Protest Against David Jolly

A group of senior citizens and the Florida Consumer Action Network will deliver a fake Medicare voucher to the campaign office of Republican congressional candidate David Jolly.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 5th, at 10:30am.

WHERE: David Jolly Campaign Headquarters, 4585 140th Avenue North, Suite 1004, Clearwater.

WHO: Pinellas County seniors, members of the Florida Consumer Action Network, members of the Florida Association of Retired Americans.

David Jolly lobbied to privatize Social Security. Jolly is no fan of the social safety net.

David Jolly Not Truthful in Debate

Republican candidate David Jolly hysterically claimed in his debate with Alex Sink that he never lobbied for offshore drilling. Unfortunately for Jolly he filled out a lobbying disclosure form stating he was working on behave of Free Enterprise Nation to expand offshore drilling. Jolly also wrote a blog post on the Free Enterprise Nation website in support of H.R. 909. The bill would expand offshore drilling.

Rising Gas Prices to Force Congressional Debate. Anytime gas prices rise dramatically, Congress begins anew to examine our nation’s energy policy. FEN members who have read Jim MacDougald’s book UNSUSTAINABLE will remember his call for a long-term energy plan that creates private sector jobs through the building or expansion of new refineries, including expanded drilling for natural gas. FEN will stay closely involved as Congress begins to debate this issue in the coming weeks, including advocating for legislation recently introduced by Rep. Devin Nunes (CA), the Roadmap for America’s Energy Future (H.R. 909). As stated in a letter of endorsement from Mr. MacDougald, “The Roadmap for America’s Energy Future promotes an energy policy that is both market-based and is technology neutral. It provides a thoughtful national energy policy that promotes the economic interest of the private sector by reasonably expanding permits and licenses for companies to engage in energy exploration and production, and by encouraging private sector development of new energy sources in an economically sensible way.”

Jolly would have voters believe that he Free Enterprise Nation paid him to lobby for offshore drilling and Jolly decided not to because... well we don't know why exactly. I'm sure Jolly didn't return Free Enterprise Nation's money. I doubt that Free Enterprise Nation would pay Jolly to not lobby on their behave. The mere suggestion on Jolly's part is silly.

Jolly made his claim that Social Security is not guaranteed. The statement is a scare tactic used by conservatives. Under the 14th amendment, the federal government is required to pay all debt.

The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.

The Supreme Court case Perry v. United States confirmed that the federal government "invalidate the obligations which the Government has theretofore." Translation: the government must pay its debts. The Supreme Court cited the 14th amendment to back their decision. Jolly is claiming that the federal government will willingly violate the Constitution. Jolly doesn't explain how the federal government would pull this off or the motivation behind the action. Jolly either wants Wall Street to get Social Security money in private IRAs or he believes in black helicopters. I'm guessing the latter.

Social Security is solvent until 2037. The program faces significant challenges with baby boomers retiring but is in much better shape than the rest of the budget. What isn't mentioned in the report is that Social Security is partly funded by Treasury bonds. The Treasury Department can sell more T bonds to fund Social Security. Is Jolly going to sat that the Treasury Department isn't going to pay investor who cash in the T bonds? Treasury bonds are considered the safest bonds in the world to buy.

Jolly neither honest or has a basic understanding of constitutional law or economics. That is what happens when you are a corporate hack.

Update: Jolly supports overturning Roe V. Wade.

Most Obvious Email Ever

I got this breaking news email from the Alex Sink campaign under the headline "Disturbing."

We just learned that Tea Party Governor Rick Scott is hosting a massive fundraiser for Alex’s opponent, David Jolly.

Remember, this is the same Rick Scott responsible for the largest Medicare fraud case in U.S. history, taking advantage of Florida seniors for his own company’s profits.

Every big check that Scott and Jolly raise will go directly towards airing deceitful attacks against Alex -- ads designed to distract Pinellas voters from Jolly’s career as a Washington lobbyist.

And I thought David Jolly was raising money to buy Alex Sink flowers. Who knew that Jolly was going to run attack ads against against Sink. I am shocked that a Republican would host a fundraiser for another Republican. It almost gives you the idea that Republicans like to see Republicans win elections.

