Democratic National Committeeman Jon Ausman of Tallahassee, who filed the appeal that got Florida back into the convention, sent an e-mail to party activists warning that names on Obama's slate of 67 delegates are being reviewed by Tallahassee City Commissioner Allan Katz and Miami attorney Kirk Wagar for a "purge." ...

"The very powerful lawyers supporting Barack Obama want to take care of their friends at the expense of the little people who campaigned hard for the delegate slots," Ausman said. "There are 67 Obama delegates selected in Florida. It's the intention of Kurt Wagar and Allan Katz to purge 30 to 35 of them and replace them with other people."

want to take care of their friends at the expense of the little people"'

McBush "seriously misguided"

Dems go after McSame: "for the second straight day, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee was assailed by Democrats who say he does not care enough about issues that matter to Florida."

On a blazing afternoon that his campaign probably envisioned as a great photo-op, McCain was forcefully explaining why he opposed a bill last year that included $2-billion for the Everglades.

He pointed out that the money was tucked into a $23-billion water project plan that included money for more than 900 other projects.

"The fact is, this is the way we do business in Washington. We take a worthy project and we load it up with pork barrel and unnecessary projects," McCain said, flanked by Gov. Charlie Crist and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart.

Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, joined the Florida congressional delegation in supporting the bill. But he sought to portray the difference as a sign of McCain's independence.

"I admit, I was being parochial," Diaz-Balart said in a hastily arranged conference call with reporters as McCain's bus was on its way to the Everglades. "Sen. McCain … does what he believes is right for the entirety of the nation."

Some Florida Republican House members sided with Bush and McCain against the bill - Adam Putnam of Bartow, C.W. Bill Young of Indian Shores, Tom Feeney of Oviedo, Cliff Stearns of Ocala and Jeff Miller of Chumuckla.

The rich are different

"Interest groups and politicians are choosing up sides for a multimillion-dollar campaign over a November ballot issue that'll put billions of dollars in taxes up for grabs. The Florida Association of Realtors is committed to spending at least $1 million to promote Amendment 5, but it may be outspent by other business groups out to defeat the $9 billion per year tax swap." "Interest groups battle over tax swap".

Special

"Crist Friday morning issued an executive order calling for a special election to replace state Sen. Bill Posey. As expected, the schedule will mirror normal election dates this year. A primary will be held Aug. 26, the general election on Nov. 4. Those are the same dates as others running for state office this year. But because Posey's successor will be chosen ahead of 2010 when the seat was scheduled to come open, the race will technically be a special election." "Crist calls for special election to replace Sen. Bill Posey".

McCain: Castro must "Empty the prisons"

"McCain listed three conditions before he would sit down with Cuban leader Raul Castro:"

[1] "Empty the prisons, [2] hold free elections and [3] have human rights organizations functioning in Cuba."

Bill gets a headline

"A bill Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson filed Friday would abolish the electoral college and replace it with a direct popular election for president. The bill would establish six rotating regional primaries beginning in March and ending in June every four years. Each region would take turns going first, removing exclusive power from Iowa and New Hampshire, the nation's first caucus and primary states." "Nelson bill ends electoral college".

Heaven help us

"Braden senior Mike Egloff, 18, was not allowed to attend his graduation ceremony scheduled for today after administrators came across a rap song he helped record and upload to MySpace.com. School officials cited profanity, sexual innuendo and threats of violence in the recording, which did not involve any public property. ... These particular song lyrics are not egregiously offensive."

Lyrics cited include "Lakewood boys is going bleed" and "Lakewood Ranch, I'm your No. 1 problem."

Raw editorial courage

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board shows its liberal stuff: "The best way to celebrate oceans is to keep junk out of them".

An Ihe I-4 Corridor thing

Ruth: "At least you have to admit this will make it easier to find Tampa if you are motoring along I-75 - once you reach the giant Confederate flag at Yahoo Junction head west until you arrive at Gooberville, where the strange life gets weirder every day." "It's Their Right, But It Makes Us Look Intolerant".

Democratic activist Jon Ausman, also of Tallahassee, is warning state party members that Katz is behind a move to replace all of the state's Barack Obama delegates to the national convention later this summer in Denver. Katz is one of Obama's chief supporters in Florida.

