Alex Sink is Running for Governor

So it may not have happened the way we wanted or expected. But Alex Sink is running for Governor. Please visit her site and support her. Let’s get to work and elect her Governor:

http://www.alexsink2010.com

Lawson Throws Down

First, a bit of background: Congressman Allen Boyd from North Florida was potentially thinking about running for US Senate. He’s decided to forgo the race to concentrate on the myriad of issues now coming before the House. Boyd’s been rifling some feathers lately: voting against the Democrats on the infamous stimulus package. He’s also heading up the conservative coalition of Democrats known as the Blue Dogs. But, Boyd has served his district well for twelve years now, and no matter what anyone says, has more than earned respect from us at DraftAlex.

It seems though that State Senator Al Lawson, the Democratic leader in that body, has decided to primary challenge Congressman Boyd. You can check it out on the Palm Beach Post.

Look, any Democrat has the right to primary challenge anyone, even someone in their own party. Lawson- it should be noted- is term limited in the state senate and will be out of a job come 2010. Congressman Boyd has gotten some often deserved, often undeserved flack for being one of the most conservative members of the House of Representatives. But, like I said, he’s got our support here at DraftAlex, and I’d be surprised if we don’t see Allen Boyd rocking out in the US House well after the 2010 election.

Alex Sink for Gov, part 2?

After neglecting DraftAlex.com for long enough, we’re making our triumphant return. And, let me say, it’s been a crazy few months. On the Senate front alone: Boyd is out, Meek and Gelber are in. Alex Sink is running for re-election as CFO, deciding to forgo this cycle.

But, is it over? Of course not, people. This is Florida after all.

Mr. Crist has decided he might possibly maybe like to think about potentially running for Senate, just to keep things interesting. That means that Marco Rubio and Connie Mack might need to find a new hobby instead of imagining themselves in the Senate.  I’ll leave my rant about him skipping out on our state in a time of need for later and just say this:

If Charlie does decide to make a run for it (right out of Florida, errr I mean for the Senate), please Alex, give a second thought about governor. Florida needs a smart lady like you.

Oh and formally, welcome back kids.

What goes around comes around, Charlie

Not to reminisce about the completely unfounded Charlie Crist-gay rumors from 2006, but this is one of those [insert obvious joke here] moments.

From the Palm Beach Post,

In the wake of Florida’s new constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, the editor of GaySoFla.com is helping activist group Impact Florida organize a peaceful protest of Gov. Charlie Crist’s “constitutionally protected” marriage on Dec. 12 to Carol Rome.

But, DraftAlex is sure that those protesters are just there to “live and let live,” (see our post here on his complete bs maneuvering of Amendment 2) and to wish the couple best wishes for their nuptials. It’s totally something like that.

Charlie, didn’t your mother ever tell you what goes around comes around? You can’t work to deny someone a right that you then decide to exercise and not expect to at least be called out for it.

Charlie Crist: Not a Leader or a Cartographer, apparently

On Nov. 21- right before Thanksgiving- the state got the final economic breakdown about Florida’s revenue future- and it was not something to give thanks for. If you haven’t heard, check out this morning’s St. Pete Times or Miami Herald.

The short story is that the state bet on a high growth rate, but because of the economy, that growth rate just doesn’t exist anymore. The state will be short more than $31 billion (yes, that’s billion with a B, people) in revenue that it expected over the next four years just won’t exist.

Problem? I think so. But, apparently, platitudes are supposed to get me through the hard times. Charlie Crist, Cheerleader in Chief, had this to say in response…

Florida will probably come out of it first. I mean, the sun always comes up in Florida first.”

Well, thanks Charlie, I’ll be sure to file that under the “are you effing kidding me” category. First, let’s start with Florida isn’t the eastern most state, so the sun doesn’t come up first here. But, more importantly, platitudes aren’t going to help; this isn’t leadership. Florida is facing a huge crisis here, and this doesn’t exactly boost my morale, let alone the state economy.

