We now interrupt this liveblogging ...

Well, apparently I've broken Twitter. Sorry about that.


But it seems Adam Smith of the St. Petersburg Times blog "The Buzz," who normally is pretty even-handed, gave Alex Sink a raw deal on Twitter, saying "the crowd was silent" when she spoke. Let me tell you from having been here, too, and not being skewed -- that's not true. The crowd was into what she was saying, and it was both inspirational and exciting. So, please, Adam ... try that take again. Thanks in advance.


(I'll add links ASAP.)

Jefferson-Jackson Dinner 2009: liveblogging, page 5

And now, says Bob Graham, "the next governor of Florida, Alex Sink." Standing ovation, many signs with the new Sink campaign logo. Following are quotes as nearly as I can transcribe them:

It's always good to be with my fellow Democrats, and to be joined here by my wonderful husband Bill [McBride, former gubernatorial candidate himself]. ...This is what it feels like when you begin to change things for the better. Florida was a big part of changing our state and our country in 2008. We fought smart, we fought hard, and we never gave up. 2008's MVPs are all of you who worked so hard ...

Thank you all for giving our state and our country the change that we need. ...As we're giving ourselves pats on the back tonight, let's not rest on our laurels tomorrow. Florida needs your talents and your commitment more than ever now. We face enormous challenges and enormous opportunity, too. In 2010, every statewide office will be open for the first time in 134 years. So, as Democrats, let's seize this historic opportunity!

I would be so honored to have you choose me as the Democratic Party nominee for governor.

This may come as a surprise -- this accent makes it hard to believe -- but I was raised on the family farm. Some of my earliest memories were of my dad getting up before daybreak every morning. We could hear our mother getting up to cook breakfast for our dad, and he then would go out and drive his tractor from sunup to sunset. Our mother taught my sister and me how to cook and sew. But mostly, I learned how to be self-reliant ... and I also learned a love of numbers; not everyone here might love numbers as much as I do, thanks to sitting with my father as he paid the monthly bills. As soon as I got old enough to write in cursive, he let me write the checks ... and I had to balance the checkbook. We had to learn to live within our means. We also rotated the crops and turned the soil.

But state government in Florida hasn't been much like our family farm in recent years. They haven't turned the soil with new leaders; they've only kept the same leaders and rotated the chairs. But our chance to give the state new leadership has finally come. With the challenges we face, the status quo has got to go. It's no longer okay to keep doing things the same old way. Now we need a new and different kind of leadership.

You know, the global financial crisis doesn't feel so global when it affects you at your dinner table. Floridians need a leader, and it's going to take a leader with nearly three decades of business experience to help our economy recover. Politicians talk about wasteful spending without cutting the waste right in front of them ... it's going to take a leader with a track record of holding Tallahassee's feet to the fire to make our government more accountable.

Too often, politicians talk about education without giving our schools what they need to succeed. Our children need better support and attention, and we need a leader who is a working mom to make Florida's schools and children a top priority! For the first time in 12 years, we can have a governor whose own children graduated from Florida's public schools! A PTA mom, a track mom, and a mom who started her children's Math Club at their schools.

What Florida needs even more, though, is the talents of people like you. A governor cannot do it alone. I cannot do it alone. No matter what part of Florida you are from, no matter what party you may be from, I need your help. Talk to your friends ... call your friends ... if you're on Facebook, friend your friends. Every single Floridian has a stake in Florida's future.

Jefferson-Jackson Dinner 2009: liveblogging, page 4

Next up are each of the U.S. Senate candidates. First is North Miami mayor Kevin Burns. "I have to deal with the issues that they deal with in Washington, but I have to deal with them every day." "I disagree with Gov. Charlie Crist that it's okay to have an oil rig three miles off the state of Florida. No offshore oil drilling in Florida!" Mayor Burns has an uphill climb, but he's making a decent showing for himself, I'll say that. "I support President Obama's position for an open and responsible dialogue for Cuba." Pretty decent applause for that. He's also advocating for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. And, as an openly gay man who with his partner has a 7-year-old daughter, he is tired of being "treated like a second-class citizen."

