Bill Nelson has irritated some FL Dem leaders with his press appearances.

[madfloridian]

And with his pushiness in taking such a big lead on the mail in vote. It appears he did not talk it over with others before he jumped in with both feet to take over.

Nelson's stamp on mail-in vote riles colleagues

He really has been been taking over on this issue. When I heard that the nine in the Florida House delegation were against it, I wondered what was going on.

WASHINGTON — Amid intense national attention over Florida's Democratic National Convention delegates, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has become the face of the state's Democratic Party. But his appearances in the press, particularly on cable television, have rubbed some Democrats the wrong way. Nelson and U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings led Florida Democrats in opposing the Democratic National Committee's plan to strip the state of its convention delegates because of its early primary. But he found himself at odds last week with the state's nine Democratic House members over plans for a mail-in primary.

The House members, who include supporters of Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as well as uncommitted members, issued a unanimous statement opposing the mail-in plan after a tense meeting Tuesday night between Nelson and the other Florida Democrats in Congress. Nelson shot back the next day with his own statement, outlining why he thinks the mail-in plan is the most practical option-but reiterating his bottom line position: that Florida's convention delegation must be seated.

Throughout the controversy, Nelson has maintained adamantly that his stand is not motivated by his support for Clinton, who won Florida's uncontested primary, but out of his desire to make sure that Florida's voice is heard at the convention.

Some are really unhappy with the role he has played. I wondered if there were some problems. In Florida it is hard to tell what is going on because everyone is going off in their own direction.

The exchanges "spoke volumes about Sen. Nelson," said a Democratic congressional staffer who asked not to be identified. "He engaged in free-wheeling, self-dealing behavior and got caught with his pants down. He told the press that he had a done deal on a new Florida vote without even talking to any members of the Florida delegation, and in fact, the entire Florida delegation was opposed to him.

"He tried to do something on his own, and it blew up in his face," the staffer said. "I think right now there is significant resentment against him by the other Florida Democrats on the Hill."

The article quotes some staffers who say he has never been that inclusive and never reached out much to others.

They further said "He always flies solo. It's not a warm relationship between the House Democrats and Senator Nelson."

I have also wondered if he spoke out too soon when he said there would be no caucus.

I wish they did not quote staffers who were not named, but I feel like he did take a big leap ahead of the others.

[madfloridian]

1. Here is one video of Nelson talking about it. Looking for the March 9 one.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=u2Od20usrUQ

[Scurrilous]

2. Thanks madfloridian.

:thumbsup:

[Cha]

3. bill nelson has always kinda

creeped me out and now he's so full of himself that these Fl Dem leaders are irritated with him..can I hope for the "his own petard" effect?

[ZinZen]

4. Bill Nelsen=Narcissitic egomaniac

or is that overkill. :-)

[kirby]

21. Overkill..

You went overboard. Narcissistic egomanic is not as severe as a Bill Nelson.

[madfloridian]

5. There can be no winners in this Florida fiasco.

There has been no honesty from Florida Democrats who started it, nor will there be. They are perfectly willing to let someone else take the blame.

The scorched earth policy of one campaign may be taking a toll now.

http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/459369.html

"TWO SIDES DIVIDED

As Clinton's camp calls for counting the January results, Obama's campaign has rejected them, arguing that the contests in Florida and Michigan were invalid because both candidates had agreed not to campaign in the two renegade states. Obama's name wasn't even on the Michigan ballot.

''The rules are the rules. Michigan and Florida both knew they wouldn't be seated if they moved their primaries up,'' former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley, an Obama supporter, said Sunday on Meet the Press.

''If we want to make sure that Michigan and Florida are seated,'' he added, ''make it a 50/50 division'' of delegates.

Several members of Congress have suggested other formulas, using the results of the January primary to apportion delegates.

Allan Katz, an Obama supporter and Tallahassee attorney, said there could be support for ''some iteration of a 50-50 split'' in which Clinton could end up with an edge of superdelegates."

