5/30/2004
The 'lower property tax' amendment scam
Wow, Jeb finally found a tax cut he doesn't like! Dykeman is only a little amused. Mostly he's outraged at the transparent political publicity stunt that behind "Families for Lower Property Taxes." This is the measure to double your homestead exemption and put Karen Saull in the U.S. Senate. It is likely to end up raising taxes on most people -- businesses and renters in particular -- and squeeze school funding.
nonsequitor
Florida Politics notes an odd nonsequitor in a Sentinel story about blacks and the Florida Democratic party.
Harris continues, quoting another speaker: "'The majority of complaints that I hear from my friends is that the Democratic Party takes us for granted,' said Latoya Wilson, 23, of Davenport and a senior at Georgia State University". Ouch, the Dems are in real trouble if blacks think they are "take[n] for granted" by the party.
the numbers show why many young blacks feel undervalued.
That's blockbuster - there are numbers (raw data!) - that "show why young blacks feel undervalued" by the Dems. Hold onto your seats, Dems, here are the "numbers" which, according to Harris, show why blacks feel undervalued by the Dem party:
The numbers show why many young blacks feel undervalued.
Roughly 90 percent of blacks voted for Al Gore in 2000 . . .
That's it folks. According to Harris, young black voters feel "undervalued" by the Dem party because "90 percent of blacks voted for Al Gore in 2000". Does that make any sense at all? Of course not.
Harris continues, quoting another speaker: "'The majority of complaints that I hear from my friends is that the Democratic Party takes us for granted,' said Latoya Wilson, 23, of Davenport and a senior at Georgia State University". Ouch, the Dems are in real trouble if blacks think they are "take[n] for granted" by the party.
the numbers show why many young blacks feel undervalued.
That's blockbuster - there are numbers (raw data!) - that "show why young blacks feel undervalued" by the Dems. Hold onto your seats, Dems, here are the "numbers" which, according to Harris, show why blacks feel undervalued by the Dem party:
The numbers show why many young blacks feel undervalued.
Roughly 90 percent of blacks voted for Al Gore in 2000 . . .
That's it folks. According to Harris, young black voters feel "undervalued" by the Dem party because "90 percent of blacks voted for Al Gore in 2000". Does that make any sense at all? Of course not.
5/26/2004
Enabling ballot fraud
I didn't know this had passed, but now I read that Gov. Bush signs a law eliminating witness signatures on absentee ballots.
This will streamline absentee ballot fraud and make it harder to prosecute if detected. Remember: It was a check of witnesses' signatures that helped uncover systematic ballot fraud in the 1997 Miami mayoral election. Now anybody with a pocketful of blank absentee ballots can be a local power broker.
(Crooked politicians and lazy election supervisors can breathe a little easier today -- Jim DeFede.)
This will streamline absentee ballot fraud and make it harder to prosecute if detected. Remember: It was a check of witnesses' signatures that helped uncover systematic ballot fraud in the 1997 Miami mayoral election. Now anybody with a pocketful of blank absentee ballots can be a local power broker.
(Crooked politicians and lazy election supervisors can breathe a little easier today -- Jim DeFede.)
Byrd begins ad blitz
Well what's the use of having an early fund-raising advantage if you don't use it? So Johnnie Byrd goes ahead and but his ads on the air three months before the primary.
His slogan: "He's done it in Florida; he'll do it in Washington."
Hoo boy, given the past two messy years in Tallahassee that sounds more like a threat than a promise to me. But not to the Club for Growth, which is contributing to his campaign. (The Club has a pretty mixed record right now.)
Anyway, if you think this slogan is just a cheap joke and obvious sarcasm on my part, don't take my word for it, see the ads on Byrd's site.
Meanwhile four House members retract their Byrd endorsements and endorse the Bush administration's hand-picked candidate, Mel Martinez.
His slogan: "He's done it in Florida; he'll do it in Washington."
Hoo boy, given the past two messy years in Tallahassee that sounds more like a threat than a promise to me. But not to the Club for Growth, which is contributing to his campaign. (The Club has a pretty mixed record right now.)
Anyway, if you think this slogan is just a cheap joke and obvious sarcasm on my part, don't take my word for it, see the ads on Byrd's site.
