The retirement of Justice Kennedy has me thinking about the coming senatorial race. Trump will now get to pick a Supreme Court successor and if McConnell is to be believed, the new SC appointee will be sworn in before the midterm elections.

But what if there's a delay? The Dems have said they'll do anything they can to derail Trump's nominee or at least delay the confirmation until after the midterms.
But what if the Dems get a senate majority from the elections? Then they really could halt Trump's chosen appointee.

That's why I'm now voting for Scott. As much as I despised him for caving in to those anti-gunners, Scott will support Trump's appointee to the SC. The fate of the Supreme Court for decades to come is now in the balance. And we sure as hell know how Nelson will vote on the SC nominees.
Ginsberg and Breyer could be the next two justices out the door during Trump's presidency. Think about that - Trump could possibly replace 4, maybe even 5 justices, should Thomas also retire.

The best thing that could come from a Trump presidency is to have a solidly conservative, 2A friendly majority in the Supreme Court for decades to come. But he'll need a Republican controlled Senate to do this.

So, Rick Scott it is.

Here we go again.  Why I'm voting for the back stabbing RINO Republican.  NOT!!!

No. Attached File

We still have a lot of time to go, but I'm still not voting for that fuckwad. We would have to be in some serious crisis for me to change my mind.

Skeletor ain't getting my vote.

OP, I get your thinking.  Unfortunately Scott can't be trusted.  You say he'll help Trump's SCOTUS nominee, but are you 100% sure?  He was also a "lifetime NRA member" and "solid 2A supporter" until a school shooting...then he caved faster than Suntan Charlie can change political parties.

This right there.

Yep, there is no way I want to encourage future republicans to think that I will vote for them regardless of how they treat the second ammendment.  I hope he loses.

Then dont come back bitching if the dems get enough seats to do shit including put a gun ban in. I'm a firefighter and dick scott has stolen 3% of my paycheck for the last few years. It is what it is. I will vote GOP down that line. If he is in that row then so be it. But in this election  not voting for him is a vote for a dem.

Yup. He sold us out after Parkland. He will NEVER be forgiven.

Agreed.

Scott is also for making it law that the beach is private property to the high tide line.

Also, for making PR a state.

I cannot push the button for his election.

His election would just give him more time to screw me on some other things.

That's actually a Republican Party Platform since the 1940s.

Yes Scott signed 7026, which as i understand raised rifle age from 18 to 21.(EDU me if it did anything else)
No one here that i can see has strife about pistol purchase age being 21 forever?(Me included)
Hence right now i would have to vote Scott, because any other action helps Nelson.
Did some google searching on Nelson, he is WAY worse on everything else I want in a candidate.
So many indirect political groups had had websites up in support of Nelson in the spirit of "Stop Trump, Vote Nelson"
With so many important items in senate, i dont need another democrat blocking Trump.
We also have to ensure we rob the democrat political momentum(if there really is any) and liberal media of any chance of a 'blue wave'.

I will be writing Scott to tell him how close he was to me not voting for him and enforce he is on last chance to protect 2A.

He actively supported gun control when he could have simply said NO like he did after the Pulse Nightclub Terror Attack. Do you know why he changed direction? Because he is running for the Senate and is trying to oust Bill Nelson, an incumbent candidate that has solid backing and has won multiple elections.

SB 7026 took the 2nd Amendment rights away from 500,00 to 600,000 Floridians because of the age restriction. Prior to this, the only restriction was Federal. But in Florida, at the time. A person under the age of 21 can legally possess a handgun. They just couldn't buy one from a FFL and they could get long guns from any FFL without a problem. Now, under the broad interpretation of SB 7026 makes it illegal for private sales of any firearm to someone under the age of 21.

Additionally, the vagueness of the Gun Violence Restraining Orders pretty much fucks us on our rights since just about anyone can file a complaint and strip us of our rights and we have very limited recourse to defend our rights and that is long after our lawful property has been taken from us.

Lastly, the Guardian School Program is bullshit. In no way does it allow teaching staff to be armed. Teachers are verboten and only a select few qualify. And that is if the School Board votes to take part in the program. Also it is a $400,000,000 boondoggle that puts more cops in schools. Yeah.... we've seen out good that's worked out with Broward County.

Gov Scott could have outright supported the removal of gun free zones or allow teachers with CCWs to carry. But no. His solution and the Florida Republican Party's was since there was a failure of government. Lets create and give more power to government and fuck over the civil liberties of the law abiding public!

Lastly, SB 7026 makes bump stocks and any accessory or modification that increases the rate of fire in a semi-automatic firearm a felony to possess come October 1, 2018. So a Geissele trigger in a AR could technically be illegal because there is no definition of exactly is an accessory or modification that increases the rate of fire in a semi-automatic firearm. Also what is the established rate of fire for a semi-automatic? How many rounds per minute? My factory Colt 1911 and Glock 17 have different rates of fire when they're bone stock from the factory. So what is it?

Gov. Scott and the Florida Republican Party instead of taking a hard stance like they did after Pulse and other events caved and fucked us over.

NO

I AM NOT REWARDING THAT.

Edit to add:

Bill Nelson is old and dying. He will not last the next six years. Rick Scott is not old and dying and will be in office for the next thirty years like John McCain.

Marco Rubio is already a Leftist backstabbing Republican. Having two in Office wouldn't do us any benefit.

So you rather then enjoy the citizenship, federal aid but not contribute via taxes in to the system like they do now?

I’m not decided yet, but leaning towards the OP’s reasoning.

To those who are refusing to vote for Scott, I get it, I’m not happy about the bill either, we were betrayed. But what IS your plan? Just not going to vote (for Senate) at all? Is there another candidate that’s better? If Nelson croaks, S FL will just rally behind a younger, even more socialist replacement.

I’ve been voting for the lesser of two evils in every election so far, why is this time any different?

I’m thinking a major defeat to the Democrat party in the midterms could send a resounding message to the progressives, the media, and hollywood that we’re not buying into their bullshit. As well as motivate Trump to push for more wins. Might even set off the unhinged enough to once and for all settle the public’s opinion on the lunacy of the liberal movement.

Not trying to be snarky or argumentative, just trying to figure out a long term plan that goes beyond vengeance.

Your answer lies right here; would I rather that rabidly leftist  Puerto Rico  have perpetual Democratic Party electoral votes, congressmen, and two United States Senators like THEY DON'T NOW ?

Residents of Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories do not have voting representation in the United States Congress, and are not entitled to electoral votes for President. ... Like other territories, Puerto Rico can participate in the presidential primary process.

Federal voting rights in Puerto Rico - Wikipedia

Wikipedia › wiki › Federal_voting_rights.

Yes. I'd rather them not get 2 guaranteed Democrat senators, and at least one democrat representative.

It is. I actually don't blame Puerto Rican's for their dilemma. They were once a proud people (many still are) but have been force-fed welfare for decades and now most of them expect freebies. Sometimes the policies of government do more harm than good.

He will not get my vote. Period. At least with my enemy in front of me I can watch him and I know exactly what his game plan is. Scott will stand beside you telling you he is on your side and you are protected as he pushes the knife between your shoulder blades. I will refrain from saying what I think about him. He would sell us out and is no different than nelson.

If Nelson wins, none of us are to blame. All Scott had to do was nothing and he would have gotten my vote and many others a third time. He let the media and a bunch of whiny non-binary confused children force his hand and we do not need that in the Senate. Never let children rule and make law! Scott foolishly betrayed his constituents in an attempt to set himself up for votes from the other side, plain and simple. News Bulletin! They will not vote for Scott if there is not a D beside his name, no matter what he does. What a sucker

ETA: If Nelson wins at least we will have the opportunity to run a decent guy against him later. If Scott wins, plan on him selling out The Second Amendment for a very long time.

Very well put.

Scott is attempting to widen his base at our expense and if it works for him, almost every single elected official in The State of Florida will adopt the same political strategy.

Of course there's a cost to voting against the Republican in the Senatorial election, but if we refuse to pay it,  we gun owners in our state will become the chattel of the politicians.

The message we need to send is "you throw us under the bus to attract liberal voters, WE vote you the hell out of office".

Gun grabbing is a litmus test for liberal voters, and they simply will not vote for a gun rights supporter.

We need to adopt a candidate's  support of our gun rights as our litmus test.

We absolutely have to make an example of Scott before we become politically irrelevant and the entire state flips.

You guys are starting to make some very valid points on denying Scott a chance to screw us again. He’s clearly more interested in principals than principles.

