Giuliani showed the importance he places on Florida in a "Meet The Press" interview Sunday.

Host Tim Russert asked him to react to polls showing him trailing in the early states, and Giuliani repeatedly responded, "I wish you'd show Florida."

A Quinnipiac University poll last week showed Giuliani with 30 percent among Florida Republicans, Romney 12 percent, Huckabee 11 percent, Thompson 10 percent and John McCain 9 percent.

can Rudy really win the nomination after losing Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina? One, two, three, in that order?

As far back as I can remember, there's always been a candidate who tries something like this, tried to hang back on the low-count early primaries and then break out nationwide on that year's "Super Tuesday". Often it was a candidate trying to wait until a slew of Southern primaries and try to break out there. But this has basically never worked. The catalytic effect of victories in the early states almost always creates unstoppable momentum and an aura of victory for whichever candidate wins Iowa, New Hampshire or both. For the Republicans at least the list definitely also includes South Carolina.

So much for Rudy's late primary strategy.

A new Rasmussen poll has him at 19% in Florida, behind Mike Huckabee's 27% and Mitt Romney's 23%.

If Rudy's not going to make his stand in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, or Florida, what's he banking on?

"Divine intervention", it works every time

"How Joanne Rush came to sit among complete strangers in a dimly lit room at Bonefish Grill is a story, she explains, of divine intervention. The Realtor and evangelical Christian from Valrico happened to catch the recent presidential debate in St. Petersburg on TV and was struck by one of the men on stage. He seemed genuine and spoke convincingly of God." "Political boom is built on faith".

Bambalooza

"Crist promotes prop tax amendment". See also "Gov. Crist turns Orlando home into stump site on property taxes" and "Crist opens tax plan drive".

Back at the ranch, "TaxWatch rightly doubts Crist's tax-cut promises": "TaxWatch President Dominic Calabro called the amendment inadequate. If it passes, Mr. Calabro said, the Legislature won't feel compelled to make the necessary reforms to the state's tax system. In an interview Thursday, Mr. Calabro said TaxWatch hasn't taken a final position. But the organization will issue a report, perhaps next week, that he believes will be 'pretty unassailable.'"

Surely this is a mistake

Stop the presses! The Orlando Sentinel puts this story in its "politics section" (as opposed to being buried in the business section): "Worker still seeks '96 back pay".

Perhaps the story was given a prominent place (indeed, in the paper's print edition, it is the headline story in yesterday's "state and local section") because it is about the impotence of the National Labor Relations Board - it would be consistent with the Sentinel's well known anti-union proclivities to remind workers that unionizing is a dangerous thing and ought to be avoided: otherwise, like the poor souls in the cited articles, you may have to wait more than a decade if you are illegally fired for union activity.

Renters don't vote

"In Orange County, where the governor helped launch the tax-cut campaign Friday, about four out of every 10 residents do not own a home. Across Florida, more than 5 million residents rent and stand to gain little from the tax measure, landlords say." "Orlando-area renters may gain little from property tax amendment".

Here's a shocker ...

"Business interests Friday ripped a proposal that would expand Florida's sales tax to many services and goods now excluded or exempt even though it also would cut property taxes, including their own, buy about 40 percent."

The proposal pending before the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission would repeal most school property taxes - about $9 billion in the first year. It also would require the Legislature to replace that money out of a potential $4 billion in exempt goods and $23 billion in excluded services.

Representatives of a wide range of businesses, including agriculture, real estate, accounting and manufacturing, appeared before the commission's Governmental Procedures and Structure Committee, which may vote on the proposed state constitutional amendment next month.

Huckabee kisses off the country clubbers

"Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson have begun casting Republican rival Mitt Romney as a scion of the upper class, contrasting him with their more humble roots in hopes of undermining the richest candidate in a well-off group." "Foes use 'class warfare' against Romney".

"Stunningly illogical, right?"

"Twenty-thousand more babies were born to teenagers in 2006 than in 2005. The increase in the teen birth rate was the first in 15 years - proof, obviously, that abstinence-only education is working. Stunningly illogical, right?"

Last year, Florida received $10.7 million in federal money for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. ... [S]tate officials need to ask themselves: What will the numbers be if we continue to bury our heads in the sand?

'Ya reckon?

"Liberty City Seven jurors skeptical about intent to bomb buildings". See also "Paintballers Plotted World Takeover". "Govt's Kooky Cult Terrorism Case Goes Bust".

The Palm Beach Post puts it this way: "The Liberty City dupes?":"Eighteen months ago, after the arrest of seven terrorism suspects in Miami, then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales hyped the capture as a triumph for national security. He always did have trouble getting his story straight."

On Thursday, a federal jury in Miami acquitted one of the defendants. A mistrial was declared in the other six cases. That's it? After the public heard that these Al-Qaeda loyalists wanted to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago?

Under President Bush, however, the Justice Department has compiled a better record of exaggerating terrorism cases than of obtaining convictions. Meanwhile, far from Liberty City, the man responsible for 9/11 remains at large.

"Food fight"

"Florida has soured on California-grown citrus. A legal dispute has emerged between the two states over the importing of fresh citrus and concerns of fungus-laden fruit making its way into Florida groves and markets and, eventually, into Korea." "Food fight pits Florida, California on citrus sales".

A KBR thing

"Florida Sen. Bill Nelson has asked the Pentagon and the Justice Department for a thorough investigation into charges by two women, including one from Tampa, that they were raped by government contractors in Iraq." "Senator seeks inquiry of rape claims".

Kreegel

"Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda, has been accused of violating state election and open records laws in a formal complaint filed Friday with House Speaker Marco Rubio."