Now state Sen. Dan Gelber. He starts by saying, "I have an announcement." The crowd goes quiet for the first time as he draws out the suspense ... then says, "Will the owner of a silver car ..." Laughter. Next, he states that there is "one adult in the Florida Cabinet, and that's Alex Sink." Yes, he's accusing the Republicans on the Cabinet of being petulant children (I wish more Democrats would talk like that! -- ed.) Then he says he is "stepping back" from his Senate bid. That sounds a lot more like a withdrawal than it did in the Netroots meeting! (Rumor has it that he was "pressured" to withdraw. I can neither confirm nor deny ... but he reiterated that he wants to "explore his options" with regard to the state Cabinet. The intrigue is that he's kicking around the AG spot ... but so is state Sen. Dave Aronberg. Should be interesting ...

Finally, the favorite for the nomination, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, steps to the podium. A number of Meek signs pop up around the ballroom. I'm sure it's spontaneous ...

He's hitting all the hotspots ... employment, education, environment, and so on ... but he's talking like the nominee already, which is exactly the right thing to do politically at this point.

Next up, my political hero (well, one of two), former governor and U.S. senator Bob Graham. Graham starts by congratulating Dan Gelber for his "courageous" statement in putting aside his ambition for the good of the party. Now he's marveling that a small baby born into relatively modest circumstances was imbued with leadership characteristics that led to us knowing him today as the president of the United States. But at about the same time, there was a little girl baby "who had the potential for some unique characteristics. She ... grew up in America as it really is ... who married a wonderful man and has raised a beautiful family ... who has worked to serve the private sector and the public service. ... In the Bible, it says that if the people are without vision, they will perish. My friends, Florida has been without vision for the last ten years. What an opportunity we're going to have to support someone in whom we have complete confidence." He compares November 2010 to November 2008 and expresses how proud he is that he could endorse this woman ... and he introduces a short film to show us who Alex Sink is. Roll film ...

Jefferson-Jackson Dinner 2009: liveblogging, page 1

Interestingly, the pastor giving the invocation tonight said, "Only in America can the son of a black man and a white woman grow up to become president of America." Um, well, yeah, that's true.

"Isn't it nice we have a president that we can be proud of?" -- Sen. Nelson

Next, Sen. Nelson introduces the chair of the Florida Democratic Party, Karen Thurman. She just recognized "the next government CFO Alex Sink." I don't think that's what she meant to say, though.

"Last year, we worked to unite our party and focus our efforts on electing Barack Obama. Look what we accomplished: we delivered Florida's 27 electoral votes to Obama/Biden, we defeated two incumbent GOP members of Congress, and now we're focusing on local elections."

We have our first mention of "George W. Bush." No booing. At least not audibly. Thurman goes on to say we are working to "drain the swamp of Republican corruption." I think she's lost her audience, though. The talking in the room is pretty distracting, actually.

(Incidentally, forget about pictures from this event. I'm situated just way too far back. Sorry.)

Annette Taddeo for Florida CFO

Liveblogging the Jefferson-Jackson Day event in Miami Beach ... the Netroots Coalition event continues, and speaking to us now is former congressional candidate Annette Taddeo. She hasn't yet decided whether or not to run for CFO, but she is aware of and grateful for the Draft Taddeo campaign. Essentially it boils down to what is best for her family, and her husband, she says, has veto power over the decision.

She noted, interestingly, that she spent "8 to 10 hours a day" on the phone raising money. That's amazing to me, yet "unfortunately" as she says necessary.

If you haven't signed the petition yet to encourage Taddeo to run, please do so. She's a fantastic candidate and would be a worthy successor to Alex Sink.

Blast Off! Radio today at 4:00 pm EDT: "Musical Chairs" in Florida politics

It's been an interesting week in Florida from a political standpoint. First, Gov. Charlie Crist announced that he will run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by fellow Republican Sen. Mel Martinez, setting up a tough primary fight with former state House Speaker Marco Rubio, the darling of the extreme Right.

