Sink, Florida's chief financial officer, announced a $525,000 haul during the 10-day period after the Aug. 24 primary, while Scott raised $43,000 — less than several down-ballot candidates. The figures show Sink with about $5 million on hand, compared with $224,000 for Scott.

A former health care executive, Scott and his wife poured $50 million of their own wealth into his primary battle with Attorney General Bill McCollum. In the days since, he has said he is reluctant to spend more on the general election.

If fundraising totals remain paltry, it could mean Scott will have to devote more personal resources to the race. But several key supporters cautioned not to read too much into the totals.

Playin' it safe

Beth Reinhard: "Has Florida ever produced a pair of low-talking, say-almost-nothing candidates for governor like Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Alex Sink?" "In 'Muzak' race, candidates stick to script".

Lay down with dogs ...

"GOP raises $2 million while embracing Scott candidacy".

Bondi runnin', hidin'

"Tampa Republican Pam Bondi is staying close to home when it comes to debating her Democratic opponent for Florida attorney general."

Bondi last week challenged Democratic nominee Dan Gelber to two debates, but has agreed to only one, which would be aired in Tampa, her home base, and further up I-4 in Orlando.

Gelber, meanwhile, says that's not enough, especially in a state with 10 different media markets and 11 million voters.

Gelber was the first to agree to the Tampa/Orlando televised debate and had agreed to five more debates across South Florida before Bondi issued her challenge. He also committed to a statewide debate being taped at the University of Florida on Oct. 5, and he's trying to schedule debates in Jacksonville, Pensacola and on the Spanish language network, Univision.

No blond jokes

"Report: Playboy model tried to open jet's door after takeoff".

The best they can do

"U.S. Senate nominee Marco Rubio served up red meat for Florida's Republican faithful at the party's annual Statesman's Dinner Friday night in Orlando." "Marco Rubio Wows GOP Crowd".

"Marketing company managing pregnancy clinics?"

Tuesday, the Florida Independent"examined at length a Florida taxpayer-funded network of Crisis Pregnancy Centers that we found was distributing medical information that was, in the best case, biased, and in the worst case, wrong."

The Florida Pregnancy Care Network manages 55 of these state-funded pregnancy clinics, but according to Department of Health information, another 17 are handled by The Uzzell Group, a Tallahassee-based marketing and advertising firm. Why is a marketing company managing pregnancy clinics? The firm wouldn’t answer our questions.

Entrepreneurs in action

"A bid dispute threatens to prevent the December launch of a database meant to prevent 'doctor shopping.'" "Florida's drug tracking database on hold".

"I am shocked, shocked"

"Ethics commission, however, says no further action is needed against attorney who went to work for Rothstein law firm." "Former agency official may have broken "revolving door" law".

Editors stride world stage

It is always less than informative to see what the employees of a middle tier newspaper company have to hear about world events: "Venezuela's land grab".

Big of him

"Crist says that he's still on call as governor".

"How quickly a politician's fortunes can turn sour"

"Even in the best of times, being lieutenant governor can be a lonely existence."

And these can't possibly be the best of times for Jeff Kottkamp. It's a vivid reminder of how quickly a politician's fortunes can turn sour in Florida.

Kottkamp is a lame duck and not of his own choosing, because Gov. Charlie Crist opted to run for a U.S. Senate seat.

Kottkamp ran for attorney general and lost the Republican nomination to Pam Bondi, so he must soldier on having been repudiated by the voters in his own party. That can't be fun.

Then there's the fact that Kottkamp isn't even on speaking terms with Crist any longer. When Kottkamp makes an appearance, he's not there standing in for Crist — he's there on his own, as if he's an island unto himself.

"Life goes on," Kottkamp says.

Stop the madness

"Fourth gay Floridian emerges as adoptive parent to child".

Good luck with that

"Florida Innocence Commission seeks to prevent wrongful convictions".

Gelber wants Corruption Task Force

"If he's elected attorney general, Sen. Dan Gelber pledged to form a public corruption unit to monitor government and get rid of the bad apples in the state's barrel." "Dem AG Candidate Dan Gelber Calls for Public Corruption Task Force".

New Sunshine State News Poll

"Republican Marco Rubio, garnering surprising strength among independent voters, holds a double-digit lead over his two chief rivals in Florida's U.S. Senate race, a new Sunshine State News Poll reports." "Marco Rubio Holds Double-Digit Lead in Senate Race".

Silver lining

"Florida's faltering economy has hit a wide variety of businesses and special interests, leading to a decline in lobbyists at the state level." "Fewer Lobbyists Don't Mean Less Influence in Tallahassee".

Class size amendment language OK

"A circuit court judge ruled Friday that Florida voters should have the right to determine class sizes in their public schools. Judge Charles Francis agreed with the state's argument that the summary and title on Amendment 8 accurately describes the proposal's intent to make class size requirements flexible." "Class size ballot proposal upheld". See also "Judge keeps class-size amendment on the ballot; teachers union to appeal".

