More: "Scott re-election committee to air anti-Crist ad". Related: "On the eve of Crist's announcement, RPOF goes after SaintPetersBlog" and "Campaign Note: Cabinet: Governor" ("Peter Schorsch, a blogger and political consultant, was the subject of a Republican Party of Florida memo on Nov. 1, 2013.")

Weekly Roundup

"Week in Review for Nov. 1, 2013"; See also "Weekly Roundup: Political Fights and Gun Rights".

Sink on the move

"Alex Sink is running for C.W. Bill Young’s congressional seat, will move to Pinellas".

Partisan divide on medicinal marijuana initiative

"The initial divide on the proposed medicinal marijuana initiative appears to be partisan. The two announced Democratic candidates for governor support placing the proposal before voters while Republican leaders have gone to court to have it stricken from the ballot." "Rich supports medical marijuana; Crist says voters should decide; GOP wants it off ballot". See also "Former Fla. GOP Gov. Crist files to run for office again — as Democrat".

The rich are different

"The governor's 10th overseas economic development trip since taking office will focus on attracting foreign investment rather than boosting trade." "Scott off to Japan for week long business development trip".

Never mind

"Charter school retracts letter that threatens to remove students if they fail FCAT".

"They don’t know"

"It’s been a month since Florida's Affordable Care Act health exchange opened for business. So how many uninsured residents has the state’s largest federal “navigator” grant recipient enrolled? They don’t know." "Florida’s Top Obamacare Navigator Grant Recipient ‘Has No Enrollment Numbers’".

"At stake is the last major I-4 corridor city controlled by a Republican"

"The top spender on political television advertisements in the city’s mayoral race is not incumbent Bill Foster nor challenger Rick Kriseman."

It’s an electioneering group funded by the Republican Party of Florida.

In another sign of how the officially nonpartisan race has become a political battleground, the Tallahassee-based group Accountability in Government has spent more than $70,000 to flood the airwaves with more than 3,200 negative ads slamming Kriseman in the run-up to Tuesday’s election.

Classified as an electioneering group, Accountability in Government recently received $96,000 in donations from the state Republican Party. Its ads, which have aired over a four-week period, characterize Kriseman, a Democrat, as a career politician who voted to raise his own pay and never sponsored a single bill to create jobs.

The negative ad blitz might be a last-ditch bid to overturn Kriseman’s lead in recent polls. The level of spending is more than either candidate has allocated for TV spots throughout the long primary and general election campaigns. Foster, whose TV ads began airing in July, has spent $65,000 on them, records show. Kriseman’s campaign has spent about $61,000.

At stake is the last major city along the Interstate 4 corridor that is controlled by a Republican.

Raid seeks evidence of unlawful absentee-ballot requests

"Investigators raided the private business office of North Miami Mayor Lucie Tondreau on Friday seeking evidence linking her to unlawful absentee-ballot requests that her political campaign may have submitted online earlier this year." "North Miami raid marks third investigation of fraudulent absentee-ballot requests".

Deadbeat privateers

"More than two weeks after the Department of Economic Opportunity switched to a $63 million system to process unemployment compensation claims, many Floridians cannot pull down their benefits."

DEO officials say they are working around the clock to fix problems with CONNECT, the new system built by Deloitte, and the two major problems with the site -- the resetting of personal identification numbers and a faulty link to claim benefits -- have been solved.

18 days late?

"The campaign of Miami city commission candidate Richard P. Dunn II came under scrutiny Friday when the city clerk asked the state to look into the campaign’s most recent finance report, and a U.S. Post Office inspector said he believed the candidate mailed the report to the city 18 days after the Oct. 4 deadline — much later than the campaign claims."

Dunn, considered the frontrunner for the city’s District 5 seat in Tuesday’s election, filed a campaign finance report with the city last week that listed some questionable spending, and the campaign has admitted to paying some workers in cash, which is against state elections law.

As you might expect, incumbents like this incumbents relief bill: "Campaign contribution caps rise, but politicos predict little effect".

Scott crony gets 19% raise; or is it 25%?

