Money bags Klein and Buchanan

A couple of Florida's rookie members of Congress - Republican Vern Buchanan and Democrat Ron Klein - are on CQ's list of top 10 incumbent fundraisers. With $1.8-million, Klein comes in at no. 4, while Buchanan, with $1.4-mil, comes in at no. 10.

Comments

What a contrast: While lawyer Klein was in the State House lobbying (and similtaneously "representing") the people of his District, Allen West was fighting to defend our freedom.

"Flapping" As opposed to "fighting". HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Allen West is a carreer soldier, isn't he?

It appears the RCCC does not sharew your passion for West, they will not waste a dime on his pipe dream

[mike]

So, when Klein first ran for Congress he critized Shaw for taking PAC money and touted that the majority of his money was from the district.

Fast forward 11 months later and he has sold out to the lobbyists that he used to critize. Didn't take too long.

Klein was always a lobbyists himself - even as he sat in the Florida Senate. Ethincs? What's that?

You never know. One of the diffrences between the Ds and Rs is the Ds dictate to their members: ban candidates from campaigning in Florida, decide who runs for Congress, etc. The Rs run and win (or not) on their own initiative.

Buchannan is going to need every dime he can get his hands on to run against that whinny witch Jennings.

[alex]

Lets see, since in Congress Ron Klein has not done anything to end the war in Iraq, gas is through the roof, schip failed, "stopping" illegal immigration continues to be a joke. What a waste of space. I'm a moderate democrat and I voted for him because he was suppossed to be one as well. All that it seems that he does is collect checks and not get anything done. What a wasted vote in 2006, Mr Klein don't expect it again in 2008.

[Campaign Manager]

I can only assume that Alex is actually a Republican. Because this is a Tampa Bay based blog and Klein's district is on the other side of the state, I assume that Alex also did not vote for Klein last year.

Klein is a freshman and his ability to push for drastic changes to the president's war policy limited. He voted for SCHIP, but the President vetoed it - and Buchanan helped sustain that veto.

Well, with all the praises being heaped on Klein by Charlie Crist, I'm sure he won't have a problem raising money from the Cristites.

[Tebow]

SCHIP was bad policy.

It raises the general federal income eligibility threshold for SCHIP from 200 percent to 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

It covers adults

Most egregiously expands the program to cover illegal immigrants. Nice way to increase spending on illegals.

The bill depends on 10 years of tobacco revenue to pay for a 5-year bill.Therefore, in 2012, either millions of kids will be forced off SCHIP or Congress will have to inject an estimated $59.3 billion in new spending to maintain enrollment.

[alex]

7:29, if this is a tampa only blog then why is Klein's name mentioned? Why are there people on here talking about him. I guess I can assume that you are working for Klein since you are backing him up. See how that game works. I do live in the 22nd and I read the sptimes blogs because they can be informative and quick with what is happening. I am a registered democrat. Am I a Nancy Pelosi democrat, no. As a democrat do I have to support every democrat, no. We complained about the republicans doing just that, I refuse to follow suit. Klein ran as a moderate and that is why I supported him. I was tired of blind support of the president. Now we have just changed blind support of one to another. I am sick and tired of partisian politics. Get the job done. You can't get a bill passed, instead of complaining that the president stopped you, build a coalition that will get it passed. Klein was elected to do a job and he hasn't done anything but pass meaningless resolutions naming roads and pythons in the everglades. I'll vote for whoever puts what's best above partisian politics is who I'll vote for.

[alex]

7:29, if this is a tampa only blog then why is Klein's name mentioned? Why are there people on here talking about him. I guess I can assume that you are working for Klein since you are backing him up. See how that game works. I do live in the 22nd and I read the sptimes blogs because they can be informative and quick with what is happening. I am a registered democrat. Am I a Nancy Pelosi democrat, no. As a democrat do I have to support every democrat, no. We complained about the republicans doing just that, I refuse to follow suit. Klein ran as a moderate and that is why I supported him. I was tired of blind support of the president. Now we have just changed blind support of one to another. I am sick and tired of partisian politics. Get the job done. You can't get a bill passed, instead of complaining that the president stopped you, build a coalition that will get it passed. Klein was elected to do a job and he hasn't done anything but pass meaningless resolutions naming roads and pythons in the everglades. I'll vote for whoever puts what's best above partisian politics is who I'll vote for.

[alex]

7:29, if this is a tampa only blog then why is Klein's name mentioned? Why are there people on here talking about him. I guess I can assume that you are working for Klein since you are backing him up. See how that game works. I do live in the 22nd and I read the sptimes blogs because they can be informative and quick with what is happening. I am a registered democrat. Am I a Nancy Pelosi democrat, no. As a democrat do I have to support every democrat, no. We complained about the republicans doing just that, I refuse to follow suit. Klein ran as a moderate and that is why I supported him. I was tired of blind support of the president. Now we have just changed blind support of one to another. I am sick and tired of partisian politics. Get the job done. You can't get a bill passed, instead of complaining that the president stopped you, build a coalition that will get it passed. Klein was elected to do a job and he hasn't done anything but pass meaningless resolutions naming roads and pythons in the everglades. I'll vote for whoever puts what's best above partisian politics is who I'll vote for.