The presumptive presidential nominee has the right to purge the delegates under party rules, Ausman says, but he warns in a strongly worded e-mail that it would be a public relations disaster in a state already battered by the primary process:

McSame

"McCain defends his vote against Everglades restoration project". See also "McCain visits Orlando — says he is 'committed' to saving Everglades" and "McCain: I want to save Everglades". More: "I'm a reformer, McCain tells Florida newspapers editors" and "McCain presents his vision to Florida".

In the meantime, "Local blacks savor Obama's success".

Huh?

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Property values are going down. No surprise there. ... So, taxpayers should be seeing big savings, just as Gov. Crist promised, right? Wrong. Many tax bills will go up. There's the surprise. The state's property-tax system is so hopelessly complex that even a decline in values doesn't mean a reduction in tax bills for everyone." "Values down, taxes up? Blame odd state system".

"In the final hours of its session last month, the state Legislature closed a loophole that enabled local governments to raise their tax rates to recoup revenue lost as a result of newly created tax breaks." "Cities to have hard time raising taxes under new law".

This ain't over

"In a joint statement, Democratic U.S. Reps. Alcee Hastings of Miramar, Corrine Brown of Jacksonville, Kendrick Meek of Miami and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Pembroke Pines, said they were "committed to doing anything and everything in our power to ensure that Barack Obama is elected the next president of the United States," but they called on Obama to do everything in his power to ensure that Florida's delegation to the Democratic National convention has full voting rights." "4 Clinton backers in Congress endorse Obama".

Joy Reid writes that this "Florida switch will be interesting news in the black community". "The pivot". On a separate note, we agree with her observation that "the fabulous Charlie Rangel, who Chris Matthews was absolutely right in saying has the best New York accent EVER." And the first man you'd want with you in a fox hole.

Never mind

"About a year after Gov. Charlie Crist successfully pushed to streamline the process to restore the civil rights for former felons, he said Thursday that the effort appears to be working because 90,000 restoration cases have been processed in six months. But the momentum probably won't last for long because of parole commission budget cuts." "Budget cuts threaten Florida felons' rights claims".

McCain a disaster for Florida

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "McCain: Still disastrous". And this is a regular laff riot: "Since Gov. Crist is Sen. McCain's new buddy, maybe he can explain the issue to him."

"The Barack Obama campaign and Florida Democrats on Thursday attacked Sen. John McCain's opposition to a national insurance catastrophic fund." "Democrats Attack McCain". See also "McCain accused of opposing national storm insurance fund" and "McCain's got explaining to do in Florida".

While Charlie panders ...

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Florida just can't seem to catch a fair break in its long-running effort to be treated as an equal partner with Georgia and Alabama in a long-sought tri-state water agreement affecting the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system." "Guaranteed to leak".

Even the Trib gets it

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "If scientists are correct about global warming, the outlook for Florida is grim: Rising seas will wash away beaches, flood marshlands and leave coastal communities exposed to storm surge; saltwater intrusion will ruin municipal water supplies; higher water temperatures will kill corals and spread marine diseases." "Practical Steps To Safeguard Florida From Global Warming".

Them radical Catholic Bishops

"Crist and the Florida Cabinet on Thursday rejected calls by the British government to set free a British man who has spent 22 years in a state prison for two murders."

Sitting as the clemency board, the four officials heard impassioned pleas for and against the release of Maharaj, whose advocates include the BBC, a Florida Catholic bishop, a former British attorney general and a member of the Parliament, Peter Bottomley.

"Crist can stop this sneak attack on a piece of paradise"

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Some things in Tallahassee are inherently bad, and there's no way to make them good. Among them: last-minute, late-night additions that turn a good law on its head. That is what happened with Florida's seagrass bill, which environmental groups had hoped to celebrate. Now, with the exception of a few organizations represented by a public relations firm favored by enviro-unfriendly former Gov. Jeb Bush, the groups that first favored the legislation are asking Gov. Crist to veto it. He should." "Save Florida's seagrass".

Charlie Crist may not yet have a full gubernatorial term under his belt, but Sen. John McCain said Wednesday that Crist has enough experience to be vice president.

That's the ticket

Tamara Lytle: "Barack Obama lost to Hillary Clinton by 17 percentage points in Florida's Jan. 29 primary — and he has trailed John McCain by close to 10 points in statewide polls. Here's what he has to do to win the Sunshine State:"

- "Woo Clinton supporters. The best way to do that, says Clinton backer Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston, is to pick the New York senator as his running mate."

