Lawton Chiles

Would You Vote in a Second Primary to Ensure Florida Got Fewer Crazy Politicians?

Ever wonder why over the past decade Florida's elected officials seem to have become increasingly partisan? It might just be a general change in mood of politics across the nation. It might be gerrymandering that renders so many state legislative districts uncompetitive. Or it might be par ... More >>

Ohio State Player Cries Racism After Being Called "Cracker" by Florida Player

​Oh, those poor, poor white folks, always the victims of racism. Just ask Ohio State linebacker Tyler Moeller. He's busy whining about being called a "cracker" by University of Florida players during the Gator Bowl.

Dem CFO Candidate Loranne Ausley Will Now Bike 400 Miles To Get Some Attention

"Bike Lane" Loranne Ausley​Ever since Lawton Chiles embarked on a 1,003 mile walk across Florida and ultimately became the state's Senator in an upset victory, some candidates in the state have had a habit for folksy campaign stunts. There was Bob Graham's working days, Kendrick Meek's&n ... More >>

Lawton "Bud" Chiles Will Run For Governor Until He Realizes What Everyone Knows: He Can't Win

via walkwithbud.comLawton "Bud" Chiles III, son of the last Democrat to hold the Governor's office in Florida, is running for Governor as an independent. Why exactly? No one is sure. He was costing along getting double digit support in some polls, possibly thanks to name recognition, but hasn't had ... More >>

Ukrainian Strippers, Cults, and Mike Tyson: Top Five Ways to Completely Blow an Election

​It's August 24, and you've woken up sweating profusely, feeling vaguely nauseated, and recoiling in horror at the first sight of a campaign ad. The diagnosis? Primary fever! (Or it might be Cat Scratch Fever. Or dengue. But let's go with Primary Fever). Even for Florida, this has been a primary ... More >>

Alex Sink Leads Bill McCollum in Poll for First Time in Months; Too Bad She Still Trails Behind Rick Scott

​As Rick Scott and Bill McCollum battle for the Republican nomination in the gubernatorial race, is Democrat Alex Sink silently waiting to pounce? New poll numbers suggest she's increasingly viable again as the Republicans duke it out and potential independent spoiler Bud Chiles gains steam. The s ... More >>

Charlie Crist Holds 11-Point Lead in Senate Race

A young Charlie Crist being awarded his guarantee as Florida's next senator way back in Nineteen Seventy-Something. It has been fated.​When Charlie Crist announced his candidacy for Senate, everyone kind of threw up their hands and thought, Well, guess ol' Charlie is gonna be our next senator. But ... More >>

Lawton "Bud" Chiles III to Run for Governor as an Independent

Three way action seems to be all the rage in Florida politics this year, and now the Governor's race is about to get a some-what high profile third wheel. Lawton "Bud" Chiles III, the son of former Democratic Governor and Senator Lawton Chiles says he plans to run for Governor with no party affiliat ... More >>

Lawton Chiles' Son Thinking About Entering Governor's Race

​Are you ready for Governor Lawton Chiles 2.0? Alex Sink sure isn't.Naked Politics reports that Lawton Chiles III is considering making a late entrance into the governor's race as a democrat. Alex Sink, the state's CFO, has been running for nearly a year now and was considered a lock to win the de ... More >>

In Support of Florida Virtual School

Florida Comprehensive Assessment test scores came out last night and they stunk. Particularly in Miami-Dade. Yeah, the Herald made a big deal about Liberty City Elementary improving. And over the years, we have improved. I thank Jeb Bush for that. Lawton Chiles gets a C and Charlie Crist an F. ... More >>

Hot New Senate Campaign Gimmick Alert: Petitions!

These dang Florida Democrats can't seem to run for Senate without some sort of campaign gimmick. Lawton Chiles had his walk, Bob Graham had working days, and Dan Gelber is undertaking 100 days of public service. Rep. Kendrick Meek might be leading in fundraising, but he is totally losing in the gimm ... More >>

Paging Spicoli

Forty years later, it's still preps vs. stoners at Norland High.

The Pot Smuggler vs. the Political Flak

Norland Senior High alum Bruce Perlowin has some damn good managerial skills. Back in the '70s, the teenage hippie-cum-drug lord ran what feds called "the West Coast's largest marijuana-smuggling ring," complete with a fleet of 90 ships that hauled 500,000 pounds of pot from Colombia to the San Fran ... More >>

Norland High Debate Prompts Riptide Critic

This morning, Riptide posted a blog about a former pot smuggler's plan to organize a Norland Senior High reunion. It notes Bruce Perlowin -- the west coast's biggest marijuana importer in the seventies -- has been planning a 40-year reunion-festival for the class of 1969. He has gotten some opposit ... More >>

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's Another Travel Controversy!