The allegations stem from the actions of Barry Millman, a Kreegel aide who was forced to resign last month after an internal investigation determined that Millman violated the state's public record law, lied to a constituent and used state computers to research the background of Keith Richter, Kreegel's 2008 GOP opponent.

Pigs

"There's little doubt that Boca Raton's city manager and city attorney deserve a good raise this year. Likewise, though, those 45 city employees who got walking papers this summer deserved to keep their jobs and put food on the family table."

But tough decisions have to be made in tough economic times, and Boca felt budget cuts left them little choice but to do the unthinkable: trim the city's full-time work force by 5 percent and put 45 employees out of work.

It smacks as a slap in the face, then, to turn around a few months later and reward the city's top two managers with healthy 7 percent raises.

an attempt to counter problems that have eroded Giuliani's position in the race over the past month.

His choice to make the speech in Florida - and in the Tampa Bay area, the state's biggest media market - underscores his campaign's reliance on Florida as its fortress among the early primary states.

The campaign hopes Florida's Jan. 29 primary will compensate for possible losses by Giuliani in the early January states where he's trailing in polls - Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

A big win in Florida, where he holds a double-digit lead, could springboard him into the Feb. 5 "tsunami Tuesday" primaries. On that day, some 21 states will vote, possibly deciding nominees in both parties.

Though he's long been considered frontrunner in the large, competitive GOP primary, Giuliani has been unable to pull away from the crowd.

[Campaign manager Mike ] DuHaime denied that was the purpose of the speech.

"We've always known this race was going to be a close, tight race with at least five candidates getting double-digit support," he said. "At this natural turning point, it's the right time for the mayor to make his case."

He acknowledged that Giuliani's heavy reliance on Florida and Feb. 5, putting less emphasis on Iowa and New Hampshire, "clearly is not the traditional strategy that's been followed in the past." ...

A Quinnipiac University poll last week showed Giuliani with 30 percent among Florida Republicans, Romney 12 percent, Huckabee 11 percent, Thompson 10 percent and John McCain 9 percent.

"Organized opposition"

"The battle over property tax cuts being pushed by Gov. Charlie Crist began in earnest Thursday, picking up organized opposition from the front-line workers who could feel the biggest pinch — teachers, firefighters and local government" "Firefighters, teachers and others lining up to oppose property tax cuts".

'Ya think?

"Ask the Governor: Teacher pay a concern".

Meet Caren Lobo, from Osprey

"At first glance, there is no obvious explanation why Sarasota donors have given more money to Barack Obama than to any other presidential candidate."

As a Democrat, he agreed to boycott Florida until after the primary, meaning he lacks local campaign staff and has not appeared in public.

Around the state and nation, he trails the Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in contributions.

He is even from the wrong party: since 2000, donations to presidential candidates from Sarasota have favored Republicans 2 to 1.

But Obama has a special supporter in Sarasota. And her name is not Oprah Winfrey.

"Two words" said Kate Harris, an Obama supporter from Osprey. "Caren Lobo."

Lobo, the former owner of Sarasota News and Books, organized a local coalition that has raised nearly half a million dollars -- enough to get Lobo a seat on Obama's national finance committee and put Sarasota on the Illinois senator's map.

Splintering

"Cuban-American political leaders in Florida are dividing their support among the candidates in the Republican presidential primary. If Cuban-American voters follow their lead, it means no candidate will benefit from cohesive backing of one of the most powerful GOP voting blocs in the state. That's good news for Florida front-runner Rudy Giuliani, who's also ahead among the state's Hispanic Republicans, according to some polls."

Florida's roughly 300,000 Cuban-Americans typically make up 10 percent of the voters in a GOP primary, a potentially decisive group that has swung primaries in the past.

McCain, for example, is backed by Florida's three Cuban-American Congress members, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and brothers Mario and Lincoln Diaz-Balart, all from the Miami area.

Romney's Florida co-chairman is Al Cardenas, a prominent Miami Cuban, former state Republican Party chairman and key ally of Jeb and George Bush.

Giuliani lists endorsements of several Miami-area elected officials, including Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina and several state House members.

As of this week, Mike Huckabee, whose late surge in early primary states has put him in the top tier of candidates, joined the club. State House Speaker Marco Rubio endorsed him Monday, as did Rubio ally and fellow Miami state Rep. David Rivera.

Florida's most prominent Cuban political figure, Sen. Mel Martinez, remains neutral so far, and won't say whether he'll take a side.

FCAT Follies

The Palm Beach Post's Jac Wilder VerSteeg argues that it is "Time to wake up about the FCAT".

"Ongoing investigation"

"The chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission traveled from Washington, D.C., on Thursday for a private meeting with leaders of the Seminole Tribe of Florida at tribal headquarters in Hollywood."

It was the second such visit in almost four years by Phil Hogen, chairman of the federal regulatory agency, to discuss the tribe's use of gambling profits. The commission began monitoring the Seminoles in 2004 after learning that Tribal Council members were spending tens of millions of dollars on themselves, their families and individual tribe members. Federal law requires that gambling revenue be used to benefit the tribe as a whole.

Hogen told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel his visit is part of "an ongoing investigation."

Pigs at the trough

"By day, legislators were on light duty at the state Capitol this week, meeting in committees to review programs and proposed laws. By night, they flocked to clubs, law firms and trade-group suites to collect campaign checks from lobbyists and their clients." "Focus at the Capitol: raising money".

Adult arcades

"Are video slot machines that pay out with gift cards at mom-and-pop arcades illegal gambling that should be shut down, or are they games of skill that can be regulated?"

