Politicons: Perry Wants to be President, but will The Bushes thwart his plan?

by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics:

As the race for President in 2012 takes shape, stories continue to surface about the rift between Bush and Perry loyalists - G.W. Bush, that is.  The Bush 43 camp clearly has animosity toward the man who succeeded him as Governor of Texas.  Most prominently, Chief Strategist Karl Rove has made the t.v. rounds questioning Perry's qualifications and strategy.

Last week, Bush's brother Jeb found his way into the discussion.  Ironically, Governor Bush intended to play down differences between Perry and the Bushes.  Newsmax reported Wednesday that Bush praised Mitt Romney in an interview with Neil Cavuto.  According to Bush, "Governor Romney is going to have a proposal that will be longer-term and create sustained growth."

Insiders know that Jeb's praise for Mitt Romney is nothing new.  In 2007, Bush notably urged his close confidants to meet and consider Romney before making any commitments in the 2008 election.  Many of his inner circle did just that, and several did join team Romney.  While quietly steering insiders toward Romney, Bush remained officially neutral until endorsing John McCain in the aftermath of his Florida victory.

The Club for Growth recently offered tepid praise for Governor Perry, while simultaneously cautioning followers about contradicting policy stances and an interventionist streak.  Current Florida Governor Rick Scott has been vocal in his man crush over Governor Perry, citing his pro-growth policies and job growth in Texas. Perry also recently claimed support from former President George W. Bush.

As Florida's Presidency 5 straw poll nears, insiders will be listening closely to behind the scenes chatter and maneuvering between the Perry and Romney camps for the support of grassroots conservatives.  Dedicated ground support will likely make the difference in Florida's delegate rich primary election next year.

Florida Governor Rick Scott.

Drawnlines readers have read some harsh words about Rick Scott.  During last year's primary election cycle I was - shall we say - decidedly for the other guy. When a good friend told me she was considering supporting Rick Scott, I thought she was kidding.  When she said she might work for his campaign, I almost passed out in horror.  It turned out a lot of other Republicans supported him as well - leaving the rest of us crying in our cocktails.

For all the concerns I had about Rick Scott becoming our Party's nominee for Governor, I held my nose and voted for him in November.  Like other Republican activists, I made phone calls, waved signs and cajoled wavering friends.  Quietly though, I wondered what kind of Governor he would make.  On some level, I was afraid he would win.

Governor Scott slowly allayed my fears that he would make a mockery of the Party.  As he delivered his first address, I found myself nodding my head and cheering - not out of obligation, but out of true agreement.  "Government has no resources of its own," he said, and "can only give to us what it has previously taken from us."  How true that is.  "Taxation, regulation, and litigation," he said, form "the axis of unemployment."  Thank God, I said to a friend, that Alex Sink was not the one addressing Floridians that beautiful winter morning.

That's the first time I thought, "Maybe we were right to take a chance on Rick Scott."

Governor Scott's pro-growth agenda hasn't amounted to just words.  He immediately went to work implementing his 7-7-7 jobs plan, aggressively tackling reckless spending and over-regulation.  He made tough choices that no other Governor would, and even took on special interests in his own Party.  When the Republican budget came across his desk, he vetoed a record $615 million in pork and special interest spending.  For his tough choices, he took a severe hit in the polls - even among Republicans.  But the Governor knew that doing the right thing eventually pays off.

Mr. Scott has already made good on many of his campaign promises.  According to Politifact Florida, he vetoed pork barrel spending, required drug screening for welfare recipients, expanded school options for parents, and aligned state employee pension contributions with other states - just to name a few accomplishments. His laser focus on job creation and government efficiency has already begun paying off.  This year, Florida rose from sixth to third best business climate in the nation.  Next year, the Governor pledges to overtake Texas for the number one position. As reduced spending has improved our balance sheet, S&P recently upgraded our debt outlook from negative to stable.  This is excellent news for all Floridians.

On the issues, Floridians support Governor Scott.  They like his tax cuts on property and small business.  His pension and education reforms are wildly popular, as well as drug testing of welfare recipients.  His tough decisions are benefiting every Floridian as they go to work at new jobs, their children attend better schools, and their government becomes more accountable.

