The Ybor City Stogie: January 2008

Tampa Bay Super Tuesday Parties

Party with Pinellas Dems on Super Tuesday at The Beach Theatre in St Pete Beach at 7:00 pm. A $10 donation is glady accepted to help assit in electing Democrats! For more infor, contact Helen at helenhbriley@verizon.net

Super Tuesday Primary/Caucus Watching Party at Anthenia Garden Restaurant & Sports Bar in St Pete. Check www.BarackObama.com for more details - under Events.

Sí Podemos ! Obama Para Presidente. February 5th Watch Party. A gathering of family and friends that support Obama Para Presidente. More info....here

Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was the most liberal senator in 2007, according to National Journal's 27th annual vote ratings. The insurgent presidential candidate shifted further to the left last year in the run-up to the primaries, after ranking as the 16th- and 10th-most-liberal during his first two years in the Senate........here
Is Obama the "Most Liberal" Senator?

Catastrophic Era Of The Bush Republican Party

I'm talking instead about the quiet revolution that has overthrown the old order in the Republican Party. We have witnessed nothing less than a bloodless coup this week that promises to have ramifications for America perhaps even larger than the prospect of a black or a woman president.......here

Nader 2008

Maybe the Democrats and Republicans will nominate Presidential candidates this year who will stand up against the war profiteers, the nuclear industry, the credit card industry, the corporate criminals, big oil, and the drug and health insurance industries. We doubt it. But hope springs eternal. In the meantime, take a few minutes and explore with us an idea.......here

Florida Brits Give Their Views On The Race To Be President

This is the Sunshine State - but for the thousands of Brits who came to Florida to escape the British weather, there is a political chill in the air. The collapse in house prices and the parlous economy has brought them a fierce appreciation of how Washington politics can affect their lives as the Primaries sweep through their adopted state.........more

Florida's Fields Dangerous Playground For Children Of Farmworkers

Florida's fields and groves can be dangerous -- sometimes deadly -- playgrounds for children of migrant farmworkers who are often left unattended or are drafted to help pick crops. And while improvements in migrant child care have been made during the past three decades, funding cutbacks have reversed some of those strides, advocates say........here

Thank You, John Edwards

I Thnk Bill Nelson Just Declared The Battle Is Beginning

He did that once before, if you remember. He decided he would take the lead in Florida. Karen Thurman in effect turned the party over to him, and he was boss. A few months ago he declared "I will lead the delegates to Denver whether or not the DNC plans to let them in." Tonight he gave another battle cry in Davie, Florida, with Hillary on the podium with him after her victory here. Sounds to me like a warning that he and Hillary will win, and the rest of us better look out.......here

Stop The East Pasco Landfill

A private company with no previous experience operating a dump wants to put a 900-acre, 220-foot pile of garbage at the headwaters of the Withlacoochee and Hillsborough Rivers, next to the Green Swamp.......here

Why Is Florida God's Waiting Room?

How'd Florida get to be so full of old people? Good weather, effective marketing, low taxes, and a herd mentality. In the first half of the 20th century, the concept of moving to warmer climes upon retirement didn't really exist—seniors generally lived with relatives to conserve funds. But the advent of Social Security payments in 1940, as well as the post-World War II economic boom, made it possible for grannies to live independently........here

High And Dry In Lutz, Florida

Thanks For Trying Mr. Edwards

here

Tony Sasso For State House District 32

I want to work for you in Tallahassee to solve tough problems, but I can't do it without your help. I need your vote in the primary election on January 29, and in the general election on February 26. Please take some time to learn more about my campaign here on my website. And remember—it's not the government, it's our government. The problems we face don't have easy solutions. But together, we can solve them.......here

1,891,040 Floridians

Over 1,891,040 Floridians actually voted for a Republican.

Results

Independents Go Home

Check out this political mystery: Liberals, a.k.a. the Democratic base, are angry. They're so angry that they tried to unseat senior senator and former vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman in 2006, who had become synonymous with bipartisanship. Bipartisanship, hell. They're in the mood for payback.......here

John Edwards Kingmaker

Mike Gravel: Bush Our Worst President Ever

Watch Commercials While You Pump Your Gas

St. Petersburg, Florida

Florida Consumer Confidence Index At Its Lowest Level In 16 Years

"Consumer confidence in Florida reflects the same conditions we had during the recession of 1990-1991," said Chris McCarty, who directs the consumer survey for the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research........here

Michael Vick's Pit Bulls Thrive in Loving Homes

There are more great photos at the link. If you're interested in adopting a pit bull, here's a terrific site with loads of information as well as links to your local rescue organizations........here

FDP Netroots Coalition: The Website!

