"Really? ... the cadre of waiting-in-the-wings Republicans possess all the private sector experience of a Cuban five-year agricultural planner — but with a better taxpayer-funded health care plan."

Let's begin at the top of the Republican ticket. As Mitt Romney's choice for vice president, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan has never worked an adult day in the private sector. Well, you could count his time spent thinking at Jack Kemp's think tank, where presumably Ryan was paid per thought.

Since he graduated from Miami University in Ohio, when he wasn't wiling away the hours think tanking, Ryan has spent his entire adult life working as a congressional staffer, or since 1999, a member of Congress, collecting a government check and health benefits.

He has never met a payroll, or fretted over a company budget, or sold so much as a widget. But because he managed to read at least some of that great literary doorstop Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand without lapsing into a coma, Ryan is now regarded as the intellectual leading light of capitalism.

Last night, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio introduced Mitt Romney for his acceptance speech. This was a bit like Popeye's Wimpy ("I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today") setting the stage for Warren Buffett.

Rubio has been lathered up in government largesse since his late 20s when he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, rising from a gofer factotum for Speaker Johnnie Byrd to eventually claiming the top job himself.

Now Rubio is widely regarded as the beefcake boy of GOP conservatives and especially those government-is-the-tool-of-Moscow tea party worrywarts. All this adulation for a chap who also has spent at best 20 minutes in the private sector — as a lawyer.

The man who will introduce Mitt Romney as the face of private sector success couldn't even manage the payments on a Tallahassee home, which eventually fell into foreclosure. And apparently Rubio had a hard time distinguishing the difference between his personal credit card and a Republican Party-issued credit card on which he charged off any number of personal expenses.

Today, Rubio is a United States senator, collecting a $174,000 public paycheck, exquisite government health care and eventually a tidy taxpayer-supported pension, while railing against big government intrusion into the lives of Americans.

Ryan, Rubio and Bondi, the Peter, Paul and Mary of the public trough, are supposed to represent the next generation of fiscally tight-wadded champions of the working classes fending off the oppressive, ham-handed faceless bureaucrats, while they owe their entire careers (and political celebrity) to that very same government they claim to want to rein in.

"Romney should realize that pitting regulations against jobs isn't a winner in Florida"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "Floridians rely on a healthy ecosystem to protect the state from a range of natural disasters, serve a growing population and to keep millions employed in fishing, agriculture, tourism, construction and the services industries. ... Romney should realize that pitting regulations against jobs isn't a clear winner in a state where residents have a vested stake in standing for the environment in a tough economy." "Put environment front and center".

The best they could do

"Rubio revs up Republicans, Romney". See also "Rising GOP star Rubio draws praise as he introduces Romney at convention".

Demings, Webster, race could depend on turnout from other campaigns

"Though their politics differ greatly, Democrat Val Demings and U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Winter Garden, share one key trait. Both are disciplined, serious workers, whether it's Webster in Congress or Demings as former Orlando police chief."

Which is why their November showdown over Central Florida's 10th Congressional District likely won't be decided by an ill-timed gaffe or passionate speech. Instead, it will be a numbers game, a grind for support that ultimately could depend on turnout from other campaigns, namely runs for president and U.S. Senate.

Say anything

"Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton warned Florida delegates to the Republican National Convention on Thursday that if President Obama gets a second term, he will lessen America’s standing as a world power." "John Bolton Warns Florida Delegates the World More Dangerous Under Obama". Meanwhile, "Chris Christie Tells Florida: GOP Doesn’t Need to Modify the Message".

Voter suppression advocates claim victory

"As several leftist civic groups crow victory over a federal judge’s recent suppression of a few elements of Florida’s 2011 revisions to its elections laws, a source close to the Department of State (DOS) tells Sunshine State News the lion’s share of the ruling represents a victory for the state and greater accountability for third-party voter registrants." "Department of State Insider: We, Not Plaintiffs, Got Better Deal in Voter Registration Ruling".