via Moaksey's FlickrWhen news broke that Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp had a pricey travel habit footed by taxpayers, we thought it was suspicious it came only a few weeks after rumors began circulating that Gov. Charlie Crist might be thinking of resigning to run for Senate in 2010, leaving the gover ... More >>

Kevin Burns Has a Campaign Gimmick Too

With a field for the 2010 Senate Race filled with a bunch of long shot candidates, everyone has to have a gimmick, because, hey, it worked for Walkin' Lawton Chiles and Bob "Work Days" Graham. Dan Gelber promises to complete 100 days of public service and buy up a million Google ads (net roots!). Ke ... More >>

Dan Gelber's 100 Service Days Not At All Like Those Chiles & Graham Things, He Swears

It's difficult to make the leap directly from the state Senate to a state-wide elected office. But it's not impossible. Lawton Chiles got elected to the US Senate in 1970 by taking a 91 day, 1,003 mile walking trip across Florida. Bob Graham was elected to Governor in 1978 after starting a Workdays ... More >>

With Sink's Senate Hopes down the Drain, Gelber Gears Up

Alex Sink's decision not to enter the Senate fray was big news, but not all that shocking. We wrote yesterday it seemed she was much more keen on staying in Tallahassee, possibly running for governor in either 2010 or 2014. What is shocking is that now both sides of the field are more or less wide ... More >>

The Perfect Resumé for a Florida Senate Seat

Political math god Nate Silver put together a handy pie chart showing that the career stop for a majority of current U.S. senators is a U.S. House seat. Good news for Kendrick Meek, Connie Mack IV, and the handful of other representatives who might be angling for the seat, but don't expect to see a ... More >>

Charlie Crist's Latest Supreme Court Pick is Boiling Conservative Blood For a Change

Last month we did some caffiene-fueled theorizing about Gov. Charlie Crist's third Supreme Court appointment and wondered "Will Crist be able to satisfy both his seeming need for diversity and his record for pleasing the right wing in one candidate? ... Or will Charlie have to settle for a minority ... More >>

Thrilla in the Hood

Miami New Times recommends

Hooked

The river flows through it

Riptide

Jeb Repackaged

Don't Touch That Dial!

Maria Staub is determined to make Teen Live Wire a hit radio show -- even if it destroys her family

The Vultures Are Circling

Bruce Kaplan is alive and well (for the moment at least), but that hasn't deterred speculation about his replacement

A Merciful Court of Public Opinion

If you think being under federal indictment might have hurt Humberto Hernandez, you don't know the fine folks of District 3

Surfer Dudes Unite

Miami's newly politicized windsurfers pressure city hall to reopen Virginia Key beach

Juris Without Prudence

What litigant is willing to take Madonna, the CIA, and Governor Chiles to court? It's Alfredo F. de Castro, Miami's one-man suit factory.

Where's the Beach?

The true story behind the beach erosion explosion is politics as usual

The Great Florida Grape Stomp

Prohibition-era legislation forbidding mail-order booze shipments has local wine lovers whining

A Major Bad Hair Day

Bleached scalps. Chipped nails. Rotten perms. If state officials deregulate the beauty industry, things could get ugly.

Swelter 13

Immigrate Expectations

Exile leaders raised millions to bankroll their plan to refugees to South Florida from Guantanamo -- but money isn't the only stumbling block

The Last Frontier

When authorities pledged to reflood the Everglades, they tried to accommodate residents of the 8 1/2 Square Mile Area in Southwest Dade. They're still trying.

Swelter

Back on Top

You may admire him or you may find him disgusting. But at least you've got to hand it to him: Jorge Mas Canosa has got clout.

Swelter

Road Show

Want to know more about Jeb Bush? The machinations of Florida's Republican party? Vomiting? Get on the bus.

From Sassy to Tallahassee

A brash young environmental administrator is handed a pay cut and a ticket on a fast train out of South Florida

Swelter

The Amazing Crespo!

Whether agitating on behalf of Florida's film industry or aiming cruel barbs at state officials, ex-con activist Al Crespo is a gadfly with an attitude

Shelter Fallout

After years of doing nothing Dade County now plans to put 500 homeless people under one roof. It won't be in your neighborhood, of course.

By Appointment Only

What could be more exciting and fulfilling than the life of a consul? Well, lots of things, actually.

Save the Toursits! Save the Economy!

And to hell with life in Miami's black ghettos

The Trickle Up Theory

Local screenwriter Mark Witzen finds a hot plot in Florida waters

Farewell Hialeah

It Ain't Knot's Landing, It's Hialeah

Morales is a pervert! Caldwell is a slut! Penelas is a pansy! Welcome to politics in the City of Progress!

Program Notes

Chiles Pornography

Hear ye! Hear ye! The state gets into a righteous - dare we say fundamentalist? - huff