Posts from Archives

Please note many posts have been uploaded from past posts at flapolitics.com and elsewhere from other blogs where I’ve posted on a user basis in the past.

Feeney Running Scared

The corrupt Republican Rep. Tom Feeney can’t even run his Legal Defense Fund ethically clean, as this August 31st editorial from Florida Today documents and as earlier diaried at Focus on Feeney.  The recent clash has occurred after Feeney took $5,000 for his Legal Defense Fund from Oviedo businessman Tyng-Lin Yang, who has been trying to get contracts with NASA. This gets us to Feeney, who just so happens to be on the Space House Subcommittee. Conflict of interest anyone? 

Now Feeney is getting very scared and defensive on the criticism he has taken on his terrible stand on ethics. Here he is today in an editorial in Florida Today:  

In response to the Aug. 31 FLORIDA TODAY editorial, I’d like to take the opportunity to discuss the importance of my legal expense trust and the longtime friends and supporters who have contributed.The editorial wrongly and irresponsibly insinuates that contributions from my longtime friends and supporters impact policy decisions specifically related to my position as the top Republican on the House Space Subcommittee.

Not a good start. Defending lobbyists is just not going to get Feeney anywhere, especially when you have already been under investigation for years. But ok, let’s continue on…

 

I feel confident that the more information I provide to my constituents on this matter, the clearer it will become that I have followed the law. 

 

Then ok Feeney, let’s come out with all the information. We’re all waiting, as we have been for years. Why won’t you come out clean on everything, something to hide? 

And listen how he ends it all: 

The mere suggestion that I have is simply a politically driven lie being orchestrated by CREW — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington — a highly partisan group founded by Hillary Clinton herself and run by former left-wing Democrat staffers.

Yep, it’s the Democratic Party’s fault that he is corrupt and ethically challenged. It’s sad that Feeney wants to put the blame on the press and ethic groups, rather than accept responsibility for himself and his own corrupt actions.

 

US HD – 24

Focus on Feeney

Charlie Crist Puts Florida Up For Sale

Here’s Charlie Crist’s budget strategy, sell off Florida:   Looking to plug a $1.1 billion hole in the state budget, Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday that he is considering lots of options — including turning the state lottery over to private vendors. The Republican governor also said the state might draw more money into the treasury by allowing private companies to build, service and maintain some Florida roads in exchange for a share of toll revenue. Talk about selling off Florida to private corporations for political gain. Apparently giving us massive budget shortfalls and a poor economy wasn’t enough for Republicans. Now rather than fix our problems, they are going to use the opportunity to pander still yet more to private companies at the expense of average Floridians.

“I don’t know if it’s good or bad at this point,” cautioned Crist, who acknowledged he had not floated these concepts by state legislative leaders. Is he serious? Charlie Crist has really shown that he does not know how to manage a budget on this one. Sure, if we want some quick cash then we can sell every state operation that exists, but it is not going to solve the long term problems in Florida’s budget. In fact, by giving away a source of continuous revenue to private companies, it will make our budget situation worse in the long term future and lead to more revenue shortfalls for years to come, especially since it sounds like Crist wants to use all the money at once to save his floundering government. Of course Charlie Crist and the Republican Party don’t care. If they can find any way to sell off more and more of Florida to greedy corporations and make it sound like a win, then they’re going to do it.  But are the voters of Florida really going to accept this, selling off toll roads and the lottery? It is a very extreme idea. The last thing we need is for our roads to be run by a business. Not only is the financial situation just not there for Floridians, but we’re talking about the prospect of roads left un-repaired and infrastructure being left to wear down, with decisions made by businesses, who have no interest in nor accountability from the average Floridian, on when to fix them.

Florida House Candidate Michael Calderin Receiving Early Attention

We’re still more than a year away from next year’s election, but Michael Calderin, the Democratic candidate against Republican Juan Zapata for Florida House District 119, is already receiving attention from the Miami Herald.

