These guys don't especially like each other, yet they have to work together.

They're also very different men.

House Speaker Marco Rubio sees himself as Jeb II, the true heir to the conservative mantle of the Republican Party in Florida.

He's an ideologue. Given a free rein, he would wipe out property taxes altogether and jack up the sales tax.

Senators thinks this is nuts. Even Republican senators call it a tax increase.

Senate President Ken Pruitt is a pragmatist who has to count votes more closely than Rubio. . . .

Pruitt also is not viscerally opposed to the size and scope of government the way House leaders are.

Tax relief was one of Gov. Charlie Crist's core campaign promises, and it's a major test of his and his party's ability to lead.

A bad outcome next week, and Republicans will have squandered a golden opportunity.

Convention blues

This says it all: "DNC campaign ban keeps White House hopefuls away". See also "Nelson's Planned Convention Speech Blasts Party, Sanctions" and "Primary Conflict Saps Dems". More: "Frustrated delegates miss top candidates" and "Major Dem candidates to skip state convention".

"U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson told Florida Democrats today the sanctions and candidate boycott against the Florida presidential primary may have hurt the party's chances of winning Florida in 2008." "Nelson Says Candidate Boycott Could Cost Democrats Florida In Presidential Election". See also "Nelson Blisters "Party Bosses"".

Water war

"Georgia has no one but itself to blame for its water crisis and Gov. Sonny Perdue's efforts to cut water flow to Florida and Alabama should be summarily rejected by federal regulators." "Don't Let Water-Wasting Georgia Ruin Florida's Apalachicola Bay".

Go figure

"A new Florida Chamber of Commerce poll give Gov. Charlie Crist a stunning 79% approval rating, but a bare majority of respondents say the state is going in the 'wrong direction.'" "Chamber Poll: 79% Approval For Crist, But 51% Voters Say State Going In Wrong Direction".

Clearly there are benefits in being a "nice guy" who takes responsibility for nothing and has absolutely no leadership skills.

Another Jebacy going down

The Orlando Sentinel joins the editorial board bandwagon: "So Florida avoided the fight over teaching intelligent design, the latest guise for creationism. But at what cost? Since 1996, Florida's students have fallen behind much of the rest of the country and the world in science proficiency." "Overdue change".

Tuition hike

"Gov. Crist OK's tuition increase of 5 percent". See also "Crist backs tuition hike".

'Glades

The News-Journal editors:

It took decades of grassroots organizing, fundraising, pleading and suing to convince the Florida Legislature and United States Congress to restore the "River of Grass" to its natural flow. When in 2000 the federal government authorized $300 million and the state ponied up millions more to begin the massive effort to save the Everglades -- the largest environmental restoration project on the planet -- the world applauded.

The partnership was short-lived. First, the state dragged its heels, lowering pollution restrictions to favor farming and development interests in South Florida. Members of Congress balked at releasing federal funds while the state pretended to be serious about saving what President Bush called "this beautiful slice of heaven." But the state soon moved forward, committing more than $3 billion for land purchases and engineering projects critical to the wetlands. And last month Congress for the first time in seven years re-authorized the Water Resources Development Act, which includes $1.3 billion for Everglades restoration. Now Bush is the holdup.

The president says he will veto the authorization, which includes about $22 billion more for coastal restoration and flood control around the country, some $2.4 billion of that for other projects in Florida. . . .

Besides, since when did this president get stingy with a federal dollar? He's racked up the largest deficits in modern times and just asked Congress for scores of billions more for his war machine. Bush's priorities are skewed. . . .

House and Senate leaders predict they have the votes to override a veto. But it shouldn't come to that. Bush promised in 2001 that he would support full restoration. He should sign the authorization and cheer a return to full state and federal partnership. If he's spoiling for a fight over wasteful spending, let him take on military and reconstruction contractors and his own Defense Department for their poor accounting of the billions of taxpayer dollars missing and otherwise squandered in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Beach

"The [Miami Beach] mayor's race has attracted four candidates, but two -- both veteran commissioners -- are considered contenders for the city's top political job." "Voters set to elect first Cuban-American mayor".

