Danita Kilcullen Doesn't Heart Gay People

If there is any doubt about the tea party being more about social conservative issues than fiscal issues look no further than this email by Danita Kilcullen of the Tea Party Fort Lauderdale. Kilcullen sent an email describing Log Cabin Republicans as "a thug organization.

“We must fight with all we have... We must put pressure on the House like has never been seen before. I'll be damned if I will ever be forced to hire someone with orange hair, body/neck/face covered with tattoos, multiple piercings, or a man in a dress... or for that matter, a demonstrative effeminate male or purposeful butch-looking female. The Log Cabins are the same lobbyist organization that has all but taken over BREC; and besides that, we have someone on the Board of BREC who is using her position to openly put pressure on some BREC members to stand for same-sex marriage.

This is the same group who, based on nothing other than his recent stand for gay marriage, supports Chris Christie and who publicly worked against Cuccinelli for his stand for traditional marriage. Keep in mind, this is a thug organization with only their own "special interests" in play. I wonder what they will do with democrat Charlie Crist now running for governor? I'm betting on them to vote for Charlie, along with some other mousey republicans. I will now be accused of 'splitting' BREC. I am not! I am in standing with the Republican Platform, which is what I stated the very night I was sworn-on to BREC. We must stop this in short!

The irony of Kilcullen's "thug" quote is she was arrested in 2011 on the charge of kicking a police officer. Welcome to the Republican Party of 2013.

Friday Cat Blogging

A cheetah gets up close to a photographer. Fortunately for the photographer cheetahs are the most passive of the big cats.

GOP Consultant Peter Schorsch Threatens Me With Libel Lawsuit

I continue to get threatened by Peter Schorsch and his attorney Phillips. Schorsch sent this email to me.

I am going to share with you ... the cover letter which clearly shows the proposed settlement came from Pinson's attorney not mine.

With this, you will be informed that what you have said to date is clearly wrong and, in our opinion, defamatory and libelous.

Therefore, you should delete any post or Tweet that is counter to the fact that Pinson initiated contact or you will be subject to a legal proceeding.

Michael, on a personal level, you have backed the wrong horse here. I truly suggest you look at your work and clean it up before Monday because that's when the legal action gets underway.

Please govern yourself accordingly.

Michael Pinson and several other Florida political officials told the  Tampa Bay Times that Schorsch told then he would stop writing negative posts and deleting negative posts if they would pay a financial fee. TBT Reported that Schorsch came to Pinson with the contract.

The reinvigorated criminal inquiry into Schorsch stems from accusations made by Pinson, a Republican activist who over the last three years Schorsch has frequently criticized and mocked online. Pinson supplied a contract to the Times that Schorsch had presented him in May 2012. In it, Schorsch requested that Pinson pay him $3,200 in order for the blogger to delete all references to Pinson from his websites —and to write nothing more about him for the following three years.

The contract called for a $1,000 bonus if anything Schorsch wrote about Pinson didn't appear in the first 30 online search results.

The contract is notarized and signed by Schorsch. The Times met with the notary, who confirmed its legitimacy.

There was this gem from the TBT article.

More than a half-dozen people contacted by the Times declined to comment on Schorsch, esveral saying they feared retribution.

A source backed to me the TBT account of that Schorsch approached Pinson. I have posted the contract. You can see that Schorsch signed the contract and Pinson did not. One has to ask if this was Pinson's idea then why didn't he sign the contract.

I have asked Schorsch and his attorney Paul Phillips about a possible deposition that reveals if they were off-the-record sources of a negative WTSP story against Pinson. I also asked if a deposition relating the the WTSP story existed. The result was Phillips threatening me in a poorly written email. I am confused. If no depostion took place with the Florida Bar Association then why is Phillips threatening me with a lawsuit.  I tried to confirm with Phillips if a document I saw was a deposition and get an on-the-record comment.

It should be noted that Schorsch and Phillips did not offer a comment to me if they were off-the-record sources in the highly negative WTSP story about the Michael Pinson Foundation. Schorsch and Phillips would not say on-the-record if they knew Chris Kapper. No second source backed Kapper's allegation in the WTSP story. Kapper has worked with Phillips on activities relating to the Republican Party of Hillsborough County Board.

I will fact-check the document Schorsch sent me. I am not going to take Schorsch's word at face value. Schorsch has previously pleaded no contest to grand theft and was fined by the Florida Elections Commission for $64,000.

Update: the post was corrected to reflect that Schorsch pleaded no contest to grand theft. My Blogger app didn't upload the corrected post last night.

Kathy Castor Hosts a Fundraiser for Alex Sink

No surprise. The Tampa Tribune reports Rep. Kathy Castor will host a fundraiser for congressional candidate Alex Sink.

The event will be Dec. 17 at the new Carlton Ward photography gallery in Hyde Oark. Prices are $5,000 to be a chair, $1,000 to be a host or $250 for admission.

Castor's endorsement and fundraising support is a big help for Sink. Castor is respected by the Democratic establishment and the base.

It is no secret that I am not a Sink fan. However, I am resigned to the fact that Sink will be the Democratic nominee. Sink needs Castor's help convincing progressives to support her. Sink will not run with Obama on the top of the ballot. Sink also needs to have policy pisitions. Sink can't go on MSNBC and draw a blank when asked what she would do about the situation in Syria.

Ylvis - What Does The Fox Say?

The brother comedy team Ylvis perform their dance music parody What The Fox Say on Jimmy Fallon. The hysterical thing is the song was created as a joke the brothers were going to say was a song rejected by the music industry. What The Fox Say became a huge international hit.

Shocking News: Florida GOP Want Trey Radel To Resign

The Florida Republican establishment want Rep. Trey Radel to resign and fast. I can't say I blame them. Radel was charged with possession of cocaine. Now several Republicans are asking Radel to step down from Congress.

Lee County's Republican executive committee

"these actions have violated the trust of those whom he was elected to represent and fall short of the standards for an elected official; especially a member of the United States Congress," Lee County's Republican executive committee said in a statement that resembled one approved by Collierr County's GOP.

