Sun 01 August, 2010
Sat 31 July, 2010
However, a few journalists did think the story was newsworthy and were obviously troubled by the gaping holes and inconsistencies in the vice-presidential nominee's background stories; so much so, in fact, they set about reporting on them: those journalists worked for the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). Here's a video of their report.
(If anyone knows of the existence of any followup stories run by the CBC, please let me know.)
Between then and now, several blogs did yeoman's investigative work; as we know, one such writer, Audrey, was forced to quit when she was threatened and blackmailed by conservative bloggers. Interestingly, while Palin's attorneys have threatened Alaska blogger Gryphen with defamation suits for publishing rumors about things like an impending Palin divorce, they have never threatened him--nor any other blogger or journlist--for reporting about Sarah Palin's lies in re: being pregnant in 2008, and/or for stating the obvious: that Trig is not her biological son, and she faked the pregnancy for one or more of a number of possible reasons.
Truth is an absolute defense in defamation cases, and if Palin's attorneys were to file such a lawsuit, one of the first things a defendant's attorneys would do is file for discovery. In other words, Palin would have to put up whatever proof she had that the person she was suing was not telling the truth--a birth certificate, medical records, and so forth. As should be evident to anyone who's following along at this point, she cannot and would not do that, because such documents would prove exactly the opposite, and might indeed disclose facts incriminating to either her or one or more of her family members. Claiming the Fifth Amendment ("I refuse to testify on the grounds that I might incriminate myself...") for purposes of ducking or delaying discovery when one is the plaintiff is not possible, either--the defendant in such a case would have a right to a speedy and expeditious trial, as well as the right to effectively defend himself.
Hence, no defamation suit ever gets filed on that count, even as Palin might sic her retained attorney on bloggers for other things: divorce rumors, publishing excerpts of her book, and so on.
Anyway, fast-forward (so to speak) to the present, and Palingates has just posted a new 2-part video report, produced by Lidia, that's extremely well done, and, unless you are someone who's in complete denial of reality as it appears before your eyes, impossible to argue with. I especially like the second part, as it zeroes in on some of the evidence I find to be most compelling--for example, leaning forward and doubling in two while seated when you're seven months pregnant is, quite simply, physically impossible, no matter how tiny you are, no matter how tiny your baby is. (And then, incredibly, hopping up effortlessly, as though no center-of-balance shift has occurred in the past several months!) However, I recommend to everyone who's been following this utterly bizarre story that you have a look at both parts. Here's Part One. And here is Part Two, also embedded:
So, here we are, two years later, and members of the mainstream media's irresponsible, unethical, sexist, and, in my view, unforgivable behavior--in apparent deference to a vice presidential candidate who is on the record as having told baldfaced, self-serving, and bizarre lies as well as having exhibited irrational and mentally unstable behavior during the 2008 campaign--has become the preeminent story.
And one can only wonder if one of them has it in him, at this point, to finally heed the simple request we've been making all along:
Nine years ago today I loaded up the Pontiac with my plants, my computer, and Sam. At 6:30 p.m., in a driving rainstorm, we left Albuquerque following the Bekins moving van on our way to Miami and my new job. We drove until midnight, getting to Pecos, Texas, where we spent the night. The next morning we got on I-10 and cruised across the Lone Star state, catching Houston at rush hour, New Orleans in the dark (I took the detour through the city so I could say I'd been there), and finally stopped for the night somewhere on the Mississippi/Alabama border. Finally, forty-eight hours to the minute after leaving Albuquerque, we arrived in Miami... in a rainstorm.Nine years later, I still have the Pontiac and the plants. Sam is gone, and the computer -- a Gateway PC -- has been replaced three-fold. I don't have the same job I did when I came to Miami, and I'm living in my third residence. I have made a lot of new friends, renewed some old ones, and maintained contact with the people I left behind in Albuquerque who still mean as much to me now as they did then.
Nine years is the longest I've lived in one city since I graduated from high school. My current job is the longest I've worked in one place at basically the same job; it will be eight years in October. For someone who is staring down the barrel of his 58th birthday in six weeks, that probably makes me sound like a flake; I know people who are my age who have worked at the same place since they graduated from college and I'm being invited to their retirement party hosted by their grandchildren. But I wouldn't trade my life experiences for anything. Yeah, there are some things I could have done better, and I have a few regrets, including my failed relationship with AJP. But even there, we had fifteen good years and wonderful memories -- and a lot of growing up for both of us -- that can't be discarded because we're apart. Although I'm not doing exactly what I planned to do with all those years of studying theatre, I am very proud of the work I do, and I feel like I'm making a genuine contribution to the education of the 340,000 students of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. I owe a lot of that to the experience I gained working in Albuquerque and Michigan. As for the theatre, moving to Miami gave me the inspiration to write the play that gave me my first New York production in 2008. So all in all, life is in balance.
In a way, it's hard to believe it's been nearly a decade that I've been back in Miami. In a lot of ways I still feel like a newcomer. I still have a strong connection with New Mexico, including being the defender of New Mexico Spanglish among a lot of other different accents and dialects. I still miss the glory of the mountains and the spectacular New Mexico sunsets, and I still have yet to find a place in South Florida that does huevos rancheros the right way. But I'm glad to be here and able to look back at all the amazing blessings that have come my way.
George Carlin's Final Words To The World
"It's not sentimentality that makes me find Breitbart and his methods so loathsome: it's his dishonesty and malice."A Forbes columnist who has some trouble pinpointing the trouble with Andrew Breitbart gets a comeuppance he'll need to remember. I'd hoped to say more about this, but the day has been more than a little hectic. I can't think of a finer application of Dr. Johnson to a matter of journalistic morality. Do read it.
YouTube asked its users to grab their cameras and submit footage for the upcoming 'Life In A Day' documentary, which will debut at the 2011 Sunset Film Festival. Multimedia journalist Ryan Bauer captured his 'Life In A Day' — from sunrise to sunset — in Tampa Bay, Florida.
With its amusement parks, golf courses, pro sports and energetic street parties, the Tampa Bay area is one of Florida’s most attractive tourist destinations. But this is a surprisingly nature-conscious metropolis for those who can look beyond the well-known mainstream attractions.info
Couple things losers: a. Mr. Tome: Your professional pigs are making hate gestures and otherwise hateful behavior. I just want you to know that his is NOT protected. You are performing illegal acts and as I know they can just barely read but react to this blog in their smarter than dog (but just barely) ways .... that you know that I know that you put them up to that. So your stalking in a tertiary manner is ONGOING.
You fucking loser. And, by the way, your professional pigs look as though they need a bath. Wassup wid da water over dere??? izzat what chrissy breen was getting at?? And Colin with is camper/biker.
Which bring us to mr. LOL keller qtip.
Wow you ARE an OLD OLD motherfucker. Slender as a crackhead WILLOW and skanky as a rat's ass on a hot tin roof.
Geez. You all hangin around and shit again.....
I count the ways that does you no good.
You think any little minute you can get my attention you have accomplished your fucked up mission.
I cede to your greater, elder wisdom.
Wait for it.
yer my bitch.
fatass scott the murderer ride in circles .... you as crusty as an old bike spoke.
How did jacque go from johnson to rogers to keller and forever remain a single woman???
Sounds like some fraudulent activity to moi considering it uses a host of names and is married some of the time....
GAD.
May the flies rise up to greet you soon you dipstick old piece of shit.
You and colin barking up the same age tree, huh?? You a bit crustier.
Needa getchoo some young serial killer shit like he's got.
Feedya some arsenic.
LOLLLLSSSSS
You having your 74th bday party you loser???
lolllllssssss
Ybor City Tattoo Company had the best Grand Opening Art Show. We had over 30 original paintings from local, as well as, international tattoo artists.......here 
Hero of the Battle of Lake Erie
"We have met the enemy and they are ours."