Announcing the newest website in the progressive arsenal - The Florida Democratic Party Netroots Coalition . The official web site of the Florida Democratic Party Netroots Coalition. We’re trying to bring together the Democratic Party and the progressive Netroots in Florida........here

The $1.4 Million Dollar Ass

Five years after ABC showed the rear end of actress Charlotte Ross on "NYPD Blue," government TV censors finally got their own butts in gear by imposing $1.4 million in fines on the stations that aired the controversial episode of the popular show. The FCC found the scene indecent "because it depicts sexual organs and excretory organs - specifically an adult woman's buttocks." And repeatedly showing Ross' butt was "titillating and shocking."

Florida's Cuban Americans Stray From The Republican Fold

There's a lesson here for the Republican candidates competing in Tuesday's Florida primary. Many Cuban exiles blamed the fiasco of the Bay of Pigs, in which 68 exiles died and 1,200 were captured, on the then US president, John F Kennedy, and they flocked in protest into the hands of the Republican party. Now 46 years later the flame is flickering. New generations less versed in the events of 1961 are more open to Democratic advances. "It would be dangerous for the Republicans to take the Cuban-American vote for granted, as the community is becoming more differentiated with younger voters wanting more independence. It's going to be a tough year for the Republicans,".......here

Whooping Cranes Arrive In Florida

A group of endangered whooping cranes has finished its 1,200-mile trip to Florida.The cranes crossed seven states since October 13th and are the seventh group to be guided by ultralights from the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin to the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge in Florida.......here

Trip Journal

Florida's Hispanics Weigh Their Vote

Florida's Hispanic community, and Cuban-Americans in particular, have also become accustomed to assuming office themselves at state and national level. Leading examples in Washington are Senator Mel Martinez and Congressman Lincoln Rafael Diaz-Balart, both Republicans, reflecting the traditionally conservative political leanings of the Cuban exile community.......more

Raul Martinez For Congress

History was being made in South Florida this week as Mayor Raul Martinez announced his campaign for United States Congress. For Democrats, Independents and many Republicans this is great news. Mayor Martinez had unparelleled success for two and half decades as the Strong Mayor of Hialeah, Fl. Florida's fifth largest city and the largest municipality in Florida's 21st congressional district........here

Many of you know the current congressman. Lincoln Diaz-Balart. He is well known as a lock step Bush supporter whose rhetoric and ideology are often offensive and far out-of-step with South Floridians

Tampa 9/11 Truth Meetup Group

Meet other local citizens who are interested in publicizing the truth about the 9/11 NeoCon Strikes, and the Lies & Ommissions Report. Gather for education, activism ideas and action on this critical topic........here

Don't Let Senators Clinton Or Obama Off The Hook

here

Samm And Ann In St. Petersburg

That's How Lincoln Won The Presidency

"I think what he's doing today, talking to these young voters, that's really important. Because it's very hard for us to think that our voice is being heard," Cate Edwards said. "I think most young voters feel that our democracy has been taken away from us, and I think that most of us realize that this election is a big step towards taking it back.".........here

"Dan Rather Reports On Politics" Heads To St. Petersburg, FL

"Dan Rather Reports on Politics: The Florida Primary" will take place in front of a live audience at the Miller Auditorium at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL. A simulcast of the event will be aired at Fox Hall, an auditorium also at the college.........here

In Florida, The Recession Already Is A Reality

In Florida, people don't ask whether we are headed for a recession. They know a recession is here. For those who live in the area, the questions narrow down to two. How much worse will it get? How long will it last?......more

Dan Gelber for Florida Senate

It’s no surprise that Dan Gelber is spending his life dedicated to serving the public. In his family, public service is simply what you do. His father Seymour came to Florida in 1947 after serving in WWII, ultimately spending his life as a prosecutor, juvenile court judge and Mayor of Miami Beach. His mother Edith arrived from New York with teaching degrees from Hunter and Columbia colleges, and spent her life as a foreign languages teacher in Florida’s public schools......here

A President Like My Father

I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved. I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.......here

Will Lehigh Acres Become Second-Largest City In Southwest Florida?

