Voters of that very conservative state — Mitt Romney won by 10 points in Indiana — booted this conservative reformer from office just last month.

Apparently a big reason is that Bennett's version of "reform" involved a whole lot of teacher-bashing.

Don't take my word for it. Take it from one of Indiana's leading voices of conservative school reform, lawyer and blogger Paul Ogden. He penned a piece titled: "Why Tony Bennett Lost — The Folly of Beating Up Teachers for Public Education's Problems."

We all know our schools need help. And maybe Bennett learned a lesson. But the last thing this state needs is another teacher-trasher.

Heck, you can't swing a dead cat in Tallahassee without finding a politician who likes to blame teachers for all the world's woes. And that's a problem — not just for the poor cat, but because demonizing teachers isn't a solution for anything.

Florida misses deadline

"Florida is being non-committal about whether it will meet [the] deadline to notify Washington if it will set up its own exchange for providing health insurance in 2014 under the federal health care law, but it appears unlikely." "Florida appears unlikely to make health exchange deadline".

Republicans demand cigars, get unruly

Lucy Morgan and Michael Van Sickler: "House Speaker Will Weatherford has apologized for the behavior of some lawmakers at a retreat last month when several Republican members who had been drinking became unruly at a Disney World hotel."

The outing began the Tuesday night after Thanksgiving at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the priciest hotel at the theme park with rooms that fetch up to $700 a night. Paid for by the Republican Party of Florida, it was part of a traditional retreat to salute new leaders of the House after an election.

The incident began when several lawmakers went to the hotel's front desk and tried to get a key to the room of Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Miami. When a clerk refused, one lawmaker reportedly put a $20 bill on the counter. Weatherford said he has been unable to determine who was there.

Oliva said he went to bed early, turned off his phone and was not aware until the next morning that lawmakers were trying to get cigars he had in his room.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, said he was with a group of lawmakers who stopped at the front desk after dinner. He said someone in the group asked the clerk about getting a cigar from Oliva's room.

"The entire thing lasted five minutes," Gaetz said. "Nothing inappropriate happened. It happened three weeks ago and I don't remember it."

Pressed to identify others in the group, Gaetz resisted. Asked what happened after someone asked for a cigar, he said, "Look, man, I don't precisely recall." . . .

"There were rumors of misbehavior, or at least loud and unbecoming behavior of members," Weatherford said. "I dealt with it in front of the entire membership, telling them we were there to work and I expected better from them. I didn't mention names because I didn't know who was involved.''

As the conference ended, Weatherford said he heard additional allegations of drinking and misbehavior at the front desk but is still trying to identify who was involved and what happened.

Right-wingers seek to strip manatees of endangered species status

"A conservative legal foundation filed a petition with the federal government Friday to strip the manatee of its status as an endangered species, challenging protections that have prevented the construction of docks and led to slow-speed zones along Florida's rivers and canals." "Group seeks to remove manatee's endangered status". See also "Legal group challenges manatee's endangered status".

PSC excludes public counsel in rate increase agreement with Florida Power & Light

"The PSC reached an agreement with Florida Power & Light, the state's largest utility, that allows it to increase its customers' rates by $350 million. By excluding the public counsel, PSC critics said, the commission has set a dangerous precedent by essentially ignoring the people in favor of the power companies." "PSC is blasted for rate increase without counsel". More: "Florida lawmakers to look into FPL settlement".

Sincerity of Crist’s Anti-Gay Petition Regrets Questioned

"Former Gov. Charlie Crist is getting a lot of media play for formally completing his conversion from Republican to Democrat on Thursday in Tampa. But reaction to his comments from Thursday that he regrets signing an anti-gay marriage petition while running for governor in 2006 could be a strong indicator that his transformation won’t be smooth sailing if his ultimate goal is a return to the taxpayer’s Tallahassee home as governor." "Florida LGBT Activists Question Charlie Crist’s Anti-Gay Petition Regrets".

Rubio joins Axis of Silly Poltroons

Daniel Ruth: "South Carolina's own Foghorn Leghorn, Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, [is] stepping down from his seat to take a cushy job at one of the capital's most harrumphing think tanks, the uber-conservative Heritage Foundation."

To be sure, DeMint became something of modest kingmaker, championing the successful campaigns of the likes of Marco Rubio. But it is also just as likely that DeMint received a black spot in interoffice mail for his role in pretty much guaranteeing the GOP's slouch toward irrelevance. A string of DeMint-backed tea party candidates lost when more credible Republicans would have had a better chance at winning. They included Nevada's Sharron Angle, Delaware's Christine O'Donnell and Missouri's Todd Akin, who believed women possessed a magic power to ward off pregnancy after being "legitimately" raped. Loser, loser, loser.

As the Post reported, DeMint even flummoxed his colleagues by using parliamentary procedures to force weekend votes, only to blow off the actual roll call himself.

Some public servants use their time in office to build a legacy. DeMint was more interested in padding a resume. At the Heritage Foundation, he will essentially oversee an organization that cranks out talking points for the Rush Limbaugh/Glenn Beck/Sean Hannity Axis of Silly Poltroons.

And isn't it fair to add Mr. Rubio, a product of Mr. DeMint's Teabagger Machine, to that Axis of Silly Poltroons?

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: Did He Leave His Heart in Indiana?".

Legislature enters session without budget shortfall

"Florida’s economy continued showing fresh signs of life, with analysts Friday forecasting tax collections will rise almost 5 percent next year – giving Gov. Rick Scott and state lawmakers more cash to spend in the state budget. . . . It seemed to bolster prospects that, for the first time since 2007, the Legislature would enter a regular session not facing a budget shortfall." "Florida revenue forecast improves, but federal “cliff” and pension ruling could hurt budget".

