Bill Nelson has really taken controversial stands this last month.

Just now I saw him on CNN defending the intervention of congress into the Schiavo affair on the grounds that it was "narrow bill."
He thought it was fine to override the state courts because it was a narrow interpretation, limited only to Terri.

These are his other votes lately:
SNIP..."He recently supported a bankruptcy overhaul bill opposed by many Democrats. Last week, he bucked his party to vote against replenishing $1-billion the White House had cut from Amtrak. Then late Thursday, after having waffled on the Terri Schiavo controversy, Nelson stunned some observers by backing a Senate bill ensuring federal review of the case."

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/20/State/Political_cold_should.shtml

I hear that is what Democrats need to do in red states, but we risk becoming just like them. If he keeps voting to please the other party then by next year he may be even more like them.

I have a lot of concerns about our Democrats who vote this way. I think it is important to discuss those concerns. If Bill Nelson gives Florida a choice between a real Republican and someone who acts like one.....they will go for the real Republican.

4th most irritating voice in the Senate, behind Lieberman/Collins/Sessions.

I mean, I met him working on the Kerry/Edwards campaign and thought he was great, I was all set to work on his campaign in 2006.

But the way he has been voting so far, I'll still vote for him, but will I pound the pavement (canvass) in 95 degree weather, get yelled at as a telemarketer (phone bank) and otherwise give up my evenings and weekends for him? Probably Not.

...by Bush's relatively strong (5%) win in Florida.

He deserves our support b/c better him than a Florida Democrat, but I agree that his votes recently have been VERY disappointing, especially considering that Florida is a swing state, not some a state of the deep-red variety.

Democrats who voted with Republicans in favor of sending the Terri Shiavo case to federal court have really dropped the ball.

Vast majorities of Americans oppose such intervention. All significant facts surrounding the case support the husband's determination to allow Terri a digified death.

Meanwhile, congressional Republicans and Jeb Bush keep digging a hole deeper and deeper in the direction of extremism and nauseating political grandstanding.

This is an issue they forced upon the American people. It is the Democratic party's job to point out that this issue reveals the petty political nature of the Republican leadership, their shameless pandering nature and the desperation of one man in particular, Tom Delay, to take the spotlight off of his own political misfortunes. STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT!!!!

Davis is from the Tampa area and is said to be planning a run for Governor of Florida. I heard him speak the night the House debated the Shiavo bill, and I was impressed, "If we do not draw the line in the sand today, there is no limit to what democratic principles this Congress will ignore or what liberties they may trample on next."



Let's see what he says and how he votes on the bankruptcy bill that is soon coming up in the House.

I talked to his office about it, and since I have heard no more from the aide after I sent them the TNR article...I assume he is for it still.

lacking in consumer protections, yet continues the abusive assets protection trusts in five states and "mansions for millionaires" protection in certain states--Florida, for one.

Thanks for letting me know, madfloridian. My support for Davis is now in limbo--even after just reading this very favorable article about him in the St. Pete Times.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/02/06/news_pf/State/A_risky_decision_for_.shtml

A risky decision for Rep. Davis

The low-key Tampa congressman thinks he can fix the ills he sees in Tallahassee. But some wonder if any Democrat can win a statewide race.

By ADAM C. SMITH, Times Political Editor
Published February 6, 2005

There is nothing brash or brazen about U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, his style more Jimmy Stewart than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

When hometown favorites Bill McBride and Betty Castor ran for governor and senator in 2002 and 2004, Davis let other elected Democrats make endorsements while he cautiously stayed on the sidelines. He decided against running for governor four years ago but wrestled with the decision so long he was caricatured as the hand-wringing Hamlet on the Hillsborough.

Now it's decision time again: Should a politician unknown to most Floridians give up his congressional seat to risk his political future at a time when many savvy strategists question whether any Democrat can win a statewide Florida election?

"A lot of the people close to Jim Davis are really discouraging him from running for governor and want him to stay where he's at and bide his time," said Democratic consultant Vic DiMaio of Tampa. "Jim is a great guy, very smart, and would be a great governor. But why should he be a sacrificial lamb?"

But belying his chronically cautious image, Davis is on the verge of jumping in. Many expect the plunge to come in days, not weeks.

more...

its a lost cause, just like the rest of the South.

