Rick Scott Kidnapped!

[Howey]

First he gives teachers a $2500 raise, then he decides to embrace Obamacare? What's next? Hugging President Obama?

Americans for Prosperity, a conservative organization backed by the billionaire Koch brothers, took aim at Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) on Monday, accusing him of working against his state's interests with his apparent change of heart on Obamacare.

In a statement, AFP said that Scott's recent signal that he was willing to consider implementing key provisions of President Barack Obama's health care reform law was a step in the wrong direction.

"AFP is extremely disappointed in leaders in Florida suggesting that the Sunshine State should create a health insurance exchange” said Slade O’Brien, AFP’s Florida State Director. “An exchange will increase insurance premiums on consumers and taxes on hardworking families. Florida’s best intentions will be masked by the federal government’s onerous requirements.”

Scott had stood as one of the most stubborn adversaries of Obamacare, even in the wake of the president's reelection, which effectively secured the law's existence. But after first vowing to reject moves to set up a state-run health insurance exchange and expand Medicaid rolls under the Affordable Care Act, Scott said last week that he was ready to "have a conversation." Leaders in the state legislature have also signalled a willingness to take steps toward implementation.

Noooo...he wasn't kidnapped. He's trying to salvage the upcoming ass-whupping at the polls next year...

[ekg]

He's trying to salvage the upcoming ass-whupping at the polls next year...

HA! ya think.

I mean, it's so utterly blatant.. atleast when Crist would wish or wash it wasn't as flagrant.. and truthfully, any Gov who doesn't take up the Feds offer of paying for the ^medicare rolls 100% for the 1st 3 years and then 90% after that, should be booted out of office for being incompetent.. (that's for you rick perry).

I wonder if Scott will be out pimping for light-rail when Crist throws his hat in the race..

[Howey]

Damn...he's really in trouble.

Yes, much like the Corleones, the Republican party is apparently considering an intrafamily political hit on Gov. Rick Scott.

The potential assassin: GOP Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who this week put out a release blasting Scott — while reminding everyone that Putnam, himself, is widely considered a "future gubernatorial candidate."

Seem harsh? Well, by some Republicans' thinking, taking out Scott would be less of an execution — and more like a mercy killing.

The governor, after all, is about as popular as a case of gout.

So why wait for Democrats to pick off a weak incumbent when Republicans could offer up a strong alternative?

By my thinking, Putnam would be as good as anyone. He's a former congressman, respected and, heaven knows, he's available.

Seriously, the top duties for the outdated job he now fills are to promote orange juice, kowtow to agribusiness and flip on the lights at the state fair.

You think I exaggerate? Here's a post from Putnam's Twitter account on Feb. 7: "Flipped the switch this morning to turn on the lights at the #FloridaStateFair … come on down!"

That was followed by: "Who's going to win the race down the Giant Slide …?"

And: "I win the race down the giant slide."

All official agriculture business apparently ceased in our state until Feb. 11, when Putnam re-emerged on Twitter for this important announcement: "Happy 60th birthday Governor @JebBush!"

I've said for years: We could save a lot of money by axing this outdated, $130,000-a-year job. That, and the lieutenant governor. And elected tax collectors. But I digress.

Anyway, all this spare time allowed Putnam to fire off a particularly feisty salvo at Scott, trashing the governor for expanding the state's Medicaid program to help the medically needy.

Putnam wanted the world to know that Scott's newfound passion for helping sick people "extremely disappointing."

Putnam used words like "naïve" and "bait and switch."

And while he didn't announce a gubernatorial candidacy — in fact, a spokesman said he wants to continue serving as Ag commissioner — Putnam made sure to include a line in his release that reminded recipients that he is "often called a future gubernatorial candidate."

The release sent Republicans into a tizzy. The Republican Party of Florida sent out a frantic email titled: "RPOF did not send Putnam email."

RPOF Chairman Lenny Curry then proceeded to blame the media for erroneous reporting.

Apparently the media hacks saw this sentence on Putnam's release — "Paid for by the Republican Party of Florida" — and jumped to the wild conclusion that it had been paid for by the Republican Party of Florida. Typical lamestream media.

The whole scene was so ham-handed and Keystone Kops-like that, for a moment, the Republicans actually looked like Democrats.

Premature e-machinations aside, the party has to do some serious strategizing because, right now, Rick Scott is in a tailspin.

He's reversed course on everything from immigration to education. And now he's actually advocating a big part of the same "Obamacare" system he used to love to loathe.

There's still a lot of time between now and November 2014.

And Scott — and his massive war chest — taught a lot of people not to underestimate him during his first underdog campaign.

Still, Republicans are wise to ponder alternatives. Because right now the only people who want Rick Scott to remain the Republican nominee more than Scott, himself, are the Democrats.

[Howey]

Fuggetaboutit. The legislator's still [urll=http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/04/us-usa-florida-medicaid-idUSBRE92312M20130304]nuts[/url].

Florida Governor Rick Scott’s plan to expand Medicaid coverage to cover about 1 million more poor people suffered a setback on Monday when the proposal failed to make it out of a key state legislative committee hearing.

On the eve of convening of the 2013 session, the House Select Committee on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act rejected the expansion. A Senate counterpart committee postponed consideration of the issue, which is sure to be one of the biggest controversies of the session….

Republican legislative leaders have been openly hostile toward the plan, emphasizing that state lawmakers will make the final decision in drawing up a budget for next fiscal year.