That's because Florida -- the largest, most diverse swing state in the nation -- will decide on Jan. 29 whether Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton will have the upper hand going into the voting blitz that one week later is likely to settle the nomination.

Polls suggest the two candidates will split the two other states that vote before Florida: Nevada, where Clinton leads, and South Carolina, where Obama is ahead.

The no-campaign pledge renders both candidates powerless to lock down Florida. One poll, released before Clinton's narrow victory in New Hampshire, shows Obama closing the gap in Florida, though Tuesday's results could slow or put the brakes on his post-Iowa momentum.

The Republicans: Giuliani built his strategy on winning here, but like everywhere else, Huckabee has gained ground. With momentum out of South Carolina, McCain could contend, as could Thompson. Romney needs this to stay afloat.

The Democrats: No delegates at stake, but oh what a great "officially meaningless" prize! Clinton's commanding lead has eroded, but it's not gone. The first real test of electability nationwide could make everything that happened before irrelevant.

Good luck ...

They're gonna need it: "Thompson searches for ray of hope in Florida" and "Giuliani hopes tax speech will build momentum in Florida".

We have no comment on whether this was the correct decision: "Giuliani's Speech Moved From Circus Arena". And the poor guy can't seem to catch a break: "Sample ballot mailed with Rudy boo-boo".

Secretary of Education mum on "evolution"

Apparently afraid to upset Florida's GOPer mouth breathers, or, perhaps because she has never thought about the issue (a la Clarence Thomas and Roe v. Wade)

U.S. Secretary of Education [sic] Margaret Spellings, who is visiting states to tout the benefits of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, stayed as far away as she could from the unfolding controversy in Florida over whether the word ''evolution'' should be included in the state's science standards for schools. The State Board of Education is expected to vote on the new weather science standards next month. ...

When asked whether the nation's top education official has a position on whether evolution should be a part of science standards, Spellings replied: ``No, I don't.''

However, she had no problem making clear that she is a Bushco lapdog

Florida badly needs to upgrade its public school science standards: Our students, on average, perform poorly in science compared to those in other states and nations. ...

Some groups believe that the science of evolution, which is specifically mentioned for the first time in the new standards, conflicts with religious beliefs that God created the world. If evolution is to be taught, some argue, it should be taught alongside "creationism," also known as "intelligent design."

There is a lot at stake in the "e" word, though. If Florida and its communities want to market themselves as capable of supporting biotechnology, medical technology or other sciences, they cannot do so with fuzzy science curricula. They have to teach to the best standards of other states and nations, which include evolution.

Howard, 60, tells the audience he's superintendent of Taylor County school district, a small county about 50 miles south of Tallahassee. He drove nine hours to attend the hearing.

"We're in opposition to teaching evolution as a fact. Evolution continues to be a theory," says Howard, dressed in a suit and tie with a button that says 'Children First.'

Last month Taylor County School Board unanimously approved a resolution saying the district is opposed to teaching evolution as a fact.

He's heard from hundreds of parents who promise to pull their children out of the school system and put them in private schools, if the state approves the changes regarding evolution.

Was this really necessary ?

In their quest for "balance", the St. Pete Times gives us this photograph this morning:

This ought to help with the "balance", though I don't expect to see this picture of Rudy in the "liberal" media anytime soon:

How much more GOPer "leadership" can Florida stand

"The bad news about Florida's budget just keeps getting worse. State legislators learned Tuesday that they may have to reduce the current year's budget by as much as $600-million for two reasons: a prolonged economic slump shows no sign of ending and previous revenue forecasts, while conservative, have turned out to be overly optimistic." "Budget takes another hit".

Here's an idea: why not cut taxes on the wealthy and corporations? Surely, that will stimulate the economy, won't it?

And isn't this some delicious irony: "Business groups ask House for economic stimulus package".

In that connection, were there any calls to raise taxes on the wealthy (hey, how 'bout an intangibles tax?) to fund this business sponsored "economic stimulus package"? Nah, we'll just use our regressive sales tax to pay for it.

