Marco Rubio

Miami, FL–U.S. Senate candidate and former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio today issued the following statement on the anniversary of the September 11th attacks:

“On this eighth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we remember the heroes who perished that day and grieve with the loved ones they left behind. Their memory endures in a nation blessed to have known such extraordinary souls.

“We commemorate the heroism of first responders and passengers who helped save lives in the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and on the ground. Like so many generations of Americans before them, these selfless individuals valiantly rose to the occasion when our nation needed them most. In doing so, they inspired the world.

“We honor the work of the brave men and women who have served in our armed forces, intelligence community, law enforcement and public safety agencies. Together, they have labored courageously and often anonymously to prevent another similar tragedy on U.S. soil. Especially today, they deserve our respect, admiration and appreciation for all they have done and continue to do to keep us safe.

“The world remains a dangerous place amidst the persistent threat of violent jihadists. As we remember 9/11, we should find a renewed and reinvigorated sense of purpose for the greatest of all causes – protecting America and our way of life.”

A pair of Orange County Republican party leaders have been suspended by state party Chairman Jim Greer, and Brevard County GOP chief Jason Steele has been put on probation as part of a wider raft of punishments recently handed out to members who have been critical of the Florida party’s current leadership.

Orange Republican executive committee members Nick Egoroff — suspended for four years — and Ax the Tax activist Doug Guetzloe — suspended 13 months, two years of probation — both plan to file legal appeals to overturn the sanctions.

“This is nothing but trying to take out the groups opposing Jim Greer’s leadership,” Egoroff said.

Egoroff said a a host of other Greer critics from all over Florida suffered the same fate, accusing them of supporting non-Republican candidates or just being “detrimental” to the party. He expected that same group to file a class-action lawsuit against the party to get the probation and suspension terms killed.

Some in this singled out group have come to call the whole episode a Florida Republican Party “purge.”

“This is clearly a party purge,” Guetzloe said. “Party purges were popular with Stalin, Hitler and now Jim Greer all denying free speech.”

Guetzloe said he will tap long-time legal advocate Fred O’Neil to file a First Amendment lawsuit against Orange Chairman Lew Oliver, and possibly other local GOP officers.

“This is just really painful to me, because I’ve put a lot of work into this party,” Egoroff said.

Egoroff and Guetzloe have been at odds with current Orange GOP Chairman Lew Oliver, who filed the grievance complaints against the two dissidents. Another Oliver critic, Deon Long, had already been removed from his party post by the state.

Steele relested this statement:  statement said the probation was a price he was willing to pay for standing up for his principles.

Later by phone Steele said that if the state party hoped to “stifle” his activity with the official punishment, “that’s just not going to happen.”

“We can’t be stifled in Brevard County,” Steele said. “It’s unified the party here.”

Charlie Crist

Tallahassee –The Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate campaign today announced the endorsement of Florida National Committeeman Paul Senft. A member of the Republican National Committee, Senft also serves on the RNC Executive Committee. Paul Senft also served on the Polk County Commission, as well as Polk County State Committeeman and as Chairman of the Polk County Republican Executive Committee.

“I am proud to endorse Governor Crist as Florida’s the next elected Senator,” said Senft. “Over the years, Governor Crist has demonstrated his commitment to reducing the burden of property taxes and homeowners insurance, to ensure that the dream of homeownership is a reality for more Floridians. A former Education Commissioner, his work with Republican leaders in Tallahassee led Florida’s public education system to rank in the top ten nationally. Additionally, his higher education reform legislation will ensure that Florida’s colleges and universities remain competitive.

“From the State Senate, where he worked to pass the ‘Stop Prisoners from Turning Out’ legislation, to the Attorney General’s Office, where he protected Floridian’s from fraud during the 2004 and 2005 Hurricane Seasons, to the Governor’s Office where he worked to pass the Anti-Murder Act, Governor Crist’s staunch advocacy for public safety has kept criminals off of our streets and away from our children,” continued Senft.

“Governor Crist has stands by conservative Republican principles that keep our country strong. He is the type of leader we need in Washington, and I am proud to support his campaign,” concluded Senft.

Paul Senft joins many national and state Republican leaders including the endorsements of National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman and Senator John Cornyn, Senator Mitch McConnell, Senator John McCain, Senator Lamar Alexander, Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Mel Martinez, former Senator Connie Mack, Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Congressman Connie Mack, Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño,  Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, Congressman Vern Buchanan, and former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Al Cardenas.

