Florida
updated
2:49 a.m.
Congressman Mike Pence (R Obstructionist-IN-06), who currently serves as House Republican Conference Chairman and proudly admits that he believes every word in the Bible, today announced his endorsement of Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate. Charlie Crist, once the "darling" of the Republican establishment is done. Stick a fork in him if he remains a Republican... ...
DailyKos (Florida) - Mon 3:48 p.m.
Is it smart for U.S. Presidents to stay neutral in the Super Bowl ? was the question posed to the The Chris Matthews Show panel on football's most hallowed day. Although all political thinking signs would suggest neutrality, President Obama sided with the sentimental favorite, the New Orleans Saints. Playing the Presidential name game strategically, Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan bot...
Talk to Me - Mon 3:46 a.m.
I've been hammering at Bank of America and other big banks for their predatory lending and awful customer service. Seems I'm not the only one: Italy Seizes Bank of America Assets - Fraud Is Finally Catching Up With Wall St./Bankers From what I can tell, the bank near me that has done the best is TD Bank. I am switching to TD and so far I am happy. They avoided predatory lending (probably bec...
DailyKos (Florida) - Sun 9:19 a.m. - 18 clicks 
Despite the scandals of cronyism-at-all-cost that some critics would say cost Rudy Giuliani the Republican Presidential nomination in 2007 and early 2008, the Florida GOP gubernatorial hopeful and long-time Giuliani ally Bill McCollum made the former Presidential hopeful star of his campaign, Saturday in Orlando. "Rudy Giuliani became the poster-boy for political cronyism during the Bernard Keric...
Change In Talahassee - Sat 12:28 p.m. - 7 clicks
During yesterday's City Council workshop on the Mercer Study, Councilman John Jerralds broached the often-taboo topic of tax increases, saying that an increase in ad valorem property taxes may be necessary to balance the budget and give City employees raises: If we have to go back to increasing the millage [rate], I wouldn't hesitate to do it. The City's millage rate currently stands at 4.53...
Progressive Pensacola - Fri 11:42 a.m.
The decision by City Council last year to commission the Mercer Group's study of City employees' compensation and pension benefits was ill-advised. City employees already knew they were underpaid — now they have it in black and white, from a professional consultant. Yesterday's workshop on the Mercer Study, which was widely attended by City employees, illustrated the bad position in which the Cit...
Progressive Pensacola - Fri 8:22 a.m.
After concerns were raised here and by several City Council members, City Manager Al Coby has pulled the City's deposits from poorly-rated Coastal Bank and Trust, moving the $28 million to Wachovia (Wells Fargo). Mr. Coby advised Council members of the move in an information item to the Finance Committee. Concerns arose based on Coastal Bank and Trust's poor two-star, or “Problematic” rating fro...
Progressive Pensacola - Fri 7:26 a.m.
How does ownership of a big deficit help keep America away from Great Depression Land? Economist Austan Goolsbee does the math with Jon Stewart over at The Daily Show. Goolsbee--on leave from the University of Chicago where he is the Robert P. Gwinn Professor of Economics at the Booth School of Business-- serves as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Obama an...
Talk to Me - Fri 5:26 a.m.
Attached below is Mayor Wiggins' letter to the Northwest Florida legislative delegation regarding the City Council's position on the proposed consolidation plan developed by the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission (ECCSC). Resolution #35-08, adopted by the Council in November 2008, clearly specified that the City Council "shall communicate its approval or disapproval" of the consolidat...
Progressive Pensacola - Thu 9:46 p.m. - 9 clicks
Crist opposes changing 'don't ask, don't tell' Gov. Charlie Crist , a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, does not support abolishing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy affecting gays and lesbians in the military. The 1993 policy was intended to be a political compromise that let gay men and women serve so long as they stayed silent about their sexuality. But Pr...
