Jennifer Carroll Vs Rick Scott

Steve Bousquet must have drawn the short straw and had to read the Jennifer Carroll book for the Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald political news team. Carroll served as Rick Scott's Lt. Governor. Carroll's book "When You Get There" paints a picture of Rick Scott being emotionally disconnected.

"During my entire time in office, I never received a birthday card or an anniversary card or anything that showed a personal touch," she wrote. "No matter what I did to try to establish a relationship with the governor, nothing worked."

Clarence McKee told Bousquet that Carroll's account in the book of her minority voter outreach is correct. Susie Wiles, Scott's 2010 campaign manager supported Carroll's claim on how Carroll was placed on the ticket. Scott only conducted one interview with Carroll.

Wiles said that account was accurate. A long-time friend of Carroll’s, Wiles said she didn’t think the book would damage Scott’s re-election prospects. “I have a negative view -- as I think most people do -- of people who do these kiss-and-tell books after they have been trusted as part of the inner circle,” Wiles said.

According to Carroll, Scott showed no concern when Carroll fell and hit her head in a church. If true, this doesn't surprise me.

Lawsuit Filed on Florida's Lack of Lt. Governor

I have written previously that the Florida Constitution requires a Lt. Governor to be serving in office.

Lieutenant governor.— There shall be a lieutenant governor, who shall perform such duties pertaining to the office of governor as shall be assigned by the governor, except when otherwise provided by law, and such other duties as may be prescribed by law.

Former Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll resigned in March of last year. Gov. Rick Scott can't use the excuse he hasn't had time to find a Lt. Governor. Scott has had nearly ten months to find a replacement.

Barbara DeVane of the Florida National Organization For Women has filed a lawsuit against Scott. DeVane is asking the Florida Supreme Court to make Scott meet his constitutional obligation by appointing a Lt. Governor. Unsuprisingly, Team Scott's chief counsel, Pete Antonacci, is publicly dismissing the lawsuit.

"Nothing is required of us until the court acts," Antonacci said. "If the court acts and it requires a response, we will respond."

Translation: the lawsuit isn't going to compell Scott to appoint a Lt. Governor. Why is Scott so determined to drag his feet on appointing a Lt. Governor. How hard is it to find someone who will do nothing more than attend ribbon cuttings?

Rick Scott Making Voting Like the DMV

Patricia Mazzei and Steve Bousquet report 3 hour long lines for people waiting to vote in Miami-Dade county. The League of Women Voters of Florida have asked for more early voting hours. Unsurprisingly, Republican officials have scoffed at the idea.

Adam Putnam

“There’s no unusual circumstances,” Putnam said. “There’s no weather-related events. There’s nothing out there in the state of Florida right now that would create the basis for an emergency order for the governor to produce.”

Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll

“We still have days to vote. It’s not the end yet, and we certainly have election day as well, that people can turn out and vote,” she said.

State Senator Don Gaetz

“Aren’t these the same people who were running around the state saying the changes to early voting amounted to voter suppression?” Gaetz said. “So now we’re seeing a historically high level of turnout, and they’re complaining.”

The turnout has nothing to do with the new voting laws approved by Republicans and everything to do with people interesting in the presidential race. Gaetz logics is like why do people that complain about the food in a Turkish prison keep eating. It might be because these people don't feel like starving to death. People don't like standing in long lines, but feel that it is their civic duty to vote.

Republicans love to cite the long lines at the DMV as proof that government doesn't work. The Florida Republican establishment is doing everything in there power to make voting as pleasurable as a DMV visit.

Another tidbit of information: Florida Republicans know they are trying to restrict voting. Why else would they say that 2012 has the same amount of early voting hours as 2008. There were actually 120 early voting hours in 2008. Gov. Rick Scott will only allow the legal limit of 96 hours. Former Gov. Charlie Crist was still a Republican when he extended voting hours in 2008. Crist deserves majors kudos for allowing Floridians the opportunity to vote.

Cliff Stearns Corruption Scandal

Republican James Jett has accused Rep. Cliff Stearns of briding him. Jett was set to run in the Republican primary against Sterns for the new District 3 seat. According to Jett, Sterns offered to a bride, in exchange for Jett dropping out.

