— REPUBLICAN —
Melony M. Bell:  (Fort Meade /Auditor) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page
Former Mayor, City of Fort Meade
Former Commissioner, City of Fort Meade

Tom Presley:  (Bartow / Pastor) -  Facebook Page

POLK COUNTY COMMISSION – DISTRICT 4
This district covers the northeast area of the county, including the cities/towns of Davenport, Dundee, Haines City, Lake Hamilton, and areas of Winter Haven.
— DEMOCRAT —
Jean Reed:  (Incumbant /Winter Haven) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Commission Bio Page -

— REPUBLICAN —
Todd Dantzler:  (Winter Haven / Realtor) -  Personal Web Page

John Hall: (Auburndale / Retired Polk County Building & Codes Director) – Campaign currently does not have an online presence.

POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD – DISTRICT 3
The winner will replace incumbant board member Hazel Sellers, who is term-limited.
— NONPARTISAN —
Victoria Meares:  (Teacher /Lakeland) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD - DISTRICT 6
The winner will replace incumbant board member Margaret Lofton, who is term-limited.
— NONPARTISAN —
Terry E. Pittman: (Eagle Lake / Former Facilities Managment Director) – Campaign Web Site -

Lynn Wilson, Jr.:  (Winter Haven / Certified Public Accountant) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD - DISTRICT 7
— NONPARTISAN —
Tim Harris (Lakeland /Real Estate Sign Installation Business Owner; Real Estate Investiment Partner / Incumbant) – Campaign Web Site

COUNTY COURT – GROUP 6
— NONPARTISAN —
J. Kevin Abdoney:  (Lakeland / Attorney) -  Judicial Bio Page -

photo credit: a•Andres

Michael E. Arth: (DeLand / Landscape & Urban Designer, Author) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

Phillip J. Kennedy: (Crestview) -  This candidate currently has no online presence.

Farid A. Khavari: (Miami / Businessman, Economist) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page

Anthony “Tony” Knox, Sr.: (Quincy) -  This candidate currently has no online presence.

Jouse LaRouse: (Fort Lauderdale / ) -  Campaign Web Site

Darrin E. McGillis: (Miami / Concert Promoter, Artistic Manager) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

Alex Sink: (Tampa / Retired Banker, Current Commissioner of Financial Services) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Financial Services Bio Page -

— REPUBLICAN —
Tim Devine: (Kissimmee) -  Campaign Web Site -

Paula Dockery:  (Lakeland / Citrus & Cattle Grower) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Legislative Web Page -
Currently Member, Florida State Senate, District 15
Previous Member, Florida House of Representatives

Ed Heeney: (Boynton Beach / Senior Paralegal) -  This candidate currently has no online presence.

Bill McCollum: (Tallahassee / Attorney) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Attorney General Bio Page -
Currently Attorney General of Florida
Former Congressman,

James A. Van Driessche: (Largo / Various Businesses) -  Facebook Page -

— INDEPENDENCE PARTY OF FLORIDA —
Peter L. Allen:  (Riverview / Electrical Contractor) -  Campaign Web Site -

— LIBERTARIAN —
John Wayne Smith: (Leesburg / Awning Installer) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

— INDEPENDENT (NO PARTY AFFILIATION) —
Karl C.C. Behm: (Crescent City / Land Clearing Contractor) -  Campaign Web Site -

Herman L. Giger: (Hollywood / Pilot) -  Campaign Web Site -

C.C. Reed: (Miami / Businessman) -  Campaign Web Site -

Lesther Trujillo: (Miramar / Limosine Driver) -  Candidate currently has no online presence.

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF FLORIDA
The winner will replace Republican incumbant Bill McCollum, who is running for Governor.
— DEMOCRAT —
Dave Aronberg:  (West Palm Beach / Attorney) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Legislative Web Page -
Current Member, Florida State Senate – District 27

Dan Gelber: (Miami Beach / Attorney) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Legislative Web Page -
Current Member, Florida State Senate – District 35
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives,

— REPUBLICAN —
Anna Holiday “Holly” Benson: (Pensacola / Attorney) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

Pam Bondi: (Assistant State Attorney / Tampa)  – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

Jeff Kottkamp: (Fort Myers / Attorney) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Lieutenant Governor Bio Page -
Current Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives

Jim Lewis: (Fort Lauderdale / Attorney) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF FLORIDA
The winner will replace Democratic incumbant Alex Sink, who is running for Governor.
— DEMOCRAT —
Loranne Ausley: (Tallahassee / Attorney): – Campaign Web Site
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives

Joshua LaRose: (Fort Lauderdale / ) – Campaign Web Site

Ken Mazzie: (Palm Coast / Certified Public Accountant) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

— REPUBLICAN —
Jeff Atwater: (North Palm Beach / Banker) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Legislative Web Page -
Current Member, Florida State Senate, District 25; Senate President
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives
Former Vice Mayor, Village of North Palm Beach

Pat Patterson: (DeLand / Insurance Agent) – Campaign Web Site - Legislative Web Page -
Current Member, Florida House of Representatives, District 26
Former Member, Volusia County Council

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES OF FLORIDA
The winner will replace Republican incumbant Charles H. Bronson, who is term-limited.
— DEMOCRAT —
Thaddeus “Thad” Hamilton: (Sunrise / Retired Federal Employee; Retired Military) -  Campaign Web Site -

Randy Hatch: (Branford / Agribusinessman ) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -
Former Member – Suwannee County Commission

Scott Maddox: (Tallahassee / Attorney) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -
Former Chairman, Florida Democratic Party
Former Mayor, City of Tallahassee
Former Member, Tallahassee City Commission

O.R. “Rick” Minton, Jr.: (Fort Pierce / Real Estate) – Campaign Web Site -
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives, District 78

— REPUBLICAN—
Carey Baker: (Eustis / Gun Shop Owner) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Legislative Web Page -
Current Member, Florida State Senate, District 20
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives

Adam Putnam: (Bartow / Citrus & Cattle Businessman) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Congressional Bio Page -
Current Member, United States House of Representatives, District 12
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives, District 63

— REAL FOOD PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA —
James Harlin Carter: (Live Oak) -  Candidate currently has no online presence.

FLORIDA STATE SENATE – DISTRICT 10
— REPUBLICAN —
Paul M. Phillips: (Valrico / Attorney, Retired Military):  Facebook Page -

Ronda Storms:  (Incumbant / Brandon / Teacher, Attorney ) -  Campaign Web Site – Legislative Web Page -
Former Member, Hillsborough County Commission

FLORIDA STATE SENATE – DISTRICT 15
The winner will replace Republican incumbant Paula Dockery, who is running for Governor.
No candidates have qualified to run for this seat.

FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 63
— REPUBLICAN —
This district covers much of of southwest Polk County, including Crystal Lake, Lakeland Highlands, Medulla, and Winston plus areas of Bartow and Lakeland, as well as portions of southeastern Hillsborough County
Seth McKeel:  (Incumbant /Lakeland / Real Estate) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Legislative Web Page -
Former Member, Lakeland City Commission

FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 64
This district covers much of northwest and north-central Polk County, including Gibsonia, Kathleen, Polk City, as well as areas of northern Lakeland.
— DEMOCRAT —
Carol Castagnero: (Lakeland / Retired Teacher) – Campaign Web Site

— REPUBLICAN —
C.A. “Neil” Combee, Jr.:  (Polk City/ Realtor) -

Linda Ivell:  (Lakeland / Realtor) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page

Kelli Stargel:  (Incumbant / Lakeland / Investment Property Manager) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Legislative Web Page -

FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 65
This district covers much of north-central and northeast Polk County, including Auburndale, Davenport, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Hamilton, and portions of Winter Haven
— REPUBLICAN —
John Wood:  (Incumbant / Winter Haven / Attorney, Realtor) - Legislative Web Page -

FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 66
This district covers areas of southern Polk County, including Fort Meade, Frostproof, Highland Park, and Wahneta, as well as portions of Bartow and Winter Haven, all of Hardee County and areas in Highlands County.
The winner will replace Republican incumbant Baxter Troutman, who is term-limited.
— REPUBLICAN —
Ben Albritton:  (Wauchula / Citrus Grower) -  Personal/Florida Citrus Commission Bio Page

Gary Newberry: (Winter Haven / Chiropractor) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

Leviticus Reed:  (Winter Haven) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 79
This district covers much of southeastern Polk County, plus areas of Okeechobee, Orange, and Osceola counties
— REPUBLICAN —
Thomas E. Chalifoux, Jr.:  (Kissimmee / Developer) -  Campaign Web Site –  
Former Member, Osceola County School Board

Mike Horner:  (Incumbant /Kissimmee / Chamber of Commerce CEO) -  Campaign Web Site – Legislative Web Page -

front photo credit: sun dazed

Kevin A. Burns:  (North Miami / Realtor – Broker) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Site
Former Mayor, City of North Miami

