Trouble Has Fled To Florida

Trouble, a white Maltese who belonged to billionaire Leona Helmsley until her death in August, was flown by private jet under tight security two months ago after receiving around 20 such threats.........here

The 12 Million Dollar Dog

Florida National Guard To Afghanistan In 2009

The 3,400 soldiers of the 53rd Infantry Brigade will "assume battle space in Afghanistan" to perform a range of operations starting in the summer of 2009, the Pentagon announced Monday. More than 1,200 members of the brigade, headquartered at Pinellas Park, returned from an active-duty tour in Afghanistan as recently as mid-2006.........here

Helen Thomas pwns Dana Perino

Florida Schools Take Out Loans To Pay Teachers

The Jefferson County school district was forced to take out a short-term loan to cover payroll for the 220 teachers and other employees in the system after $2.7 million it held in the pool was frozen yesterday. At least five other districts also obtained last-minute loans.......more

"What we just experienced here is a classic run-on-the bank meltdown.''........Hal Wilson, chief financial officer of the Jefferson County school district

Venezuelan Election Results Could Impact Florida

Nearly 16 million Venezuelans will go to the polls to vote on a proposal to reform the 1999 constitution. The proposal would increase President Hugo Chavez's powers, and would allow him to be re-elected indefinitely.........here

"We Venezuelans would never accept a Fidel Castro-like communism, like the one in Cuba today,".......Nancy Lancaster

Let's Hope So!

Dean: Democrats Can Win In Red States

"What Virginia Democrats have demonstrated is that if you show up and work hard, not just in Northern Virginia but everywhere, and speak about our values as Democrats and Americans, there is no part of America that Democrats cannot win,"........here

Chris Rock Introduces Barack Obama

Tiny Little Dots GOP Debate

These people are no George Bush. I know George Bush. With George Bush the whole of this knowledge is contained within one person......here

Pushing Rope: McCain Complete Asshole

Honestly, I'm sick to fucking death of the terrorism/Nazism comparisons. Hitler had the political intelligence and acumen to maneuver himself into a position of absolute control, with popular support, in a nation that was historically an industrial and military powerhouse........more

PoHo’s Debate Open Thread

Mayor Rick just came onstage to stand and have his photo taken with all the candidates in the gaggle photo op and he wins the “I’m taller than Fred Thompson” award for tonight......here

The St. Petersburg Rally

DFA Mandate for Change Rally

That will be the rallying cry from 2:00 – 10 P.M. on Wednesday, November 28 at Pioneer Park - located at One Beach Drive South East St. Petersburg. Where hundreds of like-minded Floridians will set aside political differences and peacefully assemble to protest what they describe as a failed system of government. ....info

Veteran and co-organizer Dan Tucker, a life-long Republican, believes its time to make a noise. ”I’ve always advocated core American values: the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We the people share many issues: our diminished civil liberties, the abuse of our military, stolen elections, job losses, legalized torture, destroyed borders, increased poverty and federal debt.”

St. Petersburg Florida - Debate Countdown

Corbett Kroehler For Congress

Central Floridians must stop allowing special interests and big corporations to own our political system and decide how we live. It is time that WE decide how we live. Make Central Florida Ours Again. Make America Ours Again. I’m Corbett Kroehler and I’m running for Congress in Florida’s Eighth District. To learn more about me and why I am running, please.......click here.

The Interstate Traveler Hydrogen Superhighway

If the Sunshine State had a real high-speed rail system, how would it look? Unlike most every other type of mass transit, the Hydrogen Superhighway requires no public investment for construction or maintenance. The Interstate Traveler is solar-powered! It manufactures its own hydrogen fuel with the power of the sun and the excess is sold off to local utilities at a profit. If you'd like to hear all about the Interstate Traveler Hydrogen Superhighway straight from the inventor, in Orlando this weekend
Windermere.......Downtown Orlando

