For once, Florida’s presidential primary is not only relevant. It may go a long way to deciding the direction of the GOP’s primary battle. Mitt Romney’s leads nationally and in Florida have vanished. But leads have see-sawed throughout the campaign. Gingrich had led the field nationally between mid-November and the end of December, only to plummet before the Iowa caucuses, where he did poorly. The $5 million casino magnates Miriam and Sheldon Adelson plunked on his campaign last month helped turn the tide in his favor in South Carolina. The Adelson are adding another $5 million for the campaign in Florida.
Florida has a closed primary: only registered Republicans may cast a ballot. There are 23,906 registered Republicans in Flagler County at last count (virtually even with registered Democrats. Some 18,000 voters in Flagler either have no party affiliation or are registered with a minor party.)
Early voting began on Jan. 21 goes on only until the 28th, at just one location: the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections Office at the Government Services Building, 1769 E. Moody Boulevard, Building 2, Suite 101. Voting is open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (The early voting location, and those same times, apply to Flagler Beach voters in that city’s municipal election, also set for Jan. 31.)
We believe in open primaries. So cast your vote below.
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Geezer Butler says
What laughable candidates…. One promises to make Sarah Palin
a vital cog in his administration. LMAO! And he likes to keep a spare wife!
And a mannequin look-alike favors outsourcing jobs to China!
The others will bow out soon.
Barack may as well get comfy – his will be a landslide victory.
Rocky Mac says
Agree with all one point Geezer. I do not see a landslide victory for Obama, only because there are so many Republicans that would vote for Bozo the Clown rather than Obama. Sad to say.
The Truth says
These Republican candidates are a joke. The only ones that are respectable is Ron Paul and Rick Santorum, but both seem to be unelectable as Santorum doesn’t have the experience and Ron Paul just seems to not be liked by the media.
I think it’s laughable that conservatives push the Christian based agenda very hard (as if there aren’t Christian Democrats) yet they support a man with three wives and a questionable history. Gay marriage is going to destroy the sanctity of marriage but a man who jumps from wife to wife isn’t?
Get comfortable Obama, you’re going no where.
Geezer Butler says
Yes Rocky – you are right.
Thank you for opening my sleepy eyes. :-)
“Landslide” is not possible here. How true…
Time for some coffee.
Cheers.
Robert says
There are many people who detest the President beyond all reason.
Those are the people who would vote for anyone to run against him.
They are so blind with rage that if they would vote for an immoral character like Newt Gingrich they would even vote for Whitey Bulger if he could get on the ballot.
These Tea Party folks and those who think like them can look forward to having a collective mental breakdown when the President gets re-elected.
I guess the next thing this disrespectful bunch of congressmen who call the President a liar on national TV or associate him with Tar Baby will be pulling their pants down and bending over as their next show of arrogance and disdain.
Johnny Taxpayer says
I never understand this issue about open vrs closed primary… This primary serves one purpose only, for the republican party to choose who their nominee will be in the election. Why should democrats or independents determine who the republican party nominates any more than republicans choose who the democrat party nominates?
As far as Obama’ winning a landslide, anything is possible, but it’s not likely when you look at how the numbers will likely breakdown. I think is fair to say, virtually nobody who voted for McCain in 08 is going to vote for Obama in this election. This is not a political statement, I think even Obama supporters would have to admit that Obama either rightly or wrongly has not won over any voters who didn’t support him last time around. Contrast that to 2004 when a number of Gore supporters (though admittedly small) in 2000 did actually vote for Bush in 2004 instead of Kerry. In addition a number of voters who did support Obama in 2008, though again likely a small number, are disappointed and won’t vote for him in 2012. That only leaves Obama the “new voter” the ones that either through age or another reason weren’t eligible to vote last election. He will win the majority of those no doubt, but will it be enough to offset losses in the other categories?
