Rubio's candidacy has gotten the attention of national conservative groups such as the Club for Growth, which is contemplating buying ads against Crist.

And he has racked up high praise from some big-name conservatives — from Weekly Standard columnist Bill Kristol to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee — who are more concerned with reigniting the Barry Goldwater wing of the party than with more pragmatic goals such as denying Democrats a filibuster-proof 60-seat Senate majority.

"People are going to know Marco better and better," U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said this week in a conference call. "I'm betting on Marco to win this whole thing and show the whole Republican Party that with candidates who really believe in something, we can take back the majority."

Though polls have shown Crist with a massive lead 14 months out from the primary, one recent Mason-Dixon poll suggested that Republicans familiar with both men were evenly divided. Those voters gave Crist a statistically insignificant lead of 33 percent to 31 percent, with 36 percent undecided.

In a low-turnout primary — only about 1 million of the state's 3.9 million GOP voters voted in the hotly contested 2006 gubernatorial primary between Crist and Tom Gallagher — hard-core conservatives could carry the day.

"There's an underbelly of anti-Crist vote among Republicans," said Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker. "If Rubio kind of plods along, he can be the tortoise. He doesn't have to be the hare."

But it's only a matter of time before the Crist campaign tried to define Rubio — perhaps as a tax-hiker who as speaker tried unsuccessfully to raise the sales tax by 2 cents in order to phase out property taxes.

That silly U.S. Constitution thing ...

Florida's Montana side is showing: Republican state Reps. Scott Plakon of Longwood and Ritch Workman of Melbourne

argue that "many federal laws are in direct violation of the Tenth Amendment," whose limits on Washington "established the foundational principle that the federal government was created by the states specifically to be an agent of the states."

"And yet," they add, "currently the states are demonstrably treated as agents of the federal government."

"We, the people of the United States of America and each sovereign state in the United States, now have, and have always had, rights the federal government may not usurp," the memorial continues.

Thus, "this memorial serves as a notice and a demand to the federal government, as our agent, to cease and desist, effective immediately, from issuing mandates that are beyond the scope of these constitutionally delegated powers." ...

Future proposals would include supporting a flat income tax, requiring federal lawmakers to spend 90 percent of their time in their districts

Not a deep bench

Fla Dems are keeping their fingers crossed this week end - Republican Orange County (which includes Orlando) Mayor Rich Crotty will decide this week end as to whether he will challenge "firebrand freshman Democrat Alan Grayson in the District 8 seat centered in Orange County."

Here's the problem

Crotty has had a terrible six months — and expressed some indecision about running.

He has been castigated for orchestrating a 25-cent toll increase as chairman of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority.

A day after that vote, an Orange County grand jury cited the "culture of corruption" that characterized political fundraising under the authority's previous chairman and said Crotty was a beneficiary.

This week, three national Republican strategists said Crotty's "baggage" could make it more difficult to focus the race on Grayson, a millionaire liberal with an outsized personality. Instead, they said the GOP could be better off with what one called a more "vanilla" nominee.

and now works at a public-relations firm in Washington, said Republicans need someone who "doesn't have any obvious red flags that Grayson and other liberals can beat up on."

Added Miller, "I think everyone views this race as a great chance for a pickup. We just need to figure out who our candidate can be.

are now romancing [sic] an alternative candidate, House Speaker [due to Sansom's indictment] Larry Cretul, R-Ocala.

Cretul flew to Washington several weeks ago to discuss his candidacy with national GOP congressional strategists, whom he said encouraged him even though only about 10 percent of the district's voters live in his Ocala hometown area.[*]

GOPers shooting themselves in the tails

Headlines like this one from the Miami Herald must make Dem organizers smile: "Republican: Sotomayor had ties to extreme group".

Big of him

"Crist today crossed party lines and named Democratic state Rep. Priscilla Taylor of West Palm Beach to fill the minority-dominated Palm Beach County commission seat of retired Addie Greene." Charlie didn't have much of a choice; after all,

District 7, which runs from Lake Park to Delray Beach, is about 48 percent black and 40 percent white. ... In District 7, Democrats outnumber Republicans by roughly a 4-to-1 margin.

Many Republicans publicly urged the Republican governor to name a GOP appointee to the seat. County GOP Chairman Sid Dinerstein was among those calling for a Republican appointee, but he conceded Republicans probably would not be able to hold the seat in an election.

Some Republicans said privately they would not object to Taylor because she has maintained cordial relations with the business community.

Another Greer laffer

"Palin's sudden resignation draws Greer compliment".

The locals stand behind their empty Prada suit: "Local Republicans will stand by Palin" ("Jason Steele, chairman of the Brevard County Republican Executive Committee ... said Palin is popular among Brevard Republicans.")

Meantime, the question on every knuckle-dragger's lips: "If she runs, could Palin win?". To which we say: Run Sarah, Run!

What's the vig?

"Is St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Deveron Gibbons in the predatory loan business?"

[C]onsumer advocates say Gibbons is part of an industry that preys on cash-strapped Americans and sucks them into a crushing cycle of debt.

"They drain a lot of money out of the community and put a lot of consumers in a debt trap," Jean Ann Fox of the Consumer Federation of America said of "payday lenders" like Amscot.

Gibbons, 36, was hired five years ago to be the face of Amscot, and the privately held company could hardly find a better PR man for an often controversial business. He's a former Tallahassee lobbyist well versed in state lending laws, a gregarious Republican operative who charms top political leaders as easily as inner-city activists.

is that states are banning payday loans or restricting their annual interest rates to the point that lenders can't stay in business. Amscot, and particularly in-house lobbyist Gibbons, keeps a keen eye on the regulatory climate in Florida and Washington, and Amscot has made nearly $630,000 in political contributions in Florida since 2000, more than half of it to the Florida Republican Party.

Forty of the 50 states and the District of Columbia spent wisely -- devoting 60 percent or more of the money on repairing existing roads and bridges, which puts more people to work quickly and addresses a serious need. Some states did poorly, devoting about 40 to 50 percent of the stimulus money on new road construction. And some states, Florida among them, did dismally.

The Florida Department of Transportation says it didn't spend more money on repairing infrastructure because it's done a good job of keeping up the state's roads and bridges. True, just 24 percent of state roads are in poor condition, but adding capacity to existing roads is less of a priority than improving mass transit systems that reduce capacity overall in Florida. Stimulus money was also eligible for mass-transit spending. But Florida devoted just 4.4 percent to that category.

