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41 Comments:
At 11:11 AM, June 19, 2006, jpublic said…
Hey... who's that you say for HD52?
At 11:21 AM, June 19, 2006, feducator said…
Congrats to the endorsed.
Still amazes me to see Unions endorse republicans - hope they aren't counting on their workers' comp insurance.....
At 11:48 AM, June 19, 2006, Pinellas Pub said…
You're kidding...right fed??
Firefighters Union gets it's way most of the time in the legislature....could be because unlike the teachers union they work WITH the majority to get what they want instead of working AGAINST the majority (can you say FEA staff running MCBride campaign)....
At 12:42 PM, June 19, 2006, tampad said…
Just days after this blog clarified the McCallum endorsement as a virtual non-endorsement with information from the firefighters themselves - the same information is repeated once again.
Nothing like undermining your own posts.
Must be a slow day in the blog world.
At 1:07 PM, June 19, 2006, Roaring20s said…
now the only question is, will they actually do anything to help these candidates, or just release a list of names and then expect these people to vote their way if they get elected?
At 1:19 PM, June 19, 2006, John F. said…
HUGE coup for everyone not named Peluso in District 48... The 3 other Republican candidates and Carl Zimmermann as well
At 1:24 PM, June 19, 2006, jpublic said…
The biggest benefit to the firefighters endorsement and support is not so much their vote or financial contribution… as much as it is their campaign volunteering efforts. Sadly, some candidates exploit it as some sort of moral endorsement. But, their endorsement and political involvement has reached a level of that of a lobbyist.
In reality, most “politicians” would outsource the system to a corporate contributor, given the opportunity.
At 1:49 PM, June 19, 2006, ProudFF said…
I am saddened by the biased shown by Adam Smith to name just one candidate in the District 48 race. There should be no ouch given to Ken Peluso, the Palm Harbor and Oldsmar Firefighters have endorsed ken since the first moment he put his name in the hat. What Adam Smith fails to mentions is that the council makes endorsements countywide and each person in the District 48 race had a locaql backing them so the countywide endorsement was best left blank as to not pit local against local. Adam Smith once again shows that writers can (by just adding their two cents worth) show an unyielding biased for or against any candidate.
At 1:50 PM, June 19, 2006, ProudFF said…
This post has been removed by the author.
At 2:36 PM, June 19, 2006, Peter said…
The fact that the firefighters endorsed the Democrat in H-52 is the most amazing update.
At 2:40 PM, June 19, 2006, jpublic said…
Good thing tampabaydem didn’t wager on that huh? How ‘bout it blue? What’s you call on this now?
At 8:01 PM, June 19, 2006, tampad said…
McCallum does well in contests without an opponent, like getting this endorsement before Heller got in the race.
Too bad for her, she now has a primary opponent.
At 8:39 PM, June 19, 2006, TampaBayDem said…
Actually Jpublic, I'll happily take Peter's wager. I just had better things to do on a beautiful weekend than hang out on the blog. And here's the wager I'll offer. I'm betting the PCTA will -- at a minimum -- co-endorse Bill Heller by the end of July. The loser agrees to refrain from posting on this blog again until after the November election. Peter, care to take me up on that?
At 8:44 PM, June 19, 2006, TampaBayDem said…
Tampad -- You hit the nail on the head there. And yes, sadly for Ms. McCallum, she now has an opponent who actually has roots in the district, who actually has in-depth understanding of the issues in the state, who has friends all over Pinellas on both sides of the aisle, who has made significant contributions to this community for 15 years...need I go on?
At 11:24 PM, June 19, 2006, Peter said…
Um, what do I gain by you not posting?
At 11:41 PM, June 19, 2006, TampaBayDem said…
Well, you can post all the ridiculously untrue statements in support of Liz you desire without my countering with actual facts and rational assessments of the campaign. Oh, but wait, that only benefits you until Sept, since after that she won't be in the race.
Feel free to offer up an alternate wager. I'd avoid dollar amounts, though. That's probably illegal and you've got enough trouble in that department.
At 1:15 AM, June 20, 2006, Wally said…
Oh please. The firefighters just sent Liz a nice donation today to remind her who they ACTUALLY endorsed because they're so infuriated at this nonsense being spread in the Times and by certain less ingenuous sorts about their endorsement of Liz being half-hearted or somehow that Heller didn't seem an option (rather than just seeming a bad option).
Look for a fallback in the Times in the next couple days.
