Florida
updated
4:56 p.m.
What was Sarah Palin thinking? Is her resignation another wack-job moment or a shrewd maneuver that sets her up early for a "maverick" presidential campaign?...
The Political Whore - 4:56 p.m.
What a week for the Bilerico sites this has been! First we were named one of the Advocate's "Top Political Blogs" and then we c elebrated our second birthday with news of an upcoming redesign . Let us know what you like and don't like about the site so we can incorporate your suggestions! While you're waiting for new posts to start again after the holiday, here's the best posts from this wee...
Bilerico Project Florida - 3:45 p.m.
WFLA Homophobic TV Program: Help Decide the Next Steps Click here to take our survey. Protest at the studio? Reach out to advertisers? Boycott? Over the past few days we've gotten tons of email from across Florida suggesting next steps as our community responds to the airing of the reckless, homophobic program on WFLA (NBC) in Tampa. This has become a statewide and nationwide is...
Bilerico Project Florida - 12:08 p.m.
It's not enough that he has set Catholicism back several decades (you should have known that was his objective when he chose the name of the last pope he could actually respect, Benedict XV, 1914-1922, who invented canon law). Having torched seminaries with his witch hunt for homosexual candidates for the priesthood, he has now turned his bloody eye on that weakest and most endangered workforce ...
Bilerico Project Florida - 10:53 a.m.
Do we really need a panel to study a buy-out proposal for land that is not for sale in order to preserve it — especially when it is already listed in our Comprehensive Plan as Preservation?...
The Political Whore - 10:53 a.m.
Over the next 100 days, Stonewall Library & Archives needs 100 supporters who will contribute 100 dollars. 100Days x 100People x 100Dollars Everyone who contributes 100 dollars during this drive receives a Stonewall baseball cap! 100Days x 100People x 100Dollars Go online today and make a donation or see Jack or Chad at the library and help us reach our ...
Bilerico Project Florida - 9:03 a.m.
The name didnt ring a bell when I saw it in my local paper a few weeks ago. It announced that he was running for Governor on the Democratic ticket in 2010. I meant to cut the article out and google the guys name but the paper made it to the recycle bin before I got to it and remembering names isnt as easy as it used to be in my younger days. Today, however I got a second chance. While perusing...
Progress Florida Blog - 8:17 a.m.
Progress Florida's Best of the Blogs for week ending 7-3-09 Note: the Best of the Blogs is featured weekly as part of Progress Florida's popular free Daily Clips service. On Florida Hometown Democracy, For Four! By Gimleteye Eye On Miami According to The Miami Herald, developer Jorge Perez has whittled down his debt to $1.2 billion from $1.5 billion but has stashed away enough net worth...
Progress Florida Blog - 8:17 a.m.
I have never taken the new Mustang on a trip to the Keys, so today I am going to put the top down -- before it rains -- put on some sunscreen, put on the Beach Boys, and head south. See you later. ...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - 8:16 a.m.
Scott Farrell reviews the funny, revealing new bio of George Steinbrenner by St. Petersburg's Peter Golenbock, author of such inside-baseball classics as "The Bronx Zoo."...
The Political Whore - 7:38 a.m.
Karl Rove , the undisputed master of pre-packaged, organized, controlled, and scripted events, on President Obama's town hall meeting on health care in Virginia: This White House has carried pre-packaged, organized, controlled, scripted events to a new height, and they're getting away with things that in any previous White House, the media would have eviscerated the press secretary and the White ...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - 5:18 a.m.
I really enjoy being a premium member of Salon.com , but their accounting and credit card department leaves a lot to be desired. I don't need to go into all the details, but my suggestion to them is that they come up with simple way of editing credit card information on their customer's account so that when you change from one card to another, you don't get charged for another year's subscripti...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - 4:41 a.m.
I was watching the Weather Channel this morning and when they went to a commercial, the late Billy Mays was still shouting at me. I guess video tape is the key to immorality, but I think it's a little creepy to have someone whose death got a bit of attention last week still on the air. I suppose there are contractual issues at stake, and I'm sure his family doesn't mind the income, but I thoug...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - 4:41 a.m.
The irony-challenged Family Research Council has launched an attack against Kevin Jennings, President Obama's appointee to a post in the Department of Education, because he's (gasp) gay and he used to be the executive director of GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. Jennings is set to begin his new job on Monday, as Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education for the Department...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - 4:26 a.m.
9.5% -- That's the unemployment number for June. I.O.U. -- That's how California is paying its bills. US forces push into the Helmand Valley in Afghanistan against the Taliban. A grand jury is looking into the destruction of CIA videos of torture. What would Katherine Graham have said about this idea at the Washington Post ? No Surprise -- Dick Cheney orchestrated the White House...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - 4:26 a.m.
A long holiday weekend ahead, so let's look back and see what the LC had to say about it. - A Blog Around The Clock - from the archives ... clock evolution. - All Facts and Opinions - Oh, Sarah... - archy has a great post on the state of God in America. - Bark Bark Woof Woof - nice talk from the president about gay rights. - Bloggg - healthy questions. - Dohiyi Mir - July 2 is really...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - 2:37 a.m.
The murder of a gay sailor on a naval base in California may raise further questions about the potential dangers of the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy....
The Political Whore - Thu 3:27 p.m.
WFLA Homophobic TV Program: Help Decide the Next Steps How Should We Hold WFLA Accountable for Homophobic Programming? Protest at the studio? Reach out to advertisers? Boycott? Help Decide Next Steps - Take Our Survey and Tell Us What You Think Over the past few days we've gotten tons of email from our members suggesting next steps as ...
Equality Florida - Thu 2:28 p.m.
You knew it'd all end up in Florida somehow: Mark Sanford is bringing his crazy show down to Hobe Sound to spend Fourth of July with his wife and her family. The in-laws. Who must love all this....