The effort could be key for Rubio, who is in a three-way race with Gov. Charlie Crist, running as an independent, and Democrat Kendrick Meek. Every vote will matter.

Behind the voter drive is FreedomWorks, a Washington group that's providing organizational support to tea party groups since they began to emerge nearly two years ago amid anger over the bank bailouts and the election of President Barack Obama.

FreedomWorks is headed by Dick Armey, a former GOP congressman from Texas, and critics say it is proof the tea party has been stirred, if not invented, by Republicans under the cloak of an organic movement.

The group does not deny that it aligns with Republican concerns but said it encourages the independence of each tea party group, adding that it has taken on GOP candidates who have lost sight of conservative ideals.

Florida Teabagger-RPOFers soft pedal Quran burning

"Some Republican congressional candidates in Florida are condemning the Quran burning planned by a church in Gainesville this Saturday, but not as harshly as GOP figures outside the Sunshine State."

In a statement, Florida’s 22nd District candidate, Iraq war veteran Allen West, compared the Quran to the history of Islamic aggression against western countries. ...

A spokesman for Steve Southerland, who is running against Democratic Rep. Allen Boyd in Florida’s 2nd District, said the candidate doesn’t support the burning. But campaign manager Jonathan Hayes quickly pivoted the conversation to condemning a planned Islamic center to be built a few blocks from ground zero in New York is an equally pressing issue. ...

Dan Webster, a former state House speaker and state Senate majority leader who is looking to unseat firebrand Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson, simply called the event "inappropriate."

"Among the biggest battlegrounds"

"The struggle to snatch control of the House on Nov. 2 is likely to come down to some competitive races in Florida, and among the biggest battlegrounds will be the tumultuous South Florida match between Republican David Rivera and Democrat Joe Garcia." "Florida will play a starring role as parties wrestle for control of Congress".

"Sharpening their political attacks"

"Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Alex Sink are sharpening their political attacks while laying the ground work for a blitz of spending for their respective gubernatorial campaigns. New campaign finance documents show Sink has opened her own electioneering committee, which allows her to avoid Florida's restrictive $500 limit on contributions to state candidates." "Alex Sink, Rick Scott file paperwork for spending blitz in Florida's governor race". Related: "Sink evades questions on political committee".

Desperate men in empty suits

"Republican strategists are making the statewide races for governor, attorney general and others a referendum on the Obama administration." "GOP strategy: Link state races to Obama".

LEO endorsements

"The state’s top two law enforcement groups - the Fraternal Order of Police and the Police Benevolent Association - have thrown their support behind Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the Democrat in the governor’s race. According to Sink’s campaign, it’s the first time the FOP has endorsed a Democrat for governor in 16 years." "Sink nails down police endorsements".

"The truth, of course, isn't so simplistic"

Kingsley Guy: "Quite a number of Floridians view life in the Sunshine State as a simplistic morality play: On the one side are evil developers whose only desire is to make fortunes while despoiling the environment. They are opposed by environmentalists and anti-growth activists, angelic beings who always operate on the side of God (or Gaia) in the struggle to save Florida from ruin." "Amendment 4 will make Florida ungovernable".

Never mind those fraud ads

"The official goal of tonight's event is to rally around Naples health care executive Rick Scott, the insurgent nominee for governor. Scott defeated Attorney General Bill McCollum with a $50 million onslaught of negative TV ads that also targeted the party. The party fought back, attacking Scott's history as the former CEO of Columbia/HCA, the for-profit hospital chain that paid $1.7 billion in fines in a Medicare fraud scandal." "Florida Republicans gather in show of unity".

Sunshine State News Poll

"Coming off a bruising primary fight, Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott trails Democrat Alex Sink 44-42, a new Sunshine State News Poll shows. 'This race is a statistical tie,' said Jim Lee, president of Voter Survey Service, which conducted the poll. 'The key is what Scott can do to grow his support with Republicans and independents.'" "Alex Sink and Rick Scott in a Statistical Tie". But see yesterday's CNN/Time poll: "Sink by 7 in CNN poll".

Entrepreneurs in action

"2 South Florida Insurance Executives Charged With Fraud".

Thank you, Mr. Obama

"Feds give Central Florida $48 million to battle foreclosure blight".

"A hollow exercise"

The Miami Herald editorial board: "The Miami-Dade County Commission will vote Friday to officially implement its Wage Theft Program, which helps low-paid workers recover earnings when they've been stiffed by unscrupulous employers. The first of its kind in the state, the innovative program is being watched all over the country. Too bad today's action is a hollow exercise: No funds have been designated to keep it going." "Protecting the poorest".

Whatever

"Pastor rethinking canceling Quran burn".

Fl-oil-duh

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Keep gulf oil spill on the radar".

The poll indicates that Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the Democratic nominee, has an edge over GOP nominee Rick Scott 49 to 42 percent.

"Sink is doing well among independents and moderate voters. She pulls two-thirds of the vote among moderates, and beats Scott among independents by a 50 to 37 percent margin," says [CNN Polling Director Keating] Holland.

