Beach Peanuts

Are Romney And The NFIB Also Instructing Florida Workers How To Vote?

In the past week or so we've heard of several instances where employees in large corporations have been strongly encouraged to vote for Mitt Romney instead of Barack Obama by their employers, who have "warned them of the consequences for them" should Romney lose the election. First it was Koch Industries, then Florida billionaire David Siegel, CEO of Westgate Resorts, followed by Arthur Allen, CEO of ASG Software Solutions.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a lobbying group for "small businesses," is the latest to push voting for Romney, but this time, businesses were instructed to vote for Romney, by Mitt Romey himself.

Back in June Romney addressed employers how to vote in an audio address posted on the NFIB website. In the address, Romney can be heard telling them how "bad for business" Obama's policies are, how it's perfectly legal for them to tell their employees how to vote, and provided them with the talking points to do so.

From In These Times: (Emphasis mine)

Romney was addressing  a group of self-described "small-business owners." Twenty-six minutes into the call, after making a lengthy case that President Obama's first term has been bad for business, Romney said:

I hope you make it very clear to your employees what you believe is in the best interest of your enterprise and therefore their job and their future in the upcoming elections. And whether you agree with me or you agree with President Obama, or whatever your political view, I hope, I hope you pass those along to your employees.

Nothing illegal about you talking to your employees about what you believe is best for the business, because I think that will figure into their election decision, their voting decision and of course doing that with your family and your kids as well.

I particularly think that our young kids--and when I say young, I mean college-age and high-school age--they need to understand that America runs on a strong and vibrant business [sic] ... and that we need more business growing and thriving in this country. They need to understand that what the president is doing by borrowing a trillion dollars more each year than what we spend is running up a credit card that they’re going to have to pay off and that their future is very much in jeopardy by virtue of the policies that the president is putting in place. So I need you to get out there and campaign.

You can listen to the audio here.

The NFIB is well known in Florida politics. I've written before how they were behind the push back against the Affordable Care Act when they joined the lawsuit started by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum as co-plaintiff in May of 2010, and they endorsed McCollum's replacement Pam Bondi, who continued to fight the ACA all the way to the Supreme Court.

Of course the NFIB are big fans of Florida Governor "Run-Florida-Like-A-Business" Rick Scott and they make no secret of that. Here's some of what they say about Scott on their website:

He’s [Scott] urged lawmakers to reform the state’s unemployment insurance system, demanded that government workers contribute to their own retirement benefits that are now funded solely by taxpayers and called for lawsuit reform. 

Your efforts to elect NFIB-supported pro-small-business candidates last year helped elect governors who are shaking things up in their state houses. We’ll soon share the progress being made by Alabama’s Robert Bentley, Maine’s Paul LePage, Michigan’s Rick Snyder, Pennsylvania’s Tom Corbett, South Carolina’s Nikki Haley, Tennessee’s Bill Haslam and Virginia’s Robert McDonnell. They’re also working to hang out “Open for Small Business” signs.

Also on that website is their list of candidates they've endorsed for the upcoming Florida House and Senate races, because their "priorities align with those of the small-business community, and we’re confident they will be effective allies to our members in the fight to create jobs and improve the economy." They also endorsed Florida U.S. Senate candidate Connie Mack IV in September, and have run ads in the state targeting the Senate race.

What are the chances that Florida businesses are following Mitt Romney's instructions to urge their employees to vote for him, in the best interest of their employer, rather than themselves?

Probably a pretty good chance, because during and since the ACA fight, the NFIB have been recipients of millions in funding from Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS, and from the Koch brothers group Americans For Prosperity. Employees who vote in favor of these groups and Romney, who vows to repeal the ACA, will make it so much easier for their bosses to cut costs like employee health care plans. The NFIB is also involved in fights against minimum wage, paid sick leave, and collective bargaining. They're anti-union and anti-regulation.

We've already seen the bully-businessman tactics of Mitt Romney on full display, especially in last night's debate. He's a man who is used to getting his way, and can get ugly when he doesn't. The Republican Party who didn't want him as a candidate in the beginning have certainly warmed to his no-core, ruthless, anything for profit policies since then.

