The CIA, The Mob, And Castro

In 1960, Santo Trafficante's high life in Cuba had come crashing down, thanks to Fidel Castro.
Once a major player in the Havana gambling paradise, Trafficante had seen his casinos taken away by the Communist leader.......more

"People think this guy's a hero, some kind of Robin Hood, but he's just a crook like the rest of us,"...... Santo Trafficante

Sicko
Opens In Tampa Bay

Africa Still Loves America

A new report charting global attitudes shows America's image sagging around the globe — but not in Africa, where the Stars and Stripes still symbolize strength and wealth. In fact, America is more popular in several African nations than even in America. Culturally, many Africans feel closer to the United States, where they perceive Africans and their influences have been more closely integrated than in Europe.......here

Stogie Grades The Debate

Best Dressed: Mike Gravel

Dennis Kucinich A+ - Hillary Clinton A - Chris Dodd B+ - Mike Gravel B - Joe Biden B-

Barack Obama C+ - John Edwards C - Bill Richardson C-

Spin Alley

I Also Hate Nazis

I would rather live in Bartlett Park, with its crime, drugs, and litter, than spend one moment more having Nazi supremacists sympathize with me. I know I have more choices than that, but the past week has given me the perspective that where I sit ain’t so bad, after all.......more

Howard Dean

Race Is About Values

It won’t be complex and detailed positions on the issues that win back the White House for Democrats in 2008, voters will make up their minds based on the values of the candidates for president. Nobody has made up his or her mind to support a candidate because of a 26-page health care plan, I don’t even remember all the details of my own plan.”............here

US Naval Observatory
A little blurry on Google Earth, While the rest of DC is clear.

Ron Paul

How a Fringe Politician Took Over the Web

During the 2004 election, a web-savvy campaign staff helped turn Howard Dean's anti-war candidacy into the first online political phenomenon. But the Ron Paul frenzy seems to have sprung from the internet itself. Paul's libertarian message – he is against big government, the war, and pretty much anything that costs taxpayers money – has attracted a group of anti-establishment, tech-savvy supporters who have taken everyone by surprise........more

Pic Taken In Clearwater June 27, 2007

Tampa - June 26, 2007

St. Petersburg, Florida

Free Speech Zones

Is it a violation of free speech or just a crowd control measure? For a second day, St. Petersburg city attorneys took up an ordinance limiting where people can protest at this weekend's St. Pete Pride event......more

Brian, You Should Try Xeriscape

A Florida-friendly yard doesn’t merely offer beautiful landscapes — it also becomes an asset to the environment, protecting natural resources and preserving Florida’s unique beauty......more

Meet Lee Nelson

Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections

Hillsborough voters deserve a reponsive and attentive Supervisor of Elections who is dedicated to bringing Accuracy, Honesty and Transparency to the voting process......here

DFA Approved

Ann Coulter Attacks John Edwards

"if I'm going to say anything about John Edwards in the future, I'll just wish he had been killed in a terrorist assassination plot."

A Letter From Paul Newman

More than the films, more than the awards - finding out that I was on Nixon's Enemies List meant that I was doing something right. I was proud to stand with Democrats against an imperial president back then. And I am proud now to stand with a new generation of Democrats against a president who poses what I believe to be the biggest internal threat to American democracy in my lifetime........here

Health Care Rally w/Michael Moore in Denver

Widening I-75 To 10 Lanes

No Rail Here

State transportation planners have found possible "pathways" for a proposed north-south highway to serve as an alternative for the increasingly congested Interstate 75. The DOT is in the early phases of this New Corridors Study, which is examining possible transportation alternatives between Hernando and Charlotte counties.......more

"We really don't want a new corridor to create new development in those areas," .....Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash

Chávez Gas $2.10 A Gallon

Hwy 54 And Little Road

The Iron Sheik Vs. Brian Blair

A Lowlife And A Punk

Iron Sheik expressed high praise for Brunzell owing to his athletic and high-jumping prowess, but displayed contempt for Blair, referring to him as a "lowlife" and a "punk". He gave no specific reason for his dislike of Blair, only remarking that he "didn't like his attitude". He would then express his desire to make Blair humble by suplexing him, putting him in his camel clutch submission, breaking his back, and "fuck[ing] his ass". But he did not do this in honor of God, Jesus and Vince McMahon. As of the spring of 2006 the Sheik's situation with Brian Blair remained unresolved, as indicated by another outburst about Blair at an autograph signing. At a recent convention in New York City, Sheik revealed several secrets about Blair, noting that Blair "sucks Hulk Hogan's penis"--though Sheik has shown respect towards Hogan in many interviews--as well as ripping a Photoshopped picture of him and Blair together........Wikimedia

Tampa, Best City Money Can Buy

Carver City/Lincoln Gardens Civic and Homeowners Association

Council members, attorneys and developers interviewed Friday who had knowledge of the $50,000 promise either did not know or would not say whether it was part of a Tampa Police Department investigation into complaints that developers are being asked for money in exchange for community support for their projects.......here

"It's just as bad as trying to bribe an elected official for his vote,".....Joe Chillura

For Assistance In These Matters Please Contact "Blair, White, Hagan & Norman Inc."

Seminole Heights - June 21, 2007

Local Bumpers 4

John Edwards At Lowry Park
Saunders Pavilion
1101 W. Sligh Ave.Tampa, FL
Friday, June 29, 7:00 pm
Tickets are $15 You may purchase a ticket online or at the door
Stogie's Favorite: Cash Bar

America is 'Killing the Humanity' of its Soldiers
The military is training its soldiers to become so inured to killing that it becomes easy
'Over here, killing people is like squashing an ant. I mean, you kill somebody and it's like 'All right, let's go get some pizza'." American soldier, Private Steven Green, interviewed in Iraq in 2006......here

Wilson's Plover

Tampa Bay

Audubon estimates there are about 6,000 Wilson's plovers in the United States, including an estimated 100 pairs in Tampa Bay. This year's survey by local Audubon biologists estimates 30 to 40 pairs on the spoil island, recently dubbed Manbirtee Key.......more

Blair, White, Hagan, And Norman Inc.

The Vulgar Stench Of Corruption

I heard gasps in the audience. I was knocked back in my seat, aghast at the spectacle of our leaders selling us out. The citizens around me looked to each other for confirmation that this surreal nightmare was really happening. We rose silently at our seats in protest. We remained standing together through the bullsh “discussion” until the vote.......here

Come to the EPC public hearing. The date is not set yet, so check back here or sign up for updates. If we don’t have BIG numbers at this hearing, our wetlands will be raped.

"This is the lowest moment in our county's history,".....Mariella Smith

Grumpy's View.....here

Patriotic In Lealman

Find Habeas

Downtown Tampa

The Greater Tampa ACLU chapter will host a fun and exciting “street theater” event. This is your big chance to wear a signboard, pretend to be a detainee, hand out flyers, or otherwise get people informed and outraged about governmental abuses of power. Everyone is welcome -- the more the merrier!.....here

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 - 11:30AM to 2:00PM

This is Habeas Corpus

"The netroots are incredibly sensitive to people who are phonies "

Howard Dean

The kingmakers will be people with powerful messages who treat people with respect, because the netroots are incredibly sensitive to people who are phonies and are just out there to manipulate. And frankly, politicians have tried it, and it hasn't worked for them. The people who are going to disappear are the people who think you can manipulate public opinion. That's why the Republicans are falling on their face right now. Because their own MO is to manipulate public opinion by rephrasing things in delicate ways and not be truthful about what's really going on. It's going to be almost impossible to make public statements that are not true and not have it eaten apart in 24 hours......more

Largo - June 21, 2005

Cathy Salustri
Who lives with her dog, Madison, didn't talk to her friend and neighbor about race until her article was published. She didn't know what kind of reaction the story would provoke.......here

by Andrew......06/21/07 03:07 PM
Too bad we can't send them all back to Africa. They should've done this after the civil war, goodness we would've saved some much time, effort, money and desent lives would not have been lost if these creatures were removed.

