A Quiet Election Day… and Jockeying For 2010

While a few races, like Riviera Beach mayor, have yet to be decided… it was a relatively quiet election day this week in Palm Beach County.  That was good news for new Elections Supervisor Susan Bucher.  With no huge races on the ballot and low voter turnout, every vote truly counts.  In Palm Beach, just 1 vote kept the incumbent mayor in office.

While we wait to see what Governor Charlie Crist decides to do, other well-known names are jockeying for position in 2010.  Former House Speaker Marco Rubio has quietly submitted his name in the U.S. Senate race.  Political analyst Marty Rogol calls it a good positioning move for Rubio because if Crist decides to run for Senate, he could shift gears and run for governor.

 

Joe Negron, who in 2006 tried to save the congressional seat for the Republicans in the wake of the Mark Foley scandal, wants back in.  The former House member is applying for Ken Pruitt’s state senate seat.  Pruitt is term limited.

The Democratic National Committee has chosen its slogan to put on a billboard in West Palm Beach.

“We didn’t vote for a “Rush” to failure.”

Something tells me Rush can’t wait for it to go up.

Been A While

My apologies… it’s been a while since I posted.  Here’s what’s happening.

Has President Obama lost the “message” when it comes to getting this economic stimulus package passed?  It wasn’t long ago that the president talked about the package as a way to save millions of jobs.  When the packages were first discussed, they were referred to as “bailouts”… and it maybe hasn’t moved much beyond that in the national conscience.

Up and down week for our new president.  The Daschle tax episode was just the icing ont he cake for a number of cabinet appointees accused of paying fast and loose with the tax code, even if it was unintentional.  I did like to see the president admits he “screwed up”.  Would we *ever* have heard that under the Bush administration?  Not likely.

Governor Crist continues to enjoy sky high popularity numbers… 73% at last check.  So will he run for re-election as governor, or try and grab the senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez?  His “non-denials” of interest in the Senate seat may keep other big names from seeking it.  The real issue is if he wants to run for the White House, would it be better as a Senator or popular two-term governor?  What are your thoughts?

A New President

As I watched the new president speak, I was struck by the mood in his voice.  This was a fierce, determined speech… not one filled with swooping oratory designed around easy soundbites.  It was very matter-of-fact… we are a nation surrounded by “gathering clouds”, but our resolve is true and we will forge on.  It was still very inspirational.  While the message was similar to John F. Kennedy’s “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”, it was delivered in a much more straight forward manner.   I liked how we said we need to “pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off” and get back to rebuilding America.  The image of the incoming and outgoing presidents walking to the helicopter to take the Bushes off was impressive… then of course the images of the masses of humanity on the National Mall and the fact that the swearing-in went off without a security hitch were also impressive.  What was your take on the days events?  Is this truly a piece of American history?  Where did you watch it… home/the office/a restaurant/watching party?

First In.. Last Standing?

Democratic U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek will be the first politician to throw their hat into the ring for the Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez in 2010.  The AP is reporting he’ll make it official on Tuesday.  Meek, is in

his fourth term in Congress.  He served 8 years in Tallahassee and was probably best known for staging a sit-in at then Governor Jeb Bush’s office over proposals to strip affirmative action protections.  Does Meek have enough statewide presence to be a factor?  Will he be the Democratic favorite until/if state CFO Alex Sink decides to run?  This is going to be a great race to follow.

What A Way To Begin The New Year

I hear the Queen song in my head “Another One Bites The Dust” as I read the details of PBC County Commissioner Mary McCarty’s misdeeds.  How strange that Leadership Palm Beach County was having its’ “ethics pledge” signing on the same day McCarty resigned from her seat.  Three commissioners down and it sounds like more to come.  Who do you think is next… and why?

Jeb Bush decided this week that he would not run for the Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez in 2010.  Do you think the former governor will find another avenue to try and get to the WHite House?  Wait for Bill Nelson’s seat to come up?  Will we ever get a Crist/Bush showdown?  So who does that leave as a frontrunner for the Senate seat… Alex Sink?  Bill McCollum?  Not too many politicians with statewide recognition who could give it a good run in my view.  Maybe that’s what the seat needs.. a fresh face entirely.  It wasn’t long ago that the president-elect was the junior Senator from Illinois.

Looking Back on 2008

A man who just a few decades ago in this country, wouldn’t be allowed to sit at certain lunch counters or drink at certain water fountains, will be sworn in as our next president in just a few weeks.  It was a historic year politically in America.  With no sitting president or vice president running for the highest office in the land, we knew it was going to be quite a political season.  The Obama campaign was expertly managed… and know he has 10 million names in his database.  How will these names be used… if at all?  Will there be an American sounding board… or will these people be called on to act as a sort of civil service corps?   The expectations for Obama will be tough to meet.  While he still has a 75-percent or so approval rating.. if things don’t change for the better soon… that could drop.  However, like Florida governor Charlie Crist, if there is a perception that Obama is truly trying to make a difference, he could have a long honeymoon.

No one really emerged on the local political scene in 2008.. though Shelley Vana made a successful move from the state House to the Palm Beach County Commission.

The big thing to watch, besides the special session at the beginning of January, will be what Jeb Bush decides to do.  If he wants to run for Mel Martinez’s US Senate seat, does that set up for a showdown between Bush and Crist in a future race for a higher office… one where the winner resides in the White House?

Will blog again in the new year…

Are You Kidding Me?

Senate Seat for Sale!!!  Senate Seat for Sale!!  If true, do you think that Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich’s actions have set a new low in political bribery history?  US Attorney Pat Fitzgerald had the quote of the week that “Lincoln would be rolling over in his grave.”

Mel Says No Mas

US Senator Mel Martinez announced Tuesday he will not seek a second term in 2010, saying he

wants to spend more time with his family.  The Democrats were going to target his seat in two years.  That certainly opens up a huge opportunity for someone seeking to climb the political ladder.  Who do you think will seek the job?  There are a huge number of intriguing possibilities from our area.  On the Democratic side… US Rep. Ron Klein?  State Senator Dan Gelber or Dave Aronberg?  Kendrick Meek?  Alex Sink?  On the Republican side, the local potential candidates like Adam Hasner would probably be trumped by former House Speaker Marco Rubio or Adam Putnam, who was a rising star in Washington. 

Team Obama

Comments on the Obama Team?   Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State… what do you think?  If I remember correctly, it was Abraham Lincoln who put some of his fiercest opponents in his cabinet.  Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?  Of all people, Rush Limbaugh called the selection a brillant stroke.

We Still Love Charlie… Mel? Not as much.

Despite backing the “wrong horse” in the race for the White House and failing to keep Florida from going Democratic on Election Day, Governor Charlie Crist continues to enjoy enormous popularity here.  A Quinnipiac University poll out this week gives the governor a 68% job approval rating.  Remarkably high don’t you think?  The same poll gave Senator Mel Martinez only a 42% favorable rating… but he still garnered more positive than negative votes.  Both Republicans are up for re-election in 2010.  Do you think the governor is doing a good job?  Perhaps his generally positive outlook and willingness to reach across the aisle has helped him in a state that certainly saw a bigger influx of newly reigstered Democrats then Republicans this election cycle.