The paper trail championed so fervently by U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Delray Beach, and mandated throughout Florida with Gov. Charlie Crist's help, was supposed to give voters a verifiable recount system that restored voter trust and confidence. Instead, it's delivered more angst and confusion.

Finding the missing votes in a judge's contest decided by 60 votes or less is just part of the challenge. In a county that decided the 2000 presidential race by 537 votes, it means making sure there won't be a repeat in November, when voters will decide one of the most important presidential elections of our time.

Yet another endorsement (from the same company)

After careful deliberations, the Tampa Tribune editorial board "endorses McCain for president".

"Florida's tax system ... antiquated, unfair and inadequate"

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "Every serious examination of Florida's tax system over the past two decades has found it to be antiquated, unfair and inadequate. But no one will fix it. The latest failure — from a constitutionally created commission established for precisely this type of tax reform — turns the spotlight back where it belongs. The state doesn't necessarily need a constitutional amendment to tackle tax reform. It only needs a governor and state legislators with a shared vision and strong spines."

"Crist and legislative leaders act as though tax cuts should be the only priority in a state whose taxes rank 47th lowest in the nation. The only "tax reform" in the past decade has been the piecemeal creation of more tax breaks, the reduction of business taxes and the elimination of taxes on wealthy stockholders. Instead of achieving fairness, lawmakers [read "Jeb Bush And His Amen Chorus Of Goose-Stepping Legislators"] have only made a bad tax system worse." "Seeking spines in capital". The Miami Herald editorial board: "Hope wanes for tax reform, budget relief".

Run, Charlie, Run!

"That's right, we're talking about the White House. As unbelievable as that may sound, Crist himself is starting the talk up here in Minnesota -- or rather his speaking schedule is." RPOFer Chair Greer insists that Mr. Happy Face 'is talked about now as a national leader'". "Up next in 2012: Charlie Crist?"

When you finish laughing, read the rest of it here. Yee haw!

The weatherman cometh

"Crist: Ike a threat to entire peninsula". After you catch your breath from that: "Crist offers more warnings as Ike, Hanna take aim".

"We've been bamboozled"

"The election cycle means it is unlikely voters will see another [sic] bold option before 2010 even though the demand for relief has not waned in the face of falling property values. But among the potential ideas being pushed by lawmakers or citizen activists:"

• Cap local and state governments revenue and spending.

• Cap all property taxes at 1.35 percent of taxable value, in effect limiting local millage rates to $13.50 per $1,000 in assessed value.

• Limit assessment increases on commercial property to 5 percent annually, down from 10 percent.

• Change the provision in Save Our Homes that requires property appraisers to increase assessments by 3 percent even when home values decline.

People who expected their taxes would "drop like a rock" — to borrow Gov. Charlie Crist's catchphrase — under the Amendment 1 plan passed in January feel slighted.

"We've been bamboozled," said Craig Campbell, 61, of St. Petersburg, who said he saved $10 under Amendment 1. He'll pay roughly $590 in taxes for a home he bought in the 1970s.

"I voted for Charlie Crist, and I thought he was going to do things," Campbell added. "He has accomplished nothing." Scores of people have written letters to newspapers across the state expressing similar dissatisfaction.

A Miami thing

"Miami Rep. David Rivera's victory in the race for a Miami-Dade Republican Party post set the stage for wide-open state Senate races in 2010."

"Secret money. Three big-name Miami pols."

And a race for a little-known office that even the incumbent said was "a notch above dogcatcher.''

The contest for Miami-Dade Republican State Executive Committeeman ended last month with a big win for Miami Rep. David Rivera over state Sen. Alex Diaz de la Portilla and Rep. Julio Robaina -- but some questions and hard feelings linger.

The election is a warm-up for things to come in 2010, when all three Republican Miami-Dade Senate seats will open due to term limits. Rivera, Robaina and one of Diaz de la Portilla's two brothers -- Miguel or Renier -- are expected to jostle for them. Also potentially in the fray: Rep. Rene Garcia, Rep. Marcelo Llorente and outgoing House Speaker Marco Rubio.

At the Florida trough

"Palin is slated to be in the state as early as next week, depending on the hurricane forecast. John McCain plans to be in Miami for a Sept. 15 fundraiser, one of six campaign receptions planned in the state through Nov. 4." "GOP fest lights fire under Floridians".

Whatever

"Moms are buzzing over Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin's challenges -- some with applause, others with criticism."

