Comments on: A closer look at Allen West

By: kishnevi

kishnevi — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:48:39 +0000

I agree with you on the importance of taxes as an issue. West’s problem is that he seems to disagree with both of us: he’s not talking about taxes; he’s talking about immigration. I just double checked: his issues pages talks about the National Debt and cutting back on spending, but absolutely nothing about taxes. Presumably West opposed Obama’s plan, but there’s nothing on there to hint at that. He should campaign on an anti tax platform, but he’s not doing that–at least not yet. He’s talking about completely different issues–and issues moreover that don’t mean nearly as much to people around here. That’s not the way to win an election.

By: Tommya

Tommya — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:44:16 +0000

I’ve worked with the Jewish people here in CD-22 for over a decade…. and one thing rules over everything else: their livelihood. Most live off a lifetime of hard work that brought them a nice little nest egg. Klein and his buddies are openly telling them that they are going to double their taxes!!! No way they vote their bank account away in an area where the cost of living has risen through the roof.

By: kishnevi

kishnevi — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:25:18 +0000

I’m not for Klein. I’m a Libertarian, and was just trying to shine some reality on SeeDubya’s enthusiasm. You point out the tax issue–that’s the best shot West has, and his website doesn’t even mention it (unless it’s been updated in the last few days). Instead he picks on immigration, which isn’t worth much in this part of the state. It’s a poor candidate who can’t mold his campaign to match what the voters are actually interested in, and so far West doesn’t seem to have done that.

There’s also another problem I didn’t mention in the post–you remember some of those Jewish retirees who wouldn’t vote for Obama because he’s the “shvartzeh”? Well, at least some of them live in FL22–and this time the shvartzeh has a Jewish opponent. No way will West get those votes.

By: Tommya

Tommya — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:41:45 +0000

I think you and Rep. Klein are going to be very surprised come November. There are some serious issues headed Klein’s way: he’s a follower of a party that proposes to double capital gains tax on retirees!!! Not good. Klein has no problem supporting Obama, but many in his district don’t trust Obama. Klein is clueless on energy. He offers no leadership, as he basically follows party lines on everything. It’s gonna be tough for a big time Lib, polished politician, to overcome voters disgust for such people. And as West becomes known Klein may see a tidal wave his $3 million dollars in campaign cash can’t overcome.

By: kishnevi

kishnevi — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:58:33 +0000

See-Dubya
But it is skin off our nose locally if visa enforcement and other similar measures are not focused on. Outside of northern and western Palm Beach (Foley’s old stomping grounds) and the southern end of Dade County (RosLehtinen country) immigration has a very different look here than it does in most other parts of the country. [Those are the two main agricultural areas, and therefore the areas of South Florida where the concentration of illegal immigrants are highest.] For one thing, fewer illegals, and they mix in better; for another, they are often from the Caribbean islands, and instead of being Hispanic they’re black. And for another thing, there’s an enormous amount of immigrants, period–probably as high as California or Texas, possibly even higher, in terms of percentage of population–and most of them are legally here, and often enough citizens by now. This is particularly so in Miami-Dade. Fort Lauderdale is less so (and FL22 in particular has a very low percentage of Hispanics).

After I posted, it hit me that his Iraq proposal really combines the disadvantages of withdrawing with the disadvantages of staying, and none of the benefits of either.

It’s the impracticalities of a lot of what he’s saying, and the impracticality of saying it in the context of this district, that hit me.

His issues page doesn’t even touch on one thing that would be very pertinent to FL22–defending the Bush tax cuts and opposing Obama’s tax raises. I gave the demographics in the main post, so you’ll see that Obama’s plans to tax the rich would have a very practical application to a lot of the people in the district (assuming they vote here, and don’t keep those expensive condos simply as winter homes).

And thanks for coming by.

By: See-Dubya

See-Dubya — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:24:09 +0000

KIishnevi–

Yeah, maybe.

Maybe.

But he’s obviously got his head screwed on straight about the big national issues, and the 22nd district could do a lot worse. for example, it’s no skin off your nose if Rep. West wants to build a fence in Texas, New mexico, and California. And the country would benefit from it.

By: doubleplusundead

doubleplusundead — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:59:56 +0000

Hey Kish, check your inbox.