[reflection]

8. Thank you for your tireless work on this subject.

It has not gone unnoticed.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. kick

[SoCalDem]

11. 50-50 and NO soooooper delegates

the soooopers should have been the voices of wisdom who could have put the brakes on the whole move thing..

[1776Forever]

6. I am a supporter of Nelson just because there has been no other Dem running...

I think we see this pushiness in a lot of HRC supporters! It seems to be a character flaw of theirs to just demand their "rights" and to H to everyone else! It also makes me think of W and his cohorts. Move along - there is nothing to see here! My way or the highway! Hillary rules - not the real ones!

I heard about a man in Nevada who helped run one of the caucus location on a radio show that said that he was at the meeting place when the Hillary supporters came in with their own little booklets and showed him where it said in the booklet that the caucus was suppose to start at 11:30 and not the time it said in the real Democratic booklet! He told them - Your booklet is not legal it is from the Hillary Clinton campaign - Mine is the law because it is from the Democratic Party rules! Duh - This is so typical of HRC and Bill!

Scares me what they will do to get or try to get the nomination! I think they don't give one iota for the Party!!!

:rant:

[MagickMuffin]

7. I've heard that in Florida it is against their law for mail in ballots

Shooting himself in the foot while shooting off his mouth.

Way to go Bill.

Thanx for posting this and keeping us up to date, madfloridian:applause:

[SoCalDem]

10. Apparently Hillary has offered him something really BIG..

maybe veep..? Is he popular enough in Flroida, to carry the state?

[Yurovsky]

13. He's no Bob Graham, that's for sure ...

the GOP has shot itself in the foot twice by nominating bible-thumping jesus freaks to oppose him. He portrays himself as a centrist, which worked well for him. No real accomplishments of significance, and no one really has any strong allegiance to him. Can't see him being the deciding factor in making Florida go for Hillary if she steals the nomination.

If JEB! would've opposed him (Nelson)for the Senate last election (2006), there would be two GOP senators from Florida right now. JEB! remains very popular in Florida, for what reason I cannot fathom.

[Freedom Train]

15. But on the positive side, he's no Katherine Harris either

It was good for us that Jeb for whatever reason decided against running in '06 and let Harris do it. I have Florida relatives on my wife's side who, while no big fans of Nelson, simply voted AGAINST Harris, and many others did too. But yeah, there has to be someone better suited than Nelson to fill that seat.

[lark]

17. Nelson

is a centrist Dem and usually votes the party line, but will sometimes stray off the reservation and vote with the R's. He's pissed me off a number of times, like recently when he voted to approve telecomm immunity, and the only reason I vote for him is because he's better than the R's and is USUALLY a reliable Dem vote in the Senate. Don't know why he got so far out ahead of the party, but I swear someone must be dosing them. They are all acting incredibly stupid!!

:grr:

[madfloridian]

16. He is usually about 5% more popular with Republicans than Democrats

but he has been talking about not wanting to talk about VP for ages now. Just dying to be asked.

[pscot]

18. Your dispatches are always interesting

But then, you live in a target rich environment. Florida politics seems like one, long soap-opera. Keep up the good work.

[madfloridian]

20. Yes, it is a rich environment...

and the media doesn't even see it. They are all so tied up together.

[catgirl]

12. He has failed the state miserably

When is he up for re-election?

[Phred42]

14. Bill Nelson's Voting Record (Partial)

Strange Voting Record for a "Democrat"


Medicare.................. Y
Telecom immunity......... Y
CAFTA_HR...................Y
CAFTA_S ...................Y
Bankruptcy Bill........... Y
PN801 -John Roberts........Y

Any Questions?

[xxqqqzme]

19. It is pretty clear he is the dlc front man on this issue.

It certainly fits the MO - Decide what needs to be done to further the dlc's selfish interest, then go to the press and announce what you have just decided as if you have the majority voice. The certainly don't want any of the rabble offering any information. That part about consulting others is omitted because they don't.

Too bad the dlc is about 200 years too late, they would have fit right in w/ the Federalist crowd.