Christine Jennings Campaign Taking Shape

Democratic campaigner Mitch Kates has signed on with Christine Jennings as she takes on U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan in a Sarasota rematch that appears to be a priority for the national Democratic Party.

"Christine Jennings is an amazing candidate and I was honored to get the call to help with her campaign," Kates said. "She's definitely a premiere race for the party."

Kates, formerly "Jason the Terrible" on the professional wrestling circuit, is a St. Petersburg resident who made a name for himself in Tampa Bay politics after managing state Sen. Charlie Justice's competitive election against Kim Berfield last year.

Comments

jennings wins with paper ballots and a massive national repudiation of Geo Bush and the GOP..Got health insurance ??

You mean big tuff guy Mitch Cates who got his jollies pushing around 5'6" John Russell in Orlando?

Mitch Kates is a bit overrated, no? Nice work with the Gershom Faulkner race!

Come on, Give Kates a break on Faulkner race. All he did was take most of the campaign's money, then leave the candidate high and dry. Certainly a consultant to trust.

Mitch Kates is one of the best campaign managers in the business. Just ask our State Senator and Tampa City Councilwoman.

I hope a real Dem files to run against Jennings in the primary.

With Jennings and Buchanan your choices are republican lite and republican wing-nut.

[Dumas]

for you haters, kates had his pick of races for 08, but i'm sure the john russels of the world know more than anyone else, i mean - just look at the russell record - he was the nominee !!

This isn't about a campaign manager - This is about righting a stolen election, and putting the Christine Jennings in office where she belongs.

Wow, Tampa Bay is really a teeny weeny little place.

[Maverick]

Guess Kates is setting himself up for another loss in 08. Too bad Faulkner lost, but Buchanan will not let her forget how she is STILL carrying on the 06 loss. I know if I was Buchanan's consultant, that would be the message pounded in the media, along with the puff pieces for Buchanan.

A campaign taking shape? Jennings' whine party hasn't stopped once since she lost. Not even when the D controlled Conmgress' own investigation concluded nothing went wrong.

[Kenneth Quinnell]

Yeah, I love how the wingnuts know they can't talk about the facts of the race or the details of the stolen election so they jump to attack Mitch instead. That's an effective approach.

The real "wingnut" here is the one who won't give up the stolen election meme. That's always an effective approach: accuse your opponents of larceny or call them wingnuts or brownshirts. Gawd I hope you lefties get your miserable butts kicked in '08.

How many time has Jennings been arested, and does she support gay marriage... those are the real questions?

Vernie has done so much for the citizens of this nation this past year ... let me just count the ways.

Oops - sorry, it seems he is a Bush-licker. Maybe he didn't see the headlines - Bush is in the 'bowl - tolietbowl that is.

Thank you Christine Jennings for fighting to make sure that my vote counts! Remember folks, Christine is working hard to make sure that your voice is heard, that your vote counts, and that this district, this state, and this nation is turned back to the people, for the people and by the people.

Oh no.... not Jennings again! I just got rid os the sound of her whinning in my ear! Jennings, you lost if you run again, this time you will be killed! Everybody hates you now because you carried the last campaign way too long and made us look even more stupid. We were the laughing stock of the country because of you. Please, go away!!!!

[Susan S]

Christine is fighting for the people whose votes were stolen. If Gore had kept fighting and not allowed himself to be railroaded by those screaming how we had to "move on," we might not be in the mess we're in now (Iraq, near-recession, failing healthcare system, etc.) Hopefully the days of the GOP stealing elections is over.

[Gene Smith]

Elections are about the candidates, not the campaign staff. And now that there will be paper ballots, we have a better chance of knowing how the voters really feel about the candidates.

On the one hand we have Vern Buchanan, the Bush enabler. On the other, we have Christine Jennings - not a Bush enabler.

I kinda like Jennings chances on that question.

4:20 is a moron.

[Susan S]

Oops! "ARE over"

Gawd how I love these humble "progressives"! They win and that's the natural order of things, proof of their presumptive right to govern. They lose, and it's a crime against nature, and THE ELECTION MUST HAVE BEEN STOLEN!!!

Idiots.

If campaigns are about the candidates, then why does Jean Smith do more politicking than the candidates he works for?

[Michelle from Tampa]

5:13,

Congressional District 13 was the "laughing stock" of the nation because we have an electoral system that has failed us, and an apathetic American people who don't know--or care--that their democratic voice is being swiftly removed like a rug from under them.