That all changes imho if either Gingrich or Santorum were to get the nomination because there is a certain percentage of the population that would never vote for either of these guys in any circumstance. Romney and Paul on the other hand don’t have that same level of “can’t support under any circumstance” baggage and would be much more formidable against Obama. And Ron Paul would likely give Obama more competition in the gaining the support of the “new” voter as well,…
Layla says
I haven’t heard anything of substance yet from Romney, only attacks at Gingrich. Why are they coddling him? I’m seeing the same thing I saw when Obama ran: “he’s great, he’ll do great things”. But I am not seeing any serious vetting going on and I have yet to hear him say how he will fix this economy. Wall street experience is not going to impress most people.
And I am highly suspicious of any candidate being pushed to hard by the GOP and Fox.
Paul keeps repeating the same comments. I like him, but he has no foreign policy
I’ll stick with Newt. At least I know he knows how to balance the federal budget. If Washington doesn’t like him, that’s good enough for me.
palmcoaster says
@TheTruth. I agree, Paul got my vote. Only one with some common sense.
Jordyn says
As a Republican, I’ll be voting outside my party for Libertarian Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico. I encourage others to consider Johnson before deciding. Third party candidates don’t get the press that the Dems and Repubs do. It would be nice to have someone do more than just pay lip service to tax reform, limited government and the budget crisis without pandering to the extreme right (or left for that matter.)
Layla says
Jordon, it’s pretty common knowledge that 3rd party candidates usually toss the vote right back to the incumbent. That is the reason 3rd party condidates do not get the press the others do. They can’t win.
Dorothea says
Layla, Newt balanced the budget (only twice, not four times as Newtonians keeps saying) by raising taxes. Anyway, Newt also touts Reagan’s high employment numbers, along with Clinton’s (who really should take the credit, not Newt) which came about only after both Reagan and Clinton raised taxes. Reagan’s trickle down theory, wihich the Republicans keep praising, gave us a recession and high unemployment. After taxes were raised, unemployment took a dive downward.
Doug Chozianin says
If you want a job and prosperity, vote Mitt.
If you want: unemployment checks; food stamps; high gas prices; food inflation; golf-cart automobiles; lower standard of living; an uneducated workforce; local, state and national bankruptcy: higher taxes… vote Obama.
Jack says
If I were a registered Republican I would’ve voted for Gary Johnson had he not left to launch a bid for the Libertarian party nomination.
Layla says
Which candidate is pushing the Christian agenda? Santorum is a Catholic, Romney is a Morman, not sure what the other two are.
You are referring to a marriage which took place 14 years ago. Do you not know anyone divorced?
Layla says
Geezer Butler, the Jobs Czar to the President of the United States is Jeffrey Imelt, CEO of General Electric. GE made billions last year and paid no taxes.
They are now outsourcing GE to China.
I’d vote for you over Obama.
Layla says
It was 4 times. I’m sticking with Newt because he worked so successfully with Clinton They got things done, Dorothea.
Under Obama, gas is up over 100% in cost and is expected to hit $6 a gallon by summer. We had the opportunity to be energy independent with the Canadian oil pipeline and Obama turned it down. Would have provided thousands of job and an friendly energy source.
I just got back from the grocery store with a few bags that cost me $149.00.
I can’t afford this President anymore. He is living above my means. And so far, his every act has gone to benefit Unions, Wall Street and the Banks.
I just plain can’t afford him anymore, Dorothea.
Jordyn says
Yes I’m aware of the common knowledge. And if we continue to allow “status quo” and vote for the lesser of two evils of the two primary parties, then we deserve what we get. If grassroots support can bring the Tea Party and the Occupy movement to the forefront, why shouldn’t it also be used for a viable third party candidate?
Layla says
Not blind with rage, Robert. Just won’t vote for him. My country deserves better. People are hurting and he has made it worse.
Bush on steroids.
Layla says
Here’s one some may not know. All 425 members of the US House of Representatives are up for reelection this year. They all run every two years.
If we all show up and each promises to vote our guy out, we can flip the entire House of Representatives. Do that a couple of times and the people will be back in charge where they belong.
Tina Jeffe says
Ron Paul is consistent but has a pretty dismal foriegn policy theory. At least he isn’t changing his story for every audience. I really like the third party idea.
