Klein
Don’t expect any
YouTubed confrontations when U.S. Rep.
Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, hosts a town hall meeting later this month to discuss the 1,018-page House Democratic health care bill.
Klein is planning a “telephone town hall” that he says will reach far more constituents than an in-the-flesh event.
West
Republican challenger
Allen West says Klein’s a chicken.
“The unwillingness to stand in front of your constituents can only be called cowardice,” said West.
Klein dismissed West’s claim. He said the teleconference has been planned for weeks and was not a reaction to the recent transformation of town hall events from soporific C-SPAN affairs to shout-fests that go viral on the Internet.
“I’ve been out there a long time and reach out probably as much as anyone. I’m very comfortable with my record of reaching out to people,” said Klein.
His June town hall on health care drew about 75 people to Boca Raton Community Hospital. By comparison, Klein’s recent teleconference on homeowner insurance had 2,603 participants.
***
Craft
Democratic St. Lucie County Commissioner
Chris Craft planned a Thursday launch for his challenge against freshman U.S. Rep.
Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta. But when his announcement surfaced briefly on his old campaign Web site Wednesday, the National Republican Congressional Committee pounced, with spokesman
Andy Sere labeling Craft a “job-killing army of one” before Craft himself went public. Consider it a sign the GOP is serious about protecting Rooney.
***
McCarty: Would '98 loss have kept her out of jail?
A vote this month by Volusia County’s Republican Executive Committee to censure Gov.
Charlie Crist for partisan transgressions was pushed by former Boca Raton resident
Sally Gillies. Back in 1998, as
Sally Stewart, she tried and failed to unseat Palm Beach County Commissioner
Mary McCarty in a GOP primary. McCarty is now in federal prison serving a corruption sentence.
Does Gillies ever wonder what might have happened if she had defeated McCarty?
“If I had been elected,” Gillies said, “I would not be in jail.”
Nor, perhaps, would McCarty.
***
Siegel: The rugelach stops here
Thursday night’s Palm Beach County Democratic Party powwow featured store-bought cookies rather than the $100 worth of hand-made rugelach pastries the party had been buying from the wife of Dem Chairman
Mark Alan Siegel. After the rugelach expense was noted in a recent Politics column, Siegel said, “everybody takes it as a criticism. So we bought cookies from Costco.”
***
Laxer
, aide to Boca Raton Democratic state Sen.
Ted Deutch, has drawn much mention as a candidate for the open seat of Rep.
Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton. New speculation has Laxer seeking the adjacent open seat of Rep.
Kevin Rader, D-Delray Beach.
Tags: Allen West, censure, Chris Craft, corruption, health care, Kelly Skidmore, Kevin Rader, Mark Alan Siegel, pastries, rugelach, Tara Laxer, Ted Deutch, town halls
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on Sunday, August 9th, 2009 at 8:00 pm and is filed under 2010 campaigns, Charlie Crist, Democrats, George Bennett, legislature, Palm Beach County commission, Ron Klein, State House, Tom Rooney, U.S. House.
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August 9th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Tara Rocks in either seat! Heard there was a US Senate Seat open and I know she’d be amazing for that too!
August 9th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Either district needs Tara Laxer as a representative – she is all about making laws to help the people; not about the business of petty politics.
It is too bad she can’t run to represent both of them in 2010 – one district will be the winner when Tara is elected!
August 9th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Tara possesses a firm knowledge of the Tallahassee infighting and can work around that as she understands from years of hard work with Senator Ted Deutch. She is uncommonly gifted with a strong sense of humanity for the Sens. constituents (like myself). As a former candidate, I know she has what it takes to represent well and support her every decision.
August 9th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
If Congressman Klein can’t take the heat he needs to get out of the kitchen. He just wants to pass the Healthcare reform without having to explain his position. He needs to hear from all the voters…not just the ones who agree with him. There is alot of fear over this Bill especially from the senior citizens. People are getting more fed up and elected officials our Congressman are the reason why.
August 9th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Congressman Klein owes all of us as voters in his district the same face time he gave us when he was running for office. My job requires me to talk to hundreds of senior citizens and they are very concerned about the proposed Healthcare Reform Bill. On the conference call no doubt will be people who agree with him. He needs to listen to all the voters’ concerns.
