Just in case you missed it: Kendrick Meek for Florida - Kendrick Meek is running for Senate

[ddeclue]

http://www.kendrickmeek.us/ShowPage.asp?page=default.asp

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55318607473

Tuesday, January 13, 2009



U.S. Congressman Kendrick B. Meek Formally Announces Run for Florida's Open U.S. Senate Seat

Miami Gardens, FL - Congressman Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) announced this morning that he is running for Florida's open U.S. Senate seat in 2010.

Joined by his family outside his home in North Miami-Dade County, Congressman Meek laid out his vision for the future of Florida by emphasizing his commitment to alleviating current problems such as the increase of foreclosures throughout Florida, rising unemployment rates, the loss of senior citizens' retirement funds, ending the war in Iraq, and resolving healthcare inequalities.

Thank you everyone for coming here today. This is a day of great joy and emotion for my entire family.

Earlier this morning, pastors and faith leaders gathered here in our Florida home to pray and reflect on this momentous occasion, and more importantly, for those who are hurting in our state and country.

Today I stand before you...

* A son of Florida, born and raised in Miami
* Educated in our public schools and a graduate of Florida A & M University
* Who proudly wore the uniform of the Florida Highway Patrol
* Who served in both the state House and Senate
* And for the last six years served the people of this 17th District in Congress

Public service and a commitment to make a better life for the people of Florida has been my mission. I've given Florida a strong voice on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and was appointed by the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives to the House Leadership.

But never in my lifetime have the people of Florida been faced with so many big problems. Our state needs bold leadership at every level, and that and it is why I've made the decision to run as a candidate for the United States Senate.

This race is not about me -- it is about Floridians. I am running for Florida, and I am asking Floridians to run with us in this race.

[NMDemDist2]

1. very cool!! I loved listening to him when the 30something Congresscritters

would speak an hour each night on CSpan

[AlCzervik]

2. yes indeed! I'll be sending him some money.

[PBS Poll-435]

3. It is a shame that Hillary will not be able to campaign for him

x(

[TTUBatfan2008]

5. Hey, maybe Barack can?

He'll be pretty busy too though. They both will.

[PBS Poll-435]

6. I am sure that Barack will. Meek was an awesome voice for the campaign post-RBC

[ddeclue]

7. Obama can't put his thumb on the scale during the primary season though.

Very bad form.

I'm sure Obama will back the nominee vigorously after the primary though.

Doug D.

[TTUBatfan2008]

10. Ah yes...

forgot about the primary. Well I'm rooting for Kendrick. I've always liked him. Who else is running for the Dem nomination?

[ddeclue]

13. So far I haven't heard of anyone else. n/t

[wmbrew0206]

27. Alan Boyd's name has come up several times

[Doctor_J]

12. Didn't the Hatch Act get revoked some time during this decade?

So what's the big deal?

[ddeclue]

15. nope..not that I've heard of.nt

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17. Not that I know of. And Hillary has too much class as our nation next

Top diplomat to engage in electioneering.

(Which is kind of a shame considering how supportive of her Meek was during the primaries.)

[Doctor_J]

19. Actually I was kidding. The Bush admin engaged in and admitted to

numerous violations, which no one in Big Media cared enough about to mention. Payback is a bitch

[PBS Poll-435]

20. I hold the Clintons and Democrats (in general) to a higher standard.

:D

[SteppingRazor]

30. Definitely. Who better to campaign for Meek than another political dynasty?

:popcorn:


By the way, guess who was the number one recipient in the House of Big Tobacco cash in the 2008 election cycle? I'll give you a hint -- his initials are KM. The dynasty thing and the tobacco thing aside, I'm still fairly ambivalent about Meek. He's got a great voting record, for the most part, but I worry about the dude's ethics.

[PBS Poll-435]

34. ROFL

This place never ceases to amaze me.

1 McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) Senate $130,100
2 McCain, John (R) Senate $115,682
3 Giuliani, Rudolph W (R) $111,050
4 Warner, Mark (D-VA) $92,718
5 Meek, Kendrick B (D-FL) House $62,727
6 Dodd, Christopher J (D-CT) Senate $61,450
7 Baucus, Max (D-MT) Senate $56,650
8 Rangel, Charles B (D-NY) House $55,400
9 Cantor, Eric (R-VA) House $52,200
10 Dole, Elizabeth (R-NC) Senate $44,550


Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp $17,000
Padron Cigars $13,800
Leon Medical Centers $12,500
Holt's Cigar $11,500
American College of Radiology $10,000
AT&T Inc $10,000
CSX Corp $10,000
General Dynamics $10,000
National Assn of Realtors $10,000
National Restaurant Assn $10,000
New York Life Insurance $10,000
Norfolk Southern $10,000
VITAS Healthcare $9,700
Access Health Solutions $9,200
PLC Investments $9,200
Union Pacific Corp $9,000
Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg $8,600
Pfizer Inc $8,585
FPL Group $8,297
Air Line Pilots Assn $7,500
Credit Suisse Group $7,500
National Multi Housing Council $7,500
OSI Restaurant Partners $7,500
Wal-Mart Stores $7,500


More than 25K of the 62K was from local Cuban-style cigar manufacturers and retailers. He represents the Miami area, FFS.

