Kudos to a Florida blogger who tells it like it is. Ready to work...our leaders are not leading.

[madfloridian]

I have often griped that Florida bloggers, though well-organized, missed the boat about our leadership falling down on the job here. It happened during the primaries, when so many were looking out for their own best interests instead of looking at the bigger picture.

So I give credit to this blogger at the Florida Progressive Coalition Blog...for speaking out strongly on the lack of leadership. Florida activists are ready to go to work, and the leadership is sitting on their collective butts.

What are our options?

Susan lights into one of my favorite people to criticize. She points out that a Republican has dropped out from a district race, and the one Democrat running really isn't. And the leadership is too busy suing the DNC to do anything about getting someone else in.

My blood is boiling.

....The only “Democrat” in the race is Lewis Laricchia, a non-serious candidate whose one issue seems to be homeowners’ association deed restrictions. Why do I put “Democrat” in quotation marks? Because Laricchia wasn’t even a Democrat when he signed the loyalty oath to run for office on the Democratic ticket! Apparently, he changed his party affiliation three weeks later. Isn’t that grounds for a perjury charge?

Since Traviesa’s announcement last week, Democratic party activists have been engaged in behind-the-scenes efforts to find someone else to run against the 26 year old Republican neophyte who will replace Traviesa on the ticket.

As if we all haven’t had enough of spineless Democrats at the national level, our Hillsborough County DEC Chair refuses to take steps to get Laricchia out of the race in order to make room for a legitimate candidate. No wonder our local party is considered a joke. Our own chair can’t be bothered to even attempt to field a candidate for an open seat in the Florida House. Why? Too busy engaging in frivolous lawsuits against his own party perhaps?

At some point shouldn’t a Democratic leader actually be expected to lead?

So in case you are wondering who the heck is the Hillsborough County Democratic chair? Well, pull up a chair and sit down. Let me tell you his story.

Suing the DNC for discriminating against white people in Florida during the primaries.

That's the basis for an amended legal filing planned by Tampa Democratic activist, Victor Dimaio and attorney Michael Steinberg who are suing to have Florida's entire Democratic delegation seated at the National Convention in Denver this summer. DiMaio's original lawsuit claimed the DNC's punishment of Florida violated the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment, but that suit was kicked back by the federal appeals court in Atlanta. Steinberg had a brainstorm when he read discovery papers in a similar lawsuit filed by Senator Bill Nelson that showed the DNC put South Carolina and Nevada's primary dates ahead of 46 other states to give minorities more of a voice in the nominating process. Since the DNC receives federal money to hold their convention, the party is subject to federal civil rights law.

What an interesting turn of the worm. Sometime next week, we may have democrats suing democrats for carrying out a very democratic policy of advancing minorities. Steinberg and DiMaio acknowledge with a grin that their reverse racism accusation will ruffle feathers, but hope the conservative judiciary will be delighted to strike a blow against affirmative action and rule in their favor. Their only objective, they claim, is to see all of Florida's delegates seated based on the January 31st primary election.

Victor Dimaio and his lawyer, Michael Steinberg, who is chair of the county Democrats.....got what they wanted. But they are still going to sue and sue and sue again. They just refiled their lawsuit on August 14.



Tuesday, March 18, 2008
DiMaio v. Democratic National Committee:Michael Steinberg Argues Constitutionality of DNC Rules Before Federal Appeals Court. The Democratic National Committee is violating the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment by allowing only four states to hold caucuses or primaries before the first Tuesday in February, a Florida attorney argued March 17, 2008 before a federal appeals court.
Tampa Bay Blue

DiMaio has has been credentialed as a blogger to the convention by the St. Pete Times.

I agree with Susan S. Why isn't Steinberg taking time off from pro bono lawsuits and getting someone to run in that district?

This is righteous anger, and all the bloggers in Florida should have it.

[madfloridian]

1. Wow, dropping so fast my head is swimming.

[madfloridian]

2. Gratuitous kick because it is important.

This lawsuit is hanging over our convention.

Let a conservative judge which FL is known for get hold of it....they could have so much fun undermining our party.