I'm in a blue county (Broward), but a red Congressional district (Shaw). There's far too much kool-aid being drunk in the rest of the state.

to begin with....:think:

Maybe I am naive but I was thrilled when Nelson won over McCollum in 2000. I think that Nelson had good marks as Insurance Commissioner after Hurricane Andrew. We could use someone like him now as home insurance in Florida is once again a mess following the 2004 hurricane disaster. My home insurance on my modest little dwelling is more than my car insurance and property taxes combined and also carries high deductibles for everying that it doesn't disallow.

Also, he is an ex-shuttle astronaut and that appeals to me. :) (hopeless romantic, here :)

I even sympathize with Bill McCollum, however; all his fair-weather friends, that is, Ros-Lehtinen and Diaz-Balart, switched to Mel Martinez in 2004.

Back to the topic, I am often dismayed with Nelson's performance on talk-shows and I agree that he fails to inspire me even when he is on liberal talking points...nevertheless, and please help me out here, I think he IS a team player for our side.

As of today, I still plan to vote for him in 2006 and try to support his 2006 Senate race.

"Thank you for contacting me regarding bankruptcy reform.

As you may know, on March 10, the Senate passed S. 256, the
Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act, by a vote of 74-25. I voted
for this bipartisan legislation because it protects Americans most in need,
while embodying the principle of personal responsibility. People making
less than their state's median income will not be forced to repay their
creditors; only those who can do so would be required to repay most of
their debts over time. In Florida, the median income is $30,475 a year for
individuals, and $57,473 for a family of four.

There were several important consumer protections added to the bill
on the Senate floor. I worked hard with my colleagues to ensure special
accommodations for active-duty military members who are disabled and people
with serious health conditions. Another improvement to the bill guards the
privacy of sensitive information contained in court documents.

As always, I will continue to advocate for the best interests of
consumers and fight to ensure that the Senate considers balanced consumer
legislation. I appreciate hearing from you. Feel free to contact me in
the future."

For the people...by the people......sssshhhhhright!

Switches parties???? I haven't seen much to make my socks go up and down regarding him since the election.

He sways to easily! Looking for someone else myself.

believed that they would work well together, why the haste? Overreaching to me. Seems they will work together well until 06 and Nelson will be gone and seems it might be a good thing. The thing I don't get is why do these people run for office and then get in office and turn their backs on the people who put them there. They act like getting reelected is everything, no ethics to me they just want to be in congress, to be part of the elite power structure. Perhaps it is time to put time limits on all of Congress three 2 yr terms for reps and one 6 year term for Senators. Time to end the homesteading that leads to corruption.

a phoney ass..he votes more republican than some republicans..i met him many times during kerry campaign..i was a delegate..and if he thought you had money to give him..he was all over you like flys on stink..he ran kerry coat tails..and personally he impresses me not!! i got to speak with him many times..and he is always looking over the person he is talking with's shoulder all over the room for some opportunity..i was a a $1000.00 luncheon for kerry and he was working the room and talking to me and looking over my shoulder and i saw him do it with many others...and i was really struck by it as i also spoke with edwards there..and edwards secret service was trying to rush him out of the hall way..and he stopped them and he told them to back off, and he talked with me like i was the most important person in the world..and here was nelson who was uncomfortable it seemed in his own skin..and looking all over instead of talking to you as a person..that bothered me..and he only paid attention when someone told him who my husband was...that really pissed me off!!
then i worked the vip sections during the kerry campaign when any of them came into town..well at an edwards rally i had a young girl who wanted his autograph..in the vip section no less..and he wouldnt sign it ..in fact he was short with the girl and rather nasty..now he had met me many times by that time...and here i was with a young college gal back stage trying to help her get an autograph...the kind of kids you want to hook into voting and taking politics seriously..and he was nasty with the young lady..that did it for me with nelson...i work very hard at getting college kids involved, and this young lady started up the young democratic club at her college...
i am fortunate i live in two states..i also live in n.j. and have been involved with DEC in n.j. and fla ...and in calif before that...and i will say...i love lautenberg he is real...i saw him at convention and you would have thought we were best friends...and i also worked in calif with DEC and i saw maxine waters at convention and again you would have thought we were best girlfriends..
and i have never seen them be nasty like nelson was with the young lady i tried to help get an autograph from nelson..corzine as well he is wonderful..and they represent the democratic values i treasure the most..nelson does not!
and mind you i was housing the kerry field rep in my home for 7 months and he was the rep for 3 counties...and i was feeding the kerry campaign field kids every day for months..at the kerry headquarters in our area...Nelson well knew who i was...and i really wouldnt do jack crap for him now./..and his votes..well he might as well be repub...

he does not represent me or my democratic values..not one bit!he is an opportunist..nothing more..
thats my story and i am sticking to it!!

fly

stop attacking your own senator...you should be attacking that slimeball Mel Martinez instead.

