8/31/2004
Early results
The Fla. Dept. of Elections site was down or unusable most of election night so look at this handy Herald.com chart instead. (Scroll way down.)
Castor stayed positive and won by an even larger margin than the polls suggested. Penelas was never a factor.
Martinez found there's nothing like good old-fashioned negative campaigning and gay-baiting to get the Republican base out in a primary and beat McCollum by a surprising margin. And Johnnie Byrd came in a remarkably dismal fourth. Newcomer Doug Gallagher got more than twice the votes of the former speaker of the House. I guess that proves it is possible to be too right-wing to win a Florida Republican primary. Who could have guessed?
In Sarasota, Jan Schneider is ahead with 48 percent of the vote for a rematch against Katherine Harris in Nov. And that dreadful Connie Mack 4.0 is way ahead in Dist. 4.
Castor stayed positive and won by an even larger margin than the polls suggested. Penelas was never a factor.
Martinez found there's nothing like good old-fashioned negative campaigning and gay-baiting to get the Republican base out in a primary and beat McCollum by a surprising margin. And Johnnie Byrd came in a remarkably dismal fourth. Newcomer Doug Gallagher got more than twice the votes of the former speaker of the House. I guess that proves it is possible to be too right-wing to win a Florida Republican primary. Who could have guessed?
In Sarasota, Jan Schneider is ahead with 48 percent of the vote for a rematch against Katherine Harris in Nov. And that dreadful Connie Mack 4.0 is way ahead in Dist. 4.
Just in case you wondered
More on Regier's exit
Everybody runs with the Regier resignation.
Nobody seems to have the heart to question this non sequitor:
OK: He's quitting because things are going well. Not because DCF is an agency winging its way from crisis to crisis. If things were bad, he'd stay. Does anyone believe that?
On the editorial pages, the Tampa Trib treads lightly on Regier's ethical lapses -- The governor and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement must sort it out. A critical report by the inspector general's office was forwarded to FDLE -- and suggests some replacements: David Lawrence, Sara Herald, Chris Card and Sandy Murman. All are probably too moderate ideologically to actually be considered for the post.
The Tallahassee Democrat chides Regier for "lapses of judgment" and arrogance. Mr. Regier's failure to recognize that he needed to demonstrate a bit more contrition to restore his credibility is precisely the reason the agency hasn't recovered.
Nobody seems to have the heart to question this non sequitor:
I'm stepping down because I think we've made tremendous progress in the department, and I think that at some point perception takes front and center.
OK: He's quitting because things are going well. Not because DCF is an agency winging its way from crisis to crisis. If things were bad, he'd stay. Does anyone believe that?
On the editorial pages, the Tampa Trib treads lightly on Regier's ethical lapses -- The governor and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement must sort it out. A critical report by the inspector general's office was forwarded to FDLE -- and suggests some replacements: David Lawrence, Sara Herald, Chris Card and Sandy Murman. All are probably too moderate ideologically to actually be considered for the post.
The Tallahassee Democrat chides Regier for "lapses of judgment" and arrogance. Mr. Regier's failure to recognize that he needed to demonstrate a bit more contrition to restore his credibility is precisely the reason the agency hasn't recovered.
8/30/2004
Schiavo case goes to the Supremes
A timely warning from Matt Conigliaro at Abstract Appeal about reading the wrong things from oral arguments tomorrow in the Schaivo case. Not that it will stop anybody.
Don't let the screen door hit you
We take it back
The St. Pete Times takes the unusual step of reversing its Mel Martinez recommendation.
The Times originally recommended former U.S. Housing Secretary Mel Martinez to Republican voters in Tuesday's U.S. Senate primary, but that was before Martinez took his campaign into the gutter with hateful and dishonest attacks on his strongest opponent, former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum. The Times is not willing to be associated with bigotry. As a result, we are taking the almost unprecedented step of rescinding our recommendation of Martinez.
8/29/2004
Asking and telling
Now here is a tricky subject to write about or use as an issue -- Mel Martinez's supporters on the right criticize McCollum for having gay staffers, yet others say Martinez also has staffers who are gay.
