Yesterday, the state Senate unanimously voted to make bestiality an official crime in Florida. So, off to the house the bill went, where the Buzz is reporting that it might not make its way out of committee. It’s not that, publicly anyway, anyone opposes making bestiality a crime. It’s just…
Riptide doesn’t take to kindly to someone piggy backing on an important issue by issuing a press release to pimp your wares. In this case the wares in question are the political skills of Republican senate candidate Dr. Marion Thorpe. Thorpe is a real MD and previously served as the…
I kind of hate when I touch on some point in a throw away joke in a blog entry, and then a little bit later someone with the gift of time, experience and editors makes the same point in a really intriguing, well thought out way. Yesterday, while commenting on…
After a string of embarrassing setbacks in his life, Jeb “Elwood” Bush reconnected with his old friend John “Jack” McCain and is set to undertake “a mission from God” to save their childhood home, the GOP, from foreclosure by getting the old band back together. Never mind that Jeb and…
The Democrats are ready to paint Charlie Crist as a political escape artist, even before he officially announces whether he will run for Senate. This ad will begin running in the state capital tomorrow. “The DSCC obviously knows they’re in trouble in Florida, because this reeks of desperation. Too bad…
The state has important issues to deal with. Yet the legislature is spending lots of time grappling with the pressing problem of license plate aesthetics and appropriateness. Jesus plate-gate will apparently soon come to an end, though. Sen. Gary Siplin (D-Orlando) has basically said the plate featuring Christ on a…
Woah, Washington DC! Big news! Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania is switching parties to the Democrats. Once Minnesota gets it together, and they seat Al Franken the Democrats will have their 60 seat super majority, and the Republican party will officially be irrelevant on the national stage. Well, as irrelevant…
Jesus Christ on a cross. That was the image Sen. Gary Siplin (D-Orlando) wanted to see on a proposed license plate. Needless to say, it caused a bit of controversy, so now he’s rethinking the image and might replace it with a pic representing the Holy Trinity. But what about…
Here’s is my personal take on officially lead prayer in public areas like legislative chambers, schools, and other government functions: If I had it my way, it wouldn’t happen. Now, a bit of personal prayer is fine. Back in my school days I prayed to Jesus before many a test,…
Think of America’s foreign relations as an AOL Instant Messenger buddy list. We’ve got roughly 190 buddies, dived up into “BFF,” “Frenemies,” “Casual Acquaintances,” etc. But for about 50 years, the screen name “Fidel4Lyfe” (AKA Cuba) has been blocked. Well, the New York Times reports today that the Obama administration is…
Wednesday will mark the culmination of President Obama’s first 100 days in office, and he’s done a lot: passed a massive stimulus package, ordered the closure of Gitmo, made a momentous change in travel policy to Cuba, had some pirates shot, and got a dog named Bo. Though, one area…
Republican state Rep. Rachel Burgin recently proposed an amendment that took aim at quote-unquote massage parlors in a recent bill dealing with business regulations. The first part of the bill details regulations on advertising these businesses (which would have some implications for New Times and our fellow alt-weeklies). The first provision would require all…
New Times goes to the movies! Between rumors that Michael Bay might be producing a film based on a Miami New Times story, and Outrage, both of your fine, fine South Florida New Times papers are serious movie stars this week. Our Broward/Palm Beach columnist Bob Norman confirmed today what we…
The announcement that President Obama’s administration will roll back restrictions on money transfer and travel to Cuba was met with mixed reactions locally, and its full political impact in Miami-Dade might not be known for some time. But Congressmen Mario and Lincoln Diaz-Balart have made no secret of their thoughts…
University of Miami’s president and America’s longest-serving secretary of health and human services, Donna Shalala, always keeps an eye on what’s going on with her former office. After a notable setback, President Obama is trying to get Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius confirmed to fill the role, and Shalala went on…
Charlie Crist might be one of the most surprising leading men featured during this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. No, he didn’t find time to star as Brian Roberts in an imaginative remake of Cabaret, though we’re sure the idea would be thrilling to him. Instead he’s featured prominently in Outrage,…
And that is how (perhaps) our county came to create a water conservation site called “http://weuseless.miamidade.gov”
In politics nothing is ever guaranteed, but lets be honest the conventional wisdom is that come November 2010 Charlie Crist will be attending his electoral victory party. The only question is whether he’ll be popping the champaign for a re-election to the Governor’s mansion or a Senate victory. A group of solidly conservative Republicans…
After watching the press hubbub over Bo Obama unfold we wondered last week if any local Pols had any cute puppies of their own. A few quick Google searches didn’t turn up much, but we’ve had a few blanks filled in for us since then. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s office…
As reported by The New York Times and Generation Miami, a new poll by Bendixen & Associates paints a picture of Cuban Americans firmly supporting President Obama and his efforts in regards to Cuba. The poll, based on 400 phone surveys carried out last week in Florida, New Jersey and…
Last month President Obama repealed the ban on federal funding on stem cell research, but that doesn’t necessarily open the door to state funding. Yesterday, the state house voted to keep language in a bill that would bar universities from using state money for embryonic stem cell research 68-46. The…
Because people in Tallahassee are a collective mass of “dumb,” they’re still dealing with a giant budget crisis. So, they went the easiest route and started seriously discussing a $1 tax on each and every pack of cigarettes. They’ll talk a good game, “Oh, this is to save people’s lives,…
