The Wolves Are Hungry For Karen Thurman

Florida State Sen. Jeremy Ring is calling for the resignation of Florida Democratic Party chair Karen Thurman.

“With the momentum of all the losses on the Democratic sides, there needs to be new leadership. Karen Thurman needs to resign. Immediately,” Ring, D-Margate, said of the Florida Democratic Party chairwoman early today.

There is more.

“Whether it was hundreds of more signs and volunteers and palm cards and all the precincts covered, I didn’t see any coordinated effort on the Democratic side yesterday,” Ring said.

Peter Schorsch made it clear to me on Twitter that he wants Thurman out. It will be interesting to see how Schorsch uses his blog to advocate his cause. I do disagree with Schorsch about having Dave Aronberg chair the FDP. I doubt Aronberg would take the job. Schorsch and other Democrats believe Aronberg is next star of the Florida Democrats. Aronberg would be best suited for a future statewide or Congressional race. At the FDP, Aronberg would be behind the scenes raising money, organizing and recruiting candidates.

SB 166

Via Alex Pickett: Florida Sen. Jeremy Ring (D - District 32) is the author of SB 166. The bill would restrict citizens from finding out about donors to public facilities. Because why would the public need to know who is coughing up cash to public institutions.

An act relating to public records; defining the term “publicly owned building or facility”; creating an exemption from public-records requirements for information that identifies a donor or prospective donor of a donation made for the benefit of a publicly owned building or facility if the donor desires to remain anonymous; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption under the Open Government Sunset Review Act; providing a statement of public necessity; providing an effective date.

These donors are people whom contribute to political campaigns. A donor can give money to a pet project of a politician and remain anonymous under this potential law. The Sunshine law was created to curtail abuse from government. SB 166 would encourage back room deals.

Florida Needs Clean Paper Ballot Bill

Via Kenneth Quinnell: BeTheMedia at Daily Kos has sent out an URGENT ACTION ALERT.

Tell the Governor:

Congrats to you, Governor Crist, on your PAPER BALLOT plan to reform Florida’s voting systems. Floridians are fed up being a national laughingstock and the rest of the country is cheering Florida on to get this right. Now is the time for the LEGISLATURE to pass a CLEAN BILL in support of your plan – free from political baggage – and IMPLEMENT meaningful PAPER BALLOT voting system reform – fully effective for the 2008 Presidential election.

BeTheMedia is also asking people to email state senators. THe best bill is SB 2242 by Jeremy Ring. Other bills are entrusting the voting machine makers. That is a horrible idea after the District 13 fiasco.