"Gov. Rick Scott's jobs czar will get a 19 percent pay raise next year, the board of Enterprise Florida Inc. decided Thursday. Gray Swoope, chief executive of the semi-private agency, will see his annual salary grow from $230,000 to $275,000. His allowable bonus will increase from $70,000 to $100,000. And if the governor should fire him – or if another governor doesn't keep him on the job – Swoope for the first time will have a severance payout of $137,500 written into his contract." "Enterprise Florida chief gets 19% raise". See also "Enterprise Florida chief Swoope gets 25% raise".

Scott ready to pounce

"Gov. Rick Scott's political committee is planning to air an ad about Charlie Crist entitled "Opportunist" the same day Crist is scheduled to announce if he will run for governor in 2014." "Campaign Note: Cabinet: Governor".

Sink is Coal in Ehrlich's Christmas Stocking

"It’ll be a sprint to replace Bill Young in Congress with reports out that primaries will be held on Jan. 14 and the general election on March 11. This is good news for Alex Sink who is picking up momentum and building an early lead despite primary rival Jessica Ehrlich’s head start. Ehrlich never really stopped campaigning against Young after her solid outing in 2012 which was the best Democratic showing against him in recent memory. As she started preparing a second campaign, Ehrlich was starting to build some steam and rake in some endorsements and national attention."

But Young’s announcement that he would not run again in 2012, followed quickly afterward by his death, scrambled the entire race. The moment Sink expressed interest, Ehrlich’s momentum faded. It’s telling that Emily’s List abandoned Ehrlich for Sink on Thursday, only a day after the Democrats’ standard bearer in the 2010 gubernatorial nomination said she was running.

Democrats have nothing against Ehrlich but they don’t think she will be as strong a candidate as her rival, even if Sink has to pack her bags, buy a house and actually move into the district. As Sink inched closer to running, Democrats started clearing the decks for her. After being clobbered by Young in 2010, Charlie Justice said he wouldn’t run this time out. Janet Long also quickly took her name out of the mix. And why not? Sink’s no spring chicken at 65 and won’t be holding the seat for more than 40 years the way Young did.

Charter madness

"The Orange County school system is investigating a charter school that wrongly threatened to dismiss students for failing the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests, or FCAT. The school, Cornerstone Charter Academy, retracted the threat Thursday, blaming a 'poorly written letter' from the principal to parents." "Charter school retracts letter that threatens to remove students if they fail FCAT".

Florida's $63 million website flops

"U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has asked the U.S. Department of Labor to investigate problems with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s new $63 million website whose technical problems have interfered with people applying for jobless benefits." "Sen. Nelson pushes for fix of jobless claims website".

Fading Rubio struggles to make himself relevant

"On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., tried unsuccessfully to get the Democratic-controlled Senate to delay the individual mandate included in President Barack Obama’s federal health-care law due to the continued problems plaguing the marketplace website. Rubio asked for unaninmous consent to pass his bill delaying the individual mandate until six months after the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) found Healthcare.gov was fully functional. The Senate denied Rubio’s request." "As Obamacare Website Flops, Marco Rubio Looks to Delay Individual Mandate".

Rubio is doubling down on desperation: "Two Florida Republicans are taking a leading role behind Wisconsin Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson’s push to keep Americans enrolled in their health care plans instead of losing their coverage in the aftermath of President Barack Obama’s federal health-care law. Johnson introduced the If You Like Your Health Care Plan You Can Keep It Act this week with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., at his side. Rubio is co-sponsoring the bill while DeSantis is introducing the measure in the House." "Ron Johnson Enlists Florida Republicans So Americans Can Keep Current Health Care".

"Stacking the courts"

The Miami Herald editors believe Rick Scott is "Stacking the courts".

They said it

"Allen West in High Cotton (Tom Cotton, that is) in Arkansas".

All about me

"Miami Beach voters recently got an official city letter from Michael Góngora — a sitting commissioner who is locked in a tight race to become mayor."

Complete with a golden, raised city seal and printed on heavy paper, the letter lists all of Góngora’s “accomplishments” while in office. In total, 5,000 copies hit mailboxes, just days before the Nov. 5 election.

