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Campaign Crawlers
Florida Senate Food Fight
A microcosm of the GOP presidential contest — or, if you prefer, of Charlie Sheen’s demise.
TAMPA – Florida’s very liberal Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson is too boring and undistinguished to have a nickname. But he should probably be tagged “Lucky.”
Nelson is completing his second term in the U.S. Senate thanks to having defeated two weak or damaged Republican candidates. Nelson was able to move from the U.S. House to the Senate in 2000 by defeating former Orlando-area Congressman Bill McCollum, one of the few politicians in Florida as uncharismatic as Nelson himself. In 2006 Nelson was able to easily defeat Katherine Harris, a radioactive candidate who carried more baggage to the polls than your average 747 hauls.
Nelson is up again this year and by all rights should be vulnerable. He’s voted with President Obama roughly 98 percent of the time, including for such pathologies as Obamacare, cap and trade, and the stimulus slush fund, which are political indigestibles in Florida. In fact, Nelson has voted for just about every liberal phantasm to come down the pike in his nearly 18 years in Washington. Whichever Republican wins the Senate nomination will be well to Nelson’s right, and should be more appealing than Nelson in center-right Florida.
But for now there’s a problem on the right. The main Republican candidates, Congressman Connie Mack IV, who represents the Fort Myers area, and former U.S. Senator George LeMieux, a South Florida attorney, are engaging in the same kind of mutually assured destruction campaigns that the Republican presidential candidates are mired in.
Some of the things Mack and LeMieux are calling each other should be reserved for after the kids go to bed. Each candidate is essentially charging that the other is unfit for public office. If a majority of Florida voters decide they’re both right, it could hurt the chances of the Republicans picking up a Senate seat and moving the ideological center of that body a bit to the right.
Most of the outfits who rate these things called the race “leans Democrat” until Mack hopped into the race a couple of months back. Then the race went to “tossup” as Mack benefits from a well-known and well-liked Florida political name. His father, Connie Mack III, represented Florida in the U.S. Senate for 12 years and is still popular. After the food fight began, and after many Republican voters realized it wasn’t the former Senator Mack in the race, things are back to “leans Democrat.”
Mack the former senator not only compiled a solid conservative record in his House years and his two Senate terms but has always been personally the straightest of straight arrows. On the available evidence Mack IV does not appear to be a chip off the old block in the latter regard..
Mack IV has a fiscally conservative voting record in the House and has some ideas on reducing the federal budget that deserve attention. But his personal budget has been an issue. He’s had financial problems. His pre-politics work history is undistinguished and his personal life a bit rocky, including four bar fights and road rage incidents that involved the police. It’s these items that have led LeMieux to call Mack “the Charlie Sheen of Florida politics.” Ouch.
By way of response to all this, Mack IV has revised and extended George W. Bush’s reasonable explanation of his early and boozy frat boy excesses, to wit: “When I was young and foolish, I was young and foolish.” But during Mack’s bar fight career, from which he retired with a record of 0-2, Mack had a few more years on him than W had when collecting a DUI ticket in Kennebunkport and throwing up on his college dates. If Mack IV is the eventual Republican candidate, Florida Democrats will find this biography as appealing a target as LeMieux does now.
LeMieux doesn’t have a gaudy youth and young adulthood to explain away. His cross to bear is Charlie Crist, a villain to Florida’s conservative Republican base. LeMieux was chief of staff and political quarterback for Crist, Florida’s former RINO governor who drifted left while LeMieux worked for him. To howls of protests about cronyism, Crist appointed LeMieux to a U.S. Senate seat after Senator Mel Martinez resigned with 16 months left on his term.
The idea, at least Crist’s idea, was that LeMieux would be a seat-warmer until Crist himself could win that Senate seat in 2010. Of course Crist didn’t even stay in the Republican Party for the duration of the 2010 race. When it became clear he could not out-conservative his main opponent, former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, Crist decided to run as an independent from the left but still had his butt handed to him by 20 points.
When Crist left the Republican Party LeMieux endorsed Rubio and made a complete political break with Crist. During his Senate months, LeMieux compiled a conservative record while his ex-boss was steaming left at flank speed. When opponents try to tie LeMieux to Crist he points to his own conservative record and to his current Crist-free life. He says that he was just hired help with Crist and that Crist should bear the responsibility for policy. The Mack camp is having none of this, claiming LeMieux was the architect of Crist’s liberal policies, including Crist’s attempt to impose a carbon cap and trade system on Florida. (And they really don’t like the Charlie Sheen business — who would?)
