Crowley Political Report

Allen West calls Super Committee appalling and an embarrassment

Florida Republican Congressman Allen West fired off a statement this morning stating the obvious "that politics and partisanship is at the very core of this failure" of the Congressional Super Committee to reach an agreement.

West goes on to say, "I find it appalling that grown adults can not sit down at a table and find a way to negotiate something so important to the future of this nation."

Of course it does not take long for West to get political and partisan himself and point a finger at President Obama.

"President Barack Obama and his Administration are to blame for the anticipated failure of the Super Committee," said West. "He has stood by and done nothing to encourage bipartisanship among this committee."

Really? West believes that Obama would have succeeded as a mediator between House and Senate Democrats and Republicans?

Interesting.

Here is the text of West's statement:

 "The Super Committee was entrusted by the American people and by fellow Members of Congress to work together and come up with a solution to America's fiscal crisis by spending and balancing our budget and finding the means to cut 1.2 trillion dollars over the next 10 years. 

The Members of the Super Committee that stepped up to the plate to complete this task promised their country they would put politics aside, and fulfill this important task. Yet, it is apparent to everyone that politics and partisanship is at the very core of this failure. Over the course of the past two months, including dozens of meetings and hearings, this Super Committee has not been able to agree on a single issue that can help move this country forward. I find it appalling that grown adults can not sit down at a table and find a way to negotiate something so important to the future of this nation. 

Democrats - Tell Congress no more games

Crowley Political Report gave you Rick Perry's "President Zero" ad in an earlier report, now we have the new Democratic National Committee ad promoting President Obama's "American Jobs Act."

The ad urges voters to tell Congress,  "no more games, pass the plan."

Which ad will resonate most with voters? That decision is yours dear reader.

Here's the DNC ad:

 

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Michele Bachmann, Tea Party and those damn airbags

One has to delight in the silliness of Tea Party politics which brings a rigidity to political discourse that should be interesting to watch during the September debates and Florida Republican convention.

We begin the new month with an interesting anniversary. On Sept. 1, 1998, Congress made it mandatory for cars to have airbags. This came 32 years after Congress required automakers to install seatbelts.

This anniversary could unhinge some members of the Tea Party who fervently believe that nearly anything the federal government does is wrong.

Their titular leader, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, may even take on the cause. After all, Bachmann has made fighting for the right to own incandescent bulbs a hallmark of her bid to win the Republican nomination for president.

Mandatory airbags were a result of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act passed by Congress in 1991.  It went into effect on Sept. 1, 1998. 

The ISTEA was passed overwhelmingly. The final conference bill passed the House 372-47.  The Senate approved it 79-8. An interesting side note - both Florida senators at the time, Democrat Bob Graham and Republican Connie Mack - voted against the bill.

What would happen if the airbag bill was being proposed today? Would this be seen as an unnecessary intrusion by the federal government? Would Tea Party supporters rally in congressional districts to fight the proposal?

Would Bachmann add airbags to her light bulb repetoire?

September brings us the Florida GOP's important and not-to-miss, Presidency 5. During the three-day event, which starts Sept. 22, thousands of Florida Republicans will hear from the presidenital candidates.  Those same delegates will then vote in a straw poll.

Presidency 5 begins with a debate hosted by FOX News and a simultaneous event hosted by CPAC will feature speechs by the candidates.

Watch carefully. During that weekend Florida's 4 million Republicans will learn what type of party they have become.

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Tea Party says don't blame Tea Party for debt crisis

 
In another Dear Patriots email, the South Florida Tea Party says it "will not be a pawn for Republicans or Democrats."

"We are experiencing an epic level of failure of leadership on all levels and political parties. Fewer than 10 years ago, America was on track to have a budget surplus. Unfortunately, President George W. Bush ran up the deficit by more than $400 million per year, but President Obama managed to spend more than $1 trillion and called it “savings.”

Everett Wilkinson, leader of the South Florida Tea Party, goes on to write:

". . .Now, Washington, D.C., wants to blame the Tea Party for the debt crisis. Senator John McCain even derided us by calling us 'tea party hobbits' in debt ceiling fight. I remember the the famous line from the movie "Josey Wales. "Senator - Don't go pissing down my back and tell me it's raining." I am tired of the excuses. Do your job!" (emphasis is Wilkinson's not Crowley Political Report).