National Dump the Pump Day

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Join in celebrating the Second Annual National Dump the Pump Day. The day is dedicated to raising awareness that public transportation helps improve the environment and conserve fuel. It also offers the opportunity for people to beat the high price of gasoline and support public transportation as an important travel option that helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil......here

US Officially A Third World Country

New Orleans Turns To Foreign Aid

The cash-strapped city is turning to foreign countries for help to rebuild as federal hurricane-recovery dollars remain slow to flow. As of June 8, the city said it had received just over half of the $320 million FEMA has obligated for rebuilding city infrastructure and emergency response-related costs.......here

It’s been nearly two years since Hurricane Katrina, and we have yet to seriously attempt to restore one of the most-fabled U.S. cities

Maybe They Should Ask Venezuela And Cuba For Some Help. In Katrina's Wake, Castro Offered To Send More Than 1,000 Medical Personnel To New Orleans.

Ron Paul: This Election Will Be Held On The Internet

Pinellas Park - June 20, 2007

Bush Has Turned His Back on the American People

Howard Dean

Bush's veto of life-saving stem cell research is just another example of how out of touch he is with the American people, Bush once again put political posturing ahead of sound science,turning his back on the overwhelming majority of Americans who support stemcell research and the 100 million Americans suffering from debilitating diseases who could benefit from this life-saving science.....here

Ron Paul Not Invited

Iowans for Tax Relief and Iowa Christian Alliance will host a presidential candidates forum on Saturday, June 30th in Des Moines. Ron Paul won't be there, he was told he was not invited; he was not going to be invited; and he would not be allowed to participate. The one Republican candidate who scored at the top of every online poll taken after the MSNBC, Fox News, and CNN debates............more

Republicans for Obama

RepublicansforObama.org is an organization founded by proud party members who all share one important trait— we are Americans first and Republicans second. (Even if it is a close second.) Collectively, we have campaigned, worked for, and voted Republican all our lives, but recognize that our Country needs a new kind of leader at this time.....here

Clearwater - June 19, 2007

Public Approval Dumpster

The Bravest Woman in Afghanistan

Malalai Joya

Afghanistan's most outspoken female lawmaker has been suspended for the rest of her term after she publicly criticized the Afghan parliament. For years Malalai Joya has been a leading critic of her government and the U.S. role in her country. She's faced constant harassment and attempts on her life for her views.....more

Ybor City Rail

Liberal Or Progressive?
Some Democrats Abandon The `L' Word
When is a liberal conference not a liberal conference? When it's a progressive one.
Therein lies no small bit of controversy among the ever-churning American left.....here

"In the end, a label is less important, What matters is we're all at the table meeting and developing a path to action.".......Carolyn Castore
I Stll Like Liberal Best.

Britney Mad At Todd

"Total nut jobs,"

Lawyers for Britney Spears have told a Florida radio station to take down billboards showing the pop star's shaven head as part of an advertisement for its morning talk show. The billboards featured three identical pictures of Spears, apparently snarling, next to radio station WFLZ's logo and a picture of talk show host Todd Schnitt.........here

"I'm not happy with that,"......Todd Schnitt

Iraq Second Among World's Failed States

Iraq has emerged as the world's second most unstable country, behind Sudan, more than four years after President George W. Bush ordered the U.S. invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. Iraq suffered a third straight year of deterioration in 2006 with diminished results across a range of social, economic, political and military indicators. Iraq ranked fourth last year.....here

I Got A Crush On Obama

The Right-Wing Smear Campaign

Hillary's Turn

She's ahead in the polls and on course to become the Democrats' presidential candidate for 2008. So it is no surprise that a right-wing smear campaign is gathering speed to derail Senator Hillary Clinton's bid for the White House. Top of the list of projects is a planned movie, being filmed by veteran Republican operator David Bossie. Bossie is raising money for the film through his conservative group Citizens United. Republican groups are set to model their anti-Clinton operation on the notorious Swift Boat campaign........more

