We Can't Vote Them Out in Miami If We Have No One To Replace Them and Don't Support Those We Do Have. Guest Blog By Ross Hancock

Readers of this site are very acquainted with the failure of Miami’s elected officials to represent the well-being and aspirations of constituents, whether in regard to ethics reform, social justice, the environment, traffic, over-development, utilities, housing, education or health care.

This week, traditional and social media alike trumpeted the disgrace of the eight Miami-Dade state representatives who blocked discussion of gun issues, right in the young faces of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas survivors. Instead, these reps chose to debate a clawless bill on the health effects of porn.

The picture of the eight legislators, who owe more to the gun industry than to the families they serve, was widely shared on the news and social media, and everyone posted and proclaimed, “Vote them all out!”

But not one of the eight lawmakers has opposition. Not. A. Single. One.

Look at their pictures again. Do they have anything to fear from Democrats? Let’s examine each of their election prospects.

In House District 103, Manny Diaz will not run for reelection. He is termed out. He has filed to run in State Senate District 36, where he has no opponent. For the House seat he is leaving, there is no opposition to Republican Frank Mingo. Hillary Clinton won that district with more than 58% of the vote.

For House District 105, Carlos Trujillo has been nominated by Trump for a federal job and will not be up for reelection. A Democrat is running there who has raised almost $600. Accused criminal David Rivera is running there, too. Hillary Clinton won this district.

In House District 110, Jose Oliva is running unopposed, even though Hillary Clinton beat Trump by seven points in this district and it should be in play.

In House District 111, Bryan Avila is running unopposed for the November election. Hillary Clinton won this district.

For House District 115, Michael Bileca is termed out and will not run for reelection. Doc Solomon is running there.

In House District 116, Daniel Perez is running unopposed. Hillary Clinton won this district.

For House District 119, Jeanette Nunez is termed out. She has filed to run in State Senate District 39 in 2020, where she has no opponent. No Democrats are running in her open House District, in which Hillary Clinton destroyed Trump.

In House District 120, Holly Raschein is running unopposed for the November election. Hillary Clinton won this district, too.

So when our chests swell up with confidence and enthusiasm and admiration for the young people, and we shout, “Vote the bums out!”, we are really not scaring anyone. The bums are unopposed or termed out, and, unless something changes, they have nothing to fear from their constituents.

And Genius asks: If the Democratic Party doesn't step up to the plate at this critical time to help find and fund candidates...exactly what is their role?  They don't even cheer-lead correctly.

Disgraced David Rivera Wins Because of Incompetence of Prosecutors. By Geniusofdespair

Miami federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Mulvihill, are unwilling to criminally charge Rivera — even though U.S. District Judge Robert Scola took the extraordinary step of forcing Mulvihill to name Rivera as the target of his investigation back in 2014.

This is what Miami saw as a viable choice for U.S. Congress? Even worse than Rubio.

They had 2 witnesses, who went to jail (and others from the mail order house) to testify against David Rivera. But the prosecutors let the statute of limitations run out. Did they do it on PURPOSE to help their friend?

Off with their heads! Name these prosecutors now! Fire the staff of prosecutors now!

Even the infamous Ana Alliegro, her life in tatters because of her devotion to David Rivera, told the Miami Herald:

“I can’t really fathom how a person that has been named as a co-conspirator is out there, while I had to serve a sentence, and so did Mr. Sternad,” Ana Alliegro, the Republican consultant Rivera used as a go-between to send Sternad money, told the Miami Herald in an interview Tuesday. “What upsets me is that politicians don’t go to jail in this state. I don’t get it. They don’t get reprimanded.” AND “He’s obviously being protected,” Alliegro said Tuesday of Rivera. “He’s got friends in high places.”

Ana, we all agree with you.

Meanwhile David Rivera has become a millionaire:

He’s worth more than $1.5 million, according to a financial disclosure form he filed this week to qualify as a candidate for the Florida House of Representatives. The last time he publicly declared his finances, in a 2012 congressional form that didn’t require a net-worth estimate, he listed just two assets — neither of which suggested he had the makings of a millionaire.

Most of the Miami Republican’s newfound wealth lies outside the U.S., in a pair of overseas bank accounts in Mexico and Taiwan each holding more than $300,000, his disclosure shows. He also owns three properties in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula worth $250,000, $100,000 and $50,000.

Rumor on Brian Goldmeier and Truth on David Rivera. By Geniusofdespair

Brian Goldmeier and Mrs. Mayor Gimenez

Mayor Carlos Gimenez pulled support from Jose Felix Diaz because he attacked Gimenez's daughter in law who apparently has a long relationship with Alex de la Portilla his opponent --- including getting arrested with him. Brian Goldmeier the nerdy fundraiser who made it rain dollars for the Mayor is said to still be supporting Diaz. That would be a slap in the face to Gimenez. According to the Miami Herald:

Gimenez withdrew his support shortly after the Miami Herald reported Friday on Diaz de la Portilla's 2012 arrest at a Boston hotel over a lit cigarette.

