Online poll: Should Sansom resign?

Progress Florida, a liberal advocacy group in Tallahassee, is trying to ratchet up the heat on House Speaker Ray Sansom, asking in an online poll if the House Speaker should be censured, step down as speaker or give up his "sweetheart" job at Northwest Florida State College.

"On the same day Ray Sansom (R-Destin) was named the new Speaker of the Florida House it was announced he would be drawing a six-figure salary from Northwest Florida State College (formerly Okaloosa-Walton Community College)," the poll reads. "And get this: Earlier this year, in the midst of a state budget crisis, Sansom steered $25-million to the college even though officials only requested $1-million." The St. Petersburg Times story on this issue is here.

Also, Sansom's home paper, the Northwest Florida Daily News, has a biting editorial today. "The Destin Republican deserves every bit of the grief he's getting. After having pushed for more transparency in colleges' decision-making, Rep. Sansom should have known better than to cut a deal with Dr. Richburg outside the public eye - especially a deal that's so outlandishly lucrative. A part-time job at $110,000? No wonder people are angry."

The St. Petersburg Times has another editorial on the situtation, calling for Sasnsom to quit the college. Read it here.

Comments

Let's hold our own poll. (Norquista and McToady please refrain from voting under all 12 of your Ids, OK?)

My Vote: Resign you crook!

Don't ALL lawmakers steeer money home to their communities?

Resign the speakership for theft of state funds.

If he doesn't resign he should be removed.

Progress Florida doesn't give you the results of that poll. Why? Are they afraid the results won't go their way? Or just planning to manipulate them?

How silly!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[razor]

Agree the crook should resign both posts and apologize to the taxpayers and the Republican Party. Thanks to Alex Leary and Troxler and the Times for this.

He should resign from speaker. It would be far cheaper for the state to let him keep the sweet job rather than do further damage.

If he's managed to do this before actually taking the podium I hate to see what he'll do in the next to years.

Did the ST. Petersburg Times SHAME a woman into giving up a salary at a college a couple of months ago?

What's good for the hen is good for the co ck.

10:44 -- its used to collect email addresses...

Bill Clinton was hounded and impeached by the GOP for less. C'mon GOPers prove you're really values-oriented and get rid of this guy Sansom, he's a disgrace!

I have to agree that not showing the poll is rather weak, very weak. The results should be shown to those who vote. That's exactly why I didn't bother forwarding to other people.

He won't resign, anyone arrogant enough to do the things he's done surely isn't interested in doing the right thing now that he's been caught.

The truth has come out on this guy.
What is important is that we now know the type of man and leader he is.

He's a hypocrite and a fraud and everyone knows it.

The Republican Party needs and deserves better!

[Mark]

We are adding the results (updated every 1.5 hours) to the page that comes up after you hit the "submit" button.

Results so far:
50% Resign from Speakership
25% Resign from new Job at college
21% Legislature should censure
3% He’s done nothing wrong
<1% It’s wrong, but we should move on

(400 votes so far, polls been open 1.2 hours)

It is important to establish that Sansom quitting this position now does not end this story. Even if he quits the sweetheart position, there must be an investigation of Sansom's use of staff to slip nearly 28 million dollars into the budget over the Speaker's objection. There must be an in depth investigation of that process and how and why this appropriation came to or the immediate return of all funds that were diverted to this college. Bottom line: THE HOUSE NEEDS TO APPOINT AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER.

[Gilbert]

I don't think the speaker should resign, I would like to see an honest and fair investigation of this situation. If he is cleared by the investigation, no harm no file AND we owe him and his family a great apology!

On the other hand, if he is found to be less than truthful, not only should he resign or be impeached, but he should also be vigorously prosecuted.

I am a Republican, and it is high time WE own up to some of this "you can't touch me hogwash" and get back to governing based on our values, beliefs and leadership.

In order to point the finger at the other parties, I strongly suggest we clean up our own backyard, FIRST!

Gilbert - I appreciate your responsible attitude, but why is an investigation necessary? What we know already is not contested and it's clearly enough to demonstrate an ethical lapse of huge proportions. Do you have reason to believe that there was criminal activity involved as well?

Also, if the investigation finds that staff was dishonest with Speaker Rubio about the twenty eight million dollar appropriation in order to curry favor with the incoming administration, as has been suggested by others, then the staff, ought to be fired on the spot. There is no excuse for insubordination to the tune of 28 million in taxpayer money.

12:17 where this much smoke, you would be remiss not to at least investigate to determine if there is fire as well.

[Gilbert]

12:17, Thanks!

I honestly feel that without an investigation we will do a great disservice to the parties involved. I feel not only is it an ethical issue but a legal issue as well...ie...corruption. However I want to be sure, and the only to be sure, is an investigation.

11:36 you expect us to believe that??

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Is this like Obama's wife getting a humongous raise right after Obama got a huge amount of money for the hospital she worked for in Chicago?

Oh, that's right. They're Democrats.

12:22 I agree with you, but disagree with Gilbert in that I think there is more than enough obvious wrongdoing for Sansom to resign even before an investigation takes place.

12:36 Good point. Pales in comparison to the 3 trillion Bush spent on his pals in Big Oil or the no-bid contracts Cheney handed to Haliburton, though. I mean we're talking 4000+ Americans and untold Iraqis who died to make a profit for the Republicans' pet corporations. That's murder and they should be impeached for it.

