Davis Starts Slugging
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis is starting to fire hard at rival Rod Smith in advance of Saturday's AFSCME public employee union endorsement. On Tuesday the Davis camp fired off an e-mail bashing Smith for voting for a bargaining rights bill opposed by labor: "How Will Rod Smith Explain to AFSCME His Vote to Weaken Collective Bargaining Rights?"
Today Davis blasts Smith for voting for a budget that included the controversial Convergys contract for personnel services: "How Will Rod Smith Explain to AFSCME His Vote to Open the Door to Contractors Like Convergys?"
Today Davis blasts Smith for voting for a budget that included the controversial Convergys contract for personnel services: "How Will Rod Smith Explain to AFSCME His Vote to Open the Door to Contractors Like Convergys?"
30 Comments:
At 10:15 AM, May 31, 2006, rationaldemocrat said…
You can almost smell the blood.
Davis is hurting...and this lame effort is really sad.
Sorry Jim, your time in the sun is almost done. Bob Graham can't bail you out of everything.
Good luck adjusting to private life.
At 10:34 AM, May 31, 2006, tonypants said…
It's about time someone started holding Rod accountable for his terrible labor record. People have been fooled into thinking he is some champion of the working man when the opposite is actually true. When the one-liners and the RodSquad arent there to distract people, all Rod has is his record - and it aint pretty.
At 10:41 AM, May 31, 2006, jpublic said…
It definitely sounds like someone is hearing footsteps…
But wait a minute… I though we all got a long, the whole “team” thing. What happened to the “Reach across the isle”, and the ever so popular “Bi-partisan appeal” line?
I’ve been saying on this blog for a long time now folks… this race is nowhere near as over as the “polls for Davis” indicate. It’s about the vote, not the polls… and everyone is over the incumbents (entitled and predictable), and looking for a new face. Rod is a new face to many Floridians… and the D Party has been starving for a new leader… watch it happen!
At 10:42 AM, May 31, 2006, TampaBryan said…
All the points Davis makes are accurate. Unfortunately, these press releases appear to be a bit reactionary in light of Rod's labor endorsements.
At 1:27 PM, May 31, 2006, moderate said…
Obviously, some folks on this blog have no idea what occurs when there is an impass in labor contract negotiations.
Further, they're attacking a vote on the State Budget Package that contained the Convergys Contact?
I'm quite certain Jim Davis voted for the Federal Budget which contained the contacts for the defense contractor who just got indicted for bribing Duke Cunningham and treating Katherine Harris to $3,000 dinners.
Oh yeah... MZM, Inc. that's the company.
I sure hope no one finds a Davis vote for anything with that company included in it.
At 1:56 PM, May 31, 2006, SnakefromEden said…
1. These votes are accurate. However, Davis also voted on several issues against labor unions.
2. It would be foolish to think AFSCME didn't know this when they endorsed him. For Davis to suggest they failed to make even a rudimentary background check on Smith's record is an insult to the organization.
3. Even if AFSCME doesn't like Smith's explanation for the votes, the odds that they would switch to Davis are slim to none.
At 2:52 PM, May 31, 2006, moderate said…
I agree...
Jim Davis is now scared (as he should be) and he's looking to throw anything against the wall that will stick.
How come every story that questions something Smith did comes from this same writer at the Tampa Tribune?
This thing is going to backfire on the Davis camp.
It seems Davis has finally realized Smith is the one with all the momentum.
At 3:09 PM, May 31, 2006, Guvanator said…
davis attacking smith BEFORE the republicans start attacking each other... bad move.
maybe he oughta talk more about why he should be governor, not why smith shouldn't be... just a thought.
At 3:25 PM, May 31, 2006, moderate said…
Why I should be Governor
By Jim Davis
1. Because my speeches inspire people to take long naps.
2. Because my lackluster record in the Florida House and the U.S. Congress will ensure that nothing will change once I get elected.
3. Because I was ranked 419th out of 436 in effectiveness of members of the U.s. House (1 being the most effective)
4. Because I helped engineer the loss of the State House to the Republicans in the early 90s.
5. Because my changes in pitch during my speeches will rid the state of stray dogs and feral cats
6. But most of all, you should elect me Governor if you're happy the way the Republicans have been running things. Because we all know I couldn't do anything to stop them.
Thanks for your support and I'll see you in September (but probably not after that)
At 3:31 PM, May 31, 2006, jonas said…
tony --
Have no fear . . . I am here to help you spread the word on Smith's terrible labor record.
I just called the afl-cio and told them how stupid they were for naming rod smith their legislator of the year last year.
Also told them not to pay attention to those silly rankings that say Davis is #419 out of 435 in the COngress or how he is ranked the weakest member of the Florida delegation.
That 17 years as a labor lawyer stuff is gonna be a little hard to undo, but i am trying.
I'm thinkin those damn Teamsters and Teachers, and Cops and Firefighters are just plain stupid too. They probably werent payin attention like you and me when they endorsed that Smith guy.
