Election Day: We're Almost There!
We are into those last few hectic days before the election. We would like your continued opinions and observations about the election as it nears conclusion. Who do you like, what has bothered you about the campaigns, etc.? Basically, this is an “Open” thread.
Let’s continue the discussion started on the thread below this one; that thread is getting a bit long (200+ posts), so we are giving you a more space to add your comments on see what other bloggers are saying. The final week will likely be filled with surprises and even a bit of controversy. That’s what this thread is all about.
Check out the many comments in the thread below to get up to date on our “County’s Political Direction”. Also, don’t forget to participate in our Straw Poll. Just click on Vote: Current “Straw Poll”, in the “Links” section on the PH blog home page.
Let the discussion continue!
REMINDER: Don’t forget to enter our “pick-the-winners” contest. Give us your winners by November 5.
posted by Blog Master @ 4:23 PM
146 Comments:
If sign coverage means anything, then Harris has Fitos beat by about 20:1.
Sign count won't win it but ballot count will---Go Barbara!
I am guessing another low voter
turnout ... people are just so sick
of the lies and backroom deals.
It's like letting the patients run the asylum.
So John Kerry thinks that you have to be uneducated to be in our U.S. Military. Typical talk from an elitist Democrat. And just so you know we have a couple of these elite type Democrats running for County Commissioner.
The turnout is going to be pretty good. My guess, the sales tax issue will bring people out.
Florida is ranked 49 in SAT
scores.
Only the smartest and/or the wealthiest can afford universities.
There are probably around 25,0000
military families on foodstamps.
Frontline lower ranked troops earn about $16,000 for their sacrifices.
Do they ask you to think in the military? I thought they just trained troops and orders are followed.
The military is an opportunity for
kids of lower income to do more than flip burgers. Sure there
are smart people in the military but the majority of young bright people are not beating down the recruiter's door.
Could be why they keep calling back
troops in their 40s and 50s with
families and many tours of duty already.
Something like 169,000 wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan now facing a lifetime of visits to Veteran's hospitals.
Young people have these choices:
college, military and working at
MacDonalds.
Do you ever ask yourself why so many of the homeless are veterans?
At least when you walk away from 4 years of academics, there is a future.
And John Kerry is another elitist
so who cares what he thinks?
Just another rant on the part of
the Republicans. "Don't pay any attention to the man behind the curtain."
They don't have dummies flying those very expensive military jets.
Via Bob Geiger, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America took a look at 324 legislative votes in the last five years which affected American troops and veterans. Legislative proposals included veterans' benefits, healthcare, and medical research dedicated towards injured soldiers (head injuries, etc.) Based on these votes, IAVA calculated which senators and congressmen had a history of supporting the troops, and which didn't, and graded them on a curve.
You can see the full results at the IAVA website, here. But Bob has put the Senate rankings in order of letter grade, and produced this handy chart. As you'll note, based on the over 300 votes the IAVA used in its calculation, all Senate Democrats have been more supportive of the troops -- when it comes to their actual votes, over the past five years -- than any of the Senate Republicans.
Visit this website for the real
story, not the spin.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/10/24/151337/66
John Kerry's statement doesn't say much for James Walker. Hey Jim are you going to ask for an apology or is Mr. Kerry right. Just curious, just when the Dems thought they had the elections in their pocket, here comes the leader of the Democratic Party killing it for them again. Are you guys sure he is not a spy for the Republicans. And would someone please tell Mr. Kerry there is no draft. So if you do bad in school in America you don't go to work in Iraq, you go to work at McDonalds. Mr. Kerry, please leave the 60's.
The comment by Kerry makes me sick. So many of our military overseas fighting for us and this dick head makes a comment so demeaning to them. Education is more than four years at a university. Too bad Kerry can’t appreciate that. I am usually pretty immune to stupid comments, we get enough of them these days, but Kerry’s really bothers me. I’m not a veteran, but his high brow attitude is typical of what I’m hearing from many Democrats these days. Almost enough to convert me from being politically homeless.
There is the smart student, the average student and the below average student. Even a below average student can get a diploma.
Fact:
The U.S. Army recruited more than 2,600 soldiers under new lower aptitude standards this year.
The Army recruited 80,635 soldiers, roughly 7,000 more than last year. Of those, about 70,000 were first-time recruits who had never served before.
3.8 percent of the first-time recruits scored below certain aptitude levels.
Previously the Army had allowed only 2 percent of its recruits to have these low aptitude scores. That limit was raised last year to 4 percent, the maximum the Defense Department allows.
The Army said all the recruits with low scores had received high school diplomas.
It just doesn't seem that our brightest graduates are into wearing the uniform that bad.
Not if the recruiters are lowering their standards to get their numbers.
It's like Private Benjamin said,
"This isn't the army I signed up for!"
This is not to imply that there are
not some intelligent folks in our
armed services.
With the exception of their Commander-in-Chief of course.
Talk about lowering standards!
Want higher taxes, increased taxpayer spending on non-governmental organizations, more influence of the local elite “rich and famous”, less protection of our children, decline in community moral standards...then vote for Weesner and Fitos.
I have never held the government
accountable for protecting my child or imparting moral values to them. That was, and is my job as a parent!
The government response to victims of Katrina, including plenty of children, should tell citizens that only a fool would rely on government for help.
And as far as increased non-govermental spending, that "faith-based" initiative welfare program has to go.
The government handing out taxpayers money to churches who do not even pay taxes.
And they can decide who to give assistance to based on their faith?
Now they are getting trailers from FEMA that sat empty for over a year
while people sat in hotel rooms waiting for real assistance when they were left with nothing.
So unconstitutional.
Kind of makes the head spin.