Meanwhile, Sansom should resign.

Wasn't Bob Ward fired by Speaker Rubio?

12:35 The 3% obviously represents you. Why don't you do your job and go vote a few more times and help your crooked wingnut pal out like you're paid to do.

12:58, your comment is offensive and should be removed from the blog.

[Donald McLance - Field Marshall for Eugenics and Panzercorps Gunner 1st class]

The only poster on the blog who calls Barack Obama "Barry" and is a bigot and racist is that fool Donald Lance. I guess he prefers to remain anonymous when posting his hate, in the hopes that someone might take his libertarian political blather seriously.

1:08

Obama went by the name Barry for a while

WILL THE TIMES GET ANSWERS TO ITS OWN QUESTIONS FROM LAST SUNDAYS EDITORIAL RELATIVE TO SANSON'S USE OF STAFF TO HIDE THE 28 MILLION APPROPRIATION?

1:25 Yes, Donald explained that to us in between his racist hate-filled rants. Did you know that Bob Barr was also known as "Bobbie" and "Barbie"?

Poll Results
As of 12/4/08 @ 1:00pm

Resign as House Speaker: 295 (47%)
Resign from Community College: 162 (26%)
House should censure: 146 (23%)
He's done nothing wrong: 16 (3%)
He's wrong, but move on: 5 (1%)

Fake email addressess are wonderful!

let it go folks, look at the big picture.

Getting the worms out IS the big picture.

barry? who is barry?

Has he resigned yet?

I heard a rumor he's resigning tomorrow morning.

The press can not let up on this story if Sansom simply resigns the position. Plain and simple, he stole state money to fill his pockets. Quitting the position now doesn't rectify the theft of state funds.

This guys track record of spending state money to benefit himself. I would guess that there is a line of people who would hire Sansom for more than $110,000 to lard the budget up with projects. Resigning the position resolves nothing.

he has called a press conference for tomorrow at 10:30. i bet he resigns then.

what a joke this guy turned out to be.

Where are the Democratic members? Why are they remaining silent? While Sansom seems to be a thug, political courage and conviction is needed at this time.

First, Obama did go by Barry for nearly 20+ years and the mere fact most of you people don't know that and still voted for him says a lot about how vetted he was. I'm pretty sure he's not ashamed of it so why would you all take it as if it’s a negative comment?

Second, comparing the commission of perjury in front of a Federal Grand Jury while being President AND an attorney (that's pretty much taught day 1 in law school as a no no) to a State Rep taking another job when Florida's Constitution defines them as "part time" citizen legislators is pretty weak.

That being said, I agree it looks really bad and he should resign simply to avoid the implication of impropriety it has created for him due to the hire.

But please, take the partisan glasses of and stop acting like only Rs make poor decisions while in office. Stupidity and corruption have and will always remain nonpartisan activities. To believe otherwise will only continue to undermine your arguments.

4:05 Calling someone "monkeyboy" is racist. Just ask Howard Cosell. And I'll forgive the blue dress over the 4000+ dead soldiers anyday. Clinton payed his dues for his indiscretion; now it's high time for Bush, Cheney, and Sansom to pay for their crimes too.

No way will Tubby back away from the public trough.

I guess Sands is too much of a coward to speak up or take a stand. He's letting Thurmond do his dirty work. He's probably afraid he'll get nothing this session. Never trusted him.

[Mr. Right]

This shouldn't be an issue for Sands its an issue for the republicans. Do they realy want to oontinue to be led by a two face hypocrite.. If they do they REMAIN being a party that countenances selfserving political members and leaders. That boxes them into a terrible position given the budget woes. Sansom preaching that "its not about us" was totally misunderstood. He meant it. We just didn't think that what he meant was "its all about me." Defending Sansom WILL cost republican seats. They need to ask themselves if Samson worth the inevitable loss of seats that condoning this behavior will carry. Is it worth tarnishing THEIR integrity (those that have any) to defend this undeniably selfish act by their leader. Cannon needs to decide if he is going to acquiese in Sansom's self-enrichment scheme or standup and lead the members back to a path of integrity under his leadership. Not an easy call to make but it is the right call to make - NO QUESTION about it. Sansom is too small a man to step down - he will need to be forced out. It should be a unanimous and bipartisan effort. Sooner or later the republicans are going to have to stand up for some integrity or they will have NONE!!!!

Mr. Right,

You are "right" that it is not a Sands issue. And you are also right about Cannon. I caution you not to underestimate Cannon. He is shaking things up at the RPOF.....if Sands had done the same, this would be a different fight.

Prediction: Sansom WILL NOT resign, He will instead essentially tell the press to back off and shut up, because he truly doesn't see that he has done anything wrong. No online poll is gonna change his mind... after all he has the big man upstairs on his side (forget the fact that he sold his soul for 30 million "PECO's" of silver)

[tally]

Agree the only thing that will make this jerk resign or even apologize is massive public outrage and embarrassment. Don't think the Rs have it in them to do the right thing. Their ideology is being tested and found hollow. From a Republican.

[True Republican]

Now hold on. What in the world is wrong with Samson taking tax payers dollars for his own benefit. Come on that's how we Republican have always done it and who are you to say we can't? We have the wealth and will have to do what ever it takes to keep it, it's on fair you know. You can't expect us to suffer like you common people now do you?