Lenny Curry, the Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry

"The people of Florida’s 19th Congressional District need a Congressman who is 100 percent focused on the needs of Southwest Florida," Curry said in a statement. "Therefore, Congressman Radel should step down and focus his attention on rehabilitation and his family.”

According to Marc Caputo it would be in the best interest of both Lizbeth Benacquisto and former U.S. Rep. Connie Mack if Radel steeped down. Both are thinking about running for Radel's seat.

Dolly Parton - Stairway to Heaven

Dolly Parton doing a countrified version of Led Zeppelin's classic Stairway To Heaven. Dolly actually pulls this off. Her voice is perfect for Stairway To Heaven.

Tweet of the Day: SaintPetersGate Edition

I guess Peter would know. RT @ContextFL: Peter Schorsch: Radel's arrest evidence that 'War on Drugs' is lost #sayfie http://t.co/tLBJf4Q1M1

— Bradley Erickson (@bradleyerickson) November 25, 2013

Ouch. Bradley Erickson is having fun with Peter Schorsch's very colorful history. Schorsch has a history with Florida's criminal justice system. Schorsch also made this quote to explain away his behavior.

"I am not an elected official, I've never asked for (their) public trust, so if I drink too much, eat too much, snort too much, fight too much ... or do too much of whatever else, then I do that at my own peril."

In Schorsch's defense, he might be talking about snorting sugar. Hey, sugar is tasty.

John Boehner Successfully Signs Up For Obamacare

Congratulations to Speaker John Boehner for successfully signing up for Obamacare. As a cigarette smoker, Boehner would of had a hard time getting health coverage in Ohio. Thanks to the rules of Obamacare in Washington DC, Boehner has health insurance.

Joel Award: Marco Rubio

It is time to give out the Joel Award. The award goes any celebrity, pundit, blogger or politician that purposely contradicts himself or herself.

Marco Rubio contradicts himself in his disastrous State of the Union response. Rubio says big government is bad.

More government isn’t going to help you get ahead. It’s going to hold you back. More government isn’t going to create more opportunities. It’s going to limit them.

Rubio says big government is good when it helps a guy named Marco Rubio.

I believe in federal financial aid. I couldn’t have gone to college without it.

That basically sums up the hypocrisy of Marco Rubio

Write A Caption: Charlie Crist Edition

Thank you internet.

I Get Email From Paul Phillips, Peter Schorsch's Attorney

I got this wonderful Valentine of an email from Paul Phillips, Peter Schorsch's attorney.

Based on an emaeil I received, I thought a few things should be made clear.

Pinson’s bar complaint against me was dismissed with no probable cause and remains, therefore, confidential within the bar system. Providing the contents to any person outside the system opens those individuals up to lawsuits. Because Mr. Pinson’s com"plaint was filled with untruths and lies, any publishing of such document would be actionable. I can ensure you I will use all avenues available to me should any unsubstantiated accusation of that complaint be used in any form.

Michael Pinson filed a complaint with the Florida Bar Association against Paul Phillips. Schorsch has told me that certain things relating to the complaint are false. Therefore I find it rather curious that I am being threatened with legal action for an article I did not publish. I emailed Schorsch to confirm certain matters I was investigating and I get this email. I seem to recall standing up for Schorsch's First Amendment rights when former Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair threatened to sue Schorsch.

I have been trying to find out if the document I have seen is an actual Florida Bar Association deposition. A source told me it is. Peter Schorsch and Paul Phillips told me no deposition in regards to the Michael Pinson complaint took place. I haven't published the deposition because I haven't confirmed its authenticity. I gave Schorsch and Phillips a chance to respond. I got the wonderful email above.

Another matter I have been investigating is the WTSP story by Noah Pransky in regards to the Michael Pinson Foundation. Chris Kapper was quoted on-the-record saying Pinson was hosting hot tub parties with charity money. I asked Schorsch on-the-record if he knew Kapper. Schorsch didn't give me an on-the-record response. It is public knowledge that Phillips served on the Hillsborough County Republican Board with Kapper.

A longtime Charlie Crist advisor told Pransky in the WTSP story that Crist would not consider Pinson for the US Senate. I asked Schorsch on-the-record if he was that Crist advisor. No response.

I asked Noah Pransky about who was involved in the Pinson story. Pransky has to protect his sources. He would not comment.

I am no expert on Michael Pinson's charity work. It should also be noted that I don't know if Schorsch was an off-the-record source. I do know that Pransky is Facebook friends with Kapper and has interviewed Phillips on other stories. That in itself doesn't raise any flags. WTSP should look over the story on Pinson's charity to see that no mistakes were made.

A reason why the WTSP should be revisited is that Schorsch is being investigated by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office leveled by Pinson. The Tampa Bay Times ran an article accusing Schorsch of promising local political officials (including Pinson) favorable blog posts in return for payment.

Friday Cat Blogging

Cameron (Lion) & Zabu (white tiger) get home improvements in their Big Cat Rescue enclosure.

Basia Bulat - Tall Tall Shadow

Bulat has a voice that rivals Cat Power at her best. What soul in her voice.

The House Republican Playbook

The New York Times obtained a copy of the House Republican playbook for talking points against Obamacare. To drive a cliche into the ground; Republicans even have a picture of a football play on page 3.

Jonathan Chait noticed that Republicans drew up the most idiotic football imaginable. Republicans only field ten players, line up in an illegal formation and run a bootleg straight into a defensive back who isn't covering a receiver.

Chait writes:

This is literally the only play I can imagine that could not work against this defense.

This is coming from the same party that recently gave us the Ted Cruz government shutdown and Clint Eastwood talking to a chair.

Rob Ford: the Movie

Youtube user Tristan Gough has made the hysterical Rob Ford: the Movie with old Chris Farley movie clips. This is extremely well-edited and the musical choices are perfect.

Media Should Ask Charlie Crist About Peter Schorsch

Charlie Crist will speak to the media tomorrow.

WHAT: Governor Charlie Crist holds a media availability

WHERE: Outside the West Palm Beach Train Station, 209 S Tamarind Ave, West Palm Beach, FL

WHEN: 1:00 PM on Friday, November 22, 2013.