Wilkinson urges Tea Party members to go to DontPissOnMeMcCain.com where one will find several unflattering photos of the Arizona senator who dared to disagree with the Tea Party.

It is one thing for McCain to buck the Tea Party, but can other GOP members of the House and Senate do it without risking loosing their seats next year?

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Art by Chicago artist Brian J. Crowley

Democrats try to make a few bucks off Allen West's tirade

Well that didn't take long. 

Crowley Political Report just received the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's new fundraising appeal using Republican Congressman Allen West's email outburst against DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz yesterday as a reason why folks should quickly send cash.

They are calling it the "emergency rapid response fund."

Emergency? Really?

Here's the DCCC message:

“You are the most vile, unprofessional, and despicable member of the US House of Representatives... you are not a Lady.”
- Republican Congressman Allen West in an e-mail to
Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Last night, Republican Rep. Allen West sent a disgraceful e-mail outburst to one of our most accomplished colleagues in the House, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, telling her to “shut the heck up” for daring to challenge the GOP plan to gut Medicare and Social Security to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.

I wish I could say I was surprised.

Unfortunately, this is exactly the sort of partisan tantrum we're used to from House Republicans as they push our economy to the brink of disaster while pandering to their Tea Party base.

We can't let this shameful display go unanswered.

Contribute $3 or more right now to help us defeat disgraceful Republicans like Allen West in 2012. My Democratic colleagues are so appalled that they’ve agreed to match all gifts today dollar-for-dollar up to our $100,000 goal.

This kind of appalling behavior is all too familiar from Congressman West, who has riled up his extremist right-wing base by attacking progressive women for “neutering American men,” calling supporters of President Obama, “a threat to the gene pool” and writing for a misogynist magazine that denigrated women with words I'd be ashamed to even repeat.

And now that he’s in Congress, West thinks he can attack a respected legislator like Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz with this kind of hate-filled screed.

Allen West has shown us his true colors, now let’s show him ours.

Contribute right now to help throw Allen West and his Tea Party colleagues out in 2012.

Let’s make sure Republicans don’t forget this moment.

Rep. Steve Israel
DCCC Chairman

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Allen West has a temper tantrum

 
One tries to give Florida Congressman Allen West the benefit of the doubt. Surely, you think, the Republican freshman says some outrageous things simply to appease some of his more fervent supporters.

For example, in a message West sent Monday to his supporters, he closed with, "I must confess, when I see anyone with an Obama 2012 bumper sticker, I recognize them as a threat to the gene pool."

Seems a bit harsh but that's politics. And for West, that was fairly mild.

So weren't we surprised when West turned into a threatening bully after Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz made a passing remark about him during the floor debate about the GOP plan called  "cut, cap and balance."

Wasserman Schultz spoke for 2 minutes, 28 seconds. At about 36 seconds she said:

". . .President Obama has vowed to veto this bill which ends the Medicare guarantee and incredulously the gentleman from Florida, who represents thousands of Medicare  beneficiaries as do I, is supportive of this plan that would increase the cost for Medicare beneficiaries. Unbelievable from a member from South Florida."

Those 20 seconds sent West over the edge.

Political newcomer is making race for Allen West's seat interesting

Who in the world is Patrick Murphy?

Surely that has to be a question that Democrat Lois Frankel is asking this week. Murphy is a 28-year old newcomer to Florida politics who is challenging Frankel, a political veteran, for the Democratic nomination in the 22nd congressional district now held by Republican Allen West.

Murphy's campaign tells Crowley Political Report, that the candidate raised $450,000 in the last quarter. Murphy raised $350,ooo during March bringing his total to $800,000. We should note that $30,000 of that total Murphy gave to himself. Still $770,000 from contributers is impressive.

This is not good news for Frankel who has not yet revealed what she raised during the three-month period ending June 30. In March, Frankel raised $254,000 and there is no reason to believe that she did not have a good quarter.

