Recovery is Slow In Florida

Businessinsider.com listed 20 cities that are not economically recovering. 8 of those cities are in Florida. The BP spill is making matters worse by scaring tourism from the state.

Orlando

Gross metro product since peak: -1.0%

Home prices YTD: -17.5%

Employment since peak: -7.3%

Employment YTD: +4.1%

Lakeland

Gross metro product since peak: -2.4%

Home prices YTD: -17.8%

Employment since peak: -7.0%

Employment YTD: +4.1%

Miami

Gross metro product since peak: -4.4%

Home prices YTD: -14.1%

Employment since peak: -6.3%

Employment YTD: +3.7%

Jacksonville

Gross metro product since peak: -4.9%

Home prices YTD: -13.8%

Employment since peak: -7.2%

Employment YTD: 3.9%

Tampa

Gross metro product since peak: -4.9%

Home prices YTD: -12.4%

Employment since peak: -8.9%

Employment YTD: +4.0%

Palm Bay

Gross metro product since peak: -5.6%

Home prices YTD: -15.0%

Employment since peak: -10.2%

Employment YTD: +3.6%

Bradenton

Gross metro product since peak: -5.8%

Home prices YTD: -10.2%

Employment since peak: -14.4%

Employment YTD: +3.8%

Cape Coral

Gross metro product since peak: -14.8%

Home prices YTD: -11.4%

Employment since peak: -17.0%

Employment YTD: +3.7%

Scarborough Disses Boehner

Today must be beat on John Boehner day. Joe Scarborough accused Boehner of being lazy and more interested in bar hopping that legislation.

"I hear it on the Hill, I'm sure you hear it on the Hill all the time, it's not reported, but so many Republicans tell me this is a guy that is not the hardest worker in the world," said Scarborough on Wednesday's edition of Morning Joe. "Every Republican I talk to says John Boehner, by 5 or 6 o'clock at night, you can see him at bars. He is not a hard worker."

Negative Huffington Post Article On Meek Campaign

Things just get worse for U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek. The Huffington Post's Elyse Siegel writes that Meek is losing Democratic support.

Last month, Florida Republican Congressman Adam Putnam may have been right when he suggested that Crist is "a more powerful draw for Democratic votes" than Meek. And now, the Florida Democrat also has a bitter primary match-up against Greene on his hands.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has come out and stated its unwavering support for Meek's candidacy over that of Greene; however, when DSCC chair Sen. Bob Menendez was recently asked about the Crist factor, the New Jersey Democrat appeared to all but avoid discussing the matter.

The article also notes that President Barack Obama has not campaigned with Meek. The Pensacola photo-ops Obama did with Gov. Charlie Crist give the impression Obama is giving Crist an unofficial endorsement. Meek should have begged the White House to be with Obama in Pensacola.

Country Hip Hop Dancing

The cowboy hip hop is the dancing equivalent of you put your chocolate in my peanut butter. The only music appropriate is Snoop Dogg's and Willie's Nelson's My Medicine. One would have to be stoned to do this dance in public.

Hat tip to The Rumpus.

Quote of the Day

"The leader of the Republicans in the House said that financial reform was like using a nuclear weapon to target an ant. ... That [ant] is the same financial crisis that led to the loss of nearly 8 million jobs—same crisis that cost people their homes, their life savings."

President Barack Obama, on House Minority leader John Boehner.

Rep. Boehner has an amazing talent for inserting his foot in his mouth.

Kendrick Meek Death Watch: Another Endorsement For Crist

The Florida Pipe Trades has endorsed Charlie Crist over Kendrick Meek.

"This is a bit unusual,'' said the union's international representative, John Lindstrom. "We stepped out on this one because we thought it was that important...We have probably 30-35 percent unemployment in our ranks, and we think Gov. Crist has a better handle on it and can feel our pain more than anyone else.''

Democratic endorsements and money are going Crist's and Jeff Greene's way. The Florida Democratic establishment will lament on how can people not understand Kendrick Meek is the 50s New York Yankees, 70s Pittsburgh Steelers and 80s Edmonton Oilers all rolled into one. Why if Meek ran in a Democratic primary against JFK --- Meek would have Kennedy begging for mercy. Meek is a shining superstar and his campaign will get hot any day now. The only problem is no one says when that magical day will appear. Will there be rainbows and unicorns?

How long is the Democratic establishment gonna sell this bullshit spin? Bill Clinton made a horrible mistake endorsing Meek. The establishment owes potential candidates who were forced out of the Senate race an apology. Florida Democrats will keep losing races if they run candidates like Kendrick Meek.

The Florida Pipe Trades did not endorse Meek because the union knows Meek will not be a United States Senator. The Meek campaign is sinking and special interest groups will give their money and endorsements to the candidate that have the best chance. Crist is the most popular politician in Florida. Greene can outspend any Senate candidate. Meek has no charisma or public speaking skills. So how exactly is Meek gonna become an overnight political sensation is a mystery.

John Boehner Doesn't Know Policy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Rachel Maddow has video of John Boehner not knowing policy. The examples Maddow cites are fantastic.

Boehner is against the deep water drilling moratorium but thinks there should be a pause in deep water drilling. Boehner is against a moratorium and supports the six month ban on deep water drilling.

Boehner expressed his disapproval of the moratorium banning drilling closer to the coastlines. Unfortunately for Boehner, the moratorium only affects deep water drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf. Boehner could have found this information by contacting the White House or from the Department of the Interior web site.

The U.S. Department of the Interior today issued a directive to oil and gas lessees and operators on the Outer Continental Shelf notifying them of requirements under the six month deepwater drilling moratorium that Secretary Salazar has ordered.

“The six month moratorium on deepwater drilling will provide time to implement new safety requirements and to allow the Presidential Commission to complete its work,” said Salazar. “Deepwater production from the Gulf of Mexico will continue subject to close oversight and safety requirements, but deepwater drilling operations must safely come to a halt. With the BP oil spill still growing in the Gulf, and investigations and reviews still underway, a six month pause in drilling is needed, appropriate, and prudent.”

I am not surprised Boehner is not a policy wonk. Long after many Republicans were ready to throw Donald Rumsfeld under the bus; Boehner gave this gem of a quote.

