Gross

"When Jeb Bush visited Kingston, Jamaica, last July, his hosts pulled out all the stops. They brought in a military band [lol], threw a lavish reception at the home of the island's governor general and paid $60,000 for him to give a speech. The theme of the speech? Entrepreneurial capitalism." The rest of this lengthy The St. Petersburg Times BJ can be read here, with passing nods to "Tenet" and "Lehman", but otherwise the usual puffery: "Jeb Inc.".

Laff riot

"A black Republican group has put up billboards in Florida and South Carolina saying the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Republican,"

a claim that black leaders say is ridiculous.

The National Black Republican Association has paid for billboards showing an image of the civil rights leader and the words "Martin Luther King Jr. was Republican." Told about the billboards, the Rev. Joseph Lowery let out a soft chuckle that grew stronger as he began to think more about the idea.

"These guys never give up, do they?" said Lowery, who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with King. "Lord have mercy."

Seven billboards have gone up in six Florida counties and another in Orangeburg, S.C., said Frances Rice, the group's chairwoman. Part of the group's mission is to highlight what she said is the Democratic Party's racist past.

"Florida's toilet

"Crist's recent flip-flop on oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has tourism officials across the state worried about the health of one of Florida's greatest natural resources -- its hundreds of miles of beach."

But there's a greater threat to Florida's beaches, and it's not speculative. Florida has long treated its offshore waters like a dumping ground, and a new report highlights exactly how extensive the damage has become. The report -- by the Clean Water Network of Florida -- focuses on Gulf beaches, using two years' worth of data to illustrate the damage that's been done to one of the world's most diverse marine environments.

Exemption

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "On Thursday, Gov. Charlie Crist signed two bills into law that help protect victims of sexual violence, including one (SB 2574/HB 141) that offers a public-records exemption for personal identifying information of such a victim. Exemptions to Florida's strong public-records law should be rare and broadly debated before they are granted. But this exemption does pass muster: Without an exemption, information submitted to a public agency by an employee seeking leave related to having been a victim of sexual violence would be available for public review." "Safety exemption".

The "County Mayor" thing

"In November, Hillsborough voters will decide whether they want to create the position of county mayor. It could potentially be a major power shift that changes the course of county politics." "What To Expect If County Voters Opt To Have A Mayor".

Oh, and never mind all that illegal stuff

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board, being the good chamber toadies that they are: "After a months-long standoff, Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate met halfway on a [FISA] bill. A bipartisan majority in the House approved it two weeks ago."

Significant oversight is built into the compromise. Independent watchdogs from at least four federal agencies would report on the surveillance program. The president also would file regular reports with Congress, where the number of committees responsible would double to four.

If the bill becomes law, it would expire in 2013, giving Congress a chance to review the program at that point. And it would declare that the president could not operate outside the law's rules, as he did after the 9-11 attacks.

This reasonable compromise deserves support from senators in both parties. That includes Florida's pair, Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Mel Martinez

The compromise also would break a deadlock over legal protection for telecommunications companies. They are facing a flood of lawsuits and billions of dollars in damage claims for cooperating with government requests for information after 9-11. If the lawsuits go forward, companies that could help find terrorists in the future -- not just telecoms, but also banks, airlines and others -- would be deterred. The bill would let federal courts waive the lawsuits if they find "substantial evidence" the companies got assurances the requests were legal [even if they were not] and authorized by the president

Fightin'

"Fred Varn is not giving up his fight for the Democratic nomination to succeed state Rep. Loranne Ausley, he said Thursday." "Varn continues fight to be on ballot".

No swap please

"A coalition of business, education and agriculture organizations filed suit Thursday aimed to knock a 'tax swap' constitutional amendment off Florida's November ballot." "Groups try to get 'tax swap' law off ballot".

That glowin' feelin'

"Progress Energy's proposed nuclear plant in Levy County has a positive review from the Public Service Commission staff. If the full regulatory commission agrees, Progress customers would see higher bills." "Progress Energy gets positive review of $14B nuclear plant".

