Tag Archive for chris christie

How Rick Scott swiped Hertz Rental Car Jobs from Chris Christie

Governors compete. Oh yes, they do.

They watch job numbers…, jobs created, jobs lost, companies coming, companies going.

Florida Governor Rick Scott is at the center of it all. Traveling around the country, talking to business owners, and trying to convince them that the Florida Sunshine will do wonders for growing their profits.

And jobs for him.

You’ve probably head that Hertz Rental car, after acquiring Dollar Thrifty will be moving it’s corporate Headquarters from Park Ridge, New Jersey to beautiful Estero, Florida. It’s 550 to 700 jobs depending on who you ask. The main workforce will remain in “Garden State” but the “Shotcallers” are coming here.

In your best Elliot Gould “Oceans Eleven” voice, say to yourself “But those are Chris Christie’s jobs”.

That is correct, those jobs should have belonged to the big man, and one aspect that’s always missed when these decisions are announced are who actually lost or missed out on jobs, like the ones heading to Florida.

Check out this story HERE from a New Jersey news site that explains why Hertz didn’t stay in their original home.

They didn’t even reach out to Jersey’s state Government, the article states. It was a done deal before Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno (remember when we had one of those?) even had a chance to speak to them. She says “if they haven’t sat down with the state of New Jersey and listened to us and what our pitch is, then they are leaving anywhere from 40 to 70 million dollars on the table,”

40 to 70 million? So, 55 millon..in “incentives”? Psshhh, Scott is going to spend twice that trying to get re-elected next year.

Listen, we’ve got lower taxes here in Florida, because of tourism, we’re the rental car capital of the world, and our cost of living is lower down here. It’s just a more fertile environment to grow a business.

Governor Christie couldn’t compete with that, and no one (not even Texas really) should be able to.

With Verizon, the WWE, and now Hertz, plus a successful legislative session, Governor Rick Scott finds himself on a winning streak.

It’s Working? Well, it’s still debatable, but Scott won the day and this round against one of his most popular rivals.

In the battle for jobs, Rick Scott took this round over his popular rival

In the battle for jobs, Rick Scott took this round over his popular rival

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2016 Preview? Rubio, Clinton Fence during Benghazi Hearings

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton gave her long awaited testimony of the attack on the Benghazi compound that took the lives of 4 Americans including Ambassador Chris Stevens in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.

The hearing was long, contentious, and at times emotional. The Secretary of State was receiving praise for her service one minute and addressing accusations of incompetence the next. Clinton will not stay on as Secretary of State for President Obama’s second term. Senator John Kerry is expected to take over after he is confirmed.

What had many Politicos talking and what should be a point of interest for Floridians was the brief exchange between Clinton and Florida Senator Marco Rubio. They engaged each other during questioning yesterday.

Both are 2016 Presidential favorites for their respective parties. Was this a preview of things to come? If it was, it’s reason for excitement. Both potential Presidential hopefuls are top flight speakers under pressure and Rubio’s involvement puts Florida in the national spotlight once again.

The Senator echoed his colleagues by thanking Clinton for her service and wishing her well then, he led off with questioning over the matters discussed during meetings regarding the security conditions abroad and asked for details over solutions discussed. Increased security at locations came up, Clinton replied that domestic forces had the willingness to help but not the capacity. Rubio asked for more details which Clinton didn’t have and in a tense closing, the Secretary of State promised to send the details to Rubio later.

Neither flinched. Rubio could have been more aggressive like his edgier colleagues such as Rand Paul and Ron Johnson from Wisconsin but it would have done more damage than good and made it look like he was just out to “get” Clinton.

This is the Presidential match-up you want to see but, the road to making it a reality isn’t an easy one.

There is the matter of Hilary Clinton’s health which has hospitalized her over the previous weeks. First was the fall she took when she passed out due to dehydration and then there was the blood clot which delayed this testimony several weeks. She would be in her late 60′s if she wanted to run for President again.

Rubio’s path isn’t an easy one either. The GOP’s deep bench of possible candidates to run in 2016 is long. The “deep bench” includes Rubio, New Jersey Guv Chris Christe, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnel, New Mexico Governor Susanna Martinez, and Wisconsin Rep. and Romney runningmate Paul Ryan.

So, a Clinton/Rubio showdown isn’t inevitable but if yesterday’s brief back and forth was an indication of “what could be” it should get both parties excited.