Then, predictably, everyone began to move around the deck chairs on the Titanic. State CFO Alex Sink declared her candidacy for governor, instantly becoming the Democratic front-runner (and earning Blast Off!'s endorsement almost immedicately following her announcement), while on the GOP side, state Attorney General Bill McCollum has announced his own gubernatorial candidacy today; state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson may join him there. And in the most unintentionally hilarious such situation, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, whose tenure in Tallahassee has been plagued with charges of corruption, mused last week about running for ... get this ... Attorney General! (It'd be funny if it weren't so sad ...)

So, naturally, today's Blast Off! Radio will cast its eye on how 2010 is shaping up in Florida politics -- after all, I know we sometimes neglect the fact that the show is part of the Florida Progressive Radio Network! But there is plenty of other news to cover, too, including President Obama's speeches at Arizona State University and the University of Notre Dame (lots of hypocrisy to go around in both venues ... and not by the president), an important court ruling in Florida for same-sex couples wishing to adopt children, and a discussion (maybe even ... a rant?!) about whether certain people (*cough* Republicans *cough*) who benefit personally from federal stimulus money might change their tune about Obama now (short answer: are you kidding?).

All this and more, of course, including your phone calls, emails, and chatting in the always-entertaining chat room. But how can you be a part of this frolicsome festival? As usual, it's oh-so-easy to do:

TIME: 4:00 pm Eastern TODAY

Click here to listen

Call in number: (646) 716-7543

E-mail: blastoffradio-at-gmail-dot-com

(I got the link to the show right today ... for once!)

So whatever you're doing this afternoon at 4:00 Eastern (3:00 Central, etc.), just click on over to yet another exciting edition of Blast Off! Radio -- you'll be glad you did!

UPDATE (3:51 pm 5/18/09): Well, that's never happened before.

A technological glitch with my cell service (yes, my bill is paid up!) caused my call, and thus the show, to end prematurely and abruptly with about 15 minutes to go. I'm trying to figure it out now.

Apologies to all listeners; we'll be back in business next week at the usual time for a special Memorial Day edition of Blast Off! Radio.

Another hat in the ring: McCollum announces bid for governor

In a decision that surprises no one, the ever-ambitious loser Bill McCollum (R-You Ever Giving Up?) has announced that he's running for governor of Florida.

Currently the state's Attorney General, McCollum had a lengthy career in Congress before coming to the curious decision that the state deserved a leader of his caliber (by which I mean "BB"), no doubt in the afterglow of his co-management of the Clinton impeachment hearings in the U.S. House. However, unlike his fellow manager Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, he couldn't use the impeachment as a stepping-stone to the U.S. Senate, losing the 2000 election to Democrat Bill Nelson.

McCollum did go on to win the AG post in 2006, albeit against little-known state senator Skip Campbell, who himself went on to bail out of a winnable election that might have returned him to the state Senate in 2008. This hardly burnishes McCollum's record, and he further demonstrated his questionable judgment by eagerly signing onto that electoral Hindenburg, the 2008 presidential campaign of Rudy Giuliani, as his Florida chairman. Bottom line: if McCollum had anything whatsoever to do with Giuliani's disastrous strategy of putting all his eggs into Florida's basket (did he, for example, "guarantee" a Rudy win in the primary?), then he certainly ought not be anywhere near the governor's desk.

The last state AG to run for governor, of course, was none other than Charlie Crist. But McCollum may face opposition from his own party, as state Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson is considering entering the race. Bronson's candidacy would further splinter the state GOP, already reeling from innumerable missteps and mismanagement in 2008, but Bronson probably has a decent shot at winning the nomination against McCollum, who has the campaign acumen of a bowl of wet Corn Flakes. Whether Bronson runs or not, the Republicans appear disorganized and McCollum seems like a consolation prize. And against a Democratic Party unified behind Alex Sink, that doesn't bode well for their chances to retain the governorship ... which, of course, is excellent news for Florida.

