Tag Archive for george lemieux

Top Political Quotes from Central Florida in 2012

December 28, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

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

Political Stocks: Who's Up, Who's Down in O-town. Contenders or Pretenders Edition

June 25, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

It’s time for another edition of Political Stocks and we’ve got a set field here in Florida. Gone are the “pretenders” who take up valuable time at meetings and luncheons with phony campaigns. By now you’ve either sweated your tail off collecting petitions or paid the necessary fees to get in the game. Let’s go!

Who’s Up:

Connie Mack IV: How big has the last week been for Mack IV? He rolled out an endorsement from Jeb Bush and he declared the race over by turning down debate requests. This would be crazy if he didn’t have such a large lead in the polls. Barring a historic collapse by the Mack IV team, he’s going to be the nominee. Still, will he be ready for a debate with longtime incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson?

Oh, and yesterday Florida AG Pam Bondi endorsed him.

Bondi endorsed Mack IV this week. Mack also introduced Romney at his Orlando Rally Tuesday.

Stephen Precourt, Scott Boyd, Mike Ertel: Precourt’s primary opponent Matt Falconer failed to file, which put’s him in the General with a Write In candidate as his only opposition. Orange County Commissioner Scott Boyd will keep his seat in District 1. Boyd flexed fundraising muscle early on and scared away any potential rivals. Finally, one of the good guys in Central Florida Politics, Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Mike Ertel was re-elected without opposition. The hardworking SOE enjoys Pro-Wrestling, and cares more about local voters than most of will ever know. Good for Seminole County.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer/Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs: The two trade jabs in the press on a regular basis and have night and day political philosophies but, the two mayors held a public meeting and were able to reach a tentative agreement that will finally get the Citrus Bowl renovated. This is a political rivalry that his healthy for the region.

Holding Steady:

John Mica and Sandy Adams: Their much hyped debate this week didn’t meet expectations and wasn’t the turning point in the campaign that many expected. Onward for these two incumbents in one of the biggest congressional primaries in the country.

Who’s Down:

Grover Norquist: That’s right Mr. Norquist, Jeb Bush dissed your anti-tax pledge in the national media, saying it was outsourcing your principles. You didn’t have a strong reply and called his opinion embarrassing. We’ll see how far insulting the Bush brand will get you on the national scene. There is a growing faction of lawmakers that feel the same way.

Earl K. Wood and Rich Crotty: Their political game of chicken in the Orange County Tax Collector’s race has been called many things. Funny, ridiculous, irresponsible, but the blowback was mostly negative and now it looks like Wood will be re-elected. The 95 year old will collect a healthy six figure salary from the taxpayers and stay home.

Former Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty needs to take up golf or something. His posture in all of this was bizarre.

Connie Mack IV can Win Youth Vote if he Works for it

June 22, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

With his biggest rival former Senator George Lemieux dropping out of the race earlier this week, it appears that Rep. Connie Mack IV is destined for a November showdown with incumbent Senator, Democrat Bill Nelson.

Yesterday, poll numbers gave Nelson a slight lead in their November showdown but Mack IV has closed the double digit gap from a few months earlier.

This means that every vote will count and in what promises to be the first race on the Presidential undercard, both candidates can ill afford to take any voter groups for granted. They’ve got to go after everybody whether they’ve traditionally voted one way or another.

One of those groups are the Youth voters. College kids and early 20-somethings that will typically vote Democrat. They typically vote Democrat if they don’t know who the Republican candidate is or if it’s just another old grouchy conservative.

Mack IV isn’t an old grouch. In fact his cavalier campaigning style often irks party officials and it’s this angle of his candidacy in addition to his youth (age 44) that will give him a shot at earning support from younger voters that can move the needle his way, a couple of points in a close race.

He’s also got ties to Hollywood. Normally, any support from Los Angeles for conservatives is unheard of but Mack IV has been on the red carpet several times and his wife Mary Bono-Mack is a fellow longtime House Rep from the area.

