Florida Progressives Agenda 2014

I’m often critical of Gov. Rick Scott but there's one good thing I can say about him: he's done more than anyone to focus Floridians on the need for a big change in the direction of our state. The question is, when Floridians turn to progressives for answers to our most pressing problems now and in the years ahead, will we be ready with answers? Join progressive activists from around the state on Saturday, August 24th in West Palm Beach for the Agenda 2014 Conference, as we assemble a progressive agenda to move Florida forward.......here

Ybor City Beach Blanket Bar Crawl

Ybor Paparazzi

Friends at Hamburger Marys. 

Did They Really Say That?

St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Kathleen Ford told a black audience at the Bethel Community Baptist Church that she once made potato salad and served it in Campbell Park back in the 1990s. This was after she was asked what has she done for the poor residents in Midtown.....more
 Looks like she is after Ted Yoho's spot as Florida's Dumbest Politician. And while we are on the other side of the great pond,  Right Wing extraordinaire David McKalip calls local blogger Peter Schorsch a"political terrorist. At Pushing Rope,  Here is what Mitch Perry had to say.

Florida's Indian River Lagoon

Once a lush and healthy estuary, the Indian River Lagoon is now an enigmatic death trap. Running along 40 percent of Florida’s Atlantic coast, the lagoon’s brackish waters harbor a mysterious killer that has claimed the lives of hundreds of manatees, pelicans, and dolphins......more

Rep. Ros-Lehtinen and Rep. Diaz-Balart

Immigration Reform is in the hands of the House of Representatives. Even though the majority of Floridians support immigration reform with a path to citizenship, we still have nothing: no bill, no vote and no progress in the House. Some parts of our state are represented by politicians that have very few immigrant or Latino constituents. In South Florida, we are lucky. We have two Representatives, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart, that have always supported immigration reform and fought to keep our families together. But now they are letting the anti-Latino and anti-Immigrant voices in their party speak louder than them and hurt any chance of immigration reform.We need them to stand up and speak louder for their people.......here

What Stogie Had For Lunch

The Buffy with fries
At Hamburger Mary's in Ybor City

Hillsborough County Commissioner, Dist. 5

Looking for candidate. Is anyone going to challenge Ken Hagan?

here

Susan's Little Piece of Heaven

Susan Dunavan and her family fell in love with their home – a little slice of heaven in York, Nebraska. 35 years later, a massive oil conglomerate called TransCanada wants to run their Keystone XL pipeline right through their land. Susan's family is in the path. Watch the video and stand with her today.

Congratulations To Sen. Marco Rubio

He won the Climate Denier award.
The group Organizing for Action handed out trophies beset with silver unicorns to members of congress who have denied or dismissed the problem of climate change. The “Congressional Climate Denial Awards” were given out to some of the most vocal climate deniers in Congress, including Mr. Rubio. more, Via Pushing Rope

Stogie's Gift Shop

Now open, please visit.
here

A Personal History of America's Radical Right

Dunedin resident Claire Conner's new  memoir, Wrapped in the Flag: A Personal History of America's Radical Right. Conner grew up in the inner circles of extreme right wing American politics. Wrapped in the Flag deftly combines Conner's autobiography with an insider history of the John Birch Society and the extreme right over more than half a century.....here
Ms.Conner will discuss and sign her memoir at 7 p.m. Thursday at Inkwood Books, 216 S Armenia Ave., Tampa. She will also be a featured author at the 21st annual Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading on Oct. 26 at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Boliche
With black beans and yellow rice.
$7.99 at Cuban Sandwich Shop, 10434 N Florida Ave, Tampa

Friends Of Stogie

Steven and katie at Bobalouie's Grille in Tampa

Rep. Ted Yoho Florida's Dumbest Politician

Right Wing Whack-A-Mole: Why You Cannot Change A Wingnut’s Mind

This is the core of the right wing movement: You cannot prove them wrong because they don’t care. Even when you do and they admit it, they will simply go somewhere else and tell the very same story they just admitted was false. The truth is completely irrelevant, the only thing that matters is spreading right wing propaganda......here

Florida teenager killed after Tasering by police

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Ham and Cheese sandwich  with Wedding Soup.
At Bobalouie's Grille in Tampa

Slap Hillary’ Game

Friends Of Stogie

Jamie in Tampa
Visit Stogie's Gift Shop here

Compassion and Action in Pasco

Local Views: The Florida Legislature

The Times continues to publish stories about our Florida Legislature that should make us stand up and take action. Legislators let Progress Energy (now Duke) collect billions of dollars for something that will never be built. These are the same people who scream about taxes. Is this not a tax on the poor to give money to the rich? Then there are the articles about the House speaker. It seems that Will Weatherford has done extremely well on his paltry state salary while denying any income from a myriad of shell companies that he seems to be involved with. Many of these involvements were not disclosed. What do the voters do? Like lemmings they just re-elect these people. It is time to say enough is enough, throw the bums out and start with a new slate of representatives who have morals and standards above reproach and are not "in bed" with big business.
Phil Altus, Tampa
Visit Mr. Weatherford's countdown clock at www.willweatherford.info

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Pot steak with red beans and rice.
$6.50 at Supersaver Supermarket, 2001 E Fletcher Ave, Tampa
Check out Tampa Bay Locavore

Hillsborough County Commissioner Dist. 4

Who is running,
Republicans Rick Cochran and Stacy White and Democrat Donna Lee Fore.