So Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has committed state resources to that great cause and joined yet another quixotic lawsuit, this one against the United States government. Bondi added Florida to a list of NRA subsidiary states seeking to overturn a 45-year-old federal law that forbids licensed gun dealers from selling handguns to anyone under 21.

It’s another likely loser of a case. Like Rick and Pam’s futile attempt to overturn the Affordable Health Care Act. Over the last few years, the Scott years, we’ve frittered away hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in court defending an ideological agenda. State lawyers and pricey outside law firms have been dispatched to state and federal court to defend, without much success, the privatization of prisons, drug testing of welfare recipients, drug testing of state workers (though not state legislators or the governor) the shifting of pension costs onto state workers, and election laws designed to tamp down turnout among minority voters.

Our lawyers are still fighting, on behalf of the NRA, that mindless violation of the First Amendment known as Docs-versus-Glocks, a state law that severely limits what doctors — even pediatricians and psychiatrists — can discuss with their patients about firearms.

Last week, after the state lawyers were pummeled first in U.S. district court, then the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, the state did, finally, give up defending a blatantly unconstitutional state law that would have barred any company that has done business with Cuba or Syria, or was vaguely associated with a company that has done business with Cuba or Syria, from competing for public contracts in Florida. Of course the law, contrived by Miami’s Sen. René García and Rep. Michael Bileca, was nothing more than a sop to Cuban-American voters. Gov. Rick Scott, even as he signed their bill into law last year, noted that it was legally indefensible.

This little exercise in political theater was not cheap. Aside from the state’s own considerable costs to defend an unconstitutional intrusion into a federal domain, we’re now stuck with a half-million-dollar bill to cover the legal fees.

It makes for a tough legal challenge, another unpromising case that states like Texas and Alabama would happily pursue without any help from Pam Bondi and company. Besides, it’s not like her legal team has been dazzling the federal judiciary.

But Rick and Pam will do this for us anyway. They’ll waste taxpayer money, fritter away the state’s legal resources and pursue loser lawsuits because nothing, but nothing, makes us feel safer than 18-year-old kids packing heat.

Ricky the environmentalist

"Lawmakers, Scott consider initial St. Lucie River cleanup efforts". Related: "$37M targeted for helping Florida's springs". Background: "Scott's recent environmental announcements: Election strategy or genuine leadership?".

Brogan's replacement

"The chairman of the board overseeing the state university system didn’t look far to find a temporary replacement for chancellor Frank Brogan, who will step down at end of the month. Jan Ignash, Brogan’s second-in-command, has been tapped as interim chancellor. The full Board of Governors will be asked to approve promoting Ignash, the vice chancellor and chief academic officer, at a meeting Thursday." "Interim Fla. chancellor named".

"He once controlled the Republican Party of Florida"

"He once controlled the Republican Party of Florida, flying on chartered jets, drinking top-shelf bourbon and mingling with the rich and powerful. Now Jim Greer lives at Gulf Forestry Camp, a low-security prison in a remote patch of the Florida Panhandle and a world away from the life he lived as a confidant of former Gov. Charlie Crist. Near the halfway point of his 18-month sentence for grand theft and money laundering, Greer agreed to speak exclusively with the Times/Herald about his old life and his new one." "Jim Greer prison house interview".

Florida Walmart workers arrested

The arrests are shown at the 2:15 minute mark. "Walmart workers get arrested in Orlando". See also "Walmart protesters arrested after blocking entrance".

"Scott continues to cry voter fraud to justify relaunching a voter purge"

The Tampa Bay Times editors: "Last week the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced it was walking away from another voter fraud inquiry after concluding it could make no arrests. It's one more reminder that the real problem with voting in the Sunshine State isn't fraud but state leaders more interested in keeping individuals from the polls."

Yet no one in Tallahassee in the Republican Party seems willing to admit this is a phantom problem in Florida, used each election cycle to justify making it harder to register to vote and cast a ballot. During the 2012 election, out of nearly 12 million voters in the state, there were only a handful of cases involving people fraudulently filling out voter registrations or improperly influencing senior citizens filling out their absentee ballot — but few concerns about fraud at the polls themselves.

Yet Gov. Rick Scott continues to cry voter fraud to justify relaunching a voter purge to hunt for noncitizens on voter rolls — just like the Legislature did during the lead-up to the 2012 presidential election. The disastrous elections law changes lawmakers passed reduced early voting and caused hourslong lines on Election Day.

