Stimulus Realities

by: Robert McKnight

Sun Aug 08, 2010 at 15:45:30 PM EDT

In my Diary of June 3rd, I opined that "Obama's Stimulus Plan is Working."  With the economy growing, but sputtering at times, some would question my opinion.  Here are the realities: 

Everyone agreed we needed an infusion of money to prime the pump -- how much, who should get it and how long it would take can be debated for ever.

WHO:  Obama selected key industries as targets -- auto, finance, and insurance -- almost all of which have worked well and paid back the stimulus money with interest.  Others may have worked better or worse.

HOW MUCH:  Obama ended up about in the middle between the D's and R's with $800 Billion.  Since much of it has been repaid, the remaining money in play is about what the R's wanted in the first place, so they should be happy with the amount now invested.

HOW LONG IT WOULD  TAKE:  The time estimate for the investment to take effect was generally given as 2-5 years -- it is now about 18 months to date.  But this is election time, so we ignore the required time to be invested.

Many private investors have been spooked into not re-hiring workers and re-investing in their companies because of the call from the Republicans that we are going back into the ditch.  Meanwhile, Obama is trying to draw credit to the Democratcs for their leadership, and use the bully pulpit to get the "Mo" behind the rebound.

Lee Surrenders To Grant, Obama Retains Slavery

by: fake consultant

Thu Jul 22, 2010 at 04:10:48 AM EDT

Although most observers are generally happy with the surrender, many of President Obama's most loyal supporters are livid with the Commander-in-Chief because of the concessions he made in order to obtain the future support of the Southern Senators who will rejoin the body when the next Session begins.

At a media event this morning, Press Secretary Dick Timoneous expressed the President's hope that the formerly Confederate Members of Congress are looking forward to changing the political culture and steering the Nation in a better direction:

"It's time for the opposition to realize that what really matters is putting America first. The President is certain that by offering some concessions now, Southern Senators will look beyond their own parochial interests and do their part to move this process forward."

Republicans Intervene In Traffic Accident, Call Settlement "Shakedown"

by: fake consultant

Thu Jun 24, 2010 at 08:06:49 AM EDT

The intervening attorneys claim the settlement reached between the two parties to the accident is a "shakedown" because the plaintiff had not yet exhausted all possible legal remedies when the agreement was finalized, and because the agreement was executed in the presence of the plaintiff's brother, a well-known local attorney.

They hope Judge Bryan will decline to approve the settlement in today's hearing, and that he will order the parties to move forward to trial.

"What we have is government transferring property from one party, an admittedly unattractive one, to others, not based on preexisting laws but on decisions by one man, a car czar", said Crush Mimbaugh, attorney for the RSG, "and we are here today to protect all Americans from this legally sanctioned rape of an innocent driver."

Obama's Stimulus Plan is Working

by: Robert McKnight

Thu Jun 03, 2010 at 19:15:01 PM EDT

In spite of criticism from Republicans and Tea Baggers, by almost all accounts, the President's infusion of funds to stimulate the economy last year is working.  Evidence:

1.  Most economic indexes now are positive, and all the stock markets are up substantially.

2.  All industry targets to save--auto, insurance, and banks have survived, consolidated, and most have paid back their loans plus interest to the U.S. Government.

3.  Numerous critical jobs like law enforcement, teachers, and health care were saved and are now making major contributions around the country.

4.  The main cause of the whole mess, the moribund real estate market is actually starting to shows signs of growth--there is even an abatement in the ugly foreclosure rate.

Yes, the investment did increase our deficit substantially, but in fairness there are a couple of other big ticket items contributing mightly--2 wars, the boomer driven social security and medicare, and the continuing disgraceful ear marks by Congress.  But to our friends still complaining--where would be if the Presdient had not led?

Florida Residents Participate in Video Urging LeMieux to Pass Legislation

by: FloDemRida

Thu Jun 03, 2010 at 16:30:37 PM EDT

As oil continues to gush in the Gulf of Mexico in one of the worst environmental disasters in America’s history, at least someone is finally calling for actual action. Repower America has helped organize residents across the state to write letters and call their Senators. And people are actually stepping out and calling on Senator LeMieux to honor promises he made in letters he wrote back to them. Earlier today, Florida residents from Destin to Tampa to Miami delivered LeMieux their video showcasing people reading the letters they have received from Senator LeMieux in which he promises to support clean energy.

Urgent: Tell Charlie Crist to Veto HB 1143

by: EducatedRants

Wed May 12, 2010 at 23:23:04 PM EDT

On the last day of the 2010 Legislative Session, the Florida  Legislature passed HB 1143 - sweeping anti-choice legislation that  restricts women's access to reproductive health care and drastically  chips away at Roe v. Wade.

