As it becomes clear that Crist has the nomination in the bag (cue 50 Nan Rich comments), there are real questions if the party is going to come together after August 26. With rumors abound of Jacksonville labor halls refusing to campaign for Crist and Progressive Choice insulting black voters around the state, the way forward back together is unclear. While Nan Rich has pledged support for Crist, it is doubtful she will really get out and rally her troops behind him. Will this voting block stay home? Tensions are high and the fight is getting ugly. While emotions are running especially high, many down ballot races are depending on the Governor’s race for GOTV efforts – if Crist begins to loose steam, the fallout could be much more than just the Governor’s mansion. With a difficult attorney general’s race and many endangered Democratic incumbents, Democrats need to start finding common ground now and look to November. – KB@BurnettKaty
Those on the left that seem to feel American foreign policy is to blame for the world’s problems and thus excuse Vladamir Putin’s aggressive behavior ought to read CNN Anchor Fareed Zakaria’s piece in the Washington Post on the “Rise of Putinism.” No question exists that the model the Russian Dictator has erected is a conservative one that focuses on unregulated capitalism, social conservatism and anti-western imperialism masked as anti-colonialism. – KK @kkfla737
Governor Scott came out with a big announcement that if he is re-elected he would put money into saving the environment and pledged to support Florida Forever with 150 million dollars. He did not mention Amendment 1, which he has yet say if he supports or not. Now, of course he had to do something to combat the climate-change debacle, but this is simply so outrageous that I honestly cannot believe he thought he pull this one off. This is the man who has completely dismantled the Department of Environmental Protection, left it up to private groups and non-profits to sue in order to get regulations enforced, who has done absolutely nothing to protect the aquifer or the springs, and refuses to talk about climate change. BUT if we elect him for four more years, maybe he’ll care then? What? This reflects just how disconnected he is with the people of Florida and the real environmentalists in this state. He has no credibility on this issue at all and simply nothing to show in his accomplished column for environmentalists to believe. While he was clearly out to try to win a few election points, this one might actually hurt him because it is so unbelievable. If he were sincere, he would announce his support of Amendment 1. – KB@BurnettKaty
On Saturday over 109,000 fans attended an exhibition soccer match between two of the world’s biggest clubs Real Madrid and Manchester United. The game was held at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Tonight at Joe Robbie, it is possible a record crowd for the sport in the state of Florida will attend the matchup between Manchester United and Liverpool. These two teams have the biggest football (soccer) rivalry in the English speaking world and both sides have lots of fans in the state. The current record for a soccer game in the state of Florida is 71,000 but this match might just break that record. – KK @kkfla737
The news late Sunday came that the special session for redistricting will start on Thursday. While it is expected to go fairly quickly, Will Weatherford made it pretty clear in his email announcement that he does not want the map to stand for 2014 election. While a new map will be drawn, it will be a legal and political battle to see when new maps go into effect or if Lewis will require a special election after November. At the cost of over $40,000 a day, let’s hope the people of Florida at least get some answers out of this special session. I am still waiting for a cost analysis on how much this redistricting case has cost the Florida taxpayer. – KB@BurnettKaty
For many years in Florida we had runoff elections in the first week of October. I think it is perfectly plausible to reopen qualifying for Congressional Races only and to move the primary to the third or fourth Tuesday in September while maintaining a November 4th General Election. At the same time, perhaps the disruption to the electoral process by moving a primary after ballots have already been issued and votes already cast is too expensive. In 2002, after the first election after the abolition of the runoff the Primary was on September 10th. So those saying that we cannot have a primary in mid or late September and a General Election a month later don’t remember what this state used to be like at one time. And dare I say in those days we had a more effective Legislature and Congressional Delegation. But we did not have early voting then and ballots did not need to be printed as quickly. – KK @kkfla737
The Florida Squeeze 
Putting aside your assertion that Crist has the nomination in the bag, you nor anyone else should not be surprised that Ex Republican Governor Charlie Crist might have support problems in the Democratic base, dah. The Tallahassee turnips that are running the party have bungled this election. Weather by stupidity or arrogance their decision to shun a candidate whose entire political career has been spent represented the largest Democratic voting bloc in the state is inexcusable. Their failure to maintain a level playing field and favoring a mongrel over a genuine pedigree will likely give Rick Scott his opponent of choice. They took the bait and after Charlie takes another dive they will no doubt scapegoat the base. You know, those rowdy undisciplined union thugs from Jacksonville helped along by the Rick Scott money being funneled through the shadowy organization Progressive Choice. Give me a (f#@* expletive deleted) break.
