And....I'm back. Took a short break, but I'm back to dish out more opinions and questions on some interesting races taking place in the Panhandle from the Governor's race on down.
There are always surprises when it comes to election results, but Rick Scott's defeat of Bill McCollum was probably the biggest one in recent memory. Rick Scott...he certainly has made the Governor's race a bit more interesting hasn't he? He went from "outsider" to "insider" so fast it made my head spin! My question is why is he running free (not in jail), much less running for Governor? At least Jeff Greene went down in flames so we don't have to hear any more enlightening quotes from Mike Tyson or fend off mental images of a vomit- covered yacht (seriously that's disgusting!). I have to say (insert sarcasm here heh heh) that I am just really touched by what big hearts exist in Florida's Republican party. I mean they were ready to roast Scott alive before the primary, but now? Sharing stages, talking about unity, calls for support (yes, we know we said he was the devil, but that was soooo last week!)...what's next? Roses? Wine? Carriage rides in the park?
At this rate the RPOF and associates look like they're aiming to snatch an Emmy from the Real Housewives of DC next year instead of being serious about addressing Florida's very real problems that need serious solutions. I say thank goodness for Alex Sink - a level-headed, incredibly smart woman who is ready to tackle all of Florida's issues!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Boyd and Southerland Will Face Off in General Election
Rep. Allen Boyd and Steve Southerland will face each other in the Nov. 2nd general election. Here we go!
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Friday, August 20, 2010
Southerland Speaks in Support of Mosque
I've spent a bit of time in the past few weeks asking "Who Is Steve Southerland?" Some of what I've found has been confusing at best, but I'm surprised and happy to let you know that someone in the Florida Congressional District 2 Republican Primary has some sense when it comes to building the mosque near Ground Zero. Last night at a forum in Bay County, Steve Southerland expressed his support for building the mosque. Glad to see Southerland come out in support, especially following Ron McNeil’s comments, which I wrote about yesterday.
In case you missed it here’s the McNeil position:
“I’m totally against it. If I had my way, it would pretty much be over my dead body,” said Ron McNeil, a candidate for the U.S. House District 2 seat, who was referring to a controversial plan to build an Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero in New York City. “That religion is against everything America stands for. If we have to let them build it, make them build it nine stories underground, so we can walk above it as citizens and Christians.”
You can view Southerland’s comments in the video below:
Looks like Southerland is the only Republican in the race who supports the mosque. Finally some tolerance and support from a Republican candidate on this issue. Good job Steve Southerland!
In case you missed it here’s the McNeil position:
“I’m totally against it. If I had my way, it would pretty much be over my dead body,” said Ron McNeil, a candidate for the U.S. House District 2 seat, who was referring to a controversial plan to build an Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero in New York City. “That religion is against everything America stands for. If we have to let them build it, make them build it nine stories underground, so we can walk above it as citizens and Christians.”
You can view Southerland’s comments in the video below:
Looks like Southerland is the only Republican in the race who supports the mosque. Finally some tolerance and support from a Republican candidate on this issue. Good job Steve Southerland!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
McNeil and the Mosque - FL CD 2
By now people all over Florida have heard about Ron McNeil's (McNeil) comments about the proposed mosque near Ground Zero in NYC. McNeil is one of several Republicans vying for a chance to run against Rep. Allen Boyd or Sen. Al Lawson in November. Fortunately, we only have to wait until Tuesday to see who that lucky person will be, but since he's still a candidate for a few more days, let's talk for a minute about McNeil's comments.
The following is McNeil's Mission Statement taken directly from his campaign website (my emphasis):
I intend to lead the transformation of the American Republic back to the US Constitution and Bill of Rights in order to promote Free Enterprise, to require the Federal Government to be limited in size and power, and to make it function under balanced budget limitations. Individual freedom and liberty must be preserved, while personal responsibility is expected from every citizen. The primary goal is to return to being the People’s Government instead of the Government’s people.
Now, with that in mind, consider the comments he made yesterday in response to questions about the proposed mosque near Ground Zero in NYC:
First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
First of all, even if you were to win your primary and then win the general election, which is highly unlikely (let's be honest), you still would not have a say over whether a mosque could be built a few blocks away from Ground Zero.
Did you know there is already another mosque five blocks from there? Did you know there is no proof whatsoever that those wanting to build have any ties to extremist Muslims, such as the ones who took part in 9/11? Did you know there are Muslim services held in the Pentagon? Do you understand that there are different sects of Islam, just as there are different sects of Christians and Jews, etc.? Do you realize there are at least 2 million Muslims (some say as many as 10 million or more) who are citizens of this country?