House Republicans rammed through a measure  to require women seeking  an abortion to pay for an ultrasound and hear a doctor give a  description of the fetus. The cost of an ultrasound exam can vary  between $200 and $1,000.

The bill also restricts businesses that receive tax credits from  providing their employees with health insurance that covers abortion,  even if they don't use federal or state subsidies to purchase their  plans. This goes far beyond the Hyde Amendment by prohibiting abortion  from being covered in private health insurance plans.

This attack on women's health care  by anti-choice Republicans passed  both chambers despite never being vetted through a single  committee, and never allowing for public comment.  Help us urge Governor  Crist to veto HB 1143, which interferes with private health care  decisions and restricts private health insurance from offering abortion  coverage.

HB 1143 currently awaits the Governor's decision.

Women will not stand for legislation that takes away our rights  and leaves us worse off than we are today.

He'll Do It.

by: Robert McKnight

Wed Apr 14, 2010 at 09:45:03 AM EDT

You heard it here first.  Florida Governor Charlie Crist will announce a switch from Republican to Independent this week because:

1.  Nothing short of a murder charge against Rubio will turn around the Tea Baggers in the Republican party to support Crist.

2.  There are pro-Crist, moderate Democrats and Republicans that will still support him as an independent.

3.  He will veto SB 6 and that will bring pro public education forces to his side, like never before.

4.  At least for a while, Crist, not Rubio, would be the buzz across the country about the nation's 4th biggest state--generating badly needed "big mo" for Crist, and helping him raise $.

5.  Lieberman proved it can be done.

It May Be Thune and Ryan....

by: Robert McKnight

Mon Mar 22, 2010 at 13:46:04 PM EDT

The last several days have been very illuminating for the Republicans--to see who did the best and worst job of protesting against the Obama Health Care Reform Plan.  The clear losers were House Leader Boehner, who appeared to blow a gasket upon the bill's final passage and Senator Cronyn of Texas, who was downright vile toward the President, among many others.  In my opinion, the winners are probably going to be candidates for President in 2012:

Senator John Thune (R., South Dakota)--confident, good appearance, and proven vote getter by unseating former Senator Majority Leader Tom Daschle.

Representative Paul Ryan (R., Wisconsin)--an economist, singled out in a positive way by President Obama during the last minute workshop with Congressional Republicans.

Remember you heard Thune and Ryan here first.

"Investing" in Florida

by: Roger Brisbane

Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 22:45:07 PM EDT

I was reading an article talking about the difference between building wealth and stealing, and it got me thinking about the concept of "investing."  To many Republicans, investing is something that only the private sector does.  However, strangely no one else seems to see it that way.  In fact when the rubber hits the road of course their constituents want the government to "invest" in America as well.

You didn't see George LeMieux voting against the jobs bill -- Why?  Because even all his Republican constituents who are big advocates of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps are in favor of help when the help is for them.  Unlike all those lazy people who need help from the government, they actually suffered an unforseen problem and deserve a leg up.

In 5 years when unemployment is back down they'll of course be telling us that investing in the stock market is the only kind of investing again.  It's only reasonable to give people help when they are in trouble.  

Who Dat?

by: Robert McKnight

Sat Feb 06, 2010 at 15:24:44 PM EST

Who is most powerful person in American politics right now?  It can be argued among many, but certainly one that surfaces this year, in particular, is the Secretary of Commerce, former Washington Governor Gary Locke, a Democrat.  The Chinese American is responsible for the conduct of the U.S. Census.  That tabulation in turn dictates the representation in the House of Representatives, by state; and the formula by which billions of federal revenue sharing dollars are distributed. 

In Florida, the Republicans are already arguing about whether unregistered or undocumented aliens should be counted.  It is widely anticipated that traditional Rust Belt states, like Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Katrina-torn Louisiana will lose states in the Congress.  The winners, driven by the surge in immigrants coming from their borders, will probably be Sun Belt states like Florida, Texas and Arizonia, among others.  It will get particularly ugly when incumbents run against each other for consolidated existing seats.

The stakes could not be higher.  That's who dat--Gov. Gary Locke 

But Who Brought 'Em To The Dance?

by: Robert McKnight

Sun Nov 29, 2009 at 17:26:07 PM EST

The mid-term elections, since the President's historic win last year, occur in 2010.  As typical of most elections, some surprises occurred in 2008--notably, Democrats elected from districts where the voters also preferred Barack Obama's opponent, Senator John McCain (R., AZ).  Lumping first and second term members together, the total number falling in this category is approximately 50 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.  Now the question is 'who brought them to the dance?'  Said differently, one of the following probably apply to the 50:

1.  They won their seats based upon their original conservative and perceived independent campaigns, and they created a comfortable distance from the Obama Campaign.