That is the question the House Business Regulation Committee tackled Thursday as it heard testimony that the proliferation of the ''gray market'' games at penny-ante game rooms confuses law enforcement and opens the door for money laundering and fraud.

The committee's chairman, Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, said he wants illegally operated machines closed down and the state laws clarified to regulate the rest. ''I don't want anyone to think this is a witch hunt,'' said the Miami Republican. ``This is an industry that a lot of seniors attend, and it has no regulation.''

Jennifer Pritt, a Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent, told the committee that her agency's experience with the machines that have been cropping up in strip malls and low-income neighborhoods across the state is ``they are operated without rules, regulations or industry norms.''

State law is murky as to whether the video-style machines that look like slot machines qualify as games of chance -- like slot machines at Indian casinos and some racetracks -- or games of skill, like arcade amusement games, she said, so law enforcement around the state ''is struggling.'' Some operators have been arrested for running gambling rooms, while others have gone unchecked.

GOT(Knuckle-dragger)V

"Florida voters, who have been asked in the past eight years to approve smaller class sizes, ban smoking in restaurants and allow slot machines in South Florida, will decide in the fall of 2008 whether to put Florida's ban on same-sex marriage in the state Constitution." "Gay-marriage ban will be on ballot". See also "Same-sex marriage vote upcoming".

Local Government Investment Pool

"Mortgage-backed assets in the Local Government Investment Pool's portfolio lost value this fall because of the subprime mortgage collapse that peaked in August. As reports surfaced about risky holdings in the investment fund, panicked investors withdrew $10 billion from the $27 billion-plus fund during two weeks in November. The State Board of Administration, which oversees the investment pool, froze trading temporarily to stop the bleeding. SBA trustees re-opened the fund a week later, to limited withdrawals only. The local governments that remain invested in the pool share proportionately in the riskiest securities, which the SBA has isolated from the rest of the fund and kept frozen. As of Thursday, the fund stood at about $12.2 billion." "Withdrawals From State Fund Are Called Unfair".

Not gonna happen

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Florida Atlantic University trustees finally roused themselves Wednesday to tighten the employee severance policy they had insisted didn't need fixing. Now, President Frank Brogan should tell state legislators why he gave nearly $600,000 to FAU's former chief fund-raiser." "Real story on Davenport still Brogan answer away".

"Stunned state fundraisers senators"

"Fugate and his staff told stunned state senators Thursday that Florida ran into a succession of problems during the past 18months — from the rising costs of concrete, copper and insurance to the refusal of many local governments to chip in to help finish installing the generators. Though some of the problems resulted from bureaucratic delays that haven't cost any money, they still mean that dozens of facilities won't be refitted by the June 1 start of next year's hurricane season. And the senators who sponsored the money said it looked as if the agency had abused its spending authority in some cases." "Senators question how $151M hurricane plan went wrong".

Red tide

"Red tide on the Atlantic coast seems to have claimed another victim: sea turtles in Brevard County. About 30 to 40 sea turtles have washed ashore, primarily between Cape Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet, over the past few days, and biologists think the only logical cause is the current outbreak of the toxic algae. Some of the turtles were still alive, but most died or washed ashore dead." "Red tide may be killing sea turtles in Florida".

A checks and balances thing

The Sun-Sentinel editors:

House leaders now suing the governor are asking a valid legal question that Florida's Supreme Court needs to answer. Can the governor sign [a gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe] without the consent of or review by the Legislature?

It's up to the justices to sort this one out, but the lawsuit points to an existing void in the checks and balances system.

At the federal level, for example, it's the executive branch that negotiates treaties, which must then be ratified by the Senate. If Florida's system of government does not require legislative review, then the governor would be granted de facto sovereign powers, as argued in the lawsuit filed by the House and Speaker Marco Rubio.

That seems ill-advised, particularly on an issue as important as gambling.

must act in accordance with their role as public policy stewards, and not simply to lob grenades at a leisure activity they find distasteful.

# Could Crist deliver Florida? Probably, but only if the state is leaning "red" next year anyway. Agnew didn't swing Maryland to Nixon, who carried Florida even without Kirk (in a three-way race helped by George Wallace.) It's doubtful many votes are changed by vice-presidential nominees.

# Second, why can't Florida produce national leaders? The Great Mentioner, a mythical Washington figure conjured up by former New York Times columnist Russell Baker, has cited Sen. Bill Nelson for the Democrats and Crist for the GOP — so we can all write, "...also mentioned as possible candidates are...."

You'd think a big state with such a diverse population would yield better presidential timber than, say, Arkansas or Georgia. Yet two of our finest governors, Reubin Askew and Bob Graham, never got past the earliest elimination. LeRoy Collins would have been a better choice than Lyndon Johnson in 1960, but Kennedy needed Texas more than Florida (24 electoral votes vs. 10, back then).

The 2007 Legislature redundantly changed the law so Crist (or Nelson) won't have to resign to run for vice president. If history and current campaign circumstances are any guide, though, they'll each be on platforms across Florida next fall, grinning gamely as they introduce "the next vice president of the United States..."

Lining up

"A coalition of unions today announced their plans to oppose the property tax constitutional amendment. ... The opponents known as Florida Is Our Homes include the firefighters, Florida AFL-CIO, Florida Education Association, Florida PTA and League of Woman Voters." "Unions coalition to oppose property-tax amendment". See also "Police, teachers, government workers form group to fight tax cut plan" and "Group: Anti-gay marriage amendment meets goal for Florida ballot". More: "Tax fliers target teachers".

"Florida TaxWatch, the business-backed watchdog group that favors property-tax reform and government belt-tightening, says voters should reject a Jan. 29 referendum that cuts property taxes by about $9 billion over five years." "Reject tax referendum, group advises voters".

