FLORIDA POLITICS
Since 2002, daily Florida political news and commentary

 

UPDATE: Every morning we review and individually digest Florida political news articles, editorials and punditry. Our sister site, FLA Politics was selected by Campaigns & Elections as one of only ten state blogs in the nation
"every political insider should be reading right now."

E-Mail Florida Politics

This is our Main Page
Our Sister Site
On FaceBook
Follow us on Twitter
Our Google+ Page
Contact [E-Mail Florida Politics]
Site Feed
...and other resources

 

Welcome To Florida Politics

Thanks for visiting. On a semi-daily basis we scan Florida's major daily newspapers for significant Florida political news and punditry. We also review the editorial pages and political columnists/pundits for Florida political commentary. The papers we review include: the Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Naples News, Sarasota Herald Tribune, St Pete Times, Tampa Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Tallahassee Democrat, and, occasionally, the Florida Times Union; we also review the political news blogs associated with these newspapers.

For each story, column, article or editorial we deem significant, we post at least the headline and link to the piece; the linked headline always appears in quotes. We quote the headline for two reasons: first, to allow researchers looking for the cited piece to find it (if the link has expired) by searching for the original title/headline via a commercial research service. Second, quotation of the original headline permits readers to appreciate the spin from the original piece, as opposed to our spin.

Not that we don't provide spin; we do, and plenty of it. Our perspective appears in post headlines, the subtitles within the post (in bold), and the excerpts from the linked stories we select to quote; we also occasionally provide other links and commentary about certain stories. While our bias should be immediately apparent to any reader, we nevertheless attempt to link to every article, column or editorial about Florida politics in every major online Florida newspaper.

 

Older posts [back to 2002]

Previous Articles by Derek Newton: Ten Things Fox on Line 1 Stem Cells are Intelligent Design Katrina Spin No Can't Win Perhaps the Most Important Race Senate Outlook The Nelson Thing Deep, Dark Secret Smart Boy Bringing Guns to a Knife Fight Playing to our Strength  

The Blog for Monday, January 30, 2012

Trailing in multiple polls, Gingrich draws line between Fla-baggers and country clubbers

    "Newt Gingrich is determined to turn the next seven months into a battle between conservative activists and the Republican establishment."
    "The Washington establishment is coming unglued," Gingrich said Sunday before several thousand people in the Villages. "I am not running for president to manage the decay of the U.S. to the satisfaction of the establishment. And I am not running for president of the U.S. to make the Wall Street elite and the Washington elite happy."

    Gingrich made the case across the state as polls showed Mitt Romney opening his lead heading into Tuesday's Florida primary. Gingrich vowed to continue his campaign and asserted that his rival will struggle to secure the needed delegates before the August Republican National Convention in Tampa.

    "I think Romney's got a very real challenge," Gingrich said after attending morning services at Idlewild Baptist Church in north Tampa.

    Gingrich is trying to harness the conflicted energy coursing through the Republican Party. Romney has the money, the organization and the looks of a winner. But on the ground level, there is angst over his past moderate positions.
    "Newt Gingrich sets up battle between conservative activists, Republican establishment".

    See also "Gingrich makes stop at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz" and "Mitt Romney: Republican presidential candidate campaigns in Broward County".

    Meanwhile, "Three Florida polls released Sunday showed Romney opening up a double-digit lead over GOP rival Newt Gingrich, who vowed to press on with his campaign regardless of the Florida results and pursue the Republican nomination all the way to the GOP's August convention in Tampa." "Gingrich loses ground Sunday as Romney soars ahead, leading up to Tuesday's GOP primary in Florida". See also "Florida warms to Romney" and "Poll: Romney expands Florida lead over Gingrich". Here's a summary of previous polls.


    Trib endorses Newt

    The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The Republican candidate who can best take the fight to President Barack Obama and his liberal agenda, and revive the nation's sense of can-do optimism, is former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The veteran battler of Big Government wields conservative ideas like a light-saber." "Gingrich in GOP primary".