Was yesterday a preview of what we'll see in 2016

Was yesterday a preview of what we’ll see in 2016

Top Political Quotes from Central Florida in 2012

It’s time for the best Political Quotes from Florida Politics over the last year. It’s been a busy year with a lot of zingers. With so much at stake and with Presidential politics spilling over into the smaller races, you get a lot of that influence.

You can just shut up..- Todd Long to Alan Grayson during the Tiger Bay Congressional Debate

“I will destroy you”- John Mica (allegedly) before his primary to fellow Rep. Sandy Adams

“I believe that we’re operating under a case of mistaken identity that the fourth is the first”- Former Senator George Lemieux attacking Connie Mack the IV after he entered the GOP Senate Primary

“I’m not signing any pledge. That’s a gimmick of my opponents but, I plan to serve four years.”- Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer during his re-election campaign.

“John Mica is a personification of all that is wrong in Washington“- Congresswoman Sandy Adams referring to her fellow House Rep. during their grueling primary.

“You didn’t build that” – President Barack Obama. Yeah, I know, I know, you can interpret it any way you like but this was Obama’s “47%” moment

“If you use their playbook to get elected, when you get there, your number 1 agenda from day 1 is getting reelected.” Congressman Daniel Webster

“The people of Florida hear you saying one thing to them and then voting with Barack Obama” Connie Mack in his lone debate with Senator Bill Nelson.

“Is that the only line you memorized?“- Bill Nelson, 10 seconds later in that same debate.

3, 4, 5 years from now, if I do a good job as Vice-President.. I’m sorry.“- Florida Senator Marco Rubio

“I’m your best cheerleader”- Congressman John Mica to President Barack Obama on the house floor. Shown in an attack ad by Sandy Adams.

Please disregard previous healthcare statement.“- Florida CFO Jeff Atwater after releasing an email congratulating the Supreme Court for striking down the President’s Healthcare plan (Obamacare). They held up the plan in a historic ruling.

“He made money off of Casey Anthony”- Former State Attorney Lawson Lamar during his debate with Prosecutor Jeff Ashton.

“Look, I hope it’s not a deal maker but my playlist starts with AC/DC and ends with Zepplin” From the RNC in Tampa. GOP VP nominee Paul Ryan

“Here’s looking at Christie/Rubio 2016!”- Frank Torres minutes after President Barack Obama won re-election

“Who the heck is Frank Torres?”- Anonymous Political Operative. I ask myself that question every morning and then I work harder.

Till next time!

These two will be producing memorable quotes for years to come

These two will be producing memorable quotes for years to come

WIR: GOP Reset, Fiscal Cliff, Texting in the OC

Here is your “Week In Review” for this week. Have a great finish to your weekend!

Transcript:

Florida Politics with Frank Torres and here we are your Week in Review, your last week in review as we approach the holidays, Thanksgiving just a few days away. If you don’t tune in again, I wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving. Here we are the week after the elections, the dust is still settling some races were still being decided in recounts this week, we’ll go over those in a moment. But the big story of the week is the GOP’s response to the elections, I had the privilege of speaking to a group of Republicans in Daytona Beach this weekend and I was asked several times about the future of the party, the culture of the party, would we be better off sticking to fiscal issues, the principles around small government and things along those lines, and letting the social issues pass, moving forward and those sentiments have been echoed, not only by that group moving forward, but also lawmakers throughout the country, is it better to worry about the fiscal issues, and let everyone know there welcomed with their ideologies, that has been the main tone, a lot of people are calling it the Republican “soul search” following the elections, you’ll recall on a conference call to donors following the election, saying the reason President Barack Obama was elected was because of the gifts his coalition recieved during his term, various Obama programs and economic policies, Republicans pushing back on those comments a little bit, Republicans like Marco Rubio, Bobby Jindal, Chris Christie, all of those popular Republicans who could be running in a few years pushing back on that sentiment, sort of moving away from Romney, now that the election is over.

Big issues on the horizon, is the “fiscal cliff”, sequestration, those automatic cuts that will take place at the end of this year, if congress cannot reach a resolution, of course those cuts were enacted by the debt Super Committee, which would trigger massive cuts across the board, massive cuts to defense and other government programs, so we’ve actually got another cutdown as the year ends, I’m confident they’ll find a solution, an unusual amount of optimism coming from Washington, so they’ll get it done.