Florida's booming job market

"Officials: Beware bogus job offers".

$113,640 a foot

"Nothing captures the lunacy of our thinking on transportation like last week's announcement that the state would spend $600-million on a 1-mile connector between two highways in Tampa." "Mapping out a wiser course".

Since when . . .

Since when did the Tampa Trib editors become arbiters of good taste (forgive the pun): "Cool It On The Kool-Aid Metaphor".

Someone, anyone ...

"The White House has replaced one temporary U.S. attorney for Florida's Middle District with another. The Justice Department announced Friday that Robert E. O'Neill, the head of the federal criminal division in the Tampa-based office, will serve as the interim U.S. attorney for the next four months. " "U.S. attorney post gets another temp".

Have a cigar

"Under a plan to pump $35 billion into the so-called SCHIP program, federal taxes on cigars would soar from 5 cents to an average of $3 per cigar, an increase of about 6,000 percent. Cigarette taxes would rise 61 cents, to $1 per pack."

In a flame-fanning tirade on Spanish-language radio last week, Díaz-Balart called the tax hike an ''attack on the Cuban-American community.'' He added: ``It would hurt an industry specifically in Miami-Dade, in South Florida, an industry that is almost entirely Hispanic: those who make cigars by hand, which is a cultural tradition. That industry will not survive.''

T.H and C.W.

"Today, civil-rights activists, church members, Eustis officials and family will honor the longtime NAACP leader with a bronze bust that will go on display at the Lake County Historical Museum in Tavares. The unveiling event starts at 6 p.m. at Lake-Sumter Community College."

T.H. Poole Sr. tells the story with a grin. Decades ago, at a speaking function for Lake County candidates, then-Sheriff Willis V. McCall watched quietly from the audience. The sheriff, known for his tough law-enforcement tactics and controversial views on race, already had been re-elected so he wasn't scheduled to speak.

But Poole called on him anyway. "I see our sheriff is here with us today," he recalled saying to the crowd. "Why don't you come on up, Sheriff, and say a few words?" McCall, perhaps caught unawares, was about halfway up to the podium when he met Poole, who had extended his arm toward the sheriff.

"My friends told me McCall would never shake hands with a black man," recalled Poole, 80. "Well, he shook mine, in front of all the people who were there."

Musical chairs

"Crist appointed Carrie Parker Hill on Friday to replace former Palm Beach County School Board member Bob Kanjian, who was appointed to the county commission earlier this year. Hill, a politically connected South Florida Water Management District official, is a former Boynton Beach city manager." "Governor appoints water district exec to school board seat".

Fix this Jebacy

The Palm Beach Post editors: "In 2001, the couple sued the state, seeking compensation for the years of therapy the brothers - now 13, 14 and 15 - will need."

But that was during the administration of Gov. Jeb Bush, who resisted any attempt to settle such cases, even though the state clearly was at fault. Under a new governor and a new secretary of the Department of Children and Families, the state finally admitted blame, and this week agreed to pay the parents $10 million. ...

But the Legislature remains reluctant to pay such claims. In this case, the state's own consultant recommended a settlement because the state was "catastrophically destructive" to three little boys. Then there are the parents. Failing to help them would be just as "catastrophically destructive."

Running government like a business

"Florida's juvenile justice chief draws praise. But his degree doesn't. ... McNeil's degree links one of the Florida's top law enforcement officials to a long-festering national problem: the proliferation of degrees from institutions that are widely considered to be questionable. Experts estimate there are thousands of such institutions - and hundreds of thousands of people who have used them to cut corners, pad resumes and, in the view of critics, perpetrate academic fraud." "Degree inspires little faith".

Straddling "two worlds"

"A study released Thursday by the Pew Hispanic Center shows a wide range of attitudes about national loyalties and homeland ties among foreign-born Latinos." "Latinos straddle two worlds; study examines their links to homelands".

