Charlie Crist Savior for the Dems? By Geniusofdespair

Does he have a lot of bagage? Yes.
Can he be trusted? Sure he has been doing a lot of flipping but don't we all?
Was he a good Governor when he was a Republican? Yes. I admired him then.
Would I vote for him? Yes, especially since Dan Gelber is supporting him. Dan is so good, but he does not have enough charisma to run himself.

Rick Scott will skewer Charlie with negative ads. The TV will be full of them. Will they change any Democrat's mind? Not really. The Republicans see him as the anti-Christ. Too bad. We have had the anti-Christ for 4 years now it is their turn.

Who Will Run Against Bad Governor Rick Scott? By Geniusofdespair

Dan Gelber, Charlie Crist and Alex Sink

Gimleteye was speculating about Democratic chances in the Florida Governor's race this week and Jim DeFede was doing the same on his Sunday morning Channel 4 TV show.

Dan Gelber was Jim DeFede's guest. Jim asked Dan if he was running. Gelber said he didn't know yet. Gelber and DeFede only brought up two other prospects. Gelber said that Alex Sink was the best known Democrat in the State. DeFede mentioned Crist saying is that the best the Democrats can do, a former Republican. Gelber jumped to his defense saying he always got along with him when he was a State Senator. I am inclined to believe this is our pool of choice. I think Sink's banking background sunk her and will again. Somehow the Republicans turned her incredible success into a liability and Sink could not escape from guilt by association. It was pretty incredible to watch Rick Scott, who pleaded the fifth amendment 75 times, characterize Sink as a pariah in numerous TV spots (Scott put $60 million of his own money against her). The fact that she couldn't combat the onslaught makes me think she will not be viable this time around. Of the three, Gelber has the least skeletons in his closet, but Crist has the name recognition, the tan and the sparkling white teeth. The questions remains, will Jim Greer tarnish Crist and afford Scott the win?

Does Nan Rich, Katy Sorenson or Kristen Jacobs have a chance?

Can Florida Democrats Elect A Governor? A South Florida perspective ... by gimleteye

Barack Obama waged two extraordinarily successful campaigns in Florida, but that hasn't translated into gains for Florida Democrats who are so outgunned and outmanned that their best foot forward always fits the Republican footprint ahead.

The disconnect deserves close attention because it leads straight to North Florida Democrats like Alex Sink, Bill McBride and Rod Smith. To be blunt, all three lost their respective campaigns to be governor for good reasons.

All three are exploring whether to run against the most unpopular governor in modern Florida history, Rick Scott.

Florida Democrats should focus on bringing forward a candidate who can appeal to the changing demographics of the state. Democrats should focus on raising funds to campaign effectively and thoroughly as President Obama. That's a tall order.

Rather than stepping backwards to formulaic campaigners from North Florida, Democrats should seek and support a candidate from South Florida. I will always be mystified why the Dems failed to stand behind Dan Gelber when he chose to run state-wide. Anyhow, that's water under the seawall. Or is it?

Gelber is the most eloquent Democrat in the state. Would Democratic money stand behind him? Would he embrace the sacrifices of a run for state-wide office? Or is there some other candidate who hasn't emerged, perhaps a successful Hispanic from the private sector willing to take on Rick Scott's millions?

The time is now, because North Florida Democrats keep beating the same path to the back barn door. Tiresome, isn't it?

Florida Firewall Fails GOP Strategists ... by gimleteye

It is clear enough now, in retrospect of the dismal performance of county elections in Florida's most populous counties. The Midwest and Ohio were the Obama firewall for the Democrats. Florida was the firewall for the GOP.

The way the GOP firewall was meant to work was this: 1) voter suppression by shortening voting hours and 2) a 10 page ballot stuffed with ridiculous measures by right wing majority dominating the Florida legislature (many, from Miami-Dade County).

As Karl Rove demonstrated in his own election eve ether on Fox News, it was necessary for Ohio to remain in dispute in order to throw the chaos to Florida, just like what happened in 2000 -- the election through which Rovian vanity was cemented into GOP politics. The nation suffered the consequences, and so have GOP billionaires ever since.

It is classic disinformation strategy to claim as the GOP is claiming today that Florida's election processing delays were inadvertent.

