Phone Battle

Rod Smith and Jim Davis went at each other Tuesday during a telephone forum hosted by Florida Public Interest Foundation.

Davis continued his assault on the Florida Legislature (i.e. Rod Smith) saying it came "recklessly close" to undermining the state-federal relationship to cleanup the Everglades by approving a bill that weakened pollution standards. He called himself the only candidate - "as a parent" - who voted to put class size reduction in the state constitution. Yet Smith was quick to say he lead opposition against Gov. Bush and others who wanted to ask voters to reverse that decision. Smith noted that U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the force behind the constitutional amendment, has endorsed him and not Davis.

In closing statements, Davis said he has never lost an election - "This is my lucky 13th" - and called Smith a "very worthy" opponent. But he said he was running to restore "desperately needed balance and vision in our state. I will as governor do what I have in Washington and Tallahassee, which is make sure the voice of every Floridian - Democrat, Republican and independent - is again heard in our state government."

Smith attacked Davis' history of missed votes and bottom-dwelling rating of effectiveness by Congress.org. (It's a dubious group, however, according to this report.) "We've heard him complain consistently about what we've done in Tallahassee. But I have to tell ya: The way you get things done is you go to work each day and you do your job. This is going to be a race, in the end, about who's been effective and who has the ability to carry through. I've passed major legislation. I've been successful in everything I've done ..."

Comments

so the rating Rod keeps talking about is 'dubious'?

just another instance of Rod being full of crap.

and boom goes the dynamite

Smackdown on Davis !!!

Go Rod !

this is ridiculous. smith is just talking about some rating done by lobbyists and then tooting his own horn about how great he is. i'd rather hear about the issues. that's what davis is talking about.

Well then how do you Davis supporters explain the 434 ranking in attendance?

[Rattlers For Rod!]

I concur...Rod laid the smackdown on Davis! Boy the tides have turned in this race...St. Pete Times, Palm Beach Post, Daytona Beach News Journal, & the Lakeland Ledger believe Rod is the best choice, and so many people across the state. Rod is the best person to beat Charlie Crist!

[zhombre]

It is hard to lose an election when you have a safe safe safe congressional district in south Tampa in which the opposition party doesn't even field a candidate. I suspect Mr. Davis' winning streak will shortly end.

[kate]

Jim has credibility both as an outstanding leader and also as a parent. He understands FCAT and education issues because he has children in our public schools. We need that perspective in the Governor's mansion.

Go back to Gainesville, Rod. Go!

kate

In "our" public schools?

I didn't know Jim Davis' kids went to school in Colorado, or Boston.

Judging by your website, you're not really such a big fan of Florida.

So how exactly are you related to the candidate?

[gatordem]

I keep wondering why the Rod Smith supporters never have anything good to say about Rod Smith? It's all knocking Jim Davis. Don't y'all have anything good to say about Rod?

If all you've got to talk about is Jim Davis missing some votes in Congress THIS YEAR (we never hear you mention anything about Jims' voting record for the other nine years), it is going to be fun watching your sad faces on September 5th.

BTW - has Rod Smith actually pushed his own button for every vote cast in his name in Tallahassee?

Davis hasn't done a damn thing in Washington the last twelve years, even when he had a Democratic President or Senate to help pass legislation. In contrast, Rod Smith works extremely hard in a GOP dominated legislature and with a GOP cabinet, and he gets results! This should be an easy choice.

[kate]

I am way critical of Florida schools under the Bush administration. As a parent and teacher, I am well qualified to show ownership and a sense of outrage regarding the way Jeb has mucked things up. It also qualifies me to stand up in support of allies like Jim and promote his solutions that will benefit students and teachers and parents alike.

So suck it.

[Campaign Manager]

Smith definitely has some momemtum going into the last three weeks, but will that be enough to overtake Davis' lead? Because I still think Davis has a lead and don't believe that Smith is within 1 point as some polls have suggested. There's no doubt, though, that this will be a close finish, because the percentage of undecideds has never dropped below 40%.

[whome]

nice reply kate "so suck it" you are one classy lady.you must be quite the prize in your trailer park

7:56 - what great, life changing bills has Rod sponsored as a state senator?

Jim is the reason none of us will get kicked out of a nursing home when we are old and was the sole sponsor of the legislation that called on Saudi Arabia to crack down on Islamic fundamentalism. Not to mention the other highly relevant bills he sponsored...

I wish those in the Rod Squad would actually visit Jim Davis' congressional web page and look at his legislative data before mindlessly taking the talking points handed to them by their extremely dubious handlers.

