[Washington, D.C.] Florida led the national conservative charge to strike down President Obama‘s signature Affordable Care Act and lost.

In what will be seen as a landmark decision and a potential presidential campaign game-changer, Thursday morning’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) to uphold most of the health care law no doubt sent shock waves across this great nation.

Conservatives, who were primed for a victory lap, were stunned.

“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court of the United States is simply disappointing,” said Florida Gov. Rick Scott. “The Justices have declared that the central provision of ObamaCare is a judicially mandated tax. A new tax pure and simple.”

“… The entire act should have been held invalid. … This is just another burden the federal government has put on American families and small businesses,” he added.

Surprisingly – or more accurately, tellingly – it was Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. who joined SCOTUS’s liberal justices in the majority opinion. Roberts may have finally proved that he is the only conservative on the court who is willing to put the law above politics.

The individual mandate – indeed the most contentious part of the health care law – survived. The only part that was struck down was the provision that allowed the government to withdraw existing Medicaid funding from those states that had decided to not participate in the expansion.

How confident were conservatives that they would win? At 10:10 this morning, Florida’s CFO (FLCFO) Jeff Atwater sent out a press release titled “Statement from Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater Regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision to Strike Down the Health Care Individual Mandate.”

Illustration: DonkeyHotey. Photo: a2gemma

Chief Justice Roberts cast the deciding vote that upheld the health care law

Atwater most likely had the document prepared ahead of the decision – ready to boast that his side had won – as his press release beat some news organizations to my email INBOX. But the FLCFO’s side didn’t.

In fact, it was a brutal blow against practically everything they’ve said for more than two years.

Now Atwater’s words – knowing that they were to be used during the conservative victory dance – are an ode to what could have been.

“Today’s landmark ruling by the Supreme Court upholds two distinctly American principles outlined in our Constitution—individual freedom and limited government,” he said.

“I am proud of the role Florida has played in defending our Constitution, protecting the individual freedoms of the American people and affirming the limited role of government our founders designed,” he continued.

But then he took it all back two minutes later.

According to Atwater Press Secretary Anna A. Alexopoulos, “Initial reports from various media outlets stated the individual mandate was ruled unconstitutional. After reports came out stating otherwise, the statement was retracted.”

Yes, both CNN and FOX eagerly reported that the individual mandate had been struck down, both failing the read the ENTIRE decision first. Conservatives’ high-fiving quickly stopped as both realized their mistake rather quickly and changed the story.

Chaos ensued. Atwater was embarrassed.

Nonetheless, his updated statement focused on the tax issue, a big one for conservatives and one they will ride like Seabiscuit through November 2012.

Illustration: DonkeyHotey. Background photo: Carol M. Highsmith

Drawing conclusions: The Supreme Court of the United States

“I remain deeply troubled, however, that Congress and the Obama administration would use an issue of such importance to the American people to disguise their intentions to add further tax burdens on our fellow citizens,” said an updated Atwater.

“Pushing a tax and spend agenda through dissembling and subterfuge is fundamentally dishonest and should not be tolerated in a free and open society,” he said the second time.

Florida Attorney general (FLAG) Pam Bondi is surely taking this the hardest. She spent and endless amount of taxpayer-funded time and money fighting this thing tooth and nail after taking the reigns from her predecessor Bill McCollum.

“Today we defended Americans’ individual liberty by arguing that the federal government cannot force us to purchase private health insurance from cradle to grave,” Bondi boldly proclaimed in a statement released during oral arguments for the Affordable Care Act.

“The health care act’s individual mandate far exceeds the limited and enumerated powers that the Constitution grants the federal government.”

Oops. Now the FLAG flies at half mast.

Like Atwater, FLAG Bondi had expected the Supreme Court to overturn the health care law – she even planned what was to be a a victory speech sometime between noon-1 p.m. today.

Photo: Lance Turner/latuphoto.com/Sunshine Slate Images. copyright 2012. all rights reserved

Gov. Scott reacts to the health care law ruling: “The entire act should have been held invalid”

Will she admit she was wrong? No. Will she say that the justices were wise? No. She will say that the justices got it wrong, and that the fight will continue.

Florida’s two Senators – one Republican, one Democrat – were unsurprisingly split on the health care law ruling.

“What’s important to remember is that what the Court rules on is whether something is constitutional or not, not whether it’s a good idea,” said U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).

“I hope that in the fall we will have a majority here that will not just repeal this law, but replace it with real solutions that will insure more people and cost a lot less money,” said Rubio, obviously unaware that his party hasn’t offered anything close to an alternative.

The senior Senator from Florida was more matter-of-fact than “I told you so.”

“A lot of us feel the health-care law wasn’t perfect, but it was needed,” said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL). “We passed legislation to prevent insurers from running roughshod over people. And today, the Supreme Court upheld most of these reforms.”

Full text on the U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act below.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Lead image: Phil Roeder

Supreme Court Health Care Decision Text

health care law

[Boca Raton, FL] Seems that U.S. Rep. Allen West (R-22/West Palm Beach) – the sort-of still a Tea Party fave who’s running for re-election in a different district (18) this time out – doesn’t want to really talk about the incident which caused him to “retire” from the military.

Or was he kicked out (albeit gently)?

The outspoken member of Congress, when pressed about the outcome of that incident at a recent Boca Raton speaking engagement, instead suggested that those assembled discuss President Obama‘s drug use back when he was a teenager and college student.

Huh?

Here’s the exchange, as reported by Think Progress:

QUESTIONER: Please release your Article 15 conviction.

WEST: I was not convicted of anything. I think everyone knows what happened. I mean if you guys have a problem with the fact that people were out there planning to kill my soldiers and I found a guy, I put a pistol, shot over his head, and they weren’t killing my soldiers anymore. If you guys have a problem with that, you need to go talk to someone else, because if I’m in that exact same situation, I’m making the same decision for those men and women. [...] So if you guys want to go back and talk about what happened nine years ago for me, let’s talk about the president doing blow, and smoking dope.