- "Hablar más español. Fully 1.1million of the state's 10.2million voters are Hispanic."

- "Focus on the I-4 corridor. The Tampa-to-Daytona corridor is home to 43 percent of the state's voters, with a disproportionate share of independents."

- "Work on sounding older. In a matchup with 71-year-old McCain, 46-year-old Obama is a whippersnapper."

- "Turn out the base. Obama should pile up huge margins among Florida's 1.1 million black voters."

"HurricaneMcCain.com"

"Democrat Barack Obama's presidential campaign today signaled their intention to compete in Florida as supporters tried to use Republican candidate John McCain's opposition to a national catastrophic insurance plan to tie him to an unpopular president."

The effort included a 97-second YouTube video released from the Florida Democratic Party this morning and an afternoon conference call with lawmakers in the U.S. and state Houses. The press call happened moments before McCain was scheduled to speak at an Orlando convention of Florida newspaper editors.

U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton , author of the national catastrophe plan, said McCain "is more interested in standing with the president and less interested in helping families in Florida and the United States."

Time to film that GOPer in a canoe ad

"Using the Everglades as a backdrop, Republican presidential candidate John McCain plans to continue his effort to position himself as an independent thinker different from President Bush."

The Glades appearance Friday will come at the end of a week in which he delivered a prime-time speech contrasting himself both with the presumed Democratic nominee, Barack Obama, and the Republican president he hopes to succeed.

It will come the week before the McCain campaign plans to emphasize energy policy, and campaign spokesman Jeff Sadosky said the Everglades event would combine the issues.

With Gov. Charlie Crist at his side for the Everglades event, Sadosky said, McCain plans to "talk about his vision for fulfilling America's energy needs and also keeping that in balance with the goal for a cleaner environment."

Brevard questions

"With the Democratic presidential nomination question resolved nearly three months before the Democratic National Convention, two key questions remained on the minds of Brevard County voters. Will Sen. Barack Obama choose former first lady and adversary Hillary Clinton as his running mate? And are the American people ready to vote for a president of color?" "Brevard debates Obama's VP ticket".

At Johnson's Diner

"The day after Obama clinched enough Democratic delegates to become the first black person nominated to be president, the African-American-owned diner -- a gathering spot for the local black community that includes bureaucrats and professionals as well as blue-collar workers -- was filled with a sense of history, a yearning for change, a hope for a better America." "Obama, his candidacy are talk of Orlando".

Logrolling

"A majority of Florida voters don't want to spend public money on private and religious schools -- but they'll probably vote by large margins to do it in November, anyway, according to a new poll."

The reason: A tactical decision by the state Taxation and Budget Reform Commission to combine private-school vouchers with a proposal to ensure that 65 percent of every education dollar is spent in the classroom.

Known as the ''65 percent solution,'' the measure is so popular that 63 percent of voters would approve the constitutional amendment if the election were held today, according to the new poll from Quinnipiac University.

HD 44

"Republican state Rep. Rob Schenck just finished his first term in Tallahassee. But there's no time for him to relax."

The first re-election campaign is often the toughest, and this year, local Democrats are poised to mount an aggressive challenge.

Florida Democratic Party officials believe Schenck's district is one of the most vulnerable Republican-held seats in the state. And now they have a candidate to trumpet.

This week, Joseph Puglia, a 41-year-old business owner from Brooksville, filed paperwork noting his intent to run.

Runnin' the party like a business?

"When Jim Greer assumed control of the Republican Party of Florida last year with a push from Gov. Charlie Crist, he decided the best way to get around the state was by air — in his own airplane."

And that hasn't been cheap, as recent e-mails obtained by the St. Petersburg Times show.

By last month, Greer had racked up more than $85,000 in unpaid bills with an aviation service, prompting the service to discontinue work on Greer's plane until he paid up.

Whoopee

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Seventeen snow birds have flown their Florida coop for summer in Wisconsin. These birds really are the feathered sort -- whooping cranes. Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge in Central Florida is host to the cranes, part of a breeding program to restore the endangered species." "Straight to the point".

To replace Weldon ...

"Sen. Bill Posey submitted his resignation Wednesday from the state Senate, allowing him to focus on a congressional bid but also opening a Republican-leaning seat that takes in parts of Orange, Seminole and Brevard counties." "Bill Posey resigns state seat to pursue bid for Congress". See also "State Sen. Posey to resign".