Dorothea says
Layla, in reference to Newton’s budget balancing claim, read this:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jan/23/newt-gingrich/newt-gingrich-repeats-claim-he-balanced-federal-bu/
“Gingrich was off on both claims concerning the budget. The budget was indeed balanced for four years, but it’s a stretch for him to take credit for more than two of those years. As for paying off $405 billion in debt, the data we found shows the debt actually increased during Gingrich’s four-year tenure as speaker by more than $800 billion. We rate Gingrich’s claim False” Quoted from here:
. http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/dec/16/newt-gingrich/newt-gingrich-repeats-claim-about-his-record-balan/
The Canadian oil pipeline required an environmental study. In a flagrantly political move, the Republicans demanded a vote right now without studying its environmental impact. President Obama is not opposed to it, but neither did he want to support it without knowing its impact on the states affected by it..
Your anecdotal comments on inflation in reference to gas and grocery prices require a very complicated answer which you, not me, need to study. But very briefly, the price of commodities is controlled by speculation, something deregulation by Republicans has more to do with, than anything Obama has done.
If you truly wanted to see Americans get jobs, you would support Obama’s infrastructure jobs’ plan, paid for by taxing millionaires and billionaires like Mitt Romney who earns $60,000 a day in capital gains (interest) and probably pays a tax rate much lower than yours.
Layla says
@Tina: Obama is counting on that. It is the only way he wins…split the Republicans.
Dorothea says
Layla, I forgot to add that Obama has ordered a criminal investigation of the banking industry.
Unions benefit working class Americans. So what’s wrong with giving working Americans a little support in a Republican supported economy that gets the rich richer, and everyone else the shaft?
Dorothea says
One of the few good ideas by Libertarians was the notion that a woman’s reproductive choices were up to her, not the government. However Paul’s doesn’t support the idea. Some of you Paul supporters need to study his past vitriolic racist writings of the past. He certainly has tempered his rhetoric. But consistent, no.
The Truth says
Which candidate? The republican party is always pushing a Christian agenda. I am Christian myself, but I am also open minded which many Republican’s are not. I don’t care when the marriage took place, it took place and it failed. Gingrich cannot commit to a woman, but we expect him to commit to our country. It’s not only that the man has been divorced twice already, but the way he’s gone about those divorces is despicable.
Layla says
Ok, Dorothea, let’s take a look at your assertions. Newt Gingrich was the Speaker of the House under Bill Clinton. He was also the author and architect of the Contract for America, bringing a Republican victory to Congress for the first time in 40 solid years of Democrat control in the Congress in a major, historical landslide victory. The election was called by CBS at just 2pm in the afternoon on election day, though the polls remained open the remainder of the day.
The President cannot balance the budget with the help of the Speaker of the House and vice versa. It is the President who comes up with the budget and it is the Congress which passes it. Our current President has not come up with a budget in over 1,000 days.
So whether you agree with it or not, the two men are tied together somewhat. I suggest you look up the Contract for America and read it. You will find that Gingrich passed most of it.
Under his leadership, the Congress also passed the first major Welfare Reform bill in over 40 years of Democrat rule.
As for the Canadian pipeline, you may with to check out this headline:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/24/buffett-would-profit-keystone-cancellation/
As for the price of gasoline, a gallon of regular gasoline the day Obama was inaugurated was $1.79 on average in the U.S. Today that price is $3.59, a 100.6% increase. The number of food stamp recipients has risen since Obama took office from 31,983,716 to 43,200,878, a 35.1% jump. Long term unemployment soared 146.2% during the same 32 month period from 2,600,000 to 6,400,000. Staggering hope and change isn’t it?
Layla says
Dorothea, a criminal investigation of the banking industry is long overdue, as is an audit of the federal reserve. Will that investigation come before or after the President submits a budget?
And will it come before or after the investigation of Attorney General Eric Holder for sanctioning gun sales to Mexico?
I have no problem with unions, I have no problem with banks, and I have no problem with wall street. God knows, Americans right now can use all the help we can get.
I’m just wondering when it’s coming.
Dorothea says
Layla, since you didn’t read the link that I posted, I’ll post a portion of it here for your convenience and edification. Here is the quote:
“Gingrich was speaker from January 1995 to January 1999, when he was a Republican congressman from Atlanta’s suburbs.
