Day: February 11, 2013

Indicted Former Chair of the Republican Party of Florida Pleads Guilty

Jon Ponder

Greer’s mug shot
Big news out of Florida today:

Ousted former Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer Monday abruptly ended what was expected to be a painful unpeeling of state party secrets by entering a surprise guilty plea to five criminal charges.

Greer, 50, of Oviedo, was facing a possible 75 years in prison for fraud, money laundering and theft. Now he faces a possible maximum sentence of 35 years.

If Circuit Judge Marc Lubet hands down a recommended sentence, spelled out by state guidelines, he’ll give Greer 3 1/2 years in prison.

The deal Greer cut did not include an agreement on his sentence, a likely mix of prison time and probation. That’s to be decided at a March 27 hearing.

He’ll remain free until then…

A lot of top Republicans in Florida politics are breathing sighs of release tonight:

[…]

Vietnam War Draft Dodger Who Befouled Himself to Avoid Military Service Will Be GOP Rep’s Guest for State of the Union Speech

Jon Ponder

Nugent showing his true colors
Seventies’ rock ‘n roll has-been Ted Nugent — a notorious Vietnam War draft dodger — will be the special guest of a Texas Republican congressman for the State of the Union speech tomorrow night:

“I am excited to have a patriot like Ted Nugent joining me in the House Chamber to hear from President Obama,” [Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas] said in a statement released Monday morning. “After the Address I’m sure Ted will have plenty to say.”

That’s assuming Nugent can hold his tongue during the speech. Either way, it won’t be the first time President Obama’s played to an ornery crowd.

Nugent and President Obama have some history, too.

In April, 2012, the Secret Service called Nugent in for a talking-to after he delivered some unnerving comments at an NRA convention in St. Louis, Mo.

“If Barack Obama becomes the president in November, again,” Nugent blared, “I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year.”

After meeting with Nugent a few days later, the Secret Service declared the situation “resolved.” And that may be so, but his self-imposed deadline has not yet passed.

Clinton Offers Advice to Democrats

Buck Banks

I think we’re going to be fine, but we’ve got to learn to compare ourselves to the competition in a way that is not threatening and is not negative. We have got got to have a jobs agenda that seems affordable and realistic. We need a 10 year budget plan that doesn’t overdo the austerity … Do it all in a same spirit that you took out there in this last election…. This last race was a referendum in large measure on what the American people did not want, we have to create a future that they do want.

— Bill Clinton, speaking to House Democrats at their recent retreat, telling them to “come up with a plan,” Politico reports.

What Do Guns and Abortions Have in Common?

Jon Ponder

Via Stephanie Miller on Facebook:

Gun owners keep saying you can’t compare driving & insuring a car to gun ownership and I agree.

Gun ownership is a constitutionally protected right, but so is my right to an abortion! In state after state my constitutional right to an abortion is being severely restricted. So why can’t we impose those same restrictions on gun owners in states that choose to do so?

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Americans Want Obama to Focus on Economy in SOTUS

Buck Banks

35%

Of American voters say in a Quinnipiac University national poll released today that President Obama “should focus on the economy in his State of the Union Address. Another 20 percent say the federal deficit is the top priority, with 15 percent citing gun policy and 12 percent listing health care.” Two-thirds of respondents say they’re “likely” or “very likely” to watch.