County election officials assign blame to the volume of paperwork. Mayor Carlos Gimenez convenes a blue-ribbon panel of "fair and balanced" county commissioners. Nonsense.

Chaos in Florida in the recount was a GOP strategy, not a mistake.

There is further proof in yesterday's attack by Rove, accusing the Obama campaign of "voter suppression": if you want to know the heaviest tool in the Rove electioneering box, it as attacking at exactly his opponent's point of strength. (ie. 2004 Swiftboat and John Kerry) It is not going to work this time.

I would not want to be a billionaire investor in GOP candidates and causes these days.

The Obama election highlights how enervating GOP campaigns through fear and loathing of 'the other' points to a shrinking white voter base. But John Boehner and Mitch McConnell, the GOP standard bearers in Congress,  don't have the willpower or guts to tell their donors the bad news. Rove is too invested in the politics and psy-ops based on the Bush model.

Today's news from Florida will be anticlimactic, of course. The Florida Firewall will be mothballed by the GOP who now need to figure out how to keep Florida from turning to a blue state. Meanwhile the blue ribbon panels to fix Florida voting (once and for all!) and dissembling by state officials will go into high gear, throwing out a smokescreen like clouds of DDT to wave off West Nile mosquitoes.

There are a couple of local races that EOM will pay more attention to, once the final campaign finance reports are filed.

First of all, Jose Javier Rodriguez defeated Alex Diaz de la Portilla for the state house. Rodriguez, a Democrat, is exactly the profile -- well educated, reasonable, and committed to public service -- that is needed to repel the radical right.

Ross Hancock, a political newcomer, very nearly defeated GOP leader Erik Fresen for state senate. In the evening's most interesting outcome, Hancock ran with the support of Sierra Club and civic activists who were deeply opposed to Fresen's leadership on the pro-casino issue and embrace of every other right-wing scheme that energizes Tallahassee. Hancock's effort should send shivers through the status quo in Tallahassee. We'll look closely at those campaign finance reports.

There are two main conclusions to draw from the elections in Miami-Dade with deep implications for Florida. First, the tyranny of the old Cuban American guard -- that has weakened over successive election cycles -- is finally finished. Credit to Sergio Bendixen who, for twenty years, has predicted this outcome.

This is bad news for the GOP and its local funders from the Growth Machine. As we have documented on EOM, the GOP political model that worked in the past was based on contributions organized through the Latin Builders Association and funneled toward organizing districts based on hatred against Castro. The Miami-Dade GOP has a problem: anti-Castro vitriol (that was, by the way, the content of the anti-Obama ad that fell flat on its face in the last weekend of the campaign) is boring and tiresome to non-Cuban Hispanics. The opportunity is for Democrats to find clear and compelling messages to organize non-Cuban Hispanic voters.

The second conclusion from the election: Gov. Rick Scott is finished.

Who will defeat Scott in 2014? I certainly hope it is NOT from the north Florida / Bill Nelson wing of the state Democrats. They have let down Democrats ever since Buddy McKay. My vote would be for Dan Gelber who remains the only reliable, articulate Democrat in the state of Florida.

Florida: shafted by Pam Bondi ... by gimleteye

Pam Bondi

Scott Maxwell of the St. Pete Times serves up a doozy. He hits the nail on the head, repeatedly. "Substance and accountability are not the Florida way." What more is there to say? Florida could have elected Dan Gelber, a Democrat, but instead elected an attorney general, Pam Bondi, who not only is willing to let the culprits of the economic devastation in Florida just slide away, she punished state fraud investigators who had the temerity to actually search out wrong-doing. (As I have written, the worst outcome of the horrendous Alex Sink campaign of 2010 was Dan Gelber's loss to Bondi.) And some of our readers wonder why we are outraged, at Eyeonmiami...

On foreclosure fraud, Bondi comes up short Scott Maxwell TAKING NAMES (4:44 PM EST, December 20, 2011)  All of America is suffering. But five states have been hit particularly hard by foreclosures — and foreclosure fraud. In four of those five states, attorneys general have aggressively stood up for their constituents. A.G.'s in Arizona, California, Michigan and Nevada have used everything from lawsuits to criminal subpoenas to go after the fraudsters trying to improperly evict families from their homes. And then there's Florida.

