Gov. Rick Scott plans to flip the switch in Tampa Thursday in more ways than one.
In an early-morning photo-op for Tampa TV stations, Scott and Cabinet members will ceremonially throw a switch and light up the midway to mark the opening of the 2015 state fair. Later they'll meet in a horse pavilion to publicly hash out how to avoid repeating the clumsily orchestrated -- some say illegal -- backroom removal of a respected law enforcement officer, FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey.
But if you're expecting fireworks between Scott and the Cabinet, you'd better buy a ticket to the fair. For all of their professed shock and outrage over the Bailey fiasco over the past three weeks, it's unlikely Cabinet members will publicly criticize Scott.
That's all about politics, and the next race for governor in 2018.
The circumstances over Bailey's ouster aren't up for discussion. Scott made sure of that by framing it this way on the agenda: "Discussion of process going forward for annual Cabinet leadership review." The key word is forward: Scott's way of flipping a switch. The item also notes that Scott wants to remove three other Cabinet agency heads who oversee banking, tax collections and insurance.
CFO Jeff Atwater, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam have all criticized Scott's handling of Bailey, who reported to Cabinet members as well as the governor, but was axed after Scott's aides cryptically told their aides he wanted "new leadership." Typical of Scott's CEO style, Bailey became a non-entity in a bloodless coup. No public notice. No job evaluation. Not even a proclamation thanking him for a job well done.
Cabinet members talk a lot about transparency and accountability. Thursday is their best shot to back it up with action, but politics is in the way.
Scott is still the governor. He's still the titular head of the Republican Party of Florida, despite his embarrassing failure to prevent the ouster of Leslie Dougher, his choice for party chair. Even though Scott looks especially weak at the moment, there's very little political upside in his fellow Republicans publicly flogging him at a Cabinet meeting. Besides, that's not how Republicans do things. They prefer to settle family disputes in private.
Not only that, but Thursday's venue is in Bondi's backyard. Trash Scott in front of her peeps? Don't bet on it. The loquacious Atwater is never at a loss for words, but he's not the type to rip Scott's lungs out in a public forum. That leaves Putnam, the shrewdest member of the Gang of Three, who has already said Scott's people "misled" him about their true intentions with Bailey.
Atwater and Putnam both want to be governor, and neither got this far by antagonizing the Republican base. Putnam is likely to be the most vocal, but I'd bet the farm that he'll do it in a firm but respectful way to avoid making it look like he's demeaning Scott.
Don't expect a public thrashing of Scott. Instead, expect a wonkish discussion of process and procedure, quarterly job evaluations. There's a reason why Thursday's meeting is at an equestrian center, and it may have something to do with what you find under your feet at an equestrian center.
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