Flag companies hate America

"Battered economy drives down flag sales".

Maxwell denounces Obama's "inherent falsity"

Bill Maxwell: "I am newly attracted to the subject of disappointment because of the euphoria and pronouncements of 'hope and change' surrounding the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama."

Frankly, I have little regard for Obama's campaign because of its inherent falsity.

In the end, much of it will disappoint millions of devotees because it has no room for failure and lost hope. Obama will not deliver on many promises, and many supporters will find themselves stung by hopelessness.

Busted

"Less than two weeks ago, the Seminole Tribe of Florida trotted out celebrities and high rollers to launch blackjack, baccarat and high-stakes poker at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood." "Court busts Crist's deal on blackjack". See also "Court overturns Crist's gambling deal".

'Glades

"Bioligists [sic] say an endangered hawk in the Everglades is getting closer to extinction." "Rare bird vanishing from Everglades

Who knew?

"A St. Petersburg Times analysis found that while some 88,000 former nonviolent felons are newly eligible to cast a ballot for the first time in this presidential election, less than 10 percent, or roughly 8,200, were registered to vote as of the end of May."

The move to restore rights was originally expected to impact between 250,000 and 300,000 offenders. In reality, the number turns out to be closer to 115,000, once all the certificates get signed by the clemency board, according to the Florida Parole Commission.

Of those, at least 30,000 are African-American, a number that could be of greater significance in a year when an African-American candidate will be on the ballot for the first time as the nominee of a major party.

Yaawwnnn ...

"John McCain hailed the economic benefits of free trade to Colombians on Wednesday, raising the possibility of an eventual hemisphere-wide agreement even though a weak economy at home has soured many U.S. voters on trade agreements." "McCain touts Colombia trade plan".

The corporate media is right there with him. The Palm Beach Post editorial Board sniffs that "Unlike Sen. McCain, Barack Obama does not support the deal, despite his previous advocacy for free trade." Hmmm sounds like the Cox Corporation is all over that RNC flip-flop meme:

Sen. Obama is pandering to labor unions, which reportedly have drawn a line in the political sand over this deal. But Democrats in Congress got the 2006 version reworked last year, at the unions' urging, to include tougher labor and environmental standards. Colombia is a strategic ally against Chávez and his self-serving revolution.

On top of that, journalists [claim to] work by some sort of perceived credo, where they (in hard news mode) neutrally report the "truth" as they see it, or something to that effect. 

However, let us be a bit real about the noble ink stained wretch thing - all professional columnists, which includes [the geniuses on the editorial board], must - and whether they want to admit it or not - carefully consider whether their words might offend their employers; after all, someone has to pay the paychecks, and it ain't the Goddess of neutral journalism up in the sky.  (as to this point see our previous post  on the sainted Saint Pete Times: "Smarmy").

In [the editors' cases], the paycheck writer is Cox Newspapers, Inc., which is in turn owned by Cox Enterprises, Inc., which "is a private company controlled by the descendants of James M. Cox." (can't imagine what their views are of, ahem ... inheritance taxes)).

And who owns Cox? According to Wikipedia, "the company is private, 98 percent controlled by the octogenarian daughter of [James Middleton Cox], Anne Cox Chambers [Her net worth has been estimated at $12.6 billion, based principally on her equity interest in Cox Enterprises which makes her one of the richest women in the United States], and the two children of her late sister Barbara Cox Anthony. The CEO and chairman is Anthony's son, James C. Kennedy."

To be sure, and as is the case with most billionaires, Anne Cox Chambers is a philanthropist; and also apparently a limousine liberal, supporting Barack Obama. See also "The Obama Volunteer Vibe: Punks and Billionaires".

Despite the dalliances of octogenarian billionaires, Cox, Inc. like virtually all "newspapers" is first and foremost a profit making "business"; hence, it editorializes about most "business" issues (except obvious things like slavery and dumping sewage in the ocean) in the the usual "business" way: see e.g., "Firefighters' 'outlandish benefits' and 'sweet pay plans'" and "this astounding piece of doggrel in the Palm Beach Post 'news' section"

Dontcha luv it ...