"Make it up Marco"

Marc Caputo: "Republicans, including Sen. Marco Rubio, have called both Obamacare and the website a failure."

Rubio said the law — which would eventually penalize many of those who don’t buy health insurance next year — should be delayed until the website is fixed.

“It’s not fair to punish anyone for not buying ObamaCare when the website they are supposed to buy it on doesn’t work,” Rubio said last week in a written statement. He intends to submit a bill Monday.

“No, no, no, no. I don’t want to delay the ACA,” Nelson said.

But until it’s fixed?

“Oh forget it,” he said. “That’s ridiculous. That’s ridiculous, ridiculous.”

Nelson, echoing Wasserman Schultz, said Obamacare is working and that the sign-up website is just one part of the act.

However, he said, those responsible for the website’s failures should eventually be fired or held accountable.

Asked twice whether she agreed with Nelson, Wasserman Schultz wouldn’t say.

But she made sure to comment on Rubio, whom she bashed throughout the weekend as “make it up Marco.”

Wasserman Schultz said Republicans are “transparent” in their efforts to undermine Obamacare and that Rubio’s measure is more of the same.

“That’s just baloney,” she said.

Meanwhile, the "entrepreneurs" spring into action: "As Obamacare site stalls, consumers get dubious pitches".

"Efforts even resembling a new tax are politically unpopular"

"For the sixth time, a North Florida lawmaker has filed a bill aimed at capturing some of the Florida sales tax lost to online retailers. Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, filed the 153-page bill (HB 217) on Friday."

But the reason for the measure’s failure to gain traction in Florida is that efforts even resembling a new tax are politically unpopular, especially now with Gov. Rick Scott’s drive to cut $500 million in state taxes and fees. Florida’s sales tax is 6 percent.

Sink moving closer to run for Young's seat

"During the Florida Democratic Party's conference this weekend, Alex Sink appeared to move closer to running for the District 13 seat left empty by the death of Bill Young — not in her own words but in words spoken about her." "Dems push Sink for Young's vacated House seat".

Statewide walkoffs

"No Democratic Foes Yet for Jeff Atwater, Adam Putnam".

Congress retreats in water war

"A massive water infrastructure bill close to winning final congressional approval won’t include something Florida and Alabama want — a requirement that Georgia get Congress’ permission before pulling water from river basins feeding both states, including Apalachicola Bay." "Congress opts not to wade into water war between three states".

The best he can do?

Lloyd Brown thinks gerrymandering is perfectly fine because, you know . . . "during the decades Democrats ran the Legislature they always sought to give Republicans equal opportunity in getting elected and never, never, never tried to ensure that an incumbent was protected." "In Politics, Fair Is Fair, Except When It's Unfair".

Murphy's victory official

"Secretary of State Ken Detzner and the elections canvassing board today made state Rep.-elect Amanda Murphy's victory official. In a teleconference with Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi, Florida's chief elections officer officially recorded that Murphy, a Democrat, polled 9,615 votes to 9,293 for Republican Bill Gunter in the Oct. 15 special House District 36 election." "Democrat Murphy's victory becomes official".

75 times

"Gov. Rick Scott, seeking to bring the court system more in line with his conservative outlook, has repeatedly rejected lists recommended to him by the Florida Bar of lawyers, screening candidates for judgeships."

Scott has rejected dozens of attorneys whom the Bar has nominated to serve on judicial nominating commissions, created decades ago to professionalize the bench and make merit and qualifications at least as important as political connections.

“He wants people with humility,” said Scott’s chief counsel, Pete Antonacci, “and he wants judges who will follow the law and not make it up as they go along.”

The Bar said Scott’s two predecessors, Charlie Crist and Jeb Bush, never rejected any of its nominees.

All 26 nominating commissions for the trial and appellate courts and the Supreme Court are composed of nine members. Scott appoints five members of his choosing and must appoint four others from lists provided by the Bar’s Board of Governors, some of whom are liberal Democrats who did not support Scott’s election.

The governor has rejected the lists 16 times and has never publicly given a reason and is not required to do so.

Scott has sent back so many Bar-recommended names that the group keeps a five-page spreadsheet to track them.

Lawyers who are registered Democrats, who are aligned with left-leaning groups or who promote themselves as trial lawyers appear to have little hope of gaining the governor’s favor.

Scott’s list of rejections includes:

• Benjamin Crump of Tallahassee, a criminal defense lawyer honored by the NAACP for his legal advocacy and who is best known for his firm’s representation of the family of Trayvon Martin.

• Lynn Drysdale, a consumer-protection lawyer with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid who has testified before Congress in opposition to state laws that allow payday lenders to target military personnel.

• W.C. Gentry, a high-profile trial lawyer in Jacksonville who was a member of the legal “dream team” that successfully sued the tobacco industry in the 1990s. A former county school board member, he has generously contributed to Democratic candidates and has given money to Republicans, too.

• Tiffany Faddis, a trial lawyer, board member of the trial bar’s statewide lobbying arm, the Florida Justice Association, incoming president of the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida and a registered Republican.

Antonacci said that lawyers with such backgrounds are more likely to have a “living constitution” view of the law as evolving and ever-changing, which he said is at odds with Scott’s views.

This from the guy who was "condemn[ed]" by Talbot “Sandy” D'Alemberte, a past president of the American Bar Association, and William P. Cervone a state attorney of the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida, for "statements"

in which he admits to engaging in manipulation of the legal system in a manner that likely constitutes obstruction of justice, perjury and contempt of court.

As a lawyer, officer of the court, and candidate for governor, Scott has an obligation to uphold the rule of law, and to act in conformance with the legal system's requirements. So when Rick Scott invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege 75 times in a deposition, he did so and could have only done so for one reason: to avoid incriminating himself for criminal conduct. He had that right, as does everyone protected by our legal system in the United States.

Detzner promises a better voter purge

"Secretary of State Ken Detzner said Monday the coming purge of noncitizens from Florida voter-registration rolls will be "case-management work," double-checked by at least two Division of Elections workers before verification with a federal database."

Detzner told reporters at the Capitol he has no starting date for the statewide search for ineligible voters -- which has drawn harsh criticism from Florida Democrats, who call it a thinly disguised attempt at "suppressing" minority voters. An attempt at purging the rolls last year, directed by Gov. Rick Scott, fizzled amid the same partisan accusations.

Reid not exactly quivering in his boots

Kevin Derby: "U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., is going after some big Democratic game -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, R-Nev." "Harry Reid in Tom Rooney's Crosshairs".

"Battle between Crist and Nan Rich has begun"

"Former governor and former Republican Charlie Crist is expected to announce his 2014 candidacy for governor as a Democrat on Monday in St. Petersburg, but a primary battle between Crist and Nan Rich already has begun." "Crist, Rich already battling for Democrats' support". More: "Charlie Crist Draws Fire From Left and Right".

$10 million in public funds for Broward charter school

"Peter Deutsch, the driving force behind South Florida’s controversial Ben Gamla charter schools, is a six-term former Democratic congressman with a unique status: He lives more than 6,000 miles away in Israel as an expatriate."

Even so, Deutsch’s Ben Gamla schools have racked up hefty public funding — more than $10 million for nearly 1,800 students last school year alone.

In Broward, where the English-Hebrew charter schools have stirred the most controversy, Ben Gamla raked in $7.2 million from the state for five charter schools that operate at two sites, in Hollywood and Plantation. Those schools served more than 1,200 students.

A Ben Gamla school in the Kendall area of Miami-Dade received approximately $1.4 million from the state for 241 students last school year. Another Ben Gamla charter school in Palm Beach County received $1.7 million in state funds for 280 students.

A few years later, Deutsch’s plans to build another school in Hallandale Beach hit a wall when neighborhood residents successfully opposed his push to get the city commission to approve the deal.

The latest flare-up again involves neighbors. Ben Gamla wants a zoning exception from Hollywood to build a 600-student high school on Van Buren Street near City Hall that upset residents say is already choked with traffic from Ben Gamla’s existing, adjacent K-8 school.

