the 2008 election could produce a wave of support for Barack Obama — and trigger a decades-long shift of party allegiance that could affect elections for a generation.

The numbers are ominous for Republicans: Through May, Democratic voter registration in Broward County was up 6.7 percent. Republican registrations grew just 3 percent while independents rose 2.8 percent.

Democrats have posted even greater gains statewide, up 106,508 voters from January through May, compared with 16,686 for the Republicans.

Another fine loophole

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "'how can a facility avoid state licensure by putting itself in a certain category? I find it incredible we have no authority. We may need legislation to close the loophole.' DCF attorneys are reviewing the situation at the state level, he said, and then will begin discussions with state legislators." "Private abuse still abuse".

More from the "we must be balanced crowd"

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "George Bush and Barack Obama will share this year's gold medal for Olympic inconsistency." "Summer political games".

FCAT BS

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Getting an Olympic gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics is great. But it's just not the same as winning gold in traditional gymnastics. Getting an A school grade based on FCAT results also is great - in a rhythmic gymnastics sort of way."

Education shouldn't be like the Olympics, where success depends on one supreme effort at just the right time. Through its system of FCAT-based school grades, the state mistakenly treats education like that kind of competition. That's not the same as teaching kids how to think, so they can became medalists in the real world.

Hieteenthia bags it

"State Rep. Curtis Richardson's chances of winning a seat on the Florida Parole Commission have apparently improved with the withdrawal of a top executive of the prison system who was competing for the job. Hieteenthia 'Tina' Hayes, director of initiatives for the Department of Corrections, said she couldn't afford the cut from $113,517.56 to the $92,574 that the three-member commission pays." "Odds improve for those vying for seat on state parole commission".

Bill Maxwell

"To me, everyone who eats fruits and vegetables should be outraged and should be, in some manner, advocating for farm-worker justice."

American consumers have a moral duty to stop the exploitation of farm workers. If we do not, as McEmrys argues, we enable servitude and are guilty of the "sin of complicity."

"A massive mistake Florida voters made ..."

The Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board: "The resulting tangle of litigation only demonstrates what a massive mistake Florida voters made when they authorized local-option slot machines in the first place. With no compact, Seminole officials insist they're now allowed to offer high-stakes card games as well as slots. Meanwhile, parimutuels have filed suit, saying Crist had no right to allow table games -- especially in a deal that explicitly cut them out of any chance to offer blackjack and other popular gambling options." Here's where it gets scary:

The Supreme Court's ruling suggests that the Legislature holds all the cards.

Mel steps in it yet again

"Karl Rove's Florida Frankenstein", "Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, seeking to bolster Republican John McCain's efforts to win Hispanic voters, says McCain has 'stood tall' on immigration reform against his own political interests while Democrat Barack Obama 'caved' to anti-reform forces when the matter was in the U.S. Senate." "McCain aims new TV ads at Hispanics".

As Politco points out, poor Mel can't get seem to get his "straight talk express'" lies straight lies straight:

When Florida Senator Mel Martinez criticized Obama's work on an immigration bill ..., he contradicted his own earlier praise for Obama.

On the McCain campaign conference call just now, Sen. Mel Martinez expanded on John McCain's argument that Obama had sabotaged comprehensive immigration reform.

"He was AWOL, he was working against us," Martinez said.

However, in a June 28, 2007 letter to Obama, which you can read here, Martinez wrote to thank Obama for his "support of the Immigration Reform Bill.

"It doesn't pass the [smell]* test"

"One of Gov. Charlie Crist's handpicked utility regulators is questioning why the governor is getting energy advice from a lawyer whose utility clients could be affected by Crist's policies."

The criticism comes from Nancy Argenziano, whom Crist named to a $133,000-a-year job on the Public Service Commission last year in part because he admires her outspokenness.

