It’s safe to say that the last 72 hours have laid bare the pettiness, arrogance, and contempt for open government of the Scott administration.
Former FDLE Commissioner Bailey’s firing has exposed the Florida cabinet as a rubber stamp for Rick Scott. Putnam, Bondi, and Atwater allowed Florida’s top cop to be bullied out of office for refusing to let the FDLE become a campaign prop for Scott’s reelection. They never once asked why he was being forced out — a move Scott’s lawyer told Bailey was being done with the their full support. They were perfectly willing to forgo their duties to the people of Florida on the word of an administration that has never shown any interest in the truth.
Here’s a look at just some of the headlines Rick Scott, Adam Putnam, and the rest of the cabinet have managed to earn this week.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 13th
Tampa Bay Times: Gov. Rick Scott’s ouster of FDLE commissioner followed months of tension between agency, campaign
Tampa Bay Times: Gov. Scott insists ex-FDLE head resigned; Bailey calls Scott a liar
Naples Daily News: Gov. Rick Scott changes answer, now says he forced out state’s law enforcement secretary
Tampa Bay Times: Is Cabinet doing its job as a check on Gov. Rick Scott?
AP: Rick Scott won’t explain shakeup at state police agency
Tampa Bay Times Editorial: Scott owes public answers about forcing out FDLE chief
Tampa Bay Times: Bondi stonewalls on questions about exit of FDLE’s Bailey
Tampa Bay Times: CFO Atwater said he played no role in Bailey’s departure
Miami Herald: Putnam no help in mystery of why Gerald Bailey is leaving FDLE
News Service of Florida: Cabinet backs Scott’s FDLE, DEP leadership changes
WFSU: Governor Insists Former FDLE Head Resigned As Bailey Says He Was Forced Out
Tampa Tribune: FDLE chief didn’t resign; he was forced out, Scott admits
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14th
Tampa Bay Times: Agriculture’s Putnam says Gov. Scott mishandled FDLE ouster
Miami New Times: Rick Scott Lied About Ousting Florida’s Top Cop Over Political Fights
SaintPetersBlog: What’s the Scott administration going to do about Bailey’s firing?
Palm Beach Post: Scott accuses former FDLE head of ‘petty attacks’
Miami Herald: As jobs czar Gray Swoope resigns, Florida Gov. Rick Scott faces fresh criticism over FDLE shakeup
Miami Herald’s Fred Grimm: Florida’s top cop gets whacked by hardball politics
Tampa Bay Times: Alex Sink: Cabinet officials are not telling whole story on FDLE’s Bailey
Tampa Bay Times: Court hears case challenging constitutionality of blind trust law
Tampa Bay Times: John Romano column: Hard to tell the liars from the wimps in Florida
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15th
Tampa Bay Times: On Bailey, will the real Adam Putnam please stand up?
Tampa Bay Times: Atwater expresses regret over Bailey’s exit
Tampa Bay Times: Cabinet Trifecta: Bondi shares misgivings about Bailey ouster
Miami Herald: Scott admin didn’t save records from former employees, but tells court it’s not gov’s fault
Tampa Bay Times: Could insurance chief could be next high-level official Scott asks to leave?
Tampa Bay Times: What a coincidence: Prasad’s new employer lands DOT contract
Pensacola New Journal’s Andy Marlette:
SaintPetersBlog’s Bill Day:
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16th
SaintPetersBlog: Former FDLE Commissioner Jim York raises serious questions about the Rick Scott campaign and Gerald Bailey’s departure