Members of the Pinellas legislative delegation appeared before the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club today, and received an especially hostile reception. The group has long skewed Democrat, but the level of hostility over the 2011 session from many members of the crowd was striking.

One question we liked: Name the person of the opposite party you admire most?

St. Petersburg Democrats Rick Kriseman and Darryl Rouson both sited House Rules Chairman Gary Aubuchon as being especially fair and even-handed.

Among the Republicans, state Reps. Ed Hooper and Jim Frishe mentioned former state Sen.-turned drug czar Dave Aronberg (and Frishe mentioned Rouson); Larry Ahern said state Rep. John Patrick Julien; Peter Nehr said Rouson; and state Sen. Jack Latvala mentioned his longtime friend, former state Sen. Ron Silver.

Each member was also asked to grade the legislature's performance and that of Gov. Rick Scott. Ahern gave both A's, drawing groans from the crowd; Frishe gave the legislature a B, and passed on the governor; Hooper gave the legislature a C and Scott and incomplete, since he's only been in office six months ("Too long!," someone shouted); Krisman and Rouson gave both Fs; Latvala graded the legislature "below average" Scott "improving;" Nehr gave the legislature an A for fiscal discipline.