Dem quits HD 27 race

"The Democratic candidate in a Volusia County-based state House district abruptly dropped out this week, throwing into flux one of the few potentially competitive legislative races in Central Florida. Dennis Mulder, a former mayor of Deltona, was forced to withdraw because his young son is battling a medical condition, said Phil Giorno, chairman of the Volusia County Democratic Party. Mulder had been set to face Republican David Santiago, a former Deltona city commissioner, in House District 27, which strategists from both parties see as one of only a handful of potentially competitive seats in Central Florida this fall." "Democratic candidate drops out of state House race".

Outa here

"Tampa Bay area supporters of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan got a chance to bid them farewell as they depart following the Republican National Convention." "Romney, Ryan, stump in Florida today before heading to Louisiana". See also "Romney salutes RNC, addresses rally in Lakeland".

"Charlie's Democratic Convention Address"

"Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry has sent a video to Democratic National Committee Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston -- what he believes the public may hear from former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist next week at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte." "Lenny Curry Offers His Draft of Charlie's Democratic Convention Address".

Variables in Mack's bid to replace Nelson

"There are a lot of variables in play in U.S. Rep. Connie Mack's bid to replace Democrat Bill Nelson in the U.S. Senate but, as he sees it, the result will boil down to one likely set of outcomes. 'If Mitt Romney wins, I win. If I win, Mitt Romney wins,' Mack told reporters Thursday, hours before his evening speech before the Republican National Convention to a friendly audience of Floridians." "Connie Mack says his chance to defeat Nelson is tied to Romney win".

And so it goes

"Two more candidates defeated in Miami-Dade County races earlier this month have sued to contest the results, citing a Hialeah absentee-ballot fraud investigation. The lawsuits bring the total number of complaints stemming from the probe to four."

Paul Crespo, who lost a Republican primary against state Rep. Carlos Trujillo, and Alex Jimenez Labora, who came up short in a judicial race against Maria de Jesus Santovenia, filed separate lawsuits Tuesday asking the court to discard absentee ballots cast in the contests.

In the race for an open circuit judge seat, Santovenia, an assistant North Miami Beach city attorney, defeated Labora, a traffic magistrate, 52 percent to 48 percent. Without the absentee vote, according to his lawsuit, Labora would have won, 51 percent to 49 percent. ...

In the Republican primary for Florida House District 105, Trujillo garnered 56 percent of the vote, compared to Crespo’s 44 percent. Trujillo noted he would win the election even if the absentee ballots were not counted. ...

Late last week, County Commission Chairman Joe Martinez and Property Appraiser Pedro J. Garcia filed similar complaints asking the court to throw out absentee ballots in their respective races.

Martinez lost his mayoral bid to incumbent Carlos Gimenez; Garcia lost his reelection to state Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera. Without the absentee vote, the mayoral race would have gone to a runoff, and Garcia would have defeated Lopez-Cantera.

A hearing has yet to be set in those cases. On Wednesday, Gimenez’s attorneys, Kendall Coffey and Robert Fernandez, asked the court to expedite the matter. The county elections department has set a Sept. 7 deadline to put races on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

All four complaints cite the arrests of two Hialeah ballot brokers, known as boleteros, who have been charged with voter fraud. Police say that Deisy Cabrera forged a terminally ill woman’s signature and that, in a separate case, Sergio Robaina filled out two absentee ballots for different candidates than the voters involved wanted.

Get over it, Jebbie

"Jeb Bush to Obama: stop blaming my brother for “your failed economic policies”". See also "Jeb Bush defends brother in convention speech".

GOPers take advantage of suppression legislation

"Many liberals and voter registration groups said the law suppressed registration in predominately poor and diverse areas, which have a higher concentration of potential Democrats." "Florida Republicans out registering Democrats; Is new elections law the reason?".

Speaking at a panel discussion at the Republican National Convention, Bush repeated his frequent warning that the party must change its tone, an admonition he has frequently raised about the party’s hardline position on immigration.

“The future of our party is to reach out consistently to have a tone that is open and hospitable to people who share values,’’ he said, adding “the conservative cause would be the governing philosophy as far as the eye could see … and that’s doable if we just stop acting stupid.”