Another fine Jebacy

"Demand is soaring at Miami-Dade and Broward community colleges, but the cash-strapped schools can't add enough classes." "Demand soars at S. Florida community colleges, but not enough classes".

Kosmas gets another lightweight RPOFer challenger

"State Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Orlando, said today that "there's a high probability that there's truth to" the rumor she plans to run against freshman Democratic Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas."

Adams could face a primary fight against Winter Park Commissioner Karen Diebel and Kenneth John Miller, who have already filed paperwork to run. Diebel has already taken some hits from Democrats, who've cited her "erratic behavior" at a council meeting and during a 911 call from her home. Still, national Republican campaign groups have spoken favorably about her candidacy.

According to the most recent reports posted on-line, Kosmas, of New Smyrna Beach, had about $230,587 in cash on hand at the end of March.

Sansom watch

The recent Republican Party of Florida's Speaker of the House had been dubbed the "'kingpin' in airport deal".

Just doing business in Tally

"A federal corruption unit is trying to find out if top Florida officials were solicited to tank a state probe into a fraudulent Fort Lauderdale life-insurance company."

The U.S. Justice Department is investigating corruption allegations made by an indicted Fort Lauderdale insurance executive who, in a bid for a favorable plea deal, has named lawyers, lobbyists and fundraisers he claims plotted with him to thwart a state crackdown on him and his industry.

Justice officials have convened a federal grand jury to pursue the claims of former Mutual Benefits Corp. chief Joel Steinger. The wealthy businessman contends that he orchestrated a campaign to stifle a 1999-2000 statewide grand jury probe by attempting to improperly influence public officials, three knowledgeable sources have told The Miami Herald.

Will a Florida "journalist" ask Greer ...

... whether the RPOF agrees with this: "The top Republican on the Senate committee that will consider Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination says ['Sotomayor had ties to extreme group']"?

"Crist got a crack-back block"

Paul Flemming: "Crist got a crack-back block from The Wall Street Journal for his veto of what's not to be called The State Farm bill."

The dead proposal would have allowed big insurance companies to sell homeowners' policies regulated in every way save one: Eligible companies, State Farm among them, could have charged whatever rates they wanted.

Proponents said it would attract private insurers, State Farm among them, back into Florida and reduce the number of policies covered by government-run Citizens Property Insurance.

It's not the first time the Journal's editorial pages, reliably to the right of Vlad the Impaler, have chastised the moderate Crist.

The best they can do?

"Radio Iowa reports there have been robocalls in the state asking which Republican candidate do they prefer for the 2012 presidential race. The candidates were [get this] Michael Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Bobby Jindal, Newt Gingrich and Jeb Bush." "Jeb Bush Robocalls".

"Something appears fishy" with Vern

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board:

When a Democrat who is broke and has never made a campaign contribution gives the maximum to the re-election campaign of Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, something appears fishy. The two-term congressman from Sarasota disavows any breach of campaign finance laws. But there is a swirl of allegations that contributions made to Buchanan's campaign have been illegally reimbursed. A federal investigation should be launched if one is not already under way.

"'A handful of gimme and a mouthful of much obliged'"

"Florida residents and business leaders told federal lawmakers that the rising cost of property insurance is hitting state residents and the economy hard, and called on Congress to pass legislation for a "catastrophe fund" to help local homeowners." "Floridians ask Congress to pass 'catastrophe fund' legislation".

Whenever fiscally irresponsible, low tax states like Florida beg for federal handouts, it reminds us of RJ Eskow point that Southerners "love to preach about fiscal responsibility and lower taxes, but they keep dipping their beak into the Federal trough. I believe the applicable Southern phrase is 'a handful of gimme and a mouthful of much obliged.'"

"Circular firing squad"

More from Flemming:

Leon County Democrats this week formed anew its circular firing squad and commenced squeezing the trigger. Leon Democratic Executive Committee Chairman Rick Minor quit his party post and filed to run against the incumbent for House District 9.

Minor said he didn't think state Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda represented the core values of Democrats in the district, mentioning, with a straight face, her failure to support the Equal Rights Amendment.

Minor's stunt makes it more likely Republicans will be able to steal an otherwise safe Democratic district. In 2008, Rehwinkel Vasilinda took 48.6 percent of the vote, winning by 430 votes out of more than 42,000 cast in a race against a well-funded, high-profile Republican opponent. No doubt the GOP will gun for this seat again in 2010.

Speaking of "circular firing squads"

"The race for Florida attorney general may be one of the state's hottest contests in 2010, but the presumed Republican frontrunner has yet to step in the ring."

Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, a former legislator from North Fort Myers, promised an announcement at the end of June. Kottkamp was in his Fort Myers office on Thursday and could not be reached for comment.

As his supporters wait, and the Ethics Commission weighs a complaint about his use of state airplanes, the name of a potential primary opponent has surfaced: Holly Benson, secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration and a former lawmaker from Pensacola.

Pension checks for Florida's Confederate "losers"

Mark Lane:

I was stuck in traffic recently behind a six-wheeled pickup with a Confederate flag sticker that said "heritage not hate." As if "heritage" and "hate" were two utterly separate things. Sadly, like "tastes great" and "less filling," these qualities are not mutually exclusive.

But we as a people don't dwell on that kind of thing.

Only 20 years after the Civil War, the state of Florida started paying pensions to Confederate soldiers. In how many countries do the losers in insurrection movements get government checks? But within two decades of the nation's bloodiest war, we were so far along in moving to other things that people on both sides of the conflict could unite in the common goal of getting retirement money from the government.

We're that kind of country.

And that's why when we hear explosions in the distance, Americans look up in the sky rather than drop and roll.

Happy Fourth of July.

Gambling

"Crist and the Seminole Tribe of Florida began negotiating a new gambling compact Wednesday that would bring revenue to the state in exchange for the tribe's right to a monopoly on some of its casino games." "Gov. Charlie Crist resumes gambling talks with Seminoles".

Sounds like a plan

Jac Versteeg:

So, what did Mr. Hernandez do? Basically, Mr. Dow says, he reclassified hundreds of "teachers" as "coaches." Not athletic coaches but academic coaches in areas such as math, science, reading and language arts. The coaches, most of whom will focus on struggling schools, will spend part of the time teaching teachers and part of their time working directly with students. The federal stimulus program, which supposedly focuses on innovation, will pay for those coaches but not for ordinary teachers.

