There was the tea party champion of his first year or two in office, who denounced big government, sought unprecedented education cuts and said bureaucrats and school systems would “have to figure out how to do better with less.”

It’s fair to ask which Rick Scott Floridians are likely to see in his second term, when he has no need to worry about an upcoming re-election.

Florida's water demand shrinks

"Across the country and in Florida, Americans are only using as much water as almost 45 years ago, even though the population has grown by more than 100 million people, the U.S. Geological Survey reported this week." "As U.S., Florida grow, water demand shrinks."

First Coast now in focus

"With the 2014 general elections now in the rear view mirror, Florida politics will now focus on the First Coast with a number of key elections in Jacksonville and the surrounding area in the months to come." "Florida Political Focus Now Turns to Jacksonville and the First Coast." See also "Which Rick Scott will govern now, tea party or moderate?."

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: The Election is Finally Over."

Pafford challenge

"A Volusia County lawmaker said Friday said that he is challenging state Rep. Mark Pafford for the post of House Democratic leader following the defeat of six members of the caucus in Tuesday’s elections." "Local Dem Mark Pafford faces leadership challenge in state House."

What's wrong with Broward?

"Just because Broward's Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes says there were no problems on Election Day, doesn't mean there were no problems on Election Day." "Broward's choice: address or repeat election snafus." See also "Stop preventable errors, delays in Broward elections."

"Epic losing streak"

Beth Kassab: "John Morgan is on one epic losing streak." "Legislature won't do John Morgan any favors."

"The way of the dodo"

"Democrats once again seem to be going the way of the dodo in Florida politics, especially in the Legislature. For the last 15 years, both the governor’s office and the statehouse have been in Republican control."

With Tuesday’s election results, Republicans maintained their control of the state Senate and regained the “supermajority” status they enjoyed in the House during 2011 and 2012. That means the 81 seats they hold in the 120-member chamber is enough to overcome any possible governor’s veto.

FlaGOP mandate?

"Election results don't really provide GOP mandate."

That "lack of bargaining power" thing

"The unemployment rate no longer seems to reflect America's mood."

Friday's strong jobs report showed that the jobless rate — the most closely watched gauge of the economy's health — is down to 5.8 percent. A year ago, the rate was 7.2 percent. Five years ago, it was 10 percent.

It's the kind of sustained decline that would normally suggest a satisfied public.

Not so much anymore. After Tuesday's midterm elections, exit polling showed how little falling unemployment has resonated. Most voters said they cast their ballots out of fear for the economy, stripping the Democrats from the Senate majority and implicitly rejecting President Barack Obama.

Many Americans don't feel they've benefited from falling unemployment any more than they have from a sustained rise in the stock market or from solid U.S. economic growth.

"Wages will remain sluggish for some time because of the lack of bargaining power," O'Keefe said.

Crist didn't repeat "smash success" with minorities

"To win back his old job, former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist needed to repeat President Barack Obama's smash success with the state's black and Latino voters. These Floridians trend Democratic, and together they make up about a quarter of the electorate. They voted overwhelmingly for the president's re-election in 2012, putting him ahead in the nation's most influential swing state even as he trailed with non-Hispanic white voters."

They preferred Crist this year, but they didn't come out in large enough numbers to put him over the edge and Republican Gov. Rick Scott defeated him 48 percent to 47 percent. While it's too soon to fully tally Latino and African-American turnout statewide, in more than a dozen heavily Hispanic Miami-Dade County communities, the turnout rate was even lower this year than in the 2010 midterms — even though Crist's and Scott's running mates were both Latinos. Overall turnout was also down in Democratic-leaning Broward County.

Jerry Pena heads Faith in Florida, a statewide organization that works closely with immigrants and minority communities.

He says influential religious leaders didn't trust either candidate. He wonders why Crist didn't highlight issues like how as governor from 2007-11 he pushed for the restoration of voting rights to ex-convicts, which Scott reversed.

"He barely spoke on that. Every time we ran into Crist, he'd say I'm all for rights restoration, but he didn't use it on the trail, even though 70 percent of folks affected are people of color," Pena said.

Whatever happens in Tally now, FlaGOP will own it

"Republicans have complete ownership of what happens in Florida." "An emboldened Scott and enlarged GOP majority will get to work in Tally."

Good riddance

"Former U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., a favorite of the tea party movement, was named as the CEO of National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) this week. Based in Dallas, Texas, the NCPA has been a think tank promoting free-market values for more than three decades." "Allen West Leaves Florida, Heads to Texas to Lead Conservative Think Tank."

"Crazy doesn't always translate into unconstitutional"

"Richard Sicking, an attorney for Castellanos, told the Supreme Court that state lawmakers set fee amounts that have "no basis in fact" — and described as "crazy" the fee in the case, which was the equivalent of $1.53 an hour for the work that was done."