Jett said one offer included a job on Stearns' campaign staff that would pay him to cover the approximately $25,000 he had spent on his congressional run. He also said he was told there could be a job heading the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or a U.S. marshall position once there are vacancies.

Gov. Rick Scott would have to be involved, in order for Stearns to give Jett the head position at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It could very well be that Stearns was overplaying his influence. However, it does sound shady.

According to Jett, the FBI has recorded phone conversations Jett had with Jim Horne and Jud Sapp. Horne and Sapp were to help set up the deal between Jett and Stearns. Jett isn't someone who makes these kind of accusations likely. By all accounts he is honest and doesn't stand for corruption.

This is the second time Jett has said someone has tried to pay him, illegally, for politics. A Clay County man was convicted in 1990 for offering Jett, then a county commissioner, $30,000 for his vote. Tape recordings were used in that case, by the State Attorney's Office.

Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll's name was brought up by Jett to the FBI. Jett adds that he doesn't think Carroll has done anything illegal.

Update: the Sterns story makes me wonder how often this kind of pay for play deals go on. State Sen. Jim Norman admitted to violated the law by not reporting a $500,000 house, given by campaign donor Ralph Hughes to Norman's wife. Former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom gave Northwest Florida State College pork, in exchange for a job. It is no wonder that Republicans don't flinch when JD Alexander uses the legislative process to increase his property values of his company Atlantic Blue.

The current crop of Republicans are so confident that they have no qualms about breaking the law. Do you actually believe that Rick Scott is worried about the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation on the data erased from his laptop and cell phone? Scott and other Republicans do not have to worry about being indicted for violating Sunshine and campaign laws. Jim Norman and Ray Sansom will unlikely get convicted by the FBI. JD Alexander got the CSX line and state college near his Blue Atlantic property. Marco Rubio used the nonprofit Republican Party of Florida credit card as his own ATM. Rubio is now a Senator. Scott was involved in a huge Medicare fraud scandal and his now governor. These Republicans are going to keep behaving unethically because it pays well.

Leaked Audio of Trouble in Lt. Gov. Carroll's Office

It is not exactly clear when the conversation between John Konkus, Jennifer Carroll's chief of staff, and former Carroll spokeswoman Carletha Cole took place. In the conversation, Konkus claims that Rick Scott's chief of staff is too scared of Carroll to reign her in. Konkus also says that Gov. Scott refuses to address the problem.

"The governor is not leading," he bluntly states.

The problem started because of the creation of the lt. governor's website. It is not clear what the problem is. It is hard to believe that this blew up because of a website few people will visit.

Is There Trouble In Jennifer Carroll's Office?

For months I have been trying to figure out exactly what (if anything) does Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll does in the Rick Scott administration. Her daily schedule is bare if nonexistent. There is never anything on Carroll's schedule about being involved in policy meetings. So the stories that infighting in Carroll's office could damage Scott's agenda. I don't doubt the infighting. I doubt anyone cares what goes on in Carroll's office.

"I can tell you if the lieutenant governor's office does not get in shape — we are like a juvenile school now — we are not going to get anywhere. We will be a detriment to what Gov. Scott wants to do," said Carletha Cole, who has been with the office since shortly after November's election.

What is interesting is that Scott's media bad relations guy Brian Burgess has no comment. That just leads people to think there really is trouble in Carroll's office.

I heard rumors that Carroll has been unhappy in the Scott administration. Word is Carroll might run for Congress.

In fairness, Carletha Cole could be a disgruntled employee. Since Carroll has zero effect on policy none of this really matters.

Where is Jennifer Carroll?

It is nice to know Gov. Rick Scott values Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll. Check out Carroll's entire schedule for April 26, 2011.

LT. GOVERNOR JENNIFER CARROLL’S SCHEDULE
FOR
TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2011

11:30am-12:00pm GRAND OPENING OF AMERICAN CEMENT COMPANY
Location: Sumterville Plant
Address: 4750 E C 470
Sumterville, FL 33585

Does anyone seriously think Carroll shapes policy in the Scott administration? I have yet to read an article where Carroll was involved in policy decisions.