Is it really better for students to have those teachers working as "coaches" than it would be to have them still in the classroom full-time? I don't know. I think it's definitely better to have them with the district in some capacity than to lay off hundreds of teachers.

Judicial appointments

The Florida Supreme Court "ruled Thursday that Crist must make a judicial selection from the all-white list of six names for the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach."

''While we applaud the governor's interest in achieving diversity in the judiciary -- an interest we believe to be genuine and well-intentioned -- the Constitution does not grant the governor the discretion to refuse or postpone making an appointment to fill the vacancy on the Fifth District Court of Appeal,'' Justice Jorge Labarga, a Crist appointee, wrote on behalf of the court.

last year, after a Supreme Court nominating commission forwarded Labarga's name to Crist, the Republican selected him to sit on an appeals court, instead. Crist then asked the commission to send him more diverse candidates for the Supreme Court seat. After a contentious late-night phone conference, the commission nominated Frank Jimenez, another Cuban American and a U.S. Navy attorney who had worked for both Jeb and George Bush.

A group of high-powered lawyers protested the process. Some critics said it had become too political. Crist, now a U.S. Senate candidate for the 2010 election, denied the charge. He then elevated Labarga to the Supreme Court seat vacated by [the grandson of Cuban military dictator Fulgencio Batista] Raoul Cantero, the state's first Hispanic justice.

Try taxing sky boxes next time

"Smokers fuming over cigarette tax hike".

RPOFer family values

When his son "returned to the kitchen to get something to drink, witnesses said [former professional wrestler, Hillsborough County Commissioner, and all purpose wingnut Brian] Blair continued to yell at him, pushed him, punched him once in the face and then put him in an arm lock. Bradley jumped on his dad and began hitting him before being pulled off by his mother and the two friends. Witnesses said Blair hit Bradley with a closed fist on his head for punching him." "Blair will be allowed to reunite with family".

"A conservative Republican who stressed family values, Blair was elected to the county commission in 2004 but lost a heated election last year to Kevin Beckner." "Blair released from jail on child abuse charges".

Too much water?

"Another wet month has erased water supply concerns across South Florida, but all the rain will raise flooding concerns if a tropical storm hits." "South Florida water shortage ended".

Like other conservatives, its leaders have grown increasingly disillusioned with Crist's support for cap-and-trade, the hated Obama stimulus package and, most recently, tax increases.

This week The Wall Street Journal dubbed Crist the "Republican Barney Frank" for vetoing a bill designed to spur free-market competition in the insurance market.

The Club for Growth wants to take Crist out. ...

It is not an idle threat.

The club has a track record of ousting Republicans who stray from the straight and narrow of tax cuts, budget cuts and less government.

But in its most recent poll, Mason-Dixon separated those Republicans familiar with both Crist and Rubio. Among this group, the race is a dead heat.

The Club for Growth came up with somewhat similar results in a poll it released this week. ... when poll respondents were given a short but flattering description of Rubio — portraying him as a staunch anti-tax conservative and protégé of Jeb Bush — the race becomes a dead heat.

Speaking of wingnuts ...

The yahoos on The Tampa Tribune editorial board share the latest Chamber of Commerce/League of Cities press release with us this morning: "It is too bad Gov. Charlie Crist didn't have the grit to veto a measure that will make it difficult for law enforcement agencies to get rid of abusive officers." "Gov. Cop Out"

Sansom hearings to be held in the dead of summer

"The hearings are called after special investigator Steve Kahn found there is probable cause Sansom, R-Destin, broke House rules and damaged public confidence in the institution through his dealings with Northwest Florida State College. Galvano, R-Bradenton, will chair the panel." "House tribunal on Sansom could begin late this month". Yesterday, The Palm Beach Post editorial board called for "Resignation or expulsion".

So much for our "green" Governor

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Sporting a new and decidedly gray sensibility toward the environment, Mr. Crist has proved a profound disappointment to those fighting to protect and preserve Florida's water, air and land." "Our gray governor".

Sunrail

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Let's skip the 'Little Engine that Could' jokes. SunRail -- the commuter line slated to run from DeLand to Osceola County, and eventually to the Tampa Bay area -- has serious potential to make Central Florida more transit-friendly and improve the area's economic bottom line. But to make the line a reality, something must give." "SunRail deserves rescue with a fair bargain for all". Related: "Orlando Mayor Dyer: 3rd time to be charm for SunRail".

Guess who won?

"Universal resort settles property-tax dispute with Orange County".

Stoller on board

"What sets Grayson apart from his peers is his broad faith that social-networking tools can be used to bypass traditional media outlets. 'This is a new type of legislating. It's gone viral,' said Grayson, whose staff has uploaded more than 30 videos of their boss in six months. 'This has never happened before. It's a new model for democracy. You show people a problem. They recognize the problem. And as a result, you can have a new law.' Part of this thinking — and its use — can be traced to one of his senior aides, Matt Stoller, an active liberal blogger hired to manage Grayson's media. Stoller, however, says it's the message — not the medium — that matters most." "It's viral: Central Florida lawmakers blog, Twitter and Facebook". Related: "Scott Maxwell: Grayson gains limelight, but to what end?"

PlaneGate

"A Leon County Democrat has filed a state ethics complaint accusing Attorney General Bill McCollum of traveling for personal reasons on publicly owned aircraft, echoing a complaint a Leon County Republican made against Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink the day before." "Misuse of state aircraft alleged". See also "Rivals face ethics charges".

Thank you, Mr. Obama

"Federal stimulus funds save 41 jobs at FAMU – until next year".

Yippee! Another entrepreneur

"A former state House representative and small business owner from West Palm Beach announced Wednesday her candidacy for a seat in the state Senate. Sharon Merchant, a Republican, made her announcement at Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers. She's running for a seat in District 27, which includes Lee County." "Merchant to run for Florida Senate".

Ed. Note: Yes, the double entendre was intentional.

A fine idea at the time

"A state program that officially began Wednesday promises to advance up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers." Unfortunately,

[t]he cash isn’t there to make loans to home buyers, procedures to implement the program are not in place and purchasers may have to race to meet a federal tax deadline of Dec. 1.

Show us the money

"The University of Florida's efforts to bolster its biotechnology brand got a boost earlier this month with news that a healthcare and technology venture capital fund will open an office near UF's Gainesville campus." "Herbert Venture Partners office to be near UF".

Marlins stadium scramble

"A higher-than expected interest rate left the county $6 million short in funding for a new baseball stadium -- prompting last minute scrambling by project backers and a vow by the Florida Marlins to make up the shortfall." "Bond sale for stadium falls short".