At 8:30 AM, June 20, 2006, Peter said…
First of all, you have to let me know who you are, but the wager is this: loser donates, say $25 or walks door-to-door (hey, Im just a lowly bartender now, so $25 is a lot to me), for the candidate of the winner choice.
At 8:52 AM, June 20, 2006, TampaBayDem said…
Peter -- I'll be happy to tell you who I am after the election, but you'll have to come up with something else for our friendly wager, because there is no way I'll give her a cent. And believe me, you wouldn't want me going door to door.
I guess the bet's off, and we'll just have to wait and see who is right on this one for the sheer fun of it.
Wally, of course they sent her a contribution. They ENDORSED her. That's what it means. They're not infuriated...they publically corrected the record by saying that they did not endorse her over Bill, but rather that they endorsed her because he was not in the race when the decision was made. Go look at the update on the first post again and notice who the quote is from -- the St Pete Firefighters Association.
At 8:58 AM, June 20, 2006, Peter said…
Yeah, but the mailpiece, the literature, etc, will all say "Liz McCallum endorsed by Pinellas' bravest"...yada, yada.
Anyway, this isn't the first time a group has hemmed and hawed about an endorsement, all the while sticking behind its original endorsement. This fact remains:
In the Democratic primary for House District 52, Liz McCallum has been endorsed by the NEA, PCTA, AFL-CIO, Emily's List and now the firefighters. Once you get out of Old Northeast, Liz McCallum is the clear favorite.
At 9:10 AM, June 20, 2006, krs2 said…
I don't think Emily's List is going to help Liz McCallam much when Ms. Betty Castor appears on mail for Mr. Heller. Also, isn't it difficult for Ms. McCallum to have effective mail when she has limited finances. Peter even you know the well-financed candidate usually wins.
At 9:50 AM, June 20, 2006, jpublic said…
Due respects folks… but the fall-out over Heller’s jump, and subsequent backing by some of Pinellas County’s finest “Republicans in drag”, has already begun.
Liz continues through the Primary to the General… and takes it in November.
However, if by chance some of you are correct and Heller does take it (doubtful though)… how’s he going to get past what, no doubt will be Capelli’s best line… “Support me!… hell, even my opponent (Heller) donated to me.”
Bottom line… big mistake… partisan race… “Bi-partisan appeal” is old rhetoric and doesn’t fly anymore… fall out continues for the D (really R’s in drag)… loyalty is important in two-party system… Castor is no impact and old news… McCallum wins!… Justice, Kriseman, Harris, Learner and the rest, lose… Front-page headline on September 6th… “Real Democrats bring balance with big Wins across the board”.
At 10:27 AM, June 20, 2006, feducator said…
JPUB
Loyalty ?
to who - your designated DEM.
I guess you (real name ?) get to pick who is real democrat.
If you spend 10 minutes with Heller, you know he is a real democrat. He had to work within the system while he was at USF.
But to say Liz filed first so no one else is allowed is stupid.
Kriseman filed before Gerdes - but no party loyalty there.
And if you want to support Cappelli over Heller and Farkas over Justice.... well that would explain why democrats have done so well over the years here.
At 11:04 AM, June 20, 2006, jpublic said…
I had a feeling that would stir the pot…
No, I (not yet, but soon enough) don’t get to pick who the real Democrats are, but the voters do. And the voters have had enough.
I don’t have a personal axe to grind with Heller. But I do with anyone who picks his or her Party based on wind direction. I know that won’t sit well with you, or several others for that matter. But that’s the beauty of our system… differing opinions.
In reality, it has nothing to do with the “late-comer” concept, as it has to do with why. I’ve read nothing on this and several blogs having to do with this topic, which has offered any substantive reasoning for this move. So, one has to look beyond Ockam’s Razor for the basis.
I’m not looking for someone who just “works within the system”… because the system is corrupt, and even you can’t argue that, feducator. I want someone who with “Change/Fix the System”. This “go along to get along” concept in BS, and I have no need for weakness and “perceived” bi-partisanship in our government.
Do the right thing and save the Rodney King crap. I don’t support Cappelli over Heller, I support McCallum over Heller, then McCallum over Cappelli.
But… Heller supports Cappelli over himself due to his donation (bonehead move), and he (Heller)… along with the rest of the aforementioned R’s in drag, consistently support R’s over D’s… and that my friend is the real reason the Dems have done so poorly for years… NO LOYALTY, sell-out, wishy-washy, “I’ll vote your way as long as you let me keep my seat”, whipping post of the R-Party D’s in drag.