2.  Their opponents were vulnerable and probably too tied to the unpopular President George Bush.  However, their electorate supported the Republican nominee, thinking Senator McCain was sufficiently different from President Bush.

3.  These districts had unusually discriminating voters.

What ever the reason, these 50 folks have problems now, and they are creating additional problems for their Democratic President.  The Republicans are obviously targeting them, and the Administration cannot necessarily count on them on make or break votes on health care, energy and financial services reform, among many others.  Also, keep in mind, historically the majority party usually loses seats in a mid-term election like this.

The outcome of these 50 House races may very well dictate the success or failure of this historic President's first term.

LeMieux Blockbuster

by: Florida Politics

Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 10:07:19 AM EDT

LeMieux is chairman of Gunster Yoakley, a Florida-based law firm which specializes in helping companies hire foreigners to replace American workers inside the United States.

An Imbalance of power

by: Mike Coleman

Mon Aug 31, 2009 at 09:39:53 AM EDT

As a result of the media evolution,  those who have ready access to mainstream media have shifted the balance of political power away from the Voters towards entities who have the ability and money to drive and influence national conversations towards their point of view.

This very public access creates instant attrition to any Election result, as the winning Politician breaths a sigh of relief from the Voters and then begins facing anywhere from 730 to as many as 2192 days where Lobbyists and Media attention comprise their worst fears for no less than two years without end. 

Today our news comes in undending fashion, 24/7 relentlessly requiring something either new and different from all sources.

This 24/7 society has led to the weakening of the Voter's Election Day power, rendering decisions made on election day that direct their Officials to do their bidding or else, be fired at the next election.

Voters now have one day that their Representatives must either respect or fear, namely Election day.

All other days belong to whomever can afford to relentlessly pound their messages into the consciousness of the Nation, all it takes is the money, and a strategy that feeds the media culture by providing "intellectual" analysis from Institutions set up to advance a philosophy, usually conservative, generally from a think Tank with a name that is designed to multiply it's authority.

Think about the disparity between "endless 24/7" and elections conducted every two, four, or six, years.

For every Congressional election there are a minimum of 730 24/7 cycles that 435 members of Congress can be subjected to the infamy that comes from being publicly excoriated by the political power of money, legally screaming loudly from any media outfit that lives off of Advertising revenue.

Presidents have a minimum of 1461 of those daily news cycles per Election.

Senators face the electorate at a rate of once every 2191-2 of those 24/7 news cycles. It's little wonder that Senators are the least responsive to the Voters, and appear always to be pondering their positions. The insulation from the Electorate enjoyed by Senators ensures them little Voter pressure while exposing Senators to three times the amount of  "high priced political speech" from entrenched interests.

While the Internet has given rise to the Blogger and commentators of all types and from all political views. This type of speech is powerful only in as far as the Bloggers have to either get noticed by feeding into the mainstream 24'7 news cycle. 

This isn't an easy task, and the blogging world knows that most media look for our shiny aluminum helmets prior to involving themselves, unless their point is to make fun of a blogger.

Breaking that barrier requires quite a bit of ingenuity, hard investigative work, or by doing something strange and off the wall.

The other way is for the individual sources to come together and by using financial appeals gather the necessary funds to message as media Advertisers.

The evolution from Voter Power to Messaging Power driving Congress and Legislatures decision making processes is a 21st century problem that must be addressed.

Perhaps the best solution will never occur, because only a few brave Politicians would be willing to face the electorate more often, nor would such a change necessarily be beneficial in the long term.

Absent that, a US Supreme Court decision, removing the free speech rights from any non human entity, would go far to re-leveling the political playing field.

Corporations will not go away, nor will the nation's political discourse be impinged, the change will merely recognize that it is the individual citizen that holds the reins to his/her own Government.

About George

by: Florida Politics

Thu Jul 30, 2009 at 08:14:38 AM EDT

Yesterday we asked, "Who hired this lawyer?", about Charlie's pal George LeMieux, and his bungled negotiations over the gambling deal between the state and the Seminole Tribe. (Background: "Talks over Seminole gambling agreement on hold").

Roger Stone also had a piece yesterday, "Crist's Vulnerability", subtitled "It's the little Frenchman", pointing out that "Crist's former Chief of Staff George LeMieux has made millions since leaving state government. Now LeMieux's business dealings are likely to become the focus of Democratic attacks on U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Crist."

