And, how we laughed when Rick Scott so quickly dumped the dog after the election?

Reagan, the now famous dog that once belonged to Gov. Rick Scott, was banished from the Governor’s Mansion after biting an employee who moved his water bowl.

“The governor and first lady love dogs, and they had to make a hard decision when it was clear that Reagan was very anxious around lots of different people,” Scott spokeswoman Melissa Sellers said.

The dog bite occurred while the governor was in Orlando on Jan. 7, 2011, just three days after Scott took office, according to an incident report released by Scott’s office late last week. Mansion grounds employee Jennifer Kinsey was arranging flowers in the mansion when Reagan bit her on the right hand, according to the incident report made by her supervisor for the Department of Management Services. The report noted that the injury was not serious and required no medical treatment.

Scott introduced the yellow Labrador to Facebook readers on Sept. 7, 2010, shortly after he won the Republican nomination and before his election in November 2010. Facebook friends chose the name Reagan from a list of three choices suggested by the campaign and applauded the candidate’s decision to adopt a rescue dog.

After the bite report, Sellers said, Scott flew Reagan back to Naples on his private jet and returned the dog to All Pets Grooming and Boarding, a Collier County groomer.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/gubernatorial/gov-rick-scotts-former-dog-reagan-bit-employee-report-says/1271611

Does it make you wonder about Charlie Crist’s wife’s kids, the ones he latched onto before his senate race in 2010, as proof of something or other?

The ex-husband of former Florida first lady Carole Crist has been granted full custody of their two daughters, after alleging that she abandoned them and hasn’t returned messages in nearly two years.

“She’s completely abandoned them,” Todd Rome said of his former wife of 14 years in a brief telephone interview Friday.

He said Mrs. Crist, married for four years to former Gov. Charlie Crist, has not seen or spoken to her 14- and 16-year-old daughters since June 8, 2011, and that even simple tasks like getting her signature on documents have become a challenge.

Mrs. Crist and ex-husband Rome had joint custody until Feb. 1 when a family court judge in New York granted him temporary full custody. Rome said he may seek full custody permanently. . . .

Reached by phone as he was driving with his daughters, Rome said he has no explanation for why Mrs. Crist, 43, cut off contact with his daughters. He then passed the phone to his wife of four-plus years, Vanessa Rome.

“Anything that needs a co-parent signature becomes a complete ordeal, because she doesn’t answer,” Mrs. Rome said of Mrs. Crist. Mrs. Crist used to visit her daughters every other weekend in New York City.

Mrs. Rome said Mrs. Crist had no patience for the girls any time they complained about something.

“She doesn’t like to discuss anything or be called out, so if they say anything that rocks the boat she’ll say, ‘Okay, bye. I have to go,’ and hang up.”

The former governor has in the past spoken warmly of his stepdaughters — he called them “our children” in 2009 — but Mrs. Rome said “he wanted no part of them.” When in Florida during 2010, the girls constantly found themselves bored at political fundraising events with no one to talk to. Mr. Crist, she said, also had no tolerance for any hint of unpleasant teen behavior.

“He would say, ‘I’m not coming to dinner with you with that attitude,’ ” she said. “Often they were left alone in the hotel room to order room service.”

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/gubernatorial/charlie-crists-wife-loses-custody-of-two-teenage-daughters/1275394

Which do you think plays worse with the public – - returning a dog you no longer have any use for?  Or, returning two kids?

Former Gov. Charlie Crist says he didn’t know an ex-GOP chair was taking a share of donations, but a lobbyist says Crist told him he was OK with the arrangement.
In a deposition released Thursday, Brian Ballard said Crist told him then-party chairman Jim Greer and executive director Delmar Johnson would take over state GOP fundraising and be compensated for taking on the extra role.
In his deposition, Crist said he knew Johnson was taking on fundraising responsibilities, but not Greer. Crist said the party chairman is always expected to raise money without receiving extra compensation.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/07/3222483/crist-i-didnt-know-about-greer.html#storylink=cpy

Of course, we’ll never know the truth:

Former Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer pleaded guilty to theft and money laundering charges Monday just before jury selection in his criminal trial was to begin.
Greer pleaded guilty to four counts of theft and a single count of money laundering for funneling money from the Republican Party of Florida to a company he set up with his right-hand man. He could be sentenced to a minimum of 3 1/2 years and a maximum of 35 years in prison at his March 27 sentencing.
The plea deal avoids would could have been an embarrassing trial for the state GOP. Some of Florida’s most powerful politicians were scheduled as witnesses, including former Gov. Charlie Crist, former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and several state House and state Senate leaders.
“There were a number of people who did not want this trial to go forward and the trial isn’t going forward,” said Damon Chase, Greer’s attorney. “Once again, Jim Greer is falling on his sword for a lot of other folks.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/11/3228113/headaches-for-fla-gop-ahead-in.html#storylink=cpy

But, we do remember the relationship between Crist and corrupt felon Jim Greer:

Topics that were covered in pretrial depositions included allegations of prostitutes at a state GOP fundraiser in the Bahamas, lavish spending on fancy restaurants and luxury hotels by state party leaders, the drinking habits of Crist and party leaders stabbing each other in the back.
Greer, 50, was vice mayor of the small central Florida town of Oviedo when Crist surprisingly picked him to be the state party chairman after he led local efforts to help Crist get elected governor in 2006.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/11/3228113/headaches-for-fla-gop-ahead-in.html#storylink=cpy

I guess Crist will now forget he ever knew Jim Greer. 

Just like he now forgets his opposition to Obamacare.

http://www.bluebroward.org/2012/12/10/charlie-crist-and-obamacare-in-case-youre-wondering/

Just like he now forgets his role in enshrining marriage discrimination in the state constitution.

http://www.bluebroward.org/2012/12/17/charlie-crist-and-marriage-equality/

Will Florida Democrats forget?

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/12/crists-run-from-the-past-run-continues-gay-marriage-edition.html

Thereafter, Florida’s Republican Governor Charlie Crist, as head of the state Republican Party, ”helped fund [the campaign for a state] gay-marriage ban.”

“And,  he boasted about voting for it.  “I voted for it,” Crist told the Tampa Bay Times outside the polling place at the time. “It’s what I believe in.”

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/12/crists-run-from-the-past-run-continues-gay-marriage-edition.html

On 8/29/10, during his 2010 run for the U.S. Senate, self described “Reagan Republican” turned “Jeb Bush Republican” turned “Independent Conservative” Charlie Crist told CNN that he backed a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

http://www.advocate.com/news/daily-news/2010/08/29/crist-then-against-marriage-amendment

Within one day, Crist clarified “that the governor just meant an amendment to the Florida constitution.”

http://www.salon.com/2010/08/30/charlie_crist_suports_opposes_everything/

Now a Democrat, Crist “regrets signing a petition in 2006 calling for a gay marriage ban in the state constitution.”

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/newly-democratic-charlie-crist-regrets-gay-marriage-opposition

Okay – - now Crist regrets signing the petition.  But, does he regret supporting the campaign?  funding the campaign?  voting to amend the constitution?  In fact, does he still support Florida’s ban on gay marriage?   

I guess it depends.

My hope is that this will be a true team, allowing Mitch to do the things he does best while taking advantage of the strengths others bring to the table. If the result is more effective organizing and GOTV for 2014, we all will have won.

Here is the new lineup (contact info here)

County Chair & National Committeeman
Mitch Ceasar

State Committeewoman
Maggie Davidson

State Committeeman
Ken Evans

First Vice-Chair
Cynthia Busch

Second Vice-Chair
Betty Dimaio

Recording Secretary
Tim Ross

Corresponding Secretary
Darren Covar

Treasurer
Diana Pittarelli

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/27/crist-stumbles-on-health-care-question/

Later that same day, Crist said, “Apparently, based on an interview this afternoon, there may be some confusion regarding my position on health care.  If I misspoke, I want to be abundantly clear: the health care bill was too big, too expensive, and expanded the role of government far too much.  Had I been in the United States Senate at the time, I would have voted against the bill because of unacceptable provisions like the cuts to the Medicare Advantage program.”