Change In Talahassee - Thu 1:12 p.m. - 2 clicks
You heard this right, just because they did not get a 47.1 percent rate increase from state regulators they are punishing their customers in Florida. They also said they would be insolvent without the increase due to the hurrican losses in recent years. Fortunately, their have been no losses in the last 2 years. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/... ...
DailyKos (Florida) - Thu 10:48 a.m. - 8 clicks
Below is the breakdown of what the Pensacola City Council will consider in the coming week. As always, expenditures are highlighted. Links to the full agendas are included at the bottom of the page. Included in the full agendas are copies of any contracts, agreements, ordinances, or resolutions. Note: This meeting will take place on Monday, February 8. The meeting begins at 3:15 PM in the Hagler/...
Progressive Pensacola - Thu 10:20 a.m. - 2 clicks
Supporters of the consolidation plan developed by the Escambia County Consolidation Study Commission (ECCSC) plan have organised an "informational meeting" to be held later this month. The event is billed as "presented by" the ECCSC, Home Builders Association of West Florida, the Pensacola News Journal, WEAR-TV, and the Pensacola Young Professionals. The meeting is set for......
Progressive Pensacola - Thu 6:01 a.m. - 2 clicks
This past weekend Equality Florida had it's first public fundraiser in Osceola County when it partnered with the Osceola Center for the Arts to promote a special benefit performance of the hit Broadway musical A Chorus Line. Directed by Donald Rupe, an EQFL Florida Council Member, A Chorus Line was produced as a part the Center's 2009-2010 Broadway Series and included a cast of Central Fl...
Equality Florida - Thu 1:01 a.m. - 3 clicks
Little late this week getting the newsletter to Daily Kos. Some parts might be outdated, but most is up to date. I also want to draw attention to a fellow Culture Kitchen blogger, Leo Igwe, whose attempts to further reason and oppose fundamentalism in Nigeria have gotten him beaten up by a mob and harassed by cops. Here are his two most recent articles regarding Nigeria: Humanism and the Ques...
DailyKos (Florida) - Wed 6:03 p.m. - 10 clicks
What do autism, NASA and FCAT serve up in common? Several hot stories breaking in the last couple of days. Florida Today asks tough questions of NASA administrator Charles Bolden. (No easy answers for space, 2/3/10). The future of the Frontier and Beyond appears more restructured than scrapped. The demise of Project Constellation was raised in the form of this question: Why is Presi...
Talk to Me - Wed 3:48 a.m.
Poor Charlie, he can't catch a break. We Floridians realize what hard work it is to hold down one full time job while looking around for another these days, we're all doing it so nobody can fault the Guv. That job hunt has him channeling Olympic Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson as he tries, tries again to hold the center while seeking votes from Conservative voters while some on the left tease h...
DailyKos (Florida) - Wed 3:07 a.m. - 5 clicks
I'll take misogynistic, homophobic, racist crap for $100, Mr. Trebek... CNN is reporting that the Transportation Security Administration has launched an investigation into a field office in Florida where supervisors used a game show-style crew assignment board to ridicule and keep score on "women, gays and other minorities" : The board, resembling the TV game show "Jeopardy," includes c...
Bilerico Project Florida - Tue 3:25 p.m. - 4 clicks
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/us/politics/03military.htm February 2, 2010 Top Defense Officials Seek to End ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ By ELISABETH BUMILLER WASHINGTON — The nation’s top two Defense officials called for an end on Tuesday to the 16-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, a major step toward allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the United States military for t...
Equality Florida - Tue 10:49 a.m. - 3 clicks
This election year, voters will be asked about six proposed constitutional amendments on a variety of issues. Proposed amendments relating to campaign finance laws and legislative redistricting, will have an impact on Florida elections for years to come. From tampabay.com : Repeal of public campaign finance laws : The Florida Legislature voted in the spring to put before voters a propos...
Equality Florida - Tue 10:49 a.m. - 6 clicks
The compensation and benefits study commissioned last year by the Pensacola City Council has been completed. The study, performed by The Mercer Group, is available below. The $25,000 study was criticised by Progressive Pensacola and others as unnecessary. Before taking any action to address the City's unfunded pension liability, some Council members felt the need to have a comprehensive study of ...