"Huge State contracts with LeMieux's law-firm, awarded at the time LeMieux left the governor's office and which LeMieux claims he had nothing to do with, will be the focus of FOIA requests."

Stone goes on to mention that

worrisome to the Crist camp are conversations LeMieux had with indicted viatical scamster Joel Steinger of Mutual Benefits while Steinger was wearing a wire for the Feds. The Mutual Benefits scandal will take down more Florida politicians who the company approached to stem the federal investigation that ultimately brought the company down. LeMieux may be the biggest fish.

See also "Joel Steinger and Mutual Benefits Corp. Stole a Billion Dollars by Peddling Bogus Life Insurance Policies" and "Mutual Benefits Con Man Joel Steinger Spent a Lifetime Getting Mobbed Up".

If LeMieux goes down, can Charlie be far behind?

Will Charlie Crist digorge his McKalip contributions?

by: Florida Politics

Sat Jul 25, 2009 at 10:22:47 AM EDT

Some of the receipients - via political contributions - Dr. McKalip's largesse:

Atwater, Jeff (REP)(STS); many contributions to People for a Better Florida Fund, Inc. (ECO), "sometimes called the 'political arm of the Florida Medical Association'", and the Florida Medical PAC (CCE); Cappelli, Angelo (REP)(STR); Constance, Chris (REP)(STR); Frishe, James C. "Jim" (REP)(STR), Johnson, Randy (REP)(STR); Cut Taxes Now PAC, Inc. (PAC), an entity he incorporated; Citizens For A Fair Share, Inc., a tort reform PAC; Berfield, Kimberly "Kim" (REP)(STS); Cappelli, Angelo (REP)(STR); Crist, Charlie (REP)(GOV) [twice], Eaton, Christopher (DEM)(STR); Hasner, Adam (REP)(STR); Sullivan, Don (REP)(STR); Cut Property Taxes Now, Inc. (PAC); and Long, Janet C. (DEM)(STR).

The most comprehensive coverage of the Florida's latest "After All, He Is Black" moment is at Talking Points Memo Muckraker, including: "Beat Goes On For Florida Doc: McKalip To Step Down As AMA Delegate", "McKalip is resigning as president-elect of the Pinellas County Medical Association", the classic "McKalip: I'm No Racist -- I Once Had A Career Counseling Day For Black Kids", and much, much more.

Here's the money: "Rubio Won't Say Whether He'll Sever Ties With McKalip" (via Pushing Rope's "Rubio Won't Distance Himself From McKalip").

From the Reid Report: "Limbaugh on Obaa: ‘let’s face it, he’s Black…’".

Context For Battle

by: dantilson

Thu Jun 11, 2009 at 23:12:39 PM EDT

And I want to get in the game.  While I'll keep covering Sunshine State doings, I'm also going to start writing more about these core national issues, and the related legislative reform efforts so necessary to restore -- and create anew - some semblance of socioeconomic equilibrium in our American Democracy.

But first, I need to get some Big Picture context off my chest - hanging a frame, if you will, in which the canvas of those and related stories can then be methodically mounted for maximum cumulative impact.  

Because, if taken individually and out of their larger context, each of the aforementioned political battles now raging - and those yet to come -- may seem to some Americans to be just another round of partisan political bickering and business as usual BS - which is just what cynical Conservative and Republican politicians and pundits want people thinking.

Beware the McCollum Makeover

by: dantilson

Wed May 20, 2009 at 20:27:13 PM EDT

In announcing his candidacy for Governor of Florida on Monday, Bill McCollum described how if elected his administration would demonstrate "a renewed commitment to our environment." It sure better be "renewed", given that in McCollum's last year in the U.S. House of Representatives, the estimable League of Conservation Voters gave him a dismal 26% lifetime environmental rating, gaining him infamous addition to their "Dirty Dozen" list of the most anti-environment members of Congress -- see http://tinyurl.com/q6aymn).

But that's not the only "Dirty Dozen" list that McCollum has been named to.  No, in fact the venerable Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence put the then-congressman in its own hall of shame, citing him as having one of the "worst records on the issue of guns" of anyone in Congress  -- see http://tinyurl.com/o5tybz.  Of course, McCollum describes that status as nothing more than support of the constitutional right to bear arms.

