In Tallahassee, the Legislature is redrawing congressional and legislative maps. In large part because of their recent skill at this once-every-10-years event, Republicans have made this a state where Democrats have as much clout as Florida State grads at a University of Florida alumni meeting.

In 1990, Florida's then-19-member congressional delegation included 10 Republicans and nine Democrats. Democrats held a 23-17 edge in the Florida Senate and a 74-46 margin in the state House. Today, the 25-member congressional delegation includes 19 Republicans and six Democrats. The GOP holds a 28-12 advantage in the state Senate and an 81-39 majority in the House. Statewide, however, registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 500,000.

Several factors, such as ineptitude at the Florida Democratic Party and conservative north Florida Democrats who are Republicans at heart, explain this shift. A big factor, though, has been Republicans' ability to pit Democrats against each other. ...

Florida has an inept, selfish Democratic Party. ... Even if President Obama wins Florida, Democrats continue to make the state safe for the GOP.

"Florida Senate presided over by a petulant crybaby"

Daniel Ruth: "This is probably the predictable result when you have a Florida Senate presided over by a petulant crybaby angry over not getting his way."

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-The Blue Boy of Apalachee Parkway, got his pantaloons in a wad because one of his minions had the audacity to commit Tallahassee's most egregious of mortal sins — an act of actual governance.

And for that, fellow Republican Sen. Mike Fasano was stripped of his leadership epaulets and banished from his post as chairman of a budget subcommittee that oversees prisons.

Just what was Fasano's treason? That he attempted to voice his opinion on privatizing prisons. Oh, the treacherous heresy of it all! ...

The New Port Richey senator suspects this is little more than a political air kiss to the Geo Group and the Corrections Corporation of America, deep-pocketed private sector penal colony titans.

If the privatization deal goes through, the two companies would occupy vast tracks of public land, make millions of dollars and only be responsible for guarding the less dangerous and healthiest prisoners. The state would still be responsible for the criminal dregs, the sickest, the elderly and most expensive of inmates to house.

Whatever made Fasano think this was a sweetheart deal?

It was probably just the subtlest of hints that the prison privatization legislation was more greased up than Hulk Hogan when Haridopolos tried to fast track the package through the Senate with less due diligence than the captain of the Costa Concordia.

So much for a sober, deliberate, transparent legislative process. Apparently, President Snagglepuss didn't bother to read his own book, Florida Legislative History and Processes — for which he was paid $152,000 by Brevard Community College — a soporific ode on how Tallahassee works. And now we know. Not very well. ...

Haridopolos had managed to acquire a Tallahassee reputation as the sort of chap who, if you found him sitting at the next barstool, you wouldn't leave your change unattended while you hit the men's room. ...

Fasano may have lost his leadership position. But he still has his self-respect, which is more than the obsequious special interest supernumerary who stabbed him in the back can say for himself.

"You can't underestimate the organizational advantage president Obama will have in Florida"

"While most of the political world was still buzzing about Mitt Romney's overwhelming Florida primary win, Ashley Walker rose from her seat to address a room full of Florida field directors for the Barack Obama campaign gathered at the University of Tampa."

"We need to strive for excellence every day. Each day when we get up we need to think about what we can do to earn Florida's 29 electoral votes for President Obama,''.

For Romney allies, who boasted of five full-time staffers — a fraction of what Obama already has in Florida — and a Florida ground organization that mainly consisted of mailing fliers to absentee votes, the scene in Tampa should be intimidating. Four years ago, Obama won Florida with the largest voter mobilization effort ever seen in Florida. This year's effort could dwarf that.

"There's never been an operation this size in Florida 10 months out from an election, not for a presidential (campaign), not for a gubernatorial. But we're going to grow," Walker told her Florida lieutenants. "Very soon, we're going to be in a position where the only place we can do trainings is in a hotel ballroom."

Obama, though, may need every last campaign operative in Florida to carry the state again. ...

In the last five presidential elections, Republicans won twice, Democrats won twice, and 2000 was essentially a tie.

"If it's a close election nationally it may be within 1 point in Florida,'' said Tallahassee-based Democratic strategist Steve Schale, who ran Obama's Florida campaign in 2008. "When push comes to shove, if the race is that close, you can't underestimate the organizational advantage president Obama will have in Florida."

"Casino bill dies in the House"

"Conceding defeat, the House sponsor of a resort casino bill for South Florida pulls it from contention. But wait, resort backers say, it's a long fight." "Casino bill dies in the House - for now". See also "Florida gambling bill falls apart in House", "GOP-sponsored casino bill near death (updated-corrected)", "Florida casino gambling bill 'dead for this year,' House Rules chair says" and "Casino Opponents See Next Battle Coming over State Constitution" ("Opponents of the effort to expand casino gaming in Florida declared victory Friday, but anticipate they will next have to fend off an effort to put gambling venues into the state’s Constitution.")