Lehigh Acres could become the second-largest city in Southwest Florida if its voters say so Tuesday. The last time those voters were asked, they rejected incorporation by more than 3-1. Back in 1996, just over 10,000 Lehigh residents voted. There now are 22,700 registered voters in the Lehigh Acres Fire District.......more

Letterman: Barack gives the Top Ten

Chavez: Pull Reserves From US Banks

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez urged his Latin American allies on Saturday to begin withdrawing billions of dollars in international reserves from U.S. banks, warning of a looming U.S. economic crisis. Chavez warned that U.S. "imperialism is entering into a crisis that can affect all of us" and said Latin America "will save itself alone.".........here

Florida Prepares To Unplug Touchscreen Voting Machines

When you go to the polls next week for Florida's primary, it'll be the last time you use those highly touted touch-screen voting machines. After less than six years, the state is pulling the plug on most of its 25,000 touch-screen voting machines, once heralded as a way to prevent messy, embarrassing elections........here

Miami-Dade County alone must cast aside 7,200 touch-screen machines, for which it paid $24.5 million and still owes $15 million. Statewide, the debt is estimated at $32 million.

Litbrit: I Love My Country Part One

The French have Liberté, égalité, fraternité. Americans can choose from a broad selection of slogans, from the boisterous YOU-ESS-AAAY! to the beautiful and dignified The land of the free and the home of the brave, and everything in between. But what do we Brits have to say about ourselves--what can we say about ourselves?.........here

Labels: Litbrit

Linda Saul-Sena Pissing Off Ikea

How long do we have to wait in Tampa for the public to demand its city government be something better, something innovative, something sustainable? How long do we continue to accept mediocrity and laziness? If the hipper, cooler businesses won’t go green, won’t try innovation, how in the hell can we expect to force the Wal-Marts and chain restaurants of the world to do likewise? Saul-Sena and colleague Councilman John Dingfelder have been more strident than the Pam Iorio administration about moving toward greener, more environmentally friendly designs in urban planning and construction.........here

The Coast Of Florida Is Still Clear

Enviro-leftists who oppose drilling in the gulf should know that none other than Fidel Castro is taking advantage of the Outer Shelf. Cuba has gleaned $1.7 billion from oil and gas drilling as close as 60 miles from the Florida coast since 2004, according to Rep. John Peterson of Pennsylvania, and "is drilling closer to sovereign American property than we are."........here

The story did not mention higher fuel standards and mass transit as other options to achieving energy independence.

"Sicko" Gets The Oscar High-Five

Of course, every reporter who's called me in the past few days wanted to know if I plan on giving an "anti-war" or "anti-Bush" speech, should "Sicko" win, as I did when we won the Oscar for "Bowling for Columbine" in 2003. (As you may recall, it was the 5th day of the war when those Oscars were held, and I said from the stage that, while I enjoy making nonfiction films, we live in fictitious times with
a man of fiction in the White House.......here

Ron Paul Only Sane Person At GOP Debate

No Delegates? We Don’t Care.

For Democrats, the number of returned absentee ballots in Florida so far exceeds the total number turned in in the 2004 general election, and the number of Democratic early voters plus the number of absentees requested is more than the number of actual voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada combined........here

Off Rob Lorei's Bookshelf

Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic

Chalmers Johnson

Like ancient Rome, America is saddled with an empire that is fatally undermining its republican government, argues Johnson (The Sorrows of Empire), in this bleak jeremiad. He surveys the trappings of empire: the brutal war of choice in Iraq and other foreign interventions going back decades; the militarization of space; the hundreds of overseas U.S. military bases full of "swaggering soldiers who brawl and sometimes rape." At home, the growth of an "imperial presidency," with the CIA as its "private army," has culminated in the Bush administration's resort to warrantless wiretaps, torture, a "gulag" of secret CIA prisons and an unconstitutional arrogation of "dictatorial" powers, while a corrupt Congress bows like the Roman Senate to Caesar.........here

Thanks For Trying Mr. Kucinich

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio is dropping his second long-shot bid for the Democratic nomination for president, he told his hometown newspaper, the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He said he would announce the decision officially in a press conference Friday......here

John Edwards On the Late Show

Florida Unions Working Hard for Hillary

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is mailing its 110,000 members in Florida as well as its retirees urging them to vote for Clinton. In addition, the Florida Education Association, the statewide teachers union, is working its 250,000 members for Clinton as well........here

New Group In Town, Citizens for Equal County Representation

7 Single Member Districts

Citizens for Equal County Representation Is a group of citizens that have come together for the betterment of Hillsborough County Government. We are a countywide, non-partisan organization that believes that we must change the structure of the Board of County Commission to be more accountable to all they serve. To do that, we have a petition drive going to get a County Charter Amendment on the Nov. 8th Ballot which would change the Board of County Commission seats to 7 Single Member Districts.

Nomore Countywide Seats !

