"If only it were that benign"

The Orlando Sentinel editors write that, "because the election gave them the two-thirds majorities in each chamber needed to override vetoes, Mr. Cannon and Mr. Haridopolos appear confident they can undo a veto they say is keeping lawmakers from exercising more authority over rule-making. If only it were that benign." "An unneeded session".

The usual suspects

Putnam's buddies: "It includes former U.S. Rep. and ex-CIA Director Porter Goss and former Florida House Speaker Allan Bense. Others named Friday are former Ambassador to the Bahamas John Rood and Tracy Duda Chapman, senior vice president of A. Duda & Sons, a major farming and development company." "New Fla. ag commissioner names transition team".

Woulda, shoulda, coulda

"10 things Sink should have done".

Bald lies

"A look back at the facts about Rick Scott's successful gubernatorial campaign through the notepads of PolitiFact Florida." "Scott: The truths, half truths and lies".

Which will make it tough for him ...

"Rick Scott likely to find governing isn't simple".

Rubio would add $3.5 billion to the deficit

"When Rubio engaged in an amusing series of videos with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow about tax cuts and the deficit, we gave her a Mostly True for saying Rubio's economic proposals would add $3.5 billion to the deficit." "A fact-checking review of Rubio's rise".

Fasano to be purged?

"Wednesday felt much like Christmas morning for Bill Bunting as the Pasco Republican state committeeman basked in the glow of GOP victories. Bunting celebrated in Miami with Marco Rubio, the Republican U.S. senator-elect."

Bunting took several shots at state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, for supporting Gov. Charlie Crist as a no-party candidate for the Senate seat that Rubio won easily.

Both Fasano and Crist are GOP outcasts in Bunting's eyes. Late in the election Crist said if elected, he would have aligned himself with Senate Democrats.

"I said to Marco, 'Stand true to your values,' " Bunting said, in a telephone interview. "They're not the Mike Fasanos of the world," Bunting said about Rubio and his supporters, such as the East Pasco Tea Party. "They will listen" to the concerns of everyday Americans.

About Fasano, Bunting said, "He's just like Charlie Crist; you can't trust him.

He's a disgrace."

No thanks

"Glimpses from the trail with Rick Scott".

More "managed care"

"Republican state Senate leaders want to revamp Medicaid by limiting lawsuits and getting patients into managed care." "Florida Republicans already pitching Medicaid overhaul".

"Chad shadow"

"Chads' shadow hangs over Sunshine State a decade later". "Sorry Anniversary: Florida's 2000 Election Debacle".

Calls for Thurman's head

"Discouraged, disgusted and restless, some Florida Democrats want party Chairwoman Karen Thurman's head on a platter." "Is Party Over For Karen Thurman?".

Dumb and dumberer

"Incoming Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, tapped Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey, as speaker pro tempore on Friday, and named Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, as House majority leader." "Dean Cannon Unveils Speaker Pro Tempore and Majority Leader".

"Red tide"

"A red tide swept over Florida and most of the nation this week as Republicans romped in an Election Day repudiation of Washington that trickled down to Tallahassee, leaving Democrats singing the blues." "Weekly Roundup: Republican Romp, but Scott by Just a Hair".

Thank you, Mr. Obama

"After years of sluggishness, Southwest Florida's labor market appears to be showing improvement." "A shift for the better in Southwest Florida jobs".

They're crooks? Who cares?

The elections biggest winners include the "Republican Party of Florida. A former House Speaker charged with grand theft. A former state party chairman charged with fraud. A scandal over credit card spending. Divisive Senate and gubernatorial primaries. So what?" Much more here: "Who's biggest loser?".

Feds to save Manatees from Floridians

"The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said Friday that restrictions for water activities will go into effect from Nov. 15 to create the refuge, which includes all of the Kings Bay along the Gulf coast. The area is home to more than 600 manatees." "Wildlife officials create manatee refuge in Fla.".

The Republicans' effort to win over the South, rooted decades ago in a strategy to capitalize on white voters' resentment of desegregation, is all but complete.

"Right now in most of Dixie it is culturally unacceptable to be a Democrat. It's a damn shame, but that's the way it is," said Dave "Mudcat" Saunders, a campaign strategist for conservative Democrats such as Jim Webb of Virginia, one of the few remaining Southern Democratic senators.

there will be at most 16 white Southern Democratic House members out of 105 seats in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Two races in Virginia and Kentucky were still too close to call, so the total could be as low as 14.

The setback continues a four-decade decline for Democrats in the South, where they once dominated. The slide began after the civil rights movement, when Republicans under President Richard Nixon began employing a Southern strategy to retake the region by appealing to white anger over desegregation. The GOP later highlighted liberal Democratic positions on social and welfare issues.

5 seconds

"With Governor-elect Rick Scott and a strong Republican majority in the Florida legislature, a push for an Arizona-style immigration enforcement law in Florida seems certain." "With Republican dominance, how long till push for Arizona immigration law here?".

And so it begins

The RPOFers are rushing to Tallahasse to hold a special session - not to begin to create Rick Scott's promised 700,000 jobs in seven years mind you - but rather to deal with excrement, literally. It somehow seems appropriate that the RPOF would seize upon the right to defecate into Florida's groundwater as one of its first actions, as it works to postpone the effective date of a law that will require

increased septic tank inspections to protect groundwater.

# SB 1842, Transportation Projects: The bill required notice when the Department of Transportation intends to install medians. Crist's veto message warned, "These important public safety projects should not be subject to unnecessary delays."

# SB 5611, Department of Management Services: Moves oversight from the governor's office to the entire Cabinet and makes 17 managers subject to Senate confirmation. Crist's veto message said, "I am concerned that this bill reflects an increasing encroachment of the legislative branch on the operations of the executive branch."

# HB 545, Residential Property Sales: Repealed required disclosure of hurricane-readiness. Crist's veto message said, "There's no compelling reason to repeal this consumer friendly law."

# HB 569, Landfills: Allowed yard waste to be dumped with residential garbage. Crist veto message said, "Florida is a leader in recycling. I am concerned that this will be a step backward in our efforts."

# HB 981, Agriculture: Makes it easier to maintain ag-land classifications after sales. Crist's veto message said, "Rather than benefitting farmers as the greenbelt provision is intended, this bill could subsidize private real estate speculation at the expense of taxpayers."