If Frankel had hoped to walk away with the nomination, the former state representative and West Palm Beach mayor may find the road a bit rockier than expected.

Murphy, who was a Republican not long ago, was born in the Keys and lives in Broward County. He is vice president of Coastal Environmental Services. His campaign team includes South Florida Democratic operatives Jeff Garcia and Eric Johnson.

One of the most interesting aspects of this and all congressional seats is that no one knows what the district will look like in 2012. The Florida Legislature will begin seriously redrawing the districts in January with the final lines not completed until late February. And there will be legal challenges that will leave the lines in doubt until mid-summer.

Democrats in Washington must be looking at the West seat with some concern. Enormously popular with GOP conservatives and Tea Party activists, West will have no trouble raising money. Democrats will need to invest heavily to defeat West and a bloody primary is not going to be helpful.

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AUC launches Facebook campaign against Allen West, Dan Webster

Americans United for Change, a liberal activist group, has begun a Facebook ad campaign accusing Florida Republican Congressmen Allen West and Daniel Webster of favoring corporate jets over health care for seniors.

Here is the logic behind their argument - both Republicans voted for the Ryan Budget Plan. That plan does not remove tax breaks for corporate jets and a host of other things. AUC and other groups have focused on the jets and other items largely benefiting the rich to argue that the wealthy are getting tax breaks while everyone else is footing the bill.

The Facebook ad links to AUC pages - one for West and one for Webster - with similar content.

AUC writes that both men, "supported a plan that makes Floridas seniors shoulder more health and prescription drug costs, so CEOs flying corporate jets can have another tax break.

West/Webster, would also kick Florida seniors back into infamous Medicare Part D Rx drug donut hole. A new report out shows the Affordable Care Act has already saved nearly half a million seniors on Medicare $260 million in prescriptions this year. But West/Webster voted to take away that discount and once again leave seniors who fall in the donut hole to choose between food and medicine.

Meanwhile, Their  plan gives more tax cuts for billionaires. It protects billions of dollars in big oil subsidies. He even wants to continue tax breaks for corporations that ship American jobs overseas. But he opposes efforts to save money and strengthen Medicare? Congressman West/Webster needs to get his priorities straight.

Who does he think he represents? Because he isn't acting like he's representing you!

What this really is all about is that this is another sign that Democrats think they have a shot at winning back those two congressional seats.

Ted Deutch uses Rick Scott as a foil to raise money

 
Ted Deutch wants his fellow Democrats to worry that he might be screwed by Florida Gov. Rick Scott.

In an email to potential donors, the South Florida congressman says:

Governor Rick Scott and his allies control the entire process for drawing new congressional districts, and Democrats without strong support will quickly find themselves targets. We cannot let this happen.

This is a decisive moment for my re-election campaign. You have an opportunity to send a loud and clear message to Florida Governor Rick Scott that I have strong, loyal, and generous supporters who will stand with me in my re-election and in the battles we’ll wage together. Now is when I need you.

Well this is certainly an interesting fundraising ploy.  While Scott has no legal role in the reshaping of state legislative districts he does have veto power over congressional redistricting. But does anyone really believe that GOP lawmakers are going to give Deutch a break because he raises a lot of money?

Hardly.

The best thing going for Deutch is that the GOP will probably be happy to give him as many Democrats as they can squeeze into his  Palm Beach/Broward district to help protect Republican districts.

But now that Deutch has targeted Scott and the Republicans - maybe the GOP will try to make Deutch's life miserable.

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Art by West Palm Beach artist Patrick Crowley

Exclusive: Mark Foley talks about tonight's appearance with Sean Hannity

(Note: Mark Foley was a 2010 client for ImMEDIAcy Public Relations Inc. Brian Crowley is a principal of ImMEDIAcy).

Former Republican Florida Congressman Mark Foley will make his first national television appearance, since leaving the House in disgrace in 2006, tonight on the Sean Hannity show.

Hannity will be talking to Foley about Capitol Hill's latest sex scandal involving Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner.

Since leaving office in 2006, Foley has been frequently courted by the national media. One of the most persistent was Oprah Winfrey who was eager to have Foley for her final season. Matt Lauer of NBC's Today show and many others also tried to get Foley on the air.