Diaz de la Portilla was arrested at the Intercontinental Hotel and charged with trespassing along with Gimenez's daughter-in-law, Tania Cruz, who is working for the Diaz de la Portilla campaign and is also a long-time friend of the candidate.

Police observed that suspects were belligerent, intoxicated and stated they were lawyers in Miami --Off. Raymond D’Oyley, Boston Police incident report

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article160217214.html#storylink=cpy

In response to the Herald article, I wrote on Typepad:

Is your daughter-in-law still Married to your son? If so why is he not suspicious when his wife is in another mans hotel room and then working for the same man. Personally if my husband did that--- he would be my x husband...and he is a good cook so it is an even harder decision but I would gladly switch to frozen dinners and dump the chump.

Alex and Tania Cruz - Not Currently Able to Practice Law in Florida According to the Bar

There are more rumors on Goldmeier (once a Democratic fundraiser with ties to Kris Korge) that he may be helping Tomas Regalado (son of the Mayor) despite Mayor Gimenez's supporting of Joe Carollo (Joe was said to be working on Gimenez's Mayoral campaign by many in the rumor circle). Joe is ahead in the fundraising with $210,800. Barreiro's wife has $138,073 and Regalado has $92,055. They are all running in the District 3 race of the City of Miami.

Bottom line: Brian Goldmeier may not be the golden boy of Mayor Gimenez. It appears he may have defied his top client on two separate occasions. Will there be retribution? Maybe not, Brian knows too much.

David Rivera with his former Roommate Marco Rubio

And now to David Rivera, the Miami Herald reported:

Former U.S. Rep. David Rivera funneled at least $69,000 in secret campaign cash to a ringer candidate in the 2012 congressional election, according to the Federal Election Commission — which wants the Republican ex-congressman to pay $486,000 in civil penalties.

and:

Last year, a Tallahassee appeals court upheld a $57,821.96 Florida Commission on Ethics fine against Rivera over improperly disclosed income and double-billed travel expenses, but Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who is empowered to fine former state lawmakers, has yet to impose it.

David Rivera's Gal Pals: Kellyanne Conway and Ana Alliegro. By Geniusofdespair

 

Yesterday Disgraced politician David Rivera introduced Trump's spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway to a gaggle of Republicans at their annual dinner. Kellyanne was one of the speakers. Rivera said, in the introduction, that Kelleyanne Conway was his close friend for 30 years. She said the health care bill was called: The “Better Care Reconciliation Act.” Fuck NO! Call it Trumpcare so we know who to blame. Don't let her spin the name into something else.

We must not forget David Rivera's other gal pal, Ana Alliegro. Remember her? we sure do. She was our post of the year in 2012.

Actually they look pretty similar.

We must not forget David Rivera's former roommate and his BFF, Marco Rubio, who doesn't give a damn about your healthcare. Again, David Rivera is introducing in this video filmed at a gay hate group....



What a toxic crew of friends for a toxic guy: David Rivera. At the Alliegro trial the judge said about David Rivera:

Before David Rivera’s confidante was sentenced in a campaign-finance scheme on Wednesday, a federal judge had some advice from the bench for the former Miami congressman: Act like a man.

“Some people would call it chivalry, some people call it sexism — that the man should come forward and not let the woman do time on his behalf,” said U.S. District Judge Robert Scola, who gave Rivera’s friend, Ana Alliegro, a one-year sentence split between six months she had already spent in jail and six months of house arrest.

Early Voting and Absentee Results For Miami Dade County in Selected Races. By Geniusofdespair

I got this off the State Site...wow

Come back after 7pm for Early Voting and Absentee results in selected races for our County. If there is an overwhelming lead we might know the winner. If it is close, we would have to wait for election day results which I am not posting as they come in later in drips and drabs, sometimes they are not 100% posted until after midnight.

I will be posting percentages only (and only for the COUNTY) Remember this is early and absentee, if it is close you will have to wait for the precincts to see who won:

President:
Hillary Clinton 61.08%
Donald Trump 36.45%

U.S. Senate:
Marco Rubio 47.11%
Patrick Murphy 55.04%

U.S. Representative in Congress

District 27: 

Scott Fuhrman 43.4%

Illena Ros-Lehtinen 56.6%

Florida Senate

District 37: 

Jose Javier Rodriguez. 47.8%

Miguel Diaz de la Portilla 46.44%

District 38: 

Phillip Brutus 25.9%

Daphne Campbell 74.1%

District 39: 

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell 40.45%

Anitere Flores 59.55%

District 40:
Dwight Bullard 38.99%
Frank Artiles 53.6%

Florida House
District 112:
Rosa Palomino 48.82%
Nicholas Duran 51.18%

District 114: 

Daisy J. Baez 51.68%
John Couriel 48.32%

District 118: 

Robert Asencio 50.12%

David Rivera 49.88%

Miami-Dade Mayor

Raquel Regalado 44.50%

Carlos Gimenez 55.5%

Florida Justice of the Supreme Court

Retain in office: 

