Sound Off: Do You Have Issues? (Section #3)
[NOTE: This section of the blog is full. You can continue to review the comments made to date. However, to add your comments or start discussion on a new topic or issue, please go to: "Sound Off: Do You Have Issues? (Section #4)".]
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We are starting a third section of “Sound Off”. Our second section has already accumulated over 140 comments, and we want to make it easier for you to review and post comments. Please use this section to discuss issues you want to “Sound Off” about that are not yet covered on our Politically Homeless blog.
The “Sound Off” section is provided for anyone who wants to start a discussion and/or offer an opinion concerning an important topic or issue. Our question of the month and other postings may not satisfy your interests or concerns.
You can review the issues and comments that have been covered over the past 3-4 weeks, just go to “Sound Off: Do You Have Issues? (Section #2)” and then click on the “Comments” thread. Some of the issues include: local talk radio, discussion on whether or not our local public school system is “secular humanist”, Supreme Court appointments, support and non-support of our local and state-level politicians, and more.
You don’t need to wait for the Blog Master, or someone else, to bring up a discussion topic. You can start your own open discussion forum right here.
Let us hear from you.
posted by Blog Master @ 11:12 AM
115 Comments:
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Sorry, another "splog". These are becoming a pain!
A good letter about Jim Payton in the Star Banner today. I'm glad he has the guts to speak out on issues. He is on the right side on the roads tax issue. I don't think that is going to be enough to do what needs to be done. However, it is going in the right direction. Keep up the good work commissioner Payton.
Payton is not afraid to tackle the diffcult and important issues. At a joint city/county meeting he suggested merging some of the departments of the two. This caused heartburn for some people. It is a good idea and I hope he teams up with Dan Owen from the city council, who also thinks the idea needs study. Businesses think this way all the time, why not government?
Hey Charles, where have you been? We are missing your comments. How about the Ocala elections, weren't they exciting--just kidding!
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Deleted another splog.
This is something interesting concerning the Miers’ fiasco.
From an interview of Richard Davis, an author on Supreme Court selections, on the conservative leaning Fox News:
“If Bush appeases right-wing conservatives by choosing another Antonin Scalia or Clarence Thomas, Davis said the president would again run into obstacles, this time with moderates. That is the problem the president faces — his core constituency as a group is not the majority of the country. The majority tends to be quite moderate," Davis said.”
What a predicament for the President. Go right or go moderate! How about just go best for the country?
He will pick another Roberts' style judge. Won't make the far right totally happy, but will get this over with so he can move on to the real problems he must solve.
Has anyone heard about State Representative Larry Cretul’s program with 8th grade students in his District? It is called “There Ought To Be A Law”. He is giving students an opportunity to propose one of the six laws he is able to introduce during the 2006 legislative session.
What a great way to get kids more involved and educated in the workings of our legislative system. It is just a super idea!
If you are interested in learning more about it, here is a link to an article in this week’s (October 29) Alachua County newspaper: http://www.alachuatoday.com/
I bet these kids come up with a more useful law than a bunch of lobbyists could.
These eighth graders will learn more from this practical experience than from any textbook. Glad Mr. Cretul is taking the time to do this kind of program.
Also, a comment for PTTP:
Eli (or should I say Tiki) and your Giants rock!!!!
This could be it!! We are now behind 20 years in road work and schools -- gee, who is the currently longest sitting County Commissioner??? Who always voted "no" on the budget?? Who always bows to the "cut taxes" whiners??
Who is responsible for the huge impact fees we are now facing due to fiscal shortsightedness in the past??
Samuel A. Alito, Jr. likely neither right wing nor moderate—just a solid conservative!
The Senate hearings will bring out more background, but he looks like a very good choice. Below is a report by conservative Fox News on today’s appointment of Alito by President Bush:
Some at the White House believe there will be 22 votes against Alito because if some lawmakers didn't like Judge John Roberts, they wouldn't like Alito, they said. The Senate in September voted 78-22 in favor of confirming Roberts for the top judicial position.
Roberts may be closest to Alito in that "both are conservatives but both are very careful not to give their opinion" on social issues, John Nagle, associate dean at Notre Dame Law School who knows Alito, told FOX News on Monday.
Calling Alito a "terrific nominee," Nagle said the nominee has a "distinguished record" while working on constitutional issues in the Justice Department and during the rest of his professional career.
Alito is "very gracious, easy going, personable. He's really a legal thinker but he's not a person who in his personal conversations … tries to prove how bright he is," Nagle said.
"He's conservative but you don't get the sense from his opinions that he's pursuing a particular agenda. ... His decisions are very measured, analytical."
Alito has been dubbed "Scalito" or "Scalia-lite" by some lawyers because his judicial philosophy invites comparisons to that of conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. But while Scalia is outspoken and known to badger lawyers, Alito is polite, reserved and even-tempered. Some at the White House have taken offense to the nickname.
FOX News Supreme Court analyst Tim O'Brien said while Alito's ideology may be similar to that of Scalia's, he is an independent thinker and should not be labeled as another Scalia.
But "he is a friendly, easy-going guy and that certainly will help him in this confirmation here," O'Brien said.
My prediction, the Democrats are going to dig in and make a last stand on this nomination. Doubt they can stop it.
Let’s not dump too much of the blame for our county being so screwed up on Randy Harris. He has been around the longest, but he is not alone in mismanaging our county. He has plenty of company to dump responsibility on for our current situation.
We need long-range thinkers, not short-range, look-good-today bureaucrats. We need commissioners who understand county financing issues like a financial manger, not like an accounting clerk. We need commissioners who understand the difference between real economic issues and social issues that are of little interest to the majority of our citizens (e.g., library books).