This will make all the Commissioners more accountable, give better geographical balance to the board, and bring forth REAL Term Limits. Sound good? If so, we need you!........here

Danny Glover Convicted Of Trespassing In Canada

Danny Glover, the American movie star turned labour activist, was convicted in a court in Niagara Falls, Ont., on Thursday for trespassing in a hotel during a union rally. Glover, who was not in court, was convicted along with union representative Alex Dagg and Ontario Federation of Labour president Wayne Samuelson........here

"It is sad that even though the police acknowledged everyone was well behaved and did not press charges, a rich and powerful company can pay to go forward with a private prosecution,"......Alex Dagg

"We must stand vigilant against Bush in these times,"........Danny Glover 2001

Bill Nelson, Florida's Lieberman

Today, Sen. Nelson was among 12 Democratic senators who voted to table the Senate Judiciary Committee's electronic surveillance bill, which would have withheld retroactive immunity for the telecommunications companies. In other words, Sen. Nelson voted to give aid and comfort to massive multinational corporations that may have assisted -- in fact, likely did assist -- the federal government in conducting covert electronic surveillance on American citizens, in clear violation of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution........here
Looking For A Ned Lamont

CYPRESS CREEK POLLUTED AGAIN FROM TOWN CENTER SITE!

Video showing the massive amounts of silt-laden polluted water running off of the Cypress Creek Town Center site into Cypress Creek…AGAIN!

A Message From Eli Pariser - moveon.org

Democrats Urged To Campaign In Florida

Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink
One of only two statewide elected Democrats in Florida, strongly urged national and state Democratic leaders on Wednesday to let Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards campaign here after the South Carolina primary on Saturday. Sink and other top Florida Democrats said it makes no sense to hold presidential candidates to a pledge to boycott Florida after South Carolina Democrats vote. Florida's presidential primary is Jan. 29........here

Dean And Me: Roadshow Of An American Primary

Five years after he met Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and three years after Dean's insurgent presidential campaign ended where it started in Burlington, documentary filmmaker Heath Eiden is ready to show his movie on the campaign........here
Video clips can be seen at http://thegrassrootsmovie.com

Labels: HOWARD DEAN

Paul, Obama Favored Among U. South Florida Students

The results are in: Barack Obama and Ron Paul are the favorites among University of South Florida students, according to the USF straw poll. Students also approved of Amendment I, which garnered a "yes" from 44 percent of voters, and considered the economy/jobs the most important factor in selecting the presidential candidate.......here

The Florida Progressive Coalition Endorses John Edwards

The Florida Progressive Coalition proudly endorses John Edwards to be the next president of the United States. We did not arrive at this decision lightly. We surveyed our readers, members of Netroots mailing lists and blogs of other Floridians. We debated the issue internally for several days via e-mail. We even talked about endorsing no candidate because of our concerns that endorsing one candidate might alienate supporters of other candidates or that our choice for the presidency might be out of the race before January 29. In the end, we decided to vote for the candidate who offered the most progressive and realistic vision for America’s future — John Edwards........here

Cape Coral Residents Feel The Effect Of Florida's Decline

When Eric Feichthaler became mayor three years ago, this town was booming. The city issued 800 permits that month to build single-family homes. Cape Coral still has thousands of empty lots, but last month, it issued just nine permits. A number of factors explain the downturn, and many of them are not unique to Florida. But it is becoming clear the Sunshine State is losing some of its luster......here

4 Independent Candidates Call Central Florida Home

You know Hillary, Barak Rudy, and Mitt -- but how about Frank and Bob? Frank Zilaitis, of Melbourne, and Bob Adkins, of St. Cloud, are two of four independent presidential candidates who live in Central Florida........here

935 False Statements

A study by two nonprofit journalism organizations found that President Bush and top administration officials issued hundreds of false statements about the national security threat from Iraq in the two years following the 2001 terrorist attacks.The study concluded that the statements "were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses."........here
International Criminal Court

Obama vs. Clinton – October 2002

In summary, on the most critical political question of the decade, a freshman state senator from Illinois was able to figure out what an experienced member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee could not - that Saddam Hussein was no longer a threat and that an invasion of Iraq would harm America’s national security interests. Over the next few weeks, Democratic voters will have the opportunity to decide whether which of these two leading candidates has the best judgment to lead this country during this next critical period........here

Florida Bloggers Should Hide Their Heads In Shame

I am going to have to put with all the media crap here in this state as the media and Democrats here trumpet their importance. I will have to watch as they write and say devastatingly ugly things about the man who is trying to rebuild the party throughout the country. But I sure do hate seeing it play out here like it has........here

Labels: HOWARD DEAN

Chelsea and America Ferrera in Nevada

Tampa Soldier Stops Torture At Abu Ghraib

Michael Keller was once a software executive from Florida. Then came September 11, 2001. A few weeks after the al-Qaeda attacks on America, he joined the Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq in November of 2005. In this revealing collection of e-mails and photographs, Keller shares his first-hand experiences in the War on Terror.......here