"Senators point to best solution by staying home"

The News-Journal editorial board:

It may not be the most imaginative solution. But by staying home until Monday -- the last day of the special session -- members of the Florida Senate may do the best thing that can be done to the misguided attempt at property-tax reform: kill it.

The Senate's tax-reform package is focused on doubling the homestead exemption to $50,000 and allowing homeowners "portability" of their accrued benefits under the Save Our Homes assessment cap. (Homesteaded homeowners' increases in property valuations are capped at 3 percent a year. Under current law, they lose the cap's accrued benefits when they move.) The House's package is broader. It gives all homeowners a 40 percent exemption on the median value of homes (based on county-by-county calculations of median prices). It also caps assessment increases at 5 percent for all non-homesteaded properties.

The House and Senate are at an impasse over each other's approaches, for good reason. Neither proposal reforms Florida's property tax structure fairly.

All Marco all the time

"House Speaker Marco Rubio is not sitting idle during the property tax stalemate with the Senate. ... The appearances allow Rubio to talk about his signature issue and, perhaps just important, boost his statewide name ID." "Rubio plies the rubber chicken circuit". See also "A smiling Rubio tells Tiger Bay Club a property tax deal will get done".

A fine mess

"Attorneys for the state say that if legislators write a new ballot question, Secretary of State Kurt Browning could seek to drop his appeal of the Hersh lawsuit [which struck the original amendment]. But the high court could accept or reject that motion. Rejecting such a motion would send both the super homestead exemption and any new legislative tax cut plan to the same ballot." "'Super' property tax exemption could still be on ballot in January". See also "Today: Ballot could include two tax questions". More: "High court to hear exemption appeal".

Permanently unhappy

Via Q, the new Q poll reports that Dem born-again "evangelicals [which apparently comprise 22.1 percent of Democratic primary voters] have a 2-to-1 negative opinion of Clinton, 63 percent to 30 percent. John Edwards is viewed favorably by 38 percent of evangelicals and unfavorably by 39 percent. Barack Obama is viewed favorably by 29 percent and unfavorably by 38 percent."

Big Sugar

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board:

For decades, a federal program has protected the U.S. sugar industry by propping up its prices. The sugar program has been a sweet deal for the industry, and a rip-off for just about everyone else.

Yet the farm bill that the U.S. House has passed, and another version the Senate is poised to approve, would pile even more government goodies on Big Sugar's plate. That would make a bad program even worse.

With an elaborate system that includes government-backed loans, production quotas and import tariffs, the sugar program has inflated prices for U.S. sugar to two or three times the world price. ...

The industry's pals in Congress, motivated by boatloads of campaign cash from the sugar barons, have a new giveaway. They've cleverly packaged it as promoting renewable energy.

"The volume of bloodshed"

"Ryder Trauma Center at downtown Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital is one of the busiest trauma centers in the nation. The Army sends 10 forward surgical teams a year to train at Ryder, selected six years ago because of the volume of bloodshed." "Miami: Good training for Iraq".

When "business lobbyists hail" anything ...

. . . you might oughta take a closer look: "As House and Senate leaders continued their standoff over property taxes Thursday, most business lobbyists say they support a 5 percent cap on property assessments for non-homestead property, although that appears to be the most contentious element in the negotiations over the tax cuts." "Business lobbyists hail cap for taxes House and Senate are split on measure".

Charlie's world

"State cuts some services to people with disabilities".

"They'll get over it"

"The national Democratic Party decision to strip Florida of convention delegates because of the state's early presidential primary hurts independent voters, according to a new statewide poll. But state party Chairwoman Karen Thurman said Thursday they'll get over long before the November 2008 general election with Florida's 27 up for grabs." "Poll looks at DNC party candidates".

The monkey thing

"An Evolutionary Change In Curriculum".

Tuff talking hypocrite on Cuba

Credit the Orlando Sentinel's George Diaz for observing that "Bush's tough talk [on Cuba] also sounds like selective outrage. For all the deplorable abuses of human rights in Cuba, where is the visible anger about what's going on in China? Why does Mr. Bush not offer its children hope for a better future? Both are Communist countries, are they not?" "Bush's tough talk does nothing but embolden Castro".

