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Making Tampa an early stop on his national, post-State-of-the-Union speaking blitz signals President Joe Biden does not believe Florida is a red state and he's aiming to put it back in play for Democrats in the 2024 elections, according to reports from several state and national news outlets. The speech at the University of Tampa and "Biden's demeanor... are part of a blueprint needed to rebuild the state Democratic Party after historic losses in November," according to a story by James Call of the Tallahassee Democrat. Click here to see Call's complete story . "During remarks in Tampa, the President disparaged both the Senator (Rick Scott) who continues to feud with him over entitlement programs, and the Governor (Ron DeSantis) who talks up his ongoing “fight” with the President routinely at press conferences," a post in Florida Politics said. Biden challenged DeSantis to expand Medicaid in Florida, noting that “the federal government picks up 90% of the cost” and “the state only pays 10%.” “This isn’t calculus,” Biden noted. “The only reason Medicaid expansion hasn’t happened here is politics. It’s time to get this done.” See the complete Florida Politics item here. Standing in front of two huge American flags and a sign that said, “Protect and strengthen Medicare,” Biden made clear he relishes the fight on the social benefits issues. “I guarantee it will not happen,” Mr. Biden said of proposed cuts to the entitlement programs. “A lot of Republicans, their dream is to cut Social Security and Medicare. Well, let me say this: If that’s your dream, I’m your nightmare,” according to The New York Times. See what the New York Times had to say. To drive the point home, the White House placed glossy pamphlets on the seats of every attendee at the Tampa event, designed to look like the plan for a five-year expiration of all government programs put forward by Scott, one of Florida's two Republican U.S. senators, according to The Florida Phoenix, a non-profit news site based in Tallahassee. The audience, an intimate crowd inside the small confines of Fletcher Lounge, a room inside of the university's Plant Hall, broke into cheers often throughout the 21-minute speech. “This is an energizing kind of moment – the president’s coming,” said Susan MacManus, a political science professor emerita at University of South Florida. “It’s a big signal and I see a lot of this as really aimed at resurrecting in a way the (Florida) Democratic Party.” Click here for the Florida Phoenix story.

“Let’s finish the job.” If President Joe Biden said it once, he said it at least a dozen times Tuesday night. And he did it. He got the job done. His second State of the Union address wasn’t an oratorical beauty like any of President Obama’s, but it was a masterpiece in its own right. He let America know about all his administration’s many accomplishments in his first two years – 300 bipartisan bills, if you’re counting, and he was. He checked off a seemingly endless list of all the things he wanted Congress to pass in the next two years – for workers, for teachers, for children, for the environment, for veterans – beginning or ending each request with “Let’s finish the job.” And he made sure Republicans heard him loud and clear, even getting their goat once or twice. Other presidents usually ignore or endure their hecklers, but Biden confronted and engaged them, or as the Trumpers like to say, “he owned” them – once in a little exchange about fentanyl and big-time in an extended riff on whether Republicans want to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits. Giving as good as he got In the fentanyl incident, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, sitting behind the president, nods his head in agreement as Biden says, “Fentanyl is killing more than 70,000 Americans a year,” but Republicans grumble loudly and Democrats shout, “Order.” Biden says, “You got it,” and two people, one right after another, shout, “Your fault,” causing McCarthy to whip his head around toward his caucus and shush them, while Biden smiles a devilishly crooked smile. And the crowd noise just … stops. In the other incident, Biden says to a rising chorus of conservative boos, “Some of my Republican friends want to take the economy hostage, I get it, unless I agree to their economic plan. All of you at home should know what those plans are. Instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share, some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to sunset. “I’m not saying it’s a majority,” Bidens responds to boos. “If anybody doubts it, contact my office. I’ll give you a copy of their proposal.” As Republicans keep grumbling, Biden smiles and says “I’m glad to see. You know I enjoy conversions.” That gets him enough laughs to override the dwindling boos. “I’m not saying it’s a majority of you. I don’t think it’s even a significant,” he continues, then suddenly turns to squarely face the Republican side of the room and, raising his voice, firmly says, “But it’s being proposed by individuals. I’m politely not naming them but it’s being proposed by some of you.” Turning back to the center, he says, “Look, folks, the idea is we’re not going to be moved into being threatened to default on the debt if we don’t respond.” To which, he gets a round of applause. “So, folks, as we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare are off the books now. Right?” and he gives a thumbs up as the applause gets louder. “All right,” he exclaims with a fist pump, then a big “We got unanimity” to another long applause, mostly from Democrats but also some Republicans He continued the riff with a comedian’s elan several more times throughout the speech, including once when McCarthy jumped to his feet to lead a rousing standing ovation as Biden said, “So tonight, let’s all agree – and apparently, we are – let’s stand up for seniors. Stand up and show them we will not cut Social Security. We will not cut Medicare. Those benefits belong to the American people that earn them, and if ever anyone tries to cut them – which apparently nobody is going to do – I’ll stop them. I’ll veto it.” No safe harbor for extremism Other than the social benefits routine, the president saved his admonishments for last and used them to segue to the State of the Union’s traditional conclusion. “The last few year, our democracy has been threatened and attacked, put at risk, put to the test, in this very room on Jan. 6,” he said. “And then just a few months ago, an unhinged, big-lie assailant unleashed a political violence at the home of the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, using the very same language the insurrectionists used in these halls on Jan. 6. “Here, tonight in this chamber is the man who bears the scars of that brutal attack, who is as tough and strong and resilient as they get, my friend, Paul Pelosi.” Biden continued, “There is no place for political violence in America… Hate and extremism in any form must be given no safe harbor. Democracy must not be a partisan issue. It’s an American issue.… “My fellow Americans we meet tonight at an inflection point. This is one of those moments that only a few generations have ever faced, when the direction we now take is going to decide the course of this nation for decades to come. . . “So I have come to fulfill my constitutional obligation, to report the state of the union, and here’s my report. Because the soul of this nation is strong, because the backbone of this nation is strong, because the people of this nation are strong, the state of the union, it is strong. “I’m not new to this place. I stand here tonight having served about as long as any one of you have ever served here, but I have never been more optimistic about our future, about the future of America. “God bless you all, and may God protect our troops.”