More influence of the local rich and famous?? What like John Travolta?
Is that to imply that the poor and
unfamous have had the influence in this community?
Decline in community moral standards?? What handbook is that listed in? Is that in a book we can
get somewhere?
Is there even such a thing?
Is that like publicly attacking a
person and labeling them a known predator, sanctioning local vigilantism in the community?
So what if the elderly parents are victims of harrasement in their own homes, on their own street, and then have to bury their obviously sick and troubled son because of inflamed rhetoric!
Tried and convicted by the ramblings of our local moral arbitrators.
Who needs the police
and judges when the community can hand out their own justice?
Ok, I am going to think some more about influence and morals in our community ...
Sounds like you and John Kerry should go out on the campaign trail together! Are you the left wing version of Randy Harris? You are beginning to sound like it.
So I am guessing there is not a playbook for local community morals?
Are you trying to say that Randy Harris IS the extreme right-wing?
Could be why a lot of local Republicans I talk to feel that their party really has been hijacked!
Might go on the campaign trail with
Russ Feingold but I got to go to
work to pay taxes for a war I don't
support. But that puts me in the
majority.
STRAW POLL UPDATE!
Results as of this morning (321 participants):
GOVERNOR:
Charlie Crist 50%
Jim Davis 36%
Max Linn 14%
COUNTY COMMISSIONER (Dist. #2):
Jim Payton 53%
Darlene Weesner 47%
COUNTY COMMISSIONER (Dist. #4):
Barbara Fitos 49%
Randy Harris 51%
SCHOOL BOARD (Dist. #5):
Ron Crawford 55%
Joyce Romanski 45%
STATE REP. (Dist. #24):
Dennis Baxley 52%
James Walker 48%
STATE REP. (Dist. #22):
Larry Cretul 54%
Macky Thurman 46%
STATE SENATE (Dist. #14):
Ed Jennings 48%
Steve Oelrich 52%
ROAD TAX:
Yes 48%
No 52%
(Final Poll Results: November 5)
My own poll tells me that James Walker has a very good chance to pull off an upset. Got a phone message from him this morning. His TV stuff is good.
Just heard Darlene for the first time, on BobbyD's program...one caller tried to bait her into a war of words...she handled that and herself with aplomb..
her speechifying is a bit pedantic..but..she sounds sincere...
I've never really cared about politics...they don't care about me...but..if I CAN vote for a change...it would be to change the thrust of the GOP...and its attendant lackeys...the RR...and the NRA...build schools not prisons...change the laws that we're using to fill the jails that are proven to be useless and counterproductive...legalize drugs...and let the chips fall..once you remove all the profit motive from all angles of this issue, you'll have less manufactured criminality...I'm all for social responsibility...and there are better ways to acheive such values than to put in place hypocritical and self serving laws and enforcement policies...
WATCH THE DEMS CUT AND RUN ON KERRY JUST LIKE MANY HAVE ON THE WAR.
Just got my tax bill and a mailer from Barbara Fitos.
Barbara, you have my vote!
You're going to get an "I told you so" from PWF.
Weather for Election Day:
79/56
A passing shower.
Sounds like great weather. No excuses not to come out and vote!
anonymous:
thanks for listening to the show
bobby d
i will make my predictions tomorrow if thats ok. im waiting for one more mailout to see what is sent out. i just recieved fitos piece, not impressed. so far nothing from payton, weisner or harris. once i get them tomorrow i will make my picks.
thanks
bobby d
I am surprised by the Fitos campaign in several regards:
1. her mailer is a good hit piece, something like was tried on Harris eight years ago, and was what the Harris haters would claim he would send out. To be truly effective, it was a week early, but I guess they thought they had to do something.
2. her mailer gave no reason to vote FOR her, just reasons to vote against Harris.
3. Her mailed was timed with the tax bills, and whomever said it I will agree. I did tell you so about the tax bills.
4. I did think that truth would have demanded that "king" Randy as the Dems like to say, was unable to get the public to support the road tax eight years sgo when he not only tried, but he introduced the proposal for a road dales tax. Even his personal editorial board doesn't give him credit for making that effort.
5. Does the mailer suggest that the problem must be solved, therefore, after the road tax she opposes fails, she would then vote for property tax for roads for the first time in about 20 years, or impose an additional five cent gas tax????
6. Being a 25 year professional" in any field means nothing. Banker, plumber, printer, pundit . . . what do you stand for and what do you plan to do, regardless of party, six, or whatever.
7. Dont sell the tax bills short, but don't think Kerry's stupid slam at our troops wont bring out the GOP base. Things are starting to clear somewhat in Marion County -- my predictions on the weekend. --pwf
I really hope Charlie Crist comes out of the closet before the election
I am voting against Jim Payton because he lied to me to my face.
Said one thing, did another.
I think Darlene Weesner wants to
preserve the beauty of Marion County and that is admirable. She
would be entertaining to watch and
has good instincts.
I am voting against Harris because he is a misognist.
Barbara Fitos is a businesswomen
and very smart. I think Fitos thinks about issues and really cares about Marion County.
2 women on the Board of County commissioners. It would be
awesome.
Does Harris wear a hairpiece?
On his political mailer, which
looks like a newspaper, he has all
this hair, but on the Babara Fitos
political mailer, that I got today, it has disappeared.
What's up with that?
Maybe his picture on his campaign ad is really really old?
hello:
mr. payton will be on tomorrow on the bobby d show 10am 89.5fm. open lines no call screener, come and listen. mr. baxley on friday 10:30am. i agree with pwf if i was on the fence she gave me no reason to jump off on her side. she made the piece more about mr. harris then about herself. even his picture was bigger than hers.
In this 2 party system we have, sometimes that is all you can do.
