"Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking"

Scarecrow: I haven't got a brain... only straw.  

Dorothy: How can you talk if you haven't got a brain? 

Scarecrow: I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?  

Dorothy: Yes, I guess you're right. 

- The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Oh, Scarecrow, how right you are.

WTF, NYC?

Absolutely unacceptable. 

As the New York Post reported this morning, the New York Marathon was cancelled days ago, but the generators, food, water, and other supplies still sit unused and inaccessible to those impacted by Hurricane Sandy:

#BusybodyBloomberg meddles in FL elections while NYC drowns

Rep. and Mrs. Webster

Congressman Dan Webster is one of the nicest people you might ever hope to meet, anywhere. In the cutthroat world of politics, he really stands out. I haven't confirmed it, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't even step on ants on the sidewalk.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why he always seems to attract the most unhinged and crazy attacks during his campaigns.

I'd call Alan Grayson a pig, but that's an insult to pigs

For two mercifully short years, Alan Grayson was my Congressman. Grayson was such an embarrassment, a friend of mine started a website called "MyCongressmanIsNuts.com." After Dan Webster defeated Grayson, we breathed a sigh of relief that we once again had a rational human being representing us in Congress.

Want to keep up with Congressman Webster? There's an app for that!

My Congressman, Daniel Webster, announced yesterday that he has a new mobile app, available for iPhone and Android.

I downloaded the iPhone version, and it's easy to navigate, with links to Webster's YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter accounts, news updates, lots of information about initiatives that Webster supports, upcoming legislation, tours of the Capitol, and more.

You can download the app at the Android Market or iTunes.

Reactions from Rubio, Hasner, & Webster to the Debt Ceiling Bill [VIDEO]

The debt ceiling bill has passed, and President Obama has signed it into law. I've collected the statements from several prominent Florida Republicans, Senator Marco Rubio, Senate candidate Adam Hasner, and Congressman Daniel Webster on the passage of this bill and have posted them here.

Rubio voted against the bill, Webster voted for it, and Hasner was opposed.

First, a statement released by Senator Marco Rubio earlier this afternoon:

I cannot support this plan because it fails to actually solve our debt problem, fails to diminish the risk of a credit rating downgrade and is not a long-term solution to avert a debt crisis.  This plan still adds at least $7 trillion to our debt over 10 years.  It fails to immediately start downsizing government, leaving 98 percent of deficit reduction until after the 2012 election.  By not addressing the biggest driver of our debt, health care spending, this plan ensures Medicare’s looming bankruptcy, while protecting ObamaCare’s $2.6 trillion blank check. It contains no real structural reforms to spending, such as a Constitutional balanced budget amendment.  It fails to reduce spending by what credit rating agencies say is at least $4 trillion to avert a downgrade.  Worst of all is that at a time of 9.2 percent unemployment, this plan fails to include pro-growth measures to help get people back to work and create new taxpayers to help us pay down the debt. In fact, I fear that the new ‘Supercommittee’ in this bill could lead to expedited consideration of big tax hikes on our struggling economy.  And if Congress rejects new taxes, then up to $850 billion of devastating automatic defense spending cuts would be triggered at a time when the world is as dangerous as it’s ever been.

Americans are looking at Washington with anger, disgust and concern that maybe America’s problems are just too big for our leaders to solve.  As I outlined in The Wall Street Journal in March, keeping America exceptional will require spending cuts and caps, saving Medicare and Social Security from bankruptcy, a Constitutional balanced budget amendment, tax reform and regulatory reform.  Above all, it will require courage.

Also, here is a video of Rubio's floor speech today:


YouTube | SenatorMarcoRubio | Rubio: "This Debate Will Continue"

After the jump, read the text of Rubio's remarks, as well as statements from Hasner and Webster.

My message for House Republicans

Dear House Republicans,

Today you are voting on the Cut, Cap, Balance Act (H.R. 2560).

The Democrats are going to say you want to hurt poor people and senior citizens. The media are going to call you extremists. The Washington insiders are going to tell you this is all unnecessary.

They are all wrong.

It does matter. It is necessary.

If the Cut, Cap, Balance Act is extreme, it's only so in the sense that things have gotten so out of control (national debt at $14.5 trillion and counting...) that only an extreme solution has any hope of making a difference.