# HB 1385, Petroleum Site Cleanup: Streamlines cleanup of contaminated gas stations. Crist's veto message said it lowers standards, "without providing the funding to address whether this would put the public at greater risk."

# HB 1516, State Owned Lands: Calls for the Department of Environmental Protection to create a comprehensive list of state-owned lands. Crist's veto message said it would, "blur the natural resource protection mission of the agency and provide increased responsibility outside of that mission."

# HB 5603, Department of Financial Services: Streamlines the state's risk-management system to save worker-compensation costs. Crist said it was a good bill, but a last-minute amendment on repackaged pharmaceuticals was not fully vetted.

# HB 1565, Rulemaking: Gave the Legislature greater say over agency rules. Crist's veto message said, "every rule would have to await an act of the Legislature to become effective. This could increase costs to businesses, create more red tape and potentially harm Florida's economy."

# Shands Hospital: Restores $9.7 million for the University of Florida facility. The action will draw down $21 million in federal dollars.

Scott already beginning to flip flop

"Mica: Private sector must kick in money for high-speed rail". Good luck with that. Florida's "private sector" is tapped out purchasing Mr. Scott and the Legislature, and it will no doubt insist upon taxpayers picking up the load. Related: "Election results could derail train projects".

Meanwhile, Scott is already beginning to flip flop on his rail stance during the election - the Teabaggers are sure to be outraged.

So much for the "outsider" crap

"Insiders Jennings, LeMieux on Scott's gubernatorial transition team". See also "Rick Scott Transition Team Full of Familiar Names" and "'Outsider' Rick Scott taps trusted advisers, government insiders to aid transition". Scott is already planning his reelection campaign, and for that he needs the usual insiders.

"A return 'to the Dark Ages'"

The New York Times: ""

Behind Mr. Scott’s campaign slogans ("Let’s get to work" with "seven steps to 700,000 jobs in seven years") are proposals to privatize more prisons, give vouchers to parents for schools and to Medicaid recipients for health insurance, and to reduce what businesses have to pay for injured workers.

To “lighten the burden of government on every Florida family,” as he said Wednesday, Mr. Scott has also pledged to shrink the state payroll by thousands of jobs, and to usher in hefty tax cuts — even though that would mean less revenue to help fill the projected $2.5 billion deficit that Florida faces next year.

Democrats are predicting a return "to the Dark Ages." Republicans are thrilled. "It’s a real opportunity for us," said Mike Haridopolos, the State Senate president.

Not since the 1860s, Mr. Haridopolos said, has the state had such a conservative concentration of power, and as a result, he said a lot of legislation would be likely to pass. Specifically, he said the state would probably revisit a Senate bill vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist that would have established merit-based pay for teachers.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush agreed that Mr. Scott "will have willing partners in the Legislature to do bigger things."

GOP already bending over for oil companies

"Congress watchers say the power shift in Washington will chill attempts to open Cuba to American tourists, increase pressure to allow more drilling for oil in offshore waters and discourage immigration reform – all major concerns in Florida." According to George Gonzalez, a political scientist at the University of Miami:

"Already you can see signs of pressure to give the oil industry a free hand in the Gulf," he said.

Florida insists on its right to pollute the 'Glades

"In letters to the U.S. Environment Protection Agency and during a news conference, South Florida Water Management District executives ran down a broad list of objections to a federal call to nearly double the vast expanse of marshes used to absorb the troubling nutrient phosphorous." "Water managers blast federal Everglades cleanup plan".

Grayson ain't done

"Alan Grayson, the highest profile Florida Democrat in Congress to lose Tuesday, blamed his loss on poor Democratic turnout and implied he'd likely seek a return to public office." "Grayson: I'll (probably) be back, and Republicans still stink".

RPOFers to run wild in Tally

"In the Legislature, only 51 Democrats remain — 12 in the 40-member Senate and 39 in the 120-member House. That's not enough to defeat legislation, block attempts to waive the rules or reject proposed constitutional amendments." "Democrats lose clout in Tallahassee".

"With 81 votes, incoming speaker should have no problem getting his program through". "Dean Cannon and GOP Will Have a Full House".

Fun with 527s

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Another election season is over, and so should be voters' patience with negative, misleading and caustic attack ads."

If it feels like the 2010 campaigns were uglier than most, it's because this election has been nastier than most of the previous ones. Certainly, each prior election cycle has had that one disgraceful campaign. This year, though, there were so many spiteful local, regional and statewide races that toxic campaigns seemed more the rule than the exception.

And, once again, so-called 527 fund-raising groups were a key contributor to the polluted electoral atmosphere. These groups, as has been pointed out many times before, skew the political panorama because they are largely anonymous, and pretty much free of limits on monetary contributions.

Raw sewage as far as the eye can see

"In the wake of a historic election cycle, Floridians are left wondering what will change in coming weeks, months and years for a state besieged by high unemployment and other, perhaps less publicized problems facing the state, like degrading wetlands and heavily polluted waters. What can we expect in the way of environmental policy from an all-GOP cabinet and legislature?" "What do the midterm elections mean for Florida’s environment?".

Guvship 4 sale

The Sun Sentinel editors point out that the "$73 million that Gov.-elect Rick Scott splurged on his campaign worked to get him elected as Florida's 45th governor." And

more than 2.5 million Floridians who voted against him.

"Cuban Barack Obama"

The New York Times: "For many Tea Party conservatives, Hispanics, and young Americans frustrated with the national debt that baby boomers have saddled on their future, Marco Rubio’s victory in the Florida Senate race gave them an extra reason to celebrate." "In Rubio, Some See Rise of the 'Great Right Hope'".

Conservative groups dwarfed spending by liberal groups

Scott Maxwell points out that "conservative groups such as Karl Rove's American Crossroads and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dwarfed spending by liberal groups such as the National Education Association by a 5-1 margin. And since most of those business-backed candidates won, expect lots of those outsider nasty-grams next time as well."

The Trib calls this "breaking news"

"Publix making major push toward premium cheeses".

Florida's future

"A bad precedent on removal of judges".

New rules needed

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "It remains to be seen whether state Sen.-elect Jim Norman will be charged criminally for his wife's acceptance of $500,000 from a political powerbroker who benefited from Norman's votes as a Hillsborough County commissioner. But regardless of the outcome of a federal investigation into the gift by the late Ralph Hughes to Norman's family, state lawmakers need to mandate that such acts render a candidate ineligible for election." "Deceptive candidates shouldn't be on ballot".