Are Floridians also being pushed by their employers and the candidate himself to vote for Mitt Romney, or "face the consequences?"

That's aside from the consequences of facing a future of working longer hours for less pay, no paid sick leave, no unions, and no benefits like health care, or losing their job entirely when it's outsourced, should Romney win?

As Romney himself would say: "Want to make a $10,000 bet" that they are?

RNC Schedule For Thursday, August 30

It was day two of the RNC in Tampa, and things took a bit of an ugly turn on Tuesday night.

There was a bit of a rift in their own party ranks when the fears that Ron Paul supporters might cause trouble came true. Even though there was a video tribute of sorts to Paul used to placate them, (Paul refuses to endorse Romney) the Paulites staged a walkout and were also a bit angered when Rand Paul showed his true hypocrisy colors when he threw his support behind Mitt Romney.

Other low lights: A film tribute to both Bush 41 and 43, Rand Paul declared "ObamaCare" unconstitutional in spite of the Supreme Court ruling otherwise, (Why does he hate the Constitution?) John McCain blamed President Obama for defense cuts, instead of himself and Congress, (There's a shock.) Mike Huckabee, classy as always "man of God" attacked Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Tim Pawlenty proved again he has all the charisma of a....I'm sorry, I nodded off. Where was I? Oh yes, Tim Pawlenty. Pawlenty made several of what appeared to be jokes. (They weren't funny.) Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi made a fool of herself in an audience participation health care bashing speech. It didn't go well. (All was not lost though, she did prove that she can read a teleprompter. All three of them.)

Last and least, VP nominee Paul Ryan proved himself once again to be an adept liar, and clueless on most things he claims to be an expert at.

They all blamed everything on Obama, of course, and they all sucked it up and pretended to like Mitt Romney.

Tomorrow several speakers from Florida are scheduled, including the Charlie Sheen of the Sunshine State, Connie Mack IV, who will probably say "Lockstep Liberal" a lot (It's his favorite phrase.) and engage in lots of fake outrage over pretty much anything the President has done, and several things he hasn't done that Mack has dreamed up.

In other words, it's Thursday with the GOP.

7:00 p.m.

Convention convenes

 

Call to order

 

Introduction of Colors US Central Command Joint Forces Color Guard Team

 

Pledge of Allegiance by Dylan Nonaka

 

National Anthem sung by SEVEN

 

Invocation by Ken and Priscilla Hutchins

 

Remarks by U.S. Rep. Connie Mack (FL)

 

Reagan Legacy Video

 

Remarks by Newt and Callista Gingrich

 

Remarks by Craig Romney

8:00 p.m.

Remarks by Governor former Jeb Bush (FL)

 

Remarks by Bob White, chairman of Romney for President campaign

 

Remarks by Grant Bennett

 

Remarks by Tom Stemberg

9:00 p.m.

Remarks by former Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kerry Healey

 

Remarks by Jane Edmonds, former Massachusetts Secretary of Workforce

 

Remarks by Olympians Michael Eruzione, Derek Parra and Kim Rhode

10:00 p.m.

Remarks by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (FL)

 

Remarks by presidential nominee Mitt Romney

 

Benediction by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan

 

Speaker Boehner declares convention adjourned

GOP Platform Includes Akin's No Abortion Exception The Party Decries

As Republicans from Mitt Romney to Paul Ryan to Connie Mack IV put a face on hypocrisy while pretending to be appalled at the remarks of Todd Akin, who said this about rape resulting in pregnancy:

“It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”

Republicans agree with every word Akin said.

But to anyone who may believe that Republicans have recoiled from Akin's view, it should be crystal clear by now. Those words of disgust coming from the GOP may only be to serve as a play for something they are clearly lacking: Women voters. Or better yet: Stupid women voters.

To those voters, let me clear up the confusion for you right now, via the Tampa Bay Times:

"Human life amendment: We assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children. We oppose using public revenues to promote or perform abortion or fund organizations which perform or advocate it and will not fund or subsidize heath care which includes abortion coverage."