Corruption, Florida, and the GOP ... by gimleteye

In 2010 Florida voters went to the polls and elected Republicans despite evidence of serious mismanagement of party finances by its state leaders. The GOP backers, mainly large corporations, seemed to shrug and plug the holes without comment. Now that the GOP controls the House, and in Florida-- the Governor's Mansion (occupied by a multi-centimillionaire who spent his equity to victory), it is possible that the most egregious of the corrupt may be held to account: Congressman David Rivera.

The GOP are masterful at exploiting visceral reactions of voters; having shown that the simple voter simply tunes out any effort to hear more than the highest notes and pitches. But trying to regain the perch and prerequisites of power the party held during the Bush years will require finesse. This week, we learned that state attorney general Pam Bondi hired a former Jeb! and Marco Rubio staffer, to be her chief of staff and that Rubio hired, to be his chief of staff, the former top domestic policy advisor of former vice president DIck Cheney. As the former GOP players and policies that created the biggest economic collapse since the depression rotate back into place, it will be necessary to throw at least a few sacrificial lambs to the crowd. The first could be David Rivera, who turns out to be as ethically challenged as his Democratic opponent, Joe Garcia, claimed him to be. Here's a post from earlier this week that was widely read and distributed. (for those who didn't catch it, click 'read more')
My ears perked up hearing House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) on President Obama's State of the Union speech, "Actions speak louder than words." On that front, Cantor should also be judged by his actions on his "zero-tolerance policy" for GOP lawmakers caught up in corruption. It has been weeks since GOP Congressman David Rivera has been under investigation and months since The Miami Herald raised corruption allegations of Rivera. Not a word from GOP leader Cantor. Is the problem that Rivera leads to Rubio and Rubio leads to Jeb!?

Now the question arises, once you pull back the layers of the corruption "onion", where does it lead? And another: will Governor Rick Scott and the Florida legislature act to revise laws that make the state, the number 1 in political corruption? In December, " The 19th State Grand Jury Report on Public Corruption was released. The report illustrates how the rush to privatize government services lead to corruption in Florida. The Grand Jury then urges action. "In order for government to function, the people must have faith in their elected officials. Unfortunately, one only needs to read the newspaper headlines across the State of Florida realize that public corruption is pervasive at all levels of government."

The Florida Independent reports, "Miami Beach Democrat and former state Sen. Dan Gelber, who lost the attorney general’s race to Bondi last month and is a well-known advocate for tougher ethics rules, acknowledges that the grand jury recommendations may be well intentioned, but ultimately lie at the mercy of a legislature weary of reform. “The problem has not been the ideas. It’s been the unwillingness of the Legislature to really reform itself and public offices around the state,” [Gelber] said. “The Legislature refuses to seriously address public corruption."

According to the St. Pete Times, "The grand jury used the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to underscore the depth of the problem. In that agency, supervisors flagrantly circumvented purchasing rules, a practice that become common knowledge and prompted other employees to act unethically, the panel says. "We were told employees would steal items such as flat screen televisions from the office. Depending upon the position of the employee, the supervisor often took no action," the report says. "Due to the unethical conduct at the supervisory level, a systemic acceptance of corruption was born." The report does not identify the leadership of the FWC, Rodney Barreto, who is a close confidante of Jeb!

In a 2004 report by AFCME, "Shady Deals in the Sunshine State: the Florida Model of Privatization sounded an alarm. In 2005 the Florida legislature passed SB 1146. Although the bill prohibited lobbyists from becoming members of the state's ethics commission and clamped down on former state employees who want to lobby state government, it was vetoed by then Governor Jeb Bush in June 2005. Jeb! claimed, "This legislation could have a Draconian impact on the ability of the state to recruit employees who eventually aspire to return to the private sector."

