The State of the Florida Democratic Party
Peter Schorsch tweeted this message.
Intensity increasing by the moment to see FL Dem Chair Karen Thurman resign immediately. Doubt she makes it through the week.
I don't know who Schorsch's sources are. I find Schorsch's tweet amusing since Benjamin Kirby said I would be the first person to call for Thurman's resignation.
The 2010 election was a disaster for Florida Democratic Party. Democrats lost all the cabinet races. Republicans have super-majorities in the Florida House and Senate. Changing the deck chairs won't change anything if Florida Democrats don't have coherent policy proposals. The message needs to be more than Republicans are bad. Democrats need to offer solutions for voters.
Rick Scott is going to be an unpopular governor. Scott's negatives are already high. Democrats need to stand up for smart growth, the environment, education and closing corporate tax loopholes (Stadium luxury suites aren't taxed.) Florida Democrats can use these stances on issues to paint Scott as to far from the mainstream. It is also the right thing to do. Scott's policy proposals if implemented will be horrible for Florida.
The FDP has to stop the practice of not fielding candidates in Republican-leaning districts. Jim Norman is a Florida Senator because the FDP didn't field a Democrat for the general election. The Florida Democratic Party cannot continue the practice of letting Republicans run uncontested and then wonder why they can't win back the legislature.
The Florida Democratic Party's GOTV effort is broken. Democrats have had a huge voter advantage in 2008 and 2010. The FDP was not able to win legislature seats the year Barack Obama won Florida. Democrats couldn't win in Florida with Obama on top of the ballot. The car crash that was the Democrats GOTV effort should be no surprise in a Republican-leaning year.
I am not a Karen Thurman fan. She is responsible for the disastrous idea of moving up the Democratic presidential primary. However, the problem extends beyond Thurman.
Correction: Democrat Adam Fetterman picked up an open Republican seat.
Labels: fdp, karen thurman, peter schorsch
posted by Michael Hussey @ 8:45 PM
4 Comments
4 Comments:
Sorry, Michael -- didn't mean to call you out on the Thurman thing. I just really thought you might call for her ouster sooner rather than later. This is a good post, though -- well thought-out.
Michael, House Democrats gained a seat in 2010. Just to correct the record. Sasso's seat went to Crisafulli, but Bembry and Fetterman were open seat pickups.
Michael, House Democrats gained a seat in 2010. Just to correct the record.
Not impressive, but noted.
I just really thought you might call for her ouster sooner rather than later.
Get me to do it. Thanks. I'm a little too tired from fighting with the Kendrick "moderate progressive" Meek campaign. The question is with who. It would be hysterical if Mitch Kates got the job - just to read Peter Schorsch's reaction. The problem goes beyond Thurman. That said, it looks like Thurman's toast.
If not Karen, the next chair would probably be someone close to Nelson, as the sole remaining statewide Dem.
I think we can rule out Mitch - though I admit, it would be fun to stroll on down the Ferg's and see Peter's face. Mitch was really only top dog in Tampa Bay. His big chance to raise his statewide profile was Amendment 4 and well... we all know how that went. Unless someone knows something I don't (which happens quite a bit, I admit).
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