Tina Dupuy on Her Childhood

Tina Dupuy talks about her traumatic childhood with progressive talk show host Sam Seder. Dupuy's parents were members of the Children of God cult. Dupuy tells Seder that when she was a child that her mother used her as a prop. Dupuy's mother had Dupuy by her side to help sell Children of God pamphlets on the streets on Manhattan. Her parents exposed to alcohol and drugs at a young age. Dupuy was later placed in foster care.

Dupuy's parents were highly unloving and made her a ward of the state. Dupuy briefly tried to live with her father and that didn't work out. Nancy Updike of This American Life researched Dupuy's story. The head of the group home told TAL that Dupuy's parent's rarely visited.

Here is the link to Dupuy's appearance on This American Life. The interview made Dupuy highly uncomfortable.

This is so awkward for me to talk about, because I've spent the last 25 years convincing myself that it had nothing to do with that my mommy didn't hug me enough. I don't want anyone to think that I'm blaming my mommy. And I also don't want to feel like I'm ripping on her. Does that make sense?

Dupuy did a one woman show in Los Angeles called "The Cult and the Cyclops." The show is about Dupuy's youth and her parents time in the Children of God cult.

The Daily Caller is attempting to shame Dupuy by saying that the secret is out on Dupuy being a member of the Children of God. Dupuy made a statement of her family's time in Children of God in 2005. The hysterical thing is The Daily Caller thinks they have a scoop.

Dupuy's 2005 statement.

To Whom It May Concern;

Ricky Rodriguez’s recent death has brought on national publicity and the Law and Order episode. People have begun to inquire about the group known as The Children of God or The Family. I realized that I have been ‘outed’ online as a former member.

In order to quash any rumor or speculation, this is what I have to say on the issue:

My parents met in the group. I am a 2nd generation. We lived in 10 countries all over Europe and South America. My parents left when I was 5 years old and we went back to the states. The way I see it - my parents are hippies. If your parents embarrassed you when you were a teenager – I have you beat!

My uncle Rick Dupuy (AKA Watchman) was one of the leaders at one time; he killed himself 10 years ago. I have in my possession the ‘purged’ literature that belonged to him. You think you have a strange uncle – I have you beat!

I have met and talked with many other 2nd generations. I left the group when I was very young. Some things we have in common (i.e. anger, alcohol abuse and the fact that we all bawled uncontrollably when we found out about Ricky). Other things, we don’t have in common. With that being said, I’m not a good spokesperson for the group and don’t desire to be. I feel there are others better qualified.

Since I am a stand up comic, I like to tackle these things on my own terms. I deal with events in my personal life through humor. Everything that I have gone through in my life I use as material, because let’s face it – public figures can’t do stupid things everyday. I did write a one person show called, “The Cult and the Cyclops”. It covers my experience in the COG. Copies of it are available on my website.

I would like to be known for my humor and not for my association with a child abusing, prostitution encouraging – good old fashion Christian cult.

Thank you,

Tina Dupuy

March 29, 2005

Side note: there is an interesting story on how Tina Dupuy became a columnist. This statement by Dupuy is from an an interview she did with the Kentucky Democrat blog in 2005.

It's a great exercise as a writer. A guy wrote on his blog that I wrote better than some columnists. You'd think I'd be flattered. Yet, I immediately thought, "Wow. I'm a loser. I should submit my work to newspapers." So I started doing that. A couple of pieces have gotten published. Which may have not happened if I wasn't obsessively writing a blog almost everyday for two years.

The person who wrote that praise about Dupuy's writing is me.

“But her blog posts are humorous and on target. She writes better than many columnists.” -Michael Hussey in 2005

I am insanely proud that my words helped inspire Dupuy to become the great columnist she is today. Dupuy was even my one time employer during the 2012 Republican National Convention. Dupuy and I were both involved in the Tampa Tribune using our content without payment. The blogosphere can be a wonderful and very small word.

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.

Who Is Writing Not Getting Squeezed

This looks like a blog that has started in reaction to Florida Squeeze. Not Getting Squeezed has a very positive outlook towards the Florida Democratic Party.

we are a blog that supports democrats and stops the lies coming from other blogs that are claiming to be democrats we will support our party leadership on country state and national levels we will work hard to ensure the democratic message gets out we will be positive and praise the party never criticize like others we will expose bad democrats who are bloggers activists candidates and legislators soon we will launch.