... when the local ink stained wretches hit the national trail. "Candidates' pledges drowned out".

Not a great visual ... Charlie "salivating"

"In light of recent developments, Gov. Charlie Crist must be salivating at the prospect of appointing four justices to the Florida Supreme Court."

Rarely is a governor subjected to a judicial smack-down the likes of which occurred Thursday.

A unanimous court came down hard on Crist, ruling that the casino gambling deal he cut with the Seminole Tribe of Florida in November is illegal because it sanctions blackjack and baccarat games banned by state law.

Only the Legislature can change the law, the justices wrote, concluding that Crist overreached in striking a deal to steer billions of dollars in gambling revenue to the state.

Mista tuff guy

Jac Wilder VerSteeg burnishes his "I'm not really a librul' bona fides": "On Tuesday, Florida executed Mark Dean Schwab for the rape and murder of an 11-year-old boy named Junny Rios-Martinez. Schwab deserved to be executed, but here's a hypothetical: What if Schwab had raped - but not killed - Junny? Would he still have deserved the death penalty? I say yes, but the U.S. Supreme Court last week said no." "Not murder, but equally heinous".

Are these the Straight Talk Express ...

bus drivers?: "The president of the Transport Workers Union Local 291, who last week told The Miami Herald that the union had 'absolutely not' endorsed Diaz-Balart, said Wednesday his union has backed Diaz-Balart all along." "Herald: Union now says it backs Diaz-Balart".

Ahem ... Charlie?

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Governor signs tough anti-gang bill, but money to make it work sorely lacking." "Anti-gang law nice, but where's the money?".

Miami vice

"The Pentagon is distancing itself from a Miami Beach arms dealer indicted for fraud in connection with its contract to supply ammunition to Afghanistan's security forces."

But nobody in charge at the time seemed to care about the red flags that surrounded the business practices of AEY Inc., or the abilities of its 20-something-year-old managers. The Army needs to explain how AEY got the contract, and the State Department needs to answer the question of whether it tried to conceal what could be illegal arms trafficking.

Authorities claim the dealers tried to circumvent U.S. law and provisions in the $298-million Army contract that ban trading in Chinese arms. They say the dealers shipped aged cartridges from Albania to Afghanistan that were actually manufactured in China. A lawyer for the company president has disputed the claims.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee revealed this week that by the time the Army awarded AEY the bid in January 2007, State and Defense officials had flagged at least six earlier contracts for poor quality or performance. Investigators say the firm mishandled some contracts while others may have been unnecessary. The Pentagon did not check AEY officials against the State Department's "watch list" of suspected illegal dealers, and a senior Army contracting official overruled a team of subordinates who raised concerns about awarding AEY work.

Funny games

"The man challenging County Commission Chairman Ken Hagan has filed a formal complaint with the Hillsborough's elections chief over a write-in candidate whose eleventh-hour filing will effectively disenfranchise nearly 110,000 Democrats and other voters in the August primary."

Keystone Civic Association president Tom Aderhold has written the Supervisor of Elections Office asking it to investigate "all circumstances that impact this person's eligibility to vote in Hillsborough County, and more importantly, to run for an elected position," and to postpone the vote until the general election if the investigation is still going on during the primary.

He's also hired a private investigator to dig into the past of the write-in candidate, Harold Fredrick "Bud" Gleason.

He said he also plans to file a formal complaint with the state Division of Elections, and is talking with lawyers in Tallahassee about suing Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson and Gleason.

For more than eight months, Aderhold and Hagan, both Republicans, were the only ones vying for north Hillsborough's District 2 seat. If no one filed to run against them before the close of the qualifying period on June 20, all of the area's voters would have been allowed to vote in the primary.

Then on June 17, three days before the deadline, Gleason, a 33-year-old Carrollwood Village man with no party affiliation and a checkered past, qualified as a write-in candidate.