Hannity, until now, like everyone else had been unsuccessful despite many entreaties to Foley.

Why the reluctance? Foley, who spoke to Crowley Political Report frequently about these encounters, always concluded that it simply was not worth it to him or his family to dredge up the past.

Foley, who has his own radio show, said he will not be calling for Weiner to resign.

"I know what he is going through. I know how he and his family are hurting. I know the humiliation you feel when you end your career by pulling the rug out from under yourself," Foley told Crowley Political Report. "He needs to decide for himself what is the right thing to do."

Allen West gets help from Heritage Action of America

 
Dropping in mailboxes in the congressional district of Florida Republican Allen West is an 8 1/2 inch by 11 inch post card from Heritage Action of America - the political action arm of the Heritage Foundation.

The front of the card shows a man, his head in hand, looking glumly at a pile of papers on the kitchen table. A small baby sits on his lap. "We going broke! Can we stop it?"

On the flip side in large headline type it reads, "Allen West is fixing this mess." Below the headline it reads, "Allen West voted for a bold plan that prevents an economic catastrophe by: saving Medicare, paying down the debt, rejecting tax increases."

Next is this: "Liberals are attacking the plan, claiming it ends Medicare. This is a lie. The plan saves Medicare and gives Americans the same health care options as Members of Congress."

Folks are asked to call West and "thank him for fighting for our families."

Clearly the Heritage Foundation is doing what it can to help West win a second term. Does that mean the GOP is worried about whether West can win. Since he has won one and lost one in that district, Republicans should be worried.

But West is also proving to be formidable. He remains popular with Tea Party conservatives and it is like that Florida's Republican legislature we do its best to create a new district for him that sheds some of those pesky Democrats.

Former West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel and Fort Lauderdale businessman Patrick Murphy have announced campaigns to win the Democratic nomination. 

It should be a helluva race.

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Lois Frankel throws a helluva punch can Allen West take it?

 
Crowley Political Report has been observing Lois Frankel for more than 20 years and one thing is certain - she is one tough campaigner.

In fact, she can be downright mean spirited without much provocation. And often Frankel gets a pass with people rolling their eyes and saying, "oh that's just Lois."

Yesterday, Frankel announced that she is going to run against Republican Florida Congressman Allen West in 2012.  And she is expected - at least at first - to get serious backing from Florida and national Democrats who would dearly like to take back the District 22 seat.

Frankel began her political career in 1986 as a state legislator where she was known in the House as a fiesty, often brittle, liberal Democrat. 

In 1992, a redistricting year, Frankel decided to run for Congress in a seat that had been carved out as a minority-leaning seat.  Much of the black community - eager for their first opportunity to elect an African American congressman from South Florida, bristled at Frankel's entry into the race.

They wondered why she didn't run in another district.

Making matters worse, Frankel started throwing punches at her Democratic primary opponent, Alcee Hastings, a beloved figure in the black community.

Hastings, in carefully orchestrated outburst, retaliated - in front of this reporter at time -  by calling Frankel, "a racist bitch."

Allen West calming down?

Reflecting on Florida's Congressman Allen West's speech before the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches Friday, Crowley Political Report has come to the conclusion that the former Army Lt. Colonel may be calming down a bit.

Now this is in relative sense.

West still tosses red meat to the crowd. He still acts as if the United States is in immediate peril of disappearing from the continent.

But his overall tone was, well, calmer.

And the overflow crowd - most of them - loved him.

So what is the appeal?  Mostly, it appears to be that he really believes what he says and pulls no punches. And people - some whom you would least expect, were eating it up.

West will describe the prison facilities at Guantanamo as a "5 star resort" compared to what prisoners are entitled to receive.

And he notes that not only is he pro-life but he believes abortion is an "epidemic" in the black community.

West, 50, describes himself as a "regular guy"  who can outrun the average college kid in a six mile race.

He calls the Tea Party "one of the greatest things" to happen to America - which seems like a helluva of an assessment coming from a man who prides himself on being a student of American history.

West is still a simmering stew of conflicting emotions...but he did appear a touch calmer.