The media and activists should ask why Crist has allowed Peter Schorsch to be involved with his campaign. Schorsch owes the Florida Elections Commission $68,000.00, has pleaded no contest to grand theft, has had run-ins with the IRS, and is currently the focus of an online harassment investigation. Yet Crist tapped Schorsch to help set-up his campaign kickoff. I think this requires an explanation on the part of Crist.

My Charity Challenge to Joe Bardi

I made a joke on Joe Bardi's Facebook wall that he should do a review of only the Maggie scenes from the HBO series The Newsroom. Not the actual show. I don't even know if Bardi has seen The Newsroom. What prompted the comment was Creative Loafing recently did a charity auction. I wondered if Bardi would subject himself to two seasons of Maggie for a worthy cause.

Bardi asked how much I was offering. This originally started as a joke but I thought why not.

I posted this comment.

This started as a joke. Tell you what, set up a PayPal account. Set a price and we see if we can reach it. I will try to fundraise for it on the blog. You must watch all the scenes with Maggie in the two seasons of The Newsroom. Not the actual show. You must write a character analysis of Maggie on Daily Loaf. I will let you pick the charity.

If Bardi is game he will have to watch scenes like this. For the record: I like Allison Pill as an actress. It seems like Aaron Sorkin took a promising young actressand projected all his problems with women on to her character.

Unrest - Imperial

I can't believe that I haven't already posted this song. This is one of the most achingly beautiful pop songs ever recorded.

Lawyers Love Charlie Crist

Sunshine State News has a list of major donors to Charlie Crist's major donors. Unsuprisingly, many come from the legal profession. It helps having John Morgan as a friend.

Donations from attorneys. I'm going go out on a limb and say Crist isn't going to push for tort reform if he is elected.

Lauri Waldman Ross - $5,000.00

Sheldon J. Schlessinger P.A. - $25,000.00

William Merlin, Jr. - $10,000.00

Francoise Haasch-Jones - $4,000.00

William Andrew Haggard - $100,000.00

John Uustall - $25,000.00

Michael Moskowitz - $25,000.00

Robert Kelley - $25,000.00

Rick Scott Booed Offstage In Orlando

Gov. Rick Scott was to make an announcement about Major League Soccer in Orlando. Scott couldn't make that announcement because he got booed offstage.

Hurricane Katrina Talking Point From Fox News

Jon Stewart has this reaction to Fox News comparing the Obamacare rollout to Hurricane Katrina.

“Are you out of your –” Stewart began to say, before stopping once he heard his audience’s collected groan. “Do you know you’ve disappointed our audience? They think you might be out of your f*cking mind.”

Fox News is running hard with the Hurricane Katrina talking point.

Secret Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement

Wikileaks strikes again with the document of the the secret Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. This agreement will have a serious effect on internet intellectual rights. The countries involved are United States, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, Chile, Singapore, Peru, Vietnam, New Zealand and Brunei Darussalam.

Update: Raw Story reports that the agreement could hurt sick people getting access to medicine.

Critics say the proposal, if enacted, would severely limit access to affordable medicine, the Internet and textbooks, and shrink consumer rights and protections.

“The Obama administration’s proposals are the worst – the most damaging for health – we have seen in a U.S. trade agreement to date,” said Peter Maybarduk, director of Public Citizen’s global access to medicines program. “The Obama administration has backtracked from even the modest health considerations adopted under the Bush administration.”

Wikileaks Secret TPP Treaty IP Chapter

Quote of the Day

"Still, for his very campaign event Crist turned to Scorsch who routinely and unapologetically lies publicly to the press, who owes nearly $68,000 in outstanding fines to the Florida Elections Commission, who six years pleaded no contest to grand thef and scheming to defraud charges. Really?"

Adam Smith, Tampa Bay Times political reporter on the wisdom of Charlie Crist having Peter Schorsch work on his campaign.

Mitch Perry Interviews Nan Rich

Creative Loafing political reporter Mitch Perry interviewed gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich at the Hillsborough County GLBTA Democratic Caucus. Rich reminded Perry and LGBT activists of her differences with Charlie Crist.

Gun Control

Rich brags about her F rating on gun control with the the NRA. Rich notes that Crist had an A rating by the NRA.

Gay Rights

Rich points out that she has been a long-time supporter of gay rights. Crist supported the gaya adoption ban in 2009.

I'm sure he's changed his opinion now, but you have to stand on some foundation. You can't just change 180 degrees."

Rich pointed to this gem from 2008. Crist told CNN that Sarah Palin is more qualified than Barack Obama.

“I think she’d do a great job,” Crist said. “Realize that she really is the only executive that’s running, the only one that has been the head of a government in Alaska, she’s held an exeutive position as a mayor, an executive position as a governor, made those kinds of decisions.”

“Hey I think she’s ready,” Crist concluded.

Ouch.

Alex Sink Filed Paperwork

This from the Alex Sink campaign.

It’s official:

Alex just filed her papers. She’s on the ballot in the race for Florida’s 13th Congressional District.

Let's be real. Alex Sink will be the Democratic nominee for the late Bill Young's seat.

Peter Schorsch Contract Drawn Up For Michael Pinson

This is the contract that conservative activist Michael Pinson said Peter Schorsch and his attorney drew up for Pinson. Pinson was quoted in the Tampa Bay Times article about Schorsch titled "Cash for coverage? Questions arise about local political blogger Peter Schorsch."

Schorsch said his attorney drew up the contract but said it was at Pinson's request. Schorsch said the activist had repeatedly harassed him and his family.

He said he offered the deal "just so this insane lunatic of a person would go away."

Pinson, who was mentioned for an open Pinellas congressional seat, said he didn't pay Schorsch, and the attacks continued. Just three months later, in a Twitter exchange with someone Schorsch seemed to believe Pinson knew, Schorsch said this: "Tell Michael I said hi. Just think for 5K he could've made all of this go away. Wait till u see 'The Douchebag Returns' story."

Schorsch's idea of doing Pinson a favor and making him go away was to have Pinson pay Schorsch $3,200.00. That is an interesting concept of who is doing who a favor. Hey, I would be doing you a favor if I took $3,200.00 of your money.