To make matters more uncomfortable, a Washington, DC, gay-oriented publication claimed last month to out two Martinez aides, including one who was in a leadership position in the Florida Christian Coalition.
Mainstream newspapers rightly avoid these kind of stories, except, well, there they are being talked about in a telephone press conference by a Martinez campaign supporter and they show up in e-mails from activists and they work so nicely with Martinez's campaign tactic of labeling McCollum "anti-family." (Scroll to the bottom to the Trib story for uncomfortable comment by the righties.)
All of which makes it hard to ignore. And, too, it's going to make real hard for Martinez to suddenly look like a moderate the day after the primary, should he win.
To make matters more uncomfortable, a Washington, DC, gay-oriented publication claimed last month to out two Martinez aides, including one who was in a leadership position in the Florida Christian Coalition.
Mainstream newspapers rightly avoid these kind of stories, except, well, there they are being talked about in a telephone press conference by a Martinez campaign supporter and they show up in e-mails from activists and they work so nicely with Martinez's campaign tactic of labeling McCollum "anti-family." (Scroll to the bottom to the Trib story for uncomfortable comment by the righties.)
All of which makes it hard to ignore. And, too, it's going to make real hard for Martinez to suddenly look like a moderate the day after the primary, should he win.
www.flablog.net
www.flablog.net -- www.flablog.com is taken, I can't imagine why -- has been registered and will be the blog's new home soon. is now the blog's new home. Change your bookmarks, alter your routine, make a new plan, Stan.
Another Senate recommendation
+ The Times-Union, which has Florida's most right-wing daily editorial page, comes out for McCollum and Castor.
+ The Orlando Sentinel is for Martinez. (They had earlier recommended Betty Castor for the Dems.)
Meanwhile, the Miami Herald - St. Pete Times poll says the Republican race is a toss-up and Castor is way out front for the Dems. It also finds two out of three Floridians support stem-cell research.
The Recommendation Round-Up:
Castor: Daytona Beach News-Journal, St. Pete Times, Fla. Times-Union, Lakeland Ledger, Tampa Tribune, Stuart News, Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post, Orlando Sentinel, Gainesville Sun, Bradenton Herald and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Deutsch: Sun-Sentinel.
Penelas: Nope, nobody, zip.
Byrd: Not nobody nowhere.
Martinez:St. Pete Times, Fla. Times-Union, Stuart News,Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post, St. Pete Times, Lakeland Ledger, Orlando Sentinel, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Bradenton Herald and Ocala Star-Banner.
McCollum: Daytona Beach News-Journal, Tampa Tribune and the Gainesville Sun. [And the St. Pete Times]
+ The Orlando Sentinel is for Martinez. (They had earlier recommended Betty Castor for the Dems.)
Meanwhile, the Miami Herald - St. Pete Times poll says the Republican race is a toss-up and Castor is way out front for the Dems. It also finds two out of three Floridians support stem-cell research.
The Recommendation Round-Up:
Castor: Daytona Beach News-Journal, St. Pete Times, Fla. Times-Union, Lakeland Ledger, Tampa Tribune, Stuart News, Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post, Orlando Sentinel, Gainesville Sun, Bradenton Herald and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Deutsch: Sun-Sentinel.
Penelas: Nope, nobody, zip.
Byrd: Not nobody nowhere.
Martinez:
McCollum: Daytona Beach News-Journal, Tampa Tribune and the Gainesville Sun. [And the St. Pete Times]
8/28/2004
Sold out by the righties
I hate to say this about a House impeachment manager, but I feel sorry for Bill McCallum.
The guy spends a career quietly doing the bidding the of the Christian right and voting in lockstep with the Republican leadership. He racks up a 93 percent scorecard rating with the Christian Coalition and a 100 percent voting record with National Right to Life in his last year in the House. But it isn't good enough.
