the Republican Party, records show. The policy has spawned a network of contractors who have given him, other Republican politicians and the Florida G.O.P. millions of dollars in campaign donations."

What's interesting about this network of contractors isn't just the way that big contributions are linked to big contracts; it's the end of the traditional practice in which businesses hedge their bets by giving to both parties. The big winners in Mr. Bush's Florida are companies that give little or nothing to Democrats. Strange, isn't it? It's as if firms seeking business with the state of Florida are subject to a loyalty test.

Thurman to step down

"Ten days after Florida Democrats suffered major election losses, Karen Thurman announced plans on Friday to step down after six years as state party chairwoman. Thurman's departure, which was widely expected, clears the way for the dispirited party to anoint a new leader heading into the presidential election year of 2012, when Florida as usual will be a pivotal state."

The early front-runner for chairman is Rod Smith of Gainesville, a former state senator and state attorney and running mate of Alex Sink, who narrowly lost the contest for governor to Republican Rick Scott.

Smith, who will turn 61 on Sunday, ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2006. He has expressed his interest in the job but said he would take a few days to make up his mind. He could not be reached Friday.

Run "Jeb!" Run!

The Fix "surveyed several state GOP insiders to get a look at the potential field, and the challengers' relative strengths and weaknesses. Here's the results:"

LeMieux: If he decides to run, LeMieux, 41, would be the de facto incumbent on the Republican side although that might not be such a good thing if the political environment is anything like it was in 2010.

Having served in Washington already, LeMieux could argue that he's best suited to hit the ground running in 2012; he'd also likely have better statewide name identification than other contenders and would already have a team in place.

The biggest hurdle to LeMieux in the Republican primary, however, would likely be his long relationship with Crist -- not exactly a beloved figure among state Republicans.

Even though LeMieux sided with former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) over Crist once the governor left the GOP (and has barely talked with Crist since) he could face criticism for serving for years as the governor's "alter ego."

LeMieux detractors might try to make the case that he counseled Crist to take positions that were unpopular among conservatives -- including the governor's stance on cap-and-trade -- while LeMieux supporters could argue that the "wheels started to come off" for Crist once LeMieux left his administration, and that it was LeMieux who tried to convince Crist not to leave the party.

Incoming state Senate President Mike Haridopolos: Haridopolos, who is also a lecturer at the University of Florida's Bob Graham Center for Public Service, is considered one of the state Republican Party's rising stars and one of the other major potential 2012 contenders. In an interview with The Fix on Thursday, Haridopolos said that supporters have been asking him to run for the seat "for a few months now" and that the idea of running against Nelson is "intriguing."

"We're looking at it; there's no doubt," Haridopolos said. He declined to give a timeline for making a decision, noting that "it's still too early to discern that." But he indicated that he's talked it over with his wife and that she's given him the green light.

"My wife basically said, 'Mike if you want to do this, I'm with you,'" Haridopolos said. He added that he'll make a decision to run independently of whether LeMieux or other candidates decide to run -- with the exception of former Gov. Jeb Bush (R), who remains enormously popular among state Republicans. "If Jeb Bush runs, I'm with Jeb," Haridopolos said.

If Haridopolos does run, he'd likely try to stake out the conservative ground to LeMieux's ideological right; in talking with The Fix, he frequently compared himself to Rubio, casting himself as the conservative leader on the state Senate side while Rubio served as the leader among state House conservatives.

"[Voters] want another Marco Rubio-conservative person, an unquestioned conservative in the ranks," Haridopolos said, adding that the state Senate's "always been this kind of squishy place, and now it's unquestionably conservative."

Haridopolos is known as a good fundraiser for the party and as the head of state Senate campaigns, but he'd have to operate on a different level if running for U.S. Senate.

Rep. Connie Mack: Mack, the 14th District congressman who coasted to a fourth term last Tuesday, has also been floated as a possible contender for the seat. He is the son of a former senator and would benefit from his political pedigree (and famous last name) but he could face some trouble among Republican primary voters for being seen as a moderate; he butted heads with members of his party earlier this year by coming out against an Arizona-style immigration law in Florida.

Rep. Vern Buchanan: Buchanan, who had an easy victory in the Sarasota-area 13th District last week, is also said to be mulling a bid. If he jumped into the race, he'd have a big leg up in terms of his ability to self-fund; he's the eighth-wealthiest member of Congress, with an estimated net worth of more than $53 million. (Scott's 2010 campaign showed that self-funding can go a long way in Florida, although wealthy real estate developer Jeff Greene's millions weren't enough to see him through the Democratic Senate primary.)

Freshman Rep.-elect Allen West: West, who bested Rep. Ron Klein (D) last Tuesday in one of the country's most hotly-contested races, hasn't made any indications (yet) that he'd pursue a bid, but some Florida Republicans say he's worth keeping an eye on. His status as a national conservative darling could help him fund a bid and raise his name ID if he decided to jump into the race. Working against him is the fact that he's not even been sworn into office yet and is already being dogged by controversy. He also hails from the Palm Beach area, which isn't exactly the strongest base for a Republican campaign.

Rep. Tom Rooney: The 16th District congressman's name has also been part of the mix; he's seen as a rising star in the state, although he might be viewed as too young by some. (He turns 40 later this month.)

State House Majority Leader Adam Hasner: There's been some buzz surrounding outgoing state House majority leader, who is term-limited. State Republican operatives believe he'd have the ability to build a strong organization quickly; they also note that his wife, Jillian, managed California gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman's (R) campaign. In addition, Hasner's Jewish background could be a plus in winning over Florida's significant Jewish population.

Reinhard moves on

Beth Reinhard says goodbye

What is it with trial lawyers?

"Four days after being elected Florida's next attorney general, Pam Bondi and her fiancé flew to Las Vegas to party with one of the state's most influential trial lawyers, Tampa's Jim Wilkes."

It was Wilkes' 60th birthday and, while Bondi and her fiancé, Greg Henderson, say they paid for their hotel room and airfare to Las Vegas, they relied on the Republican Party of Florida to charter a plane to get them from Las Vegas to New Orleans, where she attended a meeting of the Republican Attorneys General Association the next day.

Wilkes and his wife are registered Democrats, but his firm, Wilkes & McHugh, showed a bipartisan streak in political donations this year. It gave $100,000 to the Republican Party of Florida and $25,000 to the Florida Democrats.

Charlie's last laff?

"With two months left as governor, Charlie Crist can still leave a lasting legacy with his remaining judicial, board and commission appointments. Crist’s independent streak can be seen in his past judicial appointments, nominating conservative and left-leaning judges alike, but some conservatives worry that his loss in the U.S. Senate race to Marco Rubio, after leaving the Republican Party, will lead him to appoint explicitly liberal judges." "Those Judicial Appointments: Will Crist Get Up to Mischief?".

"Embarrassment of riches that is Florida politics"

"The prospect of the lame-duck governor and his lame-duck Cabinet spending their final meeting debating the evidence or lack thereof of Morrison's trouser drop is too good to be true. And it's indicative of the embarrassment of riches that is Florida politics." "Time to close the doors, and open others".

"Minor burns" to him ...

... but you and I would be whimpering all the way to the emergency room. See "Firefighter suffers minor burns battling Seminole County apartment blaze".

Changing of the guard

"Changing of the guard in Tallahassee: Who's out and who wants to stay".

Nuthin' better to do?

"The state attorney’s office has charged a former state House District 1 candidate accused of stealing campaign signs during the Republican primary race. Greg Brown and his wife Jennifer each are charged with one misdemeanor count of petit theft for allegedly stealing signs that belonged to Doug Broxson, who won Tuesday’s election." "Former state House candidate charged with stealing campaign signs".

