Jac VerSteeg, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jac VerSteegApril 11, 2016

I confess I was delighted when I first saw the viral video of a woman berating Florida Gov. Rick Scott in a Gainesville Starbucks. This was an instance, I thought, of the underdog amateur defeating the villainous professional. It was the 1980 U.S. Hockey team beating the Russians. It was Jamie Lee Curtis escaping Michael […]

Jac VerSteegApril 10, 2016

I confess I was delighted when I first saw the viral video of a woman berating Florida Gov. Rick Scott in a Gainesville Starbucks. This was an instance, I thought, of the underdog amateur defeating the villainous professional. It was the 1980 U.S. Hockey team beating the Russians. It was Jamie Lee Curtis escaping Michael […]

Jac VerSteegApril 5, 2016

It’s bugging me that Florida, now the third-most populous state, never has managed to get a Floridian elected president. It looked like there was a great chance this year, with Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio starting out as strong possibles. Even Ben Carson looked like he had a shot at one time. But each saw […]

Jac VerSteegApril 4, 2016

It’s bugging me that Florida, now the third-most populous state, never has managed to get a Floridian elected president. It looked like there was a great chance this year, with Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio starting out as strong possibles. Even Ben Carson looked like he had a shot at one time. But each saw […]

Jac VerSteegMarch 23, 2016

Jeb Bush got up Wednesday and wondered, “What can I do to complete my slide toward total irrelevancy?” And he answered, “I know. I’ll endorse Ted Cruz for president!” Talk about terrible timing. His endorsement, which echoed the earlier backing of Cruz by Mitt Romney, came just as Cruz had uttered one of the stupidest […]

Jac VerSteegMarch 21, 2016

Marco Rubio was convinced the Fratricide Model of politics was his ticket to the top. Now, after one brilliant win and one spectacular loss, the Florida senator claims to have renounced the model. He will not, he says, run for governor in 2018. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam need not fear a Rubio challenge. We […]

Jac VerSteegMarch 20, 2016

Marco Rubio was convinced the Fratricide Model of politics was his ticket to the top. Now, after one brilliant win and one spectacular loss, the Florida senator claims to have renounced the model. He will not, he says, run for governor in 2018. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam need not fear a Rubio challenge. We […]

Jac VerSteegMarch 14, 2016

My Context Florida colleague Martin Dyckman encourages Republicans who want to stop Donald Trump to vote for Marco Rubio in Florida’s winner-take-all primary on March 15. It’s a shame that Dyckman can’t get more help from Rubio himself. While stopping Trump is a noble motivation, it probably isn’t sufficient. Voters judging incumbents – and that’s […]

Jac VerSteegMarch 13, 2016

My Context Florida colleague Martin Dyckman encourages Republicans who want to stop Donald Trump to vote for Marco Rubio in Florida’s winner-take-all primary on March 15. It’s a shame that Dyckman can’t get more help from Rubio himself. While stopping Trump is a noble motivation, it probably isn’t sufficient. Voters judging incumbents – and that’s […]

Jac VerSteegMarch 1, 2016

Marco Rubio and Donald Trump are slinging mud by spraying water. Perhaps this results from the unconscious influence of their ties to Florida, a vast peninsula surrounded by the sparkling aqua stuff. Trump himself is master of an estate whose name – Mar-a-Lago – derives from its proximity to two bodies of water. Rubio’s persona […]

Jac VerSteeg

Jac VerSteeg: Starbucks encounter wasn’t Everywoman vs. Voldemort

Jac VerSteeg: Starbucks encounter wasn’t Everywoman vs. Voldemort

Jac VerSteeg: Want a president from Florida? Don’t send Rick Scott to the Senate

Jac VerSteeg: Want a president from Florida? Don’t send Rick Scott to the Senate

Jac VerSteeg: Jeb Bush’s slide into total irrelevancy

Jac VerSteeg: Political fratricide model fails Marco Rubio

Jac VerSteeg: Political fratricide model fails Marco Rubio

Jac VerSteeg: What has Marco Rubio done for Florida? Zip

Jac VerSteeg: What has Marco Rubio done for Florida? Zip

Jac VerSteeg: Bladders, sweat, Flint and tears