Interning with the North County Democratic Club offers a unique opportunity to gain real-life, hands-on experience in Democratic politics. We are looking for a select few hardworking, passionate, future leaders who want to strengthen their understanding of the political process, and prepare for future political opportunities. As an intern, you will have the chance to participate in grassroots organizing, assist at Club functions and activities, receive personal development training, and network with our leadership and staff. This experience will help build your professional resume. We are looking to match students with roles that meet your passions. Do you have interest in event planning, writing, researcher, finance, analyzing data, creating social media content, web or graphic designing?. Whether you have a few hours of time or more, we would welcome your help. Please email now to secure your spot and let's make a difference together! Contact: northcountydemspb@gmail.com

President Biden will deliver the second State of the Union address of his presidency at 9 p.m. tonight, Feb. 7, on all the major networks. And it’s time for him — and us — to crow. The U.S. is significantly stronger than it was when he took office two years ago, especially the state of the economy with the unemployment rate now at 3.4%, the lowest in more than 53 years. But that’s not all. President Biden has been a steadying force on the world stage, leading the international response to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. And while his ambitious agenda sometimes ran up against a divided Democratic Party in the Senate in his first two years, he has managed to sign a number of essential bills on infrastructure, gun safety, and several other issues where his predecessors failed. Besides the overarching themes of economy and foreign policy, count on the president to start laying the groundwork for his second presidential campaign — to win a second term in 2024. Who are the special guests? As is tradition, the president and members of Congress can bring along special guests to attend the speech. Among those in attendance will be the parents of Tyre Nichols, the 29-year-old man who died after being beaten by Memphis police during a recent traffic stop. Nichols' death has sparked additional calls for police reform, and his parents were invited by Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford. Both California Rep. Judy Chu and President Biden himself have invited Brandon Tsay — who was hailed as a hero after disarming a man suspected of killing 11 people during a shooting in Monterey Park, Calif., last month. Democratic Rep. Cori Bush, of Missouri, announced she invited Michael Brown Sr. — the father of a teenager who was shot and killed by a police officer in Missouri in 2014 — as her guest. And Republican Rep. Greg Steube — the Florida lawmaker who was recently hospitalized after falling 25 feet from a ladder outside his home — invited Darrell Woodie, the Good Samaritan who called 911 when Steube fell. We’ll be watching and cheering, of course. Tell it, Mr. President, tell it!