Interstate Traveler

Governor Crist And Availability Payments

A unique approach to infrastructure development, which is common in Europe, Australia and other major countries, is focused on creating needed infrastructure while enhancing regional economic development, including congestion relief. While the local governments retain ownership of the highways, project developers are compensated based on what are known as “availability payments”, which are earned only if strict contractual performance measures, such as quality construction, operation and management, are met. Stiff penalties are incurred if performance falls short. Performance priorities are established by the government. Financial risks are shouldered by the concessionaire, not local tax payers........here

Global Via Infraestructuras

Caja Madrid

Kucinich Campaign Update

If Osceola Could See Us Now

The Seminole Tribe of Florida's leaders have spent millions on lavish homes, boxing rings, basketball courts and other gifts for themselves and relatives as the tribe's gambling enterprise has expanded into one of the nation's largest.......here

"I myself had no running water until back in '70, '71 when I moved into a regular house," he testified in a 2002 court proceeding. "I come from an Indian reservation where there is nothing but swamps, Everglades. So when the money came in, we were on a spending spree."

The Sunshine Skyway For Sale

Faced with a $2.5 billion budget shortfall over the next two years, Florida leaders are considering selling 50-year leases on some state toll roads and bridges in exchange for large sums of cash from private investors. The turnpike's system's roads can't easily be leased because they're all part of a system that's tied together financially.That leaves four roads: Alligator Alley, the Sunshine Skyway over Tampa Bay, the Pinellas Bayway and a state-owned stretch of the BeachLine Expressway (formerly the Bee Line) in central Florida........here

Rise Up! The System Is Broken

A Unity Rally & March

Wednesday November 28, at 2:00 PM

Pioneer Park, St. Petersburg

More Info....here

Aznar, Berlusconi, Blair, Howard,

Australia Conservative Prime Minister John Howard, one of the Bush administration's staunchest allies, suffered a humiliating election defeat Saturday at the hands of an opposition leader who has vowed to pull troops out of Iraq.......here

Democrat Jane Lakes Harman

With overwhelming bipartisan support, Rep. Jane Harman's "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act" passed the House 404-6 late last month and now rests in Sen. Joe Lieberman's Homeland Security Committee. Swift Senate passage appears certain. Not since the "Patriot Act" of 2001 has any bill so threatened our constitutionally guaranteed rights......more

In that vein, diverse groups vigorously oppose Ms. Harman's effort to stifle dissent. Unfortunately, the mainstream press and leading presidential candidates remain silent.

The Barceloneta Pet Killing Fields

An Associated Press investigation reveals why: possibly thousands of unwanted animals have been tossed off bridges, buried alive and otherwise inhumanely disposed of by taxpayer-financed animal control programs. News that live animals had been thrown to their deaths from a bridge reached the public last month when Animal Control Solutions, a government contractor, was accused of inhumanely killing some 80 dogs and cats seized from three housing projects in the town of Barceloneta. A half dozen survived the fall of at least 50 feet.......here

The Everglades, Florida Keys And Global Warming

Range Of Efforts Necessary To Protect Florida Panther

While the challenges are daunting, we also have some success stories to share and reason for hope. By the early 1990s, the panther population was about 20 to 30, and it became clear that genetic problems were causing a downward spiral that would likely lead to extinction. In response, the state of Florida led a restoration effort that has tripled the population. Big Cypress National Preserve and the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, created in the 1970s and 1980s, are strongholds of this population. Today, roughly 75 percent of the panther’s primary habitat is protected, but there is clearly more work to be done.........here

Bill McCollum's "Do Not Shop List"

Florida's Attorney General is urging parents to make a toy list and check it twice, and he's helping you find out who's been naughty or nice. Bill McCollum's "Do Not Shop List.".........here

Burger King Exploits Florida Farmworkers

Attempts To Boost Wages For Florida Tomato Pickers May Fail Under Pressure
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers fought for years to persuade fast-food giants McDonald's Corp. and Taco Bell owner Yum Brands Inc. to pay a penny more per pound of Florida tomatoes - with their suppliers passing the money on to farm workers........more
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Eat Local

Bob Hite, A Local Treasure