VIDEO OF ALLEN WEST BEING INTERROGATED BY A CONSTITUENT:

Wow. First of all, let’s review Allen West’s war crimes. Yes, he was convicted – the military version of convicted – of falsely imprisoning two men, torturing a suspect and not following proper Army procedure. He was hit with an Article 15, which is just below a court martial, and fined $5,000.

West was allowed to retire in 2004 with full benefits.

Yet his telling of the incident sounds so patriotic, doesn’t it? When, in fact, West violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a very serious offense.

As reported previously in Sunshine Slate, the story goes like this: While serving in Taji, Iraq, Lieutenant Colonel West got some information that there may be a plot to ambush him and his men possibly involving civilian Iraqi policeman Yahya Jhodri Hamoodi.

West had his men in his command detain Hamoodi for questioning. Problem was that West, despite being a lieutenant colonel, had never conducted – or even witnessed – an interrogation before. He was not authorized to conduct one.

As you can see in the recounting below, West would have been better off if he had just said no to interrogation:

Arriving at the interrogation room, West approached Hamoodi, took out his gun, and chambered a round. He placed it in his lap with the gun barrel facing Hamoodi. “I had drawn out my pistol as a means of conveying a threat to him for the seriousness of wanting the information,” West told investigators. Hamoodi said that after West’s arrival, “a soldier pulled his shirt over his head, and numerous others began to punch him in the chest.” The beating bruised his ribs, said Hamoodi, but those bruises had healed in the month that passed before he met with investigators.

Said West: “Yes, there had been sporadic body punches and shoving to the individual, which I witnessed but did not allow to get too brutal.”

Photo: allenwest2012

Hamoodi still didn’t give West or the soldiers the information they wanted, either because he wasn’t part of the assassination plot or because he was being an uncooperative witness.

West ordered Hamoodi out of the interrogation room and took him outside the facility, where Hamoodi says West pointed to six soldiers who were standing in line with their weapons in hand. Through the Egyptian translator, West told Hamoodi: “If you don’t talk, they will kill you.”

When that didn’t work, West admitted to pushing Hamoodi’s head into a clearing barrel full of sand, which is typically used for clearing weapons. West then put his gun into the same barrel, near Hamoodi’s head and fired.

“In my anger I do not know if I fired two shots in to the barrel or one into the air and another into the barrel,” said West in his sworn statement.

Now how does that compare to President Obama doing drugs 30 years ago as a teen and/or as a college student? It doesn’t. Tens of millions of people did drugs in their youth – very few gave illegal torturous interrogations and committed war crimes before being booted from the Army.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Images: allenwest2012

Allen West

[Tallahassee, FL] Today is Memorial Day. But what does it mean beyond “support the troops” and “remember those who died fighting for our freedom”?

Memorial Day – a federal holiday – got its start after the American Civil War. It was originally called Decoration Day and was intended to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War. The graves of Confederate soldiers were also decorated.

By the 20th century, Memorial Day had grown to become an all-encompassing holiday to honor and remember the men and women who died while serving their country in the United States Armed Forces. Many people visit cemeteries and attend memorials at national cemeteries.

Memorial Day also typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, with Labor Day marking the end.

Our leaders release official statements in observance of the holiday. While this ritual can seem a bit canned and even viewed as using the office as a platform for political gain, we’ll give our elected officials the benefit of the doubt.

Here is what they had to say:

VIDEO MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA:

Gov. Rick Scott

“This weekend Floridians throughout our state will remember the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have lost their lives while serving our country throughout our nation’s history.

As we come together with family and friends to honor our fallen military and veterans, let us also bring to mind the tremendous sacrifice they have made for our benefit.

Those who serve in the Armed Forces risk their lives to preserve our national independence and the unmatched freedom we enjoy as United States citizens. Our military defends our own democracy, as well as assists emerging democratic societies around the globe.

These opportunities for freedom are made possible only through the selfless sacrifice of our military.

To those currently serving in the Armed Forces and the Florida National Guard, Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll, Ann and I want to express our appreciation for your bravery and willingness to spend time away from your family and loved ones.

Know that we are praying for your safety and for your families here at home to receive the strength and support they need.”

Photo: eddiecoyote

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi

“As we spend this Memorial Day weekend enjoying time with family and friends, let us not forget that Memorial Day is about remembering and honoring the courageous men and women who sacrificed their lives so that we could enjoy our freedom.

While we enjoy this long holiday weekend, join me in taking time to remember those who dedicated their lives to military service and who died to keep our nation the greatest in the world.

If you see a man or woman in uniform, be sure to thank them for all that they do to protect us and our liberty.”

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio

“With American service members currently deployed all over the world,  it is important that we take the time both as a nation and personally, to reflect on the sacrifices that our military men and women make on a regular basis, and have been making since our founding.

America has been blessed with many riches, vast lands and precious resources, but our greatest blessing has been the bravery of our men and women who have served in uniform and defended the freedoms we hold dear.

Our country is truly a safer, stronger and more prosperous nation because of their sacrifices. And the world is a safer place because of them.”

Photo: U.S. Army Alaska

CFO Jeff Atwater

“Memorial Day, unfortunately, has become more about retail and parties than understanding the importance of remembrance and the solemn celebration it should be in our lives.

We may not think about the Civil War when we think about Memorial Day, although it would make perfect sense to do so.

The history of Memorial Day and how we honor our fallen heroes is rooted in a day from the Civil War called Decoration Day. In the late 1860s, northern Civil War veterans led by Gen. John A. Logan called for a day of remembrance:

‘The 30th of May is designated for the purpose … decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country … and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land …’

As you come together with family and friends, remember those who gave their lives throughout our history so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. Remember the families missing a mother, father, sister, brother or friend, and wave your flag for them.

