Does Benjamin Kirby Want a Job in a Kriseman Administration?

It is no secret that Benjamin Kirby has been Rick Kriseman's biggest online cheerleader. Kriseman is running for mayor of St. Petersburg. Kirby tweeted not one, but two posts on Kriseman's new ad. Kirby spent 8 years in the Clinton administration. Kirby is more than qualified. I'm wondering if Kriseman getting elected his his ticket back into the game.

Rick Kriseman's Fundraising

It is safe to say that St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Rick Kriseman has momentum behind him. Longtime Kriseman supporter Benjamin Kirby reports that Kriseman has raised $59,004 in 17 days.

“Once again, I am humbled by the outpouring of support for my campaign for mayor of St. Petersburg,” said Kriseman. “This campaign has grown into a movement for a St. Petersburg with more jobs, better schools, and stronger neighborhoods. The people of this city want decisive leadership from City Hall and I am confident I will deliver that leadership as mayor.”

Translation: Democrats are fundraising their asses off because they feel they finally have a shot at the mayor's office after years of Republican administrations.

Bill Foster Pulls Out His Secret Weapon and It Is Gov. Rick Scott (WTF)

St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster and Democratic challenger Rick Kriseman debated. Mark Puente caught this bizarre exchange. Foster bragged about his BFF Gov. Rick Scott.

He then surprised many with his answer on the importance of higher education when he mentioned Gov. Rick Scott. He boasted about spending a long weekend in Tallahassee securing $5 million for a business school at USF St. Petersburg.

"It's something the governor was going to veto," Foster said. "It helps to have a friend in the governor's mansion."

To give you an idea of how unpopular Scott is in Florida; Vern Schillinger on the HBO prison series had a higher approval rating with the other prisoners than Scott has with Floridians. Scott is less popular than Schillinger was in this video below. NSFW.

Benjamin Kirby wondered why Foster would politically link himself to Scott.

This is the same Governor Rick Scott who is one of the least popular — and by a factor of a lot, most vulnerable — governors in the nation. In recent polling, Scott gets trounced by a man who hasn’t even declared his intentions yet.

Right now Bill Foster's campaign team must really be wishing Kathleen Ford finished second in the primary.

Kathleen Ford's Potato Salad Remark

St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Kathleen Ford made one of the most politically tone deaf answers in the history of Tampa Bay politics. Ford was asked what has she done for the poor residents in Midtown. Ford told a black audience at the Bethel Community Baptist Church that she once made potato salad and served it in Campbell Park back in the 1990s.

“Momma T, you remember when we were fixing up that potato salad in Campbell Park for your un Festival. We had a lot of fun there. We had our sleeves rolled up… (inaudible)… Wasn’t that fun. That’s one thing that I have done…”

Ford can't think of one thing she did during her time on the St. Petersburg City Council that helped the black community in Midtown. Potato salad is her only contribution. Ford had the black vote locked up thanks to the support of Goliath Davis. Ford just blew her credibility with the black community and hopefully Davis' as well.

Benjamin Kirby cites Ford's potato salad answer as one more reason she isn't fit for public office.

It is an offensive, appalling statement and proves again-- that Kathleen Ford is simply not fit to lead the fourth largest city in Florida.

It is rare when Ben Kirby, Peter Schorsch and I are in agreement. The fact that we all believe that Kathleen Ford should never become mayor of St. Petersburg should tell you something.

My Post on Peter Schorsch's Post on Ben Kirby's Post

Peter Schorsch declares the Florida political blogosphere dead after Benjamin Kirby declared he was retiring from blogging. I am somewhat skeptical about Kirby staying retired. Kirby left the door open for blogging.

And I like to think I'll be back in blog form at some point. It'll probably be different --probably won't be focused on politics, or at least not solely focused on politics.

If you really want to retire, you do what Jim Johnson of State of Sunshine and stop blogging. Johnson still writes the occasional post. He spends most of his free time doing community theatre with the Carrollwood Players. If Kirby is onstage playing Richard III, I might be more convinced about his retirement.