No about 25% on the 3

Yes about 75% on the 3

Circuit Court

Group 34: 

Mark Blumstein 51.25%
Luis Perez-Medina 48.75%

Group 52: 

Carol "Jodie" Breece 49.42%
Oscar Rodriguez Fonts 50.58%

School Board

District 1: 

Wilbert T. "Tee" Holloway 49.07%
 Steve Gallon 50.93%

District 6: 

Modesto "Mo" Abety. 35.02%
Maria Teresa Rojas 64.98%

Constitutional Amendments

Number 1: (so called Solar Choice, must pass by 60%)

Yes 57.30%

No 42.70%

Number 2: Medical Marijuana

Yes 67.59%
No 32.47

Miami-Dade County Questions

Special purpose districts: 

Yes 52.14%

No 47.86%

Public records: 

Yes 67.29%

No 32.71%

Cutler Bay:
Javier Giraud 47.98%
Sue Loyzelle 52.02%

Chuck Barrentine 40.69%
Michael Callahan59.31%

Palmetto Bay 
Vice Mayor:
Erica Watts 36.65%

John Dubois 41.47%. (yes almost 4,000 idiots in Palmetto Bay)

David Zisman 21.88%

Council:
Tim Schaffer 37.8%
David Singer 62.2%

Pinecrest Council

James McDonald 55.43%
Peter Casablanca 44.57%

Anna Hochkammer 64.01%
James Field 35.99%

If you want to check on precincts voting today....

Winner Last Night: Jim DeFede's Twitter Feed ... by gimleteye

Incredible that Joe Martinez, District 11 county commissioner, is back. Our blog had lots to say about Martinez when he was county commissioner, and we are sorry for Miami-Dade County this morning. (Here is one, from 2009, seven years ago! "Memo to voters who re-elect incumbents: stop the madness".) Who knows why and under what conditions Juan Zapata left a void after qualifying, so Martinez could have a clear shot at his return? (As for the rest of the results, at least Lynda Bell was defeated in a state house primary election ... by David Rivera.)

Early voting and absentee ballot results. By geniusofdespair

I am posting by phone:

US Rep

Tim Canova 39%
Debbie Wasserman Schultz 63%

Joe Garcia 49%
Annette Taddeo 50%

School Board

Modesto 'Mo' Abety 23%
Maria Teresa 'Mari Tere' Rojas 49% - Mayor's sister in law

Mayor

Raquel Regalado 32%
Carlos Gimenez 49%

State Senate
Dwight Bullard has 47% to 23% for Korge.
Jason Pizzo 25%, Gongora 23% and 29% Daphne Campbell.

State Rep

Lynda Bell 15%
David Rivera 38% Anthony Roriguez neck and neck with Rivera.

State Rep
Solomon is winning.
Daisy Baez is winning.

Now we wait for precincts to report.

There might be a runoff for Mayor. The precincts are starting to report. Looks like there is a runoff for Mayor. Gimenez failed to get 50%.

2016 MIAMI DADE PRIMARY: You Must Vote in August and Here is the Scoop. By Geniusofdespair

The absentee ballots go out today. The Election is August 30th. YOU MUST VOTE because of redistricting -- all the State Seats are up for a vote if there is more than one candidate.

Between Bullard and Korge in State Senate District 40, I have to go with Andrew Korge because he  has the best chance to win in this Hispanic District against Republican Frank Artiles in the General Election.  Korge has the money to fight this one even though I like Dwight too.  Korge needs to be more focused but he is on the right side of issues that concern me. Dwight took large campaign contributions from big sugar over the years but what concerns me is that translated into a vote. Bullard voted for a 2013 bill that gave big sugar a 30 year no bid lease.

In State Senate District 38 we have Democrats Campbell, Burns, Festge, Gongora and Pizzo. Jason Pizzo has been running a mailer blitz. They are excellent in design. I think people are reading them. Anyone but Daphne Campbell but I will vote for Jason Pizzo because he is becoming known and has the best chance against Daphne who is pretty evil in my opinion. I think she will win the primary because the super voters in this district are mostly black. However, since she is Haitian will African Americans vote for her? I do not know. Phillip Brutus took a gamble that she would win and is waiting for her in the General Election as a No Party Affiliation.

On to the State Reps.

In State District 108, anyone but Hardemon. There are 7 Democratic candidates. Don't know any of the candidates.

In District 114 I would vote for Daisy Baez.

In District 115 I would vote for Ross Hancock.

In District 118 I would vote for Robert Asencio in the General Election. There are, in the primary, 5 Republican candidates. I would vote for anyone except Bell. I would prefer keeping Lynda Bell out of politics. Of course, that means I support David Rivera over Bell.  I do not know the candidates in 120, 112 or 113.   Please recommend your pick.

Now, on the National scene Debbie Wasserman Schultz has a  REAL opponent who has killer mailers. His name is Tim Canova. I was going to vote for Debbie but the double-sided post cards Tim is putting out are on the money and address my issues big time. He even faults her with looking the other way on manatee deaths.  She has been silent on this big issue. Debbie your mailers suck, and taking money from Big Sugar is a Big Mistake. Give it back and I will vote for you even though you have that cloud over you from the Russian's hacking your email - trying to do in Bernie.

