Florida Democrats have one foot in a blue state and the other foot firmly planted in a red one. Despite Sen. Barack Obama’s victory in Washington, Tallahasee looks about the same.

Republicans, who in 1996 took control of the Legislature for the first time since Reconstruction, return to Tallahassee with their iron-clad majorities intact. The Senate stayed the same with 26 Republicans and 14 Democrats, while the House is at 76-44 after a one-seat pickup for the Democrats.

Finger-pointing is not only in full swing, but to my mind it’s appropriate. Fellow P.R. editor Buck and I, both Florida residents, have long questioned Karen Thurman’s leadership as head of the Florida Democratic Party (FDP). Thurman is, after all, subcontracted by Republican lobbyist and campaign consultant Al Cardenas. When we and others cried foul over this conflict of interest, we were shouted down by folks who really like Karen as a person.

We’re sure Thurman is just as nice as can be, but after the disappointing results in Florida races last week, it’s time to take another look at the effectiveness of FDP leadership. Almost everyone blames strategy, or lack thereof.

Leading Democrats are at odds and analyzing whether they relied on a strategy that spread their resources too thin across a host of races, rather than zeroing in on a few winnable ones…

Even in a Democratic year, Florida Republicans had distinct advantages. Republican leaders drew district lines to benefit their candidates. That makes it almost impossible for even well-funded Democrats to succeed, [Senate Democratic leader Al] Lawson said.

Republicans also used their financial clout to keep Democrats on the defensive — what Republican strategist Chip Case described as a strategy of outspending and outlasting the Democrats.

Democrats infused at least $75,000 into what should have been a solidly Democratic seat, District 85 in liberal-leaning Palm Beach County. It turns out, it was solidly Democratic — Joseph Abruzzo won with 58 percent of the vote.

Personally, I wonder about the effect of losing Steve Schale, who previously ran House Victory, the FDP’s House campaign office. Schale stepped down to head the Obama campaign’s successful Florida efforts. Not only does it seem that Schale’s effectiveness masked other problems in the party but, going by the FDP’s web site, his position was never filled. In an election year.

Tell me again what a great leader Karen Thurman is?

“I am appalled at the level of Mormon-bashing that went on during the Proposition 8 campaign and continues to this day,” [Jeff Flint, strategist for Yes on 8 campaign] said. “If this activity were directed against any other church, if someone put up a website that targeted Jews or Catholics in a similar fashion for the mere act of participating in a political campaign, it would be widely and rightfully condemned.”

Two things here.

One: How does it feel to be on the wrong side of “bashing” people for the first time in your life, Jeff?

Two: I think you just made the case for taking away the Mormon church’s tax-exempt status. You said the “church” participated in a “political campaign.” The church is welcome to jump into the political arena in this country, but not to remain tax-exempt while doing so.

Jeff is upset because a web site exposed the religious denomination of Mormon donors to the multi-million dollar campaign to make gay marriage illegal in California. The site’s purpose was to show that Mormons were the main bankroll behind the ballot initiative.

Mormons.

Any reader of this news and opinion web site knows mine on this particular subject (can you say, “cult?”) but it would appear that with the successful passage of California’s anti gay marriage initiative, some lines were crossed.

Big Mormon bucks paid for the campaign to pass Proposition 8. Now it’s time to examine the source and handling of the scratch the Mormon church is flush with.

StopAllMonsters is calling for a boycott of the Huntington Hotel group.

…first up on the Mormon boycott list is Brent Andrus. Brent runs a few hotels, called the Courtyard Marriott, Fairfield Inn Marriott, Residence Inn Marriott and the Spring Hill Suites Marriott.

Please do not do business with these 14 hotels.

And why is the so-called church allowed to collect and spend money in campaigns and still keep its tax-exempt status? Because we haven’t demanded otherwise.

lds501(c)3 can help you file a complaint with the IRS seeking to revoke the church’s exemption. The site’s larger goal is to clarify the tax-exempt status of any church that contributes substantial funds in the political arena.

The publication was ready with this alternate cover in the event that John McCain won: