Both Sides Now

Note: This article was published by Newsmax on April 23rd. Both Sides Now

I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose, And still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all

This great classic, Both Sides Now, was written by Joni Mitchell in 1967 and popularized by Judy Collins. It speaks to the recent political loss we Republicans suffered in a special election for Florida House district 87 last month; an election we couldn’t possibly lose, and yet, we did. House District 87 is President Trump’s home district and is solid Republican. This posting is my version of Both Sides Now; the Republican strategy versus the Democrat strategy. And, yes, this is also my home district.

But, first, a trip down Memory Lane. In 2009, then Florida State Senate President Ken Pruitt resigned his seat after the legislative session ended in the Spring. That set up a special election between Republican Joe Negron and Democrat Bill Ramos. I was Chairman of the Republican Party of Palm Beach County at the time (2002-2012) and asked Joe: “How can I help?” Joe told me that the Republican Absentee Ballots (we now call them vote-by-mail) were not being returned on a timely basis and he needed an AB Chase. I told him I was on it. I called Linda from Jupiter and asked her to put a volunteer group together to “chase” Joe’s ballots. How successful were we? When the election was over, Joe had more votes from Absentee Ballots and early voting than his opponent had accumulated in the entire race. In other words, because of Linda’s work, the election was over before people went to them polls that Tuesday.

Fast forward to March 24, 2026. Jon Maples lost to Emily Gregory by around 700 votes. How did that happen? Sometime between Joe Negron and Jon Maples the Republican Party ceded the whole concept of vote-by-mail to the Democrats. Everywhere. In Jon’s election, he lost the mail by 3000 votes and won at the polls on Tuesday by over 2000. Hence, the 700-vote deficit.

In election campaigns there are two strategies; the Air game and the Ground game. The Air game consists of media: Television, Social Media and Postcard mailings. The Ground game consists mostly of door knocking, signs and phone calls. We Republicans got a major dose of the Air game. Literally, every day our (physical) mail box had new large postcards telling us how wonderful Jon Maples is; showing us pictures of his beautiful family, filling us in on his successes in sports, business and politics. At night, there was Jon on television, reminding us of those same successes. I never saw a single Emily commercial, although I was told she did some. I had no idea of what she looked like or believed in. Jon assured us he was for low taxes and that he had the Trump endorsement. Jon also assured us Emily was for higher taxes. Jon’s campaign cost $500,000 and was run by Tallahassee consultants. Emily’s campaign spent $400,000, virtually none of it on Television, large postcards or large signs. So, where did Emily’s money go? TEXTING. Every day Democrats got texts urging them to get a VBM ballot. “Punch here!” Every. Single. Day. Later in the campaign, every day’s text was VOTE EARLY, until it was VOTE TUESDAY. The Ground game strategy of “punch here, get your vbm overwhelmed the Republican “Here’s Jonny” Air campaign. The only Vote Tuesday texts the Republicans received were either sent by me or my vender, all personally paid for. The REC? They simply don’t do campaigns against Dems. Right now, they’re totally focused on beating an incumbent Republican County Commissioner.

And, how about the Tallahassee angle? First, in the campaign business, media expenditures generate placement fees back to the consultants who placed the ads. In other words, television pays. Maybe that mattered and maybe it didn’t. But Emily spent little on television, and won. Jon probably spent six figures on television, and lost. Second, when you’re in a state as Red as Florida, too much fighting is intraparty, Republican versus Republican. Before there was Jon Maples there was Tracy Caruso. Tracy wanted that seat. Tallahassee didn’t want Tracy. Why? Because she and her husband, Mike, were seen as pro-DeSantis. Apparently, Tallahassee is MAGA all the way. Me? I think President Trump and Governor DeSantis are two of the best leaders in American history. I don’t see any need to pick one over the other. I just want to win.

I looked at this election from both sides now, from win and lose, and reached one simple conclusion: Those that keep their eyes on the prize will beat those that engage in not-so-friendly fire.

April Meeting – Brigadier General Mark Holler on the Middle East and Beyond

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Brigadier General (Ret.) Mark A. Holler most recently served as the Deputy Commanding General – Operations for Eight Army in South Korea (2022-23). A native of Florida, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Holler graduated from the University of North Florida in 1992 as a ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate. His advanced education includes a master’s degree in military operational art and science and a master’s degree in strategic studies.

Over a 31-year active duty career, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Holler served in leadership positions ranging from platoon leader to commanding general. He served a total of eight years overseas, to include five combat tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and three assignments within the Pacific region. Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Holler also served in the Pentagon as the Director of Fires on the Army staff and Executive Officer to the Inspector General of the Army.

Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Holler’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (six awards), Bronze Star (three awards), Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), and Joint Service Commendation Medal. His badges include the Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Combat Action Badge, Senior Space Badge, Inspector General Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

Drt. Frederico Martinez at March Meeting

Federico Martinez M.D. is a United States of America licensed Medical Doctor in the State of Florida originally from Lima-Peru who graduated from Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University Medical School where he earned his Medical and Surgeon degree.

He is currently the Medical Director of Healthpark Medical Center, President of San Ignacio University in Miami, Florida and also a member of the Board of Directors Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola in Lima-Peru.

Dr. Martinez actively participates in nationwide training programs with special emphasis on Functional and Preventive Medicine, Anti-aging therapies and Aesthetics procedures holding a variety of certifications.

His areas of expertise include prevention and treatment of chronic medical conditions with a Functional Medicine approach, Bio-identical Hormone Replacement, Weight Loss program for children and adults, Detoxification, Intravenous Nutritional Therapy, Immune system support, Vitamins and Nutritional supplementation, Stem Cell therapies as well as non-surgical bio-medical procedures such as Platelet Rich Plasma, Radiofrequency, Laser therapies among others.

The theme of the presentation was take control of your health! Doctors tend to treat your symptoms not the underlying issue and you need to be concerned about the side effects of medication. Big pharma brainwashes doctors to prescribe medication. The problems of the times is:
• toxins
• technology- radiation
• poor diet
• stress – lack of physical activity

The consequences are:
• cancer
• heart disease
• depression
• teenager pre-diabetes (poor nutrition)
~70% of diseases in the US

We need to rethink food medicine – diet, lifestyle, etc. All biological operating systems need to be in balance. The external / internal environment is extremely important to your health. For example, chronic inflammation is the root cause of heart disease – suggested get tested …

Dr. Federico Martinez’s presentation was excellent. I’d suggest you Google him for more details.