Wow, I think I pulled a muscle… :-/
At 11:18 AM, June 20, 2006, krs2 said…
JPublic. Do you have a problem with people who pick the legislative seat they are going to run for based on wind direction? Like what Ms. MCcallum did when she moved her for the sole purpose of running for office? Mr. Heller is a lifelong progressive on education and many issues. His family is made up of Democrats. He is a registered Democrat and unlike Ms. McCallam - he has served our community for many years, and isn't that worth something these days?
At 11:43 AM, June 20, 2006, jpublic said…
krs2,
Your lament on Heller is very nice and structured well… I mean that sincerely. And let me repeat, I have no axe to grind with him.
But, let me start at the top of your post and work down with pertinent facts…
Anyone who would move across the county for a 28K a year job would be insane to begin with. I would submit that instead… McCallum moved for her job, and then decided to engage in the political structure of her new home town/state. Don’t know if that’s true, but frankly, more plausible.
“Mr. Heller is a lifelong progressive on education and many issues.”
Irrelevant in this discussion.
“His family is made up of Democrats”
Irrelevant in this discussion. Many a crappy actor’s families are made up of actors. :-/
“He is a registered Democrat…”
As of three weeks prior to his decision to jump in, that is…
“…he has served our community for many years, and isn't that worth something these days?”
Indeed it is worth something and admirable. But, that’s not the reason he jumped in and I’m guessing you know that. So do many, many, many others.
At 1:06 PM, June 20, 2006, feducator said…
JPub.
Republicans in Drag.
Name who you mean and give why they are in drag.
Instead of just throwing against the wall... let's hear your real issues with the draggers.
At 1:06 PM, June 20, 2006, Wally said…
The Firefighters do not donate automatically following their endorsement, especially when they were - we are led to believe by Heller's crowd - so ambivalent about the whole thing.
The Firefighters are infuriated about this at every level, and the selfsame gentleman quoted in the article is apparently furious that he was misquoted in such a way by the Times. This endorsement is as much a "big deal" as Liz said to begin with, and all the hemming and hawing in the world doesn't change that. Again, look for something in the Times to clear up this rumor - probably tomorrow, I think.
At 2:46 PM, June 20, 2006, Peter said…
Wally, what do you mean?
At 4:17 PM, June 20, 2006, jpublic said…
fed…
If you read the list in the Times of Dems who jumped on the Heller bandwagon… there you have it clearly in print.
Now, do your research on voting records, (not just one ‘throw us a bone’ vote), and follow it with some research, and cross-referencing, on the campaign money.
Once we have that common frame of information to start, we’ll go on from there.
But you’d better be ready for the answers.
At 5:08 PM, June 20, 2006, feducator said…
Jpub.
I am not the one making statements about the draggers.
You should just layout a handful of votes that these people made that are so non-democratic.
Otherwise you are doing a disservice to the Democratic party and our community.
At 5:23 PM, June 20, 2006, jpublic said…
fed…
Do your research first, I’ve done mine… then we’ll talk.
And mind you, nothing personal… but save the disservice line for after your research. I’m thinking if you act in earnest, you place it elsewhere.
At 7:09 PM, June 20, 2006, ProudFF said…
This post has been removed by the author.
At 7:11 PM, June 20, 2006, ProudFF said…
I can tell you first hand that you guys are right about politicians looking for the endorsement of the firefighters and then turn on them. I do not know much about the politician that you vare addressing here on the blog, but I do know that if politicians get the firefighter endorsement and don't come through for us, they will have short careers. they will face an admirable opponent in any subsequent elections.
At 8:17 PM, June 20, 2006, chriseaton said…
JPUBLIC I thought perhaps I would shed some light on Liz McCallum's move to Pinellas. In a lunch conversation with me and one other person in early 2004 Liz explained the state party wanted her to move to Pinellas and run for house 52. Keep in mind that I ran a race against Farkas in 2002 and did quite well considering money and incumbency. I was surprised to hear that the people in the party I knew would not tell me this, but she assured me that they asked her to deliver the news. Of course after I contacted them I found out that none of what she had told me was true. People were anticipating that I would run 2004 and no one had called her to either run in this district nor had they asked her to deliver information to me.