As far as the Democrats' claim that you want to hurt poor people, do they really think that collapsing our economic system will help?

Because that's exactly what we are risking - the entire collapse of our economic system. What else could be the result if the United States loses our bond rating? I can't improve my credit score just by spending money on a new credit card, and our country can't protect its bond rating by simply raising the debt ceiling to new absurd levels.

CPAC! (Wednesday daytime notes)

I’m in Washington this week for the Conservative Political Action Conference (http://www.cpac.org/). It’s my first time at CPAC and so far I’m really enjoying my time here.

I received Official Blogger Credentials for CPAC, and I’m very excited about that. Met some really great people already.

The wireless internet connection is a little spotty in the “Blogger’s Lounge” but seems to be working now, so hopefully this will post ok.  I'm a little behind in getting this updated but will try to post as much as I can this afternoon.  Having trouble uploading pictures so I'm just posting links to my twitter pictures for now.  For more up-to-date info, check my twitter feed @rumpfshaker.

FYI, anyone interested in CPAC can watch live at Live.CPAC.org

Some notes on my adventures from yesterday…

Yesterday, I spent some time on Capitol Hill with some other friends from Florida (Jason Hoyt and Kelly Kraiss). We visited the House and Senate office buildings and had the opportunity to speak with some great people.

Stopped by Daniel Webster's office in the Longworth Building to get House Gallery passes.  Got there in time to see Florida Congressional Members Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,Connie Mack, and David Rivera speak in favor of HR 519, a bill related to funding for the United Nations.  It's a somewhat complicated issue, but apparently we overpaid about $179 million in dues to the UN (huh? how does this happen?) and this was a bill to demand that back but it would have somehow affected funding dedicated to NYPD and Homeland Security efforts around the UN building.  The bill failed to pass.

It was very interesting to have a bird's eye view when the full House came in for the vote.  (The gallery seats are in a balcony that rings the room.) It's a sea of black and grey suits, so the women really stand out.  It was very easy to pick out Sandy Adams with her blond hair and red jacket.  If I were in Congress, I would definitely wear bright colors every day. The part in Paul Ryan's hair is easily visible from the gallery...maybe from space.  I don't know what products he uses in his hair, but it's pretty awesome.  Nancy Pelosi seems to be doing a little better at looking like a human being (better haircut) but she still looks like a Muppet to me (apologies to Jim Henson).  Webster was easy to pick out of the crowd too because he's so tall.  (Have I mentioned lately how happy I am to have a human being as a Congressman again?)

We then went back to the Congressional offices again and met with some of Marco Rubio's staffers in the Dirksen Senate building.  Rubio has really hired some sharp, top-notch people and they are clearly proud to be working for him.  They are stuck in a cramped little basement office for now until Rubio's official Senate office is finished. 

I asked about Rubio's plans for higher office, and his staffers confirmed, Rubio wants to finish out this Senate term and does not intend to run for the White House in 2012 (as either President or Vice President).

I was glad to hear that.  I've been a supporter of Marco's for a very long time and I'd love to see him in the White House...one day.  Not yet. Remember he will be in his early 40s in 2012.  He has plenty of time. Let's not let the Democrats throw the experience issue back at us. Yes, I know Rubio was Speaker of the House and his resume far outweighs Obama's when he ran in 2008, but when was the Left ever honest in their attacks on Republican candidates?

We saw Allen West in the elevator in the Rayburn building.  There is so much excitement around him.  Everyone perks up when they see him.  If you didn't see the news already, he's been selected to give the keynote address at CPAC this year.  Rubio did it last year and was extremely well-received.  I'm glad to see Florida continuing to have a prominent place in the conservative political scene.  The Sunshine State has really produced some top-notch politicians lately, haven't we?

We also ran into Steve King (R-Iowa) in the hallway in Longworth on the way to meet with Webster.  He is very, very, very, very, very, very, VERY enthusiastic about his budget proposals, specifically an amendment that defunds Obamacare.  We told him we were meeting with Webster later and he asked us to encourage Webster to support his amendment. 

Photo at Steve King's office: he has a "Don't Tread on Me" flag along with the United States and Iowa flags. I heard he's the only Member of Congress with the Gadsen flag outside his office (haven't walked through to verify this).