Jeremy Wallace can't seem to get enough Jebbie: "On Thursday night, Bush will get a prime speaking assignment shortly before Romney is scheduled to accept the GOP nomination. It will be the most prominent convention speech of Bush’s career. He did not have a speaking role in either of the last two conventions, including his brother George W.’s re-nomination for president in 2004." "Mitt Romney the nominee, Jeb Bush the star".

FlaDem "voter-registration collapse"

"Republicans in Florida set out to make registering voters harder for this election. The new rules took effect last year, and the results are clear. Republicans are still reaching and registering new voters, if not quite as many. Democrats, as you can see on the chart above, are scarcely registering new voters at all." "Florida's voter-registration collapse".

Musta been sumthin' Rick did

"Floridian's consumer confidence remains steady overall".

Pleeze, enough with the blue shirt

"Gov. Scott in WPB: We’re doing everything we can".

Florida's most famous Republican losing grip on reality

Frank Cerabino points out that Rush "Limbaugh used his radio show this week to explain how the weather elites at the [National Hurricane Center] have used science — Why does science hate America? — to ruin the glory that would have been four full days of the Republican National Convention in Tampa." "Limbaugh sees Obama steering currents in GOP convention delays".

Prison health services privatization suit moot

"Judge Kevin Carroll of the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court of Florida on Monday dismissed a motion by the Florida Nurses Association and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) to rehear their suit on plans by the state Department of Corrections (DOC) to privatize prison health services. The original suit had been dismissed by Carroll on July 2, when he found the matter 'moot' after a provision in an appropriations bill authorizing the privatization expired on June 30." "Florida Judge Affirms Dismissal of Unions' Prison Privatization Suit".

Marco speaks

"Marco Rubio: Election has Global Impact; About Charlie, 'I Told You So’".

Florida's hospitals on the hook last year for $2.8B in uncompensated care

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board wonders, what would Romney replace the Affordable Care Act with? "That is a critical question for Florida, which has nearly 4 million uninsured residents and has failed to develop its own solution."

Florida's hospitals were on the hook last year for $2.8 billion in uncompensated care. Tampa General Hospital spent more than $60 million on uncompensated care, while St. Petersburg's Bayfront Medical Center spent $34.7 million.

That's true even if some states like Florida decline to expand Medicaid to cover all adults under 133 percent of the federal poverty line. Where the law needs more work is in controlling costs, an essential ingredient in health care reform and an opportunity for Republicans to do better. Right now there isn't a Republican leadership alternative to the health care reform law.

Blame the unions

"Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie is making extraordinary accusations that union workers are purposefully disrupting school bus service, including drivers skipping stops, not picking up children, feigning unfamiliarity with routes and unloading kids in the wrong place." "Schools chief: Union workers sabotaging school bus service to oppose change".

Bondi sidesteps Akin’s comments

"Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi didn’t mention Todd Akin’s comments made last week about 'legitimate rape.' But in a speech before the Florida delegation Tuesday, Bondi said any talk from Democrats about how Republicans aren’t supportive of women is nonsense, and she asked conservative women to put a stop to it."

She said she will continue to battle the federal government on issues. But she asked the Florida delegation to make sure she doesn’t have to after this year. "I can sue the government every day, but the only way to stop it is to elect Mitt Romney as president of the United States," she said

Perhaps an enterprising reporter will ask her.

More: "Pam Bondi's Convention Time to Focus on Federal Issues".

"The hits just keep coming in from the right"

"The hits just keep coming in from the right at the Republican National Convention for Florida’s former GOP governor-flip-flopped-to-Obama-backer, Charlie Crist." "Carole Jean Jordan on Charlie Crist: Dems Know 'You Can't Trust Him'".

Scott's austerity measures were meant for us, not for his brethren

Fabiola Santiago: "Shameless doesn’t even begin to describe them — or Gov. Rick Scott, ultimately responsible for allowing the state-operated insurer to spend without restraint. But no surprise there. Like his drug-testing policies, the governor’s austerity measures and suck-it-up mandates were meant for us, the taxpayers and homeowners, not for his brethren. But here – warning: this will make your blood pressure rise — is a small sampling of the outrageous expenditures uncovered by reporters Toluse Olorunnipa of The Miami Herald and Jeff Harrington and Susan Taylor Martin of the Tampa Bay Times." "‘Shameless’ doesn’t do justice to Citizens execs’ expenses".

