I think Alan Bock’s summary of what’s happening down in Florida is the best I’ve read yet,
What we are seeing in Florida rather closely resembles an organized crime war between two rival “families” who seek control over certain rackets. The soldiers have gone to the mattresses, moving away from their homes to be at the scene of the action, devoting full time to the war and all its tactical maneuvers and countermeasures. As the most successful syndicate the Government Gang hardly ever resorts to anything so crude as machine guns or garrotes when lawsuits before friendly judges, leaks to the press, threats to find new votes, dueling public officials, threats to use public agencies to embarrass or ruin oneÂ’s foes and media spin can defeat the enemy in a less messy and far less controversial fashion.