Wikipedia doesn't list them, but Perrysburg is also the hometown of two well-known bloggers: NTodd of Dohiyi Mir and some other guy.
"I would say easily since the debacle began, particularly in the last 60 or 70 days, we get two new people a day," 15 Place Director Lyn Manz-Walters said. "I'm sure every city on the Gulf Coast would tell you the same thing."
One man took a bus from out of state to Mobile after seeing reports on TV. He firmly believed he'd be paid $1,500 a day plus per diem.
"They're not so much stupid as they are desperate," Manz-Walters said.
Read the Mobile Press-Register report here.
"Go away, man!" Kolinio Waqairawai hollered at Mayor Gavin Newsom at first. But after they talked, he agreed to accept the mayor's offer of housing.San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom visited a homeless encampment as part of a final push by city officials to find homes for about 30 die-hards who have used the soon-to-be-demolished Transbay Terminal and its web of overpasses as a shelter for years, repeatedly resisting the city's stepped-up efforts to get them into transitional housing.
Calling the Transbay Terminal home won't be an option in a week. That's when demolition is scheduled to start.
As soon as Newsom finished chatting with Kolinio Waqairawai, three city outreach workers approached him to try to formalize an agreement to move him into his own room in a single-resident occupancy hotel, where he will stay for free until permanent housing is found. Sometimes people agree to go and then change their minds; other times, hotel rooms aren't available and people are placed in shelters before housing is arranged. The process averages about six months, Newsom said.
"People end up doing six years on the street because they didn't want to do six months in a transition," Newsom said. "That's the most frustrating part."
Read the San Francisco Chronicle report here. And see previous post here.
The ruling by a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will put an immediate stop to the matching money McCollum thought he was entitled to when his Republican rival Rick Scott, a multimillionaire who is financing his own campaign, exceeds the state's $24.9 million spending cap. Scott has rejected the spending limits under the so-called ``millionaire's provision.''"Court deals blow to public money match for Bill McCollum campaign".
McCollum has received $1.7 million in state public financing because he has agreed to limit his campaign spending, and will continue to be eligible to receive public financing from another provision of the law. But the court injunction blocks the state from giving him the dollar-for-dollar match of everything Scott spends above the spending cap.
The court's ruling comes at a time when McCollum is trailing Scott by 11 percentage points in the latest polls and the GOP gubernatorial primary is only weeks away. The latest finance reports show that McCollum has only $800,000 on hand for the Aug. 24 primary.
"Saying Scott's free speech rights would be "irreparably harmed," the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a preliminary injunction preventing the state from releasing extra campaign funds to McCollum based on how much his multi-millionaire opponent spends."
Interim Secretary of State Dawn Roberts said she was deciding whether to appeal the ruling to preserve the so-called Millionaire's Amendment. The law was designed to keep wealthy candidates from using their personal resources to defeat less well-heeled opponents."Court reversal of Fla. campaign-finance law a win for Scott in GOP gov race". See also "Scott wins in court, McCollum will not receive public financing (Updated)", "Court: No extra public funding for McCollum" and "Appeals court blocks matching funds for McCollum".
McCollum, the state attorney general who is trailing in his fourth statewide race, said he, too, is weighing his legal options. But, he immediately pounced on Scott.
Greer hoards RPOFer papers
"When Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents raided the Oviedo home of ousted Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer in June, they not only handcuffed him and hauled him to jail, they also found boxes filled with party records."
On April 20, the party demanded that Greer turn over all records in his possession that were "in any way relating to any of the matters set forth in your complaint in this case.""Florida GOP: Greer had hundreds of party documents at his Oviedo home".
He turned over 160 pages, according to state-party pleadings, withholding most of the party paperwork found by FDLE agents at his home. ... Also among the party paperwork FDLE agents found at Greer's home were:
•Records comparing the party's actual spending in 2009 to its budget.
•Records of the party's cash position.
•Records of the party's base operating expenses.
•Records related to air-charter company Baer Air.
•Consultant contracts.
•Crist for U.S. Senate expenses for the third quarter of 2009.
•Crist call sheets from Feb. 3, 2009.
•A state-party letter Greer wrote Crist dated Jan. 5, 2010.
In addition, agents also found a $4,150 bill from GrayRobinson, the law firm that Greer hired to set up Victory Strategies. The firm says it was never paid.
Fl-oil-duh
"Federal officials predicted Friday that most Gulf Coast beaches have seen their last major oiling from the BP spill, and South Florida and the East Coast should be spared any impact because the crude never reached the powerful loop current. A new analysis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showed most surface oil in the Gulf had degraded to a thin sheen. What remained on the surface and below was hundreds of miles from the loop current, which scientists feared could have carried the oil through the Florida Keys, up the East Coast and possibly toward Europe. NOAA administrator Jane Lubchenco said a strong eddy is preventing oil from reaching the loop current." "South Florida, East Coast likely spared oil impact".
See also "Poll: Voters want say over offshore drilling", "Debris in relief well sets back work on gusher".
Chiles has some explaining to do
"In the governor's race, "
former health care executive Rick Scott, Attorney General Bill McCollum and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink are essentially in a dead heat."Crist leading Florda race for U.S. Senate, poll finds".
With Scott as the GOP nominee – and his nearly $30 million ad blitz has vaulted him into the lead in the Republican primary – he gets 29 percent, Sink 27 percent and independent Bud Chiles 14 percent.
With McCollum as the Republican nominee, McCollum gets 27 percent, Sink 26 percent and Chiles 14 percent. Scott leads McCollum by 11 percent in the GOP primary.
In either scenario - Scott or McCollum as the RPOFer candidate - Chiles is leeping the Republican in the race. Chiles has some explaining to do.
Related: "Poll: Charlie Crist has slight edge in U.S. Senate race".
"Effectiveness of Crist's centrist style"
The Orlando Sentinel reports that "Gov. Charlie Crist, who fled the Republican Party for life as an independent, remains the frontrunner in Florida's race for Senate, leading former House Speaker Marco Rubio by 5 to 6 percentage points, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll."
The poll shows Crist with 37 percent, Rubio at 32 percent, and Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene, one of two Democratic contenders, at 17 percent. Crist leads Rubio 39-33 percent if U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek is the Democratic nominee.See also "Poll: Crist leads 3-way Senate race".
In that scenario, Meek gets 13 percent of the vote.
The Q poll "underscores the effectiveness of Crist's centrist style -- and its risks. Crist, who has stripped references to his conservative positions from his campaign website, has remained the front-runner by receiving half of the vote of independents, a fifth of the Republican vote and a whopping 40 percent of the Democratic vote, the poll shows. ... Though Rubio's campaign has tried to paint Crist as an opportunist, the Quinnipiac poll suggests the criticism isn't sticking". "Shift to center helping Crist keep fragile lead". See also "Poll shows Crist in lead" and "Poll: Crist leading Senate race".
Perhaps its population growth in The Villages?
How Florida has managed to stay blue is a mystery with numbers like this: "Florida voters disapprove of the new health care law by a 53-to-36 percent margin, roughly the same as their 56-to-34 percent disapproval in June. Nationwide, opposition to the landmark health-care law declined over the past month, to 35 percent from 41 percent, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll released Thursday. Fifty percent of the public held a favorable view of the law, up slightly from 48 percent a month ago, while 14 percent expressed no opinion about the measure, according to the poll." "Poll: voters down on Obama, drilling, health care law".
BICPAC kerfuffle
"Democratic state Rep. Kevin Rader fired back at primary opponent Pete Burkert, noting that BICPAC helps pro-Israel candidates from both parties." "Rader PAC contribution sparks feud with Burkert in Democratic Senate primary".