Because he backs a modest loosening of stem-cell research restrictions and voted for hate-crime bills (on the theory that attacking people because of race, religion or sexual orientation is, you know, a bad thing) the Christian right turned on him with a vengeance. This is not a turn-the-other-cheek crowd.
For his minor deviations from conservative dogma, the groups he served for years suddenly attack him as "anti-family" and part of "the gay agenda."
And this happens after the Bushes already had dissed him by recruiting Mel Martinez to run against him and supporting him early and openly. The national Republicans needed somebody else to run because they worried about McCollum's electability. Why? Because he's seen as too far right after too many years of voting along with the House Republican leadership, NRA and Right to Life folks.
I'd feel sold out by my party if I were him.
No surprise then that the final TV debate among the GOP Senate candidates got harsh.
That's right, Mel, deniablity. You have learned Mr. Rove's lessons well.
The guy spends a career quietly doing the bidding the of the Christian right and voting in lockstep with the Republican leadership. He racks up a 93 percent scorecard rating with the Christian Coalition and a 100 percent voting record with National Right to Life in his last year in the House. But it isn't good enough.
Because he backs a modest loosening of stem-cell research restrictions and voted for hate-crime bills (on the theory that attacking people because of race, religion or sexual orientation is, you know, a bad thing) the Christian right turned on him with a vengeance. This is not a turn-the-other-cheek crowd.
For his minor deviations from conservative dogma, the groups he served for years suddenly attack him as "anti-family" and part of "the gay agenda."
And this happens after the Bushes already had dissed him by recruiting Mel Martinez to run against him and supporting him early and openly. The national Republicans needed somebody else to run because they worried about McCollum's electability. Why? Because he's seen as too far right after too many years of voting along with the House Republican leadership, NRA and Right to Life folks.
I'd feel sold out by my party if I were him.
No surprise then that the final TV debate among the GOP Senate candidates got harsh.
During the debate, McCallum dramatically pulled a new Martinez flier out of his suit coat pocket, saying it "accuses me of catering to the radical homosexual lobby."
"That is just despicable," he told Martinez. "It's nasty. It's not true. It's absolutely incorrect."
McCallum demanded that Martinez condemn the flier and apologize, but Martinez did neither. Instead, President Bush's former housing secretary said: "Words were used that were not mine, and were not of my choosing. Those words were spoken by others."
That's right, Mel, deniablity. You have learned Mr. Rove's lessons well.
8/27/2004
GITN - 'Gators in the News!
Minimum wage, maximum support
It's early to ask about state constitutional amendments, but one poll shows 72 percent of Florida voters back increasing the minimum wage. Support is 86 percent among South Florida voter and 92 percent among black voters.
Dueling polls
Tallahassee Democrat is disgusted with both Deutsch and Martinez and decries campaigns of Fear and smear.
But it seems to work. Martinez has taken the lead according to a Mason-Dixon poll. (R.R.) For Johnnie Byrd, it's not such a beautiful day in the state of Florida. He's losing a race for third place to newcomer Doug Gallagher.
But the Insider Advantage poll says McCollum is narrowly ahead. (And Byrd is losing the race for third place a little more narrowly.) This is posted at Sayfie's new Florida Insider page which looks bookmarkable despite the Republican Party propaganda. (Two things I enjoy about Sayfie: the days when virtually every link is headlined "MUST READ" in red, and the way all labor officials, no matter how lowly, are identified as "union bosses," as they were characters from On the Waterfront.)
But it seems to work. Martinez has taken the lead according to a Mason-Dixon poll. (R.R.) For Johnnie Byrd, it's not such a beautiful day in the state of Florida. He's losing a race for third place to newcomer Doug Gallagher.
But the Insider Advantage poll says McCollum is narrowly ahead. (And Byrd is losing the race for third place a little more narrowly.) This is posted at Sayfie's new Florida Insider page which looks bookmarkable despite the Republican Party propaganda. (Two things I enjoy about Sayfie: the days when virtually every link is headlined "MUST READ" in red, and the way all labor officials, no matter how lowly, are identified as "union bosses," as they were characters from On the Waterfront.)