Weatherford attacks Obama as not believing in the "American idea"

"Rep. Will Weatherford is on the verge of political prominence, and he wants Republicans everywhere to know it."

With his back yard the center of the political universe, the Pasco County Republican is taking advantage at his party's national convention this week by sparring with pundits, dining with House colleagues and doing what Tallahassee politicians do best: raising money. ... At age 32, Weatherford will soon follow the path of his father-in-law, Allan Bense of Panama City, who was speaker from 2004-06. When he occupies the speaker's spacious fourth-floor suite in November, he will be the youngest person to hold the office since 1957, when 28-year-old Doyle Conner used it as a springboard for a long career as state agriculture commissioner. Clean-cut and well-spoken, Weatherford is well-liked in Tallahassee, but his comments about President Barack Obama at a convention event have reverberated across the state and antagonized Florida Democrats. At a Faith and Freedom Coalition luncheon Monday, Weatherford said: "Here's the problem with the president. The president does not believe in the American idea. He does not believe in the foundation, the very pillars that this country was founded upon. He does not share that world view." Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, the incoming House Democratic leader, said he was disgusted to see Weatherford join Republicans who seek to demonize the president by questioning his patriotism.

And these people want the run the White House?

"After a day spent waiting, the Republican National Convention started for real at 2 p.m. Tuesday with Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus launching the first of many attacks against President Barack Obama."

Finally, Florida’s moment in the political sun — forever captured in these words and stories. Which, for Florida’s delegates, is a good thing. They missed it. The delay was not of their making. Delegates were to board buses at noon to head from the Innisbrook Golf and Spa Resort in Palm Harbor to the Tampa Bay Times Forum 30 miles away. That did not happen, however, because delegates were told the Republican National Committee forgot to send the buses.

Not only does the newly drawn 9th U.S. House District — which includes Osceola County and parts of Orange and Polk — tilt Democrat, but Grayson, a former congressman, can raise more campaign dollars in a day than the $25,058 that Long has raised all year.

Similar support has yet to materialize for Long. A spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee said the group would provide "organizational support and advice" — though there was no promise of money. By contrast, Grayson had $1.2 million in the bank as of July 25 and has aired or reserved more than $1.7 million in TV ads.

The Week Ahead

"Week Ahead for Aug. 27 to Aug. 31".

And state employees last got a raise, when?

"Rick Scott on Monday said Florida is poised to help its Gulf state neighbors as Tropical Storm Isaac appeared to spare much of the state from significant damage." "Rick Scott: Florida Poised to Assist Other Gulf States".

"The State That Couldn't Vote Straight" Bob Graham: "Only 12 years ago, Florida was embarrassed by a voting tornado. As the nation became familiar with hanging chads and butterfly ballots, Florida was the State That Couldn't Vote Straight."

Fellow Floridians, we have a similar humiliation headed for us now. Different from a tornado — which appears almost without warning — this menacing hurricane has been lumbering toward us for over a year. Here's its track to date. In 2011 the Legislature passed and the governor signed the most sweeping changes in Florida's election laws in decades. The alleged rationale was the prevention of voter fraud, although no or only trivial instances of irregularities could be identified. The lingering suspicion was that the real reason was suppression of voting by specific groups of Floridians.

Another rocket scientist

"Nikki Haley: The White House Contest Comes Down to Florida".

"The greatest egos on Earth"

Daniel Ruth asks, "should it take 30 speakers on an endless loop of Angela Davis-inspired rhetoric to say that we're up a creek if the Romney cabal gets elected? Look, the assembled crowd was already well on board with the Romney is the Angel of Death shtick. As the speech-a-thon began, so did the rains, but a little moisture was not about to put a damper on verbosity. The greatest egos on Earth had to press on." "Marching to beat of their own voices".

Yawnnn

"GOP convention buzzing about Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist".

Wingnuts run wild

"The tea partiers lined up outside a Tampa Bay Church wearing red, white and blue. They photographed themselves with men in colonial garb and clutched signs depicting the president as Pinocchio." "Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain fire up tea party faithful ahead of RNC".