Crist's sellout to developers is now complete. He signed into law Tuesday a bill that neuters the governing boards of the state's five water management districts, which grant permits for large-scale water pumping and wetlands destruction. Now that authority will rest solely in the hands of the districts' executive directors. Developers and big industry will be able to more easily drain Florida and pave over what's left.

Piece by piece, this governor has systematically dismantled what little protections there are for Floridians fed up with traffic and overdevelopment. First, Crist gutted growth management efforts by signing a law that enables developers to avoid paying for roads to accommodate the traffic their projects generate. Now he has made it easier to destroy wetlands and pump huge quantities of water in a state that faces a drinking water shortage. And Floridians with the gumption to fight will have little recourse.

Ethics complaints

"Attorney General Bill McCollum and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Republican and Democratic rivals respectively in the 2010 race for governor, are now the targets of ethics complaints charging that they used state airplanes for personal travel."

Kenneth Quinnell, a member of the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee, filed a complaint Wednesday against McCollum charging that some of his flights on state aircraft in the past few years were a, "misuse of his public position."

The complaint mirrors one filed June 29 against Sink by Jose Blas Lorenzo, an attorney for the state Department of Education.

Lorenzo, a Republican who has received prominent appointments from former Gov. Jeb Bush and Gov. Charlie Crist, accused Sink of, "abusive, unauthorized use of state aircraft."

Working on that FRS pension

"The Republican race for Chief Financial Officer is beginning to shape up -- and even the most avid GOP partisans could be excused for yawning. The early favorite has to be Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, on the strength of his ability to pry contributions from interests seeking the blessing of one of the Legislature's two presiding officers. But Atwater is hardly a rhetorical ball of fire. Now Rep. Pat Patterson, R-DeLand, has jumped into the race." "Patterson makes it official: He's running for CFO".

Not a "tax increase"?

"Florida drivers, brace for impact on your wallets".

Rubio likes that idea

"Liberal blogger Markos 'Kos' Moulitsas of DailyKos.com isn’t usually cited by conservatives. But the campaign of Republican Senate hopeful Marco Rubio is noting a recent DailyKos posting in which Kos wonders whether a grassroots conservative surge for Rubio might persuade the more moderate Gov. Charlie Crist, the current GOP Senate frontrunner, to bolt the party." "Liberal blogger wonders: Will Crist pull a Specter? A Lieberman?"

Currently, the polls show that Crist's greater name recognition gives him a fairly dominant lead. But the primary is 14 months away, and grassroots conservatives are moving over to Rubio en masse. He will have enough money to compete (Club for Growth, among others, are behind him), he's got big names like Mike Huckabee gathering behind him, and the right-wing noise machine loves him -- and not just Florida wingnut radio, but national outlets like Fox News and the Wall Street Journal editorial board....

It won't take 14 months for that alliance to drag Crist through the mud and trash his name with Republicans in a state with a closed primary. All those Dems and Independents who love Crist won't have a say in the matter in the Republican contest. And I predict that by the end of the year (or end of Q1 2010 at the latest), the polls in that Republican primary will be tied.

So the question will then be -- at what point will Crist realize that he's in deep shit? It took collapsing poll numbers for Specter to hit the "panic!" button and switch parties. That's probably what it'll take for Crist to realize his problems, and when he does, he'll have a tough call to make: go down with his party, or pull a Specter and ditch it for better electoral prospects on a different line. That could mean a switch to the Democratic Party where he'd likely be no worse than the other senator from Florida, Bill Nelson -- a marginally good Democrat, a step up from Landrieu, Nebraska's Nelson, and the Wal Mart Twins (and no better). Or it could mean an independent run, where he might be able to pull a Lieberman (complete with a Joementum fundraising campaign visit) and work to attract independents, mainstream Republicans, and Democrats disaffected by their poor field and try to win a split three-way field.

New

"152 new laws take effect today in Florida".

He's gotta go

The Palm Beach Post editorial board:

Set aside for now the issue of whether former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom is guilty of any crimes. He's been indicted, and if his case goes to trial he will face a jury of his peers. But there's another jury that fits better than usual the definition of "peers" - the Florida House, which could be called on to decide whether to expel Rep. Sansom.

Brown has challenger

"U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns apparently proved to be too big a target for one challenger. So, Michael Yost, a political newcomer whose 2010 congressional bid is partly based on ousting long-term incumbents, has moved the bull's-eye on his map one district over. Now, instead of challenging the Ocala Republican for the 6th Congressional District seat that includes much of Alachua County, Yost said he will take on Democratic Rep. Corrine Brown." "Mechanic shifts sights from Stearns to Brown".

Dockery out

"State Sen. Paula Dockery ended speculation about a possible bid for a congressional seat by announcing Tuesday her backing of former state Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland to fill the post of U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, who wants to be Florida's commissioner of agriculture." "State Sen. Dockery Backs Ross for U.S. House".

Grayson

Scott Maxwell: "Alan Grayson is everywhere nowadays."

He's all over the Internet. He's making news from Orlando to Washington. And he's unabashedly playing hardball with everyone from Rush Limbaugh to Nancy Pelosi.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is obsessed with the liberal freshman U.S. representative, sending out as many as three press releases a day, bashing him.

Yet some of the hard-core conservatives and libertarians that make up the Tea Party movement are so enchanted with Grayson that they invited him to speak at one of their events.

In short, Grayson has done things everyone can love — including trying to wake Washington from its comatose complacency when it comes to watching public money.

But he's also made questionable moves — including a controversial earmark request and going after his own personal pork while decrying the waste of others.

That Grayson is shaking up the system is undisputed.

To what end is the question.

Stop the madness

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Some of the first eerie signs of a potential health catastrophe came as bizarre deformities in water animals, often in their sexual organs. Frogs, salamanders and other amphibians began to sprout extra legs. In heavily polluted Lake Apopka, one of the largest lakes in Florida, male alligators developed stunted genitals." "More than deformed gators lurking in Lake Apopka?".

"A 12-foot pet Burmese python broke out of an aquarium and strangled a 2-year-old girl in her bedroom Wednesday at a central Florida home, authorities said." "Officials: Escaped pet python strangled Fla. child".

Yee Haw!

"Anti-tax tea parties planned for July 2".

At the trough

"Adam Putnam banks another 250k".

The best health care system in the world?

"The percentage of Americans with private health insurance has hit its lowest mark in 50 years, according to two new government reports." "CDC: Private health care coverage at 50-year-low".