Kirby isn't aware that he contradicted himself in these two paragraphs of his post.

I was listening to NPR the other morning, driving up 66th Street. The subject was something like transitional power in Afghanistan, followed by the impact of sequester, followed by more political news.

After about a mile and a half, I slammed my palm onto the steering wheel and screamed as loud as I could, "Fuck!" Because for as important as all of those stories really are, I could not bring myself to care. Even a little bit.

If Kirby doesn't care he wouldn't have gotten angry. Do you think Kim Kardashian ever slammed her hand after hearing news about Afghanistan?

The Florida blogosphere When I started Pushing Rope the Tampa blogosphere was Rachel Moran, Right-Wing Howler, Tampa Taxi Shots, Out In Left Field and the peanut gallery at Sticks of Fire. These bloggers would post sexist and anti-Islamic missives on their blogs. Moran advocated for beating up homeless people on-camera. I would write about the hate rants on these sites and get attacked. I don't have Schorsch's romantic view on the blogosphere of the past. I happen to think things are better now. There is room for improvement. Bloggers like myself and Litbrit couldn't get readers back in the day. Now we get media attention and win awards.

Potential Problems For A Democratic Charlie Crist

Charlie Crist will have to deal with skepticism from Democrats if he plans on running for governor again. This quote by Florida Democratic Party chairman Rod Smith is a perfect example.

"I'm one of those believers that if you want to join our church you're always welcome in the congregation. That doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to make you a preacher," said Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith, who has himself been mentioned as a possible candidate in 2014.

Translation: many Democrats have no problem with Crist stumping for President Obama. Giving Crist a position of power is another story. Crist has spent a good portion of his adult life helping Republicans gain power in Florida. This is the same Charlie Crist that was trying really hard to be John McCain's running mate. That kind of thing isn't going to endear Crist to the hardcore progressives Crist is going to need on the grassroots level of a statewide campaign.

Howie Klein wrote about the longtime gay rumors that have pestered Crist throughout his career. Conservative activist Sarah Rumpf tweeted this photoshopped image of Crist holding a picture of a shirtless Obama. You can bet that Gov. Rick Scott will mudsling and use homophobic attacks against Crist. Scott ran the indefensible and racist "Obama's Mosque" ad. Scott will use homophobic attacks because he isn't about to beat Crist in the charisma department.

The gay rumors about Crist have been around for years. There has never been any credible evidence that Crist is gay. Crist was formerly married to Amanda Morrow. Crist is currently married to the former Carole Rome. (She changed her last name when she married Crist.)

Benjamin Kirby has a problem with with Crist's support of Amendment 1. The ballot amendment passed and lowered property taxes. I agree with Kirby that the property tax cut hurt tax revenue for Florida. Many citizens were angry about their property taxes. What happened was counties were pumping up the appraisal values to get more tax revenue to make up for the tax cuts from the Florida legislature.

I wrote in 2006, how this was a tax shift. Gov. Jeb Bush signed SB 1020 into law. The bill gave counties the power to raise property taxes. Bush signed this law so he didn't have to break Grover Norquist's pledge of raising taxes. I have some sympathy for Crist's situation.

Where I take issue with Crist is him failing to see the housing bubble pop. Crist assumed that tax revenue would keep pouring in. Crist's economic sensibilities need much work. Crist may have a hard time connecting with voters that want to see tax increases on the rich.

What Is Missing From the Post Game

A reader pointed this out to me. This is like one of those picture games where you see if you can spot what is missing. First is Benjamin Kirby's post of Herman Cain's P5 straw poll victory.

This is wildly embarrassing for several Florida politicians like State Representative Jeff Brandes, Senator Don Gaetz, Rep. Matt Gaetz, and Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, who already endorsed Rick Perry. I think their endorsement of a guy who flamed out so easily is demonstrative of just how politically inept our current crop of "leaders" really is.

