Winnie The Pooh Sings About Child Molestation

This was from Too Smart for Strangers with Winnie the Pooh. Winnie singing about how not to get molested is disturbing in ways that I couldn't even imagine. Shockingly, there are other songs about child predators in the Winnie the Pooh special.

Quote of the Day

W/impeachment issue a few "brilliant" R's handed D's & now voting on immig exec action, R's have done what Obama couldn't- energize D base.

— Ana Navarro (@ananavarro) July 31, 2014

Obama could excite the base by talking about deficit reduction and bipartisan compromise. That is red meat for Democrats who have a Ben Nelson poster on their wall.

Kitten - Like a Stranger (Live on KEXP)

This song is so catching.

Chloe Chaidez, and who ever she plays with at the time, is Kitten. The current band plays rather aggressively.

Booker and Paul Discuss Crime Sentencing Reform

Sen. Cory Booker and Sen. Rand Paul have an excellent discussion on MSNBC about the racial problems with the criminal justice system. The senators also talk about expunging criminal records for nonviolent drug offenses.

Booker and Paul both come out strongly against solitary confinement for minors. The ACLU has described solitary confinement as a human rights violation.

Solitary confinement of youth is itself a serious human rights violation and can constitute cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment under international human rights law. In addition, the conditions that compound the harm of solitary confinement (such as lack of psychological care, physical exercise, family contact, and education) often constitute independent, concurrent, and serious human rights violations. Solitary confinement cannot be squared with the special status of adolescents under US constitutional law regarding crime and punishment. While not unusual, it turns the detention of young people in adult jails and prisons into an experience of unquestionable cruelty.

It is time for the United States to abolish the solitary confinement of young people. State and federal lawmakers, as well as other appropriate officials, should immediately embark on a review of the laws, policies, and practices that result in young people being held in solitary confinement, with the goal of definitively ending this practice. Rather than being banished to grow up locked down in isolation, incarcerated adolescents must be treated with humanity and dignity and guaranteed the ability to grow, to be rehabilitated, and to reenter society.

This is a rare interview when two lawmakers go on cable news to actually talk about policy.

Paul Ryan: Portrait of An Unserious Man

Rep. Paul Ryan's remedy for man made climate change is to do nothing. Literally. This is what he told the media.

"Climate change occurs no matter what. The question is, can and should the federal government do something about it? And I would argue the federal government, with all its tax and regulatory schemes, can't. And all it will do is end up hurting our country, our people, and especially low income individuals."

What Ryan didn't tell the media is the $181,299 he has received from the oil industry during this campaign cycle.

Ryan talked about his poverty program.

"In many cases, the federal government, in its war on poverty, has inadvertently displaced civil society, prodded out good things that are happening in our communities, when it should be supporting them. It should be manning supply lines, not dictating the front lines."

"And the other point, it has given the notion in our society that this isn't your problem. Pay your taxes. The government will fix this. The government fixes poverty. That's not true. We need to break those notions that so that everybody gets involved and does something in whatever way they can to make a difference in this area. And that is one of the messages we need to pound over and over and over if we are going to be successful in reintegrating the poor and getting them from where the are to where they want to be."

Ryan does not have a basic understanding about poverty. Naturally, Ryan is against raising the minimum wage. Ryan previously made the hysterical claim that raising the minimum wage will keep teenagers from getting jobs.

“The majority of these workers are younger people just getting into the workforce,” Ryan said. “What we don’t want to do is support ideas, especially in this kind of economy, which will reduce the availability of jobs, number one, but more importantly reduce the availability of jobs from the very people we want to get into jobs so they can start climbing that ladder of life, so they can get in and start working their way up and get the skills they need to earn a better job.” He added that his time working at McDonald’s as a young man helped “give me better training to keep moving on in life.”

The New York Times had the actual numbers.

Climbing above the poverty line has become more daunting in recent years, as the composition of the nation’s low-wage work force has been transformed by the Great Recession, shifting demographics and other factors. More than half of those who make $9 or less an hour are 25 or older, while the proportion who are teenagers has declined to just 17 percent from 28 percent in 2000, after adjusting for inflation, according to Janelle Jones and John Schmitt of the Center for Economic Policy Research.

Today’s low-wage workers are also more educated, with 41 percent having at least some college, up from 29 percent in 2000. “Minimum-wage and low-wage workers are older and more educated than 10 or 20 years ago, yet they’re making wages below where they were 10 or 20 years ago after inflation,” said Mr. Schmitt, senior economist at the research center. “If you look back several decades, workers near the minimum wage were more likely to be teenagers — that’s the stereotype people had. It’s definitely not accurate anymore.”

The Chamber of Commerce doesn't want a minimum wage increase. The Republican Party heeds the word of the Chamber. The Chamber of Commerce represents businesses that will fight tooth and nail not to pay their employees more. The Chamber of Commerce released an article on their website titled "A Better Approach Than the Minimum Wage Distraction."

The minimum wage debate is misplaced as part of the income inequality debate simply because raising the minimum wage by $1 an hour, for example, adds about $2,000 to the pre-tax income of those few full-time minimum wage adult workers. (Most minimum wage earners are either teenagers or are working part-time). A $2,000 increase would make a difference to the worker, assuming he or she still has a job, but it doesn’t do much for income inequality when stacked against the incomes of those at the very top of the income scale.

Ryan cited the CBO report. The truth is states that have raised the minimum wage have found no adverse effects. The wage increases were needed to keep up with inflation. What Ryan and other Republicans refuse to mention is cost of living increases. From the Associated Press:

"In the 13 states that boosted their minimums at the beginning of the year, the number of jobs grew an average of 0.85 percent from January through June. The average for the other 37 states was 0.61 percent.

"Nine of the 13 states increased their minimum wages automatically in line with inflation: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. Four more states — Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island — approved legislation mandating the increases."

Republicans constantly say that unemployment will increase if the minimum wage is increased. At some point the minimum wage must be raised. Millions of Americans having less spending power will be a drag on the economy. It also costs the federal government money. Forbes reports that WalMart workers $6.2 billion in public assistance. WalMart employees simply do not make enough to survive.

Ryan is against raising the minimum wage because he doesn't want to cut into the bottom line of companies like WalMart. Ryan's war on poverty should be treated like the nonsense it truly is.

The Homeless Gospel Choir - The Holiday Song (Some Christians Are Nazis)

Derek Vanetti goes by the moniker the Homeless Gospel Choir. Vanetti writes politically changed songs. There is an interview with Vanetti on PunkRockNews.org you can check out.

Write A Caption: Rick Perry

Nothing says responsible gun owner like pointing a gun at an angle that could shoot someone.

Best Headline of the Day

It is not everyday you see this headline.

Clown Suffers Minor Injuries in Clown Car Crash

Pictured in the photo is Jack "Poppi T Clown" Erbstein.

The good news is no one was seriously hurt and there weren't a bunch of clowns in one car.

