Florida's First Gay Adoption

Earlier this month I posted about the Circuit Court judge in Florida who had struck down the state's ban on gay adoption in order to allow a foster parent in Key West to adopt the son he had been raising. Here's more from the Miami Herald on Wayne Larue Smith and partner Daniel Skahen and their 12-year-old son........here

The Democratic Party’s Gang of 66

The Gang Of 66 came into existence on June 14, 2007 with a $10,000 "Money Contribution" (i.e. legal bribe or graft) to the Democratic Party Majority Whip, James Clyburn, from the ultra-right-wing 'U.S.-Cuba Democracy' PAC, headquartered in Hialeah, Florida, a suburb of Miami...........here
Florida Members:
Boyd Allen, Brown Corrine, Castor Kathy, Hastings Alcee, Klein Ron, Mahoney Tim, Meek Kendrick, Wasserman Schultz Debbie, Wexler Robert.

Tampa Bay Socialists Have Their Presidential Candidate: Brian Moore

The Socialist Party of Tampa Bay -- not to be confused with the Socialist Workers Party, the St. Petersburg-based African People's Socialist Party or the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement -- has been active in the Tampa Bay area since the early '90s. Activists with the group have led antiwar marches, supported the Immokalee workers and left a whole lot of propaganda at area coffeeshops............here

The Socialist Party of Tampa Bay

Mario Diaz-Balart On Health Care

Mario Diaz-Balart thinks our healthcare system works well when it's accessible to athletes, celebrities and members of royal families.

Evangelicals Take Credit For Tampa Bay Playoff Berth

Christian evangelicals across the country are rejoicing today as the Tampa Bay Rays have made the playoffs, an event for which evangelicals are taking complete credit........here

See what happens when you get the Devil out of you?”.......Pastor Lukas Mark Smithers

Florida Sun Shines On Obama

Howard Dean: John McCain Is Simply Making Stuff Up

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean lashed out at John McCain Tuesday for “simply making stuff up” about Barack Obama and his Democratic colleagues. “At this point his campaign has sort of deteriorated into just a really dishonorable campaign,” Dean said on MSNBC. “He says we’re opposed to clean coal. That’s not true. He says Obama’s going to have huge tax increases. That’s not true.”........here

Joe Garcia: Ask Him A Question, And Take A Seat

Over the weekend Real Clear Politics ranked Joe Garcia as the South Florida candidate most likely to defeat an incumbent and the Miami Herald's Naked Politics Blog was quick to pick it up..........here

What is the Cuban Mafia?

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Bill Nelson, Mel Martinez
The Cuban Mafia is not an established organization per se; it is a state of mind of certain American politicians who are vociferously anti-Cuba, and who are primarily based in the state of Florida.........here

Latinos in Tampa Make the Difference

We Will Be Hosting Two Events

1. Tampa Hispanics for Obama Kick-Off and Phone Banking for Change, which will take place this Tuesday, September 23 at 5pm. · It is the occasion to rally our supporters and reach out to those who still have to hear our message and connect to it.

2. Debate Watching House Parties, September 26 at 9pm ET · On the 26th of this month, Barack Obama will square off against John McCain on National Security and Foreign Policy..........here

It's Your Time, Don't Blow It.........Howard Dean

Local 10 Debunks Mario Diaz-Balart's False Ad

St. Lucie County Students To Lend Food Bank A Hand

Treasure Coast Food Bank's inaugural "Kids Feeding Kids Student Food Drive" begins today and runs through Nov. 1. Selected as one of six food banks in the nation, Treasure Coast Food Bank received a grant award from Tyson Foods to support youth volunteerism and launch a student-led food drive to help lessen hunger in the community........here

Florida Voter Suppression Makes a Dangerous Comeback

There are dark clouds on the horizon of the battleground state of Florida. New laws and tales of voter suppression efforts already have many voters nervous and confused. Florida, which was recently named

“The Most Hostile State In The Nation To New Voters”

by three national voting-rights groups, has significantly tightened voter identification laws and made it easier for voter’s rights to be challenged..........here

Wayne Garcia's Moral Courage Award

I got the OK from the higher-ups here to give Moral Courage Awards annually, starting this December, for people in Tampa Bay who demonstrate, in the words of the county’s award, “exceptional ethical behavior and the moral courage to challenge the actions of government.”........here

To make a nomination, send an e-mail to wayne.garcia@creativeloafing.com

Gay-Marriage Ban On Florida Ballot Generates National Attention

Proposed bans on same-sex marriage are on the ballot in Florida and two other important states this fall, rousing passions on both sides, yet neither John McCain nor Barack Obama seems eager to push the issue high on their campaign agendas..........here

The Florida Botanical Gardens

With 120 acres to explore, the Florida Botanical Gardens provides a day full of adventure. Meander down paths and walkways to beautiful courtyards, sculptured and succulent gardens, seasonal displays, tropical, native and palm gardens............here

"Top Chef: The Tour" Comes To Tampa

Witch's Masquerade Ball

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa

Holds its fourth annual Witch's Masquerade Ball at 6 p.m. to midnight, 11400 Morris Bridge Road. There will be food, drink, shopping, tarot reading, face painting, dancing, a costume contest and a fun house. For more information, call (813) 988-8188 or go to uutampa.org.

Lady Lake, Florida

The McCain-Palin campaign is making a lot of noise about the large crowd that came to cheer Sarah Palin at her appearance in Lady Lake, Florida, last week. Local fire officials estimated the crowd at 25,000 to 30,000, while the McCain-Palin campaign claims an audience twice that size...........here

Obama 2008
It's Your Time, Don't Blow It.........Howard Dean

Barack Obama in Dunedin

This Wednesday, September 24th, please join Barack Obama in Dunedin, where he will talk about his vision for creating the kind of change we need.......here

Cry foul: Lincoln Diaz-Balart won't debate Raul Martinez

Sorry, little mistake in the headline. Replace the word foul with fowl, for chicken. That should be the modifier for Lincoln Diaz-Balart, who's not up to the challenge of meeting his challenger in the debate arena..........here

Was the McCain Camp Engaged in “Vote Caging” in Florida

That title got your attention, didn’t it? Good. Before we get to the potential voter suppression going on in Florida, however, a bit of stage-setting is in order. Context is everything, after all.........here