The Political Whore - Thu 2:28 p.m. - 2 clicks 
I've certainly done enough damage to Jamie Bennett's campaign that I should probably never say another thing about him. Naaahhh. Bennett's just too easy a target. And with Alex Haak out of the mayoral race, I predict Jamie Bennett will pick up the slack in the guffaw department. My latest gripe about Bennett comes from listening to him at the most recent mayoral forums. It seems like he begi...
Saint Petersblog - Thu 1:46 p.m. - 5 clicks
At the July 1st commission meeting, the Oakland Park City Commission, working with the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER), Fight OUT Loud, and many other organizations, brought forward a city resolution calling for the President and the United States Congress to adopt the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009 (House Resolution 1283), which ...
Bilerico Project Florida - Thu 1:43 p.m.
Nice story in the Naples News Thursday about how pleased Southwest Florida legislators are over this year's recent session. Good to know they're happy to give themselves a pat on the back for capping the amount Big Tobacco has to set aside for lawsuits; trying to loosen the class size amendment, eliminate public art funding, and open the eastern Gulf up to reckless drilling; and makin...
Progress Florida Blog - Thu 12:44 p.m. - 2 clicks
On Tuesday, a military board told Lt. Dan Choi, an Iraq War veteran and Arabic linguist, that it was recommending his discharge from the Army for "moral and professional dereliction" under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. He would be stripped of his rank. Despite this setback, Lt. Choi is not giving up. Bolstered by more than 300,000 signatures to letters of support calling for t...
Bilerico Project Florida - Thu 11:45 a.m.
The St. Petersburg Times has published more incrimating emails between Bob Richburg and Ray Sansom. Both Mr. Richburg, former president of Northwest Florida State College, and Rep. Sansom, former Florida House Speaker, are under indictment for perjury and official misconduct in connection with a plot to build an airplane hangar. In the latest emails published by the Times, Mr. Richburg writes to ...
Progressive Pensacola - Thu 11:45 a.m. - 5 clicks
A few things I wanted to highlight today: The Buzz: "Attorney General Holly Benson?" The St. Petersburg Times political blog The Buzz reports that Republican strategist Sally Bradshaw is floating Pensacolian Holly Benson's name as a possible Republican candidate for Attorney General in 2010. Ms. Benson presently serves as Secretary of Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration, and is the s...
Progressive Pensacola - Thu 11:06 a.m. - 4 clicks
When I was asked to review The Progressive Revolution: How the Best in America Came to Be by Michael Lux of Openleft.com fame, I expected another partisan rehash of "Yay Liberals! Boo Conservatives!" with little depth. Instead, what I got was one of the most insightful and exciting historical looks at America's ongoing battle with itself and its ideals I have ever read. The book takes ...
Bilerico Project Florida - Thu 10:29 a.m.
Last Sunday, Bill Safire wrote in his "On Language" column about the use of "Straw Man" in political speechifying, in which you set someone up just to knock them down. Safire uses President Obama as an example when he says “I know some folks in Washington and on Wall Street are saying we should just focus on their problems.” Some folks, like those who are never named but are always wrongheaded...
Saint Petersblog - Thu 10:29 a.m.
From The SPTimes:The Hillsborough State Attorney's Office won't prosecute Brian Blair on child abuse charges. Blair was arrested on Father's Day after a confrontation involving his two sons. In a memorandum, Assistant State Attorney Rita Peters characterized the scuffle between Blair and his 17-year-old son Brett as "discipline," given the history between the two. ...
Saint Petersblog - Thu 10:29 a.m. - 2 clicks
As many of you know, Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino and Pensacola City Councilman Sam Hall are being investigated by the State Attorney's office for a possible Sunshine violation. The investigation centers on a meeting the two had on April 28. Rick Outzen and Co. have covered the details, so I won't rehash them here. Councilman Hall made some newsworthy comments at yesterday's meetin...
Progressive Pensacola - Thu 10:09 a.m.
The Times isn't the only source with for exclusive polling information. I've obtained a copy of a comprehensive voter survey of 400 registered St. Petersburg voters. I'll be sharing the results of this survey throughout the week. According to a survey of 400 registered voters in the City Council districts with an active race, almost 36% of respondents said they intended to vote by mail, a...
Saint Petersblog - Thu 10:09 a.m.
Dear Father Tony My steady boyfriend is a man who can't dance. He won't even try to learn how to dance. I dragged him onto the floor at our club just once. His face was so sad I gave up after a minute. My mother always said (not to me specifically) "Watch out for the ones who don't dance." I love to dance but I'm falling for a man I'll never dance with. Should I run the other way? ...
Bilerico Project Florida - Thu 8:19 a.m.
Below is the breakdown of what the Pensacola City Council will consider in the coming week. As always, direct expenditures are highlighted. Links to the full agendas are included at the bottom of the page. Note: This meeting will take place on Monday, July 6. The meeting begins at 9:00 AM in the Hagler/Mason Conference Room, second floor, City Hall. The Finance Committee, the Economic and Communi...
Progressive Pensacola - Thu 7:57 a.m.
At New York City's Gay and Lesbian Community Center, on Thursday June 25, 2009, the surviving founding members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) each had 3 minutes to tell a personal story from the earliest days of the movement. They discuss organizing, Stonewall, picketing, civil rights, dating, romance, activism and police action. Absolutely fascinating first hand accounts. Th...
Bilerico Project Florida - Thu 4:17 a.m.
I've done this one before, but it's been a while, and besides, summer is re-run time. Who is the most famous person you've met in person on a one-to-one basis? Mine would be President Jimmy Carter in April 1979. I was working as a news director for a small-town radio station in Michigan and I was invited to spend a day at the White House for one of their out-of-town news editors events. Ten o...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Thu 4:16 a.m.
