One of the things I have enjoyed about being a part of my county GOP Executive Committee is the opportunity to hear various candidates. Over the past several months we have heard from three of the leading candidates running for the Senate seat held by Bill Nelson.

We heard from Col. Mike McAlister, Sen. George LeMieux, and last night from former Florida House Majority Leader Adam Hasner.

Each of the candidates were interesting to listen to, and all of them would be a vast improvement over Nelson. In addition to hearing from them at the PCREC meetings I have read about them, and what others have said about them.

Based on that research, I am proud to announce the I am endorsing Adam Hasner for Senate. Granted, the bRight & Early / Jim Lynch endorsement isn’t the most high profile one he will get, I am excited to support his Senate run. If you are a Florida voter I invite you to take a look as well.

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The results for yesterday’s Florida P5 Straw Poll are somewhat surprising, perhaps even shocking. Here they are:

1. Herman Cain – 37.1%
2. Rick Perry – 15.4%
3. Mitt Romney – 14.0%
4. Rick Santorum – 10.9%
5. Ron Paul – 10.4%
6. Newt Gingrich – 8.4%
7. Jon Huntsman – 2.3%
8. Michele Bachmann – 1.5%

From most of the coverage prior to the straw poll you would be forgiven for thinking that only Mitt Romney and Rick Perry were running for the nomination. The debate and the speeches by the candidates changed that for those attending P5. But how did Herman Cain pull off the poll Win? Byron York explores that question.

But even on Saturday, Perry might still have recovered some support with an inspiring speech before the voting. Instead, he headed off to Michigan, and it was Cain who delivered a barn-burner that brought at least seven standing ovations from the delegates. Wavering Perry delegates became Cain voters.

York also includes this quote, which is making the rounds on Twitter, other social media, and the blogosphere:

“I liked Cain, but I wasn’t sure he could win,” said Zena, from Washington County. “But after I heard this, I thought it doesn’t matter if he wins or not — I am for this man. He was awesome.”

I think that, as much as anything, explains Cain’s strong showing. It’s easy for the non-political (most of the voters, really) and even activists to get caught up in the electability discussion. Do read York’s entire article for a more in depth look.

Of course winning one straw poll does not a campaign make (see Michele Bachmann – Iowa). We are still months away from the first real contests. On the other hand, in politics, like sports, momentum is a very valuable commodity. Will this make a difference in the campaign? I don’t know, but I am very curious. It is going to be fun to watch.

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I wrote about it, researched it, and carried through with the plan. As of about two hours ago, I am the newest member of my county Republican Executive Committee.

I write this blog because I enjoy it, and because I’m foolish enough to believe that I have something worthwhile to share with the people who stumble in here. Becoming involved in local politics follows the same theme. I believe in the importance of getting involved locally, and I’m foolish enough to believe that I have something worthwhile to contribute to the political discussion in my neighborhood, county, and state.

A bit about tonight’s meeting. In addition to the important business of getting me on board, the guest speaker was former Senator George LeMieux. For those of you who don’t follow Florida politics, LeMieux was appointed to the Senate seat vacated by Mel Martinez. He kept his word and didn’t run for the seat in 2010 and it is now held by Marco Rubio. Now he is running for Bill Nelson’s seat. I have no doubt that he would be much better that Nelson, but he isn’t the only candidate. In the mean time, I was glad to have the opportunity to listen to his positions and learn more about him.

I encourage you to explore the opportunities you have to get involved locally. It’s great to talk about the issues, and I will continue to do so, but action is imperative.

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It’s about time. As long as I’ve been blogging, I’ve been looking for an event happening nearby where I could meet other conservative bloggers. For years I’ve read about the good time some of the “friends I’ve never met” have had at functions like CPAC.

Well, CPAC is taking it’s show on the road, and not just to Florida, but Orlando.

The American Conservative Union is taking our marquee event on the road! We are proud to announce that CPAC FL will be hosted in Orlando, Florida on Friday, September 23rd. Our regional conferences will bring you the same blockbuster speeches and enriching educational opportunities you’ve come to expect from CPAC. We’ll also host panels and debates on national and state level issues and will provide grassroots activism training. This full day event is one you don’t want to miss!

Those who have been invited to speak include: Marco Rubio, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Herman Cain, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Ralph Reed, Al Cardanas, Jon Huntsman, and last year’s CPAC Keynote Speaker, Allen West.

CPAC FL will occur in the middle of Presidency 5 (September 22-24), The RPOF event featuring the FOX broadcast GOP debate and culminating in the P5 straw poll.

So, who will be in Orlando on the 23rd? I can’t wait to meet you.

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A while back I posted about the importance of local politics. Well, I’ve taken my own words to heart. I did a bit of research and found out about my county Republican Party, and it’s structure. My precinct is allocated 4 committeemen and 4 committewomen. There is one slot filled.

So, while I once served as the County party chairman in SC years ago, tonight I’ll be taking my first step into Florida party politics. Why don’t you join me? Find out about your local political structure and get involved.

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I remember a comic from years ago that took a humorous look at some of life’s sillier inequities called “There Oughta Be A Law”. It’s funny in the papers, but over the years I’ve wondered why government at all levels from local to national is so married to the idea that we need more and more laws and regulations. Shouldn’t there come a time when all the “law” we need has been written?

One type of law that all levels of government love is regulation. This time last year Doug Ross posted a study by the Competitive Enterprise Institute showing that government regulation cost $1.187 trillion to meet compliance requirements. That is a huge hit on businesses of every size and the cost, of course, is paid by every consumer.

Yet, some businesses, or business groups, welcome and encourage these regulations. Why? As always, follow the money. Bob Ewing posted a story about the Florida Interior Design Cartel last week at Big Government.