Raphael Herman: (Miami Beach) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

Chuck Lynch:  (Fort Walton Beach) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

Kendrick B. Meek:  (Miami / Retired Highway Patrolman) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Site – Congressinal Web Site
Currently Congressman, 17th District

Lawrence Penpek: (Sorrento / Retired US Postal Service) – Campaign Web Site -

— REPUBLICAN —
Bob Coggins:  (Orlando / Former Engineer) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Site

Charlie Crist:  (St. Petersburg / Attorney) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Site – Gubernatorial Web Site
Currently Governor of Florida. Formerly Florida Attorney General

Thomas Andrew Mangum:  (Port St. Joe) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

Gwyn McClellan:  (Sarasota / Pastor, Education Professional) – Campaign Web Site -

Belinda Gail Quarterman Noah:  (Tampa / Attorney, Professor) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

Marco Rubio:  (Miami / Attorney) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -
Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives

Robert Clinton “Bob” Smith:  (Sarasota / Banker):  Campaign Web Site -                        Former Congressman, 1st District (New Hampshire), 1985 – 1990, and U.S. Senator (New Hampshire), 1991 – 2003

Shawn M. Teeters:  (Naples) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

Marion D. Thorpe, Jr. :  (Bal Harbour / Physician, Administrator) – Campaign Web Page – Facebook Page

— CONSTITUTION PARTY OF FLORIDA —
Marshall Louis DeRosa:  (Wellington / College Professor ) –  Campaign Web Site -

— LIBERTARIAN —
Alexander Andrew Snitker:  (Spring Hill / Account Representative) -  Campaign Web Site -

— INDEPENDENT (NO PARTY AFFILIATION) —
Bobbie Bean:  (Sebring / Commercial Printer) – Campaign Web Site -

Bernie DeCastro:  (Ocala / Non-profit Organizational Founder) – Campaign Web Site -

Todd Montgomery Oifer:  (Davenport / ) – Campaign Web Site -

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 5
— DEMOCRAT —
James John “Jim” Piccillo:  (Lutz / Mortgage Negotiator) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

H. David Werner:  ( Hudson) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

— REPUBLICAN —
Virginia “Ginny” Brown-Waite: (Incumbent)  (Brooksville / Housewife) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Congressional Web Site -

Jason Patrick Sager:  (Brooksville / Sage) – Facebook Page -

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 12
The winner will replace Republican incumbant Adam Putnam, who is running for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
— DEMOCRAT —
Lori Edwards:  (Winter Haven / Radio Broadcaster) – Campaign Web Site -  Supervisor of Elections Page -
Currently Polk County Supervisor of Elections
Previously Member, Florida House of Representatives, District 65

Randolph “Randy” Edwards:  (Valrico / Retired USMC) – Campaign Web Site - Facebook Page - 

Douglas David “Doug” Tudor:  (Riverview / Retired USN) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

— REPUBLICAN —
Bradley D. Kallhoff:  (Lakeland) - Candidate currently has no online presence. 

John W. Lindsey, Jr.:  (Winter Haven) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

Dennis Ross:  (Lakeland / Attorney) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 15
— DEMOCRAT —
Jonathan F. Bull:  (Melbourne / Attorney) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

Shannon Roberts:  (Cape Canaveral) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

— REPUBLICAN —
Bill Posey: (Incumbant) (Rockledge /Realtor ) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Congressional Web Site
Former Member, Florida Senate, District 24
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives,
Former Rockledge City Commissioner,

On one hand, I’m thrilled. I know of no other elected official – national, state, or local – who has, within the last decade, openly challenged the dominant economic establishment within her sphere of influence and won. It’s a remarkable accomplishment for principle and good government, even it proves temporary. Go ahead, name me another politician anywhere with a record to match it.

I’m also worried. I’ll probably vote for Dockery over Alex Sink if it comes to that: I prefer a reasonable populist to a reasonable corporatist. And I fear that Dockery, as a result, will honestly, but relentlessly, move Florida government to the right, particularly on funding issues. And I fear that she’ll help Republicans in Florida seize the mantle of good, transparent government from Democrats and further build their state house majority.

At a time when our traditional words for describing political inclinations are losing all relationship to the way politics actually functions on the ground, Dockery has carved out an original and powerful niche, if Republican voters are smart enough to seize it: She’s a reasonable populist.