Florida "a true microcosm of America"?

"Forget about the Democratic presidential candidates blowing off Florida's Jan. 29 primary. Florida is ground zero for the leading Republicans vying for the presidential nomination."

While some of the Republican contenders have been selective about which early primary states to focus on, every top candidate is trying hard to win Florida.

The big question thirteen weeks before Sunshine State Republicans make their choice boils down to this: Can anyone halt Rudy Giuliani's march to the nomination?

Florida will be the first presidential contest in a field that offers a true microcosm of America, a diverse, mega swing state where none of the Republicans will be able to say they didn't compete hard. What Florida voters say Jan. 29 is likely to dramatically influence what happens when two dozen states vote a week later, on "Tsunami Tuesday," Feb. 5, and probably decide the nomination.

Liberti

"A federal judge has shot down Ray Liberti's effort to get early release from the Miami prison where the former West Palm Beach commissioner is serving 18 months on corruption charges." "Ex-commissioner's request to leave prison turned down".

From the "values" crowd

"Stingy, except to the CEO".

"Tense"

"The New York Times gives details of what was reported to be a 'tense private meeting' between Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Miami Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen over the Bush administration’s pursuit of diplomacy with North Korea." "Capitol confrontation: Ros-Lehtinen v. Rice".

'Glades

"Water managers and environmentalists gathered in southwestern Palm Beach County to celebrate the conversion of another 6,000 acres of former farmland into man-made wetlands." "Everglades gets another 6,000 acres of filter marshes".

Laff riot

"Crist also plans to attend the next day's Florida Classic football game between Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman University at the Citrus Bowl." "Republican Outreach Is On".

Kingmaker trips up

"Sheriff Apologizes To Thompson, Says Romney Camp Jumped Gun On Endorsement".

Just do it

"James Klindt's appointment as acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida expires today, and members of Congress are calling on President Bush to select a permanent replacement." "Bush urged to pick U.S. attorney".

All week, lawmakers have been struggling to craft a new property tax proposal to substitute for the one rejected by the lower court. But negotiations between the House and Senate are stymied with both chambers deciding not to take up the issue again until Monday.

But they are facing a deadline - Tuesday at 11:59 p.m., giving them little time to reach an agreement.

Bolstered by a new poll, members of the Florida Senate on Wednesday took a hard-line approach toward ending a stalemate with the House over property taxes: They stayed home.

Refusing to come back to work until Monday, Senate leaders left just one day to meet a deadline for fashioning a new deal with the House -- an intense timetable that will apply pressure or derail the process and scuttle relief until 2009.

Five gears in reverse"

"Two and a half years after Terri Schiavo became a celebrated cause among Republican leaders, the party's leading presidential candidates have expressed opposition to the way Congress intervened in the case, a sharp departure from past Republican strategy."

The break was highlighted this week when former US senator Fred Thompson joined three other leading Republican candidates [Giuliani, Romney and Huckabee] in opposing Congress' effort in 2005 to allow the Schiavos to take their daughter's life support case to federal court.

At the time, Republicans believed that the Schiavo case would become a symbolic issue, similar to the way abortion has become a signature issue for many in the party. During the debate in Congress, it was revealed that an aide to Senator Mel Martinez, Republican of Florida , had written a memo [which Mel accidentally handed to Tom Harkin] saying the Schiavo case was "a great political issue" for the GOP and "a tough issue for Democrats . . . This is an important moral issue and the prolife base will be excited that the Senate is debating this important issue." . . .

Polls taken at the time indicated that 70 percent of those surveyed believed it was inappropriate for Congress to get involved in the case, and 67 percent thought elected officials became involved to gain political advantage.

It ain't us

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "The annual Georgia-Florida football game is Saturday, but Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue has started his own, self-serving cross-border war. Last week, Gov. Perdue filed suit to prevent the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from draining Lake Lanier, which supplies water to booming metropolitan Atlanta and Florida's Apalachicola river and bay. Florida needs the water to keep endangered oysters and an oyster industry alive and wants more to flow to a coal-powered electric plant, owned by an Atlanta company." "Florida isn't to blame".