Meanwhile, "Poll shows property tax is top concern for voters" ("Leadership Florida released its annual "Sunshine State Survey" of issues concerning Floridians. The poll of 1,200 Floridians by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. of Washington said 20 percent cited property taxation as their top concern, followed by education at 15 percent.")

Over in Rubio-world, "Rubio calls property tax amendment a starting point": "The proposed property tax amendment on January's ballot doesn't offer enough savings, House Speaker Marco Rubio said Tuesday, but added he'll vote for it anyway and work on a plan to improve it.".

"Tackle sprawl or voters will"

"With a public fuming over congestion and sprawl, state planners and legislative leaders are again seeking ways to better manage Florida's growth."

But unlike years past — when politicians and planners passed tough growth laws only to water them down afterward — they're up against a possible public uprising.

Florida Department of Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelham asked lawmakers Wednesday to consider sweeping changes to the state-review process that decides what gets built and where — aimed squarely at the slow-growth Florida Hometown Democracy amendment that could go before voters next year.

Same-sex marriage

"Supporters of a constitutional ban against same-sex marriage in Florida are slated to announce Thursday that they have enough signatures to put the issue on the 2008 ballot." "Same-sex marriage foes push for ban". See also "Group gathers signatures for gay-marriage-ban amendment" and "Sponsors: Fla. gay marriage amendment reaches signature goal".

This is a regular laff riot: "Florida4Marriage condemns opponents tactics": "The leader of the campaign to pass a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in Florida blasted opponents Thursday for what he called a "deceptive and dastardly" attempt to scare seniors and other non-same-sex couples into thinking it could cost them benefits."

SLAPPs

"When will a legislator from Palm Beach County or the Treasure Coast be willing to thwart lawsuits aimed solely at muzzling public comment on controversial developments? Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) litigation is designed to stop people from speaking out at meetings, writing letters to newspapers, or posting information on the Internet. The expense of hiring attorneys, and the hassle of dealing with these proceedings, often silences not only those who are sued, but also their neighbors." "Curb court harassment of development critics".

'Ya think?

"State panel: Stop sewage flow into ocean": "The daily dumping of 300 million gallons of lightly treated sewage three miles out into the ocean by Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties should cease, the chairman of a key state Senate committee said Wednesday".

One man's "excellence" ...

"Academies of Excellence, the management company that ran charter schools Osprey and Sawgrass, lost its appeal to the Florida Charter Schools Appeals Commission. The state board of education will make the final call in January." "Charter schools' operator loses appeal".

Embarrassing

The Tampa Trib editors embarrass themselves yet again: "Suppressing Speech On Campus Hurts University's Prestige".

Whatever

"Crist, in Tampa today for a meeting of the National Governors Association, defended his clean energy policies against naysayers." "Crist Defends Energy Plan".

Cuba talk

"Democrat Barack Obama supported the ''normalization of relations with Cuba'' when he was a U.S. Senate candidate in 2003, taking a more liberal position than he has espoused as a presidential candidate." "Candidates toughen talk on Cuba in S. Fla.".

"Sitting in a warehouse"

"Here we are, more than two years beyond the disastrous hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005, and generators purchased to provide life-sustaining electrical power for storm shelters that serve people with medical problems are still sitting in a warehouse." "Progress on generators is simply disastrous". See also "Lawmakers angry that emergency preparedness money not spent".

"Job 1"

"Four special sessions have eaten into legislators' time, so they took advantage of this week's opportunity for a fundraising blitz." "Job 1 this week: raise money".

'Glades

"The Everglades restoration effort, perpetually troubled by soaring costs and shaky finances, faces a broad state and federal reassessment that could shrink, slow or even eliminate some projects. The South Florida Water Management District on Wednesday ordered up a formal ranking of its Everglades priorities, following the lead of a key federal agency already doing the same thing." "State to rethink Everglades restoration priorities".

"At least in Georgia"

"The hysteria about sex offenders, so disproportionately destructive of the lives it prosecutes, is beginning to ebb -- at least in Georgia. Florida should learn lessons from its neighbor." "Judicial corrections".

Brain trust

"In an unusual detour from the Sunshine State, Gov. Charlie Crist flew to Louisiana's capital Wednesday to meet a "kindred spirit" in that state's governor-elect, Republican Bobby Jindal." "Crist visits 'kindred spirit' Jindal".

Those individuals' voter-registration cards were not processed because their names and ID numbers did not exactly match those in federal and state databases, a computer-driven registration hurdle the NAACP and other groups asked a federal judge in Gainesville on Tuesday to shut down.

"It's important to bear in mind this number is only going to increase. We can reasonably expect tens of thousands of voters will be affected" as the state draws nearer to the November 2008 presidential election, warned plaintiffs' lawyer Adam Skagg.

As important as those voters are, the right of Florida to shield against voter fraud is primary, argued Pete Antonacci, a former statewide prosecutor who represents Secretary of State Kurt Browning in the litigation.

Florida already is under a federal court injunction preventing it from enforcing another "vote fraud" law, that one imposing stiff penalties on organizations such as the League of Women Voters if they are late turning in the voter-registration cards they collect.

Relevance

Saint Marco has another vehicle to argue his relevance: "Florida lawmakers have the power to negotiate a new gaming compact with the Seminole Indian Tribe directly, the Senate's legal counsel said Tuesday, adding another twist to the state's ongoing legal feud over gambling." "Lawmakers, Tribe Can Deal, Lawyer Says".

"Senate leaders are poised to rewrite the gambling compact between the governor and the Seminole Tribe if the Florida Supreme Court rules in the Legislature's favor, Senate leaders said Tuesday." "Senate is poised to redo tribe deal".