A First, MLK Day Parade Marches On MLK Blvd. In Tampa

Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated yesterday across the country and in the Tampa Bay area; major parades were held in both St. Petersburg and Tampa. Because of construction in West Tampa, the parade was held for the first time in East Tampa along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard......here

Florida Voting Facts

here

Barack Obama Speaks At Dr. King's Church

Radar Has A Ruff Job At Florida Airport

Since 2001, a 9-year-old border collie named Radar has been patrolling the runway and chasing away any birds in sight. Birds being sucked into aircraft engines is one of the most persistent safety problems at airports. Border collies scare the birds but don't harm them.......here

Have Lunch With Samm Simposon And Ann Wright

Sunday, Jan 27, 2008

12:30pm-2pm - Ferg's 1320 Central Ave. St. Petersburg

4pm-6pm - Leo's Italian Restaurant 2900 Alt 19 Palm Harbor

If you reserve your seat now, $20 gets you fed and helps put your country back on track. Day of the event: $25 (And bring your checkbook to buy one of Ann's great books for only about $15. Autographed to boot! See http://www.voicesofconscience.com/) So for less than the cost of a lousy movie and dinner, you can get Samm one step closer to Washington, get yourself even more educated on civic responsibility, and have a great time. RSVP, send a check for $20 per event BEFORE THURSDAY to:
Samm Simpson For Congress
PO Box 228
Dunedin, FL 34697

For More Info. Mike Fox 727-320-4502

Living In The Woods Of Central Florida

An estimated 8,000 homeless women and men are living in makeshift camps scattered throughout the woods, cars or other parts of Central Florida. "Nobody wakes up at the age of 18 and says my career goal is to be a homeless person in a camp off John Young Parkway," Executive Director of the Homeless Services Network Kathy Jackson said. Jackson said there are more than 140 camps of homeless people in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties........here

Police Armed With Dogs And Fire Hoses

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy..........Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King "I Have A Dream"

Roseanne Attacks Oprah Winfrey's Endorsement Of Barack Obama

Oprah doesn't really seem to respect the intelligence of her audience at all. Obama slaps the faces of his supporters with his traitorous praise of Ronald Reagan, the man who singlehandedly destroyed the working people, the economy, and the mental health safety net in this country.......here

Fight The War On Greed

Buyout industry executives with multi-million dollar incomes have been exploiting a tax loophole that allows them to pay a lesser tax percentage rate than most of the workers in the companies they manage. This is a disgrace! Tell all the presidential candidates to pledge to close the buyout industry's tax loopholes

Obama: Palm Beach Post Endorsement

Why vote for Sen. Obama? Because his opponents, Democratic and Republican, now tout the "hope" and "change" on which Sen. Obama has campaigned from the start. No candidate has more directly and correctly addressed the unease that pervades the country after seven years of a terrible presidency........here

A Look At Florida, The 4th Largest State

here

Indian Doctor Inducted Into Hall Of Fame By Florida Governor

According to a statement issued by the governor’s office in Tallahassee, the capital of Florida, Dr Pallavi Patel and two other women will be honoured by the governor on March 11 at a ceremony to be held in the Capitol Courtyard........here

Edwards: "I will never use Reagan as an example for change"

McDonald's Florida Report Cards

McDonald's Corp. has voluntarily pulled its sponsorship of report-card covers in Seminole County, Fla., public schools. "This is a good day for parents and children in Seminole County and anyone who believes that corporations should not prey on children in schools," said Dr. Susan Linn, director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood.......here

Canada puts U.S. On Torture 'Watch List'

Canada has put the United States and Israel on a torture watch list, according to CTV. A Canadian government document cites the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and interrogation techniques that include "forced nudity, isolation, and sleep deprivation."......here

Howard Dean Not Welcome In Orlando

If national Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean was contemplating spring break in sunny Florida, he might want to reconsider. "He would not be welcome," says Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a Democratic former state senator. Not a very friendly stance for the head of a city known for its embrace of tourists seeking suntans and all things Disney........here

Gayest Democratic Convention Ever?

