Alex Sink Is Back

Like the villain in a horror movie, Alex Sink keeps coming back. Never mind that no one is asking Sink to step back onto the political stage. Sink has launched Florida Next Foundation. The nonprofit organization bills itself as a "game-changer" for small businesses in the state.

Side note: excuse me. I am laughing after typing that last sentence.

Back on topic: from the press release.

By using an innovative platform of interactive social networking, in-person policy forums around the state, online surveys, and opinion polling, Florida Next will give Floridians a voice on the key issues facing all of us today – the Economy, Education, Energy, Environment, Entrepreneurship, and Empowerment.

Translation: Sink's daughter told her about Twitter and Facebook.

Sink announced that that she wanted to make a think tank like the The Brookings Institution. An actual think tank writes policy papers and does research. Florida Next has a board of directors that includes Sink's husband Bill McBride and former Blue Dog Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas. These people make the Obama administration look like FireDogLake bloggers.

I fail to see what influence a board with three defeated politicians will have on Florida policy. The netroots is going to avoid Florida Next. The few Democrats are more likely to heed the words of lobbyists are think tanks like the Center of American Progress.

If Florida Next doesn't produce research or policy papers then it is nothing more than an attempt by failed politicians to remain relevant.

Join the "Stop Alex Sink" page on Facebook.

Update: Sink responds to criticism that the faux think tank is to help set up another gubernatorial campaign.

"That’s a long way away," former state chief financial officer Sink, 63, said when asked about running for governor again Tuesday. "People may criticize and say I have some other agenda, but the opposite would be that I go hide under the covers and do nothing. I don’t think that’s good for our state."

Sink then dodges answering if she plans on running again.

And the next governor’s race? Life, she said, is unpredictable.

"If you had told me 10 years ago that in the next 10 years my husband would run for governor, that I would be the CFO of the state of Florida, that I would be running for governor I would look at you and say you are friggin’ out of your mind."

I simple yes or no answer would suffice. Sink can't do that because she does plan on running. God help us all.

Another Blue Dog About to Bite the Dust

Conservative Democrats never learn. Suzanne Kosmas is the latest casuality. She voted against the health care bill. Kosmas also backed extending the Bush tax cuts. This pandering to far-right Republicans who will never vote for her has dropped her in the polls. The result is the DCCC is pulling two weeks of ad buys for her campaign.

"The DCCC constantly makes adjustments based on the level of Republican activity in a district," DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen said in a statement. "We are fully invested in the critical voter contact efforts in Suzanne Kosmas’s campaign. We will continue to keep our options open as events change and remain confident that our efforts, coupled with Suzanne’s overwhelming financial advantage, will ensure a victory in November."

If the DCCC is so confident about Kosmas' chances their would not have pulled their television ad money. I always hate when political parties say their candidate is going to win when their actions dictate otherwise. In the future, I will call political party spin, such as this, doing a Kenneth Quinnell.

Kosmas positioned herself to the right. The Right is going to vote for Republican Sandy Adams. Voters like to see a candidate actually stand for something. To the voter that projects strength. Jim DeMint and Michele Bachmann sound deranged to me, but I understand that their supporters think they are fighters. It is the same reason that Paul Wellstone and Al Franken were able to get elected. I am not sure what Kosmas stands for and that is the reason she will probably lose.

Update: Nate Silver gives Sandy Adams an 84.2 percent chance of winning. Kosmas' chances of winning are 15.8. I guarantee Chris Van Hollen (who has done agood job at the DCCC) will not mention anything about Silver's number.

Profile In Courage Award: Suzanne Kosmas

"Given the choice between a Republican and someone who acts like a Republican," President Harry Truman said. "People will vote for the real Republican all the time." Rep. Suzanne Kosmos has not learned that lesson. Kosmas voted against the Affordable Health Care for America Act. An internal poll of potential Republican opponent Craig Miller finds 66 percent of Republicans undecided. The best way for Kosmas to differentiate herself is not parrot Miller's position on the Bush tax cuts.

Kosmas wrote a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging her to extend the Bush tax cuts. Kosmas writes tax cuts for dividends and capital gains. These are taxes on profitable stocks. Wall Street is hiring again. Increased earnings in the financial industry have not produced jobs. The Bush tax cuts decreased the size of the middle class by 4.2 percent. What Kosmos is proposing is nonsense and an act of political cowardliness.