Now Argenziano is taking aim at Crist and one of his former employees, Chris Kise. The 43-year-old lawyer from Tampa has years of experience in complex utility law and represents utilities before the PSC. He is also Crist's "special adviser on energy and climate change," an unpaid position.

"I find this hard to believe," Argenziano said. "You're being compensated to represent utilities, and you're advising the governor? It doesn't pass the test."

On Wednesday, when Argenziano's office delivered a 25-pound box of cow manure to Jodi Chase, many of her colleagues cheered her on because the recipient is a notoriously abrasive lobbyist for Associated Industries of Florida. ...

She didn't earn the nickname "Chase in your Face" by being a warm and fuzzy Oprah clone. Many in Tallahassee figured that Chase had it coming, especially after she seemed to be taunting Argenziano by going to the representative's 11th-floor House office, putting her feet up on the couch and watching a televised debate on a bill the two had fought over.

As Chase lounged in her office, Argenziano was demonstrating courage in a vote on nursing home reform. The issue is one of her top priorities this session, and she has fought hard for reform, tangling with Chase in the process, but the bill that emerged from the back rooms of the House was just too flawed. Argenziano ["the self-described Brooklyn girl"] bucked her party's leadership and was the only Republican to vote against the measure, which passed overwhelmingly.

Florida Legislature shows its derriere, ACLU sues to cover it

"The American Civil Liberties Union is pressing its lawsuit against a Florida law banning university researchers from traveling to countries on a terrorist nation list. ... The law passed in 2006 bans Florida public universities from spending money on travel to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. " "Hearing in lawsuit against 'terrorist' travel ban".

A great story

Martin Dyckman: William M. "Bill" Gillespie, who had served six years in the House and two in the Senate, has died at the age of 80." Dyckman describes him as one of those "people in Tallahassee who were there to do good rather than to do well. ... [and] cared more about improving Florida's future than enhancing their careers"

But it was his last act as a legislator that came first to mind when Sally called to say he had died. That was to pass legislation compensating Jesse Daniels and his mother for the nearly 14 years Daniels had been the victim of a frame.

In 1958, Lake County Sheriff Willis McCall, one of the genuinely evil figures in Florida history, needed a scapegoat to "solve" the rape of a socially prominent woman. Daniels, who was mentally retarded, made an easy mark. The case was so flimsy, however, that the prosecutor dared not put Daniels on trial. He was rushed off to the state mental hospital at Chattahoochee, where he remained until an appeals court in 1971 set things right.

One of his new lawyers had written to Askew that Daniels was "a benign, timid, quiet, friendly and pathetic soul, who has no friends in high places." But it turned out that he did, and one of them was Bill Gillespie.

The claims bills were a hard fight. The prosecutor was still in office and had friends in the Legislature. The House voted only $82,000; even that was stymied in the Senate when it was about to adjourn the session near midnight on May 31, 1974.

Gillespie filibustered. The parliamentary situation required unanimous consent to do anything; he would object to everything until the Senate took up the claims bills.

They passed unanimously.

From the "values" crowd ...

"Funds sliced for HIV youth program in South Florida".

The group will travel to London, Paris, Madrid and Russia's St. Petersburg to meet with top government officials and business leaders to talk insurance, alternative energy, and aerospace contracts. Crist is also meeting with Britain's Prince Charles and his brother, Prince Andrew.

''Well, I'm trying to get them employed,'' he said. ``That's exactly why I'm going -- to try to generate more business, more investment, more entrepreneurship from these countries that have been very good friends to Florida, particularly in the past and express that gratitude and continue to encourage their investment and employment of our fellow Floridians.''

The governor's fiancée, Carole Rome, is going as one of the business ''delegates,'' who pay for their own hotel and airfare. The Fisher Island resident is a consultant to her family's Halloween costume business.

There's the rub

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Employers the key to immigration reform".

No brainer ...