It seems the only people who DO care are right-minded people who realize that something was rotten in the state of Florida in November of 2006 (and earlier); and also the small segment of the population who vote for candidates whose political views are slightly to the right of Heinrich Himmler. The latter group of people must obviously realize this failure of our representative government's voting system, otherwise they wouldn't be so desperately trying to cover it up.

[Dave]

Go get 'em, Mitch!

I look forward to, after Jan of 09, referring to Jennings as Representative Christine Jennings, D-FL.

The voting system fails whenever the nutroots of the left get an election result they don't like. When the nutroots preferred candidate wins, it works just fine. And the nutroots' opponents are never people who simply have different ideas or an honest difference of opinion; they are always brownshirts or fascists, "slightly to the right of Heinrich Himmler." These aren't people you can talk to on any rational level.

LOL keep smokin' the ganja kossacks. Buchanan in a landslide.

"Thank you Christine Jennings for fighting to make sure that my vote counts!"

So Jennings is taking on Howard Dean? After all, He is the main one trashing Florida votes!

The Democrats are the ones disenfranchising Florida voters by ignoring whatever the results of our Primary, Jan. 29.

The Democrats are disenfranchising Florida voters by preventing their candidates from campaigning here. (But not collecting money here.)

So Jennings is fighting all that?? Well, isn't that SPECIAL...

Gene Smith does not smoke ganja. But he sure relives his days in the Corps by assaulting the buffet table at lunch.

Why would any voter give Vern the nod.The GOP will lose seats and will be in the minority till the roops leave Irag and the Budget is balanced in 2015.

Why would any voter give Vern the nod.The GOP will lose seats and will be in the minority till the roops leave Iraq and the Budget is balanced in 2015.

[NT]

Congrats Mitch! I've worked with many operatives over the years and Mitch is one of the best. I'm glad he decided to stay in FL.

Christine Jennings handled the 2006 election fraud with grace and determination. Combine Jennings name recognition factor with the fact that Bush support is at a all time low, Buchanan will head to the basement right along with him.

[MCO]

At least Republicans know how to lose with class. You liberals think that if, God forbid, you lose an election, it had to have been because of fraud. Why cant you wrap your tiny little minds around the fact that people dont like what you stand for?

[Zhombre]

The questions answers itself, MCO.

Republicans and class? PUhleasse. Larry Craig. Bob Allen. Mark Foley. Alberto Gonzales? Class, anyone?

That's only a partial list of disgusting, power hungry, arrogant, and woefully disgraceful Republicans to make the news because they can't control their appetites for power or sex in bathrooms! Gross!

Yes, 11:26, perhaps they should be more like Ted Kennedy, a drunken murderer. Or maybe Sen. Byrd, I hear the klan is real popular today. Or how about our own Gary Siplin, you know, the convicted felon who wont resign and is ready to play the race card if the Senate trys to remove him?

Which should we pick, 11:26?

You show your ignorance by thinking its only on one side.

[theloneconsumer]

What most of you might not know, was Drury, the Elections supervisor post under Secretary of State has a secret. He didnt do an audit of the ES&S voting machine in the Jennings' challenge for her lost election. HE HAD ES&S CORPORATE TELL HIM, IN WRITING HOW TO DO AN AUDIT< WHAT TO SAY AND HOW TO DO IT...
I didnt know that was legal folks.
And the Sunshine Law record request is on the internet. The same lawsuit demanding an audit as per state laws for the SAME ES&S voting machine problem has been going on in GEORGIA AND NORTH CAROLINA. We cant hide behind proprietary anymore.
And Dan Rather, in his vindication against the W BUSH brother, did a massive TV expose against ES&S and manilla manufactoring voting machines that makes us question why PINELLAS COUNTY has approved the purchase of the machines for the next election.
Crist didnt up and decide to be transparent, Diebold and ES&S (both brothers by the way and Pioneers under fundraising Bush machine)were being sued in California, and the court appeal wins would have allowed a Florida challenge.
Truth be known, Crist as ATTY GENERAL was in violation of HAVE in 2006, as per the Susan Pynchon letter and challenge. Maybe that is why US Senator Bill Nelson and US Judiciary chairman Rep Conyers have a DOJ investigation into Florida's voting proactices like ten other key states.

[theloneconsumer]

Sorry, Crist as AG was in violation of federal voter law, called HAVA...

And went to great lengths to support Glenda Hood as Secretary of State when she did laws making it illegal to do a recount in South Florida. He supported her, in his AG office filed briefs. All to protect the (Republican) status quo.

Christine Jennings handeled her loss of the last election like a spoiled brat. Even her party told her to give them a break and stop complaining. People watch how you loose even more than how you win. It's easy to win and Christine showed us all that class was not one of her qualities. If she runs again we will be humiliated again but this time with an overwhelming loss. Christine, give it up and give us a break. You are playing into the Republicans hands.