Unfortunately, the sorry state of local politics being what it is, there is likely no one out there any better than Randy Harris. We have some of the weakest county commissioners I have ever seen. Jim Payton is probably the exception.
On top of this the Democrats have absolutely no candidates to offer at the local level.
I think the President is about to dupe the right wing of his Party, again. Alito is a member of one of the most liberal Appeals Courts in the U.S. He votes with the majority in most all cases. Conservative, I doubt not to the extent many believe. He will get appointed, but I don’t think the conservatives are going to be happy with what they get. The right has been spun a good story.
Judge Alito is fine with me. I don’t see anything in his background or decisions that would say he has any certain ideological leaning. Those who have studied him in depth give an opinion of him that I believe is very important. Most all categorize him as “not pro-life or pro-choice, but pro-law”. This works for me. He is a realistic conservative.
What has happened to Bobby D and his friend? I haven't seen anything on here from them in quite a few weeks.
What a blessing Ann . . .
He and his buddy got their 15 minutes of time. If his people get elected in Belleview, he may reappear, again for 15 minutes of time, not to get anything accomplished.
Glad to see my neighbors in Dunnellon returned Mayor John Taylor to office. His opponent Ron McAndrew’s past as a city councilman exposed him for what he is, a divisive, loud mouth. Thanks to the citizens for rejecting McAndrew and selecting Mayor Taylor.
The Democrats won important governor races in Virginia and New Jersey. The Republican reaction is that this is not a trend or showing any lack of support for the President. If the Republicans had won these two races, you can bet the reaction would have been this shows the support for the President and the Republican Party’s agenda. Oh how politicians can spin situations!
Femdem, you are probably correct on how this gets spun. Just the way it is in politics. Winners and losers are both always winners--doesn't that make sense?
john taylor over ron mcandrew was a good choice by dunnellon voters. mcandrew would have been a disaster as mayor.
Speaking of Mayors. I voted for our new Mayor of Belleview Tammy Moore. I liked her previous experience and think she will do a good job. I know that she will likely support banning alcohol sales on Sundays. However, we should all get a chance to vote on that issue. I disagree with her, and will vote for allowing the sale of alcohol when we have a referendum. The election of Mayor and the alcohol sale issue are separate issues for me.
One thing for sure, Ms. Moore’s election shows how little influence Ken Nadeau has with his fellow Democrats.
The article below is from the Associated Press 11/09/05.
Where is the right place in the school curriculum for teaching evolution and intelligent design? So what do you think?
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“Anti-Evolution School Board Ousted”
DOVER, Pa. — Voters came down hard Tuesday on school board members who backed a statement on “intelligent design” being read in biology class, ousting eight Republicans and replacing them with Democrats who want the concept stripped from the science curriculum.
The election unfolded amid a landmark federal trial involving the Dover public schools and the question of whether intelligent design promotes the Bible's view of creation. Eight Dover families sued, saying it violates the constitutional separation of church and state.
Dover's school board adopted a policy in October 2004 that requires ninth-graders to hear a prepared statement about intelligent design before learning about “evolution” in biology class.
Eight of the nine school board members were up for election Tuesday. They were challenged by a slate of Democrats who argued that science class was not the appropriate forum for teaching intelligent design.
"My kids believe in God. I believe in God. But I don't think it belongs in the science curriculum the way the school district is presenting it," said Jill Reiter, 41, a bank teller who joined a group of high school students waving signs supporting the challengers Tuesday.
A spokesman for the winning slate of candidates has said they wouldn't act hastily and would consider the outcome of the court case. The judge expects to rule by January; the new school board members will be sworn in Dec. 5.
I don’t think either evolution or intelligent design should be part of the study of science. I would include them both in the curriculum on social studies or philosophy. Perhaps this is too simple a solution for politicians and academic leaders to grasp.
Pat Robertson is going to see to it that God punishes those folks in Pennsylvania who voted the Republican school board members out of office. They will suffer a disaster! What a minister.
I saw a poll (still in progress) of about 10,000 people conducted by a relatively conservative media source concerning Pat Robertson’s comment. Here was the question posed:
“What do you think of Pat Robertson’s comment that a vote against Intelligent Design is a vote against God?”
The results: 85% felt his comment was “out of line”; 15% said it was “right on”.
Pat Robertson places his “foot in mouth”---again!
I don’t trust any polls. I guess I’m in the 15% who think Pat Robertson is correct in his comment. I believe evolution does not explain how life was started and there is another equally good explanation.
Anonymous (about three blogs above) says of Pat Robertson: "What a minister."
I think the statement needs to be a question. The emphasis needs to be changed to say "What . . . a minister???" While he knows a great deal about the Bible, he reminds me too much of the fear message I grew up with. I prefer the 'love" I have found at Grace Ocala.
Old preacher and my Dad and especially Grandpa Ferguson would have gotten along quite well, but I too do not have much confidence in polls, and have one question for the pro-Darwinians . . . if the "theory of creationism" or "intelligent design" does not belong in a school curriculum, why does the theopry of evolution" belong there.
--pwf
I wish school officials and politicians spent less time debating the academic value of intelligent design and evolution and more time on improving the academic performance of my kids.
Frankly, I wouldn’t teach either of these in the public school system, and I don’t think either is science related. Use the time devoted to these topics to improve the basic skills (the three Rs) many kids are lacking when they leave school. Leave intelligent design and evolution teaching/debates to the churches.
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There have not been many comments about the “Redistricting” proposal in awhile. Just to keep everyone up to date, below is an article from Sunday’s Gainesville Sun on the issue. It looks like this proposal is going to have tough going in Florida.
“Redistricting Reforms Debated”
House Speaker Allan Bense says he was encouraged by California and Ohio voters who last week rejected efforts to change the way legislative and congressional district lines are drawn.
