12/30/2003
The year ahead in Tallahassee
It's a little early for this kind of Legislative advance but interesting onetheless. Byrd and King still liely to clash. King will fold on all major points. The 2005 leadership promises things will be different, but there's still another session to get through. Antiabortion legislation, big deficit and no money for schools.
And don't forget next year's Big Tax Cut.
And don't forget next year's Big Tax Cut.
12/29/2003
Astroturfing
Metafilter notes new breakout of astroturf in newspapers. Among those running a Bush campaign-produced letter is The Gainesville Sun.
A crummy year for the Florida environment
The other brother
An absolutely amazing rundown in Washington Post of the charmed life of Neil Bush. And guess what! He's in the educational software business now. (The Washington Post is increasingly like the Wall Street Journal in that the editorial page and news pages exist in entirely different universes.)
Speculation graph:
And Bush's career as an embarrassment may not be over. At 48, he is still relatively young and, judging from his deposition, still virile and vigorous. If his brother Jeb, governor of Florida, is ever elected president, Neil could conceivably embarrass him, too, pulling off an unprecedented hat trick of presidential embarrassment.
Speculation graph:
And Bush's career as an embarrassment may not be over. At 48, he is still relatively young and, judging from his deposition, still virile and vigorous. If his brother Jeb, governor of Florida, is ever elected president, Neil could conceivably embarrass him, too, pulling off an unprecedented hat trick of presidential embarrassment.
Rush the victim (cont.)
St. Pete Times editorialists are shocked, shocked at his latest grandstanding in his criminal case.
Fred Grimms tries, really tries to work up some sympathy.
Fred Grimms tries, really tries to work up some sympathy.
12/28/2003
010000100110100101101110011000010111001001111001
When you really care say it in binary.
(010101000110100001100001011011100110101101110011001000000111010001101111 Blissfullly Bitter.)
(010101000110100001100001011011100110101101110011001000000111010001101111 Blissfullly Bitter.)
12/25/2003
Christmas Greetings
12/24/2003
Rush the Victim (Continued)
Rush Limbaugh blames continued investigation into his substance abuse as a political persecuation.
"The Democrats in this country still cannot defeat me in the arena of political ideas, and so now they are trying to do so in the court of public opinion and the legal system. I guess it's payback time."
He also compared his legal situation to the 2000 election recount.
Sheesh, you'd think that perscription drug abuse was some kind of crime or something.
(Via Fla. politics)
See Atrios for more comment.
"The Democrats in this country still cannot defeat me in the arena of political ideas, and so now they are trying to do so in the court of public opinion and the legal system. I guess it's payback time."
He also compared his legal situation to the 2000 election recount.
Sheesh, you'd think that perscription drug abuse was some kind of crime or something.
(Via Fla. politics)
See Atrios for more comment.
12/23/2003
Jeb's offended
The Palm Beach Post explains The governor's real issue in his dispute with the paper.
The governor's office's laughable cover story: It's because a Palm Beach Post reporter said a curse word back about three months ago. Strong language. Three months ago. Does this governor's office have delicate sensibilities or what?
The governor's office's laughable cover story: It's because a Palm Beach Post reporter said a curse word back about three months ago. Strong language. Three months ago. Does this governor's office have delicate sensibilities or what?
Iconoclasts on the homeowners board
More Florida homeowners' association madness -- statue of Virgin Mary found not 'compatible' and must be taken down.
(via Calpundit)
(via Calpundit)
12/21/2003
Weekend Polaroid
Light sentence for scamming cancer patients
A light sentence for Dr. Victor Souaid. He made $1.5 million overbilling cancer patients' insurance for doses of the drug Lupron he didn't give them. He has to pay back only $123,500 and serve a 51-month sentence.
Lupron sells for upward of $650 per one-month injection and is highly profitable for resale in the wholesale market. Souaid admitted to selling doses supplied by insurers or that he bought at deep discounts from 1998 to 2000.
Says he hopes for an opportunity to regain his medical license when he's out. And why wouldn't he? This racket is a gold mine.
Lupron sells for upward of $650 per one-month injection and is highly profitable for resale in the wholesale market. Souaid admitted to selling doses supplied by insurers or that he bought at deep discounts from 1998 to 2000.
Says he hopes for an opportunity to regain his medical license when he's out. And why wouldn't he? This racket is a gold mine.
12/20/2003
Comeuppance
Steve Koppelman asked the wrong question way back in elementary school social studies class but only this year got to see how right he was about an evil rightwing doofus.
See the New York Times' account of a really slimy performance in which the Conn. governor plays the God card.
See the New York Times' account of a really slimy performance in which the Conn. governor plays the God card.