RPOFers look to increase Senate lead
"While the political spotlight remains on the close and dramatic contests for the governorship and the open U.S. Senate seat, a number of intriguing contests are shaping up for Florida Senate seats in both primaries and in the general election. ... While Republican control of the Senate does not appear to be in any peril, the Democrats have fielded some solid candidates and have a chance at knocking off a few incumbents. But the reality is, the Republicans have an excellent chance at increasing their majority."
- "SD 2: Greg Evers Has Strong Financial Advantage"."Race for the Florida Senate".
- "SD 4: Handily, Four More Years for Don Gaetz".
- "SD 6: Interesting Dem Primary gives Bill Montford the Edge".
- "SD 8: John Thrasher Facing Challenges on Two Fronts".
- "SD 10: Smooth Sailing for Incumbent Ronda Storms".
- "SD 12: Jim Norman and Kevin Ambler Square Off in Conservative Showdown".
- "SD 14: Dems Hope to Knock Off Steve Oelrich".
- "SD 16: Jack Latvala is Back; Looks Poised to Pick Up a Seat for the GOP".
- "SD 18: Joyner a Lock for a Second Term".
- "SD 20: Alan Hays Looks Ready to Join the Senate".
- "SD 22: David Simmons Headed Back to the Legislature".
- "SD 24: Despite Staying with Crist, Altman Should Survive Challenge from the Right".
- "SD 25: Three House Reps Battle it Out to Take Atwater’s Seat".
- "SD 26: No Opposition to Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos".
- "SD 27: Interesting Primaries for Dems and GOP to Replace Dave Aronberg".
- "SD 28: It's Easily Another Cup of Joe … Negron".
- "SD 30: Maria Sachs Faces No Opposition for Ted Deutch's Old Seat".
- "SD 32: Ring Should be King for Another Four Years".
- "SD 34: Incoming Democratic Leader Nan Rich Gets Another Term".
- "SD 35: Gwen Margolis the Front-Runner Over Kevin Burns to Replace Dan Gelber".
- "SD 36: Miguel Diaz de la Portilla Battles Julio Robaina in Miami-Dade".
- "SD 38: $576K in the Bank Makes Anitere Flores Candidate to Beat".
- "SD 40: Rene Garcia Looks to be Headed Back to Tallahassee".
"Four spouses with mirror ambitions"
"Behind the candidates' nasty accusations are four spouses with mirror ambitions. They are their husbands' ultimate political accessories, the lapel flag in human form: slim legs, coiffed hair, dazzling smiles, a walking thesaurus of their spouses' winning attributes. Carole Crist. Mei Greene. Leslie Meek. Jeanette Dousdebes-Rubio." "The women behind the men who would be Florida's senator".
Is nothing sacred?
"Floridians beware, especially you party-hardy Conchs: Under a little-known law, your local bar could be closed the next time a hurricane comes." "Bars could close in Florida for next hurricane".
Yaaawwwnnn
"The Republican contest for Florida attorney general features three conservatives with solid resumes, but little name recognition or star power. The low-budget, under-the-radar primary defies prediction, political observers say, as the state GOP tries to keep its eight-year grip on the attorney general post now held by gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum." "Florida attorney general's race: GOP's Holly Benson, Pam Bondi, Jeff Kottkamp fight to stand out". See also "Wide-open, three-way Republican primary for attorney general" and "Ex-prosecutor giving two veteran politicians a run in GOP race for Fla. AG".
McCollum campaign dealt decisive blow
"A federal appeals court in Atlanta turned Florida's public campaign financing law on its head Friday, halting a critical provision that was expected to inject taxpayer cash into Attorney General Bill McCollum's struggling campaign."
The ruling by a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will put an immediate stop to the matching money McCollum thought he was entitled to when his Republican rival Rick Scott, a multimillionaire who is financing his own campaign, exceeds the state's $24.9 million spending cap. Scott has rejected the spending limits under the so-called ``millionaire's provision.''"Court deals blow to public money match for Bill McCollum campaign".
McCollum has received $1.7 million in state public financing because he has agreed to limit his campaign spending, and will continue to be eligible to receive public financing from another provision of the law. But the court injunction blocks the state from giving him the dollar-for-dollar match of everything Scott spends above the spending cap.
The court's ruling comes at a time when McCollum is trailing Scott by 11 percentage points in the latest polls and the GOP gubernatorial primary is only weeks away. The latest finance reports show that McCollum has only $800,000 on hand for the Aug. 24 primary.
"Saying Scott's free speech rights would be "irreparably harmed," the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a preliminary injunction preventing the state from releasing extra campaign funds to McCollum based on how much his multi-millionaire opponent spends."
Interim Secretary of State Dawn Roberts said she was deciding whether to appeal the ruling to preserve the so-called Millionaire's Amendment. The law was designed to keep wealthy candidates from using their personal resources to defeat less well-heeled opponents."Court reversal of Fla. campaign-finance law a win for Scott in GOP gov race". See also "Scott wins in court, McCollum will not receive public financing (Updated)", "Court: No extra public funding for McCollum" and "Appeals court blocks matching funds for McCollum".
McCollum, the state attorney general who is trailing in his fourth statewide race, said he, too, is weighing his legal options. But, he immediately pounced on Scott.
Greer hoards RPOFer papers
"When Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents raided the Oviedo home of ousted Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer in June, they not only handcuffed him and hauled him to jail, they also found boxes filled with party records."
On April 20, the party demanded that Greer turn over all records in his possession that were "in any way relating to any of the matters set forth in your complaint in this case.""Florida GOP: Greer had hundreds of party documents at his Oviedo home".
He turned over 160 pages, according to state-party pleadings, withholding most of the party paperwork found by FDLE agents at his home. ... Also among the party paperwork FDLE agents found at Greer's home were:
•Records comparing the party's actual spending in 2009 to its budget.
•Records of the party's cash position.
•Records of the party's base operating expenses.
•Records related to air-charter company Baer Air.
•Consultant contracts.
•Crist for U.S. Senate expenses for the third quarter of 2009.
•Crist call sheets from Feb. 3, 2009.
•A state-party letter Greer wrote Crist dated Jan. 5, 2010.
In addition, agents also found a $4,150 bill from GrayRobinson, the law firm that Greer hired to set up Victory Strategies. The firm says it was never paid.
Fl-oil-duh
"Federal officials predicted Friday that most Gulf Coast beaches have seen their last major oiling from the BP spill, and South Florida and the East Coast should be spared any impact because the crude never reached the powerful loop current. A new analysis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showed most surface oil in the Gulf had degraded to a thin sheen. What remained on the surface and below was hundreds of miles from the loop current, which scientists feared could have carried the oil through the Florida Keys, up the East Coast and possibly toward Europe. NOAA administrator Jane Lubchenco said a strong eddy is preventing oil from reaching the loop current." "South Florida, East Coast likely spared oil impact".
See also "Poll: Voters want say over offshore drilling", "Debris in relief well sets back work on gusher".
Chiles has some explaining to do
"In the governor's race, "
former health care executive Rick Scott, Attorney General Bill McCollum and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink are essentially in a dead heat."Crist leading Florda race for U.S. Senate, poll finds".
With Scott as the GOP nominee – and his nearly $30 million ad blitz has vaulted him into the lead in the Republican primary – he gets 29 percent, Sink 27 percent and independent Bud Chiles 14 percent.
With McCollum as the Republican nominee, McCollum gets 27 percent, Sink 26 percent and Chiles 14 percent. Scott leads McCollum by 11 percent in the GOP primary.
In either scenario - Scott or McCollum as the RPOFer candidate - Chiles is leeping the Republican in the race. Chiles has some explaining to do.
Related: "Poll: Charlie Crist has slight edge in U.S. Senate race".
