26th Parallel

• Honoring Cuban-American Veterans

  I was going to cross-post this earlier, but got caught up with other things and just got around to it now. Better late than never...
  
  What follows is a revision of a piece I originally wrote in 2005 and re-posted at Babalu in 2007. It's my small way' [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 8:11pm EST
  

• Catching The Real Extremists

  Remember the Dept of Homeland Security's report on rightwing extremism released earlier this year? It detailed many "sources" of this type of extremism, including returning military veterans and your typical white racist types. DHS's report on leftwing extremism, on the other hand, focused on more "passive" expressions of [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 8:00pm EST
  

• Professional Violence

  Wonder what Juanes and Olga Tañon have to say about this:
  Famed Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez said Friday she and another blogger were punched and thrown violently into a car by presumed state security agents as they walked to participate in a peaceful march in downtown Havana.

  ``No blood, but [...]

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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 9:50am EST
  

• Mayor Regalado and Health Care

  Two odds and ends stories:
  
  - A nod to Miami's former "just say no" commissioner:
  
  Tomas Regalado did NOT lose the Miami mayoral election held yesterday. NO word on what he did NOT say in his victory speech last night.
  
  - The AP finally learns' [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 1:09pm EST
  

• Political Correctness: "Is This What It Feels Like To Die?"

  I'm not a huge Dan LeBatard fan. But I have to admit, when he's on, he's on. His piece published today on Bob Griese's absolutely ridiculous suspension is top shelf stuff. It's also heartbreaking in its depiction of a decent man (Griese) being raked over the coals over a silly' [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 9:05am EST
  

• Sunrise on Biscayne Bay

  
  (Click the photo for a larger view.) [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 9:08am EDT
  

• Bob Griese's Taco Incident

  [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 5:58pm EDT
  

• Bob Griese's Politically Incorrect Taco Incident

  Poor Bob Griese. The Hall-of-Famer, former Miami Dolphins QB and long-time ABC college football announcer gets a one-game suspension for stating that Colombian NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya was "out having a taco" during a college football broadcast this past weekend.
  
  I won't bore my readers with all' [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 5:58pm EDT
  

• John Paul II Film Festival

  Starting this weekend, the John Paul II Film Festival will be running in theaters all across Miami-Dade County.
  
  Why I am bringing this up? Aside from the concept, which I think is fantastic, what makes me proud is the fact that the event organizers attend the same church [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 2:54pm EDT
  

• Obscene Profits Not So Obscene After All

  I'm glad to see this fact-check report come out from AP indicating that the bluster being raised by Democrats regarding the profits cashed in by health insurance companies is much to do about not so much.
  
  Don't believe that the average profit margin for health plans is less [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 12:39pm EDT
  

• Liberals Take Note of Media Bias

  As a silver lining kind of guy, I see the White House's latest bully-swipe at an independent news organization (Fox News) as being good for one reason (no, it's not Fox's skyrocketing ratings):
  
  Liberals are finally taking notice of bias in the media. Of course, they're totally blind to [...]
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  Posted: October 24, 2009, 8:06pm EDT
  

• Reconciliation

  Alberto's post at Babalu yesterday deals with Marifeli Perez-Stable's response letter to the Miami Herald in which she calls for Cubans to "honor the fallen on both sides". Central to this issue is the question of reconciliation. Is it acceptable and desirable to reach out to those on [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2009, 11:30pm EDT
  

• Cyclists on Rickenbacker Causeway

  
  
  (Click the photo for a larger view.) [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 4:37pm EDT
  

• Shared Assumptions

  Reader Steve left this excellent comment to my "crazy letter" post the other day:
  I think what some people (like the letter writer) forget is that the basis of a deal is a set of shared assumptions and objectives. For example the negotiation of a real estate purchase has [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 9:20pm EDT
  

• Defending Rush

  Once again, I feel compelled to defend Rush Limbaugh, despite the fact that I'm not a big fan of his, I don't listen to him regularly and I don't think what he says represents the entire vast "right-wing conspiracy" (sarcasm).
  
