Jury still out for Rod Smith & FlaDems

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Tuesday April 05, 2011 · 8:35 AM PDT

2011/04/05 · 08:35

As the first quarter of the year passes by and Rick Scott continues to destroy our state, I got to thinking -- how's the new Democratic leadership handling the situation. The easy, quick answer stuck in my mind. The jury is still out. Why? Because we still don't have that clear alternative to the craziness that has consumed the Florida GOP and that is personified in Rick Scott. Where is the vision, the values, and the platform for what a Democratic Florida looks like? Where is the picture of a better tomorrow that regular, hard-working and middle-class Floridians wish for?

As I was thinking more and more that the jury was still out on Rod Smith (sometimes literally as he still practices law despite making a hefty state party salary), I happened to get an email from Rod himself about the new Florida Dems website and that simply holding Rick Scott accountable "isn't enough" and that this new effort would help Democrats fight for Florida.

mikecantone

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Friday January 07, 2011 · 6:26 AM PST

2011/01/07 · 06:26

State Senate President Mike Haridopolos officially has his first big issue flip flop and has apparently targeted what he hopes is a solid Tea Party talking point ahead of the US Senate campaign. By taking on Central Florida's high speed rail - which Haridopolos and 27 other senators voted to pass, clearing the way for SunRail - Haridopolos has exposed his hypocrisy more than before. However, more important than a flip flop is the fact that his decision simply makes no sense at all.

mikecantone

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Sunday December 12, 2010 · 11:02 AM PST

2010/12/12 · 11:02

Let me be clear: as great as Fair Districts Florida's victories are, they are not a Democratic nor Republican tool for victory - and never should be. Democrats have been equally guilty for drawing beneficial lines & cutting out voters they didn't want. These standards are a good step forward for all Florida voters to elect their representatives from fairer districts. But let's be real, the final district lines won't even be finalized until June 18, 2012!

Florida Democrats are about to elect a new state party Chair who has signaled his number one priority will be making sure Fair Districts remains the "savior" of the FDP (Facing Florida 11/5/10). We haven't had an open forum on what went wrong in 2010 and where we need to go in 2012. The process remains broken, and that means our party is broken - and worse, focused on the wrong message.

New district lines will not save Florida Democrats - only a strong message and clear platform will. Our party priorities are clearly off track and out of line still.

mikecantone

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Wednesday December 08, 2010 · 8:02 PM PST

2010/12/08 · 20:02

Tonight, Rod Smith takes the next step in the process to become Chair through election in his local DEC. As Rod is elected locally, it's important to remember that cards are being played and now is not the time to hold your hand. Looking at how the process continues to play out, it's easy to see that no alternate voices or visions are being heard. In fact, some (myself included) may argue that we don't even have one vision. That's just the start of what's wrong with the broken process this year and why progressives should demand more to make sure we don't have a broken party heading into the 2012 cycle.

Progressives need to care. As broken and insider as the process may be, the election for State Party Chair is the one opportunity for grassroots, local Democrats, to demand more in the direction of our party and shape that future direction.

mikecantone

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Thursday December 02, 2010 · 1:21 PM PST

2010/12/02 · 13:21

Andrew Gillum's short-lived run for party chair came to a crashing end, sealing the deal for Rod Smith to take over the FDP. While the "reason" behind his run had substance (generational change) his exit shows simply more of the same.

And despite everyone, from Senator Nelson to departing Gillum, claiming that Rod Smith "is committed to delivering the reforms that the Florida Democratic Party needs to win elections," where's Rod Smith's plan?! Where's his vision? Why don't we know it? Even I started a plan, it's not too much to ask for.

This is just the start of the problems with the transition of power for Democrats in Florida - there is no real transition. This entire process has been done quietly and seemingly with pressure from the top (all the way to Sen Nelson personally making calls for Smith) to make this happen. While our party suffered the worst losses of our times, these same party leaders are the ones pulling the strings.

mikecantone

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Monday November 29, 2010 · 12:32 PM PST

2010/11/29 · 12:32

After my last posting on proposed general strategy for the new direction of the Florida Democratic Party, a good friend of mine involved in national and state politics asked about the elephant in the room: OFA. It's a great question and definitely very important to factor into what our party should look like here in Florida for the 2012 election cycle.

In short (& explained after the jump), we need to be smart to rebuild Florida and one entity simply can't hit every target group that's needed for a winning coalition. OFA and its members have a very important role to play in the presidential election. They should be tasked with targeting voters they were formed around - what inspires most of their true members - Obama voters. Then the party and local DECs can run their part of the coordinated campaign that is built around our pressing priorities. The crossover is that both OFA & FDP will overlap in collecting IDs for Obama and Nelson. By working together like this, it will show smarts in coordination, strength in sharing and using data & will allow the FDP to focus on creating and defining the new "Florida Democrat" which is so desperately needed.

mikecantone

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Tuesday November 23, 2010 · 9:28 AM PST

2010/11/23 · 09:28

These are my thoughts on what is needed for the Florida Democratic Party moving forward. With the change in leadership coming, these are realistic steps that can be taken to make our party stronger and deliver tangible results. For the record, I was recently the campaign manager for Heather Beaven in Florida's 7th congressional, have worked for a state Democratic Party, a progressive national consulting firm (ISSI), and on campaigns in VA, MO, GA, and FL while serving a few months on Capitol Hill in between...

2010 Proposed Strategic Plan – The New Florida Democratic Party

OBJECTIVE:
To expand, identify, unify and mobilize the “base” of the Democratic Party; to build and maintain an effective voter database statewide; to reform the function of the State Party; to implement statewide grassroots programs; to recruit candidates willing to work to win and contest all 67 counties; and, to deliver victories in the 2012 General Elections, specifically picking up seats in the State House and Senate...

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Jury still out for Rod Smith & FlaDems

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Only a strong message, not fair districts, will help Florida Democrats

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Florida OFA & the Party, part 2

Proposed Florida Democratic Party Strategic Plan