In 2000 recount, GOP heeded Stone's rule #1: Attack, attack, attack

"Call Roger Stone.''

With those three words, a political juggernaut was set in motion that helped quash a vote recount, and ultimately, change American history.

The directive came from former Secretary of State James Baker, campaign strategist for George W. Bush, and it's captured in the new HBO movie "Recount."

Who better to screen the movie with than the man on the other end of the phone, the Republican operative who got his start in politics with the most famous dirty trickster of them all, Richard Nixon?

Read the column about Roger & Me here.

The Sen Prez wars: King, and the DLP-Bennett connex

There's a new Republican slush fund in town: Alliance for a Stronger Economy, a committee of continuous existence headed by the eyebrow-raising pair of Miami Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla and Bradenton Sen. Mike Bennett.

DLP didn't return calls for comment about it yesterday, and Bennett just did, saying it was set up to "help out a few friends." Just who, he wouldn't say. How about himself for Senate President? "I hope it turns out that way for me," Bennett said.

But when? Bennett said he wasn't completely sure. It's a delicate question, considering Senate President-designate Jeff Atwater's potentially tough re-election fight. If he loses to Democrat Skip Campbell, the Senate could get a bit chaotic.

The leader for the 2010 spot, Sen. Mike Haridopolos, might push to be president early. Former Senate President Jim King looks like he's putting himself in a strong position through his CCE, Committee for Keeping Integrity in Government, which he opened right before the spring legislative session. And some fans of Senate President Ken Pruitt say they're ready to draft him for a second term (something he has said he wasn't interested in). A few top Republican legislators said there was "friction" between the Pruitt and King camps toward the end of the session during the dramatic tie vote defeating an abortion restriction.

The wildcard: Miami Sen. Alex Villalobos (the victim of a DLP-led coup for Atwater) and his faction.

Bob Graham to head up anti-WMD commission

Former Florida Sen. (and Gov) Bob Graham has been tapped by congressional leaders to chair the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Republican Leader John Boehner and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the appointment.

The commission was a recommendation of the 9/11 commission and is to assess the county's current initiatives and programs aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons and mass destruction and terrorism along with coming up with recommendations. The commission has 180 days to issue a report.

Continue reading "Bob Graham to head up anti-WMD commission"

Through the 2010 looking glass: Rubio v. Robaina v. DLP v. ??

Folks are already moving themselves into position for the 2010 election to fill the Miami seat that a term-limited Republican Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla will leave.

While soon-to-be former House Speaker Marco Rubio and the senator's brother, Miami-Dade school board member Renier Diaz de la Portilla are among the possible candidates, there's one definite: Miami Rep. Julio Robaina.

"I’m absolutely running in 2010. I’ve got 13 years as a public servant -- as a commissioner, mayor and as a Rep. and I understand the needs of this community," Robaina said. He predicted a crowded field: "I think there’s going to be a lot of people running -- from people with Tallahassee connections to the county to the school board."

A plus for Robaina: The name Julio Robaina, shared by the popular Hialeah Republican mayor who operates in a parallel universe from the state rep. But the DLP last name has a name-ID plus as well.

"My brother has done a great job with the district," said Renier Diaz de la Portilla. "We have a solid base there." He said he's focusing on his school board run right now, but "would consider" the senate seat two years later.

UPDATE: Status change in Diaz-Balart vs. Martinez; Feeney vs. Kosmas

To Democrats' delight, the Cook Political Report has revised its outlook on the race the Herald bills as the battle of the titans: Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart vs. Raul Martinez. The race is now seen as "likely Republican," as opposed to the "solid Republican" rating it was intially given.

(That's a two on a scale that ranges from solid Republican, likely Republican, leans Republican and toss up)

Democrats believe they have their best shot in years in unseating one of South Florida's three Cuban American Republicans and some analysts suggest Martinez, the former mayor of Hialeah, may have the best opportunity among the three challengers.

Republicans have recently lost three GOP-held House seats in special elections, leading some to project a challenging fall for the GOP in November. David Wasserman, the House editor for Cook, says the change was made because Martinez has shown himself to be an accomplished fundraiser.

"Martinez raised a considerable amount of money and he's in a position to be very financially competitive with Lincoln Diaz-Balart," Wasserman said. Though he notes Diaz-Balart has the advantage of incumbency and represents a "considerably Republican district." And, unlike the recent special election in Mississippi, Wasserman noted, party affiliation will be on the ballot.

Cook also changed the rating on a Central Florida seat, downgrading Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, from "likely Republican" to "leans Republican." His opponent, former state Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, already has more campaign cash on hand than the incumbent.

Obama, McCain I'm-rubber-you're glue over Hamas

Ever since a leader of the militant Palestinian group Hamas said of Barack Obama. "We like Mr. Obama and we hope that he will win the election,'' Republican John McCain has sought to portray the Democratic candidate as BFFs with Israel's mortal enemy.

No matter that Obama has consistently called Hamas a terrorist organization that he would never negotiate with until it recognized Israel and renounced violence. No matter that he criticized former president Jimmy Carter for recently talking to Hamas leaders.

