Putnam opponent, independent Joe Viscusi, at DFA this week.

[madfloridian]

"Please join us on Weds., July 5 at 7:00 p.m. at Perkins Restaurant in Bartow. We will have guest speaker, Joe Viscusi, who is running as an Independant for the 12th Congressional seat to displace Adam Putnam."

DFA Link is set up now where you have to make an account to blog or sign up. Growing fast again, though.

Please feel free if you are in Central Florida to drop by.

I have heard Joe speak once, he has often run. He is very outspoken, and to be quite frank I love this guy. I taught with his sister years ago, and she was like him...just great and outspoken. I envy their ability to be that way in this area.

Join us if you can.

[Freddie Stubbs]

1. Why won't he run as a Democrat?

[madfloridian]

2. Viscusi's website.

http://www.joeviscusi.com/Joe+in+the+News.6.2.lasso

And an interesting write-up about him. He has been a state Democratic congressman who became Republican when everyone else in Florida did, and is now running as an Independent.

Hubby had not heard him before, and he was really excited. He said he had not been that inspired since he first heard Howard Dean speak. Joe is a Howard Dean fan, big time. He did not realize when he came to speak that DFA was formed from his campaign, at least it did not seem that way.

Robert of Interstate 4 Jamming, the blog, has a write up about Joe.

http://interstate4jamming.blogspot.com/2006/05/12th-district-congressional-race-even.html

He is pro-choice and tired of the efforts to scapegoat various groups.

I read something about Bowlin, the other Independent running. Will have to find it. When I saw he wants to restructure Social Security entirely, it turned me off. I am not at all open-minded about that.

Bowlin:
http://www.barrywelsh.org/fiftystate/?q=node/99

I hate sites that won't let you copy/paste any part of it, so you will have to read it all yourself.

[madfloridian]

3. Just wanted to say one more thing.

Joe V. says he is not really starting to campaign until the last two months. Putnam is flush with power and money, being quite godlike.

I hope Joe does give it a try. People are furious with Putnam over the bill he helped draft to allow offshore drilling.

He is just sort of laughing in the faces of those who trusted him.

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. How are people supposed to take a candidate seriously if

they won't start campaigning until two months before the election?

[madfloridian]

5. Who will pay for more?

Would you commit? The Democrats here as a party are not about to support anyone against Putnam. DFA met with him, gave him a forum.

Why doesn't he just not try? That would be easier. Just not bother.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. It doesn't cost money to hold press conferences and knock on doors

Perhaps if he had run as a Democrat he would have gotten more support.

[madfloridian]

7. Ok.

Whatever. We tried running a Democrat, pro-choice, pro-gay marriage. The party leaders state and nationally stuck someone in against at the last minute who got the church folks out to vote for him...anti-choice, anti-gay, even civil unions.

Been there done that. Our Democrats in Florida as you know are really Republicans by another name.

Joe is fed up with both parties. He knows he would not have gotten support as a Democrat, he would have been ignored.

If not too much dissension is encountered, he may be asked to speak at the meetings of the Democratic Party. But that might flip too many heads.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. So if FL Democrats are really Rupublicans,

who does this guy think is going to vote for him?

[bEnT]

9. For or against?

First you say, "I hope Joe does give it a try" then you say "Why doesn't he just not try? That would be easier. Just not bother." I'm a little confused - do you or don't you support Joe Viscusi? And if not, I don't' get it!!

You have 3 choices (4 if you do nothing, which seems to be the growing trend): a)Adam Putnam, right wing conservative and "yes man" for the Bushies and the christian wackos; b) Ed Bowlin, isolationist & just creepy; c) Joe Viscusi, experienced, trusted and a man of principle. Yes, principle. Maybe the reason he left the Dems in the first place was because of all the Polk County back stabbing. We don't have Dems here. We've got old timer southern democrats - they look like Democrats, even carry a wrinkled card in their wallet saying they are but they sure act like right-wing nut jobs to me.

So which is it? Behind Joe or not? And if you are, say so! Unless of course, you want Adam Putnam for another term or worse, see him go on to be senator, governor or God forbid... I can't even say it.

[madfloridian]

10. Whoa, there.

I don't have to tell you anything at all.

In case you did not notice I was put on the defense about Joe's not being a Democrat. Did you read the whole thread?

I would have told you what we are doing, but I don't like being insulted by people who have not read the thread. There's enough stuff at DU without that.

So, my friend, you will just have to wonder.

[madfloridian]

11. And BTW I agree with the backstabbing around here.

You must not have read many of my posts. So even though I agree with you, I have to fight you and Freddie at the same time..

There are some nasty Democrats in this county, we are just about to quit the DEC and stay just with DFA. It gets nasty here.

[bEnT]

12. apologies...

i'm just so frustrated about what i see happening here in polk county, in florida, in this country i love & cherish so dearly. i asked for clarification as post #5 alone, appeared to suggest that viscusi not even bother running. i want to believe that's not what you meant & extend my apologies for my rant.

as for 'nasty democrats' & quitting the dec... it's imperative that you & others like you stick it out. the ol' back stabbing southern dems would love nothing more than progressive minded people to sit down & shut up. rumor has it, that's what they expected of viscusi back in the 90's. he took a stand for what he believed was in the best interest of the people (for the people)instead of voting party line and chiles sent dean saunders down with a war che$t to take him out. saunders won & then didn't even bother to run for re-election leaving the door open for putnam. gee, thanks. can you blame the guy for switching parties? hell, at least the republicans don't eat their own.

again, my apologies if i've offended.


Vote Joe Viscusi for Congress
www.JoeViscusi.com

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. Don't be a wimp and quit the DEC

Take it over instead! All of those positions are elected.