Below is the contract Schorsch and his attorney drew up for Pinson. Pinson told TBT that he never signed the contract. Pushing Rope and Ybor City Stogie are mentioned in the contract. To make matters clear. Pushing Rope has no involvement with Peter Schorsch.

Peter Schroch Demand Agreement for $4000 by Michael Robert Hussey

Did Peter Schorsch Plant False Story About Michael Pinson Charity

A source told me that Peter Schorsch planted a false story to Noah Pransky, of WTSP, about Michael Pinson's charity. I blogged about Pinson's charity and now question the source of Pransky's story.

.@noahpransky I have a question about who was your source for the Michael Pinson charity story. I have been told it is Peter Schorsch. True?

— Michael Hussey (@pushingrope) November 19, 2013

Do me a favor and politely ask Pransky on Twitter who was the source of his story on Pinson's charity. WTSP did report on Pinson's charity helping out after the storm hit Haiti. I don't know Pinson personally but after recent events I feel it is best to delete my post on Pinson's charity and question the who the source of Pransky's story is. My apologies to the people involved with the Michael Pinson Foundation.

Update: I sent a second tweet to Pransky.

.@noahpransky Nothing personal but I am not going off the record on this. Who was your source. If this person burned you than why protect?

— Michael Hussey (@pushingrope) November 19, 2013

Background: yesterday I blogged about Schorsch being investigated for payola accusations of writing favorable posts and deleting negative posts, if politicos would pay for advertising on SaintPetersblog.

Quote of the Day

If you play a Nickelback song backwards you'll hear messages from the devil. Even worse, if you play it forwards you'll hear Nickelback.

— The Dark Lord (@Lord_Voldemort7) December 3, 2011

The Johnsons - Sylvia Plath

A cover of the Peter Laughner song. A prefer The Johnsons version.

SaintPetersGate

The Tampa Bay Times has released a damning story on blogger Peter Schorsch. TBT collected emails, tweets and a contract of Schorsch asking for money in return for favorable coverage for politicians and political organizations. Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long and former state Rep. Frank Farkas went on-the-record telling TBT that Schorsch asked for money in return for favorable coverage.

Farkas said Schorsch approached him.

Around October 2012, then-state House candidate Farkas said Schorsch called him. The blogger told him he would carefully screen what content related to Farkas appeared on his site if the politician signed an ad contract. "We didn't sign and I got what I expected: one-sided, slanted," Farkas said. "He stabs so many people in the back, and he continues to get away with it."

Farkas claims that if you don't pay Schorsch you get punished with negative posts on SaintPetersblog.

Long told a similar story of feeling intimidated by Schorsch.

Long described a similar experience during her 2012 County Commission run. Like Farkas, she didn't pay Schorsch, but denying him made her nervous, she said, saying: "You don't need to be out there incurring the wrath of someone like him because he's a loose cannon."

This is two elected officials stating publicly that they were shaked down by a blogger and political consultant. The implication is Schorsch would write nice things about if they would pay him. This is journalisticly unethical on so many different levels. This means that Schorsch doesn't believe the positions and candidates he writes about on his blog. Schorsch only writes positives things about a candidate or policy if it helps his bank account. Imagine if a reporter for the Washington Post or New York Times was publicly accused of taking money for positive news coverage. There would be a major uproar.

Many people wouldn't talk to TBT. Their reasons were all the same. They were scared of Schorsch.

More than a half-dozen people contacted by the Times declined to comment on Schorsch, several saying they feared retribution.

Michael Pinson has been a longtime online target of Schorsch. Pinson showed TBT a contract Schorsch offered him. If Pinson would pay then Schorsch would lay off.

The contract called for a $1,000 bonus if anything Schorsch wrote about Pinson didn't appear in the first 30 online search results.

The contract is notarized and signed by Schorsch. The Times met with the notary, who confirmed its legitimacy.

Schorsch said his attorney drew up the contract but said it was at Pinson's request. Schorsch said the activist had repeatedly harassed him and his family.

Schorsch claims he had the contract drawn up "just so this insane lunatic of a person would go away." This tweet Schorsch sent to someone who may have been connected to Pinson draws doubt to that.

"Tell Michael I said hi. Just think for 5K he could've made all of this go away. Wait till u see 'The Douchebag Returns' story."

Schorsch's ego has a habit of pointing to his misdeeds. Attorney and political consultant Johnny Bardine was the first to publicly state that Schorsch was paying someone to wear a chicken suit and appear at debates. The publicity stunt was aimed at getting attention to the fact that Kathleen Ford was avoiding debates.

Schorsch publicly told TBT that Bardine was a liar.

"Johnny is absolutely lying and he's doing so because I'm beating up on his client," he said, referring to District 8 council candidate Steve Galvin.

A slick political operative would have left no link between himself and the chicken stunt. Schorsch's ego is so big he had to take credit and post this picture on social media.

Schorsch lied to TBT and publicly called Bardine a liar. An interesting choice of words from someone who was lying at the time.

Conservative blogger Sarah Rumpf wrote that Schorsch published an off-the-record conversation she had with him.

@SaintPetersblog You put in your post part of DM convo that you agreed was off the record. Last DM from you is "Will call you later..."

— Sarah Rumpf (@rumpfshaker) November 29, 2011

Rumpf explains in her post.

First of all, Schorsch committed a serious breach of ethics by disclosing several of my comments that we agreed were "off the record." We had a phone conversation a few days ago and then some back-and-forth direct messages on Twitter yesterday. I've saved the screencaps and not only did Schorsch affirm that my previous comments were off the record, those direct messages were as well.

I have never in my life had someone violate an agreement to keep a conversation "off the record," especially when it was in writing. To not only have that confidence violated, but for Schorsch to go so far as to directly quote my allegedly off-the-record words is ridiculous.

Schorsch also has a criminal history. Creative Loafing awarded Schorsch "Most Arrests for a Political Operative." Schorsch was pleaded no contest for grand theft, has a history of writing bad checks, charged with stealing Tarpon Springs Democratic Club and fined $68,000 by the Florida Elections Commission.

Mug shot of of Schorsch.

There is a criminal inquiry now into Schorsch's activities. It appears that Pinson accusations has relaunch the inquiry. It was only a matter of time before Schorsch self-destructed again.