"Marquee endorsements"

"Republican Adam Hasner and Democrat Maria Sachs picked up marquee endorsements in two of the hottest political races in Broward and Palm Beach counties." "Voter group picks Republican Hasner over Democrat Frankel".

And they expect pensions?

"Firefighters battle warehouse fire during storm".

Just another dead worker

"The search continues for the body of a 58-year-old worker who fell into a cement silo eleven days ago when the roof he was standing on collapsed." "Search for body of cement plant worker continues".

Never mind the part where Ryan wants to voucherize Medicare for those under 55

Kingsley Guy: "As Florida goes, so goes the nation. It could be the key state in deciding this year's presidential election, just as it was in the 2000 contest. That's one reason Democrats are salivating over Mitt Romney's choice of Paul Ryan as his running mate."

The conventional wisdom among members of the Obama camp is they can dust off the old, reliable "Medicscare" tactics and terrify a critical mass of Florida seniors into voting Democratic. If Florida's 29 electoral votes end up on the Obama side of the ledger, the president's re-election is all but guaranteed. ... Obama and his acolytes would have seniors believe that Romney and Ryan are a couple of radical wretches who would, "End Medicare as we know it." The Medicare plan put forth by Ryan as chairman of the House Budget Committee, however, wouldn't apply to people 55 or older. Medicare would stay exactly as it is for today's seniors, but don't expect Democrats to mention this in their stump speeches.

Scott was "shocked"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Former Gov. Charlie Crist lobbed a bombshell announcing his support of President Obama just as the Republican National Convention was about to begin this week."

Many Republicans at the convention weren’t surprised by Mr. Crist’s op-ed published in his hometown paper, The Tampa Bay Times. They have viewed Mr. Crist as a turncoat opportunist ever since he and the president hugged during an event to unveil stimulus funding that saved hundreds of thousands of jobs in Florida for police, teachers, firefighters and other public employees at the worst point in the recession.

Mr. Crist may have put the Republican Party on the spot with his endorsement of Mr. Obama, but he also put Florida’s Democratic Party on the defensive, as the Democrats rightly criticized the former GOP governor’s relationship with Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein and former GOP chief Jim Greer, accused of bilking party coffers. Criticism of Mr. Crist’s political opportunism aside, he raises a crucial issue for Mitt Romney as he tries to show the nation who he is and what his party stands for. As governor of Massachusetts, Mr. Romney had to compromise in a heavily Democratic state. If he is to win this race in a sharply divided nation he must show Americans that he can stick to his principles of “economic freedom” and “individual opportunity” while compromising with shared sacrifice to reduce the national debt, a symbolic clock that the RNC has ticking at its convention hall. Mr. Crist offered this assessment to Republicans: “Across Florida, in Washington and around the country, I’ve watched the failure of those who favor extreme rhetoric over sensible compromise, and I’ve seen how those who never lose sight of solutions sow the greatest successes. . . . The truth is that the party has failed to demonstrate the kind of leadership or seriousness voters deserve.” He’s right. In the most recent CNN poll of likely voters surveyed from Aug. 22-26, President Obama holds a narrow lead of 50 percent to 46 percent for Mr. Romney in Florida, with a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

Cringe-worthy

"Charlie Crist will speak at DNC convention in North Carolina".

"Strip clubs await Republican windfall"

"Low GOP delegate turnout so far, Tampa strippers say". See also "Tampa's strip clubs await Republican windfall".

An hour-long drive, each way"

"Florida delegates face an hour-long drive, each way, to get to the Tampa Bay Times Forum and the Republican National Convention headquarters." "Fla. delegates housed at resort far from GOP convention site". See also Scott Maxwell's "Florida Republicans at RNC: Banished, but still revved up".

"Campaigns rake in $12.8 million from Florida — in one week"

"From June 24-30, Florida candidates and political committees raised a little more than $10.8 million. Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama and super PACs banked an additional $1.9 million from Floridians." "National and state campaigns in Florida raked in $12.8 million — in one week".