In California, voters opposed an effort to turn legislative redistricting over to a panel of three retired judges by a 60 percent margin. In Ohio, 70 percent of the voters dismissed an effort to let nonpoliticians draw the district lines rather than elected officials.
Bense, R-Panama City, said he hasn't seen any polling data on how a similar proposal would fare in Florida, but he said he believed the voting in other states reflects the fact that it is hard to take politics out of a redistricting process that redraws boundaries for every state lawmaker and congressional member.
"Ultimately I think what the people in Ohio and California said was, 'While we're not wild about legislators doing it and it's not pretty, there's really not a better alternative out there,' " Bense said.
In Florida, a bipartisan group that includes former Education Commissioner Betty Castor and former state Comptroller Bob Milligan is promoting a constitutional amendment that would turn the redistricting process over to a 15-member panel that would include an equal number of Republicans and Democrats as well as a few independents.
Currently, the district lines are redrawn by the state Legislature every 10 years, following a new census.
Bense, who has agreed to spend up to $50,000 in legal fees to fight the proposal, said Florida's proposed redistricting commission could never be separated from politics, since the House speaker, Senate president and minority party leaders would make the majority of appointments to the panel. And he said those appointees were likely to be highly partisan.
"These are the folks that wake up with Rambo-type knives in their mouths every morning, trying to go after each other," he said.
Bense said if the commission couldn't agree on a plan, it would be done by the Florida Supreme Court, which he said he believed would be a violation of the separation of powers doctrine.
Meanwhile, proponents of Florida's redistricting reforms discounted the California and Ohio outcomes, arguing the votes were influenced by factors not present in the Sunshine State.
Ben Wilcox, executive director of Common Cause, noted the California proposal was one of the four measures promoted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger but rejected because of the Republican governor's current unpopularity in his state.
"It's disappointing but I think the circumstances were a little different there from what we have in Florida," Wilcox said.
He also discounted Bense's argument that Florida's redistricting panel would be too divided by partisan factions to do its work.
"I think that's absurd," he said. "Commissions work all the time. I think this commission would take its work very seriously."
Bense makes some good points about how you can't take the politics out of this. I would still like to see voters decide this.
The redistricting amendment is going to get railroaded by the Republicans. No way will they want to change this. The Democrats would react the same way if they were in the majority. To the victor go the spoils (of office).
I have taken a couple of shots at Bobby D in past comments. However, I want to thank him and his Committee of 50 for their efforts in getting a referendum on Sunday drinking in Belleview on the ballot. I have said all along this should be decided by the voters. Now we get our chance.
I have a friend in Sarasota County who is involved in a campaign to tackle the issue of better growth management in her county. A local group has launched a petition drive to put two items on the November 2006 local ballot.
The two measures would give voters more say and restrict the County Commission's authority in major decisions about urban development.
One measure would require the commission to get voters' consent if it wants to shift a growth boundary to open more land for urban development.
The second would require approval by at least four of the five commissioners for comprehensive plan revisions that allow denser, more intensive development of any kind on any tract.
My friend told me many people in Sarasota County are really fed up with the lack of action by their County Commissioners on growth management problems. Sound familiar?
unfortunately, more and more citizens are having to take over what our elected folks should be doing. this issue on growth management is a good example. don’t think our county has yet reached this stage but it is heading in that direction.
I read a letter in the Star Banner this morning from James Walker who is opposing Dennis Baxley. This guy is a Democrat who actually makes sense! Walker’s statement that much of what Baxley does is SMOKE & MIRRORS hit home with me. I know some of the people on this blog have been trying to find out information about Baxley’s record from his supporters on the blog. Each time the issue of what has he really done for our county comes up, the Baxley supporters disappear from any further comment on the blog. Could it be because he has done little, as pointed out by Walker?
Mr. Walker better have a large bank account if he thinks he can beat Dennis Baxley. He's going to need "at least" $250,000 and probably more. Don't think any local Democrats can come up with that kind of money.
Walker doesn’t seem like a typical liberal left wing nut. If he can show me how he will not get caught up in the Tallahassee self interest and political power game and forget the people who sent him there, like Baxley has done, he will get my crossover vote. Baxley seems to forget he was not put in office by the vote of the far right. They have actually played games with his allegiance.
Ann, would you ask your Sarasota friend two things:
One, is Sarasota a "Charter County" (which gives them a lot of rights such as to petition to get things on a ballot wihtout the approval first of the county commission", and
Second, how many names it took to get the petitions on the ballot, and if the commission opposed the effort. If it worked there, it could work for our benefit in Marion County and I am ready for one more big battle before hanging it up after almost 50 years!
--pwf
p.s. wanna bet the commission would join with the builders and Chamber in opposing any effort to control growth?
pwf
For PWF:
Sarasota is a charter form of government. Yes, it does give more flexibility for voters to make changes.
They need 5% of the 243,000 registered voters to sign the petition—about 13,000 signers. The county is about 48% republican and 31% democrats.
Current commissioners are split on this effort.
Could we make this work in Marion? I doubt it with the voter apathy that exists here.
If you want to know more about the citizen group that is working on this:
www.sarasotacitizens.org
Appreciate the work of the Belleview committee of 50. They would be appreciated even more if they come up with the $3,000 for the special referendum rather than the tax payers footing the bill. Now that would show real commitment to their cause!
Thanks Ann for the info about Sarasota's charter and the effort to change the way growth is managed.
Marion County voted on a charter form of government about a dozen years ago, but unfortunately, the biggest issue was establishing the salary of county commissioners at $18,000 a year instead of the then about $35,000. Today, it is about $70,000.
