Miami Republicans Act Of Political Cowardice

Miami's three Cuban-American Republicans in Congress have scrapped plans to participate in a series of debates with their Democratic challengers. The South Florida AFL-CIO, which in recent years has hosted debates for mayoral and gubernatorial races, planned three debates next week for the nationally watched contests. But the Republicans said this week that they're not going.........here

The Jan Kaminis Platt Trail

America'a first overhead bicycle path. From bedroom community of Brandon to Tampa.

JOE GARCIA RESPONSE TO BUSH SPEECH ON CUBA

“Apparently, cosmetic policy changes are not only limited to Havana, they are taking place in Washington, too. If George Bush were serious about effectuating change in Cuba he would immediately grant Cuban-Americans unrestricted family visitation and remittances rights.

This is nothing more than political gamesmanship in an election year with the emotions of the Cuban people, which have already suffered through 50 years of a brutal regime and eight years of an incompetent administration.”......Joe Garcia

Far Right Wins in Florida, Loses in Indiana

Every election season brings a new crop of political hopefuls from the radical right. So far this year, their win-loss record is a respectable 1-1........here

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Tasajo
With Moro and Yuca
$5.95 At.......Rosa's Market 4209 W.Martin Luther King Blvd Tampa

Al Gore: We can change the conversation

Howard Dean On Senator Kennedy

"Senator Kennedy is a true American hero and a leader in the Democratic Party, having spent a lifetime standing up for the values of fairness, justice and equality. On behalf of the Democratic Party, we extend our prayers and well wishes to Senator Kennedy, his wife Vicky, and the entire Kennedy family.".........Howard Dean

Barack Obama Takes on McCain in Tampa, Florida

Streets Of Tampa

Obama Rocks Tampa Bay

Mary Tiler More Of Fort Lauderdale

I paint tiles and then I hide them or just leave them in random places where they're likely to be found.........here

Tampa's Economy Falls To Last Place

Continued job losses helped propel the Tampa Bay area's economy to last place in a ranking of six Southern cities, according to a new report by the Tampa Bay Partnership........here

The South Florida Trifecta

Will Democratic challengers in the three "Cuban" congressional districts of South Florida loosen the stranglehold that old-line anti-Castroism has had on presidential politics and Cuba policy? That's a question that can be answered only in the byzantine maze of Little Havana politics.......here

Joe Garcia: Welcome To S. Florida, Sen. McCain

One of eve of John McCain's major speech on Latin American policy and trade in Miami, Joe Garcia, the former executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation and a candidate for Congress, held a conference call to deride the Republican hard-line stance on Cuba, and to warn that South Florida's robust Cuban-American community isn't the GOP bastion it once was........here

Two Local Women Have Opened Up Their Hearts

Today approximately 700,000 Russian orphans are living in government run facilities. If the children aren’t adopted as infants, their chances of finding a new family lessen as they grow older. Jan Temkiewicz of Marco Island and Liz Mossman of Naples are volunteers with the Hosts of Hope program that bring older Russian orphans to this country for an enriching travel experience........here

Florida Going Solar

The “Sunshine State” is going to put some of that sunshine to use for something besides orange juice, tourism and melanoma. How about a little electricity? Or in the case of Florida Gulf Coast University, for a lot of electricity........here

Sting Operation Busts 78 Year Old Florida Man

A man who said he thought he was just helping a woman in need is accused of running an illegal taxi service. Miami-Dade County's Consumer Services Department has slapped Rosco O'Neil with $2,000 worth of fines. After O'Neil dropped off the woman,
Police Surrounded Him,
issued him two citations and impounded his minivan........here

Tennessee's Republican Party: "Lay off my wife"

The GOP, should I be the nominee, can say whatever they want to say about me, my track record," Obama said. "If they think that they're going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful because that I find unacceptable.........here