Chamber whines as earth warms

"Lawmakers hear dueling experts today about the costs of global warming. An expert for the Florida Chamber of Commerce is scheduled this afternoon to tell a Senate panel about the threat to the economy posed by strict green house gas limits proposed by Gov. Charlie Crist." "Experts duel over climate change".

The GOP just doesn't seem to get it, and doesn't want the rest of it to get it either: "The White House censored climate scientists and edited their testimony on global warming before Congress, Democrats charged Monday after a 16-month investigation into allegations of political interference with scientific inquiries." "Political pressure on scientists alleged".

Corrections Corp. of America gets a pass on privatization scam

"A company that runs three prisons for the state has agreed to pay more than $1.5 million — about 42 cents on the disputed dollar — to settle a long-running controversy over staffing levels and equipment purchases." Not a great deal for the state:

Ken Kopczynski is a long-time lobbyist for the PBA, which represents officers in state-run prisons, and he has followed privatization issues closely in the Legislature for many years. He said DMS let GEO off too lightly last year and didn't do much better with CCA.

"It's nice that DMS got better than 10 cents on the dollar this time but almost half is better then nothing," said Kopczynski. "It's a shame that CCA and GEO are so entrenched with state government that they can get away with this."

He recalled that the DMS audit in 2005 showed $12.7 million in overpayments to prison companies.

"If you or I had gone to the bank and the teller gave us $12.7 million by mistake, you would expect to pay all of this back," he said. "Now, if you're a well connected private prison company and the state overpays you $12.7 million, you only have to pay back less then $2 million total between CCA and GEO — not a bad return for your investment in lobbyists, no?"

"The I-word"

"To judge from the GOP campaign, illegal immigration is the No. 1 topic of public concern. In fact, that is not the case. U.S. forces remain at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economy is teetering on the brink of recession, the U.S. healthcare system is in shambles, and the sky's the limit on the price of a barrel of oil. National polls, including those from the Pew Center, say these are the issues that voters find most worrisome, with immigration lagging far behind." "Positive approach didn't last long".

Go Magic!

"When the Orlando Magic signed a contract with Adonal Foyle this year, they did more than bring a reserve center to town. They also brought one of the NBA's most passionate political activists." "New guy Adonal Foyle brings game, political advocacy".

Charlie says "no"

"Despite pleas from cities, counties and school districts, Gov. Charlie Crist and leaders of the Florida Legislature said Tuesday they have no plans to use state money to help bail out local governments hampered by the near-collapse of a state-run investment fund." "Crist: State won't bail out investment fund".

"Local governments will be able to withdraw no more than a quarter of the $12 billion they have invested in a Florida-run investment fund before next spring -- because the fund doesn't want to sell the investments at a loss." "Florida says $9B can't be pulled from fund".

Milligan

"Gov. Charlie Crist and other state leaders unanimously selected former Florida Comptroller Bob Milligan on Tuesday as the interim director of the agency that has been besieged by questions over shaky investments in a state-run pool of local governments." "Ex-comptroller tapped to lead troubled agency". See also "Milligan tapped to oversee state investments" and "State board continues to look for investment pool answers".

Crotzer

"Members of the Florida Baptist General Convention and two lawmakers stood with Alan Crotzer on Tuesday and urged passage of a claims bill to pay him $1.25-million for two decades he served in prison for a crime DNA evidence proved he did not commit. The bill died last year." "Hope grows for Alan Crotzer".

Atwater

"North Palm Beach banker Jeff Atwater took the next-to-last step toward the Senate presidency Tuesday, winning the formal support of his Republican caucus." "Atwater likely next Senate president". See also "Senate GOP picks Atwater as president-designate" and "Republicans pick South Florida's Jeff Atwater to become Senate president".

Canker

"The state deserves the citrus canker mess it has made for itself." "Canker bill comes due, but avoid overcharges". See also "Canker effort was well-intended but poorly executed".

Stop it

"A Clearwater company has agreed to stop using the names and logos of 63 universities, including five in Florida, to entice students to consolidate their loans." "Loan consolidation firm must stop using names of Florida universities".

Another "Palm Beach banker"

"North Palm Beach banker Jeff Atwater took the next-to-last step toward the Senate presidency this evening, winning the formal support of his Republican caucus." "Atwater picked as next president of Florida Senate".

Not so "incredible" after all

"The too-good-to-be-true 2006 third-grade FCAT scores were artificially high in large part because certain questions on the state's reading test were in the wrong place, according to a new report by testing experts at the University of Nebraska."

The third-grade reading scores that year were the highest ever and touted by then-Gov. Jeb Bush as "just incredible." But when third-grade scores tumbled this year, state officials conceded that a testing error had contributed to the 2006 score jump on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

"Financial mess"

"The state of Florida is launching an investigation into how the Local Government Investment Pool, a state-run cash fund for local governments, got ensnared in its current financial mess." "State to investigate Local Government Investment Pool". See also "State's CFO asks auditors to scrutinize investment-fund decisions", "Board to meet as state seeks investment answers", "State board continues to look for investment pool answers" and "Money continues to pour out of Fla.'s investment pool".

Stonewalling is "the kind of response to be expected from a political appointee such as Coleman Stipanovich. He probably never would have been selected as executive director of the State Board of Administration, which controls billions in state investments, if his brother, J.M. "Mac" Stipanovich, had not been former Gov. Jeb Bush's campaign manager." "High-risk stonewalling".

