Kathy Castor: What I learned in Cuba

Cuba is changing, however, as I learned on my recent fact-finding visit. Cuba has embarked on meaningful economic reforms, which deserve encouragement by the United States, not continued isolation. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have a window of opportunity to engage and encourage reform in Cuba and should act now. These developments remind me of the historic economic changes in the former Soviet bloc countries. Indeed, I traveled to the former East Germany and Czechoslovakia in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Velvet Revolution. The United States was directly engaged with those nations during their transition, and Americans were free to travel and interact with their people.If America officially acknowledged changes under way in Cuba, it would strengthen the hands of Cubans who want these reforms to succeed, and we could encourage Cuba to go further and faster.
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What They Are Saying
In Cuba, Fidel Castro is the last person to feel the pain caused by the U.S. measures...Cato Institute
The Cuban embargo may well be a case where America can truly declare victory and get out....Patrick J. Buchanan
the US - to take the first step by allowing unrestricted travel and repealing the trade embargo.....Jimmy Carter
The time has come for a fundamental change of direction in our Cuba policy. We can start by ending the embargo.....Chris Dobbs
Sign Petition

The Citrus Taliban: Bigots In Indian River County?

 An 18-year-old girl was arrested for statutory rape over a same-sex relationship in Florida because of bigoted parents, according to the mother of the arrested teen.
Kaitlyn Ashley Hunt was arrested February 16 by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office on two counts of lewd or lascivious battery on child.
Her mother, Kelley Hunt Smith, explained on Facebook that Kaitlyn began a “mutual consenting” relationship with a girl at Sebastian River High School who was about three years younger. The parents of the younger girl were upset by the situation and contacted police, she wrote. “They were out to destroy my daughter, they feel like my daughter ‘made’ their daughter gay,” Kaitlyn mother’s said. “They are bigoted, religious zeolites [sic] that see being gay as a sin and wrong, and they blame my daughter.”
The parents of the younger girl also pressured the Indian River County School Board into expelling Kaitlyn, she added.
  friends and family setup a “Free Kate” Facebook page and online petition in hopes of having the case dropped. Support for the young girl appeared to be strong. The petition had more than 27,000 supporters on Sunday morning.
more, sign petition here

Our Castro-Loving Commie

Al Fox,  an outspoken activist for normalized American relations with Cuba, gets pulled over on  Dale Mabry for driving 63 mph in a 45 mph zone by Tampa PD super DUI cop Ray Fernandez. The same guy that was involved in the Shnitt, Bubba the Love Sponge DUI arrest. Fernandez called Officer Dean Uno to administer field sobriety tests. Uno arrested Fox after he said Fox failed tests of walking in a straight line and maintaining balance on one foot. Fox said he failed the tests because he is an old man.
He blew a 0.000 blood alcohol level, twice, records show, at the Hillsborough County Jail,
and his urine tested clean.
In an interview Thursday, Fox, who was joined by attorney Joe Lopez, said he thinks something other than public safety motivated the officers. Fox has made enemies with his advocacy of ending the trade embargo and travel restrictions to Cuba.Fox says Uno acknowledged knowing him that night.

"I recognize you," Uno said at the jail, according to Fox. "You're that Cuba guy, aren't you? You do that Cuba stuff."

"I took it to mean you're that Castro-loving commie, aren't you?" Fox said.

Lopez said he intends to file a federal lawsuit against the city for violation of Fox's civil rights. He called the actions of Fernandez and Uno "suspicious." In a report, Fernandez wrote he observed Fox "to have glassy eyes, very slurred speech and had the distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath." Lopez's replies: Fox was wearing glasses that night, his speech does not sound slurred in the video of sobriety tests, and Fernandez must have had an amazing sense of smell to detect less than one beer on Fox's breath.

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Good luck Mr. Fox

Did They Really Say That?

Rubio captivated more than 700 people at the Hillsborough
GOP's annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Saturday night.
"We are watching the growth of the greatest messenger that American exceptionalism has ever known,"
Hillsborough Republican Chairman and state Sen. Tom Lee.

"Marco is moving from being a Republican leader to an American leader,"
gushed Republican consultant Adam Goodman of Tampa.
here

Ireland Nugent Meets Winter The Dolphin

Ireland Nugent, the 2-year-old Palm Harbor girl who lost part of her legs in a lawn mower accident, met a new friend today: Winter the dolphin.
here

Heart And Rush

2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to 2 of my favorite bands Heart and Rush.