The federal budget runs on a fiscal year calendar that begins October 1 and ends September 30. During fiscal years 1996 and 1997 — the first two that Gingrich helped shape as speaker — there were deficits: $107 billion in 1996 and about $22 billion in 1997.
By fiscal year 1998, the federal budget did reach a surplus of $69 billion. And in fiscal year 1999 — which Gingrich can claim some responsibility for, even though he was out as speaker for most of the fiscal year — it was in surplus as well, to the tune of $126 billion.
But that’s only two balanced budgets he can plausibly claim credit for. The federal government did run four consecutive surpluses, but for the last two of those — fiscal years 2000 and 2001 — Gingrich was no longer serving in the House.
It’s also worth noting that even the two balanced budgets for which Gingrich can claim some credit were collective accomplishments by a Democratic president, Bill Clinton, and the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate.”
Back to my reply. The Moonie ultra right-wing news rag known as the Washington Times is not a reliable source of news. You can quote from it, just don’t expect me to take anything that comes from the Wash. Times seriously..
Your stats on unemployment don’t give an accurate portrayal of the facts. Most of the unemployment numbers were leftovers from the Bush administration, unless you believe that Obama is responsible for all the unemployment that immediately followed his taking office. In fact the employment rate began to rise after Obama took office and the last 22 months have seen positive employment growth in the private sector. Obama inherited an economic mess and despite solid opposition by Republicans against everything that might fix the problems, even if the Repubs had previously supported the same programs, he still has managed to bring some growth to the economy. Obama is not perfect nor is he God almighty or king, he’s doing what he can despite the Republicans who would rather defeat Obama than help him fix the economy.
.
Dorothea says
If your wondering when help is coming, don’t vote Republican. The Republicans are still stuck in the old and very failed trickle-down supply-side economics of the Reagan administration. It didn’t work then, it clearly didn’t work during Bush, Jr.’s administration and it obviously doesn’t work now. Just read some of the current writings of David Stockman, mastermind of Reagan’s economic policies. Stockman now admits that he was dead wrong.
Big Fish says
Wonder why Obama’s approval rating in Flagler is so low?
Only 28%?
youngrepublican says
Lets face it Obama has crashed and burned an economy that was already struggling. He promised us change, and what we got was socialism. Anyone that is even considering re-electing this guy is blind or simply in denial. As far as Gingrich is concerned, I wouldnt be suprised if he is acting as a “historian” (lol) for the democratic party. He maybe be in the race just to act as a spoiler. Just another back door deal for the king of back door deals.! Come on The man was the only speaker of the house removed from office. Ever! And by a Republican congress no less!! A vote for Gingrich is simply another vote for Obama. Wake up america!! You cannot really be this dumb!!
Layla says
It isn’t when you hear what happened from Gingrich and his girls. If anything, I’d say he made bad choices. Sad to wait 14 years to get even with your ex.
Dorothea says
Hey youngrepublican, explain what you mean by Obama bringing us socialism, then go back to your Fox News for some more talking points. I don’t mind responding to opposing opinions, but what “facts” are you basing your opinions on.
Dorothea says
No Big Fish, FlaglerLive is loaded with righties and Obama haters who seem to have nothing better to do than bash the President and is not representative of Flagler County politics.
youngrepublican says
Dorothea,
By “socialist,” I do not mean a Lenin, Castro, or Mao, but Obama does fall within the mainstream of contemporary socialism as represented, for example, by Germany’s Social Democrats, French Socialists, or Spain’s socialist-workers party?
By this criterion, yes, Obama is a socialist.
The Declaration of Principles of the Party of European Socialists (PES) of 2011 summarizes the European socialist agenda. Obama Meets and exceeds every main point of this document with his statements and legislative initiatives.
Obama: Favors universal access to health care and associated benefits as a critical expansion of the welfare state
Obama: Favors progressive taxes on the rich to redistribute income and wealth from winners to losers and to ensure that all pay their fair share. (As he has said: “When you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”)
Obama: Favors collective responsibility (as defined by the federal government) to protect all from social risks through food stamps, welfare programs, extended unemployment benefits, guaranteed health care, the bailing out of big companies, forcing renegotiation of mortgages, class action law suits, and other measures. (Instead of opportunity and incentive to succeed, no one is allowed to fail).