Decorate your home in the colors of our flag, and keep our fallen heroes and their families in your thoughts and prayers so the ideals and principles that America’s soldiers fight and die for are never forgotten.”

By: Adam Rousso/Sunshine Slate

Lead image: Just Add Light

Memorial Day

[Hamden, CT] The latest poll from Quinnipiac University shows that President Obama has lost his lead over Mitt Romney in Florida.

According to the Q-Poll conducted May 15 – 21 that surveyed 1,722 registered voters, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney holds a 6% percent lead over President Obama (47% to 41%).

The numbers are in stark contrast to the last poll released May 3 (and reported by Sunshine Slate) which showed the two presidential hopefuls in a dead heat. On March 28, Obama was on top 49% to 42%.

“Gov. Mitt Romney has slipped into the lead in Florida and that standing is confirmed by his much better numbers than the president when voters are asked whether they view the candidates favorably or unfavorably,” said Peter A. Brown of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

“They view Romney favorably 44%-35%, while Obama gets a negative 45%-50% favorability,” he said.

The President’s recent public admission that he now personally supports same-sex marriage rights may not have as much of an effect – at least in Florida – as had been the common wisdom. The poll showed that 63% of voters say that it will affect their vote.

The percentage of voters who say that his stance on gay marriage makes it less likely that they will vote for Obama is 25%.

“While the issue of same-sex marriage looks like it affects only one-third of Florida voters, we know from experience what a few votes can mean in the Sunshine State,” said Brown.

Curiously, the poll also found that if U.S. Senator from Florida Marco Rubio was added to the GOP ticket, it wouldn’t make that much of a difference to the state’s voters, only adding 2% to bring Romney to 49% over Obama’s 41%.

Photo: Obama For America

New poll: President Obama is trailing Mitt Romney in Florida

Independents would back a Romney-Rubio ticket 46%-37% over Obama-Biden.

A slim majority (52%-44%) of registered Florida voters say that Obama does not deserve a second term in the Oval Office. The numbers are the same when it comes to his job approval.

“The overall picture in Florida is positive for Romney, who is ahead 50%-37% among men, while women are divided 44%-45%,” said Brown. “And the president is getting just 33% of white votes, compared to 85% of black votes and 42% of Hispanic votes.”

It is no surprise that Romney is winning over Republicans, but the numbers are staggering (91% for versus 3% against) when you consider the doubt that was out there during the heat of the primary. Guess both Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich were wrong.

Romney is also doing well with independents: 44%-36%.

The only area where Romney is losing badly is in the area of likeability. Obama gets 76%-21% while Romney scored 58%-30%. The numbers are virtually the same if you just look at independent voters.

Romney was also viewed as the candidate better suited to handle the economy, 50%-40%.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Lead image: Fran Ruchalski/Sunshine Slate Images

Mitt Romney

[Tampa Bay, FL] Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney – the presumptive Republican nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election – recently swung through Florida to pick up some campaign cash and persuade the state’s residents that they can feel good about voting for him.

Let’s see how Romney did …

Fact: More than 40% of Florida homeowners are already “underwater” on their mortgages. Romney thinks that the problem is that the banks are being slowed down by regulation and procedure and doesn’t seem very concerned about trying to keep people in their homes.

“Bankers have been very slow in renegotiating the mortgages, helping people go through the process, short sales and so forth,” said Romney said in an interview with Political Connections, as reported by www.TampaBay.com.

“Allow these products, these homes, to be taken out of the market so they can be bought by new investors,” he said.

Yes, he’s attempting to appeal to Floridians by telling the ones who are struggling to keep their biggest financial asset that they need to be booted from of their homes quicker, so that investors can buy them up and make a profit. That will solve the problem.

Of course, that doesn’t solve the problem for the homeowners, just the banks. Romney may need reminding that it was Wall Street’s recklessness and rampant speculation that drove the world’s economy off a cliff in the first place.

His response will not likely play well with moderates, as it only bolsters his “out of touch mega-millionaire” problem. He’s basically alienating 40% of Florida homeowners which is a lot in what could end up being a tight race against President Obama.

Photo: Fran Ruchalski for Sunshine Slate

Mitt Romney speaking in Jacksonville last week

This at a time when President Obama is hammering Romney on his Bain Capital history, a history which portrays Romney as a career business opportunist who has no problem draining a company and its pension fund for profit.

And the U.S. Government picked up the tab on those pensions, by the way.

While in South Florida, The Miami Herald classified Romney’s speeches as “long on criticisms of Obama … short on specifics.”

“One of the things that’s been most disappointing to me over these last several months is watching this president divide America,” Romney said.

“In the interest of his reelection he’s trying to find some way to talk about something other than his record and to find someone else to blame for the challenges people feel,” he said.

Problem is, Obama’s record is actually pretty good when you look at the data and not listen to the GOP. The economy is recovering. We’ve had twentysomething months of job growth. Wall Street continues its historic climb northward. Gas prices have started to fall again.

Osama bin Laden is dead.

Romney will have to be more specific than to claim to know what people feel if he wants to overcome his main likeability issues – too rich, too Mormon, prone to say something “out of touch” – and have a chance at winning. He still has time, but not as much as he thinks.

Obama deals with specifics every day, while Romney throws out well-worn platitudes and buzzwords, most of it red meat for conservatives who already hate Obama.

So far, the polls have indicated a post-primary bump for Romney’s favorability ratings, but as reported by the Chicago Tribune, many experts view that as a “honeymoon effect” of Mitt finally securing the Republican nomination.

Photo: Fran Ruchalski for Sunshine Slate

Will Mitt Romney be able to win over Florida voters?

Romney opened himself up to yet another round of criticism (he seems to have a penchant for that, don’t you think?). The Miami Herald reported that Romney had a fundraiser at the Star Island home of pharmaceutical company magnate Phil Frost.