... even for Fasano. The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The two pieces of legislation, sponsored by Sen. Mike Fasano of New Port Richey and signed into law by the governor a few days ago, do two important things: They grant sexual assault victims up to three-days' leave from their jobs, and exempt the names and other identifying personal information of victims who happen to be public workers from public records." "State Comforts Sexual Assault Victims".

The larger question - and what editorials ought to be written about - is what kind of employers need a law to force them to "grant sexual assault victims up to three-days' leave from their jobs"?

What is it with Florida employers?: recently, "a Florida woman was fired by a restaurant owner for laughing". Indeed, "Florida is quite the leader in this area. In one of my favs, a lawsuit by an employee fired for refusing to commit a crime was dismissed". This takes the cake:

"IN ANCIENT GREECE, they used to kill the messenger bearing bad tidings. In modern Florida, she just gets fired . At least, that`s what happened to a Jacksonville woman. Lillian Grant, an accounting clerk, called police the other day when she and some coworkers found dangerous metal staples had been baked into a $2 box of Girl Scout cookies. ... But instead of praising her for reporting such a potentially harmful case of food tampering, her bosses at the StateWide Collection Agency were angered, saying she failed to get permission to call police. So they fired her. (Good Citizen Got Bad Treatment, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, March 17, 1986)

"You’ll have to guess"

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "How much does Progress Energy intend to charge you every month for the start-up costs of a new nuclear power plant in Levy County? You’ll have to guess, because the company refuses to say. It wants the Florida Public Service Commission to hold hearings on the rate hike without the public knowing how much it’s asking for." "Throw some light on power rate hike".

Empty suit ...

... and empty chair. Poor Charlie,"after months of speculation, political scholars and veteran players consider Charlie Crist an unlikely running mate for presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain." "Scholars: Crist unlikely VP pick".

Gross

"Some of their more conservative neighbors have a hard time fathoming that so many Democrats are numbered among the town's 83 registered voters. There's eight?' says the mayor's wife, Robin Robertson, smiling amiably. 'I thought we had one.'" "Democrats are few, far between in well-heeled Belleair Shore".

Vern for sale

"U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan's re-election campaign said Wednesday that it has topped $3 million in contributions. Donors gave more than $600,000 to the Sarasota Republican's re-election bid in April, May and June, his campaign manager Joe Gruters said. Combined with earlier contributions, Buchanan has raised more than $3 million in his bid for a second term." "Buchanan hits $3 million in campaign funds".

"A good sign"

"[I]t is a good sign that start-ups are competing to find the best technologies to produce ethanol from sources other than corn. Florida, with its abundance of material that could be turned into ethanol, is the perfect state to host that competition. In particular, Florida offers material other than food crops. It makes more sense to produce ethanol from materials that otherwise literally would go to waste. U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Palm Beach Gardens, has secured grants for companies in his district that will produce ethanol from food farming byproducts." "Make Florida friendly to 'new' energy firms".

'Glades

"The Miccosukee Indian Tribe wants a federal judge to restart a huge Everglades restoration project that's now on hold. The tribe filed a motion in Miami federal court Friday. Attorney Dexter Lehtinen says the goal is to continue construction of a giant reservoir in Palm Beach County intended to help cleanse water flowing into the Everglades. Water managers put the project on hold in May because of a separate lawsuit filed by environmental groups." "Tribe asks court to restart Glades project".

Makes it hard to walk them neighborhoods

"Skip Campbell will officially drop out of the race against Republican Senate President-designate Jeff Atwater today, the former senator said Thursday." "Campbell cites hip surgery in dropping bid for Senate". See also "Campbell quits state Senate race".

Maybe a bit different

"Water managers today reaffirmed they want to finish a giant Glades reservoir project now mired in a lawsuit, but said it might not be completed as originally envisioned, depending on the proposed U.S. Sugar agreement." "Water district says Glades reservoir should be completed, but perhaps scaled back".