Oh ... pleeze

Why does Florida's third tier media think that a Governor reminding us to wear our raincoats is somehow a display of "mettle"?

"While no one will say it [but you just did], the storm offers Scott an opening to many still skeptical Floridians to prove his mettle in a crisis. It’s Scott, not Romney, the state is seeing on TV twice a day. And it’s Scott’s voice that is being asked to reassure Florida and its thousands of convention guests as Isaac impacts the coastline." "Isaac puts spotlight on Gov. Rick Scott".

"There are some things they could do — but I doubt they will"

Andres Oppenheimer: "One of the key things to watch in this week’s Republican national convention in Tampa is whether the Romney-Ryan ticket will be able to connect with Hispanics and improve its dismal approval ratings among Latino voters. There are some things they could do — but I doubt they will." "What Romney could do to connect with Hispanics".

Affordable Care Act price-tag

"Looking for the price-tag of the federal Affordable Care Act, analysts have released a report estimating that an expansion of the Medicaid program would cost the state $79.2 million during the 2016-17 fiscal year and that the costs would grow to $337.6 million by 2022-23." "Medicaid Expansion Costs Start at $79 Million and Climb".

Sarasota County Republican Party goes birther

"Donald Trump may not be getting his 'big surprise' at the GOP convention today, but he caused plenty of trouble Sunday night anyway."

Accepting a "Statesman of the Year" award from the Sarasota County Republican Party, the real estate mogul reignited questions about President Barack Obama's birth certificate and weighed in on Mitt Romney's recent joke on the topic.

"What I think doesn't matter. (Romney) has his views and many other people disagree with him, as you know," Trump said at a news conference before the awards dinner at the Ritz-Carlton. It lured a record-breaking crowd that made Trump "bigger than (Tropical Storm) Isaac," organizers said in a press release.

Trump was referring to Romney's comments at a Michigan rally last week when he said in his home state, "No one's ever asked to see my birth certificate."

Saint "Jeb!"

The librul Tampa Bay Times editors can't get enough of the "Jeb!": "former Republican Florida Gov. Jeb Bush suggested in published and broadcast interviews over the weekend. For example, he acknowledged that the tough anti-immigrant rhetoric is not helpful if the idea is to attract Hispanics and other minorities to the Republican Party. In Sunday's Tampa Bay Times, Bush even suggested that a meaningful plan to reduce the federal deficit will have to include adding some revenue. Bush is hardly a fan of tax increases, but he is much more realistic about what it will take to reduce the budget deficit than the Ryan approach and more specific than the Romney outline." "GOP message needs a tuneup". See also "Bush dynasty continues to impact Republican politics".

"Crist continues political makeover"

"Former Gov. Charlie Crist’s opinion piece is the latest in a series of political steps in which he appears to be preparing — as a Democrat — to challenge Gov. Rick Scott in 2014." "Crist continues political makeover with Obama endorsement". Related: "Republicans denounce Crist for Obama endorsement on eve of GOP convention".

Say what? "Crist to speak at Democratic National Convention".

Nancy Smith: "In the house where Florida Democrats live, the candidate cupboard is bare. Let's see how long it takes the party of desperation to snatch up Charlie Crist like he's water in a desert." "Charlie Crist's Latest Obama Hug Is Gonna Get Him Into the Club".

News Journal editors to the rescue

The Daytona Beach News Journal editors to the rescue: "Scott gets small boost from improved communication".

Florida college guest speaker raffles Obama punching bag

"Lake-Sumter Community College president apologizes for Obama punching bag giveaway".

First, a panel of federal judges rejected state lawmakers’ cynical effort to shorten the early voting period. Then, Gov. Scott got into a standoff over the matter with the Monroe County Supervisor of Elections (a fellow Republican, no less), who he threatened with “all necessary and appropriate action” if he doesn’t shorten early voting to just eight days like the rest of Florida.

We’re little more than two months from the presidential election, and it’s come to this. Instead of focusing on aspects of voting where there’s significant evidence of fraud (see the case of Deisy Cabrera, a political operative in Miami found this month with a stack of absentee ballots and charged with illegally signing a senior’s ballot), Florida officials are saber-rattling with an independent elections supervisor.