About Charlie

"How the once-popular governor miscalculated his way to defeat in U.S. Senate race" "The Rise and Fall of Charlie Crist". See also "What next for Charlie Crist?".

DMS speaks

"In a formal response to a highly critical audit of the project released last month by Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, officials at the Department of Management Services say they complied with state laws, used money provided by the Legislature and supervised construction of a building design selected by the court's judges." "State overseer defends role on 'Taj Mahal' courthouse". See also "DMS' Linda South responds point-by-point to audit".

Perhaps we should put them in charge

"Tax breaks, noise bans: Teens pitch ideas for bills".

And this is our new Governor?

"Governor-elect Rick Scott promises 'better days are coming'".

Another RPOFer wants an exception

"Rep. C.W. Bill Young said Thursday he will seek a waiver from term limits on leadership posts in order to retake control of the appropriations subcommittee on defense." "Rep. C.W. Bill Young wants waiver to retake chair of defense appropriations subcommittee".

Cannon and Haridopolos take it in the shorts

Scott Maxwell: Dean Cannon and Mike Haridopolos "put their reputations on the line to fight the fair-districting amendments … and got beaten like a bass drum. You know why? Because their defense of gerrymandering was transparent and lame. And 62 percent of voters knew it." "What's fair about districts? Voters paid attention".

Teabaggers thrilled with RPOF success

"Members of the loosely organized and hard-to-define tea party movement were generally jubilant with Tuesday's election with conservatives backed by the anti-spending, small government crowd having success around the country, including wins by favorite Florida candidates at the top of the ticket, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott." "Florida Tea Party remains hopeful after elections".

but needed a wave of conservative activism to push him across the finish line Wednesday morning in what appeared to be the closest governor's race in 134 years.

• Scott won the seven-county Tampa Bay region, traditionally a bellwether in statewide elections, by two percentage points.

• Both candidates won their home counties: Collier to Scott and Hillsborough to Sink.

• Sink won the state's largest six counties.

• Scott won 15 counties, including Pasco, that Sink had captured in her successful 2006 chief financial officer campaign.

How'd Rick Scott win the governor's race? Credit timing (he ran in a year that produced historic gains for the GOP), money (he spent $70 million of his personal fortune) and message (he promised to get 700,000 Floridians jobs).

But if Mr. Scott assumes his historically low margin of victory over Alex Sink — returns show him beating her by about 67,000 votes out of more than 5.1 million cast — somehow gives him carte blanche, he's mistaken. Polling reveals more than half of all Floridians maintain a negative opinion of him.

Good luck Mr. Scott

Mike Thomas points out a handful of problems the Republicans have created for themselves.

Thomas writes that Rick Scott "has his box of dynamite and plunger, and little loyalty to the status quo. Scott goes to Tallahassee. Tallahassee goes boom."

He has promised the impossible. He faces a $2.5 billion shortfall in existing revenue and has promised to add about $3 billion more in tax cuts. Now throw in the end of the federal-stimulus dollars.

Add it all up and you need major cuts in Medicaid and education. But Scott's ability to tinker with Medicaid is limited because it's a federal program, just as his promise to require drug testing for welfare recipients will never fly because of constitutional issues.

Legislative proposals to reform Medicaid center on expanding a managed-care pilot project begun by Jeb Bush. But the Florida Medical Association, which strongly endorsed Scott, opposes managed care because it limits doctor fees.

This should be interesting for the former hospital-system CEO.

Education has long been sacrosanct in the budget, but Scott has proposed cutting $1.4 billion in school taxes. In addition, he wants to eliminate the corporate tax, which funds a voucher program for low-income kids, while at the same time he has called for expanding vouchers.

The state also faces a huge tab to pay for the class-size amendment. And Scott has proposed more money for higher education.

Something important has to give. ...

Legislators have spent the past few years cutting the budget, and all the low-hanging fruit is long gone. They're getting down to the trunk. And now comes a governor who has been oblivious to that process and has little understanding of state government, wielding his shiny ax and demanding more from a budget that per capita already is about the leanest in the nation.

This creates quite the predicament for legislators. They can scarcely say no to tax cuts if Scott insists. Yet they have to balance the budget, and there is no apparent way to do that without a level of bloodletting that may well be unpalatable to the public.

Unlike Scott, a lot of these people understand the wrath of the local PTA. They have sat through the committee meetings slashing nursing-home care for the most vulnerable seniors.

Where do you get another $5 billion?

Payoff time

"Gov.-elect Rick Scott will announce transition plans Thursday".

Less than 50%

"Before Rick Scott was declared Florida's next governor, Sidney Johnson Catts was the only governor in state history elected with less than 50 percent support, according to the Florida Handbook." "Scott not first Florida governor to squeak to victory".

'Ya reckon?

"Democrats lose clout in Tallahassee". Related: "Expecting a 2010 victory lap, Democrats hit the wall".

Talk or walk?

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Gov.-elect Rick Scott struck the right note Wednesday as he pivoted from first-time candidate to executive-in-waiting of a rock-solid Republican government. The winner of the tightest governor’s race in 134 years said it’s now his job to serve all Floridians and earn the support of those who did not vote for him. His renewed pledge to end 'politics as usual in Tallahassee' is a great place to start." "Chance to clean up Tallahassee".

Wingnuts run wild

The newly installed wingnuts comprising the Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board are thrilled with Florida's right wing tilt:

The "wave" rolled over the Sunshine State, knocking Boyd and three other incumbent Democrats from the House and carrying conservative Republican Marco Rubio to an easy victory in the three-way contest for a Senate seat. Republican businessman Rick Scott rode the crest to a narrow win over Alex Sink in the bitterly fought contest for governor.

In congressional District 24, which includes most of Southeast Volusia County, Republican Sandy Adams defeated incumbent Suzanne Kosmas. National political observers looked to the Adams-Kosmas race as a bellwether; indeed, Adams' decisive win did reflect the strong national GOP trend.

Yaaawwwnnn

"Gov.-elect Rick Scott declares: 'Let's get to work'".

"Wary of gloating"

"Newly elected Republicans say they're prepared to follow the will of the people -- cut spending, reduce the deficit, lower taxes -- or suffer the same consequences as the Democrats in two years."