"Rumsfeld is the best thing that’s happened to the Pentagon in 25 years."

In a 2006 Hardball interview, Rep. John Boehner told Chris Matthews Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and links to al Qaeda. Boehner's cluelessness is both hysterical and scary.

Scott Brown Protects the Big Banks

Freshman Sen. Scott Brown refuses to vote for a tax on banks and hedge funds with over $50 billion in assets. The $19 billion would be used for emergency bailout money fund. That way taxpayers would not have to pay relief money to troubled banks. Brown says the emergency fund can be paid for by cuts to the budget. Brown doesn't say what should be cut or where we would find this money during a federal deficit. Democrats caved in and gave Brown what he wanted.

Small banks will see an increase in FDIC fees. The big banks and hedge funds will pay no new taxes. If the big banks and hedge funds get into trouble where will bailout money come from? If you guessed the taxpayer then you are correct. Brown didn't want to see the tax on the big banks and hedge funds because he didn't want these institutions to lose assets. Unfortunately, Brown feels taxpayers and small banks should pay for the mistakes of the major financial institutions. So much for the assets of hard working Americans.

Sharron Angle: No Exceptions on Abortion

Sharron Angle did an interview with conservative talk show host David Manders. Angle told Manders would not allow a woman to have an abortion; including in cases of rape and incest. Angle believes rape and incest is part of God's plan.

MANDERS: Is there any reason at all for an abortion?

ANGLE: Not in my book.

MANDERS: So, in other words, rape and incest would not be something?

ANGLE: You know, I’m a Christian, and I believe that God has a plan and a purpose for each one of our lives and that he can intercede in all kinds of situations and we need to have a little faith in many things.

Angle called the unemployed "spoiled." She supports deregulation of the oil industry. Angle also floated the idea that voters will use "Second Amendment remedies" if Congress doesn't change.

Angle reffered to Social Security as "welfare."



Calling Angle's views out of the mainstream would be a massive understatement.

Update: Rachel Maddow has a rundown of Angle's crazy policy positions. Maddow lists that Angle wants to abolish the EPA, the Department of Education, the Department of Energy and eliminate Medicare. I encourage Angle to tell voters of her opposition to Medicare. Let's see how well that goes over.

Grassley's Asks Kagan if Second Amendment is Right Given By God

Sen. Charles Grassley asked Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan if the Second amendment is a right given by God. Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee are going to use the hearings to pander to the conservative base and not even try to ask Kagan serious questions. Seriously, why doesn't Grassley just ask Kagan if God wrote the Constitution.

Kendrick Meek Death Watch: Another Democratic Endorsement For Greene

The bloodletting continues. First Democrat Jon Ausman endorsed Jeff Greene. Now the Liberty City Democratic Network Club is endorsing Greene.

"Our top priority is to strengthen our community and we believe that Jeff Greene is the only U.S. Senate candidate who has the know-how to solve the problems that have plagued our families for years. Mr. Greene has the experience to create jobs that will spur economic activity in all parts of the state and in particular Liberty City-Miami/Dade County. Mr. Greene is also the only candidate who is not a career politician and the only U.S. Senate candidate who has not been a part of the decline of Liberty City," wrote President Eric Thompson and Vice President Roy Hardemon of the Liberty City Democratic Network Club in a joint letter endorsing Jeff Greene.

I have had my problems with Meek as a candidate. I can't see why Democrats would want to support Greene. This is obviously a problem. These kind of news stories make Meek look weak and positions Greene as a potential spoiler. The Meek campaign needs to change that perception ASAP.

Bill Nelson to White House: No Offshore Drilling

Bill Nelson was one of the Senators that went to the White House to talk about energy policy with President Barack Obama. Nelson sent out a press release stating he will not support drilling off the coast of Florida. Nelson's office published this press release on the Senator's web site.

Nelson has been outspoken against the president’s recently announced plans for expanded drilling in the eastern Gulf, where it is currently banned under a 2006 federal law. Nelson, joined by former Republican Sen. Mel Martinez, helped write that law to keeps rigs 125 miles from Florida's Gulf coast and as far away as 235 miles at some points.

“No drilling off Florida, period,” is what Nelson told the White House and fellow lawmakers today.

This is big news. Obama at best will get one Republican to support the energy bill. That is being generous. Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell will attempt to filibuster the bill. Nelson could be the deciding vote.

The BP spill and Nelson's position makes it difficuilt for the White House to add offshore drilling into the energy bill. The White House should just drop offshore drilling from the legislation. Lindsey Graham has already said he won't support the bill because there isn't enough offshore drilling. Graham was the Republican the White House was counting on for support. Harry Reid's strategy of tying the energy bill with offshore drilling reforms.

David Alexrod Interview

John Stewart interviewed White House senior advisor David Alexrod. My favorite moment of the interview is Stewart asking Alexrod why President Obama allowed Ben Bernanke and Tim Geithner to continue to make financial policy after their oversight failure of the 2008 economic meltdown.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
David Axelrod Unedited Interview Pt. 1
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
David Axelrod Unedited Interview Pt. 2
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
David Axelrod Unedited Interview Pt. 3
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

MadTV - Hot Up Here

This MadTv sketch is both a brilliant parody of the Nelly video Hot In Here and the Catholic Church sex scadals

Feminist Groups Back Meek Over Greene

The Kendrick Meek campaign staged a conference call with leaders of feminist groups. A point brought up is Greene's friendship with Heidi Fleiss.

Sue Banks, president of the Florida Federation of Business and Professional Women, said Greene used very poor judgement in his assessment of Fleiss.

"It's a profession that degrades women," Banks said.

Barbara Devane of the National Organization for Women said: "He's very disturbing." The people he hangs out with disturb me greatly."

It is good to finally see the Meek campaign go in attack mode. Meek needs to put distance between himself and Greene in the polls. I am not sure attacking Greene for being friends with Fleiss will do any damage. In a Republican primary a Fleiss connection could be damning. Democratic voters are a little more tolerant of sex scandals. Being friends and roommates with Fleiss isn't a scandal or a relationship that Greene ever tried to hide.

From a policy standpoint: Meek backed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and is pro-choice. He is the safest choice for feminists.