Deloris Telescope At the Hideaway Cafe

The legendary Tampa band Deloris Telescope got back together in 2013 and played a show at the Hideaway Cafe. Kacy Ross blows the lyrics to 6UL-DV8. (Say the song title and you will get the joke.) Kacy then goes on a rather long rant about stripping down to his underwear.

Quote of the Day

Mitch McConnell Will Not Raise Minimum Wage

This is inexcusable. I hope working class white people in rural communities realize that Mitch McConnell doesn't give a damn about them.

Blast From the Past: Robert Novak Edition

The late Robert Novak sure knew how to call them. Novak didn't think Richard Nixon could beat George Romney for the 1968 Republican nomination. America would have been much better off if Novak's prediction proved to be true.

Jeb Bush Hates Public School Teachers

Shocking news: Jeb Bush comes out in favor of the New York lawsuit to end teacher tenure.

“There will be no equality in education until we transition to a system that prioritizes academic achievement for children over job security for adults. Teachers have a tremendous impact on the lives of students, particularly the most disadvantaged. When ineffective teachers are allowed to remain in the classroom because of union protections and antiquated laws, it is not only a disservice to students but also to the many wonderful teachers dedicated to excellence in education.

“The effort to end this injustice now moves to New York, where seven families are following in the footsteps of their California peers by demanding access to high quality teachers. I admire their courage in this historic undertaking, and have the deepest appreciation for Campbell Brown in assisting them. Ultimately, I am hopeful that a growing consensus for reform policies that reward and incentivize quality teaching will make the need to seek judicial relief unnecessary in the future.”

Former CNN anchor Campbell Brown organized seven New York families to file this lawsuit. Brown's husband, Dan Senor, is a member of the board of the New York affiliate of StudentsFirst. The organization StudentsFirst is run by Michelle Rhee. One of the goals of StudentsFirst is to destroy teachers unions.

“The problem to date has been that you’ve had these incredibly powerful teachers unions that have lots of resources, and they use those resources to have influence on the political process,” Rhee said last year during an interview at the Commonwealth Club of California. Rhee said StudentsFirst is the first education-oriented national interest group to seriously challenge the unions.

Since leaving Washington, Rhee has backed legislation curbing collective bargaining rights in several states. In the 18 states where the group is active, StudentsFirst has fought to eliminate “last in, first out” provisions in teachers’ contracts and to increase the role that quantitative evaluations play in teachers’ job security.

The StudentsFirst website calls for the end of teacher tenure.

Tenure in K–12 education today means that teachers (and, in many cases, principals) are granted a "job for life" after a relatively short time in the classroom — usually without any serious attempt to evaluate the teacher's effectiveness. In most states, tenure is essentially automatic after two or three years, barring criminal or extreme misconduct. Once granted, the rules and regulations accompanying tenure or permanent contracts make removing even the most unmotivated and ineffective teachers nearly impossible. These policies do nothing to advance the interests of students, but instead serve only to protect adult jobs.

If tenure merely protected teachers from being fired for arbitrary or capricious reasons, StudentsFirst would support it. Professionals should never be concerned they might lose their jobs because of their age, sex, religion, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Similarly, we support professionals' rights to fight back if they are wrongfully terminated. Fortunately, well-established federal and state policies allow teachers to challenge wrongful actions and prevent discriminatory firing in public education. Tenure is simply not needed to protect such rights.

To serve the interest of students, tenure must be eliminated so that teachers feel best protected by the quality of their work and the role they play on the teaching team.

Grover Norquist, in a moment of candor, admitted that the GOP wants to bust teachers unions to help Republicans win elections.

GROVER NORQUIST: "We plan to pick up another five seats in the Senate and hold the House through redistricting through 2012. And rather than negotiate with the teachers' unions' and the trial lawyers and the various leftist interest groups, we intend to break them."

Under Bush, Florida had the lowest high school graduation rate two years straight. The bipartisan the Constitutional Accountability Commission found that Bush failed to meet the Florida constitutional requirement of providing a high quality education.

Former Attorney General Bob Butterworth, a Democrat, and former Comptroller Bob Milligan, a Republican, chaired the commission and were on hand Tuesday to suggest that more money be spent on schools. They also urged creation of a system that compares Florida's performance to other states.

If Florida does nothing, it will remain vulnerable to a court challenge, the commission suggests.

"The last thing we want to have happen is for the educational system of this state to be put under court order or declared unconstitutional as it has in some other states," Butterworth said.

Bush's education record as Governor is horrible. Bush isn't interested in improving education. Bush does hate teachers unions. This quote is from Bush's speech at the Mackinac Policy Conference.

We can’t just outsource public education to bureaucracies and public education unions and hope for the best.

We certainly can't expect the best education results from Jeb Bush.

Lana Del Rey - West Coast

This version of West Coast is from the fantastic Lana Del Rey performance at the Glastonbury Music Festival. The entire show is worth checking out.

Louie Gohmert Is Too Crazy For Government

Rep. Louie Gohmert is batshit crazy. Gohmert is advocating for starting war with Iran. Gohmert's reason is the Israeli invasion of Gaza.

“It is time to bomb Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” Gohmert concluded. “It is time for the United States, if we are not going to stop Iran’s nukes, then let Israel do it. A friend will not put another friend in this kind of jeopardy.”

Gohmert is conflating the Gaza conflict with Iran's nuclear program. Raw Story reports that Iran is complying with the International Atomic Energy Agency agreement.

As agreed under a so-called Joint Plan of Action reached in November, the Islamic Republic has cut half of its stock of 20-percent enriched uranium down to five-percent purity.

The rest was being converted into uranium oxide.

Tehran also refrained from enriching above the five-percent level at any of its nuclear facilities, the IAEA report said.

Gohmert has no idea about the current state of Iran's nuclear program. Yet, Gohmert is advocating for war with Iran. People look at Gohmert as a clown and mock him. I find the man's stupidity to be scary and dangerous.

Quote of the Day

“I’m not a scientist either, but I can use my brain, and I can talk to one.” Charlie Crist, on Gov. Rick Scott unwillingness to learn more about man made climate change.

Crist recently met with Florida State University environmental science professor Jeffrey Chanton. The two discussed the threat of man made climate change. Scott has refused to meet with Professor Chanton.

“It’s to try to push the dialogue,” Crist said. “I’m convinced. I’m a believer and I notice that my opponent, Rick Scott, would not meet with this wonderful scientist. It’s important for people who have the opportunity to help direct policy to be open-minded and to listen.”

Scott has refused to say if he believes in man made climate science. That hasn't stopped him from having extremely environmentally unfriendly policies. Scott has supported and later backtracked drilling in the Everglades. Scott owns a $135,000 stake in Schlumberger Ltd. The oil company is involved in drilling near the Everglades.

Scott's environmental policies are based less on science and more on profit.

Write A Caption: Newt Gingrich Edition

I don't think I ever seen a photo that better summed up the political career of Newt Gingrich.