Next up is Peter Schorsch's repost of Kirby's post on SaintPetersblog.

This is wildly embarrassing for several Florida politicians like Senator Don Gaetz and Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, who already endorsed Rick Perry. I think their endorsement of a guy who flamed out so easily is demonstrative of just how politically inept our current crop of “leaders” really is.

Missing is the names Jeff Brandes and Matt Gaetz. Apparently, Schorsch wanted to save his clients from the "wildly embarrassing" reminder of their endorsements of Rick Perry. A didn't consider this a major scandal of Peter's part. Do I want to have fun pointing out Peters omissions...

Stop the Alex Sink Madness

Alex Sink appeared at the Tampa Tiger Bay Club. Sink was once again asked if she will run for governor in 2014. Once again Sink flirted with the possibility of a future candidacy.

"I've just learned at my stage in life to never say never, and never project what might happen three or four years into the future. So, that's my answer."

That is not an answer. What is evident about Sink's statement is she learned nothing. Sink accepts no blame for her lost to Rick Scott.

"He did spend $75 million of his own money. And when you get into a political campaign where the opponent is outspending the competition by two to, or three to one, it makes it very difficult because money plays an important part in American politics today. Particularly in a state as large as Florida. And secondly, let's look at what was happening in the entire rest of the country. There was certainly a huge, enormous Republican sweep."

Sink does not understand why she lost. Scott outspent Bill McCollum in the Republican primary. Sink had time to repair. Sink's response to Scott's big money was to not accept public campaign financing. Sink has only herself to blame for giving Scott such a huge financial advantage.

As Benjamin Kirby detailed, Sink refused to take policy positions during the Democratic primary.

However, I do find it a little ironic that you wanted to learn more about one of the best policy think tanks in America since it was never evident to me that you cared all that much about policy. I know from more than one first-hand account that your own campaign approached potential surrogates to speak on your behalf as late as last spring, and when these surrogates inquired as to your positions on issues that might've been brached, they were told you "didn't have any positions yet, we are in fundraising mode."

Sink's two major positions during the general election was extending the Bush tax cuts and opposing religious freedom by being against the Park 51 Project. These are the same positions Rick Scott took. President Harry Truman said, "Given the choice between a Republican and sonmeone who acts like a Republican --- People will vote for the real Republican all the time." The same result will happen in 2014.

Benjamin Kirby on Brian Burgess

I am glad Gov. Rick Scott has a Director Of Press Relations as incompetent as Brian Burgess. I find it hysterical anyone would hire Burgess. Benjamin Kirby notes Burgess' huge ego. Burgess hates the media. Except when the media wants to profile him. Kirby notes that Burgess is putting himself ahead of Scott.

Here's one to learn from then, Brian: quit giving interviews about how awesome you are when your boss is tanking.

To be kind of fair to Brian, he was labeled as an "outsider" coming in to help the governor -- a tag which is supposed to mean he's loyal to Scott, but you know, not loyal loyal. If the fit really starts hitting the shan with Scott, he'll head right back over to CRC Public Relations, no sweat.

The sub-headline asks whether the combative style of Burgess is serving Scott's interests well. Really? You're the communications guy. If you view the people who write about you as sub-human -- Scott won't even ride in an elevator with them -- don't you suppose they'll have some nasty things to say about you... and your message?

There are going to be elected Republican officials with no understanding of media communications that will hire Burgess. Politicians like Scott look for a little Sean Hannity in their communications people. The problem is a governor needs to win the approval of the public. Not get better talk radio ratings.

If Scott had a clue he would wonder why his media communications guy is doing (a largely negative) profile with the Florida's biggest newspaper. George Stephanopoulos insisted on making himself the story. President Bill Clinton was smart enough to shrink Stephanopoulos' role down to the point that he left. Kirby suggests Burgess will leave when Scott totally tanks. Burgess will have increased his profile. Scott will wonder what his messaging problem is.