Freddie fallin'

"When Fred Thompson jumped into the presidential race in early September, months after his rivals, he was widely expected to pick up some of the heavy-duty Republican fundraisers in Florida who had been lingering on the sidelines. It hasn't happened." "Fred Thompson's presidential campaign lags in Florida".

"Florida is evolving"

Mike Thomas has a little fun (conveniently forgetting to mention that he was a Jebbie guy)"We are moving toward intelligently designed science curriculum in public schools. And by that I mean we are leaving intelligent design out of classrooms. By golly, Florida is evolving." "Mike Thomas".

Water

The Tampa Trib editors: "Crist should recognize what a majority of lawmakers fail to understand: developing water resources is essential to Florida's future. Yet to make ends meet, the Legislature severely cut the $100 million fund that helps communities develop and preserve drinking-water sources." "Veto Short-Sighted Cuts To Water Projects". Separately: "Crist wants Presidential intervention in state water feuds".

Off topic: Florida's Jerry Springer show

"8 guards disciplined over lesbian prison wedding".

Spare us

This St. Pete Times editorial is far to nice:

Now Martinez can focus on working for the people who sent him to Washington and should be better able to put their issues - access to health care, for instance - ahead of loyalty to the party. With approval ratings between 30 percent and 40 percent, the Orlando Republican could use some success on the home front before he faces re-election in 2010. Spending less time catering to national Republican donors gives him more time and independence to better represent the interests of Floridians.

Cuba

"In his first major Cuba policy speech in years, President Bush stuck to the administration's tough line, rejecting any political warming with Havana until free and fair elections are held and political freedoms respected." "Bush calls for change in Cuba".

Luvin' Privatization

"If Florida corrections secretary Jim McDonough is to fire the company that has run prison industries for a quarter-century, he will have to show how his agency can do the job better. But the preemptive political strikes by some lawmakers and company executives suggest they are less than willing to hear him out."

What is there to hide? . . .

Just watch this brisk brushback pitch, delivered Monday by House Juvenile Justice chairman Mitch Needelman: "Although I have not as yet received any detailed information regarding your suggestion for the department to take over correctional work programs from PRIDE Enterprises," he wrote, "I must admit that I have a great deal of initial skepticism regarding your proposal."

Notice how freely Needelman offers his reflexive response in the absence of any "detailed information." This, unfortunately, has been the legislative pattern since PRIDE was created. When questions are raised, lawmakers shield the company from scrutiny.

No problem

"State ethics officials have ended their investigation into allegations that Palm Beach County Commissioner Karen Marcus violated state ethics laws for allegedly encouraging a developer to contribute to her favorite charity in exchange for her votes." "State ethics panel dismisses complaint against Marcus".

Mittie

Poor Mitt, he's burning the candle at both ends: "Romney said Wednesday he wants to protect Iowa and New Hampshire as the leadoff nomination states but also wants all states' delegates seated at next year's GOP National Convention. ... South Carolina, New Hampshire, Florida, Michigan and Wyoming may be punished for breaking party rules and setting nomination dates earlier than Feb. 5." Having dug that hole, Mittie jumps to the old GOPer standby:

Romney accused Democrats of accepting defeat in the battle against "radical violent jihad."

Good luck

"Three black members of Florida's congressional delegation asked federal officials on Wednesday to investigate the acquittal of eight boot camp employees by an all-white Bay County jury in the death of a black teenager." "Lawmakers seek boot camp probe".

House Democrats, who voted for the measure Monday, helping it to pass on a 108-2 vote, quickly revived their concerns about the cap. House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber urged his Senate counterparts to ``learn more about it before we put it in the Constitution.''

"What took so long?"

Another Jebacy: "Believe it or not, the word 'evolution' doesn't currently have a home in the official science standards for Florida's public schools. "

But under proposed new standards, science teachers wouldn't have to resort to guesswork to determine if the evolutionary principles they discuss fall within state guidelines.