- "The political action group MomsRising.org sent an e-mail to its members Thursday, urging them to sign a letter to Palin asking for the ticket's stance on issues they call critical to mothers: affordable healthcare, affordable child care and equal pay for men and women."

- "In online forums around the country, including MomsMiami.com, which is run by The Miami Herald, mothers are expressing alarm at Palin's lack of national experience -- and taking offense that McCain chose her over more seasoned Republican women.

Out here in the fields ...

Notwithstanding Florida's newspaper companies' relative silence (with occasional exceptions like this extraordinary work)*, the existence of Florida's "Modern-Day Slavery" is no secret.**

However, and although the law is stacked in favor of the slave-owners, there has been occasional litigation. See e.g., "Ag-Mart to pay for limbless child's needs" (about a court settlement to provide "care for 3-year-old Carlitos Candelario, born without arms and legs to parents who picked tomatoes in fields sprayed with pesticides.")

Bill Maxwell has the latest:

Five Immokalee field bosses, all relatives, pleaded guilty to several charges of enslaving Guatemalan and Mexican farmworkers, forcing them to work and brutalizing them.

[the slaves were] kept more than a dozen men in boxes, shacks and trucks on their property. The workers were chained, beaten and forced to work on farms in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Incredibly, the indictment shows that the men were forced to pay rent of $20 a week to sleep in a locked furniture van. They were forced to urinate and defecate in a corner of the vehicle. ...

A federal plea deal was entered, giving the two ringleaders 12 years and fines from $750,000 to $1-million each. Formal sentencing is at the end of the year.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers conducted the initial investigation in this case and six other successfully prosecuted cases that have freed more than 1,000 field hands.

not to mention ordinary citizens, have rarely expressed outage over such abuses, and even fewer have raised a finger on behalf of farmworkers. Former Gov. Jeb Bush and his labor emissary openly criticized the coalition for its work, and Gov. Charlie Crist has yet to show real interest.

Obama

"Expanding Pell Grants and offering $4,000 tax credits to students willing to do public service were ideas offered by representatives of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama during a forum at Florida State University on Friday." "Obama reps tout education reforms".

smackdown

"Regulators Friday smacked down State Farm's request to challenge rejection of a proposed 47-percent rate increase." "Regulators deny State Farm request to appeal rate hike".

Plus, where will we get our slaves?

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "'Send Them All Back' Not So Easy".

That's our Mel, "before-prime-time"

"During a before-prime-time speech, Mel Martinez told the crowd that McCain was the only candidate qualified to be president -- and the only one with 'a history of putting country first.'" "Mel steps in the spotlight".

Precisely what do you mean, Mel, when you say Obama does not have a "history of putting country first"?

Off topic

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board:

When Republicans tag Barack Obama as the least experienced presidential candidate ever, they generally are talking about executive experience. It's a tricky claim, because John McCain doesn't have any, either. If the topic is "life experience," Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama bring different things to the presidential race, but each has experiences that could prove valuable.

Another problem with touting experience is the current president. He spent just six years in elected office, as the constitutionally weak governor of Texas. And Mr. Bush came to that office with a record of business "experience" that showed him making a fortune only because of ties to his father's friends.

Desperate fools

"Alaska Gov. Palin, the moose-hunting "hockey mom" from way outside the Beltway, has energized Florida Republicans, even moving one GOP consultant who attended Palin's Wednesday night speech to compare her to party demigod Ronald Reagan." "Florida GOP wild about 'game-changer' Palin".

Krog

"Jim Krog, sought-after lobbyist and political strategist, dies at 60".

Laff riot

Imagine this dope saying this about anyone: "Martinez calls Obama 'unproven' on world stage". Yes, that's the same fool who (what he now says "inadvertently") handed Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) a grossly political memo about how Republicans could exploit the Schiavo matter for political purposes, and then claimed he hadn't done anything of the sort.

The unsigned memo -- which initially misspells Schiavo's first name and gives the wrong number for the pending bill -- includes eight talking points in support of the legislation and calls the controversy "a great political issue." "This legislation ensures that individuals like Terri Schiavo are guaranteed the same legal protections as convicted murderers like Ted Bundy," the memo concludes.

Florida robots are "wowed", kneel at feet of "chosen one"

"Given the choice between Democratic nominee Barack Obama and McCain, Christian conservatives will vote for McCain every time, said Ocala delegate Dennis Baxley, a former legislator and executive director of the Christian Coalition of Florida."

