Democrats form new caucus: Aim is to reclaim moderate voters (Florida)

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Apr. 23, 2004





Democrats form new caucus

Aim is to reclaim moderate voters

By Bill Cotterell

DEMOCRAT POLITICAL EDITOR


A dozen Democrats in the House and six from the Senate - weary of seeing Republicans capture the flag on popular issues of faith, family and patriotism - formed a "mainstream caucus" Thursday to fight back.

"There have been constant efforts in this legislative session to portray the Democrats as tax-and-spend liberals who want big government," said Rep. Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee, the vice chairman of the group. "We believe in government, but we believe in efficient government - I don't believe some of these Republicans believe in government at all."

Sen. Steve Geller, chairman of Florida Mainstream Democrats, said he recently heard Rush Limbaugh praising Gov. Jeb Bush and legislative Republicans for passing a bill that stops homeowner associations from making residents remove American flags from lawns or from balconies of condos. But he said that was his bill - and that Democrats voted with the GOP majority for it.

Ausley said she was advocating Gov. Bush's position for providing universal pre-kindergarten when some GOP members "told me, 'You Democrats won't be happy until every 4-year-old has a private tutor.'
(snip/...)

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/8498344.htm

[DoktorGreg]

1. Kerry should go on offensive here.

He should Make a speech and basically say to Cuban nationalists, "Vote for me, and give me a congress or we open trade with cuba"

[rfranklin]

2. Better yet,,,,want to get rid of Castro? Here's your uniform....

your weapon will be given to you on the LST heading toward the beachhead in Cuba.

[JoFerret]

5. Agreed. There is a way

to take the moral lead. Take the anti-Castro but pro high ground here.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. I don't believe some of these Republicans believe in government at all."

That just about describes the entire Florida Republican congress.

[dusty64]

4. Oh they do, but

a fascist government whiches dictates what you may do in the privacy of your own home and with your own body.