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,…
Certain wingnuts think President Obama was born in Africa? Have they ever thought he might actually be European? First he tries and brings small bits of “socialism” that have been hall mark of many healthy, European democracies for decade, then he tries to shove soccer down our throats, and now…
In business and politics, it’s all about who you know. And connections are connections — even if the power player in your Rolodex likes the taste of his own feces.Yesterday morning, Riptide experienced a first: In a post-interview chat with a prominent Miami businessman and former city politician who shall…
The liberal, elitist media would like you to think that Barack Obama is the first ever dog-owning politician in history. Charles Beauregard “Bo” Hussein Kennedy-Obama (yes, we’ve made that joke today but we will continue to call him that until the Obama administration produces his birth certificate. Why are you…
Who wouldn’t want to rest for eternity on their college campus? What better a final resting place than the first spot you nervously smoked marijuana because the cute senior offered it to you and you didn’t want to seem like a geek but felt like you were somehow giving up…
Gather ’round, children — it’s time to discuss the latest results of the Quinnipiac University Poll!Floridians still love Charlie Crist. He has 66 percent approval ratings! That includes 66 percent of Democrats and 68 percent of Republicans. White born-again evangelicals like him enough (66 percent) but disapprove of him at…