Tim Canova's post card mailer, 4 came in an envelope.

On the Amendments: Vote for 4. YES.

Do You Know Anything About Your State Rep and Senator? By Geniusofdespair

I have been asking around, no one seems to know who is representing them at the State level...and frankly they don't care much either. Well CARE! With redistricting, all the seats are being voted on. 

I would say educate yourself, but I am laughing too hard. Like that is going to happen. Just vote for Rick Scott...oops he isn't running.

Here is who is running in Miami Dade County (Look at the back of your voter registration card to see your State Senate and State Rep District, note do not look at an old card, only a new one):

STATE SENATOR
35 Braynon II, Oscar (DEM)
36 Garcia, Rene (REP)
Peralta, Anabella Grohoski (DEM)
37 Christian, Mercedes (NPA)
Diaz de la Portilla, Miguel
Rodriguez, Jose Javier (DEM)
38 Blemur, Anis (DEM)
Brutus, Phillip J. (NPA)
Burns, Kevin A. (DEM)
Campbell, Daphne (DEM)
Festge, Don (DEM)
Gongora, Michael (DEM)
Pizzo, Jason (DEM)
39 Artz, Brent (WRI)
Flores, Anitere (REP)
Mucarsel-Powell, Debbie (DEM)
40 Artiles, Frank (REP)
Bullard, Dwight M. (DEM)
Jimenez, Mario (NPA)
Korge, Andrew (DEM)
Logan, Ana Rivas (DEM)
Perez, Missalys (DEM)

STATE REP

105 Moreno, Patricio (DEM)
Trujillo, Carlos (REP)
106 Ballo, Nick (REP)
Hiller, Georgia A. (REP)
Kirkpatrick, Lavigne Ann (REP)
Maguire, Connor (WRI)
Rommel, Bob (REP)
107 Estime-Irvin, Mary (DEM)
Watson, Barbara A. (DEM)
108 Collie-Echoles, Taj (DEM)
Delica, Fayola (DEM)
Duge, Moise (DEM
Hardemon, Roy (DEM)
Menes, Francesca "Fran" (DEM)
Patel, Henry (DEM)
Steril, Marie Erlande (DEM)
109 Stafford, Cynthia A. (DEM)
110 Oliva, Jose (REP)
Puentes Sr, Carlos A. (DEM)
111 Avila, Bryan (REP)
Miyar, Sevi (DEM)
112 Davey, Michael W. (REP)
Duran, Nicholas X. (DEM)
Faura-Morales, Waldo (DEM)
Palomino, Rosa Maria "Rosy" (REP)
113 Parker, Jonathan H. (REP)
Richardson, David (DEM)
Valdes, Rey (DEM)
114 Baez, Daisy J. (DEM)
Couriel, John D. (REP)
Santana, Alberto L. (DEM)
115 Bileca, Michael (REP)
Hancock, Ross (DEM)
Solomon, Jeffrey Doc (DEM)
116 Diaz, Jose Felix (REP)
Rassner, Heath (DEM)
117 McGhee, Kionne L. (DEM)
118 Asencio, Robert (DEM)
Bell, Lynda (REP)
Pria, Carlos (REP)
Rivera, David (REP)
Rodriguez, Anthony (REP)
Rojas Tallon, Steven A. (REP)
119 Nunez, Jeanette M. (REP)
Pinell, Jeniffer (DEM)
120 Diaz, Kevin (DEM)
Horton, Dan (DEM)
Raschein, Holly (REP)

Anti Donald Trump Ad in the Miami Herald. By Geniusofdespair

Since I am a dying breed who still gets the paper Miami Herald, here is a full page ad trashing Donald Trump (comparing him to a scorpion) put in by Michael B. Fernandez, a billionaire with money to burn, who is also a loyal Republican.

You will have to hit the Michael B. Fernandez full-page ad to read it.

 Michael, unfortunately the only way to stop Trump is to help Hillary Clinton. Haven't you figured that out yet? You loyal Republicans are all alike. You would rather live with the "scorpion" then accept the lesser but predictable evil. Stupid man!

I am supporting David Rivera in the Republican primary over Lynda Bell. How is that for choosing to be realistic? I hate them both, but one is better than the other. Here is homework for you Michael B. Fernandez, watch the 11 hours of the Benghazi Hearings just like I did (not what Fox News tells you). After that watch marathon, I bet you will be giving to the smart, measured, articulate presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Call me when you finish watching. Better yet, do the right thing for the country: Hold your nose and support Hillary Clinton.

The Lynda Bell vs. David Rivera Race in Rep District 118. By Geniusofdespair

Rivera has raised $71,124 not including May or loans to himself running in District 118.

More of the Big Boy Corporate shitheads are there on Rivera's report, not so with his opponent Lynda Bell who entered the race later.

Lynda Bell raised $14,790 excluding loans to herself.  She does have Wayne Rosen on her report and her old friend Atlantic Civil -- Steve Torcise.