What with all that evidence of great stuff Davis has done for them like NAFTA, and making his friends in labor sweat on CAFTA and No Child Left Behind. They just dont understand like you and me Tony
I will report back to you as soon as I can set that bad labor record straight
;}
At 3:33 PM, May 31, 2006, Congresswatch said…
419
419
419
419
419
419
419
419
419
419
419
At 4:12 PM, May 31, 2006, moderate said…
jonas
keep spreadin' the word my brother
I love it!
That brought out a good chuckle.
At 4:30 PM, May 31, 2006, jpublic said…
Maybe 419 was just a way to avoid admitting to 420…
At 5:26 PM, May 31, 2006, Capemont said…
Why does Rod always hide from the issues? Look at the Rod Smith web page - there is not a serious overview of Rod's issues to be found anywhere. He's terrified people will start to pull up his voting record (anti-environment, devoutly anti-gay rights and indifferent on abortion) and compare it with his campaign rhetoric.
In contrast, Davis has a 15+ page detailed summary of all his positions on a myriad of issues.
I think the candidate that is unafraid to solidify his stances on key issues at the start of the race is the one I would want to be my next governor.
At 6:13 PM, May 31, 2006, moderate said…
capemont
"...anti-environment?"
Why, because he didn't think the constitution should become an Etch-a-sketch for every Pregnant Pig cause out there?
"..indifferent about abortion?"
Why don't the folks who think abortion should remain legal call themselves PRO-ABORTION?
Rod Smith has never voted against a woman's right to chose.
Indifferent? I haven't seen the abortion question on the ballot since Smith has been elected, maybe he's the reason.
"...devoutly anti-gay rights?"
When did this occur? Do you have some evidence of any vote he made or legislation he sponsored against gay rights?
Davis' folks just keep spreading the lies with mis-statements and half truths, don't they?
At 6:25 PM, May 31, 2006, moderate said…
By the way...
Aside from begining with the phrase: "Call me Ismael..."
What exactly does the Davis Issue novel say.
Would Jim Davis legalize Gay Marriage?
Would Jim Davis singlehandedly stop Florida from producing Sugar?
Would Jim Davis be able to gain any support from across the isle in Tallahassee to sponsor any of his proposed legislative ideas?
Heck...most Democrats in the legislature don't even like the guy.
Davis' 15 page issue peice is just like Davis...Long on talk and short on action.
Jim Davis' new campaign slogan:
"Woulda' - Coulda' - Shoulda' - But didn't"
I could of been a contender...I could of been somebody.
Raging Bull is right.
At 6:38 PM, May 31, 2006, RodSquad said…
Didn't Davis listen to the elderstatemen and party elders, don't bash another Democrat in the primary. Davis going negative is horrible...isn't he the front-runner? Or does he feel its in jeopardy?
Whatever the case may be, don't attack a person, attack issues and let usknow why you should be Governor. Rod is doing it all across the state with the help of labor unions, teachers unions, elected officials, and average Floridians like me.
Davis read my lips...GO NEGATIVE AND YOU WILL LOSE! Our party can't win back the Mansion with negativity and attacks! Let the republicans do it, then we can sweep the rug from under them.
This just continues to illustrate Rod's momentum, he's a fighter, and our next Governor!
At 6:47 PM, May 31, 2006, 1sourcem said…
Well, well, well. It seems Jim Davis has woken up from his long campaign slumber. Too bad -- he is still groggy from months of sleepwalking. He lays into Rod Smith on idiotic charges of being bad for organized labor. Apparently, nobody on Davis' camp knows what a state legislative impasse hearing is, or how the Legislature resolves them. (FYI: the hearings are perfunctory, they are held late in Session, the resolutions are one-liners included in the budget or implementing bill which already disposed of the unresolved amount of pay and benefits, and so 99% of the time, they summarily support the Governor's bargaining position, even when Democrats held both chambers and the Mansion.) This is weakening collective bargaining rights?
The charge is false and the evidence is laughable. Dan Rather invented better evidence from the Texas Air National Guard.
Davis needs a cup of coffee to focus. Building up his credentials or attacking the GOP is the better strategy for a "frontrunner". Trying to smear the underdog is a sign of panic, or maybe its just envy -- Smith has picked up a boatload of Labor endorsements lately (dozens of them, and big ones too!). Somebody in Smith's camp is kicking ass on labor endorsements. And somebody in Davis' camp will get his or her ass kicked for inventing this silly attack.
At 8:50 PM, May 31, 2006, Capemont said…
Moderate -
You need to go to the Project Vote Smart web site and go back through the archives to the NPT Smith himself completed back in 2000. He indicated unequivocally that he opposed civil unions and gay adoption. He now criss crosses the state advocating both. That is the DEFINITION of pandering.
At 9:24 PM, May 31, 2006, moderate said…
capemont
so if a candidate can't change their mind, what did Jim Davis do on the NAFTA and CAFTA votes?
At 9:28 PM, May 31, 2006, moderate said…
In case you forgot.