Under the state’s current allocation of $6,800 per Broward student, those 600 new students would net an additional $4 million-a-year for Ben Gamla, which is partnering on the project with Miami-Dade’s Doral Academy.

Rubio's empty suit lacks a spine

"Marco Rubio Backs Away From Own Immigration Bill Becoming Law". See also "Marco Rubio’s Flip-Flop on Comprehensive Immigration Reform Explained".

Big of 'em

"A Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association representative said Monday his group likely will not challenge proposed state rules that would allow competitive bidding for petroleum contamination site cleanups. "

The comments by Randy Miller, lobbyist for the association and executive vice president of the Florida Retail Federation, would appear to clear the way for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to adopt new cleanup rules before a Jan. 1 deadline.

Miami cash

"Two women who have done work for the Rev. Richard P. Dunn’s campaign say they were paid in cash — a violation of state election law if true — and that they were not paid as many times as the front-runner for Miami’s District 5 seat claims on his most recent campaign finance report." "Dunn campaign workers: We were paid in cash".

Scott's stump speech at a Florida Federation of Republican Women breakfast was a stark display of his strategy for handling likely Democratic candidate Charlie Crist. Scott takes the high road, never mentioning Crist's name but contrasting differences between his own administration and the four years preceding it, while the state party does the gut-punching against a former champion Republicans now consider a turncoat.

Republican National Committeewoman Sharon Day introduced Scott with a few digs at the Democrats, calling them "desperate" and "dysfunctional." Crist was the star attraction at the weekend Florida Democratic state conference a few miles away at Walt Disney World -- touring caucuses and chatting up hundreds of delegates in hallways, since he had no official role at his new party's confab. The Republican-turned-Democrat says he willw announce his political plans for 2014 on Nov. 4.

"We welcome any Democrat candidate in the race -- even some of those who are having a bit of an identity crisis," Day said, drawing laughter from the GOP women. Turning to Scott, she asked, "Governor, did you ever think you would have to run against a Republican, an independent and a Democrat -- and it would be the same person?"

Crist himself said during the weekend he expects a nasty Republican onslaught. Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry, talking with reporters outside the Democratic event, said his party will be ready to hit Crist as soon as he makes his candidacy official.

Where's Marco?

The Miami Herald editors: "On Tuesday, a mash-up of Republican Party activists, business executives and evangelical leaders are taking their case to Capitol Hill, where they hope to strong-arm members of the House GOP to pass their own legislation. Those recalcitrant lawmakers can’t fail to note that the coalition are the people who have been solidly in the GOP’s camp for decades. To spurn them now would make the GOP’s tent even smaller than it already is." "The door opens a crack". See also "Immigration reform pitch gets aggressive".

GOP goin' hard after Garcia

Jeff Henderson: "Patrick Murphy was supposed to be the most vulnerable Democratic congressman in Florida, but increasingly it’s looking like that dubious distinction belongs to Joe Garcia."

After his close election to defeat Allen West, Murphy looked vulnerable, especially given the Republican lean in his district. But Murphy has proven a hard worker with strong constituent services unwilling to put himself in the middle of risky issues -- and has shown himself to be a strong fundraiser. By the end of September, he had brought in almost $1.62 million and spent less than $484,000. . . .

In Miami, Garcia has also done well with fundraising, but ethics issues continue to swirl around his office. If it sounds familiar, a similar scenario helped propel Garcia over Republican David Rivera in 2012. Garcia has been working hard, stashing just under $1 million in the bank to ready himself for a heavy barrage of Republican attacks next year.

Republicans also have a real front-runner in the race in Carlos Curbelo. The Miami Dade School Board member has just under $410,000 in the bank, giving him a clear head start over his Republican rivals. Democrats are already drawing their fire on Curbelo while the national GOP is hammering away at Garcia.

Friends of Rick

"At the height of his influence, Perez was important enough to command a sit-down meeting with Gov. Rick Scott. In December, Perez chartered a private jet to fly to Tallahassee for a talk with the governor. Joining Perez on the flight were state Rep. Eduardo “Eddy” Gonzalez, R-Hialeah, and then-Homestead Mayor Bateman." "Troubled past casts cloud over powerful college CEO".

