Kick Out Keller

Thanks and Goodbye

2008-11-06T07:26:00.001-08:00

Good riddance to Ric Keller, a blight on the state of Florida. We now have one less ineffectual and pointless Republican in our Congressional delegation. I want to thank the contributors to this blog, the readers, and the people who sent us information on Keller. We're proud to have played a part in spreading the truth about Ric and we're even prouder to no longer have to do it.

DCCC Takes on Keller

2008-10-29T17:53:00.001-07:00

Fla. Dems Good on Environment, Reps Not So Much

2008-10-18T21:49:00.000-07:00

The League of Conservation Voters released their scorecards for Congress. Can you guess what the pattern is? Of Florida Republicans, only Ileana Ros-Lehtinen does as good as any Democrat and that's only one person. Beyond that, all Democrats do way better than all Republicans. No shocker there.

Alcee Hastings (D), 92%
Ron Klein (D), 92%
Timothy Mahoney (D), 92%
Kendrick Meek (D), 92%
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), 92%
Bill Nelson (D), 91%
F. Allen Boyd (D), 85%
Corrine Brown (D), 85%
Kathy Castor (D), 85%
Robert Wexler (D), 69%
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R), 69%
Vern Buchanan (R), 62%
Gus Bilirakis (R), 38%
Ginny Brown-Waite (R), 38%
Mario Diaz-Balart (R), 38%
C.W. Bill Young (R), 38%
Mel Martinez (R), 36%
Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R), 31%
Ander Crenshaw (R), 15%
Ric Keller (R), 15%
Connie Mack (R), 8%
John Mica (R), 8%
Adam Putnam (R), 8%
Dave Weldon (R), 8%
Tom Feeney (R), 0%
Jeff Miller (R), 0%
Cliff Stearns (R), 0%

From the Blogs

2008-10-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

Down With Tyranny: Alan Grayson Shows That Support For Our Vets Means Something More Than Hot Air

Republicans Don't Support Troops As Well As Dems

2008-10-12T17:29:00.000-07:00

Check out the latest scorecards from Disabled American Veterans and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America...

DAV:

Bill Nelson, 100
Allen Boyd, 100
Corrine Brown, 100
Kendrick Meek, 100
Robert Wexler, 100
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, 100
Alcee Hastings, 100

Mel Martinez, 60
Jeff Miller, 66
Ander Crenshaw, 66
Ginny Brown-Waite, 66
Cliff Stearns, 66
John Mica, 66
Ric Keller, 50
C.W. Bill Young, 66
Adam Putnam, 66
Connie Mack, 66
David Weldon, 66
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, 66
Lincoln Diaz-Balart, 66
Tom Feeney, 66
Mario Diaz-Balart, 66

Notice a pattern here? All of the Dems have 100%, while none of the Republicans has anything better than a mid-range "D." So much for supporting disabled troops.

IAVA:

Bill Nelson, A+
Allen Boyd, A
Corrine Brown, A
Kathy Castor, A
Timothy Mahoney, A
Kendrick Meek, B
Robert Wexler, A
D. Wasserman Schultz, A+
Ron Klein, A+
Alcee Hastings, A

Mel Martinez, B
Jeff Miller, B
Ander Crenshaw, B
G. Brown-Waite, B
Cliff Stearns, B
John Mica, B
Ric Keller, A
Gus Bilirakis, A
C.W. Bill Young, B
Adam Putnam, C
Vern Buchanan, B
Connie Mack, B
Dave Weldon, C
I. Ros-Lehtinen, A
L. Diaz-Balart, B
Tom Feeney, B
M. Diaz-Balart, B

Republicans do a little better on this one, with Keller, Bilirakis and Ros-Lehtinen all getting an "A." Dems still do better, Meek has the lowest grade on our side of the aisle, and he still has a "B." The only "A+" grades amongst Florida's delegation are Dems and the only grades below "B" are all Republicans. Again, which party actually supports the troops?

Grayson Not Happy About Bailout

2008-09-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

They aren't happy.

String 'em up.

In the last two days, the U.S. stock market has gone up by $1 trillion. That's because of a $700 billion direct transfer from taxpayers to financial corporations like AIG and, I guess, the expectation that another $300 billion will find its way into the deal before it's over. So tax dollars are being used to prop up the stock market, something that never happened even in the deepest depths of the Great Depression. It's corporate communism. That's the context.

Here is more context. $700 billion is over $2000 for every man, woman and child in America. For a family of seven, like mine, it's over $15,000. Someone just took $15,000 from me and my family, and gave it to anonymous bondholders whom I've never met, who have done nothing for me, to whom I owe nothing and -- right now -- I really don't like.

More context: you could take one percent of that amount -- one percent! -- and pay off the delinquency on every home mortgage in arrears in America. And keep people from losing their homes. But ordinary people get nothing from this Administration except grief.

Great News for Grayson

2008-09-15T10:53:00.001-07:00

He leads Keller by 4 points (although this is within the margin of error). Grayson is a great candidate and is someone we definitely want in Congress. Keller, on the other hand, is someone we don't even want in Florida, much less representing us in D.C.