Drilling

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "Drilling off the state would do little to lower gas costs, at best a few cents per gallon, and would not even be available for seven years or more. It makes no sense to risk Florida's coast for such a puny payoff." "Floridians Should Not Be Panicked Into Sacrificing Their Coast".

"The largest crop in four years"

"Florida is by far the nation's largest supplier of oranges. If these projections hold, this would be the largest crop in four years, since two heavy hurricane seasons damaged trees and spread crop diseases." "Feds inch up Fla. citrus forecast at end of season".

Whatever

"Call-center operations in nine offices that take consumer complaints around the state will consolidate into two as the Florida Department of Financial Services moves to save $1 million a year. Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced the cost-saving measure Thursday after a Department of Financial Services study recommended it." "DFS announces consolidation of state call centers".

Help needed

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Many small and not-so-small American towns have suffered hugely when their major employers shut down. So will Clewiston and the surrounding areas in Hendry County when the state buy-out of U. S. Sugar is completed in six years." "Florida's sugar town deserves extra hand".

After Palm Beach County's experience with the butterfly ballot and then the no-paper-trail touch screens, this was not supposed to happen. After trashing the touch-screen system, voters once again mark a paper ballot, just as they did in days of counting one, two, three. But any sense of old-fashioned simplicity is false. The counting is not done by human hands. A computer does the counting. The data are stored electronically. Counting procedures have become so complex and arcane that speed-of-light counting reaches the wrong conclusion and nobody notices. A memo from Sequoia Voting Systems Inc., to Elections Supervisor Arthur Anderson, illuminates that problem, if not much else.

The Maitland housewife ...

... takes on union thug, who "speaks for a bygone education system that abysmally failed our most vulnerable children." The Maitland housewife thunders: "How can people as smart as teachers have such a bubble brain as their union president?" "Just like our kids, teachers union chief Andy Ford needs educating".

Translation: Florida's "lousy education" system is not the result of underfunding, rather it was and is the teachers' fault; better yet, it is the teachers' unions' fault.

Now everything is kewl because Jebbie installed a silly school grading plan.

And Poof! without spending a nickel (except on private school vouchers) problem solved. And did I say we get to keep running our public education system on the cheap, and blame failures on "bubble brain" union thugs.

Thomas' buds on the The Tampa Tribune editorial board, are happy to join the fun, writing today that "A Decade Of School Grades Show Accountability Movement Delivers". What they mean by "delivered" is hard to fathom, especially when the editors concede that

at A-rated high schools, it is common for fewer than half of the students to be reading proficiently, and the numbers are even more disappointing on the science FCAT.

1,583 Florida schools earned an A from the state - that's 55 percent of the schools

RPOFer who slimed opponent "cleared"

"The Florida House of Representatives will not pursue action against a state lawmaker accused of using his office to undermine a political opponent."

Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda, did not engage in electioneering — asking people to vote for or against someone — when he raised questions about the education background of his opponent, a panel of his peers determined Tuesday after a probable cause hearing.

The three lawmakers on the House panel quickly dispensed of the case, but the sole Democrat said the incident left much concern.

"I hope, if nothing else, that this sends a message to our colleagues in the Legislature, future legislators, that this kind of action is troubling," said Rep. Curtis Richardson, D-Tallahassee.

Kreegel was notified in September that his opponent in the 2008 election, Keith Richter, had a job at a Hodges University campus in Fort Myers but claimed to be

Remind me why Buddy Dyer (D-Orl, who formerly had statewide political aspirations) was removed from office?

obtaining a doctorate from a school that is not accredited in the United States.

Records show that Kreegel's legislative aide, Barry Millman, contacted the school, and Richter was demoted from adjunct professor to teaching assistant. Kreegel said he asked Millman to make the call, according to a statement he provided.

But while Millman lost his job amid the controversy, the House panel said there was not sufficient evidence to suggest his boss violated a state law forbidding employees from using their state office during working hours to further a political campaign.

