What is Scott Rothstein - and Why?
From its infancy in the early 20th century, Broward's economic engine has been driven by cycles of escalating real estate prices – with each cycle invariably broken by periodic “crashes” that left the last buyer holding a deed worth horribly less that he'd paid.
Which is why, while Broward was created by draining the Everglades, the community still remains a moral swamp that is more about caveat emptor than e pluribus unium.
Or as the city's founding father Frank Stranahan, once complained, not even “Jesus Christ and His 12 Apostles could straighten out ... Fort Lauderdale.”
That was more than 75 years ago.
And now we have the gifted New Times writer Bob Norman, noting how, “Broward County made Scott Rothstein possible … and wiping out this current generation of corrupt leadership is paramount in making sure another doesn't take its place.”
Trouble is, whatever passes for Broward's leadership worships at the same sleazy alter before Our Lady of Perpetual Avarice.
In other words, whatever passes for Broward's leadership gained its power and wealth from the same corrupt gestalt that spawned Scott Rothstein.
So why in God's name would any of them – from Wayne Huizenga to Broward State Attorney Mike Satz – want to end the sordid system that gave them their power and wealth?
Anyhow...
Consider, if you will, how far Broward's come – or fallen – by comparing the disparate behavior of Frank Stranahan versus Scott Rothstein when the two men fell upon hard times.
Stranahan took his life in 1929 by roping an iron grate to his leg and leaping into the New River in front of his pioneer home that's now a museum on East Las Olas a stone's throw from where Rothstein enjoyed his $40 cigars at Bova Prime.
Fort Lauderdale's founding father drowned himself from the guilt and shame brought on by the failure of his bank and the subsequent financial ruin of his friends and neighbors.
Rothstein, however, responded in a more contemporary (and Sociopathic) way following the collapse of his $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme.
First, he flew off to Morocco in private jet with a suitcase full of money.
Then he returned to Fort Lauderdale, where – following his arrest – Rothstein made sure there'd be enough money in his jail commissary fund to stockpile his cell with enough goodies and gedunk.
So much for a stunning difference in grace under pressure.
Which leaves us wondering:
Who made Scott Rothstein possible?
And why?
The New Times' Bob Norman blames and damns us all as Rothstein's willing enablers.
Which is bullshit.
Because Broward is home to some 1.8 million souls -- most of whom live from paycheck to paycheck and are thus unfit to scrub Rothstein's gold-plated toilet, party with Nova law school's most flamboyant grad.
And so for the record....
After more than four decades as a bewildered Ishmael aboard Broward's Ship of Fools and Hustlers, here's my list of those most responsibile for the community Cluster F*ck that gave birth to Scott Rothstein.
Oh yes.
By way of theology from the Holy Mother Church, I've divided the sins of Rothstein's creators into damnable Acts of Commission, or Omission.
Like they moral dickwads either encouraged and/or benefited from the corrupt system that created Rothstein..
Or they reaped its benefits - while looking the other way.
Either way, they number 42, with each assigned (in alphabetical order) to one of 14 front row seats in Dante's 8th Circle of Hell:
Platinum Box Seats
Ron Book, lobbyist
James Cummings, construction
Ray Ferrero, lawyer, university president
Foreman family, land owners
Jesse Gaddis, taxi cabs
Preston Henn, Swap Shop
H. Wayne Hiuzenga, entrepreneur
Early Maucker, editor
Don McClosky, lawyer, lobbyist
Thomas Miller, construction
Bill Scherer, lawyer
E. Clay Shaw, lawyer, land owner, politician
Terry Stiles, developer
Michael Swerdlow, developer
Gold Club Seats
George Allen, lawyer
Ron Bergeron, landowner
Bob Butterworth, lawyer, politician
Mitch Caesar, lawyer, lobbyist
John deGroot, journalist
Mike Egan, travel, car rental
Bob Elmore, paving contractor
Gore family, developers, etc.
Alcee Hasting, lawyer, judge, politician
Horovitz family, developers
Alan Levan, banker
George Platt, lawyer, lobbyist
James Scott, lawyer
Welles family, hotel, real estate
Silver Bleachers
Hugh Anderson, realtor
Mitchell Berger, lawyer
Jim Blosser, lawyer, lobbyist
Gill Family, hotels
Howard Greenberg, newspaper publisher
Mike Jackson, automobiles
Ken Jenne, lawyer, politician
Rob Kornahrens, roofing
Alan Levy, producer shipper
George Morgan, property manager
Tom Panza, lawyer lobbyist
Michael Satz, lawyer, politician
Neil Sterling, lobbyist
Norm Tripp
How dare you put Bob Butterworth in the same category as some of the slim bags you put on your list. He has done more for Florida than any other person. HE HAS ALSO HELPED FRIENDS IN NEED THAT SEEM TO FORGET VERY EASILY.
MY REPLY: I will go to my grave owing Bob Butterworth a debt I can never repay. That said, I offer: Nova's slime ball Medicaid scam, the Federal suit against DCF, Ken Jenne, Oxycotin, Dale Ross, Holy Cross Hospital, the Catholic Health East hospital settlement, Broward jail inmate health care, and so on.
All of which suggests I need to add my name to the list
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Whay is it you bash all the hospitals EXCEPT for HCA? Are you being paid or compensated in any way from them?
MY REPLY:
Being a retired old geezer living off several modest invesements and pensions, I am totally uncompensated for my blog.
in other words, it beats hell out of daytime TV
However, since you asked...
It's not like I've never been a flaming whore.
Looking back, among the more shameful times I've spread my legs for the sailors to earn a buck are:
1. When I was a drunk and worked in public relations
2. My last five years with the Sun-Sentinel
3. My last two years working for Ken Jenne
PS
HCA is a private company and thus exists to wring all the profits it can get from its patients which is (a) the "American Way" and (b) what's wrong with our nation's health care system and thus why Obama's reform efforts are doomed to fail.
But...
The North Broward Hospital is a tax supported governmental agency and thus deserving of all the attention I can give it -- considering all the years the District has served as a slimey nest of greedy, sleazeball political types.
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John, Fair enough and thanks for the chuckle, but what about Holy Cross and Tenet, you go after them as well. I understand Healthcare is a competitive business, but they still have to serve the public, and personally I question the quality of their HCA's operation,especially since many people do not have a choice on which hospital they can go. I think the wring is on the backs of the most vulnerable population. And no I am not a disgrunteld employee...
MY REPLY - I agree totally.
PS - Please see my earlier ister Rita versus Sister Luke
PPS - My personal email in johndegroot@live.mail.com
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