Anthony Rodriguez, also a Republican has raised $17,996, excluding loans to himself. Another Republican in race has raised $2,950, Steven Anthony Rojas Tallon.

Robert Asencio the Democrat in the race has raised $19,905.00, mostly from smaller donors, through April 29th.

I still believe that Lynda Bell is not running a serious campaign. David Rivera always puts extra people in his races, and they were good friends. He is using her campaign manager/good friend, Jose Luis Castillo. She launched her campaign from Rivera's office for the County Commission.  I think she is there for some reason, maybe to bleed off the white voters. Who knows, Rivera is so dishonest, it is anyone's guess on what is going on. 

Selection of a New County Commission Chair Coming Soon, Don't let it be Steve Bovo!! Guest Blog By Chairwatcher

Mayor Carlos Gimenez and County Commissioner Steve Bovo

Only five months away from selecting a new Miami Dade Commission Chairperson and already several commissioners are jockeying for the position. The selection of the Chairperson will be voted on by the current commission members in November of this year and the new Chairperson will be sworn in on January of 2017. The position of Chairperson is extremely powerful since the person selected for the position sets the county agenda, does Committee assignments and moderates all of the commission meetings.

So far, the three leading candidates to become the next Commission Chairperson are current Vice Chair Esteban Bovo, and Commissioners Rebeca Sosa and Audrey Edmonson.

Marco Rubio Swears in Steve Bovo as Vice Chair of the County Commission

An issue of concern in the selection of the new Chairperson process is the association of Commissioner Esteban Bovo to the American Dream Miami megamall project planned by a Canadian company for the Northwest Dade quadrant of 1-75 and the Florida Turnpike.

The megamall is intended to be built on a 200 acre rural tract and is opposed by the majority of citizens in Palm Springs North and Miami Lakes due to the fact that it will bring additional congestion to an area already besieged with major traffic problems. According to Commissioner Bovo the $4 billion project will bring 25,000 jobs to the community and will aid the local economy. The project is also supported by Mayor Carlos Gimenez who throughout the last four years has relied on Commission Bovo as his closest ally in the Board of County Commissioners.

The selection of Commissioner Esteban Bovo as Commission Chairman, in my opinion, would in essence solidify Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s total control of county government since Commissioner Bovo would play a key role in rubber stamping all of Mayor Gimenez’s proposals on the commission. At a time when other commissioners are actively considering removing some or all of the powers of the strong mayor format, selecting Commissioner Bovo as Commission Chairman would not be beneficial to the citizens of our county.

Another glaring issue that should be addressed during the course of the selection process of the new Commission Chairperson is Commissioner Bovo’s role in the 2012 election absentee ballot fraud investigation.

As previously reported in 2012, Commissioner Bovo had to explain himself to the State Attorney’s Office for the actions of his former employee Anamary Pedrosa. Pedrosa was given immunity by the State Attorney’s Office and she cooperated with police in providing evidence that convicted known Hialeah boletero Sergio “Tio” Robaina. Robaina transported a total of 164 illegally collected absentee ballots to Commissioner Bovo’s office. The ballots were collected and stored by Pedrosa at Commissioner Bovo’s Hialeah regional office. Though the State Attorney’s Office failed to file criminal charges against Commissioner Bovo or to use Pedrosa’s testimony against the commissioner it is highly unlikely that Pedrosa operated on her own but rather would have collected absentee ballots from Robaina with the knowledge of Commisioner Bovo.

Commissioner Bovo’s selection of employees has also come into question on more than one occasion in the past. His current Executive Director Alina Garcia was a longtime aide to U.S. Representative David Rivera. Garcia is the mother of Senator Marco Rubio’s regional director, Alyn Fernandez (formerly Alyn Cruz Higgins). Ms. Fernandez owned a consulting company, ACH Fundraising Strategies, which received $75,000 from Rep. Rivera’s state Senate campaign for conducting a supposed “thank you” campaign. ACH was incorporated one day after a $50,000 payment was made from Rep. Rivera’s campaign and dissolved less than six months later. Notably, investigators found Ms. Fernandez never actually did any work for Rep. Rivera, in part because she was never given any direction as to the services she was to provide. ACH did have one other customer: Sen. Rubio’s campaign, which paid $22,000 to the firm for financial and political consulting, including a $10,000 payment made the day before the company dissolved. Ms. Fernandez is currently Sen. Rubio’s regional director, with a salary of $69,999.84.

(THIS SECTION CONTAINS A CORRECTION by Mr. Annunziato)

Commissioner Bovo’s current Legislative Director Alex Annunziato, in my opinion, should not be working in Bovo's office. Annunziato, a former lieutenant with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) resigned from his position on July 10, 2011, coincidentally following an internal Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation. FHP allegations were dismissed by the Dept. of Law Enforcement in 2012 (see letter below). In other words, Annunziato WAS CLEARED OF ALL CHARGES by their dismissal.

In my opinion, Commission Bovo would absolutely be the worst possible choice for County Commission Chair in November.

