Thursday, October 08, 2015

Our digest of, and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry.


Trump strong in Florida, Jeb! and Rubio faltering

"Donald Trump has expanded his lead among Florida Republicans and Hillary Clinton continues to have a solid though shrinking lead among Democrats but neither of them would do as well as a couple of other candidates in a general election in Florida, according to a new Quinnipiac Poll."

The Quinnipiac Poll [released this morning], which also surveyed voters in two other key swing states, Ohio and Pennsylvania, found Trump now favored by 28 percent of Florida Republicans, followed by Carson at 16 percent. Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is third with 14 percent, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is fourth with 12 percent. . . .

“Those who were waiting for Donald Trump’s campaign to collapse will need to wait longer – at least in the three key states of Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania,” Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, stated in a news release.

"Q Poll: Trump, Clinton still lead in Florida."

"In general election matchups:"

Biden gets 45 percent to 42 percent for Carson and edges Bush 46 - 42 percent. He tops Fiorina 49 - 38 percent and gets 46 percent to 43 percent for Rubio. Biden beats Trump 52 - 38 percent.

Clinton gets 43 percent to 44 percent for Bush and gets 45 percent to Carson's 43 percent. She gets 44 percent to 42 percent for Fiorina and 44 percent to Rubio's 45 percent. Clinton tops Trump 46 - 41 percent.

Sanders slips behind Bush 45 - 41 percent and loses to Carson 46 - 40 percent. He gets 41 percent to 42 percent for Fiorina. He trails Rubio 46 - 41 percent and beats Trump 46 - 41 percent.

"October 7, 2015 - Biden, Carson Are Hot In Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll Finds." See also "With or Without Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton Leads With Florida Democrats" and "Donald Trump Ahead of GOP Field in Florida" and "Poll: Trump tops GOP field in Florida but would lose in general election."


"Florida politicians are corporate toadies"

Scott Maxwell: "Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency reached a nearly $2 billion settlement with the Florida fertilizer giant, Mosaic — a company the feds accused of improperly handling a mind-blowing 60 billion pounds of hazardous waste."

The historic settlement was an impressive get.

It also is proof that Florida politicians are corporate toadies — and just plain wrong when it comes to environmental protection.

"For the past few years, Gov. Rick Scott and his fellow Cabinet officers have been on a campaign to get the EPA to butt out of Florida's business."

So Maxwell

decided to check with Florida's Environmental Regulations Commission — the body charged with setting the "the standards and rules that protect Floridians and the environment."

You can sum up this agency's actions in one word: nonexistent.

The commission hasn't even met since 2014.

For all of 2015, the commission's monthly meeting minutes are only: "No meeting." And the last time it generated any kind of serious headlines was in 2008 under Gov. Charlie Crist, when the agency pushed to crack down on car emissions.

"Florida gripes about EPA even as EPA gets $2 billion settlement." The Tampa Trib editors "An enlightening Mosaic settlement."


What's hot, crazy or shady

Marc Caputo: "Rick Scott’s ‘traveling circus’ in NY – Grayson goes Benghazi on McCarthy – El Faro’s mysteries – dog survives Cuba boat trip, killed in Miami street." "Florida Playbook."


Rubio strides world stage

"From his perch as chairman of the U.S. Senate Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., weighed in on Tuesday as U.S. Sec. of State John Kerry heads to Haiti." "Marco Rubio: U.S. Needs to Ensure Fair Democratic Elections in Haiti."


"The Donald Trump Mini-Me of local politics"

Joe Henderson: "As a master of insult and unsubstantiated innuendo, Sam Rashid has become [Hillsborough's] Donald Trump Mini-Me of local politics." "Why wait for the facts when it’s so much fun to scream foul now?"


Florida Libertarians' goat sacrifice problem

"Goat sacrifice, talk of civil war upset Florida Libertarians." More: "Goat sacrifice fallout: Seminole County Libertarian Party disbands."


RPOF Sunshine Summit

"Kasich and Santorum join eight other candidates--former Gov. Jeb Bush and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and businessman Donald Trump--who will be attending the event." "John Kasich, Rick Santorum Announced for RPOF's Sunshine Summit in Orlando." More: "Chris Christie, Rand Paul Attending RPOF Event in Orlando Next Month."


His politics come back to haunt him

"The Tampa Bay chapter of the New Students for a Democratic Society is circulating an online petition demanding University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft change the name of the C.W. Bill Young Hall, which opened in 2007 to house the Joint Military Leadership Center."

Young served on the committee from 1962 to 1965, when the group worked to identify homosexual students and faculty to be removed from USF and other public universities. The committee also openly opposed racial integration during the Civil Rights era and investigated curriculum taught at USF for introducing evolution, controversial books and communist ideals to students.
"USF group wants Bill Young’s name removed from ROTC building."


Open carry clears first committee in Tally

"Floridians with concealed-handgun permits would be able to display their weapons openly, under a measure that cleared its first House committee Tuesday." "Florida House panel OKs open carry of guns."


Winner-take-all Florida primary backfiring

"It was supposed to assert Florida’s dominance in picking the Republican presidential nominee, but a move to push back the primary and award all delegates to the winner has rankled party activists who say it has made candidates wary of the state and could disenfranchise voters." "Winner-take-all Florida primary slows parade of presidential candidates."