Alan Hays Hearts Dinesh D'Souza Movie

Florida State Sen. Alan Hays is drafting a one page bill making it mandatory for all high school and middle school students to watch the Dinesh D’Souza movie America.

“I saw the movie and walked out of the theater and said, ‘Wow, our students need to see this.’ And it’s my plan to show it to my colleagues in the legislature, too, before they’re asked to vote on the bill,” Hays said.

America bashes liberals and has numerous factual problems. The review by The Wrap is hysterical.

The deceptive evidence and straw-man arguments of this conservative “filmmaker” would go down easier if the actual filmmaking wasn't so inept.

Using D'Souza's movie in schools for education purposes in a horrible idea. D'Souza blamed the teaching of science for the Virginia Tech shootings. D'Souza is also convicted felon. D'Souza's film is less about education and more about promoting his contempt for the Left.

I have no doubt that Hays's bill will likely pass.

Quote of the Day

"Violence isn't the victim's issue. It's the abuser's. To insinuate otherwise is irresponsible and disgusting. Walk. Away."

Michelle Beadle

Lorde - Royals

This is one of the smartest lyrics for a number one hit in ages. Lorde is commenting on how the materialism of hip hop has no basis in reality to most music listeners.

My friends and I we've cracked the code

We count our dollars on the train to the party

And everyone who knows us knows that we're fine with this

We didn't come from money

Lode contradicts the economic reality of most people with the lyrics in hip hop.

But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece.

Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash

We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair

Lorde is young but she is the real thing.

This version of Royals was performed in Brazil.

Write A Caption: Rush

This photo of the band Rush is hysterical. Dave Grohl made fun of the photo when he inducted Rush into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Tea Party Nation Offers Tony Dungy PR Advice

Who better than Cap Black the Hood Conservative of Tea Party Nation to advise Tony Dungy on how to handle his PR disaster. Dungy made this statement, on openly gay NFL draft pick Michael Sam, to the Tampa Tribune.

“I wouldn’t have taken him,’’ said former Bucs and Colts coach Tony Dungy, now an analyst for NBC. “Not because I don’t believe Michael Sam should have a chance to play, but I wouldn’t want to deal with all of it.

“It’s not going to be totally smooth … things will happen.’’

I am not shocked by Dungy's statements. Taken at face value they are not offensive. Some people feel that Dungy's stature in the NFL will give teams cover not to draft gay players. I have never been a Dungy fan. Partly because I have never been a fan of the Bucs or the Colts. I am not the best person to comment on Dungy's stature. I also don't give a shit what Dungy has to say on any particular subject. I find the man painfully dull.

Here comes Cap Black the Hood Conservative (who makes these tea party names) to defend Dungy's honor.

CAP BLACK SAYS: " Dungy isn't required to prostrate himself at the secular altar of gay rights. He made a valid assessment and isn't a " coward " nor "bigot. " Black man are free NOT to be part of the Political Correctness choir. This seems more an issue of using this foot ball player to advance a majority White, progressive assault on traditional marriage and gender roles. Any Black man who speaks contrary to this trend must be demonized lest more of his people follow suit. "

Dungy has taken a stance on gay marriage. Dungy is against gay and lesbian couples marrying. Dungy even spoke to the anti-gay marriage group the Indiana Family Institute.

"We're not trying to downgrade anyone else. But we're trying to promote the family -- family values the Lord's way," Dungy said.

If that statement wasn't so sad it would be funny. I doubt Dungy has ever asked a gay couple if they would feel downgraded if they wouldn't be allowed to marry. I wish Dungy would.

Update: Nick Wagoner asked Michael Sam about Dungy's comments. Sam doesn't seem too worried.

Sam on Dungy's comments: "Thank God he wasn't the St. Louis Rams coach. (laughs) I have a lot of respect for Coach Dungy." (1 of 2)

— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) July 22, 2014

"And like everyone in America, everyone is entitled to their own opinions." (2 of 2)

— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) July 22, 2014

Update: Keith Olbermann rips the hypocrisy of Dungy.

Jeb Bush At Odds With GOP On Immigration

I agree with Tengrain on Jeb Bush not running for President in 2016.

The best antidote to illegal immigration is a functioning system of legal immigration… Now is the time for House Republicans to demonstrate leadership on this issue. Congress should not use the present crisis as an excuse to defer comprehensive immigration reform.…we have too often seen what happens when the president oversteps his constitutional authority. Avoiding similar disastrous results will require legislative action by both parties.

Hell will freeze over before Republicans in the House "demonstrate leadership" on immigration reform. House Speaker John Boehner has blamed President Barack Obama for the fact that the House has not voted on immigration reform.

“We’re at a point where my colleagues don’t trust that the president will implement the law the way we would see it passed,” Boehner said at an event hosted by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in San Antonio. “So I’ve put the ball back in the president’s court. He’s going to have to do something to demonstrate some level of trustworthiness.”

Memo to John Boehner: Obama does not run the House of Representatives. You do.

Sen. Marco Rubio released a statement supporting sending new illegal immigrants back to their home countries faster.

“Today I reiterated with our Central American counterparts that it is they who must build a better future at home for their people, with the U.S. as a supportive partner. In light of the recent surge in unlawful border crossings, they owe it to their people to make clear that these dangerous journeys to the U.S. they’ve undertaken are not worth risking their lives for since they will inevitably lead them back to where they started.

Sen. Ted Cruz is proposing withholding funding from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. All this would do is leave undocumented children in legal limbo for a lonfer period of time. Rubio and Cruz are grandstanding to secure the support of the tea party debate. The majority of the GOP establishment doesn't share Jeb Bush's desire to move forward on immigration reform.

Ex Cops - Black Soap

Brooklyn Vegan reports the Ex Cops are coming out with their new album "Daggers." The dreamy pop sounds a little hard on their new song Black Soap.

Here is the Ex Cops live performance on KEXP.

The Ex Cops on Myspace.

Pushing Rope on Instagram

Hey gang. Pushing Rope is now on Instagram at Pushingrope1. I have been having a lot of fun on Instagram. Go check out the stuff I posted.

Corporatist Christianity

Yes, those occupiers are so evil standing up against those Christians on Wall Street. Jesus loved the money changers above all others.

Matthew 21:12

12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.

13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER'; but you are making it a ROBBERS' DEN."

I guess Jesus didn't love the money changers as much as so-called right-wing Christians.

Fugazi - Bullfrog Front

Fugazi performing Bullfrog Front live in St. Louis in 1988.

Greatest Bad Line In Movie History

This line is priceless. John Barrowman told Jonathan Ross that the line was meant as a joke. Barrowman was shocked that the director kept the line in the movie. I'm glad the director did.

Rick Scott Hates Answering Questions About Gay Marriage

The Miami Herald political reporting staff has been hounding Gov. Rick Scott on his position on gay marriage. Circuit Judge Luis Garcia has declared that the Florida ban on gay marriage violates the equal protection clause in the United States Constitution.