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer and Chairman Levin:

As you are aware, without action, the tax rates established under the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 and the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 are set to expire at the end of the 2010. As I have discussed with my colleagues and with economists, we must extend these tax rates in order to give our fragile economy the time it needs to recover from the ongoing crisis. Working families and small businesses in our communities are doing everything they can to make ends meet during these difficult times, and we need to make sure that they continue to have the tools they need to succeed.

Continuing this tax-relief is a common-sense measure that will ease the burden for middle-class families and provide tax certainty for small business owners looking to invest and create jobs. Extending the 2001 and 2003 tax rates will provide continuing stability to the millions of families who have benefited from reduced taxes. In addition, the 2001/2003 tax cuts lowered rates not only for ordinary income, but also for dividends and capital gains, which create incentives that are crucial to private sector investment and give our small business owners the opportunities and financial security they deserve. If we allow these tax rates to expire we run the serious risk of weakening job growth and economic expansion at a time when our economy has begun to recover.

The best way to reduce our deficit is to grow our economy. Allowing the 2001 and 2003 tax rates to expire before our economy fully recovers may reduce our ability to support our small businesses, stimulate the economy, and bring our deficit under control in the future. Given our fragile recovery, I urge you to support extending the 2001 and 2003 rates in order to allow our economy to fully strengthen and grow.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Kosmas

Member of Congress

Kosmas is promoting trickle down economics. I find it hard to believe any economist told her extending the Bush tax cuts would create a surplus. Conservative economist Bruce Bartlett has a list of quotes from Bush administration economists saying the opposite.

Alan Viard, senior economist at Council of Economic Advisers during Bush’s first term.

“Federal revenue is lower today than it would have been without the tax cuts. There’s really no dispute among economists about that.”

Robert Carroll, deputy assistant secretary for tax analysis at the U.S. Treasury Department during Bush’s second term.

“As a matter of principle, we do not think tax cuts pay for themselves.”

Former Treasury Sec. Henry Paulson.

“As a general rule, I do not believe that tax cuts pay for themselves.”

I challenge the Kosmas campaign to provide me with the economists who told her the Bush tax cuts would reduce the deficit. I will be waiting for a response.

Suzanne Kosmas Interview

Interview with Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Rep. Suzanne Kosmas in interviewed by an editorial board of the Orlando Sentinel. Kosmas makes it clear she does not favor a public option. Kosmas brings up tort reform to reduce health insurance. Charlie Crist and other Republicans thought the Cat fund was going to lower property and hurricane insurance. State Farm responded by raising fees by 47.1.

Kosmas is asked if she supports an individual mandate. The mandate would require everyone to buy public or private health insurance. Kosmas latches on to Kent Conrad's co-op health care plan. The problem with co-ops do not have the bargaining leverage of Medicare. That could change if a significant number of Americans are in the program. Conrad explains the co-op compromise to health care blogger Ezra Klein. Kosmas fails to explain why she favors co-op.

Kosmas keeps talking about Medicare having waste and fraud. Medicare's administrative cost is lower the private health insurance industry.

Kosmas: "All Americans have a streak of libertarian in them."

Short answer: Kosmas won't have a public townhall meeting to face the Right. The insurance industry is Kosmas leading campaign contributors. A female editor hinted to Kosmas that her spiel on "waste and cost" was intellectually lacking.

Kosmas proudly brags about being a Democrat whom wanted to health care bill slowed down. She stresses the bill must be bipartisan. Kosmas is only voting for the public option if it's in her political interest.

Sink Hires Dunn

The Buzz reports the Alex Sink campaign has hired Paul Dunn. If the news is true, this is a great hire for the Sink. Dunn was the campaign manager for Suzanne Kosmos' successful bid to unseat Tom Feeney. Kosmos beat Feeney 61.5 percent to 36.5 percent. Feeney's Jack Abramoff related problems doesn't explain such a lopsided defeat. Dunn ran a good campaign Sink is hiring A list talent for a tough Governor's race.

Alex Sink Endorsements

Florida's Democratic delegation has endorsed Alex Sink for Governor. The Florida Democratic Party is quickly rally around Sink.