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/27/crist-stumbles-on-health-care-question/

In the words of Alex Pareene in Salon, Crist “said that while the healthcare reform bill was flawed, he would’ve voted for it.  His campaign immediately issued a “clarification” explaining that he would not have voted for it.”

http://www.salon.com/2010/08/30/charlie_crist_suports_opposes_everything/

Typical Crist.

On 11/6/12, 508,312 votes were cast for Obama / Biden, which was 67% of votes cast, a margin of 264,211 more than for Romney / Ryan, and which represents a staggering 85% positive turnout of registered Democrats.

See:  http://www.browardsoe.org/

There are hotheads calling for “regime change” with disproven false accusations of stolen party elections?  In fact, on this planet, there are actual corrupt dictators like Chavez and Putin who hold phony fixed elections who would be embarrassed to claim 67% margins or 85% GOTV success rates.  But in Broward, in 2012, the party actually in fact did it.

Putting aside all paid volunteers, all paid consultants, all paid mailers, all pictures with Caroline Kennedy, all infringement of OFA trademarks and copyrights, and all personal grievances, gripes, score settling, egos and ambitions, does anyone honestly believe that under any other DEC leadership the party will obtain larger margins or more successful GOTV?  You know you don’t.

The Broward Democratic Party (the Democratic Executive Committee or DEC) election is December 9, 2012.

Cynthia Busch, Democratic Area Leader of Plantation, leads highly effective Democratic voter registration, get-out-the-vote, phonebanking, petition gathering, and volunteer training, election work. Cynthia Busch embedded herself and worked day and night, elbow-to-elbow, with volunteers and Organizing for America (OFA) staff, to elect President Barack Obama in 2008, and reelect the President in 2012.

Cynthia Busch has been successful in electing Mayors and other local Democratic officials. Cynthia’s hands-on and steady guidance focuses on results. Any election day, if you want to know where Cynthia is, she’s at the polls or more likely canvassing. Any election, she has been working door-to-door with volunteers, and at phone banks for months beforehand.

Cynthia Busch surrounds herself with highly qualified, hard-working people such as Alan Ehrlich, Rick Hoye, and many others. She leads by example and by delegation. Today’s resurgent Democratic grassroots activism springs from Cynthia’s volunteer work as a DEC Committeewoman and Area Leader of Plantation, and has reached across much of Broward County. This grassroots activism should become the renewed Broward Democratic Party, to strengthen Broward’s Democratic vote turnout, to elect a Democratic governor in 2012, and to increase the Democratic ratio in the legislature.

Cynthia Busch’s plan for strengthening the Broward Democratic party includes bringing the Party into the 21st century in technology while making human contact and interaction the heart and soul, restoring committees, earning the trust to win the vote, raising funds to open an office that will be utilized to elect Democrats, empowering leaders who reflect our community, responding positively to new ideas and concerns, and never having conflicts, special interests, or goals other than to the Democratic Party and to the election of Democrats.

Cynthia is supported in her Democratic volunteer work by her husband Steve Busch who is an inventor, stock broker, and small businessman. They have two young daughters. Cynthia is not a lobbyist and does not do paid campaign work. She is a delight to work with and is perfect for Chair of the Broward Democratic Party.

Cynthia has my vote and I ask you to vote for her.

Phil, 954-579-3932
Broward Democratic Committeeman, precinct T027
837 SW 120th Way, Davie, FL 33325

It’s a world in which several MSNBC talking heads, the Obama White House  and most if not all of our state newspaper editorial boards seem to have already decided that Charlie Crist should be the next Democratic gubernatorial nominee.

That’s the same ambiguous Charlie Crist who went from ”Reagan Republican” to ”Jeb Bush Republican” to ”Independent Conservative” to ”Obama Democrat”, from arch conservative to liberal populist progressive, in 2 brief years, depending upon which way Crist blew  in the political winds.

It’s as if these folks never heard of Arlen Specter.

Anyway, just curious – - Crist is obviously going to run for governor in the Democratic primary with the support of the New York / D.C. folks.  What do the people here think?