Wingnuts fight clean water

"Florida's incoming governor and other newly elected Republicans on Friday joined a chorus of politicians and others who have been urging the Environmental Protection Agency to delay new water pollution rules."

A lawyer for environmental groups, though, said they've been "brainwashed'' by state officials who concocted wildly inflated figures of what it's going to cost to comply with the new rules.

Governor-elect Rick Scott, Agriculture Commissioner-elect Adam Putnam, Attorney General-elect Pam Bondi and five incoming congressmen sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson asking her to postpone action.

The EPA is set to announce the standards Monday. They are required by the settlement of a federal lawsuit that environmental groups had filed against the agency.

"His critics, it seems, were listening"

"When the First District Court of Appeals issued a ruling last month putting GOP Senate candidate Jim Norman back on the Nov. 2 ballot, the three-judge panel said the proper venue for the challenge to his candidacy was the Florida Ethics Commission. His critics, it seems, were listening." "Norman faces flurry of ethics complaints".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The Salvation Army handled the Jim Norman scandal about as badly as it could. The charity needs to rebuild public faith in its sense of civic responsibility." "Salvation Army's tarnished image".

Grayson, Kosmas class acts

"Those expecting a fiery farewell speech from U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson might wind up disappointed."

Aides to the bombastic Orlando Democrat -- who lost last week to Republican challenger Dan Webster -- said Grayson has no plans (yet) to walk on the House floor and tell his peers that he's mad about the election's outcome, the state of the Democratic Party and the future of healthcare reform.

Instead, Grayson intends to use his final weeks in office to quietly press for $14.3 million in funding for hometown projects, including $5 million for medical research at Florida Hospital in Celebration and $1 million for emergency generators in Orange County.

"I still have the job, and I have the job for the next two months," Grayson recently told ABC News. (He declined an interview request with the Orlando Sentinel.)

Wingnuts worship West

"Despite chief-of-staff fiasco, West still a GOP star as he preps for D.C.".

Why not hire Rush Limbaugh to do this?

"Florida's health department wants to hire doctors to review patient records at pain-management clinics to see if they are legitimate or pill mills." "Hey doc, you want to moonlight for the state?"

Jebbie's "victory lap" laffer

"Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will be appearing on CNN's Sunday talk show this weekend, and if host Candy Crowley wants to make news, perhaps she should ask if he's interested in leading the national Republican Party for the next two years."

Bush, who has already ruled out a run for president in 2012, is being interviewed with his big brother, currently campaigning for his place in history and selling books.

Jeb, on the other hand, is taking a victory lap after Florida Republicans scored big in last week's election and may be looking to raise his political profile.

He has close ties to Marco Rubio, who won election to the U.S. Senate and will be the nation's first Hispanic senator with tea party connections. Meantime, Florida Republican Gov.-elect Rick Scott has placed three of Jeb's close political associates and former aides on his transition team.

As the next national Republican race, the one for national committee chairman, takes shape, a member of the anti-Steele caucus, Katon Dawson of South Carolina, has been dropping Jeb's name into conversations about possible alternatives to incumbent Chairman Michael S. Steele, who is expected to seek another two-year term in January.

Teabaggers fight for the right to defecate ...

... directly into Florida's pristine the groundwater: "Environmental concerns led the Florida Legislature last spring to require mandatory septic system inspections. But a public backlash, driven by the potential costs it carries, has legislators promising to reverse the new law as soon as possible." "Septic tank law worth the price?"

After all, according to the St. Johns Riverkeepers, Florida is already rock bottom in the United States in terms of protecting its waters from pollution. More than 98 percent of the state's bays and estuaries, and more than 54 percent of its streams, are unsafe for swimming and/or fishing."

Nutrient poisoning is the main cause of Florida's water-quality woes. Nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer, animal waste, sewage and polluting industries has become the most common water-pollution problem in the state. The nutrients feed toxic algae, kill fish, and spur respiratory problems in swimmers and beachgoers. The recurring summer "Green Monster" on the St. Johns is the sad result of nutrient poisoning.

In the House, incoming Speaker Dean Cannon has given salaries of at least $100,000 to 28 staffers. In the Senate, 33 will earn six figures under incoming President Mike Haridopolos.

Both leaders say the pay is justified for their skilled workers, yet the numbers stand out in a state where average wages are stagnating, 1 million Floridians can't find work and Republican Gov.-elect Rick Scott wants to eliminate up to 6,000 state jobs. ...

Cannon and Haridopolos voted to cut worker pay in 2009, but the measure was vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist.

"Florida, America's new bellwether state"

Time: "If any state illustrates the screeching U-turn that American politics has taken in two short years, it's Florida."

In the 2008 presidential election, Sunshine State voters made Barack Obama the first northern Democrat to win the peninsula since Franklin Roosevelt in 1944 — and a big reason was their desire for the more pragmatic, less partisan leadership they prized in their governor, moderate Republican Charlie Crist. But on Tuesday night, Floridians ... made it clear why they had dumped Crist for the more conservative Marco Rubio in the marquee race for the state's open U.S. Senate seat.

Haridopolos unofficially kicks off his Senate campaign

"New Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, a Republican from Merritt Island, will be the featured speaker this month at the Atlantic Federated Republican Women's Club luncheon." "State Senate leader to speak to area GOP".

Kaufman kollapses

"After less than 72 stormy hours as Republican U.S. Rep.-elect Allen West's prospective chief of staff, conservative radio firebrand Joyce Kaufman says she won't go to Capitol Hill and allow West's critics to use her for 'an electronic lynching by proxy.' Kaufman said the last straw was a threat of violence against Broward County schools in which an e-mailer cited a video clip of Kaufman telling a tea party rally that 'if ballots don't work, bullets will.' The clip from a July 3 event was featured by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Tuesday night and on Lou Dobbs' nationally syndicated radio show Thursday afternoon." "Broward schools threat spurs Joyce Kaufman to give up Allen West's chief-of-staff job". See also "Joyce Kaufman's comments on declining Allen West chief of staff position" and "Broward school alert ends with political fallout".

Crist follies

"Miami police charged him with indecent exposure and profanity because of an overly revealing performance in Coconut Grove." "Why would Charlie Crist pardon Jim Morrison?"

Memories of a crime

"There's an unreality about Bush v. Gore, even 10 years later. An election decided by 537 votes, out of 6 million cast? In a state where the leading candidate's brother is governor? Where one of his honorary campaign co-chairs is secretary of state, in charge of certifying the results?" "Bill Cotterell: Village Square program brings back memories of 2000".

Public meeting blather

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "Let the people speak at public meetings".

Schools will hire more teachers and add classrooms

"The Florida School Boards Association now estimates that the public will have to pay up to $1 billion more this year to comply with tighter class-size formulas. The defeat of Amendment 8, which would have returned the state to last year's class-size formulas, means schools will have to hire more teachers and add more classrooms to meet stricter class-by-class caps. More flexible schoolwide averages for pupil-to-teacher ratios no longer apply." "Class-Size Vote Will Add $1 Billion to State Budget".

Florida elections controlled by Teabaggers and religious extremists

"Tea partiers aren't the only ones claiming credit for the conservative sweep in Florida this year. The Miami-based Christian Family Coalition said it did its part, as well."

"More than 80 percent of Christian Family Coalition-backed candidates won their races," crowed Anthony Verdugo, founder and president of the organization.

