Bill Clinton Rally For Charlie Crist

Former President Bill Clinton will stump for Charlie Crist at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

Time: Monday, November 3, 2014

Where: Memorial Mall at UCF

Tea Party Activist Tom Tillison Supports Voter Suppression

The least shocking news ever is that Orange County, Florida tea party activist Tom Tillison supports voter suppression. Money quote from Facebook.

I'm a white Republican, of course I advocate for voter suppression. Haven't you been paying attention! LOL

That Tom Tillison. What a jokester.

Fun fact: Tillison wrote a hysterical post on how Satanists were helping Charlie Crist's campaign against Rick Scott.

Quote of the Day

"If men were having babies, we'd have different policies."

President Barack Obama, during his speech in Orlando for " Improving Economic Opportunity for Women and Working Families."

Rick Scott Booed Offstage In Orlando

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

Martha Haynie May Leave Republican Party

Orange County Comptroller Martha Haynie may leave the Republican Party. Haynie told The Orlando Sentinel this during a speech Charlie Crist gave Orlando Democrats.

"But by the time I run again, I don't expect to have an 'R' next to my name," Haynie said, adding that she may end up an independent.

Haynie sits on the board of Planned Parenthood and is not a fan of the Republican shutdown of the federal government. The deciding factor for Haynie may be if Crist runs for Governor.

"I'm not in tune with Rick Scott," she said. "And Charlie talks a good game."

Gov. Rick Scott has little or no appeal with moderates.

Wingnut of the Day: Tom Tillison

This shows the level of disconnect tea party activists have with reality. Orlando tea partier Tom Tillison believes that Republicans are going to delay Obamacare.

"I still think a true victory would at least include a one-year delay" to the Obamacare provision that requires most Americans buy health insurance by Jan. 1, he said.

There is more.

"The sentiment that I hear from a lot of folks is that if it were not for the media, [they] would not be aware there was a shutdown," said Tillison of Gotha. "They are not feeling the impact of the shutdown on their everyday life."

It is not surprising someone like Tillison, who hates government, would not be bothered by a shutdown. It should be noted that Tillison is a conspiracy theorist. Tillison claimed that Satanists are attempting to help Charlie Crist get elected to a second term as governor. Tillison doesn't have actual evidence but that doesn't stop him from making his assertion.

And Morgan will make out like a bandit if his investment in Crist results in a second stint as Governor.

This is relevant because it’s indicative of the tactics we can expect in the quest to unseat Gov. Scott. With such a Far Left flavor, we can expect a heavy dose of ridicule early and often in an attempt to establish a preferred narrative in the race.

And right on cue, the Miami Herald reports that Satanists “from all over Florida” will gather at the State Capitol on Jan. 25 at 1 p.m. to applaud Scott’s backing of SB 98, according to a news release by a group called the Satanic Temple.

Tillison should look up the meaning to the word "Marxist" before he uses it in a blog post.

A good indication that the American population is slowly conforming to the Marxist-inspired economic principles of Barack Obama and the Far Left. Somewhat ironically, it was John F. Kennedy who said, “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.”

President Barack Obama's Treasury Secretary Jack Lew worked for Citigroup. Obama's National Economic Council chair Gene Sperling worked at Goldman Sachs. Any President whose top two economic advisers have worked for the financial industry isn't a Marxist. Obama isn't even a progressive.

Tillison has a true disconnect from facts and reality.

Orlando's Exodus International End Anti-Gay Therapy Sessions

The Orlando, Florida church Exodus International will no longer attempt to cure homosexuality through its unscientific therapy sessions. The ministry's president Alan Chambers issued this statement.

It is also strange to be an outcast from powerful portions of both the gay community and the Christian community. Because I do not completely agree with the vocal majorities in either group and am forging a new place of peaceful service in and through both, I will likely continue to be an outsider to some degree. I imagine it to be very much like a man I recently heard speak at a conference I attended, Father Elias Chacour, the Melkite Catholic Archbishop of Israel. He is an Arab Christian, Palestinian by birth, and a citizen of Israel. Talk about a walking contradiction. When I think of the tension of my situation I am comforted by the thought of him and his.

My desire is to completely align with Christ, his Good News for all and his offer of peace amidst the storms of life. My wife Leslie and my beliefs center around grace, the finished work of Christ on the cross and his offer of eternal relationship to any and all that believe. Our beliefs do not center on “sin” because “sin” isn’t at the center of our faith. Our journey hasn’t been about denying the power of Christ to do anything – obviously he is God and can do anything.