Florida's future is looking brighter, and so is the Governor's approval rating.  As the amazing rebound unfolds, I'm relieved to admit the obvious truth.

I was wrong about Rick Scott.

by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics:

Check out my regular column at the Broward GOP Insider.  This week: Governor Scott Needs Us.  As liberal bloggers and editorial boards pile on the Florida governor and our Republican legislators, President Obama and DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz are preparing a smear campaign.  They think that a coordinated message war on Florida Republicans can put the Sunshine State in Obama's column on Election Day.  I'm calling for a massive, grassroots push back to level the playing field.

St Pete Times: Governor Scott's Florida Jobs Tour

The Republican Party of Florida sent out an email yesterday, pointing reader attention to an article from the Orlando Sentinel on the best states to do business.  Florida ranked third, behind Texas and North Carolina.  Of course, RPOF didn't fail to put a little partisan spin on the survey results - and rightly so.  Since the 1994 Republican wave, Republicans have had an increasing level of control over state policy both in the Governor's Mansion and in the legislature.  Republicans have consistently enacted pro-growth, pro-jobs, pro-business policy which has contributed to Florida's explosive population boom in the past two decades.  According to the RPOF, "In its annual survey, Chief Executive magazine cited the state’s low taxes, business-friendly regulations and quality of life." Governor Rick Scott has already made clear his determination to put Florida at the top of the list.

Become a Drawnlines Politics insider today.

This Tuesday, Drawnlines editor Nick Stone and columnist Jessica Osman discussed Florida Changing Hands.  With a new Republican governor, a GOP cabinet and a slate of new Republicans going to Washington, Florida saw a wave of red in 2010.  But will the trend continue or can President Obama put the largest swing state back into his column for 2012?  

Plus breaking news:  Senators Lieberman I-CT and Conrad D-ND will not seek re-election in 2012, leaving both seats open for GOP pickups.



Tweet @Drawnlines to sound off about anything we discussed in this week's episode.


For campaigns, culture, news and trends, tune in to Election Night on Drawnlines Politics each Tuesday at 6 p.m. Eastern, exclusively on Blogtalkradio.

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by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics.

Have you seen Alex Sink's television ads?

The Democratic candidate for governor of Florida sailed through her primary on August 24th, wasted no time seizing the middle ground for the general election.  While Republicans Rick Scott and Bill McCollum pummeled each other on the airwaves, Sink largely stayed quiet though the primary to let them duke it out.  All the while, she raised and saved huge sums of money from Democratic donors.

Now that the primary is over, Republican Rick Scott's ads are conspicuously missing from the airwaves.  In their place, Alex Sink has launched an aggressive charm offensive.


Republicans throughout Florida would do well to be afraid of Alex Sink's campaign for governor.  With reapportionment, education reform, state spending, and the looming possibility of a personal income tax on the line, they know that the GOP cannot afford to lose the governor's mansion.

The candidate has introduced herself to the electorate as a true reformer that won't kowtow to the fringes of her party. After a bruising primary like the one just had in Florida, Sink may just be able to pick off enough Republicans to declare victory in November. 

Sink is running an amazing air war, but Florida voters should ask themselves if the Democrat would govern the same way she is campaigning.  An end to partisanship?  How would Democrats in the state House and Senate feel about that? Keeping out special interests? Would left-leaning unions forgive that from a Democratic governor?  And ending corruption in Tallahassee?  Good luck getting an ex-Bank of America employee to stick to that pledge.

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by Nick Stone of Drawnlines Politics.

“In a time of show horses, Bill McCollum is a workhorse. He’ll make a terrific governor for all Floridians”


The Time

This year Americans will make a fundamental decision about whether or not we are on the right path.

Floridians choose their next governor in November, and the choice that Florida makes matters enough that I just can’t stay quiet. I vehemently urge you to stand up and vocally support Bill McCollum as our next governor.

For everyone who lives, works, or plays in Florida – the outcome of this race couldn’t be more decisive. That is no hyperbole. If you only have time, money, or energy to focus on one race this year, this must be the one you choose.

