Marco Rubio, Remains K Street’s Favorite

Marco Rubio, remains K Street’s favorite in the Republican column, having collected just under $500,000 since January with lobbyists’ help. Rubio is the only senator seeking the White House who’s relying on lobbyists to bundle, or round up, money on his behalf, according to newly released Federal Election Commission reports. here

Florida GOP Matt Gaetz's Crusade to Flood Florida With More Firearms

He’s pushing legislation to allow concealed weapons on state college campuses, and to let permit-holders openly carry their handguns in stores and restaurants. He said these are rights “granted not by government but by God.” here

Gaetz’s pronouncement left theologians scratching their heads, because guns aren’t mentioned anywhere in scriptures. Firearms didn’t exist when the Bible was written, and there’s no reference in either testament to “popping a cap in thine heathen ass.”

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article39620145.html#storylink=cpy

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Cuban Sandwich

At the Crazy Cuban in Masaryktown

Visit them here

Sad living in Tampa and have to come all the way up here for a real Cuban!

Florida GOP Costing Taxpayers $11 Million

In what may be one of the most expensive do-overs in Florida political history, lawmakers return Monday in special session to complete something they failed to get right three years ago.  The three-week redistricting session comes after legislators admitted in July that they violated the new anti-gerrymandering provisions of the Florida Constitution. here

Unete a Nosotros - Protecciones Anti-Discriminatorias (Subtitles)

Rick Scott: Mostly False

 "We have the highest funding in (the) K-12 system in the history of the state." 

Rick Scott

The state's total education budget is at an all-time high of $19.7 billion. But enrollment is also higher than in years past. Per-pupil spending is still below historic dollar totals and remains far below equitable levels when adjusted for inflation. We rate the statement Mostly False.

Marco Rubio Comes Clean On Minimum Wage Apathy

Ybor City Stogie Hoodie

$49.99
Hooded Sweatshirt

Heavyweight 90/10 cotton/polyester blend by Hanes

Drawstring hood and kangaroo pocket

Stretch ribbed cuffs and waistband

Standard adult fit

Machine Washable

here

Marco Rubio Has Already Won The Billionaire’s Primary

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Cashew Chicken 

With Fried Rice

At Taste Good in Spring Hill

Visit them here

Save Our Earth: Sulphur Springs

Patrick Murphy Contributions

Small Individual Contributions $179,724 (7%) Large Individual Contributions $1,744,286 (65%) PAC Contributions $761,200 here ----------- Alan Grayson  Small Individual Contributions: $1,755,295 (57%)  Large Individual Contributions: $882,803 (28%) PAC Contributions: $295,675

Marco Rubio Will Cripple The Regulatory Power Of All Federal Agencies

At his first major speech on energy policy at BOC Water Hydraulics in Salem, Ohio, where he spent considerable time criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency. if elected, 

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He will immediately stop the Clean Power Plan, a set of carbon pollution standards for existing power plants issued by the EPA

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He would simplify the permitting process for oil and gas pipelines.

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The EPA isn’t the only federal environmental agency that Rubio aspires to bring down in size and scope. The Florida senator mentioned that there are at least 10 agencies that regulate the energy industry, which he says are way too many. That’s why he’d attempt to “cripple” the regulatory power of all federal agencies. 

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"Marco Rubio’s plan promises to protect big oil and the Koch brothers, instead of growing clean energy and protecting the environment.” Jessica Mackler

here

St. Petersburg BP Settlement Funds

Festival in the Heights

Today - 4pm

info

Florida Class Warfare

 Rick Scott, and the state’s economic development arm, Enterprise Florida, recently teamed up to promote Florida’s business climate to Kentucky businesses. In a radio ad, they asked Kentuckians if they were tired of unions and high taxes, and touted Florida as a place that has neither “as a right-to-work state,
with no income tax.” 

While Scott and his 

corporate functionaries 

tout these as state assets,  they are actually liabilities for the majority of Floridians. here

Bethune-Cookman University: We Got $15 Million

THE HELL WITH EVERYBODY ELSE

In an open letter Friday, Chairman Joe Petrock says that Scott was selected as one of five honorees for the 3rd annual Mary McLeod Bethune Legacy Awards Gala based on his ability to deliver needed resources to the university. Petrock says Scott’s support has included more than $15 million in funding allocations over the past three years. here

Ferry Linking Tampa And St. Pete

A commuter ferry service may be still years away but weekend ferry rides across Tampa Bay could be running in as little as a year through a pilot program pushed by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. He plans to pitch the idea to Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn at a meeting next week. (Good luck with that!) He said he has no qualms about working with Turanchik, whose failed attempts to bring the 2012 Olympics and commuter rail to Tampa have led some to dub him a dreamer. here

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“I think if you’re not dreaming and shooting for the stars, you’ll certainly never reach them. You’ve got to try new things and see if you can put it together.” Rick Kriseman

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A ferry has been running between the cities of Havana and Regla 
in Cuba since the 1940's. here

Feds Say No To Florida GOP

In a stinging blow to opponents of the state's anti-gerrymandering amendments, a federal court this week has thrown out a lawsuit filed by two Florida Republican Party officials who claimed the new law violated the constitution because it had a "chilling effect" on their free speech and petition rights.