With that, here is an expanded version of the apology I offered during my recent interview with Lisa Ling to the people within the LGBTQ community who have been hurt by the Church, Exodus International, and me. I realize some within the communities for which I apologize will say I don’t have the right, as one man, to do so on their behalf. But if the Church is a body, with many members being connected to the whole, then I believe that what one of us does right we all do right, and what one of us does wrong we all do wrong. We have done wrong, and I stand with many others who now recognize the need to offer apologies and make things right. I believe this apology – however imperfect – is what God the Father would have me do.

The LGBT group Truth Wins Out praised Chambers and Exodus International for ending anti-gay therapy.

"It takes a real man to publicly confront the people whose lives were destroyed by his organization's work, and to take real, concrete action to begin to repair that damage," the group's associate director, Evan Hurst, was quoted by The Associated Press as saying.

NPR has another audio story on Chambers and Exodus International. In the interview Chambers said said that 99.9 percent of gay people that went through the therapy sessions didn't change their sexual orientation.

Question of the Day

There is a Draft Val Demings for Orange County Mayor in 2014. Demings is the former chief of the Orlando Police Department. Demings ran for Congress and lost to Daniel Webster by 11, 000 votes. I'm agnostic on if Demings would make a good candidate for Orange County Mayor. Tell me what you think in the comments.

CSI: Rick Scott

Gov. Rick Scott staged another one of his fake "Let's Get To Work" days. This time Scott played make believe in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement crime lab in Orlando. This the money quote from the regional office spokeswoman Susie Murphy.

"We don't have him working on a real case because he's not an analyst and the evidence has to be able to be presented in court," said Susie Murphy, spokeswoman for the regional office.

When Bob Graham did his work days it was folksy. When Scott does it he makes children run to their parents.

Universal Orlando Tries to Get Lower Property Taxes

This is rather amusing. Universal Orlando was to go in front of the Orange County Value Adjustment Board to ask for a reduction in their property taxes. Representatives for Universal Orlando bailed when they found out that a reporter from the Orlando Sentinel would sit in on the hearing. The representative for Universal Orlando and Loews Hotels told the magistrate they did not want to discuss their "business data" in front of a journalist. The was magistrate unswayed and turned down the request to lower the property taxes.

After the hearing, Universal Orlando and Loews Hotels refused to provide a comment for the Orlando Sentinel. What is clear is that profits have increased from the Universal Orlando and Loews Hotels partnership.

The three hotels are owned by a joint venture between Universal and Loews, which then pays ground rent to Universal Orlando based on a percentage of hotel revenue. The joint venture paid Universal approximately $13.3 million in 2010, according to regulatory filings — an increase of more than 600 percent from $1.9 million in 2009 and a 10.7 percent increase from $13.2 million in 2008. (The payments plummeted in 2009 because the hotels did not meet a contractual cash-flow threshold.)

Anyone know know Loews cash flow problems in 2009?

Where Are the Young People?

The photo is of the grand opening of the Obama/Biden campaign headquarters in Orlando. This was the caption under the picture.

[Photo] Take a look at how many people are already at our #Obama2012 office opening in Orlando.

Creative Loafing's Joe Bardi tweeted this response.

And look how old they are, too.

An early sign that the youth vote won't be there for President Obama in 2012.

Orlando Homeless Feeding Update

The Orange County Democratic Executive Committee passed a resolution asking Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the City Council to stop arrest members of Food Not Bombs. The group has been feeding the homeless in public parks.

“Whereas, the passage of this ordinance and its enforcement involving arrests may reflect badly on Orlando, internationally. Moreover, adverse publicity about these arrests may significantly hurt the economy and reputation of the City Beautiful,” the resolution reads, in part. “Whereas, as Democrats, we stand firm in our belief in anti-poverty policies and expect our elected officials to do the same.”

I'm glad the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee has stepped up. The policy of arresting people for feeding the homeless has been a disaster and certainly hasn't lowered the homeless population. Dyer and the city council can designate spaces where the homeless can be fed. Food Not Bombs can could have found private property owner that would have volunteered their space for feedings. Both sides drew their battle lines and weren't willing to compromise. Hopefully, the Executive Committee resolution is the start of sanity.

Anonymous Hacks Orlando Web Site

The hacking group Anonymous has threatened to take down Orlando web sites because of Mayor Buddy Dyers anti-homeless feeding policies. Members of Food Not Bombs were arrested for feeding the homeless in public parks. Dyer hysterically called Food Not Bombs "food terrorists." FNB activist Benjamin Markeson has filed a defamation lawsuit against Dyer.

Orlandofloridaguide.com was the first web site taken down by Anonymous. This statement was released by Anonymous.

"This is a declaration of war," said Anonymous, describing Operation Orlando.

"Anonymous will now begin a massive campaign against you and your city web assets," it added in a message directed at Orlando officials.