"The Legislature has set the fee,'' Sicking said. "That is not a legislative function."

Justices asked pointed questions of Sicking and Raoul Cantero, who represents the Next Door Company and its insurer, Amerisure Insurance Co.

After Sicking's comment about the fee being crazy, Justice Barbara Pariente quickly replied, "Crazy doesn't always translate into unconstitutionality."

Despite former Gov. Charlie Crist going down to defeat, none of her party’s other Florida Cabinet candidates even coming close to beating Republicans and losing seats in the Florida House, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant insisted her “bench is stronger” after the elections.

Obamanomics

"U.S. Unemployment Drops to 5.8% as Economy Adds 214,000 Jobs, Maintaining Average."

'Ya reckon?

"The biggest factor, they said, was turnout. Non-presidential election years mean a drop in Democratic and no-party voter participation." "Political club members sort out meaning of election results."

"Voters delivered a message to politicians"

Aaron Deslatte: "Florida voters delivered a message to politicians last week that the state's polluted natural places need an urgent salvage mission. At least, that's how the Florida senators who pushed for water-quality reform last session are casting the overwhelming passage of Amendment 1." "Conservation amendment faces future political fights."

"Nelson was noticeably absent"

"Bill Nelson was noticeably absent for Charlie Crist this year. To be sure, Nelson did Crist no good by looming over the race for so long, continuing to leave the door open to making a gubernatorial bid of his own. That kept liberal donors from opening up their wallets and funding former Republican Crist earlier in the year." "Charlie Crist Didn't See Much of Bill Nelson -- Will Democrats in 2016?."

The Best and the Worst

Brandon Larrabee of the News Service of Florida: "Backroom Briefing: The Best and Worst of Election 2014."

Early returns Tuesday showed a comfortable lead for Charlie Crist, but it quickly disappeared and by 10:30 p.m. it was clear Scott had won a second term, albeit barely. And once again, Democratic turnout in South Florida lagged way behind the rest of the state.

The Miami Herald editors: "The election is over, the politics aren’t. Gov. Rick Scott retained the Governor’s Mansion in his slim victory against his Democratic opponent, Charlie Crist. We congratulate the governor, wish him well and hope that this time around, he makes party and ideology subordinate to the needs of all Floridians." "Back to the Governor’s Mansion."

"Charlie's Ode to His Fan"

Nancy Smith "Charlie's Ode to His Fan (a Love Story)."

Curbelo benefits from AB program

"Miami’s newest congressman benefited from absentee, Election Day votes."

New Florida Latino poll

"Latinos in Florida said the most important issue facing the Latino community that politicians should address is the economy — a slight difference from respondents in other states, who put immigration reform tops, according to a new poll."

Asked about the 2014 midterm elections, Latinos in Florida ranked the economy and jobs tops; of Florida respondents, 46 percent ranked it as one of the most important issues, and 39 percent said immigration reform was. Health care/Medicaid was third, at 19 percent, and education was right behind at 18 percent.

Rubio's "Big Decision"

"Marco Rubio Has a Big Decision to Make Soon on 2016."

Goin' local

"Tuesday’s election results will affect all of Florida, but also life for Miami-Dade residents." "Elections on the local front."

Winners and Losers

"Florida Election 2014 Winners and Losers."

"The proud party tradition of losing"

"Well, Charlie Crist is finally a true Florida Democrat. He earned his stripes by continuing the proud party tradition of losing." "In Scott vs. Crist, besieged voters had noses held."

Governor Buckhorn?

"Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn won't say he'll run for the state's top post in 2018, but he thinks a big-city mayor could win." "Buckhorn drops hints future could hold run for governor."

FlaGOP "Mega donors" dominate

"Mega donors from inside and outside Florida helped to fuel unprecedented amounts of cash into the election this year . . . In the era of mega donors, Republicans dominate. They raised more money in the 2014 election cycle, while the Democratic Party raised less cash but from more individual donors." "Stream of checks from big donors breaks records in Florida."

"Cash, GOP’s improved ground game gave Scott edge over Crist."

FlaGOPers couldn't buy some races

"Sachs, Rodriguez hold off strong Republican challengers."

Big win

"Central Florida members of Congress all get re-elected." See also "GOP scores big win in Central Florida legislative races."

Medical MJ "not snuffed out yet"

"Medical marijuana not snuffed out yet in Florida." See also "Florida marijuana backers plot strategy after loss."

Younger TeaBaggers

"Young GOP lawmakers bring new perspective."

Presiding Over Debacle

"Charlie Crist and Allison Tant presided over a disaster for Florida Democrats, even if Crist did come close to beating Rick Scott." "Charlie Crist, Allison Tant Preside Over Debacle for Democrats."