By Paul Blythe It would be hard to miss Ron DeSantis’ imperial ambitions, but if you hadn’t noticed, his Trump-like presentation Wednesday, Feb. 1 of his 2023 proposed budget for Florida was the latest bugle call in a month of political soundings meant to rally his base and demoralize – heck, let’s just say it, demolish – his opposition. There was the shipped-in crowd of staff and guests instructed to have “high energy” and applaud him often; the grandiose claims of a “strong performance” state economy with absolutely no mention that it has been fueled by about $9 billion in federal money from President Biden’s and the Democratic Congress’ COVID-19 recovery act; and, of course, one of DeSantis’ signature culture-war digs -- the announcement he would push the Legislature to exempt gas stoves from state sales taxes. This last one was a nod to the recent Republican furor over a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announcement that it would examine whether regulations of gas stoves were needed, after studies suggested indoor pollution from gas stoves might be linked to health problems. “They want your gas stove and we’re not going to let that happen,” DeSantis said. Little does it matter to DeSantis that the commission has made it clear the government is not going to take anyone’s gas stove, or that only 8 percent of Florida households use gas stoves and fewer than 5 percent of homes in the state use natural gas for residential heating. In other words, a non-factor in the daily lives of the vast majority of Floridians that DeSantis nevertheless is using as a pseudo-issue to rile his base. So, he wasn’t just talking about gas -- he was gaslighting, the technique of blatantly lying in the face of truth for the purpose of manipulation, a technique that is typical of DeSantis and archetypal of totalitarians in general. DeSantis a dictator? No. He was duly elected in a fair election. But he does seem to be doing a lot of authoritarian-like things. Tools of the trade There are all types of articles on the internet on the 12, 10, seven or four techniques that dictators commonly use to gain and maintain power. To name a few of these methods: creation and use of scapegoats and straw-dog enemies, propaganda, indoctrination, abrupt removal of opponents from power, use of terror and force to intimidate opposition. Now, let’s take a look at DeSantis’ and Republicans’ major political actions in a very active start of 2023 and see how they match up: Jan. 6: DeSantis appointed a conservative junta of six new trustees to the 13-member board of New College of Florida. The move gave conservative extremists a majority on the board, and their explicit mission is to model the state’s small, public liberal arts college in Sarasota after Hillsdale College, a small, private Christian college in Michigan. The newly reconstituted board has already fired the college’s president and replaced her with Richard Corcoran, a former GOP House Speaker who also served as DeSantis’ Education Commissioner. (Scapegoating, indoctrination, removing opponents.) Jan. 12: DeSantis’ Department of Education banned an Advanced Placement African American Studies course from being taught in Florida high schools because, according to a tweet by Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., the course includes sections on Critical Race Theory, Black feminism, Black queer studies and what Diaz called “other obvious violations of Florida law.” However, he appears to be referring to Florida’s Stop Woke Act, which a federal judge, calling the law “positively dystopian,” has temporarily blocked, pending appeal. Meanwhile, College Board, which creates AP courses, issued a revised curriculum on Feb. 1 that eliminates or downplays the topics Florida objected to, although College Board said those changes were substantially made before Florida’s objections. Florida has not responded since. (Scapegoating, indoctrination.) Jan. 17: DeSantis and the rest of the State Board of Administration approved measures to prohibit consideration of “social, political or ideological interest” when investing state money. “Florida’s not going to subsidize the actions of Leftist idealogues who hate America,” said Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis, who, like DeSantis, sits on the SBA and is an outspoken critic of what are called environmental, social and governance issues in investments. Florida already has one law that prohibits investment of state money in businesses that boycott Israel , clearly a political interest, and DeSantis invoked the law in 2021 in seeking to punish Ben & Jerry’s for a much-publicized business maneuver related to Israel and the West Bank. So, is it all political or ideological interests that DeSantis opposes in investing state money? Or just the political ideas that he personally dislikes? (Scapegoating, propaganda.) Jan. 26: Republicans in a Florida House committee advanced what they call the School Choice bill (HB 1) to make all K-12 students in Florida eligible for annual vouchers of more than $7,000 to attend private schools instead of public schools. Current law restricts the education vouchers to families earning at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level. If passed and signed into law by DeSantis, the new law would in effect defund public schools for a patchwork of private, religious and home schools that lack state oversight for teacher certification, academic and testing requirements. State analysts estimate it would drain $2.4 billion in funding from public schools in its first year after being passed, up from the current $1.3 billion going to