Do you understand that you are running for an office which, if elected to, would have you representing people of numerous religious faiths and ethnic backgrounds? No, I don't think you do. I don't think you have any concept of what you're talking about. The students asking you the questions and challenging you had far more insight than you appear to have.
So, here's a thought. Until you're ready to accept and grasp the fact that the district you want to represent is not fully comprised of lilly white Christians, I suggest you go back to your ranch and oh, I don't know...jump on your round trampoline because you are sure not ready for this.
The following is McNeil's Mission Statement taken directly from his campaign website (my emphasis):
I intend to lead the transformation of the American Republic back to the US Constitution and Bill of Rights in order to promote Free Enterprise, to require the Federal Government to be limited in size and power, and to make it function under balanced budget limitations. Individual freedom and liberty must be preserved, while personal responsibility is expected from every citizen. The primary goal is to return to being the People’s Government instead of the Government’s people.
Now, with that in mind, consider the comments he made yesterday in response to questions about the proposed mosque near Ground Zero in NYC:
- "I'm totally against it. If I had my way it'd be pretty much over my dead body to build a mosque there. The Muslims will have that place to gloat about for years if they get their way and it was the Muslim religion that caused the problems we had on 911. It was extremist. It probably didn't represent their exact religion but the very fact they want to build something right there in the shadows of ground zero is ridiculous,"
- “That religion is against everything America stands for. If we have to let them build it, make them build it nine stories underground, so we can walk above it as citizens and Christians.”
- “This religion’s plan is to destroy our way of life.”
- “It’s our place as Christians to stand up for the word of God and what the Bible says.”
First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
First of all, even if you were to win your primary and then win the general election, which is highly unlikely (let's be honest), you still would not have a say over whether a mosque could be built a few blocks away from Ground Zero.
Did you know there is already another mosque five blocks from there? Did you know there is no proof whatsoever that those wanting to build have any ties to extremist Muslims, such as the ones who took part in 9/11? Did you know there are Muslim services held in the Pentagon? Do you understand that there are different sects of Islam, just as there are different sects of Christians and Jews, etc.? Do you realize there are at least 2 million Muslims (some say as many as 10 million or more) who are citizens of this country?
Do you understand that you are running for an office which, if elected to, would have you representing people of numerous religious faiths and ethnic backgrounds? No, I don't think you do. I don't think you have any concept of what you're talking about. The students asking you the questions and challenging you had far more insight than you appear to have.
So, here's a thought. Until you're ready to accept and grasp the fact that the district you want to represent is not fully comprised of lilly white Christians, I suggest you go back to your ranch and oh, I don't know...jump on your round trampoline because you are sure not ready for this.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Update and Recap of the Big Bend Environmental Forum
Hello everyone! First I'd like to apologize for the delay in getting this latest blog post out. I had some computer issues that required an upgrade to Windows 7 and it didn't go quite as smoothly as I'd hoped, but now I'm in great shape and ready to get back to blogging! Second, I'm going to do a slightly abbreviated recap of the Big Bend Environmental Forum (the Forum) so that I can move forward with some other topics before the much anticipated primary election, which is one week from tomorrow! Yikes!
The Forum was a really informative event in many ways and was done really well! It was broken up into two distinct segments with candidates from FL House District 9 and FL Senate District 6 taking part first and candidates from FL's 2nd Congressional District second. During the first part there really wasn't a lot of disagreement overall. There were certainly different ideas about how to get to the end result of improving and sustaining our environment, but the panel was across the board in favor of doing all we can to protect the environment.
However, no sooner had the 2nd segment started than I began to wonder if I'd been transported to Bizarro. The three FL-02 candidates taking part were Dianne Berryhill (NPA), Paul McKain (NPA), and Ron McNeil (R). To make it simpler, I'm going to go by candidate instead of by question and, of course, add in a little of my commentary along the way ;-)
Dianne Berryhill got defensive pretty quickly. I think it might have had something to do with all the jaws on the floor after her first couple of responses and then no doubt the looks she was getting after the audience picked its collective jaw off the floor. Ms. Berryhill stated in clear terms that she is in favor of drilling anywhere and everywhere in the US and the sooner the better! She doesn't believe global climate change is caused by humans, therefore she is also in favor of more nuclear power, more coal power, and anything else we could possibly exploit. When asked what she does to help the environment, she said she recycles, but that's about it although she does have "Indian blood" so of course she respects "mother earth." Even so, she is going to continue putting the thermostat in her home wherever she wants without regard to efficiency and will drive a large gas-guzzling SUV for the rest of her life because she has 5 kids. This really came out of her mouth, folks, and in a very condescending way. Oh yes, and she believes in "the free trade." I wonder...is that practiced at "the Wal-Mart" or in "the Iraq"?