"Tallahassee delegate Cynthia Henderson, a former agency head in Gov. Jeb Bush's administration, said Palin's personal example, and her willingness to accept a 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy, will reassure religious conservatives that McCain is on their side." "McCain wows audience at RNC, says 'change is coming'".

You remember Cynthia, "a prominent lobbyist and former agency head for Gov. Jeb Bush, [who] obtained a temporary restraining order ... against her husband [of a mere 3 months] after he found her in bed with another man and allegedly threatened them with a crowbar, court records show."

Is Palin on a mission from God? "Two years ago, Sarah Palin was running a city half the size of DeBary. And yet Wednesday night, you would have been hard-pressed to find a person in St. Paul who wasn't arguing that she was ready to lead the world. ... Bertica Cabrera Morris, a delegate from Orlando and mother of five (like Palin), admits she gets choked up when she thinks about what Palin represents." "Scott Maxwell: They believe in McCain's chosen one".

The man who once seemed to matter

"Crist won't attend GOP convention, but will he appear?". And isn't Charlie taking the weatherman thing a bit too far? "Crist offers more warnings as Ike, Hanna take aim".

Plus, if he talks about the weather a lot, then ... you know ... all the other problems will just go away: "The removal of a property tax-cutting amendment from Florida's ballot left Gov. Charlie Crist disappointed Thursday, but he said he wants to deal with a series of hurricanes threatening the state before deciding his next move on tax relief". "Crist delays next step on property tax relief" "Crist delays next step on property tax relief".

"Who says politics and religion don't mix?"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Bishop Thomas Wenski of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando was asked to give the invocation Wednesday at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. Last week, the Rev. Joel Hunter of Longwood's Northland, A Church Distributed, gave a benediction at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Neither man has endorsed a candidate." "We think: Party bosses' choice of local clergy highlights the region's importance".

We don' need no stinkin' gov'ment programs

"With a string of tropical depressions threatening to batter Florida, Republicans pointed with pride Tuesday to a plank in the party's platform that calls for a ''natural disaster insurance policy'' -- a provision GOP presidential nominee John McCain has opposed." "GOP touts disaster insurance".

Jebacies bite the dust

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "Allies of Jeb Bush led the assault. They deserved the high court's rebuke. The commission deserves wider public scorn for squandering a chance to help Florida build a sound economy." "High court saves Florida". Background: "Vouchers' garbled ballot language deserves an F".

Do as I say ...

"State Rep. Joe Pickens, R-Palatka and chairman of the House education committee, has been selected as the next president of St. Johns River Community College. A school search committee chose Pickens to replace Robert McLendon, who is retiring after 36 years as president. The Board of Trustees will vote on the recommendation at its Sept. 17 meeting. It was widely believed that Pickens was the frontrunner for the position. He will leave the Legislature this year because of term limits."

"He has been criticized for his part-time job as an attorney for the college, for which he was paid more than twice what he made as a legislator. None of Florida's other 27 community colleges has an attorney assigned just to its president, the Times-Union reported last year." "Pickens named SJRCC president".

Yee Haw!

"They were amped by a fiery luncheon speech from House Speaker Marco Rubio, they were wowed by former New York Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, and they sat on the edge of their seats for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. But for Florida delegates, the talk Wednesday was all about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin." "Fla. GOP: Gov. Palin another maverick".

The best they could do?

The dopes on the The Tampa Tribune editorial board want you to know about the horrible tyranny on the island: "When Raul assumed power in Cuba two years ago, he said complaints should be aired. It seems he failed to recognize that lifting the lid of censorship creates space for messy public disagreements and prickly protest songs. By arresting Aguila, Raul resealed the lid of censorship and gave the world another chilling glimpse of communism."

And precisely what is this "chilling glimpse of communism"?

Yet last week in Cuba, Aguila, 39, was jailed on a charge of "pre-crime social dangerousness," a law used against those considered dangerous to the revolution. But in a surprising decision, prosecutors dropped the charge and the court found him guilty of public disorder for playing his music too loudly during rehearsal.

Aguila was fined the equivalent of $28, a big sum in Cuba ...