Congressman King didn't need to worry about Webster.  He's definitely on board with King's amendment.  Webster also expressed frustration with the budget issues.  The Republican House - especially the freshmen - is committed to using the continuing resolution (needed because the goofball Democrats failed to pass a budget last year) and the debt ceiling issue as bargaining chips.  Their goal is to use these votes as leverage to either get a repeal of ObamaCare, a balanced budget amendment, major spending cuts, etc. The Republicans promised $100 billion in non-defense budget cuts and the current proposal is only about $58 billion in cuts.  Webster repeatedly stated his commitment to cutting the promised $100 billion, pointing out that there is clearly still a lot of waste so there are plenty of things to cut!

Photo at Daniel Webster's office with Jason Hoyt, Kelly Kraiss, and his Executive Assistant, Elizabeth Tyrell

OK, I'll post more updates later...I've been meeting so many great conservative leaders and activists, it's been a little overwhelming.  Remember to follow me on twitter! :)

NY Times showers attention on a one-term Congressman, why, exactly?

The New York Times has an absolutely hysterical, might-actually-make-you-roll-on-the-floor-laughing-out-loud, funny article yesterday about our local lunatic quickly-retired Congressman Alan Grayson:

NY Times | Alan Grayson | Enter: Swinging. Exit: Much the Same Way.

...Representative Alan Grayson, a Democrat from Florida’s Eighth Congressional District, is leaving office on Wednesday much as he entered it two years ago — as the pugnaciously partisan, verbal-bomb-tossing, liberal folk hero of the 111th Congress.

But in a wide-ranging interview as his term drew to a close, he repeatedly aimed his artillery in an unexpected direction: toward his own party.

Not for overreaching, in this age of hand-wringing over big government and creeping “socialism,” or for ideological purism. Instead, while surveying the wreckage of the November elections that cost him his seat and looking to the Congressional term ahead, Mr. Grayson posits that many Democrats have not been acting Democratic enough.

Judging by the results of the midterm elections, it does not exactly seem to be a widespread sentiment.

"Not exactly a widespread sentiment?"  Yeah.  No kidding.  If by "not exactly a widespread sentiment" you mean, "got the snot beat out of him on November 2nd."

Alan Grayson, The One-Hit Wonder One-Term Blunder of Florida's Congressional Delegation.  Gah.  He's a scary looking dude.

My apologies for the photo of Alan Grayson.  Here's a picture of a fluffy puppy to help your eyes recover.  Awwwww.  (From CuteOverload.com)

The entire article has to be read to be believed. Enjoy these magical little gems:

Grayson gives Nancy Pelosi a "glowing assessment," and a grade of "A," "without reservation."  I'd give her an "A" too, for being a grade-A actress in the TV ads of every Republican Congressional candidate this past year.  She was wonderfully talented at conveying exactly why people should vote Republican.  Just seeing her face for a few seconds easily symbolized the whole "Congress is spending a crapload of your money, passing unconstitutional legislation, and ignoring all your attempts to make them listen to you" concept.

He calls incoming Speaker of the House John Boehner a "tool of special interest."  I wonder if he meant "of special interests." Or does he mean that Boehner is especially interesting? I can't tell. It is often difficult to translate Crazy into English.

He claims that the Tea Party is “bought and paid for by the enormously rich and the selfish.”  Oh, those evil corporations, paying all of us to make posters and go to rallies.  Hmmm, where's my check?  Maybe it will come in the mail tomorrow?  I can't wait!

...and of course, Grayson has some lovely words to congratulate his successor, calling Daniel Webster a "bizarre fundamentalist."   I'm so glad he thinks this way, because this hubris-driven idea is what led to the infamous "Taliban Dan" TV ad that sealed Grayson's fate.  This year, maybe Grayson can help the Humane Society place more pets for adoption by claiming that puppies and kittens are actually radioactive vampires.

There is a lot of online speculation about Grayson's next political move, including some humorous chatter about making a run at challenging Obama for the 2012 Democratic Presidential nomination.  Originally I was in favor of Grayson fading away into the background, but the more I think about it, I love the idea of him being front and center, representing the Loony Left in all its glory.  