In Florida, the GOP wave of 2010 makes 2008 look like an aberration and 2012 look like an opportunity for vengeance.

Republican presidential contenders can turn to an abundance of party leaders to make introductions and a proven party organization to turn out voters, while the Democratic party boasts only one statewide officeholder, Sen. Bill Nelson.

Still, Florida Republicans assessing the election's results on Wednesday were wary of gloating that the state had returned to its natural resting place.

Give the Teabaggers what they voted for

After all, "GOP candidates who won gubernatorial races in Florida and Wisconsin on Tuesday are opposed to proposed rail lines in their states, including Scott Walker in Wisconsin and Florida's Rick Scott." "GOP lawmaker may drop Tampa from rail plan". See also "Election results could derail train projects".

That was fast

"The passage of one of two amendments related to redistricting is now being challenged in court." "Congressional redistricting law taken to court".

Another fine RPOF candidate

"Jim Norman, as expected, cruised to an easy victory in state Senate District 12 Tuesday ... Norman still faces an ongoing federal criminal investigation of his dealings with Hughes and possibly an investigation by the state Commission on Ethics." "Unhappy with Norman, thousands picked write-ins or didn't vote".

What about Charlie?

"On Jan. 4, Charlie Crist will step aside as governor of the fourth-largest state and for the first time in 18 years face life outside the public sector. Then what?" "Is this the end for Crist?"

See also "Crist vows to end strong as governor, as new legislature ponders veto overrides", "Crist says he's not sure what his future holds" and "Analysis: What's next for Charlie Crist? Could he convert to Democrat?"

"A rout for Democrats at all levels in Florida"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board:

In Florida, Alex Sink lost the gubernatorial campaign because Rick Scott relentlessly tied her to the president and his policies. Pam Bondi won the attorney general's race by promising to continue the state's lawsuit against Obamacare.

And it was a rout for Democrats at all levels in Florida. Democrats lost their bid for the county commission in Hillsborough, and incumbent Democrats lost elections in Pasco and Polk counties.

Election night

"Tense moments for Sink, Scott camps as votes were tallied".

Class size dance

"Class-size issue shy of required 60 percent". See also "Next move on class size: More tweaks, possible lawsuit".

Recounts

"Volusia County election officials will recount votes for an Ormond Beach race and city of Edgewater amendment. The canvassing board will meet Friday to recount the ballots." "Ballot recounts scheduled in Volusia County".

What's next isn't clear

Bill Cotterell: "Vote was decisive; what's next isn't as clear". The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Scott must forge relationships to be an effective governor".

"A long-term realignment?"

"Floridians reject Obama-Pelosi agenda in droves; does 2010 presage a long-term realignment?" "Democrats Blue Over GOP Gains". See also "Republicans Increase Majority in Florida Senate".

Chamber hacks dancing in the streets

"Florida Business Leaders ‘Ecstatic’ After Midterm Results".

We meant what we said

"Teachers cheer defeat of class-size change".

Recall

"After steering millions in public dollars to the Florida Marlins, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez is getting financial backing from the team to fight a recall effort." "Marlins give $50,000 to help Miami-Dade Mayor Alvarez fend off recall".

"An on-again, off-again problem"

"Once again, the land of the butterfly ballot and hanging chads kept the country waiting for answers about who won on Election Night. Palm Beach County vote counting delays have been an on-again, off-again problem that gained national attention when the county found itself at the epicenter of the disputed 2000 presidential election." "Palm Beach County's slow election returns draw renewed scrutiny".

Ileana in charge

"Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Miami is the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee. She has backed the war in Iraq, pushed for implementing sanctions against Iran and joined other Cuban-American lawmakers in opposing proposals to improve relations with Cuba's government as long as it is led by the Castros." "GOP chairs to have big impact".

Polls show Sink is doing well in South Florida and Tampa Bay. Scott leads in North Florida, Southwest Florida and rural counties. That leaves Central Florida as the place up for grabs -- a region where Sink spent two of the last three days.

Sink may emerge as Dems biggest winner nationwide

"As Democrats brace for major losses throughout the nation, Alex Sink could emerge as one of her party's biggest winners nationwide in the Florida governor's race. Or Rick Scott could keep the governor's mansion in GOP hands. Both parties consider winning the Florida governor's race an important step toward capturing the state's 27 electoral votes so crucial for a presidential win in 2012." "Florida's governor's race considered key to presidential election in 2012".

"Frenetic schedules"

"With just one day before Floridians head to the polls, candidates are making their last-ditch efforts to rally votes. All three major candidates for the U.S. Senate have frenetic schedules." "One day out, candidates make last-ditch efforts to lure voters". See also "Rick Scott Winds Down Bus Tour, Revs Up Voters".

Dems on the hot seat

"The Republican targets included seven-term "Blue Dog" Democratic Rep. Allen Boyd in north Florida and Rep. Ron Klein, a two-term Democrat who unseated longtime Republican Congressman Clay Shaw in South Florida four years ago. The GOP also painted bulls eyes on two freshman Democrats in central Florida, Reps. Alan Grayson and Suzanne Kosmas." "4 Fla. congressional incumbents on hot seat".

Almost over

"Voting under way in South Florida".

Daniel Ruth: "Merciful heavens, it’s almost over". The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Voting matters ­— particularly today in this midterm election at this moment in Florida. Florida voters will elect a new U.S. senator, the next governor and the three members of the state Cabinet." "Your vote counts".

Bellwethers

"Political change in the air? What to watch for tonight as votes counted". See also "In a tight race, turnout is key".

"The Democratic ticket in Florida turned to its party's most popular national figure, former President Bill Clinton, in a last-ditch effort Monday to rouse the faithful and offset Republicans swamping the early and absentee vote." "Sink, Democrats rally with Clinton, as GOP talks of Rubio's coattails". See also "Senate candidates seek late edge in Orlando".

Amendments 5 and 6

"Why Amendments 5 and 6 should pass".

Crist "upbeat as any frontrunner"

"If you look at the polls, Charlie Crist's U.S. Senate campaign is poised for a beating Tuesday. If you look at Crist campaigning across Florida in recent days, he's as upbeat as any frontrunner." "Shrugging at Senate race polls, Charlie Crist remains upbeat".

