florida politics - page 63

Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry, Ryan Ray, and Jim Rosica. FIRST AND FOREMOST Hearty happy birthday wishes from Michelle, Ella, and I to our friend, Senator Jack Latvala.  Save the late U.S. Rep. Bill Young, no one has done more during the last three decades for Pinellas County than Sen. Latvala. And few current lawmakers, if any, care more about the institution that is the Florida Senate…

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Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry, Ryan Ray, and Jim Rosica. FLORIDA DEMOCRATS RALLY FOR 2016 WITHOUT HILLARY CLINTON, BERNIE SANDERS via the Associated Press – Clinton was a no-show Saturday. Ditto … Sanders. The Florida Democratic Party held a weekend convention to rally supporters … Without the benefit of a presidential candidate actually showing up … While Florida will play a major role in deciding the presidency, it will have far less influence…

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Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry, Ryan Ray, and Jim Rosica. FIRST AND FOREMOST — AU REVOIR, RICK MCCALLISTER McAllister, the Florida Retail Federation’s longtime president and CEO, is retiring at the end of this year. Veteran FRF Executive Vice President Randy Miller will become the new president/CEO, beginning Jan. 1. McAllister led the organization to “unprecedented success, recognition and prestige” … “It has been an incredible opportunity to lead the…

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Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry, Ryan Ray, and Jim Rosica. Not to sound like my friend Mac Stipanovich, but did you ever see the 1964 epic film The Fall of the Roman Empire? It starred a gorgeous Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd, Alec Guiness, James Mason, Christopher Plummer, and Omar Sharif. The final scene of the movie, with the unhinged emperor Commodus now dead, depicts the remaining members…

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Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry, Ryan Ray, and Jim Rosica. FIRST AND FOREMOST, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALIA FARAJ-JOHNSON To help us celebrate the birthday of one of Sunburn’s favorite people, we asked two people who know her well to offer their thoughts: Sarah Bascom: “Where do I start in putting into words my happiest birthday wishes for Alia Faraj-Johnson. Most people would think of writing about her professionalism,…

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Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry, Ryan Ray, and Jim Rosica. MORNING MUST-READ — STEVE SCHALE: THE 10-WEEK JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME via Florida Politics – For me, it started in September 2008. Barack Obama had just selected Joe Biden as his running mate, and I was to staff the new VP candidate in Tampa, at a rally at the University of South Florida. During that campaign, I staffed him a few more times … Time and time…

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Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry, Ryan Ray, and Jim Rosica. WELCOME A-SCHORSCH: I’M BACK FROM VACATION; HERE’S WHAT I MISSED  Hillary Clinton pretty much locked up the Democratic nomination — Biden not in. Benghazi over. Long-shots drop out. All that’s left between Clinton and her party’s nom is an avowed socialist. What could go wrong? P.S. Hillary and Bill get to spend the holidays raising money for…

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