The Democrats were dumb enough to keep Nancy Pelosi as their leader in Congress, even after the Republicans effectively used her as a straw man to wipe them out in vast numbers.  If they are willing to give a radical liberal like Grayson any sort of platform, I think it is positively fantastic.

The Republicans aren't going to get a free ride, they need to be very careful not to stray from the fiscal conservatism they promised us, but their path to 2012 is made a lot easier by the fact that most of the Democrats who lost in November were the more moderate "Blue Dogs."  

The Democrats who are left in Congress are the most stridently liberal of the bunch (with the exception of Grayson, natch).  I seriously doubt their ability to calm their more radical impulses or moderate their rhetoric in a way that appeals to the current mood of the voters.  The simple fact that they re-elected Pelosi, who polls only slightly better than Hitler lately, speaks volumes about their tone-deafness toward what the American people want.  

Catching up on my trip to Washington, D.C.

Hello everyone...sorry I haven't posted anything in awhile.  My trip to Washington, D.C. was absolutely fantastic until the very end when I ended up with a wretchedly evil cold.  I managed to make it through security without getting groped, irradiated, photographed naked or otherwise assaulted by TSA, but thought my ears were going to explode from the air pressure changes during the flight.  Not fun.  Anyway, I'm finally feeling better now - just in time for Thanksgiving with the family, hooray! - so I thought I'd share some of my photos and adventures in our nation's capital last week...

(Long post with pictures and video...after the "read more" link...)

Sarah on Flashpoint

Lauren Rowe hosts a great political talk show on Local 6 WKMG called "Flashpoint" and she invited me to join the discussion for her post-election show.  You can watch the show, which was taped the day after the election, here:

Flashpoint November 7, 2010 | 'Flashpoint' Revisits Election Night

Lauren and I are joined by Jeremiah Jaspon, Chair of the Orange County Democratic Party, and Chris Trenkmann, WKMG political reporter, and we discuss the races for Governor, Senate, Congress, as well as the amendments.

It was my first time on the program, and I really enjoyed it.  Besides her hosting duties, Lauren oversees all the production for Flashpoint, so I got a great behind-the-scenes view of how a program like this is put together.  Thanks also to Lauren for giving a great shout-out to my little blog!

...and P.S. to Jeremiah: The GOP is not like bell bottom pants!  (See his comment near the end of the program.)

Just in case you aren't sick of post-election commentary yet

Wow, Tuesday, wow.  I'm still pretty excited about the results.  I've been spending this week relaxing, hanging out with family, cleaning out my car (it is amazing how many palm cards can hide under a car seat), and enjoying all the post-election commentaries. Just thought I'd share a few of my thoughts on Tuesday's results and what it all might mean moving forward...if you're not sick of all the endless election rehashing yet, read on...

Goodbye Alan Grayson

I'm still working on post-election stuff...cleaning walk lists and stickers out of my car and a writing blog post about my thoughts on Tuesday's results...until I get that done, here is something fun from our friends at the West Orlando Tea Party...

YouTube | Goodbye Alan Grayson

Na na na na, na na na na! Hey hey hey! Goodbye!

Mystery mailers sent out supporting Peg Dunmire

Last week, I received two mailers at my house, attacking Republican District 8 Congressional candidate Daniel Webster and supporting Peg Dunmire.  Neither of them had a return address or any political advertising disclaimer.

Here is one of the mailers (the other is substantially similar, slightly different text and graphics, but same message and again no return address or disclaimer):

(click to enlarge image)

(click to enlarge image)

Federal law requires disclaimers for political advertisement mailers, regardless of whether they are sent by a candidate, a political party, or a independent PAC or "527" organization.  These mailers have no disclaimer whatsoever, no return addresses, no way to identify who sent them.

The only identification is the mail house's bulk mail ID and the print shop's union label, the logo on the bottom left of the first page of the mailer above that says "16 Typographical Union Label Casselberry, FL."