Privatized rapes

"Sen. Bill Nelson said the Pentagon and State Department won't tell him how many rape cases exist involving employees of contractors in Iraq." "Nelson still in dark over rapes in Iraq".

Mr. Happy face invokes FDR

If a local government has to lay off firefighters, bad things might actually happen: "Houses will burn longer before firefighters arrive, sheriff's deputies will be slower to respond to prowlers, kids will face more dangerous crosswalks and property-insurance rates will rise." Mr. happy face begs to differ, quoting - get this - FDR:

"It's misleading the people of Florida and frankly, it's disappointing. It reeks of desperation," Crist said. "It reminds me of a quote from FDR. 'All we have to fear is fear itself.'"

Death politics

The Tampa Trib editors acknowledge that

use of the death penalty as punishment for the worst crimes is a legitimate issue for political debate, and there is wide concern about the morality of capital punishment. With lethal injection, states tried to soften the look of it, but opponents insist the death penalty is state-mandated murder in any form.

Supporters of capital punishment make rational and compelling arguments, too, including that many people sentenced to death are guilty of crimes so hideous that a prison sentence, however long, doesn't satisfy society's sense of justice.

Doubts about the death penalty tend to give way in the face of insanely brutal and horrific killings. At those times, the manner of execution matters less than the assurance that ruthless murderers pay the ultimate price for their crimes.

Foley

"State investigators believe they cannot complete an investigation of Mark Foley unless U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hands over the computers the former congressman used when he was in office. Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey sent Pelosi a letter last month asking her to release the computers Foley used during his time in Congress or give him a written reason why not. ... Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly said Pelosi's office acknowledged the House may have constitutional concerns." "Fla. investigators press for Foley computers".

"Anywhere but South Florida"

The Palm Beach Post editors: "Millions of college students in the United States and Cuba are generations removed from the Cold War battles that destroyed relations between the two nations. "

In Florida, though, the Cold War never ends.

This puzzles younger people who can't imagine life without the Internet and for whom the 1959 revolution and 1962 missile crisis are ancient history. Their views also are closer to Americans who live anywhere but South Florida. With the future of Fidel Castro's totalitarian regime at least somewhat uncertain, the chance to nurture democratic reform in Cuba through exchanges between students is too promising too resist.

Yet resistance continues. Two years ago, the Legislature passed a law that bans the use of state money and other non-state money for academic travel to "terrorist states," which the State Department and Bush administration define as Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria and, predictably, Cuba.

Florida's booming economy

"Personal bankruptcies jump 96% in Metro Orlando".

See 'ya

"Florida officials want to send a message to immigrants who are not U.S. citizens and are doing prison time for nonviolent crimes: Go home. The airfare's on us." "Inmates may be deported home".

That silly paperwork

"A top fundraiser for the Florida Democratic Party has agreed to pay more than $200,000 to settle more than 200 election-law violations. ... Instead of challenging the charges, which Democrats say were the result of routine paperwork mistakes, Jeff Ryan, the brother of former State Rep. Tim Ryan, agreed to pay $209,000 in fines." "Fundraiser is fined more than $209,000".

Game over man

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Eight years after Bush vs. Gore, the Supreme Court today has a chance to look better when ruling on an election-law case." Don't count on it - "even though an estimated 11 percent of voting-age Americans - most of them poor and minority - have no photo ID. Supporters of such laws tend to be Republicans, who argue that the laws are necessary to prevent fraud. Critics of such laws tend to be Democrats, who argue that the laws are designed to effectively disenfranchise likely Democratic voters." Not that this will sway the Court, but

those who favor Indiana's [ID] law and others like it can't ID any case of voter-identity fraud that the law might prevent.

I'll go with the "firefighters, emergency responders and teachers"

"Meet the face of the opposition to Gov. Charlie Crist's property-tax amendment: your firefighters, emergency responders and teachers." On the other side of the fight, the usual suspects: "the Florida Realtors Association, Florida Power & Light, business groups and lobbyists." "Labor, civic groups fight Amendment 1".