The problem with the governor’s threat: The repressive new state rules don’t apply to Monroe County or the four other counties where election rule changes require federal preclearance under the Voting Rights Act. Not after the federal court rejected them.

Harry Sawyer Jr, the Monroe County elections supervisor, says reducing early voting from 12 to 8 days will reduce turnout, so he’s refusing to do it. Since he doesn’t have to comply, it’s not only a sensible choice, it’s the right one.

Under the new law, passed last year over the howls of voter-rights groups, early voting has been reduced to eight days, and county elections supervisors can choose to keep polls open for as many as 96 or as few as 48 hours. ...

Why was the early voting change rejected [by the three-judge federal panel]? The court said state officials failed to prove the changes would not harm minority voting. And no wonder. Consider this: In 2008, more than half of black voters cast ballots during early voting – double the rate for white voters. Shortening the early-voting hours is, then, likely to disproportionately affect black voters. That’s the essence of voter repression: reduced opportunity equals reduced votes.

Gov. Scott points out that the court indicated it would approve the new early-voting rules if all five preclearance counties agree to keep polls open for 12 hours a day. But Monroe County is not compelled to do so, and we see no reason why it should. If the governor and state lawmakers want a voter law that doesn’t illegaly reduce minority voter turnout, they should redraw this one, not bully the independent county elections supervisors into complying with a repressive political ploy.

"Florida is must-win state for Romney"

"For Mitt Romney and the Republicans, Florida is a must-win, the indispensable make-or-break prize they must capture on Election Day to regain the White House."

For President Barack Obama, Florida is the potential clincher, the knock-out punch, the big boost he may not need in terms of Electoral College votes but would love to have to ease his path to a second term and strengthen his mandate to govern.

• Based on recent opinion polls and past voting patterns, Romney today could claim 191 electoral votes in states where he is leading. Without Florida, he would need to win nearly all of the other swing states to reach a total 270 electoral votes and replace Obama. Political analysts consider that a daunting, virtually impossible task.

• States where the president is leading would give him 232 electoral votes. If Obama holds onto those and adds 29 from Florida, he would need to win only one or two small swing states to score the remaining nine electoral votes to secure re-election.

Even if Obama loses Florida, he still could put together a winning combination from some of the other swing states: Ohio, Colorado, Virginia, Wisconsin, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, New Mexico and Iowa, which have a combined total of 86 electoral votes.

"Maybe you know Florida for its freak-show nature ..."

Adam C. Smith and Charles Mahtesian: "Welcome to Florida, Republican conventioneers."

Let’s not mince words: You are in the most important state in America.

You already know this is America’s biggest battleground and that if Mitt Romney loses our 29 electoral votes Barack Obama is almost certainly re-elected. But with Florida it’s more than that.

This is a mega state so diverse that it mirrors the nation’s moods, sentiments and demographics. Florida is America — today’s America and tomorrow’s.

So maybe you know Florida for its freak-show nature — the Butterfly ballot, Miami’s face-eating zombie, a magnet for mystics, carnies and charlatans — but it’s more than fascinating.

Thousands of Republicans will gather in Tampa this week for the Republican National Convention to sort out the nation’s problems and possibilities and make Romney their presidential nominee.

Why here?

Because if you’re going to declare you’re the party to make this nation better, there is no more important nor strategic place to make that point than Florida.

Been here before

Miami hosted three national party conventions in 1968 and 1972, but the state back then was known more for its exoticism and in political terms, it was a middleweight at best, with 17 electoral votes.

Today it has 29 electoral votes, far more than any other presidential battleground.

We are America’s fourth-biggest state and stalking New York as No. 3. But California and New York are reliably blue-voting states, and Texas still solidly red.

Why bother?

Mary Ellen Klas: "In an election season dominated by headlines of voter fraud, dirty tricks and enormous campaign checks, two troubling trends have gotten little attention: low voter turnout and dozens of unopposed candidates." "Florida's unwanted election year trends: fewer voters, unopposed candidates".

