11/30/2003
A cautionary holiday tale
I get back into town and find Volusia County in the news again with the story of a woman trampled and knocked unconscious while shopping for a doorbuster-priced DVD player at Wal-Mart.
The store offered to put the DVD player on lay-away for her.
Stickels with Orange City police said there would not be criminal charges for the trampling. "It gets like that around the holidays," he said. "People get fierce."
They do indeed.
The store offered to put the DVD player on lay-away for her.
Stickels with Orange City police said there would not be criminal charges for the trampling. "It gets like that around the holidays," he said. "People get fierce."
They do indeed.
11/26/2003
Off and on the road
Blog holiday. Back Monday. Happy Thanksgiving.
11/25/2003
Schiavo politics drag on
Florida Politics
Be sure to see the new, improved Blogspot version of Florida Politics. It used to be on that awful Tripod service which fills your browser with popups. The new site looks good, is easy to read and has an outstanding selection of standing links.
And while your there, click on the link for the Katherine Harris story in American Prospect.
And while your there, click on the link for the Katherine Harris story in American Prospect.
Bah, humbug
11/24/2003
Not a straw poll
Old pro Bill Cotterell makes an interesting point toward the end of his column about straw polls -- Jon Ausman, Leon County's Democratic national committeeman, plans to ask delegates for their presidential preferences on his own form -- not a straw poll, "but if Ausman gets a even couple thousand replies, it will be the next best thing."
11/23/2003
The right to bear stolen arms (cont.)
Hiaasen on thethe NRA's latest effort to thwart law enforcement.
Every armed robber, carjacker and gang-banger in Florida will sleep easier, if Rep. Baxley and the others get their way.
Every armed robber, carjacker and gang-banger in Florida will sleep easier, if Rep. Baxley and the others get their way.
Weekend Polaroid
11/21/2003
Florida Politics
The useful politiblog, Florida Politics, has moved to a new address. A huge improvement over the old pop-up filled Tripod site.
Good riddance
Sun-Sentinel editorial applauds Oliphant's removal
A bungled election in 2002, lost absentee ballots, hiring of cronies, firing of office whistle-blowers, budget deficits and other lapses reflect an egregious pattern of incompetence,mismanagement and failure to meet minimum obligations of job performance.
St. Pete Times -- A timely dismissal
Gov. Jeb Bush's removal Thursday of Broward County's incompetent elections chief starts the process of restoring public faith in one of nation's largest voting jurisdictions. Miriam Oliphant was unfit for office. She failed repeatedly, after several opportunities, to show she could conduct valid elections and instill confidence in the electoral process.
A bungled election in 2002, lost absentee ballots, hiring of cronies, firing of office whistle-blowers, budget deficits and other lapses reflect an egregious pattern of incompetence,mismanagement and failure to meet minimum obligations of job performance.
St. Pete Times -- A timely dismissal
Gov. Jeb Bush's removal Thursday of Broward County's incompetent elections chief starts the process of restoring public faith in one of nation's largest voting jurisdictions. Miriam Oliphant was unfit for office. She failed repeatedly, after several opportunities, to show she could conduct valid elections and instill confidence in the electoral process.
11/20/2003
FTAA stuff
Hidden City reports from Miami -- I am now a little closer to knowing how it feels to live in a police state.
STR8BLOGGIN says it's "bad weird."
STR8BLOGGIN says it's "bad weird."
Kicked out!
Is Michael Jackson's perp walk going to knock mention of Oliphant's removal off the teevee? The Sun-Sentinel has a pdf of the governor's removal letter and the sec. of state's report and an audio file of Buddy Nevins talking about the suspension.
11/19/2003
The right to bear stolen guns
Protecting your right to stolen guns.
(Dykeman attacks this and debunks the phoney "Hitler and Castro took away the guns first" argument.)
(Dykeman attacks this and debunks the phoney "Hitler and Castro took away the guns first" argument.)
Just a few problems . . .
Horne pauses in his campaign of spin and counterattack and actually acknowledges that yes, there are few a problems with the state voucher program. Not all members of the state Board of Education, however, are able to accept this shocking admission.
11/18/2003
FTAA
Hidden City which is always off to the left here as a Select Florida Blog. Has good postings on the tension in Miami before the FTAA protests.