McCain's YouTube Problem Just Became a Nightmare

Sun-Sentinel Washington Bureau Chief William E. Gibson

A South Florida Sun-Sentinel article quoted Sid Dinerstein, chairman of the Palm Beach County Republican Party, saying, "This is a terrible thing," and adding, "I wish Obama would not pretend to care about the Jewish community." At no point did the article quote the Obama campaign or anyone besides Dinerstein on the issue of Obama's commitment to the Jewish community........here

WMNF’s 27th Annual Tropical Heatwave

The community radio station’s signature fundraiser, it featured six stages in and around the Cuban Club in Ybor City. About 30 mostly national and local bands, ranging from polka to post-rock acts, entertained the thousands of attendees.........here
more
Photo By Wade Tatangelo

Solidarity for Dr Lemur

75,000 Gather For Obama In Oregon

"Wow! Wow! Wow!"
Were his first words as he surveyed the multitude, which included people in kayaks and small pleasure craft on the river on an unseasonably hot day in Oregon.........here
In Tampa At The St. Pete Times Forum Wednesday, May 21st, Doors Open: 10:30 a.m.
Tix

Miami's Famous 'Coppertone' Sign

The Coppertone sign in downtown Miami is being removed after nearly 50 years. The landmark neon sign will get a face lift and will be put back near its original location.......here

Wackenhut Gets The Finger In Miami

On July 4th, 2007, a Wackenhut executive dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase filled with taxpayers’ dollars, sprinted through the streets of South Beach while being chased by a giant finger and several sets of eyes.......here

Lunch At The Columbia In Ybor City

The original Columbia is located in Tampa in the historic Ybor City district, and since we just happened to jump off the plane during lunch hour, we thought we would take the kids for a visit......here

'Brokeback Mountain' Airs On Cuban State Television

here

Breakthrough City Church In Ybor City

Along the sin-soaked streets of Ybor City, Scientologists compete against bull-horn-toting evangelical Christians and Jesus Christ look-a-likes for their latest converts. The church is led in part by the Revs. David and Esther Crownborn, a husband-and-wife team who sermonize in a theater at Muvico Centro Ybor.........here

If I Were A Terrorist

Michael Burks At Skipper’s In Tampa

Arkansas-based bluesman Michael Burks will celebrate the release of his new CD, Iron Man, with a live performance in Tampa on Friday, May 23, 8 p.m., at Skipper’s Smokehouse..........here

Bike to Work: New Tampa To Downtown

The Times let me write a column on the 13 mile trek from New Tampa to downtown I took last Friday in recognition of Bike to Work Week. It was the first time I had ever ridden to downtown. I thoroughly enjoyed most of the ride but as a whole it was sub-par.........here

Florida Again Is Campaign Central

Signs are everywhere that Florida will return to center stage in presidential politics next week.
Howard Dean will be in Tampa on Monday evening where the Democratic National Committee chairman will combine fundraising with a sit-down dinner with Florida Democrats to try to soothe hard feelings left after the national party refused to recognize the state's primary results.........here

Joe Garcia - Best Miami Politician

In South Florida, the notion that there's such a thing as a first-rate politician is hard to swallow. But Garcia is simply good at what he does........here

Where To Get Tix For Obama In Tampa

here

Ellen DeGeneres Getting Married

Amtrak: The Leroy Selmon Express

Brandon To Downtown Tampa Every Morning And Back In The Afternoon. The Tracks Are Already There. How Much Does A Train Cost? We Can Turn The Ugly Addition To The Crosstown Expressway Into A Bike Path.

Robert Wexler And Debbie Wasserman Schultz

“I strongly reject President Bush’s politically calculated attack on Barack Obama in the Israeli Knesset today. It is clear that President Bush was directly attacking Senator Obama while at the same time unconscionably using the horrors of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust for political partisan gain.........here

"It is unprecedented that a sitting American President would stoop to this level and launch a deliberate attack on Barack Obama who is a staunch supporter of Israel.”......Robert Wexler, D-Delray Beach

For The Love Of Woman

A circle of Sisters on the web and a few blessed men. A safe place. A helpful place. For the glory of Woman, the uplift of Woman and the health of Woman in body, mind and spirit.......here