Governor Skink 1, Allen West (R-Crazytown) 0. Carl Hiaasen takes on Allen West.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/oct/31/carl-hiaasen-given-what-comes-out-of-his-mouth/

Excerpt:

Back in July, appearing as he does with hungry regularity on Fox News, West likened Social Security Disability benefits to "a form of modern, 21st-century slavery."

In one coldhearted breath, the retired Army colonel managed to insult 828,000 fellow veterans under the age of 66 who report receiving disability funds from Social Security. These include both active-duty and retired military.

West's lame effort to mop up his mess occurred the following night (again on Fox), and featured his now-standard attack on the liberal media for twisting his words.

The recurring migraine for West's handlers is that his words don't require any twisting. They just spill out of his head that way, usually in front of a television camera, allowing them to be painfully replayed over and over.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Don't be surprised if Hiaasen's next novel features a disgraced military officer turned politician as a character. Not much embelishment is required.

[rso]

1. A. West

Alan West is one of the most repugnant baggers around. Patrick Murphy has a very narrow lead as of today and hopefully will send West into the abyss where he came from and where he belongs. (Incidentally, West was only a Lt. Col. and got kicked out from the Army).

[RockaFowler]

4. I hope so rso

Oh and welcome to DU!!

Those of us here in the District 18 area are sick of West's lies. He can't even run on his own record - there is none. He just brings up things that have nothing to do withe our country or this election.

[tblue]

2. Hiassen books are hilarious, biting, fast reads.

I used to read them all the time. Highly recommended.

And good for him re: this op. Thanks for sharing.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. My personal favorite author.

Captures the love-hate relationship with the wonderful, wacky state of Florida and all its crazy folk.

[GoneOffShore]

5. Hiassen shows Florida politics like it is.

And says that even when he makes up the craziest stuff imaginable, some Floridian will do something crazier.

I think it has to do with the heat, mosquitoes, alligators and the "jumping off place" aspect of the state. People used to go there to reinvent themselves and still do. Much like California.

Doesn't happen with everyone, but enough folks to make it an obviously "interesting" place to live. And you know that old Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times".

[Tommy_Carcetti]

8. That's what I love about Florida. Crazy people doing crazy stuff.

Except when it inflitrates politics. Then that's what I hate about Florida.

[watercolors]

6. One of my favorite authors! Would be a great read.

[Scuba]

7. Hiaasen is a whacky, fun author but nothing he writes can top West's crazy rantings ...

from the article...

(West) actually went on — and some of this you don't see in the commercial — to urge his audience "to let them know that we are not going to have our men become subservient ... because if you don't, then the debt will continue to grow ... deficits will continue to grow."