Several sites link to the protesters' info site.
Several sites link to the protesters' info site.
Bloom is off the azelea festival
South of the Suwannee bears the sad news of the possible demise of the Palatka azalea festival. Say it ain't so!
Talking like a candidate
Katherine Harris says that being the most hated figure in the 2000 recount is actually an advantage.
11/17/2003
Voucher coverup
Palm Beach Post still has the voucher-scandal story to itself. The follow-uip eidotiral -- Cooking up a coverup
Aides to Gov. Bush and Mr. Horne tried to invent ways that the state could cut off money to Silver Archer and another SFO without revealing the possible misuse of voucher money. One e-mail said Gov. Bush should announce that he's decided to cut the number of SFOs from eight to six. But, came the reply, "I can't think of how the governor would answer when asked why six?" Eventually, it became clear that The Post was about to publish the facts, and the state dropped the coverup plans.
Aides to Gov. Bush and Mr. Horne tried to invent ways that the state could cut off money to Silver Archer and another SFO without revealing the possible misuse of voucher money. One e-mail said Gov. Bush should announce that he's decided to cut the number of SFOs from eight to six. But, came the reply, "I can't think of how the governor would answer when asked why six?" Eventually, it became clear that The Post was about to publish the facts, and the state dropped the coverup plans.
Investing in CEOs
Thank you Florida teachers! Thanks to your pension fund contributions Chris Whittle is a rich man.
$4.2-million for his shares, remaining CEO with an increase in pay from $345,000 to more than $600,000, keeping 3.7 percent of the company with an option to sell it back for up to $17-million, more time to pay off $10.4-million in existing loans from Edison and $1.7-million more in loans.
$4.2-million for his shares, remaining CEO with an increase in pay from $345,000 to more than $600,000, keeping 3.7 percent of the company with an option to sell it back for up to $17-million, more time to pay off $10.4-million in existing loans from Edison and $1.7-million more in loans.
11/16/2003
Manatees about to be run over
Hiaasen on the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's move to weaken manatee protection. Those gentle speed-bumps of the waterways may soon loose "endangered" status.
Bloggerversary
11/15/2003
Weekend Polaroid
Violent kook or entrapped wingnut?
With amazing alacrity, Stephen Jordi -- not a vocal supporter of violence but enough of a ''kook'' that the pastor of the Pensacola Bible Institute said he expelled him -- turned into a fanatical devotee of accused Olympic and abortion-clinic bomber Eric Rudolph.
Herald story on accused would-be abortion bomber . Violent kook or entrapped wingnut?
Herald story on accused would-be abortion bomber . Violent kook or entrapped wingnut?
Unlikely
Senate President Jim King urges an end to Florida loopholes cited in a draft legislative report. Unless Jeb and and the House say they don't want to talk about it.
Schiavo case
Quoting the language of Florida's privacy amendment, (yes, in the Florida Constitution, unlike the U.S. Constitution, privacy is an explicit right) the judge in the Schiavo case calls the Schiavo law intrusive. Meanwhile the familiy takes it to the court of cable televisio.
11/14/2003
DCF without shame
Gainesville Sun is outraged at typical Jeb unctuousness on shameful cuts for the developmentally disabled.
"Shame on these providers, some of whom have scared people to say that we are going to shut down these facilities," Gov. Bush said Wednesday, as protests occurred around the state.
No, shame on you, Gov. Bush. Such sanctimony ill fits a shrewd politician who has presided over the slashing of billions of dollars in taxes.
As a result, students are now being turned away from community colleges, poor children are being denied health care coverage, and severely disabled Floridians, young and old, are being told that Florida can no longer afford to help them ease the burden of their daily lives.
Shame on providers? How about shame on a governor who - we have only recently learned - kept his mouth shut about a looming deficit in Florida's Medicaid program while he was persuading the Legislature to pay a California biotech research company $310 million to open a Florida operation.
Good strong stuff.
(Thanks to Fla. Politics for pointing it out.)
Protests in Ft. Myers, Gainesville, South Florida, Citrus County, Pensacola, Leesburg, Ocala and Tallahassee.
One example: in the Duval Home, in Volusia County, 93 clients will have to leave because of the cuts.
And meanwhile, what is DCF's priority? Spending $1.7 million on an initiative to encourage marriage.