Liz also told me she knew she would lose in 2004, but she was merely setting herself up for 2006. Again I asked her why this seat and she said that leadership wanted her, not true of course, and that Emily's list was targeting the race, again that turned out to not be true.
So my experience is that much of Ms. McCallum says is simply not true and I thought I would point out some facts. The voters may like an opportunist...they may like someone who moves to a location to run and if they do she may well win. My money is on the voters and in the end they will see through this.
So those are facts jpbulic
At 10:44 PM, June 20, 2006, TB Blue Dog said…
jpub, your whole keeping the democratic faith bit is wearing a tad thin. I've met people who say the same things you do about Republicrats and what-not. You seem to want to steer the Democratic Party towards something reminescent of the old Ivory soap commercials where the bragged about it being 99.44% pure.
Ed Koch had something to say about that too: “if you agree with me on nine out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.” My friend, candidates (even Democratic ones) are people who disagree with you on some issues that you may hold dear. Issues like supporting Capelli over McCallum. What Chris has to say about Liz is trustworth as I have seen nothing but opportunistic behavior from this carpet-bagger. Given the choice between Capelli and McCallum, I would make the same call that Bill Heller made.
You also need to take in to consideration that Pinellas County is 39/38/23 GOP/Dem/NPA. Being from a 50/50 county means that you'll have people (even candidates) who have supported Republicans. Not everybody thinks in your Bolen-esque conspiracies everywhere mindset. The reason Democrats lose is not because of outside forces. It is due to an acute lack of leadership, orgainzation, and party unity. Republicans fight behind closed doors, Democrats whine to reporters like Mr. Smith who love to write about intraparty mudslinging.
Getting to the point, quit the poor me blame-the-world bullsh-- and do something about it. Become a committeeman and organize your precinct, become a district leader, run for chair. Forget about the issues and organize something!
At 10:53 PM, June 20, 2006, krs2 said…
Mr. Eaton:
Thank you for clarifying to readers the background story regarding ms. Mccallum. I am a Heller supporter (and USF staffer) and I support his candidacy because he is a wonderful, kindhearted, intelligent man, and regardless of Ms. McCallum's "carpetbagging", I would have voted for him. She seems to feel entitled to winning this District because she moved her family for that reason only. She moved from Tampa to St.Pete to run. That is shameful - and to question mr. Heller's politics seems petty in light of Ms. McCallum's opportunism.
At 11:32 PM, June 20, 2006, Peter said…
Chris, is that the lunch when you told Liz she couldnt run against you because you were Mr. St. Pete?
At 11:54 PM, June 20, 2006, jpublic said…
This post has been removed by the author.
At 11:59 PM, June 20, 2006, jpublic said…
Damn, you folks are up late tonight. Good to read ya!
Thank you Chris, for the insight to your experience with McCallum. I understand your point, given the info you shared. But realistically, it seems that your issue should be with the Party, not so mush McCallum.
I’ve done research on you since engaging you on the blog. Some day we’ll meet, I’m certain. Most of the folks I’ve spoken to had good words to say about your integrity, preparation, and effort with regard to your run. I commend you, truly I do. But here’s the thing Chris… Don’t ever trust the Party politicos, don’t ever trust what any candidate says to you (if they’re running against you)… and never, ever, ever, believe it unless you’ve deposited the check and it’s cleared. I’d like to see you on the stump. Take tb blues advise and “Forget about the issues and organize something!”… seems to be working for ‘W’…:-)
tb blue dog…
Dude, save it… I know the numbers in Pinellas, and then some… HelI, I practically wrote them.
The same could be said for the whole “Go along to get along” routine. Simply reverse the power, and you could reverse our postings blue!
It’s about balance of power and ideals, and that’s called Democracy. I know a few of you disagree with my take, and that’s a good thing (coining your Koch quote). Ultimately, this is all conjecture and opinion of a very few interested individuals… and that too is fine. Like I’ve said before, call your R representatives in Pinellas and ask them to push for non-partisan seats… Don’t just slap back at me for saying, do it and be straight enough to share the response you get.
I did like the “Bolen-esque” line though… nice touch… and don’t be too sure I’m even a D... mistakes have been made that way... ;-)
And krs2…” I am a Heller supporter (and USF staffer)”… well, there you have it then.
Good night, and good luck…
At 8:41 AM, June 21, 2006, Peter said…
Anyone know when the firefighters are going to take back their endorsement of Liz? I've been waiting...after all, credible posters on this blog said it was going to happen.
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