Free Republic

Agreed it’s too early to make a call, on either side (I don’t think HRC gets the free ride she seems to think she deserves, either).

Assuming he can beat Crist in November, not sure why FL Governor Rick Scott isn’t mentioned—more relevant in all but name than Jeb, hasn’t made the lapses in judgment Rubio has. Yeah, I’m in Orlando so biased I guess, but the two-term GOP governor of the third largest state, who has never lost a race, seems like a fairly obvious contender.

McCollum’s single biggest mistake was an off-the-cuff remark, apparently within a couple days if not hours of the Arizona immigration bill being passed, saying it was “out there” (or words to that effect) and that we don’t need it in Florida. Later backtracked like mad, but the the Scott ads played that clip to death.

On a grander scale, tho, McCollum just lacks the “charisma” you need to run for statewide or national office. It’s hard to define—Rubio and Crist have tons of it, Reagan and Clinton defined it—but you have to come off as interesting, engaging and likeable. McCollum, for whatever reason, doesn’t—why he’s lost three statewide elections that, on paper, he should have won. “Charisma vacuums” can keep their lower-level seats for decades (a couple local US Congressmen come to mind), but they always stumble when they seek higher office.

So...is it really just Crist and Rubio? No fan of Crist, but I keep hearing Rubio is a gun-grabber who tried to get reduced college tuition for illegals. Can’t Paula Dockery or the businessman running against McCollum (and in fairness, I know very little about either) be persuaded to switch races?

Now saying “Hispanic”.

According to Channel 9, up to 17 shot.

I do find it odd they “know” this is a disgruntled employee already, but don’t seem to have a name to share.

Lives down here in central Florida—in addition to being a talented singer, he’s an amazing artist (caused a minor controversy when one of his paintings for Deltona City Hall had a small Bible in it) and just a heck of a nice guy as well.

Hoping you are right about the Panhandle, but afraid that’s not gonna do a thing for Keller or Feeney.

If you know the neighborhood in question, there’s no question these kids were far from “rich,” even by Daytona trailer park standards.

While there is no condoning the psycho kids’ actions, the bums in Daytona Beach are far from saints. Far more obnoxious and threatening than any I ever saw in DC or NYC. The real story here is the urban decay that the city government seems incapable of unconfronting.

A semi-talented liberal country singer makes a dumb joke about the (white) POTUS, and FReepers fall all over themselves celebrating radio stations that pull her group’s music from the airwaves based on audience pressure.

A no-talent liberal DJ makes a dumb racist joke calling (black) student-athletes prostitutes, and at least a handful of FReepers make a huge stink about his show being pulled from the airwaves based on audience pressure.

And conservatives wonder why we always get tagged as racists...

I greatly enjoyed it as well, and I think most FReepers would, if they don't mind the blood and gore. While the movie is a bit of a Rorshach test, it's hard not to see the parallel to W of a lone leader and his loyal followers taking a courageous stand against a Middle Eastern tyrant to protect their freedom.

[slight spoiler]
BTW, the oracles or elders or whatever they are--inbred, lecherous and corrupt--seem like stand-ins for the Mainstream Media. Not sure if it was intentional or not, but that was all I could think

I liked the Daytona police chief's idea better--give them all 1-way tickets on a Greyhound. (Oversimplifying slightly, but not a joke.)

Homelessness is a big problem in Daytona, to the point that it affects the town's already dying tourist business. Entire beachfront motels are de facto homeless shelter/drug markets.

AI is the culmination of 30 years of "self esteem training" in lieu of education. After a lifetime of having their self-esteem built up without ever really learning anything, college-age kids who can't carry a tune in a bucket think they have a God-given right to a record deal and stardom.

Watching reality (in the form of a wickidly funny Brit) smack them in the face is almost as much fun as watching the DUmmies during the 2004 election. If you haven't tried it, I recommend it at least once. Lots of stereotypically mincing gays, too, which also always makes me laugh--lowbrow but come on, still funny.

Agreed he will crash and burn...after Hillary shoots him out of the sky. She is using Obama as a straw man, to keep money and publicity from flowing to Edwards and Gore, at least one of whom could give her a serious challenge in the primary.

Once this is safely a two-person race, Barrack will look like a porcupine with all the knives stuck in his back (and as a bonus, if Hillary paints him as a "religion of peace" sympathizer, she can make herself look almost tough on national security).

Sorry to see Clay Shaw go, one of the good ones. Joe Negron deserves much respect for taking on an impossible situation and nearly pulling off a win. I hope he will be remembered by the GOP in the future.

Exactly, voluunteers handing out fliers would be more effective than signs no matter. Bus in CRs if you have to.

Sorry, not buying the spin of "The emails were weird but OK, it's the IMs that were bad."

A coach, teacher or Scout leader who sent a 16-year-old an email asking what he wants for Christmas and for a pic would raise alarm bells. Said person would be removed very quickly. The fact that Foley was a barely in the closet single male should only have added to the concern. Just telling him to cut it out, with no further investigation, was inadequate. To continue my analogy, a principal or BSA executive director who took that course of action would be fired.

Not defending the Dems here, who are even more vile because they are also hypocrites. But the GOP leadership really dropped the ball on this one.

PS--just so we are clear on my party loyalties, until Monday morning I had one of those "US Congress" calendars hanging in my office...courtesy of Rep. Mark Foley.

Tan Man PWNed Gallagher for the first 20 minutes or so (mostly because he's so telegenic--TG came off as hesitant, stammering and far too negative too early). CC just has that whole "Hollywood" feel-good charm Reagan used so well.

TG recovered nicely in the "ask an opponent" a question round. Nice how he called out CC's failure to answer the abortion and civil union questions. But he went down hard with the question on the ethics panel--CC ate his lunch in the rebuttal. Not the definitive win TG probably needed.

BTW, could it be more obvious the questioners hated both men? Had to get an Iraq question in, even though it's a state race.

Eh...

I think the KH campaign has been dead in the water for a month or so now (and more is the shame), but I worked with Metzler in the past and it's not like this is a big loss (admittedly a cheap shot, but I know others who would agree). Surprised he stuck around this long, he was the golden boy of Carol-Jean Jordan and the RPOF a couple years ago, thought they might have pressured him to drop out ages ago...or maybe that explains his alleged lack of performance.

Asked this before, but as McBride is apparently an immigration apologist, can anyone give me a good reason NOT to vote for the Admiral? Leaning toward him by default, but know nothing more than the basics about him.

Not to highjack the thread, but can anyone confirm McBride marched in the "immigrant rally" in Orlando a couple months ago? (on the day of the immigrant boycott.)

I know very little about the Admiral (or his father) but he is looking like the best choice by default. Given his age, realistically he would most likely be a one-termer; maybe the GOP will have better luck recruiting in 6 years.

What a year we're having in Florida...