"Ideological whiplash"

"Americans who have tried following the Republican presidential debates are starting the week with a bad case of ideological whiplash. The candidates who showed up Sunday at the University of Miami didn't seem much like those who tangled over immigration in the CNN/YouTube debate two weeks ago. Wait a minute; that's it. Immigration explains everything." "GOP's split personality on illegal immigration".

Suit on the roof

"Crist dropped by a Fort Lauderdale roofing company Monday to stand on the roof and praise its Earth-friendly technology." "Crist sees green, lauds building's solar roof".

Good luck

"Alan Crotzer will ask the Florida Legislature for a second time to compensate him for his 24 years of wrongful imprisonment, and his backers are speaking out months before the regular legislative session begins." "Crotzer again asks for compensation for wrongful imprisonment".

"Groundbreaking proposal"

"A groundbreaking proposal designed to keep mentally ill people from winding up in jails and prisons will not result in dangerous patients being put back on the streets, a judge assured lawmakers Tuesday." "Judge denies that mental health plan will increase danger".

Florida Forever

"The Senate began working Monday on a successor to Florida Forever, the $1.8 billion environmental program that has preserved more than 500,000 wilderness acres since 2001." "Florida Forever survives cuts".

Raw political courage

"Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson toured a Bay of Pigs museum in Little Havana on Monday and then criticized rival Mike Huckabee for previously saying the Cuban trade embargo should be lifted." "Post: State House speaker supports Huckabee".

More grubbing for votes: "GOP presidential candidates are calling for the Castro brothers to be indicted for the 1996 shoot-down of two Brothers to the Rescue planes." "Candidates target Castros for indictment".

Saint Marco to the rescue

"Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee scored the much-sought endorsement of House Speaker Marco Rubio, a rising Republican himself and a key bridge to the Hispanic community." "Rubio throws support to Huckabee". See also "Rubio supports Huckabee".

Dopey disappointed

"Eighteen people who voted in both Florida and New York in the 2006 general election will not be prosecuted because they did not violate Florida law, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and local prosecutors have determined. ... Local Republican Chairman Sid Dinerstein said he was stunned by the decision and believes politics trumped principle. According to a media study years ago, the majority of voters registered in both New York and Florida are Democrats, he said." "Florida won't try to prosecute two-state voters".

InBroganolia

"State lawmakers, after grilling a Florida Atlantic University representative Monday who they said didn't know the facts, want FAU President Frank Brogan and his attorney to answer to them in person about the $577,952 severance deal given to the school's former chief fund-raiser." "Irate legislators want Brogan to explain severance".

"God bless sweet Brazil," Crist told his hosts, hailing the country's world-renowned biofuels program.

So it came as a surprise on Crist's last day in Brazil when he abruptly announced the cancellation of a meeting with executives at the state-controlled energy giant, Petroleo Brasileiro, or Petrobras . . . [saying that Florida will not 'doing business with companies that sponsor terror'].

Crist had viewed Petrobras, the world's largest distributor and retailer of biofuels, as a potentially key partner in his plans to promote renewable energy. . . .

At the time, Crist's staff said it was entirely symbolic. While Petrobras had a modest $35-million invested in an Iranian oil drilling company, as far as they knew, Florida had no investments in Petrobras.

Now the St. Petersburg Times has learned that the Florida pension fund has $111,919,435 in foreign equity assets invested in Petrobras, according to the State Board of Administration, which manages the state's investments.

"I talked to the fund before I met with Petrobras to see what amount might be affected," said George LeMieux, Crist's then-chief of staff. "Perhaps someone missed it."

Crist knew about Petrobras' Iran ties two months before the trip, staff members [now] concede. . . .

The contract was signed on July 14, 2004, well before a recent intensification of concern [an unfounded concern as it turns out] about Iran's nuclear ambitions, Petrobras officials say.

Petrobras officials were taken aback by the scolding from a politician on only his second overseas trip . . . .

Brazil's Consul General in Miami, Joao Almino, has contacted Crist's office to express his government's "surprise" over Crist's decision and the language used in his Nov. 7 statement. Brazil respects Florida's right to regulate its pension plan, officials say, but they deny that Petrobras is associated with terrorism.

Halliburton Co., the oil company that was headed by Vice President Dick Cheney, signed contracts with Iraq worth $73 million through two subsidiaries while he was at its helm, the Washington Post reported.

During last year's presidential campaign, Cheney said Halliburton did business with Libya and Iran through foreign subsidiaries, but maintained he had imposed a "firm policy" against trading with Iraq.

Cheney has long criticized of unilateral U.S. sanctions, which he says penalize American companies. He has pushed for a review of policy toward Iraq, Iran and Libya.

Is he really ready? First and foremost we hope, a president wants someone who would be instantly ready to handle the most important job in the world. Charlie Crist has amazing political instincts and warmth, but that whole heartbeat away from being the most powerful person on Earth thing is a steep threshold. . . .

We're betting Crist can spell potato, but that wouldn't stop Democrats from making the Dan Quayle comparisons should the nominee pick a rookie governor who twice failed the Bar exam.

"It's a Wonderful Life"

"It is the modern-day version of It's a Wonderful Life. Depositors hear bad news. Too many want all of their money back immediately, and there's a run that makes the situation worse. Jimmy Stewart makes everything work out fine in the movie, but the final scene for Florida's troubled government investment pool has yet to be written. . . . This crisis provides an opportunity for Crist, McCollum and Sink to make improvements. First, they should conduct a national search for Stipanovich's replacement. This job is too important to be filled by political appointees as it has been in the past." "Draining risk from investment pool".

"And the problem is far from over: Alex Sink, the state's chief financial officer, who had pressed Stipanovich for the Nov. 14 finacial update that triggered the run, plans to ask auditors to probe what happened." "Sour state investments jolt local governments".

