintains that the $1.7 billion paid by Hospital Corporation of America -- the largest fine in U.S. history -- was not an admission of fraud.

As he implies on the stump (check out YouTube for illuminating videos of his "explanation''), he was a victim of Bill and Hillary Clinton's wrath once their healthcare reform plan went bust.

"Scott must choose a running mate by Thursday"

"The Florida Republican Party’s newest supernova, gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott, blazed Monday across Central Florida on a party unity tour with legislative leaders – and a star-studded fly-around on deck. ... But while the self-styled political outsider basks in the glow of party insiders, Scott also is getting ready to create an instant celebrity of his own. Scott must choose a running mate by Thursday, under state law." "Who's Ready for 15 Minutes of Fame? Scott to Choose LG".

Never mind

"As a House panel wrapped up its work on Monday, chances for a September oil spill special session appeared to be slim and none." "Oil spill special session not likely". Related: "BP data reveals high stakes for Florida in oil spill claims process".

Crist "hedging, backpedaling and two-stepping"

"A longtime target of finger-to-the-wind accusations, Gov. Charlie Crist has engaged in an unusual amount of hedging, backpedaling and two-stepping since Tuesday's primary crystallized his opposition in the U.S. Senate race."

What's more, he is refusing to join his chief rivals, Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Kendrick Meek, on NBC's Meet the Press this Sunday.

"When it comes down to the governor, I think Florida voters are going to really pay close attention because you don't know where he stands on the issues,'' Meek said in Tallahassee on Monday.

Twice in the past three days, the Crist campaign has scrambled to put out statements clarifying his remarks on healthcare and same-sex marriage. The Republican-turned-independent candidate has also given muddy answers on returning money to disgruntled donors and on which party he would caucus with if elected.

The difficulty in pinpointing Crist's positions reflects the unprecedented balancing act of an unaffiliated candidate trying to hold together a fragile coalition of Democratic, Republican and non-partisan voters.

SOE stoties

"The Sarasota Herald-Tribune is reporting new accusations that Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent influenced charter review board candidate Kathy Bolam’s decision to concede last Wednesday, after primary results indicated she had lost her bid by just over 100 votes. The narrowness of that margin would have triggered an automatic recount, if Bolam had not conceded." "Sarasota supervisor of elections accused of influencing candidate’s decision to concede".

"Smaller this storm season"

"Florida's massive reinsurance fund is much smaller this storm season".

The week ahead

"The Week Ahead for Aug. 30-Sept. 3".

Grayson - Webster on the air

Mark Schlueb reports that the Webster - Grayson "TV battle began last week. Americans for Prosperity, the stealth conservative group backed by oil billionaire David Koch, launched attack ads against Grayson and fellow Democrat Suzanne Kosmas from the neighboring 24th District, noting their support of the federal stimulus. Grayson has paid for a spot slamming Webster for spending $32,000 of taxpayer money to install a spiral staircase in his state House office in 1997 and for billing taxpayers for 68 flights private jet flights. The staircase claim is true, and the information about the flights is partially true."

That Webster would associate himself with "Americans for Prosperity" speaks volumes. Jane Mayer has a lengthy piece in the New Yorker titled "Covert Operations", about the Koch brothers, who are "the billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama". She writes:

The Kochs are longtime libertarians who believe in drastically lower personal and corporate taxes, minimal social services for the needy, and much less oversight of industry—especially environmental regulation. These views dovetail with the brothers’ corporate interests. In a study released this spring, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst’s Political Economy Research Institute named Koch Industries one of the top ten air polluters in the United States. And Greenpeace issued a report identifying the company as a "kingpin of climate science denial." The report showed that, from 2005 to 2008, the Kochs vastly outdid ExxonMobil in giving money to organizations fighting legislation related to climate change, underwriting a huge network of foundations, think tanks, and political front groups. Indeed, the brothers have funded opposition campaigns against so many Obama Administration policies—from health-care reform to the economic-stimulus program—that, in political circles, their ideological network is known as the Kochtopus.

"We love what the Tea Parties are doing, because that’s how we’re going to take back America!" she declared, as the crowd cheered. In a subsequent interview, she described herself as an early member of the movement, joking, "I was part of the Tea Party before it was cool!" She explained that the role of Americans for Prosperity was to help "educate" Tea Party activists on policy details, and to give them "next-step training" after their rallies, so that their political energy could be channelled "more effectively." And she noted that Americans for Prosperity had provided Tea Party activists with lists of elected officials to target. She said of the Kochs, "They’re certainly our people. David’s the chairman of our board. I’ve certainly met with them, and I’m very appreciative of what they do."