Another story is sort of the jockeying for 2016, among Republican Superstars like Marco Rubio, who was in Iowa last night, speaking to a groups there, Iowa is where it all begins in 2016. Was he posturing himself for something? Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal on the Sunday talkers, like he was already running for something, even though we’ve got another mid-term until then, a lot of interesting developments there.

Here at home, at the county level, we’ve got resolutions to resolve the text message controversy, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. The county commission needs to do itself a favor and put the devices away during county commission meetings, don’t let the groups behind the Orange County Sick Time Initiative, don’t give them any leverage because this is about flipping seats, this isn’t about texting, this is about making county races partisan and flipping seats, changing the Republican majority on the commission. Everybody knows this, thats whats this is really about, it’s not about policy or electronic communication, this is political strategy, gamesmanship, turning red seats blue, nothing more don’t let anyone tell you different, so on that front, leave the phones in the office, you should be listening to the constituents anyways.

In the recounts, Florida State House 29, Mike Clelland beat future Florida House Speaker Chris Dorworth but he will be replaced by Steve Crisafull, the Merritt Island lawmaker, Pete Clarke defeated Lui Damiani and incredible finish to that underdog story. He will be district 3′s first elected commissioner in over 2 years.

So, as we head towards Thanksgiving the ashes are still settling. You’ll see the victors taking there victory laps, sorta wading into political waters. several of them were on local tv this morning, letting them know what there goals are going to be. You’ll see more of these issues. That’s were we stand. We’ll keep an eye on things. For Florida Politics with Frank Torres, I’ll see you next time.

Is Bobby Jindal already thinking about 2016?

Week in Review: Early voting ends, Hurricane Sandy, Detestable Anti Castor-Dentel Mailer

It is your week in review. The final one before Tuesday’s election. We’ve got the effects of Hurricane Sandy on the election, early voting has finished, and a nasty ad mailer gets to voters. Here we go!

Florida Politics with Frank Torres and here we are just 48 hours out from the election. This is your last week in review, before Tuesday night, and man it has been an exciting ride, we’ve got a lot to cover, let’s get to it, unfortunately, the week started with Hurricane Sandy slamming into the northeast, my thoughts go out to all of those effected by the storm, it certainly had an effect on the Presidential campaigns, both campaigns stopping for a couple of days out of respect for those that were effected by that terrible disaster, the hot topic seems to be, how did it effect the Presidential campaigns? Did it slow Mitt Romney’s momentum heading into this week. He was closing the polls in some of the swing states, he is actually up in Florida 1 to 5 points, depending on what polls you look at, he has to win Florida, the math does not work without us. President Obama was up north surveying the disaster, did this paint Obama, did this frame Obama, as a leader America can turn to during a disaster, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie throwing some high praise at the President over how he’s handled that disaster, so that is the big question, will this have overall effects on the outcome.

Moving into some of our other races, Florida Congressional District 10. Congressman Dan Webster against former Orlando Police Chief Val Demings, the Bloomberg money bomb, New York Mayor Mike Blooberg donated 1.1 million dollars to after Dan Webster, no doubt that is a lot of money to air ads, Webster is up in polling by a few points but withing the margin of error, over Val Demings in that district, it is going to be a very close finish, an external factor effecting Florida Congressional Dsitrict 10.

Florida Congressional district 9 Todd Long vs. Alan Grayson, you know I got no love for Alan Grayson, his thing this week is that he’s had this race locked up for weeks, a very cocky, a very confident, a very arrogant, stance at looking at the race, the layout does favor him, leans Democrat, a heavy Hispanic population, so we’ll see how that works out. Todd Long is a good candidate, I urge you to take a look at him. Especially, in a partisan gridlock environment that we have in Washington right now. I’m not certain Alan Grayson is the answer.

Moving on to some of the other state House races. Florida District 30 Scott Plakon vs. Karen Castor Dentel, a very, very ugly turn of events heading into this weekend, with a mailer hitting mailboxes, linking Castor Dentel to convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky from Penn State. Jerry Sandusky the disgraced coach from Penn State. A convicted child molester on a mailer hitting mailboxes, indefensible was the word that Scott Plakon used, everybody has disavowed this thing. A terrible, terrible, mailer, I think it’s disgusting and a very sad statement on politics in Florida when you would try to make that connection, to the voters, so close to election day. that race is going to be very close, that is a team battle, Republicans want to help Plakon secure that seat, Democrats see it as a stepping stone to perhaps bigger things in Tallahassee. We’ll see how it all plays out.