Then there was Paul McKain. His answer to every question was essentially that the market should be allowed free reign to take care of everything. However, when asked how the market could protect our drinking water he did have the decency to say he didn't have an answer (and neither did the other two). That might have been the best question of the night! And when asked what should be done about foreign plant species in FL, he said he thought there should be more oversight or scrutiny...but wait...that sounds like more regulation! Hmmmm, that surely couldn't be right. Can't the market just fix that too?
And last, but not least, there was Ron "Have We Lost Our Minds" McNeil, who of course plugged his book. He spent more time talking about various aspects of his ranch and all of his patents than he did issues, but he did pass along a few gems, such as stating our country is too large for mass transit.
I initially couldn't figure out why in the world these three showed up to an environmental forum, but it didn't take long for the answer to come. They have nothing to lose as they have little or no chance of winning, so why not? Make no mistake...the Repubs who didn't show up should be worrying us a whole lot more.
The Forum was a really informative event in many ways and was done really well! It was broken up into two distinct segments with candidates from FL House District 9 and FL Senate District 6 taking part first and candidates from FL's 2nd Congressional District second. During the first part there really wasn't a lot of disagreement overall. There were certainly different ideas about how to get to the end result of improving and sustaining our environment, but the panel was across the board in favor of doing all we can to protect the environment.
However, no sooner had the 2nd segment started than I began to wonder if I'd been transported to Bizarro. The three FL-02 candidates taking part were Dianne Berryhill (NPA), Paul McKain (NPA), and Ron McNeil (R). To make it simpler, I'm going to go by candidate instead of by question and, of course, add in a little of my commentary along the way ;-)
Dianne Berryhill got defensive pretty quickly. I think it might have had something to do with all the jaws on the floor after her first couple of responses and then no doubt the looks she was getting after the audience picked its collective jaw off the floor. Ms. Berryhill stated in clear terms that she is in favor of drilling anywhere and everywhere in the US and the sooner the better! She doesn't believe global climate change is caused by humans, therefore she is also in favor of more nuclear power, more coal power, and anything else we could possibly exploit. When asked what she does to help the environment, she said she recycles, but that's about it although she does have "Indian blood" so of course she respects "mother earth." Even so, she is going to continue putting the thermostat in her home wherever she wants without regard to efficiency and will drive a large gas-guzzling SUV for the rest of her life because she has 5 kids. This really came out of her mouth, folks, and in a very condescending way. Oh yes, and she believes in "the free trade." I wonder...is that practiced at "the Wal-Mart" or in "the Iraq"?
Then there was Paul McKain. His answer to every question was essentially that the market should be allowed free reign to take care of everything. However, when asked how the market could protect our drinking water he did have the decency to say he didn't have an answer (and neither did the other two). That might have been the best question of the night! And when asked what should be done about foreign plant species in FL, he said he thought there should be more oversight or scrutiny...but wait...that sounds like more regulation! Hmmmm, that surely couldn't be right. Can't the market just fix that too?
And last, but not least, there was Ron "Have We Lost Our Minds" McNeil, who of course plugged his book. He spent more time talking about various aspects of his ranch and all of his patents than he did issues, but he did pass along a few gems, such as stating our country is too large for mass transit.
I initially couldn't figure out why in the world these three showed up to an environmental forum, but it didn't take long for the answer to come. They have nothing to lose as they have little or no chance of winning, so why not? Make no mistake...the Repubs who didn't show up should be worrying us a whole lot more.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
State and Federal Candidates Like Night and Day on Environment
Tonight I attended the Big Bend Environmental Forum held at Tallahassee City Hall. The first round included candidates running for FL Senate District 6 and FL House District 9. All candidates present from those races were very professional and obviously well informed on environmental issues.
However, I was nothing short of amazed that the three candidates for FL's 2nd Congressional District even showed up! It was unbelievable! We went from total agreement in the first sesson that climate change is affected by humans and CO2 emissions to complete denial from the Congressional candidates. Not just denial actually, but dismissal and disdain, esp from Dianne Berryhill. I will have more to say on this very soon, but had to comment now!
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Something Stinks in the FL Comm of Ag Race
Up until now I've been focusing a lot on FL's 2nd Congressional race, but being a Wonk means following all the races...so I have google alerts set up on the different statewide candidates.
