Jeff Greene, The 'Money' Wrench in the Florida Governor's Race. By Geniusofdespair

Billionaire Jeff Greene is now a candidate for Florida Governor on the Democratic side. He told the Miami Herald that he turned over a new leaf since he married a former party girl of Malaysian descent and fathered 3 boys.

On the plus side he went to John Hopkins and Harvard so ain't as dumb as Trump. He is definitely an improvement over Scott.

He said: "I got married 11 years ago. I have three boys, 5, 7, and 9. That changes your perspective...I'm thinking 'How am I going to take care of these little guys and what kind of world will I leave them.'"

He signed the billionaires' pledge giving away his fortune to philanthropic causes when he dies. He has also pledged millions to help other Democratic candidates throughout Florida.

Greene said of Trump: "I can see fraud when it's there in front of me, He's a fraud."

On the negative side:

He had Mike Tyson as his best man. A little nutty there, but that was 11 years ago.

He was a Republican, but than so was I.

He was a party boy, but than so was I (girl).

Greene has no political experience, a curse and a blessing.

He thinks he may still belong to Trump's Palm Beach club (what a dilemma to not know what dues you are paying).

Anyway, Phil Levine (worth about $100 million) does not have a clear path to the nomination with Jeff Greene's entrance (about 4 billion). Bob Graham is a paltry multi-millionaire (Graham's total net worth is reported to be between $7.35 million and $31.7 million) and less likely to part with his money for Gwen. However, Gwen Graham could profit from this 'money' wrench in the race, by letting the other two duke it out and coming up smelling like roses (except for that damn pipeline vote). I do think Graham would do better with independents.

P.S. Greene runs a school for the "academically advanced child" that I found disturbing in the elitist sense:

The Florida DEMOCRATIC Gubernatorial Debate. By Geniusofdespair

Get to Know Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum - Running for Governor. By Geniusofdespair

  (you have to press skip the ad, it goes on forever otherwise)

Andrew D. Gillum is a Democratic serving as the Mayor of Tallahassee, Florida since 2014. At the age of 23, Gillum became the youngest person ever elected to the Tallahassee City Commission in February 2003.  He grew up in Miami.

Andrew Gillum's Website. 

From his website:

As Mayor, Andrew developed a thriving innovation economy, beat the gun lobby in court to protect common sense reform and stood up to President Trump and Governor Rick Scott to defend immigrants.

As Governor, he will fight against the special interests that are standing in the way of taking real action on climate change, and he will always ensure Florida is a welcoming and safe place for everyone, no matter where they come from, who they love or how they identify.

Who is Running for Governor of Florida in 2018. By Geniusofdespair

Ron Bergeron has threatened to run as a Republican for Governor. He will make a decision this summer. Adam Putnam the Agriculture Commissioner appears to have the advantage. I would support Bergeron over that wimpy Putnam. At least Alligator Ron cares a bit about the environment. He is a mega-rich developer with 25 companies.

Ron Bergeron

Gwen Graham

For the Dems, Gwen Graham appears to be the front-runner. She is the daughter of former Senator and Governor Bob Graham. She has the connections and the fund raising capabilities. I can live with her as Governor.

John Morgan

Also in the Dem race, Philip Levine is expected to run, a no to that one. John Morgan, a personal injury lawyer who pushed for the medical Marijuana law, also wants to run and Andrew Gillum as well.

Qualifying is over in June 2018 so we have a long way to go. Scott was a surprise last minute  (waited till April) candidate. So expect more to enter.

Florida Council of 100 tries to impose GOP discipline on business community, bans Charlie Crist from luncheon speaking engagement … by gimleteye

(UPDATE: the following was published last week) For Florida's Council of 100 to cancel a luncheon speech by Charlie Crist on the same day it had been scheduled speaks of itself to Florida voters.

Its website tab, "about us"you, claims, "The Florida Council of 100 is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of business leaders, which exists to promote the economic growth of Florida and improve the economic well-being and quality of life of its citizenry." Nonpartisan? According to its Wikipedia webpage, "The Council's non-profit filing with the Internal Revenue Service states that their purpose is to "educate the community and promote economic development to provide a better standard of living for all Floridians."