Florida State House 49. Marco Pena vs. Joe Saunders, in a race that has received the title of the most important state house race in Florida. The battle for UCF, what a great region to represent in Tallhassee. I can certainly see where that billing comes from. Events in that race, Marco Pena rolling out an endorsement from Roberto Clemente Jr. that got decent pop in the media this week, we’re going to see where that race goes on Tuesday, once again both candidates are getting support from both of the parties, everybody is getting involved.

Florida State House District 47, Linda Stewart against Dr. Bob Brooks, there have been these rumors of poll numbers, giving Stewart a double digit edge, in this race in what is suppose to be a Republican leaning district, we’ll see how this works out but I haven’t seen the polling, any formal polling, it could be a very clever tactic, it’s certainly pushing the buzz, pushing the race in the direction of Linda, Stewart, it’s all about controlling the message, and controlling the conversation as far as the race goes, we’ll keep a close eye on that one.

Also, the big radio push this week. Comes in the Orange County Tax Collector’s race, Jim Huckeba trying to notify the voters, they are not voting for the late Earl K. Wood, tragically Earl K. Wood passed away late last month, Scott Randolph will be taking his place on the ballot, Jim Huckeba trying to get that message out that a vote for Earl K. Wood, is not a vote for Earl K. Wood. Huckeba hopes to merge the Tax Collector’s office with the County Comptroller’s office, should he be elected, in a move that would save tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars, so an interesting turn of events in that race, these substitute candidates are all over the place. The Florida state House race between Eileen Game and Mike Lerosa, who took Mike Horner’s spot, so these substitute candidates really throw the voters off, We’ll see what the effects of those are on Tuesday.

But, here we are 48 hours away, we’ve got last minute stops by both campaigns, we’ve Paul Ryan tonight in Panama City, tomorrow the man himself Mitt Romney will be in Sanford, for a last minute drop in with Central Florida voters as the rest of the voters head to the polls on Tuesday, Michelle Obama will also be in town stumping for voters, so both campaigns heading into election night, the controversy over early voting, how much time should voters have to early vote has been a big topic, regardless of the outcome on Tuesday expect this one to come up again, there was a last minute extension granted from 1 to 5, you can go to certain precincts in the county to vote. Make sure to check before you head out. So, two days are left, we’re in the air, I know everyone we’ll be glued to their tv’s on Tuesday night to see how these races are played out. I’m Frank Torres and I’ll see you next time.

Por Que Mitt Romney va perder Florida

*** Leer la version original aqui****

El mes de septiembre no fue bien por Mitt Romney

Estabas los cosas decir de libya, que tenia gente pensando que Romney hablo muy rapido de los peligrosos que nosotros trabajan alla. Entonces estabas el record de los 47% en un parte aqui en Florida cuando el dijo que los gentes de estas nacion no va votar para el por que ellos creer que comida y casas es un justicia que ellos merecer. Y tambien hay no gana para el de el media conservador.

El estas perdedendo en Ohio, Michigan y ahor a qui en Florida. Y ahora viene los debattes el proximo semana.

Peor es que el estas perdendo aqui en Florida. Nadie ha visto Romney aqui en Orlando en mas que un mes.

Por que? En Florida, hay mas gente buscando trabaja mas que otros estado. El programma de el NASA shuttle program se ha ido. Gasolina estas caro. Como poder hace?

Obama levanto el gente que quiere a el: todo mundo esta mirando ahora. Con Obama, Michelle, Clinton, y biden visitando cada semanas los votantes por Obama estas despierto.

Ello no confiar Romney: El record de lost 47% trae de nuevo el problem de confiar que Romney tiene.

“el no sabe como nosotros viven”

Eso es que gente piensa. Eso es que gente piensa. todavia no hay un mensaje para los votantes hispanico. Si no poder decir en ingles, como le va decir lo en espanol?

El no esta usando Paul Ryan como el puede :P ero es importante que te decir que paul ryan fue en Orlando el semana pasar. Todavia Ryan es un comunicador muy inteligente. El puede hablar de el economico problemas mejor de Romney.

El es dificil para gustar: Republicanos fue con Romney por que ellos penso que el tenia el mejor oportunidad para ganar, no por que ellos gusto el mejor que los otros. El no mirar deportes, no beber cerveza, y no mirar television. si, yo creo que esto no es importante para guiar la pais pero gente quiere saber que el presidente es un persona quien puede relatar.