Progressive Pensacola - Tue 8:05 a.m. - 4 clicks
Florida's safety net for people in need is shredding in the face of escalating demand and dwindling resources, says the head of the state's United Way network. And Florida's safety net is almong the nation's weakest . Ted Granger, president of United Way of Florida , says social service agencies statewide are seeing more and more people who are homeless and hungry. The 211 referral hotlines ar...
The 13th Juror - Tue 8:05 a.m. - 5 clicks
The committee recently established by the Pensacola City Council to study Councilwoman Maren DeWeese's "Pensacola's Promise" proposal will hold its inaugural meeting tomorrow afternoon. The meeting will be held beginning at 4:00 PM in the Whibbs Conference Room, first floor, City Hall. Pensacola's Promise — modelled after similar programs in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and elsewhere — would be a place-...
Progressive Pensacola - Tue 7:25 a.m. - 2 clicks
The office of Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford has unveiled a new website. According to a news release, "redesigned and enhanced site builds on the success of the original by providing even more information to the public, while increasing functionality and ease of navigation." The new framework will allow the Supervisor of Elections to more quickly update information on the...
Progressive Pensacola - Tue 7:09 a.m. - 3 clicks
Obama's 3.8 billion dollar 2011 fiscal budget (proposed) is hot off the press. Let's take a look at what Politico calls the winners and losers. (Titles in red are my own). Winners. Education: No Child Left Behind on the way out? Obama calls for ramped-up education spending. Department of Education outlays would increase from $32.4 billion in ...
Talk to Me - Tue 3:46 a.m.
More than $2 billion for HUD grants to combat nationwide homelessness sounds good. But President Obama's budget also includes steep cuts to housing programs for the elderly and persons with disabilities. Funding for tenant-based and project-based rental assistance programs was increased by $2.1 billion compared with 2010. Targeted cuts in the proposed budget include housing assistance for peopl...
The 13th Juror - Feb 1 - 4 clicks
I really have no idea if Charlie Crist could logistically run as a Democrat for U.S. Senator from Florida. The primary is in August and it's a closed primary; would Kendrick Meek give up his run, and if not would Charlie Crist manage to beat him in the Dem. primary? Governor Charlie Crist, Republican from Florida, finds his run for U.S. Senate in Scozzafava/Specter territory. This ...
DailyKos (Florida) - Feb 1
As the front page article pointed out on Rasmussen, Crist now LAGS Marc Rubio 12 points in the GOP primary. For those of you who don't live in Florida and don't know Charlie Crist, couple things: He is the ultimate colossal panderer that only takes bold stands on nondivisive issues such as texting while driving. His principles change with the wind. When Florida ...
DailyKos (Florida) - Feb 1
Rasmussen . 1/27. Likely voters. MoE 5% ( 12/14 results) Republican senate primary Charlie Crist (R) 37 (43) Marco Rubio (R) 49 (43) Has Rubio spent even a dime on television advertisements? Heck, the upstart hasn't even raised that much money, especially for a state as massive as Florida. This is pretty much a grassroots uprising by Florida conservatives. Now these numb...
DailyKos (Florida) - Feb 1 - 6 clicks
The Pensacola City Council has a special meeting and two workshop sessions scheduled for this week. The busy week starts tomorrow (Tuesday) with a budget workshop on outside agency funding for FY2011. Council will discuss applications for funding submitted by external agencies. In total, sixteen agencies submitted applications and together are requesting funding in the amount of $739,600. Obvious...
Progressive Pensacola - Feb 1 - 3 clicks
Following up on the civil conversation demonstrated between President Obama and Republicans in attendance at the last week's GOP Baltimore retreat, Meet the Press moderator Matthew Gregory pressed House Minority Whip John Boehner into a bit of weekend conversation. Topic? Solving this country's problems. MR. GREGORY: Well, let's talk about solving problems. This is one of the points ...