The best the Dems can do?

Scott Maxwell is not "keen on Charlie's chances. Here are three reasons why:"

1) He got creamed in his last election. 2) He has no base. 3) Voters have good reason not to trust him. (A few years ago, he swore he was "as conservative as you can get." Now he says: "my heart has always been … more in line with the Democratic Party.")

On the flip side, the best reason Charlie could win is this: Rick Scott. The incumbent governor is less popular than a parka at a Florida nudist resort.

I'm not saying Crist can't win. (Heck, my cat, Furball, might stand a chance against Scott if his numbers don't improve. And Charlie could charm ticks off a bloodhound.) But I am saying that, if the Democrats' best hope rests with someone who wasn't even a member of their party earlier this week, that speaks volumes about the sorry state of their prospects.

Scott stays in the dark

"A budget tracking web site paid for by Florida taxpayers but never made public will remain on the shelf as Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday that he will seek bids to create a public budget watchdog site and the vendors of the existing system can get in line with everyone else."

Dan Krassner of Integrity Florida said he hoped Scott would reconsider his decision to not give the public access to a system, even as he is seeking new bids.

“It’s disappointing that Floridians will not have access to the powerful budget tracking website that was built with $5 million in public money,’’ he said. “This is a victory for the Tallahassee insiders who will continue to know exactly how government spends our money while Floridians are left in the dark.’’

In 2011, the Senate signed a contract with Spider Data System to develop a budget transparency web site for use by the Senate and its staff to monitor the budget, state contracts and personnel services. Although the system was ready to launch in November 2011, it was never unveiled.

The Senate contract was signed by the former chief of staff Steve MacNamara, who later become the governor’s chief of staff. Before MacNamara left the governor’s office, the Senate signed memorandum of understanding transferring management of Transparency 2.0 to the governor but, uneasy about the way the contract was handled, MacNamara’s successor, Adam Hollingsworth, refused to sign the agreement.

$1 billion train

"The state appears set to approve a key step in All Aboard Florida's quest to build a privately financed $1 billion train to carry tourists and business travelers from Miami to Orlando International Airport." "State appears ready to get on board with Orlando-to-Miami train".

FlaDem Hispanic Caucus supporting Clendenin

"The race for chairman of the Florida Democratic Party got a lot more interesting Thursday when a leading Latino political group endorsed Tampa party activist Alan Clendenin."

Many party insiders consider Allison Tant, a top northwest Florida fundraiser for President Barack Obama, to be the favorite in the three person race. Annette Taddeo-Goldstein, the recently elected chairwoman of the Miami-Dade County Democratic Party, is the third candidate.

Tant has been praised, though not officially endorsed, by two of the state's highest ranking Democrats – U.S. Bill Nelson and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a close Obama ally and chairman of the national Democratic Party.

But Clendenin's endorsement by the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida could give his grassroots candidacy a boost.

"The Latino vote was very critical to Democrats' victory in Florida and any endorsement by Hispanic groups has to be taken seriously," said Susan MacManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida.

MacManus said the near-endorsements by Nelson and Wasserman-Schultz are powerful indicators the party's power brokers want Tant at the helm of the party as it prepares to battle Republican Rick Scott for the governorship in 2014.

She was elected chair of the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee on Thursday night in an agreement that saw longtime party activist Jon Ausman step aside and accept the post of state committeeman. . . .

Only county party officials, including chairmen and county delegates to the state party governing board, are eligible to run for the state chairmanship.

Legislative equivalent of a no-hitter

"U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams is on the verge of completing the legislative equivalent of a no-hitter. With just a couple of weeks left in the 112th Congress, Adams has yet to miss a single vote — even showing up with a sinus infection last week to cast her ballot on a niche bill dealing with asthma inhalers." "Adams maintains perfect voting record in U.S. House".

But four members of the deadlocked commission – all Democrats – are independently requesting a U.S. Justice Department probe into the origins of the law, HB 1355, passed last year by the state’s Republican-controlled legislature and signed by GOP Gov. Rick Scott.

Prior to the vote, letters were received from three Republican members of Congress — Senator Charles Grassley and U.S. Rep. Steve King, both of Iowa, and U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, of Arizona — requesting that the commission also investigate alleged bias on the part of Obama administration Justice Department in dealing with GOP attempts to change election laws. Included in their allegations, the legislators accused the Justice Department of trying to block GOP efforts in Florida to remove non-citizens from the voting rolls.

When one of the independent commissioners tried to expand the scope of a possible hearing to include those GOP complaints, that amendment was opposed by the Democrats, so that the vote ended 4-4. And after that vote, the independents and Republicans voted against the initial proposal, which again ended in 4-4 vote, meaning the request was denied.

Second amendment follies

"Man fires assault rifle at deputies near Tampa". Thank goodness these folks didn't have guns handy: "Fight over pizza ends in near drowning in Florida".

"To understand the governor’s real priority"

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Scott made a show this week of demanding more oversight of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. To understand the governor’s real priority for the state-run insurer of last resort, however, check his remarks two weeks ago at the annual insurance industry meeting."

As the governor sees it, the homeowner insurance problem in Florida isn’t that private companies have dumped hundreds of thousands of policies if they have even a moderate hurricane risk. The problem, the governor says, is Citizens, without which those homeowners likely would have no insurance except at a price that would undercut Gov. Scott’s push to make Florida a cheaper place to live. Claiming to speak for the roughly half of Florida families making $40,000 a year or less, the governor said Citizens represents “a threat to each and every Floridian” from a “hurricane tax” — an assessment to cover Citizens claims.