It’s hardly the VMA’s but it’s a lot more to go on than other Republican Senate hopefuls will have going for them and the Youth vote will defect if the right kind of energy is there. In 2010, Marco Rubio won in a landslide over Kendrick Meek, and swiped youth voters because the enthusiasm from Meek wasn’t there and Charlie Crist wasn’t sure what was going on.

And let’s face it. The 70 year old Nelson has little to say or relate to when it comes to younger voters. He’s counting on the “DEM” behind his name on the ballot to do all of the work for him and it could be enough if Mack IV allows it.

It’s going to take some work. And an easy primary has some concerned over whether Mack IV is “phoning it” on the campaign trail. One reporter even called his posture “arrogant” and that won’t beat Nelson.

Still, he’s only trailing Nelson by 4. 4 points that could be made up by rocking the youth vote. It could determine the kind of party he’ll be having at that hotel ballroom on the evening of November 6th.

Mack IV has the swagger and the tone to challenge for the youth vote

Thursday Morning Political Headlines: Mitt Romney in Orlando today for NALEO

June 21, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

Charging to the end of what has been a very busy political week!

Yesterday George Lemieux dropped out of the race for Senate.

Today, GOP Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney will be in town addressing NALEO. You can bet eventual GOP Senate nominee Connie Mack IV will be at his side.

President Obama will be talking to the same group tomorrow.

All of these stories lead off your Thursday morning political headlines.

CF News 13: Double Play!

Romney, Obama push for Latino vote in Orlando

George LeMieux out of Senate race

Study ordered on whether elected tax collector is needed

WESH 2: Mitt Romney to address Latino group in Orlando

Orlando Sentinel: Obama, Romney in Orlando this week to talk to Hispanic leaders

WKMG Local 6: George LeMieux dropping out of Florida’s US Senate race

WFTV 9 Eyewitness News: (Video) Reality Check: Obama’s ‘we’ve heard it all before’ ad

Romney back in Orlando addressing NALEO

George Lemieux Drops Out of Senate Race

June 20, 2012 Uncategorized 3 comments

Former Florida Senator George Lemieux dropped out of the GOP Senate primary this morning. Here is the message he released to supporters.

Good form by Lemieux. When Connie Mack IV jumped into the race he raced up the polls and the field never stood a chance.

Adam Hasner, and Craig Miller immediately checked down to House races (something Lemeiux should consider if he really wants to go back to Washington) and only the former Senator stood to oppose him.

He threw every possible attack at Mack IV. His attendance in Washington, his residency in Florida, even his wild past that had Lemieux calling him the “Charlie Sheen of Politics”.

Nothing stuck, in fact Mack IV lead in the polls only grew. Then the endorsements came. First the establishment. Former candidate and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, and a slew of other state legislators.

Then Tea Party Favorites, like Michele Bachmann and Rand Paul.

Finally the year’s biggest name, Presidential GOP nominee Mitt Romney, who Mack IV campaigned with during his FL primary, threw his support behind his candidacy.

The race was already over when “The Jeb Bomb” dropped almost two weeks ago.

Lemieux will return to the private sector and will still be a factor in state politics moving forward. He can walk away knowing that he gave it all he had and the electorate still spoke clearly.

Throwing his support behind Mack IV was good form, that’s not automatic these days.

Onward to November. Connie Mack faces a great challenge against incumbent Bill Nelson and with the President Obama on the ballot, it’s going to be a bare knuckle brawl of a contest.

Lemieux can walk away knowing he did everything he could

Jeb endorses Mack IV. Time to shut it down?

June 7, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

Today, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush endorsed Connie Mack IV in the GOP Florida Senate prmiary. Mack IV adds the biggest endorsement a Florida Conservative can receive to his two touchdown lead in the polls. Let’s see what former NBA MVP and Dallas Mavericks player Dirk Nowitzki has to say about this.

Well? Is it?

Former Senator George Lemieux has thrown everything he possibly could at Connie Mack. Residence, attendance in Washington, relationship with fellow congressional makers, even Charlie Sheen. Nothing sticks.