"'It's not a place for politics"'

"Florida's search for a new chief investment manager is closing in on a familiar name: Ashbel Williams, who had the job for the first half of the 1990s before leaving for a more lucrative career on Wall Street."

Williams, 53, a Jacksonville native, earned his master's of business administration at Florida State University. He began his career in state government while still at FSU. From a legislative analyst job he rose to serve as chief of staff to House Speaker Hyatt Brown of Daytona Beach, deputy chief of staff to Gov. Bob Graham, deputy comptroller under Comptroller Gerald Lewis and eventually the board of administration's executive director.

As SBA chief from 1991 to 1996, Williams answered to both Democrats and Republicans on trustee boards and said it makes no difference in how to manage investing the state's money.

"It's not a place for politics," he said.

Stoopid is ...

... as stoopid does - The Tampa Tribune editorial board:

Florida's state and local governments have given away more than $1 billion in incentives to lure biotechnology firms to the state, but a startling new report raises serious doubts about the state's deep-pocket strategy. The grim fact is Florida is losing ground in the biotech race.

The Milken Institute's 2008 State Science and Technology Index ought to serve as a wake-up call to politicians who think offering tax incentives to biotech industry is sufficient. The report takes inventory of states' ability to build and sustain high-tech economies, evaluating 77 indicators in areas such as workforce development, education, technology infrastructure and research funding.

The Milken Institute index shows Florida ranks 37th among the states - that's down from 32nd in 2004 and 29th in 2002.

Why is Florida losing ground? While it's eager to throw money at biotech firms, it isn't investing enough in developing a workforce that has the technology and science skills required by those companies.

None of this should come as any surprise to those who have watched Florida lawmakers' stingy treatment of the state university system, even as they preached the need for a new, high-tech based economy.

Never mind

"To keep insurance rates lower, Florida's elected officials last year voted to shift much of the state's hurricane risk to the government. Now some are having buyer's remorse — at a cost of nearly a quarter-billion dollars." "State to pay $224M for access to bonds if big storm hits". See also "State will pay Warren Buffet $224M to assure help in hurricane season". See also "Disney claims to be exempts from new state gun law".

Raw political courage

"Lucky you! Powerball hits Florida".

I'll listen to this ...

... when government vendors are required to renegotiate their deals mid-contract. The Miami Herald editorial board:

It's agreed: Miami-Dade County District Schools' teachers deserve salary increases and raises at rates agreed upon by United Teachers of Dade and the School Board during the last round of contract negotiations. But that was before the state's economy tanked, before the real-estate recession hit South Florida, before legislative- and voter-mandated property-tax cuts that reduced school districts' budgets.

"Wholly owned subsidiary"

Daniel Ruth: "the Florida Legislature, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Rifle Association". "Gun Law Gives New Meaning To 'Laid Off'".

Ban

Bill Maxwell: "Florida cities need option to ban pit bulls".

[Public Policy Polling] polled Martinez, first elected in 2004, against Florida's popular Democratic CFO, Adelaide "Alex" Sink.

Sink (D) 37
Martinez (R) 31

31% reelect? Ugly, ugly, ugly.

The numbers aren't a lot better for Martinez against Democratic Congressman Robert Wexler:

Wexler (D) 33
Martinez (R) 33

Although Wexler's name recognition is surely pretty high for a Congressman (he's a regular face on national TV), I doubt it's anywhere near as high as Martinez'. Not only that, but Wexler is no centrist Democrat; he's an uabashed liberal ...

Martinez' approval/disapproval numbers are truly dismal: 23% of voters approve of his job performance, 43% disapprove. By comparison, 43% approve of the job Democratic Senator Bill Nelson has done, with 29% disapproving. ...

The poll also shows Obama defeating McCain in Florida this year:

Obama (D) 46
McCain (R) 44

Death politics

"Last-minute appeals denied; Schwab executed".