Scott, a multi-millionaire former health care executive, spent around $50 million to top Florida Attorney General and former Rep. Bill McCollum in what turned into a bitter primary.

From the "die soon" crowd

"A conservative organization representing older Americans announced plans today for a nearly $400,000 advertising campaign opposing the re-election of U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Monticello. The 60 Plus Association, which bills itself as an alternative to AARP, focuses on Boyd's changed vote on national health care. He opposed the initial House version last year but voted for the revised plan that was signed by President Obama." "Conservative seniors blast Boyd".

Meek moving up in CNN poll

"A new poll indicates that the three way-battle for Florida's open Senate seat, arguably the most fascinating Senate contest this year, is deadlocked at the top."

In the Senate contest, 36 percent of people questioned say they support Republican nominee and former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, with 34 percent backing Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who earlier this year dropped his bid for the GOP Senate nomination and is now running as an independent candidate. Twenty-four percent say if the election were held today, they'd vote for Rep. Kendrick Meek, the Democratic nominee, with three percent saying they vote for none of the candidates and three percent holding no opinion.

"A three-way race is producing a three-way split among Florida voters," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Meek wins majority support among Democrats while Rubio picks up seven in ten Republicans. Among Independents, it's Crist with 45 percent, distantly followed by Rubio with 29 percent and Meek with only 16 percent of Independents."

The survey also indicates a geographical divide.

"Crist is doing best in the Tampa Bay area and along the southern Gulf Coast. Meek does best in the Miami area. Rubio's best region is the northern part of the state, including the Panhandle."

Dems torn about Meek

"In this year's U.S. Senate race, Florida Democrats face a dilemma – whether to back their party's loyal standard-bearer, Kendrick Meek, or switch to Gov. Charlie Crist, who many believe has a better shot at keeping Marco Rubio out of the Senate seat."

They'd like to see Meek win, but they're even more eager to see Tea Party favorite Rubio defeated.

Meek's current poll standings, distant third, don't convince some Democrats he can beat Rubio; but without substantial Democratic support, Crist probably can't either.

Sink-Scott debates set

"Florida's millionaire gubernatorial candidates agreed to release their tax returns and to spar in two statewide debates in late October. ... The announcement came the same day Scott agreed to two statewide debates and a CNN/Time magazine poll showed Sink ahead of Scott by seven points." "Sink, Scott agree to release tax returns and to spar". See also "Rick Scott, Alex Sink Spar Over Debates and Tax Returns", "Sink to release five years of tax returns" and "Scott agrees to 2 statewide debates; Sink still calling for 5".

Charlie whines about Meek ad

"Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek is 'off the mark' when he claims in his new TV ad that he's the only candidate against privatizing Social Security and for abortion rights, Gov. and independent Senate candidate Charlie Crist said today." "Crist disputes Social Security, abortion rights claims in Meek ad".

Sink creates PC

"Faced with an opponent who has already spent millions of his own dollars on the governor's race, Democratic candidate Alex Sink has created a political committee to raise unlimited funds on her behalf." "Sink creates political committee to raise money".

Quran burning

"A small Florida church's plan to burn copies of the Quran is stirring outrage in Muslim nations, with lawyers protesting in Pakistan and Bahrain's government calling the burning a shameful attack on interfaith relations. About 200 lawyers and civil society members marched and burned a U.S. flag in the central Pakistani city of Multan, demanding that Washington halt the burning of the Muslim holy book." "Muslims in Bahrain, Pakistan protest Quran burning". More: "Crist: 9/11 Quran burn raises safety concerns".

Mike Thomas has a point: "What if media had ignored Terry Jones?".

The chatterers are in a dither:

- The News Journal editorial board: "Pastor should exit the global stage".

- The Saint Petersburg Times editors: "Koran burning stokes fires of hatred".

- The Tampa Tribune editors: Flaming irresponsibility

- The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Quran burning reveals common foe".

All about Obama

"With most signs pointing to big Republican gains in the fall midterm elections, Republican strategists are determined to turn even local and state races into referendums on Obama and the Democratic party nationally." "Republicans turning local and state races into a referendum on Obama".

Green fight

"Green Energy-ites Like Sink; Scott Lashes Back".

Ross whinge

"The Ross campaign blasted Edwards and claimed she is using the office to promote herself, noting that her name appears on office vehicles and comment cards at the polls and questions her handling of a petition drive led by Dewey Smith in 2005 to cut the salaries of government officials. The campaign also criticized Edwards for being prominently featured in taxpayer-funded television and radio ads. It claims that in 2008 Edwards said she would take a leave of absence if she ran for Congress." "Dennis Ross to Congressional Rival Lori Edwards: Resign as Elections Commissioner".

Grubbing for votes

"Charlie Crist Appeals to Hotel and Lodging Association".