"Republicans could go three-for-three this fall"

"Republicans could go three-for-three this fall in a trio of newly drawn congressional districts in South Florida, but Democrats contend that their chances improved there under reapportionment." "Three-Way Shuffle Launches Congressional Races in South-Central Florida".

Legislators permitted to hide under their desks about suppression measures

"A federal judge ruled Friday that four state legislators and two staffers cannot be forced to testify in a case that challenges changes to Florida election laws."

After more than 90 minutes of arguments, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle rejected a request by the League of Women Voters of Florida and the National Council of La Raza, who were supported by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Hinkle said the lawmakers and staffs are protected by a long-standing common-law privilege dating back centuries, as well as later court decisions that said such questioning would be an unwarranted intrusion of the legislative branch.

"Fair Economy Act"

"Flanked by nurses and educators, a group of Democratic state lawmakers held a press conference in the capital yesterday to denounce the GOP-led Legislature’s plans to cut health services in the state budget in order to save money for education."

State Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, said that lawmakers were presenting “a false choice.”

Nurses and and educators showed up in support of Democrats who are pushing for a bill called the “Fair Economy Act.” The measure is an effort among Democratic legislators to change the state’s tax structure. Rich, state Sen. Oscar Braynon, D-Miami, and Rep. Even Jenne, D-Fort Lauderdale, who are sponsoring the legislation, spoke at the event.

Labor groups said at the conference that they resented being “pinned against each other” for state funding.

Healthy Start Coalitions

"The Healthy Start Coalitions of Florida, so far, are not poised to suffer budget cuts this year. Last year, the group saw millions taken from its budget." "Healthy Start spared cuts in House budget".

"Residents hostage in horrifically dangerous conditions"

The Miami Herald editors: "The state Senate, in addition to Mr. Scott, understands that it’s imperative to shut down the ALFs that keep residents hostage in horrifically dangerous conditions [(not exactly a hard call)], improve monitoring of others that can do a better job and allow the best to set a high standard for the rest."

"However, lawmakers in the House, including the South Florida delegation, have yet to get on board. Some have their own conflicts, having received campaign donations from ALF operators." "Is there a hero in the House?".

Mexican workers in Florida to be taught their rights

"The U.S. Department of Labor and the Mexican consulate in Orlando today announced an agreement to offer Mexican workers in Florida the resources to understand their rights." "Department of Labor, Mexican consulate announce workers’ rights education program".

Haridopolos in danger of losing his grip on his chamber

Aaron Deslatte: "Approaching the midpoint of the 60-day session, the differences between the House and Senate are many. And Senate President Mike Haridopolos, by insisting on driving through the prison plan and delaying budget work, is in danger of losing his grip on his chamber." "At halfway point, Florida legislators are 2 houses divided".

"Where Florida higher education stands"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board points out "Where Florida higher education stands"

In prestige …

10 Rank of faculty at Florida's public universities, in numbers of members who belong to the prestigious National Academy. Florida has 38 members. No. 1 California has 660. Florida also trails Texas, Washington, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Colorado, North Carolina and Virginia.

0 Number of Florida universities, public or private, that made the top 50 of national universities in U.S. News & World Report's annual Best Colleges ranking.

"A parliamentary Hail Mary"

"Hoping the state would find out how Progress Energy botched an upgrade to a nuclear power plant that may never reopen?"

Hoping to stop paying in advance for another nuclear plant that may never get built?

Don't count on it.

Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner told the Tampa Bay Times the Energy Committee, which he heads, would not hold hearings into the events that continue to keep the Crystal River plant off line.

Gardiner also said late Thursday he would not let the committee consider a bill to repeal a law forcing customers to pay in advance for a proposed $20 billion nuclear plant.

On Friday, New Port Richey Sen. Mike Fasano, who sponsored the bill, countered with a parliamentary Hail Mary.

Colombia Free Trade Agreement challenged after union leader murders

"AFL-CIO urges Obama to postpone Colombia Free Trade Agreement after union leader murders".

Romney's Florida problems

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Mitt Romney's time in the Florida sunshine left him looking like the candidate Republicans will put up against President Barack Obama this fall. Even so, the former Massachusetts governor would be wise not to bask in the glow of his victory. ... Romney and his campaign team need to think about the following:"

- Yes, he won convincingly in Florida, getting 46 percent of the vote against three opponents, but he still failed to top the "Not Romney" column. Despite having an impressive campaign team, previous experience as a presidential candidate and a huge advantage in campaign money, Romney wasn't able to claim a majority of the votes in the January primaries and the Iowa caucus.

He should be troubled by exit polls that showed almost 40 percent of Florida GOP primary voters wanted another choice on the ballot. The "not Romney" vote remains a problem for the front-runner's campaign.