Pinellas County Republican Party of Florida official Tony DiMatteo has been appointed the chairman of the RPOF “grievance committee,” the body appointed by state party boss Jim Greer to “purge the party of the dissidents.” as Greer stated in a Palm Beach Post article (State GOP “impotent,” former chairman says) posted today.

The “party purge” began two weeks ago when Florida’s top African-American GOP leader, Winter Park attorney Deon Long, was abruptly removed from his position on the Orange County Republican Executive Committee and according to a letter from Greer “banned for life” from the Republican Party.

Long’s sin: challenging current Greer ally Lew Oliver for Chairman and then challenging the election result (Oliver ran the election, counted the ballots and declared himself the winner by one vote 122-121-2 after “disqualifying” 19 Long supporters the night of the vote.)

The purge continued yesterday with a “hearing” against Orange County GOP committeeman Nick Egoroff, a prominent Ron Paul meetup organizer and member of the Republican Liberty Caucus and Ax the Tax Chairman Doug Guetzloe, an elected member of the Orange county REC for 29 years.

The meeting began with DiMatteo literally “throwing out their own rules on evidence and witnesses,” stated Guetzloe.  “When we showed up we found out that Lew Oliver was allowed to bring 10 witnesses with him and reams of ‘evidence’ to be submitted at that moment without any prior disclosure as required by the RPOF rules.  The rules required that Oliver submit to us all evidence; witnesses and statements five (5) days prior to the hearing – not only did we not receive any of this in advance – but we were never told we could bring any evidence or witnesses with us.”

Egoroff and Guetzloe have retained First Amendment Attorney Fred O’Neal to represent them in this effort.  It was quickly shown to be an uneven playing field when Mr. O’Neal’s court reporter was thrown out of the room before the “hearing” got underway, with RPOF legal counsel stating that there would be “no recording or transcript of the meeting,” thus violating the Florida Rules of Evidence that allow transcripts of any quasi-legal proceeding to preserve the right to appeal with a complete record.  “Apparently RPOF wants no record of the meeting and RPOF also banned any of us from recording the meeting,” Guetzloe stated.

“Not being allowed to bring any evidence or witnesses was one thing, but then allowing Mr. Oliver to bring witnesses and present evidence instantly showed us that without a doubt, this is a party purge and it was a rigged operation,” Guetzloe stated.

Currently Greer has up to forty “grievances” against outspoken party leaders of which the common denominators are: Marco Rubio supporters; Draft Dockery for Governor supporters (Guetzloe and Egoroff are Co-Chairmen for that effort); open primary supporters; Republican Liberty Caucus members and Ron Paul supporters, thirty of these have not yet been submitted to the star chamber.

Brevard County REC Chairman Jason Steele was singled out for simply opposing Greer’s efforts to invoke RPOF Rule 11 that would have forced local REC’s to endorse his choices for the US Senate and Governor in advance of the 2010 GOP Primary.  The grievance committee will consider another seven (7) removals this weekend.

“The grievances against me included: using my radio show, The Guetzloe Report, to oppose the party purge; speaking out against Lew Oliver and supporting Deon Long for party positions – all clearly my rights under the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights,” Guetzloe stated.

“We have since learned that Mr. DiMatteo has a record of opposing party inclusion as shown by this video and statement where he threatened other party leaders with personal violence:”

Daily Paul reports

Tony DiMatteo threatens bodily harm to Ron Paul supporter

December 1, 2007

She called Tony DeMatteo on Thursday to take issue with the unethical way the straw poll was conducted and the fact that she purchased a block of tickets only because of the information the REC provided her, to learn that the information was false. Tony DiMatteo then told Sophie ” it is too bad for you and if you start any trouble you will be hurt”.

Sophie, shocked, upset and concerned from being threatened called Clearwater Meetup Organizer Paul Bourgeois. Paul had previously talked to Tony about all of the rule changes. Tony made it clear that Paul BETTER not take it any further or it would make us (Ron Paul Supporters) look real bad.

Physically intimidating and threatening people are completely unacceptable behaviors. Tony DeMatteo’s actions needs to be addressed by the Republican leadership and the Pinellas county REC members.

Tony DeMatteo is the Chairman of the Pinellas County Republican Party.

Video here.

UPDATE: More here.