"Deal-makers are crying in their cocktails"

"On the cusp of winning the Republican nomination for governor in Florida, Rick Scott cracked a joke on primary night alluding to powerful interests in Florida that had aligned themselves with his opponent, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum: 'In Tallahassee tonight, the deal-makers are crying in their cocktails.' Now those deal-makers — lobbyists, legislators and party fundraisers — are quickly teaming up with Scott to raise funds for his campaign and make an about-face on the man whom they spurned, attacked and campaigned against prior to Aug. 24." "Tallahassee insiders align themselves with Rick Scott".

Rubio surging in Sunshine State News Poll

"Republican Marco Rubio, garnering surprising strength among independent voters, holds a double-digit lead over his two chief rivals in Florida's U.S. Senate race, a new Sunshine State News Poll reports."

The survey of likely voters shows Rubio with 43 percent, independent Charlie Crist with 29 percent, Democrat Kendrick Meek with 23 percent and the remaining 5 percent undecided.

The Voter Survey Service poll surveyed 1,016 voters Sept. 1-5 and Sept. 7, and had a margin of error of 3 percent.

The three-way Senate contest is being closely watched nationally as it pits Crist, a well-known governor who bolted the Republican Party, against Rubio, a former Florida House speaker and tea party favorite whose early surge toward the GOP nomination forced Crist to run with No Party Affiliation.

Meek, a four-term congressman from Miami, trails in this and previous polls -- though his 23 percent share represents a slight improvement. The fact that Meek has almost caught Crist adds grist to some campaign watchers' theories that the governor ultimately could come in third. ...

Sunshine State News' final gubernatorial poll, taken a week before the Aug. 24 primary, was the only poll to hit the mark, predicting a 2 percentage-point win for Rick Scott. Scott won by 2.9 percent.

Sink slams Scott's "lies"

"Since releasing a new ad defending her ties to President Obama, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink‘s office has remained defensive when responding to Rick Scott‘s so-called 'attacks.' In a statement released yesterday, Sink spokesperson Kyra Jennings said that Scott’s recent claim that the Democratic candidate wants to cut Medicare benefits for Florida seniors was blatantly false". "Sink hits back at Scott over ‘lies’ about Medicare cuts".

Second amendment blues

"Report: Florida among the biggest sources of guns used in crimes in Mexico".

Blah, blah, blah

"The Florida Department of Corrections is once again being forced to defend some of its contracting decisions. This time it surrounds a move by the agency to hire a vendor to build and operate a dialysis service center for prisoners in Lake Butler. The proposed 10-year contract has already drawn a protest from a losing bidder and now a state senator has accused the department of wasting taxpayer dollars." "Senator blasts agency over contracting decision".

"Self-serving maneuvering by state lawmakers"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "If Florida voters needed another reason to be leery about constitutional amendments initiated by the Legislature, the failed Amendment 7 provides a textbook example. ... Fortunately, the state's highest court, which reviews ballot language and decides legal challenges, was the voters' backstop against self-serving maneuvering by state lawmakers. And that is exactly what Amendment 7 was all about." "Lawmakers' initiatives deserve skeptical eye".

Potential party switches

"For the third time this election cycle, the Buzz, the Times' political blog, is ranking the six U.S. House seats in Florida that are most vulnerable to a party switch." "Boyd, Kosmas top the Buzz's post-primary House race rankings".

Class size amendment language at issue

"A proposed ballot amendment to ease Florida's class-size requirements was challenged in court Wednesday by the state's largest teachers union, but the judge made no decision. The Florida Education Association argued the summary that will appear on the November ballot doesn't fully explain Amendment 8's effect. It tells voters that the class-size caps will change, the union's lawyer said, but it doesn't explain how that change likely will reduce money to schools." "Union challenges class-size amendment". See also "FEA Takes Class-Size Debate to Court" and "Class-size ballot question challenged; judge to issue ruling by Friday".

Charlie supports stem cell research

"Crist, visiting Moffitt Cancer Center today, renewed his support for embryonic stem cell research, even though he declined to act on the issue as governor." "Crist renews support for embryonic stem cell research".

"Publicity stunt may infuriate the world's Muslims"

"A Gainesville church pastor vowed to carry on with plans to burn Qurans on 9/11 even though several high-level U.S. officials have warned him against doing so." "Despite warnings, Florida pastor vows to burn Quran". See also "Florida Pastor Says, Burn, Quran, Burn", "Gainesville church still plans Sept. 11 Quran burning, despite general's warning" and "Gainesville minister: Quran burning still planned".

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "A small church in Gainesville is organizing a Sept. 11 burning of the Quran to 'send a clear message to the radical element of Islam.' Unfortunately, the publicity stunt also has the potential to infuriate most of the world's 1.57 billion Muslims. Terrorists and their sympathizers will exploit the event to make life more dangerous for U.S. troops and our allies." "Flaming irresponsibility".

Nancy Smith: "Visit Florida and the state Chamber of Commerce have more to worry about than oil. After the Rev. Terry Jones and his band of lunatics torch a pile of Qurans in the shadow of our flagship university, who in the world is going to feel safe funning in the Florida sun?" "Sorry, Gen. Petraeus, Florida Will Fiddle While Qurans Burn".