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Absolutely spot on!
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Think of how many people will be hurt if Scott gets reelected.
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You are so right Tom Bryson. And Katy, the only one insulting the Black community is Charlie Crist, who is paying lip service and thinks that all he has to do is mention Obama over and over and we will vote for him. While you may not like Progressive Choice, not one thing they have said about Crist is a lie and the doubts were flying about Crist long before the ads appeared.
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Of course Scott’s announcement is coming on the heels of all the news stories about he and other FL GOP’ers taking trips to King Ranch paid for by Sugar. He’s doing damage control. Why else make this announcement in Martin County of all places. A “red” county where even the Republicans are losing support for him because of the Indian River Lagoon. Yesterday we had a big clean water rally and march to the St. Lucie Locks. Elected officials and candidates were encouraged to come and talk to and listen to the concerns of citizens about our water ways. Nan Rich was there (helped lead the march), Annette Tadeo came on behalf of Crist’s campaign, some of the third party Gov. candidates were even there. But no one from Scott’s office/campaign was there to listen to the people. He can pledge all the money he wants. But what exactly does he want to do with it? He is against any plan that scientists and other experts have for helping. Such as the Plan 6 to have the water flow south. This is just one of the many reasons why after the primary we really need unity and need to come out and get voters out there to rid us of Scott.
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Of course progressive choice is sugar. So sugar is trying to weaken Charlie Crist before Rick Scott gets to him. The links between progressive choice and sugar have been clear for sometime. Nan Rich took sugar money as a legislator. Katie Edwards who has openly stumped for Rich and was fronting for PC in the capitol during session is one of sugar’s leading democratic advocates. Sugar is pouring $$$ into the RPOF and Scott as well as PC. Crist has been badly outspent in the primary when you add PCs spending to that of Rich’s. Yet he will prevail. This time the people not the special interests will win.
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The sad truth is until recently not too many Democrats were willing to reject money from Sugar. I know Rich and Crist supporters that are to this day defending the Sugar Lobby. Despite dead wildlife, high bacteria levels, tourism down, businesses hurting, ect.. I almost feel like you have to live near the Indian River Lagoon or Caloosahatchee River to get it. Back when Crist was Gov. he was willing to purchase some of Sugar Land which would help a lot. And Rich has been to the lagoon, toured the pollution and met with our Indian River Keeper. She gets it. Both of them have shown they will help. Regardless of whom gets the nomination I know at least in Martin County some Rep. voters can be lured to vote Dem. because of this issue.
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Back in the bad old days when credibility still had value, people had to pretty much take what they could get when it came to facts. But now, through the magic of the free market, facts that fit the needs of any consumer are readily available. In fact, modern materials and technology allow you to create your very own facts in the comfort of your living room. If you are uncomfortable with the earth as a round sphere you can easily have an earth that is flat and square. There is tremendous potential here. If for example, a mile where 2,640 feet instead of the cumbersome 5,280 feet then the mileage of your car would double and you would save a lot of money on gas.
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yes Katie Edwards pro-sugar, anti environmental stands are well known to most. But how does that impact Rich? Can we judge Crist by the backing of alleged war profiteer ot the five former associates that went ti jail?
guilt by association a bad thing.
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This is 100% accurate sadly. Crist may have taken $$$ before from sugar but he is a progressive on the environment. Rich has also taken sugar money but I think she is okay on the environment. The Progressive Choice, Katie Edwards and Sugar connections to Rich though mean Crist is without question the right choice for those concerned about the environment. It has been rumored that Representative Edwards closest political associates some of which are Republicans are involved with Progressive Choice. Also consider the amount of attention Crist brought to the climate change issue when he was Governor the first time. He is the right choice for progressives on these issues.
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Lies,Lies,Lies………… Anonymous mudslinging from a coward is how Crist has decided to fight. Is anyone surprised?
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Annette Taddeo was not there. Nor was any supporters of Charlie Crist.
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She was there. There is a photo of her there.
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I was there Taddeo was not. Please send me the photo to my facebook. Otherwise i expect a retraction.
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Joe, Annette was there – pictures all over FB. Geeze, calmn down.
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STOP THE PRESSES. I STAND CORRECTED. PLEASE READ MY POST TO ANNETTE I JUST WROTE UNDER THIS CONTRIVED PHOTO OP.