He tried courting the Tea Party and had some success but Mack IV countered with endorsements from Michele Bachmann, and Rand Paul, both lawmakers he’s gotten to know while in Washington.

Perhaps the writing was on the wall. Adam Hasner and Craig Miller both down checked to House races as soon as Mack IV jumped in. The South Florida Congressman also picked the winning horse in the GOP Presidential primary, frequently campaigning with Mitt Romney throughout the state.

Jeb doesn’t just hand these things out either. When he’s not ducking questions over VP aspirations, he’s being asked for endorsements in races all over the country.

George Lemieux will want to stay in and he should, anything can happen between now and August. One wonders what Dave Weldon will do. Is his run over before it’s even started.

Still, today belongs to Connie Mack and this endorsement, paired a Q-poll that has him within margin of error with incumbent longtime Senator Bill Nelson, it’s almost time to start thinking about November.

Jeb backs Connie Mack

Jeb endorses Mack IV. Time to shut it down?

June 6, 2012 Uncategorized 2 comments

Today, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush endorsed Connie Mack IV in the GOP Florida Senate prmiary. Mack IV adds the biggest endorsement a Florida Conservative can receive to his two touchdown lead in the polls. Let’s see what former NBA MVP and Dallas Mavericks player Dirk Nowitzki has to say about this.

Well? Is it?

Former Senator George Lemieux has thrown everything he possibly could at Connie Mack. Residence, attendance in Washington, relationship with fellow congressional makers, even Charlie Sheen. Nothing sticks.

He tried courting the Tea Party and had some success but Mack IV countered with endorsements from Michele Bachmann, and Rand Paul, both lawmakers he’s gotten to know while in Washington.

Perhaps the writing was on the wall. Adam Hasner and Craig Miller both down checked to House races as soon as Mack IV jumped in. The South Florida Congressman also picked the winning horse in the GOP Presidential primary, frequently campaigning with Mitt Romney throughout the state.

Jeb doesn’t just hand these things out either. When he’s not ducking questions over VP aspirations, he’s being asked for endorsements in races all over the country.

George Lemieux will want to stay in and he should, anything can happen between now and August. One wonders what Dave Weldon will do. Is his run over before it’s even started.

Still, today belongs to Connie Mack and this endorsement, paired a Q-poll that has him within margin of error with incumbent longtime Senator Bill Nelson, it’s almost time to start thinking about November.

Jeb backs Connie Mack

Political Stocks Who’s up Who’s Down in O-Town: Walking Time Edition

May 21, 2012 Uncategorized One comment

If you’re running for office and your campaign hasn’t been walking then, I hope you’ve got a lot of money laying around because normal campaigns that are watching the balance on those bank accounts should be sending out volunteers to GOTV.

It’s this happy time of the year in which we center this edition of political stocks

Who’s Up:

Paul Ryan: The Wisconsin Congressman and Chairman of the budget committee was showcasing his money smarts and media poise on two networks at the same time Sunday morning. They ran both taped interviews simultaneously and for 15 solid minutes voters got to see Ryan knockdown every question asked and easily dispatch of the anti-Romney rhetoric Economist and former Obama cabinet member Austan Goolsbee used.

If he is still being considered for Vice President, there was no better audition than yesterday morning

Bill Nelson: When Dave Weldon entered the race Friday afternoon it meant two things. George Lemieux’s standing as the alternative to frontrunner Connie Mack IV was in danger and Mack IV was going to have to answer the same questions from two opponents with the former Brevard Congressman now in the race. Mack IV is still the favorite but he’s going to have to spend more money fighting off another challenger.

This works in Bill Nelson’s favor. Already the frontrunner in general election polls, Mack IV’s lighter warchest will benefit him in November.

Chris Christie and Cory Booker*: This video has gotten a lot of positive press and it’s helped both the Newark Mayor and New Jersey Governor.

It’s earned Booker nationwide publicity and it’s reinforced Christie’s intentions that he wants the VP nod.

*Booker is taking a beating over his criticism of Obama’s Bain attack strategy but, he’s right.