Thank you, Mr. Obama

"Florida's looming budget shortfall has been cut in half by state analysts, who credit federal stimulus dollars, years of spending cuts and Indian gambling money as helping to forge a brighter picture — but still leaving the state in a $2.5 billion hole." "Florida's state budget shortfall shrinks in new forecast". See also "Florida's Tide of Red Ink Not So High".

"Scott’s cynical attempt to nationalize race"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board: "Rick Scott must be running for president of the United States instead of governor of Florida. The Republican’s opponent seems to be President Barack Obama, not Democrat Alex Sink. Among his top issues are the federal stimulus money, national health care reform and immigration. Floridians should see through Scott’s cynical, if predictable, attempt to nationalize the governor’s race, and he should tell voters what he would do in Tallahassee rather than what he opposes in Washington." "Note to Scott: You're in Florida".

Sink wants 'em all

"Democratic governor candidate Alex Sink broke with President Obama and others in her party Tuesday by calling for an extension of all the 2001 and 2003 Republican tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of this year. Sink said she favors extending all the tax cuts, including the lower rates on all levels of income, capital gains and inheritances." "Democrat candidate for Fla. governor Alex Sink calls for extending the Bush tax cuts".

Some call it "speech"

"No recession here: Election spending sets records".

"Lost in the shadows"

"Lost in the shadows of the dramatic, competitive battles for governor and U.S. Senate, the two major party nominees in the attorney general’s race nevertheless have begun to attack one another and stake out positions they hope will lead to victory in November." "Pam Bondi and Dan Gelber Start to Raise Attacks in AG Race".

"Republican-led Legislature failed to meet the basic standards"

The Sarasota Herald Tribune editorial board: "For all the contemporary rhetoric about respecting the Constitution, a majority of Florida's Legislature disrespected the state constitution by proposing three flawed amendments. The Florida Supreme Court recently ruled, in lopsided opinions, that half the amendments proposed by the Republican-led Legislature failed to meet the basic standards for placement on the ballot." "Failing the constitutional test".

Scott avoiding depos

"Republican governor candidate Rick Scott has faced repeated calls to release a deposition in a civil suit he gave earlier this year — first from his Republican primary opponent Bill McCollum, now from his Democratic rival Alex Sink. Scott, who defeated McCollum, has refused, calling the lawsuit by a doctor employed at a company Scott founded called Solantic a 'private matter.' And he is not likely to give in. Over the years, a lot of people have wanted to speak to Rick Scott under oath, and he has been very good at avoiding them." "Rick Scott’s aversion to depositions".

OMG! "leftist proposals"?!?

"Republican says 'leftist proposals' will boost taxes, increase federal dependence" "Green Energy-ites Like Sink; Scott Lashes Back".

Watt-ever

"Watts: GOP must show public a change in congressional culture".

New ads

"In his new Senate campaign ad, independent Gov. Charlie Crist comes out for 'putting people ahead of politics' and takes a hard line against 'all the finger-pointing' in Washington. Democrat Kendrick Meek, meanwhile, released an ad Tuesday that touches on several specific issues." "Crist, Meek release new campaign ads".

That glowing feeling

"FPL bills will rise to pay for nuke projects".

That's because the discussion turns quickly to President Barack Obama, whom Scott is working overtime to associate with Sink in the minds of voters. Scott and Sink may be running for the state office of governor, but Scott's campaign seems to talk as much these days about Washington as about the Sunshine State.

Sink is a first-term state chief financial officer who has neither held nor sought national office.

She has both supported and held her distance from the president depending on the issue. But with the economy still teetering and Obama's approval ratings tanking in Florida to 41 percent, it's not hard to understand why Scott is trying to define her as an "Obamacrat."

How popular is Charlie?

Democratic operative Steven Schale "says that Gov. Charlie Crist won't win the U.S. Senate seat he is seeking and that Crist's 'personal approval numbers are plummeting.' PolitiFact takes a look."

Bottom line, polls are numbers and depending on what poll you're looking at and what time period you're examining, you can reach different but defendable positions. Rasmussen had Crist's job approval rating at nearly 70 percent in July, the second-highest it's ever been.

Quinnipiac polled Crist's job approval rating down 5 percentage points since 2008. The polling group found that Crist's favorable rating, meanwhile, dropped 20 points from 2008 to 2009 before rebounding.

Schale said Crist's personal approval numbers are "plummeting." Pollster.com's tracking of several polls starting in October 2008 shows that Crist's favorable rating has declined among voters from around 70 percent to between 50 and 55 percent. But Crist's position in voters' minds hasn't changed all that much for most of 2010, and has even rebounded a little in some polls, according to the same figures.

His job approval ratings, meanwhile, haven't changed that much in nearly two years. We rate Schale's claim Barely True.