"Quality of health care in Florida is rated 'weak' or 'very weak' on five of a dozen measures in a new federal report, with the worst scores going to diabetes and respiratory care." "FL quality rated below average".

Laff riot

"Here's how to transform education".

Law upheld

"A federal appellate court has upheld a Florida law banning petition gathering within 100 feet of polling places." "Appeal court upholds Fla. polling place law".

Fabulous

"Many of the new companies in Florida are unregulated".

A red state thing

"Mississippi's still fattest but Alabama closing in".

Charlie's tax

"Florida smokers will pay an additional $1 tax on a pack of cigarettes under one of 65 new state laws going into effect Wednesday." "Get 'em if ya smoke 'em".

Voucher madness

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Florida's highly politicized experiment with private school vouchers has always been couched as an effort to give poor children a better educational option. For its supporters, that goal trumped all other concerns, including diverting tax money from public schools, failing to properly regulate private schools receiving student vouchers and the flouting of the Florida Constitution."

Now a new study by a Northwestern University economics professor suggests vouchers don't deliver on that primary objective. Without evidence that vouchers give poor children a better education, there is no reason to continue this experiment. Vouchers do not appear to be providing a better education. They are stripping resources from public schools, and they violate the state Constitution.

Teachers' union representatives and others are chortling over the first academic assessment of Florida's voucher program. Students receiving the Florida Corporate Tax Credit Scholarships so they can attend private school are doing no better than similar students in public schools.

She needs a break

"Mrs. Sanford seeking refuge in Hobe Sound".

Busansky

"State Sen. Victor Crist and state Rep. Bob Henriquez are both seeking the appointment as Hillsborough County elections supervisor. Henriquez is one of seven people who have filed applications so far seeking the appointment to be made by Gov. Charlie Crist. Victor Crist - no relation to the governor - said Tuesday he will file an application soon. Also applying, as expected, is Craig Latimer, hired by the late Supervisor Phyllis Busansky as her chief of staff." "8 now seek elections job".

Reefs

"Federal stimulus money will go to help restore coral reefs." "U.S. money going for reefs".

Love fest with Charlie waning?

"A new Mason Dixon poll shows that nearly all Floridians recognize Gov. Charlie Crist’s name - but less than half of them view him favorably." "Poll shows Floridians know who their governor is".

Plane-Gate heating up ...

... yet Charlie and Wrongwood Bill - unlike Alex Sink - want no more investigations.

"Top Florida officials misused state resources to travel between the capital and their homes, costing taxpayers at least $51,000 and raising potential IRS violations, according to state investigators' findings that were removed from a final auditor's report."

[Chief Financial Officer Alex] Sink, along with Attorney General Bill McCollum and Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, spent $51,000 of taxpayer money from July 1, 2008, through Feb. 15, 2009, commuting to their homes or taking ''unnecessary legs during business trips,'' according to the Department of Management Services' March 3 audit.

Sink spent the most -- $27,200 -- while McCollum spent $12,600 and Kottkamp spent $9,900, according to auditors. ...

''The use of the state aircraft to transport the Governor, Attorney General, CFO and Commissioner of Agriculture between the seat of government and a residence located outside of Tallahassee would appear to be a misuse of state resources,'' auditor Sandra Lipner wrote March 4, although those findings were not included in the final report.

Kottkamp reimbursed the state $10,000 for his travels after news reports exposed the practice. Sink has ordered her staff to conduct an internal investigation into her use of the state plane.

Crist said Monday that he believes no additional reviews are necessary, adding, 'from what I've seen, they're using the taxpayers' property for taxpayer purposes.''

McCollum said he is not doing any further internal investigation. He said he needs to use planes to get around the state because ``Tallahassee is not the easiest place to fly into.'' ...

In a draft of the final report, investigators raised the prospect of tax consequences, noting that if officials are misusing the aircraft, ''the travelers could be subject to federal income taxes on the costs paid for the aircraft flights'' because the flights could be considered a ''fringe benefit'' by the IRS.

The draft report recommended that the department seek an attorney general's opinion as to whether the use of the aircraft was a violation of the state law that prohibits officials from using state resources to commute home.

After a March 2 meeting with DMS Secretary Linda South, Inspector General Steve Rumph concluded that the state had neither the manpower nor the resources [nor the cojones] to verify whether the governor and Cabinet officials were telling the truth when they said the trips to their home towns were for official business, said Cathy Schroeder, DMS communications director.

Browning folds like a cheap suit

"Secretary of State Kurt Browning has decided to drop plans to appeal a federal court ruling that tossed out Florida's electioneering communications law, a decision that means political groups will be free to pump money into influencing elections next year without promptly disclosing their contributors to the state." "State drops appeal of ECO lawsuit".

"State Sen. Charlie Justice, a St. Petersburg Democrat, said he was 'very disheartened and discouraged' Monday that Secretary of State Kurt Browning opted to drop the state's legal fight to preserve its electioneering communications law."

The case was brought by a Broward condo association, along with a University of Florida student libertarian club, the National Taxpayers Union, and other plaintiffs -- and guts what had been some of the strictest regulations on interest-group communications in elections nationwide....

“Under the First Amendment, the government’s ability to regulate political speech about candidates and ballot issues is extremely narrow," said Bert Gall, lead counsel to the group that challenged the law and an attorney with the Virginia-based conservative group Institute for Justice. ...

The now-scrapped law required so-called electioneering communications organizations, or ECOs as they're known in Florida, to follow a number of regulations: registering with the government within 24 hours of their creation; appointing a campaign treasurer; making regular reports disclosing all donors and expenses; restricting expenditures and contributions, including not spending money raised in the five days before the election; and including a prominent "disclaimer" on each communication that disclosed the group's name.

Last month, [prior to flip-flopping] Browning's office said, "We plan to appeal the final judgment."

"A combination of Hee Haw and our own little Watergate"

"Former House Speaker Ray Sansom not only accepted a $110,000 job at Northwest Florida State College — he helped write the job description. " "Sansom designed his own job". See also "See the contract Sansom wrote".

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "As the paper trail becomes clearer in the Ray Sansom scandal, the denials by the indicted former House speaker grow more suspect. Thousands of pages of records gathered in his criminal case and by a special investigator for the House shed new light on Sansom's hiring at Northwest Florida State College after he steered millions to the school." "The case against Sansom".