In Response to Ben Kirby on Rick Scott

Benjamin Kirby asked me if Rick Scott could win a second term as governor. The answer is yes.

I do not share Peter Schorsch's view that Dave Aronberg is a political star. Aronberg ran a shitty campaign against Dan Gelber and lost the primary. Any guy who aligns himself with Jeff Greene should be laughed out of all serious conversations for statewide office. I cite Aronberg to show how weak the Florida Democratic Party bench is. The party spent time grooming Alex Sink and she lost to Scott.

Scott's real motivation is to become president. Scott's attacks on President Obama and appearances on Fox News are setting the stage for a 2016 run. Serving as governor gives him the resume. That is why Scott doesn't care if he alienates everyone. I don't think Scott has the political skills to get elected president. Scott's ego will blind him to his fear or answering questions and lack of charisma.

Mike Thomas Fan Letter to Rick Scott

Benjamin Kirby wrote that Howard Troxler and Carl Hiaasen should get over the election of Rick Scott.

Was I depressed when hospital grifter Rick Scott and a veto-proof hard-right Republican Legislature got elected in November? Yes. For a couple of weeks. In fact, maybe I'm still a little upset -- but I have also moved past it.

You'd better do the same, if only for your own sanity. I'd say the same thing to Troxler and Hiaasen.

Fortunately, for Kirby, Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Thomas answers the call with an op-ed about how much he loves Scott.

•There is no Solantic conspiracy. This was one of the loonier theories pushed by Democrats. Scott supposedly invested $70 million on a long-shot gamble to become governor so he somehow could direct enough state business to his Solantic clinics to make it all back, and more. That almost is up there with Obama being born in Kenya. Now that Scott is selling his share in the clinics, we can put this behind us unless Donald Trump runs for governor in 2014.

•How many politicians have promised to "end politics as usual in Tallahassee"? Only one has done it.

•Next to Casey Anthony and Dancer the tiny dog, Rick Scott is the best thing that ever happened to our website.

I wonder how many op-eds like that Kirby can read? I'm sure it won't be the last penned by Thomas.

Impeachment of Rick Scott Is Fantasy

I wrote this tweet.

I am no fan of Rick Scott but I am wondering if people actually believe they can get the Republican legislature to support impeachment.

What would progressive charge Scott with for impeachment?

Scott is ethically-challenged but what has he done that rises to the level of impeachment?

What would get 2/3 of the Florida Senate to vote for removing Scott from office?

I see Ben Kirby shares my sentiment.

I am not interested in wasting my time calling for Scott's impeachment, for God's sake. He's a terrible governor, but he hasn't done anything criminal (yet). This is a distraction and a mind-numbing waste of valuable time and resources.

If people want to start a petition drive to impeach Scott then more power to them. Just don't expect impeachment to ever happen.

Meet the New Boss & the Rising Dem Strategist Star

Bob Buckhorn and unoffical campaign manager Siobhan Harley ran a brilliant and muck free campaign. Buckhorn is going to have a massive influence on the entire Tampa Bay area, as the City of Tampa Mayor. Buckhorn has proposed the smartest policies I have heard from a Tampa area candidate. Buckhorn's proposals turned me from a cynic into a supporter of his candidacy.

Harley is an oppimistic progressive. If the Florida Democratic Party is smart they would recruit Harley to run as a candidate, after she graduates from college. The young lady has energy and charisma. Two things that are in short supply from Florida Democratic candidates.

I look forward to seeing Buckhorn and Harley reshaping Tampa politics and policy.

Update: Benjamin Kirby shares his thoughts on Harley.

Quote of the Day

"Michael Hussey is a harsh judge. Lord, may I never cross him."

Benjamin Kirby, on my State of the Union coverage.

I find it amusing that Kirby and Peter Schorsch as a knee breaker amongst bloggers. It is not a reputation I have sought. But I will take it.