8/26/2004
Redesign
Yes, Flablog looks different. It's been redesigned and still needs a few tweaks and changes, but it's mostly there. Pretty soon it will move to a new host, too, because we just need more space. Not to worry, though; Flabloggers will get plenty of notice.
The new look was done by Youth Korps Design, which is mostly my son, Nathan. Most of his work is on web sites and graphics for ultra-underground rock bands that you really don't want to know about.
So bear with me while we take care of the details.
The new look was done by Youth Korps Design, which is mostly my son, Nathan. Most of his work is on web sites and graphics for ultra-underground rock bands that you really don't want to know about.
So bear with me while we take care of the details.
Senate campaign heats up
Anyone who doubts that the Martinez campaign is a remote-controlled Karl Rove job, should look at this: An "independent" right-wing group smears Martinez's main opponent. Sounds kind of familiar.
Sexual McCarthyism is nasty stuff indeed. Connie Mack calls it "political hate speech." (Palm Beach Post version here.)
And Gallagher takes out out ads attacking Martinez for his attacks on McCollum. (R.R.) Which seems kind of odd when you think about it.
Meanwhile, The Daytona Beach News-Journal recommends McCollum and Castor.
The latest poll has Castor so far ahead that Deutsch would need to win all the undecideds to make it a tie. (R.R.) Caster: 45 percent; Deutsch: 31; Penelas: 9. Margin-o-error: 4.5 percent.
Sexual McCarthyism is nasty stuff indeed. Connie Mack calls it "political hate speech." (Palm Beach Post version here.)
And Gallagher takes out out ads attacking Martinez for his attacks on McCollum. (R.R.) Which seems kind of odd when you think about it.
Meanwhile, The Daytona Beach News-Journal recommends McCollum and Castor.
The latest poll has Castor so far ahead that Deutsch would need to win all the undecideds to make it a tie. (R.R.) Caster: 45 percent; Deutsch: 31; Penelas: 9. Margin-o-error: 4.5 percent.
8/24/2004
Florida elections -- We bad
Slate write Ann Louise Bardach asks Why is Florida's voting system so corrupt? It's a rhetorical question. She doesn't know why. Instead she explains the problems, and there are many. A nice overview of stuff Flabloggers doubtless already know.
About the only thing that could restore confidence in Florida electoral procedures would be Hood's immediate resignation; her successor should then be chosen by a bipartisan commission. And as Gov. Bush cannot possibly be an impartial observer in his brother's quest for another term, he should recuse himself from every aspect involving the vote count in Florida. He also needs to flex his power with his famously compliant Legislature to repeal the new laws eliminating manual recounts and witnessed absentee ballots. In addition, all felons who have repaid their debt to society, following completion of their sentences, should have their voting rights restored.
If these changes are not made, Florida cannot conduct a credible election come November.
Another poll
Gallup Poll says Florida voters are -- you guessed it -- evenly divided in the presidential race . Bush, 48; Kerry, 46; Nader doubles his support to gain 2 percent.
(Via Daily Kos.)
TBO.com lists the old polls.
(Via Daily Kos.)
TBO.com lists the old polls.
Betty hits back
No more Ms. Nice Guy: Castor goes negative. Meanwhile, Dems fret about collateral damage inflicted by Deutsch's combative campaign style.
8/23/2004
Slate's take on Florida
I almost overlooked Slate's overview last week of the presidential race in Florida. Seth Stevenson sees the trends breaking ever so slightly in Kerry's favor.
Bonus: Find the Susan McManus Quote. (TM) Surprise! -- she opposes the conventional wisdom and sees Gore voters switching to Bush, and once again, is upbeat on the GOP's prospects.
Bonus: Find the Susan McManus Quote. (TM) Surprise! -- she opposes the conventional wisdom and sees Gore voters switching to Bush, and once again, is upbeat on the GOP's prospects.
Orange Co. voter intimidation (cont.)
Bob Herbert again sees Orange County voter intimidation as part of a Florida GOP pattern and recalls the felons list fiasco.