Food Not Bombs said they are not affiliated with Anonymous.

Beware the Food Terrorists

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer engages in hyperbole by calling Food Not Bombs "food terrorists." Several members of Food Not Bombs were recently arrested for feeding the homeless.

Dyer hysterically believes that Food Not Bombs as a nefarious agenda.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has been quoted calling the group "food terrorists." He told ABC's Orlando affiliate WTFV, "I think they are using food or the feeding of the homeless for different purposes."

Yes. We all know the way to world domination is through feeding the homeless. Cue the Dr. Evil laugh.



Food Not Bombs and churches have fought the city of Orlando in court for years over being able to feed downtown. The current law allows for a group to obtain two feeding permits a year for a park. Orlando has a total of 42 parks. The idea of the law is to limit the amount of feedings in the park. It would be wiser for Food Not Bombs to find a private property that they can use for feedings.

As for Dyer, he needs to realize the members of Food Not Bombs are more likely to attend a Phish concert than be actual terrorists.

Update: the Peoples Liberation Front have announced they will launch a cyber attack tomorrow against the City of Orlando's web site. The cyber attack is in protest to the arrest of member of Food Not Bombs. Below is the Peoples Liberation Front's e-mail.

Read more »

Nelson and Castor on Light Rail

Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Kathy Castor spoke at USF about light rail. Nelson wants the Florida Department to handle management over light rail construction. Nelson warns against mismanagement that could cause delays. Castor stumps that many Florida contractors would get jobs on the light rail project.





Nazih Haddad, Chief Operating Officer for Florida Rail Enterprise said the light rail line would (likely) extend Downtown Tampa to the Orlando International Airport. The Tampa International Airport makes more sense than downtown. The City of Tampa has been trying to get light rail to TIA. There has been no clear word on if that will happen. Stay tuned.

Kendrick Meek in Tampa and Orlando

Senate candidate Kendrick Meek will be making campaign visits to Tampa and Orlando this weekend.

Tampa

Time: Friday, October 23 from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Host: Tim
Contact Phone: 813.443.5357
Location: Tampa Office (Tampa, FL)
2942 W. Columbus Dr., Suite 103
Tampa, FL 33607

Orlando

Time: Saturday, October 24 from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Host: Christopher Dunwody
Contact Phone: 407.601.1564
Location: Orlando Office (Orlando, FL)
633 E. Colonial Dr. Suite 100
Orlando, FL 32803

Update: Meek will not be at the events. Campaign staffer Abe Dyk will speak. Sorry about the mistake.

Obama Combatting Homelessness

President Barack Obama will use $10 billion of HUD money "to create green jobs, to revive housing markets with high rates of foreclosure, and curb homelessness." The money will come from the Promoting Stable Communities and Helping Families Hardest Hit by the Economic Crisis.

These investments will help communities and families that have experienced the brunt of the economic downturn. Resources will be used to stabilize and revive local neighborhoods and housing markets with heavy concentrations of foreclosed properties. Funds will also assist the vulnerable families and individuals who are on the brink of homelessness or have recently become homeless.

HUD has also set up the Homelessness Prevention Fund.

HUD is allocating nearly $1.5 billion to state and local governments to help rapidly re-house homeless persons and families who enter shelters. In addition, HUD's Homelessness Prevention Fund will significantly expand efforts to prevent homelessness among those facing a sudden economic crisis.

Florida will get $74 million for homeless-assistance programs.

Orlando has been granted $6 million to stop the growing homeless population.

"Millions for the homeless? Let me see it. I pray to God that there's an honest bookkeeper," homeless man Charles Theus said.

The Coalition for the Homeless will use the money to place homeless people in apartments. I'm interested in what Jackie Dowd has to say about this. Dowd is an Orlando homeless advocate attorney.

In Tampa, the United Way is asking for $1.3 million. The Tampa United Way's fundraiing fell by $2 million in 2008. Marc Sutherland of America's Second Harvest of Tampa said, "The need is going up and it's getting harder and harder to get food for these programs." America's Second Harvest of Tampa provides food to 350 agencies that feed the homeless.

Miami-Dade county will receive $25.6 million. Mayor Carlos Alvarez gave the right message about the grant money.

Member of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust Board, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez declared, "This record level of funding represents a continued commitment on behalf of U.S. HUD to help communities that have helped themselves. We are fortunate to have these additional funds to help these needy families and individuals; and grateful to HUD for their collaboration in addressing those most in need."

Jacksonville received a meager $2 million.

The Fire of Mike Gavel Part 2

Mark Lane noticed that Mike Gravel is polling below wouldn't vote in a Quinnipiac University Florida poll. That didn't stop FDP contention attendees from greeting him like a Roman general back from a great victory.

