Saving Tucker Carlson

Two Florida political activists, one Republican and one Democrat, have launched a web site in an effort to stop MSNBC from sacking conservative talker Tucker Carlson because of sagging ratings, amid talk that the cable network of Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews plans to direct programming to a more liberal audience.

The two men launched a web site, www.savetucker.org, to urge viewers to bombard MSNBC executives with pleas to keep Carlson on the air. The two men are Republican John Bertran, an insurance salesman from Melbourne, and Alain Jean, who's active in Democratic politics in Broward and the Haitian-American community and was a candidate for the Florida Legislature last year. The effort was first reported on Ron Gunzburger's web site, www.politics1.com.   

Pruitt, Atwater get in the fundraising game

 

 

Dec. 10 is shaping up as a major fundraising day in Tallahassee. These events come on the heels of the House "battleground" gathering at the Doubletree.

$275K for new education commissioner

Florida's new education commissioner has a start date, and a starting salary. According to the Department of Education, Eric J. Smith's first day on the job will be next Monday, Dec. 3, and his annual salary will be $275,000. John Winn, Florida's last permanent ed commish, made $255,000 a year.

Since the commissioner serves at the pleasure of the Board of Education, there is no contract. Smith's benefits are the same as those for a senior management service position. To read about the BOE's selection of Smith in October, click here.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Editorial: Rubio's fundraising on shaky ground

The St. Petersburg Times' editorial board writes today:

As House Speaker Marco Rubio asks lobbyists to open their wallets for his political causes, he is treading a well-worn and treacherous path. The fact that he did not create either of the groups he wants to enrich does not necessarily improve the aroma, and his public position demands that his private fundraising be as transparent as possible. (Rest here.)

Dubov to vie for Pinellas Property Appraiser

Pam Dubov, chief deputy to Pinellas County property appraiser Jim Smith, has announced that she will run for the seat her retiring boss has held since 1988.

Dubov, 51, is an 18 year veteran of the appraiser's office. Smith, who has been embroiled in a controversey surrounding the county's June purchase of his private land, announced Nov. 13 that he would not seek a fifth term.

At the time, he stated that Dubov would make a fantastic successor.

Dubov, an attorney who serves on the adjunct faculty at the Stetson College of Law, was a member of the first class of women to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. She joined the Pinellas appraiser's office in 1989.

A Republican, Dubov will face another GOP hopeful, Tom Minkoff, in the primary. Democrat Ben Friedlander has also filed to run for Pinellas appraiser. The general election will take place next November.

Poll: Rudy up by 14, Hillary by 29

We don't know much about San Diego-based Datamar Inc, except that last time it polled FL it found John  Edwards leading the Democratic field. Hmmmm. Well, here's what Datamar found in its 11/16-21 Florida poll:

Hillary Clinton 48%; Barack Obama 19%; John Edwards 13.2%; Bill Richardson 5.2%; Joe Biden 4.7%; Dennis Kucinich 4.1%; undecided 7%

R's: Rudy Giuliani 28.8; Mitt Romney 15.3%; Fred Thompson 13.9%; John McCain 10.4%; Mike Huckabee 6.9%; Ron Paul 4%; undecided 18.8%

Another Bilirakis challenger

Democrat Michael K. van Hoek of Valrico is running to unseat Republican Gus Bilirakis in Hillsborough/Pasco/Pinellas Congressional District 9. He joins Democratic lawyer Bill Mitchell of Tampa. From the release: “For far too long, we seem to have moved away from the notion that the House of Representatives is indeed the ‘People’s House,’” said van Hoek, an active member of the East Hillsborough Democratic Club and the Hillsborough Democratic Executive Committee . “I feel that it’s time for regular, everyday people to start getting involved in our government at the national level. For many working folks in our District, the U.S. House is nothing more than a group of politicians who have nothing in common with us. Even the language they speak is foreign to many of us. It’s time for Congress to more accurately reflect the voice of the people it represents.”