Do you know that Jim Davis has only sponsored 9 passing bills during his ENTIRE tenure in Congress. That isn't even one per year. The only one he passed this year was to name a post office. At least two of the others had to do with the commendation of local sports teams.

[kate]

I am a sight to behold in Daisy Dukes. But don't try to get on my good side...

Kate you don't vote in Florida.
You don't vote in Florida.
You don't vote in Florida.
So shut the hell up.

If you really want to get in to the #s Rod has only sponsored two bills this year and neither passed.

[kate]

Unlike Rod's supporters, I know exactly where to vote. Pasco County, baby. Believe it.

8:57 -

You are mistaken. The THOMAS search you are no doubt using, which shows nine bills, only goes back two "congresses". Many of Davis' bills such as the one preventing people from being evicted from nursing homes, don't show up because of that.

Nine bills in that period of time is not unusual at all. Robert Wexler, one of the most revered democrats in South Florida for instance, only sponsored 11 during the same time period. Congressman Meek only sponsored 12. Very few of either's bills passed.

At least Jim made international news with his resolution condemning Saudi Arabia (which passed) and his floor battle over Teri Schiavo.

Should Rod condemn Congressman Meek as well?

12 is more than 9 and Meek is just a youngster compared to Davis. Hell, check in CSPAN many of nights and you'll see Congressman Meek earning his paycheck ... and don't forget, Rod Smith lead the case in Florida against the state govt interferring with Terri's wishes. It was then that the Feds kidnappd her fate.

But I have to tell ya: The way you get things done is you go to work each day and you do your job.

Period. Jim Davis hasn't fought the fights in DC as he was meeting with pollsters and campaigning for his dream job.

[adam's professor]

8:45PM -

Life changing measures? Off the top of my head mind you - a bill in 2005 which mandated that Medicaid pay for the full cost of adult lung transplants. The identified problem was that with advances in technology, kids with CF were outliving their coverage. If you were under 18 you were covered, but you were penalized for living too long. Without that change, families would have to raise tens of thousands of dollars just to get on the transplant list. I'd say that was live changing.

Then there was the measure to do away with boot camps this past session, not to mention Smith's sponsorship of the bill that restructured the court system that left intact teen court, drug court, guardian ad litum and a host of other "life changing" programs for at-risk youth and adults who are trying to rehabilitate themselves. Each could have easily been thrown away and left to scramble for money from the counties, but as a former State Attorney, he fought to maintain them.

Then there the Nick Oelrich Gift of life Act that facilitates the donation of organs for transplant, as well as the bill he sponsored regarding allowing firefighters, EMTs and paramedics to be covered for benefits when they act as good samaratin outside of their jurisdiction and are injured or kill. Unfortunately 2 weeks after the bill became law, a paramedic was struck and killed while off-duty and traveling on the turnpike assisting a car crash victim. Without the law, his family's benefits would have been severely diminished. Surviving spouses, as well as children of deceased emergency service workers can now attend vocational school or college because of Smith. These are just a few of the measures where Smith was the prime sponsor, not just a "Johney come lately" or someone who did their job and showed up to vote. It doesn't even scratch the surface and doesn't mention the countless other bills he sponsored, co-sponsored or in which he played a major roll in shaping.

As far as Schiavo was concerned - the Florida Legislature had been battling it long before it got to Congress and I am not talking about in 2005 - doesn't anyone else remember the special session in 2003 where the Governor was victorious in getting the votes to be allowed to intervene? The vote was 23-15 in the Senate and Smith worked to turn that around by 2005.

As for this year - as a Democrat running for Governor in a Republican controlled Legislature, do you think for a minute he was going to have many of his bills heard? But was he effective? Class size was saved and vouchers were blocked. Without Smith, that wouldn't have happened. Don't believe me? Ask the Republicans.

You mention, that Davis was the "sole sponsor of the legislation that called on Saudi Arabia to crack down on Islamic fundamentalism." That is nice, but some might call it a "symbolic measure" that passed overwhelmingly and one where it is not imperative to be there to vote. One difference between the candidates is that Smith understands the importance of such "symbolic" measures and would have been there, regardless of the final tally, and regardless as to whether he was the sponsor in order to add his voice and the voice of the people he represents, up on the board because he understand that that is his job.

AP - you are a wonder and wondrous souce of info. Thank you for proving why Rod Smith is the candidate who will govern ALL Floridians

Go Rod Go!

[gatordem]

adam's professor :

"Class size was saved and vouchers were blocked.... Ask the Republicans."

How about I ask you to name one Republican senator who will say that their vote on those issues was because of Rod Smith. Same thing on Schiavo. I have asked this before, and have not gotten an answer.