What’s the big deal? Frost’s company manufactures birth control … the specific type that Republican primary Romney lambasted on the campaign trail. Yikes. That is exactly the kind of thing that voters are turned off by.

Then there’s Mitt Romney’s clumsy attempts at ingratiating himself with ordinary citizens (he’s a multi-mega-millionaire if you didn’t know all ready).

While in Jacksonville on Thursday, Romney basically tried to convince the locals that he was soon going to become one of them, that he and his wife Ann have discussed moving to Florida when they retire. And their place of choice? Jacksonville.

The only problem was that he couldn’t even spell it out convincingly because he knows it smells of pandering.

“She has said, ‘Someday, who knows, we might,’ ” Romney said of Ann’s let’s-move-to-Jacksonville decision. “You never know. Someday, way down the road.”

Talk about leaving yourself an escape route. Of course, Romney’s real reason to move here is financial.

“It has the right tax rates, among others,” Romney said.

And with all that loot he’s got, that sure is appealing.

Mitt Romney has a lot of work to do to get his game in fighting shape and court moderates, independents and Democrats fed up with Obama.

But in Florida where the economy still drags, foreclosures pile up and jobs are hard to come by, Romney may need a new game altogether.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Images: Fran Ruchalski for Sunshine Slate

Mitt Romney

[West Palm Beach, FL] Ever since his name was mentioned as a possible contender for the GOP‘s VP spot in the 2012 presidential election, U.S. Rep. Allen West (R-22/Fort Lauderdale) has dialed up the crazy talk.

The darling of the Tea Party people seems to never miss a chance at grabbing headlines for his outlandish statements. He just can’t help himself. He’s Allen West!

It has only been a few short weeks since “Mama Grizzly” Sarah Palin, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and “Pizza Guy” Herman Cain all proclaimed that Colonel Allen West was their first choice for the VP job. Since then, West has come unhinged. Completely unhinged.

According to West, he’s uncovered a plot within the Democratic party so devious that it already comes neatly prepackaged with an ultra-buzzy buzz word. In fact, it is one of the biggest buzz words of all time in American cultural history: communists.

ABC News reported that Allen West said: “I believe there’s about 78 to 81 members of the Democratic Party that are members of the Communist Party.”

Note to West: you are supposed to dial down on the loco when people are considering you for the second most powerful job in Washington D.C. Third most powerful if you count Grover Norquist. And you should.

The Palm Beach Post also reported that West said the following (yes, he refers to himself in the third person):

“I really wish that, standing here before you, was Allen West and President Obama,” West said. “We could have a simple discussion. But that ain’t ever gonna happen.”

“Why not?” an audience member asked.

“Cuz he was too scared!” West responded in a mocking voice.

WATCH HIS COMMENT HERE:

President Obama is “too scared” or doesn’t care? He doesn’t have time to meet with every member of Congress individually. And President  especially doesn’t want to “hang out” with one of the most extreme members of the opposition party that constantly bashes him.

Or maybe it is just because the President of the United States doesn’t want to hang out with guys like Allen West, who “pals around” with outlaw biker gangs and has tortured prisoners against international and U.S. law, as previously reported by Sunshine Slate.

In defense of West’s “commie” comment, spokeswoman Angela Melvin told The Huffington Post that, ” The Congressman was referring to the 76 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The Communist Party has publicly referred to the Progressive Caucus as its allies.”

“The Progressive Caucus speaks for itself. These individuals certainly aren’t proponents of free markets or individual economic freedom,” Melvin said.

So he did mean exactly we thought he meant, Melvin. Of course, equating progressive Democrats to communists is an extremist point of view, some would say.

Wouldn’t want you to start the RED SCARE PART 2, now would you Congressman West? You know how the American people loves sequels.

Well, not everybody. Count the NAACP not amused: they dropped West from a scheduled speech-appearance.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Lead image: TexasGOPVote.com  (Allen West photo), graphics by Sunshine Slate Images

Allen West

Today, it’s Vice President Biden in the Everglades. Last week, it was President Obama in Tampa. On Friday it will be the First Lady in Naples.

It’s apparent the general election fight for Florida is underway. It’s been going on for a few weeks now and what have we learned? The Obama campaign will log plenty of hours in the Sunshine State in an effort to keep it blue on November 6th.

Last week, the President was in Tampa. The week before, he was speaking at Florida International. Some time before that, he was right here in Orlando for a fundraiser. Then there was the Disney speech in February stumping  for … expedited tourism visas.

We’ve certainly seen a lot of the President as of late. There’s a rotation in place that will ensure the voters see him, his wife, or his No. 2 at least every other week, if not more often than that.

All of this in addition to the $8.3 million the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) will throw into television in Florida alone. If he’s not in town, you’ll hear his voice on the radio or see his face on the TV. Obama will be everywhere.

The President isn’t the only one putting a full court press on the voters, however.

Photo: Fran Ruchalski/Sunshine Slate Images

Obama campaign in gear: Mitt Romney and his allies are also working Florida

His eventual general election opponent Mitt Romney has his allies working the state as well. The Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) have already set up an infrastructure for Hispanic Outreach.

At this point, Republican operatives on the I-4 corridor actually outnumber those of the Obama campaign. And more Republicans have already declared their candidacies and will be running against the President’s policies again this year. They’ll be trying to replicate their 2010 success.

Perhaps the biggest ally Romney has in Florida is U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, who has been pushing for a DREAM Act alternative and communicating Romney’s policies with a calculated general election tone.

It’s ironic, but Rubio talks Romney policies better than Romney himself. Everytime Rubio talks it is considered an audition for the VP spot.

All of this and it’s only April. Not to mention all of the other ads from all of the other campaigns.

