Bob Allen Arrested

It always amazes me that conservatives are so repressed about their own sexuality. Especially when it comes to homosexuality. Bob Allen appears to be another Republican denying his true self.

TITUSVILLE - State Rep. Bob Allen was arrested Wednesday after offering to perform oral sex for $20 on an undercover male police officer, authorities said.

Veteran's Memorial Park was under surveillance when Allen, R-Merritt Island, was seen coming in and out of a restroom three times, Lt. Todd Hutchinson said. Allen, 48, then approached an undercover officer and was arrested, police said.

Allen is fighting the charge. He is going the Jimmy Swaggart route with the display of tears.

''I am filing a not guilty plea. I am vigorously going to fight this,'' State Rep. Bob Allen, a co-chair of Republican presidential candidate John McCain's campaign in Florida, said at a news conference. ``I am not resigning my office because the people elected me and want me to do a good job. I am going to do a good job for them in finishing this term.''

Allen will have to explain why he came in and out of the public restroom 3 times and approached the undercover officer. Perhaps that $20.00 bill Allen handed the officer was for the police pension fund.

The Veteran's Memorial Park restroom was under surveillance. It is unknown if Allen was caught on videotape.

Update: things get more interesting. Marco Rubio must decide if any disciplinary measures will be taken against Allen. I betting that Rubio waits to the courts reach a verdict on Allen's case. Both parties of the Florida legislature is bad at policing themselves. See Siplin, Gary.

List of Charlie Crist Vetoes

Governor Charlie Crist has vetoed $459 million in spending out of the budget. My personal favorite veto is the $1.5 million for the Tom Adams National Training Center for Rowing. To answer the question; yes, we are talking about boat rowing. The worst veto is $18 million for community and state college funds for Bright Futures Savings. The money is used to help pay tutition for many financially needy students. Crist made other education cuts in pilots programs for low performing schools. When people ask why Florida's education system sucks - they need no more than look at the budgets.

Cuts in the Tampa area.

1. $1 million - Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority
2. $200,000 - University of Tampa Forenic Program
3. $150,000 - School of Instructional Enhancement - Easter Seals Multiple Disablities Education - Tampa
4. $150,000 - Pinellas County Blueway Trail
5. $10,000 - Purple Heart Monument

Mark Lane notes that $2 million was vetoed on the Riverwalk project. I can't find it in the vetoes. Anyone have any idea of the name of the project?

Another choice veto is $12 million to make restorations on the a farmer's market.

The Miami Herald has posted all the line-item vetoes in Excel format.

Crist Ducks Family Florida Policy Council Event

I find it fascinating how Republican politicians want to keep Christian Right activists at arm's length. Popular Governor Charlie Crist turned down an invitation to speak to Family Florida Policy Council. Dark horse candidates Mike Huckabee and Sam Brownbeck went to the event and gave a major pep talk.

''Please don't give up now,'' said Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, who was followed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. ``We can win this fight.''

Well said by two men polling in the single digits in Idaho.

Crist was far more receptive towards the Christian Right when he was a candidate. He told a Roman Catholic priest he would sign a bill to ban abortion. The Hatemonger Rev. O'Neill Dozier was a major Crist backer. Dozier showed his intolerance by attempting to shut down the construction of a peaceful Islamic mosque.

On September 23, 2006 The Miami Herald reported, "The Rev. O'Neal Dozier suffered another political slap Friday. Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist told his staff to take the Pompano Beach minister off all his campaign committees. The move comes after the Rev. Dozier characterized Islam as a 'cult' and a 'dangerous religion,' on a South Florida radio talk show in July. Dozier also recently announced plans to distribute booklets to residents living near the site of a future mosque in a black Pompano Beach community. 'While Charlie Crist respects Rev. Dozier's right to express his political and religious beliefs, he does not agree with Rev. Dozier's recent statements and writings concerning Islam,' according to a statement issued Friday by Crist's deputy press secretary Erin Isaac. 'While radical jihadists give Islam a bad name, Charlie Crist believes that we must not confuse those who practice any religion with a prayer toward peace with extremists who pervert religion to further a radical cause.' The Rev. Dozier initially made his remarks on the radio show and several times in discussing his opposition to construction of a mosque in a 'black Christian' Pompano Beach community. Dozier and others opposing the mosque -- which has been approved -- have also said they would rather see affordable housing on the roughly 5-acre property. Dozier confirmed that someone from Crist's campaign called Friday about his removal. 'I'm just simply doing what I think any true pastor would do,' Dozier said."

The GOP has a very sick relationship with the Christian Right. Christian religion and politics have both been tainted by this merger.

Update: TampaBay Democrat has a post on Florida Family Policy Council gala.