Maybe it is not voting for someone
or something but rather voting against someone or something.
Especially in these 50/50 elections.
Voting for the 3rd party is just throwing a vote away.
Not voting is just ignorant.
Unfortunately that makes it easier
to steal elections.
My wife has a friend in Rolling Greens she spoke with today while grocery shopping. She told my wife that she and her RG card club friends were voting for ANY woman who is running. I have heard this quite a bit. Even though it is only 8 RG ladies, female card club members in mass could prove a major factor for the county commission races. I wouldn’t want to be running for a commission spot this year. Randy and Jim, you guys better put it into overdrive!
What is the contest mentioned?
Saw the Fitos piece today. Not bad. Great picture of Randy. Well written. I think it has a positive impact, even without much about Barbara. There's such an anti-incumbent mood out there.
Saw the "book" Harris put out with such great quotes from what must be every person he knows in the county. OVERKILL! No one will read it. Hasn't anyone told him that no one really reads direct mail?
Baxley mail piece wasn't bad, just a lot of fluff. Too much "family values" stuff though, which I really don't think will fly this year. Of course, it was actually done by some PAC. With as much money as he's got, I can't believe how low a profile he's got. A few road signs is about all I've seen. I heard about TV ads but still haven't seen them. He's either polled and realized that he's twenty points ahead of Walker or he's completely fooled himself into believing he's unbeatable.
To answer aa question about Harris' hairpiece. He used to wear one, but stopped for some reason. I heard an allergic reaction was the reason he stopped wearing it.
Jackie,
If no one reads direct mail, why did you remember and comment on the one from Fitos?
No one reads direct mail from candidates they aren't going to vote for is what you should have said.
I received and read the Harris mailer, but still haven't decided who to vote for.
It was appropriate for Kerry to apologize to all service members and Americans who were offended by his botched comments about getting "stuck in Iraq." However, with Bush using multiple deceptions on reality for us to even be in this War, I wonder when will Bush finally apologize? When will Bush apologize to all service members, their families, and civilians on the impacts of this War? When will Bush apologize to all Americans on the billions of deficit dollars, plus interest, spent on a conflict that has resulted in more, and not less terrorists? When will Bush apologize for poor policies that has led to a civil war with no end in site? Mr. Bush, you continue to be multiple years late in apologizing!
I have yet to find one republican or democrat who actually lives in Harris' District that has anything good to say about him. I am unsure how District 4 has voted in the past, but has County-wide voting been the only way Harris has remained in office? Also, what neighborhoods are Harris' yard signs in, as I have yet to see one? Finally, what are some positive reasons, or what has Randy Harris done positively for the County since being in Office?
And I ask you, District 4 Resident, what is Fitos' plan for improving things? I have no confidence that she has one or will be able to get anything done. She will be an empty suit on the board. I'm sticking with Harris.
{ME TOO}
I grew up as a teenager during the Vietnam War and saw on tv all those bodybags flown back to the U.S. everyday.
Probably why this adminsitration censors media covering that kind of thing.
I just read how the Air Force is asking for more money from the Pentagon to fly the dead and wounded back from the middle east because of the increase in violence.
I remember how divided the country was and the anger directed at the troops during the Vietnam War. I think America has grown up and understands the sacrifices the troops and their families make to honor their oath to this country.
It's the men in Washington, riding in limousines, attending fundraisers and cracking jokes that make me sick.
Democracts too are fighting to increase benefits to the troops and veterans. The same thing with trying to get them outfitted with better helmets and equipment to protect them.
I am a pacifist and think this war is a travesty but I think the only solution at this point is to continue to increase the number of U.S. and coalition troops and maybe put this war to rest.
At the same time we know this conflict is a civil war, has been for thousands of years. Can we really affect a change? I suppose
if we kill everyone there.
I am a Democrat and pray everyday for our troops and their families.
I pray for our leaders to have compassion in their hearts for our troops and make the right choices.
We should all honor the sacrifices troops have made. We need to give them total support when they come home, especially the maimed and wounded. Give them employment, shake their hands, thank them.
It is true the Democrats have bleeding hearts!
The middle east is what happens
when government is a theocracy,
and women's voices are silent.
Don't get me wrong, I am fed up with the way Bush and Rumsfeld are running this war, and I just can't see us winning this thing the way things are going. But, I hate the way the Dems in DC are politicizing the war. Kerry's comments were a slap in the face to everyone who has ever worn the uniform.
I wish John Kerry would just go away. He did everything possible to lose his own race and now he's trying to lose mine and every other Democrat's.
Hey Walker, been seein' your sign wavers all over the place! Great job - hope you win this thing!
Also, right on on the Kerry thing!
Kerry's remarks taken in context were about Bush not the troops.
It's the republican lies spin
machine making it about the troops.
They should be ashamed of themselves. They are making the
war political.
Kerry is marginal in my eyes.
Don't worry I will still vote for you.
Keith Olbermann's commentary piece posted on MSNBC got it right.
Of corse, Fox news is going to spin
it from now until Tuesday but is
anybody paying attention to them
anymore?
Reminder: Pick the Winners Contest--Open to ALL Bloggers.
Predict the winners in the November 7 elections (the same candidate match ups and sales tax issue as in our Straw Poll); including the percent of the vote each will receive. Post your predictions before November 5.
We have opened the competition to anyone who provides their “real name”. Just post your predictions using your name (first and last) and indicate that you want to enter the competition.
If contest entrants pick all the same candidates, the tiebreaker will be the one whose WINNERS are closest to the actual percentage vote.
The winner gets a $20 gift certificate to Bob Evans, compliments of the Politically Homeless Blog.
Bush is so out of touch he doesn't
even know when someone is bashing him!