Obama in Miami on the 5, Michelle in Jacksonville on the 13, Biden in Tampa on the 24. That’s a stronger rotation than the Red Sox. And if the polling remains this close, you could see Jill Biden making the rounds.

Maintaining Presidential presence in Florida until election day is that important. It’s the difference between re-election and retirement for President Obama.

By: Frank Torres. Original post appeared April 23 on Florida Politics With Frank Torres. Re-printed with permission

Image: Obama-Biden 2012

Obama campaign

[Miami, FL] The junior U.S. Senator from Florida – Marco Rubio – is playing hardball this week against President Obama, who visited the Sunshine State for some good old-fashioned campaign fundraising as well as some official appearances.

On Tuesday, President Obama gave some back at a speech at Florida Atlantic University in which he made his pitch for multi-millionaires and billionaires to pay more in taxes.

“It’s time for us to choose which direction we want to go in as a country,” said Obama. “Do we want to keep giving those tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans like me, or Warren Buffett – he definitely doesn’t need them, or Bill Gates?”

During an interview with CBS 4 Miami, Rubio challenged the President over his push to instate the so-called “Buffett Rule,” which is a popularized catch phrase for Obama’s push for tax policy change aimed at raising the rate on the wealthiest Americans.

Rubio, obviously, doesn’t agree with President Obama’s idea that the wealthier pay more taxes.

“They do pay more — and that’s one of the fundamental misleading things the President is saying,” said Rubio. “Somehow the perception is being created that if your paycheck is a million a year you pay less in taxes. That is not true. What the President is talking about when he talks about the ‘Buffett Rule’ is investment income.”

“We have always wanted Warren Buffett to, instead of putting that money in a coffee can, to take his money and invest it because that created jobs,” said Rubio.

Rubio and his Republican cohorts are dead set against raising rates for the richest Americans, claiming that if the have more money to spend they will create more jobs or “trickle down,” to use a classic GOP phrase. The problem is, as Obama points out, that we tried that way and it didn’t work.

Obama said Republicans are “doubling down on a lot of these broken down theories” that proved to not work under George W. Bush.

An eye-opening study from the Congressional Budget Office shows the wealth gap widening, employee salaries stagnated and income concentrated more and more by those who already have obtained riches. The lowest earners in this country saw their incomes raise by 20% over 30 years.

Sounds good? How about this: The top 1% saw their incomes go through the roof at a staggering rate of 275% over that same three-decade period. It is that kind of hard data that is driving the debate around the water cooler and dinner table and why polls show support for Obama’s position.

And Rubio knows this.

“I understand the polls. I can read a poll just like Barack Obama can,” said Rubio, sounding a bit huffy. Right? That sounded huffy.

“I understand that people look at it and say, ‘Yeah, how come Warren Buffett pays less than his secretary?’. What they need to understand is the reason why he may pay less than his secretary in terms of the rate is that she makes her money on a paycheck and he makes his money on investments,” offered Rubio.

Problem is, we are now competing with countries like Rwanda, Ecuador, Cameroon and Uganda when it comes to the wealth gap, and President Obama is seizing upon that realization in appealing to a population that feels that it has been trickled on enough.

“Here in America we look out for one another. Here in America we help each other get ahead. Here in America we have a sense of common purpose. Here in America we can meet any challenge. Here in America we can seize any moment. We can make this century another great American century,” said Obama, sounding a little bit like candidate-in-chief.

Don’t expect this issue to go away anytime soon as the President will continue to drive this populist message until Republicans are forced to vote on the matter.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Lead image: Marco Rubio’s YouTube Channel

Marco Rubio

The best fight no one is watching? The Mack vs. Lemieux battle gets personal …

While the eyes of the state have been focused on the Republican primary contest for the right to take on President Obama, the focus on the GOP primary to retire U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has mostly gone unnoticed.

That’s unfortunate. This race has been as exiting if not more, than this lagging national primary.

About this time last year, George LeMieux had already declared his candidacy. His top challenger was to be former State Majority leader Adam Hasner. The two well spoken candidates had a few noteworthy exchanges, Lemieux labeling Hasner a moderate, Hasner calling Lemieux (GOP-turned Indie Guv) Charlie Crist’s “go-to guy.”

Senate President Mike Haridopolos would briefly enter the fray before a meltdown in Tallahassee and series of campaign faux pas would lead to his early exit. Restauranteur Craig Miller and Col. Mike McCalister were also in the race but, would take the backseat to the Lemieux/Hasner battles.

A key ingredient was missing in this key primary that would nominate a candidate to take on the entrenched Democrat: enthusiasm. Nelson was polling double digits ahead of all of these guys. This had the party wondering if the solution was in the current crop of candidates.

Is Connie Mack the Charlie Sheen of Florida politics? Lemieux’s Attack ad

Enter U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV (R-14/Naples), the famous name with the ties to raise money. He declared and shot to the top of the polls. (View the Connie Mack for Senate campaign website here.)

Adam Hasner checked down to run for the House in South Florida, Miller went east to campaign for the newly created Congressional District 6 House seat. McCalister remains but is invisible in the polls.

George Lemieux wasn’t going anywhere. Why should he? He was the money leader. He held major endorsements. He’d served – albeit a short time – in the Senate and wasn’t going to step aside for Mack.

LeMieux shot out releases blasting Connie Mack’s absence from the state, pointing out that the Congressman preferred working from California with his wife, fellow U.S. Representative Mary Bono Mack (R-45/Palm Desert, CA).

Mack’s ascension continued. He was only a point or two behind Bill Nelson. Was he going to walk in and take this nomination?

Shots fired. Mack largely ignored the ad instead, focusing on fundraising and stumping for GOP Prez frontrunner Mitt Romney. The questions would still come.

LeMeiux’s offensive would continue with a winning a streak of straw polls and a growing number of state legislators endorsing the former senator. He doubled down on the Charlie Sheen rhetoric releasing a fake endorsement from the “Winning” Warlock with Tiger Blood running through his veins on April Fool’s day.