"Effectiveness of Crist's centrist style"
The Orlando Sentinel reports that "Gov. Charlie Crist, who fled the Republican Party for life as an independent, remains the frontrunner in Florida's race for Senate, leading former House Speaker Marco Rubio by 5 to 6 percentage points, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll."
The poll shows Crist with 37 percent, Rubio at 32 percent, and Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene, one of two Democratic contenders, at 17 percent. Crist leads Rubio 39-33 percent if U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek is the Democratic nominee.See also "Poll: Crist leads 3-way Senate race".
In that scenario, Meek gets 13 percent of the vote.
The Q poll "underscores the effectiveness of Crist's centrist style -- and its risks. Crist, who has stripped references to his conservative positions from his campaign website, has remained the front-runner by receiving half of the vote of independents, a fifth of the Republican vote and a whopping 40 percent of the Democratic vote, the poll shows. ... Though Rubio's campaign has tried to paint Crist as an opportunist, the Quinnipiac poll suggests the criticism isn't sticking". "Shift to center helping Crist keep fragile lead". See also "Poll shows Crist in lead" and "Poll: Crist leading Senate race".
Perhaps its population growth in The Villages?
How Florida has managed to stay blue is a mystery with numbers like this: "Florida voters disapprove of the new health care law by a 53-to-36 percent margin, roughly the same as their 56-to-34 percent disapproval in June. Nationwide, opposition to the landmark health-care law declined over the past month, to 35 percent from 41 percent, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll released Thursday. Fifty percent of the public held a favorable view of the law, up slightly from 48 percent a month ago, while 14 percent expressed no opinion about the measure, according to the poll." "Poll: voters down on Obama, drilling, health care law".
BICPAC kerfuffle
"Democratic state Rep. Kevin Rader fired back at primary opponent Pete Burkert, noting that BICPAC helps pro-Israel candidates from both parties." "Rader PAC contribution sparks feud with Burkert in Democratic Senate primary".
RPOFers look to increase Senate lead
"While the political spotlight remains on the close and dramatic contests for the governorship and the open U.S. Senate seat, a number of intriguing contests are shaping up for Florida Senate seats in both primaries and in the general election. ... While Republican control of the Senate does not appear to be in any peril, the Democrats have fielded some solid candidates and have a chance at knocking off a few incumbents. But the reality is, the Republicans have an excellent chance at increasing their majority."
- "SD 2: Greg Evers Has Strong Financial Advantage"."Race for the Florida Senate".
- "SD 4: Handily, Four More Years for Don Gaetz".
- "SD 6: Interesting Dem Primary gives Bill Montford the Edge".
- "SD 8: John Thrasher Facing Challenges on Two Fronts".
- "SD 10: Smooth Sailing for Incumbent Ronda Storms".
- "SD 12: Jim Norman and Kevin Ambler Square Off in Conservative Showdown".
- "SD 14: Dems Hope to Knock Off Steve Oelrich".
- "SD 16: Jack Latvala is Back; Looks Poised to Pick Up a Seat for the GOP".
- "SD 18: Joyner a Lock for a Second Term".
- "SD 20: Alan Hays Looks Ready to Join the Senate".
- "SD 22: David Simmons Headed Back to the Legislature".
- "SD 24: Despite Staying with Crist, Altman Should Survive Challenge from the Right".
- "SD 25: Three House Reps Battle it Out to Take Atwater’s Seat".
- "SD 26: No Opposition to Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos".
- "SD 27: Interesting Primaries for Dems and GOP to Replace Dave Aronberg".
- "SD 28: It's Easily Another Cup of Joe … Negron".
- "SD 30: Maria Sachs Faces No Opposition for Ted Deutch's Old Seat".
- "SD 32: Ring Should be King for Another Four Years".
- "SD 34: Incoming Democratic Leader Nan Rich Gets Another Term".
- "SD 35: Gwen Margolis the Front-Runner Over Kevin Burns to Replace Dan Gelber".
- "SD 36: Miguel Diaz de la Portilla Battles Julio Robaina in Miami-Dade".
- "SD 38: $576K in the Bank Makes Anitere Flores Candidate to Beat".
- "SD 40: Rene Garcia Looks to be Headed Back to Tallahassee".
"Four spouses with mirror ambitions"
"Behind the candidates' nasty accusations are four spouses with mirror ambitions. They are their husbands' ultimate political accessories, the lapel flag in human form: slim legs, coiffed hair, dazzling smiles, a walking thesaurus of their spouses' winning attributes. Carole Crist. Mei Greene. Leslie Meek. Jeanette Dousdebes-Rubio." "The women behind the men who would be Florida's senator".
Is nothing sacred?
"Floridians beware, especially you party-hardy Conchs: Under a little-known law, your local bar could be closed the next time a hurricane comes." "Bars could close in Florida for next hurricane".
Yaaawwwnnn
"The Republican contest for Florida attorney general features three conservatives with solid resumes, but little name recognition or star power. The low-budget, under-the-radar primary defies prediction, political observers say, as the state GOP tries to keep its eight-year grip on the attorney general post now held by gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum." "Florida attorney general's race: GOP's Holly Benson, Pam Bondi, Jeff Kottkamp fight to stand out". See also "Wide-open, three-way Republican primary for attorney general" and "Ex-prosecutor giving two veteran politicians a run in GOP race for Fla. AG".
Blogging will be on a vacation-type schedule with a later start in the morning and more posting during the day than trying to cram it all in between the time I get up and the time I get to the office. Also, my postings and reviews on the plays we see at Stratford and Shaw will be on Bobby Cramer in keeping with the literary intent of that blog and to add a few more ticks to the traffic counter over there.
Meanwhile, I'll see you next when I get settled in at my usual spot in my old home town.
When I moved to Minneapolis to start grad school in September 1975, I decided to replace my 1973 Ford F-100 pickup with something else. I wasn't crazy about driving it in Minnesota's famous winters; being a rear-wheel drive vehicle, it didn't handle snow all that well unless it was fully loaded, and the four bags of cement in the back didn't help. Also, it had developed a shimmy in the front end from time to time that was so bad it once jerked the wheel out of my hands. The Ford dealer diagnosed it as warped rotors on the disc brakes and tried to fix them -- under warranty -- but to no avail. So a couple of weeks after arriving in Minneapolis, I stopped by Ridgedale Ford and saw a used two-door 1975 Ford Granada on their lot. It was red with a three-speed manual transmission and no A/C, but with the trade-in the price was right and it handled pretty well on ice and snow. Yes, I did look at a Mustang, but a Mustang II (which was based on the Pinto) was out of my price range.
In those days in Minnesota the license plates stayed with the car, so for the first time I had a different state's plates on my car.
There's a little history with me and Minneapolis in that my father was born and raised there. My grandfather died when I was seven, so my memories of him are fleeting, but our family went to Minneapolis in December 1964 to celebrate my grandmother's eightieth birthday. I met uncles and relatives for the first time and I have vivid memories of the house on Fremont Avenue South close to Lake Harriet. My grandmother died in 1967 and the house was sold, but one of the first things I did in my new car was to drive by the house. I knocked on the door, introduced myself, and was treated to a tour by the nice people who owned it. Even with a new family living there, I could still recall the memories of my childhood visits, right down to the special scent of the attic and the backyard where my grandfather had kept his bird-feeders. It was a nice way to make a connection with my new town.
Photo by David Nicholson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7ch13ZuMu8&feature=youtube_gdata
Sent from my iPhone 3GS
Blogging at Miami-Dade-Dems.blogspot.com
Answer: IOKIYAR.
Thanks for playing.
HT to Steve Benen.
Nevertheless, the president went to Detroit to tout the success of the auto companies after their bailout.