This blog lays the bullshit on thick by describing Charlie Crist as a progressive. Really?

As a top Obama. We have Charlie Crist a real progressive. He was forced out of the republican party of florida for standing on principle. Our State House and State Senate campaigns are strong. We had a problem in the House. That was solved last year. We made a change. The change was putting the outstanding Mark Pafford as the leader.

This is a shot taken by the anonymous blogger against Florida Squeeze and Saint Petersblog.

If you look around the other blogs including the Florida Squeeze and the Saint Petersblog, you would think the democrats were losing everything. Obama won Florida in 12 and 08 and Sink would have won in 10 but national trends got in the way. Rick Scott is a tea partier. Now that people in Florida know that this he will be beat by Charlie Crist.

Peter Schorsch is a registered Republican. I think it is rather silly to expect Schorsch to show love to the Florida Democratic Party. Florida Squeeze has been critical of the state Democratic establishment. In the end it doesn't matter. No Florida political blogger has the same audience as Talking Points Memo or The Huffington Post.

This is a lot of inside baseball stuff. The political establishment doesn't love bloggers and bloggers don't love the political establishment. I have heard stories about activists making bogus Twitter accounts to troll other activists they disagree with. Don't these people have lives? It doesn't seem like a productive use of one's time.

Peter Schorsch Brags on Facebook

My good friend Peter Schorsch has posted this wonderful message on Facebook. Apparently, the Pinellas Sheriff's Office has dismissed the complaint Michael Pinson filed against Schorsch. My dear friend is wondering why The Tampa Bay Times hasn't patted Schorsch on the back. It might be because The Times has a highly negative view of Schorsch. Adam Smith wrote this about Schorsch.

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?

Ouch.

Schorsch has written highly negative blog posts about conservative activist Michael Pinson. Schorsch then asked Pinson for payment to remove these posts. It is all in the Florida Bar complaint Pinson filed against Schorsch's former attorney Paul Phillips.

The document below contains messages between Pinson and Phillips on the removal of posts. Phillips even claimed that Schorsch would delete a negative post about him on Pushing Rope. The post was later deleted after it was discovered in the Florida Bar complaint that Schorsch, Phillips and their friend Chris Kapper were sources of a negative WTSP story. From the Bar complaint.

“I did provide the information in that email to my client [Peter Schorsch], and any news stories which occurred based on that information, complaints filed with the State of Florida, were done by my client and Channel 10 News Personnel.”- Paul Phillips, Florida Bar Complaint, TFB No.: 2013-10,093 (13E)

There is no law against Schorsch writing negatively against Pinson and then seeking payment to remove the post. I don't know another blogger who would even consider doing such a thing. Libel is a hard thing to proof in a court of law. Ironically, Schorsch has repeatedly threatened me with libel suits. If Schorsch having a criminal investigation against dismissed is a victory then he can knock himself out. To me it seems like a hollow victory.

Phillips - Additional Info - Part 1 by Michael Robert Hussey

Peter Schorsch Once Again Threatens Me With A Libel Suit

Letter to Michael Hussey

This is nothing more than a SLAPP suit. Schorsch should consider statements he made in the comment of this blog before going down this road. Schorsch admitted to having a "blood feud" with Jack Hebert and "hooking up" with Herbert's teenage daughter. I would hardly think that Herbert would want to give Schorsch a raise for those actions.

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

If I can see documentation of the ruling of Schorsch's grand theft charges I will be happy to make changes for journalistic accuracy. I certainly won't take Schorsch's word for it. However, I will most certainly not have Schorsch dictate what can or can't be written on this blog. Keep in mind that Adam Smith of The Tampa Bay Times has accused Schorsch of "unapologetically lies" and has written unflatteringly about Schorsch's grand theft history.

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 thief and scheming to defraud charges. Really?

Schorsch will lose in court. End of story. Schorsch should know since former Hillsborough County commissioner Brian Blair attempted to sue Schorsch for libel. Schorsch repeatedly called Blair a douche. That certainly seems malicious to me.