In the meantime, Charlie milks it: "Gov. Charlie Crist was solemn, yet certain, as the hour approached for the first execution from a death warrant he signed." "Crist oversees first Fla. execution in 18 months".

Not so fast, mister

"An incumbent Republican congressman is boasting of his union support -- but two of the unions say not so fast."

Locked in a competitive reelection battle, Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart last week touted endorsements from several local unions.

''I am deeply honored by the broad support my campaign for reelection is receiving from the working men and women of our community,'' he said in a news release, citing backing from unions such as the Fraternal Order of Police and United Teachers of Dade.

But two of the 12 unions on the list -- the Transport Workers Union Local 291 and International Longshoremen's Association Local 1922, both AFL-CIO affiliates -- say they didn't endorse the Republican incumbent.

Graham vs. Rubio

"Republican Hialeah Council President Esteban ''Steve'' Bovo and Democrat Nancy L. Stander, a former staffer for U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, are running for the seat vacated by Republican Rep. Rene Garcia due to term limits. Bovo, who works as a lobbyist for Miami Children's Hospital, has ties to Tallahassee. His wife and campaign treasurer, Viviana Bovo, is a legislative aide to outgoing House Speaker Marco Rubio. Stander, a teacher at Bob Graham Educational Center in Miami Lakes, was encouraged to run by her former boss. Now the question is: Whose backer will resonate with voters?""House candidates have formidable backers".

Never mind

"Florida's proposed purchase of nearly 300 square miles of land for Everglades restoration moved forward this week when water managers who would oversee the property endorsed the state's $1.75 billion offer. But even as most environmentalists here continue to cheer about the acquisition, skeptics have identified complications that they fear will keep the Everglades from being saved." "Flaws surface in Everglades plan".

Another RPOFer Laff riot

"Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer wants Congressman Tim Mahoney, D-Palm Beach Gardens, to reimburse taxpayers for a mail out that featured an image of a former soldier of the Soviet Union’s Red Army. ... "

“Is a taxpayer-funded mail piece featuring a Soviet Veteran who defended communism really the way that Congressman Mahoney wants to ‘honor’ our men and women in uniform?” Greer stated Tuesday. “Floridian's hard-earned tax dollars should never be used to promote a communist veteran, whether it is a mistake or not, and it is time for Tim Mahoney to reimburse the taxpayers of Congressional District 16 for this ridiculous waste of money, not to mention his insensitivity and complete lack of understanding of veterans' issues.”

Your "tax woe" is bigger than my "tax woe"

"Given their own well-documented run-ins with the IRS, one might assume that congressional rivals Vern Buchanan and Christine Jennings would avoid talking about each other's tax problems in their rematch campaign. Not so." "Candidates Take Each Other To Task Over IRS Woes".

Requiem for a wingnut

"We've Lost A Major Player In Political Arena".

Not on your side?

"Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is going after maligned mortgage-lender Countrywide Financial Corp. for what he called a pattern of deceptive sales pitches to homeowners." "State sues Countrywide over 'deceptive' home-loan pitches".

Expulsion

"Planned Parenthood has expelled its struggling Boca Raton chapter, citing a pattern of substandard finances, management, medical controls and clinic conditions, national office leaders said Tuesday." "Planned Parenthood expels South Palm Beach, Broward chapter".

More 'Glades

Joel Engelhardt: "Back to the mining debate".

Veto

"The rejected measure (CS,HB 679) included provisions that would have let homeowner associations lien and foreclose on owners who don't pay fines of more than $1,000; required new directors within 30 days of election to file statements that they have read the association's rules or be disqualified from serving; allowed a majority of owners to terminate reserve accounts; and created 23 pages of contradictory requirements that owners and boards would have had to follow for resolving disputes before going to court." "Crist praised for veto of flawed bill on homeowner associations".

Oops!