[carl]

I liked the old forum better

So, is the Times protecting Allen by dumping the blogs?... or are they just shocked that a gay pervert got what was coming to him... hmmmmm!

This blog discusses issues of general importance. In that sense, it transcends regionalism. That's why you see people beyond the Tampa Bay area pop up. Like that creep Bob Allen.

That being said. I have a suggestion for Alex: visit http://www.allenwestforcongress.com/

Go hear the man speak. I did and I was very pleaseantly surprised.

[Gene Smith]

Alex,

You should know that the Republican trick of having people posting to blogs proclaiming themselves to be Democrats is widely known and roundly laughed at. Just like your triple post above.

Real Dems do not feel the urge to have to proclaim themselves to be Democrats. We just speak on our Democratic values and principles that lead us to the policy positions favored by the majority of voters in this country.

Nice try, though. It provides a little comic relief to see what the next "I'm a Democrat, but" post is going to say.

[Zhombre]

That's absolutely right, Gatordem. You can always tell the genuine idiots from the artificial ones. Like you and Susan S., they are really just so full of themselves.

[Gene Smith]

Thanks for the kinfd words, Zhombre. Speaking of full of it...

[ALW]

Well Gene you hit that nail on the head. It is truly laughable when we see the "I'm a Democrat" posts. Only a Republican with little in the way of debating skills would try such an obvious tactic. We've seen them for years on message boards and they have been proven time and time again to be phonies.

yeah! a real democrat would never admit they were a democrat!

Yeah, Alex. You can tell the writer is a D when they want to tax the working class into oblivion to carry the welfare class, hate everything America stands for and get mad and attack you persnally when you use reason and facts.

[ALW]

LOL @ 11;47 - The Bush administration and the formerly Republican controlled congress has done more to destroy the middle/working class than any administration/congress in history.

[Zhombre]

Yeah, we know ... worst President in history ... worst policy blunders since the Dawn of Time ... blah blah blah ... the usual litany from a herd of dull witted partisan imps ... what a pack of nonentities puffing themselves up by their so-called progressive politics!

ALW - Isn't it shame Bush IS NOT running. The dead wood like Foley, Santorum and others are gone and now, my goodness, the Ds may actually have to come up with IDEAS instead of just contrariness to run!

So what IDEAS does that little rodent Klein (whose sense of ethics mirrors his name) bring?

[ALW]

Oh you mean ideas like actually protecting and defending the constitution? That isn't a new idea but one the Republicans have forgotten.

Protect & defend the Constitution? Your butt. The Democrats stand for higher taxes and lower defenses. Joe Lieberman is right: they are too much controlled by the kooks in the netroots.

[Zhombre]

I used to vote straight Democrat. Now I don't. You guys can believe that if you want, or you can go to hell, makes no difference to me.

[ALW]

3:34 You been listening to Billo and Slush too much. It was Cheney that made the largest defense cut. It is Bush and the Republicans that have spent us into 9 trillion in debt and folks like you that want war but don't want to pay for it.

Zhombre - oops, using Rove's "Democrat" instead of Democratic puts the lie to your statement.

[ALW]

No tax cuts for the rich during war time! We've had enough of trickle down and the SPEND & SPEND Republicans.

As I said, the Ds are going to have to come up with IDEAS. Not just naysaying. Doesn't look like they know how...

[ALW]

Here's another idea for ya - fiscal responsibility. Two words that cannot be used in the same sentence with the word Republican.

Two words no Democrat candidate can even spell...

With such powerful fundraising, looks like the Democrats will retain both chambers of Congress and win the executive branch too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually "fiscal responsibility" are words used as rhetoric, but not done by both political parties.

6:51 - too true. But Rodent Klein sure isn't the answer. What has he even tried to do? In fact, what has the D controlled Congress done at all?

[Zhombre]

Zhombre - oops, using Rove's "Democrat" instead of Democratic puts the lie to your statement.

What a genius of analysis you are, ALW! Since you are calling me a liar I think it fair if I call you an a**hole. You're wrong. I voted strictly DEMOCRATIC (there, is that better now?) thru 1996.

[ALW]

Thanks for the compliment Zhombre and of course for the juvenile name calling. Me thinks thou doth protest too much.

[Zhombre]

It was hardly a compliment and to exchange posts with you is like arguing with a cinder block.

Tremendously insightful debate going on here. I'm fully expecting the sentence, "You're a poopy-head," any minute now.

[ALW]

Yes the level of discourse has indeed been reduced significantly in recent weeks. However, that is not an excuse to use vile language like "poopy-head". Where will this lead? No doubt to more disgusting language, insults like scaredy-cat and taunts like na-na-na-na-bo-bo.

Stop the madness.