Furthermore, I have posted corrections and posted Schorsch's objections to the post in question. I will post his statement again.

The $68,000 is a civil fine stemming from the Florida Election Commission, and is not in any way connected to the grand theft charge.

Also, you state that the grand theft charge was a "conviction"; in fact, adjudication was withheld, therefore no conviction exists.

To state that someone has been convicted of something when they were not and you have been informed that they were not is a libelous offense.

If I am so malicious why did I post Schorsch's complaints about my post. I been a lot fairer to Schorsch than he has on the people he has attacked on his blog and on campaigns he worked on. This is a man who admitted to paying homeless people to heckle political candidate Kathleen Ford and fired from Jamie Bennett's campaign for giving free Tampa Rays baseball tickets in hopes of a political contribution. If Peter Schorsch thinks he has problems with his reputation then he should look in the mirror.

Stay Classy Peter Schorsch

Javier Manjarres and I don't often agree on politics. I do think Manjarres is one of the best conservative bloggers around. Manjarres as been writing a lot about how Peter Schorsch makes money. Manjarres wrote that Schorsch has been posting highly positive posts about Southern Strategy Group after the lobbying firm advertised on SaintPetersblog. Southern Strategy Group is being audited after their accounting came into question. You wouldn't know that from reading Peter Schorsch's blog.

In 2012, white-shoe lobbying firm Southern Strategy Group rang in an impressive $2.54 million in lobbying fees during the second quarter. Fast-forward a year and add nearly $1 million to that figure for a total of $3.41 million in quarterly compensation. The increase over last year represents more than what most other lobby firms generate in full.

Of course, Schorsch fails to mention that those numbers may have been blown up by Southern Strategy Group. Hence the reason for the audit. Schorsch even posted the hard hitting news story on Southern Strategy's Christmas card. I kid you not.

Here is this year’s Christmas card from powerhouse lobbying firm Southern Strategies Group.

Each year, SSG commissions and delivers the most talked-about Christmas card in Tallahassee, typically with a political theme making hay out of one of the year’s top stories. This year is no different as the card pokes fun at the scandal surrounding President Obama and the aggressive surveillance programs of the National Security Agency. There’s some good photoshop work of President Obama dressed in a Santa outfit and a reveal line of, “He sees you when you are sleeping/He knows when you are awake/In 2014, be good for goodness sake.”

Powerhouse lobbying firm? Seriously? How can anyone take Schorsch seriously?

Apparently, Manjarres blogging has gotten to Schorsch. Schorsch fired off this racist tweet.

By the way, @THESHARKTANK1, the redesign of your website looks like shit. An illiterate lawn boy could have done better. Oh wait...

— Peter Schorsch (@SaintPetersblog) January 6, 2014

Schorsch will defend himself by saying that Manjarres once ran a lawn care service. Make no mistake. Schorsch is attacking Marjarres' Hispanic heritage. If someone leveled that kind of attack on Schorsch he would threaten a libel lawsuit. For someone who makes his living as a political hit man Schorsch can't seem to take a shot.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

This Is Unexpected

I never thought a post of mine would be positively quoted on the Republican Party of Florida blog.

No Real News Story of the Day

I keep seeing this everywhere and this is what drives me crazy about the media and blogging. Allen West is not going to be the Rick Scott's next Lt. Governor. Scott was taking calls on conservative talk radio and didn't want to offend the conservative base. Scott wants to win a second term. Not go down in flames with an undisciplined running mate who lost his district to a long shot Democratic challenger.

The media and bloggers latch on to an off-hand remark made by Scott because they desperately want this to be a real story. The reason being so they don't have to write about such stories as the United States has the highest mortality rate for newborn babies of any industrialized nation. Writing about a fictional running mate for Rick Scott is so much more important than 42.7 American million people live below the poverty line. I don't know about you but I am so glad that the people that give us our news have the priorities straight.

My Post on Peter Schorsch's Post on Ben Kirby's Post

Peter Schorsch declares the Florida political blogosphere dead after Benjamin Kirby declared he was retiring from blogging. I am somewhat skeptical about Kirby staying retired. Kirby left the door open for blogging.

