"Murphy backers call him 'progressive'"

"Murphy backers call him ‘progressive’ as Grayson attacks from the left."




A-Listers abandon FlaDems

"The convention raked in more than $675,000 for the Florida Democratic Party, according to party spokesman Max Steele. But privately, some Democrats complained about a lack of enthusiasm among the crowd prior to Saturday night's dinner, highlighted by the absence of a high-profile Democrat like Bill Clinton or Joe Biden." "Disney Draws Democrats, Just Not the A-List."

"Murphy, Grayson battle for soul of Florida Democrats." See also "Florida Democrats rally for 2016 races, despite absence of Clinton, Sanders."




Ros-Lehtinen softens support for Act that shields Cubans from deportation

"Miami Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has long defended the act, which generally shields Cubans from deportation if they reach U.S. shores and fast-tracks the process for permanent residency. But in a segment taped for “Facing South Florida with Jim DeFede” on Sunday, Ros-Lehtinen said a Sun Sentinel investigation alerted her to welfare abuses by recent Cuban migrants collecting U.S. assistance and returning to Cuba." "Rep. Ros-Lehtinen adjusts stance on Cuban Adjustment Act."




Bill Gates' Garbage

Joe Henderson: "It all sounded so grand. Our schools in essence became a laboratory experiment in the foundation’s goal of reforming public education, but that was OK because this was Bill Gates!" "Gates program another cautionary tale for Hillsborough schools."




Jeb, Marco have some explaining to do

Miami Herald editors: "No, Jeb Bush’s campaign isn’t close to imploding, and No, Sen. Marco Rubio should not resign from the Senate. But both of them have some explaining to do to constituents and supporters about recent statements and performances on the campaign trail if they want to claim their party’s nomination." "Bush and Rubio have inevitable clash."




"Rubio's ugly record"

Frank Cerabino: "What if Marco Rubio took a job satisfaction survey?"

Scott Maxwell: "Rubio's ugly record was hidden by ugly debate."




"Imperious lawmakers"

Tampa Trib editors: "Last year, 75 percent of Florida voters backed the referendum requiring the state to spend more on preserving land. But imperious lawmakers ignored the vote and used the money for other purposes, including paying salaries and agency operating expenses. " "Seeking justice on Amendment 1."




"The bears never stood a chance"

George Diaz believes "we need to learn to co-exist with bears and wolves in Florida. . . . Meet your Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission."

•FWC Chairman Brian Yablonski is the external affairs director for Gulf Power Co., which recently settled a federal lawsuit by agreeing to move toxic coal ash waste stored at one of its generating plants.

•Vice Chair Liesa Priddy is a cattle rancher who helped write a memo suggesting that Florida relax its protections on endangered panthers.

•Richard Hanas is the senior vice president for corporate administration and government affairs for A. Duda and Sons, one of two Big Sugar companies recently awarded 30-year leases on 14,000 acres of land in the Everglades Agricultural Area.

•Adrien "Bo" Rivard is a Panama City lawyer.

•Charles W. Roberts III is a paving contractor from the Panhandle whose company has a history of environmental-regulations violations.

•Richard Spottswood is a corporate lawyer and Key West real-estate developer.

•Ron Bergeron is a contractor and developer.

Sounds like a bunch of tree-hugging hippies who love Mother Earth and eat raw berries for breakfast every day, does it not?

Not surprisingly, all of them — except Bergeron — voted for the bear hunt. Five, with the exception of Yablonski and Bergeron, are original appointees of Gov. Rick Scott.

The bears never stood a chance.

"Be FWC aware to stop the slaughter of bears."