Meanwhile four House members retract their Byrd endorsements and endorse the Bush administration's hand-picked candidate, Mel Martinez.
5/22/2004
How many judges?
Many pieces about the Schiavo case cite the number 19 -- 19 judges heard the case. This number has been disputed (Bunk -- The Weekly Standard) and I don't even know who was the first to tally it up. Matt Conigliaro had performed the useful task of giving us the judicial breakdown: 6 judges ruled for the husband's favor on removing the feeding tube; one ruled in husband's favor on constitutional issues; 10 appellate judges ruled not to hear the case; two judges ruled on secondary issues -- 19.
Testing, testing
This is a test of Bloggerbot and all that. It's me aboard the USS John F Kennedy about two months ago.
5/21/2004
Clamping down on dissent in the schools
A commentary piece by Bill Hill, an old friend of mine now retired, is climbing the charts at Blogdex. No 8 with a bullet last I looked. It's about outrageous censorship and politic indoctrination in the New Mexico public schools . Scary stuff and, I suspect, not an isolated case.
After firing Nevins and terminating the teaching and reading of poetry in the school, the principal and the military liaison read a poem of their own as they raised the flag outside the school. When the principal had the flag at full staff, he applauded the action he'd taken in concert with the military liaison.
Then to all students and faculty who did not share his political opinions, the principal shouted: "Shut your faces." What a wonderful lesson he gave those 3,000 students at the largest public high school in New Mexico. In his mind, only certain opinions are to be allowed.
After firing Nevins and terminating the teaching and reading of poetry in the school, the principal and the military liaison read a poem of their own as they raised the flag outside the school. When the principal had the flag at full staff, he applauded the action he'd taken in concert with the military liaison.
Then to all students and faculty who did not share his political opinions, the principal shouted: "Shut your faces." What a wonderful lesson he gave those 3,000 students at the largest public high school in New Mexico. In his mind, only certain opinions are to be allowed.
5/20/2004
Florida poll - still tied
An interesting Florida poll by America research shows Bush vs Kerry vs Nader at 47-46-3. A tie and the numbers have hardly moved since March. Interesting side light: Nader's unfavorable rating has jumped to 72%. I think that ranks him just above the unabomber.
(Via Kos)
(Via Kos)
5/19/2004
The gang that can't prosecute straight
Via Discourse.net: The Justice Dept.'s absurd prosecution of Greenpeace demonstrators is thrown out of court by a US District judge. "The first prosecution modern history of a nonprofit advocacy group for the nonviolent civil disobedience of its members" attempted to employ an obscure 19th century law against the group. (See earlier Miami Herald editorial.)
5/18/2004
Florida Wildlife comeback?
I was really sorry last year to hear the state stopped funding Florida Wildlife magazine. (See the Vault of Memory) Well, now it looks like it may come back. The money's back in the state budget. Meanwhile, there is still an on-line version up until they can start publishing again.
(Via the Republicans at Sayfie)
(Via the Republicans at Sayfie)
5/14/2004
Lax oversight
The Palm Beach Post continues its outstanding work covering Jeb Bush's and the Dept. of Education's refusal to enforce minimal standards for receiving state school voucher money. A draft proposal calls for voluntary rules and if you don't comply, no biggie, you still get state money.
Senate Pres. Jim King was right: The voucher program is a "disaster waiting to happen" because of lack of state oversight.
"This is all voluntary, and we know how voluntary many of the schools have been in the past to clean up and that's not very much," said Rep. Susan Bucher, D-Royal Palm Beach.
Senate Pres. Jim King was right: The voucher program is a "disaster waiting to happen" because of lack of state oversight.
"This is all voluntary, and we know how voluntary many of the schools have been in the past to clean up and that's not very much," said Rep. Susan Bucher, D-Royal Palm Beach.
Limbaugh ads attack prosecutor
Limbaugh attacks his prosecutor in Palm Beach Post ads and he's not thrilled with Cerabino, either. The ads reprint a hilarious Washington Times editorial which expresses shock and outrage that drug laws might apply to their guy.
(Cerabino responds. And look at this: The Post has put all there Rush-and-the-prosecutor's-office coverage on one page.)
(Cerabino responds. And look at this: The Post has put all there Rush-and-the-prosecutor's-office coverage on one page.)
