In descending order, I rank these the three biggest political stories of 2009 in Florida:
3. Floridians lost in 2009-- U.S. Senator Mel Martinez resigns, U.S. Senator Paula Hawkins passes, Admiral Phil Ashler passes, Senator Mallory Horne passes, and Representative Marshall Harris passes.
2. Governor Crist Appoints George LeMieux U.S. Senator--with huge stakes, [...]
By Josh Hafenbrack, Tallahassee Bureau
TALLAHASSEE — Eric Miller, a Republican Party state committeeman from Martin County, just sent a letter blasting state party chairman Jim Greer as the GOP “continues to erode from the inside out.”
Miller is teed off over Greer’s decision to oust RPOF Vice Chairman Allen Cox. Greer’s [...]
From the Times' Meg Laughlin: Jennifer Martin, who was convicted of manslaughter in a 1998 car crash that killed a passenger, had her sentenced cut in half Tuesday by Gov. Charlie Crist. She will be released Wednesday from prison.
Martin, 30, was sentenced in 2000 to 16 years in prison for' [...]
From the Times' Meg Laughlin: Jennifer Martin, who was convicted of manslaughter in a 1998 car crash that killed a passenger, had her sentenced cut in half Tuesday by Gov. Charlie Crist. She will be released Wednesday from prison.
Martin, 30, was sentenced in 2000 to 16 years in prison [...]
Miami political consultant Jeff Garcia's biggest-name clients in Florida in recent years have been losers: Elaine Bloom for Congress, Betty Castor for U.S. Senate, Raul Martinez for Congress.
But the Democratic strategist picked a winner this time, helping to elect the first openly gay or' [...]
The papaya bloom closed up and now there’s a pod.
…which of course reminded me of…
House and Senate negotiators have apparently reached a deal to keep anti-Castro broadcasters Radio and TV Marti alive. Congressional critics in the Senate had proposed slicing the stations' $34 million budget nearly in half -- but a compromise has been reached, setting the 2010 budget at $30 million.
Florida Sen. George LeMieux, who had threatened' [...]
What do you think of this list:
Top 10 Republicans
Brian Ballard
Sally Bradshaw
Jeb Bush
Marion Hammer
Ann Herberger
George LeMieux
Connie Mack
Roberto Martinez
Justin Sayfie
John Thrasher
Top 40 Republicans
Rick Baker
Rodney Barreto
Charlie Crist
Allan Bense
Paul Bradshaw
Norman Braman
Wilbur Brewton
Frank Brogan
Kurt Browning
Dean Cannon
[...]
ST. PETERSBURG -- Toward the end of an otherwise docile City Council meeting Thursday, council members Wengay Newton and Leslie Curran traded barbs about transparency.
Newton had pulled items about the city's annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade and the Festival of States off the consent agenda because he had unanswered questions. During [...]
If Martin Donovan is able to get enough signatures, then the name of the Political Action Committee that battles him should be No Boss Marty. His petition drive really isn’t about the bond financing. It’s about his personal vendetta with Quint Studer and Mort O’Sullivan and his willingness to use [...]
Is being an answer to a question in the renowned Herald Hunt! Among the opening questions yesterday was this gem: In August, Sen. Mel Martinez resigned as one of Florida's U.S. Senators. Whom did Gov. Charlie Crist appoint to replace him?
G. A [...]
U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., is taking aim at Radio and TV Martí, calling it a $300 million "relic of the Cold War ... that virtually no one tunes in to."
"Government studies show that Radio and TV Martí are riddled with problems, and fall short of journalistic standards," Feingold [...]
Today's Miami Herald editorial board urges George LeMieux to drop his "hold" on the US ambassador to Brazil.
"When George LeMieux was appointed three months ago to replace retiring U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, the 40-year-old former chief of staff to Gov. Charlie Crist vowed to focus on making government more efficient and" [...]
WASHINGTON — George LeMieux has been a member of the U.S. Senate only two months but has managed to jam up legislation on oil drilling, a bill cutting funding for Radio Marti and he is blocking President Barack Obama's nominee for ambassador to Brazil.
But what [...]
On the heels of Sen. George LeMieux's active use of "holds" to block legislation and the U.S. ambassador to Brazil comes word that he has been reviewing U.S. attorney recommendations suggested to the White House by Sen. Bill Nelson and former Sen. Mel Martinez.
LeMieux met with White House counsel Greg [...]
Howard Troxler: Imagine trying to explain the Florida Legislature to the proverbial visitor from Mars. "Okay, we have this thing called committee week," we say. "The members of our Legislature go up to Tallahassee now and then, supposedly to work on laws in advance."
"That is very commendable," our Martian [...]