Greer would risk "distant hotel" yet again

"Could Florida in 2012 once again be at the center of a nasty fight over the primary schedule? Perhaps. Republicans at the national convention Monday decreed that only Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina can hold their 2012 primary or caucus votes before the first Tuesday in March, though a special committee will hammer out more details of the recommended primary in 2010. Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer says he would "absolutely not" hesitate to buck the schedule again, even though the Florida GOP lost half its voting strength, and some delegates suspect their distant hotel was punishment for the early primary." "Times: Greer would buck national GOP again".

How many times can one editorial board endorse McCain?

The alleged journalists comprising the The Tampa Tribune editorial board are upset that Obama isn't inserting his nose into Dubya's derriere:

People are better off if they take responsibility for their lives, finances and futures, without the expectation of a government handout. That's what President Bush espoused four years ago when he called for the creation of an "Ownership Society" that gives people more choice, more control and more ownership of government benefits such as education and Social Security.

But instead of supporting the values of personal responsibility and accountability, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has taken and twisted them.

Even the Trib editors see a problem ... if not a solution

The Tampa Tribune editorial board recognizes that even they have to remove their heads from the sand (if not Bushco's derriere), urging Charlie to

heed the warning from Florida House minority leader Dan Gelber, who wrote in his blog, "It's sort of like using your savings accounts to make your mortgage payments, and crossing your fingers that some distant aunt leaves you an unexpected inheritance. Optimism is not an economic policy."

Crist and state lawmakers give the impression they have no plan. Theirs is a short-term, session-by-session focus.

At least one leader is looking ahead. [Democrat] Alex Sink [who the Trib did not endorse] , the chief financial officer, says Florida must come to grips with the budgetary challenges it will face in the next few years. She has called for a special session after the election to cut spending or raise additional revenues.

"I'm counting on House and Senate leadership to recognize that this situation requires an approach that spans the budget horizon of this decade," she said.

If he hopes to remove his thumb from the dike, Gov. Crist should take the lead.

70 percent of Florida's general revenue comes from the tax on retail sales. But with people increasingly doing their shopping online, Florida refuses to tax Internet sales. The pledge of "no new taxes" has created a significant inequity for brick-and-mortar businesses that pay local property taxes and employ local residents.

Consolidation

The Miami Herald editorial board: "On paper, the proposal to consolidate Miami-Dade County's six fire-rescue services into one countywide agency looks smart. All the right words are there: economies of scale; uniform service; streamlined bureaucracy, etc. In reality, the idea that the county's fire department and the five municipal fire departments should merge into one agency isn't practical, nor even desirable at this time." "Fire-rescue charter change not necessary".

Tallahassee bound?

"Delta plans to end Tallahassee service to Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando on Oct. 1, meaning travelers will have to change planes in Atlanta to then head south." "Prices making jet service scarce in Tallahassee".

Stoopid is ...

"Under normal circumstances, State Sen. Mike Fasano's Thursday morning fax to Circuit Judge Jack Day might have amounted to nothing more than another person's opinion about an ongoing case."

Judges get them all the time.

But this was different. Day was presiding over the trial of a couple accused of cheating 91-year-old Eloise Mudway out of her house and assets. Unlike most criminal cases, which are decided by juries, the judge alone was to determine whether Joe and Cynthia Clancy were guilty and, in the event he did, what their sentences should be.

That made Fasano's letter condemning the Clancys [who had yet to be tried] and suggesting they receive the harshest possible sentences grounds for a recusal, defense attorneys argued.

Day granted the request, prematurely ending a trial that has been on the docket since October 2005. Now the case must be assigned to another judge and retried from the beginning.

By Thursday afternoon, Fasano had heard about his letter's effect. He said he hadn't intended for the fax to cause the trial's early end but that he had followed Mudway's case and wanted to make sure "the deadbeats" received a just punishment, if found guilty.

"I should not have sent that letter," he said. "I sent it too early, not realizing it was a bench decision and not a jury decision. I understand why the judge had to do what he did, and I appreciate him doing that. As it was explained to me, it would have been a different story if it had been a jury trial."

The "T" word

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "McCain went for tokenism" "Just straight-faced talk".

Pay no attention to the 3,478 missing ballots

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "The first rule of election recounts should be to start - and finish - with the same number of ballots. Palm Beach County has failed that basic test."

Start with the missing votes - 3,478 of them, or 3.4 percent of the election day total. Then there's the 5 percent drop in the number of valid votes after the machine recount. How can candidates in other races accept a 1 percent or 2 percent loss - too wide a margin under state law to merit a recount - when the recount machinery rejects without explanation 5 percent of the votes?