Crist's low moving flip-flop

"Former Gov. Charlie Crist completed his conversion to the Democratic Party on Thursday at a camera-ready media event at which he revised his views on yet another issue: same-sex marriage." "Now a Democrat, Charlie Crist regrets signing anti-gay marriage petition".

"Skepticism of a Crist candidacy"

Paul Flemming: "Charlie Crist for Governor in 2014 is a mortal lock."

What is less than certain — though there will be loads of chattering-class speculation masquerading as certainty to the contrary — is Crist’s appearance on November’s 2014 ballot. He has to win the Democratic primary first.

Who can challenge him for name recognition?

Not Nan Rich, you say. Who can claim greater success as a statewide candidate? Not Alex Sink, you counter. Who can tap the fundraising well of deep-pocketed Dems from Manhattan to Hallandale Beach? Not Buddy Dyer, you retort.

But here’s the thing.

At about this point in 2009, after Mel Martinez announced his resignation from the U.S. Senate, there was no greater certainty among the punditocracy than that Charlie Crist would be the next senator from Florida.

You recall how that turned out.

In 2006, Charlie Crist running against check-his-pulse Jim Davis, polled 2.5 million votes, good for 52.2 percent. That represented, if you’ll allow a very rough pro-ration of estimated Republican turnout, about 675,000 ballots from voters who weren’t Republicans.

In 2010, Rick Scott, running against the under-funded and poorly executed campaign of Alex Sink, got elected with 2.6 million, or 48.9 percent, of the vote, a number that represents about 650,000 votes beyond the rough estimation of projected Republican turnout.

What does it mean? I’d venture to say this: Put an R behind a candidate’s name, spend upwards of $50 million, and you can win even with some incredible negatives.

That 10-cent analysis doesn’t consider the possibility of a disciplined Republican grass roots that turned out in droves, nor does it account for the overall voter rolls swelling by nearly 800,000 in the intervening four years, nor the increasingly post-partisan, NPA-registering electorate that continues to intensify. I’ve got to leave something to the doctoral students.

There is a significant portion of mainstream, dedicated Republicans who didn’t particularly like Crist or Scott, but voted for both of them. Those same voters are so vehemently in hate with Crist now that it will drive them into love with Scott.

So it would be a grand electoral experiment to have Crist on the ballot in 2014 with a D after his name. I’m fascinated by what might happen, either way. But I remain skeptical of Crist’s chances even as I tote up the reasons to believe.

Chits are going to come back as winners, chiefly with the Florida Education Association and Crist’s veto of merit-pay legislation. . . .

If Crist is an iffy proposition as the Democratic nominee and an even more questionable general-election opponent, then why are the Republicans paying him so much attention? The quick-strike team at RPOF has been out in full force for months and has ramped itself up into a frenzy since last Friday. Those folks are a lot smarter than I, or at least have access to much more polling than I do, so I can’t help thinking a Crist candidacy is a serious challenge to Scott.

There’s a whole laundry list of things in support of my skepticism of a Crist candidacy that starts with Jim Greer’s criminal trial early next year and runs through to the fact that our current seven-year run without a hurricane making landfall (see for reference HB 1A from the January 2007 special legislative session and the vast tax increase that awaits all Floridians in a worst-case scenario).

Responding to "verbal missile barrage"

"Despite being the only county that failed to meet the post-Election Night deadlines to submit vote totals -- and her office being the target of a verbal missile barrage that featured the words 'botched' and 'disaster' -- St. Lucie County long-serving Supervisor of Elections Gertrude Walker is confident the final numbers submitted to the state are correct." "St. Lucie Elections Supervisor Gertrude Walker: 'The Right People are in Office'".

Not for you

"Fla. won’t restore rights to famed jewel thief ‘Murph the Surf’".

FPL four-year rate deal

"The Florida Public Service Commission agrees to modify a Florida Power & Light settlement offer and will allow the company $358 million and four years of guaranteed profits as it bring three new power plants into service." "Regulators agree to give FPL four-year rate deal". Related: "Legislators urge regulators to vote no on proposed FPL settlement".

Scott at work

"Florida tops foreclosure list for third straight month". Meanwhile, "Florida attracting new residents".

"Crist-Backed Election Reform Legislation Already 'Dead’"

Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan "Bucher, a Democrat and former legislator -- called one of Election 2012's most mistake-prone supervisors -- said Republican lawmakers are not going to back at least one bill already filed to overturn the 2011 election changes because former governor and newborn Democrat Charlie Crist is behind the proposal."

Last month, Florida Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, was joined by Crist in Tampa to announce his plans to reverse Republican election measures introduced in 2011.

Kowtowing to the union

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: Tony Bennett, the man selected as commissioner of education suffered "a humiliating defeat last month in his bid for a second term as superintendent of Indiana schools. In a Republican state that strongly backed Mitt Romney, Bennett lost to his Democratic opponent by 52 to 48 percent, though he raised far more money."

The union hating editors continue with this non sequitur: Bennett doesn't have to kowtow to the union to understand that parents and educators — not national think tanks — ultimately will determine whether he succeeds." "Indiana's lesson for our schools".

"Conservative kind of guy"

"Fresh on the heels of his upset victory over a Republican incumbent and anointed future House speaker, freshman Rep. Mike Clelland, D-Lake Mary, says he’s a 'very conservative kind of guy' who will make electoral reform his chief legislative priority." "Mike Clelland: Democratic Upsetter, 'Conservative Kind of Guy' with an Eye on Election Reform".

