Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Money Wins … by gimleteye

"It's time to put all the division behind us and come together. Forget the partisanship," Gov. Rick Scott said at his victory celebration last night. Then he said, "We need to come together, we really do." Then he said, "It's been about right versus wrong," obliterating what he had just said about putting divisions behind and eliminating partisanship.

It took a lot of money for Rick Scott to get away with those clashing homilies at last night's victory celebration.


Although the election results came in early, relatively speaking, the final count on the cost to Florida and to the United States will unfold in the next few years, leading up to the 2016 presidential election.

Republicans were jubilant to hand Charlie Crist a defeat, albeit so narrow that the many in the Scott camp -- even at last night's campaign headquarters -- believed they would lose. "Charlie Crist was a terrible candidate for the Democrats," say the GOP.

Well, Charlie Crist was the ONLY candidate who could launch a statewide campaign with bankable name recognition to counter the Republican effect of unlimited campaign money. Since Citizens United and the tidal wave of corporate, dark money, name a single Democrat in Florida, now, who could have done better?

The real victor last night wasn't the small "d" democracy. For the extremists who run the GOP, it's never been about that. For the rest, today, it is going to take headlamps to see through the tunnel and the way forward, just like they do in the coal mines of Kentucky.

42 comments:

Geniusofdespair said...

The only good thing is Jose Javier Rodriquez was reelected (by a very small margin.)

Anonymous said...

It was frustrating to see the media give Scott and the GOP deference and not challenge statements that were obvious lies, like Scott taking credit for job creation when GOP policies of reducing govt payrolls and privatizing have cost good people good jobs. Or his new found green creds. In any case Scott doesn't have the support fiche majority of Floridians who voted. Even with all the dark money and Scott's personal fortune, he still couldn't buy likeability or majority support.

Anonymous said...

Look forward to enjoying the "new" Scott in his second term. You know the one that will be a champion for the Everglades like Jeb Bush promised us and the one who will get Medicaid expanded in Florida in memory of his dear departed mother and the one that will bring good paying jobs in real professions and industries - not service and top jobs with no benefits, not jobs that depend on cannibalizing poor people's wages like gambling. And oh yeah, the education agenda that supports public schools and teachers too. Haha.

Anonymous said...

At least Lynda Bell is gone BUT you have to wonder if the result would hve been different had her election been held yesterday.

Geniusofdespair said...

Lynda is not gone she might resurface on th school board. Scott appoints. I know she is not in the district but I don't put anything past Scott. She is still a threat. She met with Curbello.

Anonymous said...

Even the parks went down? WTF? That's what happens when good people do nothing.

We let developers, lobbyists and fools run the county.

Anonymous said...

That should the next county story: WTF is happening at the County Parks dept with all these proposal to privitize and develop public park and conservation land to developers for theme parks and hotels?

Anonymous said...

Focus on the big picture. Obama is a disaster for Democrats. They kept him locked up in the White House so that more Senate seats and Governorships would not be lost.
The lies, the finger pointing, the enemies list, the spying on Americans, conservative groups tax scrutiny and a DOJ with made up racial animosity towards Republicans has doomed the President in his final two years.
The gridlock by Harry Reid is over. More than 400 bills from the House went to Reid and a handful were voted on. Now in the words of Rick Scott "let's get to work."
If the Republicans misuse the Senate and obstruct the President over the next two years, in 2016 with 24 Republican seats facing voters the tide will turn back.
Crist is gone now and that is good, he would not have done anything in Florida with a super majority of Republicans in the Florida House. Once again the Miami Herald supported an inane concept for Governor. Think big picture in the future editorial board.

Anonymous said...

The questions are: How much damage will he do to the state's environment? How high will he jump for big sugar? How many more poor children will be killed under his watch? Will he close down the unemployment compensation office so no Floridians will get compensations? Will he hold off expanding Medicaid for another four years, during which time many people will die for lack of preventive medical care? How much money does he intend to make off of public policy and off the backs of the taxpayers? How many more prisoners will be murdered in FL prisons under his watch? How much will he cut from education in general, and teacher's salaries in particular? Will he close down all the public schools and give the money to private interests? Will he roll back state salaries, and lower the minimum wage? Exactly, how much hurt does he intend to inflict on Floridians?

Anonymous said...

Let the Presidential vetoes begin in Washington. Let's see which one comes first: ACA? Social Security? Medicaid? Medicare? Lowering the minimum wage? Unemployment benefits? Clean Air Act? Clean Water Act? There are hundreds of others, let's see which ones they pick. Most important of all, is war. They must have war so our kids can die in a foreign land and they can make money off it. So let's see how long before the war drums start beating loud.

Anonymous said...

The political winds are to cannibalize the parks selling off what makes money, like the soccer, golf and tennis operations, then get rid of what's left. The administration feels the department should not only be self supporting but contribute to the general fund.

Next year look for more charges to use the parks and reduce hours and service.