"Idiot wind"

The man's simply irrelevant: "Governor Crist touring Gustav shelters".

Forgive us, but the lyric seems ... well ... appropriate:

Idiot wind, blowing every time you move your mouth,
Blowing down the backroads headin' south.
Idiot wind, blowing every time you move your teeth,
You're an idiot, ... .
It's a wonder that you still know how to breathe.

Plus ... you know ...[whispering now] ... he "fathered a black child"

"Florida delegates to the Republican National Convention ended a truce on partisan politics Tuesday after the focus shifted from the threat of Hurricane Gustav to the threat of a surging Democratic presidential contender, Barack Obama." "Fla. delegates shift focus at RNC".

Inanity

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "It's no secret why Florida is so popular. We are the biggest of the swing states, and, according to the latest polls, Florida's 27 electoral votes are pretty much up for grabs." "Florida getting love".

Huh?

This is off topic, but simply too bizzare to believe: "Bush: 9-11 shows we need McCain".

"When will lawmakers listen?"

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "If Republican legislative leaders won't listen to parents and teachers who anguish over the way budget cuts are hurting Florida schoolchildren, maybe they will at least hear Roberto Martinez."

Martinez, a former U.S. attorney who was appointed to the state Board of Education by Gov. Jeb Bush, knows all about fiscal conservatism and the desire to keep government as small as possible. But he also knows that cuts can go too far and that students pay the price. ...

When will lawmakers listen?

Biden time

"U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, the Democrats' blunt-talking vice presidential pick, on Tuesday put his foreign policy experience on display for South Floridians and reiterated that he and Barack Obama will be wholehearted supporters of Israel." "Sen. Joe Biden reiterates support for Israel at two South Florida rallies". See also "Senator Joe Biden visits South Florida". See also "Biden Tells Sarasota Crowd He'll Help Rebuild Middle Class" and "Biden talks to chorus of supporters".

"Gathering dust"

"Like rusty Plymouths in a salvage yard, the ghosts of Florida elections past are gathering dust in a Tampa warehouse."

Tens of thousands of touch screen voting units, rendered obsolete by the state's switch to optical scan voting, are awaiting new homes. Many of them won't get there in one piece.

It has been six months since the state hired a private firm to safely remarket touch screen machines in the hopes that both can make some money. But business is slow in a presidential election year with historic implications.

"Even tiny Pahokee"

Joel Engelhardt: "The Obama campaign has money no Democratic candidate has had. The campaign plans to have 40 Florida field offices by month's end. ... Yes, even tiny Pahokee is not out of range, even though the town produced just 1,572 votes in 2004." "What's the 'price' of victory?". See also "With GOP struggling, Obama content to keep it local and low-key".

As Mitt Yells: No more big "librul" govment!

"With a string of tropical depressions threatening to batter Florida, Republicans pointed with pride Tuesday to a plank in the party's platform that calls for a 'natural disaster insurance policy' -- a provision GOP presidential nominee John McCain has opposed." "GOP touts disaster insurance".

More!

"Passing along the tab for high fuel costs and more nuclear power, Florida Power & Light is seeking to increase customers' electric bills by more than 7 percent next year." "FPL pushes to increase electric rates".

If you can't beat 'em ...

"The public defender's office that represents Miami-Dade County's poorest criminal defendants is overburdened by a crushing caseload and will stop accepting thousands of lesser felony cases until the situation improves, a judge ruled Wednesday. Prosecutors vowed to appeal." "Miami judge rules poor defense caseload crushing".

Whatever

"Black Republicans stick with McCain".

Poor Vern

"Melissa Hacker, the controller for Sarasota 500 LLC from September 2005 through November 2006, has joined a handful of former employees suing U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan and his car dealerships." "Buchanan faces another employee lawsuit".

GOPer justice?

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board:"Lyglenson Lemorin, 33, has been a legal U.S. resident for 20 years."

In December, a jury found him not guilty in an alleged terrorist plot to blow up buildings in Chicago and Miami. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have held Lemorin at a Georgia detention center ever since. In the same trial, jurors deadlocked when it came to six other co-defendants. Another trial for the six resulted in a mistrial, and a retrial is scheduled for January.

Now immigration officials are asking the court to deport Lemorin back to Haiti and away from his wife and three children for a crime the government can't prove he committed. It's a request that should be denied.

"Republicans for Obama"

"The former Republican senator stood before a sign that read, 'Republicans for Obama,' with a red elephant blending into the blue "O" of the Democrat's campaign logo."