Quote of the Day

"Obama is detached form the American experience. He just doesn't identify with the average American because of his own background. Indonesia and Hawaii."

Rick Santorum

Hawaii is a state. Not a foreign country. Santorum may or may not know that. I wonder if Santorum believes smoke monsters exist because Lost was filmed in Hawaii.

Kendrick Meek Death Watch: Crist Getting Dem Money

The powerful progressive blog Taliking Points Memo ran a story titled "Are Democrats Abandoning Kendrick Meek In Florida." The question is rhetorical. Florida Democrats Jon Ausman, Carol Roberts and Joe Angelo have endorsed Jeff Greene over Meek. The fact that Meek has been in the Senate race for nearly two years and didn't seal up endorsements is pathetic. Meek is getting flanked by Greene in the primary.

Gov. Charlie Crist has tapped into the Democratic fundraising machine. The St. Petersburg Times reports of Crist receiving donations from trial lawyers and unions. Lance Block hosted a fundraiser for Crist. In attendance were Former Democratic Florida House Speaker T.K. Wetherell and Dexter Douglass, a former advisor to Lawton Chiles. Rep. Darryl Rouson (D) was at another Crist fundraiser.

Even Democratic guru Steve Schale admitted support for Meek has been weak.

"There is certainly a 'Can Kendrick win?' or 'Can Jeff win?' factor," said Democratic strategist Steve Schale, "but I think most of it is personal loyalty (to Crist)."

The well-staged photo-op of Crist and President Barack Obama was not an accident on the part of the White House. Florida Democrats took the Obama-Crist photo-op as an unofficial endorsement. The White House knows Meek is a horrible candidate and feel Crist is the best chance for Democrats to keep the majority in Congress. Crist will meet with Vice-President Joe Biden tomorrow in Pensacola.

On My 22, I wrote a blog post declaring that Meek had no chance of becoming a U.S. Senator. I stand by that assessment.

Lori Edwards On Dennis Ross Receiving Joe Barton Money

Dennis Ross is the likely Republican nominee for the Florida district 12 Congressional release. Ross received $2,000 from Rep. Joe Barton's Texas Freedom fund PAC. Barton's now famous apology to BP CEO Tony Hayward was seen as insensitive. Ross's campaign manager Fred Piccolo told the Tampa Tribune Ross disagrees with Barton but will keep the PAC money. A true profile in courage.

Ross' campaign manager, Fred Piccolo, said the candidate disagreed with Barton when he apologized to Hayward. But he isn't giving back the money he received via the Texan's committee, Piccolo said.

Democratic district 12 candidate Lori Edwards is asking Ross to return Barton's PAC money.

“Ross' refusal to give back Joe Barton's dirty money or explain his view that more offshore drilling is the key to our energy future makes it clear that his loyalty lies with big oil not with those most affected by this environmental disaster," said Edwards Campaign Manager Tony Coppola. "It's unfortunate that Dennis Ross is siding with Joe Barton and big oil even at a time when the oil spill is threatening Florida's economy and destroying its beaches.

“I understand the link between protecting our beaches and growing our economy, said Lori Edwards. "We need a representative who is willing to stand up to big oil not for them."

Ross supports drilling in the environmentally sensitive Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Gulf of Mexico. The Ross website states being against unsafe drilling. Ross doesn't say how he would make offshore drilling safe.

The BP disaster is proof there is no way to cap a deep water offshore drilling accident. An anonymous oil industry expert told the Young Turks show there is no way to make deep water drilling safe.

Dan Gelber Fundraiser

Florida Attorney General candidate Dan Gelber is holding a $500.00 per person fundraiser tomorrow at Bella Brava.

Where: Bella Brava
515 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg

When: Thursday, July 1
5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

On the "firing" of Dave Weigel and the Washington Post's disingenuousness

This weekend I am saddened, though not terribly surprised, to learn the newspaper that broke the Watergate scandal--but which is now best-known for providing an internationally-read platform for Neocons, torture apologists, and outright liars (or the ghostwriters thereof) shilling for Big Oil--has thrown Dave Weigel, one of its only sane, non-religious, non-Neocon conservative writers, under the bus.

Weigel's apparently unforgivable sin? He used hyperbolic language while criticizing another conservative in private e-mails that were unethically stolen from a listserv (e-mail group) and subsequently--and reprehensibly--made public. This, quoth the Post's ombudsman, undermines the Post's standing among conservatives because it calls into question whether Weigel was a "real" conservative or not.

Let me get this straight: if a liberal writer were to privately express his or her disdain toward, or contempt for, certain liberals--for example, if I were fortunate to have a paying job writing about liberal concerns at a large newspaper, and they got hold of my private e-mails saying what sorts of large, unwieldy objects Ralph Nader ought to shove up his nether regions--this would create wholesale, irreparable damage to the newspaper's standing among liberals?

Please.

Furthermore, does the Washington Post not realize that Weigel was merely expressing--in private, for crying out loud--the same contempt for certain conservatives that many conservatives I know personally, and am even related to or married to, express all the time, and in public? Conservatives are not a monolithic group any more than liberals are.

The Washington Post, by firing Dave Weigel (or "accepting his resignation", whatever, same thing), has now firmly established, in plain view of all and sundry, that it is a bought-and-paid-for organ of the extreme right wing of the Republican party, and as such, will neither recognize nor permit any dissent or deviations of opinion within the Corpus Conservative.

Nay, their writers, unless they're one of the tiny handful of liberals on the payroll and clearly labeled with the L-word, must all toe the Neocon line. And since Neocon goals can only be met when enough religious rubes are on board, they must also worship at the altar of Sister Sarah of the Naughty Monkey Fuck-me Pumps, Birther of Several and Mother to None.

Dave, I haven't always agreed with what you wrote, but I've always respected your ethics and your work. You deserve better.

To quote Rachel Maddow: Dear God, please save journalism--please, please, please.

Also at litbrit.

Lone Justice - Belfry

Maria McKee's intensity live is amazing.

The 15 Minutes of 'Drill Baby Drill' is Up

Come on Republicans. I dare you to start the "Drill Baby Drill" chants again.

Hat tip to the Seminole Democrat.