But, at least Alex Sink is paying attention. Alex understands that unfortunately the state banked on a high growth rate, that’s dwindling, and she responded to the numbers saying the following:

We can’t rely any more on attracting fixed-income retirees from up north and selling them cheap land…Those days are over.”

Ah, leadership. Understanding of the issues. How I miss yee.

Florida should be demanding more; we certainly need leadership that befits such a great state.

“But Charlie is so popular…”

DraftAlex is back from Thanksgiving, but not without a bit of a headache. Though part of it was most definitely caused by traffic and maybe a bit of Turkery (read: tryptophan) overload, most of it was because of this:

“But, Charlie Crist is so popular…”

While discussing politics with my family, that phrase was uttered by Democrat and Republican alike. No one said that Charlie had done such a stand-up job that they were definitely going to vote for him in 2010. No one said that they particularly liked his handling of any issue or problem in the state. Not one person- including my die-hard Republican relatives- thought that he was leading the state in the right direction. So, what’s going on?

You’ve read DraftAlex’s rants on this before, but seriously, why is Charlie Crist’s “popularity” keeping people from looking for a better option, like say Alex Sink? Why aren’t we demanding more for our state? Why is everyone just OK with the job Charlie is doing?

Here’s my deal: his support is softer than it seems. Only 50% think that he deserves to be reelected, even though 68% approve. Democrats can beat him. We need to stop being so defeatist about his supposed popularity and start demanding real answers and solutions for the issues facing Florida- answers and solutions Charlie just isn’t giving us.

Florida is a great state, and I, for one, am not content with settling. But, with the only response being “he’s so popular”, you cannot tell me that I’m the only one.

Alex Sink to make 2010 decision “very soon,” hilarity ensues

Yesterday at a breakfast meeting with reporters Alex Sink told the St. Pete Times and Miami Herald:

I’m going to make up my mind very soon,” Sink said. “It’s all about what’s best for me, and what’s best for the state.

This led to some healthy discussion about what she should run for at Swing State Project – of course we were there. Go and make your opinion heard as well — it’s a great blog.

But it also led to this Miami New Times to say she is seeking the Senate instead. Like a bad slumber party flashback the game of telephone on Alex’s quote is quite funny.

• The Buzz reports she’ll make a decision on what she is going to run for “very soon.”
• The Hill – a DC newspaper covering Congress – reports that she might run for Senate (their focus), but mention later in the article she also might make a run for Governor.
• Then Riptide 2.0, the Miami New Times blog, links to us and says The Hill is reporting she’ll likely run for Senate – and that we’d be disappointed.

Don’t get us wrong, were happy for more recognition of the Draft Alex Sink movement online and offline – but lets get the story right – Alex hasn’t decided what she will do yet and it include a lot of options.

We have no idea what she’ll decide to do – but we wish her and her family the best over the holidays and with making this important decision. DraftAlex has our opinions, but we will support her no matter what she decides to do.

One more thing – with all the coverage of her impending decision everyone missed the best quote of this Buzz post:

The cratering of the construction and credit markets is all the more reason why Florida must continue to diversify its economic base, she said, and end its reliance on real estate. She cited the wildly overbuilt Fort Myers, now one of the foreclosure capitals of the world. “There’s nothing else there, except for Chico’s,” she said

Though we bet that Charlie has no idea what Chico’s is, does Carole Rome?

Alex Sink Seeking the Senate?

It’s pretty obvious that people are hoping that Alex Sink tosses her hat in the ring or higher office. The question we hope she’s facing right now is which one: Senate or Guvna?

There are perhaps a few too many calls for Alex Sink to be our Senate nominee.  This morning, Blast Off! even called for her to run for Senate and forget about the governor’s mansion.

Here at Draft Alex Sink for Governor the bias is pretty obvious. But, think for a second about why running for Senate wouldn’t be as good as a move.

First, just in terms of personality and experience, Alex is perfectly suited to be governor. She’s been an executive- and that’s what a governor theoretically does (just don’t look to Charlie for an example). Dan Gelber, Bob Wexler, Allen Boyd- these men are legislators- damn good ones, if I may. Their skills and interests fit the profile of a Senator more than Alex’s do.