- The "not Gingrich" vote may have made the difference in Florida. Romney ran essentially a negative campaign, warning voters about former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's history of ethical missteps and business association with controversial mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

According to some accounts, Romney and his allies ran an incredible 12,000 TV ads in Florida's media markets -- and most of them made Gingrich look like a combination of Attila the Hun and Boss Tweed. ...

- Romney won in Florida and in New Hampshire without giving voters a clear, succinct summary of his ideas and principles. His main pitch is that he is a businessman who knows how to fix the economy. That message has appeal for Americans bogged down in the slow economic recovery, but it doesn't inspire voters or give them a clear choice in the contest of ideas and philosophies. ...

- Finally, the Plastic Man problem. Romney tends to come across as somewhat stiff and a bit over-rehearsed for the role of presidential candidate. Obviously, he isn't a natural politician like Reagan or former President Bill Clinton.

Redistricting steamroller

"The Florida House voted along party lines for three redistricting maps Friday that proponents say reflect the state's growing diversity and meet new antigerrymandering standards." "House passes Florida redistricting maps in party line vote".

Meanwhile, Florida's Republi-baggers claim that it is the "Democrats Playing Politics with Redistricting Process".

Sierra Club greased?

"Sierra Club officials in Florida aren't talking, but the environmental group is taking heat over revelations that it took more than $25 million from a gas-drilling company."

The nation's oldest and largest "green" organization accepted the donations primarily from Aubrey McClendon, CEO of Chesapeake Energy, one of the biggest gas-drilling companies in the country, and a firm heavily involved in the controversial practice of fracking, Time magazine reported this week.

Sierra Club said the contributions -- received from 2007 to 2010 -- stopped with the installation of Michael Brune as executive director of the national organization in 2010.

"Norman declared victory anyway"

"A state ethics panel found Sen. Jim Norman should be prosecuted in connection with a half-million-dollar gift to his wife from a prominent Hillsborough County businessman. The Florida Commission on Ethics ruled Friday that there was probable cause to show Norman should have disclosed the "investment" when he ran for Senate, and failed to do so."

Meanwhile, and true to form,

Norman declared victory anyway; The commission dismissed three other complaints that alleged that the gift created a conflict of interest.

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: Know When to Fold 'Em".

Peterman gets $5,000 fine and public censure

"The state Commission on Ethics on Friday ordered a $5,000 fine and public censure and reprimand for Frank Peterman for travel abuses when he was Florida's secretary of juvenile justice under former Gov. Charlie Crist."

The 4-3 vote followed a lengthy discussion during which a motion to throw out the entire case against Peterman failed on a 4-3 vote.

Bondi's investigation into foreclosure lawyers collapses

"The Florida Bar's investigations into foreclosure fraud by its members jumped 63 percent in the past year, but no disciplinary actions against attorneys have been levied since complaints began to mount in the fall of 2010."

The responsibility to hold lawyers accountable for foreclosure misconduct now rests solely with the Florida Bar after the state attorney general's investigation into high-volume foreclosure law firms collapsed this week.

Say hello to "unregulated out-of-state carriers"

"Florida's mammoth state-run insurance company is looking to downsize, with lawmakers turning to unregulated out-of-state carriers to help with the effort."

The state House passed a bill on Friday that would allow so-called "surplus lines" carriers to take over policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp., if they meet certain criteria.

Surplus lines carriers are not regulated by the Office of Insurance Regulation and can differ greatly from the state's admitted insurers, a point that opponents of the bill pushed repeatedly.

The chaos leaves a priority of Senate leaders in grave jeopardy a year after a similar plan was thrown out by a judge because it was tucked into the budget and not debated separately. Opponents said that such a massive expansion of privatization could not survive an up-or-down vote in the full Senate. ...

Amid the mounting tension, Senate President Mike Haridopolos refused to bring up the bill for debate, a sign that it faced defeat. Ten of 28 Senate Republicans have voiced strong reservations or opposition to such a major policy shift, a serious rift in the GOP caucus.

The drama intensified as Haridopolos stripped Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, of his chairmanship of a budget subcommittee overseeing prisons, saying Fasano "was not rowing in the same direction" as Senate leaders on budget decisions.

Budget blues

"Haridopolos: Senate budget allocations expected next week, cuts possible"

Meanwhile, "House panel approves budget that cuts jobs, preserves benefits" ("The spending plan would cut more than 4,700 state positions, limit some health care services and raise college tuition, while freeing up more than $1 billion in general revenue for education.")

Primary lessons

The Sun Sentinel editorial board explains "Why Romney won Florida".

"Romney Focus on Economy Key to Florida Victory". See also "Plenty of lesson learned from the GOP primary" and "What we learned (or re-learned) from Florida primary".

