'It's a sh-- sandwich': Republicans rage as Florida becomes a nightmare for Trump

[babylonsister]

https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2020/04/03/its-a-sh-sandwich-republicans-rage-as-florida-becomes-a-nightmare-for-trump-1271172

‘It's a sh-- sandwich': Republicans rage as Florida becomes a nightmare for Trump
By GARY FINEOUT and MARC CAPUTO
04/03/2020 05:02 AM EDT


TALLAHASSEE — The staggering unemployment exploding on President Donald Trump’s watch would worry any incumbent running for reelection, but troubles in Florida are injecting an added dose of fear into a jittery GOP.

Already anxious about Trump’s chances in the nation’s biggest swing state, Republicans now are dealing with thousands of unemployed workers unable to navigate the Florida system to apply for help. And the blowback is directed straight at Trump’s top allies in the state, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Rick Scott.

Privately, Republicans admit that the $77.9 million system that is now failing Florida workers is doing exactly what Scott designed it to do — lower the state’s reported number of jobless claims after the great recession.

“It’s a sh-- sandwich, and it was designed that way by Scott,” said one DeSantis advisor. “It wasn’t about saving money. It was about making it harder for people to get benefits or keep benefits so that the unemployment numbers were low to give the governor something to brag about.”

Republican Party of Florida chairman Joe Gruters was more succinct: “$77 million? Someone should go to jail over that.”

snip//

Republicans in the Legislature share the blame, said Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez, a Miami Democrat.

“Rick Scott is the most culpable human being when we look at who’s responsible for the failed system,” Rodriguez said. “But I don’t know of any Republican who resisted these efforts to make Florida the most Scrooge-like state in the nation.”

[Wounded Bear]

1. K & R...nt

[gibraltar72]

2. And Jeb Bush helped.

[SheltieLover]

3. When greed is the motivation, this is what hapoebs!

Totally wrong intention. 🤬

[lagomorph777]

16. Shit sandwich hapoebs. I'd like some covfefe with my shit sandwich, please.

[IronLionZion]

31. and a hamberder

[lagomorph777]

32. LOL!

[Vogon_Glory]

4. Now Serving At The Nemesis Sandwich Shop!

The 2020 Schadenfreude Special with Crow on the side!

[jberryhill]

5. I'm thinking even pRick Scott would have done better than DeSantis

At least Scott had experience in health care fraud.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

63. Yes. The LARGEST Medicare FRAUD in American history.

In 1997, when cadaver scott was the CEO of Columbia/Hospital Corp of America (HCA), they were sued by the AG for the largest FRAUD in history. They were fined $1.7 BILLION.

rick scott was forced out by the Board.

Did he indicted ?

No. What he got was $30 million in stock, $5.1 million severance and a $950,000 consulting contract (for 5 years).

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE REPUBLICAN HYPOCRISY.

[Chainfire]

6. Well, they could blame it

On the last Democrat governor, who served 20 years ago.

[moose65]

22. Don't give them any ideas!

I'm expecting to see a report where some Republican in Florida blames all this on Hillary....

[not_the_one]

39. what do you mean?

Its all those gosh darn New Yorkers. Comin' down here... They up to NO good. It is THEIR fault. Hillary, emails and Benghazi are our last ditch excuses. We ain't there yet...

But we SHOULD Lock Her UP. Anyway. Just because she is Hillary, the ACTUAL AND REAL CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THIS HERE UNITED STATES. DAMN HER.

[PatSeg]

50. "Democrat" governor?

There is no such thing as a Democrat governor. That is what republicans would call our Democratic politicians. Words matter.

[JHB]

7. I've got three words for you, guys. Just three words.

Are you listening?


"You Built That"


'cause you did. That sandwich is 100% yours.

[dem4decades]

8. How people can say Obamacare was a bad thing these days

Should be a huge issue for Democrats, as if healthcare wasn't already.

[BadgerKid]

9. Yet another instance of trashing the system to justify one's worldview. n/t

[safeinOhio]

10. I'm appalled by their language.

Do they want their children and grand kids to start talking like fucking trump?

[marble falls]

20. The little bastards better not.

[UpInArms]

11. An article from 2013

Complaints Roll In Over Florida’s New Glitchy Unemployment Claims Website

10/21/2013 11:37 am ET Updated Dec 02, 2013

Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s reelection campaign theme may be “It’s Working,” but the state’s expensive new unemployment claims web site is definitely not.

Since it went live October 15, the new site Connect has been unable to recognize some claimants’ personal information, according to complaints lodged on the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity Facebook page.

And many of those unable to file new claims say their payments were already delayed this month after the site went offline for a week while the new $63-million site launched.

“It means groceries in my cabinet, it means maybe paying my water bill on Monday,” one claimant told WOKV News.