Will heads roll? "The Florida agency that manages billions of local tax dollars steadily decreased its safe investments in favor of riskier ones since 2003, an analysis by the Orlando Sentinel shows. The State Board of Administration essentially stopped buying such bedrock funds as U.S. Treasury bills and other federally backed notes and replaced them with less reliable commercial paper and private debt, some of which was linked to the subprime-mortgage crisis rocking the financial world." "Troubled Florida state fund shifted to risky investments".

The Sun-Sentinel editors on "the White House plan to prevent many more Americans from losing their homes to foreclosure [by] freezing interest rates for five years. . . . Unfortunately for South Florida's housing industry, it's too little too late, since many properties are already in foreclosure. The spike in the number of people losing their homes is one contributor to our region's housing slump, which has led to job losses for those in that sector as well." "Taxpayers shouldn't be asked to pay for bad lending practices".

More from Tom Blackburn: "Mortgage crisis: Everyone's problem".

Flip-floppers

"Addressing one of their largest immigrant audiences since the campaign started, Republican presidential candidates at Sunday's Spanish-language forum underscored their promises to stop illegal immigration, but also spoke more than usual about the importance of having compassion." "A softer tone on immigration". See also "Analysis: Republican candidates try civility in debate, for now" and "Republicans soften tone in bilingual debate".

"On the hot-button issue of immigration, the candidates largely stressed their support for stronger border security, with few firm proposals on how to handle the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants already living here." "At Univision debate, Republicans court Hispanics".

Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo boycotted the "Spanish-language debate with his fellow GOP presidential candidates in Miami on Sunday, saying it has no place in presidential race and accusing his rivals of 'pandering.'" "AP: Tancredo: GOP candidates 'pandering' at Spanish-language debate".

Yesterday, "Times: Giuliani duplicates his N.Y. success with Hispanics in Florida" ("Nowhere is Giuliani's support in Florida stronger than in South Florida, buoyed by high ratings among Hispanic Republicans.") and "Among Hispanic voters, GOP candidates look to Cuban-Americans for allies" ("The hard-line immigration stances taken by the Republican presidential candidates this year have stoked so much anger among Hispanic voters that the candidates are focusing their appeals almost exclusively on the reliably Republican Cuban-American community.")

"The need for change is obvious"

The News-Journal editors write that

the growing gap between haves and have-nots. Florida lost its claim to a low cost of living long ago. Housing costs have rocketed -- the report's word -- in the past five years. A recent downturn in home sales could help correct the market, but Florida is not likely to ever return to the days when housing was considered cheap. Meanwhile, in many parts of the state, costs of living top national averages. Yet per-capita income still lags below national benchmarks.

While Florida has added jobs at a still-respectable clip -- 1 million new jobs since 2000 -- the heftiest growth has occurred in areas that are non-sustainable (construction) or traditionally low-paying (services). . . .

The need for change is obvious. More than 15 percent of Florida's workforce lacks a high-school diploma, and the state's high-school graduation rate ranks 46th among the 50 states. Nearly 75 percent of workers don't have college degrees. Florida ranks a dismal 48th in the number of doctoral degrees in engineering and sciences. While Florida can offer a pool of 9 million workers, those workers often don't have the skills needed to attract high-paying, high-tech employers.

Other states tackled the challenge of converting to a high-tech economy by pouring resources into educational systems, making long-term commitments to build research capacity at universities and improve the public education system. Florida has paid lip service to those goals . . . .

You might call it "Rushing"

"South Florida and state officials will try a new tack next year to combat 'doctor shopping,' the growing practice in which a patient goes from doctor to doctor amassing pain pills for abuse or sale. They will launch a high-profile campaign for a statewide computer database to log every prescription for potentially lethal narcotic pills and antidepressants, to help doctors and officials spot multiple and suspect prescriptions." "Effort takes aim at 'doctor shopping' in Florida".

Thurman

"Thurman, a 56-year-old former congresswoman and state senator from Dunnellon, may need to use all of her political skills to mend differences between national Democrats, who are angry over Florida moving up its primary to Jan. 29, and state Democrats, who are miffed over what they see as excessive punishment from the Democratic National Committee." "Winning is paramount for Florida Democrat".

Court to resolve round one of the Crist-Rubio sandbox fight

"The stakes are high, politically and legally, and the side bets are plentiful as the Florida Supreme Court considers a clash between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Legislature over casino gambling". "High court weighs casino gambling".

"Teaching science from the Bible"

Robyn Blumner yesterday:

Florida is also now in a dust-up due to the inclusion of evolution in its proposed science standards. Donna Callaway, who was appointed to the state Board of Education by former Gov. Jeb Bush, said she'll oppose the new standards because of it.

Really folks, in this information age when scientific innovation is the key to our nation's future, we don't have the time to be mucking around in this tired debate. You don't produce doctors and scientists by teaching science from the Bible. Period.

Buried in the lengthy 42-page law, which forced counties to switch to optical-can voting machines for the fall 2008 elections, are changes to identification requirements for voters as well as new requirements for groups that register voters.

Because of past discrimination in five Florida counties -- Monroe, Collier, Hillsborough, Hendry and Hardee -- the federal government must sign off on changes to election law. While the federal government can block the law or parts of it from taking effect only in those five counties, Florida law requires voting standards throughout the state to be uniform. ...

The Justice Department has also questioned a decision to eliminate a buyers' club card and employee badges as a form of identification and a decision to give voters two days instead of three to prove their identity if they vote by provisional ballot.

The department has also raised questions about a section that says a person cannot be registered if their voter-registration application information does not match driver's license records or Social Security numbers. This section is already the target of a suit by the Florida NAACP.