CFC-endorsed candidates ranged from newly elected Attorney General Pam Bondi and incoming Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam to a host of legislative and local office-seekers. There were 18 winning candidates in all (see list here).

By contrast, Verdugo said two-thirds of "homosexual-backed" candidates lost. By "homosexual-backed" he singled out candidates endorsed by the gay-rights group Save Dade, an organization he calls "far outside the mainstream."

Though CFC promotes a more overtly conservative social agenda than tea party groups, Verdugo said the two movements have much in common.

RPOFers split on drug dealing

"A veto override planned by Florida’s Republican legislative leaders is driving a wedge between major GOP donors, with business groups and health care giants Wednesday renewing their fight over a prescription drug bill." "Prescription Drug Bill Divides GOP Donors".

Imagine that, "limiting the amount of waste dumped in Florida water"

"Florida politicians, industry heads and even former environmental agency heads have all become vocal opponents of EPA efforts to implement water quality standards that would limit the amount of waste that can be dumped in Florida waterbodies. They have all engaged in letter-writing campaigns decrying the costs to industry associated with following the rules. Through a public records request, The Florida Independent has obtained an email from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that details at least one effort to convince several Florida politicians to oppose the criteria." "Internal email details effort to convince Florida politicians to fight water quality standards".

Fear and Loathing in Florida

"This is as good as Hunter Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but this is real life in Florida's courtrooms right now. The scope is staggering and this is a must read for everyone." "New Matt Taibbi / Rolling Stone... Florida's Rocket Docket". See "Courts Helping Banks Screw Over Homeowners" ("Retired judges are rushing through complex cases to speed foreclosures in Florida").

Dubyadee can't catch a break

"A federal appeals court will rehear the case it overturned earlier this year against former state Senate President and former Escambia County Commissioner W.D. Childers." "Childers appeal gets rehearing". See also "Former state Senate president's appeal back in court".

Rubio key in earmark kerfuffle

"Rubio key in conservative request to freeze requests for earmarks".

Future entrepreneurs

"Faced with evidence of cheating by up to a third of his class — 150 to 200 students — the University of Central Florida business instructor confronted them in a weekly lecture." "UCF business instructor becomes folk hero after taking hard line on cheating".

Foley in a dither

"Former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley is raising questions about the results of Lake Worth's Nov. 2 elections following Tuesday's discovery of 500 missing absentee ballots by Palm Beach County elections officials."

"The most troubling issues rest with the recently reported 500 ballots ... and the abnormalities of the Lake Worth city elections," Foley wrote in a letter sent Thursday to Elections Supervisor Susan Bucher and County Commissioner Karen Marcus, both members of the county canvassing board.

Bucher said she had not seen the letter. "He can come down here and I can walk him through [the recount process] and explain [the missing ballots]," she said.

Are these the "jobs" Ricky was talking about?

Orlando battles for more low paying service jobs: "Local leaders are quietly preparing a bid to bring the WWE Hall of Fame to Orlando. If successful, it would bring a new tourist stop filled with decades of memorabilia from the professional wrestling powerhouse." "Will Orlando become home for WWE's Hall of Fame?"

"Another against-the-odds task"

"Fresh from an unsuccessful turn as Democrat Alex Sink's running mate, former Sen. Rod Smith said Wednesday he may be willing to assume another against-the-odds task: leadership of the state's battered Democratic Party. But Smith told the News Service of Florida that he's going to take his time about making a decision." "Rod Smith may lead battered state Democratic party".

Let's get real about the Chamber

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board remark that, at a recent meeting, those "wanting to build, operate and ride the high-speed train that's supposed to link Orlando and Tampa beginning in 2015 spoke excitedly of its 168-mile-an-hour speed; its potential to connect with SunRail; and its ability to stimulate if not transform Central Florida's economy."

But many also worried aloud about whether the train would ever really serve passengers between Orlando International Airport, International Drive, Walt Disney World, Lakeland and downtown Tampa. They worried because of what happened Nov. 2: Rick Scott's election as governor.

As a candidate, Mr. Scott took a dim view of the $2.6 billion project, indicating that he didn't want it in Florida if the state had to fund any part of it. ...

Washington already has awarded Florida $2.05 billion of the project's $2.6 billion cost. State transportation officials expect the feds will deliver an additional $340million. That would leave the state with just $280million to make the train a reality.

Barbering while black or brown

"The state agency that paired with the Orange County Sheriff's Office for a series of unorthodox inspections of Pine Hills-area barbershops told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday that it will halt the practice until an internal review is completed."

The decision by the [state] Department of Business and Professional Regulation came just four days after the Sentinel reported that agency inspectors, accompanied by as many as 14 deputies, including narcotics agents, entered at least nine barbershops in the [largely black and Hispanic] Pine Hills area in two sweeps on Aug. 21 and Sept. 17. ...

During the two sweeps, and a smaller operation in October, deputies arrested 39 people — 35 on a misdemeanor charge of barbering without an active license. Arrests on that charge are rare.

Big of 'em

"Under a proposal to be considered Tuesday by the Legislature, Floridians who installed expensive solar panels will get only part of the state rebate they were expecting." "Florida lawmakers likely to revive A/C, solar-panel rebate offers".

A part-time campaign worker who found the job through an ad on Craigslist is upset that the campaign paid him with an American Express gift card.

Mark Don Givens told Florida's WTSP News that he was expecting a paycheck after he made phone calls and knocked on doors for the Scott campaign, which made jobs a top issue in the election. Givens said he and other workers were upset after they were told by the campaign that they could not offer them a paycheck and given American Express gift cards instead.

"This would violate both tax laws and labor laws," Melanie Sloan, the Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) told TPMmuckraker in an email. "It looks like the newly elected AG will be investigating the newly elected governor.

RPOFers already backsliding on promises repeal HRC

"Fresh from their election victories, Florida Republicans say they plan to remake the nation's new health-care law to reduce the role of government, limit malpractice claims and give doctors more incentive to serve Medicare patients."

Party leaders promise to fulfill their campaign pledge to try to repeal the new law, possibly as their first act in January when they seize control of the U.S. House. A repeal bill almost certainly would die in the Senate or get vetoed by President Barack Obama, but it would set up a national debate leading into the 2012 presidential election.

Some congressional Republicans — and Florida legislators — also hope to block spending needed to implement the law, such as enforcement by the Internal Revenue Service and funds to help states phase in some provisions.

Waitin' on Ricky's jobs

"The Agency for Workforce Innovation has notified the more than 106,000 Floridians currently receiving unemployment benefits of the impending deadlines that will impact claims for those currently enrolled in Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Extended Benefits and Federal Additional Compensation programs, which will be concluding over the next several weeks." "Unemployment benefits set to expire for 106,000 Floridians".

West already a laughingstock

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Allen West's first action as a congressman-elect gives no fresh hope that he will be a serious congressman." "The people have this mike". See also "Allen West's Incoming Chief Of Staff Calls Pelosi 'Garbage'".

"On her Tuesday afternoon show," West's new Chief of Staff,

Kaufman expressed excitement about the selection, repeatedly saying how "blessed" she was. For guidance on the decision, she said that she had met with former Congressman Clay Shaw (who held the district until 2007) and Mark Foley, who resigned from Congress in 2006 after it was revealed that he sent sexually explicit instant messages to male pages.

Kaufman said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — who may well become minority leader in the next Congress — was "horrific, wrongheaded and a liar."