And I like to think I'll be back in blog form at some point. It'll probably be different --probably won't be focused on politics, or at least not solely focused on politics.

If you really want to retire, you do what Jim Johnson of State of Sunshine and stop blogging. Johnson still writes the occasional post. He spends most of his free time doing community theatre with the Carrollwood Players. If Kirby is onstage playing Richard III, I might be more convinced about his retirement.

Kirby isn't aware that he contradicted himself in these two paragraphs of his post.

I was listening to NPR the other morning, driving up 66th Street. The subject was something like transitional power in Afghanistan, followed by the impact of sequester, followed by more political news.

After about a mile and a half, I slammed my palm onto the steering wheel and screamed as loud as I could, "Fuck!" Because for as important as all of those stories really are, I could not bring myself to care. Even a little bit.

If Kirby doesn't care he wouldn't have gotten angry. Do you think Kim Kardashian ever slammed her hand after hearing news about Afghanistan?

The Florida blogosphere When I started Pushing Rope the Tampa blogosphere was Rachel Moran, Right-Wing Howler, Tampa Taxi Shots, Out In Left Field and the peanut gallery at Sticks of Fire. These bloggers would post sexist and anti-Islamic missives on their blogs. Moran advocated for beating up homeless people on-camera. I would write about the hate rants on these sites and get attacked. I don't have Schorsch's romantic view on the blogosphere of the past. I happen to think things are better now. There is room for improvement. Bloggers like myself and Litbrit couldn't get readers back in the day. Now we get media attention and win awards.

Litbrit Published on Salon

Litbrit, aka Deborah Newell Tornello, has had a limerick she penned published on Salon. Congratulations, Deb.

Bill Sharpe is Dead, Long Live Bill Sharpe

Sad news. Tampa media mogul Bill Sharpe was found dead in his office. The Tampa Police Department believe the cause of death was suicide. It is shocking to hear of someone as energetic and engaged in the Tampa community as Sharpe taking his own life.

Sharpe had a way of making an impact in Tampa media. Sharpe was the owner of the popular defunct blog Sticks of Fire. Sharpe made a splash more recently with the homeless newspaper the Tampa Epoch. Local homeless people would sell copies of the paper to earn cash. The future of Tampa Epoch is uncertain without Sharpe.

Sharpe was the Tampa blogosphere version of Nick Denton. Sharpe was a community newspaper publisher that saw the vast potential in new media. Sharpe helped connect the Tampa blogosphere together. Like the polarizing Denton, Sharpe faced controversy often with the published posts of Rachel Moran. Whether or not Sharpe intended for Moran to provoke strong responses is part of his mystery.

I may have not always agreed with Sharpe, but he always had my attention. Sharpe was that important a player in Tampa media and political circles. There isn't anyone that can replace what Sharpe brought to Tampa new media.

Pushing Rope Celebrates its Sixth Anniversary

Today is Valentine's Day for many people. For Pushing Rope this is our sixth anniversary. The first post ever on this blog was a humor piece about former New York Times columnist John Tierney. Since that time there have been nearly 8,000 blog posts written on the site. Some by fantastic guest bloggers who have left. (And whose contributions are greatly appreciated.) Tas and Litbrit have been the main guest bloggers. Their advice has also helped me improve this blog.

I would like to thank the readers for supporting this blog. Blogging can be lonely. It is nice to know that people are reading what I have to say.

Mission of Pushing Rope

Pushing Rope is a progressive blog. That doesn't mean it is a pro-Democratic Party blog. That is what many people didn't understand during Kendrick Meek's failed Senate campaign. PR pointed out the corruption allegations against Meek, Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist. The Meek campaign did push back against this blog. I pushed back.

This blog has been critical about President Barack Obama failing to "change" the unethical banking system and continuing the Bush policies of TSA searches and indefinite detention. This blog has not hesitated to bash the horrible policies of Republicans nationally and in Florida. Unlike some progressives, we aren't going to change our positions on civil liberty violations because there is now a Democrat in the office. That would be intellectually dishonest and only strengthen the erosion of civil liberties, if we allow illegal searches, and imprisonment without due process to continue.