CFO

"Senate President Jeff Atwater and former state Rep. Loranne Ausley vied Tuesday to become the state's next chief financial officer, which is considered Florida's second most influential office." "GOP's Atwater and Democrat Ausley vie for CFO".

"National conservative stardom"

"Florida's marathon U.S. Senate campaign neared its end Monday looking nothing like the race that began almost two years ago. Marco Rubio, the onetime Republican underdog, returned to South Florida on the cusp of victory and national conservative stardom. Polls, including three new surveys released Monday, show Rubio with a solid lead over independent Gov. Charlie Crist and Democrat Kendrick Meek." "Rubio, one-time U.S. Senate underdog, on verge of national conservative stardom".

Raw (almost) sewage

"Broward balks at order to stop dumping treated sewage into ocean".

Check is in the mail

"The check is in the mail for thousands of Florida retirees who don't use direct deposit." "Unexplained glitch delays state retirees' monthly pay".

Say hello to your poll watcher today

"Thanks to the 2000 presidential election debacle -- most of it centered here in Florida -- both major parties have amassed a storehouse of legal firepower. As voters head to the polls Tuesday, judicial decisions and the mere presence of lawyers have already affected some midterm elections across the country." "Scores of Election-Watching Lawyers Gather Nationwide".

Florida Legislature to remain red

"Most of Florida's incumbent legislators face weak or no opposition Tuesday, but the Democrats are hoping they can knock off one of the state's most powerful Republicans: Sen. John Thrasher, the Florida GOP chairman." "GOP certain to retain Fla. legislative majority". Related: "Tryon: Legislature would work better with Alex Sink".

Blue Blue Dog

"In December 2009,"

several high-profile Florida representatives (including Senate candidate Kendrick Meek) wrote (.pdf) to Congress urging them to consider the economic impacts of implementing a set of numeric nutrient criteria that would strictly govern the levels of waste allowed to be dumped in Florida waters. Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Tallahassee, currently locked in a difficult reelection campaign against Republican Steve Southerland, was one of the heavy-hitters to sign the letter, and has since fought hard for deregulation.

"Super PACs"

"Political operatives are exploiting new loopholes to create outside groups that can spend unlimited amounts opposing or supporting candidates nationwide. Many of these so-called 'Super PACs' have only registered within the last few weeks, meaning voters won’t know who is funding them till well after election day." "Millions of ‘Super PAC’ dollars flow through Tampa and into races nationwide".

Food for votes?

"As a six-term incumbent, Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, should have no trouble amassing a significant number of votes during today’s election. But she is now using an interesting tactic to increase voter turnout — free food." "Yost campaign alleges fraud, says Brown is trading food for votes".

Online campaigns fade

"The online portion of political campaigns was not a dominating issue during this election, despite candidates spending historical amounts to get their message out." "How political campaigns play out online".

Turnout

"Good turnout expected for Tuesday's election".

Amendment 8

"Amendment 8's supporters, including many administrators, say it'll give schools the flexibility they need to avoid such drastic measures as busing kids to other schools and combining two grades in a single classroom to comply with class-size requirements. Opponents, including many teachers, say Amendment 8 is really about funding because it's expected to save $350 million to $1 billion in class-size costs every year. That's money, they say, public schools no longer would get because the amendment doesn't say where it would go." "Amendment 8 would loosen class-size limits". See also "Tallahassee principal and former face of Amendment 8 speaks out".

Ag Sec

"Republican Congressman Adam Putnam and former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox, a Democrat, are both considered rising stars in their parties, which is why Tuesday's race for Florida agriculture commissioner could have long-term political effects." "Putnam, Maddox battle for agriculture commissioner".

SOE blues

"[W]ith so many precincts and so many voters, things are bound to go wrong". "Voters hold keys to change".

Robo calls

"Annoyed at home by automated calls from politicians running for office? Well, you can expect the robocalls on your cellphone as well as your land line next election." "Hate political calls? More coming".

Amendment 4

"The backers, who called the measure 'Florida Hometown Democracy,' include environmental organizations, civic associations and slow-growth advocates. They say Amendment 4 would protect the environment and reduce congestion and urban sprawl. ... Opponents included business groups, developers and some labor unions. They said Amendment 4 would seriously damage the economy, cost jobs and make it more difficult to lure companies to the state. They also say it will also cost municipalities tens of thousands of dollars or more to run the required elections." "Amendment 4 would change development process".

"Irregularities in absentee-ballot requests"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Ann McFall deserves thanks from voters for detecting irregularities in absentee-ballot requests and calling for an investigation that resulted in the arrests of a Daytona Beach City commissioner and his campaign manager." "McFall's vigilance inspires confidence".

"Speedwidth"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Economy gains speedwith high-speed rail".

Teabaggers' choice

"Republican Pam Bondi and Democrat Dan Gelber have battled as Tuesday's attorney general election approached over whether Florida should challenge President Barack Obama's health care overhaul and adopt an Arizona-style immigration law." "Bondi, Gelber differ on focus in Fla. AG race".

The Quinnipiac University poll says Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has 44 percent support for governor, while Republican Rick Scott is just one point behind her. In the three-way Senate race, Rubio polled 45 percent of the vote, while Gov. Charlie Crist's independent campaign had 31 percent support and Democrat Kendrick Meek was running third at 18 percent.

The poll was conducted Sunday among 925 likely voters. It has an error margin of 3.2 percentage points.

"Nasty, brutish and long campaign"

"After more than a year of politicking, Florida's nasty, brutish and long campaign season comes to a close Tuesday, as voters select a new roster of leaders in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C." "Elections 2010: Who rose, who stumbled and who's likely to win in Florida races".

See also "Scott, Sink hit road to attract undecided voters", "Scott, Rubio draw 1,000 GOP faithful in Sarasota; Sink gets 200 Dems at Delray barbecue" and "Fla. governor candidates to spend day campaigning". Related: "Candidates crisscross state, making final pitches".

To the extent anyone cares: "Scott Maxwell, Mike Thomas check out ballot, predict GOP sweep".

Klein-West battle

"'Voters haven't been swayed by the enormous personal baggage that would disqualify a candidate like West in another year,' said David Wasserman, House political editor for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which rates the Klein-West battle a toss-up." "Klein-West race down to wire".

Recount prep

"A decade after hanging chad, butterfly ballots, manual recounts and proof of "voter intent" made Florida the epicenter of electoral chaos, ... Florida election officials are bracing for Tuesday's voting."