Rick Scott is Anti-Choice

Voters who are pro-choice should be alarmed by Rick Scott's stance on abortion. On his campaign web site, Scott supports overturning Roev. Wade. Scott also supports a permanent federal ban on embryonic stem cell. Scientist have repeatedly stated that embryonic stem cells. Dr. Hans Keirstead used embryonic stem cells to give paralyzed rats the ability to walk again. Embryonic stem cell research may one day be able to do the same thing for humans.

"If it does the same thing in humans, I think we’ve hit something here that’s gonna be truly remarkable," says Dr. Keirstead.

Keirstead has been quoted as saying that that every 100 years we have one major medical milestone and that this is one of those times. It's a pretty bold statement.

"I have never seen in my career a biological tool as powerful as the stem cells. It addresses every single human disease," says Keirstead.

Scott also states he would has signed the intrusive HB 1143. The bill would have forced women to take an ultrasound before having an abortion. There is no medical need for a woman getting an abortion to get an ultrasound. The bill was designed to give a guilt trip to women getting abortions.

Scott booast about being the chairman of the Conservatives for Patients’ Rights. A man who was the CEO of a company involved in the worst Medicaid fraud case in United States history has a lot of chutzpah portraying himself as a consumer advocate.

Transcript of Scott's abortion position.

I am pro-life. I believe strongly in the sanctity of human life. I believe Roe v. Wade should be overturned, and as governor, would appoint judges who apply law and not impose their political agenda on the people, which was what was done in 1973 when Roe was wrongly decided.

As governor, I would have signed the pro-life ultrasound legislation that has passed both house of the Florida legislature and was vetoed by Charlie Crist for political reasons.

This important legislation not only demonstrates that abortion is the taking of an innocent human life but also prevents Florida taxpayers from funding abortion through the federal health care plan that recently passed Congress.

As governor, I will be an advocate for pro-life issues. I will support a permanent ban on embryonic stem cell research. We should never experiment with or discard human life. I’m appreciative that science has shown that adult stem cells can yield scientific advances. We need to find much-needed cures for debilitating diseases. As chairman of Conservatives for Patients’ Rights, I worked with like-minded organizations in opposing abortion coverage in the ObamaCare bill.

Dick Cheney in the Hospital

This is the public statement from Dick Cheney's office.

“Former Vice President Cheney was not feeling well and was seen this afternoon by his doctors in their offices at George Washington University. On the advice of his physicians, he was admitted to the hospital for further testing. He is expected to remain in the hospital over the weekend.”

Reid Tying Cap & Trade to Offshore Drilling Reforms

Senate Majority leader Harry Reid lumping the cap and trade legislation to a bill reforming offshore drilling regulation. Naturally, fellow Democrats think it is a horrible idea.

One leading Democrat who’s wary of Reid’s strategy is the leader of the party’s 2010 Senate campaign committee, Robert Menendez of New Jersey.

“I think we should do them separately,” he said. “The oil regulation bill is moving fast and has a lot of support.”

Menendez is wrong. Linking cap and trade to the popular offshore drilling reform bill is good policy and politics. The cap and trade bill was dead. Reid now has a chance to kick start the bill. The cap and trade legislation isn't perfect but it is a good start. If you don't think we shouldn't worry about greenhouse emissions; Miami-Dade County will one day be underwater if we stay at our current rate of emissions.

The politics makes perfect sense. Republican that are against cap and trade would vote against the bill at their own political peril. Democrats will tell voters that the Republicans that voted against the bill want to keep the status quo that produced the Deep Horizon spill. It is a win for Democrats no matter how Republicans vote.

Offshore drilling was always linked to cap and trade. Earlier this year, Bill Nelson pulled support for an earlier cap and trade bill because it would allow offshore drilling. After the start of the BP spill, Lindsay Graham was political tone deaf enough to declare he wouldn't support the bill because there wasn't enough offshore drilling. Apparently, the pro-oil White House wasn't gung ho enough for Graham.

McCollum Needs to See the Sunshine

In Sarasota, Bill McCollum said the Florida legislature is not a place for open government.

“I’m not sure the Legislature is the place for open government,” McCollum said. “I was a legislator and you can’t negotiate and do deals in the Legislature and get business done in 60 days or 90 days or whatever your session may be with open government, to be perfectly frank.”

That is a rather remarkable statement from Florida's Attorney General. The Florida Sunshine law requires all meetings of the Florida legislature to be public. Even the Florida cabinet must meet in public. Either McCollum is offering a personal opinion or doesn't understand the Sunshine law. If it is the former then McCollum would rather government business be done with less transparancy. If it is the latter then McCollum is a very bad lawyer.

Raining Oil in Louisiana Part 2

In what is good news: the National Weather Service told MSNBC that it cannot rain oil.

National Weather Service statement:

The notion of oily rain is not realistic. Oil as a whole does not evaporate, therefore it is not possible that it would be in the clouds or coming down in the form of rain.

Oil is made up of component parts, some of which are volatile and do evaporate into the atmosphere, these separate and diffuse out into the air. Other component parts do not evaporate and that is what is left behind in weathered oil, residue or tar balls.

Quote of the Day

"“If you look at the record and the outcome,” Howard said, “he committed fraud and that’s why it was so expensive for him. With what I know about Jeff Greene as a tenant, I certainly wouldn’t vote for him, and I wouldn’t relish the idea of him being in the Senate."

Ron Howard

Greene was forced to pay Howard $600,000 for in a lawsuit settlement.

Friday Cat Blogging

A mouse has been genetically engineered to not fears cats.

Bill Foster Say Rays Are Staying

St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster sent out a press release clearing implying he isn't letting the Tampa Bay Rays leave town.

“I do agree that the Rays are a “regional asset”, and will work tirelessly with the political and business leaders of Tampa Bay in support of this club. However, there is no resident of the entire region who has given up more in this quest for baseball than the resident of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County. The taxpaying rresidents of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in support of Major League Baseball and the Rays, and above all else, their interests will always come first.