More FlaDem disarray, firings, infighting

"Just what the Florida Democratic Party needs: more disarray, firings, infighting. Chairwoman Allison Tant fired two high-ranking staff members late Thursday, the same day it was reported she discovered the existence of a fundraising committee that could be controlled only by incoming House Minority Leader Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg. The shake-up is just the latest sign that as the party heads into next year's elections hoping to win back the governor's office and gain a few more seats in the Legislature, leaders are mired in bitter turf wars." "Florida Democrats' infighting escalates with firing of two staffers". See also "Party Staffers Fired Amid Democratic Turmoil".

Baxley falling up?

"Dennis Baxley Turns His Eyes to Running for Senate in 2016".

"Growing corpse count bad for the retirement business"

Scott Maxwell: "With elderly residents dying nearly once a month from abuse and neglect, Florida politicians vowed to crack down. I'm not sure it was the humanity they were worried about as much as the economy. A growing corpse count was bad for the retirement business."

"It's no better than it was before," said Brian Lee, the head of a national nonprofit, Families for Better Care. "We never got the reform. It was a charade."

If Lee sounds indignant, he has good reason. He used to run Florida's elderly watchdog program — for both Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist — until Gov. Rick Scott forced him out in early 2011.

At the time, Lee's army of volunteer ombudsmen — trained citizens who made both surprise and resident-requested visits to facilities — had a 98 percent satisfaction rating from the residents and families they served.

But Lee's dogged approach — particularly his efforts to highlight facilities that put profits over safety — made him unpopular with the industry.

So Scott ousted him — a move that investigators with the U.S. Administration on Aging said was meant "to stop Mr. Lee from carrying out his duties" — and replaced him with a more industry-friendly leader.

Legislators began talking about making it harder for the volunteer watchdogs to do their jobs, and they lowered the minimum number of hours of care that homes must provide.

Our mothers, fathers and grandparents deserve better.

Not because retirement is big business in Florida — but because it's simply the right thing to do.

I'm not sure everyone agrees. Recently, the state's ombudsman program sent out a blistering news release, saying all the negative press about the program was unfair to the hardworking volunteers.

It called the problems "imagined" and the concerns "misrepresentations."

Let's be clear. There's nothing imagined about the recent resignations, the ongoing investigation or the efforts to weaken safeguards.

Daily Grayson

"Grayson says 61,000 have signed anti-bombing petition".

Florida federal courts jammed

"Florida residents looking to file a civil suit in federal court might want to get comfortable. Real comfortable." "More budget cuts mean 'crisis' in federal courts, judge says". More from the Tampa Bay Times editors: "Budget cuts impair justice system".

Bondi's takes on another tuff issue

"Attorney General Pam Bondi and her counterparts in Kentucky and Maine have demanded that a California-based clothing company stop selling shirts that include the names of prescription drugs." "Bondi goes after drug names on shirts".

Week in review

"Week in Review for Sept. 6, 2013".

Scott courageously opposes taxes

"Scott to embark on tax cut tour". Related: "Gov. Scott: Use surplus to cut taxes and fees".

State misleads consumers

"State Estimates of Health Premiums Are Faulty, Misleading Consumers" (.pdf).

Parimutuel rules rewrite

"After years of holding together a patchwork of gambling industry regulations, the Florida Division of Parimutuel Wagering announced Friday that it is prepared to rewrite the rules regulating Florida’s multi-billion dollar parimutuel industry." "Agency says gaming laws are ‘unclear,’ calls for rewrite". See also "Pari-mutuel rule changes coming, regulators say".

By reading today's Florida newspaper editorial pages, you would never guess that Labor Day had anything to do with ... you know ... labor unions. As usual, Florida's newspaper editors have insulted Florida's labor movement by failing to even acknowledge its existence, on Labor Day no less.

For example, the faux "liberal" Tampa Bay Times editors don't even bother to acknowledge Labor Day.

As usual, nothing at all about "unions" from the Orlando Sentinel editorial board, although there is a well-intended guest piece from a "risk-management consultant" that likewise manages to overlook the word, "union". No surprise the anti-union Sentinel would be silent about unions, even though the community is in the incipient stages of a high profile effort by hospital employees to unionize, and is in the backyard of what is reputed to be the largest single site unionized employer in the nation.

The Tampa Trib editors are all about "Hillsborough [being] poised to lead way in job growth this Labor Day".

Credit the Miami Herald for an oblique reference to "last week’s strikes by fast-food workers around the nation" in an editorial about the low wage economy; the role of unions in rectifying the problem is of course nowhere mentioned. "Not much to cheer about".

And, a guest piece about immigration reform in the Herald by the Catholic Archbishop does mention the "labor movement" and "right to organize" in passing. "Immigration is a moral issue".