Several experts with knowledge of changes to state election laws say a recount this time would run more smoothly, in part because those paper ballots have given way to electronic touch screen machines and optical scan ballots marked by a voter's hand.

"I think it will go smoother, certainly, because of the experiences of 2000," said Ron Meyer, an election-law expert and Sink adviser.

Both sides have lawyered up in case problems arise. Meyer will be at Sink's headquarters in Tampa on Tuesday, overseeing a network of standby volunteer lawyers stationed in most counties. Scott has a legal team in place as well, including former state GOP Chairman Al Cardenas of Miami and Tallahassee lawyer Hayden Dempsey.

If the result is still within a quarter of a percent — for example, fewer than 12,000 votes in 2006 — a manual recount will be ordered, triggering a review of so-called undervotes and overvotes.

For example, if a voter accidentally marks two ovals in one race but clearly writes "not this one" next to an oval, that vote probably would count under the recount. But the vote might not count if the voter makes a check mark in one oval and the mark extends into another oval.

After the two recounts, results would be certified Nov. 16. Legal challenges would be due 10 days later.

Both recounts would end if the number of contested ballots is not high enough to alter the outcome or if the losing candidate concedes to his or her opponent.

More knives for Meek

Crist "began the day in West Palm Beach with Addie Greene, a former Palm Beach County commissioner and state House member. Echoing a sentiment expressed by other Democrats that for weeks has put Meek on the defensive, Greene urged blacks to vote for the governor, insisting Crist, not Meek, can beat Rubio." "Addie Greene, Mayor Masters endorse Crist, as he, Meek hustle for 'vote at a time'".

Early-voting ends with long lines

"Voters across Miami-Dade County took advantage of the last day of early voting Sunday, waiting in hours-long lines to avoid having to cast a ballot on election day. ... As of Sunday evening, Miami-Dade was still tabulating numbers of early voters. In Broward, where voting ended on Saturday, a total of 85,737 people cast their ballots during the special two-week period, the elections department said. ... Now, anyone who did not vote early must go to their assigned precincts on Election Day." "Voters in Miami-Dade flock to early-voting polls". See also "Long lines greet last early voters" and "Long lines on last day of early voting nets 4,720 ballots cast in Palm Beach County".

Meek's nonstop campaigning

"Front-runner Marco Rubio stayed on message, Gov. Charlie Crist made a desperate sprint across the state and Kendrick Meek announced he was bringing back former President Bill Clinton as the Florida Senate race entered its final stretch." "Clinton set to join Meek at Orlando stop".

"Democratic Senate nominee Kendrick Meek has been up all night trying to reach more voters. Meek began 24 hours of nonstop campaigning around 9 p.m. Sunday, meeting with college Democrats at the University of South Florida in Tampa." "Meek begins 24 hours of nonstop campaigning". See also "Kendrick Meek both admired, doubted". Related: "3 Fla. Senate hopefuls wrap up campaigns", "", "" and "Crist, Meek, Rubio make last runs across state".

Joy Reid is "still not sure why Kendrick Meek released this voicemail message": "Listen to voicemail Crist left Meek".

Kids happy about one feature of Election Day

"Parents, school administrators, voters — and especially kids — are happy about one feature of this Election Day. Public schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties will be closed." "Schools closed for Election Day".

Rivera-Garcia down to the wire

"The candidates' tumultuous race for an open congressional seat played out in the far-flung corners of Miami-Dade and Collier counties over the weekend. ... The close race might be decided by turnout: If GOP voters come out as enthusiastically as they did in the August primary, when almost twice as many Republican voters than Democrats cast ballots in the district, the results would almost certainly swing in Rivera's favor." "Rivera, Garcia forage for votes".

Fl-oil-duh

Stephen Goldstein: "Blocking the facts: Congress avoids truth on spill".

"Distorting our democracy"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The secret money pouring into this 2010 election season is distorting our democracy. A torrent of contributions from corporations, wealthy individuals and possibly even foreigners has flowed into nonprofit advocacy groups — many of them shadowy and new ­— to pay for mountains of political advertising. These groups don't have to promptly disclose their donors, and that leaves voters unable to gauge the credibility and ulterior motives of the people and companies spending so much to influence the outcome of Tuesday's elections." "Secret money distorts democracy".

"Which group of Hispanics?"

Guillermo I. Martinez reminds us that "it is important, and particularly so in a state such as Florida, to explain that all Hispanic voters do not vote the same. This is not a group as solidly Democratic as African-Americans, for Hispanics in the United States come from different countries and have had different life experiences."

When one speaks of Hispanics — and is in general talking about the Mexican-American vote, or the Puerto Rican vote in Chicago and New York — one can say with an almost absolute certainty that an overwhelming majority of them will vote for the Democratic candidate. And this is important to say because these groups represent more than 75 percent of the Hispanic population in the United States.

When one speaks of Hispanics in Florida, distinctions must be made. First Cuban-Americans, who until recently were solidly conservative Republicans, still vote for Republican candidates in most cases, but are no longer as solid a block as it once was.

Florida also has a large Puerto Rican population in the center of the state. Puerto Rican voters in this area are harder to predict. They voted for President Barack Obama in 2008, but previously voted for Republicans such as former Sen. Mel Martínez and former Gov. Jeb Bush. In Bush's case, they rejected him the first time he ran for governor but then gave him their solid backing the next two times he ran.

Finally, South Florida now has a large group of voters who come from other Latin American countries. The largest bloc, so far, is made up of people who came from Colombia. They have elected a Republican to the Florida House of Representatives, but their vote has not gone overwhelmingly for either party.

And soon we will have a growing number of Venezuelan voters, who will likely have a similar voting pattern to those who come from Cuba.

All this makes Florida elections so interesting and so difficult to predict. When one asks what will Florida's Hispanic voters will do on election day, the appropriate answer might be another question: Which group of Hispanics?

Voting procedures

Anthony Man outlines many of the voting procedures (e.g., if you want to vote in person, instead of by that mail ballot someone sent you): "How to make Election Day smooth".

No comment

"George W. Bush to kick off book fair in Miami".

On Tuesday, voters will decide between Rick Scott, a conservative Republican whose views match those of a state legislature that has moved to the right in the past two years, and Alex Sink, a moderate Democrat who promises to wield her veto pen.