I have noticed the deleted posts from SaintPetersblog. I suspected that Schorsch was behind the chicken stunt. Schorsch admitted in 2009 to planning to use homeless people to crash a Kathleen Ford news conference. That is tacky and exploiting homeless people.

A political question is how long does Charlie Crist keep Schorsch and his wife Michelle Todd involved with the campaign? I privately told people that Republicans would attack Crist's links to Schorsch. An anti-Crist ad with a mug shot of Schorsch will not play well with the voters. The TBT article on accusations of payola only makes matters worse. The Obama people and the DNC will pressure Crist to cut all ties with Schorsch. That may even include firing Todd.

From a blogging perspective: this stains political bloggers on the Left and Right in the Florida blogosphere. Peter Schorsch is our Stephen Glass. I am not a lawyer. I will let the criminal inquiry decide the legality of Schorsch's actions. What I do know is Schorsch destroys the credibility of blogging. Every Florida political blogger will have to fight with the perception that we are all like Peter Schorsch. We are not. Most of use do not even sell ad space. I certainly never heard of a political blogger shopping his lack of convictions for the highest bidder. Political bloggers are passionate about politics. Schorsch is passionate about money

Slut Shaming the Pill ( With Corrected Update)

The anti-Obamacare website doyougotinsurance.com is slut shaming women on the pill. That should really help Republicans get the female vote. The site informs women "the pill doesn't protect you from STDS." The pill is suppose to protect women from getting pregnant. Not STDs. The Right really has a problem with women being sexually active. These people need to grow up.

Update: conservative blogger Sarah Rumpf tweeted me this message.

.@pushingrope Ummm that's actually NOT an antiobamacare website doyougotinsurance.com/index.php?id=11 From Progress Colorado aka THE LEFT.

The doyouhaveinsurance.com website is by Progress Now Colorado Education. It is actually a pro-Obamacare website. I apologize to readers for my error. However, I stil believes the website slut shames women ob birth control. Slut shaming is wrong. In this case it appears to be coming from progressives.

Friday Cat Blogging

A serval cat playing with a young domestic black cat. Cats will be cats.

Bob Dylan - Desolation Row

A live 1966 solo acoustic performance. This was around the end of Dyalan's solo acoustic era. If you were there then you saw something historic.

Pete Holmes Interviews Rachel Maddow

Pete Holmes interviews Rachel Maddow for talk show hosting tips. It is obvious Holmes and Maddow are having a lot of fun during the interview.

Court Vacancies Prove Orrin Hatch Is Full of Shit

MSNBC notes that President Barack Obama has had more judicial nominees blocked than President Bill Clinton or President George W. Bush. Adam Serwer correctly points out Republicans are intentionally not filling the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.

That’s because Republicans have decided that no more Obama administration nominees should be placed on the DC Circuit. Three of the eleven seats on the court are vacant, and placing Democratic nominees on the bench would end conservative dominance of the DC Circuit which handles key regulatory and national security cases. Republicans’ specific ideological objections to the nominees don’t matter as much as their conviction that any Democratic appointees would skew the court to the left, which they want to prevent. Obama has had fewer federal judges confirmed than either of his predecessors. Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley wants to eliminate three seats on the court so as to keep Obama from appointing judges to fill them.

Republican during the Bush years, senators like Orrin Hatch cried for an "up and down vote"?

"...I think we should bind both Democrats and Republicans that presidential nominees for the judiciary deserve an up-and-down vote once they reach the floor..." (Orrin Hatch discusses debate in Senate..., NPR, 5/19/05)

Hatch sang a different tune in the op-ed pages of USA Today. Hatch wrote that the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit didn't have much of a case load. Hatch falsely claimed that Democrats were making a scandal out of nothing. What Hatch fails to mention is that there are 3 seats that need to be filled.

Democrats also want to use a manufactured confirmation confrontation as an excuse to eliminate judicial filibusters. Never mind that Democrats blocked four times as many confirmation votes by filibusters under President Bush than have occurred under President Obama. Never mind that Senate Democratic leaders voted more than two dozen times for judicial filibusters, including against a D.C. Circuit nominee. Even then-Sen. Obama voted for several judicial filibusters, including a Supreme Court nominee.

So much for Sen. Orrin Hatch being for an up and down vote.

Gravis Market Poll on Scott, Crist and Gay Marriage

Gravis Marketing has Charlie Crist leading Gov. Rick Scott in its poll. Crist leads Scott 46 percent to 36 percent.

A problem for Scott is his high 52 percent disapproval rating.

Scott has had plenty of time to get Floridians to warm up to him. Scott has horrible media and people skills. Scott's policies have been unpopular with the public. Another example of how voters feel Crist is less robotic than Scott. Crist has a 13 point lead on who understands average Floridians.

Gay marriage activists should be happy about the poll more people support gay marriage than oppose.

The poll has a 3 percent margin of error. Gravis Marketing tweeted me this repose to my question.

@pushingrope not working for anyone in the race.

— Gravis Marketing (@GravisMarketing) November 15, 2013

Poor Kids: Documentary on Children Facing Homelessness

Frontline has a documentary on homeless children. Many of these children are in a constant state of hunger. Many of these children live in cars or abandoned buildings. The documentary Poor Kids by filmmaker Jezza Neumann follows 6 children. One of the children said this to Neumann.

“If I keep missing school, then I see my future poor, on the streets, in a box, not even, and asking for money everywhere, everybody, and then stealing stuff from stores. And yeah, I don’t want to steal stuff. I don’t want to do any of that stuff.”

This is the BBC version of the documentary.

This is what the crash of 2008 has done to many American families. Republicans have cut food stamps and President Barack Obama hasn't made a stink about this. Republicans hate America's social safety net and Obama follows the religious neoliberal dogma that entitlements must be cut. Obama and Republicans don't give a damn about these children. Their attitude is these kids are losers. Meanwhile, a child is collecting cans to get money to buy food.

Quote of the Day

"We have no intention of ever going to conference on the Senate bill … I want us to deal with this issue, but I want to deal with it in a commonsense step by step way as we develop the principles, we’ll figure out how we’ll move ahead."

