Okay, not all of it, as there are many fine parts of the Sunshine State, but what I’m specifically wondering is, what’s the matter with Florida District 8?

I ask upon reading the news that state Senator Dan Webster, touted as a top candidate to get into the race against unhinged nutbag Alan Grayson, has opted not to make the race. Frustratingly, he’s only the latest in a line of potential GOP prospects who have taken a pass.

Given the NRCC’s dynamite recruiting efforts around the country — they’re even getting viable congressional candidates in states like Hawaii, f’r chrissakes — it’s odd that they can’t seem to put it together in FL-08, an R+2 district that Grayson only won with the help of Obama’s coattails on the one hand and an ethically-challenged incumbent on the other. The district isn’t exactly the most Republican in the world, but Grayson’s was nonetheless one of those classic “fluke” wins, in light of which his increasingly insane behavior is all the more brazen and foolish. This is Orlando, not San Francisco.

What the heck is going on here? Why are the House Dems allowing Alan Grayson of all people to be their point man on foaming moonbattery? And why can’t the GOP seem to capitalize on it?

…so I was proud to see him giving the Republican response last night. His remarks were brief, competent, and unremarkable — in other words, they were exactly like every Republican response I’ve ever seen given to any Democrat address. There’s something about the format — short, prepackaged, artificial — that sucks the life and energy out of even the best speakers. No one will ever look good in a format like this, that immediately follows a president who has just spoken before a live audience for an hour or so.

I attended one of Dr. Boustany’s town hall meetings in Lafayette a few weeks ago, and he came off far better than he did in last night’s remarks. When speaking to his constituents, he was friendly, energized, and passionate, and very honest with us.

Charles Boustany has not been a high-profile congressman, but he has been fighting hard against ObamaCare and is one of the truly good guys in the House, and I’m proud to have him representing me. He has even been a recent guest of RedState. Unlike the slicker man to whom he responded tonight, Dr. Boustany has had a long and distinguished private-sector career doing work that has actually helped a great many people. Unlike the slicker man to whom he responded tonight, Dr. Boustany is a genuine and decent human being.