Ric Keller SCHIP Ad

Americans United For Change is running an ad attacking Ric Keller's vote against SCHIP. This is just the beginning of Republicans are going getting hammered. Keller contempt of health care for the poor didn't end there.

Student Loan Lender Subsidy Cuts and Student Grants and the Section 8 Voucher Adjustments Act of 2007 - Nay

Section 8 Voucher Adjustments Act of 2007 - Nay

Keller voted against the bill because he wanted patients to submit citizenship documents. Keller doesn't have enough of a sense of humor to realize how Orwellian that sounds.

Florida Congressional Seats In Play

One Democratic and three Republican seats are in play. Tim Mahoney's seat is being targeted by Republicans. The Cook Report labels Mahoney's district as leaning Democrat.

Republicans Ric Keller, Vern Buchanan and Tom Feeney seats are in play. Feeney and Buchanan are facing difficult re-election campaigns. Feeney is being investigated by the FBI and has ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. He has formed a defense trust for potential legal bills stemming form the FBI investigation. Several high-profile government officials have been convicted from their involvement with Abramoff. Former Congressman Bob Ney being the most notable.

Buchanan won a controversal election against Christine Jennings. His seat is targeted by Democrats and Jennings has announced she will run against Buchanan in 2008. She has large grassroots support from election reform and netroots activists. The voting machine problems from the previos race played a role in Florida switching back to paper ballots. The Buchanan/Jennings race will be one of the most-watched races in 2008.

Democrat Suzanne Kosmas has allowed her name to be used in a poll to see her viablity as a possible Feeney opponent.

People can help Tim Mahoney by giving a campaign contribution.

DOJ Wanted To Make Republicans Happy On Immigration

There have been news articles that the Justice Department wasn't happy with Carol Lam's handling of illegal immigration. An email from Michael Elston to Lee Otis tells the tale the DOJ concerned about making Republicans happy on immigration.

The report was provided by to the AP by the office of Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who has accused the chief federal prosecutor in San Diego of being lax on smuggling cases. Issa's office said it was a Border Patrol report written last August. It was unclear who wrote it.

There is more.

The Justice Department declined to comment. However, at a congressional hearing last month, Rep. Ric Keller, R-Fla., told Attorney General Alberto Gonzales that Lam's record on immigration smuggling was ''a pathetic failure.'' Gonzales replied that he was urging U.S. attorneys to more actively enforce laws but noted that immigration cases were '' a tremendous strain and burden'' along the border.

What's interesting is Lam received glowing reviews from the DOJ for her handling on immigration. The GOP really wanted to please their xenophobic base. To bad for them it drove others to the Democrats during the midterm elections.