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Tim Norris, the Walton County Republican Executive Committee Chairman and Randy Maggard, the Pasco County Republican Executive Committee Chairman. sued the Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner in August, demanding that he not enforce the Fair Districts provisions of the state constitution. here

Marco Rubio Opposes Raising The Minimum Wage

Florida GOP Marco Rubio admitted that people can’t live off jobs that pay only 
$10 or $11 per hour. 

But the Republican Opposes 

raising the minimum wage. here 

YBOR Time Lapse

WTF: Bethune-Cookman University Students And Alumni

Are asking University officials to stop plans to honor Florida Gov. Rick Scott with an award named for the school's founder. The Mary McLeod Bethune Leadership Award is the school's highest honor. When word of plans to present the award to Scott got out, a group of those critical of the idea started an online petition asking school officials put an end to those plans. here

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"I was absolutely floored," B-CU graduate Jasmine Burney said. "The students, the alumni and the surrounding community are also in shock."

Mario Rubio Could Win The Billionaire Primary

Marco Rubio may not be posting the same support as Donald Trump or Ben Carson in the polls, but he appears to be pulling ahead of his Republican rivals among one crucial demographic: billionaire donors. here

Bernie Fan In Tampa

Westshore Mall

Rick Scott Keeps Pushing Legislators For Corporate Welfare

 Rick Scott continues telling business leaders to pressure lawmakers for more incentive money (Corporate Welfare) to help attract companies to Florida. here

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Also check out: 

Florida's Corporate Welfare Not Working

Protest @ Marco Rubio's Office In Tampa

And this suspicious character watching us!

more

Ybor City Septima Avenida

2015 People's Climate March In Tampa

Kennedy and Westshore

Thank you TPD for taking care of us!

more

And Ben and Jerry for the free Ice Cream!

Florida's Right Wing Infestation

Florida’s taxpayers deserve smarter investment of our money. We rank near the bottom in education funding. Our roads and bridges cry out for repairs and upgrades. Florida inmates have needlessly died because the state was trying to economize on prison health care. We invest the least in our state services, per capita, in the country at less than half the national average. Many wounds are self-inflicted because, instead of investing in people and communities, the Legislature spends resources on tax cuts to the wealthy and big corporations. here

Muslims Praying On Beach Causes PANIC In Florida

Rebekah Pulley & Ronny Elliott Kick Off Localicious Week In St.Pete

10.16.2015 - 6pm

Hideaway Cafe in St. Pete

info

Florida GOP Do Your F*'n Job!

Florida environmental groups filed a suit asking the courts to force the Florida Legislature to return Amendment 1 funds to a conservation land buying fund. here

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"We are asking for Florida’s courts to uphold the constitution as amended by the voters. The legislature needs to be held accountable for ignoring the will of the people." Serra Club Florida Conservation Chair Tom Larson.

Bargain Bob's Talents

In an interview with Dara Kam of the News Service of Florida, Tampa mayor Buckhorn was asked whether he’s considering running for governor. here

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”I don’t know. I’m looking at it,” he said. Though he loves being Tampa’s mayor, he said he hasn’t stopped thinking his talents could step up to Tallahassee.

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Lets look at some of the mayor's talents!

He was no fan of Amendment 2 here

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He called the ACLU, the Council on America-Islamic Relations, and the NAACP fringe groups. Though this month he emphasized he wasn’t including the NAACP in those remarks. here

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His lack of enthusiasm for Charlie Crist, the party’s 2014 gubernatorial nominee. here

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His support of the MCM. here and here

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His support of Pam Bondi. here

And  Patrick Murphy here

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And lets not forget how cheaply he can be bought, which is how he earned the nickname "Bargain Bob" here at this blog. here

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 He should fit right in Tallahassee's Pay-To-Play Culture!