Howard Troxler: "Think of the ongoing Ray Sansom affair in Tallahassee as a combination of Hee Haw and our own little Watergate. Not only is it not going away — it keeps getting bigger and better."

Here was an astonishing side point in Kahn's report: The state Senate refused to cooperate with his work, even blocking senators and the Senate staff from giving him statements.

Just to be clear: The Legislature refused to cooperate with the Legislature's special investigator.

RPOFer tax increase!!!

After pledging this, that and whatever about "no new taxes", Floridians get this turd in the pool, courtesy of the Republican Party of Florida: "Cigarette tax increase among new Fla. laws". See also "Tobacco tax worries retailers".

Don't get us wrong, Florida's tax structure is broken, but throwing a sin tax at one of the few vices we working stiffs can afford ain't the way to fix it. Why not resuscitate the ... you know ... "intangibles" tax instead?

I'll call my lobbyist and tell him to get right on it.

"I was a b-b-ba-banker"

Mike Thomas: "It is time for Alex Sink to stand before the people of Florida, hold her head high and admit:"

"I was a b-b-ba-banker.

"And I'd do it again."

Phew ... at least we didn't get tax increases

"State park admission fees on the rise".

Bring Bushco on

Just what the RPOFers need, another dose of the Bush family: "Jeb Bush, Jr., son to the former Florida governor of the same name, is taking a pretty harsh tone with Gov. Charlie Crist in a fundraising solicitation on the eve of the quarterly cash-call deadline. Jeb Jr. is backing former state House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, in his Republican U.S. Senate primary against Crist, and dishes out some unkind words about the popular incumbent governor." "Jeb Jr: Crist caters to special interests".

If everything goes the FlaDems way, Rubio will pull enough knuckle-draggers together to scrape out a victory in the the primary. Rubio might pull it off. See "Mason-Dixon: Crist still leads, but voters in-the-know divided" ("Among voters who recognized Crist and Rubio, the governor held a statistically insignificant 33-31 percent lead, with 36 percent undecided.")* More: "Download Florida Senate poll 6-29-09".

... the general election will then devolve into a referendum on Bushco channeled through "Jeb! Junior" (Rubio). That is a fight the Dems should relish.

As for that, Robyn Blumner put it this way the other day in connection with Jebbie's recent appearance on the national stage: "having watched Bush lead Florida for eight years, I view the prospect of tapping him to bring the concerns of average Americans into the Republican Party as a little like asking the Real Housewives of New Jersey to live on a budget — it's an exercise so improbable that one isn't sure if it's farce or just delusion."

As governor of Florida, Bush had plenty of ideas for transforming government. But they all sounded eerily like every other Republican idea: cut taxes to disproportionately benefit the wealthy, privatize government services, push for taxpayer money to fund private and parochial schools, and interfere with highly personal end-of-life decisions and reproductive choice.

Gov. Jeb Bush made his mark on the national stage in two unappetizing episodes. First, the 2000 presidential election fiasco, which ultimately gave the presidency to his brother in a process that reeked of partisanship. And second, when in 2003 Bush went off the deep end in the Terri Schiavo matter.

Editors shouldn't pretend to be lawyers

Check out this blarney from the wannabe lawyers on The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "High court recognizes reverse discrimination". The case, however, wasn't about "reverse discrimination" per se. "The Court Changes the Game". See also Forbes' "Roberts Court Veers From Pro-Business Tack".

Luv 4 sale

"Black-owned media tell GOP that money talks".

Tiny steps

"Starting Wednesday, Florida hopes to stoke its real-estate market by becoming one of the few states to offer $8,000 in down-payment assistance to qualified homebuyers so they can benefit upfront from a new federal tax credit." "Florida offers help to some with home down payment".

You go, Bill

"Sen. Bill Nelson is attempting to reassemble the formerly solid coalition of Florida Congress members against moving oil or gas drilling closer to Florida shores, with some success." "Nelson gathers drill ban support".

Wingnuts of Florida Unite!

"Posey, Rooney slam House-approved climate bill".

And BTW, never mind this: "Florida Keys 'ground zero' for sea-level rise".

Laying off Engineering and Computer Science professors

"Florida Atlantic University professors have filed a formal complaint against the school, claiming the layoffs of tenured faculty members violates their union contract. FAU officials announced in May that the school's 2009-10 budget includes laying off 25 staffers and five tenured professors. All of the professors teach in the College of Engineering and Computer Science." "Florida Atlantic University professors challenge layoffs".

Ahem, ... Charlie?

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Fill the water board seats".

The best medical system in the world?

"Jury selection began Monday in the civil trial on behalf of a Guatemalan immigrant deported by a Martin County hospital after he racked up more than $1.5 million in medical bills."

Luis Alberto Jimenez sustained severe brain injuries in 2000 when the car in which he was riding collided head-on with a stolen van driven by a drunk driver.

He was taken to Martin Memorial Medical Center in Stuart, then to a nursing home some months later.

Jimenez returned to the hospital for more treatment in January 2001, but when hospital officials tried to discharge him a second time, no nursing homes or facilities in the area were willing to take him.

After Jimenez's medical bills topped $1 million -- costs the hospital largely absorbed because Jimenez was an undocumented immigrant -- officials sought and won a judge's approval to ship Jimenez to a hospital in Guatemala.

"Blaming Mother Nature for the recession"

The Miami Herald editorial board: " A popular new pastime in Florida is blaming Mother Nature for the recession. It began in the Legislature when lawmakers used it as an excuse to weaken growth-management laws. Arguing that laws controlling development hinder new construction, lawmakers said that easing these laws would jump-start the state economy. Now developers have taken up the same argument in calling for the wood stork, an endangered species, to be down listed." "Don't delist bird".

Falling upward

"FAU President Frank Brogan may apply to become chancellor of the state university system." "Frank Brogan may leave Florida Atlantic University".

Black Bear

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board:

Installing more underpasses along an area officially designated last year as the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway could help reduce wildlife collisions even more. Such underpasses are a top goal for the committee developing plans for the 126 miles of road, including a 60-mile stretch of S.R. 40 that connects Ormond Beach to Ocala.

The byway committee's plans are ambitious, including trails, informational displays and other features in the area of Barberville and Juniper Springs.

The new corridor could give an economic boost, drawing visitors to a beautiful, largely unspoiled part of Florida. But as work on the byway progresses, the need for additional safe crossings for wildlife will only increase -- lest visitors be greeted with signs welcoming them to a wilderness bears used to roam.