Lincoln Chafee wanted to convince the audience that they should vote for the senator from Illinois. It didn't take much.

About 25 people nodded and laughed with Chafee at the Fossil Park North Branch Library, one of the stops on his Florida tour to win over Republicans and independents.

The former U.S. senator from Rhode Island and lifelong Republican voted for George W. Bush in 2000 but became disillusioned with him, and defected from the party after losing a re-election bid.

"Higher learning that is ailing and desperately in need of help"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "When Florida's 301,000 public university students started classes last week, they saw first-hand the effects of a system of higher learning that is ailing and desperately in need of help. They found fewer choices for classes and majors. More crowded classrooms. Higher student/faculty ratios." "Budget cuts hurt university system".

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

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

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

What's a vacuous Happy Face to do?

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

"Stunned" RPOFers at GOPCon

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

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

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

"As many as nine amendments"

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

Not cool

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

"DREAM Act"

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

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

Ruth has a little fun ...

"No one thought,"

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

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

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

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

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

"Uncle Tom"? She said it

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

Ahem ...

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

Paulites persist

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

Is there any other kind?

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

SAT not CAT

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

Huh?

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

She so smart ...

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

"Scaled back" convention

Poor lil' RPOFers, a "scaled back" convention (as Bush and Cheney scuttle away like so many cockroaches, using Gustav as an excuse):

"I'm not sure whether it helps him or it hurts him,'' said Florida Republican Party chairman Jim Greer, applauding McCain's decision to scale back the convention. "I think it demonstrated leadership." [sic]

Gov. Charlie Crist, scheduled to speak Thursday night, was also unlikely to attend (though he is tentatively scheduled to appear Tuesday on Comedy Central's The Daily Show).

The Florida Republican Party held a welcome reception for delegates Sunday night but canceled a Thursday night party, saying the money [and presumably the cases of liquor] would instead be sent to help people in affected areas. A delegation breakfast scheduled for this morning to honor the GOP congressional delegation was changed to a prayer breakfast.

Floridians, of course, understand the seriousness of hurricanes better than most, so the sudden shift in convention plans caused little or no grumbling. Four years ago, much of the delegation left the convention in New York as Hurricane Frances threatened the state.

"The convention is important, but what's more important is the lives of people on the Gulf Coast,'' said Randy Maggard, a Republican activist from Zephyrhills. "This could dampen the mood, but we're all concerned when the Gulf Coast is going through difficult times."

State GOP chairman Greer said depending on what happens in the coming days, delegates may simply have to find ways to entertain themselves.

"The Mall of America will do well — until we all run out of money,'' Hillsborough GOP chairman David Storck quipped about the 4.2-million-square-foot mall across from the Florida delegation's hotel.

"An anti-convention"?

"The carefully scripted, star-studded, prime-time extravaganza that Republicans are planning for St. Paul this week is officially known as the Republican National Convention. In some ways, it's also an anti-convention." "Republicans gear up for convention". See also "Floridians tone down atmosphere", "Disappointed but energized, GOP delegates gather and wait" and "Florida delegates focus on Gustav".

Charlie in a prayin' way

A whole lotta prayin' going on in Tally these days: "Crist: 'Let's pray for neighbors to the west'".

Dead enders

"As Republican after Republican in Broward County was lining up last year with Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign, Ellyn Bogdanoff and Adam Hasner signed on with John McCain — and never looked back. Bogdanoff and Hasner, both of whom are state legislators who represent parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, are in St. Paul, Minn., as delegates to the Republican National Convention this week, so their decision was proved right." "Loyalty to John McCain pays off for two South Florida legislators".

"Job losses ... pushing many black freshmen ... out of higher education entirely"

"[A]dministrators say job losses that have beset families are pushing many black freshmen into community colleges this year or out of higher education entirely. In addition, officials from some universities had trouble competing for the state's top black students after budget cuts weakened their recruitment efforts." "Universities Enroll Fewer Blacks".

Not this "Hometown"

"A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit trying to get a growth management proposal on the Nov. 4 ballot. The suit by Florida Hometown Democracy Inc. challenged a Feb. 1 deadline for verifying petition signatures. The group's proposed state constitutional amendment fell about 65,000 signatures short. The amendment would require voter approval for changes in local growth plans." "Fla. judge rejects planning amendment appeal". See also "Growth Management Bid Fails" and "Judge dismisses group's bid for ballot proposal".