State attorney general Pam Bondi did not include public corruption among her top priorities. Bondi "Ideologically and philosophically ... stands with Florida's business community" according to Associated Industries' jackass-in-chief, Barney Bishop. One of Bondi's first hires was Chief of Staff Carlos Muniz, a protege of Senator Marco Rubio. Muniz was a deputy general counsel for former Governor Jeb Bush and later a partner for GrayRobinson. As to GrayRobinson, according to a St. Pete Times report, in 2006 GrayRobinson received a lucrative contract for legal services from the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority. Bondi was a county prosecutor in Hillsborough. The Authority's board ignored a selection committee recommendation to re-hire the authority's legal counsel. The contract was awarded to Gray Robinson, with all four of Bush's appointees voting to over-ride the selection committee's recommendation. "Gray Robinson ... has links to Bush. Karen Unger, who is married to Gray Robinson partner Jason Unger, served as Bush's campaign manager in 2004." ("Road Agency Under Fire Again", Sept. 2, 2006, St. Pete Times)

Florida led the nation in the number of public officials convicted in federal corruption cases from 1998 to 2007. Counting from 2000 forward, Florida still had more federal corruption convictions than any other state. "We're number 1", St. Pete Times columnist Howard Troxler crows.

If actions speak louder than words, the Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida legislature will quickly move to embrace the recommendations of the Florida Grand Jury Report on Public Corruption, including criminalizing offenses by public officials and eliminating loopholes. If actions speak louder than words, then Congressman David Rivera will be the shortest serving member of Congress in US history. Tea Partiers, hold your party leaders accountable?

Yes, we can panic! by gimleteye

There is a lot to write about, but this morning I'll be brief. Depression. I'm not talking about how I feel. So relieved this election cycle is over. If the election results show anything, it is that the economy is worse than the mainstream media has been selling; worse by far. A point frequently made on this blog where we don't worry about offending advertisers. People will act when they feel threatened, and if 12.4 percent reflects the official rate of unemployment in Florida, the unofficial number of Floridians who feel cornered by the Great Recession is closer to 60 percent.

The best indication is the race for Attorney General. Dan Gelber, the Democrat, wasn't defeated by Pam Bondi. (Gelber only won 41 percent of the vote). He was defeated by a tidal wave of anxiety. More, later. Congratulations to Republicans. The GOP didn't do so well governing when it held majorities in Congress (think "Ownership Society"). Now the GOP has no excuse: get us out of this mess. Enough of the good news.

The most important election win in Florida in 2010 was Amendments 5 and 6: Fair Districts, passed by 62 and 63 percent respectively if the numbers hold. GOP funders and top strategists like Jeb Bush really, really disliked Fair Districts, but what they hated was Amendment 4, Florida Hometown Democracy.

Florida Hometown Democracy. That was the real terror. If the amendment had passed, the unbreakable bond would have been busted: local public officials, zoning changes they rubber-stamp, and big campaign contributors whose main business is land speculation. This tag team wrecked the Florida economy by attacking and eviscerating regulations protecting taxpayers from fraud. Fraud on mortgages, fraud on the environment, fraud on our quality of life. Last night they won again.

The opponents of Florida Hometown Democracy control state politics. Out of fear of Florida Hometown Democracy, they promoted and won the 60 percent threshold for citizen referenda to change the Florida Constitution. They didn't need 50 percent to win, last night.

Safe to say that Amendment 4 opponents, including the Florida realtors, the Chamber of Commerce, builders and Associated Industries and Big Ag, spent more than $15 million to defeat Florida Hometown Democracy. That meant they had a lot less to spend against Amendments 5 and 6.

Focus groups showed Florida Hometown Democracy would have passed, if voters understood the measure. It took a ton of money to lie and confuse voters; approximately four times as much as the anti-forces invested against Fair Districts. In the case of your hometown, the money for campaign organization and communication and TV ads was all on the other side, and shame on the mainstream media for not saying so. In the end, the grass roots activists who dedicated seven years of their lives-- seven!-- to moving FHD over huge obstacles and barriers ran out of ching. Lesley Blackner and Ross Burnaman, co-founders of the citizens' movement, are Florida heroes for bringing this issue for the last, final time to voters. It's all sprawl now.

Fair Districts and its team, especially Miami attorney Ellen Freiden, ran a brilliant, focused $9.5 million campaign. That is what it takes. In an election marked by anxiety, Floridians, from both sides of the great divide, sifted through the evidence and will now have Fair Districts barring spurious lawsuits. So by all means cogitate on the tea leaves from yesterday's results, but don't forget a tip of the hat to Florida Hometown Democracy and its gritty, determined volunteers who were relentless and never gave up.