McBush plays to his base

"Invoking both Ted Kennedy and Ronald Reagan and barely mentioning Democratic rival Barack Obama, presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain told Florida newspaper editors and publishers this afternoon that he is a reformer who can work with Democrats." "I'm a reformer, McCain tells Florida newspapers editors". See also "John McCain visits newspaper editors in Florida".

"We no longer lead the nation in drooling"

I guess ... if the Maitland housewife tells us so: "Let me count the ways Florida could help its public schools excel".

OK, Floridians, it's sad that your state ranks next to last in health care for children.

And, yes, be embarrassed that 548,000 children lack health insurance in the nation's fourth-largest state.

But how about trying out a new emotion? Why not get mad? Really mad. Mad enough to force Gov. Charlie Crist and lawmakers to take dramatic, bold action to help children lead healthier and, ultimately, more productive lives.

But where Florida is really failing its children is in access to health care. The state ranked dead last. With so many children uninsured, it's no wonder kids aren't getting regular check-ups and so few have regular doctors.

"The right-wing media elite", as opposed to ... ?

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board:

In the past eight weeks, Palm Beach home sales twice have broken the island record. The first was for $81 million. Then Donald Trump cracked the nine-figure barrier with a $100 million sale - to a Russian. How fortunate that one slice of the South Florida real-estate market is healthy. But the news is sadly reflective of the times.

Some members of the right-wing media elite puzzle over the recent survey showing that 80 percent of American adults are pessimistic about the country's future. They wonder why national consumer confidence is the lowest since 1992, the end of the last serious recession. To them, the answer will sound like "class warfare." That response is a way of avoiding the truth.

After you factor out what would be national unhappiness over any surge in prices for gasoline and food, many Americans worry about two underlying assumptions on which this country has been built: Work hard, and you'll get ahead; work hard, and your children will live better than you do. As study after recent study has shown, the America of the past few years has been a place where the very rich have become much better off, and most others have fallen behind.

all this is not to engage in "class warfare." It is to point out that America depends on a healthy, optimistic middle class, and that the presidential candidates and their parties need to offer those Americans some reason to believe that if the system can't make things fair, the system shouldn't make things more unfair.

Sarasota Blue?

From Roll Call: "The latest in a series of lawsuits against Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) alleging consumer fraud at car dealerships he owns was filed last week, turning up the heat on the freshman lawmaker and setting the stage for a long, hot summer in central Florida. Individuals close to the lawsuits are also signaling that allegations of campaign finance violations by Buchanan could become a key plank in the growing caseload against the lawmaker — lawsuits that could number seven by July 1." This could be blockbuster for poor Vern:

Those charges are expected to include the illegal funneling of dealership money last cycle into Buchanan's campaign account.

Joseph Kezer, a former finance director at Buchanan's Sarasota Ford dealership ... Kezer also alleged in an interview with Roll Call that he observed campaign finance violations ahead of Buchanan's narrow 2006 victory against bank executive Christine Jennings (D). In the most expensive House race last cycle, Buchanan spent more than $5 million of his own money, according to CQ MoneyLine, to win by 369 votes.

Buchanan is expected to face a rematch with Jennings in November.

Some of the Buchanan campaign's record $8 million outlay in the 2006 campaign, according to Kezer, likely was laundered corporate cash funneled through higher-ups at Buchanan's numerous dealerships.

Voucher (and related) madness

"Florida voters don't like the idea of sending public dollars to religious schools, but another measure on the November ballot for school vouchers has more traction, according to a poll released Tuesday by Quinnipiac University."

- "Amendment 2, the gay marriage ban, has 58 percent support."

- "Amendment 5, a proposal to supplant most school property taxes with sales tax, has 50 percent support."

- "Only 38 percent of voters are in favor of removing a ban in the Constitution against funding religious organizations".

The poll showed 63 percent of voters support the two-part measure, which would require that 65 percent of education funding be used in the classroom and reverse a state Supreme Court ruling barring private school vouchers.

Florida's booming economy

"Florida Power & Light is asking to be allowed to charge more for electricity because of skyrocketing fuel costs." "FPL seeks 16 percent hike for fuel costs".