Quote of the Day

"Now before Clarence McKee and other black Republicans start forwarding this post around, thinking it’s a back-handed endorsement of Jennifer Carroll, allow me to add this: I frankly question the wisdom and character of anyone who would campaign with Rick Scott, a man who might be the most disreputable, despicable, frightening and literally hideous character ever to run for governor of anywhere, since George Wallace had a pulse. Or maybe that Meacham clown in Arizona. I’m frankly embarrassed for Ms. Carroll and for the other black Republicans standing with a man who is arguably, no actually, a crook, and who has spent his entire life fighting to deny health insurance to the young, the old, and the poor. If I was her, I would question whether the access to power is worth it."

Joy-Ann Reid, of The Reid Report.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Reid isn't voting for Rick Scott. It is just a guess on my part.

Joel Award: Jennifer Carroll

It is time to give out the Joel Award. The award goes to any celebrity, pundit, blogger or politician that purposely contradicts himself or herself.

Florida House Rep. Jennifer Carroll has been selected as Rick Scott's running mate. Carroll had this to say about Scott's reasons for running for governor.

"He is totally committed to turning around the economic conditions of this state."

Strangely, that doesn't seem to match what Carroll had to say about Scott during the Republican primary.

“We do not need that seat to be a seat where you’re learning, to be a seat where it’s for personal gain, to be a seat where the residents and the citizens of the state of Florida will be negatively impacted because of the lack of vision.”

Congratulations to Carroll for winning the Joel award.

Jennifer Carroll: Worse Running Mate Pick Ever

Rick Scott's running mate Jennifer Carroll has to be one of the dimmest office holders in Florida government. Carroll incorrectly filed that her financial worth was $202 million. Carroll was later forced to refile her worth being $2.02 million. Carroll forgot to add a period. Sadly it gets worse.

Carroll went to the Kensington University in California. The school is non-accredited; meaning their degree is a worthless piece of paper. The bogus university has no classrooms. All classes are taken online. The Los Angeles Times reported that in 1996 state regulators investigated KUC for committing "fraud on the public."

The school's first state review in 1994 found many problems, including routine acceptance of below-par student work, awarding inflated credit for so-called "life experience," and not having enough faculty.

In one case, reviewers found that the school awarded a doctoral candidate in psychology credit for reading magazine articles and doing about a dozen short reaction papers. A later report said the school also awarded doctoral degrees after as little as four months' work.

Carroll was forced to take her less than prestigious KUC degree off Florida House her bio.

``This causes me great concern,'' Carroll told the Florida Times-Union in 2004. ``It's a lot of time, effort and money poured into a university I thought was a viable program.''

Carroll didn't have the foresight to research KUC before she enrolled. Her stupidity is absolutely staggering.

Rick Scott News

Haley Barbour told the Florida media that the Republican Governor’s Association will be "committing millions" to Rick Scott's campaign.

In other related news: Scott plans on naming Jennifer Carroll. She currently serves as a representative in the Florida House. To be honest, I never heard of her before. Joy-Ann Reid explains the reason Scott's choice is underwhelming his because no Republican wanted to be his running mate.

After being turned down by every Hispanic politician he asked, plus reportedly former Jeb Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings, Rick Scott will reportedly throw a long ball tomorrow, picking black Republican Jennifer Carroll to be his running-mate. It’s an interesting strategy, reminiscent of when Jim Davis rode to defeat with a brother in the sidecar (Darryl Jones) — or more to the ideological point, when “Pitchfork Pat” Buchanan ran with Ezola Foster on the Reform Party ticket. They’ll make a strange pair — she’s a black, Trinidadian, conservative veteran … he’s the smoke monster …

Hispanics don't want to jump on Team Scott. Perhaps Scott should have thought of this before he went on his pro-Arizona ID law rampage.

Carroll's fiscal conservative credentials should be questioned. Carroll doesn't even seem to understand how much she is worth. In 2004, Carroll was worth $23 million. That number drastically jumped to $202 million the next year. Carroll made a filing error and her worth for 2005 was actually $2.02 million. Where to put that pesky dot is always confusing.