"Why Did Florida Fire Allen West?"

In light of all his antics it seems obvious, but this article points out yet another reason:

To improve his chances at winning reelection, he chose to leave his Fort Lauderdale-area home and run in a more Republican-friendly district about 100 miles north. Bob Crowder, a well-liked Republican sheriff, challenged him in the primary. When the two crossed paths one day in June, the sheriff extended a hand to the congressman. “No, thanks,” West said, turning away. His refusal to shake hands with a member of his own party made a bad first impression in his adopted district. ...

Murphy won by 1,900 votes. In Martin County, the district’s Republican stronghold, West received 4,800 fewer votes than Mitt Romney, while Murphy outperformed Obama by 3,700 votes, a sign that a significant number of Republicans split their ticket. It didn’t help that in the final weeks of the race, Crowder, West’s spurned GOP rival, endorsed Murphy. West believes he lost because voters accustomed to pandering politicians couldn’t handle his directness. “I just talked the truth. I think that a lot of people maybe are not comfortable hearing the truth.”

Allen West Loses

Could it be?

It's finally official; Republican war criminal Allen West is a LOSER (according to the state of Florida): bit.ly/RLEdJe

— Howie Klein (@downwithtyranny) November 10, 2012

Soundly defeated @allenwest won't concede. Spending the rest of his life screaming at a TV must not seem appealing. politics.heraldtribune.com/2012/11/11/rep…

— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) November 11, 2012

Only a few months ago, West seemed formidable, as this Mother Jones article suggested. Also interesting is the kind of place that would elect such a politician:

Sixty years ago Wellington was pure Everglades, part of an undulating expanse of saw grass and cypress that stretched for hundreds of miles down into Florida Bay. In the years since, the land has been drained, filled in, bought and sold and repossessed. In its place, a fever swamp of an entirely different sort has emerged. Allen West, tea party rock star, is its champion.

It seems to be a very wealthy place, actually. I was thinking of vast housing tracts.

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He still won't concede, but it may not be up to him.

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20 November update: Allen West has finally conceded.

Floridian Scoundrel

Yet another reason why Allen West is a d!ck.

Far From the Best

If this guy isn't a dildo, I don't know who is. Considering he lives in a state shaped like America's phallus, perhaps it's not all that surprising.

25 July update: More
29 July update: AW faces a primary challenge--from the Tea Party.

AW: Tea Party Statist

AW threatens to leave Congressional Black Caucus. The article reminds us that during his 2010 campaign, AW claimed to have a higher security clearance than the President!

Has Militarist Right Found Its Warlord?

(12 September update: It's just sad when one unwittingly desecrates the flag.)

The Flag Code