A few odds and ends to wrap up a week where, we saw a powerful hurricane just miss us. You’ve got to feel bad for guys up in D.C where, there dealing with earthquakes, hurricanes, and worst of all the Washington Redskins which, is kinda like every natural disaster rolled together on artificial turf.
Let’s get started…
Michele Bachmann rolls through town:Tea Party leader and top tier Prez Hopeful, Michele Bachmann will be in Orlando this weekend. She’ll be in Poinciana tomorrow morning, then hit a fundraising dinner here in Orlando, later this evening.
The timing couldn’t be any better. She’s been slipping in the polls and in results released earlier this week, she placed 4th behind Perry, Romney and Ron Paul (seriously guys?). She’s got to get the crowd warmed up for the Presidency V Debate next month.
Bachmann who was subject to this controversial magazine cover will be in Orlando this weekend.
Obama Supporters Open Office on Colonial: Last night, Democrats from all over Florida gathered to open Organize for America’s Orlando office. President Obama will try to replicate his grassroots success from 2008 amidst declining approval numbers and an uncertain economy.
You can make an argument that Florida, the country’s biggest swing state will be won or loss, right here in Orlando. So, regardless of which side you’re on, you need to get off the couch.
After the office opened, DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz spoke to the local media and gave several interviews on television. This of course led to the obligatory Windex run to the Publix to cleanse my television after each of her appearances.
Wasserman-Schultz was on hand to open Organize for America's Orlando Office
Bachmann and Wasserman-Schultz on the same post? Oh, but there’s more..
Craig Miller’s Ruth Chris Stimulus:
After Hurricane Katrina wiped out the Ruth Chris Steakhouse operation in Louisiana, Miller (the CEO during that time) gave 230 employees $1000 dollars each. He’s touting this on the campaign trail and to the media over the last few months. Call it generous, call it a handout, call it whatever you like, my concern is Mr Miller’s history of spending for growth, a key talking point from the Democratic majority in the Senate.
Isn’t it kind of hypocritical to tout spending during a crisis, then spin around and attack a President’s policies who’s resemble your very own.
Not convinced? Check out this “Mostly False” Politifact article about Miller’s Job Creation Numbers.
In the article Politifact’s, expert points out that aggressive, miscalculated growth, following Katrina ultimately led to falling stock prices and his dimissal in 2008.
Look at the company’s performance on Craig’s watch.
The company's value dropped by over 50% from 05 to 08
It was very nice of Mr. Miller to pay his employees during a crisis. Heck, don’t we all wish we had bosses that nice? But, compare Miller’s business background and President Obama’s policies in office.
They both try to spend there way out of a problem and aren’t sure what to do afterwards.
Unbelievably poor comparison to compare a business spending it’s hard earned capitol to assist employees facing a once in a lifetime crisis to Obama spending borrowed money from China that our children and grandchildren will spend most of their lives repaying – spending that is primarily designed to prop up an entitlement society that has no sense of self reliance and personal responsibility. Seems we have a motive at play here…
PS – Politifact is no friend of the right.
Hi Tom,
The company went public in 05′ and therefore has an obligation to protect it’s stockholders. Just like a government needs to protect it’s tax payers. The Ruth Chris Stimulus gave almost a quarter of a million dollars to it’s employees when they lost their homes (I said in the article that’s fine, I would have done the same) but it kicked off a period of crooked growth that caused the company to take losses.
You can’t run for the Senate on a business record when, the decisions you’ve made aren’t in line with the party’s philosophies.
My motive? Regular readers of this blog know I give Craig Miller a hard time on a regular basis but, at this point I don’t believe Craig Miller is Florida’s best chance to beat Bill Nelson. For what it’s worth he’s still better versed than Mike McCalister.
Both parties use Politifact’s investigations when developing their messages. As long as that’s happening there still credible.
Forget Miller, you’re a Cowboys fan? You should have appreciated my Redskins analogy!
What effected Ruth’s Chris was an economy that began to struggle. The ‘high end’ luxury of a $30 steak was something that could be done without and such luxuries are the first to be eliminated when tightening the belt. A companies greatest asset is it’s people and the steps taken to assist these employees facing an unprecedented disaster shows that Craig Miller understands this.
As for Miller not being the best chance to beat Bill Nelson, generic polling indicates that a non-politician with extensive business experience is the type of candidate best suited to defeat Bill Nelson. Regarding name recognition, Craig is more than competitive with the other candidates here. Ultimately, he’ll have to demonstrate the ability to raise significant money and if he comes up short, then he will struggle.
For me personally, if I have a viable choice over career politicians that employ thier well practiced skills to reinvent themselves each election cycle, politicians that will do little, if anything to bring about real change to the political process, then I’ll take that option every time – Craig Miller is that viable choice in this race. The real challenge is whether or not some ‘big name’ politician steps into this race – a name being tossed around a lot is Vern Buchanan. And I struggle mightily to understand how the continuation of the status quo is helpful in turning this country in a direction desperately needed. Did we not learn anything from the recent budget/debt ceiling talks in DC?
- I’ve never had a $30 dollar steak, I’m more of an $9.99 Outback special carnivore.
- You’ve got to identify a trend in multiple polls to really have faith in them. Ask Bill McCullom.
- I saw Buchanan’s numbers too. I would like specifics on how that poll was conducted.
- If Miller is your guy then back him up. I see a lot of familiar faces wearing his stickers.
[...] Bachmann rolls through town:Tea Party leader and top tier Prez Hopeful, Michele Bachmann will be in Orlando [...]
BTW, here are few more numbers from Craig MIller’s time at Ruth’s Chris that you might want to be aware of
Revenue
Base Year 2003 $167,780,000
Miller’s First Year 2004 $192,197,000 +14.6%
2005 $211,830,000 +26.3%
2006 $271,479,000 +28.2%
2007 $319,171,000 +17.6%
(Four Year Increase +90.23% – Craig Named Restaurateur of the Year)
Net Income
Base Year 2003 $1,248,000
Miller’s First Year 2004 $2,442,000 +95.7%
2005 $7,180,000 +194.0%
2006 $23,790,000 +231.3%
2007 $18,146,000 -23.7%
(Profits dropped due to economic slowdown all restaurants and companies start to feel downturn)
Four Year Increase in Net Income + 1354%
Those profits are because he bought additional restaurant chains like Mitchell’s Fish Market and added them to Ruth Chris’s bottom line! lol
It’s a Surf and Turf Quantitative Easing!
Those reports are from Miller himself and his financials like his job numbers aren’t always right on.
I can’t buy a lemonade stand and take credit for every dollar it’s ever made.
They have a term for that in the business community – it’s called ‘growth’.
A timely article from RedState -
PolitiFact Proves Yet Again It Is a Left Wing Attack Machine With Nonpartisan Veneer
http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/08/26/politifact-proves-yet-again-it-is-a-left-wing-attack-machine-with-nonpartisan-veneer/
Nice Article!
but, it doesn’t change a thing…
As long as they’re producing negative investigations against candidates from both parties you’ll see their logo on mailers everywhere next year.