Anyway, when others, including constitutional officers saw the effort to control commission salaries, and since this was what was referred to as a "starter charter" they figured their salaries would be reduced significantly, and there was an all out campaign by the constitutional officers and their politically active friends to defeat the charter. The only elected official who, to my recollection, supported the charter was then retiring county commissioner Don Greene, and for the wrong reasons. He was trying once again to "tweak" the elected officials, not because he believed in Charter Government.
Anyway, the anti charter forces won by about one or two percent. Had any of us known the election would have been so close, another $5,000 worth of ads would have turned the tide, and we would be in much bett3r shape today.
Maybe the next effort, which I understand is coming, to have a Charter will be different, People who are getting these $7,000+ tax bills for their homes may be more interested in stopping some of the duplication of government.
Certainly most people I know would like some method to slow the growth that is overwhelming our county and our services,
--pwf
If anyone is interested in reviewing the Sarasota County Charter, here is how to access it:
www.sarasotaclerk.com/FileLib/SCCharterRev1.pdf
There are many “citizen-friendly” provisions in the Charter. Setting the salaries of commissioners and term limits (two, four-year terms), just to name a few.
I hope the charter government movement for our county gets some legs. Reducing commissioner salaries and putting term limits on are great ideas.
The Bobby D group in Belleview had to put up money to even be heard in this case..Its the moronic belleview government in place at the time that wanted to take the matter into their own hands which ought to pay the 3k..Elected officials are in place to serve the community,not rule over them like monarchs.
I agree with the comments above about our Belleview government being run by morons. The newly elected group is not going to be any better. The only solution is to eliminate the whole Belleview government structure and turn it over to the County. This would save Belleview taxpayers money and get rid of the morons. The supply of good politicians in a small place like Belleview is just not available. I’m on board with the consolidation move that is discussed on another section of this blog.
I'm all for looking at consolidating Belleview government. Perhaps not the whole thing but some of the areas that really duplicate with the county.
Anon SAID "I hope the charter government movement for our county gets some legs. Reducing commissioner salaries and putting term limits on are great ideas"
Are you aware that county commissioners get substantial pensions? A two term commissioner with no other govt service would get eight years times 3% times their $70,000 salary (est) or 24% of $70,000.
A three term commissioner would get 36% of their salary, etc.
Ken Ergle as a three term Sheriff plus other service would have received 32 years times 3% times $100,000 (est) salary or about $90,000 in a pension.
School board pensions are baed on the same formula.
Working people for the county and schools get the same formula, but multiplied by 1.68 percent instead of three percent.
--pwf
The taxpayers are getting screwed on the pensions for county commisioners! I would love to work just 8 years on a part time basis and get 24% of my salary. It will take me 30 years of fulltime work on my job to get the same % as a commissioner. What a deal, no wonder they want to stay in office forever.
The legislature really needs to fix the formula for teacher retirement. I can't believe how discriminatory the current one is favoring school board and other elected officials. No wonder we can't get teachers!
I read that the University of Kansas is offering a new course in its religious studies department. The course title is “Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies”; treating both evolution and intelligent design as mythology and not science. Seems something like this was suggested by someone on the Homeless blog.
Doesn't this apply to Marion County politics?
"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds." -Samuel Adams, American Patriot
Well Kansas is doing what I suggested. My only comment is that I don't think either evolution or ID are mythologies. I would call both the study of sociology.
Wasn't Samuel Adams a Democrat from Ocala?
Ref. the comment above, there is at least one smart a.. on every blog!!!
I have seen comments in various sections of this blog referring to “Real Republicans”. I have come to the conclusion, as a Republican, that there is only one thing a Republican must constantly stand for to be a Real Republican.
Our Party is a jumble of special-interest groups. We have many causes: gun rights, property rights, home schooling advocates, anti-abortion zealots, to name just a few. But I believe there is really only one common and very important cause to be a Real Republican: opposition to higher taxes.
The head of Americans for Tax Freedom, says that “Republican politicians who vote for tax increases are rat heads in a Coke bottle”. So let’s skip all this other stuff and start evaluating Republican politicians on what is most important.
I would add one more qualifier to be a Real Republican: never votes for a budget where the increase in spending per citizen covered by the budget is greater than the rate of inflation.
I think the Baxley supporters may be worried about his election. One of his good old boy network has even stooped to using the Star Banner to knock Baxley's opponent. Maybe there is something to this guy James Walker who is going up against Baxley.
James Walker is a strong candidate. For the first time in a long time Mr. Baxley will have some competition. I think that is great. Mr. Baxley may well win, but the voters are going to send him a signal of their displeasure with him.
Baxley will bury this guy!
I would not be so bold to predict the outcome of the Walker/Baxley race. If Walker was smart he would use the same approach against Baxley as Baxley used against Johnson. Then see who has the shovel.
I don't think Baxley will bury Walker either. It will be closer than people think, but money and Party support will win it. That's where Baxley will have the advantage. Anyone who thinks the local Democrats can pull off an upset in this race?
In case you missed it, Bill Thompson wrote an informative article in the Sunday edition of the Star Banner. The article “Seeking Refuge in the Political Midstream” does a very good job of laying out the reasons and statistics concerning why more and more voters are “Politically Homeless”.
Our blog is aimed at the voters highlighted in the article. Many of our bloggers are part of a growing and influential group who are dissatisfied with politics as usual. It is going to be very difficult for any politician, Democrat or Republican, to get elected by merely “sucking up” to the partisan left or right. Election successes will more and more be determined by the political midstream, Yes, those of us who are Politically Homeless.
For the full text of Thompson’s article, copy and paste the following into your web browser:
www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051211/OPINION/212110363/1307/news08
I saw the article. Thompson is one of the most balanced writers at the Star Banner. He can be liberal on some things and conservative on others. I find he is often right in his points of view.