SEIU Florida Endorses Darden Rice

- Service Employees International Union

“Our members have decided to stand behind Darden Rice in this important election, because we believe we share a common vision for a stronger and more sustainable St. Petersburg. We are confident she will bring people together and has the skills necessary to get the job done.”
– SEIU Florida President, Monica Russo
here

Call Rep. Castor

Please ask her to sign the letter urging President Obama to reject Keystone XL.
Rep. Castor hasn't signed Rep. Grijalva's letter urging President Obama to reject Keystone XL - she needs to hear from you. Please make a quick call now.
Rep. Kathy Castor: (813)871-2817, Report your call here

Obama Administration: Power to Wage Endless War

Obama Administration Claims Power to Wage Endless War Across the Globe
"This is the most astounding and most astoundingly disturbing hearing that I’ve been to since I’ve been here," said Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine. "You guys have essentially rewritten the Constitution here today."

Nicco Is Looking For A Home

Nicco Is The Man
This colorful German Short-Haired Pointer mix was given up by his owner
for reasons no one can figure out.
info, Check out the cats here.
Cheaper then kids.

2,275 Homeless In Hillsborough County

Advocates for the homeless found a total of 2,275 homeless people in Hillsborough County — about half the number from two years ago — in a count and recount this year. The good news: The drop suggests that several new efforts to address homelessness are making a dent in the number of people living on the streets, in emergency shelters, in transitional housing or in jail.
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Pic: Cowboy, i first met him on September 21 of 2011. He is now working at the yellow food stand across from
the Marion Transit Center and living in a motel. Stop in and say hello, try their chili dog.

Alexander Rosario and Douceaymee Lopez-Alvarez Of Tampa

Hillsborough deputies: 23-month-old boy left in car for 8 hours, parents arrested .

Local Views - Kathleen Peters

Letters To The Tampa Bay Times
What is more interesting than the hypocrisy is how easily one representative wants to mislead the public on the Medicaid expansion's viability. Rep. Kathleen Peters at Tiger Bay on Tuesday said that she voted against the health care expansion because it was going to be run by the Florida Healthy Kids program, and she spoke to a pediatrician who said that they do not like the program and do not have the ability to take more of "those" patients. Peters is worried that doctors will be too busy and overly burdened in treating all of these sick kids. The health care expansion, under Sen. Joe Negron's plan, was to be run by Florida Healthy Kids, as well as other Florida agencies, but that does not mean that it covers only kids. Lets look at Peters' statement. Either she thinks that 1 million poor Florida children should not get health care because the one pediatrician she called doesn't want to treat them, or she grossly misunderstands the entire health care expansion and how it is meant to benefit a much broader swath of Floridians in a more cost-effective manner. In either case, her judgment is severely flawed.Josh Shulman, St. Pete
She spoke to one (1) doctor. I wonder what party he belongs to
More locals: Bonnie Sklaren, Gulfport, Robert White, Valrico

Tell Rubio To Support Common-Sense Immigration Reform

Maria came to the United States several years ago after fleeing physical abuse by her father in Honduras. While attempting to cross into Canada, she was stopped at gunpoint and beaten by border patrol agents who placed her in a civil immigration detention center for more than a month. In the facility, she was placed in solitary confinement for two days and at no point did she receive a bond hearing. Maria is now several months pregnant and is facing deportation in June, despite ICE memos stating that pregnant individuals should receive prosecutorial discretion.

Sign the petition, and let Senator Rubio know that you demand common sense reform.

here

Tampa's 50-Foot Rule

No not lap dances, car stereos

Tampa City Council gave its preliminary approval to an ordinance Thursday that would make it illegal for drivers to blast their car stereos. The proposal would allow police to ticket drivers if their music can be heard from at least 50 feet away and would include possible jail time for a third offense.
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Jail time for playing your stereo too loud? I like this idea better.
Council member Lisa Montelione cast the only vote against the ordinance. She said she supported it, but objected to incarcerating repeat offenders. "Jail time is going to put a lot of young people behind bars who are going to get records and who are not going to be able to get jobs," she said.Better, Montelione said, would be to impound the cars of the offenders.But she was alone on that. "The only way this ordinance is going to work is if the penalties attached to it are steep enough to keep people from repeatedly violating it," council member Harry Cohen said.

A Fired-Up Kevin Beckner

Sue Carlton: Duking it out in the name of diversity

 If you are forming a panel to empower minorities, should a racist get a seat at the table? Does tolerance mean tolerating bigots — who are, by definition, intolerant? And does Terry Kemple — conservative Christian activist and Hillsborough School Board candidate who speaks out against gay rights — belong on a board that's supposed to be about diversity?