"Bush's Mr. Cellophane", speaks

George Dubya "Bush's Mr. Cellophane", speaks: "Florida's former senator and a one-time head of the national Republican Party, Mel Martinez, said Thursday that members of his own party need to get ready to go along with higher taxes." "Mel Martinez on higher taxes: 'Republicans are going to have to swallow the pill'".

Big of them

"William Michael Dillon received formal forgiveness from the state following a wrongful murder conviction." "Clemency board grants full pardon to wrongfully convicted man".

The "divisive" Bennett, "a champion of the testing mania, unchecked expansion of charter schools and voucher programs" is not without his supporters on the fringe. Bennett was actually awarded

the "America's Education Reform Idol" award for his state in 2011.

Yee Haw!

"Concealed weapon permits to hit 1 million next week in Florida".

"Scott hangs onto notion that he has cards to play"

"With just days before he must declare whether Florida will open its own insurance marketplace or leave it to the federal government, Gov. Rick Scott is asking to meet with President Barack Obama on health care."

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter to governors this week, urging states to embrace a key provision of the Affordable Care Act. Sebelius refused the governors’ request to further extend the deadline for states to commit to opening an online shop where small businesses and individuals can buy insurance.

There’s virtually no chance Florida could meet Friday’s deadline, which was pushed back from November. States must declare not only an intention to open an insurance exchange, but submit a blueprint for doing so. Yet Scott is still not saying explicitly that Florida will opt out. Instead, Scott seems to be hanging onto the notion that he has some cards to play.

Leading nation in foreclosures

"Brevard leads nation in foreclosures". See also "Florida Realtors discuss 2013 housing market with national economists".

"Talk is cheap"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "Florida's two new legislative leaders apparently weren't worried about optics when they handed out hefty raises, and now 62 legislative staffers earn $100,000 or more. Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford talk a lot about being fiscally conservative Republicans, and they have been part of the legislative leadership that has frozen salaries and cut jobs for rank-and-file state workers for five years. But when it comes to rewarding those who work closest to them, their actions look far different."

As the Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau reported Wednesday, Gaetz and Weatherford, combined, have decided to dole out raises to 17 staffers that totaled more than $250,000. . . .

Gaetz and Weatherford defended their decisions as necessary to keep top talent on board. And some of the highest-paid employees are dedicated and talented individuals who earn their pay. But the irony is that top staffers used to leave state government to cash in; now even those early in their careers have learned if they stick around and play their cards right, they can earn a handsome sum. That's a far cry from just a decade ago when the communications director for then-Senate President Jim King, also a Republican, started at a mere $45,000.

Republican leaders have talked a lot in recent years about the state tightening its belt. That should apply to everyone. Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder.

Except for the "forever" part

"At Florida Forever's peak, $300 million a year in state funding gushed into the program. But lawmakers turned off the tap a couple of years ago after doc-stamp tax revenues tanked along with the real-estate market. Earlier this year, lawmakers turned the tap back on a trickle." "What we think: Revive land buying for environment, economy".

"Election chiefs confer on solving problems that dog Florida"

"State and Palm Beach County election chiefs confer on solving problems that dog Florida". See also "Broward County election officials want flexibility on early voting".

Crist milks it

"Crist will make party change official today".

The lawsuit is also another public-relations headache for the Republican Party of Florida, which would prefer to focus its energies on bigger matters, like promoting Gov. Rick Scott.

But RPOF has no choice. It has to deal with Diaz de la Portilla.

He was elected Aug. 14 as Republican State Executive Committeeman from Miami-Dade. The party, though, refused to seat him. It said he forgot to submit a loyalty oath to the party in Tallahassee. . . .

Diaz de la Portilla signed the oath June 5, got it notarized and promptly submitted it to the county and state elections offices as well as the local Republican Party, according to documents he filed in his lawsuit.

In a sworn affidavit, Miami-Dade Republican Party Executive Director Yulexis Argota said he faxed the loyalty oath to party headquarters in Tallahassee on June 6 and then personally spoke with a party official who confirmed receipt.

Burgess, though, said that this evidence presented by Diaz de la Portilla wasn’t “definitive proof” that he filed his oath properly. That means RPOF isn’t budging.

After all, the committeeman battle is bound up in the fight over who becomes Florida House Speaker, from 2018 to 2020. . . .

But the more the case develops, the less it looks like it’s a fight about the preference of rank-and-file voters for a position that few understand.

"Three requests to Tallahassee"

"Miami-Dade's mayor and elections supervisor asked Florida's secretary of state Tuesday to relay three requests to Tallahassee to try to fix last month's elections woes:"

Extend the number of early-voting days. Expand early voting to sites other than public libraries, city halls and elections offices. Cap the number of words in state constitutional ballot questions.

Secretary of State Ken Detzner said he would carry Miami-Dade's message to his boss, Gov. Rick Scott, after completing visits to five problem counties and drafting recommendations for improvement. Those suggestions require the approval of state legislators who wrote the elections laws in the first place.

Tone deaf

"Florida’s new legislative leaders handed out hefty raises and salaries to many of their top staff and newly hired talent even as thousands of state workers went for a sixth year without a bump in pay."

Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford, who were sworn in last month, immediately hired new chiefs of staff and paid them more than taxpayers pay state Cabinet officials. They are paying 62 top policy advisors and staff directors more than $100,000 a year. And they gave salary increases totaling $252,000 to their 17 highest paid employees. . . .