How bad was the recession? The worst since the 1930's.
Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) may only get a reprimand from Congress, just like Newt Gingrich.
Charlie Crist has a slight lead in the Senate race in Florida.
Same-sex couples are getting married in Argentina.
Tropical Update: Wouldn't you know that something would pop up when I'm going on vacation?
The Tigers finally win one, and it was against the Red Sox.
A program at the University Of Central Florida is putting together a video game aimed at promoting abstinence among middle-school-age girls.
here
Fri 30 July, 2010
Hillsborough Circuit Judge Bernard Silver found no evidence Beckner acted recklessly regarding Blair, a public figure. He noted in his order that the parsing of words in political debate is subject to "rational interpretations.".....here
Tampa's Big Cat Rescue is tending to three bobcat kittens named Storm, Midnight and Rain. The kittens will be released back into the wild when they are adults. The cats are learning to eat raw rats and baby chics. So you may not want to watch this video.
Andrew Breitbart
Perhaps the NAACP stayed out of the fray during the Thomas hearing was because a black woman named Anita Hill accused him of sexual harassment. The Thomas and Hill controversy was confusing because no one could say with 100 percent certainty who was telling the truth. John Cole points out that Thomas was appointed to the Supreme Court for his troubles. Sherrod's father was shot to death by a white man. Wanna take a guess which black man got the better deal?
Side note: Can Breitbart cite an incident of racism when a conservative is not the victim?
The House was debating a bill last night that would provide up to $7.4 billion in health care aid to rescue and recovery workers who have faced health problems since their work in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The bill ultimately failed to get the needed two-thirds majority, 255-159, and Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) was not happy about it. Not one bit.
Meet LindaShe Is From Cleveland. She Has Been Homeless Since 2003.
The Stogie has parked his ride. He is now a HART Rider. Nice buses with ice cold air. Only $60.00 a month. No more insurance payments, fuel and repair bills, taxes and tolls.Go Hart
Can't Wait For The Trains To Arrive.
Moving Hillsborough Forward
The stage is set for the day’s main event. Dr. Richard Swier, editor of local conservative blog Red County, will have his chance to appeal the decision of a district advisory committee that denied his “request for reconsideration of instructional material,” a formal complaint originally filed on April 25. Swier sought to have the textbook World History: Patterns of Interaction removed from the school curriculum, believing that it unfairly favors the religion of Islam over Christianity. more...
Reading today Daniel Ruth's excellent piece on Attorney General Bill McCollum and watching Marc Caputo's taped interviews with the General bring back the memory of a Blog post I wrote last year.
It was written on June 2, 2009, titled, Will McCollum Freeze Like A "Deer in The Headlights?" Whether it is pouting, flip flopping, or even acting shrill in the Clinton hearings, this is a guy that just doesn't change. Think of the RPOF leadership -- this is who they are betting the farm on down the back stretch against one of the shrewdest and cut throat lawyers in the country, that has a double digit lead with 4 weeks to go.
The RPOF better double up on the Cabinet races and Rubio, because the odds don't look good for this horse, whose colors just don't change.
Interesting. Judicial candidate Debra Steinsaltz doesn't name names, yet all South Florida has seemingly associated a story shared at a recent judicial forum with the very person that has talked up the family bio to anyone that will listen as a personal platform to steamroll hateful lawmaking through the Florida legislature as well as South Florida, particularly so in Miami.
And obviously, continues to do so as noted in a blog post written by Buddy Nevins of BrowardBeat.com.
I'd say Debra Steinsaltz has thrown the door to a kitchen that is certainly not clean.
Read on, especially when Mr. Book discusses ethics.
Candidate Debra Steinsaltz should have thought before she spoke at the second Broward Judicial Watch judicial forum on Thursday.
Answering a question, Steinsaltz told the forum audience that she once had a client who was a nanny accused of molesting the child of a major political insider.
During the preparation for the trial, Steinsaltz said she learned many things about the victim’s family and hinted the family had deep dark secrets which would cause them “embarrassment”.
Although she never mentioned the victim’s name, it was obvious to everybody I talked to at the forum that she was referring to the family of Ron Book. He lives in Plantation and is one of the state’s best known and most ubiquitous lobbyists.
Assistant Public Defender Steinsaltz defended, Waldina Flores, a nanny convicted of molesting Book’s daughter Lauren a decade ago.
(...)A livid Book now says he is interested in helping Steinsaltz’s opponent, County Judge Peter Skolnick. Book could raise Skolnick thousands of dollars easily.
Barry Harris, Steinsaltz campaign consultant, had no comment.
Reached by telephone after the forum, Book said that Steinsaltz’s “ethics speak for themselves. This is typical of a (Broward Public Defenders) office that conducted themselves in an unprofessional manner throughout this entire case.”
Book said one assistant PD was so “unprofessional” that he was “forced to file a Bar grievance against him.” The Assistant PD was taken off the Flores case.
Steinsaltz handled the second Broward case involving Flores. After she was sent to prison for molesting Lauren Book, the former nanny violated the rules of her original sentence by writing the teenager.
She was prosecuted again and got 10 years for the letter writing added to her original 15-year sentence.
Book said that Steinsaltz was obviously “using the words of a pedophile” about his family in an attempt to “further her candidacy.”
“This is a woman who deficated (sic) and urinated on my child and then fled the state before she was caught. If this candidate wants to use this case and her defense of this pedophile, I believe the voters can make their own decision.”
Book said he doesn’t know Skolnick from “Adam’s housecat” but he would be interested in helping his campaign. He also said he would review the tape of the judicial forum to see if there was “further action” he should take against Steinsaltz.
7/30/10
Lauren Book recently decided against a Broward County School Board run.
A majority of Americans now believe the war is unwinnable or not worth the cost, and a growing minority in Congress wants out. Some NATO allies are departing. Others are setting deadlines for withdrawal.That's pretty accurate. And pretty damning.
As for the Afghans we leave behind, who committed themselves to America's war, they will, when we depart, suffer the fate of the "harkis" in Algeria, the South Vietnamese army and boat people, and the Cambodians we left behind to the tender mercies of the Khmer Rouge.
Have the politicians, journalists and think-tank geniuses who dreamed up these wars suffered ignominy and disgrace?
Not at all. They are debating and devising a new war -- with Iran.
Gov. Charlie Crist leads narrowly in the three-way race for a Florida Senate seat, and Republicans Bill McCollum and Rick Scott both barely edge out Alex Sink in a governor’s race that’s a statistical tie, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.
The numbers in the Senate race:
—With…
There he was just a short time ago envisioning himself sitting in the Governor's Mansion, whiling away the days signing death warrants, schmoozing the Florida Legislature and whirling around in amazement every time someone uttered the words: "Oh Gov. McCollum!"Much more here: "McCollum fires off a vicious . . . pout".
Instead, in less time than it takes for an American Idol contestant to get the heave-ho, Florida's attorney general, the man who would be king, is facing the prospect his political career will wind up on a pile of tea bags.
Little wonder then that Bill McCollum is angry, Elmer Fudd-like vewry, vewry angry.
McCollum has now entered that stage in the Republican gubernatorial campaign in full pout ...
Another fine Jebacy
"Florida has third-highest uninsured population in nation".