Hay un razon que Republicanos quiera Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, y quedo con Rick Santorum para tanto tiempo. Es por que ellos tenia el pasion para los duro tiempo que gentes tener ahora y podia hablar con pasion y cambiar los opinones de los gente y poner lo rabajar para el vision de un mejor futuro para esto pais.

Yo no soy seguro que Romney poder hacer eso.

Romney is losing in multiple swing states because he can’t inspire, articulate, or earn trust

“Wake me up when September ends” Why Mitt Romney is losing Florida

September hasn’t been kind to the Romney campaign.

There were the ill received remarks on Libya, that had some thinking that he pounced to soon on the poor security conditions overseas. There was the dreaded 47% tape of Romney addressing donors, at a fundraiser just down the road in southern Florida. Then there is the enthusiasm gap in the conservative media. Columnist like Peggy Noonan from the Wall Street Journal and Laura Ingram on national radio voicing concerns over the direction of the campaign.

He’s getting his tail handed to him in political battlefields like Ohio and Michigan (where he was born). In states where he was only a few points back in previous months, President Obama has opened up a significant lead heading into the debates next month.

Worst of all, Romney’s grip is slipping here in Florida. No one has seen him in Orlando in a long while.

Why is Mitt losing Florida? A state where unemployment is higher than the national average. A state that has a healthy Tea Party, in pockets throughout the state. The Sunshine State, where the space shuttle program is gone and gas prices are high.

Here is why.

The President woke up his base: Everyone is paying attention now. Weekly visits from the presidential rotation that includes POTUS, FLOTUS, Biden, and even Bill Clinton have most of the President’s 2008 supporters awake and refreshed. The celebrities are off the bench with Eva Longoria, Kerry Washington, and even NBA Coach Doc Rivers getting on the stump for the Obama campaign. Wait until the robo-calls start if they haven’t already.

They don’t trust him: One of the demons Romney has been fighting since he was debating last year in the primary was the issue of trust. That 47% tape confirmed the suspicions of skeptical swing voters.

“He doesn’t know us”

Then there are the Hispanic voters that haven’t had a strong GOP message delivered to them. If the Romney campaign can’t package a strong message in English, what the heck makes them believe they can do it in Spanish?

He’s not using Ryan, and Ryan does Romney better than Romney anyways
: Take a look

In all fairness Paul Ryan was in Orlando last week but, the Romney campaign hasn’t been using him the way they should. I understand they don’t want another “Palin” situation that allows the spotlight to veer away from Romney, but Ryan is a sharp guy, a midwestern communicator that can breakdown the economy in a digestible manner for everyday people. They need to use him more and they need to put him in some ads.

He’s hard to like: Yeah, I know about the “Who would you rather have a beer with?” non-sense but, Mitt Romney won the primary because voters believed he gave them the best opportunity to beat President Obama, not because he was necessarily the most popular.

Now we’ve found out that his “human” side hasn’t been hidden but, perhaps has never existed at all. It’s just not the way he’s wired.

This guy isn’t a big sports fan, doesn’t watch television, or drink beer. While, many don’t believe that’s a job requirement to lead the country (I’m one of them) it still matters to the Americans that want to know their leader can get fired up and passionate about the country. They want a President that they can not only follow but, love and if Romney can’t convince the voters that he cares about them, then they’re not going to care about him.

There was a reason Republicans begged Chris Christie and Jeb Bush to run, and why they clung on to Rick Santorum for so long. They had the ability to use their passion to inspire, and inspired supporters are the ones who will walk neighborhoods until their feet are sore, their skin is sunburned, and their bodies are dehydrated. Inspired supporters will take that energy and use it to convince the undecided, because they’ve got the emotion and they’ve got the conviction to sell the candidate’s vision.

I’m not sure Romney can do that.

Romney is losing in multiple swing states because he can’t inspire, articulate, or earn trust

Monday Morning Political Headlines: Clinton in Orlando, Ann Romney out west, on Wednesday

The President’s visit to Florida this weekend kept the news organizations in Orlando busy this weekend and the Obama campaigns rotation through the biggest political battleground in the country shows no signs of slowing down.

Former President Bill Clinton will be in Orlando on Wednesday. We told you about that appearance yesterday.

