Florida is THE 2010 state to watch. Momentum started with Obama (props to Steve Schale). GOP Sen. Mel Martinez quit. Jeb balked, and several Dems had already entered the ring before Gov. Charlie Crist declared. Kos himself predicted Crist would defect and run as a Dem.
Check out the race for FL Attorney General. Two Dem. State Senators, Front runner Dan Gelber and Dave Aronberg, are in. The real story is the cavernous absence of any GOP threat.
So far it would appear FL-GOP has banked its hopes on a cream puff five time looser with no experience, a left-leaning agenda, and quite possibly the lamest website of all times.
Republicans have long monopolized the Tough On Crime theme. Remember Willy Horton?
Remember Martin Lee Anderson, the 14 year old who was beat to death in a Juvenile Boot Camp? [WARNING - Disturbing]
George Bush oversaw 152 executionsduring his fives year stint as Governor of Texas. His brother Jeb was a slacker, only executing 25.
Sometimes even Republicans realize they over do the Tough on Crime theme. Remember the Illinois death penalty moratorium initiated by then indicted and eventually convicted on 18 counts Governor George Ryan?
So you would think that the FL GOP would have a deep bench ready to run for Attorney General. In Florida, AG is an elected cabinet position. However, FL-GOP has forfeited the race for Attorney General.
There were rumblings about Lt Gov. Jeff Kottkamp running, but so far nada. There was some random legislator guy but he bailed. Maybe Holly Benson. Fact is, so far, the only GOP hopeful is Jim Lewis.
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Who, you ask? I've never heard of this Jim Lewis guy? Exactly. Who is Jim Lewis? Let's find out:
Jim Lewis, 51, of Fort Lauderdale, has filed his intentions to seek the Office of Florida Attorney General in the 2010 election. Lewis will seek the Republican nomination.
What qualifies Jim for State Office? According the The Sun-Sentinel:
He has unsuccessfully run for Fort Lauderdale mayor, Fort Lauderdale city commissioner, Broward public defender, circuit judge and state representative. His most recent loss was the February primary for District 4 City Commission. He came in third in the four-candidate field, with just under 14 percent of the vote.
Ouch. But unlike Sarah Palin, Lewis ain't no quitter:
“I haven’t been selected yet, but this is truly what I’ve been called to do,” Lewis said. “I’m not discouraged. I believe if you work hard enough and if your heart’s in the right place, ultimately the voters will pick you for something.”
Where does he stand on the issues:
Precious tax dollars are being wasted continuing to fund prison beds for drug addicts instead of focusing on treatment like drug court. ..
... The Attorney General of Florida must do more to protect the environment. I will oppose oil drilling off any Florida coast...
... Our juvenile detention facilities must recommit themselves to rehabilitate and educate our troubled youth...
I agree, but how do Republicans feel? According to The Mom Buzz:
The attorney who defended Edward Howard was Jim Lewis. And now he is planning to run for Florida state attorney general with a not-so wonderful platform of locking up fewer criminals.
I know I will not feel safer with this man as attorney general. He defends the guilty. He will not make the state a safer place.
With a left-wing stoner-slacker socialist agenda like that, how will Lewis rally the GOP base?
Lewis said he’d campaign heavily in Miami-Dade County and in Central Florida, where there are lots of Republican voters who don’t know him. In Broward, Republicans “know me for who I am and what I am usually. So I’m going to have to get out of Broward County and see if I can sell my message in other parts of the state. We’ll see how it goes.”
I guess the phrase “know me for who I am and what I am usually" is secret Republican code for HAPLESS FIVE TIME LOOSER.
How was Jim Lewis as a lawyer? Well, according to The New Times:
Lewis is an attorney who I have seen undercut justice time and time again with one of his most reliable clients, Gina Marie Marks. You might remember her name. She's the Gypsy fraud artist who published a bogus book with Harper Collins under the name of Regina Milbourne. Marks has been running around ripping off her clients for years -- and every time she gets caught, Jim Lewis comes to the rescue... Lewis offers to pay the victims so long as they refuse to prosecute.
How is Jim doing on fund raising?
He estimated it would cost about $2 million for the campaign. He said he’d spend some of his own money on the race, but would seek to raise money for much of the cost of the campaign.
According to FL Division of Elections Jim Lewis has pulled in a hefty $2,600!
Compared to Dan Gelber's track record as a Federal Prosecutor, Minority Leader in the FL House and AV Rating, or Dave Aronberg's time in the State Senate and recent nomination as Gulfshore Life's Hottest Bachelors, poor Jim Lewis might just have an uphill battle. But like Jim says:
If your heart’s in the right place, ultimately the voters will pick you for something.
Maybe Republicans really are the party of the hopeless, poor and destitute? For the party that stole the 2000 election by hook, crook and vigilante mobs, I gotta sat they're off their game.
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Campaign Update -
I would like to formally acknowledge and thank the person or people who outted me by providing my personal identity and home phone number to Heather at The Miami Herald. Some people would insist that this is morally reprehensible and technically a bannable offense. I forgive you, and only ask that, in the future, though we may passionately disagree, let us please respect each other's private life.
Cordially,
EAEvans
P.S. Now, would someone please vote for Orin Hatch?!?!