8/22/2004
Another Senate recommendation
+ Lakeland Ledger recommends Betty Castor for the Dems and Mel Martinez for the Reps.
So far, among the major dailies:
+ Castor has six recommendations; Deutsch, one.
+ Martinez, six; McCollum one.
So far, among the major dailies:
+ Castor has six recommendations; Deutsch, one.
+ Martinez, six; McCollum one.
8/21/2004
More truth emerges about Swift Boats Vets for Truth
A Gainesville Republican rally gets attention as evidence of Bush campaign-Swift Boats Vets for Truth collusion. Here's the flyer they're talking about.
UPDATE: Swifties back out of Gainesville rally.
UPDATE: Swifties back out of Gainesville rally.
8/20/2004
Smellier still
Herbert follows up his earlier column with another piece on voter intimidation in Florida.
State officials have said that the investigation, which has already frightened many voters and intimidated elderly volunteers, is in response to allegations of voter fraud involving absentee ballots that came up during the Orlando mayoral election in March. But the department considered that matter closed last spring, according to a letter from the office of Guy Tunnell, the department's commissioner, to Lawson Lamar, the state attorney in Orlando, who would be responsible for any criminal prosecutions. (Emphasis added.)
New Fla. poll
New Strategic Vision poll shows, you guessed it, a dead heat in the presidential race. No "Hurricane Charley Bounce" for Bush. It's Kerry by 48-46 percent in a two way race. It's Kerry 47-46-5 in a three-way race.
Margin of error is 3 percent, which actually means there's a 75 percent chance that Kerry is really ahead in a two-person race in Florida. See Washington Monthly's Political Animal blog for a clear and timely discussion of the whole margin-of-error thing that a liberal arts major can understand.
Margin of error is 3 percent, which actually means there's a 75 percent chance that Kerry is really ahead in a two-person race in Florida. See Washington Monthly's Political Animal blog for a clear and timely discussion of the whole margin-of-error thing that a liberal arts major can understand.
8/18/2004
Blog holiday!
No posts for a few days while we deal with the yard debris and projects.
8/17/2004
Down with "internet"
Please AP, follow the lead of Wired News and stop capitalizing "internet" and "web". I never under the reason for this. We don't communicate over the "Telephone."
Flablog salutes Wired News and will post accordingly. The "i" will be down.
Flablog salutes Wired News and will post accordingly. The "i" will be down.
8/16/2004
More blogs heard from
Lots of new Florida bogs to mention:
+ buzzmodo has great hurricane blogging.
+ Interstate4Jamming does, too, and has some political musings. Looks very bookmark-able.
+ Blogadise is "squinting into the sunshine, cause the shadows are too creepy."
+ Tiny Little Dots has a very cool design.
+ buzzmodo has great hurricane blogging.
+ Interstate4Jamming does, too, and has some political musings. Looks very bookmark-able.
+ Blogadise is "squinting into the sunshine, cause the shadows are too creepy."
+ Tiny Little Dots has a very cool design.
Vote suppression
The NY Times' Bob Herbert is outraged at what he sees as an attempt to suppress the black vote in Orlando. (The vile smell of voter suppression is all over this so-called investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.) The pretext is an investigation of absentee ballot fraud in last spring's mayor's race.
The president of the Orlando League of Voters is Ezzie Thomas, who is 73 years old. With his demonstrated ability to deliver the black vote in Orlando, Mr. Thomas is a tempting target for supporters of George W. Bush in a state in which the black vote may well spell the difference between victory and defeat.
Court strikes voucher law
The 1st DCA overturns Florida's voucher law as a government funding of religion. (Read the opinion in pdf form at the 1st DCA site.)
Not a surprising decision since
Article I, Section 3 of the state Constitution says: No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.
Not a surprising decision since
Article I, Section 3 of the state Constitution says: No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.
There's still a Senate race on
+ The Sun-Sentinel recommends Martinez and Deutsch.
+ The Tampa Tribune recommends Castor and McCollum.