PR started a netroots campaign against a post by Sticks of Fire blogger Rachel Moran. In the post, Moran discussed her and her friends assaulting homeless people on-camera. Progressive bloggers condemned Moran's post here, here, here, here, here and here. At the time, Sticks of Fire was the most popular Tampa blog. I received a lot of flak for taking SoF to task for its hate post. Sticks of Fire died a slow death due mainly to readers moving to sites like Saint Petersblog. This site is alive and well, and still taking hate mongers to task.

The mission of Pushing Rope is not to do what is popular. Our expressed goal is to stand up for what we feel is justice for civil liberties and social and economic equality. Those issues are important to us. If that means dealing with negative comments or emails then so be it.

Happy Valentine's Day to all our readers.

Vote For Librit in the Best of the Bay Awards

I know Peter Schorsch and that crazy woman that wrote about her boob job on Sticks of Fire are going to stuff the voting with a shitload of fake e-mail addresses. I am asking you to vote for Litbrit for the Best of the Bay awards. I would love nothing more than to see Deb win the readers' choice award for best blogger.

Other worthy candidates:

Best Local Website: Ninebullets.net.

MP3 blogger Bryan Childs also deserves serious consideration for best DJ for his WMNF show of the same name. Childs has given a lot of exposure to local and national cowpunk bands. Ninebullets is a highly respected national music blog. It is a shame more people don't know more about it locally.

Best Local Columnist: Sue Carlton

People rightly bitch about how terrible the current state of punditry is. Carlton is a superb columnist because she doesn't assume her readers are stupid. Carlton writes from a place of sanity which makes her dismay her the craziness that is Florida politics all the more insightful.


Best Local Politician: Kevin Beckner

It would really piss off the homophobic Terry Kemple off if Beckner won. Plus, Beckner is the best member of the Hillsborough County Commission.

Best Local Hero: Andrew Julian Aviles

Aviles died at the age of 18 years-old in Iraq. He would be 26 years-old today. Maybe married and with kids. Instead...

Worst Local Politician: Jim Norman

This is a tough category. Why I chose Norman over Buddy Johnson and Kevin White is because Norman is still holding office. It was discovered during Norman's state senate campaign that his wife accepted a $500,000 home from the late Ralph Hughes. Norman claimed it was an investment his wife made with Hughes. Norman could not explain how his wife could make such an investment after not working for several years.

Best CLTampa.com Contributor: Joe Bardi

The writing has really gone downhill at CL. I am actually glad Scott Harrell is back. Joe's movie columns are good. However, you should follow Bardi on Tweeter. He is hysterical.

Best Protest: Awake the State

The best grassroots organizing I have seen in the state.

Best Rays Player: David Price

James Shields is a perfectly acceptable choice. I would argue that Price had worse run support. However, Evan Longoria or any starting fielder is not acceptable. This team can't hit for shit.

Side note: can sports columnists stop writing op-eds about when BJ Upton is going to become a superstar. Does Gary Shelton realize how stupid it is to openly write such words about a guy that hardly gets on base.

Worst Sports Coach: Ray Perkins

Every person that I have talked to that has met Perkins describes him as being a world class asshole. Not to mention Perkins giving college players booster money when at Alabama.

Best Sports Coach: Guy Boucher

Took a team that hadn't made the playoffs in years to one goal from the Stanley Cup in his first season.

Update: Peter Schorsch is not campaigning for best blogger.

Tina Dupuy Now At Crooks and Liars

One of my favorite people Tina Dupuy has been hired as managing editor of Crooks and Liars. When I first started reading Tina's blog she was a stand-up comedian. Tina explained in an interview she started freelancing articles after a blogger wrote about her writing.

It's a great exercise as a writer. A guy wrote on his blog that I wrote better than some columnists. You'd think I'd be flattered. Yet, I immediately thought, "Wow. I'm a loser. I should submit my work to newspapers." So I started doing that. A couple of pieces have gotten published. Which may have not happened if I wasn't obsessively writing a blog almost everyday for two years.

Who was that asshole made Tina feel bad.

“But her blog posts are humorous and on target. She writes better than many columnists.” -Michael Hussey in 2005

Congratulations to Tina. Here is a video of Tina from her stand-up comedy days.