Political reporters across the state have been trying to get a straight answer from Scott on various subjects. Scott is a talking points machine that panics when he goes off script. Scott's refusal to answer questions have made national news. Scott's canned response was hysterically feautured on The Rachel Maddow Show.

Scott gave a sort of answer to The Miami Herald on gay marriage. Basically, Scott doesn't support gay marriage being legal in Florida.

Q: “Gay rights groups say that the marriage ban discriminates against them but proponents of the ban say that judges are now discriminating against their votes. You have said you are against discrimination. Which kind of discrimination are you against?”

A: “First off, as we know in 2008 the voters of the state decided that marriage would be between man and a woman, traditional marriage. It's gone to the courts. The courts will end up deciding. The Attorney General is doing her job. She is appealing it which is her job to defend the Constitution. In my case I believe in traditional marriage. Also I don’t want anybody discriminated against. We will see what the courts do.”

Q: “How did you vote in 08 on that?”

(Scott’s response was so quiet I couldn’t hear him.)

Q: “What?”

A: “I would have voted for the traditional marriage.”

Scott whispered when attempting to give a canned response answer. Scott is a disaster with the media. The more serious matter is Floridians have a right to know where Scott stands on policy matters. What Scott fears is if people actually knew he was a crony capitalist they wouldn't vote for him.

Wingnut Alert: Stephen Steinlight

Via Peacock Panache: Stephen Steinlight is a policy analyst at the Center for Immigration Studies. If you don't know who he is. Don't feel so bad. I never heard of the guy before today.

The Center for Immigration Studies was founded by John Tanton. To say Tanton is a racist would be an understatement. Only a racist like Tanton would write a paper titled "The Case for Passive Eugenics." Tanton's paper is only four pages long. This is the final paragraph.

As with euthanasia, active eugenics will deservedly continue to be rejected by most persons, but passive eugenics should elicit their support. Far from being racist or genocidal, it seeks to improve the potential of minority groups, which will do more for their prospects than any increase in numbers which might be foregone through larger family size and reproduction outside the years of reproductive efficiency. Further, the beneficial demo-graphic effect of limiting the size of the human community will assure that more resources are available to nurture each child that is born.

Think Progress found a quote of Tanton desiring America to have a white majority. You know what kind of people want a white majority? White supremacists.

“I’ve come to the point of view that for European-American society and culture to persist requires a European-American majority, and a clear one at that.”

Steinlight is even more open and outlandish than Tanton in his views on immigration. The Southern Poverty Law Center has this outrageous quote by Steinlight.

But the history of CIS make clear that it has always been part of a broad-based and well-planned effort to attack immigration in all forms. CIS Senior Policy Analyst Stephen Steinlight pretty much captured CIS' brand of "independent" analysis when he told the Inter Press Service News Agency in 2005 that immigration threatens "the American people as a whole and the future of Western civilization."

Therefore it is not surprising that Steinlight would advocate for the impeachment and hanging of President Barack Obama. You can hear cheers from the few elderly tea party attendees.

"A rash of opinion polls which have come out, not push polls, real polls, including one by Gallup that showed that 65 percent of the American people don’t want any part of an Obama-style immigration reform. But the idea of this [lawsuit] is vintage Boehner, it’s a political loser. There is no court that is going to stop Obama from doing anything. We all know, if there ever was a president that deserved to be impeached, it’s this guy. Alright? I mean, I wouldn’t stop. I would think being hung, drawn, and quartered is probably too good for him."

Bowzer Endorses Gwen Graham

Jon "Bowzer" Bauman of Sha Na Na endorses Democratic congressional candidate. This is a rather surprising endorsement.

Bauman has been active in Democratic politics. He has campaigned for John Kerry and President Barack Obama.

Rockford Files Answering Machine Messages

James Garner was a great leading man. His recent passing is sad. The several different answering machine messages shows the brilliant writing of The Rockford Files.

The great Helen Popkin wrote a fantastic article on The Rockford Files answering machine. Helen got quotes from people that were longtime fixtures of the Tampa underground music scene. Helen played bass in several Tampa bands.

The Unicorns – Rocketship (Daniel Johnston Cover)

The Unicorns sound very much like the Flaming Lips on their cover of Daniel Johnston's Rocketship.

Fundraising Numbers For Florida District 10

According to OpenSecrets.org, Daniel Webster is killing his opponents in fundraising.

Daniel Webster (R)

Raised: $749,091

Spent: $444,010

Shayan Modarres (D)

Raised: $63,716

Spent: $38,532

Bill Ferree (D)

Raised: $34,955

Spent: $31,756

Modarres is an attorney and has worked as a community access. From the bio from the Modarres For Congress website.

Last summer, I co-organized a peaceful rally which gathered over 2,000 demonstrators in downtown Orlando protesting mandatory minimum laws, disproportionate sentencing of minorities, and racial disparity in the Florida criminal justice system. Looking out at the large gathering of people, coming together without regard to race, religion, nationality, gender or sexual orientation, it was evident that the residents of central Florida were determined to stand up and make a real change.

Although fighting against injustice as a practicing attorney is deeply gratifying, the opportunity to draft and support fair laws to affect even greater change is more appealing. That’s why I’m running for congress.

Modarres' stance on the Israeli and Palestinian conflict scares the daylights out of the current Democratic establishment. You can count on Debbie Wasserman-Schultz on not supporting the Modarres campaign.

85,000 Palestinians have been displaced, over 500 have died in the #Gaza conflict.

— Shayan For Congress (@shayan4congress) July 21, 2014

Ferree is a military veteran and a former pilot for Delta Airlines. Ferree is an environmental activist. Ferree is the author of the book "Empty Tank Empty Wallet: For those Who Don't Own an Oil Well." Ferree advocates for a move away from fossil fuel. Ferree is one of the co-founders of WattNext, Inc. From the WattNext website.

The 20th century's incredibly beneficial but ultimately destructive energy source—fossil fuels—will eventually be replaced by clean and abundant energy from the sun. Delivered as electricity, it will serve any need, including transportation. The "smart grid" will enable the collection, storage, distribution and use for the greatest utility and economy.

WattNext is creating the infrastructure that connects solar power, electric vehicles, and the "smart grid". Let us coach you and help design and build your smart investment.

Originally named Sunwise Power Systems, WattNext was incorporated in 2009. It is the first for-profit spinout company from the non-profit environmental technology business incubator, RubeLab, Inc. All WattNext principals are current RubeLab members.

The WattTree is the commercial version of the RubeStation, an electric vehicle charging station prototype, developed and built by RubeLab and donated to the City of Eustis. The RubeStation is located on Fountain Green in downtown Eustis, Florida.

District 10 as two solid progressive candidates. Unfortunately, they are going against an incumbent a longtime member of the Florida Republican establishment.

Nan Rich To Speak to Pinellas Democratic Party

Florida gubernatorial Nan Rich will speak at the Pinellas Democratic Party this coming Thursday.