Photo: Bill Nelson for Senate

Will Connie mack emerge to challenge U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson?

Yesterday, Connie Mack responded with a number. One Million. His fundraising haul for the quarter.

Mack’s message has the tone of a general election contest. Most of the time ignoring LeMieux’s accusations and focusing on Bill Nelson. As the debate season kicks off that will seem unlikely to continue as both should have plenty of cash on hand to run an effective “air war” over the television.

It’s already personal. And it’s not that Mack doesn’t have the discipline to stay silent, I believe as the primary approaches that the party is going to want to see Mack mix it up. If he doesn’t how is he going to compete with Bill Nelson sharing a ballot with President Obama?

Crist vs. Rubio? Please! Charlie Crist was too nice and took frequent beat-downs from Rubio and at times Democrat Kendrick Meek. “You don’t know what’s in my heart.” Yeah, that was Crist for you.

There will be aggression, there will be accusations and it will get even more personal.

Will you be watching?

By: Frank Torres. Original post appeared April 5 on Florida Politics With Frank Torres. Re-printed with permission

Lead image: Connie Mack for Senate campaign

Connie Mack

[Hamden, CT] Neither of the remaining two Republican contenders for the nomination is currently challenging President Obama in Florida, according to the latest Florida poll.

Yes, I said two – Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are mere sideshow distractions from what is really going on.

And what is really going on is that the latest Quinnipiac University Florida poll shows Obama having a comfortable lead over both former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney (49% to 42%) and former U.S. Sen. from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum (50% to 37%).

The poll also included Ohio and Pennsylvania – Santorum’s home turf – both considered to be crucial swing states. And things – somewhat surprisingly – don’t get any better for the “only true conservative left in this race” (or something like that) at home. Or in Ohio. Did I mention Florida?

“President Barack Obama is on a roll in the key swing states. If the election were today, he would carry at least two states. And if history repeats itself, that means he would be re- elected,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

“But the election is not today. It is seven months away. Two months ago President Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney were in a statistical tie in Ohio and Florida,” Brown added.

The big story is Florida women, who favor Obama big time over Romney or Santorum. Actually, in all three key states, women back the President over Romney or Santorum by 6% to 19%. Men are split right down the middle.

Photo: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate Images

Romney is losing ground to Obama in Florida poll

For Romney, he still struggles with is favorables, although he still has undecideds to woo. In the Sunshine State, he polled at 41% “favorable,” 36% “unfavorable” and 19% “haven’t heard enough.”

Santorum’s numbers are much worse, although he has much more room to grow: 28% “favorable,” 39% “unfavorable” and 30% “haven’t heard enough.”

Compared to Obama – 51% “favorable,” 44% “unfavorable” and 2% “haven’t heard enough” – both men have a long way to goo in this department. As for Obama’s job approval ratings, 50% of Florida voters say he deserves to be re-elected.

“The biggest reason for the president’s improving prospects probably is the economy. Roughly 6-in-10 voters in all three states think the economy is recovering. Moreover, voters blame the oil companies and oil-producing countries for the rise in gasoline prices and only about one in six voters blame them on President Obama,” says Brown.

Let’s break down the oil price blame game: oil companies are most to blame (32%), oil-producing countries are to blame (23%); Obama is to blame (18%), supply and demand is to blame (16%). Florida voters also oppose (54%-36%) releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to curb rising gas prices.

All of that helps Obama, who is aggressively firing back at the GOP on the oil issue, going forward.

Photo: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate Images

A recent Florida poll shows that Rick Santorum has no chance in the state

In terms of issues, this is how important Florida voters see a candidate’s positions on them: economy (90%), unemployment (81%), 2010 health care law (78%), federal budget deficit (76%), war in Afghanistan (67%), gas prices (66%), immigration (55%), women’s reproductive health issues (48%),
and abortion/gay marriage (39%).

However, voters say that Romney would do a better job versus Obama when it comes to handling the economy 48% to 45%. Santorum? Obama crushes him.

Oh, and how did Gov. Rick Scott do in the polling? Florida voters still disapprove of the job he is doing (52%-36%), which, as the poll summary points out, continues his “year-long streak of negative ratings.”

From March 20 – 26, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,228 Florida voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent; Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and nationwide as a public service and for research. For individual statewide crosstabs and trends visit – http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x2881.xml or call (203) 582-5201.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Lead photo: Barack Obama stopped in Terre Haute, IN, on Sept 6, 2008. He talked to Wabash Valley voters at the fairgrounds (photo: BeckyF)

Florida poll

[Washington, D.C.] Big-name Republicans are watching what is going on in the primary hunt and they don’t like it. First, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush jumped into the fray to say that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has his support.

Now it is U.S. Senator Marco Rubio who has thrown his considerable political weight behind Romney.

On Wednesday night’s edition of Hannity, Rubio told FOX News TV host Sean Hannity that he’s supporting Romney because he “offers such a stark contrast to the president’s record.”

Rubio is a smart political animal and knows that if this race goes the distance, the Republican Party’s chances of defeating President Obama in November will be slim.

“There is no way that anyone can convince me that having a floor fight at the convention in Tampa in August is a recipe for victory in November,” Rubio said. “I think it’s a recipe for disaster. So I just don’t think that’s a wise route to go.”

Is this a sign that Rubio may be considering running alongside Romney as his VP? That could be the boost that the Republicans desperately need as the latest polls indicate Obama is putting some distance between himself and the GOP contenders.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Related reading:

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Marco Rubio

[Orlando, FL] President Obama is officially in campaign mode now.

Even though he is not sure who he will face in the general election in November, Obama is already shoring up money for his re-election bid. And on Thursday, the President will be in Orlando to attend a private party fundraiser which reportedly cost $30,000 per ticket.