Run for the hills, Lynda Bell is running for House District 118. By Geniusofdespair

Lynda Bell is running against David Rivera for Florida House. This is very similar to another "Republican which is worse campaign": Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.  Can't they get a likable candidate? The Democrats have Robert Asencio.

The Republicans have:

Rivera, David (REP)
Rodriguez, Anthony (REP)
Rojas Tallon, Steven Anthony (REP)

And Lynda Bell who has not yet officially registered.

If faced with a choice of the two: David Rivera or Lynda Bell, I would rather roll my head down U.S.1 and hope a car crushes it or swim in the FPL cooling canals and get scalded. I could never choose between them.

Miami Herald analysis of Miami Cubans and Obama's Cuba Policy ... off-base ... by gimleteye

Patricia Mazzei's political reports are right on target, but I found her recent analysis of the Cuban-American political guard fell short.

"Once mighty, Miami’s political guard left out of conversation on Cuba", no argument: President Obama put a new Cuba policy together without the help of the Miami Old Guard.

She begins, "Miami’s Cuban-American political guard risks losing any influence it has left at a time when Cuba could undergo its most sweeping changes."

I don't believe so.

Based on conversations with sources who were in Havana throughout the Obama visit, the Miami GOP Cuban-American community was well represented.

“I’m not hurt at all — it frees up my day,” Miami Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen brushed off Obama. “He’s of no consequence to us.” That's both true -- and not true.

It's true, because the GOP political elite in Miami long ago joined Mitch McConnell's, "we will block Obama at every turn". They turned their backs on President Obama long ago.

On the other hand, campaign funders of Cuban American GOP politicians are very active in forging links with Cuba. Mike Fernandez was in Havana, the Herald notes. Fernandez is among the state's biggest campaign contributors to GOP candidates and causes.

The Old Guard Cuban-Americans have legitimate, deep grievances against the Castro regime, but in Miami the embargo was invaluable: to maintain and enforce a rigid, political orthodoxy and channel commerce.

Times change. What doesn't change is the imperative to make money.

The Diaz Balarts, Diaz de la Portillas, Ros Lehtinen et al. will not alter their strident opposition to Obama (or his Democratic successor in the White House). That is for public consumption. But Jorge Mas Santos participated in a pre-Havana meeting with President Obama in the White House, lasting two hours.

They won't be left out.

There are nearly two hundred Americans working out of the US embassy in Havana.  All the GOP posturing and brush-offs of President Obama are for show. The 7th Party Congress in Cuba meets on April 16th. Bet on the Republican business elite paying attention and making plans.


Politics
April 8, 2016 5:32 PM

Once mighty, Miami’s political guard left out of conversation on Cuba
The Cuban-American political guard has been left out
It wasn’t involved in President Obama’s Cuba policy
The politicians face the prospect of four or eight more years of the same

By Patricia Mazzei
pmazzei@miamiherald.com


President Barack Obama’s historic trip to Cuba last month marked the culmination of a foreign policy he laid out eight years as ago as a candidate, when he broke with his predecessors and pledged to sit down with unfriendly dictators, because punishing them with silence seemed “ridiculous.”

We Know What We Are Seeing: Buy Big Sugar Lands, Send Clean, Fresh Water South ... by gimleteye

People in South Florida are beginning to understand how every taxpayer in South Florida is hostage to the dismal water quality in Lake Okeechobee. This is us.

Imagine that we are citizens of Flint, Michigan -- forced by government and elected officials to drink water contaminated with lead. In Florida, the metaphor is apt.

First of all, count on government officials and the agency PR machine to deny. They are doing it now: issuing press statements assuring that all is well, problem is recognized and addressed. Second, they will go to newspapers and TV stations where they have cultivated relationships. Third, they will attack critics as ill-informed, penning letters to the editors and OPED's for others to submit.

This formulaic response did protect the special interest's prerogatives and corporate welfare over decades. Something changed. What changed is that voters and taxpayers know what we are seeing, and we are expressing it very clearly in photos, videos, and blog posts on social media -- viewed by hundreds of thousands of Floridians.

Here, we live and recreate on or simply appreciate waterways like the Indian River Lagoon, Sanibel and Captiva Islands, the Caloosahatchee River directly impacted by the Lake Okeechobee's filthy water. Or Biscayne Bay and the Everglades. We know what we are seeing.

The problem with Florida's dismal water quality is not just that we taxpayers are sacrifice zones for Big Sugar. It is that we are all hostage to the bad water quality coming out of Lake Okeechobee.

There is an answer and another plan. Last August, 207 scientists petitioned Gov. Rick Scott to buy Bug Sugar lands, to put enough storage in place that the catastrophe that occurred this recent January might not have happened. This bears repeating: if Gov. Scott and the Florida legislature had completed the deal to buy U.S. Sugar lands, that U.S. shareholders approved in 2008, they would be able to say -- at least -- that they were doing something to alleviate Lake O stormwater runoff even if it still will take years to complete. They did the opposite.