This union label can be traced to Lawton Printers in Casselberry.  Here is a screenshot of their website page that shows the same union label:

 

Interestingly, last week the Florida Democratic Party sent out a similar mailer in Congressional District 2, with similar fonts and message, and again attacking the Republican candidate and promoting the third party candidate:

See Practical State's great discussion of this mailer here:

Practical State | Florida #2: Allen Boyd's Last Dirty Trick

So who paid for the Dunmire mailers?  Was it the Florida Democratic Party?  The voters of District 8 have the right to know who is trying to influence this very important election.

UPDATE: Here is Local 6 WKMG's story on this mailer:

Local 6 Click Orlando | Lawyer: Pro-Grayson Mailer Breaks Law

...and yes, the "Lawyer" is yours truly :)

RedState interviews Daniel Webster

Here's a great interview of Dan Webster by RedState's Moe Lane:

YouTube | Daniel Webster (R-Cand, FL-08)

You can read the original RedState post here.  My favorite part is Lane's comment that Webster will be "the instrument by which we propel Alan Grayson to a fun new career as a bitter MSNBC analyst."  

Now that I've met him, here's some more thoughts on Rick Scott

Kudos to the Orange County Republican Executive Committee yesterday on a great Republican Unity Rally yesterday.  It was great to see so many local elected officials, candidates, party activists, volunteers, and supporters.  The room was packed, standing room only.  After talking with my friends who set out the chairs we estimated the crowd at 275-300 people.  

It was great to see incoming Speaker of the House Dean Cannon and Senate President Mike Haridopolos speak so eloquently about party unity and their sincere and honest acknowledgment of Rick Scott's primary victory.

Here's part of Haridopolos' statement to Fox 35 News last night:

[Rick Scott] has done a really good job of focusing on what's most important - creating jobs and opportunities in this state.  He's got a track record of creating jobs, high quality jobs, and that's what we're focused on.

...[T[he Republican Party is unified - Jeb Bush, myself, Dean Cannon, we've all rallied behind Rick Scott.  The voters have spoken, they want Rick Scott to be the Republican nominee, [and] I strongly support him.

...Jeb Bush, the incoming Speaker, the incoming [Florida Senate] President, the party chairman John Thrasher, we're all rallying behind Rick Scott because the voters matter, they're the ones who are the ultimate endorsement.

Well said, Senator.  I strongly believe that one of the major challenges facing RPOF (as well as the Republican Party nationally) stems from a failure to remember that the voters are the ones who matter.  Jim Greer is now 0 for 3 in getting his chosen statewide candidates across the finish line, as his attempts to clear the fields for Bill McCollum, Jeff Kottkamp, and most spectacularly Charlie Crist, have all fallen short.  

As for Scott himself, he gave a warm and heartfelt talk thanking everyone for their support, and pledging dedication to the conservative ideals that Republicans all share.  This was the first time I saw him speak in person, and I'm not easily impressed by politicians,  can smell a canned speech from a million miles away, but it was a solid speech.  He received a lot of applause and even several standing ovations.  

Keep in mind that Orange County is McCollum's home turf.  There were a lot of people in the room that were not just McCollum supporters, but personal friends with Bill and Ingrid.  Scott was respectful of the situation and gracious in his victory.  I believe Scott's positive speech last night went a long way towards speeding up the healing process and unifying the party.

Here's a photo from Scott's speech, with former Governor Martinez, Haridopolos, Cannon, Daniel Webster, and Sandy Adams behind him, and his wife Ann by his side:

After the speech, I had the opportunity to meet Scott, as well as his charming wife Ann.  In person, Scott is warm and genuine, gave me a solid handshake, looked me in the eye, asked my name and thanked me for my support.  Also, in real life he looks a lot less like Voldemort. ;)  Seriously, though, he really does seem to have a natural and charming friendliness about him and a sincere belief in conservative issues.

I think the Democrats are vastly underestimating Rick Scott.  I can't think of anything new Alex Sink can throw at him that McCollum and his backers didn't already try.  It will be very hard to get the voters' attention with the same old message that they didn't seem to buy during the primary.

As I said a few days ago, I'm in the process of reading through Scott's platform and I really like what I'm seeing.  There's a common-sense practicality to his approach to issues that I find refreshing.  You can read for yourself on the "Issues" section of his website.

I must admit too that I really like the idea of an elected official that doesn't owe a darn thing to any of the typical power brokers, isn't held hostage by the media, isn't in debt to the party structure, and is absolutely independent of the lobbyists and special interests.  