Thursday, July 24th– 7:00PM St. Petersburg, Marriott Hotel - 12600 Roosevelt Blvd. N.

Special Guest:

Nan Rich

Former Senate Democratic Leader and Candidate for Governor

Here are the ticket prices.

$30.00 pp advanced sale until August 1st

$35.00 pp advanced sale until August 15th

$40.00 pp at the door, cash or check only

Children 7 & younger free – must RSVP in advance.

Vegetarian meal available with advance notice at time of purchase.

Where No Atheists Allowed In Elected Office

Here are the seven states that ban atheists from holding public office. I am so shocked to see the liberal loving Texas on the list.

Fox News Fails Math

Fox News is becoming Baghdad Bob when it comes to propaganda.

It Gets Better: Erin Robinson

The lovely Erin Robinson (formerly Erin White) talks about her best friend Matthew dying of an overdose. Matthew had problems dealing with the stigma of being gay. Robinson talks about how painful the lost of her best friend was to her.

The political and social demonization against the LGBT community has real life consequences. Hetrosexual conservatives aren't going to suddenly get divorced and become gay if gay marriage is legal. Gay people do have to deal with discrimination. Fear of coming out to employers and family members. Gay people in America have to deal with certain segments of society telling them that they are going to Hell and are worthless. That takes a toll on people like Matthew.

Friday Cat

Loads of kittens in the Big Cat Rescue foster cat program. Enjoy.

WalMart to Be Built on Florida Rain Forest Land

The Miami Herald reports that the University of Miami has come to an agreement with Ram to develop 40 acres of a rain forest preserve. The land will be used for a Walmart, LA Fitness center, Chik-fil-A, Chili’s restaurants and other box retail stores. Needless to say, environmentalists are not happy.

“You wonder how things end up being endangered? This is how. This is bad policy and bad enforcement. And shame on UM,” said attorney Dennis Olle, a board member of Tropical Audubon and the North American Butterfly Association, who wrote to Florida’s lead federal wildlife agent Friday demanding an investigation.

The proposed land for development contains many endangered plants and species. Conservationists were sent in last month to rescue plants and other rare life. They found more than what they bargained for.

To their surprise, rescuers picking their way through the forest in June and earlier this month found a trove of rare plants outside land staked off for preservation, including the tiny, endangered polygala smallii, a small flowering herb. They also spotted rare butterflies, including the Bartram’s hairstreak, one of the butterflies expected to be named to the endangered species list this summer, and the Atala hairstreak, which almost went extinct in the middle of the 20th century.

Environmental protection is next to nonexistent under the Rick Scott administration. The oil industry wants to drill in the Everglades. Even the environmentally unfriendly Jeb Bush was never that bold.

Annette Taddeo-Goldstein Becomes Crist's Running Mate

Democratic candidate Charlie Crist has selected Annette Taddeo-Goldstein to be his Lt. Governor running mate. Crist's reasoning is Taddeo-Goldstein is a working mom. Say what?

“She’s a working mom, she’s a great Floridian, she has a heart of gold,” Crist told a Miami press conference on Thursday.

I love working mothers but I wished Crist talked about Taddeo-Goldstein's grasp of policy and her qualifications to govern a state the size of Florida.

The working mom angle is being pushed by the Crist campaign. The campaign had Taddeo-Goldstein send out this fundraising email.

My family moved to Miami when I was 18.

This state is where I founded my small business, met my husband, and started my family.

Just like so many Floridians, I've lived the American dream.

As a working mom and a small business owner, I know how much Florida's families are struggling.

I understand what it's like to wonder if you're going to be able to meet payroll -- and I understand what it's like to balance attending a PTA meeting at my daughter's school with meetings and conference calls at work.

That's why I'm so honored that Charlie asked me to join this ticket as his lieutenant governor. He believes that people like you and me deserve a seat at the table.

I'll join Charlie to fight for our families.

A more likely reason Taddeo-Goldstein is in good standing with the Florida and national standing.

Vice Chairman - Florida Democratic Party

Executive Committee member - Democratic National Committee

There are legitimate questions about Taddeo-Goldstein's skills on the stump. Taddeo-Goldstein lost her last two elections. In 2008, Taddeo-Goldstein a congressional race against Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. In 2010, she lost a county commission race. Taddeo-Goldstein's best chance was to run against the controversial David Rivera. Taddeo-Goldstein bowed out and Joe Garcia won the seat.

Side note: Dan Gelber spent a lot of time promoting Crist to Democrats. Gelber appeared to be an early front runner to be Crist's nominee. I wonder what the consolation prize for Gelber is.

Carrollwood Players Power2Give Fundraising Drive

The Carrollwood Players in Tampa is doing a fundraising drive to get up the money to do "Little Shop of Horrors. The goal is $3,500.00. Here is how the money will be spent.

Budget

Rental cost for puppets which includes (4) specialized "Audrey II" Puppets, in increasing sizes. Smallest puppet is hand-held, largest is capable of "eating" multiple adults and at least 8 feet in size (valued at $35,000) : $3,000

power2give hosting, admin, and credit card fees: $409

Project Total: $3,409

You can donate by going to the Carrollwood Players Power2Give website.

Henry Rollins on Black Flag

Henry Rollins tells Pharrell Williams on joining Black Flag and the elitists in the 80s punk rock scene.

The Kinks - I'm Not Like Everybody Else

A lesser known gem by the Kinks.

Quote of the Day

Weird. Conservative male says he doesn't feel affected by a boss' ability to deny women birth control coverage at all.

— LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) July 16, 2014

The lack of empathy from conservative men is part of the problem. For instance, the five justices that ruled in favor of Hobby Lobby are conservative Catholic men.

Republicans Run From Impeachment Talk

Via The Daily Signal: Republicans attending the Conversations with Conservatives conference run away from Sarah Palin's call for impeachment. Republicans hint that President Barack Obama should be impeached. The problem is midterm elections matter more than enforcing the law. These are the same Republicans who came Obama is not enforcing the the Affordable Care Act. Because Republicans just love the ACA so much. A true profile in courage.

VÉRITÉ - Strange Enough

Singer VÉRITÉ has released the song Strange Enough onto the internet. This is the first single from her debut album. It is pretty freaking awesome.

Blast From the Past: Charlie Crist Hearts Sarah Palin

This is a laugh fest. I may have posted this before but it is worth posting again. Charlie Crist tells Larry KIng how intelligent and qualified Sarah Palin is to be Vice-President. This video has to be cringe inducing for the Crist campaign.

Hat tip to Leslie Wimes.

Quote of the Day

"You know, I get called a denier. And anyone who objects to all of the hype gets called a denier. That’s supposed to make me a Holocaust denier. I’m getting tired of that. The comment I made was, the demonization of carbon dioxide is just like the demonization of the poor Jews under Hitler. Carbon dioxide is actually a benefit to the world, and so were the Jews."