The paragraph above comes from the draft of the official GOP platform being written before the Republican National Convention in Tampa, to be voted on next week. There is no explicit exception for rape or incest. So while the GOP may want to appear to be running from Akin and his extreme views, they own both of them and this is the evidence.

Also from that platform: They reject affirmative action, are anti-immigration, gay marriage, reject any new taxes except for wars and "national emergencies" whatever those might be, support the Stand Your Ground gun law, support freedom from "some" religion and they're against medical research including stem cells.

Republicans seem intent on making their already small tent even tinier in the future. That would of course warrant some sort of voter suppression now, which many, including Florida's Governor Rick Scott are working hard at already, and should they win a majority, I suppose doing away with voting altogether would be the next step.

What hope could they possibly have without it?

Mack Cosponsored "Forcible Rape" Bill With Akin, Who He Now Criticizes

Warrior Against Women "Outraged and Offended" By His Own Beliefs

Unless you were under a rock this weekend, you probably heard about this comment on rape and abortions when a rape results in a pregnancy:

“It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare,” Mr. Akin said of pregnancies from rape. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”

The comment was made by Rep. Todd Akin (R-eality Deficient-MO), who seems to be under the impression that when a woman is raped, a magical thinking fairy waves a magic wand over said rape victim forming a special barrier around the egg preventing fertilization. (Yes, I know what you're thinking, but no: There's no such thing as birth control, nor logic in the Todd Akin world of magical thinking either. It's all in the wand.) Akin also implies that if that fairy were having an "off" day and this didn't work, the rapist should be punished, but not the child, so no abortion under any circumstances. I guess how this isn't punishment for a child knowing that but for a violent act, it might not exist, nor for the mother who never had a say in it either way, doesn't figure into the Akin equation.

Some Republicans are now urging Akin to drop out of his race for the Senate, a race he's now in danger of losing to Democrat Claire McCaskill, claiming they are appalled by his comments. Of course, they aren't appalled by his comments, a view many of them share. They're just appalled that he actually said them out loud. What worries them is that he'll lose. They want him out so they can find another Republican candidate to save them from that defeat.

Enter another dim bulb Republican sounding the blatant alarm of hypocrisy: Connie Mack IV.

Connie Mack joins a growing list of Republicans who have condemning Rep. Todd Akin's rape comments, which may have ended Akin's U.S. Senate campaign in Missouri.

But Mack adds that the remarks are as "just as outrageous and offensive" to those by Vice President Joe Biden, who last week before a crowd filled with African Americans said Republicans seeking to deregulate Wall Street would put people back in chains.

"Like Joe Biden's comments last week, I find Todd Akin's comments made Sunday to be just as outrageous and offensive," Mack said. "Such insulting and offensive remarks from Joe Biden and Todd Akin have no place in our political discourse."

Putting aside the fact that in the ever "brilliant" mind of Mini-Mack, Democrats wanting rules not allowing banks to screw everyone over is just the same as forcing a woman to give birth to a child when she is raped in the event that Akin's rape theory shouldn't pan out, Mack himself has a bit of a hypocrisy problem in common with Akin. Actually more than that.

You see, Mack cosponsored a bill along with Akin, GOP VP candidate Paul Ryan, and a long list of Republicans back in 2011 called the Prohibiting Taxpayer Funding of Abortion bill which passed in the Republican controlled House. The bill prohibited any federal funds, including funds within the budget of the District of Columbia, from being used for the purpose of providing abortions, except in the following cases: Rape; Incest; or the life of the woman is at risk. A version of that bill contained the language "forcible rape" to parse what constituted a rape in the first place, as if there were any other kind. In other words, a "legitimate rape" as Akin used in his comments which now so offend Connie Mack and his fellow hypocrites in the GOP.

Mack appartently thinks voters are stupid and as air-headed as he is.

And that wasn't the only anti-abortion legislation he voted for in the last few years. (At least when he bothered to show up for a vote in the first place.)