While LeMieux is working to put distance between himself and Crist, Nelson is trying to separate himself from Obama, whose approval ratings in Florida have been under water for most of the last two years. Nelson didn’t join Mickey and Goofy in greeting the president when Obama made a recent speech at Orlando’s Disney World. And he was critical of the president’s attempt to oblige Catholic institutions to provide free birth control and near abortion procedures in their employee’s health plans. Those paying attention are entitled to wonder at this one, as Nelson voted for Obamacare, which set up the obligation in the first place. Sure enough, yesterday he joined 50 other senators to defeat the religious-freedom amendment that would have overturned the Obama mandate.
So there it is. Florida Republicans face the challenge of choosing a Senate candidate in August, and then selling that candidate, who by this time will have been repeatedly and severely bashed for months. They’ll have to run a competent campaign against a liberal who will have Florida’s left-stream media on his side. Perhaps Florida Republicans will be able to do this. Or perhaps “Lucky” Nelson will bob and weave his way back to Washington for six more liberal years.
(Above photo of Connie Mack IV is by Gage Skidmore)
About the Author
Larry Thornberry is a writer in Tampa.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (35) | Leave a comment
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JimH| 3.2.12 @ 6:45AM
LeMieux is a hack opportunist who blows with the wind, Mack has name recognition (thanks to dad) and some baggage, There have been questions raised regarding candidate McCallister's service record. It is a testimony to the incompetence of the Democrats in Florida that the band of crooks known as the Florida GOP can dominate state government. I wish Allen West would run.
Lawrence of Lutz| 3.2.12 @ 8:03AM
Why don't we just go ahead and anoint Mack to the office and let it become hereditary. I am so tired of political offices handed down from father to son. Let's give the constitution back to the Queen and forget about being a republic.
gearjammer| 3.2.12 @ 10:03AM
It is pretty easy to establish residency in Fla. So, let us just send in Christine O'donnell to save the day.
FL Conservative| 3.2.12 @ 10:05AM
More on the Florida Senate race below:
http://www.tampabay.com/opinio.....te/1216800
Connie Mack IV is Catholic, yet has consistently (4 times) voted against life, the teaching of the Catholic Church & 5th Commandment, "Thou shall not kill," by voting for Embryonic Stem Cell Research (ESCR) in Congress.
President George Bush only had 2 vetoes in 8 years. Both vetoes were to reject Federal legislation for human embryo destruction with taxpayer money. Mack IV not only voted for it, but to override Bush's veto. ESCR does not work, never has. Not only is it morally indefensible and against the teaching of the Church & the 'sanctity of life' platform in our party, but Mack IV has not done his homework on the issue.
The U.S. Senate deserves a senator from Florida who understands the Right to life is endowed by our Creator and is preeminent over the other Rights laid out in the Declaration of Independence. It is not to be usurped by a politician in WA, D.C.; and obligate American taxpayers unwillingly, to the slaughter of human embryos with their monies. While Connie Mack IV defended the Church and taxpayers yesterday from funding contraception aborticfacients from a mandate from HHS, his other votes which committed taxpayer's money to deliberately destroy human life are far worse.
Below is a list of the baggage/issues of Mack IV, written in the St Pete Times recently which far surpasses baggage any other candidate has even had competing for a U.S. Senate seat in Florida. Most likely these are many of the reasons Mack the 4th has not officially filed to run for the Senate.
After observing Mack's undistinguished record in Congress, I imagine Mack will check to see where his poll numbers are in the next few months and return to his Congressional seat if they are not prevailing over Nelson's. Another Republican candidate is running for his Congressional seat who is more conservatives than he is.
Enclosed links below from the SPT Buzz blog
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/.....logs/buzz+(The+Buzz+|+tampabay.com)
Mack IV is correct that LeMieux was indeed the architect of Crist's 4 years reign of liberalism (a Category 5 governor in Florida and in our party) but Connie Mack IV was also Crist's State Senate Chairman in 2010, and he endorsed Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio even after Crist campaigned ahead of the vote with Obama for the trillion dollar "stimulus." Both candidates are attached at the hip with Crist.
This field is still open for a solid full spectrum challenger, one who is viable and can beat Bill Nelson.
Bill| 3.2.12 @ 11:12AM
Ben Nelson will be defeated in 2012! The Tea Party dismantled the Democratic Party in the 2012 midterm.
RCV| 3.2.12 @ 11:23AM
Ben Nelson will coast to victory, Bill. LT is right on this one for a change and you, as usual, are dead wrong.
Bill| 3.2.12 @ 12:11PM
Hey, RCV, I was born and raised in FL. Nobody knows FL politics better than me. Nelson and Obama are doomed!
RCV| 3.2.12 @ 1:37PM
...just like you predicted that Gingrich would sweep the Florida primary.