Blast Off! endorses Alex Sink for governor

Earlier today, state CFO Alex Sink (right) announced her candidacy for governor of Florida in the 2010 election. Several months ago, she withdrew her name from consideration for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Mel Martinez, and that naturally led to increasing speculation regarding her candidacy for governor. With two major political plums up for grabs next year, all eyes have been on Gov. Charlie Crist as he mulled over his options; his announcement yesterday that he would run for Senate made today's statement by Sink almost anticlimactic.

I'm running for Governor.

Floridians from Pensacola over to Jacksonville and all the way down to Key West are facing enormous challenges. Each and every day, the global financial crisis tests our families, our economy and our resolve.

In unique and challenging times like these, our state needs a new and different kind of leadership.

Thousands of Floridians have told me they need leaders committed to protecting the middle class, strengthening our economy and giving our families a fighting chance. As a businesswoman and working mom, I couldn’t agree more.

Before the people of Florida elected me their CFO, I spent nearly three decades in business – creating jobs and economic opportunity in communities all across our state.

During my short time in state government, a couple of things have become crystal clear: Tallahassee’s tired old ways of doing business just aren’t enough to answer the urgent new challenges we face. And a state government influenced by narrow special interests cannot put the best interests of everyday Floridians first.

Today, I’m announcing I will be a candidate for Governor of Florida in the November 2010 election, and put my business experience and know-how to work restoring our economy.

And, as Florida’s CFO, I’ll continue using my business experience to cut wasteful spending, crack down on financial fraud and reform state contracts.

For too long, we’ve had to tolerate a state government that puts playing politics ahead of helping families. Together, we can change all that, and give our state a fresh start.

Alex

p.s. Watch my announcement on video here.

For some time, I've said here and elsewhere that whatever Charlie Crist runs for, he'll win (although I'm hedging my bets a little now, as his primary challenge may well be tougher than the general for him) and that I hoped Alex Sink would run for whatever Charlie didn't. Moreover, I've predicted that the non-Crist race in 2010 (between Senate and governor) will go the Democrats' way. Well, today my forecast officially became half right. Even though I publicly urged Sink to run for Senate, I look at it simply like she and Crist exchanged election races.

But regardless of the office, I have been impressed with Alex Sink every time I've spoken with her and seen her speak, whether it was to a few people or to a whole audience of Democrats. Not only is she the highest-ranking Democratic state official in Florida but, other than Bill Nelson, who already has a job (for a while at least), she's the only Florida Democrat currently holding office who has proven she can win a statewide election.

Alex Sink is the best hope for Florida to stem the tide of Republican malfeasance that has infected the state through Jeb! Bush's two terms as governor and, indeed, right on through the current administration of faux-moderate Charlie Crist. Because of that, and because of my deep respect for her and her proven leadership ability, I am pleased to give Blast Off!'s 2010 gubernatorial endorsement to Alex Sink.

Is it 2010 yet?

Hard to believe that 2009 has barely started and we're already getting into the silly season for 2010, particularly regarding the U.S. Senate race here in America's Wang™.

With Jeb! Bush and Alex Sink taking themselves out of contention, it's turned into a real free-for-all. Naturally, the Chief Wanger™, Gov. Charlie Crist, leads the way among Republicans. His popularity is as high as that of the President right now ... should Charlie strike while the iron's hot?

The poll found that 67 percent of Floridians view Crist favorably, 21 percent unfavorably. Obama is viewed favorably by 66 percent and unfavorably by 16 percent in the survey completed on the eve of his inauguration.

"No one has surfaced as a likely Democratic opponent for Gov. Charlie Crist and that's not surprising, given how well he is thought of by Floridians," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "It's impressive at this time of national Obamamania that Gov. Crist's favorability rating is slightly higher than that of the new president.

"Of course, it's still more than 21 months until the 2010 election, but Charlie Crist looks like a very strong candidate for reelection."

Assuming, of course, that Gov. Crist is seeking reelection as governor ... but what about the Senate?