House Speaker John Boehner

Boehner knows full well that he has to go to conference to deal with any problems he may have with the Senate immigration bill. Boehner won't do that because the tea party members in his caucus would revolt if he touches immigration reform.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi responded to the Boehner press conference with this. tweet.

Actually it is easy, @SpeakerBoehner. With 190 cosponsors on H.R.15 and 28 Rs vowing support, we have the votes to pass #immigration reform.

— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) November 13, 2013

The DNC should pound Republicans for their lack of action on immigration reform.

Nan Rich's Fundraising Woes

Adam Smith of The Buzz reports on Nan Rich's fundraising numbers and the news is not good.

For all practical purposes, though, respected former state Sen. Rich barely passes the threshold of viability. To date, she has raised $224,000 for her statewide campaign, less than Rick Kriseman did for his campaign for mayor of St. Petersburg. In October, Rich raised nearly $8,300 and spent nearly $8,800. She has about $62,000 on hand, and tends to draw most attention when Florida GOP Chairman Lenny Curry is touting her candidacy.

Smith throws out the possibility that the Florida Republican establishment would fund Rich in the primary to get a weaker general election opponent to run against Gov. Rick Scott. I haven't heard anything about this. In Smith's defense, he is probably just thinking out loud. However, Rich has her work cut out for her on the fundraising front.

Pinellas Democratic Establishment Endorses Sink

Congressional candidate Alex Sink has received endorsements from the Pinellas County Democratic establishment. Here is the list if endorsements sent out by the Sink campaign.

Pinellas County Commissioner Charlie Justice; Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long; Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch; Pinellas School Board Member Linda Lerner; Pinellas School Board Member Rene Flowers; State Representative Dwight Dudley; State Representative Darryl Rouson; State Representative Carl Zimmermann; St. Petersburg City Council member Darden Rice; St. Petersburg City Council member Karl Nurse; St. Petersburg City Council member Steve Kornell; Seminole Councilor Patricia Plantamura; Largo Mayor Pat Gerard; Former Largo Mayor Robert Jackson; Largo Commissioner Mike Smith; Belleair Bluffs Commissioner Joseph Barkley;

Write A Caption: Rick Scott Edition

Gov. Rick Scott appears in a Facebook photo with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel shares the same misfortunes as Scott. Ford has been forced to admit that he smoked crack. Ford has no plans on resigning. I'm fairly certain Scott and Emmanuel have no plans of ever doing a photo-op wuth Ford again.

The Pixies - Break My Body

A blast of pure sonic aggression and lyrical surrealism. I love Kim Deal's backing vocals.

How Nan Rich Needs to Make Abortion a Campaign Issue

Progressive activist Susan Smith should be happy about this. USF political science professor Susan MacManus believes Nan Rich has a legitimate shot of beating Charlie Crist in the Democratic primary.

"I don't think it's going to be a slam dunk [for Crist]," said University of South Florida Professor of Political Science Dr. Susan MacManus. "She,[Rich] appeals to women voters and there are still a number of Democrats who are a little bit nervous about someone they see as a carpetbagger."

I have expressed my skepticism for MacManus' political analysis before. However, Rich's past votes on abortion issues in the Florida Senate could help her with women voters. Rich twice voted against pre-abortion ultrasound legislation. Rich states her position on abortion on her campaign website.

I remain fully committed to preserving women’s rights to decide issues regarding their reproductive health and privacy. During the 2011 and 2012 Legislative Sessions, the attack on women’s rights continued with 28 anti-choice bills introduced. In 2012, the most dangerous of these would have kept Planned Parenthood from opening any new clinics by requiring all clinics where abortions are provided to be owned by physicians. The bill placed other onerous restrictions on women and their ability to control their own bodies and own lives. Fortunately, a bi-partisan coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans were able to stop that bad legislation from becoming law. You can be sure that as Governor, I would veto any such similar legislation.

Rich needs to make reproductive rights an issue in the primary. It will take Crist out of his comfort zone and force him to explain his previous abortion positions.

Quote of the Day

"A good time to remember our veterans would be the next time we're deciding whether to go to war."

Humorist Andy Borowitz

Veterans Day

Political cartoonist Paul Combs did this fantastic Veterans Day strip. There is something touching about Captain America paying Tribute to real soldiers.Combs explains his reason for drawing the strup.

Hollywood gives us many portrayals of what an American hero should be -from John Wayne to Chris Evans. Not that I'm against a good action movie, but let's keep it in proper perspective. As we head into this Veteran's Day weekend, please take a moment to thank a REAL American hero, and remember that their service and sacrifices have given us the freedom and prosperity that we all cherish. Furthermore, as a USO volunteer who has traveled the globe, I can honestly report that America is in great hands and that our young warriors are the best in the world.

Write A Caption

I don't know if this is a photoshop or not. Televangelist Joel Osteen does have a bizarre history of making unintended references to sexual acts. Actor George Takei is having fun mocking this image on Twitter.

Dubious Rubio Hearts John Stemberger

Orlando social conservative activist John Stemberger is obsessed with the LGBT community. Stemberger has dedicated his life to demonizing gay people. Stemberger thinks a lot about what gay 17 year-olds will do in the Boy Scouts.

In an interview with Tony Perkin, Stemberger continues his obsession with boy on boy sex in the Boy Scouts.

What they’re thinking of is a little boy saying, ‘oh I think I’m attracted to guys, I think I’m gay,’ well that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the sixteen, seventeen-year-old openly gay activist from the local campus that is there for ill-motives: there as a plaintiff, there as a person to either have interest in the other boys or to promote their agenda. That is going to be the problem, not the boys—we have those boys already, scoutmasters take them in and we deal with them, we talk with them, we work with them. It’s the activists that we’re concerned with and that’s why we think sex and politics have absolutely no place in scouting, it will utterly destroy the program.

I think this has less to do with "what they're thinking" and more to do with what Stemberger is thinking.

Stemberger continues with his strange obsession with male on male teenage sex.