Baxley will not have any problems defeating Walker. I know Walker. Nice guy but will get eaten up in politics.
GOVERNMENT SPYING --
President Bush -- it might be "legal" -- but is it moral?? We have kids being killed for the "freedoms" we no longer enjoy.
How bizarre.
It looks like the President has borrowed a page from the playbook of the liberal Democrats, if it’s legal, do it.
Going to vote, repeal Sunday drinking in Belleview.
BELLEVIEW TALIBAN DEFEATED IN CLOSE VOTE!
Residents can continue to drink on Sundays.
so belleview's committee to stop booze on sunday turned out only 132 votes. says something about how powerful the radio is in belleview politics.
LET THE PATRIOT ACT EXPIRE:
The whole thing was a crock to begin with. Instead of addressing the incompetence in the INS, FBI and CIA when 9/11 occurred, this administration created at least two new top heavy government agencies -- TSA and Homeland Security!! (this is less government?)
Instead of holding the responsible agencies' feet to the fire - and dismissing those who failed to do the job -- we just keep them on and spend billions hiring more like them!!
The Patriot Act is nonsense -- all we have to do is require government employees to do the jobs we pay them to do - or fire their butts!!
The powers in D.C. won't let it expire. However, I agree with you, they probably should. It has been a cop out for ineffective government. Fire the b.......
So we have a sham book appeal at the library. Why didn't those appealing a book pick one that at least had a possiblility of being judged restricted? Because they don't have the guts to risk that happening. So pick a book with 50 years of history against restriction and ask for a carbon copy ruling. How pathetic!
I hope the commissioners don't spend even two minutes on this. A 5-0 vote would really reinforce what a sham the two individuals bringing the review forward have created. Shame on both of them. As Mr. Harris has stated: "game playing".
There was an article in today's paper about the book challenges. It was interesting that one of the library experts from a university said he saw no problems with labeling books just like what is done with movies.
I really don't see the point in challenging Lolita.
Criticism of library advocates interested in determining what the BOCC has in mind with the laughingstock policies implemented as a result of campaign promises! Politically homeless purport to be dissatisfied with the status quo. Seems more like you homeless love the current right-wing agenda set out to embarrass thinking people.
Now we know the real agenda of "some" of the library advocates. Thank God, not all of them. These thinking people want to use their superior intelligence to control the minds all of us undereducated folks in the county. A superiority complex that sounds a lot like a guy over in Germany many years ago.
How could you possible "know" the agenda of anything when your intuitive perception is that of a truck tire?
WOW!!!
I'm impressed, those are the words of an educated elitist. I mean we should not be allowed to even interract with someone of such a high level of intellect.
I'm going to have to check my truck tires for intuitive perception. Is there some sort of gauge to do that? I'm just an ignorant country boy, so would you high intellect folks give me some help.
a little self-deprecating humor?
Billy, go to Wal Mart and ask for an IP Gauge.
The comment above is not mine. I agree with it, but did not write it.
Guess we now have two Ann's or someone is being funny and using my name.
Suggest all bloggers check the blog a little more frequently to see if anyone is "borrowing" your blogger name.
I think we have ignorant, liberal, left wing conservatives like Creekbaoum using bogus identities and acting like a spoiled brat!
The Star Blunder doesn’t care about the motives of the two people who are challenging the library book Lolita. However, their reporters and editors spend many pages of print questioning the motives of Commissioner Randy Harris. Editorial bias? I think so. No wonder people are getting more supportive of Harris.
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This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Comments Deleted: Improper and harassing use of another bloggers name.
We are tired of people playing games with the names of other bloggers. We will no longer accept comments from individuals who are doing this. This has gotten ridiculous.
Article published Dec 28, 2005
The board's handling of "Lolita" will be a profound moment in the five-year, on-again-off-again debate over a handful of library materials some social conservatives consider unfit for minors.
OUR OPINION
Needed face-off on library policy
Unless something changes, on Jan. 19 the Marion County Commission will sail into the unchartered waters of its role as the ultimate arbiters of public library materials. That day, the board is expected to rule on a pair of appeals on "Lolita," Vladimir Nabokov's classic tale of a middle-aged professor's lust for, and eventual sexual conquest of, his 12-year-old stepdaughter.
Under consideration is Library Director Julie Sieg's decision, with which we agree, to maintain "Lolita" in the adult fiction section, where it is available to all library patrons, including minors.
The public shouldn't be mistaken in thinking this is simply some bureaucratic exercise to fulfill a county policy. Nor should anyone believe this was a happenstance, as occurred two years ago when an elderly patron stumbled across the sexually explicit "Eat Me" and filed a book challenge that ignited a public firestorm and sparked reforms, enacted earlier this year, that led commissioners to ditch the library board and to create a "restricted access" designation that they alone can grant.
Rather, "Lolita," with its provocative themes of incest and pedophilia, issues that remain timely though the book was first published 50 years ago, was carefully selected to test the commissioners' new powers.
Terry Blaes, a former member of the now-disbanded Library Advisory Board, filed the challenge to "Lolita," which Sieg deemed appropriate for the adult fiction section. Blaes subsequently appealed Sieg's finding, telling the Star-Banner, "I just want to see if the County Commission agrees (with Sieg), because it's their policy to take objectionable books and segregate them."
Thus, the board's handling of "Lolita" will be a profound moment in the five-year, on-again-off-again debate over a handful of library materials some social conservatives, including some sitting commissioners, consider unfit for minors.
And if Blaes wanted to provoke a brawl, it's hard to imagine a better choice than "Lolita."
Nabokov had emigrated to the U.S. from Russia in 1940. He finished "Lolita" in 1953. Few readers, even today, would deny that the novel is disgusting and disturbing. Nabokov's vehicle to explore the book's controversial themes is Lolita's stepfather, Humbert Humbert, whose descriptions of his feelings for the girl are enough to make your skin crawl.