Biden 1%
Clinton 43
Dodd -
Edwards 12
Gravel -
Kucinich 1
Obama 18
Richardson 3
SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1
DK/NA 17

The convention was lacking Democrats with national name-recognition. Gravel spoke twice. Even local Democrats couldn't keep a straight face about Gravel.

Joked Steve Geller, Florida Senate Democratic leader: "Mike Gravel is a very serious candidate for president, and people should come out to watch him."

Even more hysterical, the convention's musical entertainment was billed as "the legendary band Orleans." People didn't who Orleans was when I told them the band was playing the convention.

No Dennis Kucinich at FDP Convention

Proof that it is darkest before dawn and after that it's pitch black. Dennis Kucinich will not be attending the Florida Democratic Party convention. Attendees can be wooed by Orleans and Mike Gravel. The former Senator had a hard time getting living souls to listen to him speak in Clearwater.

Update: Sherri at Talk 2 Me is pissed about Kucinich bailing.

I have to admit. I was surprised. I thought Kucinich was different.

He's not.

I understand why Clinton, Obama, and Edwards aren't attending. They still have a chance to win and don't want the DNC to penalize them by taking away delegates. The only reason I can think of Kucinich not attending is Howard Dean dropped the hammer on him or he is actually delussional enough to think he can still win the nomination. I say it's the latter.

Kos an an excellent post on how flaky Kucinich is. Kucinich's keynote address at the Dubrovnik Conference on the Alchemy of Peacebuilding reads like bad science fiction.

As one studies the images of the Eagle Nebula, brought back by the Hubble Telescope from that place in deep space where stars are born, one can imagine the interplay of cosmic forces across space and time, of matter and spirit dancing to the music of the spheres, atop an infinite sea of numbers.

Spirit merges with matter to sanctify the universe. Matter transcends to return to spirit. The interchangeability of matter and spirit means the starlit magic of the outermost life of our universe becomes the soul-light magic of the innermost life of our self. The energy of the stars becomes us. We become the energy of the stars. Stardust and spirit unite and we begin: One with the universe. Whole and holy. From one source, endless creative energy, bursting forth, kinetic, elemental. We, the earth, air, water and fire-source of nearly fifteen billion years of cosmic
spiraling.

We begin as a perfect union of matter and spirit. We receive the blessings of the Eternal from sky and earth. In our outstretched hands we can feel the energy of the universe. We receive the blessings of the Eternal from water, which nourishes and sanctifies life. We receive the blessings of the Eternal from the primal fire, the pulsating heart of creation. We experience the wonder of life multidimensional and transcendent. We extend our hands upwards and we are showered with abundance. We ask and we receive. A universe of plenty flows to us, through us. It is in us. We become filled with endless possibilities.

We need to remember where we came from; to know that we are one. To understand that we are of an undivided whole: race, color, nationality, creed, gender are beams of light, refracted through one great prism. We begin as perfect and journey through life to become more perfect in the singularity of "I" and in the multiplicity of "we"; a more perfect union of matter and spirit. - - This is human striving. This is where, in Shelley's words, " . . . hope creates from its own wreck the thing it contemplates." This is what Browning spoke of: Our 'reach exceeding [our] grasp'. This is a search for heaven within, a quest for our eternal home.

This video of clips from the movie Airplane! sum up my reaction to Kucinich's keynote address.

Florida Netroots Conference Schedule

Here is the schedule for the Florida Netroots Conference. It will be held at the FDP Convention in Orlando.

October 27

1:00-2:00 Live Florida Progressive Radio Show f. Markos Molitsas Zuniga of Daily Kos (via phone)
2:00-2:30 Intro & Opening Keynote f. Phil Perry & speaker TBA
2:30-3:20 Netroots 101 f. Kenneth Quinnell, Jennifer Killingsworth & Gene Smith
3:30-4:20 Netroots Tools f. Ray Seaman and Brian Franklin
4:30-5:20 Working With the Netroots f. Michael Calderin, Alison Berke Morano and Phil Perry
5:20-5:50 Closing Keynote f. Matt Stoller
5:50-6:00 Netroots Awards
6:00-7:00 Soiree f. Dennis Kucinich (co-sponsored by DFA & PDA)

The Florida Netroots is paying hard cash to make this happen. They are asking for donations. If you don't donate I will post the Afghan Whigs video Miles Iz Dead. This blogger's description of the video should make you cough up the cash.

Although I cannot watch much of The Afghan Whigs 'Miles iz Ded' due to intense fear of hypodermics, this video made me think that all adult life would be a bit like this. As, it happened, I wasn't far off, minus the girl in the chicken suit and the man-turned-into-insect bit, plus some of the gorier stuff.

Give until it hurts.