RULE 8 - Endorsements A. The State Executive Committee may endorse, certify or recommend candidates in contested Republican primaries only upon unanimous approval of the Executive Board and the approval of 60% of the State Executive Committee at a meeting called for that purpose and at which a quorum is present. Republican Party of Florida Rules of Procedure

I have two very good reasons to be thankful on this Johnnie Byrd weekend: Rick Scott & Republican Hypocrisy

Thank Goodness for Rick Scott.

The ‘folks’ made a statement this week. We are sick and tired of career politicians and big money interests ‘lording’ over state government and the election process. The folks are tired of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) puppet masters running the show.

I might add that every Republican in the state of Florida actually owes an additional debt of gratitude to Rick Scott. He is the only person right now who actually can deliver on the stated purpose of the Florida Republican Party:

ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this State Committee shall be:
A. To develop a strong, effective, and informed Republican Party in Florida.
B. To support the principles, objectives, and platforms of the Republican Party and to
secure the election of all duly nominated Republican candidates.
C. To encourage able and qualified Republicans to seek office at all levels of government.

The wonderful thing is that Rick Scott has a message; he has a plan. Rick Scott’s plan to rejuvenate Florida’s economy excites people. The rank and file Republicans will now support Scott gleefully. They have been unfettered from having to support the guy whose ‘turn is next’. We have been freed from the Bob Dole effect and can get behind someone who exudes confidence in less taxes, less regulation and more personal freedom. We can get behind someone who doesn’t believe government is the answer. People are excited about the chance. I predict a Scott blowout in November and some real change for the better in Florida government and politics.

Thank Goodness for Republican Hypocrisy

The RPOF has just had the proverbial Aqua Velva slap. RPOF Chairman John Thrasher needs to regain his moral authority - and in a hurry. By taking sides in the Republican primary, Chairman Thrasher made a big mistake. It wasn’t a technical violation for him to endorse in a personal capacity, but it gave the wrong impression. At any rate, this hypocrisy revealed can allow the RPOF to redeem itself, and I believe it will.

I still can’t help but ask, “What was Republican Party Chairman John Thrasher thinking?” I don’t really know, but I am sure Thrasher will think twice before he ‘blows off’ the cardinal Republican rule of primary election neutrality again. Like most of us Republicans in the ‘outback’, I believe in power of conservative ‘principles’ not in the power of big money interests who pay the bills, but don’t care about principles unless it gets them their way. I am sure that Thrasher will get behind Scott in a hurry and do a lot of reflection on how to balance those interests in the future. Job number one right now is to pull the RPOF back together.

It’s time to shake off this issue and win in November - the future of our state and country depends on it. Now’s the time for every good conservative to call the RPOF office and ask what you can do. You can’t do everything, but you can do something. Hillsborough County Chairwoman Deborah Cox can use your help. Go to the RPOF website and check it out and then step out to do something for your state and county.
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Tags: Mike Haridopolos, Larry Cretul, Will Weatherford, Dean Cannon, John Thrasher

What I like About Sandy Murman

by Johnnie Byrd

With a nickname like ‘the Murmanator’ you’d expect high energy, and that’s what you get with Sandy Murman.

When we served together in the State House, I used to kid Murman that whenever I had an idea for a great bill - she had already filed it. Just take a look at Sandy’s profile page while she served in the Florida House. You can see that no mere mortal could keep up with Sandy Murman for legislative and community service, not to mention endless accolades from every known constituent support group.

I like Murman’s platform. It’s conservative and straightforward; it’s solid and measurable. She wants a performance based budget and 5% less taxes. On the economic development front Sandy knows that most new jobs in any community come from growth of existing small businesses, and she will require that economic development programs are accountable, not millstones around the neck of taxpayers and their children and grandchildren (that would be a first).

But, knowing Sandy as I do, there is something more profound going on with her these days. What do I think? Sandy has finally realized that the silk stocking crowd is out of touch with the people she wants to represent.