Here's a list of the rest:

To Amend Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to Prohibit Abortion Coverage

Prohibiting Taxpayer Funding of Abortion

Prohibiting Use of Federal Funds For Planned Parenthood

Prohibiting Federally Funded Abortion Services

Substitute Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments

Abortion Pain Bill

Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (S 403)

Foreign Operations and Export Finance Appropriation Act

Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act  (HR 748)

Not that he didn't vote "no" on any abortion legislation. He did.

Mack voted against the Overseas Military Facilities Abortion Amendment. It would have lifted the ban on privately funded abortions at U.S. military facilities overseas. Yes, Mack made sure even women in the military were covered.

So while Mack, Paul Ryan, and their fellow Republicans may want to run from Todd Akin and his magically idiotic wing nut beliefs, they can't hide from him, nor the Congressional record.

They share the same beliefs as Akin. They're just calling him out because he gave voice to their War On Women for all to hear. The only bigger offense is he may cost them a seat in the Senate.

You're welcome ladies.

Connie Mack IV Bites The Hand That Endorses Him

After spending the majority of his time recently attacking the Tampa Bay Times for pointing out facts and having the audacity to endorse someone other than himself, Connie Mack IV did manage to score somewhat of an endorsement from The Tampa Tribune over the weekend.

The Tribune found that, as conservative Republicans go, Mack is indeed a conservative Republican who votes consistently Republican, when he's in Washington that is.

Their endorsement: "But no candidate is flawless."

What can you say other than "you go with the candidate you have, not the candidate you want?"

One of the positive things they had to say for Mack was to call him "quick-witted." Quick-witted? Really? The Tampa Tribune may want to re-think that:

When you've lashed out at one Bay area newspaper, calling them "Left Wing" and "the National Enquirer of Florida politics," just because they didn't bow at the altar of Mack, the least you can do for the one that threw you a bone of an endorsement is to get their name right.

Connie Mack Attacks Reporter (Again) For Stating Facts

If you were already somewhat safely employed but had bigger ambitions and wanted to look for another job, would you do things like spend company money sending emails from work with copies of your resume on your employer's dime? Would you find a way to charge new suits for your interviews to your employer? Would you take off weeks at a time from your current job to go to those interviews and think nobody would notice?

Say you did all those things, and someone caught you doing them, and that person went and told your employer about it. Would you attack the messenger for pointing it out, belittle and insult them for doing so while invading their personal space, and then go on your merry way because after all, your Daddy once worked for the company, and for that reason alone you should just get away with it? Do you think your employer would ignore your actions and just say "No matter! Carry on?"

Probably not.

But say you were a member of Congress with bigger ambitions like running for the U.S. Senate?

Would you send out taxpayer funded emails to residents in districts you don't reside in and charge clothing from Brooks Brothers to your campaign, both of which are violations, attack a reporter by writing angry complaint letters because his paper was "mean to you" when it endorsed another candidate, and spend the majority of the time you had left over from that going to fundraisers?

Or would you do your job by showing up in Washington and actually voting once in a while?

If you thought to yourself, "Why, of course I would be in Washington voting, after all that's what I was elected to do," then you would not be Connie Mack IV.

Connie Mack has chosen to take the juvenile route on the low road described above rather than doing the job he already holds, hoping the taxpayers he represents won't notice. When a reporter calls him out on it, he attacks the reporter, no doubt hoping that if he plays the "evil liberal media" card from the sad and tired Republican playbook, said reporter will be intimidated and back off. Maybe bend entirely in the other direction toward the right no matter what the facts are in the hopes of no further attacks.

If that's what Mack is trying to do, it doesn't seem to be working for him, (although he's doing a really good job of making a fool of himself) and let's hope it stays that way, because facts are facts no matter how foreign facts may be to the Mack campaign:

Graphic: GovTrack

When a reporter from the Tampa Bay Times pointed out that Mack has been far from Washington a lot lately and missing a huge amount of votes, Mack doubled down on the juvenile intimidation antics and had his campaign fire off another angry letter, this one more ridiculous than the last:

Adam Smith
The Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Dear Adam, 

Since we recently (and appropriately) criticized you for unfairly attacking Connie while doing everything you can to protect Bill Nelson, your latest attack comes as no surprise. 