  Why, then? 1) Because it smacks of extreme bias' [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 11:03am EDT
  

• A Classic Miami Story

  For those of you who are tired of reading the same old "Miami sucks" stories, here's an classic example of a story which could (and should) be heard every day in Miami if we just put aside our preconceived notions and start to get to know our neighbors better:[...]
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  Posted: October 12, 2009, 10:48am EDT
  

• They Get (Crazy) Letters

  ...like this one:
  

  Leave Afghanistan

  The only way out of Afghanistan for the United States is to send a diplomat with significant negotiating skills there to negotiate a coalition of major Taliban sects.

  The Taliban must run the country. There will never be a ``representative'' government. Afghanistan will be [...]

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  Posted: October 12, 2009, 10:37am EDT
  

• Latest Healthcare Polling

  A cursory look at the results of a recent poll according to this AP article reveals some contradictory signals. While I'm perfectly aware that polls can often indicate mixed signals, it's still noteworthy to point these out.
  Months of Republican attacks on President Barack Obama’s health-care proposals appear to [...]
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  Posted: October 08, 2009, 9:14am EDT
  

• No Time For Hardball

  This quote jumped at me regarding the Obama/McChrystal situation:
  An adviser to the administration said: "People aren't sure whether McChrystal is being naïve or an upstart. To my mind he doesn't seem ready for this Washington hard-ball and is just speaking his mind too plainly."
  I understand President [...]
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  Posted: October 05, 2009, 5:27pm EDT
  

• Fredi Did Good

  The Florida Marlins concluded its 2009 season today, finishing the season in 2nd place in the National League East with a record of 87-75. If you're the Yankees, Red Sox or Mets, that record would not be acceptable. However, for the Marlins of 2009, I say that's a pretty good [...]
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  Posted: October 04, 2009, 9:54pm EDT
  

• Early-Morning Storm on Biscayne Bay

  
  

  
  

  
  (Click the photo to see it bigger.)
  

  [...]

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  Posted: October 04, 2009, 5:22am EDT
  

• FOX Rising

  All of you Olbermann and Maddow fans out there: better enjoy them while their shows last.
  
  Here's Glenn Garvin with the latest Nielsen ratings for cable news.' [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2009, 8:41am EDT
  

• Thank You, Rep. Grayson

  This is a sincere message of thanks for Democrat Rep. Alan Grayson, who represents the fine folks of central Florida. Thank you for bringing to light the fact that there indeed are Republican health care bills (35 in all) out there. It would have been even better if you would [...]

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  Posted: September 30, 2009, 9:59am EDT
  

• Dialing Up Above

  My man Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich has this to say following the Dolphins' 0-3 start this season:
  Now there's another long flight across country. The last time this happened Tony Sparano had a divine moment. Word came from on high for some kind of reinvention, and the Wildcat was [...]
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  Posted: September 27, 2009, 9:13pm EDT
  

• The Road to Change Is A Two-Way Street

  Following is a letter to the Miami Herald written by Carlos Saladrigas in reaction to the Juanes concert this past weekend. Saladrigas is chairman of the Cuba Study Group, a Cuban-American organization widely regarded to be moderate. Mr. Saladrigas words are in italics with my comments in regular font [...]

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  Posted: September 25, 2009, 10:45am EDT
  

• Juanes' Concert For Peace

  The Concert for Peace in Cuba is over. As the workers clean off the stage and sweep up the debris at the Plaza de la Revolución under the intense glare of El Che coming off the adjacent building façade, the obvious question is this: did the concert make a real [...]
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  Posted: September 21, 2009, 8:25am EDT
  

• Obama Criticism Flow Chart

  Courtesy of loyal reader Aymee comes a handy flow chart courtesy of Missourah.com that assesses criticism or agreement of Obama's policies and points you to where your heart really lies. Mine was pretty short. [...]
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  Posted: September 20, 2009, 2:57pm EDT
  

• Obama Wasn't Aware ACORN Received A Whole Lot of Federal Money

  I want to give President Obama the benefit of the doubt. I really do. Really. The office he holds demands that we do so. However, this doesn't mean we should blindly accept every thing he says and does.
  