Here’s what I mean. Think back to the bailout of U.S. banks. If you remember, the first vote failed because the grassroots and principled wings of both parties revolted. The “left” objected because it saw the deal as class warfare, with the wealthy and powerful hoovering up the resources in the middle class to sustain a system that wasn’t working for most of America even when it functioned. The “right” couldn’t stand the idea of spending $700 billion on banks should be allowed to fail. Too much government intervention in the private sector. Moral hazard and all of that. It was the corporately-funded “center” of both parties that eventually sowed enough terror of financial Armageddon to snag the few votes it needed. We’ll never know if everything would have collapsed; but we do know that the bipartisan vote has proved an incredibly sweet deal for the banking-industrial complex. In this, as in most cases, the “reasonable center” kept the populist wings of both parties from getting what they want, and large economic and corporate interests were served first. We’ll see if that proves to be the right long-term policy.

Contrast this to Dockery’s role in the CSX deal, which bears striking resemblance to the bailout, albeit on a much smaller scale. Opposition on the left sees it a union-busting, liability-transferring, massive taxpayer subsidy of CSX, a powerful and rapacious corporation, brokered by Gov. Bubble himself, Jeb Bush. Opposition on the right sees it as the same thing, minus the concern for the union-busting. They also just hate government spending on transit or other public interest projects. The fact that the CSX deal uses a crappy transit project to camouflage the near monopolization of Florida’s shipping economy by CSX and a few key landowners doesn’t change the principled Tea Party-type opposition to government investment.

But unlike the bailout, in the CSX deal, a “mainstream” politician actually saw the legitimacy of the grassroots arguments of both left and right and relentlessly argued them and organized on behalf of them. Dockery united the activists on both sides for the public good. There is nothing the bipartisan architects of our unfair and corrupt economic structure fear more than that. (I happen to think that the Republican grassroots is completely oblivious to the consequences for themselves of what they think they believe, but that’s a different matter.)

Typically, the establishment “center” pits the grassroots of both parties against one another for the benefit of big economic interests. And the people who claim to represent them generally go along. (By the way, if you think Marco Rubio is a conservative, ask him if he supports the CSX giveaway. Believe me, anybody endorsed by Gov. Jeb Bubble, R-Lehman Brothers, believes conservatism means giving your money to large economic interests so they can do whatever the hell they want with it. Charlie’s no better, of course. But if Rubio’s a conservative, I’m a penguin.)

Dockery doesn’t go along, nor does she believe her political role is to suppress the legitimate interests and concerns of the grassroots, or to harness them for cynical benefit. Wonder or wonders, she’s capable of actually looking at a piece of legislation, deciding for herself if it’s beneficial or a swindle, and acting accordingly. That reasonable assessment of fact, driven by fiscal prudence and jealous protection of tax dollars, is what conservatism claims to be, but really isn’t. I’ve joked that I would like conservatives if any existed. Well, one does. To that end, expect Dockery to push for a major overhaul of the Florida Department of Transportation, an government organization that has evolved largely into a taxpayer-funded, interest-free private investment bank for big development and business interests. That’s the kind of reform that doesn’t fit neatly into political shout-fests on television, but it would strike a real blow against the capture of state government by private interests. The grassroots on the right and left would high five gleefully over that.

I have little doubt that Dockery would beat Alex Sink if she won the Republican primary. I have much greater doubt that the roiling Republican electorate in Florida is capable of realizing the power that a reasonable conservative populist could wield in the service of what they claim to be their beliefs. We’ll see. If Dockery can’t convince the Republican base of the value of reasonable populism, maybe someone on the left can. Dockery has left a beautiful blueprint.

“Of course not. So why does Congress operate under an identical system?”

St. Petersburg Times – Scientology Investigation Overdue: 
“When workers for the Church of Scientology sign a contract agreeing to serve in the church’s Sea Organization for “the next billion years,” the church can twist that agreement into a license to harass its workers, track them down if they leave and pressure them to return. What true church, what caring employer, would trample on the dignity and free choices of its own members in such a way? And what are authorities going to do about it?”

Daytona Beach News Journal – Textbook Inflation:
“Young or old, college students are slammed with onerous out-of-pocket expenses that exceed the out-of-pocket health costs of most working-age adults. The reason: textbooks

“In some college courses, textbooks cost more than tuition. Textbook costs are rising so fast (200 percent, or three times the rate of inflation, since 1986) that they can be the deciding factor between those who can and cannot afford a college education. Textbooks should never be that obstacle.