 

Michael commented on the recent article in Monday’s Business Section:

In this week’s Business Monday, I’m featured in an article about a future leaders networking event put on by Connect Florida, the youth-oriented arm of Leadership Florida.

Their goals and ours are very similar – we both want to develop Florida’s base of leaders, to build a better future.

It’s no wonder our opponent is already running scared.  At Monday’s Labor Day picnic, I heard yet another report that he wants us out of the race.

We’re not going to let that happen.  We’re building new networks of active Democrats and energizing people all over the state who are ready to see real change in the legislature.

Here you can read the article from Monday’s Business Section yourself:

Ana Maria Rodriguez, who was asked by members of Leadership Florida to get the Miami-Dade group started and is also the chapter’s first chairwoman, said Connect was designed to be an organization where people younger than 35 could network professionally, make new friends and find ways to pool their talents and resources for the greater good.

”I see Connect Florida as a precursor to Leadership Florida. It’s a way for young professionals to get involved,” said Rodriguez, 30, who works in the government and community affairs department for Baptist Health South Florida.

….

One of them was Michael Calderin, a 27-year-old computer programmer at the University of Miami’s medical school, who is also running for the State House of Representatives.

”There are a lot of business networking groups out there, but very few that focus on people of this age group,” Calderin said, “We need a way to transition people from the time they leave school until the time they become the leadership of the community.”

I don’t know about you, but I think to actually have politicians out there making positive headlines, interacting with people and trying to help lead young people to success is a nice change in Florida. 

Let’s help get Michael Calderin elected to the Florida House. This seat could be a huge pickup opportunity if we want to win the state House and we know how important that is going to be.

Contributions at this stage are very important. Michael is going to need funds if we want him to be able to compete and convince the FDP for more help later, so please contribute here. Whatever it is $5, $10, $25, every little bit is going to make a big difference as we show our grassroots power to Zapata and the Republican money machine.

HD – 119

Contribute

Editorial Slams Republicans: GOP Hurting Itself With Latinos

An editorial in the Tampa Tribune today proclaims the GOP is kicking itself in the foot on the Latino vote. I agree and I want to give a big thanks out to Republicans for speaking very loud and clear on what they think of the Hispanic Constituency. Everyone should know. The latest disrespect for Hispanics comes via Republican Presidential candidates with their announcements to skip the Univision Presidential Forum. From the editorial: The Democrats seem to have no problem making time in their schedules for Latino voters. Univisión’s Sept. 9 Democratic debate is on. Talk about a missed opportunity for Republicans. …  Latinos made it clear in the 2006 mid-term election that they were not particularly happy with the choices in either party and that they would be discerning voters in future elections. Last fall, Democrats won the Florida Hispanic vote for the first time in 30 years – a message that Latino voters cannot be taken for granted anywhere. … A cold shoulder is hard to shrug off. If candidates refuse to show up at major Latino forums, they shouldn’t expect Latinos to show up for them on Election Day. Really, talk about shrugging off the largest growing constituency in Florida, while on the other hand bending over backward to please the anti-Hispanic far right-wing. Hispanics are going to take notice of this and it just cannot be good for Republicans in Florida. Republicans lost the Hispanic vote in 2006 for the first time in 30 years and with the looks of the way things are going right now, it’s going to get worse for them in 2008. But if that’s what they want to do, then I’m very happy for them. They’re going to be the party of the very few in Florida very soon. Meanwhile, an update on what the Democrats are doing …