What is strange about its blatantly partisan act -- that ought to attract the scrutiny of the IRS -- is that when Charlie Crist was Florida's governor, he supported just about everything that the Florida Chamber of Commerce or Associated Industries wanted. One would be hard pressed to identify a single piece of pro-business legislation that Gov. Crist opposed.

Bill Nelson, back in the governor's race? … by gimleteye

EOM has generally been ahead of the mainstream press on this one, so here we go again: US Senator Bill Nelson will jump in soon, in the race to be the Democratic candidate for governor.

Nelson's in-out-in-decision comes at considerable expense to candidates challenging Gov. Rick Scott, especially Charlie Crist who is in de facto campaign mode.

Polling indicates either Crist or Nelson can unseat Scott, one of the most unpopular governors in the nation. Of the two, though, Nelson has a much easier path to victory. Republicans are salivating at the chance to beat Crist, the turncoat whose chief flaw was to antagonize serious Republican money like Big Sugar. Nelson, in comparison, is easy-going and doesn't offend a soul.

But what of the US Senate seat that Nelson would leave? The governor appoints the successor Senator in the case of an abandoned seat. That's what recently occurred when Mel Martinez resigned from the world's most exclusive upper chamber. Then Republican Governor Charlie Crist appointed his former chief of staff, George Lemieux, for the interim.

Can Nelson run for governor while preserving his Senate seat? If he defeats Scott in next November's election, does he technically surrender his seat on his victory or on inauguration? And who among Florida Democrats could run and win? Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz?

These questions have preoccupied Florida's small Democratic brain trust. The uncertainty may have clouded Senator Nelson's response to the challenge of running for governor last summer. But cooler weather is here. The rains have lifted. Skies are clear and Bill Nelson will run for governor.

Indefensible: Manny Diaz, former Miami mayor ... by gimleteye

He can't win. Manny Diaz has launched a full fledged charm effort in advance of a campaign to become the Democratic candidate to face Gov. Rick Scott in 2014. Scott is highly beatable, but not by Manny Diaz.

Diaz is taking a run, like Alex Penelas did in a recent attempt to revive his political career, at higher office. He's going to have to get past his record, first.

Diaz' supporters showed up on a recent post at EOM. They raced to Diaz' defense with broad, unsubstantiated claims. How about the Marlins' Stadium deal that Diaz aided and abetted?

Forbes Magazine leveled its keen business-oriented gaze at the Miami Marlins' deal, without noting Manny Diaz' role, calling it "the worst shellacking taxpayers have ever gotten from a baseball stadium."  That's Manny Diaz' legacy and he wants to bring those same talents to Florida? Click 'read more', to be reminded of the disaster Diaz delivered:

Manny Diaz angles to be Democratic contender for governor: not in our book! ... by gimleteye

I have been staying out of the controversy of former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz' recent autobiography; a spin job according to those with the time and interest to read it.

I haven't read the Diaz book, because I was never a supporter of the former Miami mayor.  As a civic activist who paid attention to the massive damage Diaz helped proliferate through the housing and building boom, I am disinclined to what I believe to be a self-serving effort to re-write history: approximately the point of reviews.

I am a left-leaning, liberal voice who has never shied from leveling broadsides against Democrats. Yes, the Democrats can win in Florida by running an Hispanic candidate. Manny Diaz is the wrong candidate to raise the flag for the Dems.

Like many other politicians of the 2000's, Diaz coasted on the fuel then the fumes of the building boom.  He was like a Marlin's hitter who raced to third base, celebrating a triple when he hit a pop fly. To the extent that the city of Miami contributed to massive -- multi-billion dollar! -- infrastructure deficits that are now plaguing the county, Diaz was right in the middle of the mess. Taxpayers and voters will have something to say about a Diaz primary campaign.