But the book has been an immense critical and commercial success. Once in print, according to new accounts marking the 50th anniversary of its publication this year, "Lolita" sold more than 100,000 copies in the first three weeks of publication, at the time a feat accomplished by only one other American novel, "Gone With the Wind." It remained No. 1 on the best-seller list for six months. A few years ago, the board of directors of the publishing house Modern Library ranked "Lolita" fourth among the 100 best novels of the 20th century.
Blaes' maneuver is intriguing, and sets the stage for what promises to be an interesting debate next month.
For one thing, unlike Commissioner Randy Harris, who has dismissed Blaes' challenge and others made recently as "playing games," we believe it is utterly appropriate for citizens to test the waters of government policies -- regardless of their motivation.
The curious aspect of this occasion is that Blaes has been joined by someone of the same politically conservative ilk as Harris, the commissioner who was most vocal in objecting to "Eat Me" and in calling for a restricted access section some critics call "the book jail."
Eddie MacCausland, another former library board member with a history of questioning library holdings involving sex, also has appealed Sieg's ruling.
"If the restricted-access designation had no teeth at all, why put it in effect?" he told the Star-Banner recently. "If you are going to have it, we should have to have some understanding how it's going to be used."
Indeed. The public should know how a policy with First Amendment implications works. The public should also know whether some commissioners' stated concern for protecting children, despite the overwhelming lack of evidence anyone of any age has been "harmed" by any library book, is legitimate or just hot air designed to inflate campaign ads
this is my registered name and now you are deleting my comments! what's up with that?
What's up Eddie is that there are two Eddies and one sent us an e-mail saying comments were being made that are not theirs. We know who the other Eddie is and don't know you.
Therefore, suggest you pick a new blogger name, or send us an e-mail identifying yourself and we will try to convince the other blogger named Eddie to change their name.
Newspaper bias against Randy Harris. That’s old news my friend. The Star Banner and a small group of Harris haters have been working together for over 10 years trying to bring him down.
I have said many times that if Harris would just concentrate on what he does best, financial and budget issues, he would get even more support. Most voters have little interest in library book challenges and similar things that he piddles with.
Can Harris be defeated? Yes he can, but not as the pro he is in the local Marion County amateur political league. Perhaps he might lose in a different league.
Below are comments from an Alachua County political blog by a prominent Alachua Democrat. Can the Republicans in Marion County and throughout the rest of the state capitalize on African American party switching?
Head of Orlando NAACP switches to R.
“It sounds like more of a switch for business pragmatism than a change of heart. However, I do think we as Dems have taken the african american vote for granted for far too long. We as Dems seem to treat them as a block and assume they will show up and vote for the Dems.
Here is a demographic you may want to think about: Young African Americans that benefited from the civil rights struggles, but did not go through them. They are educated, and moving up in the corporate world - fast. They attend church (oh no...), and they really want to make sure they are not paying too much in taxes.
Let's look at the Dems through their eyes: You are the party of my parents, you never ask me for my vote, you just assume it is there. I have faced discrimination, but I also know that I am where I am today because I have busted my arse to study and work. I believe in God, and you don't want to even talk about God in your Winter Solstice parties. The drug dealers that are in my community, I hope they go to jail. I mean, I have stayed out of trouble, why can't they follow the rules of society? Also, I want a seat at the table, and the table the Dems occupy is so darn small, I think I want to sit with the big table.
Anyway, here is a theory. As more and more high profile african americans make the switch to Rs (and I think it will happen), it will make it more permissible to do so. This will be a major demographic swing in national politix and local politix.
Dems, you have been warned repeatedly.”
The above might apply to Alachua County but I don't think it would apply in Marion. The Marion Republicans don't seem all that "inclusive" of African Americans.
The motive behind the library book challenge. Very simple, try to discredit R. Harris. All the first amendment stuff in the newspaper article is cover for the real reason.
You got it right!
It sounds like Brad Rogers at the Star-Banner is becoming “Politically Homeless”!
Check out his article:
www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060101/OPINION/201010367/1094/news08
Brad, what say you?
Perhaps most important this year, the Christian Coalition is urging the defeat of a Florida referendum that would promote judicial independence. The Coalition's website urges its supporters to vote against an initiative appearing on the November ballot that would eliminate judicial elections in favor of merit selection in some areas. Repeatedly citing the loss of control by the electorate if the initiative were to pass, the report also supports a constitutional amendment that would allow judicial candidates to discuss their positions on a myriad of controversial issues. The amendment would, in effect, allow them to campaign by promising rulings on cases that could come before them
What's your point? Are the Coalition positions good or bad?
These are new ones to me. But I don't pay much attention to the work of the Christian Coalition.
We do need some way to find out more about judicial candidates.
Anonymous said...
2005 Compassionate Conservative Quotes
"If Al Qaeda comes in here and blows you up, we're not going to do anything about it. We're going to say, look, every other place in America is off limits to you, except San Francisco. You want to blow up the Coit Tower? Go ahead.'" –FOX News Channel's Bill O'Reilly, after San Francisco voted to ban military recruiters from city schools, Nov. 8, 2005
"You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war." --Pat Robertson, calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Aug. 22, 2005
"I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down." --Bill Bennett, former Education Secretary and author of "The Book of Virtues," Sept. 28, 2005
"If you'll look at my lovely FEMA attire you'll really vomit. I am a fashion god… Anything specific I need to do or tweak? Do you know of anyone who dog-sits? … Can I quit now? Can I come home? … I'm trapped now, please rescue me." --Ex-FEMA Director Michael Brown, in various emails to colleagues and friends in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
5:53 AM, January 02, 2006
Too bad none of these are compassionate conservatives.
