Ledger photoIn a question-and-answer session with the Ledger, Julie Townsend, executive director of Downtown Lakeland Partnership, reflects on the current state of the CSX controversy:
I am outraged that so many liberals and progressives are outraged at the dissatisfaction expressed by gays and lesbians over Barack Obama's choice of "America's pastor" to open the inaugural celebration that all of us, gay and straight, made possible.
It's like playing your heart out all season,' [...]
Photo by Ellen Ozier, Reuters
Dreams do come true.Photo by Kuz'n Kirk
Interstate 4 Jammer has compiled an excellent summary of current newspaper endorsements in Florida:
Republicans occasionally expose the hate that, when things are going their way, they keep hidden behind the sheets:
Top Tampa GOP Figure Circulates Joke About Killing ObamaMcCain Campaign compares Obama to HitlerMarianna teacher "told students what 'CHANGE' stood for"Altered Obama photo in GOP club [...]
At Wednesday night's debate, John McCain reminded Barack Obama that he is not George Bush.
Since then, the senator's new line of sarcasm, met with laughter and applause at his campaign rallies, has been, "If Barack Obama wanted to run against George Bush, he" [...]
Despite all the effort to remake John McCain, he's still the same man he's always been. Watching last night's debate with Barack Obama, I was reminded of my comments following a January 2008 debate among Republican candidates. The major issues have shifted, but McCain is still McCain.
Here's [...]
A Statement of Opposition to Amendment 2
As clergy members from a broad spectrum of religious traditions we hold diverse views regarding marriage. However, we are united in our opposition to amending the Florida Constitution to define marriage.
We share a serious concern that proposed Amendment 2, [...]
Not since the runaway bride has the US media focused so much attention on such little substance.
Members of the media elite (take the swooning news anchors, for example) have dusted off their vintage editions [...]
What was he thinking? John McCain chose as his running mate a "pit bull with lipstick" over a young lady from South Carolina who could have added more intellectual depth and understanding of world affairs to his ticket.
Big mistake, John.
But that was then, this is now
Don't worry, be happy. It's morning in America all over again. The fundamentals of our economy are strong.
Like his hug-buddy W., John McCain supports the privatization of Social Security. Take that, Wall Street.
Like the [...]
"Sarah Palin may yet be the fulfillment of an old feminist prophecy that Texan Sissy Farenthold once described with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek.
"We will have achieved equality the day mediocre women take their place beside mediocre men.
"Check that" [...]
In today's business section, The New York Times exposes more questionable links between CSX Corp and Washington politicians who benefit from the rail company's largesse:
Democratic candidates for president, along with Howard Dean and members of the Democratic National Committee, may think they are battling Florida Democratic officials.
They are not. They are battling four million Democratic voters in Florida -- and a Republican Party delighted by the Democrats' attack on their own [...]
If Al Gore has any remaining ambition to become president, he has just been handed the perfect opening to enter the race: Florida.
If Gore were to announce his candidacy in Florida - and promise to campaign in the state of his greatest [...]
Since the announcement was made last August, CSX has remained mum [...]
TALLAHASSEE | The Florida Democratic Party will stick with a Jan. 29 presidential primary even if it means losing all its nominating convention delegates, a party source said Saturday.
The Democratic National Committee gave the state party until Sept. 29 to come up with an alternative delegate selection plan [...]
A bobcat runs through a yard in south Lakeland on Wednesday. The bobcat repeatedly went into an open garage in the area and aggressively chased people who were outside. Polk County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Officers responded, and one of the officers was scratched.
[...]
Happy Constitution Day!
"I have sworn . . . eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." (Thomas Jefferson)
Completed on September 17, 1787, and later ratified by special conventions in each of the original thirteen American states, the Constitution for the United States represents the [...]
The highly respected former chairman of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan, launches a harshly critical attack on President George W. Bushs economic competence in his memoir published tomorrow.
While his declaration that Americas prime motive for the Iraq war was oil will set off one political storm, his [...]
Dear Democratic Candidate,
Please visit me in Lakeland, Florida, conveniently located along the I-4 corridor - "the swing part of the swing state." Coming here won't cost you much money (once you're actually in the state), but the effect on your campaign could be substantial. We won't [...]
LAKELAND --- Former U.S. senator from Tennessee and now presidential candidate, Fred Thompson, is tentatively slated to be in Lakeland at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Lakeland Gun Show at the Lakeland Center.
He is expected to make a short speech at the entrance to the center and then [...]
In a deal to bring commuter rail to central Florida and take hundreds of cars off the road in congested Orlando, Gov. Jeb Bush and CSX railroad last year announced the sale of tracks for $491 million in taxpayer money.
Bush touted the deal as a strong public-private partnership, [...]
From the website:
OurVoice2008.com empowers voters ages 18-30 to join the political process, learn about issues that impact us and actively engage with presidential candidates.
As a community, we will state our opinions and choose specific questions for the candidates.
Vote for the issues you [...]
In their pledge to boycott Florida voters (but not their money), the leading Democratic candidates for president made a short-sighted political judgment.
Unless the candidates themselves - and the so-far inflexible Democratic National Committee - act quickly to undo the damage already done to the party in Florida, [...]
John Edwards: "If you're not ready to answer questions in Iowa, you're not ready to be president of the United States."
Corollary to the Statement: "If you're not ready to answer questions in Florida, you're not ready to be president of the United States."
WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Republican Senator Larry Craig announced his [intended] resignation Saturday after being caught in an undercover sting allegedly soliciting sex with a man in an airport bathroom.
"It is with sadness and deep regret that I announce that it is my intent to resign from [...]
In recent days, leaders of the Democratic Party made the decision to back the party bus over Florida voters before they set out on their four-state tour to glory.
It seems the same road crew that thought all they had to do in 2004 was to rev their [...]
Whole lotta love
PARIS (Reuters Life!) - Male models wearing nothing but red underpants try on clothes for you . . . .
Male models in different heights, weights and shapes, clad in nothing but underwear, are offering to [...]
Jon M. Ausman, Florida Member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), wrote:
"When elected officials blatantly blame the DNC for enforcing its rules and ignore the complicity of Florida Democratic elected officials in creating this situation they are not serving the Democrats of Florida well. They may get [...]
From the Miami Herald:
TALLAHASSEE -- For weeks, bloggers and others who contribute to the Florida Progressive Coalition website wanted to know who "vandalized" an entry about Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and removed information about the age-discrimination lawsuit filed against him.
The culprit in the Internet [...]
HPV vaccine may protect both sexes
The sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer also sharply increases the risk of certain types of throat cancer among people infected through oral sex, according to a study being published today.
The study, involving 100 people with [...]
Significance: The Loxahatchee River is the only blackwater stream in south Florida. It has diverse fish and plant species containing a mix of temperate and subtropical species. Florida's first river to be designated a federal wild and scenic river.
[...]