Talk to Me - Feb 1
Wednesday night volunteers from across the state joined us for our first ADOPT EQUALITY phone bank. First timers and seasoned volunteers alike committed 2 hours and made hundreds of calls to Florida voters to ask where they stand on Florida's shameful adoption ban. Right now, these conversations are crucial. The Florida 2010 legislative session will begin in just a few short weeks and an...
Bilerico Project Florida - Jan 31 - 3 clicks
Several Bilerico contributors and staff will be at the NGLTF Creating Change conference next week and we'll be featuring our yearly coverage chock full of interviews, reports and gossip - and we're sponsoring six sessions on internet activism . In fact, we love seeing y'all so much, we're hosting a blogger/Twitter reception on Friday night at 8:30 too! I know many of you are excited about t...
Bilerico Project Florida - Jan 30
Word on the street this evening is that the downtown post office will be staying open. The station had been on a list of locations which the Postal Service was considering closing to cut costs. Topping that list were post offices housed in leased buildings, such as the downtown station. The news that the downtown station could be closed prompted a community outcry, including a well-attended meeti...
Progressive Pensacola - Jan 29
For the last week, homeless people sleeping near Jacksonville's City Rescue Mission have been chased away from the sidewalk nearby. And then the mission itself was warned by city code enforcement about garbage left on the sidewalks outside its fence. The mission says it was blindsided by the actions, because the few dozen people who sleep outside the mission's New Life Inn , which has been ful...
The 13th Juror - Jan 29 - 7 clicks
Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman issued the following statement on the news that the nation's GDP grew by 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, the fastest growth since 2003--a sign that the national economy is moving out of recession: "Today's news that the GDP has grown at its fastest rate since 2003 is a welcome sign that our nation's economy is turning a cor...
Change In Talahassee - Jan 29 - 4 clicks
Yesterday at the town hall meeting in Tampa, President Obama expressed his support for benefits for same-sex couples. ...
Equality Florida - Jan 29 - 2 clicks
Delegation, The Pensacola City Council has voted to disapprove the current plan of Consolidation that was submitted January 15th to the delegation. The majority of Council clearly feel that the plan as submitted was rushed, is incomplete and is a bad deal for the citizens of the City of Pensacola. This makes all three elected bodies in Escambia County (Century, Pensacola and Escambia County) t...
Progressive Pensacola - Jan 29 - 4 clicks
Robert P. Watson, Ph.D. There is a lot of misinformation circulating on talk radio, at town hall meetings, in the blogosphere, and around office water coolers about President Obama not accomplishing anything in his first year in office. It is time to set the record straight with a list of Obama’s initiatives for 2009. Ethics • Ordered the [...]...
Refreshingly Honest - Jan 28
Last night the President gave his much anticipated State of the Union speech. Surely, the economy was to be a big part of the speech, but many wondered if LGBT Americans were going to be included. The President delivered a feisty speech, with a touch of humor, that touched on hate crimes and "Don't Ask, don't tell". Here is the text from that portion of his speech: " Abroad, America'...
Equality Florida - Jan 28
The Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus, an arm of the Florida Democratic Party representing the Sunshine State's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) residents, will hold its winter conference in St. Petersburg Friday, February 26 through Sunday, February 28. The event, whose theme is OUTburst!, is hosted by the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County and is being held to coincide with ...
Change In Talahassee - Jan 28 - 7 clicks
Driving past the Beltway noise, President Obama "cleared a few things up " at last night's State of the Union. He restated the facts, reviewed accomplishments of the last year and focused on the future. Both sides of the aisles rose to their feet in support of the President's remarks, but the big surprise of the evening proved a bit disconcerting for the Supreme Court more accustomed to s...