Benjamin Kirby Responds to My Post

Benjamin Kirby answers my questions about the Clinton administration's economic team. Kirby was a low level staffer in the Clinton administration. Kirby has a great story about Mickey Kantor that may or may not be true. If true it confirms my suspicion that Kantor one of dumbest people in the administration.

Unfortunately, Kirby couldn't answer my question about Robert Rubin's and Joseph Stiglitz's working relationship. Stiglitz's is more progressive than the neoliberal Rubin. Where Rubin and Stiglitz disagreed is on the size of the deficit reduction package in 1993. Former Clinton administratin Council of Economic Advisers, Laura Tyson, reviewed both Rubin's and Stiglitz's books and weighs their differences. What is interesting is the pro-business Rubin supported vetoing welfare reform (Rubin supports government and private sector anti-poverty programs.) and Stiglitz helped create "third way" neoliberal economic policy theory. Rubin's and Stiglitz's debates were more about policy and both of them could make excellent arguments to counter each other and Kirby should have been in the room with a tape recorder.

These days Stiglitz is calling the Obama economic team incompetent or in the pocket of the banks. Rubin said that while he was at Citigroup "virtually nobody" saw the financial collapse coming. Guess which one is keeping a lower profile.



Agree or disagree with Rubin or Stiglitz they are both smarter than you will ever be. Both are better than former Bush amdinistration economic adviser Lawrence Lindsey. Only a true hack like Lindsey would argue that it wasn't the stimulus, but TARP (the bank bailout) and the FDIC that kept unemployment from rising to 15.7 percent. Lindsey advised President George W. Bush that the tax cuts would pay for themselves. One area that Rubin and Stiglitz agree on is that the surplus should have been used to pay off borrowed debt.

Questions for Benjamin Kirby on the Clinton administration's economic team

Blogger Benjamin Kirby held several positions in the Clinton administration. I cover economics and probably the only person on the planet interested in Clinton economic team gossip. I am going to field some questions and hopefully Kirby will write a response blog post. Consider my blog the TMZ.com of economics blogging. It is a void that needs to be filled.

Did a black cloud follow Larry Summers when he walked down the halls of the West Wing?

Did Summers' assistant Brad Delong mumble the word NAFTA repeatedly.

What was the working relationship between Robert Rubin and Joseph Stiglitz like?

Was there anyone in the White House who didn't know that Summers and Stiglitz hated each other?

Did Summers openly express frustration for having to take marching orders from Stiglitz

How many times a day did Jason Furman try to kiss Rubin's and Stiglitz's asses.

Did anyone on the economic team ever dare to disagree with Lloyd Bentsen? This question is rhetorical. I already know no one in the White House fucked with Bentson.

Did members of the economic team crack jokes about Al Gore's proposal to tax cow flatulence?

Did Rubin and Stiglitz force junior economic staffers to go to Gore's reinventing government meetings so they wouldn't have to go?

Did Gene Sperling support the repeal of the Glass-Stegall Act? If so then how did he square that with his liberal ideals?

Did Rubin support a third veto of welfare reform for policy or partisan reasons?

Did Gore and Mickey Kantor openly fight on environmental regulation?

Did Clinton chew Mickey Kantor out for the political backlash on the left from signing NAFTA into law?

Was Mickey Kantor one of the stupidest people you ever met?

Once Again: Obama Is Not A Policy Wonk

Benjamin Kirby comes out against the federal pay freeze. Kirby calls upon President Barack Obama to end the pay freeze.

But there's a time for conciliatory negotiations and there's a time to roll up your sleeves and fight.

Now is the time to fight. Obama has the hope in him. But does he have the fight?

Frankly, I think federal employees deserve a fight -- and they're not going to get it. The every day working people of the federal government -- who make 24 percent less than their counterparts in the private sector -- just got used as a political chit.