Joe Kreps Sorry I missed you. The event started at 10 am as advertised. After Nan and I listened to 2 hours of very educational speeches by environmentalists, concerned citizens, and event organizers. I hadn’t seen you. Then in the 90% degree heat Nan, Mark Pafford, Patrick Murphy, and many other invited officials marched to the Locks to show our solidarity with all these concerned citizens who really appreciated Nan’s dedication and years of work fighting the cuts in funding and oversight the past eight years. I still hadn’t seen you. We hung out, listened to music and spoke to everyone as they packed up to leave. I still hadn’t seen you. As most people were leaving around 2 pm and the skies darkened with the obvious signs of our usual afternoon storms we too packed up and left leaving the few organizers to pack up as well. Some one mentioned to me did I see Annette. I said no there was no sign of you or Charlie or even a button or bumper sticker there. I was then directed to this photo op of yours with one of the participants and his wife under cover. I feel that this is very disingenuous of you and the Crist campaign to make it seem that you had anything to do with the Clean Water Rally. You know smoke and mirrors may get you a few votes but it won’t make you very many friends.
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I find it very disheartening that Taddeo and the Crist campaign who claim to care about the environment, decided that their show of support to the people of the #IndianRiverlagoon, Marty Baum and the River warriors was a 5 minute photo op by Taddeo who is not even on the ballot for the Gov. Race in the Primary. Whereas Sen. Nan Rich has toured the IndianRiverLagoon with Marty Baum to educate herself on this important issue and has now attended her 2nd Clean Water Rally. She arrived early to talk to people about this issues affecting their communities due to the pollution, Rich led the symbolic march to the Locks with Patrick Murphy, Joe Negron and other Elected officials and candidates to bring awareness to the ongoing pollution in the Lagoon. Rich is an active participant who cares deeply about this issue and wants to make actual change. She’s not just providing lip service like former Gov. Crist and Gov. Scott. By Taddeo showing up at the end of a 5+ hour event to take a photo and claim she was part of the event is completely disingenuous. and pretty much sums up the way the Crist campaign operates. They care about nothing but appearances and lip service and nothing about issues and making real change. This is plainly obvious. And it’s why we need Nan Rich as the next Governor of Florda, She’s someone who cares, and who you can count on.
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I don’t think the attendance record is being broken
By two English teams in Miami. On the bright side maybe Joe Scarborough will make an appearance as he is well know Liverpool fan and was at the games vs Manchester City.
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After Nan loses (badly) on 8/26, she will be forced to show whether she is, in fact, a “true democrat” by strongly supporting Crist, or whether her priority was and is just propping up her perpetually flailing campaign. If it’s the latter, she will reveal herself as a closet Scott puppet, as many have long suspected. Show your true colors, Nan, if you dare.
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To Democrat, you do know that the FDP and local DECs have been taking huge amounts of money from Big Sugar for years right? The pot cannot call the kettle black. Big Sugar owns both parties, so your arguments are not legitimate.
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Yes they have, it’s very unfortunate. That is why my DEC, Martin County came out as the first DEC to say we will not support any candidate for state office that takes money from Sugar.
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Do they know Big Sugar was contributed to the DNC in Charlotte?
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Yes. We know that as for now it is a losing battle not supporting candidates for Federal Office that take Sugar money. Our stance includes Governor, State Legislature, and local offices such as County Commission, ect.. Though it does not include U.S. Congress we are fortunate that Patrick Murphy does not take Sugar Money, Now of course we are talking about direct contributions. If Sugar gives to the FDP, then the FDP gives to a candidate then that does not count. In fact, we have been told we should not support Patrick Murphy because Sugar gives to the party nationally then money goes to Patrick. We look at it as any money he gets nationally or a state candidate gets from the FDP is coming from multiple organizations, people, ect.. not specifically anyone. Because Sugar is supposedly donating to to Progressive Choice Florida. And they are campaigning against Crist people are saying Nan Rich is getting Sugar money so Martin County needs to automatically endorse Crist. No, it’s the same. That round about out of a candidate’s control that indirectly Sugar is sort of benefiting them. We are a bit worried about what we are going to do when it comes to the Senate and President in 2016. We might have to begrudgingly just accept those candidates will take Sugar money,
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Mary Lynn Magar a House Republican from the area returned all her sugar money. So that area is particularly senstive to it.