"Sen. Kerry told the students that he had been in TEXAS the day before, that President Bush used to live in that state, but that now he lives in the state of denial.
He said the trip had reminded him about the value of education — that “if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you can get stuck in Iraq.”
Don't see where our troops were mentioned.
The senator, in essence, called Mr. Bush stupid."
This president has coasted through life on nepotism and family name and power. Big business corporate monies putting him where he is.
And let's not forget the close knit ties to the Saudi Royals the Bush family have used to increase their wealth.
He is in way over his head and led
around on a chain by Cheney, Rumsfeld, and James Baker.
You know, the usual suspects!!
Kerry has nothing to apologise for.
My son serves in the military and was in Afghanistan. He is now stateside, thank God. I find John Kerry’s comments disgusting. My son is not a college graduate, but I believe he has better intelligence than Kerry. And, I would add, some of the other Democrat leaders. James Walker being a possible local exception.
And so is BUSH!
It sounds like for some people it is just easier to believe what they hear from a talking head than to really listen to what was said,
and think for themselves.
Is it news or just sensationalism
for ratings? Add a little bias,
stir, mix, and spoon feed it as
the real deal!
It sounds like some people just
buy what talking heads sell f
Possible GOOD NEWS for the Politically Homeless:
Regardless of which party wins control of the House and Senate on Nov. 7, moderate members stand to emerge with the most political (clout), since the likely narrow margin will leave little room for ambitious agendas, say political prognosticators.
"I think the greater middle is going to prevail and it's going to be more influential in the 110th Congress," said Mark Wrighton, associate professor of politics at the University of New Hampshire. "I think there are some members out there who are quite excited by the possible opportunities they might have.”
Sarah Chamberlain Reznick, executive director of the Republican Main Street Partnership, which represents moderate Republican elected officials across the country, including eight senators and 48 House members, says her group is poised for a revival of sorts. (From a Fox News report)
How will the far left and right ever live with the moderates calling the shots!
Thinking about Diversity...I reviewed again this morning the Quick Fact Stats of the County at Ocala.com and compared them to the General Election Ballot, as I like to see if our elected officials will be a representation of our local population. Just taking into account the diversity of race and gender, and rounding the numbers from the 2004 Census: 79% of the County was non-Hispanic White, 12% Black, 7% Hispanic, and 1% Asian & 1% Native American; also, 52% Female & 48% Male. Even if all the Women win this General Election, there will still be a major lack of diversity in regards to race and gender of our elected officials. AN IDEA, in regards to how to make the County Commission more diverse, would be to reduce the ratio of Citizens to Commissioner. For example, instead of the current 61,000 Citizens to 1 Commissioner, we could change the number of County Commissioners to 9, and have the number be a more direct representative number of 33,000:1, etc. Personally, I would feel more empowered that my voice mattered regarding local issues important to me, and would feel more compelled to become active on local issues. DOES anyone know how other counties compare in regards to the ratio of Citizens served per Commission Member?
I received Randy’s newsletter yesterday. Actually, even though he is not one of my favorites, it is pretty good. Must say that when you discount his contentious personality, you can’t argue with the record he has.
Fitos really scares me. It’s a case of the devil you know versus the one you don’t. I saw her at a political forum and she is a bit too uppity for my tastes (worse than Randy).
All this political diversity stuff is crap. What needs to happen is that many Democrats need to come out of the closet and admit who they are. The issue is getting good candidates and not diversity. Fitos and Weesner---too much the same old, same old.
Under different circumstances, not facing a call up to active duty, James Walker would have been a very good opponent for Harris. Better than against Baxley, in my opinion. I think he would beat Harris. However, the Dems had their proverbial heads up their a..
on this one.
Even some people in our liberal community up north in Gainesville are upset with Kerry (letter in the Gainesville Sun):
“Shame on Kerry”
John Kerry's comments about our brave men and women in arms was totally off color. Keep in mind that this was a presidential nominee in 2004 for the Democratic Party. His complete disdain for our brave soldiers makes me even firmer in my convictions against him and the Democrats. Shame on him.
Justin Brand,
Gainesville
Closet Democrats in Marion County. You bet, and they also are sitting on tons of money. Too bad they don't have the same dedication to sharing it for political causes that some of the poorer Republicans do. Now that would change things.
Can't wait for November 7!
Don't think we are going to see any surprises or upsets.
I just received the Citizens for Responsible Road Improvement mailer. I do not know who this group is, but they need to become more responsible in their mailings.
The mailer is a false presentation of the situation, and will cause me to lean further toward voting against the sales tax this year. I supported the one eight years ago.
The mailer reads, “The County Commission will have no choice but to place the burden squarely on the shoulders of Marion County property owners through increased property taxes . . .” Quite respectfully, that it a false statement on its face. A similar sales tax was defeated eight years ago, and no property taxes were increased. To the contrary, property tax rates have actually declined in the last eight years.
The county commission does have other financing methods available to use: a five cent gas tax that does not require voter approval; higher impact fees; a combination of the impact fees and gas taxes; the real possibility that the state will begin to fulfill its own responsibility in building arterial roads and repairing the massive network of roads they turned over to counties without funds to maintain them several years ago, and a combination of all of these.
The mailer statement that is will cost property owners 10 times more annually” is nothing but a scare tactic that is also false. There is a maximum millage that can be levied for roads and it does not come near 10 times what would be paid in the sales tax. And that would mean commissioners, having seen voter rejection about the sales tax, chose to go against the people who put them in office by leving a new tax.