Kirby went from urging Obama to fight to throwing in the towel in three paragraphs. Progressives can not even summon up the strength to write posts appealing to Obama's nonexistent champion to the common-man side. Ezra Klein noted that Obama didn't frame the pay freeze with doing away with the Bush tax cuts for the rich, as a way for Obama to say everyone must make sacrifices to pay down the deficit. The Economic Policy Institute has come out against the pay freeze. We have seen on the state level, the economy has added more state government workers to unemployment numbers.

It would be one thing if Obama truly believed the pay freeze was necessary. Obama makes the pay freeze announcement right before a scheduled meeting with Republicans. I read a White House official say the administration wanted to pre-emp Republicans. The two year pay freeze will save $2 billion in 2011. That is small change when the Congressional Budget Office said the deficit is $1.3 trillion for 2010.

Does anyone seriously still believe Obama is a policy wonk? It is bad when Ron Paul calls Obama a corporatist. Obama represents the most stupid aspects of neoliberalism in the past 20 years. Imagine scientists placing Mickey Kaus' political instincts, Harold Ford's love of Wall Street, and Martin Peretz's foreign policy in one person. That person is Barack Obama.

End the Pretense That Obama Will Fight

My response to Benjamin Kirby's post.

I (and my fellow blogger Tas) have blogged repeatedly about why Obama's economic policies were a failure. Franklen Delano Roosevelt tried stimulus and it failed. What saved the FDR economy was the jobs program.

I am not surprised that the team of Geithner, Summers, Orszag, and Goolsbee failed. Goolsbee wrote papers saying not to worry about the housing market crashing. Summers backed repealing Glass–Steagall Act. Orszag wrote an op-ed repeatedly describing the deficit commission's Social Security proposals as progressive. These people are always wrong. Their proposals actually hurt the country. The President who hired is a faith-based believer in neoliberalism. Any serious policy wonk wouldn't let Lawrence Summers within a 100 yards of the White House.

What surprised me is how the White House mishandled the politics side. This administration has been hostile towards the base and the Democratic caucus for a while. I know since I blogged about that.

I understand for merely political purposes it is in Obama's interest to maintain the pretense of bipartisanship. When Obama makes bipartisanship into a religion, gets stood up by McConnell and Boehner and doesn't heal the riff with Democratic elected officials and the base then there is a problem. As for bloggers and activists urging Obama to have a showdown with Republicans - it will never happen. Obama has shown a distaste for partisan fights. Obama will see his proposals destroyed and be a one-term president before having a Clinton v. Gingrich epic battle. Going back to Obama's time in the Illinois state legislature, there was never a moment Obama was willing to get his hands dirty in a partisan fight.

Obama is going to run to the middle. The White House isn't interested in helping the Democratic caucus or the progressive base. Obama and his team are thinking about 2012. Obama will triangulate with Jon Stewart's imaginary center and sign horrible bills to say something was accomplished. Welcome to the next two years.

Floridians Who Don't Have A Voice

As Thanksgiving approaches, Benjamin Kirby reminds us of Floridians who are poor, living on food stamps or homeless. The numbers.

# In Pinellas County, 28,821 children live in poverty. That's 17% of children. Their Thanksgiving won't be like yours or mine.

# In Florida, unemployment is at 12%.

# In July 2010, 19.4 million U.S. households (41.8 million persons) received food stamps. That's 1 in every 6 households, an increase of 20% over the previous year. Based on the Census Bureau’s American Community Surveys for 2006-08, just under 60% of families who received food stamps had children under 18 years of age. Of these families, approximately 60% were headed by single females. Food stamps don't usually get you the kind of Thanksgiving you or I will have.

# In Florida, 40% of homeless people are families. 23% are children under the age of 18. Their Thanksgiving won't be like yours or mine, either.
In Pinellas County, there are 2,232 unsheltered homeless persons, meaning they have to sleep on sidewalks, park benches, bus stops, doorways, in encampments, along railways and the Pinellas Trail, etc. This is an increase of 83% from 2007.

# In a ten-year period in Florida, there were 149 attacks on the homeless, and 28 deaths. These are hate crimes, and they happened in cities across this state.