– Part 3
BIGGEST WINNER
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AND TALLAHASSEE LOBBYISTS
Special interests, corporate lobbyists and Tallahassee insiders celebrated Rick Scott and Pam Bondi’s reelection along with the Republican super-majority in the House. Fear about Charlie Crist’s populist campaign and rhetoric about corporate greed, the insurance industry, climate change, protecting women’s reproductive health and the restoration of civil rights struck fear in the hearts of a political establishment in the capital city that have had their way since Buddy Mackay was defeated by Jeb Bush in 1998. So strong was the fear of Crist’s election, that an unprecedented amount of money was spent on campaigns in this state by conservative forces. The Scott-Crist race goes down as one of the most expensive Governor’s races in US History and much of it was down to the fear special interest groups had of the potential for Florida’s citizens to be truly liberated from the mad corporate and lobbyist-driven agenda of the Republican hegemony. Thanks to Crist’s defeat as well as that of George Sheldon and six Democratic State House members, the GOP led by Rick Scott and Pam Bondi have will have nearly unfettered power statewide over the next two years if not longer.
BIGGEST LOSER
DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Chairwoman of the DNC is perhaps the greatest individual to blame for the Democrats debacle, not only in Florida but across the nation. Not only did she personally oversee the appointment of Allison Tant, who presided over this mess in Florida, she personally spent more time than any other politician hitting the streets trying to get out the vote. And while there were marginal gains in Sarasota and some other traditionally Republican medium sized counties, overall her efforts state-wide and nationally fell flat. On the whole, she failed to properly prepare for the Republican wave – something that many have talked about for months. The fact that she is the one leading the review of Democratic efforts gives little to restore hope. Even though she comes from an incredibly safe district, perhaps she should spend a little more time in the competitive areas of the state instead of simply repeating Democratic talking points. Democrats have to do better than what she can offer. Regarding her role on the state level, her handpicked Chairwoman Allison Tant was not given the tools early on or the training to do the job effectively. Certainly the problems in the state party predate Tant by more than a decade – that’s among the reasons why our own Kartik Krishnaiyer is openly willing to give her more time on the job. But for many of the rest of us, she hasn’t done good enough and for that Wasserman Schultz is largely to blame. Florida’s election mirrored the national one. A common thread runs through all these debacles – Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s involvement. Why President Obama has not dropped the hammer on her as DNC Chairwoman yet is anyone’s guess but she must go.
The Florida Squeeze 
Totally Agree!!!! It was a mistake to kick Howard Dean out after two really good elections. The Party has been reeling ever since. If someone told me election night 2008 we would be where we are today I would NEVER believed it. I was sure we would build on our success. Silly me.
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It would be very interesting to see as to how you would judge THE FLORIDA SQUEEZE?
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So Tant, not a bit responsible for the recent problems? Really? She wasn’t a winner or loser? There is no critique of her job performance. Seriously?
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I don’t think anyone can really argue she was the brains of the organization and that is one of the main problems.
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Here is a critique of Allison Tant’s performance which was set out to many people.as well as the media.
===============
Subject: To Tell the Truth….
From: “Clay G. Colson”
Date: Mon, November 10, 2014 7:10 pm
To: allisontant@fladems.com, chair@fladems.com
Cc: alanclendenin@fladems.com, aclendenin@gmail.com,
arceneaux@fladems.com, alison.morano@gmail.com,
alison.morano@fladems.com, FDPSLC@yahoogroups.com, jacob@kriseman.com,
rick@kriseman.com, davetrotter@thepoliticalhurricane.com,
robl@wmnf.org, Rob@wmnf.org, randy@wmnf.org, carriec@wmnf.org,
cowley@wmnf.org, oranthony2004@yahoo.com, criticalspeaker@yahoo.com,
bedier@unitedvoices.com, samarjar@sunline.net, bedier@gmail.com,
news@wmnf.org, Rlorei@wmnf.org, newsroom@wmnf.org, sean@WMNF.ORG,
joellen@wmnf.org, janelle@wmnf.org, maryg@wmnf.org,
sundayforum@wmnf.org, philtog@aol.com, welly@wmnf.org,
asmith@tampabaytimes.com, druth@tampabaytimes.com,
p.manteiga@hotmail.com, mcaputo@miamiherald.com
Greetings Allison Tant Richard*,
I heard your interview this morning on NPR regarding the outcome of Florida’s midterm elections. It was less than forthright or honest nor did it explain how Democrats could not unseat the most unpopular governor in the country and the history of the state.
Please let me help.
To tell the truth the real reason is that the Florida Democratic Party (FDP) “leadership” hand picked, courted and promoted their candidate prior to the primary in blatant violation of our bylaws and democratic ideals. A worse candidate could not be found. Besides the fact he is an elitist, a corporatist, and a player representing special interests over public interests. He is also a Republican turned Independent turned Democrat … a DINO! Charlie Crist came with so much baggage he couldn’t even board a plane! Also the choice virtually assured that no rank and file Republican, whose party believes that he betrayed them, would ever vote for him. If it were my intent to see four more years of Scott, Crist certainly would have been the number one choice.
Unfortunately it gets even worse than that as FDP “leadership” not only ignored the best candidate but engaged in obstructionism as Nan Rich had filed to run, while Crist was only a twinkle in their eye. Nan Rich was not permitted to address the Florida Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson (presently called Leadership Blue) Dinner (make sure you check out the comments at the end of this link) where the FDP was trying to convince Crist to announce his intention to seek the governorship as a Democrat.