Photo op

"Crist held a signing ceremony Monday as a judge in New York sentenced Bernard Madoff, who once owned a Palm Beach mansion, to spend the rest of his life in prison for swindling billions from investors including many Floridians. ... Attorney General Bill McCollum was on hand for the ceremony in Miami." "Crist signs Fla. investor protection bill".

Mr. Crist's opponent for the Republican Party's nomination next year is former state Speaker of the House Marco Rubio, a young conservative running on cutting government spending and taxes who recently met here with the Club for Growth, which has a strong reputation for defeating liberal and moderate Republicans in party primaries with its aggressive ad campaigns.

"We recently interviewed Marco Rubio and were impressed. We are very concerned about the two major tax increases Charlie Crist recently signed and believe there's no excuse for his active support of the Obama big-government 'stimulus' spending bill," said David Keating, the club's executive director. "We are actively considering the race."

"There's not a set timeline for endorsement, but we look forward to completing our research on his record and that of his opponent, as well as our assessment of the competitiveness of this race before making a decision," Mr. Keating said.

Water power

"Florida's water management districts are poised to act quickly if Gov. Charlie Crist signs a controversial bill that would give staff members working behind closed doors even more power to grant lucrative water rights." "Officials await decision on water rights".

Charter schools flop

Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Charter schools were seen as an innovative alternative for parents who feared their children were trapped in failing public schools. But for too many families, that shining promise proved to be an illusion."

While some Florida charter schools made good on their pledge to serve students whose needs weren't being met, others faltered. This year, more than half the charter schools in Florida operated at a financial loss even though they were exempt from many regulations governing public schools. Some schools were in unsafe buildings. Others had unqualified teachers, or failed to document student progress.

Moving day

"On his way to winning the state House District 78 seat last year, state Rep. Kevin Rader, D-Delray Beach, often reminded voters that he actually lived in the district while Democratic primary rival Steve Nichol did not and candidate Steven Perman had merely rented an apartment there while owning a house in Broward County."

Now Rader is entertaining thoughts of running next year in a state Senate district where he doesn't live.

He has plenty of company.

The only announced candidate for the Senate District 27 race, Wellington Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto, lives about 1,000 feet outside the district. Likely candidate Sharon Merchant lives miles away in Palm Beach Gardens. And Fort Myers attorney Peter Burkert doesn't live in Senate District 27 either.

Florida law requires legislators to be residents of their districts at election, so the District 27 hopefuls have plenty of time to establish new addresses.

So obvious ...

... even "business leaders" and "taxpayer watchdogs" get it.

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "Criminal justice reform has long been a cause championed by civil libertarians. Now that business leaders, taxpayer watchdogs and law-enforcement veterans in Florida have joined in, Gov. Charlie Crist and legislators have no good excuse for ignoring this imperative." "Prison reform efforts ramping up".

Cap-and-trade

"Figuring how much a new cap-and-trade system might cost the average Floridian and who will win and lose in business proves as complex and controversial as the climate." "What will carbon caps cost Florida?".

"Everglades watershed gets sicker by the day"

"The foul waters of Lake Okeechobee, the failing health of the Everglades and even sick dolphins along the South Florida coast might seem like troubles so distant they could hardly be the Orlando area's responsibility."

Yet a Florida law — which environmentalists say is being thwarted by state officials — says otherwise, banning a decades-old practice set in motion when a toilet is flushed or a kitchen sink is drained in Central Florida.

Treatment of that watery waste produces sludge, which local sewage utilities at least partly disinfect and dispose of as fertilizer. A lot of that fertilizer winds up on cattle ranches and citrus groves south of Orlando, where rain runoff and flooding can release chemicals that poison the wetlands and waterways from here to Florida Bay. ...

[E]nvironmentalists are accusing state officials of sidestepping the law, even as the Everglades watershed gets sicker by the day.

"There's a continued buildup of a pollutant that's wreaking havoc with the ecosystem," said Eric Draper, Audubon of Florida's policy director in Tallahassee. "It's going to be extremely expensive to clean up."

Failed wingnuttery

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "At last, Florida's zero-tolerance mandate for schools is starting to look like something other than an exercise in zero judgment. Gov. Charlie Crist earlier this month signed a law that forces Florida school districts to revise their zero-tolerance policies to distinguish between minor infractions and serious threats so the punishment fits the offense." "No more zero judgment".

DNA dispute

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "A new law that takes effect Wednesday eventually will require DNA samples, probably from saliva, from all people arrested on felony charges." "Disputed DNA law will protect public".

The "Polo Club" ... how appropriate

"Wearing patriotic clothing and accessories, including a red, white and blue flower headband, Sarasota resident Carole Holland held the sign high as she paced the grounds of the Sarasota Polo Club."

She was one of about 1,000 people who rallied Sunday at the First Tailgate Tea Party.

The afternoon was full of speeches, patriotic music and fellowship in which attendees discussed issues including fiscal accountability, national health care and freedom of speech.

McCollum, a Republican who announced his candidacy for governor on May 18, has worked an average of about 22 hours a week since May 1, the records show.

During the same period, McCollum has averaged nearly 17 hours a week of ''personal time'' during normal business hours.

He has worked 178 hours -- including a nine-hour stint on June 17 in his official capacity as state attorney general at the Florida Cattlemen's Association Convention -- since May 1. He has logged 135 hours of ''personal time'' between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the same time period.

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, a Democrat who is McCollum's chief rival for governor, has taken 68 hours of personal time -- an average of eight hours a week -- during the same period. She has logged 262 hours on official business over the past eight weeks, an average of about 33 hours per week.

"The injustice of mass incarceration"

The Daytona Beach News Journal editorial board: "Last year Florida hit a disturbing milestone: For the first time, the state's daily prison population topped 100,000, a figure that didn't include people locked up in county jails (about 60,000) or serving probation (nearly 160,000)." "A rising voice for change".

"There is reason to be optimistic"

The Tallahassee Democrat editorial board: "Sales tax collections in Florida inched up a little bit last month, exceeding state estimates for the first time in nearly three years. General revenue collections have been steadily dropping for three years, but they are $56.2 million above what economists forecast in March."

The stock market held its own last week, and nationwide, retailers had some upbeat news, even as the number of claims for unemployment jumped unexpectedly, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

What all this demonstrates is that our economic lives are still very much touch and go, but there is reason to be optimistic.

Trust Charlie?

The Sun-Sentinel editorial board: "The Florida Ethics Commission declined to look into allegations regarding the governor's use of private jets of wealthy businessmen. Gov. Charlie Crist said he had paid for those flights he considered personal, and in the minds of the commissioners, that was good enough."