Kevin Beckner, the openly gay commissioner who proposed the panel, put it this way:
 "Why would you want to serve on a board you don't believe should be in existence?"

Which led to one fired-up discussion between Beckner and
Victor Crist, who with three other Republicans voted for Kemple.
Commissioner Les Miller voted to table it indefinitely!
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Families Homeless In Florida Foreclosures

Rubio Votes Against Everglades Funding

The Senate voted 84-13 to approve a wide-ranging water bill today that includes millions in funding for the Everglades and other Florida-related projects. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) could have had a positive effect on Florida’s natural resources, industries and residents.   Every Floridian is impacted by the work conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers in our state.  Unfortunately, politics were chosen over sound public policy, and the state’s best interests were left out of the final bill. Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson voted yes,  Marco Rubio voted no.

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Rubio doesn't care about the Everglades or south Florida, he has his $800,000 book advance and is moving to DC.

Blackballing Terry Kemple

Several Hillsborough County commissioners ( Al Higginbotham, Ken Hagan) are steamed about the process a national diversity organization used in disqualifying local conservative activist Terry Kemple from a diversity advisory council. The council recommended Kemple be disqualified because of an e-mail he sent to his supporters in September disparaging the new diversity council as a vehicle to promote homosexuality. Kemple also used the e-mail to attack Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who is gay and who proposed creating a local diversity council in the first place. The council cut its ties with the county on Monday.Commissioners are scheduled to approve members for the new council. The discussion is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.

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Kemple does not belong on any diversity advisory council, he is a bigot and doesn't even know what  diversity means.

High-Speed Ferries On Tampa Bay

Ed Turanchik
Local treasure and Visionary
Is pitching a proposal to some civic leaders and elected officials on behalf of a client hoping to operate a commuter ferry service in Tampa Bay.
"Proceeding with this project expeditiously would be a great and a pleasant unexpected step forward for our whole region, and unquestionably convey the message that Tampa Bay is back and is building for a more sustainable future."
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While we are at it lets buy a train and bring people in from Brandon in the morning and take them back in the afternoon. The tracks are already there.

RNC Florida Hispanic Director: GOP Is Racist

From: Pablo Pantoja: I have changed my political affiliation to the Democratic Party.

It doesn’t take much to see the culture of intolerance surrounding the Republican Party today. I have wondered before about the seemingly harsh undertones about immigrants and others. Look no further; a well-known organization recently confirms the
intolerance of that which seems different or strange to them.
more, At Pushing Rope

Un-Fucking-Beliveble!

A construction company has essentially destroyed one of Belize's largest Mayan pyramids with backhoes and bulldozers to extract crushed rock for a road-building project. . The ceremonial center dates back at least 2,300 years and is the most important site in northern Belize, near the border with Mexico. The Belize community-action group Citizens Organized for Liberty Through Action called the destruction of the archaeological site "an obscene example of disrespect for the environment and history."
here, At Google
"The only way to stop it is by showing that it is a major crime and people can and will go to jail for it."
Francisco Estrada-Belli, a professor at Tulane University's Anthropology Department.

Investigate IRS And DOJ

U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy of Florida made the following statement in regards to reports of misconduct by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ):

"The news regarding the IRS is completely unacceptable. Congress should swiftly and thoroughly investigate this matter, and the administration should provide its complete cooperation to ensure that this never happens again. Additionally, the reported actions of the Department of Justice in relation to the Associated Press are deeply troubling and those responsible must be held accountable for any illegal or unethical actions taken. The American people must have faith that their government isn’t abusing its powers, which is why I am calling for full investigations into both of these troubling matters.”

here

Tampa 'Ride of Silence

The third annual Tampa/Hillsborough Ride of Silence to remember cyclists killed or injured in traffic crashes will be held this Wednesday. The ride begins at 6:30 p.m. at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

info

Lt. Gov. Allen West?

Get this - after his first pick for Lieutenant Governor resigned in disgrace, Rick Scott is searching for a replacement and as luck would have it, former Congressman Allen West is on the job hunt. Floridians already fired West for his extreme views on pretty much everything. Remember  when he called 80 members of Congress communists? I guess it shouldn't surprise me (yet it still did) that Rick Scott said he thinks West would "be a great Lieutenant Governor." But they're two peas in a Tea Party pod.