voucher students each year. An effort that began with Gov. Jeb Bush’s A-plus school vouchers in 1999 could be nearing its end-game objective – the dismantling of Florida’s public schools. (Indoctrination.) Jan. 30: House Speaker Paul Renner and the Florida Sheriffs Association endorsed a bill that would allow people to carry concealed loaded weapons in Florida without first getting a permit. The bill, which has DeSantis’ backing, would not allow open carry, as some gun advocates want. Nor would it end Florida’s weapons permitting, because some residents might want a permit to allow them to carry concealed weapons to other states, under reciprocity agreements. (No authoritarian technique here but a good case could be made for Republicans being guilty of reckless endangerment of public safety if it passes.) Jan. 31: In a speech just miles from New College, DeSantis announced what he wants from the Legislature this session for higher education. Among his proposals : Dismantle diversity programs meant to attract faculty and students from a wider range of demographic backgrounds; Give university trustees and presidents the authority to review professors’ tenure any time rather than just every five years, which it was only reduced to by a bill that DeSantis signed just last year; Reduce the role of faculty committees in hiring, while expanding that of university presidents; Make the newly established Hamilton Center for Classical and Civil Education at the University of Florida its own college within the university to attract more conservative faculty and students. (Scapegoating, indoctrination, removing opponents.) Indoctrination for education No one is saying that DeSantis as elected governor can’t appoint whoever he wants to a board, or that elected officials who make up government boards shouldn’t set policies they think best, as long as they are constitutional. But one also must admit that it’s possible to use democratic tools for anti-democratic or socially harmful purposes. And that’s exactly what is being done in each of these cases. Note that most of these actions involve education – i.e., indoctrination. DeSantis and his fellow Republicans are trying to control how Florida thinks. They are getting rid of people who don’t think like them as well as trying to eliminate the teaching of ideas they don’t like through propaganda, scapegoating and just plain banning them. I realize politicians of all stripes typically appoint people with beliefs like theirs, but Democrats and, at least in the past, Republicans, also have made expert qualifications and high professional standards factors in the appointments equation. Unfortunately for Florida and democracy in general, high standards and truth are not factors of value for DeSantis. You see this not just in his appointment of six largely conservative Christian trustees to head a public – which should be read as secular in a Jeffersonian democracy – but also in his appointment of COVID-gaslighter Dr. Joseph Ladapo as Florida's surgeon general. And truth matters. Getting to the truth matters. That’s why we teach Black history – to understand not only what happened in 1862 or 1954 or 1964, 1965 and 1968 but also why we are where we are now. It helps us understand why DeSantis’ voter fraud police unit, especially one that targeted mostly Black voters, is a despot’s tool of intimidation. There is no legitimate need or defense for it, just more gaslighting, more Orwellian lies. Florida has statistically negligible voter fraud; the unit prosecuted only 20 cases in its first year, most of them against Black voters and most of them questionable; yet one of DeSantis’ 2023 budget requests is for increased funding for the unit. And all of this matters now, because the nation’s eyes are on Florida. Florida’s lurch toward red in an election year when Democrats fared better than expected just about everywhere else in 2022 makes Florida a national model for Republicans and DeSantis a candidate to watch. What to do? For Democrats, however, DeSantis must be a candidate to stop – and now. But how? First, Democrats can’t let his lies and gaslighting go unanswered. We must redouble our letters and calls to his office, our representatives and newspapers to oppose his policies with a show of big numbers. Next, we can’t keep playing just his game. He has made himself a hero of conservative extremists by strategically timing and leaning into high-profile battles on culture issues that provoke the base but have little to do with how we all live. Exempting gas stoves from Florida’s sales taxes but doing nothing to reduce the cost of windstorm insurance for Florida’s residents. But you never hear Gov. DeSantis mentioning his radical and unpopular views on other issues such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie writes that as a Florida congressman who was one of the founders of the House Freedom Congress, DeSantis was an especially fierce opponent of these programs, and he wrote in his 2011 book attacking the Obama administration that the Affordable Care Act and the federal bureaucracy were “administrative despotism” that have exerted “stifling constraints on the whole of society.” Bouie suggests this needs to become Democrats’ line of attack. Hammer home the clear case that DeSantis, given the chance, would slash the nation’s safety net and use the proceeds to help the rich stay rich. Finally, with social media and public events, Florida Democrats must sound the alarm to the rest of the nation that DeSantis brooks no dissent. Not yet a dictator but a wannabe in all his actions. Our mission is to ensure he remains a dictator manque.