All eight Democratic candidates are slated to show up Sept. 9 [at the Univision Forum], and party leaders plan to highlight the contrast. The New Democratic Network, a nationwide political group, is planning news conferences and inviting Hispanic leaders, including Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, former Cabinet member Henry Cisneros and U.S. Rep. Luís Gutiérrez of Illinois. It is quite the contrast. While the Republican Presidential Candidates refuse to come, not only are the Democratic Presidential Candidates coming, but also Democratic Hispanic leaders from all across the country will be flocking into Miami. There is a clear difference here between a Republican Party that is becoming more and more open only to the Xenophobic and a Democratic Party that is open to everyone. Great, we should all give a big thanks in advance for the Republicans practically giving us Florida. Check out some of my past diaries on the Florida Hispanic Vote: Florida Hispanics Abandoning GOP The Cuban Vote: Going Democratic in 2008 Influx of Puerto Rican Voters Provides Opportunity for Democrats I think the question is when will we reach the climax of support from the Hispanic community, 2008, 2010, 2020? And secondly when will Republicans stop writing them off? This is something that is going to be worth paying very close attention to, as the Hispanic community continues to expand in Florida and as their political dynamics change, particularly in the Cuban-American community in this regard. When Republican just write Hispanics off, the dynamics favor Democrats even more so. I think it’s going to be the Hispanic community that propels Democrats to election victories in Florida and when they do maybe Republicans won’t be laughing at them anymore.

Polk County: Influx of Puerto Rican Voters Provides Opportunity for Democrats

In what has been known to be a very red area in Florida in the past, there is some great news from The Ledger this week: Are you fluent in both English and Spanish? Then Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards has a job for you – for maybe two or three days a year. The Polk elections office is making an all-out effort to locate bilingual poll workers because of the increased Hispanic population in the county and the increase in the number of Hispanic voters. The U.S. Census Bureau has estimated that there are 81,646 Hispanics in Polk, 14.5 percent of the total county population. Polk has gone from the 27th-largest Hispanic voting population among the 67 counties in Florida to the 11th-largest. An influx of Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens and have the right to vote, is contributing to the increase in Spanish-speaking voters, Edwards said.

That last little bit there is the gem. Many Puerto Ricans, all of whom are US citizens, have been moving into central Florida by the thousands in the past few years. This could have a huge impact on elections for many years to come in the area and I’m glad to see that Lori Edwards is playing it very smart here by reaching out to them and trying to give them a fair opportunity to vote.Just the fact though that bilingual workers are now needed even in Polk County should give confidence to Democrats in the 12th and surrounding districts that what were once solid Republican areas could be ripe territory for pickups in the future. If Democrats make a strong effort and actively campaign for the Hispanic vote, then we will make continual gains and be able to engage in strong competitive campaigns in the area for years to come. What’s at stake here just in Polk County are five state house seats and 2 state senate states. Remember in 2006, Hispanics favored Democrats at the top of the ballot for the first time in 30 years and this is including the Cuban vote (See: Florida Hispanics Abandoning GOP) and just last Spring in a special election, Democrat Darren Soto, a Puerto Rican, picked up the central Florida seat for State House District 49, previously held by a Republican. Democrats are already making waves in the central Florida area and we have the opportunity to make more waves in the years to come. Let’s start with 2008. Our first goal must be to find candidates for many of the legislative districts in the area. These include: HD-63: No Democrats, Republican Incumbent (Seth McKeel) HD-64 (Open): No Democrats, Three Republican Candidates (English, Stargel, Walker) HD-65 (Open): No Democrats, One Republican Candidate (John Wood) HD-66: No Democrats, Republican Incumbent (Baxter Troutman) HD-79 (Open): No Democrats, One Republican Candidate (Mike Horner) SD-15: No Democrats, Republican Incumbent (Paula Dockery) SD-17: No Democrats, Republican Incumbent (J.D. Alexander) Yes, unfortunately the Democratic roster is completely blank right now in all of these districts. If we’re not competing it is going to be very difficult to make gains, so let’s get some candidates running. The question is do we want to reach out and try to capitalize on the new voters in the area? Let’s keep an eye on these districts. I’ll be profiling them later on.

Florida Hispanics Abandoning GOP

Take a look at this for another sign Florida Republicans are in for some trouble with the Hispanic vote in 2008.

