It's finally Election Day!

Now, get out there and fire your Congressman! (Especially if you live in Florida's 8th District!)

Dan Webster for Congress

In 2008, a lot of folks rode the coattails of "hope and change" into high public office.

In the years since, they've demonstrated why they shouldn't be there.

No one exemplifies this more than the incumbent in Florida's 8th Congressional District.

Alan Grayson is nothing more than a purveyor of "fear and loathing," who deals in polemics and hyperbole rather than thoughtful solutions to our country's many problems.

In no way does he truly represent the people of Central Florida.

Dan Webster, on the other hand, offers a record of leadership in the state legislature. He is thoughtful and urbane. And he knows how to work with people of all political stripes to craft meaningful legislation and get it enacted.

Grayson cannot run on his record. Instead he has spent the last few months attempting to paint Webster as a member of the Taliban and misdirecting blame for the area's expensive toll roads. Sadly, we've grown used to this sort of outrageous behavior from our Congressman in this little corner of heaven.

Hopefully, most voters will be able to see beyond all of Grayson's red herrings and elect the better man.

The better man is Dan Webster. And I encourage you to vote for him if you live in Florida's 8th Congressional District.

Primary endorsements - part 6

If ye socks needed any indication just how anxious we are in this little corner of heaven to be rid of the walking embarassment who "represents us" in Congress, ye need only take a look at just how crowded the GOP primary is to topple him. The candidates are:

Ross Bieling
Dan Fanelli
Kurt Kelly
Todd Long
Bruce O'Donoghue
Patricia Sullivan
Dan Webster

Of Bieling and Fanelli, I know very little. I don't think anyone considers them to be serious contenders, though they could play spoilers in a race where every percent of the vote counts.

Sullivan is closely associated with the TEA Party folks around here, but her base seems to be primarily in Lake County.

Long comes with some serious baggage, left over from his race for this same seat two years ago. His frequent air time on local radio and the early and broad distribution of a book this year have kept him in the race. But, he is clearly not the best candidate.

The top tier, then, are Kelly, O'Donoghue, and Webster.

Frankly, yours truly would not be disappointed with any of these guys.

Webster has been a personal favorite since he endorsed Mike Huckabee back in 2008. He is a well-known quantity in these parts as the former leader of the state senate and, more recently, for investigating the shenanigans over at the Expressway Authority. The only knock on him is that he explicitly bowed-out of the race last year, only to jump back in later. This leaves me questioning whether he really has the fire in his belly to take on the dastardly incumbent . . .

I have had the opportunity to meet O'Donoghue over breakfast, and found him to be a charming (albeit understated) gentleman. He is "one of us," and as such would truly be representative of the district. But, I am concerned that he may be too urbane. How will he stack-up against the overwhelming personality of the general election opponent?

I have also had the opportunity to meet Kelly on a couple of occasions, most recently just this morning. He has already earned the endorsements of many of my friends and relations. After looking him in the eye and hearing his responses to today's questions about the campaign, I have been swayed into his camp. (Check out Kurt's site at http://www.kellyforcongress.com .)

But, again, I can live with any of the last three candidates. All are infinitely better than the goofball who currently disgraces Florida's 8th District.

My congressman is indeed nuts . . .

I just don't see how Alan Grayson was ever elected to public office in the first place, but we've been stuck with his "representation" of this little corner of heaven for the better part of the worst year and a half we've seen since the Great Depression.

I cringe every time I see his goofball image pop-up on a tv screen, because I know he's going to say something even more preposterous and embarassing than he has already done to bring shame on his Central Florida constituents.

Well, the latest shenanigans invaded my Sunday routine when he got his mug on my favorite CBS morning show.

Now, I realize that a lot of folks around here depend on the tourits industry, and they've been suffering greatly during the ObamaNation's lurch toward socialism.

Perhaps that is why Mr. Grayson was on the airwaves this morning, pimping his latest scheme to mandate paid vacations?

I know, I know. I'm a Grinch. But, can somebody out there explain to me just when exactly did it become the purview of the federal government of the United States of America to decree what has always been a "perk" voluntarily agreed-upon in the free market would henceforth be an entitlement?!

What's that? Oh . . . yes . . . I suppose January 2009 WOULD be a likely timeframe . . .

And, then there were FOUR?!

The political scuttlebutt around this little corner of heaven is that former State Senate Majority Leader Dan Webster will join the already crowded field of candidates in the Republican primary who are seeking to unseat the shame of Central Florida: Alan Grayson.