“The average college student pays between $800 and $1,000 a year in textbook expenses. That’s double the amount working adults pay, on average, in out-of-pocket health costs…”

Tampa Tribune – Bucs’ Fans Deserve Straight Answers:
“It’s appropriate the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are donning their old orange and white colors for today’s “throwback” game against Green Bay at Raymond James Stadium. In many respects, this year’s team resembles the “Yucks” of old…

“But the Glazer family, which has owned the team for more than 12 years and helped bring Tampa its only Super Bowl title, should address more than the bad play on the field. They need to face up to fans, who are losing faith in them.

“Many fans question whether the family’s ownership of the Manchester United soccer club has taken precedence over the Bucs and wonder whether the football team’s profits are being used to help pay off the family’s debt on Man U, among other concerns.”

Orlando Sentinel – Too Compelling To Refuse:
“Twice, the Legislature has rejected a commuter rail system for metro Orlando, saying its benefits for the local population don’t justify its cost to the entire state…

“…since the Legislature last rejected SunRail in May, it has become clear that another defeat would cost Florida thousands more jobs. That’s because federal officials say Florida won’t get the $2.5 billion it has applied for to build a high-speed rail system without first demonstrating a commitment to public transit by approving SunRail. That’s why legislative leaders are saying a special session next month to pass SunRail is now a good bet. They need to follow through.”

With Putnam and his significant campaign bank account stepping aside for a run to become Florida’s next Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, six candidates have filed as of today.  The latest to join the fray is Valrico resident Randolph “Randy” Edwards, who is retiring after a 22 year career in the United States Marine Corps.  The Florida Division of Elections’ Web Site notes that Edwards filed qualifying papers last Monday.

The two other Democrats have been busy raising funds and meeting potential supporters for some time now:  Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards of Winter Haven, a former state legislator before being term limited, filed at the end of June.  Another retired military man, former Naval Master Chief Yeoman Douglas David “Doug”  Tudor of Riverview, challenged Putnam unsuccessfully in 2008, but earned 42.5  percent of the vote across the district which entails much of Polk County as well as portions of Hillsborough and Osceola counties.

Meanwhile, three other candidates hope to keep the seat in GOP hands.  Lakeland attorney and former State Representative Dennis Ross filed to run in March, shortly after being term-limited from his legislative post.  Bradley D. Kallhoff of Lakeland and John W. Lindsey, Jr. of Winter Haven have not established campaign Web sites, but Lindsey does have a Twitter presence.

Something tells me that this political season will be veeeeeeeeery interesting.

At approximately 1:45 this morning, my son was up watching Last Call with Carson Daly when the picture suddenly changed and the familiar opening strains of John Williams’ NBC News theme The Mission came up.  Then the word that many had dreaded, that Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy had succumbed to the brain cancer which had been suffering from for nearly two years.

Miami blogger Mustang Bobby of Bark Bark Woof Woof put it well earlier this morning:

There will be a lot of tributes, honors, and memories from people around the nation and around the world who are far more important, insightful, and who knew him far better than I. All I can add is that this loss to his family and to the nation is deeply felt and it goes beyond politics. If you are under the age of 60, you never lived a day without a Kennedy representing Massachusetts in the United States Senate. But beyond the politics, beyond the liberal vs. conservative, beyond the mystique of the Kennedy family, he was a true representative of the people of his state and, in a larger sense, the rest of us. He had his flaws — and some people will remind us of them over the next few days — but he always wanted the best for the nation, not for how it benefited him but for how it would make this a better place to live.

I especially feel disappointed that he left us before a solution was found for health care reform for all Americans, an issue which he was especially passioniate about.  The working class of our nation have lost one of the best advocates.  But as Senator Kennedy himself said at the 1980 Democratic National Convention:

“For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.“

First, it seems as though the Republican Party of Florida is clearly playing favourites in the race for Commissioner of Agriculture & Consumer Services.

The Orlando Sentinel political blog Central Florida Political Pulse notes today that the RPOF has put out more than $146,000 for the campaign of Congressman Adam Putnam campaign on a variety of expenses compared to only $11,466 on ” consulting services” for GOP primary opponent State Senator Carey Baker of Eustis.  Putnam has a clear advantage in fundraising, having raised $744,900 in five months, while Baker — who was prohibited from fundraising in April and early May during the legislative session and and who did not raise funds while on Army National Guard training duty last month — has only $381,000 in donations.