Scott's "deceitful way to keep the jobs picture looking better than it is"

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "It turns out there may be another reason besides Gov. Rick Scott's job creation efforts that the number of Floridians seeking unemployment checks has been dropping. The Internet application for benefits is so cumbersome and the state's phone lines are so jammed that the unemployed give up in frustration. Whether intentional or not, running an unemployment compensation operation that makes it so difficult to file claims is a deceitful way to keep the jobs picture looking better than it is."

Florida ranks last in the nation when it comes to the number of unemployed people who receive jobless benefits, an average weekly check of $230. Just one in three of those applicants receive compensation, and only, apparently, if they are dogged about getting it.

Scott is not without accomplices. The Republican-led Legislature has reduced benefits for recipients from a maximum of 26 weeks to 23 weeks and made it harder to qualify. Applications — including a 45-question skills assessment — are only taken online. And applicants must prove they are contacting at least five employers weekly to maintain benefits.

Alleged "editorial board" rewrites history

The pusillanimous Miami Herald editorial board, which infamously folded like a cheap suit as the master overruled the board's decision to endorse Walter F. Mondale, is again rewriting history this doggerel today:

Florida’s U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and former Gov. Jeb Bush, both popular conservatives willing to cross party lines without compromising their principles when Floridians’ best interests demanded it in Tallahassee, will be spotlighted in Tampa.

'Ya reckon?

"'The Constitution does not need to be scrapped; it needs to be abided by,' thundered Jim Clymer, Constitution Party vice presidential candidate and former party chairman, to a smattering of an audience at the 2012 Ron Paul Festival, as hundreds more people frequented the vendors in the neighboring Expo Hall." "Constitution Party VP Jim Clymer Makes His Case at Ron Paul Fest". See also "Day One of Ron Paul Fest: Jaded Conservatives, Libertarians Celebrate Liberty".

Protesters bring modern 'Hooverville' to Tampa

"Among the groups sponsoring or participating in the March on the RNC are labor unions, student organizations, immigrant rights advocates, anti-war groups and local Occupy groups. New York’s Occupy group is sending three busloads of demonstrators to participate in a key march Monday. About 50 groups have endorsed another umbrella group, resistRNC, including the feminist anti-war group CODEPINK and advocates for the homeless." "Protesters bring modern ‘Hooverville’ to GOP convention city".

Desperate

"Trump 'bigger than Isaac,' will appear at Sarasota dinner".

More unctuous Jeb-doggerel

Myriam Marquez makes up for at least a month without her routinely unctuous Jeb-worship, with this drivel today: Jeb Bush, who as Florida governor had to face more hurricanes than many of his predecessors, had that special touch ... with hurricane victims who cried on his shoulders as he rushed from one emergency center to another to help ensure there were plentiful supplies. I remember watching him at one such site in Osceola County. Such empathy during a crisis seemed to come naturally to him."

Adam Smith is equally guilty in this puff piece: "A conversation with Jeb Bush".

"Jeb!" declares Romney an Everyman

The son and brother of presidents - who as far as we can tell has never filled out a job application himself - declares that the latest Republican with a swiss bank account is an Everyman: "Jeb Bush: Romney can connect with Americans".

"Citizens executives spent lavishly on themselves"

"Citizens Property Insurance executives spent lavishly on themselves even as they pleaded poverty and raised rates by unprecedented amounts to its 1.4 million customers, a Herald/Time investigation has found."

A Herald/Times review of hundreds of expense reports filed over the past three years shows that Citizens executives spent lavishly on themselves even as they pleaded poverty and raised rates by unprecedented amounts.

Traveling executives often stayed in luxury hotels costing as much as $600 a night even when less expensive accommodations were available nearby.

Free of spending caps imposed on rank-and-file employees, executives dined at swank restaurants and repeatedly spent more than $50 per person on such fare as rack of venison, sea bass and dungeness crab.

Citizens spent tens of thousands of dollars on travel just in Florida, including trips to board meetings held in four-star hotels.

Citizens’ chief financial officer broke company rules at least five times by using corporate credit cards to pay for alcoholic beverages and personal expenses.

Just how much have Citizens’ top executives spent on travel and meals in the past three years? Even company accountants aren’t sure.