The Orlando Sentinel, predictably, gets in a little dig at Grayson with the implied "elitism" of mentioning that he's "wealthy."

Great News for Grayson

2008-09-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

From the Blogs

2008-09-08T22:37:00.000-07:00

FLORIDA POLITICS: Alan Grayson wins Democratic nomination in District 8

Can't Keep Quiet!: I'm voting for Alan Grayson

Down With Tyranny: Alan Grayson (D-FL): Three Days Before Primary Day

Down With Tyranny: Best News Of The Day: Alan Grayson Crushes Reactionary Hacks In Orlando

From the Blogs

2008-08-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

Marion County Democratic Party: Keller and Stearns don't care about women receiving fair pay

From the Blogs

2008-08-01T14:09:00.001-07:00

Can't Keep Quiet: Alan Grayson for Florida's 8th district

Open Left: Democratic Congressional Candidate Alan Grayson on Iraq Reckoning: "We'll Put People in Prison"

Down With Tyranny!: Alan Grayson TV Ad Looks Like A Game Changer

Wow, Great Ad From Alan Grayson

2008-07-27T19:50:00.001-07:00

Other candidates, you should be making ads like this one. Seriously.

Keller hates the Troops, Loves Flip Flops

2008-07-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

In addition to a significant loss of life, the war in Iraq has cost the taxpayers of District 8 more than $1.5 billion. How does Keller feel about that? He's not sure. Some times he's in favor of the surge, sometimes he's opposed to it. He doesn't know what to think.

2.16.07: Keller voted for a resolution criticizing the troop surge [H Con Res 63, #99] - "Interjecting more young American troops into the cross-hairs of an Iraqi civil war is simply not the right approach. We are not going to solve an Iraqi political problem with an American military solution. And that’s my best judgment."

7.12.07: Keller voted against the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act (HR 2956) requiring the responsible redeployment of American troops from Iraq to begin within 120 days and to end by April 1, 2008 - "At the time [in February], I felt more troops on the ground would not result in an Iraqi solution. Unfortunately that was accurate," Keller said. But he said he now thinks that if the U.S. leaves too soon, "Iran would exert its evil influence over a shaky Iraq government."

Keller Hates Working Families, Loves Big Oil

2008-07-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

Ric voted against the "Use It Or Lose It" bill at a time when working families (like mine) are struggling to pay for rising gas costs. Republicans are touting drilling closer to Florida's coast as a way to bring prices down -- a claim that is ridiculous when the oil companies already have leases to 68 million acres they aren't currently drilling, apparently because they won't get big enough profits quick enough on those acres. The bill would've required oil companies to drill on the leases they already have or they wouldn't get further leases. Ric voted against that and for continued high prices for working families and potentially for oil spills on our beaches. Thanks, Ric!

Ric Hates America and Its Values

2008-06-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

It's clear that Americans generally favor more progressive values most of the time. Not Ric. With a lifetime Progressive Punch voting score of 4.42%, it's clear he hates Americans and their values.

Ric is Wasting Your Time in Washington

2008-06-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

According to Congress.org, Ric is the 393rd most powerful member of the House and as part of the hugely ineffectual Florida Republican delegation in Washington, helps make Florida one of the least powerful states in Congress. Thanks for the great work!

Keller's Opposition

2008-04-30T11:49:00.000-07:00

You know, Charlie Crist has been raising money for Ric Keller and the party is considering high level support for his campaign...last time around he won against Charlie Stuart with 53% of the vote.

I am supporting Charlie Stuart and am hosting a livingroom meeting with him on Tuesday, May 6, at my home, 37009 Calhoun Road, Eustis, 32736. 6:30 pm, rsvp to 352-205-1621. This is in the unincorporated area of Eustis, off 44A just east of Thrill Hill Road. I'd love to meet some of my neighbors and want to let everyone in this area know about Charlie's campaign www.charliestuartforcongress.com

This is NOT a fundraiser; it's an opportunity for you to speak directly with Charlie and get answers to your questions. I hope you'll consider coming. The coffee will be magnificent and the company will be fun. Especially if you're there!

Ric Hates the Environment

2008-02-24T19:11:00.001-08:00

The League of Conservation Voters recently released scorecards for Congress. How did Ric do? Poorly:

Ric Keller (REP), 15%

Not only did all of the Democrats do better than all of the Republicans, With one exception, all of the Democrats did more than twice as good as all the Republicans. And most of the Democrats voted in favor of the environment more than four times as frequently as most of the Republicans.

I wonder how many of these Republicans own property that will be beachfront property when most of Florida is under water because of global warming? I'm just saying...

Ric Hates America, Florida, Loves Eternal War

2008-01-26T19:56:00.001-08:00

Ric has endorsed John McCain, the man who opposes a national cat fund and said that he had no problem staying in Iraq for 100 years. Thanks, Ric, for advocating a president who, while not as bad as the other Republicans, would be horrible for America (and Florida).