Earlier this week, Mr. Sternberg issues a statement, “the Rays will not be playing in Tropicana Field when our current lease expires in the year 2027″. and in the spirit of full cooperation with one of our most prominent business partners, the City of St. Petersburg is ready, willing and able to explore future facility sites located in St. Peterburg, including sits in the area commonly referred to as The Greater Gateway.” To begin a time line for construction prior to 2027, an amendment to our existing agreement would be required. I intend to convey to Mr. Sternberg aour willingness to engage the Rays in this discussion immediately, in spite of the fact that seventeen years remain on the existing agreement.

Let me be clear – we will consider any potential ballpark site in St. Petersburg and the Gateway, but only as part of a process that recognizes and rewards the previous and ongoing investment and commitment of the St. Petersburg and Pinellas County resident, and thus, no sites outside our geographic boundaries will be considered. This is consistent with every previous statement made by this administration, both publically and behind closed doors with Rays’ management.

Translation: Foster is thumping his chest. The fact is the Rays could pull a Baltimore Colts and move the team in the middle of the night. The Rays would let the city that courts them pay the fines and legal fees to St. Petersburg. That is what St. Petersburg was willing to do when they attempted to steal the White Sox and Giants from their hometowns.

I don't think the Rays can survive in St. Petersburg. South Tampa makes sense for the team economically. What wouldn't make sense is Hillsborough County taxpayers' har earned money being used to build a stadium for a for profit franchise. There was once a time when sports franchises built their own stadiums.

We look forward to ongoing dialogue with the Rays…”

Friday Frank: Outrage at Valdez; with Ensemble Modern, Frankfurt, 1992

Posted for obvious reasons--*sigh*--with sadness, anger, and no small sense of When will we ever learn?, this melancholy piece features a multitude of different instruments, the classical and unusual alike. Zappa originally wrote Outrage for the Cousteau Society's documentary Alaska: Outrage at Valdez, which appeared on TBS in 1990 (currently only available on VHS tape). It was later included in Zappa's last recorded album, The Yellow Shark, a collection of his neoclassical compositions with Ensemble Modern.

I've been trying decide which Zappa piece would serve as a theme for the tragic and epic disaster at the Deepwater Horizon oil well, which, as I write, still vomits its dark bile, untold thousands of gallons of it, into the Gulf of Mexico every day, and in so doing, continues to kill vast numbers of sea creatures and birds. Which, as I write, is unrelenting in its delivery of Earth's vengeance, across the once-vibrant waves and onto our increasingly devastated shores.

FZ is no longer here to provide us with searing musical commentary, so I search through the archives of Internet and memory for another Outrage. And the one composition that keeps playing in my head is this--entitled, appropriately, Sleep Dirt:


Also at litbrit.

Blake Babies - Severed Lips

One of my all-time favorite covers.

Kendrick Meek Death Watch: Meek's Lack of Netroots Savvy

Kenneth Quinnell asked several progressive bloggers (myself included) for imput on the Kendrick Meek. I can't go into my converstation with Kenneth. Peter Schorsch of Saint Petersblog 2.0 posted an intelligent online response to Quinnell.

Schorsch is correct that Meek needs to spend more time in the I-4 corridor and sealing up the black vote in Central Florida. The fact that Meek ran most of the race largely unopposed (until Jeff Greene came onto the scene) and he hasn't received all the endorsements of Democratic officials is shocking. Greene has been able to get even with Meek in the polls because Meek doesn't inspire the base.

Anther faction of the Democratic Party that Kendrick Meek has yet to lock up is the Netroots. And this was suppose to be his strength, especially with with the signing of Kenneth Quinnell. Yet, despite Quinnell’s efforts and hard work, the liberal blogintelligensia is not firmly behind Meek. Sure, some of the most liberal bloggers are with Meek, but certainly not the majority. The Reid Report, Opinion Matters, Pushing Rope, Recreating Tampa, (my) Saint Petersblog…all of these sites have remained dangerously neutral.

Peter, Joy-Ann Reid and I get read by many media and political insiders. I am sure Peter and Joy-Ann have received e-mails about not being team players and supporting Meek. The Dennis Stackhouse scandal and hawkish Israel policy makes Meek a more socially liberal version of Marco Rubio. That isn't the kind of candidate I want to be a cheerleader for.

Peter has another suggestion that I can do one better on.

Buy the blogosphere. Ten or twenty grand in advertising spread among twenty blogs would gain you a cadre of shock troops that you desperately need in the coming months. I’ll make a deal with you. If you advertise on the other 14 major liberal blogs, you don’t have to on Saint Petersblog (unless you really want to), just so long as you do it.

Meek could have a fundraising drive on Crooks and Liars. Alan Grayson had one and it was extremely successful. I don't think Meek gets the internet. Quinnell hasn't been able to connect the Meek campaign to the A list progressive blogs. Meek needs Firedoglake and Daily Kos Not Pushing Rope.

So, Congressman Meek, if you don’t do something dramatic now, when you are at 14% in the polls, about to be overtaken by Jeff Greene, you will end up losing. If not in August, then in November.

I don't think Meek is a talented enough politician to beat Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio. The news media has ignored Meek because, let's face it, the guy is boring on TV. Lacking charisma and having a fundraising disadvantage would be a hard obstacle to overcome in a good year for Democrats. Meek is running in an anti-Democrat establishment year against two two non-Democratic politicians with a national media profile. I am not even sure Meek can beat Jeff Greene. I know the Democratic establishment has no idea what they will do if Greene wins.

The establishment forced Dan Gelber and Pam Iorio from running in the Senate race. Clearing the field because the Clintons are fond of Connie Meek was a fucking stupid mistake. Meek won his mother's seat in the Florida legislature and Congress. This is a politician who never ran a tough race in his life. The establishment was foolish in thinking Meek could beat Crist and Rubio.

President Obama did a well-staged photo-op with Crist in Pensacola. The White House won't publicly support Crist. Obama will also not alienate Crist. Obama will not think twice about asking Crist to caucus with the Democrats. The White realizes Meek will lose and they will need Crist's vote.

Food Stamp Applications Increase

Food stamp applications have gone up 15 percent in the Panhandle. Tourism is down is the Panhandle because of the Deep Horizon oil spill. Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Visit Florida explains:

"The timing of the spill couldn't have been any worse for Northwest Florida," Thompson said of the height of the Panhandle's tourist season. "After two years, volume had started coming back."