The salaries were “based on a number of factors including increased workload, matching offers made by other organizations, merit, recommendations from supervisors and years of service,’’ said Ryan Duffy, Weatherford spokesman. (Duffy is paid $95,000, a $20,000 increase over what he was making last year as spokesman for the House Republican office.)

State workers, by contrast, have not seen a pay raise in six years. Last year, the Legislature also tapped into their take-home pay by trimming three percent to pay the annual contribution to the Florida Retirement System.

"It isn't exactly a roaring recovery. But Florida's once-heralded land conservation program is creeping back from the dead." "State to buy more land for conservation".

5 reasons Crist should run, 5 reasons he shouldn't

Adam C. Smith and Steve Bousquet write that, "It was the biggest piece of thoroughly unsurprising news in months: "

Charlie Crist is becoming a Democrat.

The next expectation is Crist will announce a campaign for Florida governor. He's tanned, rested and ready after two years at a high-profile law firm and anyone who follows his career has a hard time picturing Crist out of public life forever.

But the Florida Republicans' prince-turned-pariah is no lock to win a Democratic primary against the likes of Alex Sink, let alone a general election against Gov. Rick Scott, who can pour tens of millions of his own money into a re-election campaign.

Absentee ballot rejections

Scott Powers and David Damron write, "A non-matching signature was by far the most common reason for absentee ballot rejection, say Central Florida election officials. The next most common: the failure to sign the ballot at all, which disqualified 672 more ballots in the four counties." "1,400 absentee ballots rejected for bad signatures". See also "Tampa Bay election supervisors rejected nearly 3,000 absentee ballots".

Talking points

"Don’t expect South Florida’s congressional delegation to stray too far from party lines when it comes to dancing on the edge of the fiscal cliff, the end-of-the-year spending cuts and tax increases set to take effect if Congress and the president don’t address them." "South Florida pols sticking to party lines on fiscal cliff". See also "Florida Contingent in Congress's Lame-Duck Session: Not All 'Fiscal Cliff' Focused".

Hiaasen gives Rubio's anti-science political hackery a pass

Disappointing to see inane-Rubio-love from Carl Hiaasen: "Only 11 days after the re-election of Barack Obama, Marco Rubio flew to Iowa to informally begin his quest for the presidency in 2016."

He didn’t come out and admit it, but there’s no other reason for a Florida senator to visit the Hawkeye State in November, or any other time. Iowa holds the first big primary and is therefore treated with ludicrous attentiveness by future candidates.

1. Keep badmouthing the poor, and bowing to the rich. This is an especially clever strategy while the country is clawing out of a recession.

2. To drive away as many women voters as possible, keep talking about banning abortions and cutting off funds for birth control.

3. Another brilliant campaign topic: Outlawing gay marriage. Keep that one on the front burner if you’re keen on alienating millions of highly motivated voters.

4. Don’t forget to bash big government every chance you get — just pray that a major hurricane doesn’t hit, and the whole country doesn’t get reminded of the importance of FEMA, the National Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and other tax-gobbling slackers.

5. Finally, keeping pushing for laws that would allow anyone who looks vaguely Hispanic to be pulled over in their cars and frisked for citizenship documents. This is how you keep your “base electorate” fired up, your base being angry, white, old and dwindling by the day.

Marco Rubio can’t avoid Iowa with its freakishly homogenous demographics (91 percent white), but he can certainly avoid coming off like a jabbering loon. He’s already separated himself from the likes of Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann by stating that he actually believes in science[*].

Now we’ll see if the GOP can evolve enough to let him lead the party out of its cave.

- - - - - - - -

*Mr. Hiaasen has apparently overlooked Rubio's comical flip floppery over the age of the earth: "Sen. Marco Rubio tried Wednesday to clear up his stance on the Earth's age, after getting into some hot water when asked about the topic during a magazine interview."

"Science says it's about four and a half billion years old and my faith teaches that that's not inconsistent," the Florida Republican said at a breakfast sponsored by Politico.

"The theological debate is how do you reconcile what science has definitely established with what you think your faith teaches," Rubio continued. "For me, actually, when it comes to the age of the Earth there is no conflict: I believe that in the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth and I think scientific advances give us insight into when he did it and how he did it."

In an interview with GQ magazine, Rubio gave a rambling answer that side-stepped the specific question on the Earth's age as he discussed that he is "not a scientist" and acknowledged a "dispute among theologians." He ended his response by saying "it's one of the great mysteries."

Rubio got drubbed in the liberal blogosphere, highlighting the sensitive debate over evolution vs. creationism -- the view that God created the world.

But poor little Marco, desperate to placate whatever fringe group will be controlling GOPer primaries in 2016, hedged, saying

“I just think in America we should have the freedom to teach our children whatever it is we believe. And that means teaching them science. They have to know the science, but also parents have the right to teach them the theology and to reconcile those two things.”

What’s remarkable isn’t simply that Rubio still seems to be suggesting that we teach kids [with vouchers] that people played with pet dinosaurs a few thousand years ago, but that Rubio is proposing it even though he knows it’s wrong.

[A]t the end of the Politico interview, at about 4 minutes in, Rubio suggests that the age of the earth proves that life begins at conception. Really, Marco? I mean, you’re convinced that the age of the earth is 4.5 billion years, but people should have the right to teach their kids something else. So you’re basically pro-choice on the age of the earth.

But you’re also convinced that the age of the earth proves that life begins at conception. But you don’t think people have the right to disagree about when life begins, which is much tougher question than how old the earth is.

Not to mention, when exactly did science agree that life begins at conception?

And Hiaasen is going to give this anti-science political hackery a pass?