The only thing we could find in the Sarasota Herald Tribune about Labor Day was this: "67th Annual Labor Day Regatta". I'm sure that would make Matthew Maguire proud.

Many online editorials are are available only with paid subscriptions. However, the headlines to these paywall protected editorials are available, and suggest that these editors are likewise uninterested in acknowledging the labor movement this Labor Day. Consider: "Jobs remain critical issue as Labor Day arrives" (the Sun Sentinel); "A day to salute labors of love" (Naples Daily News); and "Labor Day: Americans are No. 1 as hard workers" (Florida Times Union).

The Tallahassee Democrat goes a step further, and has the gall to publish an article attacking the union movement: the Democrat actually published this doggerel by the President of the union hating National Right To Work Legal Defense Foundation: "It's 'Labor' Day, not 'Union' Day". There is of course no response piece, although the Democrat does publish the aforementioned article about immigration by Archbishop Wenski that mentions the "labor movement" and "right to organize" in passing.

And that's that, Labor Day in the Sunshine State's newspapers.

"It’s not that Rubio is two-faced. It’s that he has too many faces" Marc Caputo: "Marco Rubio once looked like the Republican savior over immigration."

Now, to some conservatives, he seems as trustworthy as a door-to-door salesman.

From the right-wing talk-show hosts to local activists at town halls, many conservatives say they’re upset that Rubio’s talk and deeds conflict over comprehensive immigration reform.

“The problem is he sold this based on talking points,” said Jason Hoyt, an Orlando tea party activist, summing up the discomfort many conservatives have with the Florida Republican senator.

“He had four or five talking points, which sounded pretty good,” Hoyt said. “But then we saw the bill, and it was 1,200 pages of detail. And then there was article after article after article about how bad the bill was.”

• Rubio2008: The Florida House Speaker whose chamber squashed state-based immigration reform. At the time, he said immigration was a federal responsibility.

• Rubio2010: The upstart, long-shot candidate, who bested one-time Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, took a hard line on immigration and generally called a pathway to citizenship a mistaken “amnesty.”

• Rubio2013A: A future White House hopeful who rode a wave of positive media coverage to become, in Time magazine’s words, the Republican savior after the party was drubbed nationally in the 2012 elections. The bipartisan bill he helped hammer out contains what many conservatives see as “amnesty.”

• Rubio2013B: The establishment Republican who now barely talks immigration, unless he is asked about it during select interviews with friendly media or at little-advertised town hall-style meetings. Rubio wants to talk about his effort to defund Obamacare instead.

“He may win us back with that because that’s probably the worst thing,” Glen Leirer, a Panama City conservative told the Associated Press after a mid-August meeting there with Rubio.

During that meeting, Rubio responded to a question about his support for the immigration bill by noting all the woes with the existing system.

“If I presented that to you as my immigration plan, you would say that’s a terrible plan. That’s what we have right now,” he said. “What we have in place now, in many ways, is the de facto amnesty that I ran against.”

But Rubio didn’t run against “de facto amnesty.” His statements in debates and to reporters at the time show his words and tone were notably different in 2010.

In a debate, Rubio suggested illegal immigrants need to leave the country and then apply for citizenship. When a reporter asked whether that was “de facto amnesty,” Rubio didn’t answer, but later said “ ‘earned path to citizenship’ is basically code for ‘amnesty.’ ”

Now he backs an earned path to citizenship but says it’s not amnesty.

Scott doles out the goodies

"Gov. Rick Scott may be in no rush to pick a lieutenant governor, but he’ll soon decide on two people to sit on Florida’s utility-regulating board."

Commission chair Ronald Brisé and Commissioner Art Graham, whose terms expire in January, are seeking to return to the Public Service Commission.

Four other candidates, including a former state representative from Pasco County who also served on the PSC, are vying for their seats. The position pays around $130,000 a year.

"Half True"

"Education commissioner boasts about state's graduation rate improvements".

Another Scott flop

"Standing before a crowd at an Orange County middle school last January, Gov. Rick Scott announced his plan to give every classroom teacher in Florida a $2,500 raise."

But seven months later, that sunny proposal now seems clouded as school districts devise pay plans that often veer from the governor's original idea.

Educators have long since abandoned the simple notion of an across-the-board pay bump that Scott once promoted in news conferences across the state. . . .

While Scott originally touted raises for teachers, House and Senate leaders made them available for guidance counselors, social workers, psychologists, librarians, principals and assistant principals as well. The money also covers charter schools.