[adam's professor]

gatordem -

I guess you've hit on another difference between Smith and the old way of doing things, i.e., berating the opposition or those on the fence in some misguided attempt to get them to see it your way.

Perhaps he changed votes, perhaps not. I doubt anyone would want to be tagged with that and I doubt they would admit to it even if it were the case. However, in the very least, it isn't that Smith "changed" anyone's vote. Through well-thought out oratory, debate and discussions, he gave everyone the tools to be able to hang on to vote their conscience. He didn't call the opposition maniacal, he attacked the legislation. In Schiavo, King held together the Republican 9 and Smith held together the Democrat 12. The pressure was easily more on the Republicans and they had to be autonomous - Smith knew that. But as in-house lawyer, if a question came up regarding laws concerning advance directives or specifics regarding the cases or constitutional law, he was available to them and they knew they were getting sincere and the best informed answers in return. Rather than to try and directly persuade and compel them, he explained and countered any of the myriad of fallacies that surrounded the issue and then let them vote their conscience.

That is why they respected him then and that is why they still do. Had he been a bomb thrower, the likes of which Democrats have been known for, all those on the fence would have run for cover.

No, they might not have changed their vote because of Smith. But without someone like Smith who could constantly bang a steady "drumbeat of truth" in the process, some would have had encumbered just enough doubt and "erred on the side of caution" by voting to allow the Governor to once again intervene. Further, had he attacked the Republican Party or one of its members, rather than defended the rule of law, that would have given at least some a reason to flip. At 21-18 there was no wiggle room.

On class size and vouchers - the same holds true and the issue had as much to do with keeping Democrat members together. Again, if you don't believe me, ask the Republicans. Lee said it right after both issues went down to defeat that it was Smith who had been the nemisis. No matter what the issue, Smith has earned a reputation as someone in which there is no greater adversary or ally and each knows that his decisions are well-thought out and come from his belief system. In the Senate, the immense respect he garnered and showed his fellow senators, warranted that when he spoke to an issue, it solidified the position of those who agreed with him, it convinced those on the fence to move towards his side, it gave pause to those who felt differently and it caused those who were unwavering in their opposition to take cover.

Once again, Gatordem, RESULTS MATTER!

Rod Smith has achieved hard-fought legislative victories by persuading Republicans to join his side on issues that make a difference to everyday Floridians.

Sponsoring legislation that calls on the Saudis to crack down on Islamic fundamentalism -- what will we do if they don't, stop buying their oil?? -- is a classic case of political grandstanding, which is one of the few political skills Jim Davis seems to have mastered.

-- marketeer

[gatprdem]

AP and Marketeer:

You have just ade my point. Rod is taking a lot of credit for what he DID NOT DO, which is convince Republican senators to change their votes on these issues. It is no big deal for the Dems to have voted this way, and Rod DID NOT get GOP senatrs to change their votes. You just admitted you can not provide one GOP senator to say he did.

Yes, results are important. So is who is being truthful about who was responsible for what.

gatordem

You don't even have to ask the professor, just ask every major newspaper in this state.

They all seem to be willing to give Senator Smith the credit for republicans going against their governor.

[Scribe]

You Davis people continue to inhale too much helium. Rod Smith demonstrated the courage to stand up to the vaunted Bush political machine and stop two of Jeb's most precious education planks -- undermining the class-size amendment and his voucher initiative. As for Jim's wonderful record in elections, his district is so safe the Republicans stopped running candidates, and his successor will have no trouble keeping this a Democratic seat. The editorial boards are getting this endorsement right.

aren't there some republican llegislators here in florida fighting for their return to office. and aren't some of those repubicans some of those that have come to finally agree with rod smith in the florida senate? read in the meida that there is one in south florida fighting a hard battle in his own party and he's not being endorsed by jeb.

[gatordem]

Yes SOME of the newspapers appear to have swallowed Rod's claims whole, claims that don't stand up in the light of reality. The Times says they believe Rod's claim that he won't sabotage the Everglades cleanup, but his votes say otherwise. Rod claims to be responsible for everything that happens in Tallahassee from the sun rising in the morning to the sun setting at night. But y'all can not supply any credible evidence that any of this is true.

Rod is resposnsible for helping Jeb Bush pass so called "tort reform". Yes that is the law that severely limits our ability to get our day in court if we have suffered damages from the special interests. Why couldn't Rod have done what Jim Davis has consistently done on bad bills like offshore oil drilling - just vote no!

Rod Smith has been part of the problem in Tallahassee, not part of the solution.