+ The Stuart News recommends Betty Castor and Mel Martinez. (R.R.)
+ The Tampa Tribune recommends Castor and McCollum.
+ The Stuart News recommends Betty Castor and Mel Martinez. (R.R.)
8/15/2004
Deep thoughts
Jeb Bush offers a dollop of dime store theology relating to the hurricane. (Scroll down deep.)
You see, God has to stomp us from time to time or we wouldn't respect him . . . like, say, the head of the Hells Angels, He has to prove who's in charge to keep everyone in line. Now, don't you listen to those scientists and pointy heads, they believe in global warming and evolution, too, you know.
People who say they know why God does stuff really hack me off.
"God doesn't follow the linear projections of computer models," Bush told reporters here outside the emergency management center, whose roof caved in during the hurricane. "This is God's way of telling us that He's almighty and we're mortal."
You see, God has to stomp us from time to time or we wouldn't respect him . . . like, say, the head of the Hells Angels, He has to prove who's in charge to keep everyone in line. Now, don't you listen to those scientists and pointy heads, they believe in global warming and evolution, too, you know.
People who say they know why God does stuff really hack me off.
Another tree down
Why I was late to work. (And decided to go by bicycle.)
Another post-storm shot
And after
And here's the view from the same place the next morning.
Before . . .
Electricity has returned, but cable is still down, so I'm using dial-up. Here is a picture taken from my front door as the rain started Friday.
8/14/2004
Post-storm
Came out of the storm just fine, despite some amazing winds and trees uprooted nearby. No house damage but a whole lot of wood in the yard. There's been no electricity at home since 11 last night and probably won't be for a few days, so don't expect much updating. (This is quick note from work, which is working off generator power.)
Rode my bike to work and on the way stood in a line 20 deep to get a cup of coffee at a coffeeshop on Ridgewood Ave. They had a generator hooked to a coffee machine and were doing brisk business.
I'll post a picture or two after the power comes back.
The rest is at Daytona Beach News-Journal online.
Rode my bike to work and on the way stood in a line 20 deep to get a cup of coffee at a coffeeshop on Ridgewood Ave. They had a generator hooked to a coffee machine and were doing brisk business.
I'll post a picture or two after the power comes back.
The rest is at Daytona Beach News-Journal online.
8/13/2004
Hurricane blogs
Sticks of Fire notes some hurricane bloggers including the indomitable Kat of My Single Mom Life who calmly asks people not to pray for her because While I do appreciate the sentiment that you care, praying isn't going to stop nature. Charley is going to come no matter what you do. You could get out there and do the happy sun for Florida dance to the gods of your choosing and it ain't gonna do jack shit to stop it.
Good for you. Too many people are getting panicky and sentimental in face of natural disaster. Hope the random forces of nature cause you no harm!
Shutterblog is staying put and has a better camera than during last hurricane.
Weatherbog is in SW Florida and was updating almost hourly this morning.
Good for you. Too many people are getting panicky and sentimental in face of natural disaster. Hope the random forces of nature cause you no harm!
Shutterblog is staying put and has a better camera than during last hurricane.
Weatherbog is in SW Florida and was updating almost hourly this morning.
Passive-aggressive postscript
The Democratic candidates for US Senate agreed to sign a no-attack pledge and break up the circular firing squad. But only Peter Deutsch decides a small proviso is needed.
Nothing herein would prohibit candidates from raising legitimate differences with the votes, issue positions or judgments made by other candidates, as is fundamental to the democratic process.
Translation: Screw you, Bob Graham. P.S. - Betty Castor is a terrorist!
Nothing herein would prohibit candidates from raising legitimate differences with the votes, issue positions or judgments made by other candidates, as is fundamental to the democratic process.
Translation: Screw you, Bob Graham. P.S. - Betty Castor is a terrorist!
8/12/2004
New poll
The Quinnipiac Poll -- that's KWIN uh pe ack -- has Kerry ahead in Florida and it's beyond the 3 percent error margin. 47–41-4 with Nader in the race; 49–42 without.