Florida's "low wages"

"If it seems like you have to work harder these days for less money, it's because you live in a state stuck with a lasting decline in its standard of living, according to a Labor Day report on Florida's job picture." "Floridians finding jobs, but often at low wages". More: "Survey: Floridians remain more gloomy about the economy" and "Consumer confidence in Florida drops in July".

For three years ending in 2012, Chris Clark, 41, took a leave of absence from his state job after the legislative session ended in May and went to work as Gaetz’s campaign manager. Clark formed the company in 2009.

developing relationships with the very lobbyists who have a financial stake in influencing them.

"The customary city hall press conference veered wildly off script"

Fred Grimm: "You know the scenario. A South Florida politician gets pinched in a corruption probe. Next day, his fellow pols troop down to city hall and strike mournful poses for the TV cameras. They feign shock and regret, and confidence that their esteemed colleague will soon clear up this terrible misunderstanding and return to public service."

Except in Homestead. After the less-than-esteemed Mayor Steve Bateman was busted last week, the customary city hall press conference veered wildly off script. They might as well have popped champagne corks and broken into song.

The Miami Herald editors: "Culture of corruption".

"Scott possesses the retail political skills of a mullet net"

Daniel Ruth: "It's a hint that the exalted post of lieutenant governor is as vital as a state swamp ape inspector that Gov. Rick Scott has spent so much time pondering how to fill the cricket-filled vacant office down the hall."

Whatever other shortcomings Scott has, he deserves credit for engaging in a form of do-nothing governance one can actually applaud.

Still it is somewhat curious that the College of Cardinals can settle on a pope in a few short days while Scott is taking months to find someone whose sole function is to call the Governor's Mansion every morning to make sure the governor answers the phone. . . .

Democrats have voiced the faux fear that if — insert the heaven forbid template — something happened that made Scott unfit to govern there would be no successor in the wings. Ahem, a cynic might well suggest that Scott has more than met that standard over the past three-plus years with or without a vice governor pacing the reception area.

Far more probable is the notion that Scott's gold standard for picking a lieutenant governor has less to do with managing the affairs of state than it does in getting him re-elected. This isn't as if the governor is wrestling over a Florida Supreme Court nominee — you know, someone up for a real job.

Since Scott possesses the retail political skills of a mullet net, he needs a lieutenant governor and running mate to assure the public their incumbent governor has a pulse. No small stump challenge.

Dreams of fraud

Michael Van Sickler: "The looming potential for fraud in the 2012 Presidential Election was how Republicans justified strict measures in Florida that made it tougher to register voters."

So nine months after the ballots have been counted, where exactly are the culprits of voter registration fraud?

Keep looking because the the Florida Department of Law Enforcement hasn’t found them yet.

'Baggers at Orlando rally call for "uprising to stop the federal health care law"

"U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz electrified a crowd of conservative activists [in Orlando] Saturday, calling for a public uprising to stop the federal health care law as he sounded and acted very much like a presidential candidate." "Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas the toast of conservative activists in Orlando".

I'm shocked, shocked

"Florida Department Of Environmental Protection Cases Decrease Under Scott Appointee".

Rubio unsure whether mass murder of children warrants response

Alex Leary: "Members of Florida's congressional delegation Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas the toast of conservative activists in OrlandoSaturday after President Barack Obama said he would seek congressional approval for military strikes against Syria." "What Florida's congressional delegation is saying about President Barack Obama's Syria plan".

While Bill Nelson calls for action, Marco Rubio has his finger in the wind, apparently calling on Flabagger world to pull his strings.

Meanwhile, the Miami Herald editorial board writes that "the case for a direct and meaningful U.S. response is compelling. The colossal contempt for world opinion shown by Syria’s Bashar Assad cannot be ignored. The regime’s atrocities represent a direct challenge to U.S. leadership and credibility. This country’s vital national interests are at stake. The humanitarian dimension of this crisis should be self-evident. To stand idly by while a despotic regime commits mass murder with the most lethal weapons against its own people would constitute a rejection of everything the United States claims to stand for." "Punish Syria for crossing ‘red line’".

Casino companies working behind closed doors

"When The Genting Group swept into Florida in May 2011, snapping up bayfront property in Miami, it promised a $3 billion mega-resort casino, thousands of jobs and company-subsidized flights from Asia to Miami. But now, as the Legislature prepares to begin hearings later this month on the future of gambling, the Malaysian-based company is waiting before saying anything more. 'We're not going to say what options we want to pursue, because we want to pursue what the Legislature thinks makes sense,' said Brian Ballard, a lobbyist for Genting." "Big casino companies quiet as gambling debate set to begin".