Today's Q poll
Today's Florida Q Poll:
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist leads the three-way race for the U.S. Senate seat with 37 percent, followed by 32 percent for Republican Marco Rubio and 17 percent for Jeff Greene, the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. If U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek wins the Democratic primary, Crist's lead would be 39 percent to 33 percent for Rubio and 13 percent for Meek.In the Guv race:
The three-way race for Governor is a squeaker between Democrat Alex Sink, the State Chief Financial Officer, and either of the Republican candidates, retired health care executive Rick Scott or Attorney General Bill McCollum, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey finds. Scott gets 29 percent to Sink's 27 percent with independent Bud Chiles receiving 14 percent. If McCollum wins the GOP primary, he would get 27 percent to 26 percent for Sink and 14 percent for Chiles.Detail:
In the Senate race, Crist's lead is based on getting half the independent voters, about 20 percent of Republicans and about 40 percent of Democrats. His 53 - 37 percent voter approval of his job as Governor probably is a factor in his lead.See also "Crist holds small lead in Fla. US Senate contest", "Democrats Keep Crist in Lead of Senate Race", "Scott, Greene Hold Double-Digit Leads Over McCollum, Meek", "New Q Poll finds Scott, Greene with double-digit leads", "Quinnipiac poll: Crist leading Senate race", "Poll: Wealthy outsiders Greene (+10) and Scott (+11) lead their Florida primaries" and "Poll: Candidates Jeff Greene, Rick Scott lead opponents".
Crist's margin in the general election matchups compare to a 37 - 33 - 17 percent lead with Meek in the race and 40 - 33 - 14 percent with Greene running in a June 9 poll. ...
The dead heat in the governor's race stems largely from a drop in the numbers for Scott and McCollum as they bombard each other with negative television ads. In June, registered voters gave McCollum a 37 - 29 percent favorable rating. Now it is 43 - 27 percent unfavorable. Scott's rating has gone from 31 - 22 percent favorable to a 29 - 30 percent split during the same period.
Sink gets a 25 - 15 percent favorability, with 58 percent who don't know enough about her to form an opinion, little changed from June 9.
"When candidates throw mud at each other, they can't avoid being splattered also. That is what has been happening and the beneficiary of the millions spent on negative ads Attorney General Bill McCollum and Rick Scott have been airing at this point is State CFO Alex Sink. Whether that will remain the case once the Republican nomination is settled we'll see," said Brown. "Chiles remains in the mid-teens, and a factor in the November election."
Q Poll detail: July 30 release: "Crist On Top In 3-Way Florida Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Dem Sink Tied With Either Republican In Governnor's Race". July 29 release: "'Outsiders' Lead In Florida Primaries, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Scott Up In GOP Gov Race, Greene Leads In Dem Senate Bid".
Sansom too good for a jumpsuit
"The specter of once-powerful Ray Sansom wearing a jail jumpsuit and picking up roadside trash scuttled a proposed plea deal with the former House speaker, court testimony revealed Thursday."
A rare glimpse into settlement negotiations involving the ex-lawmaker emerged during a combative all-day hearing in which lawyers for Sansom and two co-defendants are trying to have veteran State Attorney Willie Meggs thrown off the case on the grounds of prosecutorial misconduct."Ray Sansom plea deal scuttled by `humiliation' factor". See also "Sansom, codefendants seek to have charges thrown out" and "Sansom attorneys want prosecutor removed from case".
The rejected agreement would have required Sansom, Destin developer Jay Odom and former college president Bob Richburg to admit to misdemeanor charges, pay fines and participate in a sheriff's work program for at least a month.
Meggs, the top prosecutor in North Florida's six-county Second Judicial Circuit, testified that the three men would have all been required to plead guilty to the attempted official misconduct for their role in inserting $6 million into the state budget to pay for a combination emergency operations center and airplane hangar to house Odom's jets.
The defendants also would have had to repay the state $310,000, the amount officials paid to hire an architect to design the building.
And he would have required them to spend from one to six months on a sheriff's work detail, picking up trash along roads while dressed in striped inmate outfits.
Entrepreneurs in action
"The Florida attorney general is investigating two companies accused of bilking people who wanted to get work cleaning up oil in and around the Gulf." "Florida goes after Gulf oil spill scams".
Imagine, never again having to wait in a doctor's office
"A proposed constitutional amendment that would have blocked the state from starting a health care program similar to President Barack Obama's federal plan was removed from the ballot Thursday by a judge who said its wording would confuse voters. Circuit Judge James Shelfer said Amendment 9's wording could even make voters think they would never have to wait in a doctor's office if the measure passed."
Three constitutional amendments proposed for the 2010 ballot have now been removed from the ballot by judges, including two by Shelfer, who was appointed to the bench by former Gov. Jeb Bush. Shelfer also removed from the ballot Amendment 7, a measure dealing with how lawmakers draw districts for Congress and the Legislature."Florida judge throws out proposed health care amendment". Related: "Court Kills Amendment 9 -- After Erasing Amendment 7".
"Political bloodbaths"
"A notable handful ... have turned into full-fledged verbal smackdowns, with opponents slinging more mud than a tractor pull." "Candidates get nasty in bitter election battles"
E-Verify for state employees
"With immigration emerging as one of the chief issues in the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination -- and trying to catch up with front-runner Rick Scott -- Attorney General Bill McCollum sponsored a motion at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting for state offices to use E-Verify to ensure that no illegal aliens are hired." "Cabinet Unanimously Backs E-Verify to Stop State From Hiring Illegal Aliens".
"But that would tick off campaign donors"
Scott Maxwell points out why pols don't like to talk about the employers who exploit illegal immigrants ('ya know, pay them less than minimum wage under the table and stuff like that)*:
If they were, they would be forced to admit that the root of the problem is businesses that hire illegal immigrants."Serious immigration reform must involve employers".
But that would tick off many of the campaign donors.
So instead, they opt for an easier route. They demonize the people who come here looking for jobs instead of cracking down on the companies that provide them.
Nowhere is that more evident than right here in Florida.
Just a few months ago, legislators trotted out a joke of an immigration bill.
The bill would have forced employers to electronically verify the immigration status of their workers, which sounds good until you realize that legislators wanted to exempt the entire private sector.
Think about that for a moment.
Do you really think that the majority of the illegal immigrants in Florida are toiling away as, say, code inspectors and environmental engineers on the state payroll?
- - - - - - - - - -
*If an when illegal immigrants are given a path to citizenship, they will probably unionize in droves, which is one of the unstated objections to serious immigration reform.
CD 17 Herald endorsements
The Miami Herald endorsements in CD 17: "Ten people seek to replace him -- nine are Democrats. The winner of the Aug. 24 primary will face attorney Roderick Vereen, running without a party affiliation, in November. The most viable candidates are Marleine Bastien, 51, executive director of the Haitian Women of Miami, Shirley Gibson, 67, Miami Gardens mayor, and state Sen. Frederica Wilson, 68. Each has unique talents."
Predictable
As we noted yesterday in "And so it begins", the Orlando Sentinel was formally beginning its attacks on Alan Grayson. Predictably, here's today's Sentinel editorial: "Alan Grayson's gall".
In the meantime, Sentinel readers should prepare themselves for a stream of stories about how wonderfulness of one Daniel Webster, the "revered pro-family leader" who will be Grayson's likely challenger.
Fl-oil-duh
"Democrats Face Blowback on Oil 'Spill Bill'".
See also "Feds, farmers create habitats for migrating birds", "Partisan bickering delays oil spill legislation", "US gas stations: Stay BP or change name to Amoco?", "Less oil on surface means less work for fishermen" and "Past problems for company at heart of oil spill".
Confused voters
Thomas Tryon: "After the fiasco that accompanied the 2000 presidential election in Florida, the state standardized many aspects of voting. ... Despite the steps toward consistency, elections in Florida are still confusing, even for experienced voters and those of us who cover political races and candidates." See what Tryon means here: "Elections still have their share of confusion".
Florida leads the way in foreclosure filings
"A RealtyTrac report shows Florida leading the way in new foreclosure related filings over the first six months of 2010. Business & Political leaders say letting taxes increase in 2011 when benefits expire could worsen foreclosures and kill economic growth." "Expiring Tax Benefits Could Worsen Foreclosure Rates".
