Data Targeting is the mega-shady, right-wing outfit that drew our extraordinarily gerrymandered legislative and congressional boundaries for the Fl GOP in direct violation of our state constitution. The very small amount of explosive emails obtained showed a tale worthy of a spy novel describing the clandestine shenanigans; including pinning the whole operation on a college kid.
Yet for the most part, Data Targeting got away with withholding the majority of documents from the public. However, the Florida Supreme Court did rule they had to release hundreds of documents pertaining to their gerrymandered maps. Thus far, they have refused (for obvious reasons).
Pat Bainter, the founder of Data Targeting, made a last-ditch attempt to get the GOP justices of the US Supreme Court on his side, but that failed. So he did what any red-blooded, patriotic conservative would do--wiped his computers and shredded his documents. Because, you know, screw you.
We are never going to see those documents, and Bainter will not be held in any kind of contempt. That's fine because this is Florida and we suck. Of course, Bainter and his executives had to get in a parting shot:
He sent out a Christmas Card featuring himself with a mountain of shredded documents. Seriously.
It's animated Christmas card comes with jingling bells and features Pat Bainter in a Santa coat with colleagues Matt Mitchell and Mike Sheehan at his side. It announces "But there's one 'secret' we've made sure they'll never get."
A countdown clock notes that the message will self destruct in 15 seconds, and the card then slides into a paper shredder and ends with: "Merry Christmas."
If you don't believe me,
see it for yourself: CLICK HERE
Who can blame them? After all the GOP has done to this state, they were rewarded with more seats in the House and Legislature. Sure, gerrymandering had a lot to do with it, but that doesn't explain Rick Scott's and Pam Bondi's victory. Voter apathy ruled the night.
As an added bonus, the Legislature is going to use taxpayer money again next year to try and get rid of the Constitutional amendments against gerrymandering. Sure, why not? We aren't using them anyway.
Oh well, hope you all had a Merry Christmas.
7:47 PM PT: Click here to find the 2014 winner for My Stupid State. I didn't think we could do worse than last year: I was wrong. Here's to an even dumber 2015.