Nan Rich was the winning ticket, a woman with an impeccable record of championing public interests over special interests, no skeletons, and no baggage. All of those Republicans that hated Scott would have voted for her, but not Crist! The FDP decided otherwise completely ignoring, even obstructing, Nan Rich’s candidacy before the primary, again a direct, blatant, and egregious violation of state bylaws and our democratic ideals.
Nan Rich was clearly the best choice both for the people of Florida and the defeat of Scott. She would have been easy to promote. If the FDP had spent the same time, effort and money to promote Nan Rich as they did Crist they would have had a candidate to bring out women, the young, the disenfranchised, and the independent voters of this state. Instead they not only ignored her, along with the lamestream media, but they obstructed her candidacy at every opportunity, even going so far as to hold rallies for Crist throughout the state prior to the primary, again a blatant and egregious violation of our bylaws and democratic ideals!
So, Allison Tant Richard as you have personally admitted, as party chair, that you are responsible for four more years of Scott, please do us all a big favor and immediately tender your resignation so you can go back to South Florida to purge more African Americans from the voter rolls.
* Husband is Barry Richard, lead attorney for Dubya Bush in the stolen 2000 election, when our country suffered a Judicial Coup d’ etat under an improper ruling of SCOTUS which quashed the Florida Supreme Court’s decision that all of Floridian’s votes must be counted under Florida law, the result being that tens of thousands of votes cast went uncounted, and our state’s electoral votes were wrongly awarded to Dubya. Later a consortium of media outlets forced and financed an actual recount implicitly following the requirements under Florida law conducted by our capital county’s Supervisor of Elections, Ion Sancho, which determined Al Gore won the election! Unfortunately this wasn’t the last election to be stolen…
Richard is a registered Democrat … a DINO, just like his wife!
Thanks, peace and be well,
Clay G. Colson
Precinct 36 Committeeman
Pasco DEC.
Public need over corporate greed
(813) 601-3391
“Only after the last tree has been cut down, Only after the last river has been poisoned, Only after the last fish has been caught, Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.”— Cree Indian Proverb
“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” Thomas Jefferson
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DWS is an awful leader.
Everyone needs to quit. The whole FDP and DNC staff.
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I agree that DWS should be replaced, but I don’t agree on Allison Tant. Crist was not her selection.
If she did resign, who would you suggest replace her?
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Susan you are wrong. You are blinded by misplaced loyalty to Allison Tant. She did everything she could to block Nan form donors. Even the small things like allowing her to speak at FDP events were blocked. She was totally responsible for the party’s hostility towards Nan. I suspect she keeps telling you what you want to hear. Wake up and realize you have been sold a lie.
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That’s me: blind, gullible and asleep.
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I actually agree with Susan. I mean, I do think that Allison Tant is responsible and that “the buck” should stop at her door. Therefore, I think she is responsible overall, as everyone needs to eat from the same “shit pie”. However, it is during these times that I think Mrs. Tant needs to show hear leadership qualities, and fire those who are responsible. And, in the end, I have a feeling that Allison Tant will do the right thing.
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“Her” leadership qualities. (Note to self, do not eat a Tim Hortons donut and type at the same time. These delicious things distract you mentally!!!) 🙂
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You are so wrong Susan. Allison was there at the national convention when Crist running for governor was decided. She made no objection. As for who should replace her, let us decide that instead of DWS and company. They need to get out of the way.
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From what I’ve heard, the deal was struck immediately after the 2010 election, not in 2012.
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Alan Clendenin
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I’M A PROGRESSIVE MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. I SUPPORTED NAN RICH IN THE PRIMARIES. BUT LET’S FACE FACTS AND LOOK AT THE MAP. WITH THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS SPENT ON NEGATIVE ADS, JESUS CHRIST WOULDN’T HAVE WON. IN ADDITION WE NEED A BOLD PLATFORM TO TURN OUT THE SUPPORTERS WE HAD FOR OBAMA. THERE WAS LITTLE ENTHUSIASM FOR CRIST AND SCOTT. THE CORPORATE INTERESTS AND THE ONE PERCENT WHO FUNDED THE WINNING CAMPAIGNS OF THE IGNORANT SIMPLETONS LIKE RICK SCOTT ARE THE REAL ADVERSARIES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
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We have a very good platform that was written in 2011. Have you read it?
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If the Democratic Party wants to take back Florida in 2016, hire me immediately to organize this state. It is what I do best. Check me out on LinkedIn or e-mail me at ProfessorRF@hotmail.com.
It is time the people take control of what has become the corrupt racket of the corporate state. Florida is the worst of all states and the investigations and prosecutions need to begin immediately. Start with Rick Scott and the violations of open government laws and other federal and state laws by our so-called public officials. Enforce federal clean water laws instead of scams allowing pollution and crony clean up. Check the voting and ballot counting processes from 2014. Perhaps Crist won as Gore did in 2000.
Let the Democrats return to being the party of freedom and justice. The Republicans are the party of the 1% and Democratic PR has failed to drive this point home in 2014. The time to rebuild for 2016 is now. I would be happy to serve as DEC Chair as well. We need to get out the vote. It matters more than money, so hire a real organizer and development consultant like me and let’s start recruiting talent to run in 2016.
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Professor Reid Friedson, Please contact me via FB. My name is Joe Kreps. We need to speak.
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