"Party money smacks of king-making deal"
"A football star got stopped just short of the goal two years ago, but the Florida Republican Party still thinks it can win a House seat in a heavily Democratic district that includes the state Capitol."
The state GOP's $25,000 contribution, and staff support, for candidate Kirk Headley-Perdue has drawn a protest from her opponent, Ann Yarko."Yarko protests state GOP support of opponent".
Yarko — a conservative activist and Florida State University communications-political science student taking a break for some real world experience — says the party money smacks of the kind of king-making deals that helped lead to the downfall of former state GOP Chairman Jim Greer. Party headquarters says it's just making its best bet in the District 9 race.
Yarko wrote to the new chairman, state Sen. John Thrasher when she learned that the party provided the money — matched by $25,000 from Headley-Perdue — along with more than $3,000 worth of administrative support. She urged him to "let the Republican voters" decide the nomination.
What's wrong with Palm Beach
Joel Engelhardt: "Observers of the Palm Beach County Commission can be excused these days if they're confused. Democrats act like Republicans and Republicans act like Democrats." "Palm Beach County: Where R's and D's and D's are R's.".
"Wrongheaded and unconstitutional"
The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The ruling by a federal judge temporarily preventing key parts of the controversial Arizona immigration law from taking effect highlights the constitutional problems with the state's approach. Judge Susan Bolton explained that the law intruded on federal authority over immigration matters and put legal immigrants at risk of being subject to unjust arrest and detention. This should cause Florida politicians who would like to bring something similar here to rethink their strategy. Arizona is appealing, but this draconian approach to illegal immigration is not only wrongheaded but unconstitutional." "Ruling confirms flaws of Ariz. law". See also "Rep. Ritch Workman Determined Florida Will Have Tough Immigration Law". The Sarasota Herald Tribune editors: "Roadblock in Arizona".
Meanwhile, the "federal injunction blocking key portions of Arizona's immigration law hasn't deterred Republican legislators and candidates who want to bring a similar measure to Florida." "Arizona immigration battle shapes Florida political fights".
Dem AG race "is a true tossup"
"For two months a year, they sit six feet from each other on the floor of the Florida Senate, battling the Republican majority in the state Legislature. Now, two rising stars in the Democratic Party – Sens. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres and Dan Gelber of Miami Beach – are seeking the party's nomination for what is arguably the second-most powerful post in Florida government: attorney general, Florida's chief legal officer." "Florida attorney general's race: David Aronberg, Dan Gelber not so far apart". See also "Democrats' stars Aronberg, Gelber getting heated in Florida attorney general race".
Texas lead the nation with 26.8% uninsured, followed by New Mexico, with 26.7%. The Census Bureau placed the percentage of people without health insurance nationally at 15.3% in 2007.
A closer look at Florida-specific data shows that DeSoto County had the highest percent of uninsured residents in the state in 2007, with 37% of the population lacking insurance. Miami-Dade County led the pack with the largest number of uninsured people in the state, with 602,000 residents lacking coverage in 2007.
Read the Florida Tribune report here.
Please consider becoming a site fan on Facebook and following us on Twitter.
Our digest of, and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry follows.
"McCollum in full pout"
Daniel Ruth: "Like a palm tree version of Henry II in Becket, there are times when you have to imagine Bill McCollum padding around the house in his Doctor Dentons muttering to himself: 'Will no one rid me of this meddlesome robber baron?'"
There he was just a short time ago envisioning himself sitting in the Governor's Mansion, whiling away the days signing death warrants, schmoozing the Florida Legislature and whirling around in amazement every time someone uttered the words: "Oh Gov. McCollum!"Much more here: "McCollum fires off a vicious . . . pout".
Instead, in less time than it takes for an American Idol contestant to get the heave-ho, Florida's attorney general, the man who would be king, is facing the prospect his political career will wind up on a pile of tea bags.
Little wonder then that Bill McCollum is angry, Elmer Fudd-like vewry, vewry angry.
McCollum has now entered that stage in the Republican gubernatorial campaign in full pout ...
Another fine Jebacy
"Florida has third-highest uninsured population in nation".
Today's Q poll
Today's Florida Q Poll:
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist leads the three-way race for the U.S. Senate seat with 37 percent, followed by 32 percent for Republican Marco Rubio and 17 percent for Jeff Greene, the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. If U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek wins the Democratic primary, Crist's lead would be 39 percent to 33 percent for Rubio and 13 percent for Meek.In the Guv race:
The three-way race for Governor is a squeaker between Democrat Alex Sink, the State Chief Financial Officer, and either of the Republican candidates, retired health care executive Rick Scott or Attorney General Bill McCollum, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey finds. Scott gets 29 percent to Sink's 27 percent with independent Bud Chiles receiving 14 percent. If McCollum wins the GOP primary, he would get 27 percent to 26 percent for Sink and 14 percent for Chiles.Detail:
In the Senate race, Crist's lead is based on getting half the independent voters, about 20 percent of Republicans and about 40 percent of Democrats. His 53 - 37 percent voter approval of his job as Governor probably is a factor in his lead.See also "Crist holds small lead in Fla. US Senate contest", "Democrats Keep Crist in Lead of Senate Race", "Scott, Greene Hold Double-Digit Leads Over McCollum, Meek", "New Q Poll finds Scott, Greene with double-digit leads", "Quinnipiac poll: Crist leading Senate race", "Poll: Wealthy outsiders Greene (+10) and Scott (+11) lead their Florida primaries" and "Poll: Candidates Jeff Greene, Rick Scott lead opponents".
Crist's margin in the general election matchups compare to a 37 - 33 - 17 percent lead with Meek in the race and 40 - 33 - 14 percent with Greene running in a June 9 poll. ...
The dead heat in the governor's race stems largely from a drop in the numbers for Scott and McCollum as they bombard each other with negative television ads. In June, registered voters gave McCollum a 37 - 29 percent favorable rating. Now it is 43 - 27 percent unfavorable. Scott's rating has gone from 31 - 22 percent favorable to a 29 - 30 percent split during the same period.
Sink gets a 25 - 15 percent favorability, with 58 percent who don't know enough about her to form an opinion, little changed from June 9.
"When candidates throw mud at each other, they can't avoid being splattered also. That is what has been happening and the beneficiary of the millions spent on negative ads Attorney General Bill McCollum and Rick Scott have been airing at this point is State CFO Alex Sink. Whether that will remain the case once the Republican nomination is settled we'll see," said Brown. "Chiles remains in the mid-teens, and a factor in the November election."
Q Poll detail: July 30 release: "Crist On Top In 3-Way Florida Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Dem Sink Tied With Either Republican In Governnor's Race". July 29 release: "'Outsiders' Lead In Florida Primaries, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Scott Up In GOP Gov Race, Greene Leads In Dem Senate Bid".
Sansom too good for a jumpsuit
"The specter of once-powerful Ray Sansom wearing a jail jumpsuit and picking up roadside trash scuttled a proposed plea deal with the former House speaker, court testimony revealed Thursday."
A rare glimpse into settlement negotiations involving the ex-lawmaker emerged during a combative all-day hearing in which lawyers for Sansom and two co-defendants are trying to have veteran State Attorney Willie Meggs thrown off the case on the grounds of prosecutorial misconduct."Ray Sansom plea deal scuttled by `humiliation' factor". See also "Sansom, codefendants seek to have charges thrown out" and "Sansom attorneys want prosecutor removed from case".
The rejected agreement would have required Sansom, Destin developer Jay Odom and former college president Bob Richburg to admit to misdemeanor charges, pay fines and participate in a sheriff's work program for at least a month.