Slots head North

"As two North Florida counties open the door for slot machines, bills moving in the Senate would clear the way for the games in Palm Beach, Brevard and Lee counties too". "Voters approve slot machines in two rural counties, but legal battle looms".

Why Newt flopped in Florida

"How Newt Gingrich's Southern Front Flopped in Florida".

Scott pisses away $115.5 million in revenue

"The proposed tax cuts would cost the state $48.1 million for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, and $115.5 million in recurring funds for the following years, according to an analysis conducted by the committee. The committee chairman called them "the best way to help stimulate job growth." " "Tax cuts favored by Gov. Scott, businesses get House panel approval".

Fla-baggers were not players

"Romney's Florida Victory Unsweet for Tea Party". Speaking of Teabaggers: "With Florida Primary Over, Marco Rubio Returns to the Limelight".

Florida: money and negativity a winning formula

"Among the five things Floridians learned about the Republican primary are that money and negativity can be a winning formula." "Plenty of lesson learned from the GOP primary".

West on the run

"The Democrats vying to replace departing Rep. Allen West from his 22nd congressional seat — businessman Patrick Murphy and former West Palm Beach mayor Lois Frankel — may miss the retired Army colonel and tea party crowd pleaser because his rants on Fox News fired up the left and delivered dollars to their campaign coffers."

But the soon-to-be- redrawn congressional district — absent “bogeyman” West — has also perked the political ears of other Democrats, likely setting up a Democratic primary dogfight this summer with multiple candidates.

The proposed 22nd district is a better fit for Democrats, said Robin Rorapaugh, a Democratic consultant who briefly ran for the seat after former Wilton Manors mayor Jim Stork dropped out in 2004.

“Needing a bogeyman to raise money is not as crucial,” he said. “It just upped the ante on the primary battle.”

The dynamics of the race for the 22nd congressional district, which straddles Broward and Palm Beach counties, dramatically changed Tuesday when U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney announced he would move his campaign one seat to the north. West then announced he would run in Rooney’s 16th congressional district, which includes part of Palm Beach and is friendlier to a Republican.

"Gambling plans head for trouble"

"Rep. Fresen unveils House casino bill makeover". Meanwhile,"South Florida gambling plans head for trouble".

Rubio bill would extend religious dictates

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio believes that women who work for religiously affiliated hospitals, universities and charities should be subject to a religious agenda as a condition of their employment."

The Florida Republican introduced a bill this week that would allow any employer with religious objections to avoid covering contraception in its employee health insurance plan. Rubio claims this would promote religious liberty. But whose? Certainly not the religious liberty of female employees. Rubio's bill, which has 20 co-sponsors including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, is an attempt to extend religious dictates beyond the confines of churches and religious orders and impose them on a secular staff.

Romney shouldn't read too much into his victory among Hispanic voters

Andres Oppenheimer: "A kind word of advice for Republican hopeful Mitt Romney: Don’t read too much into your impressive victory among Hispanic voters in Tuesday’s Florida primary. You will face an uphill battle to emulate it among Latino voters nationwide."

Romney, the front-runner in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, won 53 percent of the Latino vote in the Florida primary. Comparatively, he won 46 percent of the overall vote in the state’s primary.

His wide victory among Florida’s Latinos raised eyebrows nationwide, because Florida is one of the key states with huge Hispanic populations that will figure heavily in who will win in November. The conventional wisdom among pollsters is that — because Latinos nationwide tend to vote heavily Democrat — a Republican candidate needs about 40 percent of the Hispanic vote to win the general election.

But there are several reasons to believe that Romney will have a hard time reaching that magic figure unless he makes a dramatic U-turn in the tone — and the message — of his rhetoric on immigration, English-only, and other issues that Latinos care about.

Consider:

A recent nationwide poll of Hispanic registered voters by the Pew Hispanic Center, a non-partisan group, showed that if the general election were held today, President Obama would beat Romney by 68 percent to 23 percent of the Hispanic vote. The same poll showed that, among the general population, Obama would beat Romney by only two percentage points.

An earlier ABC-Univision poll showed similar results. Both surveys reflect that the Democrats have held their ground among Latinos nationwide since Obama won 67 percent of the Latino vote in the 2008 election.

Florida's GOP-nominating process called "shamelessly exclusive"

The Rev. Jesse Jackson said in Orlando on Wednesday that

"'One person, one vote' is being undermined by the minions and the Super PACs," Jackson said during an appearance at New Covenant Baptist Church on Rio Grande Avenue. "Not one Super PAC ad was on wiping out homelessness."

Jackson, who served as featured speaker at the church on Wednesday night, addressed reporters before his sermon, decrying big-money influence on politics.

The longtime civil-right activist called the GOP-nominating process, in both Florida and South Carolina, as "shamelessly exclusive," ignoring or degrading the needs and interests of the working poor and of minorities.