36 percent of Gulf of Mexico federal waters is closed to commercial fishing. NOAA will soon close more after oil has hit the Western coast of Florida. Tar balls have washed up on the beaches of Destin, Florida. The area is known for it's fishing.

Much of the Panhandle's economy depends on tourism and fishing. The oil spill will put many Floridians out of work. It is a bad time for Congress to vote not to extend unemployment benefits.

Quote of the Day

"I also think that we need to have the courts review whether or not -- if you break the law to come into the U.S. -- whether your child would be a citizen just by being born here. The Fourteenth Amendment actually says that you will be a citizen as long as you are under the jurisdiction of the United States. Many argue that these children that are born to illegal aliens are really still under the jurisdiction of the Mexican government. I think we need to fight that out in the courts."

Rand Paul

The 14th amendment can't be fought out in court. The amendment makes clear any person born in the United States is a citizen. The 14th amendment would have to be repealed by a vote of 2/3 of Congress and 2/3 of the states.

As long as Mexico is poor and has ongoing drug violence people will flee into the United States. Even if Paul got his wish of an underground electrical fence it would not stop Mexicans from illegally entering the country. We have spent billions to stop illegal immigration and drugs from coming over the Mexican border. People like Paul want to throw money away at laughable ideas. No one wants to examine why people are leaving Mexico.

Glenn Beck's Latest Literary Masterpiece

You can read a page of the ghost writer's Glenn Beck's exciting prose of his new fiction book the "The Overton Window." The plot of the novel should appeal to 9-11 truthers and UFO believers everywhere.

But all of that changes when Noah meets Molly Ross, a woman who is consumed by the knowledge that the America we know is about to be lost forever. She and her group of patriots have vowed to remember the past and fight for the future--but Noah, convinced they're just misguided conspiracy-theorists, isn't interested in lending his considerable skills to their cause.

And then the world changes.

An unprecedented attack on U.S. soil shakes the country to the core and puts into motion a frightening plan, decades in the making, to transform America and demonize all those who stand in the way. Amidst the chaos, many don't know the difference between conspiracy theory and conspiracy fact--or, more important, which side to fight for.

But for Noah, the choice is clear: Exposing the plan, and revealing the conspirators behind it, is the only way to save both the woman he loves and the individual freedoms he once took for granted.

If Glenn Beck's name wasn't on the book it would be in the bargain bin at your local bookstore.

Joel Award: Marco Rubio

It is time to give out another Joel Award. The award is given to a blogger, politician or pundit whom makes glaringly obvious contradictory statements.

In January, Marco Rubio signed a Club For Growth pledge and promised that if elected Senator, he woul vote to repeal the entire health care reform bill.

"As a U.S. senator, I will sponsor and support legislation to repeal any federal health care takeover passed in 2010, and replace it with real reforms that lower health care costs without growing government," Rubio said.

The National Review's Jim Geraghty interviewed Rubio in a coffee shop. Rubio told Geraghty and other conservative writers that he would keep the ban on insurance companies from not covering people with preexisting conditions. Rubio would also allow child to be under their parents' insurance coverage until he or she is 26. That is a radical departure from Rubio's earlier pledge. That might have something to do with poll numbers threading to support to the health care reform bill signed by President Barack Obama.

Republicans will never be able to repeal the entire health care bill. Democrats will just point to parts of the legislation that are popular and use that against Republicans. The GOP has tried to get rid of Medicare and Social Security and failed. RNC Chairman Michael Steele actually attack Obama for proposed cuts in Medicare. It was weird seeing the RNC Chairman defend an entitlement program.

Personally, I don't think Rubio has thought about the policy implications. I don't remember him as being wonky during his tenure as Florida House Speaker. I have seen evidence he doesn't understand foreign policy. The NWF Daily News editorial board was shocked about how ignorant Rubio was about the issues surround drilling for oil off of Florida's coast. If Rubio has been a politician in Florida and hasn't studied offshore drilling than I doubt he knows anything about health care.

Forbes List of Top 100 Web Sites For Women

Forbes has released their list of the top 100 web sites for women. I'm very pleased to see that Feministe and Feministing. A site that didn't make the list but as many great feminist activist blogging about women health matters is RH Reality Check. I urge you to check out that site and the Forbes list.

Marco Rubio Hearts Offshore Drilling

Marco Rubio still supports offshore drilling. He has been rather consistently politically tone deaf on the issue. Rubio reiterated his support of offshore drilling to Wolf Blitzer.

So now you’re talking about deep-water drilling. And I only want to see it if it can be done safely. And that’s why it’s so important that we study why this happened. And if you tell me we’re going to have to put up with a couple of more of these, of course not. But can it be done safely? There is evidence that it can be done safely. It’s being done safely all over the world.

I encourage Rubio to go down to Pensacola and give his offshore drilling speech.

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This is a fun band.

Oil Hits Pensacola

Traces of oil have washed up on the beaches of Pensacola, Florida. Gov. Charlie Crist came to observe the environmental damage. Clean-up contractors are working on the scene. Department of Secretary Mike Sole told the media he will contact the Coast Guard about getting front-end loader to pick up the oil-stained sand.

An MSNBC has a starker report. Field reporter Mark Potter said skimmers were not out until after the oil hit the shore. The oil has spread along the coast of Pensacola.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Reuters has a quote on just how bad the smell is.

"I jumped in my car this morning, drove out here and immediately the smell hits you in the face. It's like you're pulling up to a gas station to get gas," said Pensacola resident Gary Deshazo.

Just waits until it starts raining oil like in Louisiana. Things are going to get worst before they get better.

Why Joe Barton Shouldn't Tweet

Rep. Joe Barton's Twitter account had the tweet "Joe Barton was right." The tweet linked to an American Spectator article. The tweet has since been deleted from Barton's account.. The Washington Post's Dave Weigel quoted a portion of the piece.

Rep. Joe Barton of Texas broke an iron law of Washington last week. He described the elephant in the room that no one was supposed to see. In this case, it was the strong-arming Obama & Co. applied to BP to get it to "voluntarily" set up a $20 billion fund to compensate Gulf citizens adversely affected by the oil spill. Barton used the inelegant term, "shakedown." He was promptly made to eat humble pie by his party's Congressional leaders, fearful that if they didn't clamp down, the Democrats would use it to tie the entire party to an unpopular company.