I think the national organization is just kind of winking and nodding, saying, ‘oh yeah, homosexual boys, no big deal, we can influence them for the better, boys are better off in scouting.’ Well wait a second, yeah homosexual boys are better off but what about the other boys who may be preyed upon? You know BSA’s own statistics show, their own youth training program shows that seventy percent of all abuse in scouting takes place by other boys, not by adults. So I’ve been saying from day one that this is going to create a wave of boy-on-boy sexual abuse which is going to contribute future to the scandal that scouting has had in the past and also not to mention the physical, psychological and sexual abuse of countless boys.

Stemberger doesn't believe the word gay should be used in public discourse. It would harm the children. Does Stemberger want gay people to be refered to as very happy guys and gals.

" "You look at anything that has the world 'gay' on it in our culture," Stemberger said, "a gay magazine, a gay blog, a gay website, a gay parade, you name it, it's gonna be guaranteed to be inappropriate for kids. And that's what we're talking about; we talking about injecting hyper-sexuality and a leftist political agenda right into the veins of the Boy Scouts and it will utterly devastate it":

Stemberger also has scorn for women. Stemberger attacked Pam Bondi when she was running for Attorney General. Stemberger's reason was Bondi had no children and was living with a man.

Stemberger is homophobic and sexist. That doesn't stop Sen. Marco Rubio from speaking at Stemberger's Florida Family Policy Council dinner. If you want to know Rubio's position on gay rights issues then just look at the company he keeps.

Nan Rich's First Campaign Ad

This is Nan Rich's first ad for Governor of Florida. The ad doesn't mention Gov. Rick Scott or Charlie Crist. The ad features several women speaking to the camera and singing the praises of what a great governor Rich will be. It is early in the campaign and Rich needs to define herself to voters. It was wise not to have the first ad be negative.

A score the ad as a good start for the Rich campaign. Team Rich does need to work on their media outreach. Miami Herald political reporter Marc Caputo wasn't notified about the release of the ad.

This might be former Democratic state Sen. Nan Rich's first ad for governor, although for some reason her campaign didn't announce it to us and someone noted it on Twitter instead.

The Rich campaign is going to have a hard time getting media attention with Scott and Crist dominating the news cycle. They can't forget to notify the media. Team Rich also needs to work the state and national progressive blogosphere. Social media is also a huge factor. Team Rich needs to work all avenues of old and new media to stay competitive.

Batman Can't Stop Thinking About Sex

This is a parody of The Dark Knight Rises from Pete Holmes and College Humor. This gives you more information on Batman and Talia'd relationship than you ever want to know. The audio is NSFW.

Guided By Voices - Tractor Rape Chain

A lyrically pop goody from Uncle Bob.

WTF Is Bob Buckhorn Thinking

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn seems to be falling back on the same horrible political instincts that made him champion to silly 6 foot law in strip clubs. Buckhorn took part in a fundraiser for Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi. Ben Kirby noted Buckhorn lavished praise on Rick Scott during a Tampa appearance.

Buckhorn was effusive in his praise for the governor: “The governor and I are in different political parties. That’s no secret. We could not have had a better partner than this governor. … We are thankful for that leadership.”

The Florida Democratic Party worked very hard to get Buckhorn elected. I wonder how they feel about Buckhorn working hard on behave of the two highest ranking Republicans in state office.

Buckhorn really jumped the shark with his recent press conference. Phil Ammann reports Buckhorn sent out an email to the media. Buckhorn told the media he would make a major announcement at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

The tension was broken at 2 p.m., when Buckhorn made it official — Billy Joel is who will be the Forum Jan. 17.

Is Bob Buckhorn working for VH1 now? Buckhorn pulled the media out of newsrooms for Billy Joel coming to Tampa. Is Buckhorn trying to get the media to mock him? Buckhorn has horrible political instincts.

Arthenia Joyner Honored for Civil Rights Work

Florida Senate Democrats honored Sen. Arthenia Joyner for her part in the civil rights movement. Fifty years ago, Joyner was arrested for protesting the segregation policy of the whites-only Florida Theater. Joyner gives an emotional speech about how difficult it was for blacks in a segregated Florida in 1963.

Florida House Keeps Stand Your Ground Law

The Florida House Criminal Justice Subcommittee hearing on the "Stand Your Ground" law was all for show. Committee head Rep. Matt Gaetz made this statement before the hearing.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Fort Walton Beach Republican tapped to lead the hearing, said he would not support changing “one damn comma” of the statute.

Rep. Alan Williams filed a bill to repeal "Stand Your Ground." The subcommittee voted the bill down 2 to 11. The only reason there was a hearing is because of the Dream Defenders and the national media attention from Trayvon Martin's death. "Stand Your Ground" is the law for as long as NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer owns the Florida Republican establishment.

This statement by Rep. Marti Coley caught my attention.

“Today, our state is a safer place and has the lowest crime rate in 42 years,” said Rep. Marti Coley, a Marianna Republican. “Florida’s Stand Your Ground law is solid. It’s good and should not be changed.”

Does Coley have any scientific data to back that claim? A Tampa Bay Times investigative report found drug dealers and gang members were allowed to go free using the "Stand Your Ground" defense. "Stand Your Ground" has given Floridians permission to commit brutal murders.

• People often go free under "stand your ground" in cases that seem to make a mockery of what lawmakers intended. One man killed two unarmed people and walked out of jail. Another shot a man as he lay on the ground. Others went free after shooting their victims in the back. In nearly a third of the cases the Times analyzed, defendants initiated the fight, shot an unarmed person or pursued their victim —and still went free.

I don't know about you, but I don't feel safer. This is less about liberal politics and more about I don't want some maniac having the legal right to shoot me for no good reason.

Mike Tyson's Prison Experience Was Like Oz

Mike Tyson claims he got a female prison staff member pregnant. Tyson served 3 years in prison for a rape conviction.

“I didn’t talk about getting a jail official, a prison official pregnant and stuff.” When Reilly looked surprised at the news, Tyson told him that inmates often fraternize with prison guards. “’Oh yeah. In prison, stuff happens,” Tyson said.

The child was never born. It is unclear whether there was an abortion or miscarriage. Tyson claims sex between male prisoners and female guards happens quite often. Apparently, there really are female guards like Claire Howell, from the HBO series Oz, serving in The American prison system.