Blame the unions!

In a right-to-work state with non-binding impasse resolution, it is hilarious to read the Tampa Tribune editors blame local government economic problems on the

pension agreements between cities and police and firefighters' unions. The cities levy an insurance tax to help pay for their share of the pensions.

A 1999 law requires that any tax income over what was received in 1999 must be used for "extra benefits."

The law was intended to bring uniformity to state pension benefits, but it became a prescription for disaster, forcing the cities to commit to ever-increasing obligations that would not be sustainable should the economy go south — which, of course, is what has happened.

But the mandate was typical of lawmakers, who have routinely made concessions to public safety unions without regard for the costs to local governments.

increased school funding traded for Medicaid cuts

"$69.2 billion House budget plan trades increased school funding for Medicaid cuts".

"Water privatization proposal scrapped'

"Under pressure from environmentalists, water privatization proposal scrapped". See also "Language change in state bill would keep reclaimed water in districts' control".

"Mayors and city commissioners moonlighting as lobbyists"

Fred Grimm: "Good government got lost in the rhetoric. In Miami-Dade County, voters rejected a charter initiative on Tuesday that would have barred county commissioners from holding other jobs."

I doubt they did it because they were all that comfy with commissioners hiring on with outfits that do business with the county.

In Broward County, voters in three cities approved deceptive charter amendments that would allow their town officials to weasel out from under the county’s tough new code of ethics.

I doubt that the voters really wanted their mayors and city commissioners moonlighting as lobbyists.

The citizens spoke. What they actually said was a little obscure.

Fifty-four percent of those voting in Miami-Dade Tuesday rejected the reform initiative. Let me rephrase that. Fifty-four percent of those who bothered to vote rejected the charter amendment. The election was yet another monument to apathy. Only 83,562 of the county’s 1,214,351 registered voters voted “no,” but on a day with a 13.82 percent turnout, that piddling amount translated into a solid majority.

West "retreating" from Frankel

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Congressman and former Army battalion commander Allen West bragged that to protect his soldiers he would 'go through hell with a gas can.' Apparently, though, he won't even go through the hell of running against Lois Frankel."

Yes, the Allen West who compares politics to a battlefield is retreating. The tea party icon whose fans tout him for either spot on a national ticket, who raised more money than any Republican congressman except the House speaker, won't fight for reelection in his soon-to-be-redrawn Palm Beach-Broward District 22. As part of what clearly was an orchestrated GOP strategy announced Wednesday under cover of the Republican primary, Rep. West and Rep. Tom Rooney will shift districts to save their seats.

Haters running wild in Tally

"A Senate panel voted down a bill to extend in-state college tuition to state residents who are U.S. citizens with undocumented parents."

His home ravaged by earthquake, 16-year-old Renato Lherisson returned to his birthplace, the United States, to finish high school and earn a college degree.

The Haitian student envisioned studying political science all the way to the doctoral level and maybe working for the United Nations one day. But now he’s just hoping to afford one class this semester.

Lherisson is one of many students — the number is impossible to determine — who must pay out-of-state tuition even though they are U.S. citizens and Florida residents. It is because they are dependent on their parents, who are not citizens. And in Florida, it is the parent’s status that counts.

A bill that would have extended in-state tuition to such students, if they lived in Florida for at least two years, was voted down Tuesday in a Senate Higher Education Committee meeting.

GOPers luv the early voting

"More than 40 percent of Florida primary vote was in before polls opened".

Southerland's "gift to polluter-lobbyists"

"A coalition of Florida environmental groups is speaking out against a new bill introduced by Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Panama City, that would, he says, 'empower Florida officials, rather than bureaucrats at the EPA' to implement water pollution standards." "Environmentalists call Florida congressman’s bill ‘a gift to polluter-lobbyists’".

Big of him

"Florida’s governor says he will extend the life of the group looking into ways to eliminate deadly abuse and neglect in assisted living facilities." "Scott wants to renew effort to reform ALFs".

Senate prayin'

"Florida Senate approves school prayer bill". See also "Florida Senate approves school prayer bill" and "ACLU, Anti-Defamation League denounce state Senate’s school prayer vote".

Romney kicks Hasner and the Maestro in the teeth

"One of the unexpected winners in Tuesday’s Republican presidential primary in Florida wasn’t even on the ballot: Congressman Connie Mack."

The leading Republican candidate in the U.S. Senate race, Mack earned national media exposure stumping across the state for Mitt Romney. The former Massachusetts governor went so far as to anoint the 44-year-old Mack in campaign stops as "the next senator from Florida."

That endorsement helped drive Mack’s opponent, Adam Hasner, out of the race this week and into a congressional race in South Florida. Another GOP challenger, Craig Miller, exited to run for a congressional seat, too, leaving only former Sen. George LeMieux as a serious challenger.