U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd (FL - District 2)

U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown (FL - District 3)

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL - District 11)
"Like so many Floridians I am pleased to hear the great news that Alex Sink is running for Governor. We need Alex to continue to be a watchdog for Florida's resources and stand up for all of us against the special interests in Tallahassee. I am personally pleased that we can continue our partnership, working to expand health insurance for children, and fighting for seniors to stop Medicare fraud."

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson (FL - District 8)

U.S. Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (FL - District 23)
"Alex Sink is an accomplished business woman who has demonstrated her excellence as CFO of the State of Florida. She will not only be the next Governor of Florida, she will be an excellent Governor. I stand behind her candidacy and will campaign for her tirelessly to ensure that she gets elected."

U.S. Rep. Ron Klein (FL - District 22)
"I am proud to announce my endorsement of Alex Sink for Governor of Florida. CFO Sink has demonstrated strong and steady leadership in Tallahassee, working hard every day for Florida's families. Her experience in the business world makes her uniquely qualified to guide our state during these difficult economic times. I look forward to continuing to stand side-by-side with Alex through her election next November and beyond."

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (FL - District 24)
"Alex Sink understands the need to work towards common-sense, fiscally-responsible solutions that will help middle-class families and get Florida's economy back on the right track. Her experience as a business leader and her personal commitment to improving the quality of life for all of Florida's communities for many years make Alex the kind of person we need as governor for Florida's future. She will bring a fresh approach and strong leadership to Tallahassee and I am proud to endorse her candidacy for governor of our great state."

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek (FL - District 17)

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL - District 20)

U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler (FL - District 19)
"There are few elected officials who are as impressive as Alex Sink and I am proud to endorse her for Governor. As CFO, she utilized her years of business experience to save Floridians money and safeguard their investments. As Governor, she will have the leadership skills and knowhow to rebuild Florida's economy and get our state moving again."

I read a commenter on Facebook wish Sink would get a primary opponent. The question is what candidate would be foolish enough to challenge Sink. Pay no intention to what Mayor Pam Iorio told Sue Carlton about wanting to serve out her term. Iorio left the Supervisor of Election office to become Mayor and Jeb Bush appointed Buddy Johnson as her replacement. (How did that work out?) Iorio knows Tampa area Democrats are firmly behind Sink. Sink is the most popular Democratic politician in Tampa. Iorio doesn't come close.

Emily's List Endorsements

Emily's List has a list of candidates the organization has endorsed.

Emily's List Florida Candidates

Christine Jennings
Suzanne Kosmas
Annette Taddeo

Emily's List has a fact sheet page on John McCain. This video showing McCain mocking "the health of the mother" should give women pause.

Again…just again, an example of the eloquence of Senator Obama, health (indicates air quotes) of the mother. You know that’s been stretched by the pro-abortion movement to mean almost anything.

Enough with the air quotes!

Tom Feeney Is Sorry

Tom Feeney dined at Jack Abramoff's restaurant went a a Scottish golf trip paid by the convicted lobbyist. Feeney is in a tight race with Suzanne Kosmos. Feeney released this video apologizing for his Abramoff relation.



Kosmos attacked Feeney oon the video. She asked many questions that Feeney should to address. But I'm not holding my breath.

Why is Feeney apologizing after claiming he did nothing wrong in the first place?

When was the last time Tom Feeney spoke with the FBI?

Is he still cooperating with the FBI's investigation?

Can Feeney assure voters that their Congressman will not be indicted?

If indicted, will Feeney resign from Congress?

Have Tom Feeney's office records been subpoenaed?

Why did it take Tom Feeney five years to admit a mistake?

Why did Tom Feeney vote to block a congressional ethics investigation into members of Congress and their ties to Jack Abramoff?

Why did Tom Feeney claim he did nothing on behalf of imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff when official records tell another story?

Why did Tom Feeney only pay back around $5,000 for the trip when court documents have shown the actual cost was closer to $20,000?

Why did it take Tom Feeney two years to return the $5,000?

How can a career politician, former lobbyist and Florida House Speaker like Tom Feeney claim to have made a rookie mistake?

Why hasn't Tom Feeney apologized for other unethical behavior through out his career?

If Tom Feeney values honesty and integrity so highly, why did he oppose landmark ethics reform legislation passed by Congress in 2007?