What chilling examples these are of the kind of Herculean makeover campaign the McCollum team has already begun to mount, in hopes of finally getting him the kind of high profile statewide gig he has so longed for. His 2006 election as Attorney General just doesn't seem to have done enough to heal the wounds of unsuccessful U.S. Senate runs in 2000 and 2004. He is an ever-ambitious lifer in the grimy game of electoral politics, which usually means prioritizing one's own advancement over and above the positive impact one can have at any particular level of achievement, or responsibility.

Sorry, Charlie

by: dantilson

Thu May 14, 2009 at 07:13:36 AM EDT

I'm tired of hearing Florida Democrats tell me how much they like Governor Crist, now an official candidate for the U.S. Senate seat soon to be vacated by Mel Martinez.  "He’s such an improvement over Bush.” they say, or ”He's not a real Republican." Really?  Okay, maybe Charlie Crist is the Florida Republican version of Miller Lite Beer -- you know, “Tastes Great!” -- compared to the bad taste Jeb left on our political palates.  No, wait; make that “Less Filling!” -- of our heads with empty Republican rhetoric. But that's not good enough for me, and it shouldn't be good enough for any self-respecting Florida Democrat.

Untruth and Consequences

by: dantilson

Tue May 12, 2009 at 15:07:55 PM EDT

While political pundits turn their -- and the public's -- attention to Charlie Crist's U.S. Senate run and a series of chain reaction announcements to follow from Florida pols like Alex Sink and Bill McCollum, it's worth taking one more look at what the state's Republican leadership "accomplished" by the time they finally passed a budget and adjourned last Friday.

Forget the spin coming out of self-congratulatory press conferences like the one on Friday afternoon that featured Crist, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottcamp, Senate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Larry Cretul patting one another on the back for reaching compromise "agreements" and making "tough choices".  The Governor's office immediately issued a long list of accomplishments in the new budget.  Atwater and other Republican leaders went on their own media tour,  desperately trying to re-frame the legislative session as some kind of a mixed-bag success.  The economic crisis, of course, became the be-all, end-all explanation for their more glaring slaps across the faces of Florida's already reeling Middle Class and working families.

Slaps such as...

Read entire article at  http://www.examiner.com/x-9540...

Florida Republicans hold legislature hostage

by: dantilson

Sat May 02, 2009 at 21:44:23 PM EDT

May 1st marked the official end of the 60-day legislative session in Tallahassee. No balloons or ticker tape. No, you see, the one and only task that the legislature was actually required to accomplish by May Day was to pass the state budget for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1st. They couldn’t get it done. So now House and Senate “leaders”, Republicans like House Speaker Larry Cretul and Senate President Jeff Atwater, huddle over the weekend and try to come up with a final budget that the entire legislature can vote on next week. These are the same Republicans who had promised an open budget process last week -- just before making a mad dash for closed-door budget negotiations amongst themselves. Talk about an economic strategy echo chamber. After their secret meetings, they refused to reveal any details of what they’d discussed. But they did want to make an announcement: that the budget negotiation “will be an open process…a very, very open process.” Does that sound more than a little like the twisted double-talk that came out of the Bush administration for eight long years?

This, after weeks and weeks of the usual Florida legislative war dance -- the overwhelmingly Republican House vs. the less-overwhelmingly Republican Senate. How about a couple of examples? Well, Florida homeowners’ “insurer of last resort”, government-backed Citizens Insurance, wanted a rate hike. The state Senate approved a 5% hike. Then the House said no, that’s not enough. They wanted to give them increases of up to 20%. That's called chutzpah in Yiddish, cujones in Spanish, shameless in any language. Then there’s the Clean Energy bill, intended to force electric utilities to use more renewable energy sources, like wind and solar. Even our Republican Lite governor, Charlie Crist, is a big advocate of the legislation. But House Republicans blocked the bill throughout the session.

What are badly outnumbered Democrats to do? Some continue to fight for what's right. Others are just desperate for a win. In the case of the Clean Energy bill, at the last minute the Senate tacked on a ridiculous new feature that would allow nuclear power to also be classified as a renewable energy source. And that, folks, is the kind of wrong-headed cave-in that leaves so many principled citizens disgusted or disengaged with politics, and politicians.

However, it is important to note that there are in fact some hard-working, ethical, progressive Democrats in the state legislature, fighting the good fight against all odds -- people like Dan Gelber, Ted Deutch, Dave Aronberg, and others. But far too often, their hands are tied. There just aren’t enough of them. And that’s because of how successfully the Republicans have gerrymandered our legislative districts. The good news is, there's hope on the horizon. A vitally important new ballot referendum initiative called Fair District Florida may just be the beginning of a new day in state politics. Stay tuned for an upcoming article on this potentially game-changing new initiative.