Oh, the sacrifices one makes…

Meanwhile, the St. Petersburg Times political blog The Buzz is reporting that the more conservative Democratic group Blue Dog Coalition has endorsed Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards in her campaign to become the 12th Congressional District’s next representative.  Congressman Allan Boyd (D – Monticello) said that “We know a little bit about Lori’s recod we know that she will be a great fit with the Blue Dogs”.  The two were members of a similar group while both served in the Florida Legislature.  Mrs. Edwards will face Navy veteran Doug Tudor in the Democratic primary.

Surprisingly enough, most of the commenters seemed to agree with me, which doesn’t always happen. But one person in particular took me to task pretty thoughtfully in a pair of long comments he or she must have spent some time composing. For the purposes of this post, here’s key passage:

And Mr. Townsend I wonder if it would not be too much trouble to disagree with people without making it personal. Is the “you people” to which you refer “Baby Boomers” in general? Or just the elderly who disagree with your political position? To suggest that Mr. Feuer’s was “The Dumbest Letter Ever Written to the Ledger” is offensive on its face. if one takes the time to write out of concern, should not the concern be addressed without throwing them under the bus? No , that’s not the way we do things anymore, we need to berate, and castigate them until they are silenced. Not everyone has the ability to make a point without writing a book, but you know that. So when a concern is raised, could just a little latitude be offered.

This is a point worth discussing, I think, if just for the sake of the commenter. (If the rest of you find this entirely too much narcissism, feel free to eject at this point.)

My first reaction was to emphasize that I attacked the author’s letter, not him. But that’s disingenuous. Clearly, I stuck it to an elderly man I don’t know to make a point, complete with a couple of turns of phrase seeking malicious laughs at his expense. It was not, as my mother might say, Christian behavior. And yet I stand by it fully and regret nothing. Why?

It has to do with the relationship between the abstract and the real, or the “personal”, as the commenter says. More and more, I see this as the key divide among citizens and the institutions – public and private – we allow to govern us. Far too many citizens of all parties are ignorant of the basic consequences of their beliefs – or at least the talking points they’ve heard other people say – and are unwilling to learn about them. This letter provides a beautiful example of that. The author repeats the talking points he’s heard — “The big government takeover has to stop. Ever since liberals claimed power, it’s been one bureaucratic scheme after another.” — while demonstrating utter obliviousness to the fact that his beloved Medicare is, in fact, next to the military and social security, the largest “bureaucratic scheme” in the history of the United States. If we did away with these dreadful big-government-takeover-liberal-bureaucratic-schemes, the author would suddenly experience what it means to be old and “conservative.” Doctors and pharmacies don’t take IOUs.

So here I am, reading this letter in The Ledger. What to do? Easiest thing is to ignore it. But these types of letters, ignorant as they are, repeat, perpetuate, and help establish longterm abstract narratives that harden into political realities which have no bearing on actual reality and prevent us from taking common sense action.

Here’s a good example: the carbon tax. Such a thing could long ago have helped spur alternative energy and transit investment and development – such as the Europeans enjoy – and helped us move away from Saudi oil. But because so-called conservative Republicans over the years so successfully turned the word tax, out of all relation to its meaning in the real world, into an abstraction roughly equivalent to child molester, we never grappled with the pernicious realities of foreign energy dependence. Remember, Bill Clinton wanted to institute an energy tax at the onset of his administration. Who filibustered that to death, I wonder?

Instead, we allowed reality, in the form of religious terrorists, corrupt regimes, and opportunistic participants in energy markets to provide the tax for us last year – on their terms. It took $4 gas about six months to kill the SUV culture in this country. A sensible carbon tax might have kept it from ever developing – and left us with viable solar energy like they have in Germany or fantastic public transit and high speed rail like France. Think we’d be better off, right now? Because of the lasting power of the tax bogeyman abstraction and big economic interests to cower politicians, we can’t even do a simple carbon tax now, which leaves us with this Godawful corporate grab-bag of a cap and trade plan to fight global warming.

In the case of health care, all those people talking in the abstract about the horrors of a “government takeover” seem completely unable to even consider that the entire private health care system depends on the willingness of employers to pay for its ever-increasing cost, as I laid out here. They want to stay with a model that is almost certainly doomed if it doesn’t change. And they give no thought to the consequences of that.

You could make an argument that the tax/government takeover abstraction would be legitimate if conservatives actually embraced the consequences of treating taxes as evil. But they don’t, because that would mean real, substantive, death enducing cuts in the services those dreaded taxes buy, such as Medicare and the military. That’s where the money is, folks. Nowhere else.