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and her campaign against the census is annoying even to some of her fellow right-wingers. In a statement released Wednesday, Republican Reps. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia, and John Mica of Florida said that "boycotting the constitutionally-mandated census is illogical, illegal and not in the best interest of our country." Bachmann ...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Thu 2:37 a.m.
When a public figure gets caught in a sex scandal, their usual response is to clam up and not tell anyone what really happened, making everyone speculate and come to their own lurid conclusions as to who, what, when, and where. Not so with Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) . Sanford, the once-promising presidential prospect, agreed to first sit down with the AP hours after attending a state budget meetin...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Thu 1:21 a.m. - 3 clicks
He may have been a "character actor," but he was unforgettable in any role. Karl Malden, the Academy Award-winning character actor who for more than 60 years brought an intelligent intensity and a homespun authenticity to roles in theater, film and television, from “A Streetcar Named Desire” to “The Streets of San Francisco,” died on Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 97. [...] Mr. ...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Thu 1:21 a.m.
The U.S. launches a major assault on the Taliban in Afghanistan. California is still broke. They were warned -- An investigator for the SEC warned his office about Bernie Madoff in 2004. India decriminalizes consensual gay sex. Namaste . Where there's a will ... there's a custody battle. A python killed a two-year-old child in her crib. R.I.P. Harve Presnell. Tigers lose to...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Thu 1:01 a.m.
One of the unintended consequences about a really good mass transit system, like the T in Boston, is that almost everyone who uses it becomes a reader. We snagged the above photo off the web because we didn't think to bring a camera with us today, but it sort of illustrates the point. Take it from us, though: in every subway and commuter train car we rode in today, eight out ten passengers had...
Pensacola Beach Blog - Wed 8:01 p.m.
Bostonians tell us it has rained every day , so it seems to them, for an entire month. "Here it is July, a guy on the T said today, "and we haven't even had June yet." "Where's our summer?" a woman standing nearby grumbled. The forecast for the next five days? Cool and rainy, every day. ...
Pensacola Beach Blog - Wed 7:15 p.m.
That Glenn Beck is batshit crazy is beyond dispute. So it only makes sense that he has guests on his show that go down that road, too. Last night he had former CIA analyst Michael Scheuer on, and he calmly stated that for the only way for Americans to truly understand what's at stake in the world was for someone to blow the shit out of us. The only chance we have as a country right now is for ...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Wed 5:55 p.m.
The Vanity Fair article on Gov. Sarah Palin has set off a nasty fight within the ranks of the GOP. William Kristol , the editor of The Weekly Standard and at times an informal adviser to Sen. John McCain, touched off the latest back-and-forth Tuesday morning with a post on his magazine’s blog criticizing the Todd Purdum-authored Palin story and pointing a finger at Steve Schmidt, McCain’s...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Wed 3:58 p.m.
A jury took less than two hours to convict an Abilene teenager of murder in the beating death of a homeless man in 2007. Sixteen-year-old Michael Martinez Jr. could face up to life in prison. Eric McMahon, 48, was killed when he was hit by cinder blocks and kicked. Defense attorney David Thedford told the jury that Martinez acted out of fear of another man who he said threatened him and had a g...
The 13th Juror - Wed 12:21 p.m. - 6 clicks
A police officer resigned this morning from the Tarpon Springs Police Department after an internal investigation determined that he slashed the bicycle tires of a homeless man. Officer Jeffrey Robinson had retaliated for the homeless man's use of racial slurs Jan. 28 as Robinson was taking him to the Pinellas County Jail, the internal report said. A video captures Robinson, who is black, going i...
The 13th Juror - Wed 12:21 p.m. - 4 clicks
...can be found in the dichotomy of opinion between Adam Smith's and Cristina Silva's reporting from last night's mayoral forum. Smith, the veteran reporter, tweeted last night: "Frustrating watching SP mayor forums. 8 bright to vry bright cands, nobody rlly stnding out or saying anything unpredictable. Adds up 2 mush." On the other hand, Silva writes the article " St. Petersburg mayoral candid...
Saint Petersblog - Wed 11:28 a.m.
And He's talking to Joe the Plumber . Asked if he has plans to run for public office, he replied, “I hope not. You know, I talked to God about that and he was like, ‘No.’” Whew. Good going, God. ...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Wed 9:43 a.m.
Over the last several days, Equality Florida has received a few emails suggesting that our recent efforts - condemning Tampa NBC affiliate WFLA's screening of a homophobic infomercial - amount to censorship. We could not disagree more. Equality Florida would vigorously defend the American Family Association's (AFA) RIGHT to say what they want. Only government can take rights away, and we would s...
Equality Florida - Wed 9:32 a.m. - 5 clicks
Last month, I wrote that Tiger Bay's announcement for Chuck Harmon's appearanc e was just a little too over the top, even by the organization's snarky standards. Now, it looks like Tiger Bay has put its paw in its mouth again with its announcement for the program for the candidates for St. Petersburg City Council. Originally, the announcement read: Fat Cats, Dark Horses and Underdogs - The...
Saint Petersblog - Wed 9:32 a.m. - 3 clicks
If you can't trust a doctor.... This is in the Miami Herald : A Miami physician was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison after admitting he fraudulently prescribed HIV therapy for Medicare patients who didn't need or get the treatment, costing the government program millions of dollars. Dr. Roberto Rodriguez, 54, was ordered by U.S. District Judge Paul Huck to pay more tha...
Bilerico Project Florida - Wed 7:33 a.m. - 2 clicks
GREAT St. Pete Times Editorial on NBC / WFLA's broadcast of the homophobic infomercial, Speechless (The Times is Florida's largest newspaper). Nice job by our communications director, Brian Winfield. We learned about this program on Saturday morning and have been mobilizing a massive statewide response - to demand an apology and to ensure it doesn't get aired elsewhere in Florida. In just 5 d...