[kate]

Rod cannot compete with Jim's 17 years of public service. The voters will remember that on Sept. 5th.

rod's been serving the people since '92 katie dear AND he shows up for work.

[moderate]

kate

If the number of "years in public service" were the only qualification for higher office, the Tom Gallagher would be our next governor.

Come on now kate, occaisionaly, you seem like a bright woman, you have to have a better arguement than "Davis has held public office longer"

By the way, judging from your picture, I'm sure you do look nice in shorts.

The papers have it right. Rod Smith has had a greater impact on this state in a shorter amount of time. All while beibng in the minority party.

For Jim's entire state legislative career, he was in the majority party, with a Democrat as governor for most of the time, and his record is still unremarkable.

[Ron Mills]

rod's been serving the people since '92 katie dear AND he shows up for work.

Uh yea, would that be in the office's of Big Sugar or would he be showing up for work at the Insurance Industry Office?

Naples News Daily announces its endorsement of Rod Smith

[moderate]

Is that the same Ron Mills that was so emphatic about the Scott Maddox candidacy?

Oh Ron, your boy Scott "Coulda been a contender, he coulda' been somebody".

But alas no.

I wonder what Scott and Paige are up to now?

Naples Daily News
Editorial: Governor primaries
In Crist, Smith both GOP, Democrats have winners

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Republicans and Democrats will soon select nominees to be our state's next governor.

In those Sept. 5 primary contests, for which early voting gets under way Monday, our editorial board recommends:

• Republican Charlie Crist. Is he a career politician? He surely is — a career politician everywhere he's been. That ranges from the Florida Legislature to education commissioner and currently attorney general. He has championed tougher prison sentences, academic accountability and consumer justice.

As a self-described Reagan Republican, Crist is can-do. He believes in county-by-county standards for road and utility concurrency, continued state investment in affordable housing and insurance reform that includes a national catastrophic plan. He sees Florida as the "obvious launching pad" for redevelopment and other business and cultural opportunities in a new Cuba.

He sees an opportunity to keep killers behind bars by being quicker to revoke chronic offenders' probation once they have served initial sentences.

Bottom line: Crist is a consistently solid citizen and public servant.

• Also in race: Tom Gallagher

• Who can vote? All 338,000 Republicans in Collier and Lee counties.

• For the past 10 years, Jim Davis has been in Washington representing Tampa in the U.S. House.

During that same time, his opponent for the Democratic nomination for governor, Rod Smith of Alachua, has been working hard on the ground as an elected prosecutor and state senator from north central Florida.

Smith and Davis share some of the same fundamentally liberal ideas, such as de-emphasizing the FCAT. They are loyal opponents to most of what the Jeb Bush gubernatorial administration stands for.

Yet, when Smith talks about changes he would try to make on insurance, education, affordable housing and other pressing matters, he speaks with a sense of urgency — coupled with the energy and savvy to get them done in the bipartisan spirit that is required of an effective governor.

We believe Smith, more so than Davis, clicks with today's Florida. Smith gets our endorsement.

The good news for Democrats is that they have two quality candidates from which to choose.

• Who can vote? All 138,000 Democrats in Collier and Lee counties.

© 2006 Naples Daily News and NDN Productions. Published in Naples, Florida, USA by the E.W. Scripps Co.

[moderate]

wow!

Chalk another one up for Smith.

It must be rough at the Davis Campaign these days.

Oh yeah! Don't forget Fort Meade.

[TB Blue Dog]

Without Rod Smith, our state pie might not be Key Lime Pie. There were radicals out there supporting Pecan Pie for Florida. The man truly is a visionary.

How many days this year did Rod Smith go to work at his day job? Charlie Crist for that matter? People who live in galss houses shouldn't throw stones.

Gatordem- though the delay is great (you'll have to forgive that I don't blog after my lunch hour, I find things to do), I find myself compelled to respond.
Tort Reform. Oh, yes, I understand completely. Sad that such lawsuits have become harder to get. Particularly since the majority of the cases which fit the description of those which were affected by the actions of Rod Smith were the cases which were usually overturned at appeal. Truly, we should always allow a day in court for those people. Overloading a system which needs to handle real cases is always a good idea.
And I read AP's response. That's a concession of point in the same manner as when a man looks at you, says "whatever, man" and walks away, finding something better to do. Victory, yes, but a meaningless victory because you never really proved the point.

[cdd]

the 7:32 Kate must be in lala land no-one I know of can show any educating of students with the FCAT [fl.completely assine test] We don,t need this in our schools in fl. Rod Smith can help us get rid of it. Jim has been in Washington and can,t help us in Tallahassee. Besides BOB GRAMHAM won,t be there either