They refused to allocate Amendment 1 funding, approved by more than 75 percent of Florida voters as a constitutional amendment in 2014, to buy Big Sugar lands south of Lake Okeechobee. This legislative session, they approved a new state water policy that protects polluters inside virtual barbed wire enclosures. "We will call it pollution when we decide to call it pollution."

Decades lost to restoring water quality in Florida -- despite billions spent -- serve a single purpose: to make Big Sugar even richer. In the U.S. Congress, not even conservatives or tea party stalwarts have been able to remove the stigma of corporate welfare embedded in the Farm Bill, that guarantees Big Sugar profits before a single seed is planted. Big Sugar takes a fraction of those guaranteed profits, fertilizes Tallahassee and local county commissions and political races, and thus ensures that taxpayers will shoulder the majority of the cost and pain of cleaning up the industry's pollution.

Here is what the scientists signed last summer. “As a scientist working in the Everglades," they each asserted, "... it is my scientific opinion that increased storage and treatment of freshwater south of Lake Okeechobee, and additional flow from the lake southward, is essential to restoring the Everglades, Florida Bay, and the Caloosahatchee and St.Lucie estuaries.” (names, listed below)

Gov. Scott and Ag. Secretary Adam Putnam and the rest of the Florida legislature basically told the scientists to fuck off. (Same as US Senator Marco Rubio, who refused to meet with climate change scientists over a period of many years.)

We can't get to fixing the Lake Okeechobee problem until a government agency makes the case for taking the land by eminent domain. Part of the reason eminent domain is necessary is because of fragmented land ownership in the EAA. Another part is common sense: until Big Sugar feels the heat of political change, there is no reason to change.

Taxpayers feel helpless; mislead by Agriculture Secretary Adam Putnam, by Governor Rick Scott, by Sig Sugar's mouthpieces like Senate president Joe Negron and Representative Matt Caldwell. We don't know what to do, because we are being lied to.

A plan forward will not happen until we elect politicians to step forward. It can't happen in Florida so long as the state legislature is in the hammer hold of Big Sugar. It might happen if a federal agency steps up to protect the national interest in the Everglades, with the support of Congress and the White House.

Along this line, Monroe County -- including the Florida Keys -- has already stepped forward asking government agencies to speed up Everglades restoration. Also along this line, Florida voters already rejected two GOP presidential primary candidates -- Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio -- firmly in Big Sugar's pockets.

Taking Big Sugar lands is not a question -- as Big Sugar tries to sell -- of over-reaching government. They know and we know since time for our estuaries and Everglades and Florida Bay has run out, it is only a question of price.

With Gov. Rick Scott and Ag. Secretary Putnam at the helm, even getting to the price is impossible because they are fully committed to embarrassing excuses, half-measures, and outright pandering to the billionaires' sticky embrace. When Republican water managers refused to exercise the option to buy US Sugar lands, they showed their cards. It is time for voters to show, ours.



More land needed to stop discharges, science shows
Jennifer Hecker 5:01 p.m. EDT March 26, 2016
Fort Myers News Press

Additional land purchase in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) for more water storage, treatment and conveyance south has been highlighted as the necessary missing piece of the puzzle to restoring the Everglades and south Florida estuaries for years, as outlined in the state’s 2008 Reviving the River of Grass initiative and the more recent 2015 University of Florida Water Institute study.

Horror Story in Florida State House District 118: Lynda Bell Rumor. By Geniusofdespair

It is rumored that the toxic former County Commissioner Lynda Bell will join the toxic David Rivera in this race.

Now this would cause the Republican Primary voters quite a dilemma.  Which one to vote for. I am sitting at my desk imagining the two and what I would do if I were stuck with that decision.

Really, I can't comprehend that Lynda would join a race with David Rivera as a candidate but stranger things have happened.

Here is a video of Steven Rojas Tallon. When someone says they are going to fight to regulation first thing, I don't like them. But he sure beats the other Republican choices.



All I could find for Anthony Rodriguez was a twitter account and a photo.

If you are going to vote in the Republican primary in this district, do your homework because you are stuck with Sophie's Choice.

As for the Democrats, they appear to have a pretty good candidate, Robert Asencio. I read his Facebook page.  And he is/was a cop so that should make all you Republican's happy.

From Robert Ascencio's Page:

Hello Friends, you already know me as Officer Robert Asencio, or as simply your friend and neighbor. For 26 years, I've served and protected Miami-Dade Schools, and now I'm running to serve our community in the Florida House of Representatives.

House District 118 has been my home for more than 16 years. Like you, I've watched countless politicians run for office in Miami. Like you, I've been frustrated at how ineffective most are at serving regular people like us.

I'm running because, like so many of you, I feel our legislators must be held accountable to the Floridians they serve. That is why I will uphold a higher standard of service, and always be accessible to you, and I'll never forget your everyday needs.

As your State Representative, I'll work every day for the good of all, rather than a fortunate few. I'm stepping forward, standing up for working Floridians and their families, and I hope you'll take the journey with us to Tallahassee.

Please take a moment to contact me, or support my campaign by making a donation at www.VoteAsencio.com.

