You know that Florida Representative Keith Fitzgerald is a candidate I've volunteered for in the past, and will volunteer for again in the future.   He is one of the smart, pragmatic Democratic voices in the Florida legislature, and we need to do everything we can to help him.   From the message Keith sent out today:

after the jump

See also: FL Dems scrub inconvenient FAQ from "Make It Count" website by jethropalerobber.

There have been numerous diaries discussing the Florida primary debacle but I've yet to see one that includes video and audio of what actually transpired during this time. Florida's Democrats, supported by the Florida Democratic Party leadership, have consistently maintained they were steamrollered by the Florida GOP into setting the primary date on January 29, 2008, violating the primary schedule created by the DNC and resulting in the loss of Convention delegates. I've commented in several of these diaries that my state's Democratic legislators, rather than make an honest - albeit sure to fail, given they're in the minority - attempt to keep the primary date at Feb. 5, were instead equally complicit in creating this mess.

It's the middle of March here in Florida. That means three things are going on: Spring Break, Spring Training Baseball and the Florida Legislature is in session. Spring Training Baseball has a long and honored tradition here. Spring Break, with all its warts, also has been responsible for a lifetime of fond feelings for Florida from people all over the country. Regular sessions of the Florida Legislature, on the other hand, usually make us glad they only meet for 60 days a year. As the old saw goes, when the legislature is in session, make sure you've got your hand on your wallet.

So what battle is going on this year in the Florida Legislature that has almost all the elements necessary to make a good sequel to Sunshine State?  Follow me below the fold...

Cross-posted from Florida Netroots

Back in December of 1955, Rosa Parks challeged a city ordinance in Montgomery, Alabama that segregated transit passengers by race in refusing to give up her seat on a bus to make room for a white passenger. This single courageous act of civil disobedience started the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a seminal event in the civil rights movement.

I was reading Mike Lux’s post at Open Left on Congressional districts and why the Democratic caucus votes the way it does when an idea popped in my head. I was thinking why don’t we do something like this for the Florida legislature, but instead use it to see how we can take back the legislature.

I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post here on DKos. But what a month it has been in local politics in the City of St. Petersburg. The last postwas a rundown on our City Council elections, which will be on November 6th. Follow me below the jump, and I'll bring you up to date on what has been happening in our little corner of the world.

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Blog Florida Blue

This has to be a joke. I cannot believe that a person supposedly intelligent enough to be elected to state government would (1) prostitute themselves in a public setting, [not that doing it in private would be any better] and, then (2) try to explain it away by claiming they were afraid to not prostitute themselves.

Florida State Representative Bob Allen (R-Merritt Island) told police when arrested that he was just "playing along" when an undercover police officer suggested in a public restroom that he give him oral sex. And because he was a victim of intimidation, he agreed, according to a taped statement and other documents released last Thursday.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist today signed an elections reform bill that moves Florida's Presidential Preference Primary up to January 29th in 2008. This puts the Florida Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee on a collision course. DNC primary rules call for draconian penalties for any state that moves its primary up before February 5th. Potentially, Florida could lose all of its delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Blog Florida Blue

In Florida, my home state, the combination of rising property insurance premiums and property tax increases is driving the state legislature towards draconian changes in the tax system. The major target is property taxes which are the only source of revenue for local school funding requirements and the major source of revenue for local governments. The state legislature's well intended efforts to provide much needed relief to property owners are about to have some very severe unintended consequences for the quality of life here in Florida.

Caught squarely in the headlights of those unintended consequences are the arts and art education. The arts are always high on the list of the first place to cut funding in times like these. Follow me below the fold to examine why this is precisely the wrong place to start cutting.

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Word out of Tallahassee Saturday night is that the Florida State House passed a bill putting requirements on women seeking an abortion in Florida.

Not being of the female persuasion I really don’t know what to think about the bill. At cursory glance, it certainly does seem to inhibit an already complicated and vexing decision-making process facing women today -- as in making them wait longer and subjecting them to what I assume to be provocative images used exclusively as a deterrent.

The ultrasound requirement just seems like it goes too far, like the government is using this restriction as a punitive measure; its only purpose to evoke feelings of guilt. The 24-hour waiting period, however inconvenient, in my opinion, is the lesser of the two-restrictions.