Why, for four consecutive years, has the non-partisan watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) listed Feeney as one of the 20 most corrupt members of Congress?

I would ask why Feeney hired Bridgette A. Gregory to be his Florida House aide. Gregory held no college degree and her previous experience was being a Hooters waitress.

Florida Congressional District 24 Race Update

Katherine Rizzo writes that the 24th District of Florida race between Tom Feeney and Suzanne Kosmos is heating up.

Republicans and Democrats in Washington are treating Kosmas as a very serious candidate.

Her campaign committee ended the first quarter of 2008 with more cash on hand than the incumbent. She was only $31,000 ahead, but challengers generally trail in the money chase, so her lead turned some heads. Feeney’s campaign hasn’t yet disclosed its second-quarter performance, but the Kosmas campaign said it was filing a report showing net cash on hand of $925,000 as of June 30.

Kosmas is getting preferential treatment from her party, which named the 24th District of Florida as one of the races deserving of extra fund-raising attention through the Democrats’ “red to blue” program. The party is backing her up with ads attacking Feeney for specific votes and also for taking the Abramoff trip in 2003. State-level Democrats set up a special page on their Web site reminding the faithful that an Abramoff-related court filing referred to Feeney as “Representative No. 3” and asking fellow Democrats to “contribute against corruption.”

Visit the Suzanne Kosmos Actblue page.

Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group Poll on Tom Feeney

The Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group released their finding of a poll on Tom Feeney's re-election prospects. The results are not good for the incumbant. Republican voters are highly dissatisfied with President Bush. Feeney has voted in lockstep with the President.

Florida 24th CD voters’ overall mood and attitudes toward President Bush and the Republican Party suggest a very difficult political environment for Congressman Feeney. Overall, just 24% of voters say that the country is headed in the right direction, while 67% believe that we are headed off on the wrong track.

While George W. Bush carried the district by 10 points in 2004 (55% to 45%), today, only 33% give him an excellent or good job rating and fully 44% say that he is doing a poor job. Of particular note is that only 66% of Republicans give Bush a positive job rating.

Moreover, a majority of voters in the district have a negative personal view of the President (52% versus 37% positive). In a generic 2008 presidential ballot, the Democratic and Republican candidates are in a statistical dead heat (42% vote for the Democrat, 41% vote for the Republican). In a district that has an eight-point Republican party registration advantage and that Bush carried by 10 points, this is a striking finding.

Only 23% of voters said Congressman Feeney deserves reelection, which is nearly equal to the proportion that say they will definitely vote to elect someone else (21%). Feeney’s re-elect is one of the lowest of any incumbent in the country.

In fairness, the poll was taken by a Democratic voting firm. That doesn't mean that Dems don't view Feeney as vulnerable. Democratics used to just write off District 24. Now they view it as a seat they can pick up. Feeney's ties to the Jack Abramoff and the FBI investigation places him in more trouble than just losing his seat. He has started a legal defense fund. Politicians don't do that unless they are worried about being indicted.

Feeney does have two advantages against Suzanne Kosmas. Incumbacy and a fundraising headstart. Actblue has a page for those interested in donating to the Kosmas campaign.

Suzanne Kosmas is Running

Democrat Suzanne Kosmas announces she is challenging Tom Feeney for the District 24 seat.

"I will be an independent and effective voice for working families, children and seniors in this district, dnd ensure that their interests - not the special interests - are represented in congress," Kosmos said. "This is a time for change in Washington, and I will work towards building consensus rather than engaging in lock-step partisan politics."

She will face longtime Feeney nemesis Clint Curtis in the primary. The smart money is that Kosmas would make a better opponent than Curtis. The establishment will back her. The Florida Democratic Party and DCCC viewed Curtis as a sure loser. Kosmas was the former Democratic leader in the Florida House. Feeney conceded she is a better candidate.

Feeney said, noting he's glad Kosmas has legislative experience. "I would rather run against someone with a record. It's a bad environment for politicians. I'll post my record against anyone."

I received grief for backing Christine Jennings over Jan Schneider. Jennings nearly won a red district noted for voting machine problems. Curtis can't raise the money to compete with Feeney. He doesn't have a chance. Netroots support alone isn't enough.