If we want If we want to “Flip Florida Blue," we need to start today. Become a member of a Democratic club. Hear informative speakers expound on important issues and meet fellow Democrats. Here's how to join the North County Democratic Club now. Help register voters and collect signatures on referendums. Become a precinct captain to encourage Dems to vote in your neighborhood. Write letters to the editor of your local paper expressing Democratic values. Talk to family and friends who are NPAs about Democratic values. Call your elected representatives about pending legislation and lobby them on your Democratic views. Contact a Resistance group and march with them. Support Democratic candidates with your time and money. Run for office. Help get out the vote on the weeks prior to and on Election Day.

Volunteers needed to help collect petitions from Florida voters attending Arti Gras in Palm Beach Gardens. Saturday, Feb. 18, and Sunday, Feb. 19. Two-hour shifts between 10:00-4:00 either day The petitions are for The Florida Right to Clean Water initiative ( floridarighttocleanwater.org ) to make a state constitution amendment by collecting 990,000 petitions needed to place the vote on the 2024 state ballot. Contact Paula McClease. Paula is a Palm Beach county ambassador and club member. For this project, she needs help from her colleagues who also believe Floridians have the fundamental right to clean and healthy waters.Email Paula to offer help p9125@comcast.net If you are unable to to help at ArtiGras please be sure to sign the petition below. With your help, we can bring this initiative to amend Florida's Constitution to the voters in November 2024, so the PEOPLE can decide whether we should hold our State agencies accountable for harm to Florida's waters. CLICK HERE TO SIGN

Sign Waving Event for Reproductive Justice Join Us on Sunday January 22, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM Sign Waving for Reproductive Justice in West Palm Beach in solidarity with the “Bigger Than Roe” Women’s March in Madison WI and throughout the USA. Location: The sidewalk in front of Target, 1760 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33401 directly across from the Palm Beach Outlets Bring a sign! We will have a few signs with images from Women’s March/Bigger Than Roe, information about the crisis in the FL Legislature, and a banner. We all have so much to say-put it on your sign! Roe may be over, but the renewed fight for women’s rights is just beginning. Spread the word that our movement is #BiggerThanRoe ! Sponsors (list in formation): Democratic Women’s Club of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County National Organization for Women Questions: dwcjoan@gmail.com

A great way to get involved is to join one of the many resistance groups in palm beach county. Please contact the representative for the resistance group you are interested in for more information: Speak Up for America/ PBG Indivisible Rebecca Cohen: cohenboca@aol.com Pop-Up Protest of Palm Beach Ben McAlavey: benmcalevey@gmail.com Women's March - Florida Alex Taylor Newell: http://www.womensmarchfl.org/ Palm Beach Indivisibles Robb Allan: robb.allan@palmbeachindivisibles.org https://palmbeachindivisibles.org/ ​

Hello Fellow Democrats! We need volunteers to give out Slate cards and answer questions at the Early Voting Site - Jupiter Community Center for the next 2 weeks. The Schedule below lists the times to sign up for a shift. We need two volunteers each shift-morning and evening. You will interact with Voters on their way to polls from Parking lot. Please choose a day and time and I will put you on chart and arrange for you to get slate cards. The time is now to volunteer!

Our first meeting of the new year is on Thursday, January 12 at 7 pm at the Palm Beach Gardens Library SPEAKER Dr. Mindy Koch Palm Beach County Democratic Party Chair Dr. Mindy Koch has served the Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee as an elected Precinct leader for over 20 years. She was President of the Democratic Club of Boca Raton and Delray Beach for 6 years. She and her family have lived in Florida since 1986. Mindy recently retired from teaching after 40 years as an educator, administrator and union representative. She has been elected to be the next Palm Beach County Democratic Party Chair.

Election Day is right around the corner, and there’s so much at stake here in Florida. Chief Val Demings is fighting to end gun violence, protect a woman’s right to choose, and make life more affordable for Floridians — but we need your help to get out the vote! Right now, Chief Demings is traveling across the state to encourage supporters to help get out the vote on November 8th. On 10/26, join the Chief and her team in Palm Beach County for a GOTV rally, where we’ll celebrate her campaign and hear more about the amazing work she’ll do as United States Senator. It’s time to retire Rubio and elect Chief Val Demings to the Senate — we hope to see you there!