The end of "the Wahid Mahmood era"

"It looks like the Wahid Mahmood era of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party is coming to an end. Mahmood, elected county Democratic chairman in 2004 and reelected in 2006, lost a little-noticed race last week to represent his Wellington precinct on the county's Democratic Executive Committee. Challenger Alexander 'Alec' Domb got 59 votes to Mahmood's 13 votes in the contest for precinct 6177 Democratic committeeman." "Precinct loss may oust boss of Dems".

The joke's on you ...

... because it ain't real insurance: "In a week, Floridians will get details about a state plan designed to improve access to health care for about 4 million uninsured adults in the state. Nine companies submitted proposals in August for Gov. Charlie Crist's 'Cover Florida' program, but the state won't reveal specifics about the plans until Sept. 8." "State to detail plan for 4M uninsured adults".

We'd like to help, but ...

"Florida is helping with the response to Hurricane Gustav, but the state is distracted by a possible strike from Tropical Storm Hanna later in the week. The state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will send four seven-person search-and-rescue teams and 22 small boats to Louisiana to help with recovery operations, Gov. Charlie Crist said Sunday. Louisiana would like more help than that, but Florida must keep a watchful eye on Hanna." "Concern about Hanna limits Florida's help with Gustav".

Serious about issues, not celebrities. Serious about who will secure the country, not who gives the best speech, lights up a crowd or wows the news media. That's the word from South Florida delegates streaming into St. Paul this week for the Republican National Convention.

• Pretend that Hurricane Katrina never happened and that nobody in New Orleans suffered or died needlessly.

• Pretend our economy isn't in the crapper. Pretend that we don't have the largest deficit in history, and no prayer for a balanced budget.

• Pretend our energy policy is innovative and farsighted, and not hijacked by the oil companies.

• Pretend the mortgage crisis and housing crash weren't avoidable.

• Pretend that the war in Iraq has been a huge success, and that we couldn't have spent that trillion or so dollars on problems here at home. Pretend there really were weapons of mass destruction.

• Pretend the Taliban isn't resurging more violently than ever in Afghanistan. Pretend we actually caught Osama bin Laden and brought him to trial.

Obama's trip to Europe in July, which Republicans portrayed as the mark of a presumptuous candidate play-acting as a head of state, galvanized Florida Republicans, said state Rep. David Rivera of Miami.

The sugar deal

"Critics of Charlie Crist's plan to buy 300 square miles of Everglades sugar fields say we can't afford the $1.75 billion. Current events show why we can't afford not to buy it." Thomas explains here: "Water woes prove we need to buy Everglades land from U.S. Sugar".

"Win or lose"

"Win or lose, black delegates and Florida Democratic Party leaders say their national convention proved that the nation — not just American politics — has changed remarkably in Sen. Barack Obama's lifetime. " "Dems: US a nation changed from 45 years ago".

Myths

The Palm Beach Post editorial Board: "The myths perpetuated for years in Florida by the large private property insurers are collapsing."

Myth: There's no connection between hurricane coverage and other lines of coverage.

Myth: We have to cut back on the number of homeowner policies in Florida to make money in the state.

Myth: Our state subsidiaries don't exist just to move profits out of Florida to the parent company but keep losses in Florida and ask for higher premiums, even when the parent company is making money.

"Effortless in switching costumes"

"Now that Charlie Crist won't be riding shotgun on John McCain's presidential campaign, Florida's left-at-the-altar Republican governor faces a critical juncture in crafting his national political resume."

Will he need to resurrect the conservative image of "Chain Gang Charlie" as 2010 and re-election nears, or stick to the centrist leanings likely to play better for a national audience?

So far, the governor has seemed effortless in switching costumes.

He made conservatives giddy last week with his appointment of former U.S. Rep. Charles Canady, who helped prosecute then-President Clinton, to the Florida Supreme Court, while catering to left-leaning civil-rights groups with an executive order making it easier for ex-felons to register to vote.

But the missed opportunity could be a blessing.

For all the talk out of Denver about the deep bench of Florida Democrats ready to run for higher office, none of them relishes challenging Crist for the Governor's Mansion in 2010.

With re-election an odds-on bet, Crist can fine-tune his game.