No telling how much Ticketmaster service fees will add to the cost (note: tickets are not really available via Ticketmaster).

And in case you are wavering on going because that $30k would dip too far into your food budget for the day, yes, dinner is included in the admission price.

Is it a coincidence that Obama, a huge basketball fan, is coming to town just before the run of the NBA All-Star Game events are set to begin in Orlando (Feb. 24-26)? The game itself is on Sunday, so he won’t be hitting that, but who knows.

The party for President Obama is taking place at 8 p.m. at former Orlando Magic player Vince Carter’s house (he’s still in the NBA playing for the Dallas Mavericks).It will be a great opportunity for the President to pick up support from current NBA players and former legends, who will already be in town for the All-Stars.

Last time through, Obama dined at attorney John Morgan’s house for a similar affair for high-rolling donors.

“Orlando loves the President,” said Morgan, when asked by Sunshine Slate about Obama’s big-ticket return to Orlando. “We raised $1.1 [million] at my home and we are on track to have a big night Thursday. … These are record numbers for a Democrat.”

Morgan is glad to see the President being aggressive in terms of fundraising and exposure.

“The I-4 corridor is where Florida will be decided, so this is very encouraging,” he said.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: aflcio

President Obama

[Tallahassee, FL] Today, Gov. Rick Scott made the announcement that he had appointed criminal defense attorney Richard Hersch to be the new judge for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court.

Hersch, 56 of Miami, replaces Judge Robert N. Scola Jr., who held the position from 1995-2011 before he was nominated by President Obama in May of last year to preside at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

“As a life-long resident of Miami with 30 years of experience in courtrooms, Richard’s continued study of the law and extensive work ethic are evidence of his ability to serve on the bench of the circuit court,” Gov. Scott said of Hersch.

“I am confident of his ability to deliver reasoned and impartial rulings based upon evidence and a careful review of the law,” he said.

Since 1998, Hersch has been a managing partner with the South Florida law firm of Hersch and Talisman P.A., which has offices in Coconut Grove and Key West.

“An early and aggressive defense is always in your best interest,” the website says. We’ll see how he handles that as the one in the courtroom wearing the robe for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court.

Hersch is a rare individual with paper from two of the state’s biggest rival schools – he received his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and his law degree from the University of Florida.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: Hersch and Talisman P.A.

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Richard Hersch

[Washington, D.C.] President Obama doesn’t include in his proposed budget announced Monday any money for changes to Naval Station Mayport to make it able to accommodate a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Associated Press reported.

The Navy has put on hold plans to move a carrier from the Norfolk area to the Jacksonville port. Navy officials had wanted to spread out the east coast fleet to avoid a situation where all of them could be threatened in one port at once.

“I’m disappointed the carrier move is not scheduled in the next five years, even though the Navy is committed to bringing a nuclear aircraft carrier to Mayport,” said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

He tried to cheer up the locals with news of what was on its way to Naval Station Mayport.

“In the meantime, there’s some good news in the budget in that many additional ships, including a big-deck amphibious one, will bring about 2,750 sailors and their families to Mayport earlier than originally expected while also supporting hundreds of needed civilian jobs in the area,” said Nelson.

The AP quoted U.S. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia as saying in a statement that the Navy now plans to keep the carriers at Norfolk, at least through 2020, much to the elation of those who live in Virginia.

Photo: U.S. DefenseImagery

An aerial view of the Naval Station Mayport taken in 1993

Florida has pushed for Naval Station Mayport to get a new carrier since the John F. Kennedy, which previously was ported there, was decommissioned in 2007. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) says upgrading Mayport for a nuclear carrier would cost more than $250 million, with the Navy pegging the cost at more than twice that.

Many in the Jacksonville area are angered by the decision to push back the move at least by a year, possibly longer than that. It means the expected influx of construction jobs and 3000 stationed servicemen won’t be coming until at least 2020.

“People were really depending on that coming,” said Caroline Bartoletti, as reported by The Florida Times-Union. “All the businesses would need that help [from a new carrier at Naval Station Mayport].”

By: The News Service of Florida. Additional reporting by Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Navel Station Mayport

[Orlando, FL] Perhaps it is a strategic appearance ahead of the Florida presidential primary on Jan. 31. Or maybe he just wants to get the heck out of Washington (who wouldn’t).

Whatever his underlying reasons, President Barack Obama plans to deliver remarks on the economy in Orlando on Jan. 19.

That’s about as much info that’s available at the moment. President Obama in Orlando. Jan. 19. Wish we could tell you more.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: official White House photo

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Sure, We Need Another Hero … But Does He/She Have To Be Named Bush?

Opinion from the desk of Mark Christopher

[New York, NY] Late last month, former Florida governor Jeb Bush wrote an opinion column for The Wall Street Journal extolling the virtues of the free market and how if we just stop regulating, we can enjoy our “right to rise” as Americans.

“We have to make it easier for people to do the things that allow them to rise. We have to let them compete. We need to let people fight for business. We need to let people take risks. We need to let people fail. We need to let people suffer the consequences of bad decisions. And we need to let people enjoy the fruits of good decisions, even good luck,” wrote Bush.

Too bad he didn’t tell his brother George any of this, oh say, ten years ago.

The conservative blogosphere ignited with fever dreams of the former Gov. Bush jumping into the 2012 presidential race to save the GOP ticket, which currently finds the unlikeable – and ethically/factually challenged – former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich is moving to the front.

No wonder Republicans are clamoring for Jeb – since 2008, they have been searching for an alternative to Mitt Romney, someone, anyone other than the religious cult leader mega-millionaire with the personality of a catfish and car-salesman hair who basically implemented the blueprint to President Obama’s health-care overhaul they are all campaigning against.

Yeah I said cult. Ask an ex-Mormon, they’ll tell you. Not to mention Romney’s the world’s biggest flip-flopper on just about every hot-button issue for conservatives.