“After the verbal presentations by Egoroff, Guetzloe and O’Neal, the committee went into “Executive Session” and removed everyone from the room and then voted to ban both of us from the Republican Party for allegedly supporting “special meetings” of the REC so that business could be conducted.  To date, Lew Oliver has not had one meeting since his election in that a quorum was present.  We used existing GOP party rules to have a special meeting by petition, a meeting that Lew Oliver called, wrote and threatened individuals to ‘not attend,’” Guetzloe stated.

“We understand from sources that were present during the closed meeting of the committee that the vote was unanimous to remove Mr. Egoroff and myself from the Republican Party, a move that will be challenged in court,” Guetzloe stated.  “This is just the beginning of this battle, the first shot.”

Lew Oliver is currently facing several criminal complaints filed against him by Orange County Republican Executive Committee member Keith Recine with various law enforcement entities for allegedly “co-mingling” contributions to the party and for writing $14,000 in checks to himself without any documentation.

Additionally, according to court filings, Oliver is pursuing the taking the “jewelry and antiques” from the wife’s of two fellow Republican leaders – State RPOF member Jim Stelling and State Representative Chris Dorworth, all three were involved in the collapse of a multi-million dollar land deal recently.

Jason Steele

In an ever-widening effort, the GOP party purge that began with the removal of Orange County Republican Leader Deon Long, the leading African-American Republican leader in Florida has now been extended to over a dozen other conservative GOP leaders from Pensacola to Miami.  It has just been learned that former State Representative, the Honorable Jason Steele, Chairman of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee has also been targeted for removal by a Greer appointed “grievance” committee that Greer boasted last week was “handpicked” to vote out his opponents.

Chairman Steele just released the following statement:

Brevard REC Chairman: Party Leaders Targeted by RPOF Bosses, Who is Next?

From the Desk of Jason Steele, Chairman, Brevard Republican Executive Committee

Brevard Republican Party

2525 Aurora Rd. Suite 105

Melbourne, Florida 32935

(321) 254-0073

URGENT!!!

Republicans Are being Targeted: You Could Be Next!

ACTION NEEDED NOW

It’s been more than a month of debate since Brevard County Republican Chair, Jason Steele, led his local party in voicing decent over the early endorsements of primary candidates by state party bosses, and statewide Republicans remain engaged in a battle for the soul of the Republican Party.

Following Steele’s announcement that his local party would not support primary endorsements by the state political machine, and the subsequent resignation of the Brevard Republican Executive Committee Secretary, Travis Clinger, who was asked to resign amidst allegations that he acted against his organizations vote to rebuke state bosses, RPOF has begun a purge of independent minded Republican leaders throughout the state.

Deon Long, one of the state’s most influential African American leaders, was recently removed and banned for life from participating in Republican Party activities, after he spoke out criticizing party big wigs for their attacks on Republican Liberty Caucus leader Will Pitts.

“This is the kind of witch hunt that will only serve to purge loyal conservative Republicans, and make room for cronies who will tow the line behind part fat cats and their pet candidates,” said Brevard Chairman Jason Steele. “In a time when we are working so hard at the local level to expand the outreach of the conservative message, we need leaders like Deon, and Will Pitts, and a hundred others. This is not the time to stifle debate by silencing the real leaders of our party.”

Steele himself has been notified that he is the target of a grievance alleging he violated the RPOF loyalty oath by his actions at the local level. “I have been and remain a loyal Republican, but I have not been, and will not be a mindless follower of the state ‘party line,’” said Steele. “We are engaged in nothing less than a battle for the soul of our party, and our nation, and I will not sit by and watch as voices are shunned for speaking out!”

Steele called RPOF actions a “purge” and said he and other leaders around the state would fight to see that every Republican voice counted, and that the party returned to the corps values that he said his organization was built upon.

“We live in a nation facing tough economic times, threats to our way of life are at home and abroad, and the world marches forward looking to us for leadership, and it troubles me that the party of Lincoln and Reagan is being decimated by a hand full of good ole’ boys looking to preserve their own power,” said Steele. “We have been the party of ideas, of true inclusion, and now we must remind every Republican of that, and we must call on each other’s strength and commitment to restore and rejuvenate our ‘Grand Old Party’”

If you feel as strongly as I do, Please contact us and help us take our party back. (321) 258-8993, or e-mail rfbjasonsteele@juno.com. Your help is vital if we are going to restore individual accountability to our party and our nation!

Sincerely,

Jason Steele
Chairman

Brevard Republican Executive Committee

http://brevardrepublicans.org/2008/12/15/hello-world/

Alex Sink

TALLAHASSEE — State Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is the top fundraiser in the governor’s race, but her financial report released Friday suggests she’s in damage control over her use of state airplanes.