Aint that illegal or sumpm?

"A report shows many insurers haven't reduced premium rates as required by the insurance reform law." "Many insurance rates break reform law". See also "Senate insurance panel reviews impact of changes from 2007 law" and "Three-fifths of insurers have yet to cut rates".

Drought

"Rainfall totaled 83.63 inches for 2006 and 2007, the lowest since record keeping began in 1932 and almost two feet below the usual two-year average of 104.5 inches, according to the South Florida Water Management District." "South Florida had driest back-to-back years on record".

Second amendment

"Slain Miami police officer may have stumbled onto gunfight".

More from the "values" crowd

"Local foster teens are the second worst in the state when it comes to failing the FCAT and almost 1 in 4 have been arrested in the past year, a state survey shows." "DCF: More foster funding needed".

Our political reporters have nothing to do

The Sun-Sentinel editors: "Let Democratic candidates campaign here".

The SBA's internal auditor, Flerida Rivera-Alsing, reported the findings in fall 2006 to the three-person panel of inspectors general who in turn are answerable to the governor, attorney general and chief financial officer, officials said.

Some call it "evolution"

The Sun-Sentinel editors:

In an attempt to reach the 21st century, revisions are being considered to the state science standards. Among the changes, the word "evolution" would finally be substituted for the more generic "biological changes over time."

toting Bibles [and] opposed any attempt to emphasize evolution in public schools.

time to definitively call it what it is, and not use the politically correct "biological changes over time." And there shouldn't be a need to give equal time to creationism and intelligent design in science class.

Let's leave science to the scientists. Scientific evidence has long backed up evolution to explain the development of species, and it's time that message reached the state's public schools. Florida students have scored poorly on college entrance tests, and science surely hasn't been a strong point.

The suggested new state science standards were developed by a committee of scientists and educators who looked at world class standards. They obviously feel it's time Florida joins the world.

Pledge

The Palm Beach Post editors: "How much better could it get for Florida? The Democratic presidential nomination, once almost conceded to Hillary Clinton, is in play.

Sen. Clinton still leads national polls, but she's expected to be 0-for-2 after today's New Hampshire primary. Ahead lie Michigan on Jan. 15, Nevada on Jan. 19 and South Carolina on Jan. 26. Given Sen. Obama's momentum, Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama could have a real face-off in Florida three days later, before Democrats in 22 states choose candidates on Feb. 5. Imagine the attention the state could get, since Republican Rudy Giuliani already has made Florida his battleground state."

Except that Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama, like the other leading Democratic contenders, quavered before the Democratic National Committee and pledged not to campaign in Florida."

"Before leading the circus to New Hampshire last week, Democratic candidates for president inundated Iowa with their words and images. Barack Obama talked about change. Hillary Clinton talked about experience and change. John Edwards talked about change and evil special interests.

Think about it. A presidential election without over-the-top television ads and overblown campaign appearances. No mind-numbing assault on the senses through non-stop TV ads, radio, mailers, billboards and mechanized phone calls. We've been spared.

"The issue isn't electronics, but verifying votes"

The News-Journal editors: "In Florida's Jan. 29 presidential preference primary, most voters will cast paper ballots that can be counted by machine, and state law mandates that all voters use paper ballots by fall. It's a step in the right direction, but some states are moving further." "Paper counts".

Delightful

So nice to read that insurance companies "projects a final
2007 profit in Florida of $3.4 billion." "Insurance industry projects $3.4 billion 2007 profit in Fla.".

Whatever

"Rep. Dave Murzin, R-Pensacola, said many of his constituents either want to keep Stephen Foster's 'Old Folks at Home' or don't like any of the three songs up for a public vote — the results of which will be announced Friday in Tampa." "Lawmaker: Florida needs state anthem".

"Religious indoctrination"

The St Pete Times editorial board: "The question of how far prisons may go in exposing inmates to a religious message before violating church-state separation was answered recently by a federal appellate court in St. Louis. A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that the prison system in Iowa was promoting religious indoctrination by supporting an evangelical Christian program."