But another Bush? C’mon. I think the country would rather sit through four more years of Obama, or – gasp – four years of Newt Inc. before we handed the country’s keys to the Bush family again. However much smarter Jeb is than W, it doesn’t matter – the damage done by the Bush family reign is why the country is the way it is now.

Can a Bush fix it? Maybe, but the Bush family had their chance in 2000 and they sent us the dumb one, the one Karl Rove and Dick Cheney could control like a puppet. We are still cleaning up that crime scene. The mighty white GOP is wisely trying to pin it all on Obama – you know, blame the black guy – but the electorate is a little smarter than that.

Photo: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate Images

Newt Gingrich is now tied Mitt Romney in the GOP’s quest to beat President Obama

They know that both Iraq and Afghanistan was Bush’s doing, as was the massive Wall Street bail out. They know the mortgage crisis happened under W’s watch as did 9-11. They know that deficits soared and the income gap between the haves and the have-nots widened exponentially under W’s trickle-down theology.

They know that the middle class is flailing while CEOs are banking tens of millions of dollars a year, practically tax free. George W. Bush’s fingerprints are all over the place and the chalk outline that used to be America is being erased to make room for the next big Koch Brothers-approved money machine.

For gosh sakes, W left office with an approval rating of 22%.

But that’s how bad Gingrich, Romney, Ron Paul (heroin, anyone?), Herman Cain (Mr. Hanky Panky, really?) and Rick Perry (he’s Texas Toast) are – bad enough to consider another Bush, even if he is “the smart one.” What they don’t understand is that Jeb Bush is not 100% conservative either. He doesn’t cotton to guys like Grover Norquist putting the screws to his policies, or play Rove’s reindeer games.

Jeb Bush doesn’t play by anybody’s rules but Jeb’s. He is pragmatic and unpredictable, like Obama. In short, Jeb’s a Democrat – he just leans much, much farther to the right than your average bear. You, know, like a Republican.

Does that make any sense? Neither does Jeb Bush in 2012, at least according to the man, the myth, the sort-of legend himself.

“Republicans will be choosing from the candidates currently in the race,” Jeb Bush told Right Turn last month.

Get over it Republicans – no one is gonna ride in on a glorious white horse and carry you off to Happy Conservative Place, you know the place where everything is colored brilliantly in red, white and blue, nobody on the right side of the aisle ever does anything wrong, and Ann Coulter does three shows nightly.

Your choice is simple: Mitt or Newt. Slick 50 or old salty. Get used to the taste Republicans.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Lead images: Newt Gingrich & Mitt Romney pics by Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate Images. Jeb Bush photo: official Governor’s photo

Jeb Bush

[Tallahassee, FL] Florida is taking the lead on the states’ battle to fight the implementation of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law by President Obama in 2010. Republican-controlled states like Florida are challenging the U.S. Government’s right to mandate its citizens pay into a pool for health care coverage.

Last week, it was announced that the U.S. Supreme Court would be hearing Florida’s lawsuit, originally brought by former Attorney General Bill McCollum, in march of next year. The Supreme Court date is somewhat earlier than expected.

And with the 2012 election just around the corner, the stakes are high for both the Democrats and Republicans.

The state’s two most powerful politicians – Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi, both Republicans – wasted no time to comment on the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) to hear the case and that Florida’s would be getting top billing on the national stage.

“[A week ago] Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court announced their decision to hear the federal health care challenge. I am pleased that they have granted certiorari in the States’ challenge to the federal health care law,” said Bondi. “Throughout this case, we have urged swift judicial resolution because of the unprecedented threat that the individual mandate poses to the liberty of Americans simply because they live in this country.”

“We are hopeful that by June 2012 we will have a decision that protects Americans’ liberties and limits the federal government’s power,” Bondi added. “We look forward to presenting oral argument and defending our position that the individual mandate is unconstitutional, that the entire law fails if one part fails, that the Anti-Injunction Act does not apply, and that Medicaid’s expansion is unlawfully coercive.”

Gov. Scott also released a statement, although he refers to the Affordable Care Act as “ObamaCare,” which is the preferred brand-name among Republicans.

“[The] news that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments next March in the Florida lawsuit against ObamaCare is a tremendous step in the fight against the job-killing federal mandate,” Scott said. “I look forward to the day we can move past this Big Government mandate and begin making the meaningful, and constitutional, changes that are necessary to improve our health care system.”

Photo: Governor's Office

Gov. Scott announcing 550 new aerospace jobs for the Space Coast on Oct. 31

“With this news, I am hopeful that ObamaCare will be repealed by the end of 2012 and we can put a stop to further tax increases, additional job losses, the inability of many Americans to keep their existing health insurance, and the rationing of health care, all of which ObamaCare threatens to do,” added Scott.

The governor also gave credit where credit was due.

“I applaud Attorney General Pam Bondi for leading the effort to protect Floridians’ freedom to make their own healthcare choices and I am also grateful that former Attorney General Bill McCollum had the foresight to initiate this lawsuit,” he said.

Republicans are probably feeling pretty good about their chances, although they lost the bigger battles in the lower level courts. Across the country there were 20 court challenges to the health care reform package. Most of those focused on the individual mandate for all Americans to buy insurance or face some sort of minor penalty.

Florida says it is unconstitutional for Congress to mandate that citizens buy anything. A hundred years or more of precedent says that the Constitution gives broad powers to Congress to federally regulate society and enforce fees in all matters of commerce and national interest.

The federal government will argue that the Affordable Care Act is in the national interest, and that Congress has the power to pass laws governing commerce under the Constitution, and that the Supreme Court has upheld that right on numerous occasions.

Florida’s ace(s) in the hole? Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. The pair was reported by the L.A. Times to have dined with the legal team challenging the bill, stirring up an ethics debate and leaving Democrats already crying foul.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

health care