Nick| 3.2.12 @ 1:20PM
"That nigger lover President Clinton had the pen and vetoed so many good bills passed by the Gingrich-led Congress."
- Written by Bill, in the Time for Newt to Do the Honorable Thing thread:
http://spectator.org/archives/.....ent_749403
You're a moron and a racist, Bill.
GO AWAY!
p.s. It's Bill Nelson, by the way. Ben Nelson is from Nebraska, and is not running for re-election.
RCV| 3.2.12 @ 1:37PM
You're right, Nick, and I missed it myself!
Bill| 3.2.12 @ 8:05PM
Nick is a convicted child molester.
RCV| 3.2.12 @ 8:24PM
You don't deserve to be in the same universe with Nick.
Bob| 3.2.12 @ 11:22AM
Seeing how I won't ever vote for Nelson, and with Mack's personal history and lack of experience, I would vote for LeMieux. They may not be ideal candidates, but LeMieux is the best of what we have.
Your Excellency| 3.2.12 @ 11:33AM
I agree with you Bob, Mack is more of a Susan Collins republican.
Bill| 3.2.12 @ 12:09PM
Mack will be the GOP nominee and beat the shit out of Bill "Socialist" Nelson.
Ya think?| 3.2.12 @ 1:59PM
Connie Mack IV couldn't keep up with someone on a high school debate team, there is no way he will win the nomination or beat Bill Nelson. He is non-substantive on public policy and his record on pork is bad. We need someone entirely different than the current field who can win. Not a RINO for starters.
grant1863| 3.2.12 @ 3:09PM
What I can't get is that Mack is married to Sonny Bono's widow. She is also in the Federal House and represents a district in California. So where exactly do these people live? Personally I like LeMieux and thought he did a much better job than expected as a US Senator. Maybe it was show but seems better than the other 2. (Mack and Nelson)
Von Mises Jr.| 3.2.12 @ 4:36PM
Perhaps Allan West should throw his hat in the ring. The GOP is trying to redistrict him out of the House, and he would be a great addition to Marco Rubio in Florida.
tm| 3.2.12 @ 5:05PM
Please clarify what you write above, Von Mises. "The GOP is trying to redistrict him (Allan West) out of the House."
Is Florida still mucking around now in March 2012 after 2010 U.S./Florida census data? Shouldn't all the redistricting be done? Why would the GOP be trying to ouster Allan West? Or are you referring to some kind of Florida establishment RINO GOP trying to muscle Congressman West aside? Please enlighten. Thank you.
Von Mises Jr.| 3.3.12 @ 11:54AM
tm, you are elected by your constituents. If you redefine the districts to exclude supporters and increase supporters of the other party; you have a very difficult re-election. Does that enlighten your dumb a$$?
http://shark-tank.net/2012/01/27/24717/
evinrude| 3.3.12 @ 4:19PM
Von Mises, I have now seen several times in the past few weeks where you do not read very well. How do I know? The way you respond to other readers. There is nothing in tm's post above that requires you to call him an ass. Maybe like me he thinks you are living in Florida and can explain how a Republican controlled state would alter district lines to make Congressman West's chances of reelection tougher.
You are one more person here who posts all over the place, too often doing knee-jerk responses. What gives? Serious minded men can read. Serious minded men hold their tongue. Tm is not challenging what you are saying. He or she is saying please elaborate on the statement.
I'd say the same. Here's why.
Everyone understands what you wrote: "If you redefine the districts to exclude supporters and increase supporters of the other party; you have a very difficult re-election."
Everyone also understands that the party with the upper hand in the statehouses calls the shots every 10 years when there is the chance to do redistricting.
Thus it would be a mystery as to why the GOP controlled Talahassee statehouse would redistrict to make life tougher on Allan West.
So -- your assertion above that "The GOP is trying to redistrict him out" on 3.2.12 @ 4:36PM -- needs and explanation.
The Talahassee, Florida statehouse is in the hands of GOP leadership since 2010. There is presently a 28 to 12 advantage for the GOP in the Forida state senate. In the state house the GOP holds a 81 to 39 seat advantage.
So who is drawing/redrawing the lines to make it tougher for West?
Von Mises Jr.| 3.3.12 @ 10:51PM
tm, my apologies for calling you a derogatory name.
evinrude, How do you know I didn't understand the question? Aren't you guilty of what you charge? I should not have called tm a derogatory name, but you assume it is because I can't read?
evinrude| 3.3.12 @ 11:28PM
I think that readers know that you did not understand the questions/issues because you called tm not just an ass but a dumb ass. I believe if you'd have understood or chosen to understand, you would not have responded in that manner. Because if you did understand tm's questions and still decided to call him a dumb ass, well, this reflects very poorly on you.