Rubio: science has "definitively" established that life begins at conception

Did we get that right?

[A]t the end of the Politico interview, at about 4 minutes in, Rubio suggests that the age of the earth proves that life begins at conception. Really, Marco? . . . you’re also convinced that the age of the earth proves that life begins at conception. But you don’t think people have the right to disagree about when life begins, which is much tougher question than how old the earth is.

Not to mention, when exactly did science agree that life begins at conception?

"An offhand swipe"

Yesterday, Scott "got in an offhand swipe at the former governor [Charlie Crist] when asked about Crist at long last completing his conversion from Republican to Democrat. 'We’ve had great progress on getting our state back to work,' Scott said while in his Capitol office following the state Cabinet meeting. 'The four years before I became governor the state lost 825,000 jobs, unemployment had gone from 3.5 percent to 11.1 percent. We incurred another $5.2 billion in debt.'" "Rick Scott: How Did Charlie Crist Do On Jobs?". Meanwhile, "Crist to Florida voters: I’ve changed. Really, I have…".

Under Scott, DEP has purchased only 8,289 acres

"DEP purchased an average of 67,380 acres per year from 2002 until 2011. But the department has purchased only 8,289 acres in the two years since Gov. Rick Scott took office." "Cabinet aproves Florida Forever work plan as environmentalists question slow pace of buying".

Foreclosures Affect Budget

"Foreclosures Still Affecting State Budget".

Democrats in a fierce backstage struggle

Steve Bousquet writes that Democrats "are in a fierce backstage struggle to choose a House leader for the 2014-2016 term, and things are getting testy."

Rep. Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg and Rep. Mia Jones of Jacksonville are the main combatants. A third Democrat, Rep. Alan Williams of Tallahassee, joined the race last week.

This is unsettling stuff for the 24 freshman House Democrats still learning where the elevators are. They will have to take sides in a leadership fight and don't want to back the wrong horse.

For Democrats, it's a strategically important choice. Having picked up five seats in the House in November for a total of 44, they need a dynamic leader who can raise money, recruit candidates and keep the momentum going heading into 2014.

Leon County Dems devise a deal for Tant

"Leon County Democrats have devised a deal designed to help Allison Tant win the top spot in the Florida Democratic Party next month." "Leon Democrats back Tant for state chair".

Mushy editorial

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Current bans are discriminatory in state, federal law". "End the ban on gay marriage".

Tant is married to top trial lawyer Barry Richard, a lifelong Democrat best known for leading the Bush-Cheney Florida legal team during the 2000 recount battle.

"Perhaps he can blame that on the colleges and universities, too"

Randy Schultz reminds us that "the people who run Florida’s public colleges and universities didn’t cut $300 million from this year’s higher education budget. The people who run Florida’s public colleges and universities didn’t approved an unneeded 12th university, which will drain money from the other, underfinanced 11."

Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature did those things. But to hear Gov. Scott, he’s not the problem with Florida’s public colleges and universities. The problem is the people who run Florida’s public colleges and universities.

The governor disparaged public education during his first year in office. His first budget cut more from public schools than the Legislature did. Someone finally clued in the governor. When he signed the 2011-12 budget at the tea-party friendly pseudo-city known as The Villages, he vetoed some spending and called on the Legislature to divert the money to education. Which the Legislature couldn’t do. But we saw what was coming.

So this year’s budget contained $1 billion more for schools, or $300 million less than Gov. Scott cut last year. For next year, the governor has vowed to hold school spending at its current level. Given inflation and student growth, the schools will fall behind. Then there’s that Tallahassee-ordered “merit pay” system for teachers. If Gov. Scott is serious, he will find money for it from the state budget. If he isn’t, he will demand that local school districts find it.

Having blessed the schools with his beneficence, Gov. Scott has turned to the colleges and universities. As Tallahassee has cut and cut money for higher education, administrators have raised tuition. Gov. Scott has pledged to cut the cost of living in Florida — except when it comes to property insurance. His “vision” for higher education, which he issued in June, called for Florida to be “No. 1 in university and college affordability.”

In fact, the state has been close to that for years. University tuition ranked 45th until the recent increases, and has risen all the way to 41st. Not good enough. Two weeks ago, Gov. Scott issued his “$10,000 challenge” to the 28 state colleges, which until not long ago were two-year community colleges. The governor wants the colleges to offer a four-degree that costs no more than $10,000 — nice, round political figure — and leads to a job. . . .

Last week, as Gov. Scott was pursuing his “vision” for higher education, he was having to find the third leader in barely a year for his supposedly transformational Department of Economic Opportunity. Perhaps he can blame that on the colleges and universities, too.

"The buck, it sometimes seems, stops nowhere"

William March: "Trying to figure out who pays for campaigns by members of the Florida Legislature has become a bewildering trek through a morass of anonymous, independent committees funneling money back and forth among themselves. The buck, it sometimes seems, stops nowhere." "Florida lawmakers seek reform of independent campaign committees".

"Another hat in the ring"

"A third Democrat in the Florida House has declared his candidacy for the post of minority leader for the 2014-2016 cycle. Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, entered the fray Thursday, joining Reps. Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg and Mia Jones of Jacksonville. All three are in the running to succeed Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, after the 2014 election." "Another hat in the ring".

The next time you whine about their pay or pensions . . .

. . . recall this example, of so many examples, of "the bravery of firefighters". The Sarasota Herald Tribune editorial board: "Finding a suspected meth lab at a tony, Lido Beach high-rise may be the surprise of the year. There was nothing surprising, however, about the bravery of Sarasota firefighters, who last Tuesday risked their own safety -- as they often do -- to rescue residents from a blaze in the building."