Remember Nelson is in Redland. Dem Senators who act like this in blue states are weak. He will be under attack from the right wing in 06...He needs our support, not cannibalism ...

Stay loyal to dems (except Zell & Hillary Leiberman :puke:)

He may be a good man, but he is clueless quite often about what he is voting for. He does not seem aware of the problems of ordinary Americans.

We have gone too long without criticizing our leaders who vote like Republicans. I expect Martinez to act in a certain way, but I do not expect Nelson to side with him so often.

If you pretend to be something long enough, then pretty soon you are. Being in a red state does not excuse a Democrat when they vote like a Republican.

I don't really like Lieberman nor do I like Nelson. But I'm sort of the same boat as you - I think Nelson deserves our support b/c he's a Dem and he will vote with us if we control the chamber and will vote for Dem leadership.

Moreover, his voting record is to the RIGHT of Lieberman's. It just seems inconsistent to me for you to be urging toleration towards Nelson but not against Lieberman.

And Hillary? I realize she's not popular on DU but last time I checked her voting record and positions are much farther left than Nelson.

Zell of course isn't even a Dem. But the others?

Nelson has been on my list for some time and I've been pretty vocal about it.

Say Good-Bye Bill, you lost me a long time ago.

I'm sorry, I've posted 3 times in this thread... it's just that I feel so strongly about this. I also saw him 2 times before the election. At the St. Pete rally for Edwards, and then with Kerry in Tampa, the Sunday before the election. He just goes along to be one of the crowd. He thought Castor was going to win, so he wanted to be seen with her. Then when Mel (stole) the election he couldn't wait until he starting beating his drum and praising him as one of his good friends.

The Castor/Martinez election was razor thin, and I doubt Martinez actually won. Castor always polled a little ahead of him. But from what I saw on election night, watching county by county will forever be etched into my brain. Votes started dumping toward the Repukes around 11:00 P.M., I saw about 40,000 votes go to Katherine Harris and my jaw dropped. This state has been in the hands of the BUSH-WHACKERS for a long long time. It's extremely frustrating when you work so hard for your party, only to see it go up in smoke.

I have such animosity for the BUSHIES that I won't even buy Bush Beans. Yes, I know they have nothing to do with one another, I just don't want the name in MY house!!!

the election. He got so cozy with Mel Martinez within hours after the election, stating they had been good friends for years and he was looking forward to meeting with him.

It was then I began writing BOTH Betty Castor, Martinez's opponent for Senator and also Bill Nelson. Castor basically ignored me, but then she did lose. But Nelson only sent me the normal "auto responses" which made me confused. I then decided to get on his mailing list for daily updates. I got a few, but then they stopped. Even then after writing I only got the standard "auto responses"! I'm with madfloridian on this issue, it doesn't even matter much if he calls himself a Democrat, I don't see much "Democrat" in him! I've also written to him stating this same thing.

I've just been waiting to hear him say he's switching parties. I've been looking for an alternative candidate for some time now, and hope someone will soon emerge!! And even though he still has a "D" behind his name, I will work toward getting him out of office! As long as Bob Graham was around, he seemed to side with him, but now with Mel, he has done a 180 or even 360!! Apparently HE WILL dance with wut brung him!!

Say Good-Bye Bill... Ya Hear That Bill Nelson???

I am a Floridian so had lots of opportunities during the campaign to see Nelson as he regularly appeared with Kerry or Edwards during rallies. And each time he came on to speak he made a huge deal about his efforts against election fraud, and that he would be THE MAN to reckon with if there was any repeat of the 2000 shenanigans. And then when the elections were over and it was time for him to step up to the plate, he was a total no show. I emailed him several times and reminded him of his promises, and received some type of form letter to one of my emails.
That and his involvement with that DC cult group, which his wife is a high standing member.
Just don't trust him to keep his word anymore. And as an active member in my Dem group, my first priority is to elect Democrats, so this is a huge frustration for me.