The report shows her campaign recently made an unusual $17,000 payment to her own agency for 20 airplane trips to different cities where she had state business — and campaign events.

”We did this in an abundance of caution,” said Sink’s chief spokeswoman, Kyra Jennings, adding that the CFO is going “above and beyond the requirements of the law.”

Sink, a Democrat who has raised $1.3 million in the April through June quarter, instantly came under fire from her Republican rival, Attorney General Bill McCollum, who has raised slightly more than $1 million since his campaign began in May.

Sink clearly appeared to violate state statutes that require officials to use state aircraft only for official business, said Shannon Gravitte, a McCollum spokeswoman.

”No amount of reimbursing can excuse illegal use of a state plane,” she said.

Among the trips: a May 11 flight from Tampa to Orlando where Sink attended four state events followed by a ”personal event” from 5 to 6:30 p.m., according to her calendar. On Feb. 16, Sink flew from Tallahassee to Destin to speak to a sheriff’s conference and had ”personal events” from 10 a.m. until noon.

EASY ACCESS

Sink’s chief of staff, Jim Cassady, ordered the campaign to reimburse the state June 25, a day after a report ran in the the Herald/Times detailing how Sink and McCollum used the state plane to get easy access to their Central Florida homes.

The papers also reported that state auditors had concluded that Sink spent $27,200, while McCollum spent $12,600 to travel between the capital and their homes. It provoked ethics complaints against each of them from partisan political activists.

McCollum lives in Longwood near Orlando, and Sink lives in Thonotosassa near Tampa.

Unlike Sink, McCollum has not used the state plane since he has announced his candidacy. Two days before, Sink announced she was running for governor, scuttling her bid to seek a second term as CFO.

Many of the contributors to her CFO campaign allowed their money to be rolled over into her race for governor. A few dozen donors — many Republicans — didn’t. She returned their contributions of about $19,000.

McCollum, by contrast, didn’t have a re-election account. He opened his campaign account for governor on May 15 and had 43 days to complete his fundraising.

Because she transferred so much cash from her CFO race, Sink has $2.1 million on hand — double the amount McCollum has, according to the financial reports.

Cassady completed an internal review into her airplane use ordered by his boss on Friday and concluded that Sink never violated state laws by allowing family to hitch rides on state airplanes or, in one case, to fly from Miami to Fort Lauderdale to catch a commercial flight to a vacation condo in the Bahamas.

POTENTIAL PROBLEM

But two weeks ago, Cassady flagged a potential problem with her travel and campaigning, noting she used the state plane 11 times and commercial aircraft nine times. ”While CFO Sink engaged in activities for state business using state aircraft,” he wrote in the June 25 memo, “she also included some activities to further her candidacy.”

In announcing her campaign fundraising totals, Sink made no mention of the airplane controversy.

”I am overwhelmed by the continued outpouring of support from everyday Floridians who are ready for a new and different kind of leader,” Sink said. “Floridians are coming together to send a clear message that they are tired of politics as usual in Tallahassee.”

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink may not rival the present governor when it comes to raising campaign dollars, but she did OK in the second quarter of 2009.

Sink & McCollum

The state’s sitting chief financial officer raised over $1.28 million in the fundraising quarter between April 1-June 30, her campaign reported Friday. She has now raised $2.4 million for the 2010 governor’s race.

Attorney General Bill McCollum, who is expected to be Sink’s opponent, reported his campaign raised $1.03 million in the last 43 days of the quarter.

Gov. Charlie Crist, who is leaving that office after just one term to seek a vacant U.S. Senate seat, reported Thursday that he’d raised $4.3 million in the last seven weeks of the second quarter.

Jim Greer

On July 2, Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer officially removed Deon Long from his precinct committeeman post with the Orange County Republican Executive Committee as punishment for Long’s attempted takeover of OCREC.

Back in December, longtime OCREC chairman Lew Oliver was re-elected by one vote over the insurgent Long, a Winter Park lawyer, but only after rejecting more than a dozen or so potential Long votes because they didn’t turn in paperwork on time. Long and his allies sued, but a court dismissed his claims.

Calling that election invalid – two OCREC members abstained, which in Long’s view means that Oliver didn’t get the majority he needed – Long held a sort of shadow meeting in February, at which he was elected OCREC chairman. Except he wasn’t, because the state party didn’t recognize his “victory.” Greer summoned Long to a grievance hearing in March, where Oliver presented his case that Long should be ejected from the local GOP. Long didn’t show.

