Question: What's 17 X $500? Answer: A GOP fundraiser
Lobbyists, by now long accustomed to getting dozens of fund-raising solicitations from legislators and legislative candidates, have a new headache. It's the House Republicans' "battleground fundraiser" on Oct. 16 at the Governor's Club, a one-stop shopping event for 17 House incumbents, some of them from the Tampa Bay region.
The invite lists all 17 and notes "maximum contribution, $500 per entity." Do the math. Invitees are envouraged to pony up $8,500 (Any takers on the idea that the budget-cutting session will start on Oct. 17?)

I hope the RPOF spends this money actually defending vulnerable Republican seats (and winning back a few) instead of diverting millions to Idearaisers.
Posted by: | September 13, 2007 at 01:41 PM
STOP THE FAXES!
Posted by: | September 13, 2007 at 01:49 PM
What's wrong with the one stop shopping? It is far more convenient than going from FAR to FRF to Clydes to Governor's Club Lounge to Governors Club Plantation Room to...
Posted by: GOP Girl | September 13, 2007 at 02:03 PM
Just turn your fax machine off....duh
Posted by: | September 13, 2007 at 02:03 PM
I love Clydes...
Posted by: calfloridia | September 13, 2007 at 02:57 PM
BYE BYE BOGDANOFF- IF NO FAULT GOES SO DOES BOGDANOFF
Posted by: james | September 13, 2007 at 03:00 PM
GOP Girl... Don't count on too much money from FAR. Members of Florida Association of REALTORS are just about broke with business in Florida being so bad. The faucet is close to being turned off.
Posted by: | September 13, 2007 at 03:41 PM
It's not the money from FAR, it's that they lease out their board room for fundraisers.
Posted by: | September 13, 2007 at 03:44 PM
These guys are soooo out of touch its scary. Economy down? check. Cost of living up? check. Voter's confidence in elected officials at all time low? check.
Lets hold some fundraisers!!!!!
Maybe this year they'll hold their retreat in Hawaii rather than slum it at Watercolors.
Posted by: | September 13, 2007 at 03:45 PM
Does it ever occur to anyone that we have sold our democracy out to the highest bidders?
Are we so interested in winning that we have forgotten that this used to be a democracy?
Posted by: Karl | September 13, 2007 at 04:00 PM
This is an incomplete story. The punchline will be when you tell us how many lobbysts were there and did pony up the $8500. And plenty will...
Posted by: | September 13, 2007 at 04:17 PM
Who are the 17?
Posted by: | September 13, 2007 at 05:37 PM
5:37...The ones with their hands out!
Posted by: | September 13, 2007 at 05:51 PM
does the $8500 include one free drink ticket?
Posted by: | September 13, 2007 at 06:20 PM
FOR $8500 YOU GET TO SPEND TIME WITH THAT SMUG LITTLE BIATCH RUBIO!!!
Posted by: JOE | September 13, 2007 at 06:56 PM
$500 isn't going to buy much for these lobbyists when you consider some of these incumbents will spend upwards of $400,000 for re-election to their House seats.
Posted by: | September 13, 2007 at 07:12 PM
Romney has slid to a distant fourth in the latest Fox News Poll posted at Real Clear Politics. McCain surges to a decisive third place.
Giuliani 34
Thompson 22
McCain 16
Romney 8
Posted by: | September 13, 2007 at 07:23 PM
Question: what did the realtors do with all the money they raked in from 2000-2005? Way to plan for a rainy day, guys!
Posted by: | September 14, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Legalized bribery.
Legalized extortion.
Posted by: | September 14, 2007 at 07:16 PM