And, he's able to make his audience laugh, even as he warns that there may be doom ahead.

It is an interesting combination.

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Art by Brian J. Crowley, Chicago based artist, illustrator and graphic designer

Michele Bachmann is in Jupiter today

 
Well of course Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is in South Florida today where the high is going to be 82 degrees.

Back home in Stillwater, Minnesota it is 19 degrees with a high of expected of 37 and low tonight of 1 degree.

Anyone else notice the irony that Bachmann is from a town called Stillwater?  You would expect the third term congresswoman to be from a place called Raging Waters.

The founder of the congressional Tea Party Caucus will be in Jupiter, Florida today to attend a Tea Party event at the Abacoa Golf Club.

The mother of five children is scheduled to speak about "spending and the Constitution," from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Later in the day she is meeting with NewsMax executives. Bachmann also will attend a Club for Growth conference.

Recently she was in South Carolina and Iowa.  Is she running for president or just building a power base to strengthen her hand in Congress?

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Tea Party leader Michele Bachmann is going to Jupiter

 
   No, not the planet.

The humble village of Jupiter, Florida is where Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann  will meet with local Tea Party supporters at the Abacoa Golf Club.

The "dear patriots" email says Bachmann will be here March 4, from 10  to 11:30 a.m.

 According to the invitation, Bachmann, leader of the Tea Party congressional caucus,  will "speak to us about Spending & Constitutional Issues followed by a Q&A."

When Bachmann speaks, she does not go gentle into that good night. 

Allen West at CPAC - my Honda is better than your Harley

Yes, Allen West did talk about the "horrific politics of charater assassination" during his keynote speech closing the Conservative Politcal Action Conference (CPAC) Saturday night - a spot that had been set aside for Sarah Palin until she found something better to do.

And of course the freshman congressman got cheers when he took credit for Keith Olbermann getting fired from MSNBC suggesting the liberal commentator got tossed after calling West "the worst person in the world five or six times."

Maybe Olbermann rides a Harley. More on that later.

The crowd clearly loved West, who defeated Democratic incumbent Ron Klein to win the seat that includes parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties.

West wears as a badge of honor the fact that Politico, Cook Political Report and others are suggesting West  could lose the 2012 election. Democrats are already running radio ads against him.

Mark Foley and forgiveness

Everything is not rosy for former Republican Congressman Mark Foley who was forced to resign in disgrace, but as a story by Brendan Farrington of the Associated Press shows, Foley's hometown has been willing to give him a second chance.

As Farrington found, there are still plenty of folks that strongly object to Foley's conduct but overall his return to a public life has been successful enough that he was recently considered a serious candidate for West Palm Beach mayor.

It's an interesting read that also includes a few comments from Crowley Political Report.  Farrington's story is here.

Democrats begin ads targeting Allen West

 
Well that didn't take long.

Republican Congressman Allen West has been in office less than 30 days and Democrats are already beginning a radio, email and web campaign in their effort to oust him from office in 2012.

The ads are being launched this week by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee which is targeting 19 Republican members of congress including another South Florida freshman - David Rivera.

There is plenty of fodder for Democrats to go after Rivera considering he is under investigation by several Florida agencies questioning his finances. Even the GOP leadership is a bit leery of being too close to Rivera until the investigations are completed.

Meanwhile "I'm a tough guy" West has a long litany of making what can most generously be described as strong statements about our "tyrannical government."

As we like to say here at Crowley Political Report - Elections may come and go but politics never stops.

Art by Patrick Crowley

Frederica Wilson's big issue - her hat

Newly minted Democratic Congresswoman Frederica Wilson told the Miami Herald that she would like to have a chat with incoming Republican Speaker John Boehner about an issue vital to Floridians - whether she can where her hat on the House floor.

Seriously.  She is very concerned about not being about to wear one of her "signature" hats while the House is in session.

Wilson went as far as to tell the Herald that the ban on hats is - are you ready? - "sexist."

Of course it is.

She tells the Herald that "people get excited when they see the hats."

Of course they do.

Wilson, from Miami, told the News Service of Florida that if anyone tries to stop her from wearing her hat -  "there’s going to be a problem.”