According to the latest Florida International University poll of Cuban Americans in Miami-Dade, 65 percent support a dialogue with the Cuban government, up from 40 percent in 1991. In another recent survey conducted for Democrats of two heavily Cuban-American congressional districts in Miami-Dade — represented by Republicans Lincoln Díaz-Balart and his brother Mario — voters rated getting rid of Castro sixth among their concerns. Their top priority for Congress: getting out of Iraq. President Bush’s approval rating was 39 percent, only a handful of points higher than in national polls.

It sounds like to me these districts’ constituents would be better served by Democrats than the pro-Iraq war Diaz-Balart brothers. It’s time we begin testing the waters in these districts. While Republicans have relied on these districts for years simply based on anti-Cuba rhetoric, it’s not going to work anymore. A strong message based on ending the Iraq war and other issues important to the people could very well surprise the Representatives in 2008.

The article continues on about the loss of Hispanics in the GOP:

Hispanic voters in Miami-Dade County, regarded for years as a solidly Republican catch for statewide and national candidates stumping in Florida, are increasingly becoming free agents.

Less than half of the county’s Hispanic voters are registered Republicans, down from 59 percent less than a decade ago, The Miami Herald found. Like newer voters elsewhere in the state and the nation, more Hispanic voters are rebuffing political parties: One out of four in Miami-Dade are registered as nonpartisan. In Broward County, one in three Hispanic registered voters are unaffiliated with either party.

”It’s a trend that I’ve seen happening, and obviously it concerns me,” said Jose ”Pepe” Riesco, vice chairman of the Miami-Dade Republican Party. “It’s a problem we can’t run away from.”

Even the Republicans are admitting it, they are beginning to lose the Cuban-American vote and more largely the Hispanic vote all together. It doesn’t take much thought to figure out why. When the Republican Party’s top nominees all refuse to attend one of the largest Hispanic conferences in Florida, while all of the major Democrats show up, the Republican Party begins to look, shall we say, a little less appealing. In the past, Republicans have been able to rely on their platform solely of smearing Cuba to win the Cuban-American vote, however now young Cuban-American voters are demanding much more than that. For example, things that affect their lives, like health care:

Those independent voters tend to be younger Cuban Americans or naturalized citizens from Central America and South America, many of whom worry more about securing healthcare than toppling Fidel Castro, according to more than two dozen interviews with voters and Hispanic leaders.

Other good news from the article:

Amid the nationwide backlash against the GOP in 2006, Hispanics in Florida favored the Democratic candidates at the top of the ballot for the first time in 30 years, exit polls show. Hoping to build on that success, the state Democratic Party has tapped Luis Garcia, the only Cuban-American Democrat representing Miami-Dade in the Legislature, to serve as vice chairman.

When thousands of Hispanic leaders convened at conferences in Orlando and Miami this summer, the Democratic presidential candidates were there to court them. At the Orlando event, Democratic front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton seized on remarks by potential GOP rival Fred Thompson that seemed to suggest that Cuban immigrants posed a terrorist threat. (He was actually referring to spies.)

Republicans are the party of the past for Cuban-Americans. The hate-rhetoric is simply not going to work anymore. In 2008, we can build on our past successes from 2006 and further expand our Hispanic majorities, particularly into the Cuban-American community. We have an opportunity to pick up those Miami House districts, as well as seats in the Florida House and Florida Senate.

University Education Put on the “Chopping block” in Florida

Charlie Crist and the Republican legislature have decided to put university education in Florida on the “chopping block,” rather than step up with funding, as they force 4-10 % cuts in state agencies. Some of the latest investment in education to go:

TAMPA – The budget committee that oversees Florida’s 11 public colleges and universities agreed to rethink the importance of at least two items created for students in an attempt to find dollars for the 2008-2009 state university system budget.

The two student-driven areas that could face the chopping block include a $15 million assessment for student health insurance and a $1.5 million oceanography research program at the University of South Florida.

