8/30/2002
Dept. of Unintended Consequences -- Republican ads attacking McBride may have helped him by boosting his name recognition. Oops.
It's Wednesday again, and you know what that means: Time to take yet another shot at the Sunshine State," wrote New Republic columnist Michelle Cottle this week. Her topic: Jerry "Biblical Spanking" Regier.
"This man's credentials as a conservative activist should put every non-winger in the country on high alert," she says.
"This man's credentials as a conservative activist should put every non-winger in the country on high alert," she says.
8/29/2002
Shrill but true, a piece in the New Times, Broward-Palm Beach takes on the Regier nomination.
Brian Crowley says what the pros have been whispering for weeks -- McBride has pulled even with Reno and has all the momentum.
Regier goes on PR offensive. He keeps saying that even though he wrote that women should not work and instead be stay-at-home "helpmates" to the Head of the Household, his own wife works. This is supposed to be a defense. But isn't there a word for people who proclaim strict moral positions that they have no intention of following themselves?
8/28/2002
Timatollah has linked everything on the Dem. gubernatorial debate. Including Wise-Guy Metro Columnist Frank Cerabino's take.
8/27/2002
Is anybody going to endorse Reno in the primary? So far:
� McBride for Democrats (St. Petersburg Times, Aug. 25)
� McBride in Primary (Orlando Sentinel, Aug. 25)
� The Herald's Choices (Bradenton Herald, Aug. 25)
� Democrats Should Pick McBride in Primary Race (The Tampa Tribune, Aug. 18)
� McBride for Democrats (St. Petersburg Times, Aug. 25)
� McBride in Primary (Orlando Sentinel, Aug. 25)
� The Herald's Choices (Bradenton Herald, Aug. 25)
� Democrats Should Pick McBride in Primary Race (The Tampa Tribune, Aug. 18)
Just another Florida fisherman reels in human head story.
St. Pete Times columnist Elijah Gosier doesn't buy Regier's denials.
What casts doubts for me about this man's ability to head the agency effectively is his lack of forthrightness in explaining how he became so deeply aligned with the organization that he became its co-chairman and co-author of its bible. What casts doubts for me is the lack of moral courage to own up to sharing the group's core beliefs -- as reflected by an article solely authored by him and published a year before the coalition's report -- but not perhaps their extreme views.
By contrast, columnist Lucy Morgan shows more signs that she's been on the job too long. She writes a piece that uncritically parrots the Republican line that this is blown out of proportion, he didn't really write these things, objection is anti-Chritian bigotry, move along, nothing to see here. It's sad when a good reporter gets too comfy with the insiders.
What casts doubts for me about this man's ability to head the agency effectively is his lack of forthrightness in explaining how he became so deeply aligned with the organization that he became its co-chairman and co-author of its bible. What casts doubts for me is the lack of moral courage to own up to sharing the group's core beliefs -- as reflected by an article solely authored by him and published a year before the coalition's report -- but not perhaps their extreme views.
By contrast, columnist Lucy Morgan shows more signs that she's been on the job too long. She writes a piece that uncritically parrots the Republican line that this is blown out of proportion, he didn't really write these things, objection is anti-Chritian bigotry, move along, nothing to see here. It's sad when a good reporter gets too comfy with the insiders.
8/26/2002
Counterspin takes note of Jeb's weird and heavy-handed defense of Regier. As does Body and Soul. As does John Scalzi.
Web Challenge! -- I dare anyone to make heads or tails of this deeply strange info-graphic.
8/25/2002
Herald columnist: Regier nomination likely to alienate women. Well, duh. (I navigate the Miami Herald site so you don't have to!)
The Palm Beach Post looks at Regier's record in Oklahoma and finds rightwing activism, showboating and hyperpartisanship.
8/23/2002
Another rightwing Regier article surfaces. This time, his is the only name on top. In it, he advocates corporal punishment and says women shouldn't work outside the home. (I navigate the Miami Herald site so you don't have to!)