There is no official count of how many of Florida’s nearly 240,000 unemployment recipients may have been affected by Connect’s glitches.

Yet frustrated claimants reportedly lined up at local unemployment centers, where staff could only direct them to the state’s 1-800 help line, which in turn was either busy or hung up on them.

Meanwhile DEO reports a successful rollout of the new site, saying more than 50,000 Floridians filed claims in its first two days, although an internal email obtained by the Tampa Bay Times paints a different picture.

“The system should become more stable as we daily progress as changes/fixes are being moved into production on a regular basis,” a DEO email reads. “It is important that we do not convey the wrong message to the public, so please do not advise claimants that the system is down unless official word from management is received.”

... more at link ...

[Baitball Blogger]

17. +1

[dalton99a]

43. +++

[hatrack]

12. Gosh, poor Republicans - now that they need Evil Government, it doesn't work!

And they're the ones who fucked it up!!

Pardon me, but I don't give a shit about their electoral prospects - maybe they should try giving a shit about the citizens they "serve" for a change.

[NRaleighLiberal]

13. great new publicity campaign? "Come and Visit the Shit Sandwich"!!!!!

[Hugin]

18. "Take a bite of the shit sandwich!"

Has a more Madison Ave ring to it...

[moose65]

24. Where's Anita Bryant when you need her??

Maybe they could dust her off for a new ad campaign!

[sop]

14. That's why DeSantis put off shutting down businesses till the last minute.

Republicans knew there would be a huge number of workers applying for unemployment benefits, and their negligence would be exposed.

[Blues Heron]

15. Pukes are dumb and this is the ultimate IQ test

they are failing

[Celerity]

19. The Villages & other mostly-RW olds viper nests are going to be decimated, which fucks Rump as well

Fuck you Donnie!!!


Large Florida Retirement Community With Slow Coronavirus Response Sees Positives Grow

https://www.npr.org/2020/04/01/825499450/large-florida-retirement-community-with-slow-coronavirus-response-sees-positives

[maryellen99]

21. And those pictured above think because they have money they'll be first in line for ventilators nt

[marble falls]

25. If there aren't any because their tax breaks meant there aren't any they'll won't be crying ...

hoax with Hannity then.

[Celerity]

26. if/when it gets down to triaging due to a ventilator shortage, their arses will be shit out of luck

Greedy Hateful Boomer is not an a priori protected category when death comes ripping.

[not_the_one]

42. Unfortunately the logistics of reality indicate ventilators won't go to old farts.

Bigly sadly.

I'm not sure if I should post that thingy... "Cause I'm not sure if I am being sarcastic... (bona fide old fart, here...)

[marble falls]

23. That was really eye opening. All their concern was for their weath which is still a middle ...

class sort of wealth, not a single concern for people. Putting a face on their comments was a good thing. They all look like me but with haircuts.

They need to spend a week with some real concerns. We won't be stealing their 'wealth' but the wealthier will.

So worried about something they won't be using in too many years from now.

[obamanut2012]

33. First two deaths in Sumter yesterday, too...

[leighbythesea2]

60. Lived in fla 2x

And love the state but this is so discouraging. Well the one time was Key West, and that is not populated wholly by Republican retirees.

My friend who is a paramedic (state im in now) said new protocol is spend half the time normally alotted in past-- on cardiac arrest revival. (On site).

It sounds like a small thing but i think we all know where its headed. Its an older, Republican area of this state she works in. She said a lot of cardiac calls they get are older folks.

Cant you see fla getting to this place relatively quickly?

[Javaman]

27. the repub rush to see who they can throw under the bus first. LOL nt

[FM123]

28. We can take it when we people laugh at us

and call us "florida man" or assume every crazy headline took place in FL. We too, understand and even know folks personally that fit that moniker and we are in on the joke. But for those of us who marched, persisted and voted and still got nothing but Red Representation that want to beat us down, it is no joke. DeSantis, Scott & Rubio may look like jokesters but what they do to us (and not do for us) is no laughing matter. It feels like every man for himself down here, and places like South Florida that are blue - we know and feel their hatred.

[obamanut2012]

34. +1

[Kitchari]

36. As you said, it is no laughing matter

Florida is not filled with just one type of voter, and you are proof of that.

[Blue_true]

38. We just have to keep working.

Republicans are blowing Florida up, the virus exposed that. The last time something like that happened, it led to 24 years of democratic governors leading the state. Unfortunately, North Florida democrats became republicans and with South Florida and Central Florida Cuban-American politicians, they were able to keep control of the Legistlature and Florida Senate.

But things are changing, 45% of Cuban-Americans in Florida are registered democrats, that is led by young Cuban-Americans. Florida has about 200,000 more registered democrats than republicans, that advantage recently grew by around 25,000 voters. Democrats have reduced the republican advantage in the Legistlature and Florida Senate and are looking to take over one or both of those bodies in November.