Also, plans for Medical Schools at UCF and FIU may be in doubt now.

 New medical schools approved last year at two Florida universities will need tens of millions of dollars more than anticipated in order to meet revised accreditation standards.The University of Central Florida in Orlando and Florida International University in Miami are asking for a combined $86 million above original projections through 2015.

The extra costs are a result of a better curriculum aimed at teaching the students, or in other words, an investment in a better education.

New standards, some of which were approved last month, require schools to focus less on lecture-style classes and more on small-group instruction. Curriculum also must include clinical experiences in the first two years – something that traditionally didn’t occur until a student’s junior and senior years.

“That’s more labor-intensive, and we have to hire more people to do that earlier than we expected,” Hitt said. “We gave you the best estimates we could, knowing what we knew. Reluctantly, we have to come back and ask for added funding.”

 But the state is saying No:

Board of Governors members, who warily voted in favor of the schools in 2006, voiced concern Thursday during a state university budget meeting about the increases and asked the schools to reconsider the new amounts before a final vote on the proposed budget is taken in September.  

This is terrible news for anyone who cares about education in Florida. Forcing universities to either choose a poorer curriculum or drop programs all together is not the way to move forward on improving our curriculum. The Republican government appears determined to make financial cuts, even if it means backtracking on education and cutting valuable investments, even if it means backtracking on students. This is what happens when we make budget cuts. We fall farther behind. It looks like right now there is no “Forward” for education in Florida.

The Cuban Vote: Going Democratic in 2008

With the end of Fidel Castro’s control in Cuba possibly nearing and the influence of early Cuban immigrants in the US decreasing, Democrats will have a big opportunity to pick up a huge chunk of votes in 2008. While Cubans have been considered a strong Republican constituency for years, we cannot underestimate the chances the Democrats have at winning many of their votes and the importance this would have.Three Republican-held US House Districts particularly offer opportunity here. These really close districts include the 18th (Ros-Lehtinen PVI: R+3), 21st (Lincoln Diaz-Balart), and the 25th (Mario Diaz-Balart PVI: R+4). Democrats could have their best chance in years at picking up any or all of the seats in 2008. In fact, only Ros-Lehtinen garnered more than 60% of the vote in 2006.

There are also several Florida House and Senate seats, where Democrats could make gains in 2008.

And of course, a few extra votes in Florida for the Democratic nominee for President would not hurt.

Via the Miami Herald and also posted on the FDP’s website (http://www.fladems.c…):

“By her own account, Susana Betancourt earned her anti-Castro cred by helping to represent Bacardi in its trademark fight over Havana Club Rum against the Cuban government — and winning.
At 37, she’s a successful and politically active Gen-Xer, a rising star in Miami’s contentious political scene, working to lure Cuban Americans away from the Republican Party.

…

Betancourt is counting on disillusionment with President Bush’s Cuba policy to attract younger Cuban-American voters, in particular, to the Democratic camp. ”You’ve had a Republican president and you’ve had a Republican-controlled Congress,” she said. “What changes have we seen?”

Joe Garcia, vice president of the New Democrat Network, said the Bush administration hobbled the Republican Party by “selling itself out to the ultra-right.”

”What I think you are going to find from Democrats is they are going to look to engage the Cuban-American community for the solution,” Garcia said.

Republicans point out that Cuban-American voters tend to be more conservative on Cuba policy than more recently arrived exiles, who may favor easing restrictions on travel and remittances.

…

This younger generation of Democrats is carrying on a torch kindled decades ago by former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez, former Florida state Rep. Annie Betancourt (no relation to Susana Betancourt) and others. Many exiles say U.S. policy toward Cuba is too harsh.”

