FLORIDA POLITICS
Since 2002, daily Florida political news and commentary

 

UPDATE: Every morning we review and individually digest Florida political news articles, editorials and punditry. Our sister site, FLA Politics was selected by Campaigns & Elections as one of only ten state blogs in the nation
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Welcome To Florida Politics

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

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

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

 

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The Blog for Monday, May 13, 2013

"Way too early to count out Rick Scott"

    "It’s way too early to count out Rick Scott for a second term."
    His poll numbers are stubbornly bleak — only one in three voters say he deserves a second term — and despite plenty of coaching, he still displays the natural charm and warmth of an automaton.
    "But 77 weeks before Election Day, Democrats lack a consensus candidate, Scott is methodically raising money for his re-election and every day the political landscape improves for him as Florida’s economy perks up."
    So far, public polls suggest, voters are giving Scott little credit for the improving jobs picture in Florida. Democrats see a prime opportunity to take back the Governor’s Mansion, and plenty of Republicans outside Scott’s inner circle agree. “This is the same chattering class that had Bill McCollum and then Alex Sink measuring drapes for the Governor’s Mansion. They both learned the hard way about underestimating Rick Scott, but apparently the Tallahassee establishment just never learns its lesson,” said Tony Fabrizio, Scott’s chief political adviser. “We look forward to a campaign against either of the Tallahassee establishment favorites — Crist or Sink — as their dismal record of high unemployment, sinking home prices and a collapsing economy while leading the state will serve as a sharp contrast to the dramatic turnaround the state has undergone under Gov. Scott.” . . .

    The top strategist again will be Fabrizio, a blunt, cigar-smoking Brooklyn native Bob Woodward once dubbed “an attack specialist” for his work on the Bob Dole campaign. Fabrizio, now residing in Fort Lauderdale, is the pollster and big picture strategist who has continued advising Scott throughout his first three years as governor.

    "Florida economy improves, but will it help Gov. Scott?"


    Negron picks up a challenger

    "Brandon Michael Cannon, 26, owner of a now-shuttered Port St. Lucie senior arcade, has filed to run against state Sen. Joe Negron of Palm City in the 2014 Republican primary. Cannon told Sunshine State News he is well aware that if his grassroots campaign should pull off an upset next year, he would be interrupting Negron's ambitions. Negron is scheduled to become president of the Florida Senate in 2016." "Arcade Owner Brandon Michael Cannon Files to Challenge Sen. Joe Negron".


    Water wars

    "The water dispute between Alabama, Florida and Georgia is provoking hardball politics in Congress, where Georgia lawmakers derailed a proposal that could restrict metro Atlanta’s water supply." "Tri-state water feud plays out in Congress".


    The best he can do

    "Lenny Curry, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), believes there are lessons in Mark Sanford’s victory in a special congressional election held in South Carolina on Tuesday -- namely, that voters around the nation don’t want to support Democratic candidates who will end up supporting Nancy Pelosi for speaker of the House." "Lenny Curry: 'Nancy Pelosi Poison' Strategy Worked in South Carolina, It Can Work in Florida".


    5 things to know

    "5 things to know in Florida for May 13".


    Funny how that works

    "Budget Packs Millions in Legislative Leaders' Districts".


    "A case study in the worst of political gaffes"

    Marc Caputo: "The biggest mistakes in politics are often unforced errors that reinforce an opponent’s stereotypes."

    By that standard, the Heritage Foundation’s immigration report last week was a case study in the worst of political gaffes.
    "Marc Caputo: Heritage Foundation’s immigration report a case study in gaffes".

    This unsupported remark by Caputo is curious: "It’s true that some liberals and Democrats want to scuttle immigration reform for political gain. Many would prefer the current situation, in which Hispanic voters continue to tilt Democrat and blame Republicans for blocking immigration reform." To which we say, who? Which liberals? It seems Mr. Caputo is shooting from the hip; after all, he doesn't want to let the facts get in the way of appearing to be "balanced", now does he?


    "Try again" on Citizens

    The Miami Herald editorial board argues that Tally should "Try again" on Citizens.


    Never mind

    "PolitiFact Florida: Florida Democratic Party chair misfires on Scott's teacher pay raise priority".


    Stearns tuffer than Crenshaw

    "Ander Crenshaw's a Target, but He'll Be Tougher than Cliff Stearns to Bring Down".


    "Here's a riddle"

    The Miami Herald editors ask, "Here’s a riddle:"

    What’s vital to the future of Florida, involves numerous interest groups around the country and is coming up for a crucial vote in the U.S. Senate? Hint: It’s not the hot-button immigration reform bill that has the chattering class inside the Beltway all a-buzz.

    It’s not sexy, it’s not politically partisan and you’re not likely to see angry talking heads screaming about it on TV — which is why you may not have heard of the debate over the Water Resources Development Act that began last week on the floor of the Senate.

    But for all its lack of glitz, passage of the bill is crucial to the future of Florida and its ability to compete economically.

    "Everglades on the line".

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