5/13/2004
Blog recognized
New Times, Broward/Palm Beach names Hatless ("Coming to you from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the Muggiest City in America Every Summer, Except For the Suburbs West of It Which Get Even Muggier, Plus They Have Alligators")as the Best Local Blog.
Delivering Florida for Bush. Again
Republicans got great news in an otherwise bad week when the Reform Party announced it is the endorsing Ralph Nader and so giving him a place on the Florida and other state ballots without the hassle of getting voter signatures.
5/12/2004
Imprecise hed
Tampa Trib hed: Onstage Suicides Banned; Penalty Includes Jail Time.
Well, that should deter anyone from killing himself.
Well, that should deter anyone from killing himself.
Slow-growth measure slows
Florida Hometown Democracy, a group seeking a state constitutional amendment that would give voters a chance to veto local growth plans, has given up for 2004 but might try for 2006.
5/11/2004
Schiavo editorial roundup
Schiavo ruling editorials --
+ Miami Herald -- Governor should heed court decision in Schiavo case. Florida's governor and Legislature have no right to intervene in a family tragedy nor to trample over the judicial process.
+ Tampa Tribune -- The Governor Has No Power To Intervene In Schiavo Case. Baird is just one of many judges to play a role in this tragic case, and he made the only decision he legally could.
+ Lakeland Ledger -- More Delays In Schiavo Case. It's time the executive and legislative branches withdrew from this case and left it with the judiciary.
+ Palm Beach Post -- 'Terri's Law' is no law. Privacy in Florida got a boost Thursday when a Pinellas County judge politely but firmly slapped the overreaching hand of Gov. Bush.
+ Orlando Sentinel -- Sound ruling on Schiavo. Sound legal thinking prevailed Thursday when a judge ruled that the law pushed by Gov. Jeb Bush to keep a severely brain damaged woman alive is unconstitutional.
+ Sarasota Herald-Tribune -- Violations in principle. In striking down "Terri's Law" last week, a circuit judge upheld vital principles of representative democracy.
+ Miami Herald -- Governor should heed court decision in Schiavo case. Florida's governor and Legislature have no right to intervene in a family tragedy nor to trample over the judicial process.
+ Tampa Tribune -- The Governor Has No Power To Intervene In Schiavo Case. Baird is just one of many judges to play a role in this tragic case, and he made the only decision he legally could.
+ Lakeland Ledger -- More Delays In Schiavo Case. It's time the executive and legislative branches withdrew from this case and left it with the judiciary.
+ Palm Beach Post -- 'Terri's Law' is no law. Privacy in Florida got a boost Thursday when a Pinellas County judge politely but firmly slapped the overreaching hand of Gov. Bush.
+ Orlando Sentinel -- Sound ruling on Schiavo. Sound legal thinking prevailed Thursday when a judge ruled that the law pushed by Gov. Jeb Bush to keep a severely brain damaged woman alive is unconstitutional.
+ Sarasota Herald-Tribune -- Violations in principle. In striking down "Terri's Law" last week, a circuit judge upheld vital principles of representative democracy.
S1gn the ant1sp@m bill !!!
I rather doubt this will help much -- and damn, I've been getting a lot of mail with the header "Hi Ed" -- but the Ledger has a few good words about the state antispam bill.
It had passed without much fanfare toward the close of the session but before total gridlock had set in.
It had passed without much fanfare toward the close of the session but before total gridlock had set in.
5/10/2004
Oh, those wacky rightwingers
GOP cat-fight in Ocala!
OCALA - Wednesday was an eventful day for one of Marion County's best-known political gadflies, Patricia Strait. Within a short span during and after a County Commission workshop that day, the archconservative Republican agitator apparently admitted to violating state public meetings laws and allegedly assaulted another audience member, a leader of a local GOP women's group.
(Via Joe Adams' I dig Answers.)
OCALA - Wednesday was an eventful day for one of Marion County's best-known political gadflies, Patricia Strait. Within a short span during and after a County Commission workshop that day, the archconservative Republican agitator apparently admitted to violating state public meetings laws and allegedly assaulted another audience member, a leader of a local GOP women's group.
(Via Joe Adams' I dig Answers.)