Venable honored several Tea Party "citizen leaders" at the summit. The Texas branch of Americans for Prosperity gave its Blogger of the Year Award to a young woman named Sibyl West. On June 14th, West, writing on her site, described Obama as the "cokehead in chief." ...

During a catered lunch, Venable introduced Ted Cruz, a former solicitor general of Texas, who told the crowd that Obama was "the most radical President ever to occupy the Oval Office," and had hidden from voters a secret agenda—"the government taking over our economy and our lives." Countering Obama, Cruz proclaimed, was "the epic fight of our generation!" As the crowd rose to its feet and cheered, he quoted the defiant words of a Texan at the Alamo: "Victory, or death!"

Americans for Prosperity [the organization that David Koch started in 2004] has worked closely with the Tea Party since the movement’s inception. In the weeks before the first Tax Day protests, in April, 2009, Americans for Prosperity hosted a Web site offering supporters "Tea Party Talking Points."

Only the fat cats change — not their methods and not their pet bugaboos (taxes, corporate regulation, organized labor, and government "handouts" to the poor, unemployed, ill and elderly). Even the sources of their fortunes remain fairly constant. Koch Industries began with oil in the 1930s and now also spews an array of industrial products, from Dixie cups to Lycra, not unlike DuPont’s portfolio of paint and plastics. Sometimes the biological DNA persists as well. The Koch brothers’ father, Fred, was among the select group chosen to serve on the Birch Society’s top governing body. In a recorded 1963 speech that survives in a University of Michigan archive, he can be heard warning of "a takeover" of America in which Communists would "infiltrate the highest offices of government in the U.S. until the president is a Communist, unknown to the rest of us." That rant could be delivered as is at any Tea Party rally today.

Grayson debate debate

"The candidates in the most closely watched congressional race in Florida might not have a televised debate because the campaigns disagree over who should be invited."

Incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson refuses to debate Republican challenger Dan Webster unless lesser known candidates are invited to the stage. Webster, a former state senator and the GOP standard-bearer, says he wants to take on Grayson solo. ...

In addition to the two major-party candidates, the Nov. 2 ballot in Florida's 8th Congressional district also will include Florida Tea Party candidate Peg Dunmire and independent George Metcalfe.

The choice of which candidates would participate is a calculated one for both camps. It is to Grayson's advantage to have Dunmire and Metcalfe there because they'd likely peel conservative votes away from Webster.

"Webster wants me and Peg Dunmire to go away," Metcalfe said. "He wants to frame this as a two-party election. This is not an exclusive boys' club.''

Dunmire called her exclusion "elitist."

What say you ... Mr. Scott

"Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Francis has agreed with the city of Weston that a law passed last year by the state Legislature would create unconstitutional expenses for local governments. He threw the ill-advised bill in the trash can. Gov. Charlie Crist, who signed the Community Renewal Act, should not appeal." "On growth law, judge protects taxpayers".

"All that stood between the GOP and dynastic dominance were ..."

Thomas Tryon: "When the Republican Party gained firm control of Florida politics in the late 1990s, all that stood between the GOP and dynastic dominance were ... the Republican Party and its members." "Tryon: GOP's challenge is to keep it together".

"Frequent filer"

"Frequent filer Josue Larose runs for governor, raises questions". "$14.2 Million Write-In 'Challenges' Division of Elections".

Pathetic turnout

"Final turnout figures for the primary election are in: statewide, the 2.43 million votes cast were 21.9 percent of registered voters, according to the state Division of Elections. Leading the pack were the smaller counties, like Liberty, where more than 51 percent of the 4,237 voters turned out. ... Miami-Dade, 17.2 percent, Palm Beach, 16.2 percent, Broward, 14.7 percent". "21.9% of state's registered voters in cast ballots in primary, final figures show".

"Perverse political hubris at work here"

Daniel Ruth complains, "so it was the other day as we attempted to enjoy our first cocktails of the evening while watching the news only to be exposed — again and again and again — with yet another wave of campaign commercials."

Couldn't we just have a break from this silliness — just a short one? Haven't we earned it?

There is a perverse political hubris at work here — that the general public is sitting at their kitchen counters breathlessly, anxiously awaiting the next commercial pimping a candidate's fitness for office or why their opponent is a vile agent of darkness who makes Saddam Hussein look like Dr. Seuss.

Really, do either Rubio, Sink or the Committee of Sleazy Mysterious Touts for Rick Scott honestly believe if they merely went away until after Labor Day they would lose potential votes to be cast more than two months from now?