Nothing's official, yet. Just heard he's going to be making a statement tomorrow. But, I think we can read the tea leaves on this one . . .

Already in the race are Orlando businessman Bruce O'Donoghue; State Rep. Kurt Kelly of Ocala; and local attorney/radio show host Todd Long.

Hold on to your seats, folks! This could be a game changer!

Seriously?! THAT is my congressman?!

Breakfast with the candidate

Once again, our little breakfast roundtable welcomed a Congressional candidate to visit with us over our coffee and oatmeal.

Last time, it was Bruce O'Donoghue, who is seeking to unseat Alan Disgrayson in the 8th District.

Today, it was Craig Miller's turn.

Craig recently announced his candidacy in the 24th District, and faces some serious primary opponents. But, the ultimate goal is to defeat freshman Suzanne Kosmas in the general election this November.

Before entering politics, Mr. Miller was perhaps best known as the CEO of Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

But, in speaking with him this morning, I found him to be more than just a businessman with the ambition to bring some real change to Washington. I also found him to be a sincere, thoughtful, and intelligent gentleman.

Regardless of where ye socks find yourselves on the political spectrum, it's hard not to admire someone who's willing to put themselves under the level of media scrutiny that comes with running for Congress.

So, I wish Craig luck, and will be keeping a close eye on the campaign in the neighboring 24th district.

If ye socks want to learn more about the Miller campaign, check out this website:

http://www.craigmillerforcongress.com/

Who, indeed?

Congressional candidate Bruce O'Donoghue picked up two key endorsements this fine Monday morning at Four Rivers Smokehouse in Winter Park.

The first came from former U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, who has known Mr. O'Donoghue since he was in the sixth grade.

The other was made by former Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings, whose brothers went to the University of Florida with O'Donoghue.

And, yet, the guy he's campaigning to replace is pretending like he will have no real competition. When asked what he thinks of the new candidate, Alan Grayson's supporters dutifully respond, "O'Donogh-who?!"

A regular laugh riot they are, no?

I suspect, however, the joke is going to be on them come November.

That they profess not to know who O'Donoghue is only highlights how very shallow Grayson's roots are in this community.

His potential successor summarized the situation rather well. "I think that Mr. Grayson is passionate about what he believes, and his style is unique," said Mr. O'Donoghue. "But, he is somebody who doesn't represent the values of the people of Central Florida."

True.

Meet the candidate

This morning, our regular breakfast bunch was honored to welcome a special guest to the table: Bruce O'Donoghue.

As noted in a couple of posts earlier this week, Mr. O'Donoghue recently announced his candidacy for Congress.

Reading the paper, googling, and watching campaign ads on TV are the ways most of us have to learn more about the candidates whose names eventually pop-up on our ballots. But, getting to look them in the eye and ask them direct questions are rare opportunities. And, I'm glad I had both this morning.

Mr. O'Donoghue reassured me that my initial impressions of him as a serious candidate were accurate. This guy can beat Alan Grayson in the general election this fall.

Primary field narrows

Further to my post on Monday, it would appear that the crowded field of candidates who are eager to unseat our insane congressman Alan Grayson has gotten a little smaller.

Armando Gutierrez, the youthful developer and recent Harvard grad who moved to this little corner of heaven last year, decided to bow-out yesterday.

This decision came despite his great fundraising successes.

Apparently, he is putting his political ambitions on the backburner--at least temporarily--to focus his efforts on bringing a major league baseball franchise to Orlando.

I wish him luck in that endeavor.

The departure of Gutierrez leaves Bruce O'Donoghue and Kurt Kelly as the two most serious contenders in this primary . . . at least in my not-so-humble opinion.

A crowded field gets more crowded

Is it ever sickening to see Alan Grayson's image pop up on a national broadcast, letting the whole world know that this little corner of heaven is represented in Congress by a complete nut case . . .

Ye out-of-town socks may be unaware of this goofball, though that's increasingly hard to believe given his penchant for outrageous utterances and outlandish behavior.

If you don't believe me, check out a site that chronicles our shame: http://www.mycongressmanisnuts.com/

Anyway, this guy only managed to buy his seat in Congress due to the very poor record of his predecessor and by riding the ObamaNation wave in '08.

Now, folks are chomping at the bit to unseat him in 2010 and bring this embarassment to an end. Indeed, the field of hopefuls has gotten crowded. There's state rep Kurt Kelly of Ocala; talk show host and personal injury lawyer Todd Long; developer Armando Gutierrez; and Winter Park anesthesiologist Ken Miller, just to name a few!