[Gene Smith]

"Even her party told her to give them a break and stop complaining."

Yeah, that's why her party ordered a Congressional investigation which is still continuing.

What - do you guys make this stuff up?

So, where do we go from here???

The election has been held, the recount done and redone and the vote has been certified by the State of Florida...

There has been NO evidence of either Fraud or malfunction of the Touchscreen Voting machines which is what it would take to grant further discussion...

All of the previous being mentioned, it's time to move forward and for Christine Jennings to go back home. She has more than likely cost herself any further chance in Politics as a viable candidate from all that I've heard from the 5 County FL District 13 area...

$4.5 million was spent on the new Touchscreen Voting machines, and after the 'paper trail' referendum was passed in November's election, another $4.1 million will now have to be spent by the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office to guarantee a 'paper trail' in future elections...

This doesn't even take into account the MILLIONS now being spent for the lawsuit and legal avenue being pursued by Loser Christine Jennings...

Why doesn't somebody ask WHERE she is getting her money to do this from???

I know Congressman-Elect Vern Buchanan has been told to 'set aside' $1 million for these legal challenges. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see the name 'George Soros', 'Moveon.org' or the National DNC listed as the Christine Jennings financial backers in all of this...

Comeone people of District 13, you aren't that stupid! Wake up and tell Christine Jennings to go back home and stop WASTING Taxpayers money on her 'assumptions'...

The FACTS all say otherwise and that's just the way it is. Accept it...

For Now, That's Just 'OUR' Opinion...

Matt Bruce
Managing Editor
News Sarasota.com

"...But Jennings still talks as if she has a chance to win the 2006 Sarasota area congressional seat. And she does it with the same vigor she showed before Election Day when she lost by a few hundred votes.

"I don't think it's been that long," she said.

But many people, including some of her would-be colleagues, seem to have moved on. Or are trying to.

Fundraising helps pay Jennings' legal bills

After all, Buchanan has been in office more than six weeks now, introducing bills, voting on legislation and meeting with constituents. Even Democratic House members talk as if Buchanan is one of them.

"We made a decision to seat him ... and with that decision comes the responsibility to work with him," said Rep. Tim Mahoney, a Democrat whose South Florida district stretches from Palm Beach County to the west coast.

"You have to take it as it is," said Boca Raton Democratic Rep. Ron Klein. "He's a sitting member."

[Gene Smith]

News Sarasota.com - maybe you ought to remove "News" from you name and just go with Opinion. any real newsie would know exactly who is paying for the legal challenges - it's all out there in the public record.

But let's move the conversation back to the swell job Ole Vern has been doing for the people of District 13. How bout we start by asking what was so important the Vern MISSED the VOTE that finally allocated money to the very long awaited National Cometary in Southwest Florida. I guess funding for veterans is not really his top priority after all?

Real cheap shot, gatordem. If that is an example of your astute political skill, I wonder how any clients you represent actually win elections. Live soldiers ought to take priority over a national cemetery in SW Florida for deceased veterans and the Democrats in Congress playing their games with funding U.S. troops now in the field in harm's way, and trying very hard to legislate a retreat from Iraq, haven't served those troops very well IMHO. Top Dems like Reid and Dean declaring defeat accomplishes nothing. They are the latter day Copperheads and you are a buffoon.

She is an embarrassment! A cry baby. Oh sure, I am going to vote for her, NOT!

Help us, we will have to hear how she got robbed and hear that high pitched shrill voice. Jennings and Clinton today's "two worst voices in the world"!!

Christine has invented a new game. She's been playing it non-stop since her last campaign. It is called 'WHINING FOR DOLLARS".

[Samm]

I wish for nothing but the best for Mitch. And may Christine win!

[Gene Smith]

4:28 - Where was Vern? What is is supposed top priority?

If you really want to support our troops you'd be voting to get them the heck out of there. They've already accomplished their mission. It is definitely NOT serving our real national security interests to keep them there.

But what does Vern do? He votes time and again to keep getting our kids killed for no good reason. Right in lock step with George W Bush and the rest of the Roadblock Republicans in Congress.

[Susan S]

The votes were counted and recounted. Ha! What a joke. You can't count anything on defective machines.

Vern Buchanan has what, a 92% record of voting with Bush? That should make the residents of Sarasota proud, especially the ones who had their votes stolen. Buchanan = Rubber Stamp

[Bud Hastings]

I think Buchanan's incumbent-advantage could count a lot for him, not to mention probably having more $$$ once again - for 2008.