Rubio and DeMint, an ugly visual

"Not yet in office, Florida Sen.-elect Marco Rubio will play a significant role next week in what promises to be the first post-election test of tea party-backed lawmakers' ability to deliver on campaign pledges. Rubio is backing conservative firebrand Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican who says he'll force an internal vote among incoming GOP senators on Tuesday to freeze all requests for earmarks -- the federal dollars lawmakers put aside for special projects." "Marco Rubio leads showdown on budget `pork'".

Jim's back

"Ending months of speculation, former U.S. Rep. Jim Davis said today he is 'seriously considering' a bid for Tampa's mayor in the March elections." "Jim Davis 'seriously considering' bid for Tampa's mayor".

Gaetz to draw other lawmakers' districts

"State Sen. Don Gaetz, already in line for the 2012 Senate presidency, got a second scoop of political clout Wednesday with the chairmanship of a committee that will draw the boundaries of other lawmakers' districts." "Sen. Don Gaetz to head redistricting committee". See also "Father of state rep. who fought ‘Fair Districts’ amendments placed in charge of Senate reapportionment committee".

Oops!

"Supervisor of Elections finds box of 500 uncounted absentee ballots".

Wexler's "peculiar $150,000 investment"

"Federal agents took an interest two years ago in a peculiar $150,000 real estate investment by former Democratic U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler's campaign, Wexler's former top aide and a businessman confirmed today." "Feds looked into Wexler investment in '08".

PolitiFact

"How well did the stimulus go?".

Scott spews "nonsense"

"Tom Pelham, the secretary of the state's land planning agency, lashed back at critics on Tuesday, saying that it was unfair to fault state planners when they have no role in writing laws or rules that guide Florida's growth. Rick Scott, the newly elected governor, has called for cutting regulation in an effort to spur jobs."

Pelham told reporters afterward that his agency was "under siege" and has become accused of holding back Florida's economy even though he says it was the financial collapse and recession that has held back development. He said that there were plenty of projects -- and jobs that would come with them -- that had already been approved by DCA.

"I think it's under siege, I think it's been bullied, threatened and criticized unfairly," Pelham said.

Pelham also called Scott's comment that DCA was killing jobs "nonsense."

Tally Teabaggers will presumably reject this federal handout

"Florida receives $1 million workforce grant".

"His father's second-born"

Tom Jackson: "Like U.S. Sen.-elect Marco Rubio, the titular star of Election Night, [Gus] Bilirakis concedes rejection of the ruling class was the solid fuel in the GOP's booster rockets. Maintaining high political orbit will require keen responsiveness to an energized and restless electorate." "Bilirakis: GOP won't blow new majority".

Scott in a bind

"Incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon on Tuesday defended a decision by lawmakers to override the veto of HB 5603, a measure that was hotly opposed by many in the medical community and may have sparked campaign contributions for Republicans."

The measure was included in a list of 10 vetoes that both Cannon and incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos said that they plan to ask members to override during next week's one-day special session.

Reports from this past summer said that two South Florida doctors opposed to the bill gave money to a political committee that helped pay for television ads that helped Attorney General Bill McCollum in his losing primary to Rick Scott. That same company run by the two doctors, Automated HealthCare Solutions, also gave the Republican Party of Florida nearly $800,000 after the GOP primary. The company also donated $195,000 to Let's Get to Work, the political committee set up by Scott.

Cannon said it did not matter that opponents to the bill were campaign contributors. He noted the measure -- which was backed by some business groups -- was supported by most legislators.

What's a wingnut to do?

"Throughout his campaign, Gov.-elect Rick Scott talked about the importance of reducing the 'regulatory burden' on Florida businesses."

That was part of the goal behind the regulatory reforms in House Bill 1565, which was vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist. Incoming state House and Senate leaders recently announced plans to consider overriding that veto, a decision that could advance Scott’s pro-business agenda but also increase the legislature’s power over the executive branch he’s preparing to lead.

Wingnuts all over this bandwagon

"The Senate’s top Republican is recruiting colleagues to join him in supporting Florida’s challenge to the federal health care reform law. ... The argument closely follows a lawsuit Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum filed in U.S. District Court in Pensacola on behalf of 19 other states. McCollum lost his campaign for governor this year, but his successor, Attorney General-elect Pam Bondi has said she will pursue the case." "Senate Republicans joining Florida lawsuit against health-care overhaul".

Ritter PC finding

"The Florida Elections Commission found probable cause Wednesday that Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter broke state elections laws in her 2008 reelection campaign. Ritter was found likely to have broken state law on 28 of 29 complaints lodged by a local political foe. Details of the 28 counts were not available from the FEC on Wednesday." "Stacy Ritter likely broke election laws, panel says".

Stayin' underground

"In the aftermath of the Republican House sweep, and an increase in the number of Republicans in the Senate, immigrant workers and immigration activists believe a path to residence and citizenship for the estimated 10.8 million undocumented immigrants is remote." "Angst growing over immigration policies".

Mail Ballot blues

"Volusia County Supervisor of Elections Ann"

McFall reported irregularities in requests made for absentee ballots on Aug. 6 and 7. She got suspicious after her staff reported that someone using one e-mail address made an overnight request for absentee ballots for 40 voters.

The next day, McFall's office got requests for 15 more absentee ballots from a second e-mail address. There were a total of 92 ballots requested, officials said.

State law says an individual may only request absentee ballots on his or her own behalf and for immediate family members, McFall said.

This, from a serial fifth amendment pleader

"Governor-elect Rick Scott issues ethics code".

Speculators dancing in the fields

"Override of Crist's veto is assured; land speculators could be prime beneficiaries". "Ag Tax Exemption: Popular, Potentially Costly".

Father knows best

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Charlie Crist should have listened to his father. Crist disregarded his dad's advice to pass on a run for the U.S. Senate and seek re-election as governor". "Crist's blind ambition turned off voters".

Teabaggers can't find "renewable" in the constiyution

"Floridians would pay slightly more for utilities if more of that power came from renewable sources, a TaxWatch-sponsored poll says." "Poll: Floridians Would Pay More For Renewable Power".

RPOFers gone wild

"Freshman Legislators Get Crash Course on Veto Override Bills".

"Time has been compressed"

Thomas Tryon:

Time has been compressed not only in national politics but at the state level. Four years ago, Charlie Crist was elected governor in a landslide. Two years ago, he was the state's most popular politician; he had a lock on the Republican nomination and election to the U.S. Senate. Now he's done.

In contrast, Rick Scott was virtually unknown to most Floridians, except for those who had followed his ascent and descent as leader of America's largest hospital chain. Scott didn't win a majority of votes during the general election but now he is governor-elect.

First rule: no drooling in public

"House freshmen class wraps orientation".

Lakes, rivers and streams

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "How much will it cost Floridians to clean up the state's lakes, rivers and streams? Too much, argue farmers and public utilities." "State wrong to backtrack".

Thrasher moving on up

"Thrasher, who also serves as chairman of the state Republican Party, was named Wednesday as the rules chairman in the Senate. The rules chair controls which bills get heard by the full chamber and which don't." "Thrasher named to influential rules post in Senate".

In September 2009, Kaufman was part of the nationwide outcry among conservatives who criticized President Barack Obama for a speech welcoming kids back to school.

In April 2010, she bashed Pompano Beach city commissioners for allowing a local Muslim leader to say a prayer in Arabic and English prior to a public meeting.

A 2007 Miami New Times profile included an accusation that she had said that illegal immigrants should be hanged in public squares as invaders. Kaufman told the newspaper that the "hanging'' comment came from a listener and that it was taken out of context.

News reports said she likened House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Tuesday to "garbage.''

Scott begins flip-flopping

"Video: Rick Scott meets and greets, modifies position on immigration and stimulus".