Diaz and his consultants may be counting on the mainstream press to stay to the glossy top stuff, reinforced by "a book": Cuban American makes good. But the opposition reads this blog, and Eye on Miami will have more ... and our readers, more still ... to say.

Former Mayor Manny Diaz for Governor? By Geniusofdespair

Manny Diaz and Charlie Crist both might run for Governor as Democrats.

Is our next Governor going to be a Democrat? I don't know. Florida Democrats are so misguided when picking candidates. Manny Diaz? Really?

According to Public Policy Polling:

Among Democratic primary voters, Charlie Crist has a favorable rating of 73% and an unfavorable rating of 17%. When asked which Democratic candidate they would like to see run for governor next year, Crist won with 52% followed by Alex Sink (18%) and Pam Iorio (13%), among others.

Pam Iorio? Another: "Really"?

The worst win in this election: Rick Scott. By Geniusofdespair

I was invested in many issues this election but by far the worst win was Rick Scott (aka Mr. Crazy Eyes) as Governor. I fault Republicans for lack of brains.

I don't like Marco Rubio and I didn't like Bill McCollum but at the very least they were credible candidates.

Rick Scott is/was not a credible candidate. They say money can't buy you love but it can surely buy you a Republican election. Democrats had a rich guy short on ethics like Scott, Jeff Greene, but Democrats sent him packing in the primary. Republicans should have done the same to Scott - I fault them for not doing this. McCollum for all his faults, would have made a better Governor.

Florida is F--ked because of this election. The legislature is overwhelming Republican and now we have a man to-the-right-of-right who is also woefully short on principles or integrity as our Governor. He slashed and burned at his hospitals and he will do the same to the State. My sister, who worked at one of Scott's hospitals, said last night all the nurses she works with are Republicans but they all didn't support Scott. She said they all knew what he did in the medical arena. The strangest part, people don't even like him. Scott, in recent polls was receiving a 54 percent negative approval rating, while only 34 percent have a favorable opinion of him. Republicans didn't like him but they voted for him anyway. They chose to cast a blind eye at the 1.7 billion dollar fine his hospital empire had to pay.

What has happened that we throw basic contract law out the window (in foreclosure litigation) for expedience and then we elect a charlatan governor. What have we become?

Alex Sink is Neck and Neck with Mr. Crazy Eyes. By Geniusofdespair

The latest Quinnipiac University survey shows the Governor's race in a virtual tie: Sink getting 44%, Scott getting 43%. According to the Miami Herald:

"The poll found Scott has gained over the last three weeks among conservative-leaning voters who don't like him but have decided they don't dislike him enough to let a Democrat win."

YOU MUST VOTE...GET YOUR FRIENDS TO VOTE...AND ANYONE ELSE YOU CAN DUST OFF AND BRING TO THE POLLS. CALL YOUR KIDS AT FLORIDA COLLEGES: THREATEN THEM. Scott would be a disaster. Don't let him win!

The Quick Save. By Geniusofdespair

This is a true story...sadly.

A friend called me tonight and asked how to vote on the amendments. In the course of the conversation he said he wouldn't vote for Sink because he didn't like her voice. I tried to dissuade my friend from voting for Scott. He said "But I saw the commercials that she mismanaged the State finances." After much dialogue that wasn't going anywhere I finally said: "Listen, don't vote for either of them." He said "I can do that?" I said "Yes you can leave some blank." The guy hung up elated. I was left in despair.

New Soundtrack on My Rick Scott Doesn't Blink Video. By Geniusofdespair

I think with this new soundtrack you can really focus on Rick Scott's Crazy reptilian eyes. Scary. I only counted 2 blinks. 15 to 26 blinks in 60 seconds is the average.

Rick Scott's Extraterrestrial Crazy Eyes. By Geniusofdespair

Can't see video, hit this link.

I videotaped this off my TV of Rick Scott's Michael Putney interview. I just focused on his eyes because what he said was so boring. I think he comes from some other planet where they don't blink and they are trying to invade Florida and take over our hospitals, washing patients with handi-wipes. Oh, wait, he already did that.

