Campaign Evaluation: Nick Zoller (U.S. House, FL-13)

[compromise]

http://congress.freedomworks.org/legislators/justin-amash
Would Zoller, if he were in Congress, have received over 70% on this scorecard?

 

[Brian4Liberty]

http://congress.freedomworks.org/legislators/justin-amash
Would Zoller, if he were in Congress, have received over 70% on this scorecard?

No way to know. The problem with a candidate with no voting record is that they haven't been "in the battlefield" yet. How will they react to pressure from leadership? Kerry Bentivolio folded right away.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Look, I'm just advocating for a candidate I believe in. I knew of the forums and thoughts you guys might be willing to help.

That's fine. Nothing personal, just pointing out that this is your only interaction and you have no history here on the forum.

 

[CG1976]

Ok, also we all bitch and moan about careerists yet it's bad someone hasn't voted on legislation?

 

[malkusm]

Bump - another 3 days or so to vote in the poll

 

[CG1976]

May I ask the basis of the 1 rating votes?

 

[jurgs01]

May I ask the basis of the 1 rating votes?

Don't worry. These forums aren't the end all be all for candidate approval. For people who can separate the wheat from the chaff, they are a goldmine though. There are a lot of people who are (rightfully) wary about people using the liberty movement to get elected and then getting thrown aside one that person is in power.

I personally just say that is probably going to happen, but then we just re-do our scoreboards and start again next year. If I can get two wins out of three, that's two more wins than I was getting a few years ago

 

[neverseen]

Put this on another thread, but I think it fits better on this one:

Hi Guys, I'm Tim Rodocker, VC of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Tampa Bay based out of St. Petersburg in Pinellas County. We had Nick Zoller and David Jolly speak and do a Q and A at our meeting yesterday.

Nick Zoller came off as a flat out Ron Paul guy. (AKA, he knew what crowd he was speaking too... you'll see in the video)

David Jolly came off as nearly a Rand Paul type. I'd like to have some more conversations with him on the side to see if he really is, but he's getting a LOT of support locally from all aspects of the local GOP. He also told the local GOP king pins to stuff it, which is a good sign. Rumor has it that he wouldn't kiss the rings.

There are 2 races for CD13 now.

David Jolly is up against carpet bagger Alex Sink from out of town for the CD13 special election in March 2014.. There currently is no one else in the race.

Nick Zoller is up against a slew of people in the standard primary election for August 2014. David Jolly may well be one that he's up against.

Feel free to message me if you want to be involved locally with all the Ron/Rand guys. We've gotten pretty well organized since the primary sign waves and sign bombs.

 

[neverseen]

Okay, I decided to release these vids as they may help in seeing who RPF supports in the race. Sorry about the cam quality and for cutting off the very end of Zoller's Q and A. We weren't using our normal HD cam.

Jolly went first:



Zoller up next:

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Okay, I decided to release these vids as they may help in seeing who RPF supports in the race. Sorry about the cam quality and for cutting off the very end of Zoller's Q and A. We weren't using our normal HD cam.

Jolly is a no-go.

What did we miss on Zoller's Q&A?

 

[Brian4Liberty]

May I ask the basis of the 1 rating votes?

The day I voted there was discussion about weighing the odds of winning when picking a rating. Putting everything into one rating is a little difficult (apples and oranges together). My opinion was that Zoller doesn't have much of a chance. But he would be higher up on purity. Probably give him a three on that. This was the only poll where I took into account odds. Can't change it now.

I prefer more detailed polls, with multiple options. For example:

Choose ALL that apply:

I would vote for Zoller.
I would promote Zoller (social media, friends, etc).
I would endorse Zoller.
I would donate to Zoller.
I would volunteer for Zoller.
Zoller has little to no chance of winning.
Zoller has a decent chance.
Zoller will win easily.

 

[neverseen]

Jolly is a no-go.

What did we miss on Zoller's Q&A?

Let the gov shut down if that's what it takes.
Will release a plan soon to fix the budget/debt (no details).
End the fed, not audit it.
End the department of Education.
No drones in the US.
End war on drugs.

He sounded like a Ron Paul guy talking to a Ron Paul group, which is what it was. He was asked mostly the same questions as Jolly which were all pretty easy for Zoller to answer with Ron Paul sound bites. His answers were very short and to the point about the topics above.

Keep in mind, Jolly and Zoller are not facing off in March. They are on separate elections. We are not interested in losing the seat to Alex Sink in March so I imagine support will be crazy heavy locally (GOP wide) for Jolly up front. Most of the liberty guys are starting to back Zoller either way. I say most, because there are a small number that are sceptical about Zoller, although they have no real reasons when asked why. Just feelings they get. Zoller is easily the Ron Paul guy out of the huge field of people that's names have surfaced. The only other one to consider liberty wise would be Lucas Overby from the LP.