Keller Hates His Family...Well, the First One

2007-11-15T20:42:00.000-08:00

Harper's:

Keller—whose office did not reply to requests for comment for this story—ran for Congress in 2000 and won strong support from evangelical leader James Dobson. According to the Orlando Weekly, Dobson “ran radio spots for Keller and campaign literature quoted him saying that Keller was ‘the obvious choice for those who care about the biblical values upon which our nation was founded.’” Keller also ran as an outsider and mortal enemy of Washington, D.C., and was strongly backed by U.S. Term Limits (USTL) because, unlike his opponent, he vowed to serve no more than eight years in the House. USTL hailed Keller as “a true citizen legislator,” saying it was tired of hearing “empty term-limits rhetoric” from career politicians.

But that was then. Since winning office, Keller has divorced his wife and married a young woman who worked on his congressional staff. I spoke with four people, each of whom would only speak with me on condition of anonymity, and each of whom told me that Keller’s relationship with the staffer began while he was still married. In addition, just weeks after winning re-election to his fourth term last fall, Keller decided that term limits weren’t actually such a good idea and declared that he would run again in 2008.

Does Keller have an honest bone in his body?

Keller Hates Telling the Truth

2007-11-15T20:39:00.000-08:00

Like many other Republicans who claimed to support the concept of term limits, Keller pledged to leave office but wasn't honest about it.

Nonsensical Analogy

2007-11-15T20:34:00.000-08:00

Not sure if you caught this one before:

Let me give you an analogy. Imagine your next door neighbor refuses to mow his lawn and the weeds are all the way up to his waist. You decide you’re going to mow his lawn for him every single week. The neighbor never says thank you. He hates you and sometimes he takes out a gun and shoots at you.

Under these circumstances, do you keep mowing his lawn forever? Do you send even more of your family members over to mow his lawn? Or do you say to that neighbor, ‘You better step it up and mow your own lawn or there’s going to be serious consequences for you’?

This was something said by an actual member of Congress. Really.

Americans United For Change's Anti-Keller Ad

2007-11-12T17:37:00.001-08:00

This should be more than enough to inspire you to help out one of Keller's numerous Democratic challengers.

Ric Loves Bush

2007-10-05T12:51:00.000-07:00

Pushing Rope notes the percentage of the time Florida Republicans vote in line with President Bush, one of the worst presidents in American history. Not surprisingly, Ric loves Bush:

2007 - 75%
2006 - 95%

Everyone Hates Keller

2007-08-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

Even the Republican Party is targeting Ric:

A new group whose supporters include former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer is launching a $15 million ad campaign to pressure Republicans to continue supporting the war in Iraq.

Among Freedom Watch's targets: Central Florida's Rep. Ric Keller, who incurred GOP wrath when he spoke out against President Bush's push for a troop surge.

Ric Hates Children and the Elderly

2007-08-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

Congress recently had a chance to help out children and seniors across the country. Guess which way the Florida delegation voted?

FL-1: Jeff Miller (R) - Nay
FL-2: Allen Boyd (D) - Yea
FL-3: Corrine Brown (D) - Yea
FL-4: Ander Crenshaw (R) - Did not vote
FL-5: Ginny Brown-Waite (R) - Nay
FL-6: Cliff Stearns (R) - Nay
FL-7: John Mica (R) - Nay
FL-8: Ric Keller (R) - Nay
FL-9: Gus Bilirakis (R) - Nay
FL-10: CW Bill Young (R) - Nay
FL-11: Kathy Castor (D) - Yea
FL-12: Adam Putnam (R) - Nay
FL-13: Vern Buchanan (R) - Nay
FL-14: Connie Mack (R) - Nay
FL-15: Dave Weldon (R) - Nay
FL-16: Tim Mahoney (D) - Yea
FL-17: Kendrick Meek (D) - Yea
FL-18: Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) - Nay
FL-19: Robert Wexler (D) - Yea
FL-20: Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) - Yea
FL-21: Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R) - Nay
FL-22: Ron Klein (D) - Yea
FL-23: Alcee Hastings (D) - Yea
FL-24: Tom Feeney (R) - Nay
FL-25: Mario Diaz-Balart (R) - Nay

Let these people know what you think about them. Go to their page at the FPC Wiki to find their contact info.

Ric Keller Resources

2007-08-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

For those interested in learning more about Ric, here are a list of relevant resources:

FPC Wiki Page

Official House Site

Official Campaign Site

Wikipedia Page

Congresspedia Page

WaPo Voting Database

FEC Report

On the Issues

Open Secrets.org

Project Vote Smart

Welcome

2007-08-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

This is a new local blog for Florida's eighth Congressional district and watching the actions of Ric Keller, the Republican representative who misserves us in Washington.

If you are interested in posting at Kick Out Keller, drop me a line at quinnelk@hotmail.com with some idea of your Democratic and/or progressive credentials and I'll add you as a blogger.