"Left off McCain ticket, which way will Crist go now?" With the state of Florida's political "journalism", we agree that Charlie's "re-election" will be "an odds-on bet".Keller - Grayson

"U.S. Rep. Ric Keller's supporters might be nervous about his small margin of victory in the Republican primary last week. But Keller says he's not. " "Election battle begins for Keller, Grayson".

"Nothing has changed recently in Florida's tax structure"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Nothing has changed recently in Florida's tax structure, which punishes businesses by rewarding longtime home ownership — though not renters or owners of commercial property." "Not-so-sweet 16".

"Florida hasn't elected an African-American to statewide office since Reconstruction"

Jane Healy: "Though state Rep. Geraldine Thompson was stunned by what she saw Thursday night -- a black man accepting the nomination for president of the United States -- the west Orlando woman is still uncomfortable with what the ultimate outcome might be."

After all, Florida hasn't elected an African-American to statewide office since Reconstruction. The person who came closest -- Doug Jamerson, the Democratic nominee for Education Commissioner in 1994 -- didn't win even though he was serving successfully in the position after being appointed to fill a vacancy.

Central Florida isn't much better. Black candidates are easily elected in individual geographic districts that are heavily black, but not when it comes to countywide elections. In other words, when black voters aren't deciding the election.

"Will Thompson get her wish for nation - and Central Florida - when it comes to electing African-Americans?"

"Now what's the problem?"

"The Denver convention made one thing perfectly clear -- with a new arena, beefed-up stadium and performing-arts center in downtown Orlando, there's absolutely no reason Orlando shouldn't host such a convention." "Now what's the problem?"

"Somehow we lost our collective consciousness"

The The St. Petersburg Times's Robyn E. Blumner writes that "Labor Day used to be a moment to celebrate worker solidarity and the power of the labor movement* to secure rising living standards and a fair exchange for one's work. But somehow we lost our collective consciousness, leaving most of us to stand alone with the bargaining power of a gnat and the economic insecurity to show for it."

She explains that

modern-day workers of America are in no mood to party. Our prospects are about as promising as a lottery ticket holder's. Just how many times does one have to lose before it sinks in that the game's rigged?

Here's our Labor Day reality: Worker productivity rose 2.5 percent a year between 2000 and 2007. Meanwhile wages stagnated, health benefits withered, defined-benefit pensions disappeared and income inequality soared.

This doesn't just happen. This abandonment of middle class wage earners has been a long-term project — a pact, if you will, between the donor class of wealthy individuals and corporate chieftains and the government that serves them.

She continues: "If you want to know how all this happened, read The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule by Thomas Frank. ... He describes: "

• How government jobs are handed to "cronies, hacks, partisans and creationists" as a way to wrest the bureaucracy from anyone who actually believes in its power to do good and has the talent to make that happen;

• how civil servants are demonized to make room for the privatization of government functions — still paid for by taxpayers but now with hefty profits to corporate America;

• and how public policy is created to respond to lobbyists' demands on behalf of industry and global capital and not the interests of the American people.

"Laboring under a sinking feeling".

Hackworth

"Bob Hackworth was a political nobody when he beat a respected longtime incumbent for the Dunedin City Commission in 2002."

Now he's up against a congressman who may be Pinellas County's most revered politician, a 38-year incumbent who has scattered his name and millions of dollars across his district.

Hackworth, who won the Democratic primary against two opponents this week, believes he can beat U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young by tapping into voters' desire for change in Congress. He senses a parallel between this race and his first in Dunedin, where the mood on issues had shifted and voters turned against the incumbent.

But the Dunedin mayor doesn't doubt it will be a tricky and difficult campaign. Young, who has a war chest of more than $600,000, is known for helping local officials and responding to constituents' needs.

"Mayor a nobody no longer".

"It's absurd that we play that silly game"

The St. Petersburg Times editorial board: "'I think it's absurd that we play that silly game.'"

Interim Pinellas County administrator Fred Marquis chose exactly the right words to describe the state's requirement for confidentiality when private companies seek tax refunds in exchange for creating new jobs. This is bad law, and the Legislature needs to fix it.

The confidentiality requirement prevents elected officials from adequately vetting companies before voting on millions of dollars in tax rebates, leaves the public out of the process entirely, and fosters an improper climate of secrecy in a state that prizes its government-in-the-sunshine ethic. Only private companies and economic development officials get to be players in this insiders-only game.

Companies applying for the state's Qualified Target Industry tax refund program can, and often do, request confidentiality so other companies can't learn about their plans.

"End secrecy on company tax breaks".