And that brings us to this “ever since liberals claimed power” nonsense. It is a fact that George W. Bush, in his first term in office, backed by a mostly Republican congress, launched two wars and created the Medicare prescription drug plan, the most expansive and expensive government entitlement program since the Great Society. He did all of this while slashing taxes. He then proceeded to account for all of this by keeping the costs of Iraq and Afghanistan off budget and by pretending that his tax cuts would sunset at the end of his term in office, thereby assuring that his successor – whoever it might have been – would have to either keep up the dishonesty or acknowledge a much larger US deficit than Bush was willing to acknowledge. This is breathtaking in its irresponsibility, dishonesty, and shamelessness. Throw out the value or morality of these policies for a second and just consider their budget impact. I know of no failure of US financial governance by a president of any party that remotely compares to this massive unfunded mandate on the American people. And while a number of craven, gutless Democrats helped, this was Bush’s agenda, fully backed by the institutional Republican party and helped along by a debt and housing bubble. I’d like my commenter to either acknowledge this or tell me why I’m wrong.

It is incredibly difficult, as a political opposition, to wrestle with opponents willing to engage in this level of shamelessness. Run on actually paying for all this government action, and you’re an income confiscating socialist tax-and-spend liberal. Run on ending the Iraq War or the Medicare prescription drug plan because we can’t afford them, and you’re an America-hating senior killer. Run on some messy combination of the two, and you’re all of the above plus a wishy-washy flip-flopper. That was John Kerry in 2004.

My commenter writes: “I am not a big fan of the previous administration either.” Really? See, I hear this a lot now. Oh, I couldn’t stand Bush. Not a real conservative. Really? Who did you vote for in 2004, when all of this was well-known? Put your money where your mouth is. John Kerry, for all his many problems, actually ran on trying to pay for some of Bush’s government. Bush did not. Nor did he run on cuts. Did you vote to repudiate this most unconservative of approaches to government?

I didn’t think so. And nothing changed in the next four years.

Now that we have a president who is trying to actually address these problems (getting out of Iraq, trying to reform health care in a way that restrains cost growth, and yes, borrowing money to nudge the economy away from bubbles while preserving public education and other services), letter-to-the-editor conservatives suddenly have rediscovered the principles they claim to hold, but don’t even understand.

And therein lies the problem. It isn’t the policy; it’s the political shamelessness behind the abstractions that lead to the policy and the grassroots willful ignorance that enables it.

And that’s why I went after this letter and its writer. I hate to say it, because it’s harsh, but he’s the problem. I want all my services, but I don’t want to pay for them because I’m an anti-government conservative – or something. And he is not alone. There’s an old saying that “all politics is local.” That could just as easily read: “All politics is personal.”

If I ignore his letter, it’s just another log on the fire of a wrongheaded, but powerful narrative. If I treat this letter’s repetition of talking points as a legitimate argument, I legitimize it. I have no interest in doing that. The author’s not making an argument or even asking a question, so there’s nothing to engage with in good faith. (In contrast to my commenter.) By calling him out, and by mocking that other old saw about how much better educated the previous generations were, I hoped to discredit him and the ignorance to which he contributes.

And, ultimately, I hope that I’ll discredit him effectively enough to protect him from himself. There’s another saying I’ve come to love, “Those who will not learn will be made to feel.” Let this letter-writer get his wish, and if he lives long enough, and he may get to feel what it’s like when government bureaucratic schemes that help millions of people stay alive fall prey to cynical abstractions.

It seems at least some candidates are beginning to spend money to get their names out there earlier to gain name recognition.  I just didn’t think that any smart political consultants would encourage buying ads this early in the game.

If it hadn’t been for that pitched plunger battle Adam Hasner and Rush-the-Plumber waged against the burka-wearing Islamoblogofeminaziliberal hordes, it would have been entirely peaceful.

The part of Nelson’s package which will obviously attract the most attention is a constitutional amendment which would abolish the Electorial College which, after all the votes are counted, makes the final determination who becomes President of the United States. The EC is made up of representatives from each state equal to it’s number of U.S. Senators and Representatives, and is intended to give smaller states greater weight instead of being overwhelmed by those states with much larger population. Instead, Nelson is suggesting a straight election by popular vote.

Senator Nelson’s reforms also include:

— Early voting in every state

— Absentee ballots on demand for any qualified voter, which is currently available in Florida.

— Ban voting machines that do not produce a paper trail.

— Grants to states to develop pilot projects for mail-in balloting and secure voting via the Internet.