Obama: Favors carbon taxes, higher energy prices, restricted drilling and refining, and subsidies of green technology for the “common good,” even at the expenses of higher conventional growth and jobs.
Obama: Shows a distrust of market forces and advocates selective regulation, subsidies, and taxation to persuade or coerce business to promote the general welfare as he defines it. Industries not part of his collective endeavor (oil and gas and coal) are penalized. Industries that serve his conception of “general welfare” (green technology) are to be promoted even if the market rejects them.
Obama: Places reliance on international institutions, international consensus, and mutual respect in the conduct of foreign policy. (The United States must coordinate its foreign policy with international organizations and treat even rogue nations with respect in the hope that they will voluntarily improve their behavior).
Obama: Advocates a strong state that offers the “positive right” of political and economic justice to its citizens. He complains that the U.S. Constitution is a “charter of negative liberties,” that dictates what government “can’t do to you, but it doesn’t say what the federal government or the state government must do on your behalf.”
I do not follow Fox News or CNN, MSNBC or BET for that matter. I am a thinking person who bases my observations on real facts. Obama is a failure and our country cannot survive another for years of his agenda,
Dorothea says
@youngrepublican
Is this what you are trying to say? Covering the the 40% of Americans under 65 who are not covered by their employers’ health insurance is socialism. Regulations that protect Americans from unscrupulous practices that have proved disasterous to our economy in past years is socialism. Negotiating with our enemies, rather than escalating immediately to war, is socialism. Providing assistance to Americans who have met with disaster from earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes is socialism. Building and fixing roads, protecting clean drinking water, and maintaining law and order through publicly funded law enforcement and judicial means is socialism.
If your idea of a civilized country is throwing the disadvantaged under the bus and calling it NOT socialism, that’s your right. It does amaze me however, just how many righteous followers of Jesus Christ have your mindset.
Layla says
It is the job of the Congress to provide for affordable opportunities for people to purchase health insurance that all can afford. That hasn’t successfully been done in decades. It is not their job to force people to buy it or force one family to cover the costs of another. Forcing people to buy it is socialism. Europe has socialized medicine. Canada has socialized medicine. It has become too expensive for the canadian government to provide for everyone, so they are now offering their citizens to shop outside the system, I believe. Even Cuba is now offering alternative choices in the free market. The government seizing privately held companies is socialism.
I missed the part where she wanted to throw the disadvantaged under the bus. I also missed the part where she stated her religion or tried to force it upon you.
Sometime soon we are going to have to figure out a way to talk about these things without going after one another. Do you think we’ll ever be able to agree to disagree peacefully and learn to work these things out?
Dorothea says
Obama’s Affordable Care Act is based on the free market. Those individuals who are are paying unaffordable prices for individual health insurance or can’t afford any at all are given a choice of private health insurers and if needed, assistance in paying for it. These insurers are regulated to keep them from gouging their customers. For instance, the insurance company cannot exceed 10% of profit from their benefit pay-outs.. They also cannot drop a customer just because they become sick.
I said nothing at all about Youngrepublican’s religion. My statement, if you read it again, was generalized.
Here is the QUOTE from Youngrepublican’s reply that I was referring to….”.Obama: Favors collective responsibility (as defined by the federal government) to protect all from social risks through food stamps, welfare programs, extended unemployment benefits, guaranteed health care, the bailing out of big companies, forcing renegotiation of mortgages, class action law suits, and other measures. (Instead of opportunity and incentive to succeed, no one is allowed to fail).”…..
I did ask Youngrepublican to further explain his comments, since his assertion is that the President is a socialist. Nothing could be further from the truth. The following is a quote defining “socialist” in reality and as used by Republicans.
socialist/ismadjective/noun: (1) Relating to an economic or political theory advocating government ownership of production entities and distribution of goods. (2) A Republican term used to discredit any successful regulation or government program or initiative, such as the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, fuel efficiency standards, or the Food Safety Modernization Act. Especially used to mischaracterize some of President Obama’s trademark legislative achievements—the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the auto industry rescue loans, and the Affordable Care Act.