Truth - Cynthia Busch is backed by activists.  Yes, among all of the amazing activists who are supporting her are several political consultants.  Are there no consultants or lobbyists supporting the current Chair?  For crying out loud, the current Chairman IS a lobbyist.  Trying to minimize the fact that that is his JOB is just silly.  The thing that is most refreshing is that Cynthia dares to name those consultants in her list of endorsements.  She puts it on the table.

After reading in one of the last e-mails that big bad lobbyists want to over-run the DEC, a question crossed my mind.  If Cynthia were a man, would this point ever have been made?  I don’t know, and I think that it is a question worth asking.  Why imply that Cynthia is not a person of her own mind and will?  Why imply that she is a frail victim or is somehow weak when everyone knows that she is not?

Miami-Dade DEC just elected their first woman Chair.  I think Broward would be well served by following in their footsteps.

When Barack Obama was running for President in 2007, and people wondered whether he had a prayer of winning, he came up with a three word phrase that summed up what is possible in America:

YES WE CAN!

Cynthia Busch is asking for your vote to be Chair of the Management Committee and lead the Broward County Democratic Party into the 21st Century.

YES WE CAN!

I have worked with Cynthia in Democratic politics for over ten years, and she has never stopped impressing me with how hard-working and organized she is. First she joined the Plantation Democratic Club. The she became the precinct woman in her community. Then she was elected as the Democratic Party’s Area Leader for Plantation. Now she is Vice-President of the Plantation Democratic Club, as well as one of the primary organizers of Awake Broward. And she was a SUPER VOLUNTEER with President Obama’s election and re-election campaigns. And during all of these years, while fulfilling the responsibilities of these positions, she also found the time for the kind of grassroots activities that can serve as a model for Democratic groups anywhere. If there were voters that had to be registered, if there were volunteers that had to be signed up, if there were Democratic voters that had to be called, if there were petitions that had to be collected, if there were Democratic candidates to be campaigned for, if there were neighborhood teams that had to be organized, and if there were doors that had to be knocked on to GET OUT THE VOTE, Cynthia took on these tasks with energy and dedication to the Democratic Cause. Early on, I concluded that she never slept…. And did I mention that she has a husband and two beautiful daughters?

YES WE CAN!

Cynthia wants to bring people together to help build a modern, organized, and transparent Democratic Party. She will strengthen, expand, and enhance Democratic Clubs. She will make more efficient use of our website, emails, and mailers. She will rebuild the trust necessary to raise funds to build and maintain a 21st century political party. She will staff a Democratic Party office that will bring together eager and hardworking volunteers, that will be open and available at convenient times, and that will help to support and elect Democratic candidates all across Broward county. She has no conflict of interests which would get in the way of the Democratic agenda. And she will be open and completely accessible to the ideas and concerns of others, recruiting and empowering community leaders to be part of the decision-making process, and making human contact the heart and soul of the Democratic Party.

YES WE CAN!

As Rick Hoye, President of the Broward young Democrats, has so eloquently written: The Democratic Party has to do a much better job of reaching out to young people, minorities, and other demographic groups. We need leadership that fosters grassroots efforts and motivates activists to go the extra mile and understands the importance of delegating and holding others accountable with clearly defined duties. And as David Carr, creator of BlueBroward, says: Cynthia has near-universal support from the volunteers who did the grunt work of registering voters and getting out the vote. They know her as a leader because the has been doing that work side-by-side with them. She never lets her ego or sense of self-importance get in the way of the job that has to be done for the Party.

YES WE CAN!

Cynthia is fond of repeating President Obama’s refrain that “Change is hard.” But we all know that working for progress and a secure future for the middle class is change worth fighting for. We are fired up and ready to go with change in Florida, by standing up, organizing, and replacing Rick Scott in 2014.

YES WE CAN!

Now, Mitch Caesar has been the Chair of the Broward Democratic Party for 16 years. And you have to admit that he does have some admirable qualities. He has a louder voice and is taller than Cynthia Busch. But only Cynthia can build a team that supports each others’ efforts. Only Cynthia will bring together Democratic Party, Organizing for America, Union, and faith-based volunteers in a team effort to support our shared goals for the future. And only Cynthia has a specific plan of action to lead us to become the Broward Democratic Party we need to be. It is time for a change! And Cynthia Busch is that change!

YES WE CAN!