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.

Rick Kriseman Endorses Alex Sink

You really didn't think St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman was going to endorse Republican David Jolly? The Alex Sink campaign sent out this email.

“I am proud to support Alex Sink because I know she will bring the bipartisan, results oriented values she’s practiced all her life to Washington and finally get Congress focused on solving problems that matter,” said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. “At City Hall, we know firsthand that the challenges facing our community are not partisan issues – that’s why we need a leader like Alex Sink who will bring Republicans, Democrats and Independents together to tackle our most pressing problems, and I know we can trust Alex to take the voices of every Pinellas resident to Washington.”

“Every day Mayors and local leaders across Pinellas put problem solving over politics to serve residents – and I’m running to bring this same brand of bipartisan leadership back to Washington,” said Alex Sink. “From protecting Social Security and Medicare, to cutting wasteful spending, to helping businesses create jobs, the challenges facing are community are too important to let partisan finger-pointing stand in the way of getting results. I am honored to receive the support of Mayor Rick Kriseman, and I look forward to serving as an effective partner for Pinellas residents in Congress.”

Sink is running for the Florida congressional District 13 seat. The seat is currently empty after the passing of Bill Young.

Education Endorsement For Alex Sink

The Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association has officially has endorsed Alex Sink for Florida's congressional District 13.

“As a teacher, I want a representative in Congress that will take my voice and the voices of my students and fellow teachers to Washington to fight for us, and that’s why Alex Sink has my vote” said Dale Koning, a classroom teacher and registered Republican. “Investing in our children should not be a partisan issue, and Alex Sink has built her career on bringing Republicans and Democrats together to tackle the challenges facing our community . I support Alex because she’s the only candidate in this race with a bipartisan record of fighting for students, teachers, and our schools.”

“With her years of experience as a business leader and as Florida’s Chief Financial Officer – and a proven record of fighting for public education – we are proud to endorse Alex Sink and are confident Alex will take the voices of teachers, students and parents to Washington,” said Kim Black, President of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association. “Alex understands that supporting Pinellas County schools, colleges, and Universities is an investment in the future of our community and the economic growth of our state. We are confident Alex will be a passionate and effective advocate for Pinellas schools and families.”

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Pinellas County Classroom Teachers Association,” said Alex Sink. “As the mother of two children who attended public school here in Florida, I know firsthand the importance of working to strengthen and improve our schools. One of the most important investments we can make to grow our economy for middle class families is in the education and future of our children. We need to bring Republicans, Democrats and Independents together to focus on issues that matter like improving our schools and supporting our teachers -- it’s these bipartisan, results oriented values I’ve practiced my entire life and it’s these values that I’ll bring to Congress.”

Alex Sink Endorsements

The Alex Sink campaign announced the endorsements of 40 Pinellas County small businesses.

Salon 131, Mandi Tucker;

Shield Insurance, Gordon Chernecky;

Reel Deal Outdoors Inc., Keith Burden;

Monitors & More, Kirk Smith;

Joe's Produce, Choon Hee Tou;

All Florida Fire, Daniel Beauchesne;

Barkley Insurance Agency, Joe Barkley;

Domain Home Gallery, Michael Mcloe;

QFC Cleaning & Supply Company, Jack Stringfellow;

Home Trust Real Estate Group, Jim Mayes;

Coleman Insurance Agency, Dave Coleman;

JA Vassel Art & Antiques Gallery, John A. Vassel;

Time Systems, Barry Rubin;

El Cap Restaurant, Mary Jean Bonfili;

Russel property Group, Toni Russell;

ConceptBait, Frank Clemente;

Playbook Public Relations, Sally Dee;

Bella Brava, Robert Sanderson & Dice Craig;

The Body Electric Yoga, Jenny Miller;

Your Neighborhood Realty Inc, Brian Longstreth;

Providence Printing Inc., Linda Norris;

World Power & Water, Frank Wells;

Olde Bay Cafe, Walt Wickman;

Tudor Doctor, Richard Russo;

Scarr Insurance Group, Barry Scarr;

Lawrence Floriani MD LLC., Larry Floriani;

Institute For Creative Arts; Bill Coleman;

The Cookie Cutter, Joanne Kennedy;

Musical Fabrics.com, Karen Donnelly;

DDA Development, Bowen Arnold;

Haypennie Jewelers, John Grim;

Kally K's, Nora & Alex Mihopoulos;

Gone To The Dogs, Greg Phillips;

Bayprint, Al Karnavicius;

M. Williams Jewelers, Melvin Williams;

James Kennedy Law, James Kennedy;

Salon GW, Gregory Brady;

The Alden Suites, Gary Renfrow;

Long Term Care Advisors; Eric Green;

Tampa Bay Smile.com, Kristine Marshall.

Peter Schorsch Gets Tea Party Email

"While I know very little about the world of blogging, Mr. Schorsch…you sir, are no Andrew Breitbart."

Cathi-the-Contractor, in an email to blogger Peter Schorsch.

If Cathi means that Schorsch doesn't have a picture of a congressman's penis on his phone, yells "stop raping people" like a deranged maniac at an Occupy protest or constantly gets busted for misleading and selectedly edited news pieces then he/she is correct.

Schorsch rightly took the Pinellas Republican Executive Committee for inviting Dr. Jonathan Matusitz to speak on the so-called Islamic threat to America. Why the PREC would waste its time with a xenophobic assistant professor at a third tier university is beyond me. The Republican establishment can't seem to tear themselves away from the crazies in their base.