Equality Florida - Wed 7:33 a.m. - 4 clicks
When we flex our collective political muscles, we are a force to be reckoned with, and victories in St. Pete this fall could yield a sea change in Pinellas politics. It's not that we must win every race. Simply winning a few, high profile, targeted races will send a signal to politicians that Equality is a winning message - and that homophobia has a political cost. Stratton St. Petersburg's ...
Equality Florida - Wed 7:33 a.m. - 2 clicks
If you've ever followed a local election, you often know they're fraught with personalities and process stories that turn off voters. You never seem to learn what they actually want to do if elected. It's one of the reasons why local, particularly city elections, are won by dozens or hundreds of votes - often a consequence of such a low turnout that would make the founding fathers want to cover th...
Progress Florida Blog - Wed 7:33 a.m.
At New York City's Gay and Lesbian Community Center, on Thursday June 25, 2009, the surviving founding members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) each had 3 minutes to tell a personal story from the earliest days of the movement. They discuss organizing, Stonewall, picketing, civil rights, dating, romance, activism and police action. Absolutely fascinating first hand accounts. Th...
Bilerico Project Florida - Wed 5:04 a.m.
Senator-elect Al Franken of Minnesota: The way I see it, I'm not going to Washington to be the 60th Democratic senator, I'm going to Washington to be the second senator from Minnesota. ...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Wed 5:03 a.m.
The August issue of Vanity Fair has a long and in-depth look at the life and times of Sarah Palin. Titled "It Came from Wasilla," by Todd S. Purdum, there's little left out and unexamined, although often with unattributed quotes from people within the remnants of the McCain campaign, the Alaska Republican Party, and insiders in the national GOP and the media who came to know the governor of A...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Wed 3:58 a.m.
So Long, Farewell... U.S. forces leave major Iraqi cities. Just one survivor has been rescued from the crash of a Yemeni airliner in the Indian Ocean. Never Mind -- China relents on requiring blocking software on PC's sold there. Happy new (fiscal) year -- Several states are struggling to get their budgets balanced. When did Mark Sanford have time to govern? Banks and credit card c...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Wed 2:16 a.m. - 2 clicks
Happy birthday to the True North, strong and free. This is my favorite version of O Canada . It's the old sign-on/sign off for the CBC, and it's a great collection of Canadian sights and memories. Bonus: Eleven Canadians living in the United States tell us what they miss most about their country. ...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Tue 9:26 p.m.
Out of the Pensacola City Council's "goal setting session" today came seven goals, or "strategy statements." Without further ado: 1. Maintain a fiscally sound and sustainable city government that earns the trust and respect of the citizens. 2. Provide proficient public safety services in terms of police, fire, disaster preparedness, and storm water management through collaboration among agencies,...
Progressive Pensacola - Tue 7:00 p.m.
This past Saturday, as tens-of-thousands of Tampa Bay residents celebrated at St. Pete Pride, Tampa's NBC Ch. 8, WFLA, screened the ugly and dangerous anti-gay infomercial -Silencing Christians. Help us DEMAND a public apology from NBC 8, WFLA and STOP this bigoted program from running elsewhere in Florida! The moment we heard about the show, Equality Florida jumped into action and you r...
Equality Florida - Tue 2:51 p.m. - 2 clicks
The right-wing Family Research Council is so outraged by the appointment of former Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network president Kevin Jennings to the Department of Education, the group has launched a campaign to get him booted from his post as assistant deputy secretary heading the department's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools.. The Stop Kevin Jennings campaign launched Monday mo...
Equality Florida - Tue 2:07 p.m.
Haters are like roaches, running for cover when the light of knowledge and truth shines upon them. I prefer they stay in the light. It's easier to aim the bug spray....
The Political Whore - Tue 2:07 p.m.
Luxury ocean liners in Russia are offering pirate hunting cruises aboard armed private yachts off the Somali coast. Wealthy punters pay £3,500 per day to patrol the most dangerous waters in the world hoping to be attacked by raiders. When attacked, they retaliate with grenade launchers, machine guns and rocket launchers, reports Austrian business paper Wirtschaftsblatt. Passengers, who ca...
Saint Petersblog - Tue 11:46 a.m.
From MSNBC : The Minnesota Supreme Court has ordered that Democrat Al Franken be certified as the winner of the state's long-running Senate race. Yip yah! Update from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune : The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled today that Democrat Al Franken won the U.S. Senate election and said he was entitled to an election certificate that would lead to him being seated in the Senate. ...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Tue 11:46 a.m.
Meek says the governor will have to answer voters as to why he is leaving his office, with a majority in both houses of the Legislature, to run instead for the Senate (where he will be in the minority party) while selling it as his best way to help Floridians....
The Political Whore - Tue 10:39 a.m.
Here's a round-up of some of the Fourth of July celebrations going down this Saturday: As has been the case for the last 20 years, the Pensacola area's main Fourth of July celebration will be hosted by area Sertoma organisations. Here's the schedule: 11:00 AM—6:30 AM: Arts and crafts, food vendors, a free children's area, and live entertainment in Seville Square 7:30 PM: Free concert by Junior...
Progressive Pensacola - Tue 10:23 a.m. - 2 clicks
Florida Senate Bill 1126 and House Bill 483 match up to the legislation the AP reported that Governor Crist signed into law in Miami yesterday, with Attorney General McCollum present. S1126 “Expands the jurisdiction of the Office of Statewide Prosecution to investigate and prosecute certain additional offenses,” and “Provides that certain actions constitute an immediate and serious danger to th...
