In Other Florida News

In fact, some of this has to do with the Presidential Primaries but it's not the single focus because a LOT of stuff has happened in Florida without listening to the Republicans wacky campaigning.

Rep. Dave Weldon (R-15) is retiring. I guess it's true there aren't a lot of Republicans left. (Did it have anything to do with the arrest of his daughter for a bar fight?) He snuck in last cycle against a weak opponent. If we can get one half as good as Suzanne Kosmas, who is running against Tom Feeney, we might make a race of it.

Here's an interesting tidbit. Weldon's House District 15 overlaps Florida House District 32. In case you don't remember, that's the district of Bob Allen of park bathroom fame who offered to give an undercover officer oral sex for $20 bucks. (That still confuses me.) He would have been positioned very strongly for a Congressional run but blew it (yes, pun intended). He must be crying his eyes out right now.

Florida Senator Mel Martinez endorsed John McCain today. That's especially bad news for the Rudy camp. I guess they couldn't get the sympathy they apparently have from Governor Charlie Crist. Speculation was that Crist would endorse Rudy for his support of a National Catastrophe Fund, but he hasn't. Even more, he's been appearing with McCain all over. Rumor has it that Crist would endorse McCain but he didn't want to embarrass Rudy.

Senator Bill Nelson voted in favor of retroactive immunity for telecoms. He's trying to add an amendment that would let a FISA court decide the issue. What? In my opinion, he's the worst Democratic politician in our State. This just seals it for me.

And, please don't get me started on the Florida/Michigan delegate thing. My vote should count - period. A week ago, everyone wanted my vote to count. Now, because Hillary's championing for her benefit, my hero wants to just say No.

There's more: "In Other Florida News" >>

This guy is a Republican? A Southern Republican?

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, by executive order, is giving the Sunshine State auto emissions standards as tough as California’s carbon dioxide standards that are under court attack.

The orders call for emission of greenhouse gases in Florida to be cut by more than 25 percent over the next 18 years and by 80 percent by 2050.
One order copies California requirements to reduce the amount of carbon-dioxide cars release into the atmosphere, which automakers are challenging in court.
"We cannot afford to ignore this issue any longer," Crist said of the impact of carbon emissions on global climate change.

If a Democrat is elected president in 2008, watch out for Crist in 2012.

There's more: "This guy is a Republican? A Southern Republican?" >>

Crist for VP

Desperation abounds in the race for Florida in 2008.

In evidence, Governor Charlie Crist is being courted by several Republican campaigns as a possible VP candidate. Mitt Romney's been more open about it than others but the rumors have been swirling for weeks that some lucky campaign will score Crist as a running mate.

As recently as January, Jeb Bush had been touted as the savior of the Republican party in Florida. Many speculated that he would be someone's running mate. But, two things happened on the way to the party.

First, the Bush name has become absolutely toxic, even in Florida. And, Crist, who has been governor for seven months, is enjoying higher approval ratings than Bush ever did. More importantly, Bush's numbers were propped up by dominate Republican numbers while Crist is enjoying broad-based bipartisan appeal.

Still, it says something that Romney, the conservative before he was a liberal, or anyone who is seeking to up his conservative creds would even consider Crist. He's the least conservative Republican in a leadership role you could pick.

Not only does he support measures to curb global warming, Crist is actually leading the movement in Florida, ahead of even Dems in initiative. But it's his more recent actions that should give social conservatives pause.

Crist has disengaged GOP support of a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. During the recent gubernatorial campaign, Crist was hit hard over his alleged support of civil unions. He countered with his support of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Actions speak louder than words, however. Crist wants no more GOP money going to support the amendment. Further, many of his major campaign donors are contributing to or heavily participating in efforts and groups opposing the amendment. They take their lead from Charlie.

But Crist and Romney do have flip-flop in common. Crist was pro-choice before he was against it. Even so, though he would sign it, he will not champion any legislation to change Florida's pro-choice laws.

Crist added, "Promoting a culture of life is preferable to me than passing laws."

That's a pretty moderate stance and it sounds a lot more like Hillary Clinton than anyone running on the Republican ticket.

Yes, he is a Republican. He takes some decidely conservative stances on some issues. But, these two - abortion and gay marriage - are signature themes of the social conservative movement and Crist is not on board.

Crist won the governorship because he presented an image that was attractive to Dems. It was 'wink-wink, but you know how I really feel.' In the past seven months, a lot of his actions are looking like the winks were right and that makes a Crist addition to the GOP ticket a dangerous and desperate thing for Republican candidates.

There's more: "Crist for VP" >>

Florida Is On The Paper Trail

Today, Senator Bill Nelson filled a bill in the Senate to require, nationwide, that voting machines produce a paper record for every vote cast. The press release notes that this is a companion bill to one introduced in the House by Rep. Rush Holt with one significant difference:

It also would ban conflicts of interest on the part of state election czars who
would be banned from working for others' campaigns. In 2000, then-Secretary of State Katherine Harris oversaw Florida's recount while also serving as a top campaign official for GOP candidate George W. Bush.

This is critically important and should be included in the House bill. Once passed, I believe Nelson's version will be closer to the one that comes out of conference.

This is on the heels of a more comprehensive program introduced for the state of Florida by new Republican governor, Charlie Crist.

What! Florida is introducing election reform that is more comprehensive than just requiring a paper trail? The answer is "Yes."

Governor Crist not only proposes a paper trail for every vote but also a required switch away from touch screen voting to optical scanners for all but the disabled. And, the touch screen machines will have to be retro-fitted with a printer to make a paper record.

The most important aspect of his proposal: He includes 100% of the funding necessary in his newly proposed budget. No county - my reddest of red included - can use the usual excuse that the State is mandating things but isn't providing money so they can't do it. Genius, I tell you.

The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board loves the idea and thinks it should be a national mandate.

Oh my god! Dante must have been right about the 9th circle of Hell. It must be frozen for the Sentinel and I to be in agreement over politics again.

There's more: "Florida Is On The Paper Trail" >>