Honoring Ray Sansom, 'Florida's fullback'

Republicans have just nominated Ray Sansom as Speaker of the Florida House, handing power to a low-key but loyal GOP soldier from the Panhandle who will rule amid one of the worst budget outlooks in state history. (Sansom's speech is here. Later, Sansom took questions from reporters.)

Rep. Marcelo Llorente, likely to inherit the role of budget chief from Sansom, called him "a leader among leaders" and said he will bring to the office the same steady hand and "tenacity" he showed in guiding House races over the past few cycles.

Llorente said Sansom, a high school football player who lives in Destin, will be Florida's "fullback ... tackling the tough issues."

Rep. Kevin Ambler picked up the football thread. "He may admit to be a little slower now, but I can assure you he is faster and smarter than ever on the political game field."

The caucus meeting began on a high note from Rep. Kurt Kelly of Ocala, who played guitar and sang God Bless America. Buzz audio here. (House photo by Mark Foley. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

Lets get all of the casino's legal and make money for the people!!!
why should the indians be rich without working?
I want casino's, no income tax!!!

Voice of less government, less taxes, and more FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!

yawn.....not even any responses here.
No surprises either.

[Realist]

I listened to his speech. We are in real trouble. This guy will cut the heart and soul out of our state before raising taxes on corporations. This guy sounds as smart as Sarah Palin. All republican talking points. "People are exhausted by government" is what he says. No, people are exhausted by bad government. If we elect people
like this who do not believe in government, what do you expect. Prepare yourself Florida for really bad times. We deserve them for electing republicans like this.

[South Florida]

Mr Samson, why would you want this job? The worst economic times in memory? If all you do is cut social services and education in your budget without raising revenue, republicans will take a major fall as we fall deeper into chaos. We need a competent and responsible legislative agenda. It doesnt look like we will get one.

The look on Faye Culp's face is absolutely priceless!

[Martha Dunstock]

Indeed. Faye Culp is merely expressing what the rest of us are thinking.

By the by, wasn't Kurt Kelly the name of one bullies from the movie Heathers?

mindless wingnuts. still going through the motions of steering the sinking ship. while the rest of the nation is waking up from a bad dream, we get these panhandle racist yahoo relics to "lead" us backwards into the past.

Is it true that Jim Greer chartered a private plane to see the speech??

[LLFant]

give sansom a chance.

greer needs to go!!

charlie crist is great, and he deserves a real chairman of the party.

7:09, simply because you and Ray Sansom disagree on the role of government in our lives, does not mean he is stupid. Stigmatizing Republicans as stupid is the oldest ploy in the liberal playbook.
Florida's economy will be better for the business-friendly policies of these next 2 years in the Florida House - just watch.

Kelly should go home and play guitar. He really is a frustrated wanna be entertainer.

[ZZ Flop]

Kelly, Dorkworth, Greer...

[Ignore at your own peril]

Failed conservative ideology has destroyed our economy and is impoverising our middle class. Better get smart and elect some politicians who are not in the pockets of big business. What's good for corporations is not good for Florida or its citizens; unless you're extremely rich.

Umm, idiot, who do you think works for all those evil corporations? Maybe most Floridians? Business is the engine of society...without it there's no wealth for the government to redistribute. Get over it, or at least read something not written by a 60's radical who has never built anything with his hands in his life except a bomb.

[Ignore at your own peril]

Government should work for the people, and not be in the pockets of big business. Kool-Aid drinking fools like 8:42 would love for you to believe that while the rich CEOs get richer, you are also benefiting, but this is not the case. Conseratives are merely shifting the wealth to the fat cats and throwing you a subsistence job to keep you happy. A strong middle class is what helps American business. Elect Democrats and support higher wages, health care, and benefits as a mandatory part of a business's operating expenses and let the wealthy live within their means. Better listen while you still can.

[Ignore at your own peril]

A good editorial from Joseph E. Stiglitz that discusses the conservative plan to redistribute our wealth upward and destroy our government in the process:

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2008/11/the-seven-deadly-deficits.html

I had my first post removed. I used the term "back-side." OOOOHHHH! I wonder if this one will even make it up.

Fullbacks don't make tackles unless your team fumbles the ball. OK. I get it.

He didn't say that Sansom was stupid. He just said he looked as smart as Palin. Why are you so defensive? Do you think that Palin is stupid?