  Case in point, his comments on This Week With George' [...]
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  Posted: September 20, 2009, 1:08pm EDT
  

• Personal Responsibility

  Below is some uncommon Miami Herald-columnist sense today courtesy of James Burnett. I wish more journalists were this honest when it comes to distributing the blame around for the real estate downturn.
  

  Yanira Doyle could easily be a prophetic figure in the South Florida real estate market, and all [...]

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  Posted: September 18, 2009, 2:35pm EDT
  

• Enough About Race!!

  Let's get the minutiae out of the way: Rush Limbaugh's "we need segregated buses" remark was not meant as a true desire to segregate blacks and whites. It wasn't racist. It was a sarcastic comment within a long, sarcastic and cynical rant. The full transcript of his remarks during' [...]
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  Posted: September 18, 2009, 10:50am EDT
  

• "No" and "Present"

  Of the 75 Democrats who voted "no" on the House Bill to cut off ACORN funding, one of them was South Florida's own Robert Wexler. Voting "present" was another South Floridian, Alcee Hastings.
  
  What can I say? At least most of our local Democrat representatives voted the right [...]
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  Posted: September 17, 2009, 3:52pm EDT
  

• Tragedy At Gables High

  Just awful what transpired yesterday morning at Coral Gables High School. My prayers go out to the family of the victim and the perpetrator, as well as the students, parents and staff at the school. This is one of parents' worst nightmares come true, especially when it happens in' [...]
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  Posted: September 16, 2009, 9:43am EDT
  

• Lefties Lecture on Race

  Next time someone insinuates that you're a racist, or straight out calls you a racist for disagreeing, even vehemently or perhaps rudely, with President Obama, remember the words of these mental midgets who...as hard-core leftists...should be the last people on Earth to lecture ANYONE about race and racism:
  
  -' [...]
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  Posted: September 15, 2009, 7:25pm EDT
  

• Obama - Just Another "Liberal"

  A very good column by Michael Gerson which nails Obama pretty much to a tee:
  Elected on the promise to transcend old arguments of left and right, Obama has systematically reinforced them on domestic issues. A pork-laden stimulus. A highly centralized health reform.

  Eight months into Obama's term, American [...]

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  Posted: September 14, 2009, 8:29pm EDT
  

• Politics...

  Funny how politics can turn on a dime (or an election):
  
  - The folks who reminded America that dissent was patriotic are having a hard time when they're now the "dissentees".
  
  - Those same folks who used to go nuts at the mere sound of one of George' [...]
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  Posted: September 13, 2009, 8:36pm EDT
  

• 9-11: Let's Not Forget

  As we arrive at the eighth anniversary of 9-11, I struggle to find the right words or the appropriate tribute. I've never been good at commemorating anniversaries and things of that nature. Nevertheless, it's only fitting to at least type a few words of tribute to those who lost their' [...]
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  Posted: September 11, 2009, 9:00am EDT
  

• Obama's Health Care Speech - Wishes vs Reality

  Lots of contradictions and hard-to-believe statements in Obama's health care speech to Congress tonight. Here are the ones I considered to be most obvious:
  
  Obama said his plan will not add a dime more to the deficit. That's not exactly what the CBO concluded, and it flies in the [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 10:23pm EDT
  

• Obama Healthcare Plan Still Unpopular

  Via Drudge:
  
  Obama hasn't invited GOP leaders to discuss health care in 5 months, according to John Boehner. This pretty much goes in line with this post.
  
  Also, ObamaCare support numbers continue to fall. According to an AP poll, it's 49-34 against Congressional health' [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 1:30pm EDT
  

• Obama's School Speech Released

  A copy of the president's speech to schools has been made available by the White House.
  