I guess some quotes from Nancy Pellosi, Ted Kennedy and some of the other compassionate liberals need to also be put on the blog.
You can find idiotic quotes from those on both sides of the political fence.
DOVER, Pa. -- Dover's much-maligned school policy of presenting "intelligent design" as an alternative to evolution was officially relegated to the history books Tuesday night.
On a voice vote, and with no discussion beforehand, the newly elected Dover Area School Board unanimously rescinded the policy. Two weeks earlier, a judge ruled the policy unconstitutional.
Notice how the people who copy those long, anti-Republican articles onto the blog never answer the follow up questions from other bloggers. I guess that’s because they really have no opinion of their own. Bet it is some of the left wingers who have been unsuccessful in getting their liberal message across on the blog.
in totally random order....
ACLU
Bad, because they defend parts of the Bill of Rights
NRA
Good, because they defend parts of the Bill of Rights
Criminal
Someone who breaks the law, unless the law has anything to do with guns, selling arms to Iran, or refusing to pay your taxes. In those cases, you are a...
Victim of society
Any white male, especially a conservative one, who are suffering now more than any other race in all history.
Leech, Welfare bum/queen
Any person on the government dole, EXCEPT for corporations receiving tax write-offs, ranchers and farmers receiving subsidies, and defense contractors.
Libertarianism
Survival of the fittest, and if you don't like it, you don't deserve to survive
Liberal
Anyone who shows human compassion, or reads the New York Times
Christian
Anyone who is a member of the Christian Coalition
Godless Atheist
Anyone who is not a member of the Christian Coalition
The Homosexual Agenda
Gay people exercising their rights to free speech and to petition the government for redress of grievances
Grassroots citizens' movement
Conservative people exercising their rights to free speech and to petition the government for redress of grievances
Republican Party
A political party which welcomes all conservatives, as long as they are pro-life, pro-gun, and anti everything else.
Democratic Party
Communists
Gays, Feminists, Environmentalists, Immigrants, Blacks
These didn't exist until they were invented by liberals back in the 1960's
Washington
The heart of the Evil Empire.
Bureaucrat
A Democrat working for the government.
Public Servant
A Republican working for the government.
Rush Limbaugh
The leading conservative intellectual (do I really need to insert a snide comment here?)
Extremist
Bill Clinton
Moderate
Pat Robertson
Guns and Ammo magazine
Pornography for conservatives
Our Founding Fathers
The true heroes who persevered and founded a nation conceived in liberty, and who also share identical beliefs with Rush Limbaugh.
Religion
What should be taught at public schools instead of science
Evolution
A kooky cult started by Charles Darwin
Jesus Christ
An conservative Republican leader to whom some erroneously attribute the phrases "love thy neighbor" and "turn the other cheek" to.
Ronald Reagan
The greatest President ever.
Abraham Lincoln
Was a Republican when the party began 140 years ago, so he can be forgiven for freeing the slaves and suppressing states' rights.
States rights
The right for individual states to pass conservative laws without interference from Washington. Note: does not apply if states pass liberal laws.
Judicial activism
What liberal judges do.
Sound jurisprudence
What conservative judges do
Pro-lifer
Someone who is strongly in favor of preserving the life of children before they are born, but not afterwards.
Traditional Values
The classic values and morals that made America great, such as lynching blacks, beating up gays, and keeping the "little woman" barefoot and pregnant.
Pro-family politician
Any thrice-divorced Republican congressman late on child-support payments who is against gay marriage
Criminals Rights
Should be ignored unless said criminal is a member of wacko religious cult or is firearms dealer.
Liberal (2)
A conservative who has been arrested
Liberal media
Anything to the left of the American Spectator, G. Gordon Liddy, or Rush Limbaugh
Public Broadcasting
Rush Limbaugh (historical note: Newt Gingrich actually said this!)
Family Values
A mother and father who vote Republican raising two kids who attend a private school in the suburbs and attend a conservative church.
Subversive elements in society
Bookstores, coffeehouses, art galleries, and anything inside the city limits of a major American city.
RKBA
The Right to Kill and Bomb Americans
Special Rights
Constitutional rights for minorities you don't like.
Islamic Fundamentalism
The greatest threat to the Integrity of our Beloved Nation.(Fact: Limbaugh has said this on many an occasion)
Christian Fundamentalism
The greatest hope for the Integrity of our Beloved Nation.
Religion
Conservative Biblical literalism.
Cult
An institution that is not a RELIGION (see above).
Scholarship
Any work such as The Bell Curve, The American Spectator, or The Limbaugh Letter.
Liberal Ideology
Anything espoused in the work of Stephen Jay Gould, Noam Chomsky, or The Nation.
Big Government
Federal social programs that attempt to construct a more rational, fair society.
Proper Government
Billions upon billons of tax dollars wastefully spent on inefficient and otherwise prohibitively costly defense contracts, subsidies and tax breaks for corporations, and "The War on Drugs."
I know this is kind of late, but I just began reading the blog recently and wanted to comment on something that was said about Randy Ewers and the notion that he bought the black vote. I would like to comment that the "black" vote is no different than any other voting block. They get together decide who they will support and work with everyone in they can to promote and support that person. I have known Randy and the Ewers family for 12 years and it saddens me that this man's contribution to the city he lives in is reduced to him paying for the black vote. NOTHING could be further from the truth. Randy took the time to talk with the leaders of the community. He voiced his platform clearly and honestly he put his life out for the public to scrutinize and pick apart. He, his wife, his mother, father, brothers and sisters-in-law give selflessly to this community to try and make a difference which is more that most who are reading this will ever do. They will sit and crtitcise and blame and defame those who are brave enough to step out and give back. Gerald Ergle gave to this community for thirty years. He was a great man, but he knew with each election with each decision there would be the one idiot like the one on this blog who would accuse him of being out for something else, buying someone off. Stop and stand back for a moment and ask what does a man like Randy Ewers have to prove? He could simply choose to continue to work in the field he has chosen, he could stay quitely behind the scenes and lead a peaceful life here. The only thing he has to gain in the position is change. He has a chance to move this city forward and make a difference for all of us. Shame on the person who began the lie about buying votes and shame on those who thoughtlessly followed that person.