Talk to Me - Jan 28
Republican House Minority Whip John Boehner found himself in a bit of uncharacteristic one on one with NPR's Steve Inskeep on today's Morning Edition . STEVE INSKEEP, host: One person listening tonight will be John Boehner, the leader of Republicans in the House. His goal is to win this falls congressional elections and become speaker of the House. How is that goal li...
Talk to Me - Jan 27
We've got a special treat for Projectors today... Contributor Jeff Sheng has been previewing photos from his "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" series on TBP, but now his first book has been released. To help Jeff celebrate the new book, we're going to give a copy to 5 lucky readers. Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Volume 1 is the first book from Jeff's DADT series. I've seen an advance copy and it is vi...
Bilerico Project Florida - Jan 27
From the Miami Herald: BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER, cmarbin@MiamiHerald.com With the blessing of her large extended family, Vanessa Alenier took custody of an infant relative who had been seized by child welfare workers. She moved him into a yellow nursery with a blonde wood crib, a blue-striped carpet and a mobile. When she asked the state to for permission to adopt him, the application...
Equality Florida - Jan 27 - 2 clicks
A man found dead in a homeless camp south of Sanford was a homicide victim, authorities said. Deputies were flagged down and by a man who told them someone was dead in a homeless camp in the woods behind the Quick Stop at U.S. Highway 17-92 and Collins drive, south of Sanford, said a spokesman for the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. The victim has been identified as 56-year-old Albert Capps...
The 13th Juror - Jan 27 - 2 clicks
7.5 MG Hydrocodine 1.5 MG Alpraolam 50 MG Sertraline 150MG Bupropion Hydrochloride 50 ML Entracept ...
Saint Petersblog - Jan 26
Your eyes open and the only light is the alarm clock blinking twelve o’clock in steady one-second intervals of red light and the life your living is killing you one interval at a time. Hotel curtains block everything including the sun and your not sure if its night or day, but you wish time could stop like it does for that digital clock in front of you; just for a one-second interval. ...
Saint Petersblog - Jan 26
It's being reported this morning that the White House has asked Sen. Carl Levin (D), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to ask him to hold off on a hearing that would consider repealing "Don't Ask, don't tell". The hearing was expected to be at the end of January, some believe the target date was to be on Jan. 28, the day after the President's first State of the Union address....
Equality Florida - Jan 26
From the Palm Beach Post : Cerabino: Bill McCollum's gay-rights clock stuck in 1977 By FRANK CERABINO Palm Beach Post Staff Writer I'm pretty confident that Bill McCollum is for gay adoption. Just not this year. Or anytime soon. That's because the social justice clock of Florida's attorney general runs slow, at least a generation slow. He has only just gotten a...
Equality Florida - Jan 25 - 3 clicks
From Tampabay.com In Democratic race for attorney general, candidates offer contrast in style, experience By Steve Bousquet, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau TALLAHASSEE — At first glance, they seem alike: Both men are politically ambitious lawyers and state senators from South Florida. But real differences separate Dave Aronberg and Dan Gelber, who are fighting for the ...
Equality Florida - Jan 25 - 2 clicks
A candidate for governor of South Carolina has compared giving people government assistance to "feeding stray animals." "My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed," said Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, who is a Republican. "You're facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food suppl...
The 13th Juror - Jan 24 - 2 clicks
Florida suburbs were among the first to see the effects of the “Great Recession” translate into significant increases in poverty between 2007 and 2008. It was the leading edge of a trend seen all across the country. By 2008, suburbs were home to the largest and fastest-growing poor population. Between 2000 and 2008, suburbs in the largest metro areas saw their poor population grow almost five tim...
The 13th Juror - Jan 24 - 5 clicks
After one bad Senate election, most Democrats in Washington are on the verge of full-fledged retreat and everything we've fought for together hangs in the balance. They have signaled they are open to dramatically scaling back health care reform. The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee says he might gut the financial reform bill to appease Republicans . And on top of all that, the S...