"Circuit Judge P. Kevin Davey ordered former Leon County School Board member Fred Varn off the Aug. 26 Democratic state House primary ballot Tuesday for violations of the state's resign-to-run law. Varn resigned retroactively from his school board post, but not in compliance with dates that required his resignation before the end of candidate qualifying. The ruling, which followed more than 90 minutes of legal wrangling by three lawyers, gives Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda the Democratic nomination to succeed Tallahassee's Rep. Loranne Ausley." "Judge orders Varn off ballot".

"Basement price"

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "In the academic year that just ended, state universities charged the third-lowest tuition rate in the nation, about $3,500 per year. If the basement price produced a top five series of educational universities, then that would be something to brag about." "Florida's college tuition increases justified".

Gambling

"For the second consecutive year, Florida's policymakers are betting the state won't be hit by a major hurricane. Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet had told the state's risk managers to find potential buyers for as much as $11 billion in bonds that would be needed to pay claims if the state is racked by a Katrina-sized hurricane. But with financial markets in tatters, state money managers say they've struck out." "Financially, state is betting against a major hurricane this year".

Another plate at the table

"What might Hispanics have in common with manatees, sea turtles, coral reefs, largemouth bass and panthers? Hispanics may soon join the state's list of specialty license plates." "Hispanic heritage specialty license plate proposed".

Guns, guns ...

"Today, you can pack heat in car".

"Odor"

Sue Carlton: "A cow can be a cash cow whether the owner of the land upon which it grazes is an actual farmer, a developer biding his time or an elected official like Hillsborough Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson." "Cows leave odor on vote chief".

A better way?

"Motorists without credit cards or bank accounts or those with privacy concerns will be able to buy SunPass and replenish their accounts with cash by the end of the year." "SunPass adds cash option for toll accounts". See also "Careless SunPass users could face big fines, state warns".

"A Safe Haven for Newborns"

"Gloria Hope Lewis is one of the 100 babies who have been safely surrendered by their mothers under a Florida law that allows women to drop their newborns off at any hospital or fire station — no questions asked — within three days of birth. Now, as the law begins its ninth year, it is being expanded to give mothers a seven-day grace period." "Florida law to safely give up babies marks eighth anniversary".

"Where Florida goes, goes America and where Palm Beach County goes, so goes Florida," the onetime presidential candidate said at the county's Democratic Party dinner at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

Richardson, considered on the short list to be Sen. Barack Obama's Democratic presidential running mate, said the party needs to focus on the state, especially Cuban Americans.

"We've got a lot of work to do here," said Richardson, the featured speaker at the event.

Not exactly free speech

"Two dozen cars were vandalized in a downtown parking lot Saturday, causing more than $10,000 in damage, with some of it appearing to be politically motivated." "Vandals in Orlando tag 60 cars with anti-Obama messages".

Desperate

"A one-time political apprentice of former Gov. Jeb Bush has earned her way to the top job in Sen. John McCain's Florida campaign, where she'll have to prove her stripes in a must-win state."

DiBenigno, 40, who lives in Tallahassee, is the consummate insider. She's been on the inside of two successful Jeb Bush campaigns for governor and one defeat. She helped orchestrate Crist's victory over Tom Gallagher in the 2006 governor's race. She was schooled in Miami-Dade politics, learned fundraising from the late Alec Courtelis -- who raised millions for Republicans -- worked on four presidential campaigns and served a stint in the White House. Her political Rolodex is among the most extensive in Florida.

"Homeowners Defense Act"

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "In November, the Homeowners Defense Act passed the U.S. House 258-155. There is a Senate version of the bill, which would create a national disaster insurance program. The bill has faced resistance from, among others, Midwesterners. But that was before this summer. Along the Mississippi River, especially in such Midwestern states as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri, the flooding has been near-biblical. It has brought back memories of 1993, when months of flooding caused $15 billion in damage." "Why disaster insurance is the responsible policy".

"Save Our Homes created inequities"

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Florida's tax system needs to gradually ease the inequity while preserving Save Our Homes' core objective. But changing or repealing this amendment is politically impossible because many voters fear losing Save Our Homes will mean spiraling, unaffordable tax increases." "Popular Save Our Homes amendment also created inequities".