Scripture is clear in stating that women are to be `helpmates' to their husbands, that they are to bear and nurture children, that they are to be 'workers at home.' -- Jerry Regier
The Bible is not at all uncertain about the value of discipline: `Although you smite him with the rod, he will not die. Smite him with the rod . . . save the soul' -- Jerry Regier
Other excerpts.
So much for "the liberals are just making this stuff up to get Jeb" argument.
Scripture is clear in stating that women are to be `helpmates' to their husbands, that they are to bear and nurture children, that they are to be 'workers at home.' -- Jerry Regier
The Bible is not at all uncertain about the value of discipline: `Although you smite him with the rod, he will not die. Smite him with the rod . . . save the soul' -- Jerry Regier
Other excerpts.
So much for "the liberals are just making this stuff up to get Jeb" argument.
The Palm Beach Post: Regier's record skimpy on child-welfare work
Why they call this Floriduh -- With the flick of a wrong switch, an unsupervised power-plant apprentice melted down a half-million-dollar transformer, blacking out the city for 40 minutes.
The New Republic weighs in on Florida's sto-o-o-o-pid Scarlet Letter adoption law. "Once again, Florida is vying for the title of most pathetic state in the union," starts off Michelle Cottle.
Canada's National Post takes note, too, and even USA TODAY
The New York Times, too, also takes a whack at this absurd law.
This op-ed piece also is notable for including state Rep. Evelyn Lynn's (R-Ormond Beach) lame defense of the law. "I don't see it as punishing anyone," she said. "I see it as protecting children."
"When you do a major piece of legislation," she added, "you can't please everyone."
No, I guess you can't.
Canada's National Post takes note, too, and even USA TODAY
The New York Times, too, also takes a whack at this absurd law.
This op-ed piece also is notable for including state Rep. Evelyn Lynn's (R-Ormond Beach) lame defense of the law. "I don't see it as punishing anyone," she said. "I see it as protecting children."
"When you do a major piece of legislation," she added, "you can't please everyone."
No, I guess you can't.
8/22/2002
The government must overcome its baseless fear of the mythical 'wall of separation' and allow, even encourage, churches to partner with schools and service agencies to provide much needed time and assistance. --
DCF head Jerry Regier to U.S. Senate subcommittee on children and families
Mythical wall of separation.
DCF head Jerry Regier to U.S. Senate subcommittee on children and families
Mythical wall of separation.
Jeeze, this is scary but typical Libertarian promotion of ignorance.
Just another Florida police-blotter item in the St. Pete Times.
The 2003 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records lists my favorite Washington, DC, watering hole, The Brickskeller, as the bar with the largest selection of commercially available beers.
This is true. This is good.
This is true. This is good.
8/20/2002
Again, the ol' Bush technique: talk moderate, appoint extreme. The Miami Herald notices this, too. (I navigate the Herald site so you don't have to!)
8/19/2002
Synergize your cognitive potential with the Sensitive New Age Guy's Affirmation Bullshit Generator! It has repurposed my spiritual capacities!
Here's a little something for the collection tray. Now how about a political endorsement? Are campaign contributions corrupting both church and state? (Columnist war -- the preachy Myriam Marquez says this it's OK for Republicans to buy off Hispanic churches because Dems buy off Black churches. Then, as she always does, she gets so swoony about ~ sigh ~ Jeb that she forgets her point. )
By many indicators, Oklahoma's Health and Human Services did an even worse job than Florida's DCF while Jerry Regier headed it, sez the Miami Herald. Meanwhile, The Orlando Sentinel sends a valentine to the" highly praised corruption fighter now defending himself against allegations that question his fitness for a job widely regarded as one of the most thankless in any state government." (A second big kiss from a mono-sourced Mike Thomas column.)
8/17/2002
''He'll turn that agency basically into a theocracy,'' said Oklahoma state Rep. M.C. Leist, who serves on that social services appropriations subcommittee. ``You need to watch out with Jerry.''
Sheesh, the ol' Bush family technique in action: Talk moderate, appoint extreme.