 

[neverseen]

Any positions you want me to specifically get an answer on from him?

 

[Brian4Liberty]

What is Nick's position on the Iranian threat?

Here is a long interview with Nick. You will want to jump forward about halfway to get to it.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/dontworry/dwatg_217B.mp3

He is self-described as a "moderate Republican", and seems to be more Jeb Bush than Ron Paul.

For those who haven't listened, here are a few highlights with timestamps (descriptions are paraphrased, listen to audio get it first-hand instead of through my slow and poor transcription):

20:00 Worked for Lisa Murkowski, then Bobby Jindal. Wants to be a positive voice to counter-act the more fringe elements in GOP who aren't solving problems. Fringe is so caught up in ideological beliefs that they aren't willing to come to the table and discuss differences with political opponents to find common ground, otherwise gridlock, nothing gets solved. I am a moderate Republican, and we need to find common ground to solve problems.
...
49:30 Nick: On immigration, some GOP House comments are borderline racist. Legal immigration good, schools need more money to handle legal and illegal immigration. Must give amnesty, can't round up all illegal migrants to deport them. National security experts need to have information on all immigrants for national security. Illegals are not registered. Common sense to have comprehensive immigration reform.

Any positions you want me to specifically get an answer on from him?

See above, from this thread.

- stance on Iran?
- what does he mean when he says he is a "moderate Republican" who wants to "find common ground"?
- does he support the Senate (Gang of 8) immigration reform? Where does he stand on immigration?
- how much more money will schools need?

 

[neverseen]

See above, from this thread.

- stance on Iran?
- what does he mean when he says he is a "moderate Republican" who wants to "find common ground"?
- does he support the Senate (Gang of 8) immigration reform? Where does he stand on immigration?
- how much more money will schools need?

Okay, will see what I can dig up. As for the moderate... I'd assume he's talking socially moderate based off his sexuality and looking for common ground on social issues in the LGBT community. Could be 100% wrong, but that'd be my gut feeling.

I didn't rewatch the entire video, just the Q and A. He did mention that the issue with the student loan bubble is federal involvement/backing of loans and as part of ending the dept of ed he'd like to have free market loans, not fed backed.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Okay, will see what I can dig up. As for the moderate... I'd assume he's talking socially moderate based off his sexuality and looking for common ground on social issues in the LGBT community. Could be 100% wrong, but that'd be my gut feeling.

I didn't rewatch the entire video, just the Q and A. He did mention that the issue with the student loan bubble is federal involvement/backing of loans and as part of ending the dept of ed he'd like to have free market loans, not fed backed.

This is the audio interview you would need to listen to. I posted some time stamps in earlier posts:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/dontworry/dwatg_217B.mp3

 

[neverseen]

This is the audio interview you would need to listen to. I posted some time stamps in earlier posts:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/dontworry/dwatg_217B.mp3

Saw it... will do.

 

[neverseen]

It's pretty easy to get him to talk about annnnything on twitter, BTW. Feel free to tweet him for additional info you are looking for. Looks like what I suspected for "moderate."

RLC of Tampa Bay @RLCTB
@NickZoller , I understand you consider yourself a Moderate Republican. How do you define Moderate? What issue stances?

Nick Zoller @NickZoller
@RLCTB I have said that, I'm moderate on social issues compared to most republicans because I don't believe govt should be involved in them

Nick Zoller @NickZoller
@RLCTB Conservative on fiscal issues, very strict constitutionalist for the most part.

RLC of Tampa Bay @RLCTB
@NickZoller How do we resolve Iran situation? Where do you stand on immigration reform (gang of 8, amnesty, fences, benefits, etc)?

Nick Zoller @NickZoller
@RLCTB Hard to answer within a tweet, as far as immigration goes I don't agree with the gang of 8 but something needs to be done

Nick Zoller @NickZoller
@RLCTB see the issues page on my website, on Iran I support diplomatic efforts but not military intervention.

RLC of Tampa Bay @RLCTB
@NickZoller Do you support sanctions on Iran like @SenRandPaul or are they an act of war like @RonPaul believes?

Nick Zoller @NickZoller
@RLCTB Personally I'm not a big fan of sanctions, although I wouldn't consider them an "act of war", I also wouldn't hastily use them.

Our friends at www.LibertyTampaBay.com will also be sending out a issue stance email to each of the candidates as well. They will cover things that fit into these types of cats:

Civil Liberties: [Rating TBD]
Constitutional Issues: [Rating TBD]
Economic Issues: [Rating TBD]
Foreign Policy: [Rating TBD]
Social Issues: [Rating TBD]

 

[neverseen]

No worries, I was bored so I started tweeting him. I'll bump into him and talk with him in person and/or through email as well. Please don't think I'm just tweeting and done. I just know he's a tweeter

 

[CG1976]

Just tried to watch the videos, both say they're private and won't play...