Brain trust

"Incoming Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos has ... selected Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, as Senate president pro tempore - second in command. He picked Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, as majority leader." "Bennett named Fla. Senate president pro tempore". Related: "New lineup ahead for state Cabinet".

Say what?

"Rick Scott reveals little about strategy as governor during visit to Tallahassee".

"They had no idea what they had done"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "It's still to be seen how Gov.-elect Rick Scott, the former bane of the Republican Party of Florida, will mesh with his newly acquired allies in the Legislature. But the first test of that relationship is unfolding now, as incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon and incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos threaten to resurrect a bad government bill rightly vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist. If Scott wants to accomplish much of anything over the next four years, he needs to persuade Cannon and Haridopolos to leave this bad bill buried during next week's special session."

The issue is the arcane and little discussed House Bill 1565, which flew under the radar during spring's legislative session. It passed both chambers unanimously due to misleading rhetoric that it would simply lessen government's burden on businesses in a period of incredible economic distress.

Lawmakers of both parties acknowledged, after the vote, that they had no idea what they had done.

Charlie shaking his head

"Charlie Crist still won't say whether he voted for Rick Scott, but the outgoing governor met with the new governor-elect at the state Capitol on Tuesday to talk about the transition from one administration to the next." "Scott visits Capitol, gets advice from outgoing Crist".

West embarrasses himself

"West has said he wants to join to bring a new perspective to the group."

West, a former Army officer, said in an interview he's eager to steer the group away from "failing liberal social welfare policies that have caused the demise of the black community."

Deep thoughts

The The Orlando Sentinel editorial board issues some pablum this morning: "Make drilling safer".

"Fickle Florida electorate"

"[A] fickle Florida electorate helped spark a historic exodus of the four statewide officeholders who gather twice a month for Cabinet meetings. None will return in January. " "Crist: 'A new day in Tallahassee'".

Wexler scandal in the making?

"Months before popular Democrat Robert Wexler abruptly quit Congress last year, federal agents interviewed two South Florida businessmen about his campaign's unconventional $150,000 investment in a real estate venture. Two sources who also spoke with those agents, including a Republican political opponent whose complaint apparently sparked the inquiry, said authorities were seeking to determine whether the Robert Wexler for Congress campaign had engaged in money laundering. No charges have been filed." "FBI weighs unconventional real-estate deal by former Rep. Robert Wexler's campaign fund".

Recount reunion

"With the whole world watching, a judge in the eye of Florida's 2000 presidential whirlwind worried that his borrowed courtroom looked a bit too tropical to be taken seriously." "Village Square reunites players in 2000 recount".

The bathrooms are over here ...

"Incoming state House freshmen got a crash course Tuesday afternoon on Capitol protocol and some practical advice from veteran leaders." "Incoming Fla. House freshmen get an introduction to Capitol protocol".

Another fine Jebacy

On one hand we are told that "Poverty rises in Florida", while on the other hand, the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy explains how "Jeb!" and his RPOF cronies dismantled any semblance of a reasonable public finance structure:

Two taxes targeted specifically to wealth disappeared during the last decade after having been collected in Florida for more than three-quarters of a century.

Elimination of these taxes—both paid almost entirely by more affluent Floridians—has cost the state more than $12 billion to date. Furthermore, their absence will cost the state $2 billion each year in the future.

Scott's "cadre of Jeb Bush advisers"

"When incoming Gov. Rick Scott was putting his transition team together, he tapped two out-of-state attorneys and a cadre of Jeb Bush advisers." "Who Are the Players Rick Scott Chose to Lead His Transition?".

Norman

"Norman leaves Salvation Army to take on Senate duties".

Whatever

"For the Carroll family, competition in politics and sports".

'Ya reckon?

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Crist almost certainly would have been better off, politically, if he had remained in the GOP and sought another term as governor. But his ambition apparently overwhelmed his judgment and his political identity. Now he can only watch while Marco Rubio emerges as the latest GOP star from Florida." "Crist's blind ambition turned off voters".

Will Ricky pee pee in his teacup?

What's a wingnut to do? "Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson called on the state's governor-elect Monday to accept $2.05 billion in federal funds that have been authorized for the Tampa-Lakeland-Orlando high-speed rail project, which Nelson said has fallen 'under a cloud of uncertainty.'"

Speaking to an audience of more than 1,800 representatives from small businesses to international firms at the opening day of a two-day high-speed rail forum, Nelson said the project represents a crucial opportunity to put Floridians back to work.

"Let's ask the governor-elect (Rick Scott) not to return the $2 billion in federal funds the state so desperately needs.

Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor said the project would be "an economic shot in the arm for Tampa."

"Then we have to figure out how to connect to Pinellas County and the beaches," Castor said.

Republican governors in Ohio and Wisconsin last week indicated they wanted to return federal high-speed rail money the Obama administration designated to their states.

To which Ricky will say, "Never Mind"?

"2,000 seek high-speed train jobs".

"Charlie Crist minus the personality."

Mike Thomas: "If Scott can't slash Medicaid, then he can't slash the budget and he can't slash taxes. And all the editorial boards get to call him a huckster and a fraud – a Charlie Crist minus the personality." "Medicaid is a big black hole that will suck in Rick Scott".

'Taj Mahal' blues

Howard Troxler: "Nobody, not even the chief judge in the $48  million 'Taj Mahal' courthouse scandal in Tallahassee, lost an election because of it."

The judges of the 1st District Court of Appeal can congratulate each other now over their 20 miles of African mahogany and granite countertops.

Unless . . .

Where's the bag man when you need him?

"Jim Norman won his state Senate seat last week, but his fight is far from over.The beleaguered Hillsborough County Republican still faces the outcome of a federal investigation and an ethics complaint filed by a Hillsborough Community College professor over the home his wife bought with money from his political benefactor." "Professor files ethics complaint of Norman".

West deigns to come down from the house ...

"With his convincing victory over Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, Allen West will be the first black Republican congressman in Florida since Reconstruction and one of only two black Republicans in the House, joining just-elected GOPer Tim Scott of South Carolina."

West plans to join the Congressional Black Caucus, which hasn't had a GOP member since three-term Connecticut Rep. Gary Franks was defeated in 1996. Former Oklahoma Republican Rep. J.C. Watts rejected joining the caucus, calling its members "race-hustling poverty pimps."

Conservative West, who seldom discussed race in his campaign, is critical of the "failure of the liberal welfare policies in the black community" and says the caucus could use some ideological diversity.

Humble?

Antonio Fins: "The Republican leadership, from Senator-elect Marco Rubio to soon-to-be House Speaker John Boehner, sounded a correct note in victory speeches that were short on triumphant braggado. Instead, they sounded more humble notes in recognizing their own party's past mistakes." "Life lesson: Party that learns from flubs will rule".

The best they can do?

"Fresh off an across-the-board electoral drubbing last week, Democratic activists are jockeying to elect their first new state party chief in five years."

Among the names in the mix: Hillsborough state committeeman Alan Clendenin; Pasco Democratic chairwoman Alison Morano; Miami-Dade chairman Richard Lydecker, whose candidacy is being touted by Sen. Bill Nelson's aides; Palm Beach Democratic chairman Mark Siegel; state House minority leader Franklin Sands of Weston; and vice chairman Rhett Bullard of Hamilton County.

With the support of Nelson — Florida's senior Democrat — Lydecker becomes the ostensible front-runner.

And the RPOFers wanna drill, baby drill!

"Where's the Gulf oil? In the food web, study says".