The sales tax four years ago was successful because the mailers told the truth, did not attempt to scare anyone, and offered an accurate description of the process and the facilities. The current effort, far too late to be successful, deserves rejection. I have just decided to vote no. -- pwf
Who did the printing for the County's mailer on the road tax?
awright...here goes...kerry ain't too bright...he says stuff that's stoopid...he DID go to the Nam...AWOL did NOT....and he NEVER says anything that doesn't sound stoopid...
if you are offended by Kerry's remarks...YOU'RE stoopid...the damned war in Iraq is in and of itself a political ruse to demonstrate strength...Where is the planning and where is the accountability for the lack thereof? The Bu$htapo LIED to get there...and they are STILL LYING...
This blog is about LOCAL elections...if you think that Kerry's comments should affect your vote for County Commissioner...well...I think you've already decided that you'll vote for the GOP no matter what the hell they do...Just ask yourselves...what part of this DC group is 'conservative'?
someone mentioned that Harris is a misogynist...I'd counter that the Bible is misogynist...just as is and are the other major religions...women are not leaders of the respective 'faiths'....religion is the bane of our existence...we're fighting about ideas for goodness sake...we're killing each other...because the ideas have polarized us, divided us, and yes dehumanized us and those with whom we fight...just on the level of politics in America, we see that the rhetoric is escalating to the point of violence between the Democrats and the Republicans...let alone that we have avowed radical enemies from outside our illusory enclave of freedom.
Well, folks, it's official. I've been out-fundraised 10 to 1. Conventional wisdom says I'm toast. Ask me on Wednesday morning what I think about the conventional wisdom.
Sorry, my fault!
I read it the header on this blog that it was for marion county voters. I don't just vote for county commissions; but also for school board, representatives, judges, state officials, and amendments, and in 2 years for the President of the United States.
Some of these offficials work in
Tallahassee, and Washington.
We also have a federal budget (some of it from taxes I pay)
and the money in Washington is suppose to roll downhill to the states.
{It unfortunate since 2002 it all is going to the pentagon and middle east]
Actually I think the County Commissioners mostly run for offices.
They have a County Adminsitrator
and lawyers, and employees who do
the work for the citizens of this
county.
Mostly they get to sit and talk about what they are not going to do.
I didn't start the thread on Kerry.
He is marginal to me.
I didn't vote for him in the last election but did vote for John Edwards -- and against Bush/Cheney!
1 out of 4 I suppose.
Well if the ladies take the county
commission race, you all should have LOTS to talk about.
James Walker shouldn't worry.
It is not about the size and number of political signs trashing our scenery, or the negative calls the phone banks can make.
It's about who you are and what you stand for.
I read all mailers of all the political candidates.
People are really tired of the desperate campaigns, and the obvious money behind them.
I promise you, Monday I will mention you to as many people I speak with and remind them you are
running against Dennis Baxley.
Good Luck!
I am hoping there is a large voter
turnout of people who are just tired of the direction our country is going.
Marion County is growing and so are
the demographics.
I agree
new leaders fresh ideas
The bible was misognist?
I knew that
It was written like 2000 years ago
camels and goats were probably treated better than women,
and in some parts of the world, still are.
I probably would have been burned
at the stake
Baxley 53%
Walker 47%
Good try but no dice!
Since "gay" and "coming out" has been posted recently...
As an Out Magazine subscriber, I have always believed it is upon the individual themselves to decide their level of "coming out" in their public and private lives. Also, it is well recognized that visibility increases understanding, and that homophobic individuals use fear and hate to keep individuals quiet and alone.
There is an exception to this "outing" rule, as it deals with...
"Hypocrisy," [as described] is the act of pretending or claiming to have beliefs, feelings, morals or virtues that one does not truly possess or practice (as sited on Wikipedia.com).
In the latest sign of rank hypocrisy among social conservatives, the president of the 30-million member National Association of Evangelicals has resigned amidst accusations that he had a relationship with a male prostitute. Ted Haggard, who is married with five children, is a frequent adviser to the White House, and a staunch advocate of banning marriage rights for gays and lesbians (as sited on Huffingtonpost.com).
Are all homophobic Republicans secretly gay?
Who said a Inter-local government
system has to be nine members.
How about seven?
I can't predict who those would be.
Marion County does seem to favor
the testosterone.
Maybe why the political landscape
has become so SEX-OBSESSED?
Men with power ... hows that going?
Ted Haggard said he was more tempted by the meth than the gay
sex so that's ok right?
11 veterans of the afghanistan and
iraq wars are running for seats in the house.
10 are democrats, 1 republican.
If they do well maybe we can get some real perspective on the 'war on terror' in washington
they can get back to talking about benefits for the troops --instead of trying to cut benefits
to veterans, which is what republicans are doing
I wonder how John McCain survived
all those years as a prisoner of war, the torture and all.
When the republicans attacked him,
he rolled over for them.
Is it possible politics is the best form of torture there is?
As for "stoopid" troops; That ain't
right.
It seems to me most of the 'stoopid' run for office
Did anyone see HBOs Hacking Democracy?
This documentary exposes the vulnerability of computers - which count approximately 80% of America's votes in county, state and federal elections - suggesting that if our votes aren't safe, then our democracy isn't safe either.
Anonymous asked:
Who did the printing for the County's mailer on the road tax?
8:11 PM, November 03, 2006
It is my understanding that the contract for the printing and mailing for the COUNTY's mailer -- not the three scare mailers you received this week, was awarded to a company called CMI, Inc.
I use them for all of my mailing. They are the best, and do millions in volume from throughout Florida, including many out of county politicians.
I don't know who printed the three scare mailers that came this week. They were financed by private money and, I assume, written by private sources. I serriously doubt that Gen. Howard or the county commission would have approved the false statements included in them.