The Choice

During a recent contentious election, a great friend of mine blew a crowd away when she stood up against an establishment to nominate the opposition candidate she trusted. She bravely reminded the people in the room that politics is about choices.

That mantra fits this election perfectly.

Florida Republicans have a choice between a man with a proven history of integrity & conservative values, or a man with a history of corruption and duplicity. We have a choice between the candidate who is an asset to all Floridians, or the man who is a liability to his party and anything he touches. We have a choice between a vibrant and stable future for Florida, or monumental mismanagement on a scale usually seen only in Democratic administrations.

That choice could not be clearer or more important for Republicans this year. Any crook can buy an election with catchy phrases and slick ads, but leadership can’t be purchased. If we nominate a candidate with rich campaign coffers but poor ethics, we have only ourselves to blame when liberals pop champagne on Election Day.

The Consequence

A Democratic governor would be a guarantee of gridlock and malaise for Florida’s future. That’s exactly what we will get if we nominate Rick Scott.

Florida Democrats long for the days of tax-and-spend leaders and legislators in Tallahassee. They know that their special interest groups and favorite lobbyists have long been out of power, and they are prepared to –literally- buy their way back into the governor’s mansion. But were the “good old days” of Lawton Chiles and the Democratic majority really so great?

They know that since Republicans have taken over the Capitol, Florida has leapfrogged other states by most measures of success. They know Florida is better off today in terms of economic diversity, education, safety, infrastructure, and tax policy because of Republican leadership. They know that our children are safer and they are learning in better schools. They know our students are now better positioned for success and our businesses are better positioned to offer good jobs after they graduate. They know that our retirees enjoy better health care and can afford to live longer lives with lower tax burdens.

This is exactly the legacy they would turn around if we allow them to run Florida.

They can’t wait to install a Democratic governor to sign a state income tax into law. They can’t wait to raise property taxes & sales taxes and create new energy taxes to fund their dream entitlement programs. They can’t wait to empower and expand the same unions that have strangled other states. Their veto pen would strike down any legislation that decreased spending, cut through red tape, or created jobs outside of government. And they would use their position of power to play redistricting games and send more Democrats to Washington.

Democrats want to take the governor’s mansion away from the Republicans so badly they can almost taste it. A “Governor Alex Sink” or “Governor Bud Chiles” would be a disaster. With Florida’s future hanging in the balance, we just can’t afford the Democratic agenda. It is imperative that we send a Republican governor to Tallahassee in November.

That’s why we must be prepared to fight with our best contender.

The Man

Attorney General Bill McCollum is a common sense conservative. He’s a proven leader, a tough defender of the rights of victims, and a fierce advocate for the small, efficient government that we enjoy in Florida. He’s also a family man, a vocal supporter of our troops, and a nice guy.

Bill consistently stands for individual freedoms and against Washington takeovers. As Attorney General, he was the very first to challenge the Obama Administration’s plan to trample state sovereignty through health care mandates. He’s used his experience at the state and national levels to articulate policies which promote growth instead of misery. He knows that the best way for government to strengthen the economy is to encourage success rather than punish it.

Today, Bill McCollum is the man challenging both private companies and federal entities on oil spill cleanup. He spoke out to make sure immigration laws would be not just tough, but also fair. He’s the man you want in office to get the job done with integrity and attention to detail. In a word, he is a leader.

In a time of show horses, Bill McCollum is a workhorse. He’ll make a terrific governor for all Floridians.

Full Circle

We know most politicians turn out to be disappointments when voters learn more about them, but McCollum has only earned my deeper respect. In the ten or so years I’ve followed this man’s career of service to Florida, I’ve been increasingly impressed.

When I heard nearly a year ago that Bill McCollum would be running for office in 2010, I didn’t need to hear what office or who else was running. I knew immediately that I would proudly support his nomination. But now that we do know what Bill is running for and whom he is running against, I’m more certain than I have ever been that he is the right man for the job.

Please join me this year in making Bill McCollum the next governor of the Sunshine State. You’ll be glad you did.


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