Meggs, the top prosecutor in North Florida's six-county Second Judicial Circuit, testified that the three men would have all been required to plead guilty to the attempted official misconduct for their role in inserting $6 million into the state budget to pay for a combination emergency operations center and airplane hangar to house Odom's jets.
The defendants also would have had to repay the state $310,000, the amount officials paid to hire an architect to design the building.
And he would have required them to spend from one to six months on a sheriff's work detail, picking up trash along roads while dressed in striped inmate outfits.
Entrepreneurs in action
"The Florida attorney general is investigating two companies accused of bilking people who wanted to get work cleaning up oil in and around the Gulf." "Florida goes after Gulf oil spill scams".
Imagine, never again having to wait in a doctor's office
"A proposed constitutional amendment that would have blocked the state from starting a health care program similar to President Barack Obama's federal plan was removed from the ballot Thursday by a judge who said its wording would confuse voters. Circuit Judge James Shelfer said Amendment 9's wording could even make voters think they would never have to wait in a doctor's office if the measure passed."
Three constitutional amendments proposed for the 2010 ballot have now been removed from the ballot by judges, including two by Shelfer, who was appointed to the bench by former Gov. Jeb Bush. Shelfer also removed from the ballot Amendment 7, a measure dealing with how lawmakers draw districts for Congress and the Legislature."Florida judge throws out proposed health care amendment". Related: "Court Kills Amendment 9 -- After Erasing Amendment 7".
"Political bloodbaths"
"A notable handful ... have turned into full-fledged verbal smackdowns, with opponents slinging more mud than a tractor pull." "Candidates get nasty in bitter election battles"
E-Verify for state employees
"With immigration emerging as one of the chief issues in the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination -- and trying to catch up with front-runner Rick Scott -- Attorney General Bill McCollum sponsored a motion at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting for state offices to use E-Verify to ensure that no illegal aliens are hired." "Cabinet Unanimously Backs E-Verify to Stop State From Hiring Illegal Aliens".
"But that would tick off campaign donors"
Scott Maxwell points out why pols don't like to talk about the employers who exploit illegal immigrants ('ya know, pay them less than minimum wage under the table and stuff like that)*:
If they were, they would be forced to admit that the root of the problem is businesses that hire illegal immigrants."Serious immigration reform must involve employers".
But that would tick off many of the campaign donors.
So instead, they opt for an easier route. They demonize the people who come here looking for jobs instead of cracking down on the companies that provide them.
Nowhere is that more evident than right here in Florida.
Just a few months ago, legislators trotted out a joke of an immigration bill.
The bill would have forced employers to electronically verify the immigration status of their workers, which sounds good until you realize that legislators wanted to exempt the entire private sector.
Think about that for a moment.
Do you really think that the majority of the illegal immigrants in Florida are toiling away as, say, code inspectors and environmental engineers on the state payroll?
- - - - - - - - - -
*If an when illegal immigrants are given a path to citizenship, they will probably unionize in droves, which is one of the unstated objections to serious immigration reform.
CD 17 Herald endorsements
The Miami Herald endorsements in CD 17: "Ten people seek to replace him -- nine are Democrats. The winner of the Aug. 24 primary will face attorney Roderick Vereen, running without a party affiliation, in November. The most viable candidates are Marleine Bastien, 51, executive director of the Haitian Women of Miami, Shirley Gibson, 67, Miami Gardens mayor, and state Sen. Frederica Wilson, 68. Each has unique talents."
Predictable
As we noted yesterday in "And so it begins", the Orlando Sentinel was formally beginning its attacks on Alan Grayson. Predictably, here's today's Sentinel editorial: "Alan Grayson's gall".
In the meantime, Sentinel readers should prepare themselves for a stream of stories about how wonderfulness of one Daniel Webster, the "revered pro-family leader" who will be Grayson's likely challenger.
Fl-oil-duh
"Democrats Face Blowback on Oil 'Spill Bill'".
See also "Feds, farmers create habitats for migrating birds", "Partisan bickering delays oil spill legislation", "US gas stations: Stay BP or change name to Amoco?", "Less oil on surface means less work for fishermen" and "Past problems for company at heart of oil spill".
Confused voters
Thomas Tryon: "After the fiasco that accompanied the 2000 presidential election in Florida, the state standardized many aspects of voting. ... Despite the steps toward consistency, elections in Florida are still confusing, even for experienced voters and those of us who cover political races and candidates." See what Tryon means here: "Elections still have their share of confusion".
Florida leads the way in foreclosure filings
"A RealtyTrac report shows Florida leading the way in new foreclosure related filings over the first six months of 2010. Business & Political leaders say letting taxes increase in 2011 when benefits expire could worsen foreclosures and kill economic growth." "Expiring Tax Benefits Could Worsen Foreclosure Rates".
"Party money smacks of king-making deal"
"A football star got stopped just short of the goal two years ago, but the Florida Republican Party still thinks it can win a House seat in a heavily Democratic district that includes the state Capitol."
The state GOP's $25,000 contribution, and staff support, for candidate Kirk Headley-Perdue has drawn a protest from her opponent, Ann Yarko."Yarko protests state GOP support of opponent".
Yarko — a conservative activist and Florida State University communications-political science student taking a break for some real world experience — says the party money smacks of the kind of king-making deals that helped lead to the downfall of former state GOP Chairman Jim Greer. Party headquarters says it's just making its best bet in the District 9 race.
Yarko wrote to the new chairman, state Sen. John Thrasher when she learned that the party provided the money — matched by $25,000 from Headley-Perdue — along with more than $3,000 worth of administrative support. She urged him to "let the Republican voters" decide the nomination.
What's wrong with Palm Beach
Joel Engelhardt: "Observers of the Palm Beach County Commission can be excused these days if they're confused. Democrats act like Republicans and Republicans act like Democrats." "Palm Beach County: Where R's and D's and D's are R's.".
"Wrongheaded and unconstitutional"
The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "The ruling by a federal judge temporarily preventing key parts of the controversial Arizona immigration law from taking effect highlights the constitutional problems with the state's approach. Judge Susan Bolton explained that the law intruded on federal authority over immigration matters and put legal immigrants at risk of being subject to unjust arrest and detention. This should cause Florida politicians who would like to bring something similar here to rethink their strategy. Arizona is appealing, but this draconian approach to illegal immigration is not only wrongheaded but unconstitutional." "Ruling confirms flaws of Ariz. law". See also "Rep. Ritch Workman Determined Florida Will Have Tough Immigration Law". The Sarasota Herald Tribune editors: "Roadblock in Arizona".
Meanwhile, the "federal injunction blocking key portions of Arizona's immigration law hasn't deterred Republican legislators and candidates who want to bring a similar measure to Florida." "Arizona immigration battle shapes Florida political fights".
Dem AG race "is a true tossup"
"For two months a year, they sit six feet from each other on the floor of the Florida Senate, battling the Republican majority in the state Legislature. Now, two rising stars in the Democratic Party – Sens. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres and Dan Gelber of Miami Beach – are seeking the party's nomination for what is arguably the second-most powerful post in Florida government: attorney general, Florida's chief legal officer." "Florida attorney general's race: David Aronberg, Dan Gelber not so far apart". See also "Democrats' stars Aronberg, Gelber getting heated in Florida attorney general race".
"If you don't stop fighting..." The summer vacation time is upon us... for those of us lucky enough to get the time off or have a job that gives us the opportunity to take off. Some take road trips (hence the reminder of kids in the back seat of the Country Squire), some go to exotic places like Paris or the Grand Canyon, some just stay home and recharge. So...What's your idea of a great summer vacation?It used to be the month our family spent on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay in northwest lower Michigan, swimming, sailing, and long twilight nights doing things kids do. Now it's the week or ten days I spend with my folks going to Stratford, Ontario, to see some plays and just be with family.
