Today's News and Notes

Tough Competition for this Award
"Speaking out for the first time since becoming the target of bribery allegations, a Citizens Property Insurance official claimed he did not fully realize that the state-run company was subject to laws regarding ethics and conflicts of interest." "'You get the stupid award'".




Al-Arian

Remember Mel Martinez' sleazy campaign tactics:

Al-Arian played a role in the 2004 U.S. Senate race only because Republican Mel Martinez linked him directly to his Democratic opponent.

One Martinez flier included photos of hooded terrorists brandishing guns, with the words: "Evil was in her midst," referring to former USF President Betty Castor.

Martinez won by 1 percentage point.

Expect more of the same. Ahmed Bedier, a spokesman for the Council on American Islamic Relations

said U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Longboat Key, who is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Tallahassee, has tried to play the terrorism card in another way.

"She made a claim that she was told that a man of 'Middle Eastern heritage' was captured in Indiana with explosives and - and that was a flat-out lie. She was trying to say she'll be tough on security," Bedier said.

Officials in the town Harris identified as the target said they had never heard of the plot and had never talked to Harris, who said the man "had plans to blow up the area's entire power grid."

"Al-Arian Could Be Factor In 2006 Vote". See also "Juror in al-Arian case says deliberations were tense at times" and "Ex-prof still facing further legal problems".




Now That The Election Is Over

"Florida rescuers who navigated toxic floodwaters around New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina haven't seen any of the money they were promised for their efforts." "Airboaters await pay for Katrina rescues".




A FCAT Thing

"Gelber said he thinks schools are starting classes too early in August to have more time to prepare students for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test." "Lawmaker wants to push back school start date".




More GOoPer Business-Savvy

"State Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, has pitched the concept as a business-savvy way to pump more money into schools without raising taxes." "A new report blows a big hole in the 65 Percent Solution to school improvement" ("Florida schools need more money, not the hocus-pocus of arbitrary spending formulas.")




But He's Not Serious, You See

"If Gov. Jeb Bush is serious about ensuring the integrity of Florida's electoral process, he shouldn't just order an investigation into whether the kind of optical-scan voting machines used in Orange County are vulnerable to hackers. He should mandate a paper trail for electronic voting equipment, too." "Proof positive" See also "State Must Give Voters Hack-Proof Voting Machines".




Schiavo

"Schiavo, who described himself as a lifelong Republican, said his experience with political leaders 'has opened my eyes to just how easily the private wishes of normal Americans like me and Terri can be cast aside in a destructive game of political pandering.'" "Schiavo right-to-die case captured the attention of the world".

Glossed over in all this is Jeb Bush's sordid behavior - you remember Jeb's foiled attempt to have FDLE "kidnap" Schiavo, foiled only by local police authorities. Jebbie's gross misbehavior is ignored here as well.




More Judges Needed

"Justice should be a constant goal for the state, one not subject to political whim." "State's formula says to add judges; so add them".

As an aside, it is nice to see the media, as in this DBNJ editorial, correctly characterizing Florida Taxwatch as a "conservative organization".




Deal With It

Shouldn't the ID controversy be part of the 2006 debate? The Orlando Sentinel editorial board is glad it isn't: "Fortunately, the fight won't come so quickly to Florida, which has delayed review of its public-school science standards at least a year -- long past what is sure to be a heated 2006 governor's race." "Stick to science". (Note that the Sentinel neglects to mention Bush's embarassing assertion that evolution "does not need to be in the curriculum." You can discuss that bit 'o wisdom from Florida's self-proclaimed deep thinker here. See also "Creationism redux".




Ileana at Work

"International fashion models are accustomed to first-in-line treatment at Miami Beach night clubs, the best tables at haute restaurants and first dibs on the latest size 0 fashions. But do they deserve their very own immigration status? U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen thinks so, and has filed a bill that's about as welcome as a pair of dimpled thighs at a Calvin Klein runway show." "The Skinny On Model Immigration".