Amen!
Unfortunately, things get said during an election that people wish they didn't say. The Ewers comment is probably one of them.
You sound like you have some political experience, so you can understand that.
I noticed there were also some good comments about Ewers on the blog. I do not vote in Ocala, so the comments meant little to me.
agk: that’s because most liberals are way too intelligent to have two-way discussions with the ordinary people like us who use the blog. just check out the foot long comment just below your comment—bobby d of the far left strikes again.
you should understand, these liberal intellectual folks know everything. that’s why they are so influential in local politics.
Someone mentioned Brad Rogers as politically homeless, I doubt it! However, I’m experiencing something locally that may mean even further problems for Brad, and local Democrats. There is less infighting among the Republicans. All of a sudden there is much more togetherness.
Local Dems have used Republican infighting to their advantage in the past. Stats I have seen showed that more local R’s support D’s than the other way around. If the Republicans are able to maintain this togetherness at the local level, that does not seem to exist at the national level, Democrats are going to have a tough time making any headway in 2006 local elections. Especially with the growing number of independent voters who tend Republican.
Just an observation. Elections are still 10 months away.
(A more accurate version of comments appearing above.)
in totally random order…
NRA
Good, because they defend parts of the Bill of Rights.
Criminal
Someone who breaks the law.
Leech, Welfare bum/queen
Any person on the government dole who shouldn’t be.
Libertarianism
Taking personal responsibility.
Christian
Anyone who shows human compassion.
Grassroots Movement
Citizens exercising their rights to free speech and to petition the government for redress of grievances.
Republican Party
A political party which welcomes all who believe in the party’s principals.
Democratic Party
A political party that is opposed to almost everything, especially if it is suggested by a Republican.
Gays, Feminists, Environmentalists, Immigrants, Blacks
These “profiles” didn't exist until they were invented by newspapers back in the 1960's.
Washington
A state on the west coast.
Public Servant
Anyone working for the government.
Ted Kennedy/Nancy Pellosi
The leading liberal intellectuals (do I really need to insert a snide comment here?)
Extremists
Howard Dean and Pat Robertson.
Guns and Ammo magazine
Examples of freedom of the press.
Our Founding Fathers
The true heroes who persevered and founded a nation conceived in liberty.
Religion
What is taught in churches and synagogues.
Evolution
A scientific theory started by Charles Darwin.
Jesus Christ
A religious leader to whom most (Republicans, Democrats and Independents) attribute the phrases "love thy neighbor" and "turn the other cheek" to.
Ronald Reagan
The greatest President ever.
Abraham Lincoln
Was a Republican when the party began 140 years ago.
States rights
The right for individual states to pass laws without interference from Washington D.C.
Judicial activism
What liberal judges do.
Pro-lifer
Someone who is strongly in favor of preserving the life of children before they are born.
Traditional Values
The classic values and morals that made America great. Such as pro marriage, pro family, pro education, etc.
Liberal
A Democrat who is as far left as a few Republicans are far right.
Liberal media
Star-Banner,Gainesville Sun, NY Times, Michael Moore
Constitutional Principles
The greatest hope for the Integrity of our Beloved Nation.
Proper Government
Federal social programs that attempt to construct a more rational, fair society.
I think the second version is more accurate than the first one. Don't know what either really meaans to those reading the blog.
A new study by two leading academic experts suggests that the costs of the Iraq war will be substantially higher than previously reckoned. In a paper presented to this week’s Allied Social Sciences Association annual meeting in Boston MA., Harvard budget expert Linda Bilmes and Columbia University Professor and Nobel Laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz calculate that the war is likely to cost the United States a minimum of nearly one trillion dollars and potentially over $2 trillion.
The study expands on traditional budgetary estimates by including costs such as lifetime disability and health care for the over 16,000 injured, one fifth of whom have serious brain or spinal injuries. It then goes on to analyze the costs to the economy, including the economic value of lives lost and the impact of factors such as higher oil prices that can be partly attributed to the conflict in Iraq. The paper also calculates the impact on the economy if a proportion of the money spent on the Iraq war were spent in other ways, including on investments in the United States.
“Shortly before the war, when Administration economist Larry Lindsey suggested that the costs might range between $100 and $200 billion, Administration spokesmen quickly distanced themselves from those numbers,” points out Professor Stiglitz. “But in retrospect, it appears that Lindsey’s numbers represented a gross underestimate of the actual costs.”
The Allied Social Sciences Association meeting is attended by the nation’s leading economists and social scientists. It is sponsored jointly by the American Economic Association and the Economists for Peace and Security.
I'm really more interested in local and state issues. We all know the war is a controversial issue. Even the local Democrats are split on it. So what is your point?
Congress (Republicans & Democrats) may well pay the price for some of its "out of touch" work...including stuff like a Federal Domestic Benefits Bill (if it passes) which one of the bloggers let us know about.
There well may be some backlash for the Republicans at the national level. I think the local and state levels will be much more business as usual, unless the Democrats come up with a miracle plan.
Clinton, Kerry, Frank and Daschle. What do these Democrats have in common with Republicans? They are some of the high profile politicians who have accepted money from the sleaze ball Jack Abramoff. So Dems don’t get too high and mighty about corruption in Washington.
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