    The country clubbers fight back: The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Best choice: Romney".


    Santorum fades

    "Santorum campaign cancels rally in Lake County". See also "Santorum holds on to Florida despite fading organization, visibility".


    What's a Fla-bagger to do?

    "Florida well might prove to be the pivotal state in deciding the Republican challenger to President Barack Obama — and the tea party might be the deciding factor in Florida — but no candidate has united the far-flung movement yet." "Tea party still deciding among GOP candidates".

    Well, that's not exactly true:

    In throwing their support to Newt Gingrich, a group of Florida tea party leaders risk throwing away their clout and credibility, observers of the movement say.

    "The Florida Tea Party Coalition With Newt" endorsed the former House speaker on Thursday, saying they would "help defeat Massachusetts Moderate Mitt Romney and then President Barack Obama."

    “It is clear to me and many others in the tea party movement that Newt is the Reagan conservative that America needs,” said Peter Lee, founder and director of the East Side Tea Party of Orlando.

    Lee was joined by statewide tea leader Patricia Sullivan, who said, “I stand with Newt because I know he will stand up to the establishment and insist on fiscal reforms."

    In all, more than 30 Florida-based tea activists signed on to the coalition. The geographically diverse representatives ranged from the Panhandle to Broward County.

    Separately, the TEA Party of Florida, the only political tea party registered with the state Division of Elections, endorsed Gingrich.
    "Tea Party Leaders Endorse Gingrich: High Risk, Low Reward". See also "Gingrich courts conservative vote at Tea Party stronghold".


    If it matters so much ... why not vote for ... 'ya know ... the Protestant?

    "But this presidential campaign year, evangelical Christians — those followers of Jesus Christ who believe in reshaping culture, faith and values through a Protestant lens — are struggling to find electoral salvation in the current crop of Republican presidential contenders."

    Instead of the easily defined, conservative, born-again beliefs espoused by former candidates George W. Bush, Christian activist Gary Bauer or televangelist Pat Robinson, evangelicals are faced with choosing among presumed frontrunner Mitt Romney, a Mormon; Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, both Catholics; and Ron Paul, who has voiced opposition to the traditional evangelical stance of supporting Israel through military and foreign aid.
    "For Brevard evangelicals, candidate choice a divine decision".


    Money talks

    "Area GOP contributions favor Romney".


    81% want referendum on casinos

    "A staggering 81 percent of likely Florida voters surveyed last week said they believe that any proposed changes to state gambling laws should be decided in a statewide referendum. Only 8 percent were against it." "Florida voters want to decide future of casinos in state, Times/Herald/Bay News 9 Poll shows".


    Republicans dominate elected offices despite number of registered Dems

    "Republicans dominate [Volusia and Flagler] area elected offices despite number of registered Democrats".


    Yaaawwwnnn

    "Republicans will oust Obama, Marco Rubio says".


    Fla-baggers at the polling places

    "The conservative group Americans for Prosperity is signing up Florida tea party leaders to serve as regional coordinators, and paying groups $2 per signature to recruit Election Day volunteers."

    "It's an opportunity for tea parties to raise dollars for their organizations by helping AFP with an awareness and membership drive on Tuesday," said Slade O'Brien, AFP's Florida director. ...

    O'Brien said "about 50" tea party and patriot members have been gathering signatures of volunteers, who, in turn, will wear AFP T-shirts and spread the group's message at precincts on Election Day.

    He could not provide a current tally of volunteers, but said they will be working statewide.

    "All volunteers are required to sign a release stating that they will only hand out AFP material and will not display, have available or advocate for any candidate while engaged in this project," O'Brien told Sunshine State News.
    "Americans for Prosperity Taps Tea Party Volunteers for Tuesday".


    Jobs, jobs, jobs!

    "Orlando named top market for 'fast casual,' quick-service restaurants".