The Miami Herald found a right-wing theocratic tract carrying the name of Bush DCF appointee Jerry Regier. Reiger denies he's out to turn the DCF into a Ministry for Propagation of Virtue and Suppression of Vice. But the co-chairman of the committee that put the thing out tells the Sun-Sentinel that Regier as "one of the editors on this." (11th graph.)
Read it here in pdf and here in html.
According to this manifesto, it's OK to beat children as long as they're not disfigured. Children cannot be taken from abusive parents when only one parent does the actual abusing. Divorce should be illegal. Christians should not marry nonChristians. Abortion and many forms of birth control should be banned. Women shouldn't work. Churches are enjoined to break the law to advance Christian causes.
This is scary stuff coming from the new head of DCF but it won't matter in the least. Jeb will get his appointment. We can at least be comforted in knowing that DCF will be no more competent in establishing a theocracy than it is in protecting kids.
Sheesh, the ol' Bush family technique in action: Talk moderate, appoint extreme.
The Miami Herald found a right-wing theocratic tract carrying the name of Bush DCF appointee Jerry Regier. Reiger denies he's out to turn the DCF into a Ministry for Propagation of Virtue and Suppression of Vice. But the co-chairman of the committee that put the thing out tells the Sun-Sentinel that Regier as "one of the editors on this." (11th graph.)
Read it here in pdf and here in html.
According to this manifesto, it's OK to beat children as long as they're not disfigured. Children cannot be taken from abusive parents when only one parent does the actual abusing. Divorce should be illegal. Christians should not marry nonChristians. Abortion and many forms of birth control should be banned. Women shouldn't work. Churches are enjoined to break the law to advance Christian causes.
This is scary stuff coming from the new head of DCF but it won't matter in the least. Jeb will get his appointment. We can at least be comforted in knowing that DCF will be no more competent in establishing a theocracy than it is in protecting kids.
8/14/2002
The sponsor of Florida's Scarlet Letter adoption law, state Sen. Walter ''Skip'' Campbell, D-Tamarac, says maybe, just maybe, the law had "unintended consequences.''
Despite bipartisan near universal condmentation in the national press (for example this and this and this and this ) and even international press attention, Campbell says "Most of the calls and e-mails we're getting are half and half, with some people who have been burned in the adoption process saying `keep up the work,' to other calls from people saying the law will cause people to get abortions."
Do you believe that a single none-kook called Campbell and said "Keep up the good work. It's about time underaged girls who are raped are forced to announce it in paid newspaper ads." I have a fairly low opinion of humanity and not even I think so.
Compare this with earlier mealy-mouth statements by Campbell. Sadly, when this goofball piece of legislation was voted on only eight members said "no." (And although Campbell is taking all the heat. Representative Evelyn Lynn R-Ormond Beach, was the sponsor of this mess in the House.)
Despite bipartisan near universal condmentation in the national press (for example this and this and this and this ) and even international press attention, Campbell says "Most of the calls and e-mails we're getting are half and half, with some people who have been burned in the adoption process saying `keep up the work,' to other calls from people saying the law will cause people to get abortions."
Do you believe that a single none-kook called Campbell and said "Keep up the good work. It's about time underaged girls who are raped are forced to announce it in paid newspaper ads." I have a fairly low opinion of humanity and not even I think so.
Compare this with earlier mealy-mouth statements by Campbell. Sadly, when this goofball piece of legislation was voted on only eight members said "no." (And although Campbell is taking all the heat. Representative Evelyn Lynn R-Ormond Beach, was the sponsor of this mess in the House.)
8/13/2002
8/09/2002
You go, Troxler! I see sophomoric attack faxes like the one he got on the latest ballot foul-up day in and day out. One would have to be an idiot or a talk-radio host to believe half of them. It's so good to read somebody finally complaining.
8/08/2002
Florida has a lot of stupidly punitive laws on the books. But even by Sunshine State standards, the law requiring women who put babies up for adoption to publish their sexual pasts is just plain bizarre. (See here, too.) Why is a state that makes abortions more difficult every year also making adoption as difficult and humilitating as it can? Clearly the staet is more interested in punishing the mom than in finding a loving home for the child. An outstanding piece of Scarlet Letter lawmaking.