Judge, jury, executioner

"A witness told police the victim showed Hamilton his pockets after he was accused of shoplifting, but that didn't convince him. The Florida Times-Union reported Hamilton followed the customer out of the store and shot him in the arm with a .38-caliber revolver." "Fla. shopkeeper allegedly shoots innocent customer".

Love, Florida Style*

The Miami Herald editorial board: "As the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks nears, a pastor in north Florida has come up with what may be the worst example yet of anti-Muslim bigotry."

Terry Jones, pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, wants to commemorate one of the most painful moments in American history -- a monumental crime fed by ignorance and hatred -- by sponsoring another event typically associated with ignorance and hatred: a book-burning.

And not just any book, but the Koran, the holy manuscript revered by Muslims.

Regardless of how one feels about plans to build a mosque in lower Manhattan, the two controversies are not comparable. One is about the appropriate place to erect a house of worship and interfaith dialogue. This publicity stunt, on the other hand, has no redeeming virtue at all.

It offends Muslims and attempts to divide Americans along religious lines. It stirs up passions and disparages another culture solely for the sake of inciting controversy. It does not represent what America stands for, but rather the xenophobia and intolerance Americans reject.

Rubio temporarily suspends campaign

"Republican Senate candidate Marco Rubio temporarily suspended his campaign on Sunday after the death of his father at Baptist Hospital in Miami. Mario Rubio, who died Saturday night, had long battled emphysema and lung cancer. He was 83." "U.S. Senate candidate Rubio calls temporary halt to campaign after father's death".

"Non, je ne regrette rien"*

"U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd told labor activists Monday he will 'make no apology' for supporting Obama Administration economic plans that Republicans are attacking." "Update: Boyd 'makes no apology' for supporting Obama economic plan".
- - - - - - - - - -
*If you have a moment, listen to it.

Sorry 'bout that

Kevin Derby: "Sorry, Rod Smith and Jennifer Carroll; history's against lieutenant governors' political career". "Bland Ambition: No. 2's Race to Obscurity".

Ausley on the stump

"Of course, Loranne Ausley would never suggest she could do a better job than the candidate many Democrats want to see as Florida's next governor. But it's a logical conclusion after hearing her talk about all the wrongs she sees at the state Capitol, where current CFO, Alex Sink, was at the post." "Would Loranne Ausley Be a Better CFO Than Alex Sink?".

Just another Republican

Is Jenniffer Carroll some sort of another "outsider", as Scott claims? Hardly. Her life "after the Navy seems pretty political insider to us. Consider:"

Carroll ran for Congress in 2000 as a political newcomer. She lost to Democratic Rep. Corrine Brown despite outspending Brown 2-to-1.

In 2001, Carroll said she talked with Vice President Dick Cheney about a job on his staff.

Later that year, Carroll was nominated by Gov. Jeb Bush to run Florida's Department of Veterans Affairs. Her nomination was confirmed. She resigned about a year later to run again for Congress. She lost.

In 2003, she was elected to the state House in District 13, where she has served ever since. She was appointed deputy majority leader by Speaker Johnnie Byrd in 2003 and served as a majority whip from 2004-2006.

Carroll's state House biography also includes these highlights -- Republican Club of Clay County, "Top 10'' Republican Award 1999, 2002; appointed by President George W. Bush to the White House Presidential Scholars Commission, 2001-2004; appointed by President George W. Bush to the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission, 2004-2007; Black Political Action Committee's 2005 Vikki Buckley Political Leadership Award.

Wingnuts at work

"Crisis Pregnancy Centers, funded by the state of Florida, are distributing brochures that suggest abortion causes mental illness, including depression, addiction and suicide. In the best case, the information handed out is biased; in the worst case, sources say, it is wrong." "State-funded pregnancy clinics disseminate questionable science on abortion".

"Legitimate bones to pick"

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board: "Folks have some legitimate bones to pick with the Florida Statewide Passenger Rail Commission. The commission meets for the first time today in Ocoee — more than eight months after the Legislature created it in December. It took the Senate president and governor nearly six and eight months, respectively, to add their appointees to those submitted months earlier by the House speaker." "Florida Statewide Passenger Rail Commission needs to get up to speed".

Dollars to China ...

"China is one of many foreign nations making a push to be part of Florida’s emerging construction of high-speed rail for bullet trains, first between Tampa and Orlando, then on to Miami." "Foreign companies enter the race to build Tampa-Orlando high-speed rail".

Don't let the door hit you on the way out

Florida

routinely sets new records for foreclosures — in the second quarter, 20.13 percent of its mortgages were delinquent or in foreclosure, a national high, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. And with housing prices still in a free fall, almost half of all borrowers in Florida owe more on their mortgages than their properties are worth, says CoreLogic, a data firm. ...

No one disputes that foreclosures dominate Florida’s dockets and that something needs to be done to streamline a complex and emotionally wrenching process. But lawyers representing troubled borrowers contend that many of the retired judges called in from the sidelines to oversee these matters are so focused on cutting the caseload that they are unfairly favoring financial institutions at the expense of homeowners.

