It is about time Florida politicians take up one of the most pressing issues of our time: horny teenagers sending naked pictures of themselves to each other on their cell phones. Technically, if a minor gets caught “sexting” they could be charged with child pornography charges and forced to register…
Surfside town attorney Lynn Dannheisser gets paid royally for her work representing the tiny hamlet just north of Miami Beach: $177,656 a year plus an automobile allowance, full benefits, and a pension. She’s required to work only three days a week, and she’s allowed to use her town hall office…
Federal Republicans were forced to back down from a controversial bill dictating that federal money could only be spent on abortions for woman who were “forcibly raped,” where as current language allows for some public spending on abortions for woman who are victims of rape or incest. They backed down…
With a recent poll showing 57 percent of Floridians favoring legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, state Rep. Jeff Clemens (D-Lake Worth) has introduced a resolution to put an amendment on the 2012 ballot that would do just that. Clemens claims that the move could bring in $5 to $12 million…
Last time Sen. John Cornyn, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, tried to recruit someone from Florida to run for U.S. Senate, he chose Charlie Crist, and we all know that didn’t work out so well. Now, for 2012, he’s going after another Republican with possible cross-party appeal: MSNBC host Joe…
A few Republicans in the state legislator and the NRA wanted to push a law that would allow anyone with a concealed weapons license to carry their gun openly on public university campuses. Of course, guns and the atmosphere at Florida public universities don’t really go together, as a tragic…
The election to recall Carlos Alvarez is in five short days, but the County Mayor has done little in the way of mounting much of a public campaign to save himself. But it’s not too late, there are still plenty of communities within the county rich with potential voters. It’s…
It takes a lot to scare Stephen King, the master of horror fiction, but apparently the author is plain old terrified of our new governor, Rick Scott. King, who spends his winters in Casey Key near Sarasota, spoke at an “Awake the State” rally yesterday and joked, “Maybe my next…
Former Gov. Charlie Crist gave out his personal cell phone number to journalists and kept their favorite beers stocked in his office. In stark contrast, current Gov. Rick Scott and his staff seem to have an unhealthy amount of disdain for the press corps. It all began with the proposal…
With an election set next week to recall Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez and County Commissioner Natacha Seijas, the air of reform is steadily streaming through county hall, but two state lawmakers don’t just want a change in leadership. They want to see the powers of Miami-Dade commissioners greatly reduced…
Rev. Jeremiah Wright became a household name during the media circus that was the 2008 presidential election. Barack Obama’s former pastor became known for a few cherry picked anti-American seeming sentiments in some of his sermons and resigned form his post at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago in…
During President Obama’s quick trip to Miami on Friday he stopped by Miami Central High School to deliver remarks on education reform and notably shared the stage with Florida’s former Republican Gov. Jeb Bush. Afterward, he held a 14-member round table on education, though only one teacher was invited to…
Senate President Mike Haridopolos is the only well-known Republican who’s announced his intentions to run against Senator Bill Nelson in 2012, but his campaign isn’t off to such a great start. First there was the reminder that he once got $152,00 in taxpayer money to write some crappy book that…
Used to be when the president came to Florida, it was customary for our governor to man-hug him, but with Charlie Crist out of office, that tradition is long gone. During his quick day trip in Miami today, President Obama met both Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Jeb Bush…
Florida’s high-speed rail plan is officially dead — done in at the hands of Rick Scott. But the governor giveth as he taketh away. Scott says the state will pick up the tab on funding a project to dredge the Port of Miami, allowing it to handle larger ships. Scott…
Politicians, especially in today’s political climate, are greeted with protesters all the time. It’s part of the job, but no one wants to be picketed by a group of Holocaust survivors. Especially when they claim the politician never delivered on his promise. Well, Sen. Bill Nelson has saved himself and…
So this past weekend, the Associated Press published a story about some crappy book Florida Senate president and likely U.S. Senate candidate Mike Haridopolos received $152,000 in taxpayer money from Brevard Community College to write. Besides being of questionable quality, only one copy of the book existed. Well, like magic, Brevard…
With 14 states and the District of Colombia allowing the legal medical use of marijuana, acceptance of the issue is steadily growing in America. A new poll shows that 57 percent of Floridians support legalization of medical marijuana as buzz grows that the issue could be placed on the ballot…
There’s a reason cash-strapped states don’t turn down federally funded projects on ideological grounds: because some other state — where the residents have tiny lobsters embroidered on their yacht pants, say, and all claim to be the third Affleck brother — will snatch that money right up for itself…
Sure, it’s just a big swamp, but a fervor to protect the Everglades flows through the souls of most Floridians. It’s our big swamp, dammit, and most of us understand its ecological importance. Apparently, though, our Illinois-born governor, Rick Scott, doesn’t share such a passion. His controversial budget proposal includes…
Politics and publicity opportunities make strange bedfellows. President Barack Obama and former Gov. Jeb Bush will appear together this Friday at Miami Central High School. Obama will be in town for a Democratic fundraiser but will swing by the school with Bush to address ways to turn around low-performing schools…
As Norman Braman walked out of the North Shore Branch Library — fresh off casting his vote to recall Mayor Carlos Alvarez — volunteers in yellow T-shirts greeted him like a hero. “This is the man!” exclaimed an older Hispanic woman shaking his hand. “What a beautiful man for leading…