Finally, last week Long received the not-unexpected decision in a terse, one-page letter: “I accept and adopt the [grievance committee’s] unanimous recommendation that you should be removed from the position of Orange County Republican Precinct Committeeman effective immediately,” Greer wrote. “Please govern yourself accordingly.”

Greer’s decision “doesn’t have any consequences,” Long says dismissively. He recently re-filed his lawsuit against OCREC. He’s all but announced his campaign for Congress against Suzanne Kosmas.

This evening brought word of yet another Republican being brought to the grievance committee. Will Pitts of St. John’s County. In his grievance letter he received it stated why he was being brought to the committee.  Here are the reasons

1. Attended a Pro-America Rally in Minneapolis hosted by the Campaign for Liberty and wore a “Ron Paul” button on my lapel after the Republican primary
2. Attended an End the Fed (Federal reserve bank) Rally in Jacksonville
3. Spoke or written things in a manner harmful to the GOP specially regarding RPOF Chairman Jim Greer and Gov. Charlie Crist by stating they are “pathetic and embarrassing” and other comments regarding Senator John McCain and President George Bush.

Is this really a party that I want to be a part of?  I wouldn’t think all Republicans feel the same way Greer does.  It would lead one to think he is on a little bit of an ego trip.

Eating your own does not seem to help the Republican Party either.  With so much effort being put in by the GOP with Drive the Discussion round tables, and the listening tour it would seem that the party wouldn’t want to cause members to jump ship.

If Republicans want to get their party back it is time to stand up. We will not win in 2012 with the same people like Greer destroying the Republican Party.

Republicans are just coming off of a HUGE loss to Democrats.  It would appear that the Republican Party would want to be in a BUILDING PHASE rather than a tearing down stage.

Dan Gelber

State Representatives Darryl Rouson (D-Tampa), Janet Long (D-Seminole), Michael Scionti (D-Tampa), Bill Heller (D-St. Petersburg) and Betty Reed (D-Tampa) today announced their endorsement of Senator Dan Gelber (D-Miami Beach) as Florida’s next Attorney General.

Rep. Darryl Rouson said, “Floridians need strong leaders who are going to fight for their rights and protect them from unscrupulous practices. I witnessed Dan’s strong leadership skills on the House Floor and as Florida’s next Attorney General, he will continue to be a voice of reason on reforming the status quo and the way business is done in Tallahassee.”

Rep. Janet Long said, “After serving with Dan for two years in the Florida House , I know he will stand up to protect Floridians who have been victims of fraud and dishonest practices. He has the mindset and courtroom experience we need in our next Attorney General. I am proud to endorse Dan in his new journey to serve the people of Florida as their Attorney General.”

Rep. Michael Scionti said, “Having served with Dan, I know he will lead the charge to protect consumers and be a real voice for everyday Floridians. Dan has fought against public corruption and wasteful spending and will put his skill sets to work as Florida’s next Attorney General.”

Rep. Bill Heller said, “I have met few individuals who share Dan’s passion and drive to bring change to Florida. Working families across our state need Dan in Tallahassee and on the Cabinet working to keep our communities safe. I am proud to stand with him because he is the type of leader we need working on behalf of Floridians. ”

Rep. Betty Reed said, “I am supporting Dan because he is never afraid to take a stand and fight for what is right. He has always been the first to demand accountability and has long been a champion of transparency and an open government.”

“Our state faces enormous challenges and we need leaders in Tallahassee that will stand up to change the status quo,” said Sen. Gelber. “Floridians need a stronger commitment to public safety and consumer protections from our state government. I want to bring about that commitment to keep Floridians safe at home and in their communities.”

Dan Gelber was elected to the State House of Representatives in 2000, serving as the House Democratic Leader from 2006-2008; and elected to the State Senate in 2008. Prior to elected life, Dan spent nearly a decade as a federal prosecutor, working mostly on public corruption, narcotics and civil rights cases, and serving as a top deputy in that office. He was then appointed chief counsel and staff director for the United States Senate’s investigations committee where he focused primarily on terrorism and domestic security. Dan is an AV rated attorney and listed in various peer review publications including Best Lawyers in America and Florida’s Legal Elite. He and his wife Joan Silverstein make their home in Miami Beach with their three children. For more information about Dan Gelber, please visit www.dangelber.com.