William Happer, Princeton Physics Professor

Happer faiuls to understand that no carbon dioxide have been executed by Hitler.

Media Matters notes that Happer has published no peer reviewed papers on climate change.

This is the controversial Happer gave The Daily Princetonian.

“This is George Orwell. This is the ‘Germans are the master race. The Jews are the scum of the earth.’ It’s that kind of propaganda,” Happer, the Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics, said in an interview. “Carbon dioxide is not a pollutant. Every time you exhale, you exhale air that has 4 percent carbon dioxide. To say that that’s a pollutant just boggles my mind. What used to be science has turned into a cult.”

Perhaps The Daily Princetonian didn't give Happer's entire quote. Barring that it is impossible what point is Happer is trying to make. Happer rambles on about George Orwell, Nazi Germany and cults. Happer is using a lot of buzz words but fails to prove how climate scientists are making a Jim Jones cult in Nazi Germany.

Rick Scott: The Man With No Answers Ad

THe American Bridge 21st Century has released an online ad attacking Gov Rick Scott for failing to answer why on-duty law enforcement officers were used as props for Scott's campaign event. Scott would rather get a root canal than honestly answer a question to the media.

Schoolhouse Rock: 2014 Edition

Legislation has certainly change from what the founders intended.

According to Open Secrets the financial industry has donated $247,774,431 during the 2013 to 2014 election cycle. It is safe to say that financial reform legislation will not be introduced anytime soon.

The classic I'm Just A Bill song.

Rick Scott Stays On Talking Points

Gov. Rick Scott was asked four times by members of the Florida media about why on-duty Florida law enforcement officers were standing behind Scott during a campaign event. It is against the law for police officers to engage in political activity while on-duty. Here is the transcript of the questions the media asked Scott.

1. "Did you really think that all of those deputies were off duty?"

2. "Did you think it was a problem to have on-duty law enforcement there?"

3. "You didn’t answer that question. Should there be discipline?"

4. "Do you think it’s okay for them to be there on-duty?"

Scott gives the media a smile that he thinks is charming but actually makes him look more scary. Scott looks like the scariest Jack In the Box head ever created. Floridians, this is your Governor trying to look sexy.

"Bond. James Bond."

Scott stays on his talking points about how much he loves law enforcement. Scott never once answers the question about why on-duty law enforcement were used as campaign props. Disappointing but not surprising.

Florida Congressionial Delegation Don't Care For You If You Are Palestinian

Tariq Abu Khdeir is a 15-year-old Tampa resident and Palestinian-American. Khdeir was pinned down and repeatedly kicked in the head by Israeli police in East Jerusalem.

Max Blumenthal reports that Khdeir was jailed in a Russian compound. According to Khdeir's family, he was beaten again while held in the compound.

According to Israeli police, Khdeir was involved in a violent protest. Police allege that Khdeir threw molotov cocktails. Khdeir denied participating in the protests to ABC News. If the allegations by the Israeli police are true then why hasn't Khdeir been charged.

Khdeir's family lives in Rep. Kathy Castor's district. Blumenthal reports that Castor's office has been less than helpful.

While sources close to Abu Khdeir's family say Castor's staff has treated the family with respect even as they rebuffed their demands, a distant relative who visited Castor's field office in Washington D.C. to plead for help said she was "yelled out, intimidated, and insulted" by a staffer.

Despite my repeated requests for an interview, members of Castor's staff have refused to discuss the case with me.

In a private letter to Abu Khdeir's family, Castor pointedly stated that she had not called for the teen's release and return to the US. Instead, she assured them that she "requested for Tariq to be provided with the appropriate and needed medical care and for [her] to be kept apprised of any plans of his return to the United States." In a separate letter to the US consulate in Jerusalem, Castor merely stated that she would "appreciate being kept apprised of any plans for the return of Tariq and his parents to the United States."

Rep. Dennis Ross accused Khdeir of being guilty without complete facts.

Though all of the facts surrounding the incident remain somewhat unclear," Ross wrote, "it is widely reported that Tariq was participating in a protest in Palestine in response to the kidnapping and murder of his cousin, a Palestinian teenager."

Sen. Bill Nelson has not issued a statement on Khdeir.

Khdeir gives a more detailed account to the Washington Post.

Assuming that Khdeir was involved in the protests it still doesn't explained why Israeli police continued to kick him in the head after he was already restrained.

Can Castor, Nelson or any other member of the Florida Congressional delegation look at that video and say the police force used was justified. Members of the Florida delegation rather do nothing for a constituent than risk being attacked for being anti-Israel. Leadership is about doing what is right. Leadership is not living in fear of the next two Fox News cycles.

The Afghan Whigs - Matamoros

Via Boing Boing: the Afghan Whigs have released the second single to their album "Do The Beast." The video for the song Matamoros features the New York City hip hop dance crew WAFFLE. Their are some absolutely amazing dance moves that have to be seen to be believed. My favorite is a dancer tossing his shoe and perfectly catching it back on his foot in mid-air. This is my favorite music video of 2014.

Wingnut of the Day: Kathy Perkins

Moms With Guns Demand Action founder Kathy Perkins thought it was a good idea to joke about assassinating President Barack Obama on Facebook. Why? Because Perkins believes in liberty and she is a patriot. I wonder if Perkins considers Lee Harvey Oswald and John Wilkes Booth patriots. Oswald defected to Russia and declared himself a communist. Booth wrote that President Lincoln was "making himself a king" by attempting to end slavery. Because Booth thought slavery was so awesome. What is interesting is so-called patriots like Perkins accuse Obama of acting like a king.

Tea Party Nation kicked out the big caps keys with a post titled "“IMPEACH AND ARREST THE TYRANT KING OBAMA!!" Apparently, one exclamation point wasn't enough.

The tea party seems to appreciate Russian President Vladimir Putin's leadership more than Obama's. TeaParty.Org ran a story on failed presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani saying Putim is a stronger leader than Obama.

Russian President Vladimir “Putin decides what he wants to do, and he does it in half a day,” the former GOP presidential candidate said Monday on Fox News Channel’s ”Your World with Neil Cavuto.”

Putin, Giuliani said, makes a decision and executes it quickly.

“Then everybody reacts. That’s what you call a leader. President Obama, he’s got to think about it. He’s got to go over it again. He’s got to talk to more people about it,” Giuliani said.

Putin's style of leadership is jailing the punk band Pussy Riot for protesting Russian government policies. Putin has also bashed the LGBT community for political gain. Putin's policies towards gays are the tea party's wet dream. Judson Phillips, of the Tea Party Nation, was upset that Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a bill that would allow businesses to not serve gays. The legislation was a Jim Crow styled law against the LGBT community. Phillips was outraged that gays would not be legally discriminated against in Arizona.

The left and the homosexual lobby in America went into overdrive to kill this bill. Conservatives rallied for this bill and Governor Brewer opted for cowardice instead of courage.

Why is this bill so important and what did it mean for not only Arizona but America? The issue can be boiled down to one word: Freedom.