The new standards, which members of the State Board of Education will consider for adoption early next year, are likely to rekindle the debate over science and religion, and what's appropriately taught in public schools.

Under the plan, evolution and biological diversity are together considered one of several "big ideas," firmly grounded by "multiple forms of scientific evidence."

The proposal not only deserves strong public support, but also raises the question: What took so long?

The absence of evolution from Florida's current standards, adopted more than a decade ago, is just one example of weak, vague content - a shortcoming that contributed to a humiliating grade of F that Florida received in a 2005 Fordham Institute report on state-by-state science standards.

In the same report, Massachusetts received an A, and educators say there is a clear connection between strong, specific standards and educational outcomes. Massachusetts also is consistently at the top of the national heap in science and math achievement.

Florida students, on the other hand, have not performed well on state, national and international science achievement measures. Achievement gaps persist throughout demographic subgroups, and graduating seniors are often scientifically underprepared for both college and the work force.

Grubbing for wingnuts

"During a campaign swing Tuesday through South Florida, Republican presidential contender Fred Thompson pushed for a crackdown on illegal immigrants and accused rival Rudy Giuliani of sheltering them as mayor of New York City." "Thompson takes a tough stance on immigration". See also "Thompson plan: Target immigration havens".

To his credit, Thompson didn't go completely off the deep end: "Thompson Says Life Support Choice 'Personal'" ("That appears to set Thompson at odds with the actions of former Gov. Jeb Bush, pro-life forces in Congress at the time of Schiavo's death and President Bush.")

Is that a good thing?

"Martinez again Florida's".

U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida brouhaha

"With only days left before the expiration of James Klindt's appointment as the acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida, the Senate Judiciary committee is watching closely what the Bush administration will do."

A battle may be brewing over any decision by the Department of Justice to reappoint Klindt when his term expires Friday.

Such a move could extend Klindt's stay for another 120 days, potentially bringing to 330 days his service in a post that Democrats who control the Senate say should normally be filled by people whose nominations are reviewed and confirmed by the Senate.

"Florida's 'first black governor'"

"The Florida GOP, led by a man who has been called Florida's "first black governor," is launching an unprecedented outreach effort to court African-American voters." And this an impressive start, with a nice "safe" millionaire:

On Nov. 16, the state GOP will hold a statewide black Republican conference in Orlando headlined by former Pittsburgh Steeler and Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann.

Could it be . . .

. . . that the traditional media might spend a little time bashing the GOPers for their internal primary fight? "Will Florida GOP Consider Litigation Over Delegation Cut?".

Anderson

"Many of those who marched on the federal courthouse in Tallahassee on Tuesday talked bitterly about the similarities they see between the boy beaten at a Bay County boot camp last year and the boy whose murder stoked the civil rights movement a half-century ago." "Protesters liken Anderson to Till". See also "Hundreds protest handling of teen's death at boot camp" and "Hundreds march calling for justice".

Yesterday's news

A couple of pieces you have missed in our absence yesterday:

- "A Leon circuit judge handed Gov. Charlie Crist a potentially bruising defeat on Monday, ruling that he did not have the authority to veto a portion of the state budget that had to do with printing the state's driver's license handbook. . . . The decision means the state's driver's manual will be printed by the state and not a private contractor. More broadly, however, it calls into question Crist's ability to leave money in the state's budget while cutting out instructions on how to spend it." "Leon judge limits Crist's veto power". See also "A line-item veto overturned in court".

- "Greer didn't like the story either"

Here's an idea . . .

"Most treated wastewater now goes to irrigation, so-called "reclaimed water," but millions of gallons in South Florida are dumped into the ocean or injected deep into the ground daily. So water managers in Sunrise and Plantation and elsewhere wonder: Why not turn that into an alternative drinking water source?" "Treated sewer water could be in local taps someday".

The rhinestone-encrusted elephant brooches sparkled as about 3,000 delegates awaited the eight GOP presidential contenders’ debate at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando.