Does anyone remember to stories about the big-time R. donor from Sarasota who vowed to stop contributing unless they passed SOMETHING on gun control? Anyone think he had more influence than the kids from Parkland?
Link 1, Link 2

If memory serves, it was the day after the donor stories came out that the FL RINOS rolled over to the left, and announced they would begin negotiating away our rights.  
Link 1, Link 2

I’m really struggling with this one. If we abstain from the senate vote, which will all but guarantee a Dem win. Will the RINOs get the message, or simply redouble their efforts to pander to the left?

As pissed as a I am at Scott, would a blue wave at midterms help our cause? If so, how?

With the recent Supreme Court rulings going in our favor, and the Kennedy retirement, and the fact that Ginsberg has one foot in the grave, and rumors of others contemplating retirement, wouldn’t SC appointments be first priority in the very near future?  Which candidate would be more likely to support originalist appointments?

Is the governor’s race locked-up for a Rep. win? If Nelson croaks/retires, who whould be in the governor’s office to appoint a replacement?

My fear is that Florida is already lost to the left, we just don’t know it yet. What will that mean in 2020?

What’s the long-term plan here, hold the line until (hopefully) enough Americans wake up to what’s happening, or roll over to the left until we’re forced into a violent fight-or-submit scenario?

FL’s demographics get more blue every day. Can we afford to wait six more years to get a chance at a “conservative” Senator?

Some very reputable people here have been making it very hard for me to contribute my vote to a Scott win, but damn, this is a shitty place to find ourselves!

Oh yes, I remember. I wrote all about it and all the fuck ups of the FL GOP.

Prominent Republican Donor: I Will Only Fund Pro-Gun Control GOP Candidates

Florida Republicans Caving on Gun Control

[url=http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2018/02/luis-valdes/florida-senator-marco-rubio-im-open-high-capacity-magazine-ban-video/]Florida Senator Marco Rubio: "I'm Open to a High Capacity Magazine Ban" [VIDEO][/url]

Republican Congressman Brian Mast: "I'm Republican. I Appreciate Assault Weapons. And I Support a Ban."

Florida Republicans Cavied on Gun Control

BREAKING  Florida Republicans Pass Gun Control Bill

Florida's 2018 Legislative Session A Repeat of 2017Pro-Gun Bills Killed in Committee

Florida GOP Firing Legislative Blanks  Will 2018 Be a Repeat of 2017's Defeat?

Also before I wrote for TTAG, I wrote about it here.

I agree on the Anti-Scott points but show me an honest politician.
But the course of in action (not voting) most likely will result in a far worst reality (Senator Nelson) than voting for Scott.

I fear with population density in South Florida (over powers vote count of the rest of the state) and their liberal demographic, this could be the last time FL goes red.
With 1 and possibility 2 Supreme Court Justices hang in the balance, I will punch an (R) ticket all the way.

As disgusted as I am with “Spineless Scott”, Bill Nelson is an embarrassment to the entire state every time he opens his mouth. I detest him even more, and the chance to send him packing is very, very appealing to me right now.

Then again, the Republican Party needs a wake up call ASAP, and a Scott victory will only vindicate their treason.

We’re screwed either way as I see it.

He's more honourable than Marco Rubio. He's been a snake in the grass fair wind quisling anti gun Republican that claims to be pro gun since he was a West Miami City Councilman. At least Bill Nelson tells you like it he. It is a Space Cadet Democrat that eats lead paint chips under powerlines while being anti gun.

Rick Scott is another Marco Rubio and John McCain.

We are definitely in a shit sandwhich scenario and it sickens me to have to not vote to put an R in a much need seat. If this is our mission how do we make it absolutely clear and known to the right why we didnt put up votes for a scumbag of lesser evils and it not just look like a Dem swept the state?  I am really hoping seats are held and won on other fronts so if we have to do this it doesent hurt as bad overall. Time will tell though for sure, hoping SCOTUS #2 gets seated before all this mess happens.

Good points, I’ll be watching the other states much more closely than usual. Let’s hope we can send a local message to the RINOs that their betrayal will not go unpunished, while at the same time the nation sends a message to the left that their treason will also not be tolerated.

My, what interesting times we live in...my only wish is that my two young sons grow up with the same freedom that I was blessed with.