Change In Talahassee - Jan 24
Read full article here I was proud to testify this week in what I believe will soon be seen as one of the defining civil rights cases of our time, Perry v. Schwarzenegger. I did so as a Republican mayor, a father, and a former police chief with over 26 years of experience on the force. But I also testified as an American who has seen the effects of discrimination - and who believes that discr...
Equality Florida - Jan 23
The Prop 8 trial continued this week and we kept up our daily coverage and live multi-source Twitter feed. That wasn't the only major story this week though. Check out some of the great posts we ran this week: Sunday A Problem and a Proposal Filed by: D Gregory Smith Hair, gender, and power Filed by: Alex Blaze Monday Donor-Turned-Boyfriend after Break-Up Filed by: Michele O...
Bilerico Project Florida - Jan 23
The Fair Districts Florida campaign has announced they have officially made the ballot for the 2010. Read the press release below. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 22, 2010 Redistricting amendments on the ballot: Florida voters earn historic chance to vote to stop politicians from rigging districts After November passage voters will choose elected officials – not ...
Equality Florida - Jan 22 - 3 clicks
From the Orlando Sentinel: Sometimes Martin Gill forgets what day it is. And then he starts to feel stressed and anxious and realizes, Oh, this must be Wednesday . Wednesday, between 10:30 and 10:45 a.m., is when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in Miami releases its rulings on its Web site. Any Wednesday now, the Court of Appeals will release its ruling on whether Florida's ba...
Equality Florida - Jan 22 - 2 clicks
Aronberg announces Broward steering committee Social Media Consulting, Web Presence, Call Center Technology Book A FREE 1/2 Hr. Phone Consultation ...
Change In Talahassee - Jan 21 - 5 clicks
Join Us for 2010 Lobby Week in Tallahassee March 15-17, 2010. Register Today! In just a few short weeks, the Florida State Legislature will be called to session. Your state elected officials will be making big decisions that will have a lasting impact on your life. Lend your voice to support for three key bills that would: Repeal Florida's Adoption ban Pass workpla...
Equality Florida - Jan 21 - 2 clicks
The creation of a daytime homeless shelter in the urban core is being supported by Jacksonville's mayor. The shelter, proposed by area non-profits , would help the homeless and needy off the streets and into jobs. Mayor John Peyton says it would be located at the Sulzbacher Center and provide a location for individuals to do laundry, make phone calls and receive counseling. Read The Florida ...
The 13th Juror - Jan 21 - 3 clicks
Sister Cathy Gorman was in her 20s when she arrived at the wary farm-working community of Apopka. She quickly earned migrants' trust working beside them in the fields. Sister Cathy Gorman touched the lives of thousands of migrant farmworkers and poor and disenfranchised families in Central Florida. She died Jan. 5, two months shy of her retirement party, from heart failure. She was 65....
The 13th Juror - Jan 20 - 3 clicks
A group of about 60 homeless people and their supporters convinced the Boulder City Council on Tuesday night to consider a moratorium on tickets for sleeping in parks, under bridges or in other public areas. The City Council directed City Manager Jane Brautigam to bring back language within a few weeks for an emergency ordinance that would suspend enforcement of the no-camping rule. T...
The 13th Juror - Jan 20 - 2 clicks
President Obama's department of justice is taking a stand for LGBTQA students. This very inspiring step forward is an example of a small yet very important change that has occurred from the Bush administration to the Obama administration. Read this story from the "Advocate" for more: The Justice Department is stepping in to defend a gay high school student who was bullied for being effeminate. ...
Equality Florida - Jan 19 - 2 clicks
Coverage of the Prop 8 Perry v Schwarzenegger trial dominated the LGBT blogosphere this week and Bilerico Project has our own correspondent inside the courtroom. New contributor Davina Kotulski has provided regular updates while Gloria Nieto also gave her impressions from the day she attended. All week long our multi-source live Twitter feed from the Prop 8 trial was immensely popular, but 140 ...
Bilerico Project Florida - Jan 17