"It's a real litmus test for the electorate," said Lance deHaven-Smith, a political scientist at Florida State University. "We're either going to go far right, or center."

Republicans have held the governor's mansion for 12 years and the legislature for longer, but there has been constant tension between the conservative and moderate wings of the GOP in that time.

During Jeb Bush's eight years as governor, his conservatism was backed by the state House but tempered by the more moderate Senate. As the state Senate has shifted rightward in recent years, the legislature has been thwarted by Gov. Charlie Crist.

Even as he runs as the nominee of the party that has won the past three governor's races and controlled the state legislature for longer, Scott talks about the failed policies of Tallahassee over the past four years, a period when Sink was the only Democratic member of the Cabinet.

"The irony," said Kevin Wagner, a political scientist at Florida Atlantic University, "is that Scott is running as a change candidate, even though conservatives have been in charge in Tallahassee for a long time."

Florida RPOF/Teabaggers expect to "run the table"

"With just two full days of campaigning left before Election Day, Republicans are giddy with anticipation. Democrats want to crawl into bed and pull the covers over their heads."

Sid Dinerstein, chairman of the Palm Beach County Republican Party, is anticipating a political tsunami that washes away Democrats in South Florida, Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.

"I can't stop smiling. You have no idea. I'll need surgery to get this smile off," said Dinerstein. "By every anecdotal measure, we're going to run the table."

Ugly visual

Howard Troxler: "How a Republican landslide would look Wednesday morning".

Scott wears his teabags proudly

"Gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott, at a tea party event Saturday, led a parade of Republican and conservative candidates -- including a possible 2012 presidential hopeful -- in making one last pitch to conservative Floridians to get out the vote on Election Day." "Rick Scott Ignites First Coast Tea Party Event".

"Look what you've wrought, Charlie"

"Look what you've wrought, Charlie Crist."

Since that casual May 2009 e-mail announcing your candidacy for U.S. Senate, you've ripped apart the Florida GOP, and now it's dividing Florida Democrats. You've gone from national superstar and future presidential contender to someone banished from your lifelong party and fighting for political survival.

Not to mention the trickle-down effect: Republican fixture Bill McCollum, poised to breeze into a second term as attorney general, is now through in politics; probably so is your lieutenant governor, Jeff Kottkamp; Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the state Democratic Party's great hope, skipped reelection and is locked in an ugly, neck-and-neck race for governor against a controversial businessman no one had heard of nine months ago.

Amid the flood of nasty TV spots, robo calls and mailers, it's worth pausing at the close of the craziest election cycle in modern Florida history to review where we've landed after an 18-month political roller coaster.

Most vulnerable Florida House seats

"For the last time this election cycle, the Times' political blog the Buzz is ranking the six U.S. House seats in Florida that are most vulnerable to a party switch. The difference between first place (the most vulnerable) and sixth (less vulnerable) remains quite narrow, and we feel there's an even-money chance that partisan control of the top five seats could flip. And we wouldn't be surprised to see each of the six seats flip. The rankings are based on interviews with a range of political practitioners and independent observers. The Buzz considers the state's other 19 House seats to be safe for the party in power." ""The Buzz" House Race Rankings: The Final Frontier".

Call it a"handful of gimme and a mouthful of much obliged"

"State is eligible to get millions from the same health care overhaul that has been called unconstitutional by Republicans." "Florida could get $39 million to help with state employee health insurance costs".

Meek campaigns with Clinton

"Clinton set to join Meek at Orlando stop".

Money changes everything

"Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott's personal campaign spending has shattered records. But opponent Alex Sink has shown she's a powerful fundraiser." "Rick Scott's spending hits $73M". See also "Party Money Big, But Rick Scott's Personal Cash Makes Huge Difference".

Jenny and Ricky ... two peas in a pod

"Altered documents filed with Jacksonville City Hall in 2006 helped lieutenant governor candidate Jennifer Carroll's consulting firm appear eligible for a city program that annually gives out tens of millions of dollars in city contracts to small businesses, a Florida Times-Union investigation has found." "Newspaper: Altered documents filed for GOP Lt. Gov. candidate Jennifer Carroll's firm".

'Ya reckon?

"Marco Rubio seen with early edge in NE Florida battleground vs. Charlie Crist, Kendrick Meek".

Dead heat

"Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Alex Sink are deadlocked in the most expensive governor's race in Florida history, and the outcome hinges on which party can get its voters to the polls and which candidate can win over a sizable group of undecided voters, a new Florida Poll shows." "Poll: Scott retains narrow lead over Sink, 44-39".

"Nauseating blizzard of snarky lies"

Carl Hiaasen: "As the days tick down drearily toward the mid-term elections, the mute button is our friend. Every time a political commercial comes on television, millions of Americans are lunging for their remote controls to turn off the volume. This is a perfectly reasonable response to a nauseating blizzard of snarky lies, breathless exaggerations and ludicrous promises that will never, ever be kept."

Another lapse in mute-button vigilance resulted last Thursday in my viewing a dumbfounding campaign commercial by a Broward state Senate hopeful, Lizbeth Benacquisto, who out of the blue announced that she’d been raped 23 years earlier.

A rigid opponent of abortion, Benacquisto said she was revealing this terrible incident in her past to debunk claims by her opponent that she was insensitive to the plight of women impregnated during incest or sexual assault.

It takes great courage for victims of such crimes to step forward, but the timing of Benacquisto’s revelation – two decades after the attack, and only five days before the election – raises too many dispiriting questions. In a cycle of acute skepticism, some constituents are bound to dismiss her ad as an exploitive, last-minute grab for votes.

Who pulls Ricky's strings?

"Final fundraising reports released this weekend show Scott has coaxed a parade of interest-groups to pour $31.6 million into Republican Party of Florida coffers during the past two months — some of which Scott personally maligned in the primary but are now footing part of the tab for his unprecedented campaign-spending spree."

Many of the corporations and big-check writers are the same companies and industry groups that went "all in" for Bill McCollum in his failed primary run against Scott, including from Walt Disney Co. ($251,000); Publix Super Markets ($70,000); the developers of The Villages ($310,000); plus gaming interests, phosphate mining concerns and Big Sugar.

raised over the entire campaign is less than what Scott spent in the last 12 days. But with Sink at the top of the ticket, the state Democratic Party had its best fundraising quarter ever, matching the $31.5 million raised by the Republican Party.