Watch his eyes, count how many times he blinks...I counted 2 in 45 seconds, scary. Most people blink about 15 times a minute, or every 4 seconds. There has to be a hostile planet close to Wasilla, Alaska that liberals don't know about where the inhabitants can't control their eyes. You can recognize them because they either wink or don't blink. Vote for Alex Sink.

If This Weren't So Sad...It Would Be Funny. By Geniusofdespair

Josue Larose, a write-in candidate for Governor, has been a write-in candidate in at least 6 races including his candidacy in 2009 for Miami Mayor (his qualifying check bounced so he was booted from the Mayor's race - he called himself Joshua LaRose at that time). From an Our Campaigns website it said (I am not making this up): "He is a 25 years old rich man, born on June 12, 1981. Regarding his education level he is earning a Bachelor's Degree in Economics, then he is earning a Certificate in Real Estate, in Mortgage Brokerage and finally he has a MBA Degree."

Larose also has 34 political parties and many PAC's, trying to appeal to just about everyone. The financial reports list American Venture Capital Group as the only donor to these political parties. The political party I stumbled on in public records is called American Christians Political Party. It claims to have $1,200,000 in its coffers, according to Larose's financial report. I looked up the corporation and it is not registered in Florida. This is from his website:

"Economist Josue Larose is the President of the American National Chamber of Commerce and also the Chairman of many Federal PACs."

The address he lists...it appears you can also get credit counseling in suite 201. They take donations too, they are a charity. I know who I am not voting for Governor besides not voting for Rick Scott.

FLORIDA GOVERNOR: We must stop Mr. Crazy Eyes and Help Alex Sink. By Geniusofdespair

Money, Money, Money! Politics is all about money. I am collecting money for Alex Sink on behalf of the Environment. This is the link to my fundraising page. Put some dough on it. All of you: You need to give money to candidates. Let's get that money rolling into Alex Sink's campaign otherwise Florida will be in deep shit. Speaking of deep shit, this is your opportunity to unseat Dorrin Rolle from the County Commission. He is in a runoff with Jean Monestime. Jean desperately needs money. Help him, this is the link. I hope my readers aren't deadbeats. Even $10 or $20 each to these two candidates is good enough. Contact me at geniusofdespair@yahoo.com if you would rather send a check to me, made out to their campaigns.

Rick Scott: so you want to be governor? Support Amendment 4... by gimleteye

The lobbyist class was down in its cups at the campaign headquarters of Bill McCullom last night. To run competitively against the ultra deep pockets of health care magnate, Rick Scott, McCullom needed every lobbyist dollar he could find. The special interests rushed to his side. They had everything to gain and they lost. Now what?

Rick Scott can run competitively against Sink, without the lobbying class. Still, and most importantly, he needs enough independents and Democrats to defeat the former St. Pete banker, Alex Sink. Wherever Sink is most vulnerable is where Scott should plant his campaign. Where is Sink most vulnerable as a former financier of development run amok? Amendment 4, the November referendum that would return the choice of changing community land use plans back to local voters.

Sink has avoided Amendment 4 like the plague. It is no wonder, why. From the Chamber of Commerce to Lennar and other large production homebuilders, to the shill for land speculators, Associated Industries, opposition to Amendment 4 has drawn tens of millions of dollars. But Amendment 4 is energizing millions of voters who are sick and tired of the insider dealing and the development Wrecking Crew that drove the economy off the rails.

Isn't limiting the power of government-- especially the abuses of excessive authority-- a cornerstone of conservative values? Alex Sink doesn't have the courage to stand up for Amendment 4. Does Rick Scott?

My Sister Worked for Rick Scott's Hospital and Here is Her Story. By Geniusofdespair

Sis, a nurse for about 30 years, worked at Columbia University Hospital -- one of Rick Scott's Hospitals -- more than a decade ago as a Case Manager. She said she was responsible for discharge planning for people who needed home health care. Her instructions were, she was to steer people to use Columbia Home Health Care which was housed where she was working (she believed that was against the law). Usually, she said, a hospital would normally ask a patient if they had a Home Health Care Company and suggest some, if they didn't. Hospitals did not strong arm patients on a selection as they did at Columbia. She was to say to patients: "We will set up Columbia Home Health Care for you."