This episode was unusual, but it is representative of first responders' everyday commitment to putting the public's well being before their own.

Research challenges notion of STEM as economic elixir

"As STEM has become an education buzzword in recent years, a steady stream of research has emerged that challenges the notion of STEM as an economic elixir. In some STEM careers, the employment picture is downright lousy." "More STEM degrees may not equal more jobs".

"You lied to me"

"Now that former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist is a Democrat, pretty much everyone in Florida's political world expects him to seek his old job. 'I will consider it, and I will think about it,' Crist told The Associated Press by phone while boating off of Miami and before a planned dinner Saturday evening with former Democratic governor and Sen. Bob Graham."

Earlier Saturday, Florida Republicans gathered for a meeting and said they will be extra motivated to re-elect Gov. Rick Scott if his opponent is Crist, who left the GOP during his 2010 run for Senate.

"Bring it on," Peter Feaman, the party's national committeeman, told a room of Republican activists. "That man sat at my house, in my kitchen, at my breakfast table and told me he was a Ronald Reagan Republican. OK, I'm putting my boots on, because guess what? You lied to me." . . .

Republicans, anticipating the switch, have been attacking him for months. As Crist campaigned with President Barack Obama and other Democrats during the fall, Republicans ran a television ad and issued scores of press releases pointing out his previous conservative positions.

Scott's approval ratings haven't come close to what Crist had in office. Scott, a former hospital chain CEO and tea party favorite who never ran for office before spending nearly $80 million of his and his family's money to win election, isn't considered a natural politician. He can be an awkward speaker, and it has taken a while for him to grow comfortable in the spotlight.

But that doesn't mean Crist would have an easy time winning. During primary elections, only about 20 percent of voters turn out, and they are the most faithful in the party. Activists on both sides will remember the many elections in which they fought Crist, who often called himself a Ronald Reagan and Jeb Bush Republican.

Meanwhile, Lloyd Dunkelberger writes that the "potential Crist-Scott showdown would provide a political drama of the highest order in the nation’s fourth-largest state. The matchup also presents plenty of risks and rewards for each side." "In a Crist-Scott showdown, opportunity for drama".

Runnin' "nonprofits" like a bidness

"Top managers at South Florida's main blood bank charged meals with co-workers that featured alcohol and cost nearly $1,000, and one executive took limousine rides worth almost $1,400, according to expense-report receipts obtained by the Orlando Sentinel." "Execs charged meals, limos to South Florida blood bank".

Mack's last act . . . benefits "sugar daddy"

The Sun Sentinel editorial board: "He came to Washington with a good name: U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV, son of a U.S. senator and great grandson of baseball icon Connie Mack. But he leaves Congress under a political cloud after his last-minute push on a bill that would benefit a key political donor."

Mack, who lost his race to unseat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and has about a month left in Congress, chairs a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee. Last week, the Fort Myers Republican scheduled a vote on the only piece of legislation he has pushed through his subcommittee this year: a bill that would pressure Argentina to compensate American investors hurt when it defaulted on its foreign debt more than 10 years ago.

According to a front-page story in USA Today, Mack's bill would largely benefit Paul Singer, a New York venture capitalist whose companies lost more than $1 billion in Argentina. Singer also is a major contributor to Republican races, including Mack and his wife, U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack of California, who lost her re-election campaign.

To call Singer a "sugar daddy" is within the bounds of reason. Employees of his hedge fund contributed $39,413 to Connie Mack's failed Senate campaign. And a political action committee Singer backed spent more than $400,000 attacking Bono Mack's opponent, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

So you can understand why skeptics might see Mack's final move as more proof that big-moneyed interests expect a return on their investments in political candidates, even as those candidates are on their way out the door.

What liberal media?

The Daytona Beach News Journal editors share two less than impressive editorials with us this morning: see "Provisions of Obamacare threaten state budget" and "Full Legislature should weigh prison privatization" ("Legislature should endorse Scott's privatization plans to save precious tax dollars and free up money for other critical areas of the state budget").

Will Scott block this federal help?

The Tallahassee Democrat editors: "Without a steady infusion of fresh water, more salt water finds its way into the bay, and the oysters can’t survive. Oyster harvesters tell of raking in three or four bags a day, when once they were able to fill 20 bags with the world-famous oysters. Help has come to the area. A $2.7 million federal grant will provide jobs for the oystermen." "We need water".

Mary McCarty 2?

"Three years after a sobbing Mary McCarty told a judge she used her Palm Beach County Commission seat for personal gain, the longtime politician will speak to Delray Beach business leaders about the roughly two years she spent in federal lockup."

In what some are calling an eyebrow-raising coming out party and others say is just a sly way to boost numbers at a little-attended event, McCarty on Friday will talk at a closed-door meeting of the government affairs committee of the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce.

McCarty didn’t return a phone call for comment last week about her first semi-public appearance since she was sent to prison in June 2009. But tongues are wagging throughout the city that launched her political career in 1987 when it elected her to the city commission and then was tarred by allegations that it helped perpetuate her misdeeds.

“This is her inauguration. Mary McCarty 2,” said Vincent Dole, a retired venture capitalist who blogs about city goings-on. “It’s a concerted effort to try to help her rehabilitate her image. She wants back in and this is her first step.” . . .

[Others agree] They say they have seen McCarty’s fingerprints on various issues. Her brother, Tallahassee lobbyist Brian Ballard, on Tuesday won a $15,000 contract to persuade state lawmakers to help the city regulate sober houses. She has long been close with outgoing Mayor Woodie McDuffie. Some say she is advising attorney Tom Carney in his upcoming March mayoral race. Carney vehemently denied it, adding that he is tired of the lies linking him with McCarty.