The Democratic National Committee's Executive Committee on Friday approved 25 delegates -- seven of whom are LGBT -- to the 2008 Denver Democratic Convention's standing committees on platform, rules and credentials........here

The appointments were recommended by Gov. Howard Dean

Fidel Castro On Bushs Visit To The Middle East

It seems unreal to see Bush, the conqueror of other peoples’ raw materials and energy resources, setting out guidelines for the world careless about how many hundreds of thousands or millions of people die or how many clandestine prisons and torture centers must be created to attain his objectives.......here

John Edwards Rocks LA

Back when moving the California primary up to February 5th was being debated, opponents insisted that the candidates would never actually campaign here as they do in Iowa and New Hampshire, and besides, the nomination will be decided well before February 5th anyway, so what's the point!? Oh really?.......here

Slideshow.......here

Switch To DFA Wireless

Now there's a new way to take our country back: DFA Wireless. When you call with DFA Wireless, 10% of your charges go directly to Democracy for America. Now the phone calls you make every day will build our movement and fight for a progressive America.......here

Labels: HOWARD DEAN

Broward Senator Makes Plea To See Presidential Candidates

State Sen. Ted Deutch asked the Democratic party chairmen in four states with presidential nominating contests before Florida to relent and allow presidential candidates to campaign in the Sunshine States.......here
"I would simply like two days for the Democrats of Florida to feel the fervor for change and real leadership that the candidates will bring to our state, and two days to remind Florida voters that the Democratic Party is committed to winning here in November."

Off Rob Lorei's Bookshelf

Mirage: Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S.
Cynthia Barnett

Part investigative journalism, part environmental history, Mirage reveals how the eastern half of the nation---historically so wet that early settlers predicted it would never even need irrigation---has squandered so much of its abundant fresh water that it now faces shortages and conflicts once unique to the arid West......here

Huckabee: Amend Constitution to Reflect God's Standards

Ann Wright Is Coming To Clearwater

Saturday, January 26th, 7:30pm
Clearwater Unitarian Universalist Church, 2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater

Clinton, Obama Spar Over Florida

Is Hillary Clinton breaking her pledge not to campaign in Florida? Democratic rival Barack Obama raised the question - even though he insists Florida's vote won't matter - one day after a poll showed him 21 points behind in the state. An Obama campaign memo Tuesday pointed to "signs that she may be planning to campaign in the state, inquiring about large venues and increased organizing activity." In fact, the Clinton campaign inquired Tuesday if the Miami Beach Convention Center will be available for a "rally" on Jan. 27, two days before the state holds its earliest primary in history......here

Democracy Now! Re-Hosts NBC Las Vegas Debate

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich was missing from the stage at last night’s Democratic debate hosted by MSNBC in Las Vegas after he lost a last-minute legal fight with the network over his participation. Democracy Now! decided to break the sound barrier and give Kucinich a chance to take part. In an exclusive broadcast, we re-broadcast excerpts of the debate and give the Ohio Congressman a chance to answer the questions he might have faced if he hadn’t been silenced......here

WTF?

Tampa Bay Blvd. And Dale Mabry Hwy.

Kucinich Is The Candidate You Are Not Suppose To Talk About

I am speechless at the banning of Kucinich from NBC Debate tonite by the Nevada Supreme Court a few minutes ago. An outrage and a real loss for democracy. It is another example of corrupt, corporate control of politics that makes Democrats and Republicans sound and act so alike. Any dissenting candidate that can threaten the corporate bottom line will be marginalized and muzzled.......here

David Barsamian To Speak In Tampa

Hear David Barsamian speak live at the Musicale in a benefit for WMNF! Before David speaks we'll have the Tampa Bay area premiere of the film Meeting Resistance.

Friday Jan 18 07:00PM -- Friday Morning Musicale
Buy Tickets

Florida's Natural To Save Energy With Solar Panels

The power of the sun is now helping the operation of the visitor center of Florida's Natural in Lake Wales. Solar panels were installed a little more than a week ago on the roof of the Grove House which will save an estimated 30 percent of energy usage.......here

Stop Eating At Burger King

Burger King is telling suppliers it may stop buying tomatoes from southwestern Florida, where farmworkers have fought to get the second-largest hamburger chain to pay more for its produce and help boost field-worker wages. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers has tried for more than a year to get Burger King Corp. to join deals signed by rivals McDonald's Corp. and Taco Bell owner Yum Brands Inc........here

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Kevin Beckner Volunteer Round-Up

At the party, you'll have a chance make new friends and see old ones! Hear Kevin speak about his platform! Find out what specific jobs the campaign has for volunteers and learn what each job entails! There will be food, beverages, and interesting conversation!