I will judge Kendrick Meek by his record and the people that he chooses to associate himself with.

[SteppingRazor]

36. I said "in the House." And then you posted a list of Senators. n/t

[PBS Poll-435]

38. I posted the top 10 reciepients of money from the "Tobacco Industry"

Giuliani, Rangel, Cantor, and Meek are not Senators.

[SteppingRazor]

39. Point being, I said "in the House." What I said was correct.

As for the rest, you're absolutely right. I just saw Mitch at the top and fired off a response. Of course, I should have read further and thought about my response. I guess that makes two of us.

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40. No. That makes one of us. You

Your damning of Kendrick Meek as the House member that received the most money from "Big Tobacco" or the Tobacco Industry is misleading and stupid once you look at who actually gave him money.

[SteppingRazor]

41. I wouldn't even say I was damning him. Just pointing out who his contributors are.

Hell, I'm a smoker myself. And Meek's got a pretty good voting record. All I did was state a fact. Fact: Kendrick Meek received more cash from the tobacco industry in the 2008 election than any other member of the House of Representatives. That's not misleading, that's a fact. Arguing over it is silly. As demonstrated by your ignoring the phrase "in the House" and putting up a list of all politicians -- and then bashing me for being "misleading." My goodness, the hypocrisy of it all. How do you sleep at night?

Anyway, good-natured jostling aside, like I said, Meek's actually got a good voting record, and he'd probably make a fine senator -- hell, he'd be way better than the two we've got now.

[Hippo_Tron]

4. But, but it's Florida there's no way a black...

Oh wait, nevermind

:evilgrin:

[TheWraith]

8. Possible campaign slogans: Be Bold, Vote Meek.

In big print, "Meek" on a sign, with the subtext below it, "In Name Only"

[Iwillnevergiveup]

9. Is this Mel Martinez's seat?

Whose ever - hope he wins. He's a bold kinda guy, too, right along with Robert Wexler.

[ddeclue]

14. Yes. n/t

[Doctor_J]

11. he looks like a baby

yeesh I am getting old

[chieftain]

16. Kendrick was interviewed on MSNBC with his mother ,

Carrie Meek. He looked so proud watching her. Ms. Meek was a Civil Rights pioneer, an influential state legislator and US Congressperson. I love her and I love Kendrick. It will be interesting to see how this race shapes up with both Jeb and Alex Sink passing on it. I wonder whether Wexler or Wasserman-Schultz is considering a run.

[ddeclue]

18. Alex Sink will likely run for Governor in 2010. n/t

[Lochloosa]

23. And she will most likely win.

[wmbrew0206]

29. I don't know. I think we're going to have a hard time getting Crist out.

[SteppingRazor]

31. Agreed. A freakish tan isn't the only thing Crist has in common with George Hamilton.

There's also the inexplicable charisma. Despite the massive budget shortfalls, Crist still has huge approval ratings.

[wmbrew0206]

28. double post.

[snowbear]

21. I saw that interview.. He LOVES his mama!

.
.

And she was an incredible lady! ~~ I hope Kendrick wins that senate seat!

[FLAprogressive]

22. He's OK. A "New Dem" but better than Debbie Wasserman Schultz or Allen Boyd

Meek would be better than Bill Nelson.....

Boyd is the worst possible serious Dem candidate out there....

[wmbrew0206]

32. Boyd is the likely favorite to win the primary if he runs

He is well connected in North and Central Florida and can raise a lot of cash easily.

Florida is not as conservative as the rest of the South, but it is not deep blue. Boyd's a blue dog democrat, which will plays well in the majority of the state.

I think you'll see Connie Mack, Congressman from FL-14,as the R nominee.

[PBS Poll-435]

35. Nah on Connie Mack moving up to the Senate.

He wouldn't leave his wife all alone in the House.

[peekaloo]

24. He was a thorn in Jebthro's side.

I was hoping he would run. :-)

[Vinca]

25. Great! I've always been a fan of his and he's definitely a viable candidate. nt

[Thrill]

26. Wonder why Wexler didn't run?

[wmbrew0206]

33. Probably because he doesn't want to risk losing his current position

Wexler is one of the more powerful member of the House right now. Why risk that by running for a position in a state where there is a 50 - 50 chance you'll lose?

Florida leans to the right most years. The only reason we a have Democratic Senator is because Cruella Da'ville (aka Kathleen Harris) thought she actually had a shot at winning, even though the Republicans we're begging her not to run since they knew she would get creamed. I'm will to bet the Republicans have their sights set on Nelson's seat as a flip in '10.

[genna]

37. What are meeks legislative accomplishments?

I've watched Meeks on television, but he doesn't stand out in my mind's eye.

What's he known for?


It would be good for another state besides Illinois and Massachusetts (1960/1970s) to send a person of color to the Senate.