This is exactly right. In fact, as the article points out, there are many Republicans like Jeff Flake of Arizona who support ending the embargo on Cuba. And there are Democrats like Menedez of New Jersey, who support it. But to say Republicans have done anything with Cuba besides issue empty rhetoric is false. Republicans have abused the Cuban vote and delivered nothing to them in Congress or in the Presidency.

Republicans have been getting Cuban votes simply for free, based on false anti-Cuban rhetoric. We can’t let that happen anymore. In 2008, we need to make it clear Republicans have abused them for their votes, when in reality the party has bowed out to the “ultra-right” wing of the party.

“Conducted several weeks after Fidel Castro ceded power to Raúl, the poll found that Cubans who arrived from the island before 1980 toed a harder line on sanctions than those who arrived afterward. That makes sanctions — such as limiting travel to visit family in Cuba to once every three years — a potential wedge issue.

Bendixen’s poll showed that 49 percent of Cuban Americans favored the 2004 sanctions and 45 percent opposed them. Cuban exiles who arrived after 1980 opposed sanctions 55 percent to 41 percent; those who came before 1980 favored restrictions 63 percent to 29 percent.

Coral Gables City Attorney Elizabeth Hernandez, a Democrat, said Cuban Americans are split over the embargo.

”I always believe in destiny, and it’s very ironic that the Democrats are in power the year we are hoping with sufficient amount of prayer that Fidel will meet his maker,” Hernandez said. “I am hoping that the Democratic Party, which is the one that really planned for the reentry of Cuban exiles into Cuba when this first happened, will be at the helm when, hopefully, we are back in Cuba.””

We absolutely must make the embargo a wedge issue in 2008. By doing so, we can pick up quite a few votes in many of the Miami districts. The new Cuban exiles actually oppose the sanctions 55% – 41%, a constituency Democrats can go after. Sure we’re not going to get the extreme right-wing Cubans, but we never had them anyways. What 2008 offers is the chance to make major inroads in the group, who actually is against the sanctions, which BTW is growing every year. Republicans are the party of old with the Cuban constituency. For now on, Democrats will be gaining Cuban voters and Republicans will be losing them as the younger generation of Cubans increases vs. the older generation, which is decreasing. This is why Democrats must start making this a big issue now and go after particularly the younger voters in this election. We must offer them something different than what the Republicans have offered for years.

Besides the embargo issue, we can also bring up Stem Cell Research. Particularly, all three of the Republicans in the Cuban districts in the US House voted against it and the Republican Party as a whole has held it up, of course.

Stem Cell Research is also becoming an issue in the Florida House and Senate. We must follow how the Miami Republicans vote on the issue and hammer them on it in 2008, if they vote the wrong way. Governor Crist and Speaker Rubio are already trying to go the wrong way on the issue, by preventing embryos to be used.

Cuban voters are just like everyone else when it comes to normal issues. We can paint the Republicans as way out of mainstream on social and economic issues and in the meantime mention how they have done nothing on Cuba, except deny progress.

And not only do have a chance to pick up seats in the Florida House and Senate and the US Congress seats there, but the Democratic nominee for President can pick up thousands of votes by campaigning against the sanctions. The younger generation of Cubans are going to be willing to listen to new ideas and oppose the policies of old. We just have to make it clear what we as Democrats are presenting to them.

Florida US House Pickup Opportunities: 2008 Election

Florida is currently served by 16 Republicans and 9 Democrats.Early 2008 Prediction: Two – Four Seat Democratic Pickup

Here are the rankings with this information:

(District: Representative (PVI, 2004 Election, 2006 Election, Funds Raised)

Toss-Up

8th District: Ric Keller (R+3, 61% – 39%, 53% – 46%, $1,225,000 – $918,000)

This could possibly be the best Democratic pick-up opportunity in Florida for 2008. Keller was first elected to the Orlando area seat in 2000, winning in a Republican primary runoff race after rallying on an 8-year term pledge that his opponent would not agree to. He went on to beat the Democratic opponent with only 51% of the vote. His seat was redistricted in 2002 to be more Republican friendly, yet it still has a low PVI. In 2006, his election victory was anything but impressive, as he held on with just 53% of the vote. Now he has said he is going to go against his term limit pledge that won him election in 2000. He has also voted against Stem Cell Research. Both of these issues could be crucial in a funded 2008 election contest, which is definitely going to happen.