Pinellas County Health Care

Pinellas County, Florida offers through their Primary Care Services department. To qualify for Primary Care Services:

♦ Have no insurance
(This includes Medicare and Medicaid)

♦ Be a Pinellas County resident

♦ Be between the ages of 18-64

♦ Be a U.S. Citizen, Naturalized Citizen or
Refugee with I-94 status.

♦ Meet low income requirements. Bring pay
stub for proof of income

♦ Bring documentation* to prove the above
(*Examples: birth certificate, Social
Security number, rental lease or utility
bills)

This is a great idea by Pinellas County and more parts of the country should pick it up. You can learn more about Primary Care Services by calling 727-820-4242.

More Homeless in Tent City

The poor economy is adding more homeless people to the Pinellas County tent city.

Pinellas Hope, the tent city run by Catholic Charities here since December 2007, has been largely for the chronically homeless, some of whom suffer from mental illness or struggle with drugs or alcohol.

About 20% of its 240 residents became homeless recently because of the economic downturn, says Frank Murphy, president of Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg.

"We're seeing a change in the population. … We're seeing a lot more that are just plain losing their jobs and their homes," says Sheila Lopez, chief operating officer of the charity. "A lot are either job-ready or working but have lost their home because they were laid off, or their apartment, and now can't go to work because they're not shaven, they're not clean, they're living in a car, or they're living on the street."

Catholic Charities has run into resistance in attempts to build a tent city in Hillsborough County. The proposed site is near East Lake Park. Residents expessed their xenophobia before the townhall meeting with Catholic Charities.

"We've asked them, 'Why this location?'" said East Lake Park resident Joanne O'Brien.

O'Brien said residents have seen more homeless people in the area since the charity declared its intentions, including some sleeping in a lot behind her house.

O'Brien has been against the plan to build the tent city since January of this year. She does have a soft spot for stray cats.

"I keep them inside because creatures living outside have a dramatically shortened life span," she says.

Indeed.

No Match, No Vote

Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark deserves credit for having her poll workers recheck applications, so voters would not have to cast provisional ballots. The No Match, No Vote requires that name, last four digits of a social security card and Florida ID match the voter application. If not, the potential voter either doesn't vote or has to vote by provisional ballot. Florida Sec. of State Kurt Browning responded by threatening legal action against Clark.

Karl Rove and the Republican Party have pushed voter fraud. The Bush administration politized the Justice Department. US Attorneys were fired for not being aggressive enough on voter fraud.

The Justice Department demanded that one U.S. attorney, Todd P. Graves of Kansas City, resign in January 2006, several months after he refused to sign off on a Justice lawsuit involving the state's voter rolls, Graves said last week. U.S. Attorney Steven M. Biskupic of Milwaukee also was targeted last fall after complaints from Rove that he was not doing enough about voter fraud. But he was spared because Justice officials feared that removing him might cause political problems on Capitol Hill, according to interviews of Justice aides conducted by congressional staff members.

"There is reason for worry and suspicion at this point as to whether voting fraud played an inappropriate role in personnel decisions by the department," said Daniel P. Tokaji, an election law specialist at Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law.

In 2007, a New York Times article revealed the Justice Department investigation investigation found no voter fraud conspiracy. What is at work is repressing voter turnout. The McCain campaign is terrified ACORN is registering young voters (that will probably vote for Obama.) So they accuse ACORN is involve in a voting fraud conspiracy. ACORN's problem was a few greedy people getting paid by the application. Most improper voter registration forms are new voters making human error. Republicans believe young people and the undereducated will not vote for their party. So, the GOP disenfranchises these voters. That is why there is a No Match, No Vote law.

Rove using voter fraud allegations to help his candidate Perry Hooper.

Rove had other plans, and immediately moved for a recount. "Karl called the next morning," says a former Rove staffer. "He said, 'We came real close. You guys did a great job. But now we really need to rally around Perry Hooper. We've got a real good shot at this, but we need to win over the people of Alabama.'" Rove explained how this was to be done. "Our role was to try to keep people motivated about Perry Hooper's election," the staffer continued, "and then to undermine the other side's support by casting them as liars, cheaters, stealers, immoral—all of that." (Rove did not respond to requests for an interview for this article.)

The campaign quickly obtained a restraining order to preserve the ballots. Then the tactical battle began. Rather than focus on a handful of Republican counties that might yield extra votes, Rove dispatched campaign staffers and hired investigators to every county to observe the counting and turn up evidence of fraud.

That is GOP voting fraud in a nutshell.

Tampa Job Market Sucks

The Tampa area lost 23,100 jobs from June 2007 to June 2008. Hillsborough County's employment rate was 5.7 percent for June 2008. That Pinellas County's June unemployment rate hit 5.5 percent in June. Pasco County skyrocketed to 6.8 percent.

WMNF interviewed job seekers at a recent Tampa job fair. Many people are not optimistic about their prospects. USF student Adam Elminshawy needs a job to get out of debt. "I need a job bad. The economy is screwed up. … This is ridiculous," Thomas Phillips. "I’m out here looking for a job and I’m just not finding a way. This is why the crime rate is so high in Tampa Bay."

The Tampa Bay Business Journal reports Tampa has lost more jobs than any other city since the beginning of 2008. The numbers come from the Agency for Workforce Innovation. The numbers are issued by the Florida government. The AWI adjusted numbers have state job growth in June of 2008 at -1.0 percent. The report says that Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida legislature will spend $10 billion on "projects that create jobs for Floridians." We'll see.