  A solid, if unspectacular message, which is fine by me. [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 9:55pm EDT
  

• Further Evidence That The MSM Is Biased

  Courtesy of the Washington Examiner:
  

  From a Nexis search a few moments ago:

  Total words about the Van Jones controversy in the New York Times: 0.
  Total words about the Van Jones controversy in the Washington Post: 0.
  Total words about the Van Jones controversy on NBC Nightly News: [...]

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  Posted: September 06, 2009, 12:43pm EDT
  

• Silly Is As Silly Says

  Say that 5 times fast.
  
  Jorge finds an interesting, if not annoying, trend by Team O to dismiss any type of controversy or discord as mere silliness.
  
  Goes in line with their arrogance and condescension, silly me guesses. [...]
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  Posted: September 06, 2009, 8:55am EDT
  

• No Leader? No Problem?

  Much has been said about the GOP's supposed lack of leadership. In other words, there's no single person the GOP can point to as their "leader". OK. That's caused many on the right to scratch their heads and bemoan the wayward path the party has taken over the past several [...]
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  Posted: September 05, 2009, 10:19am EDT
  

• Team Obama's Version of Compromise

  Word is that the "Gang of Six" negotiating a health care deal is on the verge of collapse because two of its members, Republican Senators Chuck Grassley and Mike Enzi, are against Obamacare.
  
  Shocking! The nerve of Sens. Grassley and Enzi to oppose Obamacare! I thought the [...]
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  Posted: September 04, 2009, 12:40pm EDT
  

• Obama Like Icarus

  Charles Krauthammer lays it down like only "The Hammer" can:
  What happened to President Obama? His wax wings having melted, he is the man who fell to earth. What happened to bring his popularity down further than that of any new president in polling history save Gerald Ford (post-Nixon [...]
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  Posted: September 04, 2009, 11:03am EDT
  

• Cry Me A River

  As a reminder to those who feel that poor Team Obama and the Democrats in Congress haven't had a fair chance to explain their health care plan because of those "incessant, intolerant, racist mobs" (sarcasm) at town halls screaming them down, don't feel too bad for them.
  
  Remember this [...]
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  Posted: September 04, 2009, 8:13am EDT
  

• The Failed Experiment?

  The Obama administration sure has had trouble keeping their word lately. First, they roll back the snitch program flag@whitehouse.gov. Then they vacillate on the near-dead "public option". Now, Team O (the letter, not the number, if that's what you were thinking...) is re-writing their hopelessly clumsy lesson plan to teachers [...]
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  Posted: September 03, 2009, 5:41pm EDT
  

• Juanes' Useless Quest For Peace

  
  Courtesy El Nuevo Herald
  
  Miguel Perez, writing at Capitol Hill Cubans, absolutely crushes one out of the atmosphere with this post.
  Would Juanes have performed in the right-wing Chile of Augusto Pinochet? Would he and his fellow concert headliners, Puerto Rico's Olga Tanon [...]
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  Posted: September 02, 2009, 6:09pm EDT
  

• What About the Embargo?

  The Miami Herald embarked on a five-part series on the "embargo" with part one yesterday (comprised of two article). I know what some of you are thinking.
  
  "The Herald writing a story on Cuba must be some kind of castro love-fest" and/or exile-bashing contest".
  
  Neither of the above" [...]
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  Posted: August 31, 2009, 9:33am EDT
  

• An Inspiration

  Sometimes, reading the Sunday Herald can yield some nice surprises. Like this story by Dan LeBatard on former University of Miami basketball star, Miami Heat first-round pick, Miami native and all-around class act Tim James' service in Iraq.
  
  A more inspiring story is very difficult to find, IMO.
  James' [...]
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  Posted: August 30, 2009, 2:05pm EDT
  

• Government Control of the Internet

  To be honest, I don't think there's anything wrong with the federal government taking measures to protect us from cyber-attacks. After all, it falls within their job description of protecting our national interests in cases of imminent threats to our safety and well-being.
  
  As always, though, the devil is' [...]
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  Posted: August 29, 2009, 9:42am EDT