You know if Sink didn't spend so much time attacking Obama during the 2010 election the President might hold a fundraiser for her. Sink kissed that goodbye when Sink hysterically blamed Obama for her losing the Panhandle.

Alex Sink & David Jolly Debates

Alex Sink sent out an email announcing upcoming debates with Republican nominee David Jolly.

February 3rd: Bay News 9 / Tampa Bay Times Debate - 7:00p.m. at St. Petersburg College.

February 25th: Clearwater Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum - 6:00p.m. at the Pinellas Realtors Association.

February 28th: WEDU Debate - 3:30p.m. to air 8:30p.m. and again at 12:30p.m. on February 29th, location TBD.

I hope this provides the same level of excitement as Bill Nelson and Connie Mack debate cows. I am not making that up.

Mack blasted Nelson for having an agricultural property tax exemption on 55 acres of land of pasture land he owns in Brevard County, saying it saves Nelson $43,000 in property taxes a year, even though Nelson has advocated closing tax loopholes for the wealthy.

Nelson responded that his family has pastured cattle on the land for 60 years. The second time Mack brought it up, Nelson shot back, "Not only has it been a cow pasture for 60 years, why don't we ask him why he takes two homestead exemptions, which is directly contrary to the Florida Constitution?"

Don't mess with Bill Nelson's cows.

John McCain's Unwise Endorsement of David Jolly

Sen. John McCain has endorsed David Jolly for the late Bill Young's congressional seat. Jolly has worked in Washington as a lobbyist. I find McCain's endorsement of Jolly interesting. Especially since McCain once negatively called lobbyists "birds of prey."

“Whenever there’s a corrupt system, then you’re going to have these birds of prey descendon ittoget their share ofthe spoils,” McCain saidin a half-hour interview with Politico following a town-hall meeting in the southern part of this swing state.

According to McCain, Jolly and other lobbyists were feasting on a "corrupt system." That makes me wonder what exactly are the "strong convictions" that Jolly has that McCain is referring to in his endorsement. I certainly would like to know. I'm sure the residents of District 13 would like to know what are Jolly's convictions.

Perhaps Jolly's conviction is candor about his past as a lobbyist. Jolly claims he never lobbied for offshore drilling. Unfortunately for Jolly his lobbying disclosure form says otherwise.

Jolly lobbied for Free Enterprise Nation. Jolly even wrote a blog post on Free Enterprise Nation in support of H.R. 909. The legislation would expand offshore drilling.

Rising Gas Prices to Force Congressional Debate. Anytime gas prices rise dramatically, Congress begins anew to examine our nation’s energy policy. FEN members who have read Jim MacDougald’s book UNSUSTAINABLE will remember his call for a long-term energy plan that creates private sector jobs through the building or expansion of new refineries, including expanded drilling for natural gas. FEN will stay closely involved as Congress begins to debate this issue in the coming weeks, including advocating for legislation recently introduced by Rep. Devin Nunes (CA), the Roadmap for America’s Energy Future (H.R. 909). As stated in a letter of endorsement from Mr. MacDougald, “The Roadmap for America’s Energy Future promotes an energy policy that is both market-based and is technology neutral. It provides a thoughtful national energy policy that promotes the economic interest of the private sector by reasonably expanding permits and licenses for companies to engage in energy exploration and production, and by encouraging private sector development of new energy sources in an economically sensible way.”

Jolly lobbied for offshore drilling and then denies it. That must be the kind of straight talk John McCain appreciates.

It really isn't a good idea for John McCain to be endorsing a lobbyist.McCain came under fire for the former lobbyists on his presidential campaign. There were also questions about McCain's relationship with lobbyist Vicki Iseman. McCain is not the best person to be handing out endorsements to lobbyists.

Florida Democratic Party Ad On David Jolly

David Jolly has won the Republican p;rimary for the late Bill Young's seat. Jolly will face Democrat Alex Sink in the special election. The Florida Democratic Party has released an online ad attacking Jolly's career as a federal lobbyist.