Jennings' Jam

"Christine Jennings promoted herself to voters as a no-nonsense banker with a meticulous eye for financial detail."

After decades as a trusted banker, she would carefully manage taxpayer money and "play by the rules," the Democrat told voters in campaign ads and mailers for the 13th Congressional District.

But in managing her two campaigns for Congress, a different image has emerged: one in which federal tax dollars were not sent to the government, financial record keeping was spotty, critical paperwork was misfiled and checks got lost in the mail.

They are mistakes usually better associated with a struggling small business than with the president of a profitable bank that had $164 million in assets and 22 employees when it was sold in 2003.

For Jennings, the mistakes are not just embarrassing. They are still costing her as she prepares to run again in 2008.

"Jennings pays IRS, could pay again in election".




Fixed

"Flaws in optical scan voting machines that could have allowed poll workers to alter election results have been fixed, Secretary of State Kurt Browning said Friday." "Secretary of state says voting machine flaws now fixed". See also "Elections Chief: Optical Machines Are Safe" and "State certifies new voting system" (focussing on the CD 13 issue).




Laff Riot

More comedy from the comedians on the Orlando Sentinel editorial board:

Businesses are in business to make money.

Even those whose brands tout their civic-mindedness, like Publix and Disney.

Even those that show an altruistic side, like Publix and Disney.

Today, some consumers aren't confusing Publix or Disney with selfless do-gooders. They're viewing them as opportunists who'll use the good will they've built up with the public to make a buck at their expense.

Whether or not that's a fair assessment, ...

Stop right there.

Do the Sentinel editors think it is an open question as to "whether or not [it's] a fair assessment" that businesses are "opportunists who'll use the good will they've built up with the public to make a buck at their expense." Are the editors suggesting that it is reasonable for some folks to believe that businesses are actually "selfless do-gooders"? Surely the Sentinel editors can help us resolve this dilemma - after all, these are the same editors who have no trouble uttering opinions about the inherent evil of scary labor unions (see Sentinel Dopes are Duped).

Come on Sentinel editors, you can go out on a limb and say it: it is a "fair assessment" that businesses (you know, like the Orlando Sentinel and the Tribune Company), are "opportunists who'll use the good will they've built up with the public to make a buck at their expense."

A final note on the community oriented Orlando Sentinel company; surely you will recall that these are the same folks who announced last year that it and other Tribune papers "will outsource circulation customer service calls to a U.S.-based company with operations in the Philippines, resulting in more layoffs". See also "Orlando Sentinel to outsource circulation calls".

Back to the story.

Whether or not that's a fair assessment, Publix certainly disappointed the public this week. It trumpeted its big-hearted campaign that offers seven antibiotics free of charge, but without also announcing that it was ending its practice matching competitors' low-cost prescriptions.

The result will be many consumers actually paying more for their prescriptions at Publix.

"Unfortunate missteps".




Daily Naugle

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board:

Fort Lauderdale mayor Jim Naugle has sunk to the depths of a cartoon character in recent months, but his bizarre tirade against a group of people who has contributed much to Fort Lauderdale and South Florida brings a serious question to mind.

Namely, is this the type of person who should be the official face of a city the size of Fort Lauderdale?

Who knows what drives Naugle's inexplicable, shallow characterization of gay and lesbian people. If nothing else, you'd think the leader of a city with a vibrant gay community would at least have a better understanding of his citizenry.

Clearly, he doesn't. And when Naugle, mayor of Broward's largest city, goes on his diatribes, he does a humiliating disservice to the city he claims he loves.

The man loves publicity. He loves feeding his ego. If that was ever in doubt, just note that he co-hosted a South Florida radio talk show Friday morning.

"Lauderdale mayor tries radio talk show".




Hill

"A spokesman for Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton says she will participate in the Sept. 9 debate to be broadcast live by Univision from the University of Miami. The Clinton campaign had previously said she would participate only in the six nationally televised debates sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee between July and January. The Univision event is billed as the first presidential debate to be conducted in Spanish. The questions will be translated simultaneously." "Hillary changes her mind on Univision debate". See also "Clinton agrees to Univision forum".




Primary

"With a special session looming, maybe Florida lawmakers should move Florida's Jan. 29 primary earlier, to beat out the South Carolina GOP primary set for 1/19? Not going to happen, say state GOP leaders, who are perfectly happy with Florida's position - especially since early voting Floridians can cast their votes two weeks before Jan. 29 anyway." "Re-schedule Florida's primary? Nah".




Hearing Postponed

"Tuesday's scheduled public hearing on State Farm's home insurance practices in Florida is now postponed, stymied by regulators' own zeal." "State Farm public hearing postponed".




"Public safety and health will be sacrificed"

"Public safety and health will be sacrificed. That argument failed to help cities and counties escape a state-ordered tax cut this year, but now the man who oversees Florida's second-largest industry hopes a similar defense will protect his budget from expected legislative cuts." "Ag chief resists Crist's request to identify budget cuts".