The Super Rich Love Marco Rubio

While 1-per­cen­t­ers hop­ing for lower taxes have reas­on to like pretty much every Re­pub­lic­an run­ning for pres­id­ent, there’s one who should have Amer­ica’s wealth­i­est think­ing about what to do with their ex­tra thou­sands, or even mil­lions, of dol­lars: Marco Ru­bio. here

Florida People's Climate March 2015

Today

Miami - Orlando -Tampa

Pat Kemp Took The #FLfor15 Challenge

"To live on $17 a day. $38 dollars in groceries don't go far w/o staples at home." 
Pat Kemp

Feel The Bern In Ybor Tonight

Buffalo Wild Wings 

Downtown Ybor City info

“11 Corrupt Corporations: Anheuser-Busch is #1

In addition to sponsoring the open-bar cocktail hour at the 2015 ALEC annual conference, beverage giant Anheuser-Busch is also a member of ALEC's Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development Task Force — responsible for numerous anti-worker and union-busting initiatives. So, why not consider getting your drink somewheres else? (Uh, also: no big loss. Their beer tastes like pee.) here

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In Tampa Bay, why bother? Drink local!

Cigar City Brewing - Angry Chair Brewery
Tampa Bay Brewery - 3 Daughters Brewing
7venth Sun Brewing - Arkane Aleworks
Barley Mow Brewing Co - Big Storm Brewing Co
Big Top Brewing Co - Black Fox Meadery
Brew Bus Brewing - Brewers' Tasting Room
itrus Park Brewery - more

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Steak Sandwich

At Masaryktown Cafe in Masaryktown

Visit them here

Retrumplican Party

More Lies About GO Hillsborough

Joe Brown Guest Columnist @ The Tampa Tribune here

• "Based on telephone responses and town hall meetings this year, most Hillsborough County residents want to fix the roads and bridges in existence."
• ( Note chat above, this is not true. Rail IS our top priority.)
•  Telephone responses here
• Voters between the ages of 18-29 were automatically eliminated. 
• Taxpayers who did not vote in last year's gubernatorial election didn't get to participate in the focus groups were which conducted last November.
• Consultants only talked to Republicans without any registered Democrats, but only conservative members of the GOP who always vote in Republican primary elections were included in the Republican group.
• Those who labelled themselves as moderate or liberal Republicans were not invited to the GOP focus group.
• Participants in the focus groups were chosen from Carrollwood, Westchase, Town and Country and Brandon which means which means South Tampa, West Tampa, Central Tampa, Temple Terrace, East Tampa, Plant City, South Shore, South County and Sun City were excluded from having their voices heard in the focus groups.
• The participants were each given $75 to take part in the focus groups and among the major takeaways are , there is no sense of crisis in transportation; rail is not seen as a viable alternative; the bus system has a major image and usage problem.
• Read more about this sham here

Why Florida Will Get Messy For the GOP in 2016

Florida's Corporate Welfare Not Working

In 2014, the state gave out

$5.7 billion 
in Corporate Welfare

The state's ability to attract high-wage manufacturing jobs has not increased alongside a sharp rise in taxpayer-funded economic incentives (Corporate Welfare), which are often designed to attract those jobs, according to the Legislature's top economist. here

Marco Rubio's Secret-Money Commercials

Every pro-Rubio television commercial so far in the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina has been paid for not by his campaign or even by a super PAC that identifies its donors, but instead by a nonprofit called Conservative Solutions Project. The secret-money group is giving him at least an $8 million assist, according to advertising tracker Kantar Media's CMAG. here

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The candidate has presented himself as being opposed to such unaccountable money.

Rally for Rasmea Odeh's Appeal In Tampa

10.15.2015 - 7pm

Sam M. Gibbons Federal Courthouse

info

The Merchants Of Ybor: The Mojitos House

Visit them here

Marco Rubio Weighs In On Missing Votes

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Caldo Gallego

With Cuban

At Cuban Sandwich Shop in Tampa

Visit them here

Bernie Sanders Debate Viewing Party In Ybor City

10.13.2015 - 8pm

Buffalo Wild Wings 

Downtown Ybor City

info

You Might Be Able To Get Paid $200,000 For Shooting Someone In Florida

Brian Blair's Kind Words For Jim Norman

"Congratulations Jim, you were always an efficient and effective leader on the BOCC. I also appreciate the fact that you respected those who did not always see "eye to eye" with you. Your a very gracious and kind person and I wish you success in all your endeavors!"  

Brian Blair on Jim Norman
@ SPB here

We wonder if he is also thinking of a comeback. Will we have new stuff for

The Blair Watch Project

You Big Dummy!

A new analysis conducted by Grammarly, a proofreading app, analyzed the spelling and grammar of comments on each presidential candidate’s Facebook page. Guess which political party’s supporters made mistakes at nearly twice the rate of the other?

here