Comments
The redesigned and improved Blogger has new bells and whistles. And I am a sucker for a shiny new bell and a loud new whistle. So even though I know I'll regret this, I'm adding comments to the site. Because I can, that's why.
Yeah I know: I'm inviting comment spam and people who post their URL so it will show up on Blogdex, not to mention angry Christians, angrier Warbloggers, dittoheads and e-sociopaths. Well, in the words of our president, "bring it on." There might even be a few nice folks out there, too, with something to say.
I also used the occasion to do long-needed code cleaning. Now, it should look good in Mozilla and Netscape, too.
Yeah I know: I'm inviting comment spam and people who post their URL so it will show up on Blogdex, not to mention angry Christians, angrier Warbloggers, dittoheads and e-sociopaths. Well, in the words of our president, "bring it on." There might even be a few nice folks out there, too, with something to say.
I also used the occasion to do long-needed code cleaning. Now, it should look good in Mozilla and Netscape, too.
Outsourcing Florida government
5/09/2004
The Clerk's Tale
The duck problem
Odd laws -- in Florida if you get one of the new state-issued permits give people license to catch mallards you must kill them. None of this nmaby-pampy bit about relocating them.
"The only thing you can do with a captured mallard is kill it," said Diane Eggeman, a waterfowl management leader with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "We are trying to get that changed."
Plus: The Muscovy menace --
"We have a saying that the Muscovy eats a pound and poops a pound and a half," Constantin said. "A pair can raise up to 8 or 12 young a year, so they multiply very quickly."
"The only thing you can do with a captured mallard is kill it," said Diane Eggeman, a waterfowl management leader with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "We are trying to get that changed."
Plus: The Muscovy menace --
"We have a saying that the Muscovy eats a pound and poops a pound and a half," Constantin said. "A pair can raise up to 8 or 12 young a year, so they multiply very quickly."
Worst. Speaker. Ever.
Lucy Morgan follows up on a previous column to emphasize that his peers, not media, put 'worst' tag on Byrd.
On Saturday Byrd's spokesman called with a quote: "The speaker feels being called the worst speaker by the most liberal newspaper in Florida is the best compliment he's ever received in his tenure."
The only problem with the quote is that I didn't invent the label, nor did the paper. It was the opinion of longtime Republicans who fought hard for many years to become the majority instead of a minority that couldn't even get a good parking place at the Capitol. They are bitterly disappointed with Byrd's performance. They have good reasons.
On Saturday Byrd's spokesman called with a quote: "The speaker feels being called the worst speaker by the most liberal newspaper in Florida is the best compliment he's ever received in his tenure."
The only problem with the quote is that I didn't invent the label, nor did the paper. It was the opinion of longtime Republicans who fought hard for many years to become the majority instead of a minority that couldn't even get a good parking place at the Capitol. They are bitterly disappointed with Byrd's performance. They have good reasons.
5/07/2004
No Surprise: Schiavo law found unconstitutional
That the law hastily passed by a Legislature that didn't much care about the legal has been found unconstitutional is a surprise to just about nobody. For the details see the discussion at Abstract Appeal
(St. Pete Times collects its Schiavo coverage on one page.)
(St. Pete Times collects its Schiavo coverage on one page.)
5/06/2004
Oh, THOSE tax breaks
Jeb! says Disney doesn't get tax breaks. Florida Politics points out the whole Reedy Creek setup and begs to differ. (Scroll down just a bit.) And that doesn't even get into Farmer Disney's massive agricultural tax breaks. (Scroll down a ways.)
Manatee bill
+ For the manatees
+ For the boaters. (At least he managed to get all the way through without using the phrase "environmental wackos.")
+ For the manatees.
+ For the boaters. (At least he managed to get all the way through without using the phrase "environmental wackos.")
+ For the manatees.
5/04/2004
Another blog heard from
As a regional policy wonk, I don't know how I had missed this blog: Abstract Appeal, a law blog by Matt Conigliaro out of St. Pete.
It has entries on the five state courts o' appeal (still only five, thank goodness, despite recent maneuverings in the Legislature) plus the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals. And he has info on the Schiavo case that's far more dispassionate and factual than you'll find on this page. And he follows all those damn state constitutional amendment campaigns.
Good stuff.