13th District: Vern Buchanan (R+4, 0%, 50% – 50%, $6,064,000 – $2, 051,000)

We all know the story here. The 2006 election was stolen from Democrat Christine Jennings. If Jennings does not get the seat now, there is going to be a big 2008 election battle. It is actually amazing Jennings did so well, considering Buchanan’s massive war chest. It just shows where the district stands.

Toss-Up (Possible Retirement)

10th District: Bill Young (D+1, 69% – 31%, 66% – 34%, $550,000 – $32,000)

This district covers Pinellas County and Young has been the representative there since 1971, despite the slight Democratic lean of the district. At 76 years of age and also the most senior Republican member of the House of Representatives, it is very well possible Young might retire, especially since his party has now gone into minority status. He previously held the position of Chairman of Committee on Appropriations and now has been delegated to ranking minority member on the Subcommittee on Defense. There was speculation even before the 2006 election that he would retire, but he ran again. Now speculation will build even more in the months to come, as his power in the House has disappeared. If the seat becomes open, it should be a very costly election of which the Democrats have a great chance of winning. If he runs again, there will probably be little chance of picking up the seat. What we should do is try to recruit a really good candidate now and that might speed up Young’s decision. Chances are he does not want to face a tough reelection battle if he does run again, so if we get a good candidate early we could scare him into retirement.

Slight Republican Lean

15th District: Dave Weldon (R+3, 65% – 35%, 56% – 44%, $727,000 – $91,000)

First elected in 1994, Weldon is serving a fairly moderate district, with only a slight Republican advantage. Match that with his far-right voting record and that is why this seat will be competitive in 2008. One of his big blunders was his efforts to keep Terry Schiavo alive. He faced a lot of criticism from his central Florida district for that. But he has also had a far-right voting record, including his vote against Stem Cell Research in the last Congress and this one. So far in this Congress, he has voted down 9/11 Rec., Minimum Wage, Medicare Negotiation, Student Loans, Alternative Energy, and Stem Cell Research. His 2006 election performance was terrible and he had more than seven times the amount of money as his opponent, but he garnered just 56% of the vote. He should and will face a tough reelection battle in 2008.

21st District: Lincoln Diaz-Balart (73% – 27%, 59% – 41%)

Lincoln is a Cuban politician who has represented the Miami 21st district since 1993. Lincoln could certainly be vulnerable. The district is fairly moderate and has had low turn out, only 111,000 voters in 2006. The election in 2008 could provide a great opportunity for Democrats to go after the Cuban vote, with older Cubans becoming less influential and possible changes in Cuba in the future.

24th District: Tom Feeney (R+3, 100%, 58% – 42%, $1,295,000 – $44,000)

The Orlando area district is moderate, but Feeney is on the extreme far right-wing of the Republican Party. Feeney is so conservative that he has developed a Conservative Check Card for members in Congress when voting on legislation. He has voted against all bills of the 100 Hours Plan, absolutely everything. In 2006, he was named as one of the 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress by CREW. Most notably, he has faced controversies for lobbyist paid trips he has taken. He was first elected in 2002, faced no opponent in 2004, and in 2006, as can be seen he did not have an impressive victory. In fact, his opponent had 26 times less funds to use in 2006, making the election even more miraculous. Tom Feeney should be hammered in 2008. He is far right on the issues compared to his moderate district. This district is winnable.