Sis said the hospital was short staffed and poorly run and not supportive of nurses at all. There was a push to get patients out as quickly as possible and that was a big part of her job.

There were so many complaints about nurses not answering patient call lights, that the hospital hired people with no medical training to answer the calls. These untrained people went to the patient's room and said: "The nurse will be right with you." That was their job. The hospital didn't use water basins to wash the patients. They used handi-wipes instead of sponge baths. My sister had never seen this at a hospital. There were a multitude of staff complaints, so many she said, that they had to call special meetings to address the concerns of staff -- mostly complaints related to being short staffed. She found holding these meeting unusual for a hospital.

Three times during her stint at Columbia University Hospital, this tall, charming guy would arrive -- Rick Scott -- and give the staff a pep-talk. He would talk about how they were all part of a team. She always thought he was personable but she knew in her heart this hospital and Rick Scott were all about money, the bottom line ruled. BTW, she hated the job, she said Hospice work was less depressing and less stressful.

I found this tidbit on Scott: The $1.7 billion man
Rick Scott: Multimillionaire, Mastermind of Town Hall Riots (written by Steve Tarlow - 8/6/2009)

If you’re wondering who is primarily responsible for organizing the barbaric efforts to sabotage the Democratic town halls across the nation, wonder no longer. The man’s name is Rick Scott, and he is in charge of the Web site Conservatives For Patients Rights. He is a multimillionaire ex-hospital CEO whose company was charged with the largest case of financial fraud committed against the government in United States history.

Yes, the former CEO of the Columbia/HCA hospital system was at the helm during a span of 10 years when his company defrauded Medicare for $1.7 billion dollars. They were found guilty and that amount has been repaid – yet the conservative GOP pick Rick Scott to lead them into battle for responsible medical spending?

Bill McCollum -- Mr. Moderate?? -- will get my primary vote for Governor. By Geniusofdespair

When presented with brussels sprouts and cauliflower what do you choose?

As a Republican I am going to vote for the more moderate in the primary...I never thought I would EVER say this in a million years...Bill McCollum. Yes McCollum as a moderate is a stretch but the Republicans have moved so far to the right he actually is the best choice for Governor on the Republican ticket. Rick Scott is even to the right of Rubio -- they both are down-right bad to the core for Florida.

God forbid that Alex Sink should lose in the General Election, I can live with McCollum for the reasons outlined in the Miami Herald Recommendation this morning -- all issues extremely important to me:

"Contrary to the GOP majority in the Legislature, Mr. McCollum wants to reauthorize the Department of Community Affairs and even strengthen its ability to prevent more sprawl. This is a welcome commitment from a Republican gubernatorial candidate. Mr. McCollum also wants to make water conservation a hallmark of his administration, something that gets little attention from other statewide candidates.

Mr. McCollum pledges his full support for continuing Everglades restoration. He's long opposed drilling off the coast of Florida, while Mr. Scott supports it."

You sold me Miami Herald. I am not endorsing him, just voting for him. If they don't reauthorize the DCA - All hell will break lose in Florida, we need a governor to veto the evil legislature trying to dismantle the Department of Community Affairs. He also cast a cabinet vote over a year ago against the Lowe's Big Box Store on the wrong side of the UDB Line near the Everglades. That was a very good thing.

McCollum is the Cauliflower BTW, I will just hold me nose and be done with it.

Rick Scott's Financial Disclosure Form. By Geniusofdespair

(Jim Morin Cartoon Miami Herald)
This is just a partial copy of, Florida Governor hopeful, Rick Scott's Financial Disclosure Form. It was just too big to include the whole thing. His holdings are so typical, just like our portfolios...Hah!). Do we really want him to be our Governor teatards? After all, he only has $218,414,743 in assets. Hit on the images to become very envious of his wealth.