Halperin was hot at the Hyatt — and so was the audience
Last week, I went to hear Mark Halperin speak as the premiere event in Forum Truth’s 2010/2011 lineup of speakers … and he ROCKED THE HOUSE.
Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce Aligns with Off-Shore Drilling?
Sarasota H-T Political Reporter Jeremy Wallace reported on his Political Insider blog recently that the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce recently decided to endorse Doug Holder for State House Representative District 70.
I’m not sure what they’re smoking over there — but seriously? Holder voted last year for a bill that would allow oil drilling just beyond the three-mile mark off of areas like our gorgeous Siesta Key Beach.
Are the Chamber members forgetting that? The beaches are Siesta Key’s bread and butter — not to mention the horror of what we saw last summer further up the gulf. (more…)
Jack is baaaa—aaaaccck! Jack Gurney back at the Pelican Press … and not a moment too soon!
Jack Gurney — former Sarasota City Commissioner … and wasn’t he the Mayor for a while too? — is BACK … in a BIG way already! — at Sarasota’s Pelican Press newspaper. His front page cover story this week reports on whether or not “Mayor Kelly Kirschner violated state procurement guidelines” when he made a certain call to a Tampa parking meter vendor recently. Yikes and Yowza — read the piece here: Jack is Back and Hotter than Ever Reporting on our Local Mayor!
And not a moment too soon. (more…)
Mark Halperin chats with MC about honesty and integrity … among other things
I had a nice chat with Mark Halperin this morning — he’s the editor-at-large and senior political analyst for Time magazine.
photo courtesy of HarpersCollins.com
Why Can’t America Have a King!?
So, yes, I admit it. I watch Jon Stewart. Particularly when he has guests like King Abdulla II of Jordan.
You should watch this clip (you can skip the humor stuff at the beginning, if you’re like me) — King Abdullah is about as smart and reasonable-sounding as you would want a leader of a country to be. (more…)
Rick Scott — a man run amuck
Rick Scott is just running amuck with his wild-eyed attacks on Alex Sink.
The St. Pete Times captured his cynical, self-serving frenzy best in this piece: Rick Scott’s Cynical Smears — you’ve got to read it. 
Is it really possible that anyone is voting for this man, much less giving him their money?
Too many boobs, too little balls
So … parents were upset because of Katy Perry’s cleavage in a dress she was wearing while prancing around Sesame Street
.
Just curious — are these the same parents who lined up in droves to take their kids to see or buy the DVDs for The Little Mermaid? 
Personally, I do think Katy could have covered up a bit more for her appearance for young children. I also think the producers at Sesame Street could have suggested more coverage before shooting began.
But the boobs in question here shouldn’t be those of Katy — they should be those boob-headed boobs who actually got their knickers in a twist over this — of all things that their kids could be watching, I have a feeling this is pretty tame, and oh, I’m sure the kids never hear their parents scream at each other and call each other names, by the way. I also think the Sesame Street boobs who pulled the segment because of this boobish protest are probably a little lacking in the balls department.
Gays can adopt in Florida — overturning crazy 1977 prohibition
After yesterday’s ridiculous vote on the don’t ask/don’t tell scenario, this announcement below comes as a very welcome bit of news:
From the Tampa Tribune 9/22/10
Court affirms Florida ban on adoption by gays unconstitutional
The Associated Press
Florida will immediately stop enforcing its ban on adoptions by gay people following a decision by a state appeals court that the three-decade-old law is unconstitutional, Gov. Charlie Crist said today. (more…)
Black and white and red all over
I know — it’s supposed to be “read” all over as in that old childhood joke — What’s black and white and read all over? A newspaper! But if you read this blog, you’ll have the context for why I’m writing it as red, not read.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the comments I received on this blog recently — questioning why I identified Sarasota’s new Police Chief as African American and why I felt it was important to comment about having a black individual in this role, particularly in Sarasota.
I answered some of the concerns in the comment section of that blog — you may want to check out readers’ and my comments here.
I do feel that sometimes, in a story, or in a discussion, a description of the people involved — their race, religious or political affiliation, their ethnicity, their socio-economic background, their marital status, even their sexual preferences — can be relevant and important and provide context.
In our culture right now what’s terribly, terribly missing nearly all the time is context. (more…)