Poll shmoll! UM’s Donna Shalala is not going to fool Democrats in CD 27

Poll shmoll! UM’s Donna Shalala is not going to fool Democrats in CD 27

So, Donna Shalala wants to be a congresswoman all of a sudden. Why? Because she’s “angry” at Donald Trump? Aren’t we all? Most of us are not just angry but enraged at the current administration’s fear mongering, lies and conflicts of interest — just for starters. But if being angry makes you qualified for public […]

And then there were 16 candidates in CD 27 race to replace retiring Ileana

And then there were 16 candidates in CD 27 race to replace retiring Ileana

We are going to need a  couple of clown cars this summer for the debates in both primaries for Congressional District 27. Add Spanish language journalist Maria Elena Salazar (Republican) and Donna Shalala (Democrat) to the other 15 candidates from both parties that have made known their intentions to run for the seat vacated by the retirement of […]

‘Resign to run’ law should be extended to electeds in federal races, like CD27

‘Resign to run’ law should be extended to electeds in federal races, like CD27

Ladra dares Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez to put his committee vote into action and resign his seat now The open congressional seat thanks to the announced retirement of U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has attracted almost a dozen hopefuls who want to represent us in Washington, D.C.: A whopping 11 candidates have either declared their intentions […]

Bruno Barreiro makes Congress bid official; Dems celebrate

Bruno Barreiro makes Congress bid official; Dems celebrate

Miami-Dade Commissioner Bruno Barreiro — who was chairman when the Marlins Stadium deal was voted on and sort of ushered the process along — announced officially Monday morning, as expected, that he would be running for the congressional seat vacated next year by a retiring Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Immediately, one could hear a soft cheer throughout […]

Kristen Rosen Gonzalez to challenge Ileana Ros Lehtinen

Kristen Rosen Gonzalez to challenge Ileana Ros Lehtinen

One of the Democrats already getting ready for 2018 is Miami Beach Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, who has been thinking for the last few weeks about challenging Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. She said Friday that many people had approached her and “an exploratory committee is testing the waters.” But those close to Rosen Gonzalez told Ladra she […]

Pics of the week returns for an inauguration edition

Pics of the week returns for an inauguration edition

Gathering photos of our electeds from social media sites to share with you, dear readers, is time consuming and laborious and not all that personally fulfilling, which is why Ladra stopped doing it months ago. But this week marks a special ocassion. We had a few South Florida politicos in D.C. for the inauguration festivities […]

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen hits hard with Fuhrman DUI ads

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen hits hard with Fuhrman DUI ads

Ouch. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen just showed the rest of the 305 political world how negative campaign ads are done with a commercial that has basically stopped her challenger, Democrat Scott Fuhrman, in his tracks. Ladra doubts that Fuhrman can come back from this. The ad doesn’t only remind people about Fuhrman’s old drunk driving charge. It […]

Longtime COS leaves Ileana Ros-Lehtinen — to lobby her

Longtime COS leaves Ileana Ros-Lehtinen — to lobby her

There has been a changing of the guard at the congressional office for U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Miami) as her longtime friend and most trusted adviser becomes a federal lobbyist. Longtime Chief of Staff Arthur “Art” Estopiñan — who has been with her for 26 years, or almost the beginning — is leaving for the […]

Women’s Club ‘ideologies’ cause conflict at Crave Restaurant

Women’s Club ‘ideologies’ cause conflict at Crave Restaurant

The Women’s Republican Club of Miami Federated is looking for a new home. The organization has been meeting monthly at Crave Restaurant in Coral Gables for about two years, with speakers like Attorney General Pam Bondi and Sen. Anitere Flores. But no more. Call it an ideological difference. After being asked to take their meetings […]

Ros-Lehtinen, Lopez-Cantera headline Women’s GOP event

Ros-Lehtinen, Lopez-Cantera headline Women’s GOP event

Redistricting and the upcoming legislative sessions are the topics listed for discussion when the Women’s Republican Club of Miami Federated has Lt. Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen speak at Monday’s meeting. But how much you wanna bet the Iran deal, which both are against, will be the main focus of the night?  The meeting […]