Other Republican candidates may remain in the race, but Mack is acting the part of frontrunner, and is backed up by polls. Among likely Republican voters, Mack leads former Sen. George LeMieux 38 to 12 percent, according to a Mason-Dixon poll released Jan. 27 and conducted for the Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald, the Tampa Bay Times, Bay News 9 and Central Florida News 13. Mike McCalister registered 7 percent in the poll.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

"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.

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".

Gingrich is badly trailing Romney by 11 percentage points, garnering just 31 percent of likely Republican voters heading into Tuesday’s presidential primary, according to a Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald/Tampa Bay Times poll released late Saturday night.

President Barack Obama should be wary as well. Romney beats Obama by a 48-44 percent spread — a lead inside the error-margin, however — in a theoretical general-election matchup, the poll shows.

In the Republican primary, Romney’s lead looks insurmountable. It cuts across geographic, ethnic and gender lines. And the poll indicates Romney’s attack on Gingrich as a Freddie Mac insider is a hit with GOP voters.

"What does Gingrich need to do? I would say Romney would need to implode," said Brad Coker, pollster with Mason Dixon Research & Associates, which conducted the survey from Tuesday through Thursday.

"If there’s no 11th hour surprise," Coker said, "this race is looking right now like it’s over."

The poll was conducted by MasonDixon Polling & Research, a nonpartisan, Jacksonville-based company.

The margin of error overall is 3.5 percentage points.

For GOP primary questions, the margin of error is 4.5 percentage points.

On Jan. 21, polls showed Mitt Romney with an average 18-point lead over Ging­rich in Florida. They were tied in Florida by Monday, Jan. 23, and a day later Gingrich led by more than 7 percentage points. The Gingrich lead dropped to 3 points the next day, and by Thursday, Romney was up 5. The RealClear average on Saturday showed Romney leading by 8 percentage points — and that did not include the new Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald/Bay News 9 poll showing Romney leading by 11 points.

Part of Gingrich's decline had to do with Romney's strong Florida debates and Gingrich's lackluster ones, but mainly it's about TV ads. Nothing moves numbers in Florida like TV commercials, and Romney and his allies grounded Gingrich with overwhelmingly negative ads. Romney and his supporters have outspent Gingrich on TV by more than 3-1 in Florida.

Romney's "anti-immigrant" rhetoric will haunt

Andres Oppenheimer: "Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich, under pressure from his party’s establishment, pulled a Spanish-language ad in which he had accused his rival Gov. Mitt Romney of being 'anti-immigrant.' But was the ad really unfair?"

The question will not go away, and will haunt Republicans for the remainder of the race if Romney wins the Republican nomination. President Barack Obama’s campaign will surely make the most of it.

Gingrich yanked the ad, which claimed that Romney is “the most anti-immigration candidate,” after conservative Hispanic Sen. Marco Rubio. complained that it was “inaccurate” and “inflammatory.” Gingrich said he was withdrawing that ad out of respect for the Florida Senator, but did not retract from the its content in later interviews and public debates leading to Tuesday’s Florida Republican primary.

Hours later, in Thursday’s CNN debate, Romney responded that the ad was “simply inexcusable,” and defined himself as a “pro-legal immigration” candidate.

So who is right? The fact is that both Romney and Gingrich have used a hard-line rhetoric against immigrants in the Iowa and South Carolina primaries, and have softened their rhetoric somewhat in recent days as their campaigns shifted to Florida, where 13 percent of voters are Hispanic. But pro-immigration advocates say Romney has taken the most extreme positions on immigration.

Gingrich's insider-outsider claims puzzle Fla-baggers

"Newt Gingrich is presenting an increasingly contradictory picture to Florida voters, portraying himself as an anti-establishment outsider and a consummate Washington insider, often in the same speech. While some voters happily embrace one or both sides of Gingrich's story, others are puzzled and troubled by a message that seems at war with itself." "Some balking at Gingrich's insider-outsider claims".

Meanwhile, "Newt Gingrich wins cheers from religious conservatives during Orlando-area appearance".

"Our next ambassador to the moon"

Myriam Marquez: "Newt, Mitt and our next ambassador to the moon".

"Republicans fret about Romney"

In the most recent debate, "Santorum drew fresh attention to a weakness that has long shadowed Romney. While he rails against "Obamacare," the similarities with the plan Romney implemented as governor of Massachusetts — "Romneycare," as Santorum called it — could deflate a contrast Republicans are eager to draw in the general election with President Obama."

It's easy to imagine Democratic ads juxtaposing Romney's campaign rhetoric with his support of the plan in Massachusetts, which is widely popular among residents, and was a template for the federal law.

