Here is an update from our earlier story today regarding former Gov. Jeb Bush and the open US Senate seat.  Earlier, we reported that Bush was leaning against running for Sen, Mel Martinez seat.  NOW, Bush has announced he indeed WILL NOT seek the US Senate seat in Florida.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush announced Tuesday that he won’t run for the U.S. Senate in 2010 to replace the retiring Mel Martinez, saying that it was not the right time to return to elected office.

“I can play a role in helping to reshape the Republican Party’s message and focus on 21st century solutions to 21st century problems,” Bush told The Associated Press in a phone interview. “Not running does not preclude me from being involved in these things and I will be.”

Bush gave a run serious consideration after Martinez said last month he wouldn’t seek a second term. Bush spoke with senators, supporters and family, including his brother, President George W. Bush, and his father, former President George Bush.

He said his decision wasn’t based on politics, but on his “personal journey.” He said his brother’s low approval rating didn’t factor into his decision, and that Floridians are familiar with his record as governor.

When our rankings come out, Florida will be a strong Toss Up.

President-elect Barack Obama has offered the position of US Surgeon General to CNN physician specialist Dr,. Sanjay Gupta.

Gupta has told administration officials that he wants the job, and the final vetting process is under way. He has asked for a few days to figure out the financial and logistical details of moving his family from Atlanta to Washington but is expected to accept the offer.

Hey, I like Dr. Gupta!  He is entertaining and smart.  Good choice by Mr. Obama.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid agreed to not seat Dem. Al Franken, the certified winner in Minnesota, and I will defend Reid (really!) on that call, but Reid also called on Norm Coleman to concede and step aside.

“This is a difficult time for former Sen. Coleman and his family, and he is entitled to the opportunity to concede this election graciously. But we cannot let this drag on forever,” Reid said. “I hope that former Sen. Coleman and all of our Republican colleagues will choose to respect the will of the people of Minnesota.”

Norm Coleman won reelection on November 4th by a razor thin margin of less than 300 votes.  Since the election was so close, a statewide mandatory recount was activated and wrapped up yesterday with the Elections Board declaring Franken the winner.  Coleman’s camp has promised a legal battle, but the problem is, each way they have already turned tot he Minnesota Supreme Court, they have been turned down and rejected.

Ok, so a few disclaimers.  No, Reid did not call Coleman a loser.  No he did not use the word ‘quit’.  Our title is better though, because you know damn well that is what Reid wants to say!

RNC Chairman Mike Duncan, discussing how the Republican party can rebuild itself.

“We have to do it in the Facebook, with the Twittering, the different technology that young people are using today.”

Classic. 

President-elect Barack Obama said today that the Nation may have to prepare for the next few years for deficits totaling over trillion dollars per year.

Obama said Tuesday the deficit appears on track to hit $1 trillion soon. Speaking to reporters after meeting with top economic aides, Obama said: “Potentially we’ve got trillion-dollar deficits for years to come, even with the economic recovery that we are working on.”

We talk about Iraq.  We talk about oil.  We talk about health care.  We talk about social security.  We talk about education.

But perhaps, in reality, the final Bush legacy will be how he drove this nation from Clinton surpluses to massive trillion dollar deficits.  Very un-compassionate conservatism if you ask me.

The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, brother of President George W. Bush, is leaning against a run for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Senator Mel Martinez, who announced he would not seek reelection.  The announcement by Jeb Bush may come as early as next week.

Bush may conclude after completing his methodical review process that there are other ways he can help rebuild the GOP besides a Senate career that would take a toll on his consulting business and be difficult for his family.

“I know it’s a big struggle for him,” said former state Republican chairman Al Cardenas, who believes Bush is still undecided. “As his friend I think maybe he’s better off where he is. As a Republican who loves his party so much, I know we need him.”

Here is my feeling.  If Jeb Bush does indeed choose to run, he will easily walk away with the GOP nomination.  As for the Democrats, I think the seat would go from Toss Up to Lean GOP with Bush in the race.  Is Bush beatable?  Yes.  Will it be easy?  Of course not.  Jeb Bush was a fairly popular Governor of Florida, regardless of his mis-deeds in 2000 on behalf of his brother, but still left office fairly popular in Florida.

If Bush chooses to not run, I think this seat stays at Toss Up.  Without and incumbent on the ticket, the strength of the Democratic Party, the state of despair of the Republican Party, and the fact the Democrats proved in 2008 they could flip Florida.  It will no doubt be one of the most costly and most watched races of the 2010 midterm election, regardless of who the candidates are.

Bush’s problems in running for the seat would focus on the intense unpopularity of President George W. Bush, the 2000 election debacle, and the fact that the conservative agenda Jeb Bush’s espouses was soundly rejected in 2008, in Florida and across this Nation.

The Washington Post provides us a list of other potential candidates for the Florida US Senate seat.

Without Bush in the race, Republicans would almost certainly face a contested primary with a number of candidates — Reps. Vern Buchanan and Connie Mack, state Attorney General Bill McCollum, former state House Speaker Marco Rubio and state Senate President Jeff Atwater are all mentioned.

A Bush-less race might also embolden state CFO Alex Sink, widely regarded as the strongest Democratic candidate to jump into the contest — a decision that might have the effect of clearing the primary field. Other Democrats looking at the race include: Reps. Kendrick Meek, Allen Boyd and Ron Klein as well as state Sen. Dan Gelber and Miami Mayor Manny Diaz.

