Monthly Archives: May 2014
AIF Legislative Ratings released
Associated Industries of Florida, whose agenda varies somewhat from the Florida Chamber have released the organization’s 2014 Legislative Ratings. They can be found here.
What if Crist had stayed put in 2010?
The venerable and incomparable Steve Bousquet asked the question in the St Pete Times the other day what would have happened in Florida had Crist run for reelection in 2010? My view is that Crist may have as Bousquet stated stayed a moderate Republican, at least nominally. But it is also entirely possible with the Tea Party […]
Monday Musings – Val Demings, Russian-Chinese Gas Deal, US- China Relations, European Elections, Snowden, Sachs-Bogdanoff rematch?
Val Demings dropped out of the Orange County Mayor’s Race giving little advance notice to activists and Democratic Party leaders on Tuesday. The withdrawal sent shock-waves through the political community in Florida, particularly among Democrats. Demings campaign had shifted in tactics substantially since her entry into the race leading to great frustration among local Democrats […]
Everyday sacrifice more than a holiday – A call for bipartisanship in veterans and foreign affairs
By Tara Laxer and Kartik Krishnaiyer This being Memorial Day weekend we can think of no better time to make a call for a return to bipartisanship in both veterans affairs and foreign policy. The goal should be to protect United States interests abroad rather than partisan electoral interests at home. Each year we thank […]
Jeb Bush Foundation Report Card Released
Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future has released its annual report card for members of the Legislature. As we have editorialized strongly time and again against school “choice” schemes, this rating is an important barometer from where we sit. While the Democrats in the House did quite well from our vantage point, the Senate was […]
Flashback Friday: The Florida House of Bonaparte
At the end of the Napoleonic Wars many members of the Bonaparte family and other loyalists to Napoleon sought to emigrate to America. It was rumored in fact that after defeat at Waterloo, the Emperor Napoleon himself was on the run looking for passage to America. After the French capture of Southern Italy, Napoleon put […]
Crist calls for Shinseki resignation in VA Scandal
Charlie Crist stepped out on Thursday calling for Department of Veteran’s Affairs Secretary General Eric Shinseki to resign in wake of the growing VA scandal. Crist said: “I appreciate Secretary Eric Shinseki’s service to his country, and while we don’t know precisely what happened here, we do know that there must be accountability and confidence […]
Sen. John Thrasher is exactly the wrong choice for FSU President
We began hearing that Sen. Thrasher was a shoe-in to replace Dr. Eric Barron as President of Florida State University soon after Barron’s departure, but with Tuesday’s formal nomination by Sandy D’Alemberte and the recent news that the search committee advised by higher education expert Bill Funk is suspending its mission until it meets with Thrasher for […]
Florida Chamber releases 2014 Legislative Report Card
All the members scored on votes related to business in the State of Florida.
Orange County Democrats in the wake of Val Demings withdrawal – Open forum
Val Demings, a superstar Democratic candidate shocked Florida politicos with her sudden withdrawal from the Orange County Mayor’s race on Tuesday. Demings, who overperformed in a 2012 Congressional challenge to Congressman Dan Webster, was looking to unseat Mayor Teresa Jacobs. The Orange County Mayor’s office is one of the most powerful and visible elected positions […]
The Florida Squeeze 