I guess you just can’t help yourself. 

You tweeted and reported that Connie missed votes this year.  What you didn’t mention is that when Bill Nelson was in Congress and running statewide for Governor in 1990, he had the absolute worst voting record of anyone in Congress. He missed a whopping 56% of his votes. Surely you must know that.

Once again you are acting like Bill Nelson’s Communications Director doing opposition research on your opponent while ignoring the record of your own candidate. The only thing that surprises me, Adam, is that you would do this so soon after being exposed. 

I’m sure Bill Nelson appreciates all your doing for him. But Adam, there’s still time for your redemption, and the people would appreciate that so much more.

Your friend,

Jeff Cohen

Why yes Rep. Mack, you're just too clever by half!

There's a scandalous headline for you:

"REPORTER "EXPOSED" FOR NOT MENTIONING 22 YEAR OLD VOTING RECORD!"

Seriously Rep. Mack??

Since you've shown so little interest in your current job, maybe it's best to let the grownup stick with the one you're running for.

Meet Connie Mack And Rick Scott "Sugar Daddy": Sheldon Adelson

What is it about rules that Connie Mack IV doesn't like? Simple answer? Apparently following them.

Not too long ago, Mack got caught sending official U.S. House taxpayer funded mail to residents in Florida who weren't even in his own district. Because this is a violation of the House rules, he had to pay the House back. Mack blamed others for the "error."

Then yesterday it was revealed that Mack got caught "pulling a Palin" by running up a $470 bill for clothing from Brooks Brothers and charging it to his campaign, a violation of federal law that bars the use of campaign funds for personal items including "clothing, other than items of de minimis value that are used in the campaign, such as campaign ‘'T-shirts' or caps with campaign slogans." Again, his spokesman said this was a "mistake," blamed it on others, and said this too will be paid back.

Perhaps Mack is feeling a bit like a high roller since casino magnate Sheldon Adelson has backed his campaign with a $1 million donation to Freedom PAC, a super PAC that supports his run for U.S. Senate against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. Adelson, who poured money into support for the failed run for President of Newt Gingrich, has been throwing a lot of money into the coffers of Republicans lately, including Florida Governor Rick Scott, who scored a $250,000 check for his 2014 re-election fund from Adelson back in June.

Some have speculated that Adelson may be pouring cash into Florida races to push for gambling in the state, which wouldn't require a stretch of imagination. Florida is certainly "up for sale" to the highest bidder, thanks to a governor who gives away tax breaks to large corporations and benefits from corporate donors, and unlimited and secret campaign donations thanks to Citizens United. Just in the last two days, Democrats in the U.S. Senate tried to pass legislation that would require disclosure of the names of contributors of more than $10,000. The DISCLOSE Act was blocked both times by Republicans, who clearly demonstrated they have big donors backs covered rather than their constituents.

But there could be other interests when it comes to Adelson, according to an investigation by Frontline and Pro Publica, involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Rachel Maddow explained the details in this segment of her show recently, and it's an eye opener if you haven't heard of him before. 

Take a look at Rick Scott and Connie Mack's brand new "Sugar Daddy," Sheldon Adelson:

 

House Republicans Should End The "Tyranny" And Give Up Their Own Government Health Care (Updated)

(Updated below.)

House Republicans voted again for the 33rd time to "repeal ObamaCare," the first time since the Supreme Court ruled nearly all of it Constitutional. Never mind their so-called love of the Constitution, their love for Supreme Court Justice Roberts who tipped the vote, nor their apparent fondness for the government health care that they enjoy at low rates and at our expense, and especially this: Never mind that it was all political theater and another way to waste money, time, and to distract from the fact that they have done virtually nothing since the 2008 election beyond blocking everything the President and Democrats have tried to do for all of us in the wake of the absolute disastrous eight years of George W. Bush and the tailspin they all sent the country into.