Keep you head up and keep your eyes on the prize. Florida is changing for the better, even if it doesn't look that way now. Close to 1.4 million former felons, many of them African American now have the right to vote, a right a federal court affirmed just this week. I personally have a couple of family members that fall into that group. Stay in the fight, have your favorite beverage, a good meal and relax, we are in this fight and it is going our way.

[FM123]

59. Yes, and you posted something the other day

that I am thinking about more and more everyday: we now have more registered Dems than repubs in this state.

[underpants]

29. Very common in southern states. It used to be in Virginia

Virginia is having some serious problems too but that from day capacity not systemic design.

It used to be next to impossible to collect on unemployment in Virginia. First it was strongly discouraged as being "on the dole" and "lazy". Second if your former employee protested they almost always won. I don't know of anyone who won a contested claim until I did in 2008. I'm just saying I was shocked when I won mine.

I don't think it's legally a thing but "right to work" states are very tough on anyone collecting on the insurance they paid for.

[Roland99]

30. What surprises me is their seeming surprised

[IronLionZion]

35. Make Florida blue again

these assholes have destroyed that state pretty bad. Dems in Florida are social distancing while the Repubs are dismissive of the whole thing as a liberal hoax. So that's yielding predictable results already.

[Blue_true]

41. Democrats can take back one or both chambers of the Florida Legistlature

and Florida Senate in November. We need to do that or come so close that we weaken republicans ability to cause chaos. In then in 2022, we take out DeSantis and put a capable democrat in office.

[obamanut2012]

47. DeSantis basically lost to a weak opponent

He isn't surviving this, I bet, especially if someone like Gwen Graham gets the Dem nom.

[radical noodle]

51. I think we would have had a Democratic governor right now

but Gwen Graham lost the primary here.

[mountain grammy]

37. K & R

Evidently this is what they wanted.. corruption and incompetence. They've been voting for it for years..

I have family down there.. solid Democrats.. We will all suffer because of he Republican Party..

[Blue_true]

46. What has happened.

Prior to Scott, republican governors were sufficiently moderate for republicans, Jeb Bush, Bob Martinez, Charlie Crist led moderately, especially Crist (who is now a democratic US Representative). So Florida residents didn't get the full brunt of voting republican. That has changed with this virus, plus democrats positioned strong leaders over that last decade, a lot of whom are young. Gillum turned into a disappointment, but we have leaders like the Mayor of Tampa, Senator Lauren Book, AG Commisioner Nikki Fried, Gwen Graham, to mention a few, that have our party in a good position to take over and sanely run the state.

[mountain grammy]

55. Yes, I hope you're right..

[radical noodle]

40. As of today

their problems increased because this is the first day of the stay at home order. I know someone who was on the phone the other night for 5 hours, until 2 am, on hold waiting to get to the robotic service. She finally was able to enter her information but the call ended without giving her the number she needed to get her payments. The frustration level is great.

[Major Nikon]

44. Unemployed GOP voters in Florida

[JHB]

52. "He's hurting the wrong people!"

[ballack]

45. But, but

It was Benghazi!

[malaise]

48. Rick Scott and his family looted health care

Wipe them out Dems and them lock them up!

[muntrv]

49. He republickers, you made your bed,

now sleep in it!

[Texaswitchy]

58. Has bed bugs in it.

They voted their hate.

[DBoon]

53. How's that "drown government in a bath tub" thing working out?

Republicans have been making government small, weak and ineffective for decades.

People are unemployed. People are dying. Republicans own this.

[AtheistCrusader]

54. The line at the unemployment office is about to become very much a secondary consideration in

the state of Florida.

The line at the ER is going to be a lot more problematic.

[greenjar_01]

56. "And we're all gonna have to take a bite..."

[Texaswitchy]

57. Only injured non white people.

Racism has a price.

[karin_sj]

61. Think of how different things would be right now

Imagine how much better shape the residents of Florida (and Georgia, for that matter) would be if the elections for governor in 2018 hadn't been stolen from Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams via voter suppression and other means.

[BootinUp]

62. Trump for governor! Lol.

[live love laugh]

64. Time for Limbaw and Hannity to amp up the lies. nt

[DENVERPOPS]

67. Thankfully

ol' limp balls isn't going to be using up our air for much longer.....Doesn't matter much, he has already done enough damage to the U.S. and our Democracy.

His CA isn't something he can lie or buy his way out of.......But he will get to go back to his use of opiates on the way-out.....

[Grokenstein]

65. Bon apptit, motherf***ers.

Be sure to eat every last bite.

[Nitram]

66. ReThuglicans just want to screw over every working American who doesn't vote Republican.

I hope there's something left when the working man and woman realize that.