David Rivera: THIS COULDN'T BE TRUE? By Geniusofdespair

David Rivera running again? OMG this throws my barf meter off the scales. He claims he is registered to run but he is not on the State Website.

From the Miami Herald

Today is the Presidential Primary in Miami Dade County: PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS IN FLORIDA. By Geniusofdespair

Can Marco Rubio even win his home county? We will know soon enough. He shouldn't have jumped over Bush, it wasn't his turn and stabbing your mentor in the back is not very neighborly. Too cocky, that is Marco's problem. Too much time listening to the dark knight, David Rivera, the man  with all the loopy gal pals.

ELECTION RESULTS MIAMI DADE COUNTY:

With Absentees and Early voting  and 573 of 783 Precincts Reporting...

Marco Rubio 62.84%   - 101,020
Donald Trump  22.39% - 35,988

In Broward County
Marco Rubio got 27.53%
Donald Trump got 45.39%

In Monroe County
Marco Rubio got 27.49%
Donald Trump got 45.4%
---------------------------------
as of 8:10pm STATEWIDE:
Ted Cruz has 322,267
Marco Rubio has 526,901
Donald Trump has 876,744

And to show you how stupid Republicans are: Mike Huckabee has 2,357and Jeb Bush has 40,159.  Up to date County by County results.

On the Democratic side: Hillary Clinton aced Florida.

Climate Change Denier MARCO RUBIO just left the race.  By the way Marco, the one mailer I got from your actual campaign: I got it tonight. Wasting Norman Braman's money?

Marco Rubio leaning on David Rivera for advice, as campaign falters ... by gimleteye

Late last year, Daily Beast wrote, "David Rivera is bad for Sen. Marco Rubio’s presidential ambitions—but the ethically challenged former congressman can’t seem to stay away." According to an inside source, it is not exactly that Rivera "can't stay away". Marco Rubio is leaning heavily on his friend, Rivera, for media and strategic advice.

Click here, for our archive on David Rivera.

Eye on Miami Compares Marco Rubio and Donald Trump and Rubio is Worse. By Geniusofdespair

Donald Trump might have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but Marco Rubio sports another utensil. Forked Tongue: hypocritical (for you stupid people)

I don't like Donald Trump because of what he did to the people of Doral. He bought the Doral golf course and then immediately planted big trees blocking everyone's view. He does slapp suits. He had that university that ripped off students. Although I think he got paid to put his name on it and had little to do with running it. You didn't actually think he made those ties and suits and built anything in Sunny Isles, did you? People bought his brand. Donald Trump is about making money, he sells his name.

Rubio is just like Donald Trump in many ways, like being power hungry, but Rubio has to suck up to bad people and industry giants like the Koch Brothers. He has to trade his soul because he doesn't have the money to acquire the power he seeks. Gimleteye has done a fine job of telling you how he has been sucking up to big sugar, selling out our environment, our water supply and the health of our estuaries.

To get to be the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2008, he sold out our Miami Dade County school district. Why is Marco Rubio the one blasting Donald Trump on his university when he sold out our school district depriving it of millions of dollars? Put the school issue on a scale: Donald Trump impacted a couple of dozen, Rubio's lust for power impacted nearly half a million students In our district alone. Rubio made a deal with the devil for his personal lust for power.

How did Marco Rubio sell out the tots of Miami Dade County? He changed the way schools are funded.  He gave up the Miami Dade County District Cost Differential in exchange for the Speakership. The subsidy for the Dade County school district was given because the cost of living was higher here then the rest of the State:

The New York Times reported Oct. 21 that then-State Rep. Rubio bargained for political support to become speaker of the Florida House in exchange for not opposing measures that diverted funds from large school districts like his home county of Miami-Dade to smaller districts upstate.

Once Speaker, he was able to appoint the heads of all the Committees. He had to step over Rep. Alex Villalobos to become speaker. Villalobos said that Rivera and Rubio raised $8 Million Dollars to take him out because he didn't vote the way they wanted him to. Rubio made his BFF, Sleazy David Rivera the Chairman of the Rules Committee - in my opinion the most powerful committee. Remember Rivera, he is the one who listed on his financial disclosure that he worked for USAID but they never heard of him. He was Rubio's roommate in Tallahassee and they bought a house together that had a foreclosure on it. To get some idea of their friendship watch this video of Rivera introducing Rubio. Note they are at a group headed by Anthony Verdugo, a known gay basher. Most politicians with brains boycott this group with the phony Christian name. Verdugo was named as the top homophobe by New Times.



Here is a video where RUBIO LIES TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. He said he is the son of Cuban Exiles. He is not. His parents came here on there own in 1956 before there were exiles. Rubio has now stopped the claim. But geez, you lie while at the podium in the Florida House during your Speaker Inauguration?




Many Floridians are enjoying seeing Marco Rubio shredded by Cruz and Trump. We really don't like him.  Just don't let Marco Rubio fool you. When Rubio points a finger at Trump he has 4 more toxic fingers pointing at himself.