12/19/2003
Maybe she will
Old Pro Bill Cotterell on why Katherine Harris might run even though conventional wisdom says she won't.
Makes sense to me.
With only two years in the U.S. House, she brings the lightest legislative portfolio of any Senate candidate since Bill Gunter . Now there's a name I haven't heard in a long, long time.
Makes sense to me.
With only two years in the U.S. House, she brings the lightest legislative portfolio of any Senate candidate since Bill Gunter . Now there's a name I haven't heard in a long, long time.
Voucher scandals (cont.)
Troxler on Gallagher's voucher audit report -- Columns: Legislature plays fast and loose with the people's voucher money.
In their zeal to transfer the public's money into private schools, our lawmakers have deliberately refused to account for how it is being spent.
He also reprints a handy link to the report itself.
In their zeal to transfer the public's money into private schools, our lawmakers have deliberately refused to account for how it is being spent.
He also reprints a handy link to the report itself.
12/18/2003
The "Miami Model"
Another joke candidate
Joining Andy Martin and Larry Klayman in the Republican race for US Senate is failed rightwing presidential candidate Bob Smith formerly of New Hampshire.
Jeb offended ... again
Palm Beach Post reporters are turned away from a Jeb interview.
Perhaps his office is taking a cue from the pecksniffian Jerry Regier who is refusing legitimate Legislative requests for information because a legislator used strong language with an aide (she said "hell" and made the not unreasonable observation that agency spokemen are, as is so often the case, lying again.)
Date "asked for specifics and they said 'You said a curse word back about three months ago.'
Wow, are the Jebbites easily offended or what? A reporter saying a bad word three months ago!
A more likely explanation:
The Post also said the governor's office is refusing to provide public records requested by the newspaper's reporters. In a letter mailed Dec. 5, attorney Martin Reeder said the office was breaking the law by not providing public records or imposing exorbitant fees to obtain them.
For something humorously sophomoric from a Republican operative, take a look at Sayfie Review which runs an unflattering photo of Date with the shocked observation -- hold on to your hats kiddos -- that the Palm Beach Post just wants to sell newspapers in a competitive media market!
Gee willikers -- pardon my language here -- I'm shocked. First reporters use unkind language during a special session and then newspapers just want to tell stories that would interest readers. What kind of hideous, sick world are we living in!
Perhaps his office is taking a cue from the pecksniffian Jerry Regier who is refusing legitimate Legislative requests for information because a legislator used strong language with an aide (she said "hell" and made the not unreasonable observation that agency spokemen are, as is so often the case, lying again.)
Date "asked for specifics and they said 'You said a curse word back about three months ago.'
Wow, are the Jebbites easily offended or what? A reporter saying a bad word three months ago!
A more likely explanation:
The Post also said the governor's office is refusing to provide public records requested by the newspaper's reporters. In a letter mailed Dec. 5, attorney Martin Reeder said the office was breaking the law by not providing public records or imposing exorbitant fees to obtain them.
For something humorously sophomoric from a Republican operative, take a look at Sayfie Review which runs an unflattering photo of Date with the shocked observation -- hold on to your hats kiddos -- that the Palm Beach Post just wants to sell newspapers in a competitive media market!
Gee willikers -- pardon my language here -- I'm shocked. First reporters use unkind language during a special session and then newspapers just want to tell stories that would interest readers. What kind of hideous, sick world are we living in!
12/17/2003
Strong reporting recognized
The Palm Beach Post and particularly star legislative reporter Shirish Date have had the voucher mismanagement and fraud story pretty much to themselves. The stories were further validated by Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher's investigations showing that Florida's school voucher laws invite abuse. Now, voucher payments
are being suspended to 100 private schools.
(Page with voucher stories here.)
If there were any further doubt how effective the paper is, Jeb Bush did the next best thing to giving them a journalism award -- he didn't invite the paper to the governor's traditional end-of-the-year interviews with reporters, citing what they said was unprofessional behavior.
(Via Romenesko)
are being suspended to 100 private schools.
(Page with voucher stories here.)
If there were any further doubt how effective the paper is, Jeb Bush did the next best thing to giving them a journalism award -- he didn't invite the paper to the governor's traditional end-of-the-year interviews with reporters, citing what they said was unprofessional behavior.
(Via Romenesko)
12/14/2003
Rush the victim (Cont.)
Palm Beach Post Wise-Guy Metro Columnist Frank Cerabino imagines what kind of advice Ruch might be getting.
12/13/2003
Let the lawsuits begin!
Truth is not a defense. First Amendment don't matter. If a news story makes you look bad, file a "false light" lawsuit. Joe Anderson did and got $18.28 million. No money for mental anguish, though. His attorney said he wanted "billions." (AP version here ) Look for a lot more of these in the future.