--pwf
The Harris newspaper was like
reading the funny papers
Some posted about increasing the number of commissiners from five to nine, and someone then asked why nine, why not seven.
The only way to incraese the number of commissioners would be to adopt a County Charter. This process requires the county commission to approve (either on their own initiative or by approving a citzens initiative) to create a charter commission of, as I recall 15 or 18 members who then meet over a period of several months and develop a proposed charter. The County Commission would then call an election and submit the charter to the voters. and a simple majority (50% plus one vote) would approve or deny the charter.
The number of commissioners and the manner in which districts would be drawn would be included in the proposed charter, along with things like which, if any, constitutional officers would be included, how the government would operate, etc -- it would be the county's "constitution."
A proposed charter was developed about 14-15 years ago, and submitted to the voters. "Everyone" assumed it would go down to defeat, and it was hard to come up with money to promote it. It narrowly lost -- just a few hundred votes, maybe a 1,000 or so. Had anyone suspected it would be that close, more money to promote it would have easily been raised, and we would probably have a charter government now.
One of the major debates at that time was reducing the then $30,000 plus county commission salary to $18,000. My interest at that time was to make service on the county commission a policy making, public service body. I would have removed all benefits like retirement and insurance. I lost that fight, and today the salaries are $75,000 plus 48 percent or so in benefits.
BUT just because you incraese the number of commissionesr does not mean the result would be the same. One of the things that startles most people is when peopele get elected they most frequently act in the same manner as their predecessors: they want to get re-elected, they want their pension benefits, their insurane, their parking place, etc. Some are different, but they are far and few between. --pwf
Below is a great post from someone on the St. Pete political blog. It really applies to the “ranting” Anonymous blogger on this blog who seems to despise Republicans.
“Man you liberals are getting really nasty now. Time is running out, Davis is losing, and you are desperate to get the governorship back. Get as nasty as you want, us republicans will be gloating louder, nastier, and longer than you can imagine.
The media, they will get their due. When Crist is governor, he will have these libelous and slanderous rumor spreaders sued for every dime they own.
And we will rule over the democrats with an iron fist. Just wait and see how little democrats get through this state and passed. It will be almost NOTHING.
So have your fun, keep screaming about Crist, keep trying to bring it out to bring him down, and see how little power you dems will have left after Crist wins. I will be here, for months, and elsewhere, for months, ripping you liberal slanderous democrats apart.”
I have a dream. Those running for the County Commissioner position ALL commit to serving only one term. The three Commissioners not running this time commit that they WILL NOT run for reelection when their current term is up.
Wouldn’t it be great to have Commissioner decisions made on the basis of what’s right for all the people and not just what gets you reelected? I bet you a large (super-sized) pizza from Snappy’s that we would see many more high quality and better long-range decisions. Oh well, I can dream can’t I?
AGK, you will enjoy this. There was a candidate for Congree running 18 years ago who said, and I quote:
"I am not a professional politician. I want to go to Washington and serve for three or four terms and come home and run my businesses."
He now owns no businesses, and is running for his tenth term in Congress.
No, I am not fighting him. I just remember this strong statement that may well say something about your dream.
As long as we provide pensions for them, they will stay for as long as it tgakes to get a good payout, or until they are voted out.
I would rather pay $100,000 for a county commissioner and no benefits and get strong business oriented people with a strong track record who want to serve the public than to pay $75,000 plus $50,000 in beenfits and have no qualifications. Matter of fact, they just ought to let you and me appoint them. How about that. --pwf
I received a pro-road tax mailer this week from Citizens for Responsible Road Improvements. I was not surprised because I had seen their financial reports and expenditures and thought it looked like they would be using direct mail.
They are registered as a political committee with the Supervisor of Elections as provided for under state law. Since their scope is limited to a ballot issue, they can legally expressly advocate the passage or defeat of a ballot issue while not being subject to the $500 per person per election contribution limit that applies to candidate campaign accounts and to political committees expressly advocating the defeat or election of candidates.
I don’t have the report that was due from them yesterday, but I have all their previous reports. Through October 13, they had raised $44,050 with the largest single contribution being $5,000. The contribution list is narrowly focused on development interests. They are basically the development people who are prominent on the contribution lists of the two incumbent county commissioners.
I might have to stop posting on this blog because Cheney said:
"It doesn't matter what the public thinks"
Thanks for the rant.
Despise Republicans?
What is the current defintion of a Republican?
Some of my best friends including my husband of 30 years are republicans.
I can't think of one republican candidate he is voting for Tuesday.
It isn't because I sprinkled with
fairy dust and cast a spell over
him either.
http://cagle.com/news/JohnKerryJoke/5.asp
If Independents are going 50-50, and there is mostly party line voting, Mr. Walker currently has around a 3,000 vote defecit to overcome due to Early Vote and Absentee returns.
Of course, this says all the Republicans are voting for Baxley and the Democrats for Walker (not true.) But, if there are a lot of moderate Republicans sick and tired of Mr. Baxley's "moral guidance" as I heard one blogger say, Mr. Walker may very well have this one in the bag.
My prediction (I love decimals):
Baxley 49.7%
Walker 50.3%
I think this one's gonna be a squeaker!
Well I have been asked to make some preditions, as a former junket rep. for the sands casino and former professional sports handicapper i'll do my best.
These arent my personal endorsements, you can read those on my website. bobbydshow.com. these are my predictions.
Governor:
The two debates hurt crist but not enough for him to lose the election, just get more people to vote third party
crist 49%
davis 47%
linn 3%
other 1%
Senate: Republicans left harris out on a vine to die, shame on them.