BTW, the budget

Gary Fineout: "Higher tuition for college students. State worker layoffs. Cuts to hospitals. Yet at the same time, boosts in funding for public schools as well as money to cover the state’s popular back-to-school sales tax holiday. Those details were included in a nearly $69.2 billion proposed spending plan for 2012, released by the Republican-controlled Florida House on Friday. " "$69 billion House budget: Boosting and cutting spending".

"Legacy of wrong guess"

"Fla. prison closings are legacy of wrong guess".

"Romney’s nagging deficit of charisma"

Carl Hiaasen: "If you’re a Democrat, here’s what you’re thinking two days before the Florida’s Republican primary:"

Pinch me.

Because Newt Gingrich — defrocked speaker of the House, original godfather of government gridlock, two-faced philandering impeacher of Bill Clinton, fondler of six-figure Tiffany jewels is now in a dead heat with Mitt Romney.

If you’re President Obama’s campaign managers, it’s too early for rapture but not for a few private cartwheels. Newt Gingrich? Really?

Thank you, God.

Those of us who wrote off the old Newtster underestimated his ability to schmooze $10 million out of casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire sugar daddy of the Super Pac that’s bankrolling most of Gingrich’s TV attack ads.

Simultaneously, we also underestimated Romney’s nagging deficit of charisma. ...

Usually Mitt stands orderly and composed, doing his standard Mitt thing. Many Florida Republicans are underwhelmed, because suddenly it’s a close race. As a result, Romney has been forced to ramp up his rhetoric, which doesn’t come easy for the guy.

Greer rushes to Romney's defense

"Somehow we doubt this will make it into any Romney campaign news release, but former state GOP chairman Jim Greer came to Romney's defense last week after Gingrich said Romney's campaign is tied to Crist because they shared campaign strategists." "Greer backs Romney".

Details, shmetails

"Many GOP voters want more details on candidates' economic plans".

Privatization shills "tilt the playing field"

Aaron Deslatte: "Florida's Republican-dominated Legislature is fast-tracking the most sweeping prison privatization plan in the country. Lawmakers had to respond after a circuit judge last summer dared to declare their last attempt had unconstitutionally used the state's budget as a vehicle for implementing policy. ... But lawmakers eager for privatization efforts to succeed sometimes tilt the playing field too far in their favor." "Costs of running private prisons hard to quantify".

District rankings are contrary to Scott's merit-based teacher pay

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "The problem with standardized test scores, of course, is that they are simplistic. That's the problem with the ranking that Gov. Rick Scott released last week based solely on one year's performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test."

"Scott's ranking showed which districts' students performed best, but it gave no insight into which district did the best job of improving student performance. Such a ranking is contrary to the controversial merit-based teacher pay system Scott urged the Legislature to adopt last year that at least aims to ascertain a teacher's value in improving students — not just their final test scores." "FCAT tells of progress, falling short".

"Ad war not for faint of heart"

"They are the kind of ads that splash 'blood money' on Mitt Romney's record or whip out Newt Gingrich's ethics 'baggage' without forcing a rival candidate to take responsibility for the message." "Campaign ad war not for faint of heart - or wallet".

"An enigmatic, polarizing figure in Florida [with] approval ratings around the 30 percent mark"

"As the Republican presidential candidates darted from city to city in Florida last week stitching up votes for Tuesday’s primary, Gov. Rick Scott stayed largely ensconced in the State Capitol, far from the fray, filling his days with business meetings, receptions and talk of his legislative agenda."

Unlike Gov. Nikki R. Haley of South Carolina, who spent three days campaigning for Mitt Romney in her state before its recent primary, Mr. Scott has not endorsed a candidate and has scarcely acknowledged the feverish pitch that is now enveloping the race.

He is doing this for practical reasons, political analysts say: Mr. Scott, 59, remains an enigmatic, polarizing figure in Florida, and his approval ratings float around the 30 percent mark, hardly a boon on the stump for any of the four candidates.

But for Mr. Scott, a bedrock conservative and workaholic who approaches the job of governor as the corporate chief he once was, it is also a reflection of his aversion to the fine points and foolishness of politics, something he has set out to overcome in his second year in office. ...

Mr. Scott possesses an unshakeable belief in the free market. It is what defines him. At a lunch on Thursday about economic development, he expressed disbelief over the attacks Mr. Romney has faced for being a successful private equity manager with Bain Capital.

“We shouldn’t be allowing candidates to attack people in business,” he said. “We should be saying, ‘Gosh, that’s us.’ ”

“If we don’t defend the free market,” he added, “they’ll pick on somebody. Now they’re picking on Bain Capital, then they’ll pick on somebody else.”

Candidates have largely bypassed Tampa Bay

"Ask almost any veteran Florida campaign pro about the state's main political battleground and they'll invoke Tampa Bay — the largest media market, which accounts for about one in four Florida votes in the primary and the general election. You wouldn't know it by where the candidates have spent their precious campaign time this week. Romney and Gingrich each did a couple of Tampa Bay appearances around Monday's debate, but other than that the candidates have largely bypassed the area." "Snubbing Tampa Bay".