It also includes an idea which I have championed ever since last January: A series of rotating interregional presidential preference primaries and caucuses.

What do you think?

I’ve put together this list so that you can see just how much of a choice we have when it comes to electing candidates for public office. Much of the information comes from the Florida Department of Elections site, with additional items from the Web sites of the parties listed as having links. One note for consideration: Many of the smaller political parties don’t have the financial resource to rent it’s own office, so the addresses and phone numbers are likely that of the party’s chairman or other leader. Please keep that in mind in contacting them.

America First Party of Florida
Post Office Box 352
Fort White, FL 32038
(321) 631-4026

American Party of Florida
609 East Main Street
Avon Park, FL 33825
(863) 453-7223

American Poor People Party
5415 Santa Rosa Way
Jacksonville, FL 32211
(904) 683-2294

American Reform Party of Florida
6999-02 Merrill Road, Apt. 265
Jacksonville, FL 32277
(904) 745-1250

British Reformed Sectarian Party
3108 Moss Drive
Cocoa, FL 32922
(321) 638-8960

Christian Party
803 East Magnolia
Arcadia, FL 34266
(863) 494-0363

Constitution Party of Florida
16874 131st Way, North
Jupiter, FL 33478
(800) 283-8647

Ecology Party
641 Southwest Sixth Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
(888) 462-2468

Faith & Patience, Inc. N.P.G.G.
700 Southeast Fifth Court
Pompano Beach, FL 33060
(954) 785-0127

Family Values Party
2006 Woodbury Drive
Room 1-C
Cantonment, FL 32533
(850) 968-9817

Florida Democratic Party
214 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 222-3411 / FAX (850) 222-0916

Florida Socialist Workers Party
Post Office Box 381395
Miami, FL 33138
(305) 756-4436

Florida Whig Party
2530 Dwyer Lane
Lake Mary, FL 32746
(407) 314-9924

Green Party of Florida
Post Office Box 1316
Key West, FL 33041-1316
(850) 474-1495

Independence Party of Florida
Post Office Box 2206
Riverview, FL 33568
(904) 704-5392 or (813) 671-3122

Independent American Party of Florida
4618 Key Lime Boulevard
Loxahatchee, FL 33470
(561) 795-1335

Independent Democrats of Florida
525 West 49th Street
Miami Beach, FL 33140
(305) 864-5110

Independent Party of Florida
Post Office Box 100
Largo, FL 33779
(727) 585-1111

Libertarian Party of Florida
5901 Pendragon Lane
Fort Myers, FL 33912
(800) 478-0555

Moderate Party
2595 Little Hill Cove
Apt. 212
Ovideo, FL 32765
(321) 517-9021

Possibility Party
606 Commodore Drive
Plantation, FL 33325
(954) 696-0550

Progressive Libertarian Party
4420 Beacon Circle
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
(561) 632-0462

Prohibition Party
Post Office Box 3554
Milton, FL 32572
(850) 686-1122

Real Food Party of the United States of America
14691 129th Road
Live Oak, FL 32060
(386) 688-2805

Reform Party of Florida
309 Exeter Street
Oldsmar, FL 3467
(813) 855-1213 / FAX (813) 855-1426

Republican Party of Florida
420 East Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Post Office Box 311
Tallahassee, FL 32302-0311
(850) 222-7920 / FAX (850) 681-0184

Socialist Party of Florida
Post Office Box 22953
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33335
No Phone Contact Listed

Surfers Party of America
c/o 29 Catalonia Court
St. Augustine, FL 32086
No Phone Contact Listed

Term Limits for the United States Congress Party
Post Office Box 819
New Port Richey, FL 34656
(727) 597-0225

Veterans Party of America
1115 Edgewood Avenue, South
Apt. 647
Jacksonville, FL 32205
(904) 738-8379

In a statement posted on his campaign Web site, Gravel said he had been “repeatedly marginalized in both national debates and in media exposure by the Democratic leadership” and referred to the Democratic Party as an organization which “continues to sustain war, the military-industrial complex and imperialism”.

Gravel noted that the Libertarian Party is “considerably closer to my values, my foreign policy views and my domestic views”. The Alaskan would become the 15th individual seeking to become the Libertarian nominee, which will be decided at the party’s convention May 22-26 in Denver.

This is yet another curve in Gravel’s campaign. Just last month, while still very much a candidate for the Democratic nomination, he endorsed Green Party candidate Jesse Johnson.

And so it goes…