Nelson 53%
Harris 46%
Other 1%
State Rep. 24: Walker tried hard and a democrat in ocala finally got some support. baxley is just too strong and i think that people arent going to vote for walker knowing hes going oversees
Baxley 54%
Walker 46%
State Rep. Cretul/ Thurman
This is an interesting race. Lets not forget the last time larry had an opponent he won by a handful of votes, under 100 if im not mistaken. Thurman is not qualified but he has the bloodline that some like, especially the liberals. larry has tried to make friends with some of the left in gainsville but i think his stance on same sex insurance coverage is going to bring out the big lefties at u of f.
Cretul 52%
Thurman48%
Marion County School Board:
Joyce Romanski is a nice lady but the more she campaigns the more she shows she doesnt understand the system.
Crawford 56%
Romanski 44%
State Senate: Jennings/Olrich.
olrich has recieved tons of money from vegas, i wonder why? lol. vegas gets what vegas wants.
olrich 55%
jennings 45%
Marion County Commissioner: Harris/Fitos.
Fitos is suppose to be the savior for the dem. party, the problem is that fitos has been underground since her lose in the dem primary the last time she ran. she had some things going for her, this is the year of the women, the star banner continues to bash harris, harris has been there 12 years and 16 might be just too many for some. but fitos made some big blunders, that i think will cost her the election. for the last few years she has made no noticable public statements against anything the county commissioners have done wrong. she mailed a negative mail piece and the picture of harris is bigger than her own on the mail piece, bad decision, and gave no solutions, she used a comment by brad rogers as a back handed endorsement, they havent pick a winner in so long they stopped endorsing candidates, she publicly said she is pro choice and goes to a catholic church and as a catholic this is a huge no no and this is running like wildfire through the catholic community and i know priests that are personally telling people you cant vote for pro choice politicians. plus she also said publicly she is for erotic material in the public library, this is still a conservative town. despite all her mistakes it will still be close
Harris 51%
Fitos 49%
County Commissioner: Payton/Weisner
I believe this is going to be the race of races. People who are on the fence want to change the commission but know that they cant have fitos and weisner on the same commission. Payton has big money but weisner has the sympathy vote, she is a women and she is highly educated so when she speaks in public she sounds great. she is an expert on the enviroment issues and always talks about them, and people like that. she has limited funds but got a big surge the past two weeks. she is touting herself as a fiscal conservative and was a republican most of her life until a few years ago. she will get the senior vote, she gets all the dems and the independents who want change. i will vote for payton but i am calling the big upset
Weisner 50% + 1
Payton 50%
Road tax
yes 51%
no 49%
homeowners dont want to pay more property tax and want the bills to be spread out.
thank you for letting me participate
bobby d
I believe the road tax is going to pass. The pro-tax group has done a great job in getting out the word. I have spoken to many people who are under the impression (even though it is not true) that a NO vote means a definite increase in property taxes. This scare tactic is working.... like it or not PWF!
Bobby D may have this one correct.
Looking forward to hearing PWF predictions as well as those of other bloggers. I'm still undecided on a couple of the races.
bobby d predictions:
sorry guys i forgot the most important race in the county.
Belleview City Commissioner:
Christine Dobkowski/Paul Anderson
This is an interesting race and possibly the start of a political career for a highly motivated and highly educated mother of seven. Anderson has been in city goverment for over 25 years, which i think is to his disadvantage in this election, he is also running against a woman, who unlike most of the canidates in other races, is active in the city goverment already, planning and zoning board and city code committee. she has also attended most of the commission meetings in the last year and has kept up with the issues. she has been so visable that the star banner regularly calls her to comment on specific issues happening in the city, so she already has name recognition. in a recent article when former mayor barstow publicy stated that her marriage to radio talk show host bobby d was a detriment to her campaign because of the alcohol issue, she boldy stated her stance on that issue was different to that of the controversial talk show host. she has campaigned hard, and has recieved enough campaign contributions to place a 1/2 page ad in the local voice newspaper for the last 5 weeks, has campaigned at all of belleviews big public events over the past 2 months, has great credentials, graduated summa cum laude from st.leo with a degree in crimonology, from loyola new orleans with a masters in pastoral studies and is a homeowner and business owner all while homeschooling her 7 children. plus sent out a professionally done mail piece by CMI (one of the best) with an endorsment by Sue Mosley. But her best credential is that she has to put up with her husband. for that alone she should get everyones vote. lol
Dobkowski 60%
Anderson 40%
I believe it will be closer but if i dont want to sleep with the dogs in the dog house i better make it sound good.
thanks again guys for letting me participate.
in all seriousness, she is the best person for the job
bobby d
Bush Slips Up:
Says "The Only Way We Can Win Is To Leave Before The Job Is Done"...
A Yale graduate and so stooopid!
Yeah, just about as bad as a Yale grad who faked his pourple heart, and has thrown more goof balls than any guy in politics I have ever seen . . . . John Kerry!
--pwf
Let's all admit it and get off this subject. Neither Bush nor Kerry could win an award as a "mental giant".
Someone mentioned that a Fitos mailer had used a Brad Rogers article as sort of an endorsement. Don't get to plussed, Randy Harris used no less than 10 articles from the Star Banner to support his positions. What's good for one is good for the other.
I finally agree with Bobby D on something---his election predictions.
Citizens for a Better Central Florida have just plastered Harris:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYH5Wx-i_lk
Some background on the group that "plastered" Harris:
Chairman of the Organization: William Scot Richards (Address Gainesville)
Contributors (total of $3200):
Brian Creekbaum--$1500
Mary Lutes--$100
Jane Costello--$1600
Do the names of some of the contributors sound familiar? Anti-Harris folks to the core!
You better believe it, Jim! I'm a fiscal conservative, and I don't like politicians wasting my money.