"Shame on these providers, some of whom have scared people to say that we are going to shut down these facilities," Gov. Bush said Wednesday, as protests occurred around the state.
No, shame on you, Gov. Bush. Such sanctimony ill fits a shrewd politician who has presided over the slashing of billions of dollars in taxes.
As a result, students are now being turned away from community colleges, poor children are being denied health care coverage, and severely disabled Floridians, young and old, are being told that Florida can no longer afford to help them ease the burden of their daily lives.
Shame on providers? How about shame on a governor who - we have only recently learned - kept his mouth shut about a looming deficit in Florida's Medicaid program while he was persuading the Legislature to pay a California biotech research company $310 million to open a Florida operation.
Good strong stuff.
(Thanks to Fla. Politics for pointing it out.)
Protests in Ft. Myers, Gainesville, South Florida, Citrus County, Pensacola, Leesburg, Ocala and Tallahassee.
One example: in the Duval Home, in Volusia County, 93 clients will have to leave because of the cuts.
And meanwhile, what is DCF's priority? Spending $1.7 million on an initiative to encourage marriage.
11/13/2003
Spam scam flim-flams Ormond man
Ormond Beach man loses $400,000 in Nigerian e-mail scam. Proving that yes, there really are people who write back.
A very good day to you. It may amaze you to be unduelly contacted this way for a pending transaction, and more especially that you do not know me personally.
I am David Alete, Personal assistance to Charles Taylor, the former President of Liberia. ...
A very good day to you. It may amaze you to be unduelly contacted this way for a pending transaction, and more especially that you do not know me personally.
I am David Alete, Personal assistance to Charles Taylor, the former President of Liberia. ...
Civil liberties in Miami
Mel who?
Have you heard of Mel Martinez? I follow this stuff and have only the dimmest impression of him, but he's the guy Karl Rove and the Bush guys see as the guy who can win the Senate seat for the Republicans (Post version here) and who am I to argue? I don't believe the polls that give him a 20 percent favorable rating. I suspect that the percentage of voters who know who he is -- positively or negatively -- is half that. And that's including people who think he's former Gov. Bob Martinez.
11/12/2003
Voucher cover-up attempt
Is nobody but the Palm Beach Post covering the mess that the voucher program has become? This time they find a clumsy attempt by Bush aides to cover up misuse of voucher money.
In the days preceding the first press account of a bankrupt Ocala businessman's possible misuse of $400,000 in school voucher money, Gov. Jeb Bush's office considered fabricating reasons to drop him from the program, internal correspondence shows.
In the days preceding the first press account of a bankrupt Ocala businessman's possible misuse of $400,000 in school voucher money, Gov. Jeb Bush's office considered fabricating reasons to drop him from the program, internal correspondence shows.
11/10/2003
You too can be a virtual school
Frank Cerabino suggests avoid state meddling: Start a school. There will be start-up costs, though: You'll need a P.O. box and an account for cashign the state checks. Give me my "life experience" credit!
Grand theft
Since Katherine Harris is considering running for Senate, those with broadband might wish to pause and recall the events of a couple years back.
11/09/2003
Weekend Polaroid
Chemical imagemaking refuses to die!
(SX-70 hand-manipulated print)
11/08/2003
Florida Wildlife closing
They're shutting down Florida Wildlife Magazine after more than 50 years! And to save how much out of the state budget? A measly $165,000.
Tampa Trib says Save Florida Wildlife.
It defies understanding that Florida, whose tourism and growth is based largely on its outdoorsy appeal, could not find $165,000 for an effort that promotes such recreation and environmental awareness. Lawmakers next year should see that this chronicle of natural Florida is revived.
Tampa Trib says Save Florida Wildlife.
It defies understanding that Florida, whose tourism and growth is based largely on its outdoorsy appeal, could not find $165,000 for an effort that promotes such recreation and environmental awareness. Lawmakers next year should see that this chronicle of natural Florida is revived.
Energizing the bases
When I first heard the Katherine-Harris-is-considering-the-Senate stories, I dismissed them as knee-jerk speculation egged on by Rep. Harris, who has been feeling bad about not being on TV for awhile, and by the wishful thinking of political writers who just can't make themselves write about McCollum. But it looks like there's more to it than that.