No Pols at NASCAR in Daytona

"Voters should not expect to see either John McCain or Barack Obama making appearances at NASCAR events in Daytona Beach Florida, or a dozen other speedways across the country before Election Day."

According to officials from the International Speedway Corporation (ISC), which owns the Daytona International Speedway, as well as major facilities in both candidates' home states of Arizona and Illinois, the company is implementing a firm policy that prohibits political candidates from campaigning in any capacity at their racing events

Prison Privatization

"Florida officials are reviewing eligibility for a St. Petersburg-based prison labor program after a participant killed a correctional officer at a Daytona Beach prison. Officer Donna Fitzgerald was stabbed to death June 25 at Tomoka Correctional Institution after she was attacked by an inmate who fashioned a knife made from sheet metal."

Despite a rap sheet showing a history of violence toward women, Hall passed a security clearance to work in a heavy-equipment shop for PRIDE, the nonprofit that has provided jobs for inmates for nearly three decades.

"We're reviewing all of our policies and procedures," said state corrections spokesman Gretl Plessinger. She said the state and PRIDE work jointly to determine an inmate's eligibility for a prison job.

PRIDE, created by business executive Jack Eckerd, aims to teach skills to inmates that will help them readjust to society, such as reporting for work on time, following directions and learning a trade.

Florida is Leader

Florida in 1981 became the first state to contract out the entire state prison industry to private management. Prison Rehabilitative Industries & Diversified Enterprises Inc. (PRIDE), a firm based in Clearwater, Florida, now manages all 53 Florida prison work programs as a for profit operation. PRIDE made a $4 million profit last year. Many states considering privatization of prison industries are studying the PRIDE

operation. PRIDE employs only inmates who want to work. As such, work is viewed as an opportunity rather than a punishment. PRIDE pays 60 percent of the workers' wages directly to the state government to defray the costs of imprisonment. PRIDE products, which range from optical and dental items to modular office systems, are sold to the local and state government agencies.

Substitute ...

"Democrats have settled on a Broward County Realtor to take Skip Campbell's place in the election campaign against state Senate President-designate Jeff Atwater." "Democrats tap sub for Atwater battle".

"The Legislature, of course"

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "Welcome to the state of democracy in Florida these days, where legislative and congressional jobs are as likely to be filled by cartographers as they are by voters. Forty-two state and federal lawmakers were automatically elected this year without opposition, in large part because their districts were drawn to discourage competition. Who draws the lines? The Legislature, of course." "Voters, not maps, must rule".

Any wagers ...

... as to the chances of this wedding coming off?:

Crist clarified his past engagement history, which he said has been reported wrongly in some newsoutlets, and added that his wedding to Carole Rome probably will be after the Nov. 4 election—maybe not be until spring.

Crist had said last week, when telling friends and reporters about his engagement, that the wedding likely would be “some time in the fall.”

Asked today if it was likely to be before or after the election, he said likely afterward, and that it “could be in the spring—it’s looking like the fall will be pretty busy,” clearly referring to the election, in which he is a strong backer of John McCain.

Crist was married once before, very briefly, in 1979, and has said he was also engaged once a few years later.

it seemed like just yesterday that Gov. Charlie Crist was announcing he had a new girlfriend. Now, he says he's engaged. So congratulations to the Lovernor and our future first lady. Still, the timing sure was interesting. On Tuesday of last week, national pundits, like those at Politico.com, were suggesting that Crist had dropped off John McCain's running-mate radar. The Politico piece even went so far as to label Charlie a "second tier" candidate, suggesting family-man Mitt Romney was a more likely contender than the Florida bachelor. And holy coincidences, Batman: Two days later, Crist popped the question.

Troxler

"Pay Buffett now for chance to pay him later".

Killing machine

"Crist signed a death warrant Wednesday for a Central Florida man convicted of killing two young girls after raping their mother in 1993." "Crist signs death warrant, sealing fate of child-killer".