This.

Fuck Scott.
Nelson has limited time here.....
Scott screwed over our state pandering to a bunch of kids and others in order to win favor for this race.
Fuck him.

The last thing our country needs is another bankrupt democrat money sucking shithole that is a net negative towards our national well being.  I've visited PR dozens of times, and know several folks there, and most would agree.  The PR government is corrupt as hell, a complete failure in maintaining the daily functions of government.  The infrastructure has failed due to misallocation of funds, and said corruption.  Centuries ago they were a needed military asset in that part of the world.  Today, they are not.  Today they are hoping uncle Sam will bail them out of the mess they created.  Let's hope we don't

I can’t be mad at anyone who would not vote for Scott, he screwed us.  He is not who I thought he was, I did question my support for him after vetoing the bill to end life time Alimony, but when he screwed us after Parkland, he went from hero to zero real fast.  Assuming Scott wins his primary (and he doesn’t appear to have any serious challengers, unfortunately), I’ll hold my nose and vote for him.   As others have mentioned, blue wave does nothing good.  Scott would be a vote for a SCOTUS justice, with Breyer and Ginsberg older than dinosaurs, it’s possible Trump stacks the court in a way that will be VITALLY important if “assault weapons” or similar law comes before SCOTUS.  Scott will vote for conservative SCOTUS candidates and I cannot think of a single more important issue.

Btw, I’m pulling the lever for DeSantis in August, I don’t trust Putnam at all.

People have been saying that for years, yet federally Florida has been purple since the 1960s and red on the state level since at least then.  For every leftist yankee moving down here there is someone like me who moved to NY from Florida for the freedom with the sunshine being a plus (if Florida has NY politics and NY had FL freedom and I was born in FL, I would have migrated to NY just the same).

When you Guys find the perfect candidate let me know...heck, even name one from the past. It ain't gonna happen.

My take is voting for Scott is rewarding him for his past actions. If you vote for this POS and he wins, you are telling the GOP and anyone else that it is OK to mess with the 2A and there will be no consequences. Guess what happens the next time a shooting happens? I think people should vote their convictions, period. I would not blame anybody for voting Scott this election. If you feel that is best, do it. But, I will not reward his actions by trying to hold my nose or play chess or whatever.

I think most of us see both sides of this one.  Sucks that Scott put us in this situation because I think most of us here would pick him over Nelson easily before Parkland.  I'm torn because after he signed SB 7026 I said I won't vote for him again, but I also don't like 'single position' voters because they might agree with a candidates position 90% of the time but that 10% is their litmus test.  Tough call no doubt.  JJ nailed it...there is no perfect candidate.

don't vote now

can't bitch later

Can't vote for Scott, prolly will abstain.

It's sad I can't vote against Nelson.

It is Scott's own fault for screwing his base.

 it's ok ... go ahead and say it .. you voted for nelson ... just don't bitch later

I refuse to abstain from voting for Senator. The way I see it is this, we have 2 Anti-Gun candidates running for Senator, one that is open about it and one that lied to use and stabbed us in the back. Voting for 1 of them(Scott) guarantees we won't even have the option for a Pro-Gun Candidate on the next General election, what are the odds he would get Primaried next election cycle. Voting for the other(Nelson) guarantees the choice of a different Republican in the next election cycle and maybe even several to pick from in a Primary who may be Pro-Gun. I'm mad enough at Scott that I'll do anything in my power to make sure he doesn't win even if that means coming for Nelson.

REPORT: BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF SCOTT ISRAEL TO BE FIRED

Of course this would benefit Rick Scott.....

But once again. Government failed and Rick Scott's answer was to give Government more control and strip me and my fellow citizenry of our rights.

Fuck you Scott!

Im all for keeping the momentum rolling for the right ... a lot of new voters coming out of high school screaming for the left , why throw them a win and lift them up... nelson might surprise us and live long enough to cement those young minds long enough to flip the state...im pissed at FRS also but not enough to gamble with the where we stand now.

Scott doesn't have really and truly convictions.

Just another slime ball looking for votes.

He has lied to me when it is politically convenient.

At a certain point it is not about voting for R's.

Some people have no real friends and Scott is one of them and is not loyal but unto himself.

Scott and Nelson are different wolves dressed in sheeps clothing  and  I don't have the time of day for either of them.