Gambling

"Three weeks before the Seminole Tribe is set to start operating blackjack and other card games at its Hard Rock Casino near Hollywood, Pompano Park's Isle Casino wants a federal judge to stop it, alleging the games are illegal." "Casino files suit to stop Seminole Tribe games".

Whoopee!

"State workers recognized with Davis Awards".

It is a bit more than mere "bad taste"

Even the brain trust comprising The Tampa Tribune editorial board can figure this one out, although some of us might consider : "Group's Giant Confederate Flag Flies In The Face Of Good Taste".

How nice

"Alligator hunting permits on sale".

Is this what the RPOFers mean by "trimming the fat"?

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Budget cuts push defenders into corner".

More: "Miami-Dade County's public defender says his office plans to refuse most felony cases because state budget cuts mean his attorneys can't effectively cover their caseloads." "Miami-Dade public defender says he will turn away felonies".

Priorities

The The Tampa Tribune editorial board whines that

It's dismaying that seven years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks highlighted the importance of communication among all emergency personnel, Tampa continues to limp along with an obsolete system.

Is this what the RPOFers mean by "cutting the fat"?

"Beginning next month, motorists traveling at night and on weekends won't be able to count on the Road Rangers for help if they have a flat tire or run out of gas." "Roadside aid program shrinks".

As a Solomon-esque display of even-handedness, a pursed-lipped clutch of Democratic National Committee clipboards have managed to split a very, very ugly baby.

Over the weekend, the DNC rules panel, otherwise known as the Future Condo Association Presidents-In-Waiting, restored a portion of the exiled Florida and Michigan representations, allowing each state's delegates to have half a vote at the party's nominating convention this summer.

As well, the respective delegations must keep their hedges trimmed to no more than two feet, get rid of the yard gnomes and repaint their homes a uniform Stepford beige.

Bushco: "a shameful legacy of deceit "

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "Few will be surprised to discover that President Bush and his minions distorted or suppressed science to serve their political and ideological purposes. Along the way they also stained an agency that is responsible for some of the most important scientific discoveries of recent times. What a shameful legacy of deceit." "Science subverted by politics".

"State should document health insurance experiment"

The Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board: "Crist and the Legislature have asked Floridians to take a giant leap of faith, abandoning comprehensive policies for the new low-budget ones. No one seems to know exactly what the new policies will cover. The law spells out two tiers of policies: One (which must retail for less than $150 a month) will offer minimal coverage. The other, which is likely to be far more expensive, expands to include 'catastrophic' costs including hospitalization." "A blind leap".

Cuts

"Statewide budget cuts hit home Monday as circuit court officials announced how they trimmed more than $766,000 in salary costs: Eliminate 16 positions." "2 courts purge total of 27 jobs".

Back at the ranch: "Salary is a concern for Florida Supreme Court justices".

Schiavo II?

"A Florida woman put on a feeding tube after she had a stroke is at the center of a court case that is eerily similar to the lengthy legal dispute over whether Terri Schiavo should be kept alive." "Family fight over feeding tube reminiscent of Schiavo case".

Commissioner [Beam] Furr [apparently his real name] crossed the fire and police unions. Foolish fellow. And now he's gotta pay.

The unions filed a couple of petty complaints, one with the state ethics commission, another with the state attorney's office. They claimed Furr, a Flanagan High School media specialist, misused a couple of sick days in January when he took time off work to campaign for his commission seat.

Unions aren't usually sticklers about malingering but Furr had them riled.

Grimm joined the Herald in 1976 as a general assignment reporter after working for newspapers in Mississippi, Tennessee and West Virginia. After a decade as The Herald’s southern correspondent he became a columnist in 1991.

Members of the Orlando firefighters union should not have been paid by the city for their time spent working on Mayor Buddy Dyer's campaign, a grand jury concluded. But the jury, impaneled during an investigation into the March election that kept Dyer in office, issued no indictments.

"While the grand jury finds that the evidence is insufficient to charge criminal violations, it does find that the practice of using public funds to compensate firefighters while engaging in union activities to be a violation of the public trust and poor stewardship of public moneys," the grand jury foreman said after Tuesday's closed hearing.

The union is one of the most active labor groups in central Florida. Under their contract, there is money set aside to pay members for time spent on union business. The city lets the union decide what constitutes union business, and as far as union leaders are concerned, political campaigning is covered.