And you launch into a description of how an elected official is elected by one's constituents Although a short response, this is very condescending. Most people grasp how redistricting is done with an aim to favor one group or another. Your response above, to be blunt, is very immature. So, yes, you either cannot read with accuracy (so as to offer a proper response) or you purposely wanted to misread what tm typed.
Maybe you can salvage it all by just getting around to what you first asserted, "The GOP is trying to redistrict him [Congressman A. West] out of the House." Are you going to get around to stating why you believe someone is making it more difficult for Allan West to obtain reelection to the Florida 22nd Congressional District seat?
Von Mises Jr.| 3.4.12 @ 7:01AM
I was a successful sales executive for 25 years. I am a very effective listener.
If you must know why I am frustrated with tm, it is because many like tm suffer from acute normalcy bias. He seems surprised that the GOP are not angels. He brings credence to Walter Lippmann's "bewildered herd" concept.
Consider the GOP presidential race:
- Rick Perry is no good since he has a blood feud with the Bushes and won't get establishment money
- Michelle Bachmann is a TEA Party tart. She is barely over 5 ft. tall
- Herman Cain is a pizza delivery boy. He doesn't even know what continent Libya is part of
- Newt is a maniac. Coburn and others declared he is not a good leader, but offered no specifics
- Santorum is the Christian version of the Iranian mullahs. He will make sure you only have sex mission style devoid of contraception
-BUT, Mitt Romney is perfect. Forget about RomneyCare, it's a state thing. Ann drives two Cadillac's, so he will wrap up the union vote. Obama ran a OWS community organizing effort and Mitt decides his new tax proposal eliminates deductions for the top 1%
In the meantime:
- Mitch McConnell was on the floor to vote to restore earmarks when AFP and TEA Party patriots such as me stormed his office promising to fund every primary challenger in the Republican field before he cease and desisted
- John Boehner was part of the coup that took out Newt in 1998; and since becoming speaker, Pelosi gave him a crash course on insider trading
- Then they redistrict the good Colonel and outspoken TEA Party Congressman West's district; and tm and others are somewhere between disbelief and shock
My aggravation is that good people such as tm cannot see the forest for the trees. The window of 235 years of American Exceptionalism is about to slam shut, and most people act like Lippmann characterized them: "a bewildered herd."
Does that answer your question?
OBXpatriot| 3.4.12 @ 11:35AM
Allen West voted to CONTINUE funding The Pigford Settlement...... redistribution of wealth at its finest!
Nick| 3.2.12 @ 5:08PM
Mack was right to support stem cell research.
Other good conservatives also voted against Bush on that.
Mack IV was wrong| 3.2.12 @ 6:53PM
Embryonic stem cells are human life thus human beings. No good conservative would vote for this and it has never worked. This is not what the Founding Fathers intended with American taxpayer's money. Pres. Bush won this issue btw, he had someone much bigger on his side.
Mack is intellectually a lightweight and doesn't do his homework on the issues.
He was in a debate forum recently with the other FL Senate candidates and came in last recently in the Florida Federated Republican Women's Florida U.S. Senate straw poll. http://miamiherald.typepad.com.....-poll.html
RCV| 3.2.12 @ 8:26PM
An embryonic stem cell is not a Human Being under any stretch of the imagination.
Bob| 3.3.12 @ 10:11PM
And neither are recently born babies, according to the luminaries on your side.
FL Conservative| 3.4.12 @ 1:16AM
Wesley Smith addresses this issue and Newt's contorted view regarding human embryos. RCV you are wrong.
http://www.firstthings.com/blo.....-research/
J.C.Eaton| 3.3.12 @ 1:19AM
So WHAT is it? A carrot?
RCV| 3.3.12 @ 3:33PM
No, it's an undifferentiated cell. And perhaps someday, one of those cells will prove to be crucial in helping us overcome Alzheimers.
Mike Hawk| 3.3.12 @ 5:02PM
I believe you may be an example of a post-partum abortion. So far your brain cells seem undifferentiated as well.
rongordo | 3.3.12 @ 11:49PM
It's not that Americans don't believe that socialism is a failure in Europe, it's just that we didn't realise, until it was too late, that our elected representatives were taking us there. Lkewise, the caste system of civilisations past. The offspring and dependents of the Clintons, Kennedys or even Bush can lead our country into success any better than those of Cyrus, Dylan, Cher, Sheen, Copolla, Hanks, etc. can entertain.
southern conservative| 3.5.12 @ 3:27AM
I hope Newt Gingrich is going to be the conservative choice for president---in my view, he is our best choice in the group running.