January 20, 1:00pm to 3:pm

Jerk Hut - 2101 Fowler Ave, Tampa

RSVP to Mark@KevinBeckner.com

Bob Johnson: "Something in the Neighborhood"

Florida's GOP Anti-Gay Amendment In Trouble

Backers of a proposed amendment to bar same-sex marriage in Florida are scrambling to find 20,000 signatures to get the measure on November's ballot after the Secretary of State announced Monday that a counting mistake put them well short of the required 611,000 signatures needed........more

Last year it was discovered that the state GOP was bankrolling Florida4Marriage......here

The John F. Kennedy Maritime Museum In Miami

Right now, the beloved JFK is sitting in Virginia waiting for a new home, and a group with First Coast ties has a plan for a new life as a museum in Florida. Retired Navy Captain Rick Hoffman, who lives on the First Coast, is working with a group called the JFK CV-67 Memorial Foundation that wants to turn the former JFK into the John F. Kennedy Maritime Museum........here

Don't Let Them Bully You From Signing Petition

You still haven't signed the Florida Hometown Democracy petition? If you are a Florida voter, and you haven't signed it yet, please do so today and mail it in. Time is running out for us to make the 2008 ballot........here

http://www.floridahometowndemocracy.com

Spiritual Progressives Mix Politics And Religion

Thomas N. Tift isn't sure he's ready for this — a major conference sponsored by his tiny organization, which hasn't yet seen its second birthday. But the Methodist layman isn't backing off. He said South Florida needs an alternative voice — i.e., a more liberal one......more

Havana Blogger Writes Freely About Life In Cuba

From the 14th-floor balcony of a hulking Soviet-era high-rise, Yoani Sánchez enjoys a spectacular view of the city where she was born 32 years ago. There is Revolution Square, with its image of Ernesto "Che" Guevara and towering monument to José Martí, surrounded by the sprawling capital......here

www.desdecuba.com/generaciony

Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride

To help a new generation of combat-wounded veterans make the transition to an active civilian life with the extra challenges that come with a physical disability, a pair of local Iraq veterans will pedal across south Florida next week......here
Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride

Dean Hopes For Civil Fight

While Howard Dean acknowledged the potential convention fight in Denver over who wins the Democratic nomination would generate huge public interest, he said it would actually be "a nightmare" for him........here

Ned Lamont for Obama

The Meatrix

Sustainable Table celebrates the sustainable food movement, educates consumers on food-related issues and works to build community through food. The program is home to the critically-acclaimed, award-winning Meatrix movies - The Meatrix, The Meatrix II: Revolting and The Meatrix II½.

Seffner Mango Volunteer Fire Department

A Hillsborough county volunteer fire department, that lost its certification because of a scandal, is still benefiting from tax payer dollars. Initially they received hundreds of thousands of dollars to run the place, now they are profiting from the sale of the property. Community Activist Terry Flott says everybody should be outraged at this........more

Howard Dean Goes To School

The Democratic National Committee chairman showed up in a T-shirt, faded jeans with worn- out knees and a pair of beat-up New Balance running shoes for a DNC service project at Manual High School. This is a very gutsy, risky thing to do, and I think it’s a great way to save a school,” Dean said. “That’s what makes education work — when a community cares enough to do this. This could actually be a model for the rest of the nation — if it works.”.........here

“I’m learning from the Republicans how to whitewash everything.”

Florida Losing Its Sunny Magnetism

The vast flow of people into Florida from elsewhere in the United States has been the defining feature of the Sunshine State's 20th-century history, draining swamps and spurring development, swelling the economy and shaping politics......here

Hispanic Pride - Hispanic Shame

Manatees' Family Tree Recorded In Florida

A thick herd of manatees greeted Blue Spring State Park specialist Wayne Hartley as he started his manatee count during a recent Florida cold snap. Among them swam Lunatic, Law, Liege and Lili — manatees he named when each was a newborn calf and all of whom descended from Luna, a matriarch whose family tree of 35 sea cows spans five generations. "Luna was one of those who had a calf every two years," said Hartley, sighing in his reminiscence. "I can remember when she died. They picked her up in Lake Monroe Fla.". But Luna's legacy — and those of a dozen other matriarchs — lives on among the more than 260 manatees that take refuge at the Orange City, Fla., park every winter. Their family trees — recorded throughout Hartley's 27 years of tracking the manatees — serve a vital purpose for scientists, too.........here

Blue Hampshire

The Republican Party in New England's only "red state" may be going the way of the Old Man of the Mountain, the craggy icon of independence that crumbled a few years back in a rock slide. In the last election, Democrats took both seats in Congress for the first time in nearly a century and both houses of the legislature for the first time since 1874. Democratic Gov. John Lynch won a second term with a record 74 percent of the vote, and lawmakers recently authorized same-sex civil unions and a smoking ban in bars and restaurants........more

Most independents say they'll vote Democratic.