August 9th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Anyone consider running in any upcoming
races; no matter what political party needs
to go to Tallahassee representing, knowing
and understanding the community they represent.
The best interest for our community; no matter
what district you represent, means that community
needs to make sure they send someone
who resides day-to-day in that district and has
contributed to that district and community. This
interaction is necessary to understand the people’s
concerns and suffering that need to be addresses by
the disricts elected representative. We need more policy and
less politics-For The People.
August 10th, 2009 at 12:50 am
I really hope Tara will run. We need more people in public office with her integrity!
August 10th, 2009 at 8:28 am
I DIDN’T SEE ANY NEAR RIOT THAT THESE STORIES TALK ABOUT. I SAW CONCERNED VOTERS WHO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE BILL THAN NESON, CASTOR, GRAYSON AND KOSMAS DO AS THEY NEVER EVEN READ IT. THEY ARE THE NANCY PELOSIS OF FLORIDA AND ARE EXEMPT FROM THE SO CALLED HEALTHCARE BILL THAT THEY WANT’ TO STICK US ALL WITH. IF IT’S SO GOOD THEN WHY DON’T THEY TAKE IT THEMSELVES? THEY BOOK A SMALL ROOM AND PRE FILL IT WITH ACORN AND UNION MEMBERS AND THEN ALLOW A FEW VOTERS IN AND MOST VOTERS ARE LOCKED OUTSIDE AND THEN THEY EXPECT THEM TO BE HAPPY ABOUT IT. SOCIALISTS NELSON, KOSMAS AND GRAYSON NEED TO FACE THE VOTERS ONE ON ONE AND STOP HIDING FROM THE VOTERS. THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE TRUTH AND NEED TO READ THE JOB KILLING CAP AND TRADE TAX AND PORK FILLED SO CALLED STIMULUS BILLS THEY VOTED FOR AND NEVER EVEN READ. NOW THEY WANT THIS GOVERNMENT HEALTHCARE THAT THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM AND HAVEN’T EVEN READ IT AND ARE HIDING FROM THE VOTERS. WHERE ARE ALL THE JOBS? UNEMPLOYMENT WILL BE 10% TODAY AND WHERE ARE ALL THE JOBS? HOW IS ALL THAT CHANGE DOING FOR YOU NOW? STOP SPENDING AND PRINTING MONEY WE DO NOT HAVE.
August 10th, 2009 at 9:18 am
With American Politicians taking a vacation, the news media in the USA is covering up the most illegal activities of an American President since Richard Nixon.
President Obama and his administrations illegal act of gathering and soliciting emails and conversations about information from one citizen concerning another American citizen is breaking the 1974 privacy act and the Constitution.
As always the pro and biased USA main stream media is no where to be found these days when it comes to reporting facts or informing the public about Obama’s illegal and unconstitutional acts. For them all criticism about Obama and his policies are labelled as racist! Yet, the only anti-white remarks are emanating directly from and within the white house.
Will this attempt against the people of America, to erode civil liberties, which has been orchestrated from the white house NOT be challenged in courts of Law? It is time for criminal charges to be laid in a court of law against Obama, his administration and his unelected gang of czars for these unconstitutional acts against the American people.
Why have elected Senators and Congress members NOT spoken out against this abuse of power and illegal act by the white house. Seems they tend to represent only their own self interests and not that of the American people or the constitution?
Time for Congress and the Senate to do their job of representing the people by holding hearings on the possible impeachment of this President for such illegal activities which are clearly in violation of the constitution; the 1974 privacy act and The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988. Where is the appointment of an independent prosecutor to investigate such abuse of power allegations?
August 10th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Why would any seasoned crooked politician subject himself to hard questions, upset constituents, rowdy folks, TRUTH and consequences.Especially since Rep Klein knows he will get reelected as every synagog, condo and clubs will vote the way they are told. Sheep they are all sheep.
August 10th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
hey peterclarke,
replace obama with bush and you may be right….but it never happened…..
August 12th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Tara Laxer is the type of leader we need regardless of any office or seat she pursues. She has shown herself to have a thorough understanding of the issues, a commitment to serving people, and a first-rate disposition infused with integrity. I encourage readers to take a closer look at this remarkable public servant.