"State college system"

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "A bachelor's degree via a community college may not be the norm, but it could soon lead to more students earning four-year degrees in Florida. The state's foray into a 'state college system' comes just in time to offset the closing of higher education opportunities at Florida's public universities, where thousands of students are being rejected due to higher admission standards and pricier tuition rates." "State college system has potential".

Just check with McSame and get back to us ...

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board argues that it is "a gubernatorial leap into the political muck that's keeping Wekiwa Springs and many of the state's 700-odd springs from a clean future would benefit Florida more than the governor actually submerging himself in them." "It's outrageous that Wekiwa Springs is being sacrificed".

"The pragmatic political acumen of Bullwinkle J. Moose"

Daniel Ruth: "This is what happens when state government is hijacked by a 12-year-old with all the pragmatic political acumen of Bullwinkle J. Moose.?"

A perfectly legal organization seeking to improve its business interests in Florida offers to share its profits, committing to pay the state a minimum of $100 million a year in a deal that will result in billions of more dollars dedicated to the public exchequer.

At a time when the state is struggling with massive budgetary shortfalls resulting in the reduction of services, increased costs for education, neglected infrastructure needs and a decline in the ability of first responders to meet public safety needs, you would think the infusion of the generous extra dollars would be met with open arms in Tallahassee.

because the deal with the state involved the Seminoles to offer high stakes slot machines as well as enhanced card games such as blackjack and baccarat at its casinos across Florida, Rubio got his knickers in a wad, challenging Gov. Charlie Crist's authority in court to negotiate an agreement with the tribe.

A few days ago, the Florida Supreme Court sided with Rubio, voiding the Seminole agreement and likely setting the stage for a legal pie fight up the federal legal food chain.

Rubio, exuding all the sincerity of Baghdad Bob, argued he was merely trying to protect the interests of parimutuel outlets, which at the moment are prohibited from offering gambling options such as the high-stakes card games the Seminoles provide.

But that is a canard wrapped in fiddle-faddle.

If the Speaker wants an equitable playing field, all he needs to do is create legislation granting the parimutuels the same gaming attractions presently conducted by the Seminoles. Crisis averted.

Would you be willing to bet, say $100 million, Crist would sign that bill faster than you could say: "Laissez les bon temps roulez!"

Bad planning

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Planned Parenthood Federation of America acted quickly and correctly, closing the clinics associated with the mismanaged affiliate. Now, the federation should further account for what went wrong, and how. Any unanswered questions about the failed affiliate would hinder the proven Planned Parenthood of Greater Miami, Palm Beach and Treasure Coast Inc.'s expansion. And that expansion must happen as soon as possible." "A missing half-million".

Looks good on a political brochure ...

The Daytona Beach News-Journal editorial board: "This is the country of second chances. Education is itself in many ways a process of second chances. But not in Florida. "

When it comes to crime and children, lawmakers in Florida tend to opt for reaction over nuance. They like to appear tough: Three-strikes-you're-out laws choke prisons and aren't necessarily effective, but they're popular. So are laws restricting ex-sex offenders' civil and residential rights. The trend favoring tougher rather than more intelligent laws continues.

It doesn't merely punish current offenders or discourage potential offenders from abusing their position. It prohibits second chances involving individuals whose lives today may have nothing to do with lives they may have led in the distant past. Those are the sort of judgments a local school board could make in determining whether an individual should be hired. Those are the sort of judgments the new law takes away from local boards and forbids altogether. In the law's eyes, there is no such thing as youthful mistake anymore. It's a one-strike-you're-out deal.

The Sugar thing

Steve Bousquet and Jennifer Liberto: "U.S. Sugar's disappearance will alter the political landscape in Florida as well."

"For the last decade, the 600-pound gorilla has been U.S. Sugar," said lawyer John French, an election law expert who has worked in the grower's campaigns. "Having that kind of leadership and resources disappear from the political radar is going to leave a vacuum. I don't think it will be filled by another industry or company."