The Democratic Governors Association was the largest contributor, steering $6.3 million to a political committee set up by Tallahassee lawyer Mark Herron, named MARK pac. Lawyers and labor unions are the next top donors, contributing $3.9 million and $1.7 million respectively, according to the reports.

MARK pac also raised $2.8 million from the Florida teachers union and its national partner, the National Education Association, and collected $450,000 from Emily's List, the organization that promotes liberal-leaning women candidates.

As long as my taxes don't go up

A "warning to Florida's teachers, students and parents: If you think indoor-air quality in public schools is bad now, just wait a few years. " "Money to fix Florida's moldy, leaking schools is hard to find".

"The status quo on steroids"

The Saint Pete Times editors: "We cannot let our anger with Washington cloud our judgment about what is best for Florida. Republican candidate for governor Rick Scott and other GOP candidates are portraying themselves as change agents. They are trying to ride the wave of discontent with President Barack Obama and Democrats who control Congress to victory in state elections."

Rather than bringing change to Tallahassee, Scott would put the status quo on steroids. Republicans have controlled state government for a dozen years and failed to prepare this state to weather an economic recession by creating a broader tax base, diversifying the economy or investing in public schools and universities. The rush to cut taxes for big business, slash spending on needed services, abolish protections for consumers and property owners, drill for oil offshore, restrict abortion rights and undermine public schools would become a stampede with Scott as governor.

Alex Sink would steer the state in a better direction and act as a counterbalance to the right-wing Legislature. The Democratic candidate for governor has pragmatic plans to generate jobs while Scott makes wild promises he can't keep. She embraces the possibilities of a rail system that could transform the economy while Scott is dismissive. She would build a public consensus to better manage growth and improve public education while Scott and the Legislature would shove their radical plans down our throats.

Sink also would provide a stronger dose of ethical, accountable leadership that is desperately needed in the state capital. The former state Republican Party chairman and the former Republican House speaker were forced out and indicted amid scandal. Republican legislative leaders have repaid thousands of dollars in personal expenses charged to state party credit cards. Scott presided over a hospital company that paid record fines for Medicare fraud, and he once invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 75 times in a deposition. Electing him as governor would reinforce the perception that anything goes in Tallahassee.

"Among the worst states in the nation ..."

Professor James P. McHale, chair of the Psychology Department and director of the Family Study Center in the College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Florida: "Florida ranks among the worst states in the nation on virtually every measure of how we care for our children. The litany of legislative cuts over the past decade to services and supports for pregnant women and young children, and the impact these 'budgetary' decisions have had on children and families, is astonishing."

They have been chronicled in a compelling report entitled "Investing in Florida's Children: Good Policy, Smart Economics" assembled by researchers at Florida State University. The data are almost beyond belief.

Here are some of the report's findings:

• Florida ranks 47th in the percentage of pregnant women receiving prenatal care in the first trimester, despite the critical importance of good prenatal care for the gestation and delivery of healthy infants.

• We are the ninth-worst in the country in child abuse deaths. Nonetheless, the 2010 Florida Legislature cut our state's Healthy Families program, which effectively prevents child abuse before it occurs.

• Average wages of $9 per hour without benefits contributes to child care staff turnover rates of 30 to 40 percent.

• Florida serves less than 25 percent of infants and toddlers eligible for federally sponsored Early Head Start, a comprehensive, high-quality program with demonstrated positive outcomes.

• Florida is ranked at the bottom in national spending for prekindergarten. We are the only state to actually decrease funding for pre-K two years in a row.

• In 2009, Florida met only three of the 10 quality pre-K standards established by the National Institute for Early Education Research. This is a decrease from 2008.

The pathetic litany of findings in the report continues. If the state of Florida were a parent, we would not be deemed fit to raise a child.

The land of hanging chads

Steve Otto reminds us "that this is Florida and what you see may not be what you get." "Otto: Voting in the land of hanging chad".

Voter suppression alert

The Saint Pete Times editorial board: "Beyond ongoing problems with absentee ballots, voter fraud is not a serious problem. It just doesn't occur very often. But in at least half a dozen states, "

conservative activists are being organized and dispatched to look out for anyone Tuesday who appears to be voting when he or she shouldn't. This is an old intimidation ploy to keep voters in poor and minority communities away from the polls. Interfering with a person's right to vote is illegal, and any hint of this kind of activity in Florida should be investigated by law enforcement.

There already have been some outrageous actions to suppress African-American and Hispanic turnout in other states. It is couched as combatting voter fraud, but the real intent is to scare people who might be new citizens or have a criminal record away from exercising their franchise. ...

history shows that when election security and surveillance efforts target African-American and Hispanic voters, the intent is to tamp down their election participation. The Republican National Committee got into trouble for this kind of thing in the past. Now the tea party and other conservative groups are adopting the same strategy. Someone needs to be watching these watchers.

Class size

"Class size rule is 'no-win'".

Teabaggers to the barricades

Andres Oppenheimer: "If the Republican Party wins by a landslide in Tuesday's mid-term elections, as most polls suggest, we are likely to see growing support in Congress for Arizona-style anti-immigration laws that many Hispanics fear would lead to growing discrimination against them." "Elections may boost immigration foes".

"For better or worse"

Bill Cotterell: "Rick Scott, for better or worse, is defined by business background".

To be Florida's first woman governor

"Four years ago, when a U.S. Senator from Illinois was making history by becoming the nation's first African-American president, Alex Sink was launching her political career in Florida, running statewide for chief financial officer. This time, the ex-banker is fighting to climb the next rung on the ladder and make history of her own by becoming Florida's first woman governor." "Alex Sink fights to make history in a tough political environment".

End times

"A poll released Saturday shows Republicans verging on a sweep of three open Cabinet seats." "Independent voters leaning toward GOP, poll shows".

"Government takeover of health care"?

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Every poll shows that their votes last March for the health care law will cost many Democrats. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, who by now must be measuring drapes in the speaker's office, calls the law a 'government takeover of health care.' So why wasn't it a 'government takeover of health care' when Republicans proposed it in 1993?" "Republicans stand to benefit in 2010 from opposing what they favored in '93".

Teabaggers insane over sanity rally attendance

"Rally Attendance OBLITERATES Turnout To Glenn Beck Rally".