"More venting than introspection"

"Telling voters they've lost their minds probably isn't an effective comeback strategy for Democrats. But there was more venting than introspection when Palm Beach County Democratic leaders and activists gathered Thursday night to ponder the future of the party after Tuesday's Republican midterm election tsunami." "Florida Democrats blame lack of unified message in election-day beat-down".

There's an idea

"Shellacking doesn't quite cover it. Florida Democrats, like their counterparts in many parts of the country, got their butts kicked. You may have lost your party's senatorial nomination this summer to U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, but now the stage is set for you to win a far bigger prize."

Set up a think-tank and bring together the greatest minds to develop new ways to, say, lure new industries and technology to Florida.

Everybody's talking jobs, jobs, jobs. It's a winning issue, and one that was central to your campaign. Push the issue hard, add a little hobnobbing with the notables, a few high-profile symposiums and white papers and some very public "support" of those politicians who wholeheartedly back your cause.

This is a grooming opportunity, and the Florida Democratic Party should be the first in line to take advantage of it. They've got "issues" and clearly need to find a winning message to attract good candidates to run for public office. If anyone doubts that, check the scorecard of recent gubernatorial elections. Dems 0, GOP 4.

Imagine a Jeff Greene Institute of Innovation churning out Democrats who can actually string nouns and verbs together into a compelling and convincing message that will actually win elections. It's not like Florida Republicans have a lock on bright ideas that will fix problems.

Run Jebbie! Run!

"George Bush Weighs In On Tea Parties, Says Jeb Should Run In 2012".

"Crist at war with ultra-conservative Legislature"

"With only eight weeks left in office, Crist finds himself at war with his former party, an ultra-conservative Legislature poised to override 10 of his vetoes and the possibility that his successor will cancel scores of his appointments." "Crist now isolated lame duck".

FlaDem leadership team

"With incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, announcing Friday that he will name Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey, as speaker pro tempore and Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, as House majority leader, incoming House Minority Leader Ron Saunders of Key West responded Monday by naming key members of his leadership team." "Ron Saunders Names Dem House Leadership Team".

"Corruption County"

"Of the 67 counties in Florida, one stands out with an unflattering moniker: Palm Beach 'Corruption' County." "Palm Beach County's Ethical Dilemma".

Non, je ne regrette rien

"Crist: No regrets on quitting GOP".

GOPers in action

Hundreds of elderly or disabled refugees in Florida have lost their benefits recently.

"Congress has passed extensions of refugee benefits, most recently in 2008 under President Bush. But lawmakers adjourned late last month so they could campaign and didn't pass an extension." The problem, you see, is that

"one senator on the Republican side put an anonymous hold on it."

That hold caused another 850 people in Florida and more than 3,500 nationwide to lose their benefits Oct. 1, according to the Social Security Administration.

RPOFer laff riot

"Palm Beach County Republican Chairman Sid Dinerstein, who's held the post for eight years, is seeking to run for the state chairman’s job in January if reelected next month." "GOP chairman Dinerstein eyes state post in January".

'Ya know ... less regulation of hospital chains

"Governor-elect Rick Scott's agenda: smaller, limited government".

"Laughing and spinning in his grave"

Daniel Ruth thinks "P.T. Barnum must be laughing and spinning in his grave that he was born too late to own a laptop computer." "Political delusions just a click away".

Will the teabaggers call for Carroll's impeachment?

"The company from which Lt. Gov.-elect Jennifer Carroll said she subleased office space for seven years is being investigated by Jacksonville City Hall. Carroll used the firm’s address to prove her consulting firm had a Duval County address and was eligible for a city contract program." "Jacksonville City Hall probes company that Lt. Gov.-elect Carroll subleased from".

Media in a dither

"Over 3,300 Miami-Dade County employees took home more than $100,000 in pay last year".

Yaaawwwnnn

"Bush: Cheney angry Bush did not pardon Libby".

Wishful thinking

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Like nearly half of Florida's voters, we have misgivings about Gov.-elect Rick Scott, who has never held elected office and has a disturbing business record. He wasn't our choice for the job, but he prevailed in the election and now we hope he can lead Florida to better times."

If Scott shows he is more concerned with building a better Florida for future generations – rather than quickly appeasing noisy special interests – he will leave office far more popular than he is entering it.

And then there's Amendments 5 and 6

"Besides seats, GOP wins sway in 2010 redistricting".

"Florida Republicans enjoyed a near total sweep on Election Day ... But their celebration is muted with the passage of Amendments 5 and 6, two redistricting measures backed by liberal-leaning interest groups that could hamper Republican hopes of solidifying their gains in the years ahead." "Redistricting a setback for GOP".

"It's not a business"

Bill Cotterell: "Scott and a compliant, even-more-conservative Florida Legislature will probably not be able to realize the Republican dream of running government like a business. It's not a business." "State workers will be sharing the pain".

"Strange days"

"Strange days may have found Gov. Charlie Crist." "Crist contemplating posthumously pardoning Jim Morrison".

Rubio laffs at teabaggers

"Rubio's party loyalty is clear: GOP not tea". Related: "Rubio's rock star status carries rewards, risks".

Wingnuts on the prowl for Floridians that read books and stuff

"Florida Supreme Court Justice Jorge Labarga won the highest score in a Bar Association poll, but got the lowest retention vote of any high court judge in state history last Tuesday. That disconnect reveals a growing gap between the public and legal elites who nominate state judges. Labarga and fellow Justice James Perry were targeted for removal by a conservative coalition [of Tea party groups and an organization called Citizen2Citizen] angry over the court's decision to kick Amendment 9 off the fall ballot. The measure would have given voters the opportunity to exempt Florida from the Obama health care law." "How Justices Labarga, Perry Survived Retention Fight".

Florida, "America's next great backwater"

Steve Otto: "Remember mass transit in Hillsborough County? Remember the high-speed rail that would connect with our local mass transit system and eventually to a statewide network of high speed trains?"

It didn't take but a couple of days for all those lofty news conferences and slick releases of recent months to come crashing down to reality. It ain't gonna happen.

How much it ain't gonna happen is still a question, but it isn't going to look like it did in those fancy brochures. The catalyst for the collapse was the Hillsborough County voters' rejection of a 1-percent tax that would have expanded bus service, established a light rail system and fixed a few roads. Now John Mica, a Winter Park Republican going back to Washington for the 10th time, is slated to run the House Transportation Committee. He was one of the advocates for the Central Florida SunRail plan that would have been a boon for the Orlando area.

He is suggesting we don't need a high-speed rail connection to a backwater like Tampa, which voted down a transportation plan. Instead he says something like a shorter version of the train – it could run among the Central Florida theme parks, around Orlando, and maybe out to their airport -- would be swell.

In the brave new world in which we find ourselves after last week's elections, Mica might be able to pull it off. Whether he does or not, the idea of a comprehensive transportation system around here appears kaput until maybe they attach a new baseball stadium to the next effort

Speaking of backwaters, there was a story out of Flagler County, where a school committee at Palm Coast High School decided to cancel a student production of Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird.''The reason: Parents and others in the community complained about offensive language -- the N-word -- although the book is on most ninth grade reading lists, including Palm Coast's.

Talk about a weak bench

"Florida Republicans walked away from last Tuesday's election in control of every major statewide office save one — the U.S. Senate seat of Democrat Bill Nelson. And if the GOP gets its way, that final stronghold will fall when Nelson runs for re-election in 2012."

Several Republicans have hinted that they might challenge the two-term senator, including incoming state Senate President Mike Haridopolos of Merritt Island and U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, whose temporary appointment ends in January when senator-elect Marco Rubio is sworn in. ...