11/07/2003
Inspect this
11/06/2003
Church Sign Generator
Everything you know is wrong!
"The Aztecs invented the vacation! Our forefathers took drugs! Your dog is smarter than you are! Everything you know is wrong!" Tuition hikes save students money. Big Sugar is restoring the Everglades. Everything you know is wrong!
(Also see South of the Suwannee, Fla. Politics and Firesign Theater.)
(Also see South of the Suwannee, Fla. Politics and Firesign Theater.)
Looking the other way on voucher fraud
The most laughable of the proposed reforms of the fraud-plagued voucher program is the proposal to make the schools turn in a six-page form that largely duplicates information the schools already provide. Further, the schools would have to notarize the forms, like that is some kind of guarantee the information is correct. Now even this wan bit of oversight is being watered down and going unenforced. And guess who designed the compliance form? A private schools lobbyist.
Horne may like to pretend he is walking the beat, but his brand of policing is why the Legislature will be forced to act next spring. In the meantime, given his performance to date on voucher oversight, these latest delays and excuses are just more of the same.
Horne may like to pretend he is walking the beat, but his brand of policing is why the Legislature will be forced to act next spring. In the meantime, given his performance to date on voucher oversight, these latest delays and excuses are just more of the same.
More Shiavo showboating
Because the case is not enough of a political circus already, Republican candidate, perennial campaigner and right-to-life political leader Ken Connor will be Gov. Jeb Bush's lead counsel defending the Schiavo law. (And once again, the media unblinkingly hands activists a rhetorical advantage by adopting their terminology and calling it "Terri's Law." The idea in naming it this way is to make the law seem like personal favor for Mrs. Schiavo and invite comparison similarly named laws protecting children. Similarly, when it passed, we saw "save Terri" headlines. What liberal media? indeed.)
11/05/2003
Where the U-Hauls go
The U.S. Census Bureau recently released -- in handy PDF form -- a report on where people move within the US. I'm a demography wonk, so this strikes me as very fascinating. It was released a couple weeks ago but I only now got around to it.
Largest number of people moving away from Florida go to Ga. and N. Carolina. (Which would seem to confirm the so-called halfback phenomenon, people who move here, find it's too damn hot, weird and congested and move halfway back home.)
Largest number of people moving to Florida come from NY, NJ and Ga.
Largest number of people moving away from Florida go to Ga. and N. Carolina. (Which would seem to confirm the so-called halfback phenomenon, people who move here, find it's too damn hot, weird and congested and move halfway back home.)
Largest number of people moving to Florida come from NY, NJ and Ga.
11/04/2003
Hail and farewell
He made the announcement early enough in the day that even the editorial pages had to respond. Editorial pages hold a Salute Bob Graham Day ... almost all the editorial pages hold a --
+St. Pete Times -- Bob Graham announced the end of his long political career Monday in much the same way that he served, with understatement and confidence in his own counsel.
+ Miami Herald -- Mr. Graham is living proof that politics don't have to be ugly, uncompromising, squabbling affairs. Mr. Graham fought hard for Floridians but always with dignity and class.
+ Palm Beach Post -- Country suffers big loss as Graham leaves Senate. With a new set of leaders in Tallahassee breaking the china just to see the pieces scatter, Sen. Graham has offered needed perspective. A year ago, he organized a successful statewide petition drive to reestablish a statewide board to oversee public universities that the Legislature had abolished. He had Florida's best interest at heart, just as he had the nation's best interest at heart when he warned about Iraq. His last campaign shows why Florida will miss him.
+ Tampa Tribune -- Graham's Decision To Retire Caps Largely Successful Career. Emphasis here on "largely." Most of the editorial goes after him for having the recklessness and audacity to criticize the president's splendid handling the situation in Iraq. Suggests he would have lost re-election and waited too do long to get out of the way.
+ Tallahassee Democrat -- Gently chides Graham's "inscrutable nature" and "easy-does-it style" which slowed this decision, then attacks Johnnie Byrd's pandering, then reviews the field and closes by declaring Graham will always be a legend in state politics and, regardless of his successor in the U.S. Senate, hard to beat as Florida history is written.