A free man or woman controls their labor. A slave has no control over their labor. A free man or woman decides who they will work for and under what conditions. The slave cannot.

The left and the homosexual lobby are both pushing slavery using the Orwellian concepts of “tolerance” and “inclusiveness.”

Immediately the left and the homosexual lobby went into high dudgeon. Arizona’s SB1062 must be defeated because Americans really are no longer free and must be forced to serve the great liberal state, regardless of their beliefs.

The storm rose against Arizona and Jan Brewer proved she was no Ronald Reagan. She has an honored place in the ranks of the French Republicans.

Kathy Perkins jokes about killing a black president. Judson Phillips has repeatedly hinted that President Obama is not an American citizen. People who have such open disdain for a black president shouldn't talk about how Obama is behaving like a King and enslaving people.

Political assassins like Booth and Oswald were not patriots. They had such disdain for government that they murdered presidents. Cliven Bundy has gotten into an armed standoff with the federal government. The tea party views him as a patriot. The tea party loves America so much that they want to see Bundy's followers spill the blood of people that are employed by the American government. That makes no logical sense.

Perkins, Bundy and Phillips aren't patriots. They are just very pissed off people.

Quote of the Day

"Rubio is an idiot. He says he is not a scientist so he doesn't have a view about climate change and sea-level rise and so won't do anything about it. Yet Florida's other senator, Democrat Bill Nelson, is holding field hearings where scientists can tell people what the data means. Unfortunately, not enough people follow his example. And all the time, the waters are rising."

Philip Stoddard, the mayor of South Miami

Rubio's hometown of Miami has been experiencing increased flooding. Needless to say, many Miami residents are not happy about Dubious Rubio denying climate science.

Quote of the Day

Lana Del Rey - Fucked My Way Up To The Top

This is a song where all the cool things about Lana Del Rey's music work perfectly.

Beyonce Voters Tumblr

Jessie Watters condescendingly described young single women as "Beyoncé voters."

Watters went on to say that Clinton needs to latch on to issues like this in order to win the White House in 2016. “She needs the single ladies vote, I call them the Beyoncé voters because of [her song] “Single Ladies,” he said. “Obama won single ladies by 76% last time and they made up a quarter of the electorate.”

Watters fails to understand that President Barack Obama won young women voters because Republicans like Todd Akin thought there was such a thing as "legitimate rape."

"First of all, from what I understand from doctors [pregnancy from rape] is really rare... If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

Watters isn't going to win Fox News any young female viewers with comments like this.

“She’s acting like Hobby Lobby all of a sudden is telling these women that work for them to wear a burka or something like that,” Watters said. “It’s like if someone said my boss is not buying me a gun, he’s denying me my Second Amendment rights. Having access to contraception is not in the Constitution, she’s dead wrong about that.”

Shorter Jessie Watters: it is okay for your boss to buy you a gun. Women who want birth control in their health care coverage should STFU. How pro-life of Watters.

There is now a hysterical Tumblr mocking the stupidity of the comments of Watters. Beyoncé lyrics are being used for photos.

Wendy Davis Comes Out Against Reparative Therapy

The Republican Party of Texas 2014 platform endorses reparative therapy for gays. Reparative therapy has been conducted by people such as Marcus Bachmann. Christian conservatives have claimed that reparative theorapy can make gay people straight. San Francisco State University has found that reparative therapy has highly destructive results on gay people.

The lack of scientific backing on reparative therapy hasn't stopped the Republican Party of Texas from placing reparative therapy in the platform.

Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable alternative lifestyle, in public policy, nor should family be redefined to include homosexual couples. We believe there should be no granting of special legal entitlements or creation of special status for homosexual behavior, regardless of state of origin. Additionally, we oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values. We recognize the legitimacy and value of counseling which offers reparative therapy and treatment to patients who are seeking escape from the homosexual lifestyle. No laws or executive orders shall be imposed to limit or restrict access to this type of therapy.

Fortunately, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis has come out against reparative therapy. From the Lone Star Q.

In response to the headline-grabbing plank, a spokesman for Davis’ campaign confirmed this week in an email to Lone Star Q that the Democratic gubernatorial nominee would back a statewide ban on reparative therapy for minors similar to laws that have passed in California and New Jersey.

Reparative therapy is dangerous. The Southern Law Center is asking for people to share stories of their bad experiences with reparative therapy.

Jesus Really Was A Republican

Matt Bors has created this great comic on how the immigration policies of the tea party don't jive with the teachings of Jesus.

The Flaming Lips and Miley Cyrus - Blonde SuperFreak Steals the Magic Brain (NSFW)

The Flaming Lips and Miley Cyrus have actually played shows together. They decided to get together and make a bery strange experimental video. Don't ask me what the video is about. I have no idea. NSFW.

Quote of the Day

"If he’s going to pick Rick Perry’s brain, that’s the definition of slim pickins."

Paul Begala, on President Barack Obama asking Gov. Rick Perry on advice on immigration.

Anti World Cup Rant By Russian Priest

Russian Priest Alexander Shumsky believes the World Cup promotes homosexuality. I believe the World Cup promotes watching a boring sport but opinions differ. The Moscow Times has some gems from Shumsky's blog post.

"Wearing pink or blue shoes, [the players] might as well wear women's panties or a bra," Shumsky wrote, adding that he was also offended by the "unthinkable" hairstyles of some of the players in Brazil.

For a straight guy Shumsky is really obsessed with clothes.

Shumsky channels Ann Coulter and claims that the World Cup is a conspiracy to spread liberalism.

"The liberal ideology of globalism clearly wants to oppose Christianity with football. I'm sure of it. Therefore I am glad that the Russian players have failed and, by the grace of God, no longer participate in this homosexual abomination," the priest wrote in his online column.

I take it this Jesus figurine would not be a good gift for Shumsky.

Ask Charlie Crist If Peter Schorsch Is Working On the Campaign

I recently emailed Amanda Litman of the Charlie Crist campaign and asked if Peter Schorsch was involved with the Crist campaign. Ms. Litman never responded to my email. I have nothing against Ms. Litman. I do want to know if Schorsch has involvement with the Crist campaign. Florida voters have a right to know if Crist is getting campaign advice from Schorsch.

Background on Schorsch

Schorsch has bragged in the comments of this blog about having a intimate relationship with Jack Hebert's daughter. Schorsch was at one time employed by Hebert.

First and foremost, is my blood feud against political consultant Jack Hebert. I mean, I hooked up with his daughter, for goodness.

The problem with that was Hebert's daughter was in high school at the time. Schorsch was in his mid-twenties. Schorsch again admitted to the relationship in the St. Petersburg Times.

In 2003, Schorsch had a falling out with the firm's founder and principal, Jack Hebert. The disagreement stemmed at least partly from Schorsch's decision to date Hebert's high school daughter, Schorsch said.

The same article details legal problems Schorsch had starting in the late nineties.