There is an underground movement to get parks dedicated line item funding and out of UMSA which could make it more resistant to these privateers but with the current leadership it has a snowball's chance.

Anonymous said...

Voters voted 2 to 1 to Against the proposed tax increase to pay for new courthouse facilities. Backed by $1.5 mil in cash from lawyers and judges who desperately pitched the $393 Mil bond issue. No way, Jorge. Now maybe Miami-Dade County will fix up its property at 73 W. Flagler?

Anonymous said...

I take all candiru seriously - awful things.
(Candiru is a parasitic catfish. Look it up)

Could Alan Grayson have stood a chance in the Gov race? He's a real Dem and he has name recognition.

Anonymous said...

Also at least amendment 1 passed. ARGHHHHH -- What a mess!

Anonymous said...

Charlie Crist should have stayed Governor when he was re-elected and he should never have walked out on Floridians with his Washington, DC aspirations. Senator Crist? Then he switched parties... Hard to take him seriously. For example, he just lost to fraudster Rick Scott.

Anonymous said...

Sorry!

Candidacy -- Not "candiru"

Anonymous said...

Second above:
Couldn't agree more!
America has stood up and said, "enough is enough"!

It is indeed a wonderful day and a wonderful blessing to be an American!

Anonymous said...

If money won, money also lost...big.

Anonymous said...

Well, let's see were the crazy republicans take us. Another government shut- down? Maybe they will drive us over the cliff and there will be no one to pull us out. Let's see. Immigration is next on the docket, let's see how that goes.

Anonymous said...

And what would you consider should be done about immigration? Please let us know....

Anonymous said...

If only people read and studied a bit more: government shutdowns have occurred for as long as I can remember.

Anonymous said...

Obama will go down as the worst president in modern history. Too bad. He had such a chance to shine.

Anonymous said...

These elections were not about Obama. Trust me, Obama will be fine. His place in history and his many accomplishments will be there for historians to fight over for centuries to come. These elections were about you and I and how we are going to fare in the future, and how the country will fare in the future. Will we go back to where we were when he took over? is that what you want? So now let's focus on where a republican congress wants to take the country. That is the item of interest for the country.

Anonymous said...

The good news if any is that this assures a democrat President in 2016, after 2 years with this set of clowns.
Just wait and see who's going to be saying enough is enough then. And shame on those who elected Rick Scott by not exercising their right to vote.

Anonymous said...

I heard the republicans want to put them all on boats and once at sea bomb them. Perhaps some of them will want to do the humane thing and let the live and go back to their homelands. Maybe . . .


Anonymous said...

Tom Steyer blew $57 million trying to get the idiots worked up over climate change.

Today Tom Steyer woke up short $57 million.

Talk about throwing money away.

Anonymous said...

This election was very much about Obama.

Anonymous said...

Today I reiterate my prediction: Hillary will not run.

Anonymous said...

If she doesnot run we have a stable of very capable people ready to go. By the time these crazy people finish working their magic, they will be running to anyone we put up for relief!

Anonymous said...

Anyone watching Obama's press conference? Notice how "mild" he is today? And he got rid of his smirky little smile. Hmmm, maybe he's considering "evolving" some more.

Geniusofdespair said...

I am not in the mood for Republicans today so shut the fuck up and get off this blog.

Skip Van Cel said...

My friend Dick Scott, who was an attorney for the state of Florida, once told me that Tallahassee's biggest fear was that Palm Beach, Broward and Miami Dade counties would realize they could control the state if all of the Democrats would vote. This was proven last night. Only 40% of Miami Dade, 44 % of Broward and 49 % of Palm Beach counties' democratic block voted. The only one to blame is our lazy ass selves.

Anonymous said...

The scariest win last night is the Arkansas Senate seat taken by war party's Tom Cotton.

Puck said...
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Anonymous said...

Didn't you read what he said? " Get the fxxx off this website."

Anonymous said...

What? With that &€£%# mouth?

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

“Interstellar” the new Michael Caine science fiction film about the search for another habitable planet, since mankind has polluted and depleted planet earth. Yet recent elections overwhelmingly voted for GOP candidates that keep stating they are not scientists and don’t believe that mankind has a negative effect on our environment resulting in global warming and rising sea levels. Did any GOP voters see “Interstellar” or perhaps the Disney animation “Wall-E”? Do they still refuse to accept the scientific fact that mankind has damaged our planet almost beyond the so called “Tipping Point”? It’s long overdue that we start repairing planet earth or we better start budgeting for the spaceships to relocate us elsewhere. Climate Change Deniers will fully understand why there will be no one-way ticket reserved for them.

Geniusofdespair said...

All in great fun some of you antagonized me on the day after the election. Thanks. It was fun to delete you.

Anonymous said...

Money? How about Jorge Luis Lopez and his shrill judges? They wasted $1.5 Million of lawyers money AND they lost. Courthouse Bond scheme went down in flames. The corpse is ashes. Donors pissed much? Will heads roll?