Coker, still the company's lobbyist, declined to comment for this article.

But state campaign records show that since 1996, U.S. Sugar has spent $17.5-million in its name to influence the outcome of state elections in Florida.

The company donated untold millions more through political committees, including millions used to kill a constitutional amendment that would have taxed sugar for Everglades cleanup.

Some of Florida's most elite Republican fundraisers quietly grumble about McCain, cite his campaign's lack of outreach or just gripe about the tough economy. Others say no candidate could match the financial performance of Jeb and George Bush in Florida, while still more say the Bush family network has been succeeded by a new, Charlie Crist generation of money-raisers jumping enthusiastically behind McCain.

Regardless of the explanation, the numbers are striking.

House Race Update

"Florida's status as a key battleground state this fall won't be limited to presidential politics. Democratic national campaign strategists say their party can wage competitive races for at least five U.S. House seats now held by Florida Republicans, and that a sixth good Democratic challenge could emerge in the Tampa Bay area. That's a bundle of congressional seats from one state to be up for grabs." A real in depth look at these races here: "Florida Is Home To Many Political Battlegrounds".

Over the week end the Cook Political Report revised 33 of its House Race prognostications; here's the Florida update:

- FL-08 Ric Keller Likely Republican to Lean Republican
- FL-09 Gus Bilirakis Solid Republican to Likely Republican
- FL-18 Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Solid Republican to Likely Republican
- FL-21 Lincoln Diaz-Balart Likely Republican to Lean RepublicanCook explains that,

while it's not likely that a majority of the races moved from "Solid" to "Likely" Republican will become competitive by November, the poor national climate for the GOP and the DCCC's unprecedented financial edge makes even very difficult districts for Democrats worth keeping tabs on.

Cook Political Report (subscription required).

On the preznit side, "every expert has an idea, and there's widespread agreement, even among opponents. But like most advice, giving it is easy. The skill comes in doing it." "Obama, McCain face Fla. battle".

The law, in its majestic equality, ..."

"... forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

– Anatole France, Le Lys rouge ch. vii (1894)

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "The slow, dissatisfying resolution of the case sends a message to the public that there's a different system of justice for the wealthy who hire high-powered lawyers. Epstein's legal team included West Palm Beach defense attorney Jack Goldberger, Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz, who defended O.J. Simpson against murder charges, and Kenneth Starr, the prosecutor who pursued then-President Bill Clinton for lying about sex with young women." "Rich man fought the law and he mostly won".

Pig

In a puff piece condensed and adapted from the cover story in today's New York Times Magazine, the The St. Petersburg Times's gives us this garbage today - "On May 16, Limbaugh delivered a monologue on what you can't say about Obama:"

- "With Obama we started out, we couldn't talk about his big ears 'cause that made him nervous. We've gone from that to this:

- Not only can we not mention his ears, we can't talk about his mother.

- We can't talk about his father. We can't talk about his grandmother unless he does, brings her up as a 'typical white person.'

- We can't talk about his wife, can't talk about his preacher, can't talk about his terrorist friends, can't talk about his voting record, can't talk about his religion.

- We can't talk about appeasement. We can't talk about color; we can't talk about lack of color. We can't talk about race.

- We can't talk about bombers and mobsters who are his friends. We can't talk about schooling.

- We can't talk about his name, 'Hussein.' We can't talk about his lack of experience. Can't talk about his income. Can't talk about his flag pin. This started out we can't call him a liberal. It started out we just couldn't talk about his ears. Now we can't say anything about him."

"Rush is right ... where he wants to be". Class act, that Limbaugh fellow.

Whatever

"LeMieux, who left the governor's office Jan. 1, initially refused to disclose the contents. Crist's office insisted the book was not a public record, even as Crist has promoted greater openness in government. After months of off-and-on negotiations, LeMieux agreed to copy most of the contents for the St. Petersburg Times. LeMieux said he withheld only notes of personal or nongovernment political matters." "What was on Crist's to-do list in black book".