Florida endangering the safety and development of vulnerable children

The Tampa Bay Times editorial board: "The Justice Department says that by sticking children in nursing homes Florida is violating federal law that prohibits discrimination against disabled people and endangering the safety and development of vulnerable children." "We're failing to protect our children".

"Florida's sucking the exhaust of perennial academic also-rans Alabama and Mississippi"

Jebbie Bush's sorry education legacy: The Orlando Sentinel editorial board points out that in "2011, the state posted a mediocre 71 percent graduate rate. How sorry is that? Florida's mark bested only five other states." Even today, in late 2012, with "Florida's sucking the exhaust of perennial academic also-rans Alabama and Mississippi, there remains plenty of work to do."

Where's Mister Scott in all this?"

Dismal numbers — such as only 57 percent of black males and 47 percent of disabled students graduating — may make Florida attractive to Walmart. But relocating businesses of the kind Scott wants prefer to set up shop in areas with educated workforces.

Another "mini-Jeb"? Really?

As Florida continues to suck "the exhaust of perennial academic also-rans Alabama and Mississippi", Florida's media companies likewise continue to push Jeb Bush retreads as the "solution" to Florida's education difficulties.

Last month, Orlando Sentinel columnist Beth Kassab declared that, when it comes to Florida's education commissioner,

Everybody has an eye on Tony Bennett ["the Jeb Bush of Indiana"], the shake-'em-up reformer with an impressive list of accomplishments as Indiana's top education chief. He lost his re-election bid earlier this month — and Indiana lost its place as a reform leader — in an upset by a veteran teacher and union leader.

Really, Beth? Do we really need another mini-"Jeb!" running Florida's education system into the ground? A failed Republican who could not keep his seat in a Republican "stronghold" like Indiana?

And, although "Jeb!" is running as fast as he can away from his Indiana flop, the fact is that Indiana's repudiation of Tony Bennett was a flat out electoral rejection of Jebbie and his "reform" freak show. Although

many states have borrowed from Bush’s education agenda, few have embraced it as fully as Indiana. Superintendent-elect Glenda Ritz’s supporters say these policies — A-F grading for schools, teacher evaluations, performance based pay, expansive voucher programs and expanded charter school options — are why Bennett lost earlier this month.

"Jeb Bush On Tony Bennett’s Defeat: ‘It’s Not My Education Agenda’".

More: "Glenda Ritz Unseats Tony Bennett In ‘Referendum’ On Indiana Education Policy". See also "Incumbent Superintendent Tony Bennett Concedes Race To Ritz" ("Bennett had been a critical force in moving forward education priorities of Gov. Mitch Daniels’ administration: school voucher programs, merit pay for teachers and expansion of charter schools, policies many teachers criticize.")

But Ms. Kassab is at it again, in the context of "Common Core"*. She initially demonstrates her Jebian bona fides with this silly remark:

Teachers actually like Common Core. And, for the most part, the unions like it too.

Folks like Jeb Bush (and apparently Kassab) want us to believe that "unions" dropped out of the sky to force workers - in this case teachers - to read little red books and speak together in groups (err ... evil "collectives"). Sorry, Beth, "teachers unions" are just "teachers" who elect other "teachers" to speak for them at the bargaining table (where, by the way, school boards have the unilateral authority to determine all terms of their "contracts" with "teachers")**

That aside, Kassab's larger and continuing point is just this - Florida needs more Jebbiness. She writes today that

Odds are pretty good — excellent, in fact — that Tony Bennett will be Florida's next education commissioner.

When it comes to school reform, Bennett was the Jeb Bush of Indiana and has a resume long on Florida-inspired changes he pushed on the Hoosiers to show for it.

Bennett was fired by the people of Indiana last month as that state's elected education chief. He lost the election to a veteran teacher and union leader who ran against him. . . .

[H]e didn't get the union vote. He was attacked by teachers for changes to collective bargaining rights and his advocacy for charter schools and vouchers. . . .

Bennett, who started out as a biology teacher and basketball coach, described his relationship with Bush, who usually gets his way when it comes to political battles on education in Florida, as "very strong."

Bennett serves as chairman of Chiefs for Change, an organization closely affiliated with Bush's Foundation for Excellence in Education.

So, does Florida really need Indiana loser Bennett - a mere "mini-Jeb" - as its next education commissioner? Well, six years after Jeb Bush stepped down, after eight years of rule, Florida is still sucking "the exhaust of perennial academic also-rans Alabama and Mississippi". Any questions?

- - - - - - - - - -

* Kassab explains "Common Core" this way: "Common Core means that instead of teaching a small amount about a lot of things, teachers will teach more about fewer things. Students should come away with a deeper knowledge about what's important. For example, research has shown that understanding fractions is critical to understanding algebra. So Common Core calls for fifth graders to spend more time learning fractions."

** Kassab's comrade, Scott Maxwell, once put it this way:

Florida has one of the worst-funded school systems in America.

Compounding the problem is the contempt Republican legislators have for teachers. That's right — teachers.

Sure, they'll try to tell you they just hate the unions. But who do you think comprises the union? It's your son's math instructor, your daughter's music teacher — and their soccer coach.

Underpaid educators have become the enemy.

In fact, the overall demonization of the working class is one of corporate America's most successful coups within the GOP — a party that once championed the rights of the common man.

Nowadays, union-bashing isn't simply a plank in the GOP platform; it's the foundation.