Progress Florida Blog - Tue 10:23 a.m. - 3 clicks
Repost from Pushing Rope : I am searching for the words to perfectly describe just how bad is Creative Loaf blog Daily Loaf. There is the crash and burn attempt at satire. The fictional Charlie Crist romance novel is boringly pointless. "Horrible doused with awful, that's how I'd describe it. Yikes," Litbrit told me. "Oh my God, and here I was thinking Gov. Sanford was the worst writer in the ...
Saint Petersblog - Tue 10:03 a.m.
Today's entry for the piñata of asshattery comes from the great state of Oklahoma, where State Rep. Sally Kern (R, naturally) is working to get the state to issue a proclamation blaming the gays for the current economic crisis. WHEREAS, we believe our economic woes are consequences of our greater national moral crisis; and WHEREAS, this nation has become a world leader in promoting abortion, po...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Tue 10:02 a.m.
From the Palm Beach Post: Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has carried a part-time workload for the past two months, according to his schedule posted on his Web site. McCollum, a Republican who announced his candidacy for governor on May 18, has worked an average of about 22 hours a week since May 1, the records show. During the same period, McCollum has averaged nearly 17 hours a week of...
Saint Petersblog - Tue 5:59 a.m.
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), who has fearmongered the Constitutionally-mandated census next year, may be facing a little census problem of her own. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune said in an editorial; The 2010 census will likely determine whether Minnesota loses one of its eight U.S. House seats; population determines seat allocation. Political experts agree that a few thousand people not fill...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Tue 5:59 a.m.
At New York City's Gay and Lesbian Community Center, on Thursday June 25, 2009, the surviving founding members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) each had 3 minutes to tell a personal story from the earliest days of the movement. They discuss organizing, Stonewall, picketing, civil rights, dating, romance, activism and police action. Absolutely fascinating first hand accounts. ...
Bilerico Project Florida - Tue 4:18 a.m.
Just to let you know that this is a very busy time of year at the office; June 30 the end of the state's fiscal year and that means floods of paperwork. I'm getting in early and leaving late, which will curtail my blogging for most of the week. It's a good thing that there's a holiday coming up, or I'd never get caught up. June 30 also means it's time to send best wishes to a lot of my friends ...
Bark Bark Woof Woof - Tue 4:17 a.m.
Of the 22 individuals crazy enough to run for elected office in St. Petersburg, the two with perhaps the best websites are candidates for City Council, rather than the better-funded candidates for Mayor. Well, mayoral candidate ">Scott Wagman has the best website, with plenty of YouTube videos. But at an expense of $20K, the cost of Wagman's website far exceeds its value. ">Jamie Bennett h...
Saint Petersblog - Tue 3:42 a.m. - 2 clicks
A few items I wanted to highlight today: Mason-Dixon: Crist 51, Rubio 23 Pensacola News Journal: "PJC to cut 25 jobs" Jamie Page's Notebook: "Council lists political goals" NorthEscambia.com: "UWF digging for the past in Molino" Pensacola News Journal: "Meetings this week"...
Progressive Pensacola - Mon 3:18 p.m.
The Club for Growth, a conservative anti-tax group, is considering running ads in the Republican Party's Senate primary race against Florida Gov. Charlie Crist for supporting higher state taxes and President Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus spending package. Mr. Crist's opponent for the Republican Party's nomination next year is former state Speaker of the House Marco Rubio, a young conser...
Saint Petersblog - Mon 2:05 p.m. - 3 clicks
The Times isn't the only source with for exclusive polling information. I've obtained a copy of a comprehensive voter survey of 400 registered St. Petersburg voters in Districts 2,4,5,6 and 8. I'll be sharing the results of this survey throughout the week. Despite all of the media attention given to the Tampa Bay Rays and the effort to build a new stadium for the team, the issue most on S...
Saint Petersblog - Mon 2:05 p.m. - 4 clicks
Equality Florida members have flooded WFLA with more than a thousand emails and phone calls to express their outrage for running homophobic propaganda on the same night as St. Pete Pride. Thank you to everyone who took action! We'll be in touch soon with more updates as the story continues to develop. Here's a piece that ran in the Tampa Tribune on Saturday evening. The text be...
Equality Florida - Mon 11:45 a.m. - 5 clicks
Three months have passed since the last article was posted on St. Petersblog , the snarkiest of local blogs and recipient of a Creative Loafing "Best of the Bay" award . Before that, posting had been increasingly sporadic, which leads me to believe that the anonymous minds behind the blog must have gotten a real job OR (my theory) Alex Pickett was the brains behind the operation, grew ti...
Saint Petersblog - Mon 11:44 a.m. - 4 clicks
We assembled on 54th Street at 11:30 AM Sunday June 28, 2009 with our group in Section 8 (of 12 - largest gay pride New York City parade ever). FIrst time the gay bloggers and digital activists marched as a group. We were scheduled to step off at noon. We stepped off at 2:30PM. Four hours later, we paused in front of Stonewall. A wonderful day. A wonderful day. (Photo by my husband, ou...
Bilerico Project Florida - Mon 10:41 a.m.
From a story reported on Truth Out Essay by RW Spisak Jr. for AveryVoice.com "For example, Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, a Florida Republican, bought Citigroup stock valued between $1,001 and $15,000 on Oct. 2, the day before the House passed the financial rescue bill and President George W. Bush signed it into law, records show. She opposed the bill. &nb...
Progress Florida Blog - Mon 10:41 a.m.
The editorial page of the Wall Street Journal tagged Charlie Crist as the Republican Barney Frank, but not for the reasons you may assume. "Florida Governor Charlie Crist is running for the U.S. Senate next year, and we wonder if one reason is that he doesn't want to be in Tallahassee when the next hurricane hits his state. His veto of a hurricane insurance reform bill last week all but guar...
Saint Petersblog - Mon 10:40 a.m.