Yes, Sandy is more conservative today than ever, and I am proud of her for it. She’s come a long way from being the moderate darling of the Tampa Tribune and the Davis Island crowd. Sometimes it is a wake up call when the Trib dumps you like last years prom date and the in-crowd has move on to a newer, younger, stronger golden boy. It hurts, but it awakens. Now we’ll see the real Sandy Murman.

How do I know that Sandy believes in the fundamental righteousness of conservative, free market philosophy? Because, she was there when I brought in the big name free market economic gurus, like Stephen Moore and Arthur Laffer, to address our Republican caucus meetings. And, for those of you who wonder about her stands on social issues, there’s never been a doubt that Sandy is a social conservative. She was our ‘go to’ member when a pro-life bill needed to be moved through the Florida House. (I’m sorry Sandy, the silk stocking crowd may not have heard this.)

This time Sandy knows that the ‘folks’ count - Yes, the ‘folks’ that don’t read the Trib and have never been on a host committee for a ritzy downtown fundraiser. But, Sandy knows that the folks have the final say on just who THEY want to lead.

Sandy’s become a ‘believer’ and that’s what I like about Sandy Murman.
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Tags: Sandy Murman

What I like about Jim Norman

by Johnnie Byrd

If Ralph Hughes liked you, I like you. If Ralph Hughes didn’t, I don’t either. Ralph liked Jim Norman a lot, and so do I.

Ralph Hughes was a great American who had unqualified disrespect for what he called the “so-called editorial committee” at the Tampa Tribune. He taught me that the Tribune editorial pages were a quick way to discern whether a Republican was a RINO, or not. If the Trib sang praises for a Republican candidate, we had better watch out. Even better, if the Trib waged war against a particular Republican, you could put your money on that person being a true conservative.

Would you like a case in point?

This morning I stopped in a local convenience store, and the newspaper rack caught my eye. Lo and behold, you’ll never guess whose picture the Trib had above the fold on the front page? Well, it was none other than Jim Norman! Of course, it was a non-story with a headline that some fools at the Trib had spent all Thursday afternoon brainstorming to sound like Norman was some kind of ax murderer. (And, newspapers wondering why their readership is in the toilet.) At any rate, the Trib made its contribution to Norman’s opponent and proved my case.

Unlike his opponent, who I can tell you from first hand experience is unpredictable and is soft on conservative Republican ideas, Norman is right on the issues. And, did I forget to mention Norman is willing not only to vote against new taxes but he has taken the lead to fight against crazy boondoggles, such as the Hillsborough Rail Tax. RINOs are saying that, “If we only had enough money, we could do better job in government.” Norman is saying, “Live within your means, just like the rest of us!”

Norman will be tough on illegal immigration. He will continue to support Jeb Bush’s education reforms – the only reforms that have made measurable changes in outcomes for Florida’s school children.

You should also know that Norman likes to talk to the ‘folks’ instead of the silk stocking, downtown Tampa crowd. Jim is an ‘animal’ at walking door-to-door to thousands of homes and hearing what ‘just people’ have to say about their vision of our State and Nation, not the elite vision for the great unwashed. Jim will not cater to those ‘wanna be’ political prognosticators with an irrelevant view, who are bought and sold by the old media and idle class. The silk stocking crowd will have their sad, pathetic minions trying to ‘take out’ Jim Norman with every known ‘black ops’ tool (unfounded ethics complaints etc.), but don’t be fooled - Norman is a conservative who will take things up a notch in Tallahassee.

As someone who has been on the front lines battling with Republican RINO State Senators in Tallahassee, I will tell you that there is one thing that would be a breath of fresh air in Tallahassee: If you want a change in Tallahassee, stop sending ‘moderates’ to the Senate and replace them with tough, knowledgeable and principled Republican conservatives.

That’s why I like Jim Norman. Read More...

Tags: Jim Norman, Ralph Hughes