12/11/2003
The trial that will not end
The trial of the "false light" lawsuit brought by the owner of a road-paving company against the Pensacola News Journal continues into its second week. Joe Anderson Jr. wants "billions" over an article that mentioned he accidentally shot his wife in a hunting mishap. The information was true, detail by detail, he says, but presented in a way calculated to make him look bad. Wed: a state Cabinet aide rebuts a lobbyist's testimony and lawyers fight over how to present the reporter's testimony and over what's available in Nexis-Lexis records.
Denied with prejudice
The 2nd DCA site posts a PDF file of its order on the Schiavo case.
It's not at all ambiguous -- Jeb and O'Connor are misrepresenting the trial judge's comments.
A legislative act impinging on the right of privacy is presumptively unconstitutional unless proved valid by the State. [N. Fla. Women's
Health & Counseling Servs., Inc. v. State, 28 Fla. L. Weekly S549, S552 (Fla. July 10, 2003).] The circuit judge's statement that this legislation is presumptively unconstitutional simply announced the standard by which he believes the constitutionality of the statute is to be measured and is therefore legally insufficient to create a well-founded fear of prejudice or bias.
Jeb pouts -- "It appears the court has determined that prejudging a case before evidence is presented is acceptable in Florida, which is the same error made by the trial court," Bush said.
It's not at all ambiguous -- Jeb and O'Connor are misrepresenting the trial judge's comments.
A legislative act impinging on the right of privacy is presumptively unconstitutional unless proved valid by the State. [N. Fla. Women's
Health & Counseling Servs., Inc. v. State, 28 Fla. L. Weekly S549, S552 (Fla. July 10, 2003).] The circuit judge's statement that this legislation is presumptively unconstitutional simply announced the standard by which he believes the constitutionality of the statute is to be measured and is therefore legally insufficient to create a well-founded fear of prejudice or bias.
Jeb pouts -- "It appears the court has determined that prejudging a case before evidence is presented is acceptable in Florida, which is the same error made by the trial court," Bush said.
Mr. Cellophane
Timothy Noah in Slate notes Martinez's unremarkable tenure at HUD -- Bush's Mr. Cellophane - Goodbye to Mel Martinez.
12/06/2003
Light bloggage ahead
Lots of stuff coming up, plus the holidays. Expect light bloggage through Boxing Day.
"False light" case continues
Another day in the "false light law suit. A contractor wants "billions" in damages for a feature he said failed to stress that his wife's shooting was a hunting accident not a crime. (AP version here.)
(Circuit Judge) Jones decided that the newspaper will not be allowed to introduce telephone records showing that Streater placed about 40 calls to Anderson Columbia officials and about 50 more to other law enforcement and government officials while preparing the investigative series.
If cases like this continue to move forward, we will be moving toward a English-style tort system without First Amendment protections for journalists.
(Circuit Judge) Jones decided that the newspaper will not be allowed to introduce telephone records showing that Streater placed about 40 calls to Anderson Columbia officials and about 50 more to other law enforcement and government officials while preparing the investigative series.
If cases like this continue to move forward, we will be moving toward a English-style tort system without First Amendment protections for journalists.
Weekend Polaroid
Trampled shopper story unraveling?
Damn. Could it be that the Orange City Wal-Mart shopper trampling was too good a story to be true?
This is starting to look like the Little Lemonade Girl Story. If so, I'm guilty, too.
Poynter on-line has an interview with the Tony Pipitone at Channel 6, Orlando, about how his station did its story about the victim's litigeous past.
This is starting to look like the Little Lemonade Girl Story. If so, I'm guilty, too.
Poynter on-line has an interview with the Tony Pipitone at Channel 6, Orlando, about how his station did its story about the victim's litigeous past.
Never thought of this before
Rush the victim
Rush Limbaugh makes a weird nonsequitur of a joke about his latest legal problems (Yes! This reminds me of Dean!) and his attorney says Rush is a victim. (Pause here to smile a wry smile and imagine the derision Rush would heap on any Democrat/black person/nonRepublican celebrity who would try a similar pose.)
The Smoking Gun has the request for a search warrant filed by the 15th Circuit's State Attorney's Office in Palm Beach Co.
The Smoking Gun has the request for a search warrant filed by the 15th Circuit's State Attorney's Office in Palm Beach Co.
12/05/2003
'False light' case continues
Cross examination continues in a suit by the builder of a cement plant near the scenic Ichetucknee River over newspaper articles. Joe Anderson Jr. doesn't dispute the facts in the story, but claims the facts were used misleadingly and hurt his business. He's asking for "billions."