Davis indicated he would vote for CAFTA due to the International Trade benefits that would be realized through Tampa.
But then, less than a week later, he changed his mind and voted against it, due to pressure from the labor unions.
Was he pandering? Or did he simply change his mind?
At 9:31 PM, May 31, 2006, moderate said…
capemont
Are you claiming one of those issues is more significant than the other?
Before you answer.
I'm sure the working families of Florida feel their issue is pretty damn important to them.
At 9:40 PM, May 31, 2006, moderate said…
Yeah..
that's what I thought.
Oh well, halftime is over.
ready to go watch the Heat clinch a sport in the finals.
Just as I'm ready to watch Smith clinch a spot in the general.
At 9:42 PM, May 31, 2006, Capemont said…
That's a very defensive argument moderate. You know as well as I do its a completely different thing to change your mind about a bill, which prescribes a very specific policy action and can be twisted with amendments, etc. (as CAFTA was) than to change your mind on an ideological proposition (such as gay marriage should be legal or gay couples should be allowed to adopt).
The former is completely explicable, while the latter is not. If Jim had said "I oppose free trade" and then "I support free trade" it would be a very different thing. Instead, he has nearly a full page on his web site dedicated to the discussion of the issue.
At 12:23 AM, June 01, 2006, politicol said…
Negative attacks are a waste of time at this point, especially if it's only going to show up in the Tampa paper. Most people don't know Smith or Davis anyway.
Don't overestimate Labor's significance. If they really turned out in force, it could have an impact. But they never do turn out in force. And in General elections, half of them vote Republican.
Davis should ignore it and move on. Save the attacks for later when people are paying attention.
At 7:27 AM, June 01, 2006, Omega83 said…
::;blah blah blah:: unions unions blah blah
come on people this is Florida we're talking about, not New York or Illinois
When was the last time labor was that relevent here, or anywhere in the South.
Unions are an enigma anyway.
At 7:44 AM, June 01, 2006, SkinkTyree said…
Davis makes some good points, and underscores why I have significant doubts about Rod Smith as a viable Democratic candidate for governor.
It just comes to a point where after eight years of having to deal with Jeb Bush and then you have to ask yourself "Is Rod Smith the best the Democrats can do?"
Add on his poor environmental record, his willingness to get cozy with utilities like FPL, his support of restricting citizen initiatives, and I'm left wondering how exactly he would be a better choice than Charlie Crist, let alone Jim Davis. For someone who's a dedicated Democrat like myself and wants to see the party succeed in this state, that's means a lot.
His NRA gun record and death penalty support does nothing for me either.
I don't care where Smith stands on social issues. Abortion is an emoitionally loaded issue dominated by two ideologically opposed sides who refuse to talk to each other and who are only interested in putting out brainless bumper sticker slogans. Smith can talk about how he supports abortion rights until he's blue in the face; I just don't give a hoot.
Gay adoption is inevitable, given that almost all states allow it and the opponents can only stall for so long. So that's another non-issue.
I just don't see what there is to gain for this state if Rod Smith gets elected governor. Maybe if Gallagher is the GOP nominee, but if it's Crist--well, are the Greens running anybody?
Granted, Jim Davis isn't the second coming of Bill Clinton. He's probably not even the second coming of Bob Graham or Lawton Chiles. But from what he's shown me so far, he's someone who I'm comfortable enough with as a Democrat to get my vote.
I just can't say the same for Rod Smith.
At 1:28 PM, June 01, 2006, jpublic said…
omega83,
The only think keeping your boss from treating you like an illegal alien… ie. low wages, no benefits, no overtime, no medical, no retirement, going to social services for your food stamps, and living ten to a trailer… is unions.
skinktyree,
“Davis makes some good points, and underscores why I have significant doubts about Rod Smith as a viable Democratic candidate for governor.”
Transparent my dear, very transparent…
“Gay adoption is inevitable, given that almost all states allow it and the opponents can only stall for so long. So that's another non-issue.”
You’re way off on this one…
“Is Rod Smith the best the Democrats can do?" – followed by – “Granted, Jim Davis isn't the second coming of Bill Clinton. He's probably not even the second coming of Bob Graham or Lawton Chiles.”
A bit conflicting wouldn’t you say?
I like Jim Davis, I really do… but… Rod is exactly what the Party needs… a strong candidate who will beat the R’s in November, make a great Governor, and return pride and ownership to the Party.
At 3:57 PM, June 01, 2006, moderate said…
Let any candidate make the Gay Adoption and Abortion Issues the Sentinel Issues for their campaign and watch that candidate lose in Florida.
It's the idiots who throw those ideologies in the faces of the average voter, that have caused a state with more registered Ds than Rs, to trend so heavily Republican.
Why do you think every significant Statewide elected official has been a republican?
Why do you think the Democratic Legislative Cacus can hold their meetings in a broom closet?
Making those issues you stump speech is like digging your own grave in a statewide race.
At 11:39 PM, June 01, 2006, Omega83 said…
jpublic
I am my own boss
:)
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