Friday Cat Blogging

TJ the Tiger has fun at the new 2.5 acre enclosure at Big Cat Rescue. Cats love to run.

Batman Takes His Sweet Time Saving Gotham

Pete Holmes is hysterical as Batman. This scene is a parody of Batman taking the bomb away from Gotham City at the end of The Dark Knight Rises.

The Conservative Blogosphere's Idea of Journalism

Erick Erickson linked to this Ace of Spades blog post. The crew at Ace has been doing their usual muckraking journalism. The Ace crew believe that MSNBC is allowing Debbie Wasserman-Schultz to read her answers off of a teleprompter. Their evidence is Wasserman-Schultz mispronounced a word.

What the hell happened to Debbie Wasserman Schultz? Bizarre. http://t.co/SLqGMAx5Lh

— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) November 7, 2013

Wasserman Schultz said Rubio has zero credibility and that--and this is where it gets weird--Americans "were not misled." Except she said "mizled." It looked like she had her big conclusion written into the teleprompter and that "at the end of the day" was the signal she was starting to read it.

Here is the video Ace of Spades posted.

Wasserman-Schultz performed rather poorly during her MSNBC interview. However, what evidence does Ace of Spades have that Wasserman-Schultz used a teleprompter? Viewers cannot see what Wasserman-Schultz is looking at. I am no fan of Wasserman-Schultz and it pains me to defend her. It is just amazing conservatives obsess over stupid conspiracy theories in their head.

Jessica Ehrlich Suspends Campaign

Jessica Ehrlich has suspended her campaign. The Ehrlich campaign sent out this press release.

"This morning I am officially announcing that I am suspending my campaign for Congress. I want to thank my amazing staff, donors, and volunteers for everything they have done for our campaign. In particular, I would like to thank the hardworking men and women of the labor movement who have supported my fight for Florida's middle class families. I also want to thank the voters of Florida's 13th Congressional district for their continued support. While this is not the result I was hoping for, I remain committed to helping the families of Pinellas County, this state, and this country."

"I want to personally thank Jessica for her hard work on behalf of our state and our Party," said Florida Democratic Party Chair Allison Tant. "She has run an incredible campaign that offered voters a positive vision for Florida's 13th Congressional district. Jessica is a dedicated fighter for Florida's working families and I look forward to working along side her going forward."

The last paragraph is important. Ehrlich has decided to gracefully leave the race and not challenge Alex Sink in a primary. Tant's quote about working with Ehrlich means the Florida Democratic establishment will likely back her in a future race. Ehrlich played this well. This is must better than Doug Tudor attacking the DCCC in email blasts. The Democratic establishment wouldn't back Tudor if he ran for Polk County dog catcher.

The term suspending a campaign is really meaningless. Ehrlich can still fundraise for this cycle and probably needs to to pay off bills the campaign owes.

Darden Rice Wins!

Congratz to progressive champ Darden Rice, St. Pete City Council winner!' #pfla pic.twitter.com/KYTEcOTchX

— Progress Florida (@ProgressFlorida) November 6, 2013

Progress Florida took this picture of Darden Rice giving her victory speech at the Red Mesa Cantina Mexican Restaurant. Darden Rice was officially been elected to the St. Petersburg City Council. Congratulations to Rice.

Clint Eastwood's RNC Speech Made Romney Staffer Sick

"Double Down: Game Change 2012" is the follow-up novel to Mark Halperin and John Heilemann novel of the 2008 campaign. There is this gem from the 2012 Republican National Convention Mitt Romney's political adviser Stuart Stevens literally got sick during Clint Eastwood's empty chair speech.

Romney’s senior strategist, Stuart Stevens, was backstage with Romney watching Eastwood, and while the Republican nominee “seemed to think it was funny — at least at first,” the authors write, Stevens was so upset by the “disaster occurring on stage” that he “excused himself, went into another room and vomited.”

It is still amazing that the Romney campaign didn't vet Eastwood's speech.

Correction

I deleted the "1 In 3 Pledge" post from Pushing Rope. The post was filled with so many errors that a correction wouldn't have been able to save the post. I do feel that an explanation is in order.

The 1 In 3 Pledge aims to end abortion shaming.

I pledge to speak out against the shaming of women who have had an abortion. I will help build a culture of empathy, justice, and support for access to abortion care and for the 1 in 3 women who will have an abortion in her lifetime. The silence and stigma end here.

I read the petition. I even tweeted the petition. Yet, in ny post I stated the 1 Ib 3 Pledge was to ebd rape shaming. Rape shaming is a serious issue. However, the 1 In 3 Pledge had the stated goal to end abortion shaming.

The post only got worse. I confused Daily Beast reporter R. Tod Kelly with noted rape shamer John Hembling. Kelly did a story on Hembling's history of rape shaming. Kelly emailed me to inform me of my error. Understandably, Kelly was not pleased for being confused with Hembling. I sincerely apologize to Kelly for my post.

"The 1 In 3 Pledge" post was error filled and just plain horrible. I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote it. I apologize to the readers.

Darden Rice Campaign Watch Party

People of St. Petersburg can watch the election results when Darden Rice officially becomes a member of the St. Petersburg City Council.

Where: Red Mesa Cantina Mexican Restaurant, Arts & Entertainment

When: Today, 6:45 PM

Join Darden Rice and her campaign Tuesday, November 5th at 645pm sharp to watch the Election Day results come in for the St. Pete City elections. The campaign will provide food. Cash bar. Join us to be a part of a historic evening!

Team Obama Joins Team Crist

It appears all that fundraising Charlie Crist did for President Barack Obama is paying off. Three former Obama campaign staffers are working for Crist's campaign for governor.

Meet the former members of Team Obama now on Team Crist

Steve Schale - senior advisor

Jim Margolis - media consultant

John Anzalone - pollster

Crist is the establishment candidate. Nan Rich needs to find a way to get in the good graces of Team Obama and the DNC if she is going to have a chance.

Quote of the Day

"A true friend doesn’t rub it in when you make a mistake. They rub it out."

Televangelist Joel Osteen, on Twitter.

Osteen certainly takes friendship to new and unusual places. Unsurprisingly, Osteen rubbed out his tweet from Twitter. No fuss and only a small mess left.