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Culture Of Corruption: Florida House Republicans

House members say yes to cheap health insurance — for themselves

Florida House Republicans last month loudly and proudly rejected billions of dollars in federal money that would have provided health insurance to 1 million poor Floridians. Quietly, they kept their own health insurance premiums staggeringly low. House members will pay just $8.34 a month for state-subsidized health care next year, or $30 a month to cover their entire family. Eleven of Tampa Bay's 13 Republicans voted against accepting federal Medicaid money and are receiving state-subsidized health care. Rep. Jimmie Smith, R-Inverness, voted against taking federal money but does not participate in the state health care plan. Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, has the state health care plan but wanted the state to take the federal money. The area's House Democrats receive subsidized health care but voted to accept federal money.

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Pic: Will Weatherford, Land O' Lakes wake up, send this man packing at the end of his term.

End The CrackDown On Travel To Cuba!

The U.S. government is escalating its attacks on socialist Cuba and U.S. residents who try to travel there. These attacks have now been directed at U.S. labor union activists. Five U.S. union activists who tried to register to participate in the U.S./Cuba Labor Exchange in Havana, Cuba over May Day had their funds frozen and seized without explanation by the Labor Exchange’s bank,

Charter One Bank in Detroit, Michigan.
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Mistake In Tampa

Whats Wrong With this Picture?

I have been to New Orleans and Atlanta many times to see the Bucs play. When we stay outside the inner city to get a better hotel rate we always take the bus or in Atlanta's case the train. Why then does Hart close their center right across the street from Raymond James Stadium on game days. I can see the  traffic  causing hovac on their schedule, but when i asked a driver why they did this i was told the city uses the center for parking. This place is not very big, i am guessing they can get 20 cars in here at best. Does the city need the money that bad? Alot of people could be taking the bus to the games or other events.

Nan Rich In Tampa

Gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich, a state senator from 2005 to 2012, will be the special guest at Tuesday's joint meeting of the East Hillsborough County Democratic Club and the Hillsborough County Young Democrats from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Barnacles, 926 Providence Road, Brandon.

here

PBA endorses Darden Rice

Darden Rice announced today she has received the endorsement of the
Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association.
more, At Pushing Rope, Vote Darden Rice

Tell Rep. Castor: Sign The Letter

Republicans in the House are gearing up for yet another symbolic vote to force approval of Keystone XL. Of course, Keystone XL is President Obama’s decision – not the climate deniers who make up a majority of our Congress – but we know that he is sensitive to pressure from Congress as he considers his decision. Now we have an important opportunity to build pressure on the President from those in Congress who actually accept science.

Sign Petition  

Stogie Recommends

In Time

Is a 2011 dystopian science fiction action film starring Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde, Matt Bomer, Alex Pettyfer, Vincent Kartheiser, and Johnny Galecki. The film, written, directed and produced by Andrew Niccol,

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We Want The Dixie Chicks

HOWARD STERN: Natalie Maines says the Dixie Chicks are "tainted permanently"
 I bought Natalie Maines new CD, Mother, it is nice but just not the same. I totally disagree that the Dixie Chicks brand is tainted permanently. She needs to stop being so stubborn and get back with Martie and Emily. We miss them.
Sign Petition  

Florida HB 655: Stop the Home Rule Hypocrites!

Last week the Florida legislature passed a bill that prevents local governments from writing and passing earned sick time laws and voters from petitioning to put earned sick time initiatives on the ballot such as the pending referendum in Orange County. Our last hope is to convince Governor Rick Scott to veto the bill and stand up for moms, families, and democracy. You can send him a message here with one click.

Sign Today!

More info on this bill.

Don't Forget What Gov. Scott Has Done

From his record
We need to make sure Floridians don't forget what Gov. Scott has done – and continues to do – to our great state. Will you help us defeat Scott and his allies' propaganda campaign? Rick Scott is singing a different tune at the close of the 2013 legislative session. More money for education! A pay raise for state employees! Just forget about the fact Scott proposed more than a billion dollars in cuts to education his first year in office. Never mind about Scott standing idly by as our teachers, firefighters, and police officers had their pay cut by three percent. And all the while, Scott and his buddies in the legislature have lavishly handed out hundreds of millions of our tax dollars to their corporate campaign donors. It's a smokescreen covering up how Scott and his allies continue to do the bidding of out of state corporations and the well-connected. Here's what's really going on:

•Thanks to Gov. Scott's inaction, and obstruction by the Republican majority in the Florida House, access to health insurance for more than 1 million uninsured Floridians was blocked.
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•Rick Scott’s legislative allies pushed legislation that would lay the ground work for out-of-state corporations to take over our public schools. They failed this year…but they’ll be back next year.
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•Scott's allies passed legislation banning local communities from enacting earned sick time benefits for hard working Florida families.
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•They caved to mega campaign donor Blue Cross Blue Shield and failed to close an unnecessary tax loophole for big insurance companies, yet they killed legislation that would have lowered vehicle registration fees for everyday Floridians.
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Scott and the special interests say this session was a victory for Floridians, but we know what this was: a 60 day corporate special interest feeding frenzy. Will you help us make sure Floridians know the truth?
We won't back down in the face of Gov. Scott's multi-million dollar, special interest fueled propaganda machine. Floridians deserve an efficient, effective government that fights for the needs of middle class families throughout our state.
Thanks for helping us move Florida forward.
Contribute today and help us make sure Floridians never forget Gov. Scott's anti-middle class record.
here

Compassionate Conservative Frank D. Lucas

The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Frank D. Lucas, R-Okla., is proposing to cut $20 billion from the food stamp program in the version of the farm bill that lawmakers will began working on Tuesday.  The food stamp program, which is officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides nutritional assistance to low-income families and individuals.
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Got to pay for those tax breaks.

Florida's Most Corrupt

Vern Buchanan
Rep. Vern Buchanan is still the chief fundraiser for House Republicans — even though his own campaign’s fundraising broke just about every law on the books.

David Rivera

Rep. David Rivera’s personal finances were already a legal black hole before he conspired to break campaign finance laws to prop up a candidate running in the Democratic primary for his House seat.

Cliff Stearns
When it comes to earmarking millions of taxpayer dollars for an institution that contributes to their family income, Rep. Cliff Stearns and his wife make a great team.
All republicans, what a surprise!

Thank You Mr. Barber

For 16 years of greatness. See you in Canton, Ohio.
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Seatbelts Save Lives

Florida Man Flees Seatbelt Stop on Foot, Deland Cop Runs Him Over and Kills Him.

here

Morgan And Morgan For Tebow

Stogie's Top Ten List

Right-Wing In Tampa

here

America: What A Country

Former Disgraced Republican South Carolina Gov. and adulter Mark Sanford on Tuesday won back his old congressional seat in a district that hasn't elected a Democrat in three decades. I am sure he is headed to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
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It must be true what they say that GOP voters will vote for anybody as long as there is an R at the end of their name.
 Locally see vern buchanan or Will Weatherford.

Tampa's New And Improved

Homeless Proof Bench

Jan Platt Day Care Center?

I recently had to go to the Jan Platt Library in South Tampa to use one of their omputers while my was in the shop. All i saw and heard was kids running around screaming and yelling and the parents or staff doing nothing about it. 

Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library

Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Pics Left Out
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Iraq Wall

here

Tampa Needs A Quarterback

The City Not The Bucs
"Everyone refers to him as a cheerleader, and in this we need a quarterback," she said before the vote. "He needs to step up and challenge the County Commission … and I've not heard that from him."
Tampa City Council member Yvonne Yolie Capin criticizing Mayor Bob Buckhorn's record on providing services to the homeless.
here

Florida's Death Penalty Appeal

At The Tampa Bay Times

Immigration Reform Rally In Tampa

Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse Building
801 N Florida Ave, 4th floor, Tampa
Wednesday, May 8th, 3:00 PM
RSVP
Let's keep the momentum going! Please sign up for this gathering right away!

Cricketts And Chipmunks In Kentucky

After fatal shooting of toddler, Kentucky town grieves and hushes up
Kristian, 5, shot and killed his 2-year-old sister with a gun marketed for children as "My First Rifle" in what authorities said was an accident.
here
There were strong emotions directed at the outside world, which has been quick to pass judgment on the parents and a way of life in which many see nothing unusual about introducing children to firearms while they are still in kindergarten. Anne Beall, a 64-year-old retiree, said she had not heard anyone in town call the parents irresponsible for giving a gun to a 5-year-old or for leaving it unlocked. After the funeral service, two men advanced across North Main Street toward a single television crew present, from the German network RTL, and punched the cameraman, bloodying his face and knocking him down. Two other men told a newspaper reporter, "If you had any sense, you'd get out of here. You're next, buddy." Kristian's gun, a .22-caliber single-shot Crickett rifle designed for children and sold in pink and blue. After the shooting, the Crickett's maker, Keystone Sporting Arms in Milton, Pa., deleted a Web page promoting it, but archived images show the company featured a "kids corner" with dozens of pictures of young children and their Cricketts at shooting ranges and out hunting. Their Chipmunks rifles.