Sancho said his elections staff found that the state database had listed 3749 Club Dr., an apartment complex in Duluth, Ga., as the prior address for 16,646 voters in Tallahassee. One of those is the mother of Janet Olin, the assistant supervisor of elections for Leon County, who lives in Tallahassee and, Sancho said: ``has never set a foot in Duluth, Georgia.''

''It calls for investigation,'' Sancho said, warning that if 'incorrect information is being attached to voters' records'' there will be ''mass confusion and chaos'' during the Jan. 29 primary.

telling a journalists' forum that despite problems with 14,000 newly registered voters, ``There will not be mass confusion and chaos.''

Browning was responding to complaints from Leon County Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho that the state's database system inexplicably inserted incorrect information into his voter registration file, causing 16,646 people to have their previous address listed as an apartment complex in Duluth, Ga.

Browning ordered his staff to come into the office Saturday to investigate, and he said they found no evidence that the Duluth address was erroneously inserted into voter records.

Hometown Democracy

The Palm Beach Post's Randy Schultz: "There are good reasons to be skeptical of Hometown Democracy. Voting on every land-use change could require phone book-sized ballots. Developers could be stuck with needless expense between approval of their project and a referendum. And as we saw with Save Our Homes, "fixing" big problems in the constitution can create more problems. Such skepticism may puzzle and annoy readers who believe that Hometown Democracy fits with the paper's support for managed growth." "Truth or dare on Hometown Democracy".

Water War

"Northeast Florida has launched a campaign to prevent thirsty Central Florida from pumping water out of the St. Johns River. A growing coalition of Jacksonville-area environmentalists and politicians hopes to shield the north-flowing river from proposals to divert as much as 250 million gallons each day to Orlando-area communities. It's an early salvo in what could become a bruising conflict over a waterway that flows mostly unnoticed east of Orlando but more than 100 miles downstream carves a dramatic riverfront through the heart of Jacksonville." "Whose thirst comes first? Orlando, Jacksonville areas face water war".

Sea cows

"If manatees could blow kisses, they'd send about 2,800 whiskery wet smacks to their new champion at the Governor's Mansion, and an equal number to Jimmy Buffett." "Manatees in paradise".

Enclaves

"Three South Florida communities showcase the tales of struggle and success among South Florida's immigrants." "Immigrant enclaves change face of South Florida".

Yaaaawnnn ...

"Mel adds to Charlie chatter -- No. 2 spot?".

Tax Panel

The Tampa Trib editors: "The state constitution wisely provides that every 20 years, a panel of experts must review how Florida collects and spends our money. This year the re-evaluation has begun with the state voters eager for fundamental change yet confused by a ballot measure that doesn't get the job done."

The tax panel is better positioned to offer fixes that make sense.

Florida's property taxes have become an inequitable way of funding government, and along with increases in insurance, have become an obstacle to economic growth and family security.

If the tax commission can find a way to build an upright tax structure atop the warped foundation that gives longtime homeowners both lower taxes now and smaller tax increases in the future, it will have done the state a great service.

Insulting

The Miami Herald editors: "The federal-court ruling upholding the Democratic Party's decision to ban Florida delegates from the national convention is a disappointment. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle relied on precedent in deciding that a political party has the right to set and enforce its own rules. Even so, the ruling doesn't justify the party's decision to deny Florida's four million Democratic voters a role in selecting the party's presidential nominee, which is nothing short of an insult." "An insult to Florida's voters".

"Putting children's education at risk"

"A new report by the state Senate Education Committee bears out what an Orlando Sentinel investigation unearthed earlier this year -- that Florida's lax regulation of charter schools is putting children's education at risk." "Our position: The regulation of the state's charter schools is way too loose".

"5 gears in reverse"

"The Republican presidential candidates sought to embrace Hispanics in a Spanish language debate Sunday, striving to mark common ground with a growing voter bloc while softening the anti-illegal immigration rhetoric that has marked past encounters." "Republican candidates soften anti-illegal immigration rhetoric".

"'Like vultures hovering over a wounded animal'"

"But like any good thriller, the tale of the once-$30 billion investment pool's flirtation with disaster is more than just a juicy plot. It also has led to a series of exciting action sequences and some astonishing performances from a cast of characters."

A swarm of private financial advisers turned the state saga, which would make headlines around the world, into a sales pitch to persuade local officials to move their precious savings out from under state control and into the private money managers' welcoming arms.

"Over the last two weeks, I've got more interest from financial institutions than I've ever seen," said Fort Pierce Finance Director George Bergalis. "Some of them were never previously interested in bidding on our funds.

"It's like vultures hovering over a wounded animal."

Several government finance directors said they received solicitations from JPMorgan Chase & Co., which had sold the state some of the short-term debt that defaulted and contributed to the panic. A JPMorgan spokeswoman declined comment.

"We're involved in capitalism in its clearest form," said Sharon Bock, Palm Beach County's elected clerk and comptroller.

At the trough

"While lawmakers will dutifully take testimony and hear reports from state agencies on their priorities for 2008, the week really is all about money. A staggering 30 fundraisers are on tap this week as lawmakers race to stockpile cash in advance of next year's elections. They're also making up for time lost to the protracted duel over property taxes and having to cut $1 billion from the state's battered budget." "Lawmakers race to round up dough".

First

"Sunshine State absentee voters will be the first to vote in the presidential primary, according to a survey of elections deadlines across the country by Paul Gronke, an elections expert at Reed College in Oregon. Florida's deadline for sending out overseas absentee ballots is Christmas Day, though many supervisors are sending them earlier." "Florida's absentee voters will be first".