Lawyers say judges are simply ignoring problematic or contradictory evidence and awarding the right to foreclose to institutions that have yet to prove they own the properties in question.

Grayson on Labor Day

"What Robert Kennedy Said".

Rahm Emanuel a union hater

Although this is off topic, one hopes this story is read by Florida's union members: "In 'Overhaul', his upcoming chronicle of his reign as 'car czar,' Steven Rattner offers an insider's account of the Obama administration's rescue of the auto industry."

Rattner depicts White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel as a force to be reckoned with who disparaged unions -- once quipping "Fuck the UAW"

The best they can do?

Bill Cotterell: "Call it karma, a convergence of sports and politics. FSU is playing Oklahoma this week in the Seminoles' first big test of the season. And it's Republican Day at the Hotel Duval, a big fund-raising reception and luncheon for the Leon County GOP. So what do these two events have in common?" "What do FSU-Oklahoma and the GOP luncheon have in common?".

"One big hit away from flipping burgers"

Mike Thomas: "Not that I would wish anyone harm, but it wouldn't have been such a bad thing for Florida if Hurricane Earl had maintained its wind speed and then hung a left at latitude 40 degrees north."

That would have taken it through the Big Apple and into New Jersey, flattening buildings, flooding subways, jacking up cab fares and causing $100 billion or so in damages.

A bunch of insurance companies would have gone bankrupt, leading to an insurance crisis.

And we would finally get a national catastrophe-insurance program to subsidize our premiums and underwrite all those condo towers and mansions on Miami Beach.

That day is coming, regardless. Toppling the Statute of Liberty simply would have sped things up.

Hurricane Earl's northbound journey was a surprise to many but not to all the insurance CEOs glued to The Weather Channel last week. To them it was a reminder that monster storms do hit the Northeast, and that they are one big hit away from flipping burgers.

And these people think they deserve pensions?

"When fire crews arrived, the first and second floors of a 5,000 square-foot apartment building were engulfed in flames." "Firefighters tackle blaze at Outrigger Apartments".

"A promise is a promise"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: The Florida Energy and Climate Commission's "decision a few weeks ago - made with the approval of the U.S. Department of Energy - to allocate $13.8 million to individuals who had signed on to the state's solar program only covers part of the pending claims."

Altogether, before the commission's action, the state owed more than 15,000 residents and businesses about $54 million in rebates. Now the program, which expired June 30 and has no money of its own, has about $40 million in rebates outstanding.

Still, a promise is a promise.

Yee haw ... ima gittin' me a skewl

"Twenty-five charter school applications – a record number – have been submitted for consideration to the Hillsborough County school district." "Hillsborough gets record number of charter school applications".

Never mind that Batista fellow

"The use of Che Guevara's image to promote an irreverent auto race is upsetting some in South Florida's Cuban community." "Fla. race's use of Guevara image riles Cubans".

The Gainesville, Fla.-based Dove World Outreach Center announced plans to burn copies of the Quran on church grounds to mark the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but has been denied a permit to set a bonfire. The church, which made headlines last year after distributing T-shirts that said "Islam is of the Devil," has vowed to proceed with the burning.

Labor Day

A nice cover of Billy Bragg's classic.

The Miami Herald publishes E.J. Dionne's piece on Labor Day this morning. Dionne begins when he, as a child

watching the great civil-rights march on television in August 1963, couldn't help but notice that hundreds carried signs with a strange legend at the top: "UAW Says." UAW was saying "Segregation Disunites the United States,'' and many other things insisting on equality. ...

It was some years later when I learned about the heroic battles of the UAW, not only on behalf of those who worked in the great car plants but also for social and racial justice across our society. Walter Reuther, the gallant and resolutely practical egalitarian who led the union for many years, was one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s close allies.

even worse than the falling membership numbers is the extent to which the ethos animating organized labor is increasingly foreign to American culture. The union movement has always been attached to a set of values -- solidarity being the most important, the sense that each should look out for the interests of all.

This promoted other commitments: to mutual assistance, to a rough-and-ready sense of equality, to a disdain for elitism, to a belief that democracy and individual rights did not stop at the plant gate or the office reception room.

All but forgotten is the fact that our nation's extraordinary prosperity from the end of World War II to the 1970s was in significant part the result of union contracts that, in words the right-wing hated Barack Obama for saying in 2008, "spread the wealth around.'' A broad middle class with spending power to keep the economy moving created a virtuous cycle of low joblessness and high wages.

Between 1966 and 1970, as Gerald Seib pointed out last week in The Wall Street Journal, the United States enjoyed an astonishing 48 straight months in which the unemployment rate was at or below 4 percent. No, the unions didn't do all this by themselves.

But they were important co-authors of a social contract that made our country fairer, richer and more productive.

There are many complicated reasons why these arrangements broke down, but I do not see things getting substantially better unless we find ways of increasing the bargaining power of wage-earners -- precisely what Reuther and his fellowship dedicated their lives to doing. ...

