Bob Graham & Patrick Murphy

Amanda Terkel reports that Bob Graham will be campaigning with congressional candidate Patrick Murphy today. If Democrats are pulling Graham out then Allen West's seat is still in play. The polling for this race has been all over the place.

Unintentionally Hysterical Sunshine State News Article

Peter Schorsch is on a roll, as far as write blog post headlines are concern. I am still laughing after reading this.

SSN’s Nancy Smith may have the Scoop of the Year: Bob Graham NOT running for Governor!

Schorsch is right to mock Nancy Smith's article.

Despite increasing speculation that Bob Graham is mapping out a run against Rick Scott in 2014, the former U.S. senator and two-term governor emphatically denied he has any further personal interest in the governor's office.

Where is this "increasing speculation" coming from? I haven't heard one person mention Graham's name as a candidate. The source for Smith's article in someone she met a a dinner table. I'm serious.

One political consultant's assistant, eating dinner at a table for eight, said to guests around her, "Bob Graham has been so visible lately. He's been up here (from Miami) more than once and he's always looking for the cameras. He's running, no question about it."

Never mind that Graham hasn't hired potential campaign staffers. Graham looked at a camera. That is all the proof needed that he is running.

Smith makes this sound mysterious.

Brannon Jordan, communications director for the Democratic Party of Florida, did not return phone or email requests to confirm or deny the possibility of a Bob Graham candidacy.

The Florida Democratic Party does not talk to the Sunshine State News. There is some bad blood there. But that is another story. What probably happened is Jordan had to put down the phone because he was laughing so hard.

I look forward to Smith writing an article on how the Florida Democratic Party is going to hire a necromancer to bring Lawton Chiles back from the dead, so he can run in 2014.

Rick Scott Making the Donuts

This is so sad and unoriginal. Gov. Rick Scott needs help with his sagging poll numbers. His solution is to steal a page out of the Bob Graham playbook. Gary Fineout reports:

Gov. Rick Scott says he will resurrect workdays that were started by former Gov. Bob Graham. Will start at a donut shop on Wed.

That should help remind the unemployed of Florida that the governor can get a job for PR purposes but they can't get a job to pay their bills.

Graham Appointed to Look Into BP

President Barack Obama announced former Senator Bob Graham will co-chair of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. William Reilly will be the Republican co-chair.

Graham's statement on his appointment.

"This was so important, so immediate and will have such a big impact on Florida," Graham said, adding that, "and if the president asks you to do something, you can't say No."

Obama on his decision to appoint Graham.

Bob served two terms as Florida’s governor, and represented Florida as a United States Senator for almost two decades. During that time, he earned a reputation as a champion of the environment, leading the most extensive environmental protection effort in the state’s history.

Graham's commission will be in charge of reccommending ways to avoid future offshore oil spill disasters. The question is will the commission have any teeth. We now know BP intentionally underestimated the amount of oil leaked into the Gulf. In 2005, 15 workers were killed at a BP refinery. BP told the Minerals Management Service that a spill from an offshore rig 40 miles out would "unlikely that an accidental surface or subsurface oil spill would occur from the proposed activities." We know that is not true.

Graham is a good pick on Obama's part. However, I'm too cynical to think much change will come from the commission.

Bob Graham Endorses Alex Sink

Former Gov. Bob Graham has endorsed Alex Sink for Florida's next Governor. Graham is the most respected Democratic politician in Florida. The endorsement is symbolically huge for Sink.

Friends,

Today I am proud to announce my endorsement of Alex Sink for the next Governor of the State of Florida.

For far too long now, we have had to tolerate a state government that puts politics ahead of the real needs of Floridians and their families. In her short time in state government, it is evident that Alex knows that such a government cannot put the best interests of everyday Floridians first. In just a short period of time, Alex has already cut wasteful spending, cracked down on financial fraud and scams, reformed government contracting and provided our state with a fresh approach to solving problems and restoring Florida’s economy.

During these unique and challenging times, there is no doubt in my mind that Florida needs new and different leadership. With her impeccable integrity, strong character, outstanding leadership skills, and years of hard work and business experience, I can think of no one better prepared to lead Florida then Alex Sink.

Sincerely,

Bob Graham

Bob Graham Against Amendment 2

Former Florida Governor and Senator Bob Graham has come out against Amendment 2. The amendment would make gay marriage illegal, under the Florida constitution. Here is the press release.

MIAMI, Fla. (October 17, 2008) – Florida’s popular former Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham has announced his opposition Amendment 2. He joins more than 200 prominent leaders and organizations on Florida Red & Blue’s Advisory Board against the so-called “Florida Marriage Protection Amendment.”

Renowned for his trademark “workdays,” ranging from serving as a busboy and a construction worker to a railroad engineer or a teacher, Graham served as Florida’s governor from 1979 to 1987 and as the state’s U.S. Senator from 1987 to 2005, notably as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Since retiring from the Senate, Graham now concentrates his efforts on the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at his undergraduate alma mater, the University of Florida.

“The law of Florida defines marriage as an institution between one woman and one man,” said Graham. “It is not necessary to amend the state constitution to say it again. However, the words of Amendment 2 go beyond redundancy. They would terminate legal rights of unmarried couples, including elderly couples. Heterosexual domestic partners would lose health, pension, and visitation rights with potentially unanticipated, very negative consequences. Floridians know the laws and their rights today - Amendment 2 is too big a risk for our future.”

In opposing Amendment 2, Graham joins other Florida leaders who oppose Amendment 2, including Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, six additional members of Congress, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, the League of Women Voters, the NAACP, Florida’s Professional Firefighters and the Florida Education Association, among others. Broward County voter and financial expert Suze Orman also has announced her opposition to the amendment.

Written in vague and undefined language, Amendment 2 could have dramatic consequences for Florida’s committed adults who form domestic partnerships, including unmarried seniors, eliminating their ability to share important health care and pension benefits. Because four existing state laws already define marriage, Amendment 2 is unnecessary and will spark costly litigation in an effort to determine what the amendment really does.

Florida Red & Blue is the bi-partisan, statewide organization running the SayNo2 campaign, which opposes Amendment 2. For more information on Florida Red & Blue’s SayNo2 campaign, please log on to www.SayNo2.com.

Rubio and Property Taxes

Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Francis ruled that the property tax amendment incomprehensible to the average voter. He ruled that the amendment could not go on the Jan. 29th ballot.

"The language at issue is misleading and confusing and does not provide fair notice to the voter, educated or otherwise, of the purpose and effect of the proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution," wrote the judge.

This has sent Marco Rubio into a tizzy. He vowed to get a property tax cut on the ballot. Senate President Ken Pruitt refused to deal with the issue during the special session. Rubio put pressure on Governor Charlie Crist.

"without your leadership, the urgent needs of Floridians will not be addressed"

The response from Crist's office has been no comment. Property tax cuts are a political grenade in the Florida Senate. Pruitt is fearful that the cuts would hinder education. Pruitt seems to be taking Bob Graham's advise, "When you're in a hole, stop digging."

Politically, Rubio tied his future in property tax cuts. Now Crist and Pruitt are ignoring him as if he is a gnat. Everyone, but Rubio knows it is over. No Democrats, in the Senate, will vote for another property tax amendment. Four are needed for the amendment to make the ballot. This is the case of a pol that doesn't know how to play high stakes poker. Mr. Speaker, you have no more chips.