Beyond LeMieux and Haridopolos, other potential GOP candidates include U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan of Sarasota, Connie Mack of Fort Myers and Tom Rooney of Tequesta.

Buchanan, a car dealer worth an estimated $55 million, can fund his own campaign, and Mack recently dropped a big hint when a fundraising letter to supporters asked for help in stopping "the ultra-liberal and counter-productive philosophy Sen. Bill Nelson has zealously followed," according to a report in The (Fort Myers) News-Press.

Thank you, Mr. Obama

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The long, negative campaign season and high unemployment rate give the impression that today's business environment is toxic to job growth."

Yet much evidence suggests business is already looking up.

USA Today's economic outlook for individual states and cities, based on research by Moody's Economy.com and updated Oct. 28, is sensational.

Florida is projected to have the nation's highest rate of job creation a year from now, with a 3 percent increase.

"Classy Kendrick Meek"

Nancy Smith: "Classy Kendrick Meek, Hero; Karen 'It's Not My Fault' Thurman, Zero".

E-Verify

"Efforts to enact E-Verify, a program that would stop the hiring of immigrants not authorized to work in Florida, will likely return in Florida’s 2011 legislative session." "Next CFO Atwater commits to support immigration verification program E-Verify".

Citizens to boot 200,000

Gary Fineout: "Florida’s largest property insurer will have to shed nearly 200,000 policies along the coast in the next two years unless state lawmakers step in during next session. The board that oversees Citizens Property Insurance Corp. on Monday signed off on a plan that calls for Citizens by 2012 to cancel 195,000 policies, many of them in places such as Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Sarasota and Volusia counties." "Citizens could be forced to drop nearly 200,000 policies across the state".

Lotto-stoopidity

"Schools likely to get less from Florida Lottery in coming year".

RPOFers in a jam

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "With Amendment 8's demise, legislators can no longer postpone tweaking the more inflexible class-size rules in the 2011 session to give schools space." "Revise class-size policy".

Time to change the AC filter

"GOP Wins Spell Doom For Climate Change Policy".

"One man's vision"

"Pam Bondi's journey from a prosecutor's office in Tampa to being elected Florida's next attorney general was a mix of perfect political timing and hard work. Her rise began with one man's vision." "Hard work, perfect timing drove Attorney General-elect Bondi".

And the NRA would say ...

"Boy charged in mother's fatal shooting is freed".

And that starts with whether the new Legislature, which takes power Nov. 16, will enact the economic plan put forth by Gov.- elect Rick Scott.

Scott made unusually specific pledges during the campaign, including cutting property taxes 19 percent, phasing out the corporate income tax and cutting the state work force by 5 percent.

"I know I have promises to keep," Scott said following Tuesday's election. "I will not rest until we are a model for the nation in job creation and education."

Such cuts, which include reducing by half the state prisons budget and chopping the current main source of funding for the state's schools, would be a huge shift for Florida, and they are sure to generate a fight even in a Legislature where Republicans have an advantage of better than two to one.

Taxes and budget cuts are just part of a large group of issues likely to be targeted by state leaders, who, across the board, are more conservative than their predecessors. ...

New state Senate President Mike Haridopolos ... sounding reminiscent of former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich two decades ago: A "conservative revolution" is at hand, Haridopolos said. "This is the best opportunity we've ever had." ...

Scott is probably more conservative than former Gov. Jeb Bush ...

Haridopolos is perhaps the most conservative Senate president in decades ...

Next year is a non-election year, meaning that the Legislature has a cushion before it must run on its record.

So if big changes are coming, expect them to happen in next year's legislative session.

Get a room

Myriam Marquez, who defined journalistic lapdoggery with her paeans to Jebbie, including once calling his so-called "vision", "'universal and timeless...clear and electrifying as the day's cobalt-blue sky'", is at it again: "Marco Rubio's simple ways to win hearts".

To which we say: get a room.

Hiaasen: "The election changes absolutely nothing"

Carl Hiaasen writes that Rick Scott "won't change Tallahassee, but Tallahassee will change him."

Nobody who knows Florida believes that last Tuesday's vote marks the end of politics as usual. It's just another chapter of politics as always.

The Republicans have controlled the state Senate for 18 years, the state House for 14 years and the governor's mansion for over a decade. The election changes absolutely nothing.

After his hairbreadth victory, Scott sunnily declared: "Florida is open for business.''

Is he kidding? Florida has always been open for business. Ask any lobbyist.

Developers, insurance companies, utilities, Big Sugar - for special interests with gobs of money to spread around, we're the most accommodating state in the union.

It's no accident that the national housing bubble burst here first, or that we're racking up top numbers in bank failures, mortgage frauds and, of course, foreclosures. They don't call us the "Ponzi state'' for nothing.

The GOP-held Legislature couldn't be more accessible or easily bought, and Scott will be expected to hop aboard the train.

Scott was one of many improbable candidates who benefited from the national backlash against the Democrats. Too bad for him that the Democrats have been out of power for so long in Tallahassee. Scott can't clean house because, as far as the GOP is concerned, the house was already cleaned.

Now Scott's living in it.

He either joins the team or runs the risk of being bypassed - and even ignored. Republican lawmakers can push through their programs without him. He needs them more than they need him.

In one of his many tiresome campaign commercials, Scott blasted the politicians who've made such a mess of Florida. That can only be the party in charge for all these years, his party.

With both the former GOP chairman and the ex-speaker of the House under criminal indictment, Florida Republicans caught a break in the midterms. Bashing Barack Obama was a calculated distraction, and it worked.

Eventually even the dimmest of voters will figure out that neither healthcare reform nor the stimulus package caused Florida's problems. The economy here was in deep trouble long before Obama took office, and the stimulus actually saved thousands of jobs in schools and law enforcement.

Be careful what you wish for ...

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board:

Republican Gov.-elect Rick Scott said during the campaign that Florida should reconsider the high-speed project if the federal government fails to fully fund the project. Scott has softened his opposition, but he remains a skeptic. Other leading Florida Republicans also have sent mixed messages. U.S. Sen.-elect Marco Rubio declined to support high-speed during the campaign, citing federal budget woes. And U.S. Rep. John Mica of Winter Park, who is in line to head the House Transportation Committee, said last week he may revisit the spending for high-speed rail, including the Tampa-Orlando route. Mica suggested the Florida project could be scaled back to serve only the Orlando area and its theme parks.

Sink speaks

Politico: "In the wake of the party’s worst election drubbing since 1994, the deep frustration felt by many centrist Democrats toward the White House and the national party is now out in the open. And it’s being aired in the battleground state that’s the biggest prize in presidential politics."

In an interview with POLITICO, Sink said the administration mishandled the response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, doesn’t appreciate the political damage done by healthcare reform and argued that her GOP opponent’s strategy of tying her to the president did grave damage to her candidacy in the state’s conservative Panhandle.

"They got a huge wake-up call two days ago, but unfortunately they took a lot of Democrats down with them," said Sink of the White House.

She added: "They just need to be better listeners and be better at reaching out to people who are on the ground to hear about the realities of their policies as well as politics."

Sink’s complaint can, of course, be chalked up in part to sour grapes on the part of a candidate fresh off a tough loss looking for an explanation. She lost her race by a single percentage point.

But Sink's pointed critique expressed the sentiments of other Florida Democrats after an election in which the party lost four U.S. House seats and every statewide contest Tuesday, not to mention statehouse losses that left Democrats facing GOP legislative supermajorities in one of the largest states in the nation.