Eyeonmiami Endorsements. By Gimleteye and Geniusofdespair

Florida Governor: Alex Sink. The best reason to vote for Alex Sink? Redistricting. Recent census numbers will require the state legislature to initiate new congressional apportionment in Florida. The only defense against the same GOP gerrymandering Florida experienced the last go-around (lead by Miami-Dade's Republican delegation) is a Democrat in the Governor's Mansion. Who would you rather vote for: Alex Sink or an avowed anti-regulatory zealot whose former company paid the largest civil fine by a health care insurer in US history? Brain Dead Florida: wake up.

US Senate Charlie Crist. If not careful, Democrats will follow Kendrick Meek down, in this critical election. EOM archives hold plenty on the Meek candidacy. Marco Rubio represents, what exactly? He is a stand-in for the revival of the Jeb Bush wing of the GOP: a new face in an old suit. The Tea Party is mostly clueless in its support of Rubio. Rubio represents, simply, the re-emergence of the Karl Rove management of the Republican party. They had their turn and they wrecked the nation. Please, Crist!

Florida Attorney General Dan Gelber. Dan Gelber, of Miami Beach, is the smartest Democrat elected official in Florida. There is no one even close. During the Jeb Bush interregnum, Gelber was the go-to guy for the Dems with the press for good reason. He sees the Big Picture and can deliver it in manageable portions to anyone in Florida. Gelber started the electoral cycle as a Democratic challenger for the US Senate and stepped aside. The best Floridians could do is step forward with Dan Gelber as Attorney General.

Miami-Dade County Commission District 8 Eugene Flinn. It is only one seat out of thirteen county commissioners, but District 8 has provided a clear voice of reason in the past. Flinn has shown himself adept in the public sector and is a sure bet to continue Sorenson's environmental policies. Flinn's opponent, Linda Bell, represents South Dade politics. Homestead-- where she was mayor-- is poster child for the economic crash in Florida; a nasty and in-bred political teapot where suburban sprawl was set to boil. Who needs more of that, in Miami-Dade? Vote Flinn.

Miami-Dade County Commission District 2 Jean Monestime. We would like to find something positive to say about the incumbent commissioner in District 2, and we can't. This predominantly African American district has been victimized by Miami-Dade County politics for so long, it is no wonder that a peculiar form of captivity has arrested the district. Let us pray on Sunday and every other day of the week, that the voters of District 2 can summon the spirit for change. Vote for Jean Monestime.

Amendment 4: Yes. Florida voters will have one chance-- and one chance in their lifetimes, only-- to vote on the set of economic circumstances that led to the biggest crash since the Great Depression. Amendment 4 will bust the cartel that caused the housing bust in Florida. By subjecting land use plan changes to popular vote, the umbilical cord between campaign financiers and local zoning officials will be cut. When the system is broken, change it. That is what Amendment 4 will do.

Amendments 5, 6: Yes. Why would Republicans vote for redistricting, when the GOP controls the state legislature with an immoveable majority? Because "fair districts" benefit everyone. The corruption that underlies current districting would be fairly addressed with the passage of Amendments 5 and 6. Congratulations to the broad bipartisan consensus that will speed these amendments to victory. When the lies come, ignore them. Vote Yes for Fair Districts.

Supreme Court Judge Retention:
Canaday 'no'
Jorge Labarga, yes
James E.C. Perry, yes
Polston 'no'

Beth Reinhard, Miami Herald: curious ... by gimletye

In today's Herald, political columnist Beth Reinhard writes...

"In the kickoff debate of the attorney general race on Sunday, state Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach pointed to two key votes that set him apart from rival state Sen. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres. One was Aronberg's vote for "vouchers". What was the other vote? Will The Miami Herald write about that one, too?

State Records on Senate Candidates. by Geniusofdespair

Kendrick Meek and Dan Gelber might say they are running...but here is who the State has listed as actually running for U.S. Senator. (Hit on image to enlarge it)

Dan Gelber is in the Running for Florida's U.S. Senator. By Geniusofdespair

Newly elected State Senator, Dan Gelber (he replaced Gwen Margolis), has announced that he is throwing his hat in the ring to become the Junior Senator from Florida, to replace that awful Mel Martinez. He joins Congressman Kendrick Meek who announced earlier this month that he too would run.

Has either of these guys done polling in the North of the State and the I-4 Corridor?

I am a big supporter of Dan Gelber (not with money, just support). I requested a meeting with him years ago and got a one-on-one with him. Imagine that.