The op-ed Peter Hannaford goes on to blame Obama, Congressional Democrats and Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac for the housing crisis. Fannie and Freddie were horribly run companies but were too small to create the crisis. Banks were losing money off of credit default swaps. The banks couldn't cover mortgages so the institutions moved the mortgages to security accounts. The terrible irony was these security accounts were insured by credit default swaps. We can also take in rising unemployment and homes appraised at over their values as factors into the housing crisis. Fannie and Freddie were bad but not big enough to sink the entire housing market.

The rest of Hannaford's op-ed is how dare Obama pick on poor BP.

Mr. Obama's attorney general had already taken the unusual step of publicly announcing in advance a criminal investigation of the oil spill. This built pressure on BP, as did the concerted effort by everyone in the administration with access to a microphone to demonize it, as if it had deliberately caused the Deepwater Horizon rig to explode and unleash a flow of oil from the sea bed.

BP's attempted to drill for oil with cheap equipment. In 2005, 15 BP workers were killed in an explosion. The reason for the explosion was BP failing to follow safety guidelines. More recently, BP spilled oil into Alaska's North Slope. BP has other accidents and safety violations. Who does Hannaford think is to blame for this? Obama and pesky government regulations.

Quote of the Day

"George (W.) Bush created a lot of jobs."

RNC Chairman Michael Steele, on CNBC

The Wall Street Journal has kinder job creation numbers than Young Turks host Cenk Uygur. The WSJ still labels Bush's job numbers "The Worst Track Record On Record."

Michael Steele is the gift that keeps on giving.

Legalize It

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Moment of Zen - Man Wants to Legalize Crack
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

I look forward to the lelalize crack movement starting Crackfest.

Satellite Image of Oil Spill

Via Skytruth: a MODIS/Aqua satellite image show the extent of the oil spill in the Gulf. The area the spill has spread in the image is a shocking 26,053 square miles.

Afghanistan Problems Go Up Chain of Command

President Barack Obama announced he was accepting Gen. Stanley McChrystal's resignation. I grew up in a military family. So, I wasn't surprised by the statements or behavior of McChrystal or his team in the Rolling Stone article. What struck me is the lack of faith in the chain of command. McChrystal has no confidence in the White House. The soldiers have zero confidence in McChrystal and the COIN strategy.

During the question-and-answer period, the frustration boils over. The soldiers complain about not being allowed to use lethal force, about watching insurgents they detain be freed for lack of evidence. They want to be able to fight – like they did in Iraq, like they had in Afghanistan before McChrystal. "We aren't putting fear into the Taliban," one soldier says.

"Winning hearts and minds in COIN is a coldblooded thing," McChrystal says, citing an oft-repeated maxim that you can't kill your way out of Afghanistan. "The Russians killed 1 million Afghans, and that didn't work."

"I'm not saying go out and kill everybody, sir," the soldier persists. "You say we've stopped the momentum of the insurgency. I don't believe that's true in this area. The more we pull back, the more we restrain ourselves, the stronger it's getting."

"I agree with you," McChrystal says. "In this area, we've not made progress, probably. You have to show strength here, you have to use fire. What I'm telling you is, fire costs you. What do you want to do? You want to wipe the population out here and resettle it?"

A soldier complains that under the rules, any insurgent who doesn't have a weapon is immediately assumed to be a civilian. "That's the way this game is," McChrystal says. "It's complex. I can't just decide: It's shirts and skins, and we'll kill all the shirts."

As the discussion ends, McChrystal seems to sense that he hasn't succeeded at easing the men's anger. He makes one last-ditch effort to reach them, acknowledging the death of Cpl. Ingram. "There's no way I can make that easier," he tells them. "No way I can pretend it won't hurt. No way I can tell you not to feel that. . . . I will tell you, you're doing a great job. Don't let the frustration get to you." The session ends with no clapping, and no real resolution. McChrystal may have sold President Obama on counterinsurgency, but many of his own men aren't buying it.

The problem isn't McChrystal and Obama. They both wanted to place more troops in Afghanistan and have a more aggressive counter-insurgency strategy. The true problem is mission is not working. The Afghan people have no faith in President Hamid Karzai. Not without good reason: Karzai has been unable to create an Afghan military and police force. The Karzai regime has rigged an election and links to heroin distribution. At a certain point stay the course becomes insanity.

Update: Joshua Holland got the same message from the Rolling Stone article. Holland finds a depressing Obama quote I haven't seen before.

"There is no denying the progress that the Afghan people have made in recent years – in education, in health care and economic development," the president says. "As I saw in the lights across Kabul when I landed – lights that would not have been visible just a few years earlier."

Obama is sighting lights as progress. Americans can not walk safely in most of Afghanistan but aren't the lights pretty.

Raining Oil in Louisiana

This was bound to happen. The humidity made water and oil vapoize and rise to the clouds. The result is raining oil. This won't be the last time we see this.

Nadine Smith Delivers Letter to Obama

Praise goes out to Nadine Smith for delivering a letter from young Florida boys that do not want to be taken away from their gay parents. I am not sure if these were the boys adopted by Frank Martin Gill.

Jim Johnson had a great right-of-center take on Florida's gay adoption ban.

Heck, removing the ban would actually SAVE money. Foster parents get more financial assistance from the state than adoptive parents do — so if more foster parents, even homosexuals, want to adopt AND the court system agrees it would be best for the kids, then let them adopt.

This isn't about fiscal conservatism. The Republican dominated legislature does not want to be on the bad side of the Christian Right. The end result is too many kids end up without adoptive parents.

Tom Feeney Fundraises For Marco Rubio

There is nothing that says fiscal fiscal discipline and conservative values than having Tom Feeney fundraise for you. Feeney had to pay the U.S. Treasury Department $5,643 for breaking congressional rules. Feeney went on a Scottish golfing trip paid for by lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In case you don't remember Abramoff, the lobbyist pleaded guilty to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. Abramoff wasn't taking Feeney golfing because he wanted to chill with him. Feeney was listed as Representative #3 in its Abramoff investigation.