"It is the feeling of the grand jury that this is a practice that gives an unfair advantage to incumbents or to other candidates the firefighters support," State Attorney Lawson Lamar said. "It is the feeling of the grand jury that it should not happen again." Union president Steve Clelland said the organization is reviewing its policy and expects to stop the practice, but "we will not stay out of politics."

Sitting at home on the couch, finishing off a six-pack of beer and a pack of cigarettes and having a heart attack? It's considered an on-the-job injury for firefighters ...

Monday funnies

"Does Crist have a shot at being McCain's running mate?".

Never ending story

"Despite talk of compromise, words about healing, and headlines about Florida's delegation getting seated at the Democratic National Convention this summer, there is still massive anger roiling the ranks of party activists." "Many South Florida Democrats still unhappy about delegates". See also "The Florida compromise: 'It was a long day, and it's been a long, long time coming'".

Adam C. Smith:

State Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, made an impassioned case on behalf of the Clinton campaign to give Florida delegates full voting strength rather than half-votes, but said she agreed that a Clinton challenge now could damage the party heading into November.

"Whichever one has lost, how they react will send a strong message to their supporters," Joyner said. "If he wins, she's got to step into the fold and support him strongly because a lot of her supporters are going to look to her for leadership."

State Democratic chairwoman Karen Thurman expressed confidence on Sunday that the party would unify, and spoke wistfully about an Obama-Clinton ticket.

"I still think they should band together," Thurman said. "They're both so historic and inspiring — the first woman and the first African-American — and it almost seems like they owe it to each other."

"It's getting sharper and louder"

"Florida voters will decide in November whether the state's constitution should define marriage as between and a man and a woman."

Events now are shaping the tenor and volume of the campaign.

It's getting sharper and louder, but not because of anything happening in the Sunshine State.

Within hours of a California Supreme Court decision in May that legalized gay marriage there, the authors of Amendment 2 -- the Florida proposal -- had their megaphones out.

"This is precisely why Florida needs to vote YES on Amendment 2 ... " said the leadership of yes2marriage.org.

"Trivial issues"?

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "With Florida and the region facing so many serious issues, it insults voters when candidates obsess over trivial issues. It's also insulting to state Rep. Carl Domino, R-Jupiter, and West Palm Beach City Commission candidate Kimberly Mitchell, who have faced attacks based on irrelevant technicalities." "Give up on the gotcha!".

"In the real world"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "In the real world, the owner of a rental property must charge enough rent to cover the mortgage, taxes and insurance. If taxes or insurance premiums go up, so does the rent. In the real world, a rental property owner has only his or her own resources and skills to rely on to meet business obligations. There's no magic wand, no go-to genie for unanticipated expenses in the real world."

Different rules

But in the world of government, the rules are different. Broward County owns the BankAtlantic Center, home to the Florida Panthers, and leases the arena to the team's owners. They, in turn, manage the arena and pay the county rent.

As managers of the property, the operators also are responsible for insurance and upkeep. The lease requires the arena to be insured at full replacement value. Now, though, the operators say they can't afford to insure the arena for its full replacement value because insurance rates have soared since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Many homeowners face similar rate increases, except they can't shift the burden to someone else. The company is insuring the arena for $150 million in damages. Yet the arena would cost at least $300 million to replace.

"Hotshot"?

"Husein Cumber, the Broward-bred young Republican fundraising whiz currently serving as deputy chief of staff to U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, will not be leaving the nation's capital when the Bush-Cheney crew decamps in January. President Bush nominated Cumber last month to a five-year term, starting in 2009, on the Surface Transportation Board, a regulatory agency that resolves railroad rate and service disputes and reviews proposed railroad mergers. Senate confirmation is pending." "Broward-bred GOP hotshot to stay in D.C.".

No "irreversibly dooming", we promise

"A federal plan to reduce water flows in the Apalachicola River won't irreversibly doom four federally protected species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Monday." "U.S.: Army Corps plan wouldn't doom species".

Raw political courage

"Crist has signed a bill requiring Florida elementary schools provide 30 minutes of continuous exercise daily for their students." "Crist signs new tougher physical education standards".

"The answer may boil down to money"

The Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board: "Over the past seven years, the state's bill for powerful antipsychotic drugs surged from $9 million to nearly $30 million. The most troubling thing about the gain: The numbers of children -- as young as 7 months old -- prescribed these drugs doubled in the same time period. ... So why prescribe these drugs at all? The answer may boil down to money." "State late in considering drug effects on kids".