Absentee Ballot Requests Pour In From Palm Beach Democrats

Though they've been snubbed by their party's presidential candidates, Palm Beach County Democrats seem to be more fired up about Florida's Jan. 29 primary than local Republicans. One indicator: Democratic absentee ballot requests outnumber Republican requests by more than a 2-to-1 margin in the county.......more

Atheists Are Moral, Too

The role of religion in politics and government has been a major point of contention between social conservatives who prefer more religion in public policy, and liberals who want to maintain church-state separation. This issue was addressed in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's "Dueling Columnists: Religion in Government". Here's an atheist's perspective........here

"I believe in a President whose religious views are his own private affair, neither imposed by him upon the nation or imposed by the nation upon him as a condition to holding that office.".......John F. Kennedy

Florida ACLU For Impeachment

The Board of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida urges the National ACLU Board of Directors to call for the convening of hearings by the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives to determine whether to recommend Articles of Impeachment against President George Bush, and Vice President Richard Cheney to the House.......here

Dr. Maya Angelou At USF

Monday, January 14, 2008 7:00 PM, As Part Of MLK Celebration
Tickets on sale now at Sun Dome Ticket Office or by calling (813) 974-3002

Howard Dean's 528,468-Mile Journey

What started as a groundbreaking but controversial bid to set up Democratic Party offices in every state, even red ones, has been completed, and party boss Howard Dean has the frequent-flier miles to prove it........here

Labels: HOWARD DEAN

Obama and Edwards In Iowa

Progressives Unite in Iowa

Obama, an Illinois senator bidding to make U.S. history as the first black president, won the first Democratic test on the road to the White House with a comeback triumph over New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who were in a tight battle for second........here

A year ago, the pundits and beltway Democrats said this race was a forgone conclusion.

Close Guantánamo Tampa Protest

January 11, 2008, is the six-year anniversary of the first arrival of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay. We are calling on everyone opposed to torture and indefinite detention to WEAR ORANGE to symbolize their sadness and disgust with the national shame that is Guantánamo Bay........here

Contact: rcolbert@mail.usf.edu

Confused In Largo, Florida

calvarychapel.com

No More Sexual Conduct With Animals In Florida

Bestiality isn't a crime right now in Florida. So a St. Petersburg lawmaker has filed a bill for this year's legislative session that would make it a first-degree felony for people to have sex with animals. Rep. Frank Peterman, D-St. Petersburg, crafted the bill to prevent anyone from knowingly committing bestiality, knowingly causing or aiding another person to have sex with an animal, or knowingly permitting sex with an animal at a property under his control........here
The Netherlands

Fake Grouper, Not At The Columbia Restaurant

At many restaurants around Florida, the specialty of the house is a slab of grouper, blackened, grilled, stuffed or encrusted with pecans, sometimes on a roll, maybe with a slice of Bermuda onion. But not at Richard Gonzmart's place.......here

John Edwards - Time for Truth

Barack Obama - One Voice

Olivia's Kiss: Chapter 2

Cigarettes taste best right after a hit, so I took a smoke break on the balcony and looked out over Boston. The rush gone, I felt like taking a nap.........more

Labels: Catherine Durkin Robinson

E-Mail From Howard Dean

The Democratic Party has never been healthier. Just look at the vigorous presidential primary we've got on our hands. Right now, every one of the Democratic campaigns is working around the clock to become our nominee, and any of them would be a great choice. But when the dust settles and people like you pick our nominee, the real challenge will begin.

This time, though, it won't be a debate of ideas with fellow Democrats. It will be against a Republican machine eager to redeem its losses in 2006, fighting to extend George Bush's policies for another four years. We've all seen the way they run campaigns, so we have to be unified and ready. We know that the Republicans are going to come at us with every scam they think up to suppress the vote. In the past, they've abused robocalls that hide their true identity, jammed the phones Democrats used for getting out the vote, and purged voters from the voter rolls. We need to be united in order to stop them.

Stand up and show our candidates, our opponents, and the country just how strong the Democratic Party is by joining me in a pledge to support the Democratic candidate for President in 2008 - no matter who wins. When we have a nominee, they'll know that thousands of Democrats from across the country are united - even if they may not have supported them in the primary. Pledge........here

Off Rob Lorei's Bookshelf

The Shock Doctrine
Naomi Klein

The Shock Doctrine retells the story of the most dominant ideology of our time, Milton Friedman’s free market economic revolution. In contrast to the popular myth of this movement’s peaceful global victory, Klein shows how it has exploited moments of shock and extreme violence in order to implement its economic policies in so many parts of the world from Latin America and Eastern Europe to South Africa, Russia, and Iraq........here