Other fun facts about Feeney: the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington listed Feeney as one of the 20 most corrupt members of Congress.

Feeney suggested that Florida secede from the United States.

Feeney a Hooters waitress, Bridgette A. Gregory, with no college degree, to be his Florida House aide.

If Marco Rubio wants to link himself to Feeney then I am more than happy to get the word out of their shared political man crush.

Update: I just learned former Hooter's waitress Bridgette A. Gregory worked for Marco Rubio after her time with Feeney.

Crist Urged to Call Special Session For Oil Spill

Florida senators Dan Gelber, Rick Kriseman and Keith Fitzgerald are urging Gov. Charlie Crist to call a special session for the oil spill edging closer to Florida's coast.

“I renew my call for Governor Crist to summon the legislature back into a summer special session to confront head on solutions to these complex challenges,” said Sen. Gelber. “The special session must include aggressive measures that protect Floridians by ensuring that the state has the proper laws in place to hold BP and others accountable coupled with a constitutional amendment to ban near-shore drilling.”

“Inaction by the legislature is not an option Floridians can tolerate,” said Rep. Fitzgerald. “We must accept the fact that families and businesses throughout Florida are having their livelihoods and their primary source of income washed away from this horrific incident. And it’s time that the pro-oil supporters put their interests aside and allow the legislature to get to work on solutions that can mitigate the pain.”

“These are proposals that must be addressed immediately,” said Rep. Kriseman. “Passage of this legislation will provide short-term relief and long-term protections. I applaud Governor Crist for being open-minded and seriously considering our requests, and trust he will continue to put the interests of Florida and its citizens first despite the efforts of some out-of-touch politicians in the Florida Legislature.”

The senators want to special to grant the Attorney General environmental crime powers. I don't see Bill McCollum suddenly becoming a consumer advocate and going after BP. The senators also want to discuss victim claims and business compensation. The Florida government is broke. Crist and the legislature will probably lean on the Obama administration and BP for compensation. What the legislature needs to do is think of longterm environmental disaster management and make sure state and federal agencies respond quickly and communicate.

Update: Crist has Economic Impact Assessment work group crunching numbers on potential economic damages from the spill. Crist sent a letter to BP asking for the corporation to work with the Office of Policy and Budget and the Florida Department of Revenue. The Florida government will need data from BP to calculate the economic liability.

Compassionate Conservatism Sharron Angle Says Unemployed Spoiled

Much like Rand Paul, Sharron Angle believes people want to be unemployed. A mash-up Youtube clip shows Angle saying people are getting spoiled on unemployment. The second part of the clip is Angle telling a public forum that it isn't her job as Senator to bring jobs to Nevada. I really wonder what planet people like Angle and Paul live on.

Doug Tudor Attacks Debbie Wasserman-Schultz

I have repeatedly said Doug Tuder can not win Florida District 12. Appparently, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz sent out a mass e-mail asking Democrats to support Tudor's primary opponent Lori Edwards. The Tudor campaign found out about the e-mail and is using it for fundraising purposes. I doubt it will do much good. According to OpenSecrets.org, Tudor has only raised $34,274.

Tudor has alienated the Democratic establishment. I have had my own misgivings with the establishment. I am also not running for Congress. Tudor needed the establishment for fundraising and endorsements. Instead, he operated his campaign without communicating with the DCCC and Florida Democratic Party. Tudor shouldn't act shocked that Wasserman-Schultz is supporting Edwards.

From Tudor's e-mail:

Over the next several days, I am going to send you a few more notes outlining why Debbie, who is in a safe D+13 district, is supporting a Conservative. Trust me, it is not the first time she has backed candidates that are opposed to the hope and change for which we worked so hard for in 2008. With your $20.00 contribution, we can send a clear message that it should be her last.

Man, this guy is vindictive. Tudor is obsessed with a Democrat representative from another district. That is much like Tudor's weird attack on Randy Edwards; a unknown candidate who withdrew from the race before he even really started. I don't want a person with Tudor's temperment anywhere near public office.

Another point is what hope and change did Tudor create in 2008? Tudor lost the District 12 general election to Adam Putnam by 16.8 percent. Tudor didn't help Barack Obama win Florida. So I really like to know how he is creating hope and change by attacking every Democrat he feels that dissed him?

Update: At the time of this post; Doug Tudor's ActBlue site has raised $170.00. That isn't going to cut it.

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Iggy Pop with Slash on guitar.

Once Again With Feeling: Bush Tax Cuts Created Deficit

The Heritage Foundation is attempting to make the dubious claim that the Bush tax cuts were not responsible for the deficit. The Heritage Foundation claims to use Congressional Budget Office numbers. The graph adds up the entire budget deficit to $11.7 billion. We should be so lucky.



In 2005, the Center of Budget and Policy Priorities did their own calculations of CBO numbers. 48 percent of the deficit came from tax legislation, 37 percent from defense, international and homeland security, 15 percent from domestic programs.

The new CBO data show that changes in law enacted since January 2001 increased the
deficit by $539 billion in 2005. In the absence of such legislation, the nation would have a surplus this year. Tax cuts account for nearly half — 48 percent — of this $539 billion in increased costs.1 Increases in program spending
make up the other 52 percent and have been primarily concentrated in
defense, homeland security, and international affairs.

The Administration has repeatedly defended its tax cuts as a needed stimulus during the recent economic downturn. But the downturn is behind us, and the cost
of the tax cuts is scheduled to increase in the years ahead. Indeed, some of the tax cuts enacted in 2001 that benefit only highincome households have not even started to take effect yet. The repeal of the “personal exemption phase-out” for high-income taxpayers, as well as repeal of the limitation on itemized deductions for high-income taxpayers, do not start to phase in until 2006 and do not take full
effect until 2010. Estate tax repeal also does not take effect until 2010.

A growing number of studies from highly respected institutions and economists have
concluded that the negative effect on long-term growth of the increased deficits that the tax cuts.

The wealthiest Americans benefitted. The tax cuts didn't create the magic surplus that Bush promised. That is why the Heritage Foundation is attempting to reframe the Bush tax cuts with a chart that makes absolutely no sense.