AARP

"The nation's largest seniors group is running television commercials in Florida and three other swing states, attempting to force presidential candidates to address health and retirement issues." "AARP runs health ads in Fla, 3 other swing states".

Gambling

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "If Mr. Crist's method was wrong, his logic is not. By granting exclusivity to the Seminoles, Mr. Crist effectively stemmed the spread of gambling by ending expansion efforts by the state's ever-expansionist parimutuel industry." "We think: Crist should work with legislators on gambling".

The Miami Herald editorial board: "Crist overreached on pact with tribe".

Them greedy public safety workers

Today's news: "South Florida: 100 firefighters respond to blaze on river freighter".

Tomorrow, or shortly thereafter, expect to read the editorial boards thanking

the hundreds of firefighters who have courageously and tirelessly worked around the clock ...

And

Risking their lives to protect strangers may be standard operating procedure for firefighters, but it should never go unappreciated.

Who could disagree with that?

To be quickly followed with this: "Time to cut Firefighters' "platinum", "lavish", "outlandish" and "sweet pay plans".

Heck, they've started already with the cops - The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Officers want too much"

Can't always get what you need

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Qualifying for public office ended on June 20; technical challenges have been issued and apparently resolved in at least one key legislative race, House District 9, which was held for eight years by term-limited Rep. Loranne Ausley. Though the letter of the law has been applied, it is unfortunate that now voters' choices for her successor are reduced." "What we need".

Panhandle blues

"High gasoline prices and a sour economy are taking a toll on family budgets, and that means business owners in vacation destinations such as Florida are sweating over whether the summering hordes will come their way. The summer season is crucial in Florida's Panhandle, where a stretch of sugar-white sand beaches from Pensacola to just south of Tallahassee draws huge numbers of visitors from across the Southeast." "Panhandle tourism low on gas".

Amendment mess

Jim Saunders does his magic: "when Floridians go to the polls, they also likely will face a series of proposed constitutional amendments that deal with hot-button issues such as same-sex marriage, school vouchers and property taxes. Here is a rundown of the amendments, identified by their ballot numbers:" "Making sense of the amendments".

Confederacy of Dunces

So nice to know that these idiots manage to find time to get together:

Every April, Limbaugh hosts a weekend at his Palm Beach estate for his closest friends. This year, the guest list included Roger Ailes, Mary Matalin and Joel Surnow, a creator of the television series 24 and a leader of the small Hollywood conservative community. The event is social but hardly nonpolitical.

Anyone looking for an informal gathering of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy could do worse than this. Limbaugh is also close to Karl Rove, who dined with him a few weeks earlier in Florida, Justice Antonin Scalia and Justice Clarence Thomas (who officiated at Limbaugh's third wedding). He describes fellow Floridian Matt Drudge as a buddy.

Every man a king.

No tubes

"Tubes designed to safeguard beaches on Florida's west coast from erosion and protect the coastline condos from floods and hurricanes are facing their own blockade. A group says the tubes are ugly yellow bean bags that disrupt the appearance of the coast and make surfing next to impossible at Upham Beach in St. Petersburg and other popular spots." "St. Petersburg: Petition seeks to rid coastline of tubes".

Dead man (still) walking

John Hill: "Ralph Hughes' death last month is also a political obituary. No single person spent as much of his own time and money as this concrete magnate did to push Hillsborough's Republican leadership to the conservative fringe. His passing not only creates a void; it could fundamentally alter the face of Republican politics immediately — and for years to come." "Even in death, Hughes will be GOP force".

Ruth gets mail: "'The fact that state Sen. Ronda Storms is currently infecting our state government is enough to scorn, but sadly there are many more neocons that will continue their influence long after Hughes has gone.' And those were some of the nicer thoughts offered up in memory of Ralph Hughes." "Reader Comments Offer Insights Into Humanity's Potential For Ugliness".