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) represents less than 3 percent of all designers, but its members have designated themselves as spokespeople for the entire industry. ASID has spent over 30 years and millions of dollars lobbying from coast to coast for interior design licensing schemes. Not surprisingly, the schemes they propose would force all interior designers to have the exact same credentials as required for membership in ASID.

Now when I think about regulation it’s more along the lines of my doctor having a license, not if my couch clashes with the paint in the living room. Left to my own devices (and hue blindness) there’s no telling what ghastly faux pas might be hoisted on society. Take a look at this video produced by the Institute for Justice, debunking three of the cartel’s key myths:

Since Ewing’s post the Florida House passed the bill to deregulate Interior Designers and more than a dozen other businesses.

The bill reverses regulation of travel agents, motor vehicle repair shops, intrastate movers, interior designers and many others.

Those regulations include licensure fees, rules, and education and testing requirements. The education requirements the bill eliminates range from the 12-hour course required of body wrappers to four-year interior design degrees.

Loss of fees will cost the state money, but supporters said that getting rid of the burdensome rules will free up entrepreneurs and energize the economy.

Taxes get the spotlight when we’re talking about job creation, but fixing over-burdensome regulation is at least as important. Businesses can’t afford them, and in many cases we just don’t need them. It’s a discussion we need to have. The design cartel can go feng shui themselves if they think otherwise.

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Larry Thornberry at The American Spectator has taken a look at the new political landscape here in Florida.

Rick Scott, Florida’s new chief executive, entered office last week with a top-to-bottom conservative agenda. The Naples businessman, a wealthy former hospital entrepreneur and political novice who financed his own campaign, says his main missions are to create private sector jobs and make Florida’s government more efficient, svelte, and less expensive.

To accomplish these goals Scott has promised to right-size the state work force, use vouchers to improve education by lowering government school enrollment, and do away with unnecessary state regulations, perhaps even unnecessary state agencies. He wants to cut Florida’s corporate income tax and property taxes.

Florida is near the national lead in categories you don’t want to be leading, like unemployment and foreclosures. It now falls to Scott to make good on campaign promises to use his business skills to lead the state recovery. Newly elected conservative cabinet members, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Secretary Adam Putnam, and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, will make that job easier. Easier, not easy. Just how serious will the Republican controlled legislature be, especially addressing popular, yet costly, government programs? Only time will tell.

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Here is Senator Rubio’s acceptance speech.

And here is Lt. Col. Allen West

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The Florida primary is just a few days away and it is drawing attention beyond the Sunshine State. Here, for what it’s worth, is my look at things.

One of the races getting national attention is the US Senate race. William Escoffery III, William “Billy” Kogut, and Marco Rubio make up the Republican side of the ballot. Regular readers will know that I have been excited about Marco Rubio since May of 2009. That support has only gotten stronger as the campaign has played out.

In the beginning it was about Rubio versus Governor Charlie Crist for the Republican nomination. Once Marco Rubio gained enough attention, which he did by clearly expressing his conservative principles, Crist proclaimed himself a moderate, took a sharp left, and decided to run as an Independent. While that has cleared the way for Rubio in the primary, it has turned the election in to a three ring circus. The latest Rasmussen poll has Rubio out in front by five points — if Kendrick Meek is the Democratic candidate, but he trails Crist by one if Jeff Greene gets the primary win.

Here, in one minute, is the reason I am supporting Marco Rubio:

The other Florida race getting national attention is for Governor. On the Republican side Rick Scott and Bill McCollum are getting all the attention, while Mike McCalister is getting good reviews from conservatives and TEA Party groups, but little else. McCalister is just a blip in the polls and his fund raising is mere pennies on the dollar compared to either Scott or McCollum. It is unfortunate that his lack of money and recognition have created a very lackluster campaign. His About page on his website is nothing more than a pdf file of his CV. McCalister is arguably the most conservative candidate, but the shortcomings of his campaign make it tough to support him.

The choice, as I see it, is to support McCalister in the primary and then support the winning candidate in November, or to vote for one of the other candidates now to get the one I really want in the November race. It’s a dilemma. I know the arguments. If McCalister is the best candidate, and I don’t vote for him, how can I expect anyone else to do so? On the other hand, is it throwing my vote away on a candidate that has no chance of winning? And if I don’t vote for McCalister, who do I vote for? Ask me today and I would probably tell you I’m leaning towards Scott about 51-49. Tomorrow that could easily be reversed. The reason it’s so close in my mind is that I have equal parts support and doubt for each candidate. Convince me in the comments.

I live in Congressional district 12. The seat is currently held by Adam Putnam, but he is leaving the seat to run for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. John Lindsey Jr. and Dennis Ross are the Republican candidates, while Randy Wilkinson is the TEA Party candidate. In this race my support goes to Dennis Ross, at least through the primary.

That’s it for now. Share your thoughts in the comments.

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I was reading the transcript of Marco Rubio’s appearance on FNS and found this interesting exchange early on.

WALLACE: But wait a minute, you said mainstream positions. I thought you were a conservative?

RUBIO: Conservative thought is the mainstream position in America. What is not mainstream in America is the belief that we should spend money that we don’t have. What’s not mainstream in America is the belief that we should take this crazy complicated tax code and make it crazier and more complicated. What is not mainstream in America is this belief that somehow if America weakens its position in the world, the world will become a safer place. These are the positions that quite frankly the policies coming out of Washington would create. That’s well outside the mainstream of American political thought. So I believe that what political pundits describe as conservatism and I embrace as conservatism is mainstream thought in America.

That is why I like Marco Rubio. “So I believe that what political pundits describe as conservatism and I embrace as conservatism is mainstream thought in America.”

I agree.

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