"Crist routinely uses private jets, whether it's a flight back to the capital from a Super Bowl in Tampa, a hop over to a Sheryl Crow concert in Gainesville or a golf tournament hosted by Donald Trump in Palm Beach. The governor insists he paid for the trips. He also declines to produce any receipts or other details of the payments." "Crist case shows ethics panel needs more clout".

RPOFer laff riot

"Republicans have a serious problem with young voters. In Florida, they overwhelmingly backed Barack Obama over John McCain and since the 2008 election, voters 18-29 have continued registering Democratic far more than Republican."

"Its secret weapon for winning back the Twitter/Facebook generation? Brace yourself."

Panel discussions! And that's not all. Bruce Jenner, too!

On Aug. 22, the state Republican Party is hosting a "Drive the Discussion Exchange '09" youth conference in Orlando. Targeting Floridians 15 to 35, the conference promises panel discussions, "exciting speakers" and a voter registration drive.

The keynote speaker is Bruce Jenner, who won his Olympic gold medal before most of the event's target demographic was born.

Trib editors go off deep end ...

More anti-worker bile from the wackos on the The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "The pay and benefits for employees of state and local government are too high, and relative to workers in the private sector, getting higher."

Tax revenue stopped growing as pension funds lost value, yet promises of lifetime pay to workers and former workers must be kept.

An economic recovery that is strong and fast would provide some relief, but if the recovery is slow, local governments could be forced to lay off workers to keep paying generous retirement benefits to former workers.

A statewide investigation is needed to determine the scope of the problem [?!?], publicize the financial facts that politicians find embarrassing and come up with solutions.

a task force to investigate the realities of government pay and benefits. Are some local governments heading toward bankruptcy? What are fair levels of compensation? How can the state Legislature be discouraged from improving the retirement benefits of police officers and firefighters and forcing local governments to pay for it?

The other suggestion is to change municipal elections to coincide with general elections. Now, many cities, including Tampa, hold special elections in the spring. An advantage is that the ballot is simple. The major disadvantage is low turnout.

In the Tampa city election of 2007, turnout was a mere 15 percent. That means a majority is something less than 8 percent of registered voters.

Municipal elections are dominated by public-employee unions. Candidates who campaign against higher pay and benefits don't have much of a chance to win.

"Point of contention"

"Surveillance videos point of contention for prison system".

Pond scum

The pond scum who made fortunes polluting and developing Florida, "the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Realtors, home builders and developers such as Lykes Brothers, A. Duda & Sons and Alico Inc. have poured $3.8 million into Floridians for Smarter Growth."

The Orlando-based group was designed to undercut Hometown. It floated an alternative amendment that would allow a public vote on land-use changes only if 10 percent of voters in a city or county signed a petition asking for one.

Although the group created some headlines and garnered 443,500 signatures for its own amendment, it went dormant after Hometown failed to make the 2008 ballot.

Now its backers will be forced to decide whether they want to respond by pushing their plan onto the same ballot next year — or spend their money on an all-out media campaign against Amendment 4 itself.

Now its architects want legislators to get around that decision by placing a constitutional amendment on the 2010 ballot.

"I think we're looking for serious firepower on this one," said AIF lawyer John French.

It would undoubtedly cause much confusion among voters, which Hometown's founders claim has always been the intent.

SBA secrets

The Palm Beach Post editorial board: "Investigations by the St. Petersburg Times show that the State Board of Administration hasn't given up the secretive, misleading practices that lost investors millions and caused a run on one of the SBA's funds. The investigations also raise doubts that Gov. Crist, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Attorney General Bill McCollum - the three trustees of the agency - have pushed hard enough for reforms and openness." "Who's watching the money?".

"Many favors"

Randy Schultz: "Among the many favors Florida has done for insurance companies ...". "Don't bet the (State) Farm II".

"Silencing Christians"?

"A flood of telephone calls and e-mails cascaded into WFLA News Channel 8 on Saturday afternoon and night over the airing of "Silencing Christians," a religious paid program that some say contained open hate speech against gays and lesbians."

Before the hourlong program ended at 8 p.m., the station had logged hundreds of telephone calls and more than 1,000 e-mails, all protesting the broadcast.

Stratton Pollitzer, deputy director of Equality Florida, has seen the program and said the message was clearly hate speech.

"I think this program is a piece of homophobic propaganda and it has no place on a major network like NBC," he said just after 7 p.m., as the program was airing.

The show was hosted by author and commentator Janet Parshall who, at the outset, said the homosexual community has established a plan for widespread acceptance at the expense of Christian morals and values.

"And to run it the same day as Gay Pride festival in St. Petersburg just adds insult to injury," Pollitzer said. "While tens of thousands of people in Tampa Bay area are celebrating diversion, WFLA is broadcasting homophobia."

"Insular and tone deaf Tallahassee"

"In Tallahassee, with all the evidence now out in the open, they are not outraged. Instead, there is disbelief and even disdain for the grand jury's laserlike conclusions. The damning report by the House's own investigator, released only days ago, was greeted by lawmakers with measured concern for ... Sansom."

It only proves how insular and tone deaf Tallahassee can be.

Few seem willing to do anything about the culture of pork barrel politics, secrecy and last-minute deals that favors high-ranking officials like Sansom. Gov. Charlie Crist demanded the college return the construction money, but he has said next to nothing about what should happen to Sansom.

The reluctance to act reveals long-standing flaws in the culture of the capital and the Legislature as an institution.

"Closed meetings to pick chief judges"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board:

It is particularly disappointing in Florida, where open government is embedded in the state Constitution, that the judges of Pinellas and Pasco counties will meet in secret this week to vet a pair of candidates for chief judge. The longtime tradition of closed meetings to pick chief judges belies the significance of the decision at hand. The 69 county and circuit judges are filling one of the top law enforcement offices, and it is not just a ceremonial position. Someone with such power should get a public vetting.

SunRail

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "The state won a reprieve Wednesday when CSX Corp., which owns the track on which SunRail trains would run, agreed to waive this week's purchase deadline. But the extension won't get SunRail to serve residents from DeLand to Orlando to Poinciana unless those positioned to determine its fate -- supporters like Gov. Charlie Crist and opponents like state Sen. Paula Dockery, who's considering running for governor -- this time take a markedly different approach to it." "Worth a try, if done right".

Brand spanking new

"Florida among state with new laws taking effect July 1".