At New York City's Gay and Lesbian Community Center, on Thursday June 25, 2009, the surviving founding members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) each had 3 minutes to tell a personal story from the earliest days of the movement. They discuss organizing, Stonewall, picketing, civil rights, dating, romance, activism and police action. Absolutely fascinating first hand accounts. Th...
Bilerico Project Florida - Mon 4:31 a.m.
At New York City's Gay and Lesbian Community Center, on Thursday June 25, 2009, the surviving founding members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) each had 3 minutes to tell a personal story from the earliest days of the movement. They discuss organizing, Stonewall, picketing, civil rights, dating, romance, activism and police action. Absolutely fascinating first hand accounts. Th...
Bilerico Project Florida - Mon 2:27 a.m.
Before we get to the best posts from this week on the Bilerico sites, don't forget to e-mail 50 ENDA-shy Democrats ! Friday Michael Jackson: Goodnight, Sweet Prince...or Princess Filed by: Patricia Nell Warren The "New" NJ Trans Drivers License Regs, Part 2: Buying My Identity Filed by: Rebecca Juro Thursday Don't Cry For Mark Sanford, Argentina Filed by: Terrance Heath ...
Bilerico Project Florida - Mon 2:27 a.m. - 2 clicks
One year ago, we made a trek from Florida to California to celebrate our 6 year anniversary (this year makes it 7). While visiting San Francisco on June 27, Anthony and I were lucky enough to become one of the 18,000 couples legally wed before Prop 8 stripped the right away . While we may be " limited edition married gays " now, nothing can take away the amazing day when we not only celeb...
Bilerico Project Florida - Mon 2:27 a.m.
Tell NBC Channel 8 to NOT air this hour of lies! Contact NBC 8 right now and tell them not to run this horrendous program. Tonight at 7pm - unless we act RIGHT NOW - NBC 8, WFLA, is planning to air Silencing Christians - a one-hour anti-LGBT propaganda piece designed to "reveal the truth about the radical homosexual agenda." This ugly infomercial is filled with outra...
Equality Florida - Mon 2:27 a.m. - 2 clicks
Ursula Sheffel helps harvest an early crop of vegetables, planted in front of Baltimore City Hall, for delivery to a homeless resource center. The vegetable gardens planted around Baltimore's War Memorial Plaza in front of City Hall have produced more than 1,500 pounds of vegetables for the kitchens of Our Daily Bread , which feeds the homeless. "We have an opportunity to do somethi...
The 13th Juror - Mon 2:27 a.m.
For most of her adult life, 48-year-old Marcia Powell was invisible. Then she died, and slowly came into view. Powell had been in and out of jail for decades, unable to overcome mental illness. She roamed the streets and had been in and out of jail for decades. After offering oral sex to an undercover police officer in exchange for a few dollars, Powell found herself in what has become one of Ar...
The 13th Juror - Mon 2:27 a.m.
Police will no longer arrest, cite or harass people under state law for sleeping in public places in Laguna Beach, California, as long as there are no public health or safety concerns. In settling a lawsuit , the city also agreed to “seal, expunge or destroy” citations that were written, and convictions obtained, under the city’s own “anti-sleeping” ordinance. Key portions of that ordinance were...
The 13th Juror - Mon 2:27 a.m.
Last week, the Huffington Post’s Nico Pitney (who is also a former member of ThinkProgress) found himself in the center of controversy after President Obama called on him at a press conference. One of the harshest pieces came from the Washington Post’s Dana Milbank, who called Pitney a “planted questioner.” Today the two faced off on Howie Kurtz’s “Reliable Sources” segment on CNN. Pitney calle...
Saint Petersblog - Mon 2:27 a.m.
The Times isn't the only source with for exclusive polling information. I've obtained a copy of a comprehensive voter survey of 400 registered St. Petersburg voters. I'll be sharing the results of this survey throughout the week. For Deveron Gibbons, the glass is either half-empty or half-full. For Kathleen Ford, the glass is surprising filled-up. For the mythical candidate "Undecided", t...
Saint Petersblog - Mon 2:27 a.m. - 3 clicks
The Times isn't the only place for exclusive polling information. I've obtained a copy of a comprehensive survey of 400 registered St. Petersburg voters. I'll be sharing the results of this survey throughout the week. One of the first kernels of knowledge I gleamed from the poll was the low opinion voters in Midtown and other neighborhoods south of Central Avenue hold of Rick Baker's pol...
Saint Petersblog - Mon 2:27 a.m. - 3 clicks
An excerpt from a fundraising letter sent by Brian Seitchik, Marco Rubio's campaign manager: While our opponent’s campaign declares he is too busy “governing” to join Marco in a series of debates, in reality we know he is cozying up to the establishment and special interests – not only in Florida but also in Washington and around the country. Thus, it should come as no surprise when the fu...
Saint Petersblog - Mon 2:27 a.m.
We haven't talked about City Council attendance in a while, but we've continued to update our attendance tracker. Here's the skinny: When we last posted on attendance, Councilman Ron Townsend had only 64% attendance. He's managed to improve upon that number, posting 80% attendance as of today. However, he's still absent from time to time (such as last night) and still leads the pack in worst atte...
Progressive Pensacola - Jun 26
Political newcomer has decided not to challenge incumbent Karl Nurse in District 6, according to the City Clerk's office. ...
Saint Petersblog - Jun 26 - 2 clicks
Not to stir up any more trouble for myself than I usually do, but maybe, just maybe voters are undecided about whom to vote for St. Petersburg Mayor because the Times coverage is so lackluster. Not for lack of trying. The Times has bombarded the voters with coverage of the trivial and trivial candidates. Whether it be stories about Rays' tickets, "sign monsters" or Kentucky Fried Chicken...