The ruling doesn't bind Florida, but it has persuasive value as the state evaluates its own faith-based prison programs for any constitutional flaws.

Ever since former Gov. Jeb Bush opened the first faith-based prison in the nation, Florida has been leading the way in intertwining religion into efforts to prepare inmates for life after incarceration.

It has not yet been established that these programs reduce recidivism, whereas the evidence is long-standing and solid that providing inmates with reading skills and vocational training does. But Florida is well into the faith-based incarceration business and now runs three prisons - two for men and one for women - designated as "faith and character based institutions," in addition to seven faith-based dormitories in other prisons.

"Preserving wildlife corridors"

"Despite the recent downturn in the state's torrid development pace, plenty of homes and roads are planned that threaten to slice into critical wildlife habitat."

As roads and residents work their way into Florida's shrinking wilderness areas, more wildlife will undoubtedly be killed by increasing traffic.

There is a solution, however. Preserving wildlife corridors and modifying man-made barriers are key to making roads both animal-friendly and safe. From simple devices such as wildlife tunnels under roads to lush land bridges that take critters safely over busy interstate highways, planners are finding creative ways to minimize human and animal interaction.

This also allows animals to use the corridors -- their own super-highways -- to roam over a wide range of habitat.

Whoopee

A loser's last gasps: "Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani plans to visit Brevard County on Wednesday afternoon, with a public rally in Melbourne and a stop at Harris Corp." "Giuliani to pay a visit to Brevard".

And then there's the rebate thing ...

"For the third consecutive year, complaints filed against telemarketers for violating the state's Do Not Call law have topped the list of Floridians' consumer concerns in 2007, officials said Monday." "Telemarketers are state's top consumer complaint".

Laff riot

"The agenda for this two-day event is packed with presentations from a star-studded cast from the worlds of politics, economics, business and education." "Business summit will help chart economic prospects".

"Misleading"

"Doubling the homestead exemption!"

The idea sounds simple, significant - and it's Gov. Charlie Crist's No. 1 weapon in selling the property tax cut plan that goes before voters Jan. 29.

The poll-tested concept has rolled off his tongue in public appearances from Miami to Tallahassee. He used it again Monday in Broward County to promote passage of Amendment 1.

But to say the measure would double the current $25,000 homestead exemption is misleading.

"Stinging questions"

"Florida Atlantic University President Frank Brogan faced stinging questions from a panel of state lawmakers on Monday regarding the nearly $600,000 severance pay of a former high-ranking university employee. But Brogan insisted that there was nothing nefarious about paying former FAU chief fund-raiser Lawrence Davenport to get rid of him, despite differing stories about why he was leaving and why the severance was so high." "Legislators grill Brogan on controversial severance".

Impeach

Scott Maxwell: "Robert Wexler is unapologetic and unabashed in his pursuit. He wants impeachment hearings." "If you call for impeachment, and nobody answers".

Surely it was a staffer's fault

"Press releases were flying":

Consequently, the First came one from U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, assuring residents that their safety was being protected by both him and U.S. Rep. "Ric Keller (D-Orlando)." Cool. Except Keller's actually a Republican . . . and Martinez ran the Republican National Committee and should know that. But no big deal.

A good thing

Did you know that "record numbers of Democrats are asking for absentee ballots"?

Sea cows

"Manatee deaths dropped by 100 in 2007 after a record-setting 417 were killed the previous year, state wildlife managers reported Monday." "A break for manatees: Deaths down in 2007".

Cash flowing

"The Seminole Tribe paid $50 million to the state Monday, as required under its gambling agreement with Gov. Charlie Crist, after the controversial deal became official." "Seminoles pay state $50 million in casino deal". See also "Seminole gambling compact with state officially in effect".

"'Mr. Fixit'"

"Florida's child-welfare agency tapped a new leader to run the Miami district's operations." "DCF gets a fix-it specialist".

Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, swaddled in a dark sweater and a thermal top, and his top lieutenant, state Rep. David Rivera, traded South Florida for southern New Hampshire, calling GOP voters from Huckabee's makeshift New Hampshire headquarters here and thrusting Florida oranges to passing motorists, urging them to vote for the former Arkansas governor.

"Scant evidence of serious problems"

The Supreme Court is hearing oral argument today on "whether the procedures used in lethal injections violate the Constitution's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment."

In 35 of the 36 states with the death penalty, including Florida, lethal injection involves a three-drug protocol developed by Oklahoma's medical examiner in 1977: sodium thiopental to render the inmate unconscious, pancuronium bromide to paralyze the muscles and potassium chloride to cause cardiac arrest.

Lawyers for the inmates say the protocol is complicated and must be performed with precision to avoid the risk of agonizing pain.

They argue that poorly trained personnel could inadequately administer the drugs and that the paralyzing agent masks what could be a tortuous death.

... states with the death penalty argue that the challengers have provided scant evidence of serious problems in the more than 900 executions performed by lethal injection ...

In a Florida case in December 2006, it took Angel Diaz more than half an hour - twice as long as usual - to die from a lethal injection. An investigation found that the injection had been poorly performed, with the needles pushed through the veins to the flesh underneath, lessening the drugs' effectiveness.

"It is a shockingly problematic method of execution," said Deborah Denno, a Fordham University law professor who has compiled much of the research about how lethal injection is carried out.

Charlie's tax cut "claim is wildly exaggerated"

"Among the promises made by proponents of the Jan. 29 referendum on cutting property taxes, one vow has shined as a simple enticement to all homeowners. 'We have a chance to double the homestead exemption,' Gov. Charlie Crist repeated in an e-mail last week, echoing what he and lawmakers have promoted as the centerpiece of the tax plan. But that claim is wildly exaggerated." "Don't Bank That Florida 'Tax Cut' Just Yet".

Another Jebacy

Bill Cotterell: "So much for running government like a business, an oft-cited principle of conservative lawmakers."

The work-force report said the average salaries for employees in the State Personnel System — at all levels — rose 12.7 percent since 2002, or in ex-Gov. Jeb Bush's second term. But in the private sector, the average wage for all industries rose 18.7 percent. ...

The 2002-06 span is significant not only because it covers Bush's re-election and second term, but also the five years after passage of Service First, the former governor's sweeping overhaul of state government's personnel systems.

Jebbie's corporate welfare

"What the railroad wants, the railroad gets."

That seems to be Florida's policy since the state has doled out millions to six of these privately run businesses to improve their tracks.

What's more, those millions have come with the approval of oversight committees that include railroad executives who stand to benefit most from this use of the state's transportation dollars.

And those executives got their appointments from state leaders who received, or whose party collected, significant political contributions. ...

Since 2005, through legislation championed by former Gov. Jeb Bush, millions have gone to a half-dozen rail companies whose owners and executives were insiders in the planning process.

Pumping up the vote

"Sharpton was in Orlando as part of an effort to mobilize black voters for the Jan. 29 Democratic primary sponsored by the local NAACP and the Black Partnership, a coalition of organizations." "The Rev. Al Sharpton visits Orlando, urges voters to go to the polls".

Looks like a slam dunk

"Campaigning for Orlando's top spot has been quiet in the weeks before the Jan. 29 vote." "Familiar foes face off in Orlando mayoral election".

The retiree thing

The Miami-Herald editors: "The word has gotten out about Florida. It is not the paradise that many people once thought it was. According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Florida's population grew only 1.1 percent in 2007 -- compared to 1.8 percent in 2006 -- the slowest pace in 10 years. More people, especially retirees, are looking to states like Georgia, South and North Carolina and Tennessee to spend their golden years."

State leaders should worry about this for at least two reasons:

• First, the retirees. When all of the pluses and minuses are added up, retirees provide about $4 in revenue for every $3 they cost in government services, according a University of Florida study. Florida may not want to recruit retirees as aggressively as it has in the past, but they still are a demographic group worth having and worth luring -- especially when many other states are actively recruiting them. Ignoring seniors, as seems to be the policy now, is a losing proposition.