8/11/2004
Not Ringo
'How They Could Steal the Election This Time'
8/10/2004
An atheist - so what?
In an age when every city commissioner, mosquito control district chairman and absentee-ballot forger competes to see who pray the loudest whenever a crowd is gathered isn't it refreshing to read a columnist who will say I'm an atheist - so what?
You go, Robyn! But I wouldn't want to be answering your mail this week.
You go, Robyn! But I wouldn't want to be answering your mail this week.
8/09/2004
Senate Recommendations
Betty Castor gets more newspaper recommendations, this time from the Miami Herald and from The Palm Beach Post.
The Post and the Herald also support Martinez.
The Post and the Herald also support Martinez.
8/08/2004
Why does Regier still have a job?
Hiaasen on Regier -- I don't care if Regier has snapshots of Jeb dolled up like Liza Minelli, the governor had better get rid of this goober before a grand jury forces him to do it.
Mystery delegates (cont.)
Lucy Morgan is incredulous that the GOP delegate list is secret. Our GOP seems to have a real built-in problem when it comes to lists.
8/06/2004
Still tied
Here are the full results from the latest Strategic Vision poll of Florida voters -- and it's still a tie: 48-48 without Nader. Bush has a statistically insignificant one point lead -- 48-47-1 -- if Nader is included. Margin of error: 3 points.
[But an American Research Group poll put Kerry ahead 50-43-2. Margin of error: 4 percentage points. (Via Fla. Politics.)]
[But an American Research Group poll put Kerry ahead 50-43-2. Margin of error: 4 percentage points. (Via Fla. Politics.)]
Is that cheating?
The Herald reports that Deutsch had his BlackBerry on stage with him during the debate.
First it was Teleprompters and now this -- talking point reminders e-mailed to the podium in real time. Deutsch says nothing much was transmitted. ''It was nothing of substance,'' Deutsch said Thursday of the two e-mails he erased. 'It said, `You're doing a good job.' ''
(Hint to Deutsch: your consultant was sucking up to you.)
First it was Teleprompters and now this -- talking point reminders e-mailed to the podium in real time. Deutsch says nothing much was transmitted. ''It was nothing of substance,'' Deutsch said Thursday of the two e-mails he erased. 'It said, `You're doing a good job.' ''
(Hint to Deutsch: your consultant was sucking up to you.)
Mystery delegates (cont.)
The GOP secret delegates flap warms slightly. Dems say the Republicans are not releasing the convention delegates names because they reflect a lack of diversity and the presence of special interests. A Sun-Sentinel editorial says They've got to be kidding.
Meanwhile the press release from the Republicans says the delegation is 24 percent minority members. You just have to take that on faith since nobody knows who they are. It lists as evidence a Cuban-American, a young person/woman and Rep. Carey Baker of Eustis. Carey Baker? What minority is he? Are they are now counting Methodists and NRA members as minorities?
Meanwhile the press release from the Republicans says the delegation is 24 percent minority members. You just have to take that on faith since nobody knows who they are. It lists as evidence a Cuban-American, a young person/woman and Rep. Carey Baker of Eustis. Carey Baker? What minority is he? Are they are now counting Methodists and NRA members as minorities?
8/05/2004
'patriarch of Southern rock'
Lacy Van Zant, father of those Van Zant boys of Lynyrd Skynyrd dies at 89.
During the late '60s, Mr. Van Zant, a Nassau County native who spent more than 20 years on the road as a truck driver, purchased music equipment, drove the bands to shows, loaned them money and repaired band vehicles.
"But the good book says it's not what goes into a man's belly that's important, it's what comes out of his mouth that counts. So as long as my boys don't glorify the devil, and as long as they keep it clean, why I'll back 'em all the way," Mr. Van Zant said.
During the late '60s, Mr. Van Zant, a Nassau County native who spent more than 20 years on the road as a truck driver, purchased music equipment, drove the bands to shows, loaned them money and repaired band vehicles.