Another Jebacy

"Class sizes at Florida's public universities were already among the largest nationwide. Starting this fall, students should expect them to get bigger. Budget cuts at each of the state's 11 public universities have left a gaping hole in the faculty ranks - either through layoffs or vacant jobs gone unfilled. That means fewer freshman spots and fewer course offerings that give current students the flexibility they need in their schedules to graduate on time. It may only get worse. Here's a summary of cuts at three of Florida's largest universities." "Public Universities' Staff, Students Feel Sting Of Budget Cuts".

That's our Buddy

"Accompanied by two black aides, Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson spoke Saturday at a NAACP meeting, touting his promotion of blacks in his office and the county's new optical scan voting machines." "Hillsborough elections chief meets with the NAACP".

And "$17,000" is somehow OK?

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "After a three-year battle, Burger King has finally changed its jingle when it comes to Florida's tomato pickers."

The fast-food giant recently agreed to join others in the industry to provide farmworkers in the state with an additional penny for each pound of tomatoes picked.

It took a Senate hearing, a large protest rally outside Burger King headquarters in Miami and the public disclosure of a corporate dirty tricks campaign against farmworker advocates for the restaurant chain to come around.

The agreement would increase tomato-picker pay by about 70 percent. Farmworkers earn an average of 45 cents for every 32-pound bucket, a wage that has barely budged in decades. The new wage of 77 cents per bucket would mean workers' yearly earnings could go from about $10,000 to between $16,000 and $17,000, a farmworker spokesman said.Unfortunately, there is still one major hold-out. The Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, which represents 90 percent of the state's growers, has taken an intransigent position against the penny-per-pound program.

Class warfare, yuppie style

The Maitland housewife invokes class warfare to support drilling off Florida's coasts, asking: "why do we block energy companies from exploring many of our offshore waters for oil, including Florida's Gulf Coast?"

The debate over drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has been going on for years.

Environmentalists say it would destroy the refuge, just as they erroneously claimed drilling would destroy Prudhoe Bay.

The wildlife refuge is 19 million acres. Only 1.5 million would be open to drilling, and of that only 2,000 acres actually would be paved.

When the wells ran dry, the equipment would be pulled up and the refuge would heal the small wound.

No, we can't drill our way to oil independence. And more domestic oil would not bring down prices.

But it could bring some stability and smooth the transition to an economy that depends less on fossil fuels. It could give us at least a small buffer against major disruptions in oil supply, disruptions that could push many working-class people off an economic cliff.

Here in Florida, Charlie Crist is praised for his global-warming initiatives. What people don't understand is the huge power bills this will bring as utilities abandon coal for more expensive natural gas. And one reason it is so expensive is that we can't tap into massive natural-gas deposits offshore of Florida.

Once again, guess who suffers?

The green agenda is turning into a regressive tax on people who are increasingly incapable of paying it.

The biggest foe facing environmentalists isn't Exxon. It's their own arrogance.

"There will be no one connected with the Republican Party of Florida who will utilize any issue related to race, because it's not relevant," Greer told reporters gathered in his Tallahassee office.

But that is exactly what a Democratic congressional candidate says the party did last week when it fired out an e-mail press release bearing a doctored photo purportedly showing Fidel Castro endorsing Barack Obama.

"I love this guy," read the caption with the photo, which showed Castro holding a newspaper with Obama's face on it.

A recent Quinnipiac University poll shows Obama trailing McCain among white voters by 18 percent, good news for Republicans needing to offset his strength among black voters.

Hispanics are more problematic. Republicans have gained only 7,500 Hispanic voters since 2006, while Hispanics registering Democratic are up by 64,000. That gives Florida more Hispanic Democrats than Republicans.

Which means the GOP may have to work hard to win them.

Shotgun wedding in the works?

"Rome, a 38-year-old businesswoman who has been quietly dating Crist since September, stepped farther into the spotlight when she accompanied her boyfriend to Republican John McCain's Arizona ranch Memorial Day weekend. That event was widely interpreted as a vetting of Crist and two other candidates for the vice presidential spot on the Republican ticket." "What's next for Crist and the socialite?"

Is it over yet?