... a former GE Capital executive, said the shortened version of the story obtained from the LexisNexis research service in 1999 suggested that road contractor Joe Anderson Jr. had murdered his wife 10 years before, so Anderson was inappropriate to deal with.
But
(News Journal attorney) Kerrigan noted that News Journal articles from 1998 were not available on the LexisNexis database.
Trial set to continue next week.
... a former GE Capital executive, said the shortened version of the story obtained from the LexisNexis research service in 1999 suggested that road contractor Joe Anderson Jr. had murdered his wife 10 years before, so Anderson was inappropriate to deal with.
But
(News Journal attorney) Kerrigan noted that News Journal articles from 1998 were not available on the LexisNexis database.
Trial set to continue next week.
Ballpark a hard sell
Poll finds that as happy as everyone was about the series, 80 percent of those surveyed oppose using state money for a new ballpark.
Supporters: giving back money the state would have otherwise received in sales tax isn't like your giving the team state money, you're giving them money before it becomes state money which is way, way different.
Oh, I guess. All we have to do is cut education a little more and we could afford it.
Supporters: giving back money the state would have otherwise received in sales tax isn't like your giving the team state money, you're giving them money before it becomes state money which is way, way different.
Oh, I guess. All we have to do is cut education a little more and we could afford it.
12/04/2003
'False light' trial continues
Struhs testifies in Anderson case and talks about why Anderson was denied a permit for a cement plant near the lovely Ichetucknee River and state park. And hired-gun journalism experts testify.
(The cement plant was allowed anyway. The $190,000 given to the state Republican Party didn't hurt. See WhoseFlorida.)
(The cement plant was allowed anyway. The $190,000 given to the state Republican Party didn't hurt. See WhoseFlorida.)
Schiavo guardian et litem report
Mary Jo Melone read the guardian et litem report, talked with the guardian et litem and wrote one of the most reasonable columns to be written about this whole sorry affair.
Find Wolfson's report here. But be warned you can only read it with the most recent version of Acrobat, it may take a while to download or it may just freeze up.
Chicago Trib takes a slightly different approach in its coverage of the report and says secret talks to hammer out an agreement in the long-running dispute involving the brain-damaged woman broke down over the weekend. (Warning: annoying registration and sign-in required.)
Find Wolfson's report here. But be warned you can only read it with the most recent version of Acrobat, it may take a while to download or it may just freeze up.
Chicago Trib takes a slightly different approach in its coverage of the report and says secret talks to hammer out an agreement in the long-running dispute involving the brain-damaged woman broke down over the weekend. (Warning: annoying registration and sign-in required.)
12/03/2003
False light not libel
A rather amazing lawsuit is being tried in Pensacola. A politically connected contractor wants -- we're not joking here -- "billions" over a series in the Pensacola News Journal. The reporter only gave him 39 chances to respond. He is not complaining about untrue things printed, mind you, but that more-or-less true things were printed with the wrong slant. Some of the lawsuit was thrown out earlier.
(Via Romenesko)
(Via Romenesko)
Slot machine amendment again
The push to open casinos, allow slot machines and add casinolike lottery games never ends. No matter how many times people vote it down, no matter how many times it gets vetoed, no matter how many times it fails to pass the Legislature. It makes no difference.
Yet another gambling initiative was before the Fla Supreme Court yesterday. The Court site has a handy page full of PDF versions of the briefs and they all work.
Yet another gambling initiative was before the Fla Supreme Court yesterday. The Court site has a handy page full of PDF versions of the briefs and they all work.
More Schiavo fallout
Right to lifers are already planning to use the Schiavo case to weaken the state's model Right to Die Law. The law would create a legal presumption that everyone should be hooked up to tubes and machines unless the patient is prescient enough to make an air-tight, written living will. (Senate site has the full text of the bill.) Senate Pres. Jim King, an author of the current law, says "no way." Senate Pres. Jim King can always be counted upon to fold once the session starts.
Meanwhile an independent guardian appointed to investigate the case, reported that "competent, well-documented information" shows Mrs. Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state with little hope of recovery. Not that the governor would pay attention to that inconvenient assessment.
MyFlorida has the whole guardian's report but I can't get it to load on an older version of Acrobat. Maybe it will work on another computer.
Meanwhile an independent guardian appointed to investigate the case, reported that "competent, well-documented information" shows Mrs. Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state with little hope of recovery. Not that the governor would pay attention to that inconvenient assessment.
MyFlorida has the whole guardian's report but I can't get it to load on an older version of Acrobat. Maybe it will work on another computer.
12/01/2003
Another blog heard from
Poor Richard's Anorak based in St. Pete. A political blog with some Florida content. Three months old. Looks like I'll be back there regularly.