Today, though, that field got even more crowded with this announcement by local businessman Bruce O'Donoghue: "Over the past year, politicians in Washington have managed to jeopardize the futures of both our parents and our children. We cannot afford to allow this trend to continue unchecked."

With statements like that and his long standing in the community, Mr. O'Donoghue immediately finds himself at the top of the proverbial heap of candidates. To stay there he will have to beat Rep. Kelly in racking-up endorsements and Mr. Gutierrez in collecting campaign contributions. Yours truly will be looking forward to seeing if he can do that before the August primary.

Oh, yeah, and "white rabbit" to ye socks who know what that means!

Another one bites the dust

It seems none of the so-called "heavyweights" are interested in unseating Alan Grayson, the raving lunatic who hijacked Florida's 8th Congressional District last year.

First Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty bowed out of contention. Then State Rep. Steve Precourt said "no thanks" last week. And, now former Senate President Dan Webster has also declined.

This is somewhat disconcerting to yours truly, though I suppose it would be folly to nominate someone who didn't really have a fire in their belly . . . not only to defeat the blithering idiot who currently misrepresents this little corner of heaven in the vaunted halls of Congress, but to effect some real hope and change around here.

Time to start beating the bushes, I guess . . .

Grayson stacks the deck, stifles free speech

Well, ye socks, our illustrious freshman congressman Alan Grayson finally got around to hosting a "town hall meeting" in the district tonight.

I put that in quotes, because the hastily-thrown-together circus was anything but an open forum for his constituents.

It was held in the union hall (go figure) of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, immediately following a meeting of the local Democratic Party.

This meant there were only about 120 seats to be had, and most of them were filled by party activists who hung around after their meeting.

Many, many more people surrounded the building, but were denied entry. Instead, they had to stand outside in the sultry summer air to express their frustration, wave signs, and chant slogans. Surprisingly, there was only one arrest during the two hours of protest: a man who jostled someone while trying to record video of the scene.

Inside, despite the late hour, Grayson used his three children as human shields, reminding every one of the four people who actually dared to ask him a probing question that they were present.

Amazingly, he had the nerve to dismiss questions about tort reform and Medicare fraud because they were not part of the socialist health care bill pending before Congress. In that, he totally missed the point. The fact that these items are not addressed in the bill are just two of the things that make it bad legislation. But, I suppose it is too much to expect our representative in Washington to listen to our concerns and . . . oh, I don't know . . . maybe introduce an amendment or two to address them?!

Ultimately, Grayson was forced to admit the real cause of the nation's high health care costs: "There is a profound lack of competition." Yep, his precise words. And, they ring true.

It is the lack of free and open competition that causes people in New York to pay double the premiums that their neighbors across the state line in Pennsylvania pay.

Any REAL health care reform would address things like that and remove the contrived barriers to affordability.

Instead, Grayson and his ilk seem hellbent on erecting even more barriers, constructing an even bigger bureaucracy in Washington, and leaving an even more astounding mountain of public debt to our children and grandchildren (and their children and grandchildren).

Pitiful and pathetic.

Webster for Congress?

It's never too early to begin handicapping political races in this little corner of heaven.

And, some recent events have yours truly concluding that former state senate majority leader Dan Webster is getting ready to run for Congress.

Up until recently, conventional wisdom was that Orange County's mayor Rich Crotty would try to unseat the precariously perched Alan Grayson in the 8th congressional district that includes Orlando.

But, Crotty's got some problems stemming from his entanglements at the local expressway authority. Not only did he recently rush thru an unpopular toll hike, but a grand jury report released the very next day slammed him for strong-arm pay-to-play tactics. It concluded that Crotty had benefited from a "culture of corruption."

Now, flash forward to today's blue ribbon report released by Webster. In it, he calls for some pretty significant reforms at the expressway authority, including:

• Cutting the bloated and top-heavy payroll by $600,000.
• Leasing or selling the TWO current headquarters buildings. (That's right, up til now they felt justified in having not one but TWO headquarters . . .)
• Passing the savings along to everyone with an ePass transponder, not just the frequent users the authority has favored to this point.

What's not to like about this?

Finally, a Republican is talking about shrinking the size of government and reducing its burden on the general public. Perhaps, the party will not have to spend as long in the political wilderness as I feared it might.

I've liked Dan Webster for a long time, and really respected his endorsement of Mike Huckabee over John McCain et al in the party primary during the last presidential election cycle. If only more folks around here had been of a similar mind back then . . .

Anyway, you read it here first, ye socks. Webster's running for Congress. And, today he dealt a body blow to his primary rival.