Yesterday an interesting endorsement came up for Congressman Adam Putnam who is running for Agriculture Commissioner. The Florida Feedstock Growers Association endorsed him - here is the first paragraph from their announcement:
"Today, at the Florida Feedstock Growers Association’s (FFGA) Inaugural Meeting, held prior to the Fifth Annual Farm to Fuel Summit, the organization announced its official endorsement of Adam Putnam for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. FFGA is a group of veteran farmers who provide education and real-world experience to farmers and landowners about the principles and practices of growing renewable crops and their respective revenue streams and incentive programs."
It was the "inaugural meeting" that caught my attention. It is the first time these 'farmers' are getting together and they are already endorsing candidates? So I started digging...
My first google search was for their organization and the only thing that came up was this linkedin link: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/steven-webster/16/5ba/baafor Steven Webster who is listed as FFGA President. Mr. Webster is a Tallahassee Consultant with MW Consulting (he is the W of the MW) whose website is http://www.mwconsult.us/ and whose company slogan is "Our mission is to help our clients achieve profitability quickly and consistently". Nice!
So I start to explore MW Consulting further. They are a lobbying firm that specializes in having the state and federal government provide grant money to whomever hires them - currently they are bragging on their home page that "Mathews Wins $9 Million in Florida Grants for Agri-Source Fuels" (Mathews is the M in the MW). Hmmmm, think they might care about who ends up as the next Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner?
Also on their website I found this paragraph on FFGA:
"MW Consulting has filed the papers to launch the Florida Feedstock Growers Association. South Florida farmer Bill Vasden (http://www.uscjo.com/) is founding chair; farmer John Paul of Two Cars Citrus is vice chair. MW President Steven Webster is president and registered agent, while MW CEO Peggy Mathews is secretary-treasurer of the new association."
So of their four founding members, who Congressman Putnam's press release today called "a group of veteran farmers" only two have anything to do with farming! The other two are lobbyists for agribusiness. MW Consulting’s Bio Page for Mathews and Webster has nothing about farming.
This doesn't pass the smell test. This appears to be big business lobbyists who make a living off the taxpayers working to grease the wheels of the candidate they think is going to win and give them more money. These lobbyists got smart and created a group with a fancy name and are getting free press for their candidate off of it.
Do you know what Feedstock is? It's raw materials like crude oil or iron ore, or in this example biomass. These aren't working farmers at all.
This just stinks.
Yesterday an interesting endorsement came up for Congressman Adam Putnam who is running for Agriculture Commissioner. The Florida Feedstock Growers Association endorsed him - here is the first paragraph from their announcement:
"Today, at the Florida Feedstock Growers Association’s (FFGA) Inaugural Meeting, held prior to the Fifth Annual Farm to Fuel Summit, the organization announced its official endorsement of Adam Putnam for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. FFGA is a group of veteran farmers who provide education and real-world experience to farmers and landowners about the principles and practices of growing renewable crops and their respective revenue streams and incentive programs."
It was the "inaugural meeting" that caught my attention. It is the first time these 'farmers' are getting together and they are already endorsing candidates? So I started digging...
My first google search was for their organization and the only thing that came up was this linkedin link: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/steven-webster/16/5ba/baafor Steven Webster who is listed as FFGA President. Mr. Webster is a Tallahassee Consultant with MW Consulting (he is the W of the MW) whose website is http://www.mwconsult.us/ and whose company slogan is "Our mission is to help our clients achieve profitability quickly and consistently". Nice!
So I start to explore MW Consulting further. They are a lobbying firm that specializes in having the state and federal government provide grant money to whomever hires them - currently they are bragging on their home page that "Mathews Wins $9 Million in Florida Grants for Agri-Source Fuels" (Mathews is the M in the MW). Hmmmm, think they might care about who ends up as the next Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner?
Also on their website I found this paragraph on FFGA:
"MW Consulting has filed the papers to launch the Florida Feedstock Growers Association. South Florida farmer Bill Vasden (http://www.uscjo.com/) is founding chair; farmer John Paul of Two Cars Citrus is vice chair. MW President Steven Webster is president and registered agent, while MW CEO Peggy Mathews is secretary-treasurer of the new association."
So of their four founding members, who Congressman Putnam's press release today called "a group of veteran farmers" only two have anything to do with farming! The other two are lobbyists for agribusiness. MW Consulting’s Bio Page for Mathews and Webster has nothing about farming.
This doesn't pass the smell test. This appears to be big business lobbyists who make a living off the taxpayers working to grease the wheels of the candidate they think is going to win and give them more money. These lobbyists got smart and created a group with a fancy name and are getting free press for their candidate off of it.
Do you know what Feedstock is? It's raw materials like crude oil or iron ore, or in this example biomass. These aren't working farmers at all.
This just stinks.
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