It has entries on the five state courts o' appeal (still only five, thank goodness, despite recent maneuverings in the Legislature) plus the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals. And he has info on the Schiavo case that's far more dispassionate and factual than you'll find on this page. And he follows all those damn state constitutional amendment campaigns.
Good stuff.
What Liberal Media?
OK, so the whole deal with Michael Savage was a ignominious failure for MSNBC. No problem, there are a lot of other right-wing radio blowhards out there. How about the comically bombastic Bud Hedinger from Orlando? Go to the Media Matters page and hear him sing!
5/03/2004
He's not going away
Byrd kicks off his U.S. Senate bid by vowing to go to the Mideast. You know, so he bring his famous people skills and negotiating abilities to the most politically sensitive area in the world.
The rest of the story
Sunday's New York Times has a piece about a creationist theme park in Pensacola.
Hoo-boy, just another goofy-doings-in-Florida story? Well, maybe not. Atrios points out that one of the park's founders has enough of a history as an antiSemite and antiCatholic hatemonger to come to the attention of the southern Poverty Law Center.
Penscola, it should be remembered was the scene of abortion clinic murders and a clinic firebombing. It's home to some pretty extreme rightwing fringe elements.
The Panda's Thumb, a fine blog dedicated to debunking creationist propaganda, also is outraged at the story.
More on Kent Hovind.
Hoo-boy, just another goofy-doings-in-Florida story? Well, maybe not. Atrios points out that one of the park's founders has enough of a history as an antiSemite and antiCatholic hatemonger to come to the attention of the southern Poverty Law Center.
Penscola, it should be remembered was the scene of abortion clinic murders and a clinic firebombing. It's home to some pretty extreme rightwing fringe elements.
The Panda's Thumb, a fine blog dedicated to debunking creationist propaganda, also is outraged at the story.
More on Kent Hovind.
5/02/2004
More farewells
Martin Dykeman is among the few actively covering Florida politics who remembers when the Legislature actually worked and had a plurality of grownups who occasionally wanted to accomplish something. This makes him an angry man sometimes. As in today's piece Byrd's flock: Why did they deal with it? Why, indeed.
+ Lakeland Ledger -- Why They Think He's a Dirty Byrd.
+ The Sentinel's John Kennedy -- Byrd had largely alienated his own House. And that, along with his U.S. Senate ambitions and an emboldened Senate President Jim King, combined to make this year's legislative session one of the least productive gatherings ever in Tallahassee.
+ The Palm Beach Post's SV Date -- Just about every major issue -- changes to citizen-inspired constitutional amendments, parental notice for abortions, a revision to a cost-of-living adjustment formula for school financing -- found itself ensnared in Byrd's U.S. Senate candidacy among a crowded field of Republicans. Even minor issues -- hometown projects, local bills -- became entangled in the Byrd effort when they happened to belong to legislators who crossed him.
+ Lakeland Ledger -- Why They Think He's a Dirty Byrd.
+ The Sentinel's John Kennedy -- Byrd had largely alienated his own House. And that, along with his U.S. Senate ambitions and an emboldened Senate President Jim King, combined to make this year's legislative session one of the least productive gatherings ever in Tallahassee.
+ The Palm Beach Post's SV Date -- Just about every major issue -- changes to citizen-inspired constitutional amendments, parental notice for abortions, a revision to a cost-of-living adjustment formula for school financing -- found itself ensnared in Byrd's U.S. Senate candidacy among a crowded field of Republicans. Even minor issues -- hometown projects, local bills -- became entangled in the Byrd effort when they happened to belong to legislators who crossed him.
5/01/2004
The important issues
The Florida Senate is listening to all of you who demanded that Florida replace its official state rock. It would make Ocala limestone the official state rock and take that designation away from agatized coral. I dunno, this could get controversial.
Go, Johnnie, Go
An unusually heartfelt Lucy Morgan column in the St. Pete Times about the contentious and unproductive close to the Legislative session -- As sorry session dies, Byrd's fingerprints are on the murder weapon.
Throughout the Capitol, lobbyists and legislators - almost everyone participating in the process - uniformly condemned House Speaker Johnnie Byrd as the worst speaker ever.
Throughout the Capitol, lobbyists and legislators - almost everyone participating in the process - uniformly condemned House Speaker Johnnie Byrd as the worst speaker ever.