Mike Thomas of the Orlando Sentinel summed up Rick Scott's independence well in his commentary in Sunday's paper, noting that "Scott's appeal is based on his separation from the corrupt, rusting machinery of political parties and special-interest groups:"

For those of us in the media, the worrisome thing about Scott...is that he has completely dissed us at a time when we are feeling very insecure about our role as major players.

He treats us like Tiger Woods treats golf reporters.

He doesn't answer our questions or take our advice.

He doesn't pay homage to our editorial boards.

He just blows us off and buys another round of ads.

And it's working. Thirty seconds on "Dancing with the Stars" trumps 30 pages of media rants.

Meanwhile, the guy who played by our rules, Bill McCollum, lost.

Every major newspaper endorsed McCollum, and he lost.

That raises a very disturbing question. What if the other politicians see this and think, "Hey, maybe he's on to something.''

By no means are we the only Lilliputians exposed by Scott.

He treats Republican Party bosses with equal disdain because they are Exhibit A in his crusade against career politicians. They threw every dime and every endorsement at their favorite career politician. And he lost.

Even worse, Jeb Bush campaigned for McCollum. And he lost. Losing a Republican primary with Jeb's endorsement is like being rejected at the pearly gates when you arrive arm in arm with St. Peter.

The Republican special interests turned their backs on Scott — the social conservatives, the business interests, even Big Sugar.

...The fear of a renegade candidate is eclipsed only by the fear of a renegade governor.

The next few months will show whether Rick Scott really deserves the "renegade'" moniker (I must admit I am having reluctant flashbacks to the overuse of "maverick" during McCain's train wreck of a campaign in 2008) but I've got a pretty good feeling about his chances for success in November.  

One thing is certain: politics in the Sunshine State is guaranteed to continue to be interesting for quite a while...

UPDATE: Frank Torres, once again, took great pictures at last night's event...and his commentary is not to be missed.  Check out his blog here.

Republican Unity Rallies

Republican Unity Rally

Monday, August 30, 5:30 pm

Mark Street Senior Center

99 East Marks Street

Orlando, FL 32801

Join our Republican nominees Rick Scott, Daniel Webster, Sandy Adams and others as we prepare for victory in November! UPDATE: and also Marco Rubio!

Rick Scott is also traveling around the state on a unity tour with Senate President Mike Haridopolos and Speaker of the House Dean Cannon for the next few days.  Here are some locations in other cities:

TAMPA

Monday, August 30, 1:30 pm

Tampa Jet Center

4751 Jim Walter Blvd.

MIAMI

Tuesday, August 31st, 11:30 am

Sweetwater Youth Center

250 SW 114th Ave.

JACKSONVILLE

Tuesday, August 31st, 7:00 pm

Republican Party of Duval office

4963 Beach Blvd.

Interesting Nov. 2009 article about Alan Grayson

An interesting article about Alan Grayson from last November...do you think it's still a valid analysis?

RealClearPolitics - FL-8: A Lesson in How Not to Win Re-Election

Grayson's problems, from what I can tell, include an exaggerated sense of his intellect to cover up some self-esteem issues and a misguided belief that voters supported him because they actually liked him...

...Note that the Congressman isn't merely fighting for what he believes to be right, or that he is trying to work with others to improve things. His side stands for right, while the other side is wrong.

...Grayson clearly has some issues with who he is and where he came from. And that shows, not only in his bio but also with the way he deals with those who may disagree with him.

Grayson was elected to Congress not because of who he is and was, but because he wasn't Ric Keller, the incumbent Republican. The challenger won because of a big Democratic wave in a competitive but Republican-leaning district that President George W. Bush won with 55 percent in 2004. Barack Obama carried it with 52 percent last year - roughly the same showing as Grayson. The district's Democratic Performance Index is only 44 percent, making it a difficult district for any Democrat in a normal year.

Keller, of course, had a shockingly close 53 percent to 47 percent primary win about 10 weeks before last year's general election, a sure sign of his problems in the district. And Grayson outspent Keller by almost 2-to-1, $3.21 million to $1.77 million, in the race.

It was his money and the mood for change that made Grayson a winner, not the public's affection or admiration for him.