They. Don't. Care.

Nope. If they have anything to say about it, and if they take the White House, the House and the Senate, you will just have to die waiting before they'll grant you what is now constitutionally your right: Affordable health care, no discrimination from health insurance companies for pre-existing conditions, no children allowed to stay on their parents insurance until age 26, nor any of the rest.

They. Don't. Care.

If the Republicans really feel SO strongly that the Affordable Health Care Act should be repealed, I think it's about time they give up their own government health care. After all, we're paying for it, and isn't that just what they claim, that government health care is absolute tyranny? They compare it to the Nazis and the Gestapo, say it's unconstitutional in spite of the fact that their own Supreme Court Justice ruled it otherwise. Hey GOP, put up or shut up. End the tyranny. Give up yours. We the people "can't afford it" remember?

We Floridians who are living with cut, after cut, after cut from a governor who has made a career out of blocking us from getting good affordable health care, who refuses to implement Medicaid and thinks no court can tell him what to do, who ignores  the biggest tuberculosis outbreak in 20 years and closes the hospital that treats the victims, turning them out into the streets as the outbreak spreads across the state and people die, we are footing the bill for his actions and every one of his enablers below. And we're paying for a lot more than just that.

Guess what GOP, Americans like and need ObamaCare. Look at the polls.

Below are the Florida members who voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act for the 33rd time. Ask them if they intend to end the "tyranny" by giving up their government health care just as they expect us to do.

To Repeal ObamaCare: Yes Votes (244)

Sandra Adams    R    FL-24
Gus Bilirakis    R    FL-9
Vern Buchanan    R    FL-13
Ander Crenshaw    R    FL-4
Mario Diaz-Balart    R    FL-21
Connie Mack    R    FL-14
John L. Mica    R    FL-7
Jeff Miller    R    FL-1
Richard Nugent    R    FL-5
Bill Posey    R    FL-15
David Rivera    R    FL-25
Tom Rooney    R    FL-16
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen    R    FL-18
Dennis Ross    R    FL-12
Steve Southerland    R    FL-2
Cliff Stearns    R    FL-6
Daniel Webster    R    FL-8
Allen West    R    FL-22
C. W. Bill Young    R    FL-10

(Update)

From Karoli at Crooks and Liars:

The House defeated Democrats' motion to amend the repeal bill to require anyone voting for repeal to give up their own taxpayer-subsidized health care plan. They were joined by 8 Blue Dogs. 

So not only is there no question that Republicans and Blue Dogs are telling you "government health care for me,  just not for thee," it's now part of the Congressional record. As far as they're concerned, the rest of us can just stick it.

Thanks for clearing that up.

George LeMieux Goes From Stand-In to Stood Up By The GOP

George LeMieux has dropped out of the Senate race against Connie Mack IV, somewhat "sore loser" style. He released what appears as a campaign video explaining his reasons, none seeming to have anything to do with himself, and throwing his "support" behind the man he called the "Charlie Sheen of Florida politics." LeMieux has painted Mack as a barroom brawler with money and marriage problems in his past.

While citing his time as a stand-in for Charlie Crist, LeMieux has a list of reasons for dropping out and places blame on everyone but himself in the video. He claims the party establishment pushed him out (hmm, that sounds familiar), blamed Mack for the family name recognition, and the fact that Mack just yesterday stated he refused to debate LeMieux (Mack said that would only help Sen. Bill Nelson), and said that there was so much money being poured into Mack's campaign that LeMieux's "message" couldn't be heard.

Poor, poor, pitiful George. All that was missing were tears and a box of tissues.

Of course there's little doubt the Republican Party showed LeMieux the door. (At least they let him stay in the party.) Just yesterday Mack (along with Daddy Mack) declared himself the winner before the primary after getting the endorsements of Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney. Then came the endorsement from what some refer to as the "Dick Armey," the FreedomWorks PAC portrayed as a grassroots Tea Party organization which is actually run by former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Show Me The Money) and is anything but. The only "roots" being those sown by Armey who convinces followers to vote against their own self-interests and part from their cash in the form of donations for the cause of "small government and "low taxes for the rich." Mack will now be groomed to appear as a Tea Party candidate, and Armey's fundraising emails are already flying through cyberspace.

