I noted to my companion, walking down a crowded Venice California street, "The country is so evenly divided. I can't believe half the people are voting FOR Republican control of the US Senate." She corrected me. "Only forty percent of people will vote this November, so it's about one in five people who are determining the rightward course of the nation." One in five is not a majority, but it could be a majority of people who vote.
Venice California is hardly representative, either. Florida more closely resembles one of those states where wedge voters (single mothers, environmentalists, independents, Hispanics) will determine the outcome of the election. In these cases, the number is even smaller than one in five. The lower the vote count, the more powerful the influence of a few motivated voters.
On the other hand, when it comes to the economy -- "it's the economy, stupid" -- ten out of ten voters are impacted by anxiety in the financial markets.
With scarcely two weeks to the election, voters attention could well be riveted on the sharp downdrafts attached in the financial markets. Anxiety will increase voter turnout.
It is a little paradoxical, because in today's case the public anxiety favors Charlie Crist.
As a normal strategy of the far right, ginning up the fear machinery has been a calling card (ie. Fox News). But this fall's anxiety is attached to a black swan moment: the rise of Ebola in Africa and threat of infection in the U.S.
The Rick Scott strategists have been trying to suppress the November vote with every trick in the book. But they didn't count on a November surprise. Reading the right wing Drudge Report, this is the Ebola election.
Texas -- GOP stronghold -- and Ebola summons images of a hospital that failed to contain the infection. Who is most tarred with those images? Rick Scott, whose hundreds of millions in net worth are contaminated by fraudulent business practices. The first time around, the massive fraud at HCA/ Columbia did not register with Florida voters.
This time is different. Scott is so detached from the daily concerns of people that a simple fan beneath a speaker's podium during a debate set him off.
I'm not sure whose idea it was to leave Charlie Crist alone on that stage last night for seven whole minutes, but when times are anxious and voters need someone by their side, Rick Scott is Harry Houdini: now you see him, now you don't.
The governor's race in Florida is breaking for Crist.
Venice California is hardly representative, either. Florida more closely resembles one of those states where wedge voters (single mothers, environmentalists, independents, Hispanics) will determine the outcome of the election. In these cases, the number is even smaller than one in five. The lower the vote count, the more powerful the influence of a few motivated voters.
On the other hand, when it comes to the economy -- "it's the economy, stupid" -- ten out of ten voters are impacted by anxiety in the financial markets.
With scarcely two weeks to the election, voters attention could well be riveted on the sharp downdrafts attached in the financial markets. Anxiety will increase voter turnout.
It is a little paradoxical, because in today's case the public anxiety favors Charlie Crist.
As a normal strategy of the far right, ginning up the fear machinery has been a calling card (ie. Fox News). But this fall's anxiety is attached to a black swan moment: the rise of Ebola in Africa and threat of infection in the U.S.
The Rick Scott strategists have been trying to suppress the November vote with every trick in the book. But they didn't count on a November surprise. Reading the right wing Drudge Report, this is the Ebola election.
Texas -- GOP stronghold -- and Ebola summons images of a hospital that failed to contain the infection. Who is most tarred with those images? Rick Scott, whose hundreds of millions in net worth are contaminated by fraudulent business practices. The first time around, the massive fraud at HCA/ Columbia did not register with Florida voters.
This time is different. Scott is so detached from the daily concerns of people that a simple fan beneath a speaker's podium during a debate set him off.
I'm not sure whose idea it was to leave Charlie Crist alone on that stage last night for seven whole minutes, but when times are anxious and voters need someone by their side, Rick Scott is Harry Houdini: now you see him, now you don't.
The governor's race in Florida is breaking for Crist.
19 comments:
Very apt. Crist has momentum...
There is no question Crist is ahead. We may be headed for rough waters in the future and we are going to need a governor who is concerned about people, not one who would deny millions of people basic healthcare for foolishness as Scott has done.
You are so right. Our whole future hangs in the balance and he won't even come on the stage because of a little FAN.
From your mouth to god's ears, please let it be so.
From the moment it was announced that Rick Scott would not appear, Charlie Crist needed the fan to disperse the fumes coming from his pants due to the realization that in that moment he would likely be reelected.
Last night proved that Charlie has balls, he needed to keep them cool with the fan while it also showed that Rick Scott has none.
Charlie Crist did not win that round! Simply wishing will not make it so.
He and his fan are the biggest joke. It was not agreed to in the agreement and was only added with a handwritten note by his manager after the fact. That was another incident of Charlie trying to lie his way out of everything.
By the way, Why did Charlie leave the governor's race when he could have won? Because he wanted to go to the Senate or White House.
When that didn't materialize like a spoiled brat he wanted "his" seat back.
What a guy!!!
What you haven't figured out yet is that this race is about us, not them.
Yeah for Charlie, He has my vote. I'm all about 2 nd chances. Time for a change! We need someone for The People not just the entitled and someone making their own rules as they go along like in the Pizzi Case...
How shallow that the democratic candidate is a guy who not only flip-flops on nearly every issue, but looks at us with a straight face while he is talking.
Rick the prk has denyed Floridians state of the art rail service,affordable health care , a living wage, education,our dignity and now a fan.
The fan was not needed to cool down the room, for when ever "Rick the prk" enters a room the temperature drops by ten degrees,but rather to keep the toxic stale air that follows "Rick the prk" from reaching critical density, that strangles any flicker of humanity.
Yes if " Rick the prk " is not elected 500 Floridians are sure to loose their job- Rick the prk" and his band of zombies account for 498.
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Charlie can win, no doubt, if all the fools with no memory vote for him, however he will be a "moot governor" with a Legislature that will not support him and laugh to his face. You see, many in the legislature worked with him as a Republican and have absolutely no respect for his flip-flop!
I remember one of his flip-flops. The Legislature wanted to tie teacher salaries to test scores. Teachers and parents protested and Charlie Crist listened to the people. He vetoed the bill. We, the teachers, thank you Crist for listening to the people. I'd rather have a flip-flopper than a Carpeteabagger.
I hate my Republican elected officials, but For the first time in my life I am voting the straight Republican ticket to send a message to Obama. I was a lifelong Democrat until Obama turned me into an independent with his amnesty bullshit.
We start with the governorship. House and senate next.
Rick Scott just released his tax returns as he is required. He's toast. Can we say "conflicts of interest"?
I don't think Democrats realize how much of a hole they are in thanks to Odumbo. We may not see another Democrat elected in this state for the next 50 years because of the golfer-in-chief and his inept administration.
If you can't beat Rick Scott, it's time to dissolve your party and start a new one.
no democrat candidate will even admit they voted for obungler. things are that bad. any democrat who wins in this election will have achieved a miracle.
Obama is doing quite well thank you. No one in their right mind wants these crazy republicans.
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