Perhaps for me.  I prefer to think that this is just bad timing for Jeb Bush, given the resounding rejection of his borther and his legacy.

It’s official.  Roland Burris, appointed by indicted Governor Rod Balgojevich, has been denied entry to the United States Senate chamber.

A Democratic official says the secretary of the Senate has turned former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris away from taking the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

United States Senate appointee Roland Burris has arrived at the US Capitol Building to take the United States Senate seat, formerly held by President-elect Barack Obama.  Problem is, Burris was appointed by tainted Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is in the midst of a scandal and impeachment for his accused attempts to sell Obama’s seat. Other problem, Senator Harry Reid, who likely mis-read his Constitutional power, believes he can block the Burris appointment and refuse to have Burris seated.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Monday that Burris would not be permitted to take his seat because Burris “has not been certified by the state of Illinois,” a reference to incomplete paperwork that only touches on the dispute. Senate Democrats maintain that Burris’ appointment is tainted because of the charges against Blagojevich.

While Blagojevich has signed formal appointment papers, Jesse White, the Illinois secretary of state, has not, and Senate rules require that signature. Burris, in turn, has gone to court hoping to win an order for White to sign the necessary paperwork, and he has also threatened to sue to take his seat in the Senate.

Burris declared, “I’m a United States senator” before leaving Chicago for Washington. However, he is not and cannot be a senator unless he is administered the oath of office.

In spite of his stance, Burris told reporters that he would not make a scene at the Capitol. He was to meet privately on Wednesday with Reid.

Here is the bigger problems.  One, after reading Article 5 of the United States Constitution and the Powell v. McCormack case, I am not entirely certain where Harry Reid thinks his power is devised from.  Burris is over the age of 35, a resident of Illinois and a citizen of the United States, and is therefore qualified to be a United States Senator.  That is precisely what Harry Reid can judge.  Judgment complete.

I am not one that is going to sit and defend the appointment of Burris or even defend why Burris would put himself int hat circumstance, but harry Reid has no constitutional authority to act.  Second, I would never defend the actions of the Illinois Governor, he is scum.  But, he is Governor still, has appointment power, and made such appointment, which is his constitutional duty.  Unless ti can be shown that Burris was involved int eh whole Blago scheme, I think the law is clearer than the media has portrayed.   You want to talk about a classic states rights issue.  Did the Founding Fathers really mean that the United States Senate Majority Leader could block a state appointment?  Ummm, I don’t think that was ever envisioned.

But, it goes beyond this.  It goes to the state of the nation, the economic turmoil that has engulfed not only the United States, but has reached and wielded its ugly hand globally.  Harry Reid needs to concentrate on passing Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package in a quick, efficient manner.  Harry Reid needs to realize that Barack Obama is the main Democrat, not him.  Instead of creating soap opera drama and risking the reputation of the Democratic Party on silly stuff like this, he should focus on moving on the nation’s business, because it has never been more important for Democrats to act, act swiftly, and act intelligently.

Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi should act on the Obama economic plan quickly.  They both must realize that on November 4th, a mandate was handed out by the American people.  It was a convincing mandate.  BUT, the mandate was not handed to Reid, Pelosi, or both, but to President-elect Barack Obama.  If both seemingly stand in the way, Democrats should act to remove both as barriers to change and recovery.

SPENCE ADDS: I believe it is critical for the Democrats to distance themselves from Burris and Blagojevich. Not only will they be held accountable if they don’t keep Burris at arms length, the party’s chances of holding the seat in 2010 will be greatly reduced if the Democrats are seen to be part of some shabby deal with corrupt Illinois politicos. 

I doubt Reid and the Senate Democrats can keep Burris out. However, they can deny Burris a place in the Democratic caucus and they should do that. Burris has knowingly made himself an accessory to Blagojevich’s corruption and cynicism — in a political sense if not a legal sense. If Burris takes a place in the U.S. Senate, as I suspect he will, the Democrats should shun him, not allow him in the caucus and give him nothing as far as committee spots are concerned. Burris is an adult and he knew what he was doing when he agreed to cooperate with Blago’s contemptible stunt. He doesn’t deserve sympathy, he deserves to be shunned.

The American people I think are counting on us to act swiftly, swiftly boldly but responsibly in dealing with these issues.  And I think that my commitment as the incoming president is going to be to reach out across the aisle to both chambers to listen and not just talk , to not just try to dictate but try to try to create a genuine partnership so that we are actually doing the peoples business at this time of extraordinary difficulty for a lot of folks.

Everybody is motivated by doing what is best for this country and we may have some disagreements but I think it is going to be possible for us to work out those disagreements in an atmosphere of civility and comity and that is going to be my goal and I hope to be able to set that tone throughout my presidency

President-elect Barack Obama, meeting with Congressional leaders today on his economic stimulus plan.

Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, has been hampered by some negative media, in regards to her standing with the public to replace Hillary Clinton in the United States Senate.  According to a new poll from PPP, Kennedy’s favorable ratings have slid.

Kennedy’s negative ratings climbed to 44%.  And, a further sign of a decaying public image, in a head to head match up, Kennedy, despite the incredible name recognition, gets soundly defeated by Andre Cuomo, New York’s Attorney General and son of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo.

Caroline Kennedy:  27%

Andrew Cuomo:  58%