Allen West Recount Results, Ron Paul Talks Secession, and More

Recount Redux:

Republican Rep. Allen West is losing his race by an even wider margin after a recount of early ballots over the weekend. Democrat Patrick Murphy, vying to unseat West in Florida’s 18th Congressional District, picked up 300 more votes, expanding his lead by more than 2,000 in the process. Despite the latest development, West is still refusing to concede. Murphy has claimed victory, but has yet to be named the official winner in the race. (Read more)

Stonewalling Obamacare: Last week, a group of more than a dozen GOP governors publically announced they were refusing to build the insurance exchange markets that make up a key provision of the Affordable Care Act. And on Monday, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin announced she, too, would not set up the exchange in her state. The federal government has the power to step in and set one up if a state does not set up its own exchange. Governors have until Dec. 14 to make their decision. (Read more)

Crossroads GOP: Republicans have an important decision ahead of them now that the 2012 presidential election is over and their candidate has lost: stay the course, or change directions. According to Politico: “Some governors believe that Romney’s loss two weeks ago to President Barack Obama was just that — a loss by a single candidate who ran a defensive campaign pummeled by negative ads and lacking in vision. But other Republicans attending the Republican Governors Association conference last week believe a more dramatic Republican makeover is in order.” (Read more)

Paul Talks Secession: In a blog entry posted to his website Monday, Texas Rep. Ron Paul says petitions that have flooded the White House’s “We The People” site supporting secession for all 50 states raise “a lot of worthwhile questions about the nature of our union.” Paul argues that “secession is a deeply American principle” rooted in the country’s past, beginning with its war against Britain for independence. He concludes, “If a people cannot secede from an oppressive government, they cannot truly be considered free.” (Read more)

Worst Candidate: The Fix has chosen its worst candidate of the 2012 election and the winner is …Texas Gov. Rick Perry. The onetime Republican presidential candidate won the award because of “his remarkably poor presidential campaign.” Runners-up include Todd “legitimate rape” Akin, Thad McCotter, Pete Hoekstra and Ric Sanchez. (Read more)

Video of the Day: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie appeared on “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend, where he commented on the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, poked fun at his famous “Governor Chris Christie” fleece that he always wears and quoted Bruce Springsteen.