Two doors down, 226 reporters watched the debate on five flat screen televisions.

That’s because they were not allowed to even enter the Gatlin Ballroom, except for FoxNews reporters who were seated on a platform overlooking the red, white and blue lit stage.

Another Jebacy

The News-Journal editors - "Even as former Gov. Jeb Bush was pushing the state into a massive privatization of Medicaid, advocates were warning:"

Not so fast.

Bush didn't listen. He wanted sweeping changes, statewide, and he wanted them rapidly. He didn't want to hear that private networks weren't ready to take on a huge influx of patients. He wouldn't listen to those who worried about forcing a medically vulnerable population to choose among health plans to find the one that best meets their needs. He seemed to revel in the attention Florida got from other states for pushing ahead with changes with precious little evidence that they would save the state money. . . .

A new report by the Agency for Health Care Administration's inspector general, Linda Keen, suggests the legislative caution was well-founded -- and that Gov. Charlie Crist has inherited a mess. Bush's "big hairy audacious" reforms, as he called them, aren't working out too well.

Mel being coy with his kiss of death

"Martinez Now Free For Presidential Politics—But Not Saying With Whom".

GOPers take it where they can find it

"Sure Republicans head into 2008 with an unpopular president, an unpopular war and no consensus on their best presidential candidate. But like manna from heaven, the Democratic presidential candidates' boycott of Florida's Jan. 29 primary has state GOP leaders giddy." "It's a gloating old party".

And then there's this ...

"House, Senate at odds as tax-cut deadline nears". See also "Chambers' chasm endangers chance for tax changes" and "House GOP needs a helping hand from Dems today".

Sex in the City (of Hialeah)

"A week after Hialeah Councilman Jose Caragol made headlines for an oral-sex-laced campaign slogan, his opponent in the race is wondering if the orange code enforcement notice left on her front door Thursday is a sheer 'coincidence' or an act of 'retribution' from the city." "Hialeah council hopeful questions complaint".

Yaaaawn ...

"GOP reaches out to Hispanics". See also "GOP not giving up on Latino voters".

One third world nation to another

"There is hope that Florida's fight with global warming will inspire Third World nations." "Fla. plan on climate upheld as example".

Laff riot

Pamela Hasterok yesterday:

You would have thought the eight Republican candidates on stage were debating the boogeyman rather than each other. After all, Hillary Clinton wasn't there.

Trying to break out of the pack, Republican candidates did everything but trash the furniture to win over the great lot of undecided GOP voters. On a night like Sunday, words matter and candidates searched for just the right ones to bring voters to their side.

Billary

"Bill Clinton told a Miami audience Sunday night why he thinks his wife is the best candidate for president." "Bill Clinton raises money at Miami rally".

Boyd

Even "Boyd sees need for a change in mission".

(Almost) prepaid

"Prepaid tuition plans won't cover full costs at 3 state universities".

The end of the world as we know it

"When the Legislature passed Florida's Defense of Marriage Act several years ago, defining weddings by statute as the legal union of one man and one woman, former Sen. Daryl Jones of Miami made a thoughtful speech."

Forget about gay marriage, Jones said. That's what prompted the state law - Hawaii's Supreme Court had ordered that state's Legislature to show cause that marriage should be limited to heterosexuals, and there were rumblings of "civil unions" in a few other states - but Jones said the issue had broad societal implications.

Essentially, Jones said, a lot of people live together unmarried because that's what they want, or because complications in their personal lives make it better for them. Like it or not, the "Father Knows Best" or "Leave it to Beaver" family model - in which Dad goes to work and dispenses timeless wisdom while Mom stays home and settles kiddie disputes - is of a bygone era, if in fact it was ever prevalent anywhere but on long-ago TV.

Jones predicted that the time would soon come when state government, Florida's largest employer, would have to adapt its personnel policies to what's going on in society.

This month, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink took a very small first step toward such an adaptation. She announced that employees of the Department of Financial Services may use sick leave to care for domestic partners.