• Second, Florida's economy is highly dependent on population growth. This is a problem. Depending on population growth to fund essential services, such as education, healthcare, prisons and roads, is a poor economic model. Depending on population growth means that Florida relies heavily on construction, home-building, real-estate and related industries to keep state revenues flowing.

"Teen seeks aid getting rebels to free his dad"

"SARASOTA - While most 15-years-olds are working toward getting their driver's licenses, Kyle Stansell is working toward getting his father released from Colombian rebels. Stansell and his grandparents recently took a trip to Venezuela to meet President Hugo Chavez and learn what he could about his father's situation. ... Stansell said his trip to Venezuela and Colombia, where he met with Chavez and other government officials, was the most promising development in years." "Chavez might be key for release of American hostage".

Rosewood

"Robie Mortin, 92, has never forgotten New Year's Day 85 years ago. 'I was 8 years old when this whole thing happened, home with our father in bed asleep, less than a mile from where they hung Uncle Sam,' Mortin remembers." "Rosewood Massacre's memories remain vivid".

Immigration politics

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "This much is certain when dealing with the contentious crossfire involving illegal immigrants: Solutions need to be addressed on a federal level. It's not a state issue, and certainly not a local issue. So why are state legislators trying to squeeze a total of six bills through the next session that would serve no purpose other than to dump the problem on state and local governments?" "Illegal immigration needs a national, not Florida, solution".

Registrations up in Sarasota County

"In the past two presidential primaries, only one in five registered voters in Florida bothered to cast ballots."

This year looks different: thousands of people have registered or switched parties in recent months, leading some elections officials to predict the highest turnout in at least a decade.

In Sarasota County alone, 4,200 residents registered to vote in the past two months. Charlotte County received twice as many requests for absentee ballots as in 2004.

"There is a high level of energy out there on both sides," said Bob Jackson, who teaches politics and election studies at Florida State University. "It's a more engaging and competitive process that you'd be hard-pressed to find in any other year."

Kathy Dent, Sarasota County's elections supervisor, expects 35 to 40 percent turnout, which would be double the previous two presidential primaries.

But we're the "Dudas" ...

"A. Duda & Sons is challenging a water management district rule requiring the company to get a permit for work that ultimately drained more than two square miles of wetlands in West Viera." "Duda wetland hearing today".

Mahoney

"Mahoney said fighting for legislation that sets the stage for the Indian River Lagoon cleanup and bio-fuel production in the agricultural communities around Lake Okeechobee topped his list of accomplishments in his first year in office. In an interview last week, Mahoney, D-Palm Beach Gardens, said he's confident he will win re-election this year and hopes to work with a new president who will shift the focus of the war on terror to capturing Osama bin Laden and defeating al-Qaida." "Rep. Tim Mahoney would renew push to capture bin Laden".

"Legislature is not willing to spend what it takes"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "The Board of Governors is best suited to set tuition rates. The Legislature is not willing to spend what it takes to provide the quality universities Florida deserves." "The universities' board of governors, not legislators, should set tuition rates".

Dems doing it right in Palm Beach

"Though they've been snubbed by their party's presidential candidates, Palm Beach County Democrats seem to be more fired up about Florida's Jan. 29 primary than local Republicans. One indicator: Democratic absentee ballot requests outnumber Republican requests by more than a 2-to-1 margin in the county." "Absentee ballot requests pour in from Democrats".

It would be interested to know if this is the result of an organized Dem effort.

"A few ounces of common sense"? Good luck

The St. Pete Times editorial board: "The case of Kenneth Young [then a 14-year-old who neither killed nor injured anyone and was sentenced to spend his entire life in a Florida prison], who is now 22 and a model inmate, speaks to the brittle nature of Florida's criminal justice system and why it can stand a few ounces of common sense. Unfortunately, the Legislature has yet to provide any." "When it's wrong to throw away the key".