Losing Janina

On June 13th, 100 immigrants will travel by train all across America to tell the stories of their American dream. You can follow them and their journeys. More important, you can tell the world your own immigrant story, or your parents’, or grandparents.
http://dreamsacrossamericaonline.org/

"As a Democrat, I believe that we should welcome the stranger"
Howard Dean

That no child should go to bed hungry; that housing and a path to home ownership should be accessible to all; that everyone in America deserves universal health care; that the war should be the last resource only after diplomacy has been exhausted; that we should properly equip our troops before we send them to war; that we should take care of our veterans when they come home; that everyone, every single American, deserves equal rights under the law; that we should be good stewards of the Earth; that hardworking people should earn a living wage and be able to take care of their families with what they earn; that we ought not to pass debt along to our children; that faith should not be used to divide people, but rather to bring us together; and that you and I have more in common than we have differences...........here

Maya Angelou on Hillary

Support Alan Crotzer

“It’s even more beautiful than I remember”

Bartlett Park neighborhood volunteer Norm Bungard has started a fundraising effort to assist former resident Alan Crotzer. The state House has supported compensation for Crotzer but this was stopped in the state Senate. He is trying to rebuild his life and support his family.......here

AlanCrotzer.org

No One Righted "The Horrible Thing"

Nawal Zoghbi - AL Layaly

Welcome To Tampa, Expect Delays

The Progressive Majority
Why a Conservative America is a Myth
This report by the Campaign for America’s Future and Media Matters for America shows that in study after study, solid majorities of Americans take progressive stands on a full spectrum of issues, from bread-and-butter economics to the so-called “values” issues where conservatives claim preeminence.......here

Howard Dean
Florida Has Essentially Converted Their Primary To A Straw Poll
In an exchange with Victory NH's Primary Defenders, DNC Chairman, Howard Dean defended the Democratic National Committee's Primary Calendar while conceding that while New Hampshire's First in the Nation Primary is still critical to the presidential race, Florida's unilateral decision to move their primary up to January 29th, has "essentially converted their Primary to a straw poll."......here.......Watch the video......here

Who Is Your Ideal Candidate For President

Stogie's Results: Theoretical Ideal Candidate

1. Dennis Kucinich (88%) - 2. Barack Obama (86%) - 3. Alan Augustson (86%)
4. Wesley Clark (76%) - 5. Joseph Biden (75%) - 6. Hillary Clinton (72%)

7. Al Gore (70%) - 8. John Edwards (70%) - 9. Christopher Dodd (69%)

10. Mike Gravel (65%) - 11. Bill Richardson (64%) - 12. Kent McManigal (56%)

13. Ron Paul (52%) - 14. Elaine Brown (45%) - 15. Mike Huckabee (29%)

16. Rudolph Giuliani (26%) - 17. John McCain (25%) - 18. Chuck Hagel (24%)

19. Tommy Thompson (20%) - 20. Mitt Romney (18%) - 21. Sam Brownback (17%)

22. Tom Tancredo (15%) - 23. Fred Thompson (14%) - 24. Newt Gingrich (14%)
25. Duncan Hunter (10%) - 26. Jim Gilmore (7%)

Get Your Results......here

American Family Shocked By Rome's Rage

We Come From A Place Where You Just Don't See This Kind Of Street Protest

For the Cooper family, from Knoxville, Tennessee, visiting Rome was supposed to be the highlight to their two-week vacation in Europe. Instead, they arrived on Saturday to find some of the Eternal City's most famous streets and piazzas packed with tens of thousands of anti-war demonstrators protesting against a visit by President George W. Bush on his way home from a G8 summit.......more

"It's tough to take when you see people being so disrespectful of our president,"......Sarah Cooper