25th District: Mario Diaz-Balart (R+4, 100%, 58% – 42%, $658,000 – $35,000)

Mario is the brother of Lincoln Diaz-Balart and he is in a similar district, slightly less Republican, in Miami. The district also had low turn out in 2006, with just around 102,000 voters. Democrats should make a strong effort to win the 21st and the 25th district in 2008. Perhaps some kind of campaign plan could be made to campaign against both the brothers at the same time. A key issue could be Stem Cell Research, both of them voted against it.

Leans Republican

5th District: Ginny Brown-Waite (66% – 34%, 60% – 40%, $736,000 – $80,000)

The district was previously represented by a Democrat, Karen Thurman, who is now Chairman of the Florida Democratic Party. However, after redistricting Brown-Waite took the district narrowly in 2002. The district is still somewhat moderate, though, and around 250,000 people in the district receive Social Security checks. Brown-Waite has had many controversies since running for office. In 2002, her husband was caught stealing Thurman campaign signs. In 2004, she faced criticism for sending free Congress mailings to constituents before the election. She has also defended Muslim hate-rhetoric. If we were going after candidates for disgust fullness, Brown-Waite would probably be our first choice. She has been a terrible representative and has not upheld the honor of the House nor of the people of her district. If we want to go after her in 2008, her vote against Prescription Drugs Negotiation could be a start.

6th District: Cliff Stearns (64 – 36%, 60% – 40%, $775,000 – $123,000)

Stearns has represented the district since 1989, when he won an open seat previously held by a Democrat. He did lose support from 2004 to 2006 and it will be interesting to see if we can continue that trend throughout the next two years.

9th District: Gus Bilirakis (R+4, 0%, 56% – 44%, $2,557,000 – $1,174,000)

Bilirakis just won this seat in 2006 after it was vacated by his father, who spent 23 years in the seat. It is still only a slight Republican district. And Bilirakis has set himself up as a target in 2008 by voting against Stem Cell Research. This will be a race to watch in 2008.

18th District: Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R+4, 65% – 35%, 62% – 38%, $931,000 – $59,000)

Ros-Lehtinen was first elected in 1988. She is serving a Cuban-Miami district and she is against having relations with Cuba, which is where she garners most of her support. She supports gay rights and is moderate on some other issues. However, she voted against Stem Cell Research, which should be used against her in 2008. Overall I am not quite sure Democrats have as much a chance at this district as they do the other two Republican held Miami districts.

Likely Republican

1st District: Jeff Miller (74% – 26%, 69% – 30%, $316,000 – $52,000)

The 1st district is possibly the reddest in all of Florida. It has not supported a Democratic Presidential nominee since 1960 and has not elected a Democrat to Congress since 1994. Miller first won the seat in 2001 in a special election after Joe Scarborough resigned. He has since been reelected by fairly large margins.

4th District: Ander Crenshaw (100%, 70% – 30%)

The district has not sent a Democrat to Congress since redistricting in 1992, when a Republican was first elected to the seat. Crenshaw was elected in 2000 and since has become a Deputy Majority Whip in the Republican Party. After facing no opponent in 2004, he was elected by a large margin in 2006.

7th District: John Mica (R+3, 100%, 67% – 37%, $731,000 – $21,000)

Mica first won the seat in 1992 after redistricting. In 2006, he won by a large margin, despite the fact the PVI for the district is only R+3. Based on this last election, it is unlikely the seat can be picked up, but we should still continue to challenge it like we should all districts.

12th District: Adam Putnam (65% – 35%, 69% – 19% – 12%)

There was no Democratic opponent in the race in 2006, only two independents. Putnam first won the seat in 2000 and he has faced no Democratic opponent twice since then. He now serves as the 5th ranking Republican in the House. It is doubtful Democrats could pick this seat up, but we should definitely field someone.

14th District: Connie Mack IV (68% – 32%, 64% – 36%, $1,088,000 – $29,000)

Mack was first elected in 2004, after winning an open seat previously held by Porter Goss. This is another district, where it is doubtful Democrats can win.

This is where I believe we stand right now. Your thoughts?