The interesting thing that no one seems to have mentioned yet is that should Gov. Crist seek the Senate nod, that opens up the governor's chair. And one name that comes up repeatedly for that role on the Democratic side is ... Alex Sink. Currently the highest-ranking Democrat in state government, CFO Sink is a leading candidate to win the office her husband, Bill McBride, sought a few years back ... which probably would set up kind of a win-win situation. Stay with me on this one for a moment:

Say Crist seeks reelection ... then it's a decent bet, if not a certainty, that the Democratic candidate (maybe Rep. Kendrick Meek?) wins the Senate seat. But if Charlie goes to Washington (I'm assuming he's unbeatable right now, although I know that could change), then we quite likely could end up with a Democratic governor. I don't think in this current climate, the GOP wins both races.

So, look for the union label silver lining, folks: while we still may be stuck with Charlie, something good is likely to come of it, one way or the other.

Senate race in Florida in 2010 is wide open: Mel Martinez won't run, nor will Alex Sink

The news just broke that U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) has decided not to run for a second term in 2010, in order to -- you guessed it -- spend more time with his family.

Just the other day, I made the case for state CFO Alex Sink to run for this seat rather than for the governorship, but that's apparently off the table as well.

So now what?

On the Democratic side, look for some up-and-comers to consider a run, like state senators Dan Gelber and Dave Aronberg. Unlike some, I don't see Rep. Ron Klein or Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz making a serious run for the gig, simply because I don't think they'd be very strong candidates statewide and they have more potential for leadership in the House (although Klein is being targeted heavily by the GOP for 2010).

For the GOP, I wouldn't be surprised to see Bill McCollum take another crack at it (although he really just needs to sit down and shut up). Also possible: former state House speaker Marco Rubio and maybe even state Sen. Jeff Atwater, if he's willing to give up his Senate leadership position so soon.

No matter what happens, though, with an open seat, there are sure to be suitors aplenty. The silly season is barely over, but here in America's Wang™, it seems to be starting up all over again already.

UPDATE (12:22 pm 12/2/08): TheHill.com suggests other possible candidates, like Democratic congresspersons Allen Boyd, Robert Wexler, and Kathy Castor.

Boyd's too blue-dog to be a viable candidate, and as much as I love Wexler, he would have the same problem, in my opinion, as Klein and Wasserman Schultz: no following statewide. Castor? As Sarah Palin might say, let me get back to you on that one ...

(cross-posted at FPC Blog)

Sink for Senate? Or governor?

Democrats in Florida are hoping to maintain some momentum in 2010 following Barack Obama's big win, and they're looking right at Sen. Mel Martinez.

With Dems already branding Republican U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez a top target for 2010, much speculation has focused on Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink as a potential Democratic challenger. Sink is also a hot commodity in the 2010 gubernatorial speculation market. Sink, for the record, says she's focusing on her job and not commenting on 2010 rumors.

If Sink doesn't run for Senate, U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, will be among those attracting speculation. One of the most prodigious money-raisers in Congress, Klein has about $1.7 million left over in his campaign account. Klein says he's too busy dealing with the nation's financial meltdown and national catastrophe insurance to think about 2010.

Okay, first of all, let's be realistic here: Democrats in Florida have no momentum. Not really. Yeah, we went blue for president, but that was about the extent of the excitement. Democrats had a net gain of one -- count it, one -- congressional seat, and the Legislature remains deep red. And as far as ballot initiatives, one need only look at the atrocious Amendment 2, the constitutional ban on all non-one-man-one-woman unions, to see that Florida has far to go to consider itself even on the on-ramp to the progressive road.

But, let's fast-forward a couple of years. If President Obama is successful at restoring economic health in America (and, presumably, in Florida by association) and the Iraq War is over or nearly so, the Democrats might be able to make some gains in the mid-term elections. Besides, we have to have someone to run against Martinez, as well as against incumbent governor Charlie Crist who, despite being a Republican (or maybe because of it), remains highly popular. Martinez clearly is the easier target of the two, and Alex Sink is the Democrats' strongest statewide candidate at this point; she and Sen. Bill Nelson are the only Democrats presently holding statewide office.