"But the good book says it's not what goes into a man's belly that's important, it's what comes out of his mouth that counts. So as long as my boys don't glorify the devil, and as long as they keep it clean, why I'll back 'em all the way," Mr. Van Zant said.
Mystery delegates
Just to show how far we've come from the idea that political convention delegates are representatives of their area the Florida GOP says its delegate list will be secret.
I understand: If you were going to a convention to nominate George Bush for another term would you want people to find out?
I understand: If you were going to a convention to nominate George Bush for another term would you want people to find out?
Printer breakdown
My printer, the HP DeskJet 3820, is such a lemon that it has a Web site devoted to fixing it when its gears break -- and the gears will break within a few months to a year. (See the unhappy comments in Amazon.). This help is not provided by the manufacturer, of course, but by a guy in the UK who will sell you new gears. The directions are very clear but for $18 and the stress and time involved with taking the thing apart without losing the pieces or cracking the plastic, it just doesn't seem worth it.
Still, I'm just cheap enough that it seems like an option.
Still, I'm just cheap enough that it seems like an option.
8/04/2004
One more down in Senate race
Mystery candidate Karen Saull has decided to drop out of the race for Senate. (I'd point you to the original Vero Beach Press Journal story but it requires registration, and really, when would you want to go back to that site again?)
"The Republican Party has closed me out," Saull wrote in an e-mail to the newspaper.
Saull is the wife of Vero Beach businessman Jeffrey Saull who bankrolled the double-your-homestead-exemption-and-to-hell-with-the-schools amendment, lately tossed off the ballot by the Fla. Supreme Court. She ran a stealth campaign, refusing to talk with the press and making few, if any, public appearances.
"The Republican Party has closed me out," Saull wrote in an e-mail to the newspaper.
Saull is the wife of Vero Beach businessman Jeffrey Saull who bankrolled the double-your-homestead-exemption-and-to-hell-with-the-schools amendment, lately tossed off the ballot by the Fla. Supreme Court. She ran a stealth campaign, refusing to talk with the press and making few, if any, public appearances.
8/03/2004
State of weirdness
CNN.com runs a Hiassen piece -- Carl Hiassen and the state of weirdness.
"The thing that's always surprised me about Florida is how cheaply and shabbily the politicians can be bought down there," Hiassen said. "All it takes is minimal campaign support, or, in the case of those who actually take bribes, it sure doesn't take much to buy them."
Sad but true. Every time I do basic follow-the-contributions research on a piece of legislation or a vote to change local land-plans I'm amazed at the paltriness of the sums involved. In Florida, your average special interest gets more than its money's worth. It should be in business recruiting brochures -- our politicians are bargains!
"The thing that's always surprised me about Florida is how cheaply and shabbily the politicians can be bought down there," Hiassen said. "All it takes is minimal campaign support, or, in the case of those who actually take bribes, it sure doesn't take much to buy them."
Sad but true. Every time I do basic follow-the-contributions research on a piece of legislation or a vote to change local land-plans I'm amazed at the paltriness of the sums involved. In Florida, your average special interest gets more than its money's worth. It should be in business recruiting brochures -- our politicians are bargains!
8/01/2004
What about that other felons list?
This year's defective potential felons list would have prevented a disproportionately large number of black people from voting but very few Hispanics. But what about back in 2000? Did that year's potential felons list have the same problem? It sure did says Contrapositive. One more factor that elected made George Bush president.
Meanwhile, the Herald reports the company that was paid $2.7 million for the latest form of the database was having trouble with the job from the start. (Oh, yeah: and of course this outsourced to a company that fled to Bermuda to avoid American taxes.)
Meanwhile, the Herald reports the company that was paid $2.7 million for the latest form of the database was having trouble with the job from the start. (Oh, yeah: and of course this outsourced to a company that fled to Bermuda to avoid American taxes.)
Times for Castor/Martinez
It seems too early in the summer for this, but the St. Pete Times has become the first major paper in the state to endorse in the US Senate races. The picks -- Castor and Martinez, with rather more enthusiasm shown for the former.