Saint Petersblog - Jun 26 - 4 clicks
From the Washington Examiner : South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s diminished political fortunes are shifting the field for prospective 2012 presidential candidates, with a sudden vacancy on the Republican Party’s short list. “It’s way too early to talk sensibly about the 2012 field, but that’s no reason not to do it,” said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University. Sa...
Saint Petersblog - Jun 26 - 3 clicks
Scott Wagman added another name to his collection of endorsements from black leaders whose sole purpose is to supply quotes to the St. Petersburg Times , with St. Petersburg City Councilman Wengay Newton endorsing Mr. Houghton-Wagman's campaign for Mayor. Newton's main criteria for who would make the best Mayor? According to Newton, often the lone voice of dissent on the City Council, that t...
Saint Petersblog - Jun 26 - 4 clicks
Read the atrocious newsletter from the Jamie Bennett Campaign and noticed that, not only was Gulfport Mayor Mike Yakes supporting Bennett, but it looks like Gulfport City Commission members Michelle King and Sam Henderson are raising money for Bennett's campaign: Oh, and if you don't think there's a difference between what I do and what others try to do, look no further than the difference b...
Saint Petersblog - Jun 26 - 2 clicks
Progress Florida's Best of the Blogs for week ending 6-26-09 Note: the Best of the Blogs is featured weekly as part of Progress Florida's popular free Daily Clips service. "Cash For Gold": a not-so-quick scan of Florida By Gimleteye Eye On Miami It's been 15 years since I've driven the length of the state at one time. Capitol Offense: The AG Race on the Issues By Kenneth Quinnell Flor...
Progress Florida Blog - Jun 26
The latest links to the information you need to counter right-wing spin... Obama is not going to tell every company in America how much they can pay people Bush Mirandized suspects in Afghanistan, too Obama does not favor single-payer health care Obama didn't take over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Bush did A NASA report did not prove that humans didn't cause global warming ...
Progress Florida Blog - Jun 26
These are the people being paid big bucks to make sure you don't get the health insurance policy you deserve. Click to play the game "Who's Waldo?" ...
Pensacola Beach Blog - Jun 26
At yesterday's Manhattan meet-and -greet for GLAAD's new president, Jarrett Barrios, I had an exclusive Bilerico sit-down with an articulate and passionate man who had just finished speaking to the gathering about raising two sons with his husband and how the work of changing public perceptions and attitudes about LGBT people isn't just a side issue, it's a necessity for the safety, happiness a...
Bilerico Project Florida - Jun 25
I just got a phone call from a well placed source on Capital Hill that confirmed that the hate crimes bill currently before the Senate will be added to the Defense Authorization Bill. Remember how well that worked out for us last time ? Congressmembers can use our lives to bargain for bombs and defense spending instead of simply affirming our dignity as human beings worthy of safety from p...
Bilerico Project Florida - Jun 25
A few items I wanted to highlight today: Rick's Blog: "IN celebrates 10th Anniversary" Happy birthday, IN! Pensapedia: "Henry C. Mustin" Maren DeWeese: "Goals" Independent News: "The Buzz" ...
Progressive Pensacola - Jun 25
Amendment 4, aka the Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment , would take land use decisions away from county commissions and give them to voters via referendums. As I said in a previous blog post , the Chamber of Commerce and big developers are vehemently against voters crashing their lavish party. You can expect the Chamber and their anti-Amendment 4 front group, the Orwellian-named "Floridian...
Progress Florida Blog - Jun 25 - 6 clicks
Sometimes it’s easy to tell when you’re dealing with someone that’s two complete suits shy of a full deck and harmless, despite threats. That was the apparent judgment call made by a California bank manager who, after stalling, handed a robber just $250 although his note said he had a gun, and a bomb, and wanted $20,000 in large bills. The banker got it right. Linroy Bottoson owned a gun, b...
Progress Florida Blog - Jun 25
According to the North Country Gazette, Miami political consultant Derek Newton, recently hired by Jamie Bennett to run his mayoral campaign, has reached a tenative plea deal in a three-year long election fraud investigation involving the 2006 campaign for State Representative District 108 when authorities say he tried to sabotage a candidate running against his client. According to the report: ...
Saint Petersblog - Jun 25 - 6 clicks
I guess if she is crazy enough to give up her seat on the Pinellas School Board to run against Jack Latvala, it should come as no surprise then that Nina Hayden is endorsing Steve Kornell for St. Petersburg City Council. The only problem with this endorsement is that Kornell is running against Angela Rouson, wife of Darryl Rouson, the rockstar of the Pinellas legislative delegation. So basic...
Saint Petersblog - Jun 25 - 4 clicks
The Pensacola City Council will meet tonight at 7:00 PM, in Council Chambers, first floor, City Hall. You can also view the meeting on Cox Cable channel 4 or streaming on the City's web site. The agenda is included below, or can be accessed at the City web site. For Progressive Pensacola's breakdown of the issues Council considered at its committee meetings earlier this week, see "The coming wee...
Progressive Pensacola - Jun 25 - 6 clicks
Grover Norquist, stretching to win the Wanker of the Day Award: "I disagree with the idea that this shows problems for the modern Republican Party. I think instead it shows that sexual attractiveness of limited-government conservatism.” Here's the "modern" GOP platform . ...
Pensacola Beach Blog - Jun 25
Only someone who has never been seriously hungry could say that. The quote comes from state representative Cynthia Davis, who serves as chairwoman of the Missouri House Special Standing Committee on Children and Families. She was criticizing a summer program that will provide free breakfast and lunch to needy children because it costs money ("increased government spending"). She even thinks th...
The 13th Juror - Jun 24
A little breeze made tonight's dinner even better. It's been oh so hot lately. On the Food Not Bombs menu at Orlando's Lake Eola Park: mango-raspberry dressing on spinach leaves, black bean soup, Mexican rice, roasted asparagus, green bean casserole and strawberries and blueberries for dessert. And then there were mangos to go. Some other folks showed up to hand out packages of crackers and ap...