And, no that's not an endorsement of either requirement.

OK - this has been done at least once already today.  But we are trying to keep this in front of you so we can elicit all the help we can get.  If you care at all about election integrity, please act today.

ACTION ALERT!
This originally supportable bill for paper ballots has become a dumping ground of partisan garbage.  We need help contacting FL legislators today!!!

Subject: URGENT ACTION ALERT: Write all FL Senators in support of paper ballots today!!

Also, please send to every Florida voter you know as it is urgent as many Florida voters as possible write to Tallahassee today.

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Over at RockridgeNation there is a posting up about Florida's new and so far hugely popular Governor, Charlie Crist, entitled A John Lennon Conservative?

As a resident of Charlie Crist's hometown, I can bring an up close and personal perspective. I have known Charlie Crist for over 20 years. One need make no mistake about Charlie - he is a consummate politician. I think he is doing these "progressive" things because he does believe in them. But I'm not so sure he believes in them in and of themselves, but as in where the political advantage lies.

Can Charlie Crist continue to succeed in this political balancing act? The rest of the story after the junp...

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

The annual Florida Legislative session opens today in Tallahassee. The chambers of both Houses will be decked in flowers, a signal that hope springs eternal. But what do you hope the legislature will accomplish this year? Today, I'd like to start a conversation about what you would like to see the legislature accomplish this year.

To get the conversation started, follow me below the fold...

Cross Posted from Florida Kossacks

Florida Governor-Elect Charlie Crist has appointed State Rep. Holly Benson, a fellow Republican, as the next secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. As a result the District 3 seat will need to be filled by a special election.

As the Tallahassee Democrat reports:

One of Crist's first official acts after he is sworn in Tuesday will be setting a date for a special election to fill the District 3 seat that the Pensacola Republican is vacating. The election could be within 60 days.

Everyone in the District is gearing up for this election. There might be a real chance to get a Democratic replacement, but it's going to take some persuasion. That's where YOU come in. More below.

[SHE SAID NO! LET'S GET BEHIND LIZ CAMPBELL AND WHY THIS RACE IS IMPORTANT]

The Tallahassee Democrat has a story today discussing the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) elect for the state of Florida and her transition plans.  She and Senator Bill Nelson were both able to win a statewide office in a state which also elected a Republican governor and which has a legislature that is two-thirds Republican.

As an ex-astronaut, Sen. Nelson is pretty much sui generis.  We all know that convincing a popular celebrity to run for office under your party name can be effective (e.g. The Governator). But, Ms. Sink's win was based on more fundamental principles and one we need to study, especially in Florida, to see what we can learn.

More below.

Florida State Representative Ralph Arza, of course a Republican, is in hot water for leaving a racially-charged phone message on a colleague's system.

Arza has admitted leaving the message on the voice mail of Republican Rep. Gus Barreiro earlier this month but said he was drunk and felt "deeply ashamed."

Barreiro had earlier filed a complaint alleging that Arza used a racial epithet when referring to Miami-Dade County school superintendent Rudy Crew, who is black; an allegation Arza denies. Arza used the same epithet in his phone message to Barreiro, who is Hispanic.

Rules committee chairman Dudley Goodlette, who is conducting the House investigation, wrote in a report Monday that he has not decided whether to recommend expulsion and that he wishes Arza would act first.

This involves a pretty unfortunate series of comedic-if-they-weren't-so-annoying events that happened today in Sarasota, Florida. At the risk of coming off braggy, I have some experience in campaigns, but today served as an ugly new low for me. I am hoping for guidance and perhaps for someone to shed a little light on this abominable lack of decency.

Keith Fitzgerald, his campaign manager and I -- a volunteer -- were at the local farmer's market downtown doing what every decent candidate has ever done possibly in the history of either politics or farmer's markets: handing out literature. We found a very nice place on one side of Main Street to stand and hand out palm cards as folks walked by. This spot and this tactic had worked well for us in the past. People stopped before crossing the street, took palm cards, talked to Keith. Everything seemed like it was working out fine, bluebirds and sunshine, rainbows and lolipops. Fantastic. That's genius.

(Things go pretty quickly downhill after the jump. It involves Katherine Harris, believe it or not.)