Peter Schorsch
Welcome A-Schorsch! After a week at sea aboard the Disney Fantasy, I am tanned, rested and ready to return to writing about the Florida politics.
Here are 10 things I think I think about the latest political news from the Sunshine State.
Hillary Clinton pretty much locked up the Democratic nomination — Biden not in. Benghazi over. Long-shots drop out. All that’s left between Clinton and her party’s nom is an avowed socialist. What could go wrong? P.S. Hillary and Bill get to spend the holidays raising money for 2016 while the GOP bones up on how to nominate a candidate from the convention floor.
Jeb Bush put his campaign on a paleo diet — Hey, it worked for his body, why not his presidential bid? A joyful tortoise Bush is not. By the way, does anyone have a tougher job right now than Bush campaign manager Sally Bradshaw?
Marco Rubio is now the top choice of the prediction markets to win the GOP nomination — Apparently it does not matter that he’s not leading in early state strength, endorsements, fundraising or organization.
Ben Carson supplanted Donald Trump as the front-runner in Iowa — Maybe it’s not the outsider candidates who are crazy but the voters themselves.
Trump tapped Joe Gruters to lead his Florida campaign — The Sarasota GOP chief can pick winners better than Jimmy the Greek ever did, but we’re already hearing Gruters signing up with Trump is not sitting well with the rest of the Jeb/Marco-centric Florida GOP. P.S. Trump also hired Susie Wiles, but isn’t her husband, the legendary Lanny Wiles, working for John Kasich?
Charlie Crist officially announced he’s running for Congress — St. Pete’s favorite son might end up being opposed by its former mayor, Rick Baker. Meanwhile, the current mayor, Rick Kriseman, endorsed Crist’s Democratic opponent. The level of resentment against Crist among white political elites in Pinellas cannot be overstated. If Crist didn’t have near-universal name ID among Pinellas’ black voters, where would he be?
David Jolly crashed Crist’s announcement — No matter how heartfelt his rationale, Jolly showing up at Crist’s event to call him a “huckster” was a déclassé move by someone who has shown nothing but class and moderation while in the public eye.
A Florida Senate committee passed out a new map of Senate districts — The base map rammed through by future Senate President Bill Galvano will certainly win the Florida Supreme Court’s approval — in a courtroom in Bizarro World on Opposite Day, that is. With its blatant partisan intentions and defiant ignoring of the Court’s admonishments, it’s as if Galvano wants Barbara Pariente to draw the final map.
Andy Gardiner sounded like he’s not a fan of fantasy sports – The Senate President has tasked his staff with researching how to shut down the burgeoning industry in Florida. Because banning something has never made it more popular.
More than 300 black bears were killed this past weekend as part of the first statewide hunt in more than 20 years. — I don’t have anything snarky to say about this affront to Mother Nature. Let her settle it out.