8/05/2002
The Florida Department of Dumb Things to Do says don't light cigarettes while soaking your hands in fingernail polish remover. OK? You want people to call this place Floriduh forever?
"Popular but volatile" NASCAR driver Tony Stewart fades to 12th place at Indy so he punches a photographer. Car owner Joe Gibbs says He's Just an Excitable Boy - "I think he knows and realizes he needs to control himself all the time. It's just hard sometimes."
Sure 'nuf is.
Here's where Ken "Hey Willie!" Willis weighs in. I particularly like this part: It's absolutely painful to watch a guy suffer like this. I don't know what's worse, watching Tony when he acts like an ill-mannered lout, or when he's forced to act sociable in a sponsor-mandated surrounding he'd rather avoid.
He doesn't say so, but I think it's more of the rock-starization of NASCAR.
Sure 'nuf is.
Here's where Ken "Hey Willie!" Willis weighs in. I particularly like this part: It's absolutely painful to watch a guy suffer like this. I don't know what's worse, watching Tony when he acts like an ill-mannered lout, or when he's forced to act sociable in a sponsor-mandated surrounding he'd rather avoid.
He doesn't say so, but I think it's more of the rock-starization of NASCAR.
There are news operations that can sucessfully charge for content and those that can't. The former do specialized reporting, publish analysis not easily found elsewhere and are the recognized go-to site for particular kinds of info. The latter are everyone else.
For a small-town, understaffed paper with a lite-news format to attempt to charge for content is laughable. But that's what the Northwest Florida Daily News of Fort Walton Beach and The News-Herald of Panama City, and the twice-weekly Destin Log and weekly Walton Sun are doing.
Folks are going to pay $8.90 a month to get the weekly school lunch menu and cop ledger? Oh wait! It will also have a a Webcam in Panama City to a dining guide with more than 900 restaurants. (Deep in article)
Whaddahyahnuts?
Remember, these are papers so given to slap-happy boosterism that the don't even refer to the "Florida Panhandle" in their pages. They live in the Emerald Coast. (Ooooh the Emerald Coast, nothing at all like the Redneck Riveara. Yeah, and Panama City is really Emerald City.)
Most surveys, like this one find the benefits to posting free online content at least balance out any loss of readers. Free online services promote the paper, bring in younger readers, boost single-copy sales, encourage reader loyalty and increase a publication's profile, regional rep and general street cred.
Actions like this perpetuate the stereotype of newspaper publishers as old-economy greedheads who just don't get it.
For a small-town, understaffed paper with a lite-news format to attempt to charge for content is laughable. But that's what the Northwest Florida Daily News of Fort Walton Beach and The News-Herald of Panama City, and the twice-weekly Destin Log and weekly Walton Sun are doing.
Folks are going to pay $8.90 a month to get the weekly school lunch menu and cop ledger? Oh wait! It will also have a a Webcam in Panama City to a dining guide with more than 900 restaurants. (Deep in article)
Whaddahyahnuts?
Remember, these are papers so given to slap-happy boosterism that the don't even refer to the "Florida Panhandle" in their pages. They live in the Emerald Coast. (Ooooh the Emerald Coast, nothing at all like the Redneck Riveara. Yeah, and Panama City is really Emerald City.)
Most surveys, like this one find the benefits to posting free online content at least balance out any loss of readers. Free online services promote the paper, bring in younger readers, boost single-copy sales, encourage reader loyalty and increase a publication's profile, regional rep and general street cred.
Actions like this perpetuate the stereotype of newspaper publishers as old-economy greedheads who just don't get it.
8/01/2002
Against all better judgment, I promised the West Volusia Historical Society that I would be a judge at the Red Hot & Blue Chili Con Carnage! (4th item) October 5, 2002, @ the Volusia County Fairgrounds off SR 44. Be there!
State Rep. Carlos Lacasa doesn't need a weatherman to tell which way the wind blows. He changes his mind about the pre-K amendment. Note to other Republicans: Supporting the pre-K initiative is the perfect way to deflect criticism for opposing class-size reduction.
