Laff riot

"U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, repeatedly used her new favorite line over the weekend, that "

she knows Hillary Clinton, and Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton.

The Florida Republican Party did not like her offering that line, or anything else she had to say, on CNN.

"The party issued a statement from Chairman Jim Greer -- from the site of the Republican National Convention -- suggesting it was wrong to talk politics with Hurricane Gustav threatening:"

“At a time when the Gulf Coast is bracing for a potentially devastating hurricane, it is unfortunate that Debbie Wasserman-Schultz has kept up her attacks on John McCain’s historic selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate.

"Republicans act shocked that Wasserman Schultz criticized veep candidate Palin".

Meanwhile, we read that "GOP Governors Politicize Hurricane Gustav (VIDEO)". When the GOPers do that, let them eat some of this.

Back at the ranch, Charlie "flew to the Panhandle in a Florida National Guard C-130 plane. The group visited an I-10 Florida welcome station 4 miles from the Alabama border where Crist handed out small cups of orange juice." "Gov. Crist tells Gustav evacuees to stay as long as they want". See also "Governor Crist touring Gustav shelters".

Will there be hurricane refugees in the video background? "Update: Crist makes pre-taped address at the GOP Convention".




What's a vacuous Happy Face to do?

Aaron Deslatte: "Left off McCain ticket, which way will Crist go now?".




"Stunned" RPOFers at GOPCon

"John McCain's running mate Sarah Palin said Monday that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is five months pregnant, an announcement aimed at rebutting Internet rumors that Palin's youngest son, born in April, was actually her daughter's."

The news spread quickly through the convention in Minneapolis, where delegates were stunned.

''What? This is for real?'' said State Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, a Fort Lauderdale Republican.

"Florida GOP delegates stunned by VP's daughter's pregnancy".

Preganant 17 year olds of the world unite!: "Florida Republicans: Palin Will Carry Banner" and "Women at convention applaud Palin's ascent".

"Half a vote, full Florida delegate or delegation 'honored guest?'" "State's 'honored guests' don't mind the label". See also "Florida delegates focus on Gustav" ("A pep rally for Florida delegates is being recast as a prayer breakfast. Money for a post-convention pool party is going to the American Red Cross.") See also "Florida Delegation's Seating Sparks Pointed Debate".




"As many as nine amendments"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Florida voters may face on the Nov. 4 ballot as many as nine amendments that various groups or elected officials are asking them to make to the Florida Constitution." "Spare us".




Not cool

"11.3 percent election turnout in Broward was lower than in 2004, 2000".




"DREAM Act"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Juan Gomez, like thousands of other bright teenagers across the country, headed off to college last week. However, in addition to clearing the familiar hurdles of SATs and prom dates, Gomez also had to overcome the threat of deportation. It should not have been so hard for this smart, goal-oriented student. Nor should it be for other immigrant teens brought to the United States as children by parents who entered or stayed here illegally. But Congress has failed to come to the rescue, even though a fair and appropriate remedy has been on the table for seven years."

"The DREAM Act, introduced in Congress in 2001, offers the right correction: Young people brought here illegally when they were younger than 16 will be eligible for permanent residency if they complete two years of college or military service. But U.S. lawmakers have yet to pass the DREAM Act". "Punishing students for parents' misdeeds".




Ruth has a little fun ...

"No one thought,"

to grab McCain by the lapels, put him up against a wall and scream into his face: "Are you nuts? Are you CRA-ZY? Are you certifiably insane?

"Do you honestly believe tapping the anti-abortion, former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, population 27, not counting the moose, is going to galvanize disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters to flock to your campaign simply because your running mate is a woman?

This is special:

"And were your public relations flacks half in the bag when they argued Gov. Palin has defense credibility because she's the commander in chief of the 1,800-member Alaska National Guard?

"Good grief, by that standard you have just managed to make Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, with 12,000 National Guardsmen under his authority, look like a NATO supreme allied commander.

"Or, put another way, Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee, with 2,160 sworn officers, commands a bigger fighting force than Sarah Palin.

"Sarah Palin? Great Running Mate, John!".




"Uncle Tom"? She said it

The Tallahassee Democrat's Meredith Clark, an alleged journalist, explores a sensitive issue, quoting one GOPer saying"'It's like you're racist or an Uncle Tom if you don't support Barack,'" "A black Republican? Think about it".




Ahem ...

The Tampa Tribune editorial board reminds us that "If You Want To Vote, You Have To Register".




Paulites persist

"The stated goal of Campaign for Liberty is to take up the Paul agenda and carry on where he leaves off. More than 500 die-hard Paul supporters became Campaign for Liberty grass roots leaders. They attended a two-day training program in a Minneapolis suburb, where they learned how to spread the ideals of limited government without the depending upon Paul, the man. About 50 Floridians attended the training, including Boca Raton software entrepreneur Steven Talcott Smith, 34, who became a fan through watching Paul during a Republican presidential debate last summer." "Ron Paul books a star turn when the GOP backs off".




Is there any other kind?

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "WEven obnoxious journalists have First Amendment protections". Seriously, isn't the real question what a "journalist" is?




SAT not CAT

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Look at SAT, not FCAT".




Huh?

"It's known by various names, including "stranger-owned life insurance." But are strangers enticing seniors to buy life insurance and cashing in when they die? Florida regulators are delving into a controversial type of deal that involves investors financing life-insurance policies for seniors -- and then ultimately becoming the beneficiaries of the policies. " "Insurance owned by strangers? Critics cry foul".




She so smart ...

"When Judy Stern isn't lobbying elected officials, she helps politicians by running their campaigns." "Lobbyist helped four win races in Broward County".