As much as I like Ron Klein, though, I believe he would be a poor statewide candidate (as would his congressional colleagues Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Robert Wexler). Floridians outside of south Florida tend to distrust those from this area (the exception being Miamians like Jeb! Bush, Bob Graham, and Claude Pepper), and even though Klein is a prodigious fundraiser, I don't think he has the pedigree nor the experience to succeed in a statewide race.

So, for my money, Alex Sink should step up and take on Mel Martinez in 2010. Florida was a pioneer in sending a woman to the Senate (Paula Hawkins, elected in 1980). It's time for another one, but this time a Democrat. As for the gubernatorial race, it's going to be frankly tough to beat Charlie ... so let's not sacrifice a successful member of Congress for the cause.

Liveblogging: Biden in Jupiter, photographic goodness

Yeah, it's not the "HOLLYWOOD" sign, but "VOTE" is a pretty important message right about now.

Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.) addresses the crowd.

Our very own "fire-breathing liberal," Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), fires up the audience before Biden's speech. (I was so fired up, I couldn't focus.)

My fellow Americans, behind me on the bleachers that in turn were behind the podium.

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) tells those assembled about his friends Barack and Joe (the senator, not the alleged plumber).

Sen. Nelson asked several other officeholders to join him, including (l-r) state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink (mostly obscured), state Sen. Dave Aronberg, and Rep. Wexler. Not sure what Dave was doing to Wexler ... I don't think a "wet willie" would be very appropriate. (I keed, Dave, I keed!)

The crowd, now numbering around 2,000, anxiously awaits Sen. Biden's entrance.

And here he is -- the next vice president of the United States, Joe Biden! (Note the spring in his step -- he'll turn 66 next month. Compare with Huggy Bear, who at 72 doesn't walk so much as dodder.)

Sen. Biden brings out the signs in the crowd.

Firing us up ...

Six -- count 'em, six (blue shirt and white shirt on sidewalk were just walking by) -- protestors, outside the ballpark. I almost feel sorry for them.

On second thought, they have to live with their own stupidity, so no, I don't after all.

So, I'm sitting in a coffee shop near the ballpark where the rally took place, and in walks Sen. Nelson. Another woman there wanted his picture, and I offered to take one with her and the senator together. Then she asked me whether I wanted my picture with the senator, and I demurred, since I'm not the world's biggest Nelson fan (the senator, not the band ... well, not a fan of the band, either, actually). But he said, "Sure, why not?," so I figured, yeah, why not?

J-J photo blogging, part 2

Here's a compendium of pictures from tonight. The ones of the speakers seem grainy because I was sitting damn near in a different area code from the dais; therefore, I took pictures of the large screen nearest to me. I guess they still came out okay, though ...

Former U.S. Attorney General and Florida gubernatorial candidate Janet Reno speaks with an attendee at a reception before the banquet.


Former Democratic congressman and 2006 gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis.


Obviously, this picture of Rep. Davis didn't come out the way I intended ... but don't you think it's kinda trippy?


31-year-old Dave Aronberg, the youngest member of the Florida Senate.


Florida's highest ranking Democratic state official, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink.


Rep. Corrine Brown with Sen. Bill Nelson.


Christine Jennings, whose race in Florida's 13th Congressional District still is facing judicial review.


My congressional crush, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. (Deb! Call me!)


Speaker Pelosi takes center stage.


Madame Speaker.


It was practically a flash mob trying to get a picture with or autograph from Rep. Pelosi following the banquet. (She's in there somewhere, I assure you.)


The divine Ms. P. with an admirer.

Preliminary speeches

We're working our way up to Speaker Pelosi ... we've heard from a number of state legislators and other officials. At the moment, the highest ranking Democrat in state government at the moment, CFO Alex Sink, is speaking.

Mostly - sorry to say this, but - these speeches gave me a chance to transcribe Speaker Pelosi's entire speech, so I'll be able to post it almost immediately when this event ends ...

And now we take a break so that folks can eat. Stay tuned for Nancy!