Whatever else they achieve, the unions remind us of the dignity of all who toil, whatever their social position, color or educational attainments. We should miss labor's influence more than we do.

Klein takes on teabagger

"It's round two in the race between Republican Allen West and Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Ron Klein."

The race, pitting an African-American Republican who spent his career in the military against a Jewish Democratic politician with nearly two decades in elected office, is so far more about insults than ideas, more about schoolyard catcalls than campaign slogans.

Consider these latest exchanges:

• West has called Klein House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's "mama's boy,'' "Little Lord Ron'' and "Little Ronnie.''

• Klein's camp has called West "dangerous and outrageous'' and points out that MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann labeled West the "worst person in the world.''

They are polar opposites on nearly every hot-button topic.

Charlie's "incoherence"

The Saint Petersburg Times editorial board writes that "Crist says his run for the U.S. Senate as an independent candidate is liberating and allows him to take positions that are true to his personal principles rather than Republican orthodoxy. Washington certainly could use more pragmatism and less partisanship. But Crist has to be careful that his flexibility does not become a liability." See what they mean here: "Crist's flexibility is one thing; incoherence is another".

Brilliant mistake

Florida agencies have spent only about 40 percent of their share of federal stimulus money, a slow flow of funds that has made a limited impact on the state's dire job market.""

Cities, counties, universities and some other recipients in the state have used only about one-fifth of their share. In all, about $5.7 billion of stimulus grants awarded to Florida has yet to be spent.

The money, approved by Congress in early 2009, was supposed to be spent quickly to jump-start economic growth. Eighteen months later, as Floridians face a Labor Day weekend with an unemployment rate in double digits, many are wondering when the billions of dollars allotted to the state will generate new jobs.

Running government like a business

"The political landscape is littered with failures — successful business executives who went bust when they took residence in the governor's mansion. Florida's Republican gubernatorial candidate — Naples healthcare executive Rick Scott — will try to defy those odds and govern Florida successfully if elected."

John Schilling, an entrepreneur who lives in Naples and is a consultant, knows how Scott ran a business. He worked for Columbia Healthcare when Scott was CEO, and then helped bring the company down as a whistle-blower.

"Rick Scott did not want to hear bad news," Schilling said. "Isn't that typical of any CEO, though?"

Schilling was an accountant at the company's Southwest Florida division's office when he discovered two sets of books at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, one of three of the company's hospitals in Southwest Florida.

Eventually, Schilling became an informant for the FBI, wore a wire to meetings, made drawings of where file cabinets were located and provided information that led to indictments and a $1.7-billion fine Columbia paid for Medicare fraud.

Four mid-level executives were later charged in the case, but Scott was never charged with any of Columbia's problems. He maintains he knew nothing about the Medicare issues.

Job promises

"Faced with double-digit unemployment, Florida's candidates for governor promised to make job growth their top priority." "Governor candidates' job plans fuzzy on details". See also "Alex Sink and Rick Scott see jobs as key".

Kenric Ward asks "Whose Jobs Plan Works Best for Florida?"

"This year, Floridians can push back"

Randy Schultz: "Giving politicians the power to draw these districts is like letting teenagers set their own curfews. They will observe no boundaries in drawing political boundaries. If one party controls both chambers of the state legislature, as Republicans do in Florida, the party in power tries to protect its people and maximize the influence of its own voters while minimizing the opposition's." "Vote to repeal state's incumbent protection plan".

"Sneaky budget writing"

Howard Troxler writes that the First District Court of Appeals 'Taj Mahal' courthouse

deal was sneaked into the state budget under then-House Speaker Marco Rubio and then-Senate President Ken Pruitt.

The House budget chief at the time was then-Rep. Ray Sansom, later charged with some sneaky budget writing of his own.

The House's general counsel at the time was the son of the 1st District judge — himself a former House member — who was pushing for the courthouse the hardest.

Rubio says hey, don't blame me, it was a Senate "priority."

The Senate's Pruitt says, he don't know nothing about birthin' no courthouses.

The key senator who did the deal was Victor Crist, R-Tampa, now running for the Hillsborough County Commission — who says Pruitt told him to do it.

Let's quote yet again from the report of the Tallahassee grand jury that indicted Sansom over a different project:

Far too much power is given to the legislative leadership on these budget issues which led to this appropriation that was voted on basically hidden in a huge budget. ...

Your grand jurors recommend to the Legislature that it clean up this process.

But the Legislature has not lifted a finger. In fact, several leaders of the Legislature sneered after the indictment that the grand jury "doesn't understand how things work up here."

You know what? I think the grand jury understood perfectly well. I think everybody else does, too.

They don' call 'em journalists for nuthin'

Jane Healy: "Now that the primary races are over, candidates can start concentrating on the November general election, guaranteed to be a wild one. Here are three big ways candidates could lose: 1. If they ignore Hispanics. ... 2. If they ignore women. ... 3. If voters stay home." "Here's what it takes to lose in November".