Then we heard that Mitt Romney would be down the road visiting Hillsborough county that same day, later we found out that it was Ann, not Mitt that would be meeting with voters out west on Wednesday.

Anyways, you might have seen the viral photo of the Pizza Shop owner lifting up President Obama during one of his surprise visits to small businesses, he often makes when visiting. It inspired me, and I’ve decided I’m going to “powerlift hug” New Jersey Governor Chris Christie next time he’s in town.

WESH 2: (Video) Obama talks NASA in Brevard County

WKMG Local 6: President Obama campaigns in Kissimmee

WFTV 9 Eyewitness News: President Obama speaks in Melbourne

CF News 13: Tickets available for former Pres. Clinton’s Orlando stop

WOFL Fox 35: Bill Clinton set to campaign in Florida for Obama

Orlando Sentinel: Obama talks Medicare in Space Coast appearance

Great photo but I’m going to do that to Chris Christie

POLL: RNC bounce gives Romney lead in Ohio

In a poll provided to us by our friends at Gravis Marketing, the Republican National Convention held last week in Tampa has given Mitt Romney a valuable bounce in another important swing state in the country.

According to a survey taken with about 1400 voters earlier this week, the presidential race in the Buckeye state has shifted from a one point Obama lead to a 3 point Romney lead, demonstrating that excitement from the conventions, and emotional speeches on primetime tv can still provide that small (and often temporary) bounce.

The RNC featured top flight speeches by Ann Romney, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, and of course the GOP ticket of Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. The convention had to stare down Tropical Storm Issac and was even shortened to from 4 days to 3 to accommodate safe travel of delegates and lawmakers.

The Democratic National Convention kicked off last night in Charlotte, North Carolina as those in attendance got to see First Lady Michelle Obama make a case for re-election of her husband, as well as rising star and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro flex his public speaking muscle in front of a nationwide television audience for the first time. The convention continues tonight with former President Bill Clinton.

President Obama can also expect a small bump in the polls next week as well. With the current trend being seen around the country, it will probably put the race back within one point, one way or the other. For now, RNC organizers can enjoy the lead they’ve given their candidate in one of the most important swing states in the country.

Romney’s speech at the RNC last week has given him a small lead in the Buckeye state this week

RNC Review Part II: Ryan, Rice and Martinez energize GOP audience in Tampa.

If you didn’t know who Paul Ryan was before Wednesday night, you were in for an intense introduction.

The Vice-Presidential nominee and Wisconsin Congressman gave a rousing speech in front of an energized crowd last night in Tampa, by unleashing a calculated flurry of attacks at President Obama’s record. From the current economic crisis, to the lack of bi-partisanship, to the overall ability to lead, nothing was off of the table for Ryan.

“Without a change in leadership, why would the next four years be any different from the last four years?” Ryan said and just like he’s done many times before on capitol hill, he moved effortlessly from talking point to talking point. Medicare, Solyndra, the stimulus and as usual his delivery was first class.

He wasn’t on the attack all of the time. He joked about his taste of music compared to Mitt Romney’s (Rock to elevator music) and told the touching story of his single mother creating her business from nothing.

It was a good night for Paul Ryan and he accomplished what he had to do.

But, like Chris Christie, the featured speaker from the night before, he wasn’t the best of the night. That honor went to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who, delivered one of the best speeches of the convention by not going negative once. She spoke about the issues, and flexed her foreign policy smarts, then she switched gears and spoke about her childhood growing up in segregated Alabama, and her journey to Washington, there wasn’t an uninspired soul in the building.

Regardless of what happens in November, you’ll hear from Condoleezza rice again.

There was also the Governor of New Mexico Susana Martinez, who’s been criticized many times on this blog but, did a fine job driving the audience to the Paul Ryan speech on prime time national television. She didn’t change my mind on her Veep Potential but, a great night for her.

This next part hurts.

Who did Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi tick off, to get that weak placement with the Georgia AG. In a cramped speech with a partner that drew comparisons to Barney Rubble on Twitter, Bondi and Rubble trudged through an clumsy attack speech that should have been burned, reformed in a laboratory, and then burned again. My heart goes out to one of the rising political stars of Florida who, I’ve witnessed do better a dozen times. Here’s hoping better opportunities come forward for her.

Tonight, the RNC will close with Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, and Mitt Romney. It’s going to be the platform the party jumps off, that will try to propel them to victory in November.

Ryan checked all of the boxes last night and still inspired the GOP faithful in Tampa