There is a crowded bench already. Alex would have to compete with the likes of Dan Gelber and Chris Korge, maybe Allen Boyd, or even Bob Wexler. Those are some serious players, who could all represent the state well and some will run if she gets in or not. Alex could win the primary and the general, but why go for Senate to when the bench is already so deep, so good.

Winning the senate seat back is going to be tougher than we imagine. Sure, it looks a lot easier than beating Charlie does, but we’re two years out from the election- things change. Charlie should start to look more like a do-nothing, and Mel Martinez might decide to gracefully bow out, leaving the Republicans to nominate someone who could give us more of a challenge. In short, get excited about another Democratic senator, but don’t bet money on it just yet.

While there’s a crowded bench for Senate, there is literally no bench for governor- outside Alex Sink. If Democrats want to stop losing the state, then we can’t cede races like the 2010 gubernatorial. We need to not only nominate a candidate, but we need to nominate a good one. Right now, no other Democrat is really dipping the proverbial toe in the water- no one, not even Rod Smith.

And, there’s my peace.

Special Session Watch: Crist advisor LeMieux says it will happen and taxes are on the table

The Buzz is reporting that on his Karl Rove wannabe weekly report — LeMieux says the special session is going to happen in December or January and that raising taxes is on the table.

Of course, Charlie is still silent – preferring platitudes like “tighten our belts” (read:means massive cuts in health care, education, and programs for the disabled). So, LiMieux’s mutterings are the closest thing to an indication about what Charlie will do.

Let’s rewind to the end of the 2006 campaign when Crist campaigned in the homestretch using this simple line:

If you want higher taxes, you vote for who? Jim Davis, If you want lower taxes, you vote for who? Charlie Crist.

Economic crises lead to a change of plans there is no question abaout it – but this was a signature issue for him. What is Charlie going to do?

There is no question something has to be done about the revenue situation, but raising sales taxes in a bad economy will just mean less consumer spending and less revenue. A tobacco tax is a decent idea – but it puts state programs dependent on a declining revenue stream. There are not a lot of good choices – so we really do need to get to work.

A guy who doesn’t work for Charlie anymore is updating Floridians on what is going to happen better than the Governor — it’s time to get to work and fix our budget.

So where is Charlie? He got to work at noon today and has nothing scheduled for the rest of the week.

Calling for a Special Session: What should Florida save?

Alex Sink called for a special session, and here at DraftAlex, we’re backing her up.

In case you don’t know about the myriad of projects that would be cut or just deleted from the state budget, you can go online to the Florida Fiscal Portal and check it out. Each state agency has submitted their proposed cuts, which can be seen under Sechedule VIIB-2, in order to comply with the additional 10% of the across the board budget cuts asked for by Charlie.

Here’s a few that chafed my ass the most:

• No more Amber alerts or sexual predator unit
• Eliminate 13 state law enforcement offices from Broward to Gainsville
• Reduction of probation supervision by 40% making the probation officer to parolee ration 1:196
• Cut contracts that improve nursing homes and organ and tissue donation programs
• Eliminate health coverage for poor pregnant mothers and their kids
• Eliminate vision, hearing, and dental appointments from Medicare
• Dramatically reduced support for Pre-K
• Significant reduction in investigative services and child protection at DCFS
• $65 Million in funding shifts in Medicare to local governments who don’t have the money either
• Reduction of unemployment services for over 88,000 Floridans out-of-work including closing 10 centers

and the kicker: From the Office of the Governor, eliminate 10 budget workers.

At least a lot of this has to be approved by the legislature, although that means we have to count on them to stand up for us.

On Friday, Charlie said, “These are historically challenging economic times our state is facing, but just like Florida’s families, we will continue to tighten our belts and live within our means.”

Are you kidding me? This isn’t just about tightening the state’s belt, this is about not getting the water shut off.

Oh, and if you haven’t yet, sign our petition to call for a special session to back up Alex and other state Democrats.