+ Daytona Beach News-Journal -- Announcement caps a laudable career. Graham has built a record reflecting independence, intellect and foresight -- a record partly obscured by the shallow dismissal of his bid for the presidential nomination. News programs dwelt more on Graham's famous notebooks and his "workdays" than they did of his ongoing battle to protect Social Security, public education and Medicare from conservative assaults, focus national efforts to fight terrorism and preserve national environmental treasures.
+ Lakeland Ledger -- Graham Bows Out -- for Now. Graham for VP.
+ Stuart News -- One has to look back to the tenures of Claude Pepper and Spessard Holland to find a senator of equal stature and ability.
+St. Pete Times -- Bob Graham announced the end of his long political career Monday in much the same way that he served, with understatement and confidence in his own counsel.
+ Miami Herald -- Mr. Graham is living proof that politics don't have to be ugly, uncompromising, squabbling affairs. Mr. Graham fought hard for Floridians but always with dignity and class.
+ Palm Beach Post -- Country suffers big loss as Graham leaves Senate. With a new set of leaders in Tallahassee breaking the china just to see the pieces scatter, Sen. Graham has offered needed perspective. A year ago, he organized a successful statewide petition drive to reestablish a statewide board to oversee public universities that the Legislature had abolished. He had Florida's best interest at heart, just as he had the nation's best interest at heart when he warned about Iraq. His last campaign shows why Florida will miss him.
+ Tampa Tribune -- Graham's Decision To Retire Caps Largely Successful Career. Emphasis here on "largely." Most of the editorial goes after him for having the recklessness and audacity to criticize the president's splendid handling the situation in Iraq. Suggests he would have lost re-election and waited too do long to get out of the way.
+ Tallahassee Democrat -- Gently chides Graham's "inscrutable nature" and "easy-does-it style" which slowed this decision, then attacks Johnnie Byrd's pandering, then reviews the field and closes by declaring Graham will always be a legend in state politics and, regardless of his successor in the U.S. Senate, hard to beat as Florida history is written.
+ Daytona Beach News-Journal -- Announcement caps a laudable career. Graham has built a record reflecting independence, intellect and foresight -- a record partly obscured by the shallow dismissal of his bid for the presidential nomination. News programs dwelt more on Graham's famous notebooks and his "workdays" than they did of his ongoing battle to protect Social Security, public education and Medicare from conservative assaults, focus national efforts to fight terrorism and preserve national environmental treasures.
+ Lakeland Ledger -- Graham Bows Out -- for Now. Graham for VP.
+ Stuart News -- One has to look back to the tenures of Claude Pepper and Spessard Holland to find a senator of equal stature and ability.
Don't let the screen door hit ya!
Gov. Jeb Bush's budget director Donna Arduin, after attempting to work for Schwarzenegger at Florida taxpayer expense, has announced
she'll resign to work for Schwarzenegger.
Arduin said in a resignation letter to Bush that the task was going to take longer than originally expected.
No kidding.
(Via Fla. Politics)
she'll resign to work for Schwarzenegger.
Arduin said in a resignation letter to Bush that the task was going to take longer than originally expected.
No kidding.
(Via Fla. Politics)
11/03/2003
Cut schools, build ballparks?
Hiaasen reviews Florida's history of sports-welfare suggests that a new Marlins ballpark doesn't rank as a priority.
Tap-dancing around Schiavo Law
Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings tries to distance herself and Jeb From the Schiavo Law. Look like a classic one-message-for-the-mainstream-another-message-for-the-Christian-right strategy. It almost always works.
Browsing barred at the state Library
The state of Florida claims that for the first time in recorded history closing library stacks will increase circulation. More likely the first step in the next push to close/privatize the state library.
(From the Republicans at Sayfie)
(From the Republicans at Sayfie)
11/02/2003
Stampeded by the videos
The St. Pete Times runs a tick-tock on How Terri's Law came to pass. They saw the videos. Decided they knew more about the case than the doctors, the husband and the courts that have been considering this for five years, so they passed an admittedly defected bill within 24 hours.
The law has brought praise and scorn upon legislators with an intensity not seen since they injected themselves into the 2000 presidential election.
The Palm Beach Post puts this in perspective.
The law has brought praise and scorn upon legislators with an intensity not seen since they injected themselves into the 2000 presidential election.
The Palm Beach Post puts this in perspective.