In the video here (note the sad soundtrack), LeMieux leaves little doubt that dropping out wasn't "his" idea, but due to forces beyond his control. Of course he doesn't mention the big reason: He's just not very popular and never really took off. After all, he's being shoved aside for the only one left who may lose to Bill Nelson with a slightly lower margin than LeMieux himself.

Sadly for LeMieux, a family name that people recognize no matter what it does, or doesn't live up to, is probably still better than "George...Who?"

Mack Logic: If I Debate I'll Help Nelson, So No Debates, And I Win!

All Over, But For The Coronation!

If any of you GOP inclined voters in Florida think there's a Republican primary coming up for U.S. Senate candidates, Connie Mack IV has a message for you:

WRONG.

You see, the "Gas Prices Are Too Damn High??" candidate has declared himself the winner because he currently has a 33 point lead in the polls over the others who assume they're still running against him, and of course we all know that polls never change. Never! Well, except for when they do.

But no matter! That's not the only reason Mack has declared himself the winner. He has endorsements from Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney, so there! Guess we're to assume they're the ultimate deciders since Jeb all but made his brother the President in spite of the number of votes counted, and Mittens declared himself the frontrunner long before Republican voters came to the conclusion there was no one else left to support after a long primary season. Not for lack of trying either! They gave a shot to just about every last wing-nut they could find from Michele "We ARE In The Last Days And Besides, I'm Hearing Voices" Bachmann right down to pizza magnate Herman "9-9-9" Cain. Never mind that the name Bush still means the plague in most "thinking" voters minds, and no one likes Mitt Romney no matter what they say. He's similar to our governor, Rick Scott, in that sense. Both were elected as Governors, and yet they were so bad at their jobs no one will admit to actually voting for them.

Really. Ask around!

No, the race is clearly over as far as Connie's concerned. Since he's spent so much time batting at George Stand-In LeMieux like a pesky fly for months to no avail, he's decided to just pretend he's not there from now on, along with......those other guys running.

Another reason may just be Connie's Daddy. He's Connie Mack for Pete's sake! Besides, Daddy's in agreement. It's over, so there. Any questions? (Did Connie Mack IV mention his Daddy is Connie Mack?)

Those are the conventional wisdom choices, but I think there's another reason. He's basically a coward with nothing to offer, and he knows it. Here's your first clue, from Mack himself:

"We have a 33-point lead," Mack said last week, explaining his decision to skip three televised GOP primary debates.

[...."If my opponents want to debate me, that will only help Sen. Nelson," Mack said.

Wow. That's some admission. The ony thing that might have surprised me more would have been if he said he was a hapless loser. Sure others have made that assumption, but I do believe this is a first.

"I'm winning!"

"If I debate, I'll lose!" 

He's starting to sound like Mitt Romney: "I'll have it both ways, thank you."

The unspoken truth here is that in a debate with Sen. Bill Nelson, Mack will likely lose there too. Why prolong the agony, I say?

Sadly, Republicans aren't buying Mack's self-proclaimed coronation, and they're getting vocal about it.

But some grass roots Republicans say it's too soon for Mack to declare himself the winner — especially if he won't make the customary rounds at debates and straw polls.

"It's an incredibly bad message to send to the voters in a primary," said Nancy McGowan, president of the Conservative Republican Forum of Jacksonville. "It just says, 'What you think doesn't matter.' "

Another astute observation from the right, but then being a conservative Republican Ms. McGowan should know by now that "what you think doesn't matter" is pretty much the Republican platform these days. They don't care what you think, or want, regardless of party affiliation. You're on your own.

So just get over it. 

Game over. Connie and his Daddy say so!

(Photo: Connie Mack IV, U.S. House)