Holding Steady:

Dan Webster and Val Demings: Both candidates very quiet in recent week. No serious primary challenges will ensure both campaigns save their energy to roll into their eventual collision.

Who’s Down:

Political Operatives: The two biggest stories over the last week have been the re-emergence of the President’s relationship with Reverend Jerimiah Wright and Mitt Romney’s history with Bain Capital. Both attacks fell flat when used in the past so it has many asking, Why are there organizations trying to roll this failed material out again?

George Lemieux: More Florida Senate GOP primary fallout from Weldon’s late entry. The former Senator has thrown every kind of attack possible at Connie Mack IV and he can’t even Mack’s lead. Now, Weldon in the race, Lemieux could watch his support dwindle even further.

Romney’s fallen foes: Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul all reportedly have significant campaign debt and all have become after thoughts in the political landscape.

Ryan’s poise in the media and economical smarts should keep him in the VP conversation

Dave Weldon enters Florida Senate Race

May 18, 2012 Uncategorized 2 comments

Today, longtime former Brevard Congressman Dave Weldon announced he was entering the race for Florida Senate. He released this video announcing his candidacy.

He’ll enter the GOP primary and face current House Rep and frontrunner Connie Mack IV and former Senator George Lemieux.

He told the media last week that he was considering entering the race and made it official today. He’ll try to leap frog Lemieux and postion himself as the anti-Mack candidate.

He faces some serious challenges. Personnel, fundraising, messaging, they will all be aspects of his campaign operation that will have to get moving in a hurry in order to mount a serious challenge to Connie Mack IV. If he some how wins the primary, he’ll get the party on his side for the general election against long time incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson.

There has been a hunger for another candidate for the last couple of weeks. You might recall CFO Jeff Atwater considering a run before declining. Possibly due to the obstacles Weldon will have to negotiate on a micro-sized timetable.

As for the ad? Well, it’s not very good.

They couldn’t get any footage of Weldon declaring himself? The running theme is bizarre. There is Blatant pandering of the Tea Party halfway through. Same old voice over, same old rhetoric.

It looks like the trailer for a B-spy film and is the strangest ad I’ve seen this year that didn’t involve an older man taking a drag from a cigarette.

A awkward ad on a Friday afternoon is not the best way to announce your candidacy.

Still, this is hardly Weldon’s first rodeo. If the hunger was there for another candidate then there has to be some chance to be competitive. Let’s see where his young campaign goes.

Romney Backs Mack IV, Where Does Lemieux Turn Now?

May 16, 2012 Uncategorized One comment

The Senate race has gotten exciting this week with both George Lemieux and Connie Mack IV campaigns breaking out the political Jiu-Jitsu in efforts to turn the tide in their favor.

Right now the momentum is swinging the younger Mack’s way. In the last 48 hours his unexpected retaliation on the former Senator after months of relentless attacks.

Today, Mack IV rolled out his anticipated endorsement from GOP Presidential nominee Mitt Romney while he was out campaigning on the west coast of the state. Mack endorsed Romney months ago and campaigned with the former Massachusetts governor in the days leading up to Florida’s primary.

This is an impressive streak of endorsements the South Florida Congressman has had over the last few weeks. In addition to establishment Republicans like Romney, and Bill McCullom, Mack also has the support of the two biggest names in the Tea Party, Michele Bachmann and Rand Paul. This is the kind of coalescing Mitt Romney wishes he had over the course of his campaign.

The next question is, where does George Lemieux turn now? What kind of role does he play in this primary moving forward?

It is a two man race. Does he hope that research turns up a game changer that could knock Mack out of the race? He’s already tagged him on his rowdy younger days, disputes within the party, and time spent in state but if Mack establishes a firm rebuttal on the residency claim then there is nowhere else for Lemieux to go.

The only real way for Lemieux to catch Mack is to get him on state-wide television and deliver at least 2 decisive debate victories.

Let’s see if anyone will pick it up, it might be the last card Lemieux has to play.

Romney officially endorsed Cain IV today

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