GOPers needed the nation to hurt economically to win

"GOP comeback strategy factored in lagging recovery".

'Ya think?

"Rubio in GOP weekly address: Republicans share blame for big spending".

Just saying "no" has consequences

Mike Thomas: "You are a fiscal conservative, a Republican politician well versed in attacking federal spending, and there, sitting on the table in front of you, is $2 billion for your state, with love from Barack Obama."

All you have to do is build train tracks from Orlando to Tampa and it's all yours.

There was a time when this was a no-brainer. You would build the Tower of Babel if the feds paid for it.

But now a new political dynamic is in play, one in which rejecting Washington's largess has become a badge of honor.

That has put high-profile rail projects under the gun. ...

Politically, if Scott holds out for more federal dollars, he simply looks like the kind of Republican fiscal fraud that spurred the Tea Party movement. ...

This will create a very interesting dynamic with Rick Scott, House Speaker Dean Cannon and Senate President Mike Haridopolos. The legislative leaders were heavily involved in getting the federal money for high-speed rail.

Cannon used the promise of high-speed rail as leverage to get the Legislature to approve SunRail — Central Florida's proposed commuter rail.

Now the legislative leaders have been backpedaling.

Run Marco! Run!

"By far the most buzzed-about candidate is Florida's newly minted Senator Marco Rubio." "New GOP stars get VP look".

We're waitin' for that Arizona plan, Ricky

Will Ricky and the wingnuts running the Florida Legislature please hurry up and commit political suicide with the Arizaona "papers please" legislation. Or will they backpedal on that too? After all, "Hispanics emerge as key 2012 wildcard".

Meanwhile, Ricky wants to drill

"Will oil bring death to Gulf's rich web of life?".

"Our friends over in the House and Senate"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "In July, the credibility of the Public Service Commission took another major hit. A nominating council that's dominated by the Legislature, which in turn is dominated by the utility monopolies, had effectively purged two PSC commissioners, who a year earlier had rejected the biggest electricity-rate request in Florida history."

The nominating council's chairman, Sen. Mike Bennett, offered this reason: Commissioners Nancy Argenziano and Nathan Skop could be "disagreeable." Bennett said his panel was "looking for a Public Service Commission that will be more congenial, more cooperative."

He's apparently found it. The PSC's new chairman, Arthur Graham, said last month that he hoped to lead the commission "on the path that I think that our friends over in the House and in the Senate want us to be on."

The PSC's not supposed to be beholden to the Legislature.

We're waitin' on them 700,000 jobs, Ricky

The Miami Herald editorial board points out that "exit polls both nationwide and in Florida confirm that voters believe 'spending to create jobs' should be the government’s overriding concern." "Lessons of the election".

"By labeling himself 'the jobs governor,' Scott carries the burden of reviving Florida's economy. He wants to be held accountable and he senses political traps ahead. After all, he has lived in the private sector, is unfamiliar with how the state Capitol works and has no experience at political leadership." "How will Scott lead? Follow his early clues".

Ricky has made the "preposterous" promise to create 700,000 jobs (conveniently in 7 years, long after he has lost his bid for a second term). To be fair, though, we'll expect a minimum of 100,000 net new jobs a year. And, in counting, Ricky will surely agree with us that jobs attributable to federal stimulus dollars (like rail construction projects or federally funded road projects), or temporary/casual/part-time jobs, or jobs subcontracted outside of Florida*, will not count toward the 700,000 he has promised.

The RPOFers own Tally; the FlaDems are essentially irrelevant. The RPOF has no excuses. Let's see 'em get to work.

It should be easy: "When he succeeds Charlie Crist as governor in January, Scott will serve alongside a wholly Republican Cabinet and GOP supermajorities in the state House and Senate -- where, even by Republican standards, leadership is taking an unusually conservative turn. What more could a new, tea-party styled Republican governor want?" "Observers say Scott may have some scrapes with GOP legislature".

- - - - - - - - - -
*Just one of many examples: few of us know about the "$50 million Florida paid JP Morgan in the last three years to administer the food stamps distribution. Those services include 24-hour customer-service call centers. Some of those calls were answered in Bangalore and Gurgaon, India. Others were taken at two U.S. call centers." "Food Stamps Create Job ... in India" ("Several States With High Unemployment Are Outsourcing Food Stamp Services").

Laff riot

"Rubio urges bold ideas". More foppery: "Republicans Showcase Marco Rubio in Responding to Obama".

Petitioning government

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "In March, a Florida district court ruled that the Sunshine Law doesn't give citizens the right to speak at government meetings. Last month, the state Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of that ruling. This makes it imperative for legislators to pass a law that will guarantee this right for Floridians, and bolster their right under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment to petition their government." "Let the people speak".

Legislature to have final say over rules

Howard Troxler points out that "something very big, but little publicized, is about to change."

This week, when our newly elected Legislature goes to Tallahassee to organize itself, it will repass a law — overriding a veto of Gov. Charlie Crist — that gives the Legislature the final say over rules.

In constitutional terms, our legislative branch is taking back some of the power it had "loaned" to the executive branch to write rules.

In political terms, it also means that our new Legislature is putting the administration of our new governor on a shorter leash.

Don't be like "Jeb!"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board urges Ricky to avoid Jebbie's mistakes, writing that

when Bush acted too hastily, without considering other views, he sometimes sabotaged his goals. He nearly wrecked the state university system by eliminating its governing board, which voters restored by constitutional amendment. Some of Bush's privatization efforts were counterproductive, because he was in such a rush to eliminate public jobs.

Scott to plead fifth during transition?

"Rather than hunkering down in the Capitol basement and redrawing organizational charts, Gov.-elect Rick Scott is running his transition from Fort Lauderdale."

That's symbolic — an outsider planning an administration where the people are, rather than where the government is — but it's more indicative of what Scott's planners say he values most: efficiency. His campaign headquarters was there, the team that vaulted him past the Tallahassee insiders was there, so he saw no need to move his operation 458 miles north when he claimed victory last week.

"Obviously, we want to affect the right kind of change and we will be beginning in earnest," said Enu Mainigi, a Washington lawyer who heads the nine-member advisory panel Scott appointed. "We made campaign promises and we intend to deliver on those processes."

For the last several years, the focus of Ms. Mainigi's practice has been in the healthcare and pharmaceutical areas. Ms. Mainigi has defended numerous pharmaceutical companies, PBMs, hospitals, medical device companies, insurance companies, healthcare companies and individuals in a variety of civil and criminal government investigations, including multi-state and concurrent state and federal investigations. Ms. Mainigi has also defended these corporations in commercial disputes involving civil fraud, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty, among others. She also frequently advises corporations on internal investigations and compliance issues.

A particular area of experience for Ms. Mainigi is the False Claims Act and she has represented a number of corporations at all stages of False Claims Act/Qui Tam proceedings.

Ms. Mainigi has also litigated a wide variety of other matters involving allegations of securities fraud, professional malpractice, antitrust violations, media issues, money laundering, mail and wire fraud, and false statements.

Ms. Mainigi has spoken frequently on topics related to government investigations and the False Claims Act.

Give him a parachute and an M-16

"Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who sits on the Armed Services Committee and the Homeland Security Committee, said today the U.S. should consider sinking the Iranian navy, destroying its air force and delivering a decisive blow to the Revolutionary Guard." "Senator: U.S. should consider taking out Iran's military".

Obama Market

"Pride in a new president shows at a namesake Liberty City corner store. But two years after the milestone election, there's pain." "Hope alive at 'Obama Market'".