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Recently I found an article written in 1964 and published in the New York Times where the author interviews one of the many residents of St Petersburg who is best described as an old codger. (A link to that article is found at the bottom of this page.) The interviewee makes an interesting point when he says:
Everything I got, I got under a Democratic administration. You name it Unemployment Compensation, Social Security.
He goes on remark that the Republican Presidential candidate of that year, Barry Goldwater, wanted to tear down everything that was built in the last 25 years. You know the old saying the more things change the more they stay the same. Given the recent election results we have seen locally, statewide and nationally – would that old codger say the same thing or might he lean back and take a long sip of iced tea and look off into the distance?
I would argue that before we can reasonably expect to see a string of victories in any Nov we must find effective ways to reconnect with that old codger, all of his family and all of their friends. We must tell our story in a positive effective fashion. The old codger saw real benefits to him personally that he traced to Democrats, how many people today can and do make that direct connect?
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E01EED9143DE13ABC4B51DFB667838F679EDE
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A soccer specific spinoff blog would be really awesome. Just a thought.
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He has one! It is his day job 🙂
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It’s OK with the party to disregard one’s Democratic opponent and not agree to a least one debate that would (in my opinion) bring the party together for the good fight in the general election…..however, there is no way I would want a second Scott term under any circumstances…..
During the 2006 election, Sugar was a problem for Rod Smith and still is for the state if
Scott is reelected……Apparently Sugar is contributing to both parties to hedge their bet,
but the state can’t afford to elect a Governor without a strong environmental record.
Although Nan Rich has pledged to support Crist, it remains to be seen what Crist would do after the primary to bring in Rich and her followers…..
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I think it is disgusting that all these people take sugar money. Ones that vote with sugar even more disgusting.
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Frankly, I think that Nan is the only one who will be able to beat Rick Scott. By not only refusing to debate but refusing to appear anywhere Nan appears, Crist is showing immaturity—and disrespect, not only to Senator Rich, but to the voters. More and more voters are getting pissed. I’ve heard from quite a few progressives who will not vote for Governor if Charlie is the only alternative. And Republicans will come out in force to vote AGAINST him. If Nan is the nominee, Democrats will unite behind her, because she has ALWAYS stood for us. As was mentioned, Senator Rich was there for the 2nd time to support the annual Clean Water Rally, and helped lead the march. Last month she marched in the CAP Peace & Justice March to honor victims of gun violence in Liberty City. Her record in the State Legislature and state Senate speak volumes. We need a governor who listens to the people, and a governor we know we can count on. We need Nan Rich.
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Democrats statewide have one thing in common: They want to Pink Slip Rick and be Scott Free. I am a huge Nan Fan, and work everyday to spread the good news about her, but I am getting rid of Scott no matter what. I work in the Nan Rich campaign, but my other job is selling absentee ballot voting by mail and GOTV on August 26. Crist or Rich – Scott is outta here. That is the Democrat’s common ground. GOTV, Absentee. It is time.
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Nan Rich is the only Democrat in this race. That is not an attack on poor precious Charlie, that is a fact. A nation-wide poll was just conducted which showed that Charlie Crist and Rick Scott are the most hated governors in America. So, why would Floridians choose to be a laughing stock by voting those 2 in for the General election? Brian Moore pulled 30% against Alex Sink and he had $0 in the bank and did NO campaigning. And you’re claiming that Nan’s campaign can’t gather 21% more than that?? please! As you mentioned, Nan Fans will comment when they feel they need to speak up. This is not a trait you will find in the Crist campaign. The female voters of this state outnumber men 3 to 1, some counties 4 to 1. Everybody counted David Brat out too. What about President Obama? He was laughed at when he started out. Let’s see what the VOTERS say on August 26th.
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Nan has been steadfast in her values and in her commitment to democratic principles. She would work for the common good of all Floridians and not cater to special interest groups. Floridians are smart enough not to let money (Chris/Scott) trump the worthiness of a candidate (Nan) to be Governor of Florida.
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I can only speak from my first hand experience in Putnam County and I have found ZERO Democrats voting for Charlie Crist. I have found many very relieved to have the alternative to vote for Nan Rich.
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The problem is that Putnam county is a very very very very very very small percentage of the total number of voters in the state. She has a lot of support in small rural counties, but they don’t add up to enough. I am not saying do not vote for her, I’m just saying the math does not add up.
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