"I think what is going on there is the same reason why there are some suspicions of me in the Jewish community,'' he told The Atlantic. "Look, we don't do nuance well in politics and especially don't do it well on Middle East policy. We look at things as black and white, and not gray. It's conceivable that there are those in the Arab world who say to themselves, 'This is a guy who spent some time in the Muslim world, has a middle name of Hussein, and appears more worldly and has called for talks with people, and so hes not going to be engaging in the same sort of cowboy diplomacy as George Bush,' and that's something theyre hopeful about. I think that's a perfectly legitimate perception as long as they're not confused about my unyielding support for Israel's security."

Bob Kunst, one of the most zealous Democratic activists in South Florida, isn't convinced. He's planning to protest during Obama's visit to Hollywood next week. 

"I've been a Democrat my whole life, but I can't support this guy,'' said the diehard Clinton supporter. "God know I've been opposed to Bush, but I thought what he said yesterday was pretty on target." More on what Bush said in Israel yesterday here.

Meanwhile, a former Clinton administration official writes in today's Washington Post that McCain is "guilty of hypocrisy'' on Hamas. Column here.

McCain's response: "John McCain has always believed that serious engagement would require mandatory conditions and Hamas must change itself fundamentally  renounce violence, abandon its goal of eradicating Israel and accept a two-state solution. John McCain's position is clear and has always been clear, the President of the United States should not unconditionally meet with leaders of Iran, Hamas or Hezbollah. Barack Obama has made his position equally clear, and has pledged to meet unconditionally with Iran's leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the leaders of other rogue regimes, which shows incredibly dangerous and weak judgment."

5 Repubs and 1 Dem targeted for abortion vote

Planned Parenthood of Florida is sending mail pieces out targeting five Republicans and one Democrat -- all facing tough November election fights -- for their votes on the bill requiring anyone seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound.

The legislators under fire: Sens. Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, and Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey and Reps. Gayle Harrell, R-Port St. Lucie, Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, and Matt Hudson, R-Naples and Darren Soto, D-Orlando. All but Harrell face tough re-election battles. Harrell is running for Congress.

The goal, said Adrienne Kimmell of Planned Parenthood, is to "hold elected officials accountable for their votes.''

McCain cleaning house

Republican presidential contender John McCain on Thursday fired an energy policy advisor who lobbies the federal government on behalf of energy clients, citing a new policy that seeks to quash influence peddling.

"The campaign recently severed ties with Eric Burgeson due to a new campaign policy that prohibits any registered lobbyist from participating in any policy discussions on the subjects in which they work,'' said McCain spokesman Jeff Sadosky.

The policy was developed following the recent dismissals of two campaign aides whose lobbying firm represented the military junta that runs Myanmar, widely condemned for thwarting rescue efforts after a deadly cyclone.

Full story here. Politico reports that the campaign also forced out a Republican consultant who also works for a "527" group launching sneak attacks against Democratic candidates.

Bush dig at Obama draws fire from Obama - and Clinton - supporters

President Bush's apparent dig today at Barack Obama for his willingness to talk to U.S. adversaries - came under withering criticism from South Florida Democrats who accused Bush of playing politics with US-Israel relations.

Even Hillary Clinton supporters indirectly came to Obama's defense, criticizing Bush, though, like Bush, not mentioning Obama by name.

"The president himself said it was a 'rare privilege for an American president to address the Knesset,' '' the statement said. "But instead of using his rare opportunity to build bridges and communicate the strong support for Israel amongst Americans of all political stripes, the president interjected partisan, domestic, Democrats vs. Republicans politics.''

The statement was signed by Reps. Ron Klein, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Tim Mahoney, Alcee Hastings and Kendrick Meek, who called themselves "some of the strongest supporters'' of Israel in Congress. Wasserman Schultz, Hastings and Meek back Clinton; Mahoney and Klein have yet to take a side.

Rep. Robert Wexler, who chairs Obama's Florida campaign and has talked with Jewish groups to dispel concerns about Obama's stance on Israel, called Bush's remarks a "politically calculated attack'' on Obama and said he was "disgusted by them.

"It is unprecedented that a sitting American president would stoop to this level and launch a deliberate attack on Barack Obama who is a staunch supporter of Israel,'' Wexler said.

Continue reading "Bush dig at Obama draws fire from Obama - and Clinton - supporters "

Rubio won't run for mayor. But gov? Sen? Punditry?

House Speaker Marco Rubio has made it official: He won't run for Miami-Dade County mayor. But governor? U.S. Senate? State Senate? Rubio won't say. At least not now.

His next likely move: Pundit. Rubio confirmed he's in talks with a Spanish-language media outfit (he won't say who) to talk politics. He said he also wants to spend more time with his family and on his legal career before he makes another political move.

Whether or not he could have beaten incumbent Mayor Carlos Alvarez in what would likely have been a bare-knuckle campaign, Rubio said the Miami-Dade mayor job wasn't the right fit for him. He said he likes Alvarez, is friends with him and that the mayor deserved more time to reform the system because he has had only two years as a strong mayor.

"First, it wasn’t right for me. Second, he needs more time," Rubio said.

Story here

Continue reading "Rubio won't run for mayor. But gov? Sen? Punditry?"