The 13th Juror - Jun 24 - 2 clicks
Obama is working to make it illegal to discriminate against federal transgender employees. Read about it here . ...
Equality Florida - Jun 24
Nothing is so satisfying to fundamentalist religious types as the confession of a sinner who has learned the error of his ways, even if he's a hypocrite. Heck, especially if he's a hypocrite. The more loathsome the sins, the more thrilling the confession: [W]atching Sanford's confession today, I kept thinking about Sen. John Ensign's (R-Nev.) identical confession just last week. The circumstanc...
Pensacola Beach Blog - Jun 24 - 2 clicks
"I've spent the last five days crying in Argentina" -- Mark Stanford (R-S.C.) This didn't take long. Someone on YouTube dedicates it to Mark Sanford . As for us, we forgave Madonna for everything after watching her memorable performance in Evita . ...
Pensacola Beach Blog - Jun 24 - 2 clicks
Fully Inclusive ENDA Introduced Ask Your Representative to Become a Cosponsor! Great News! Representative Barney Frank, joined by leading Republican co-sponsor, Florida's own Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, is set to introduce a bipartisan, fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) today. Email your representative NOW. ...
Equality Florida - Jun 24
This is why we have to change who we send to Tallahassee. The unemployment rate is 10.2 and leadership in Tallahassee decided to make some sort of ideological statement to the new administration in Washington. Government should be about making people's lives better and helping those in need, not making hollow ideological statements just because you don't like the President. We need to ch...
Equality Florida - Jun 24
This is a fabulous video from a speech given by Dr. Jill Biden at the GLSEN Respect awards. In this video she boldly calls out bullying and harassment against LGBTQ students and commits the Obama-Biden White House to protecting LGBTQ students in their schools. ...
Equality Florida - Jun 23
I am privileged enough to see my life through the lens of a gay man and an immigrant! I left the small town where I grew up in Latin America when I was only 17 years old. After growing up in an ultra conservative family and going to private Catholic school all my life, I could not have been more excited to move the United States. I was happy because I always admired the extremely high value tha...
Equality Florida - Jun 23
A growing trend in American politics : You can watch video of Governor Corzine campaigning at a gay pride event -- and making it very, very clear he supports marriage equality here . It's pretty clear that Corzine himself -- unprompted -- is the one making marriage an issue. He wants to talk about it. He's not coming up with convoluted excuses, like so many pols do. This is the future. And, ...
Progress Florida Blog - Jun 23
Our friend, Representative Alcee Hastings, is leading the charge in Congress to ask the President to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. His letter, signed by other members of Congress, including 5 members from Florida, is below. June 22, 2009 The Honorable Barack H. Obama President of the United States The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Obama: The United States of America ...
Equality Florida - Jun 22
The EPA recently showed signs of realizing that the letter “P” in their acronym stands for Protection, not Pandering, ending eight years of confusion that resulted in inappropriate actions. The FBI’s similar acronym confusion appears to have existed for decades with no end in sight; they’re apparently still laboring under the misconception that “I” stands for Intrigue, which explains the differ...
Progress Florida Blog - Jun 22
The healthcare debate reached a new level last week as the House and Senate released early proposals for comprehensive healthcare reform. The main bone of contention, as you might have expected, is the one item that determines whether this reform is truly reform or not: the inclusion of a public option for health coverage that competes with private insurance plans. Politics is a funny thing. Yo...
Progress Florida Blog - Jun 22
While we continue to fight in Tallahassee to change Florida's notorious adoption law, our legal partners at the ACLU and NCLR are pursuing two promising cases in the Florida courts. However, we need to be careful not to put all of our hopes in a legal solution. First, getting to and winning before the Florida Supreme Court is a very tall order. An d second, even a victory in Florida's Supreme C...
Equality Florida - Jun 22 - 2 clicks
A few items I wanted to highlight today: Maren DeWeese: "Proposed Interlocal kills Pensacola Promise" Pensacola News Journal: "Pollution fears loom for downtown school site" Pensacola News Journal: "City recycling sees success in its first week" Pensacola News Journal: "City's parades in peril"...
Progressive Pensacola - Jun 22
Kelly Hall, a new shelter in Punta Gorda, embraces a controversial model of allowing residents to continue drinking and using drugs during their stay for up two years. "It goes against conventional wisdom," said Jerry Thompson, president of Coastal Behavioral Health Care, the nonprofit group running the program. "But in the worst-case scenario, someone stays for two years and continues using, it'...
The 13th Juror - Jun 21 - 2 clicks
Paulla Anderson lived for a year and a half in Gainesville's Tent City and is now looking for a place to live. "We've had to move three times this week, and we still have nowhere to go," she said. The deadline for residents of Tent City to get out or be charged with trespassing was generally observed, Gainesville police said. "Of course everyone got out -- we knew they (police) were seri...
The 13th Juror - Jun 20 - 4 clicks
Over at Mobile Loaves & Fishes , Alan is sharing the experiences of the folks doing a Street Retreat. A group of men and women from different backgrounds and different walks of life set out for 72 hours on the streets with no food, water, telephones, credit cards, or cash. Alan describes the experience as "very powerful and transforming." Check out his photos at whrrl , too. ...
The 13th Juror - Jun 20
It's not just the Republican Party that's acting psycho. The Washington Post has fired its best-read Internet columnist ; and Charles Krauthammer is as delusional as ever . He would be; he once was a psychiatrist. Even so, Krauthammer truly belongs on the funny farm that has become the Washington Post. Where else does anyone take seriously foreign policy advice from Paul Wolfowitz ? Or, where ...
Pensacola Beach Blog - Jun 19