It is estimated that during the recent primary mosh pit, the average television viewer in the Tampa Bay area was treated to 266 commercials — most of them portraying Bill McCollum as a shiftless poltroon — hawking the candidacy of Rick Scott. Madonna hasn't exposed herself this much.

Imagine — if you dare — what we can expect going into the general election.

Of course the argument for the airwaves carpet bombing is that it is important for the public to get to know these candidates. But the problem, unfortunately, is — we know, we know.

At the risk of committing heresy — could we just know a little less?

Union hating fun

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Palm Beach County teachers are forced to watch from the sidelines, because their union, in a petulant fit, opted not join in the Race to the Top fun." "Palm union's petulance cost teachers a bundle".

"Strange"

"Just two weeks after publicly pumping up U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek in the U.S. Senate Democratic primary race against Jeff Greene, state senator-to-be Maria Sachs yesterday pulled a switch and endorsed Meek’s general election rival Gov. Charlie Crist." "Sachs' defection to Crist in Senate race strange, Meek tells reporters". Related: "Meek, Thurman: Few Dems will defect".

Taj Mahal audit

"Sen. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, was chairman of the House committee that oversaw court expenditures."

Dean says he rejected a plea from Hawkes and Thomas to fund the courthouse after Dean toured the existing courthouse. He said he rejected it because the state was slashing budgets, and he said the courts had more important needs than the construction of a new courthouse for the appellate court.

Dean said Hawkes and Thomas indicated they would go around him to get the funding they needed.

"He (Hawkes) just looked at me and grinned and said, 'I got friends,' '' Dean said.

Dean said the two judges had help from Richard Corcoran, then chief of staff for House Speaker Marco Rubio, and from Hawkes' son Jeremiah, who was general counsel for Rubio.

Skip the scotch and read the cross tabs

The wingers on The Orlando Sentinel editorial board are outraged that Florida's overworked, underpaid (they haven't had a raise in years), state employees have ... get ready for this ... not had their pensions gutted. They whine this morning: "Most legislators panicked at the idea of antagonizing the state's politically powerful public employee unions in an election year." "Make state pensions more equitable, more affordable and more sustainable".

Of course, "equitable, affordable and sustainable" pensions are code words for cutting pensions. The editors then whine about "apologists [who] bring up poor pay for public employees, ignoring a Bureau of Labor Statistics report that shows public employees make more than their private counterparts". Of course, the editors are merely passing along the propaganda they hear from their Chamber buddies at the club - we urge the editors to skip the scotch and read the cross tabs.

To complete the whinge, the editors look adoringly into the eyes of Rick Scott: "only Republican Rick Scott is proposing to raise employee pension contributions. Good for him."

Related: "Millions in salary, pension cuts in front of Miami Commission on Tuesday".

In the heart of darkness

"Rubio campaigning in Pasco and Hernando". See also "Warm welcomes greet Rubio in Pasco, Hernando visits".

National political analysts foresee a Republican gain of two or three U.S. House seats in Florida.

Four Democratic incumbents appear vulnerable: Alan Grayson of Orlando, Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach, Allen Boyd of Monticello and Ron Klein of Boca Raton. On the other hand, two open seats vacated by Republicans in South and Central Florida offer opportunities for Democrats.

"I expect Republicans to pick up three seats in Florida on their way to the 40 they hope to get nationally," said David Wasserman, who tracks House campaigns for The Cook Political Report, which analyzes elections across the country. "The primaries demonstrated that there is more enthusiasm on the Republican side this year."

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart of Miami is leaving the 25th District to run unopposed in the more Republican-friendly 21st District now represented by his brother, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, who is retiring from Congress.

Competing for the open seat are Democrat Joe Garcia and Republican state Rep. David Rivera. Garcia has a slight lead in the money chase, raising $1.6 million to Rivera's $1.3 million. ...

A similar contest is unfolding in the 12th District, an area marked by suburban sprawl and citrus groves, where Republican Adam Putnam is retiring to run for agriculture commissioner. That sets up a competitive race between Republican Dennis Ross, a former legislator, and Democrat Lori Edwards, the supervisor of elections in Polk County.

And so it begins ...

"Crist won the backing of two state Democrat legislators this morning in his quest to become a United States Senator. State Sen.-elect Maria Sachs, Delray Beach, and State Rep. Darryl Rouson, District 55, based in St. Petersburg, praised Crist at the South County Civic Center before a crowd of about 100 voters who braved the rain to snack on bagels and meet the Republican-turned-Independent." "Democrat state lawmakers Sachs, Rouson endorse Crist in Delray".

