Category Florida Democrats
Florida Democrats Fundraising Smells of Desperation and Conflict
We know being a Democrat in Florida is tough. Sixteen years of complete Republican rule of State Government which has included maintaining over 70 House seats (out of 120) and 25 Senate seats (our of 40) during the entire period from 1998 to the present will hurt any political party’s efforts at fundraising. However, it […]
Thursday Bookshelf: The Doghouse Democrats – Bob Graham and Buddy MacKay
A look at How Florida Happened: The Political Education of Buddy MacKay (Florida Government and Politics) and Quiet Passion: A Biography of Bob Graham Once upon a time Florida’s Legislature was an effective body and the State House was largely progressive. Florida moved vastly ahead of other southeastern states thanks to the leadership and vision of those […]
Did Four Florida Democrats in Congress Sell Us Out to Wall Street?
Author’s Note: This piece started out as an exposé on Wall Street’s influence over a certain South Florida Congressman that sits on the Financial Services Committee. As our research deepened, we came across startling discoveries: Patrick Murphy is not the only Florida Democrat taking Wall Street cash while voting in favor of their sponsored and in some […]
Thursday Bookshelf: Florida Politics at the end of the Jim Crow Era
If you want to gain any sort of understanding of how Florida shifted from rural deep south state in the 1920s and 1930s towards urban toward enlightened mega-state in the 1970s two must read classic books about southern politics are required. First is V.O. Key Jr’s classic Southern Politics: In State and Nation, written back in 1949 […]
How did Florida Democrats Fare in 2013?
Exactly a year ago on December 31st when running for Chairwoman, Allison Tant released her blueprint for that she would do as Chair of the party. Let’s take a look at each point and how the Chairwoman and the party has fared. My commentary is in bold italics. Please keep in mind Tant’s blueprint was […]
Could Charlie Crist wake Florida Democrats up to economic reality?
As Florida Democrats gear up for the 2014 Election cycle, the party continues to stumble with its economic messaging, lacking consistency and conviction in discussing the issues that impact the lives of everyday Floridians. While many Democratic activists and political operatives connected to the party’s messaging are very forthright and aggressive when putting forward views […]
TFS Pod #7: Crist v Nelson, Q-poll, state of media and capital press corps in Florida, Trey Radel, and JFK
The latest edition of the Florida Squeeze podcast is embedded below. In this edition we discuss: The continuing talk of Senator Bill Nelson potentially running for Governor. Governor’s race tightening according to latest Q-poll. Newspapers vs Independent Media and the decline in resources for journalists at major papers to do the job they once did. […]
Times, Herald malign Bill Nelson for practicing politics
A couple of big-deal Florida political writers seem to be typing through Democratic insider goggles lately. In the last few days Adam Smith of The Tampa Bay Times and Marc Caputo of The Miami Herald have both chastised Bill Nelson for possibly harboring the intention of running for governor. Wrote Caputo in Sunday’s Herald: After months of ebbing and […]
Charlie’s heart, Charlie’s stomach
The following column was submitted by a Democratic staffer working in South Florida who wishes to remain anonymous. __ Everything That’s Wrong With the Gubernatorial Primary in One Picture It’s been two weeks since I heard U.S. Congressman Alcee Hastings address this picture at a meeting of the Pompano Beach Democratic Club, and yet I […]
The Florida Squeeze 