With money from lobbyists and corporate donors with business before Scott

"Gov. Rick Scott has repeatedly pledged to slash government spending since his 2010 election. Yet more than $800,000 has been spent for substantial improvements to the Greek Revival mansion where he and his wife live."

Taxpayers have footed the bill for things like the cleaning of oriental rugs and refinishing the oak flooring at “the People’s House,” a sprawling edifice at 700 North Adams Street that serves as private residence as well as official entertainment venue for the state’s chief executive. Some money, though, has come from lobbyists and corporate donors with business before Scott and the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Bondi pockets cash from the usual suspects

"Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has reported 1,100 contributions for her 2014 re-election campaign, about 50 of them from out of state, according to state campaign finance records."

Among them are Philadelphia-based cable television giant and NBC Universal owner Comcast Corp., California-based Internet search engine and Web portal Yahoo Inc., and father and daughter real-estate moguls Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump of New York. . . .

Representatives with Comcast, the nation's largest operator of cable TV services, did not respond to a request for comment. But the corporation this year also has given to Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, several Republican legislators and the state's Republican and Democratic parties, online records show.

Yahoo representatives also did not respond, but it too contributed to Putnam, some lawmakers and the Republican Party of Florida. Yahoo, however, has given only to Republicans, and far less — a reported total of $13,500 compared to Comcast's roughly $205,000.

Trump raised hackles when his Donald J. Trump Foundation also gave $25,000 to Bondi's other fund, known as an electioneering communications organization, called “And Justice for All.”

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is suing Trump for $40 million, citing complaints in Florida, New York and elsewhere over what was formerly called “Trump University.”

Meanwhile, this from Dem "AG candidate Sheldon: Bondi should have resigned" ("Democratic candidate George Sheldon criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi on Sunday for delaying an execution so she could raise money for her re-election.")

"Contrary to Republican rhetoric, Florida government is not a big, bloated bureaucracy"

Bill Cotterell: "Privatizing of government work has been a trend for about 25 years. The idea is the agencies should concentrate on their 'core' missions, like cleaning up the environment or educating children, while leaving the support services to the private sector."

Sometimes, it goes far beyond that, though. Prison health services are currently being turned over to two companies, and the Republican-run Legislature is awash with campaign contributions from companies that would just love to take over operation of all Florida prisons. Collecting highway tolls or managing the big People First human-resources operation, privatizing is supposed to be not only cheaper, but better. That’s a matter of considerable conjecture. Contrary to Republican rhetoric, Florida government is not a big, bloated bureaucracy. In fact, we have the nation’s smallest personnel system, in terms of employment cost per taxpayer and ratio of state employees to population. So the only way contractors can do something cheaper is by having fewer employees, paying them less, providing fewer employment benefits — or all three. And whether service gets better depends on what you’re satisfied with. If you’re the one who decided to contract out for some work, it’s easy to convince yourself that you’re saving the taxpayers money and quality hasn’t suffered.

Geniuses

"Legislators moved swiftly last spring to shutter senior arcades and Internet cafes popping up all over the state. But less than a year after they did that, they may have to go back to the drawing board because several businesses are reopening." "Florida lawmakers may have to tackle Internet cafes again".

Glory days

Fred Grimm: "A lonely match at Dania Jai-Alai".

"The 'practical liberal'"

Jeremy Wallace: "A Democrat who has dubbed himself the “practical liberal” is planning to challenge U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, for re-election to Congress. Bradenton resident Mitch Mallett, who for nearly 8 years has been the host of a liberal A.M. radio talk show, said he plans to file to run for the 16th Congressional District, which includes all of Sarasota and most of Manatee County." "Mallett plans to challenge Buchanan".

Florida has 3.6 million food-insecure residents

"Florida’s food programs are bracing for cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that kick in Friday — while watching warily as U.S. House and Senate conferees prepare to negotiate a federal farm bill, which could have much more far-reaching consequences for hungry Floridians."

Food banks and other programs that help Florida’s 3.6 million food-insecure residents have known for years about the cuts coming this week. The cuts were built into the 2008 federal-stimulus package that temporarily added money to SNAP, also known as food stamps, during the depths of the economic recession.