Wingnuts at the wheel

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "It was late last year when the Florida Legislature served notice that this year's 60-day session was going to be all business. They weren't going to be spending valuable time on divisive social issues that often go nowhere — and often have no place being debated by lawmakers."

The Editorial Board said that was smart thinking. We also said we were skeptical the Legislature could keep its hands off time-consuming social issues. We said we'd believe it when we saw it.

The skepticism was well-founded. Last week, Republican lawmakers signed off on three abortion bills after a highly-charged two-and-a-half hour debate. The proposals — making it more difficult for women to have an abortion — would restrict third-trimester abortions, prohibit abortion after 20 weeks, and require abortion providers to sign an affidavit stating they're not performing the procedure because of gender or race selection by the woman.

And there is also a proposal to authorizing public school districts to permit sectarian prayers of invocation.

You can bet you haven't heard the end of this for the session. Like we said, you should have expected it.

"Calendar crashing pays off"

"Most of the ballots are still uncast in Florida’s presidential primary, but already Republicans here are declaring: mission accomplished. It’s not that they suffer from an overabundance of confidence about defeating President Barack Obama in the general election. For Florida Republicans, the early primary is a victory in itself – the culmination of a long campaign to upset the presidential nominating calendar and seize huge influence over the selection of a 2012 nominee." "Florida's calendar crashing pays off".

The Daytona Beach News-Journal editors: "Give Florida credit. When you want an exciting election, the Sunshine State delivers. The Republican primary on Jan. 31 promises to be a barn-burner. The victor could very well go on to win the nomination." "Volatile primary could have decisive impact".

"Halt this land grab"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "It would be foolish to deny the public access to hundreds of thousands of acres of waterfront property in a misguided attempt to clarify where state waterways end and private property begins. But that would happen under bills working their way through the Legislature. More civic-minded lawmakers should halt this land grab that could cut off access for hunting, fishing, swimming and other public activities." "State's ill-advised grab of public land".

The best Scott can do?

Fred Grimm: "Normally the grand opening of an eyeglass store at a suburban mall on Kendall Drive would not be so very grand."

But this was less than the usual misnomer, given that Rick Scott himself showed up in all his gubernatorial grandness, wielding ceremonial scissors the size of hedge clippers. As the governor went at the red ribbon across the shop entrance like a line item in his education budget, Scott bestowed the prestige and the grandeur of his great office on America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses. ...

Admittedly, the press turnout was sparse. ... More police than press loitered on the sidewalk outside. ...

“You ask me, it’s none of the governor’s business,” suggested Gonzalo Cabarga of Ideal Optician, just down the road from the governor’s shindig. Cabarga could name four other competitors along this stretch of Kendall Drive.

"Jobs," Scott explained. He said the chain has promised to open 20 stores in Florida over the next year, hiring 200 employees. Scott said America’s Best was a fine example of new businesses attracted to Florida by his philosophy of "low taxes and less regulation." ...

But 200 new retail jobs in an intensely competitive field like optometry, with independents like Cabarga already fighting it out with chains like Visionworks, Pearle, For Eyes and big box retailers, one might wonder whether Florida will actually net 200 new jobs. Or will these 200 jobs come out of the hide of another retailer? Scott, however, insisted that the coming of the America’s Best chain only reflected a resumption of the state’s growth. ...

Cabarga shrugged off this new business threat. He said about 30 percent of his trade comes from dissatisfied customers of the big chains. “They come to me and say, 'I can’t see out of these new glasses.'"

But Cabarga doesn’t much appreciate Scott (the governor of all the people maybe, but not all the optometrists) using his office to pitch the new competitor down the street. He called Friday’s exercise "a waste of taxpayer money."

SunRail groundbreaking

"A ceremonial groundbreaking Friday in Altamonte Springs kicked off the construction phase of SunRail, the commuter train line that will eventually roll on tracks from DeLand to Osceola County." "SunRail breaks ground in Altamonte Springs".

Scott bastardizes Niemoller quotation

"It's hard to imagine any previous Florida governor keeping as low a profile during presidential primary week as Gov. Rick Scott did last week."

Probably just as well, since few people noticed last week when Scott paraphrased the famous Holocaust saying by Martin Niemoller — "Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew …"[*] — to describe criticism of Romney's record in venture capitalism.

"We've got to defend the freedom of the free market," Scott said after paraphrasing the quote. "If we don't defend the free market, they'll pick on somebody. Now they're picking on Bain Capital, then they'll pick on somebody else."

Scott press secretary Lane Wright later told the Associated Press that the comment was used to make a point, and should not been seen as a Holocaust comparison.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.