In 1998, a judge signed an order evicting him from an apartment at 11150 4th St. N for failing to pay $575 in rent.

In July 1998, he was caught driving on a suspended license by University of South Florida police, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records.

He was charged twice more for driving with a suspended license, in January and March of 2001.

Also that year, he was sued by a holding company because he wasn't making car payments. His car, a 1995 Ford Contour, was repossessed.

In 2007, Schorsch pleaded no contest to two counts of grand theft. According to the St. Petersburg Times, Schorsch took campaign money from candidates Ed Helm and Eve Joy and provided no services in return.

Then, in 2006, Schorsch was arrested on charges he stole nearly $10,000 from the Democratic club, and from Ed Helm and Eve Joy, who ran for mayor and a seat on the St. Petersburg City Council, respectively, in 2005.

Schorsch took their money and did no work.

After pleading no contest, he was sentenced to two years of house arrest and three years of probation, during which he was prohibited from working in campaigns.

He also was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and pay restitution.

But Circuit Judge Joseph Bulone agreed to withhold a formal finding of guilt for Schorsch, who had no other felonies, which meant he would no have a record as convicted felon.

Schorsch was also charged with writing 16 bad checks. To say Schorsch has serious ethical problems with money is an understatement.

The same year, The Florida Elections Commission found Schorsch guilty of violating 40 counts of state campaign law. Schorsch used his organization Take Back Tampa Bay to buy food at Pizza Hut and Gumby's The FEC found that Schorsch filed a false information repeatedly with the FEC. Schorsch was fined $66,475.00. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Schorsch has still not paid the majority of the fine.

Florida Elections Commission Ruling Against Peter Schorsch

There is a Facebook group that I started called "Ask Charlie Crist If Peter Schorsch Is Working On the Campaign." Schorsch has worked on previous Crist campaigns. Schorsch was involved with the Charlie Crist's announcement that he was running for governor. The Crist campaign needs to answer on if Schorsch is currently involved with the campaign. It is a simple yes or no answer.

Cat Power & Coldplay - Wish I Was Here

NPR has posted a collaboration between Cat Power and Coldplay. This is something I never imagined or hope would happen. I adore Cat Power and hate Coldplay with the burning hatred of a thousand suns. The song Wish I Was Here is the title track to a movie starring Zach Braff. I have never seen a Zach Braff and have no plans to in the immediate future.

Why I Doubt Nan Rich Is Trying to Win

Nicole Sandler recently interviewed gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich. The strategy from Rich is to repeatedly ask Crist for a debate. It will not happen as long as Rich's poll numbers are in the tank. According to Public Policy Polling, Rich has a favorability rating of 10 percent. A June Miami Herald article reports that Rich has only raised $379,000.00. Rumor is the Rich campaign is broke. Essentially, it is over before it started.

I have wondered why Rich has pointed out Crist's relationships with Jim Greer, Scott Rothstein and Peter Schorsch. The one thing these men have in common is that their mugshots are all over the internet.

Jim Greer Mugshot

Scott Rothstein Arrest

Peter Schorsch Mugshot

Rich has not attacked Crist's connection to his rather interesting friends. Greer was Crist's handpicked chairman for the Republican Party of Florida. Under sworn testimony, Rothstein claimed he donated money to Crist's campaign in exchange for an appointment.

Crist had tapped Rothstein to the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Fourth District Court of Appeal and the Broward Circuit Court.

“He knew how that game was played. I expected him to do certain things in exchange for large contributions,” Rothstein told a defense attorney Thursday in a federal courtroom in West Palm Beach.

Rothstein has since been disbarred. Rothstein his currently serving 50 years for a Ponzi scheme.

Peter Schorsch is someone familiar with readers of this blog. Michael Pinson filed a complaint with the Florida Bar against Schorsch. The complaint cites Schorsch's run-ins with the law.

The only reason I can think that Rich isn't bringing up Crist's colorful friends is she is secretly resigned to Crist becoming the Democratic nominee and doesn't want to upset the Florida Democratic establishment. If Rich was really trying to win she would be pointing out Crist's connection to Greer, Rothstein and Schorsch 24/7. Candidates that are behind go negative. Candidates that are just running for self-promotion is more worried about media exposure than winning. This explains Rich's obsession with a television debate.

WTF Photo of the Day

Via our good friend Ginger Lee: I laughed my ass off when I saw this photo.

Shocking News: Rick Scott Not Truthful

Gov. Rick Scott told the media that no taxpayer money has been committed to All Aboard Florida.

Q: Governor, considering the recent story about All Aboard Florida, can you tell us how big a role Adam Hollingsworth played in paving the way for All Aboard Florida?

Scott: So, All Aboard Florida is 100% private venture. It’s a private company. What was important to me is that we extended the time frame for anybody that wanted to ask questions, the public comment period, that’s what I expect.

Q: But they are apparently going to seek $44 million in state grants.

Scott: The All Aboard project is 100% privately funded.

There is just one problem with Scott's statement. Scott has committed $200 million to a train depot for Orlando International Airport. The train stop will be used by All Aboard Florida. Scott's current Chief of Staff Adam Hollingsworth formerly worked for Flagler Development Group and Parallel Infrastructure. Gary Fineout reports Hollingsworth sent several text messages to the Scott administration regarding All Aboard Florida.

Hollingsworth, who worked on Scott’s transition team in late 2010, exchanged several text messages with Scott’s deputy chief of staff shortly before the All Aboard Florida project was publicly announced. Hours before the release came out he texted Carrie O’Rourke and told her she would get a copy of it in advance. “If you see any hiccups, let me know,” Hollingsworth texted. “Thanks for all your help.”

Scott came out against federal money for a high-speed rail line from Tampa to Orlando. Florida Republican elected officials such as John Mica and Jack Latvala came out against Scott's decision. Scott had no problem approving SunRail funding that would financially benefit former State Sen. J.D. Alexander. I wrote about why Alexander wanted to SunRail project approved.

The blog Stop CSX in Polk County broke the story that Alexander's was purchasing Phoenix Industries. Alexander owns Altantic Blue. The company bought Phoenix Industries, a frozen food vender that does business with CSX. The transporation bill would have placed CSX's new hub near Alexander's warehouse. One needs a scorecard to track Alexander's conflicts of interest.

Scott isn't a fiscal conservative. He is a crony capitalist.

Mitt Romney Used As GOP Fundraising Pitch

Imagine Democrats trying to use the John Kerry 2004 campaign to inspire the progressive base. That would never happen since it is a horrible idea. Gawker reports some Republican had to brilliant idea that Mitt Romney would inspire conservatives to give up their cash to to the NRSC. Conservatives gave their money for Mitt Romney in 2012 and that didn't work out too well.

Friday Cat Blogging

A helpful guide on how to teach your cat on how to enjoy a belly rub.

Write A Caption: Anti-Immigration Edition

You silly liberals wish you were as smart as this man. Learn to speak Americana or go home.