    "Open the lawyer can, expect the dirt"

    Nancy Smith: "There are silly bills and then there are the bat-crazy, dangerous, shoot-it-before-it-reaches-the-border bills. SB 1560 fits nicely into the latter category."

    SB 1560 is an ethics bill proposed by Sen. John Thrasher, with Senate President-designate Don Gaetz on board, that would ban lawmakers from working with universities or colleges while they serve and for two years after they leave the Legislature.

    You well may ask why. ... The point is, open the lawyer can, expect the dirt.
    "Lawyers, University Employees and Conflicts of Interest".


    Is Scott's makeover working?

    "More than four in 10 Florida voters, 43 percent, approve of Scott's job performance a year into his first term; 47 percent disapprove; while 10 percent are not sure."

    While these numbers are not fantastic — they remain worse than President Barack Obama's approval rating in the state, for example — they still represent a marked improvement for a man who took office facing an extremely polarized electorate.

    "His numbers aren't great. He is still not where he needs to be in order to get re-elected," said Brad Coker, managing director of Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, which conducted the poll. "But people don't seem to have such a negative gut reaction.

    "The makeover's working."
    "Scott still unpopular, but approval inches up in new Times/Herald/Bay News 9 poll".


    Mitt's secret?

    "Romney credits change in tactics for Florida surge", In Florida, Romney's organization seems to trump Gingrich's crowds and "Romney rediscovers his mojo in Florida".


    Never mind that spill thing

    "GOP primary candidates speak of oil, not oil spill".


    "How many Iowa poll workers does it take to screw in a light bulb?"

    "How many Iowa poll workers does it take to screw in a light bulb?"

    Apparently, we'll never know. Even though Iowa Republicans originally named the wrong winner of their Jan. 3 caucuses, then changed their minds and still can't find some votes, joke writers in general are giving Iowa a pass.

    But if the same thing happens Tuesday in Florida's GOP primary, we'll almost certainly be fodder for Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, et al.

    "Everybody loves to bash us," said Palm Beach County Elections Supervisor Susan Bucher. "But we've developed thick skins."

    In fairness, Iowans are neophytes at counting badly, at least as far we know, and their missteps occurred in caucuses, not a presidential election. It was Florida, in the Bush vs. Gore election of 2000, that turned vote tabulation into Gone With the Wind. And the state had sequels in some subsequent elections, although not quite as glaring as in 2000.

    Then again, Iowa Republicans managed to mangle the tallies even though they had only 121,503 votes to count statewide.
    "Iowa miscount no comfort for Florida election supervisors".


    "A possible DREAM Act nightmare"

    Marc Caputo: "Talk about a possible DREAM Act nightmare. The Republican who said he’d veto the pro-immigrant legislation as president, Mitt Romney, is winning the likely Hispanic vote by 16 percentage points in a theoretical matchup against President Barack Obama in our latest Florida poll."

    Romney’s 53-37 percent Latino lead over Obama has emboldened Republicans, who gleefully play up the president’s relatively tepid support among Hispanics. Yet Romney might not have an edge at all due to the size of the poll’s margin of error.

    Democrats said they doubted the poll’s finding, pointing to other surveys showing Obama would win Latinos in Florida by double-digit margins. Another survey shows Obama and Romney running neck-and-neck.
    "For Hispanics, it’s not just about immigration".


    PolitiFact sidles up to Romney

    "PolitiFact: Attack lines in Florida's GOP presidential primary".

    For a critical look at "Polifact", see "2 More Whoppers from Politifact (and guess what they have in common)" and "PolitiFact devolves into absurdity".


    Gingrich goes to Florida's scariest place to paint scary picture of U.S. future"

    "Newt Gingrich painted a terrifying picture of America's possible future Sunday,forewarning that society would become dependent on food stamps, China would surpass the United States as a preferred world trade partner ,and a nuclear Iran would mean the potential destruction of American cities." "Gingrich's stop in Villages paints scary picture of U.S. future".


<< Home