Adam Smith: "Florida finally counts in Democratic race". See also "Half-Votes For Mich., Fla.", "DNC panel restores Florida delegates", "Florida, Michigan delegates to get half-votes", "Officials say Fla., Mich. delegates will get half-votes", "Web groups press panel to recognize primaries" and "Florida, Mich. get half of votes".

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board yesterday: "Democrats need to end the fighting".

If this doesn't bring tears to your eyes ...

... I don't want to know you: "An elementary school teacher retiring after a 36-year career died of a heart attack moments after saying goodbye to her final class for the summer." "Teacher dies minutes after finishing 36-year career".

Going, going ...

... gone: "For better or worse, term limits forcing out lawmakers".

Angling

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board has a green angle on the commuter rail thing

Crist likes folks to think he's got the mettle to become the nation's next vice president. Witness all his eager appearances alongside presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.

Only thinking of him as a fortitudinous Second in Command won't come easily if he can't even keep a state senator [Paula Dockery] from crushing a project he calls great and forward-thinking; that's vital to Florida's future and the perfect vehicle for his crusade to lower the state's carbon footprint. ...

And Mr. Crist? Other than occasionally voicing his support of commuter rail in the media, he tried, the last day of the 60-day legislative session, to settle some outstanding liability issues. Unsuccessfully. Some in the Legislature eager to see him get the project back on track say they don't know what the governor or his staff is doing to make that happen. That's distressing. But they note he's the ideal catalyst to make it happen given his bully pulpit -- a lot bigger than any senator's -- and his perceived neutrality.

"I'd buy one for a buck

"All six million-plus ballots cast in the historic 2000 presidential election remain in storage, and the secretary of state is debating whether to move them out." "Future uncertain for Florida's Bush-Gore ballots from 2000 race".

Yaaawn

Scott Maxwell has a special story today in which answers, apparently by browsing the OpenSecrets website, "Who's funding Your lawmaker?" For example he tips us off that Corrine Brown ...

Things that make you go 'hmm': Lots of money from unions -- but also planes, trains and ships.

Psst ... let's just change the rules

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "The problem is that Florida's A-Plus Plan, which grades schools based on student performance on the state's standardized test, is woefully out of sync with No Child Left Behind, which was designed to force states with low standards to get tougher. So, while Florida's students continue to improve, schools don't get credit for achieving adequate yearly progress under the federal program. About 450 Florida schools -- some of them A-rated -- are deemed failing under the federal plan." "Our position: Feds should allow state's schools more flexibility in defining success".

"'Jeff who?'"

"The Memorial Day weekend that Gov. Charlie Crist spent at Sen. John McCain's Arizona ranch has kept political gadflies buzzing about the prospect of Florida's governor running for vice president alongside McCain this fall."

Rarely mentioned is the man whom Crist would leave behind to lead Florida, should he run with McCain and win.

"Everyone in Florida would say, 'Jeff who?'" said Darryl Paulson, a political scientist at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg.

"Foreign language push"

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Florida starts on its foreign language push pretty far behind. The state has a lot of catching up to do, and it won't be able to make headway unless Tallahassee funds this commitment. Don't hold your breath, however." "Saying sí to foreign language instruction not enough; dinero needed".

Cold, dead hands stuff

If you can stomach her, Marion Hammer tells us why "Why the 'guns in the glove compartment' law is legal".

One man's "low pay" ...

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Low-pay one reason new doctors pass up on family practices in Florida".

Hey, maybe we should pay more for orange juice?

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board properly bemoans that "two weeks ago, a provision died in Congress that would have allowed immigrant agriculture workers temporary legal status and a chance at permanent residency. That could affect Florida and the state's need for farm labor. Just two years ago, Congress had a bipartisan plan for immigration reform and a willing president. But anti-immigrant sentiment spooked Washington." "Slaughterhouse fiasco".

To be sure, there are very good arguments that we need immigration reform and, more specifically, a method by which illegal immigrant agriculture workers can "temporary legal status and a chance at permanent residency".

We likewise agree with the The Palm Beach Post editorial Board's assertion that failure to adopt such legislation

could affect Florida and the state's need for farm labor

If there are not enough workers willing to do a job, then the wage rates need to be increased to attract workers to do the job.

When labourers bid against one another for limited opportunities for employment, the wages of labour collectively fall, whereas when employers compete against one another for limited supplies of labour, the wages of labour collectively rise.