"Tea party Republicans 'bigots,' 'paranoid'"

"U.S. Rep. Grayson calls tea party Republicans 'bigots,' 'paranoid'".

FlaDems fawn over onetime "Reagan Republican"

Dara Kam News Service of Florida: "Hundreds of Florida Democrats fawned over former Gov. Charlie Crist this weekend at their annual conference as the onetime "Reagan Republican" campaigned relentlessly, receiving a hero's welcome more than a week before he officially announces his candidacy for governor."

For some party loyalists, former Republican Gov. Crist poses a problem.

"He's very personable. But I'm a skeptic. So I'm in the back of my head thinking what's the motivation and how is he going to profit off the constituents?" said Lois Porcella, who lives in Palm Beach County. "It really comes down to the core philosophy of the party and how that candidate is projecting those principles to the voters. I understand that the end goal is to defeat the Republicans. But still you can't give up your center being." Rich called the race a choice between "substance and style" and said Democrats are at a turning point.

"This primary is going to be about what kind of Democrats we are. About a year out, Democrats always start to think about we need to have a conservative Democrat and that we can't afford to have a progressive. I beg to differ with them. We have elected Barack Obama twice in this state, an African-American man twice who has progressive principles," Rich said. "I believe there's a growing progressive movement in the state … I'm finding it as I travel. People are excited. They want a Democrat that has the core Democratic values and principles. That's what I'm going to present."

But being shut out of the governor's mansion since Jeb Bush was elected in 1998 has made many Democrats more pragmatic. And national Democrats are already organizing with an eye on Crist, who will formally announce his candidacy Nov. 4 in his hometown of St. Petersburg and who has already been traveling around the country to drum up support.

Working the crowd of some 1,500 Democrats at a Disney resort for the party’s pre-election year conference, and getting the rock star treatment, is the all-but-declared candidate to take on Scott, former governor and former Republican Charlie Crist.

Despite the Democrats’ ebullience, however, the road ahead is not entirely clear.

Not all of them are fully convinced that Crist should be their champion against Scott.

Heaven help us

Gerald Ensley: "Advertising signs on Florida's seven scenic trails." "On the trail toward ad dollars".

Strategists and candidates are grappling with the realities of replacing Young

"With people still grieving the death of U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, political strategists and candidates are grappling with the realities of finding someone else to represent the constituents whose interests he watched over for 42 years." "Special election to replace Young faces complicated time table".

Regaining House rests on shoulders of FlaDems

Jeremy Wallace: "Any hope national Democrats have in regaining the majority of seats in the U.S. House rests squarely on the shoulders of Florida Democrats."

For hundreds of activists and party leaders gathered here over three days, the governor’s race is the star attraction in 2014, but there is a growing buzz about the party’s prospects to regain at least two seats in the U.S. House if they field the right candidates in 2014.

Two may not seem a lot in a state with 27 Congressional seats, but national political experts say there is almost no way national Democrats retake the Congress unless Florida Democrats come up big in 2014. That means winning at least two seats, and losing none of the three districts considered their most vulnerable.

Union haters: Never mind that supply and demand stuff

The latest garbage from the haters at the Associated Builders and Contractors:

[ABC lobbyist Geoff Burr] said he talks to commercial builders who pay $30 an hour and still can't find workers.

Investigation into AB scheme isn’t over

"Miami Congressman Joe Garcia’s former chief of staff began serving a 90-day jail sentence last week, becoming the first person convicted for submitting hundreds of phony absentee-ballot requests online during last year’s elections."

But despite Jeffrey Garcia’s sentence, the investigation into the scheme isn’t over.

Still pending is what prosecutors from Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle’s office will do about the campaign underlings who recruited their relatives to fill out the ballot request forms without voters’ permission.

Part-time state workers jump on Obamacare

"For the first time ever, part-time state workers are signing up for health insurance through their employers, something they can do under a new state law designed to get Florida in compliance with the federal Affordable Care Act." "Some part-time state workers are now eligible for benefits".