Last month when Jeb

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Last month when Jeb Bush recused himself from sitting on the state Elections Canvassing Commission, he tapped Florida Agriculture Commissioner Bob Crawford, a Democrat, to take his place.

At the time, Talking Points was a little surprised that this pick didn’t draw a touch more critical attention. Why? Crawford had supported Jeb’s gubernatorial candidacy in 1998 and he supported W. for president this year. In my neck of the woods we have a name for Southern Democrats who supported George W. Bush. We call them Republicans.

Now comes word that Crawford is in line for a promotion. He’s going to head the Department of Citrus (presumably a job that exists only in Florida.) A commission dominated by Jeb’s appointees has tapped Crawford for the job, which pays $237,270 a year. That’s about twice what Crawford and all the rest of the state’s highest elected officials, including Jeb, currently makes.

State Dems are saying it’s payback. Frankly, to Talking Points, that charge doesn’t seem like much of a stretch.

In the none-too-subtle words of the St. Petersburg Times:

Crawford’s move toward the Citrus Department job was swift: He applied Monday, and the state’s Citrus Commission voted Tuesday to offer him the position. The official salary range for the post is $90,000 to $290,000. In a statement Tuesday, Crawford said he was “honored” to be offered the job, and looked forward to discussing it further.

Job well done, Bob!

Why isn’t this story getting picked up elsewhere?

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