A man among men

"McAndrew said he supported the death penalty during his 20-plus years with the Department of Corrections. 'One day I just sat down and said, 'This is wrong. This is wrong. We have no business killing people,'he said, except in self-defense, in defense of someone else or in defense of the nation."

"High-speed train flip-flop"

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "In 2004, more than 60 percent of voters repealed the amendment. Now, the high-speed train flip-flop is the poster child for what's wrong with the citizen initiative amendment process. Millions were spent to place it on the ballot. Millions were spent to remove it from the constitution." "High-speed train got off track".

More crazy government regulation of the private sector

"For dozens of Florida-based travel agencies that book flights to Cuba, the future of their livelihood is, well, up in the air. On Monday, a coalition of 16 Miami-based travel agencies specializing in trips to Cuba plan to file a lawsuit against the state, hoping that a judge will halt a recently approved law aimed at increasing state regulation of their trade." "Cuba travel law stirs debate".

Collateral damage

Randy Schultz: "When U.S. Sugar said last week that the company had agreed to be bought out by the state, many in the company's hometown of Clewiston and all along the rim towns of Lake Okeechobee felt betrayed." "No way to sugarcoat Glades anger".

More: "Political pluck, power dovetailed in state-U.S. Sugar deal".osThe Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "With apologies to Thomas Jefferson, the government that governs best doesn't always govern least." "Crist needs strong follow-through on Everglades blockbuster"

She's a Dem? Who knew?

"One of the more popular parlor games for Tampa Bay political junkies is plotting the future of some of our more ambitious and high-profile mayors."

There's Republican St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, surely rooting for Democrat Alex Sink to vacate her chief financial officer perch to run for governor or U.S. Senate. And Republican Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard, who is among those wondering if C.W. Bill Young will ever retire from Congress.

Then there's Democratic Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, whose term ends in 2011 and whose profile as a brainy, thoroughly competent leader from Florida's most important battleground — and a woman to boot — gets her mentioned frequently as an attractive statewide candidate in the mold of Sink. The problem? Unlike Sink and most other potential statewide candidates, Iorio would have to explain in a primary why she almost never lifts a finger to help fellow Democrats.

When a dove cries

"Wildlife officials are trying to figure out what's causing dozens of doves to die in the Florida Keys." "Bird illness spreading in the Florida Keys".

Tight?

"Don't count Gov. Charlie Crist among those Republicans predicting Florida is a lock for John McCain: 'I think it's going to be tight,' he told Buzz. "These are two strong candidates, and I don't know which way it goes." Obama campaign manager David Plouffe agreed. " "The fight for Florida".

"One might never realize"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Looking at the list of candidates for the 140 state legislative races on this year's ballot, one might never realize there are roughly the same number of registered Democrats and Republicans in Florida. In more than a quarter of those races -- 39 -- candidates are running without opposition. They won their seats just by meeting the filing deadline. That's bound to keep happening as long as legislators are free after every 10-year census to draw districts with a clear majority of voters inclined to support incumbents or their parties." "An effort to reduce predictability in political districts deserves support".

Rail

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The high price of fuel is a huge threat to Florida tourism and the state's overall economic growth." "Big Investment In Rail Will Help State's Economy Keep Rolling".

"An award-winning example of political folly"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "This November, Florida voters will see nine constitutional amendments on the ballot, and this newspaper and countless organizations and citizens will be examining the pros and cons of each in the coming months. But one amendment, No. 5, is so great a threat to the long-term fiscal stability of our counties, schools and state — such an award-winning example of political folly — that we urge voters to reject it soundly." "A big thumbs down: Amendment 5 makes bad situation worse".

Fever

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Anti-immigrant fever grips the nation".

"Florida's Ethics in Education Act"

"School districts around the state await instructions to implement Florida's Ethics in Education Act, which officially goes into effect Tuesday. Some fear it may force them to fire good employees, impose a burdensome bureaucracy and lead to lawsuits. " "Ethics in Education Act takes effect on Tuesday".