Is Scott FlaDem dream or nightmare?

"Rick Scott's triumph in the GOP gubernatorial primary may have drawn almost as many cheers from Democrats as it did from Republicans."

Several polls showed that Alex Sink, the presumptive Democratic candidate, was leading Scott before Tuesday's election. The Republican elite wanted state Attorney General Bill McCollum to win, and McCollum had done a yeoman's job of highlighting vulnerable spots in Scott's background.

Scott, Democrats surmised, would be the easier opponent. Now the question remains: is Scott's nomination the gift that many Democrats think -- or will the political newcomer turn out to be their worst nightmare?

LeMieux laff riot

Florida Trend: "LeMieux has a lot bigger agenda than warming a seat for whoever is elected to the Senate in November". "Climbing the Hill".

Fladems might change three key things

"William March writes that FlaDems have "the potential for change in three key items on the Nov. 2 ballot – the governor's race, in which Democrat Alex Sink appears tied or narrowly leading; and constitutional amendments seeking to outlaw gerrymandering of legislative and congressional districts.".

"Where the next governor will stand on the growth issue?"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "From the beginning, Senate Bill 360 — the 2009 Legislature's assault on Florida's growth management laws — was a rash deal. Cooked up by Republican leaders in a matter of weeks at the behest of powerful development interests, the law gutted decades of careful, if imperfect, law under the guise of jump-starting Florida's economy. Now that a judge has ruled the law unconstitutional, those same legislative leaders are planning to try again in 2011. Floridians must know where the next governor will stand on the issue." "Growth bill becomes election issue".

"Doomed by late start"

"In a state of 4 million Republicans, McCollum lost by fewer than 38,000 votes. Now with three losses in four statewide campaigns, many expect it to be his final race." Michael Bender takes a detailed look at his campaign strategy here: "Despite last-minute surge in spending, McCollum bid doomed by late start".

FCAT Follies

"Big disconnect seen in testing as reading results run 20-40 points lower". "'Inflated' FCAT Writing Scores Pad School Grades".

Tubby bullies duke it out

"It’s not talked about much, but the rivalry between Florida’s top business associations is real, and it’s beginning to show itself more in the 2010 elections. The Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida have long sparred for the position of top dog." "Top Business Associations Fight for Political Prominence".

"The union president is seeing red"

"Deltona firefighters are asking to wear pink shirts as a show of support for women whose lives have been impacted by breast cancer. City Manager Faith Miller says she supports their cause and has encouraged other city workers to wear pink shirts on Fridays in October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But she doesn't think the firefighters' request -- pink uniform shirts for six weeks -- is a good precedent to set. Miller's decision has the union president seeing red. " "Deltona manager, firefighters clash over pink shirts".

Business speaks, editors jump

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Candidates hoping to win posts in Tallahassee should latch on to a promising 2009 proposal to change the way Florida taxes corporate income. Florida TaxWatch says its approach, already adopted by about a dozen other states, would stimulate business investment and create jobs — the very goals to which the candidates claim to be dedicated." "Florida's approach to corporate tax discourages business investment and hiring".

"His lips moved, he said nothing"

Nancy Smith: "Does Charlie Crist believe in anything?"

You have to ask yourself.

Did you watch his performance on CNN’s "State of the Union" Sunday?

I’m beginning to think that thick coat of Teflon covering Florida’s governor, the independent duck-and-dodge candidate for U.S. Senate, is finally breaking down. And it’s happening before our very eyes.

Crist didn’t just look like a candidate without a party Sunday, he looked like a man without a principle to his name.

There were moments in the 15-minute segment when I was actually embarrassed for Crist. He couldn’t for the life of him explain why he said one thing in October or March when he was a Republican, and another thing since he became a left-leaning independent.

His lips moved, he was forceful, he said nothing.

Meek says he's earned it

"Florida Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek said Sunday that he's earned the right to be his party's Senate nominee after a bruising and expensive primary battle with a wealthy real estate mogul."Meek stakes claim in Florida". Related: "Senate Candidates Crist and Meek Tout Plans To Stimluate Economy".

"Florida, the last frontier"

"Ah, Florida, the last frontier. A daunting wilderness filled with snakes, gators, black clouds of mosquitoes, cockroaches and other despicable creatures of the night that slithered and crawled. What an image. It began to soften in the early 1920s as the Florida real estate market took off like a shot and fortune seekers poured into the state in black Model Ts, looking to get rich and drive home in a Packard." "Florida history: spinning wetlands into cities".