By the way, all of those who provided funding for this ad are longtime residents of Marion County.
Now, Jim, go look at the ad and the information in it and attempt to use your brain. By that I mean, see if you are capable of examining the information in the ad independent of who paid for it. I'm know this will be a strain, but give it a try.
If you need some time and would like to report back after Tuesday, that will be fine with me.
anonymous said:
the difference between harris using the star banner and fitos, is that harris used it in a positive way for himself. fitos used it in a neg. way and against harris, not for herself. neg. ads don't work in local politics.
Tell Parnell Townley that "negative" ads don't work in local politics.
Every political race is about differences between candidates. Everything "positive" about one candidate is an implied "negative" about the opponent.
I’m less concerned with whether an ad is “negative” than whether it is truthful and relevant. That’s the problem with what Harris and his independent helper are doing in print in the Star-Banner. They are trying to convince people that Fitos opposed a library proposal that Harris made after the library advisory board was abolished and Fitos was gone from the scene. Their ads are false.
Harris lectures a lot about morality, but the observable fact is that, when he gets in a pinch, he lies.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
I recently asked Greg Slay, Director of the Ocala-Marion County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), whether the county government mounted as much marketing effort for the sales tax for roads in 1998 as we have seen in 2006. His answer was “no.” He remarked that the county commission did not even decide until late September of 1998 to put a sales tax for roads on the ballot.
Doesn’t sound like very good planning to me, waiting until so late to put a financing issue before the voters on a critically important long-range issue. The TPO put out a long-range transportation plan update in 1996 that showed a significant projected financing shortfall. Why did it take our elected leaders until two years later to decide to put a financing method on the ballot? I distinctly recall people remarking in 1998 that after the sales tax for roads was put on the ballot it sat their like an orphan with little in the way of support from county commissioners.
As Slay remarked to me, a lot of the projects now under consideration for financing are the same projects that were in the plan in the mid 1990’s, and everybody who has been paying attention knows that the road building costs have gone through the roof since then.
The lack of leadership on this issue has cost us a fortune. Harris would have to hassle General Howard about an awful lot of work boots provided to employees at no charge to make up for the financial consequences of his failed leadership on roads. By leadership, I mean leadership that gets results. Bottom line: The people in charge have cost us a fortune by not getting the job done.
hey brian:
good point about townley but wasnt the neg. ads paid for by a political action committe. not stan, big difference. and was it more that mclain won because yandel took too many points away from townley. also this library issue about pornographic books in the library is an easy one to ride to the bank. by townley taking the side of the advisory board, which was for the books, it killed him. fitos has also stated publicly that she believes that erotic materials in the public library are ok. this is a difficult position to defend. this is worse than townleys stance, which was just for the board. fitos is actually for using tax payers dollars to purchase erotic materials. and using the censorship line is so faulty even the citizens who dont follow the issues know thats incorrect. if it were censorship the books wouldnt be printed. if a new library director was hired tomorrow and decided to take all those books out or better yet decided never to purchase a book like eat me again, nothing would happen. some radical group would sue and maybe they would win but it would be no big deal. keeping this is issue on the table only hurts the liberals. brian i would love to talk to you about this on the radio and take callers and see how you answer some of their questions. how about it lets do it this week. also i had fitos on the radio for 2 hours and i cant recall how she said she was going to get the money for the roads. come on brian, you are a sharp guy i would love for you to come on the radio and whip my ass. who knows we might make it a montly thing. wouldnt that be fun. let me know. bobbyd
Aren't those books that Harris had the problem with still there on the shelves? If I was Fitos I would have hammered Randy on the censorship thing this entire campaign. There's only a small minority, maybe 25% of the electorate who really thinks the commission should be deciding what we're allowed to read.
anonymous:
its not about what you can read but what we should be paying for. when you ask people, especially those with children, do you want your tax dollars going to buy erotic materials and have it placed in the public library? your telling me that 75% of the people in the county are going to say yes, no way. in 1998 the county couldnt get the people to ok a one penny sales tax to make our roads better. this is the issue, the county commissioners dont believe that we should be spending tax payers money on these books. if fitos used this as her platform it would have been a blow out for harris. the county commissioners made a compromise and made a restricted library card, it was a good compromise. why the pro porn people keep bringing this up is beyond me, not really. erotic material can be observed and purchased any day of the week in marion county, at convience stores and book stores. you just have to open your wallet and buy it yourself. might be a good question for the blog. "should taxpayers money be used to purchase pornographic material" then a follow up, if it is purchased, should people under 18 have unlimited access to it. who knows this blog might finally put a end to this issue.
bobby d
There is a world of difference between erotic and obscene.
Have you ever read some of those Harlequins romances the old ladies read?
Steamy stuff!!
Some classical art might be considered erotic.
Probably why Ashcroft draped the sculpted penis' in Washington in
socks.
I am in the library often and have yet to find any pornographic material.
Do you remembered how they classify
it?
My daddy always told me the Vatican had the most extensive
pornographic art collection in
the world.
Too bad they don't share it with
the priests so they will keep their
hands off the children.
hey
what is wrong with you guys. we are talking about the political side of this issue. you guys talk about freedom and then when i write stuff its blah, blah, blah. i thought its called freedom. what does the vatican have to do with the county commission. pornographic, erotic, whats the difference, call it what you want. in the library it is called the erotic section, at least thats what barbara fitos said. my point is plain and simple. which is if you ask people if tax dollars should go to purchase erotic books and if they are purchased should kids under 18 be able to access them. also i didnt bring up the library stuff, i was just responding to an issue. and if you are going to talk about the priest issue get the facts. over 80% of the incidents were homosexual encounters dealing with young adults with young priests. not that its justified and most of the priests are already dead so no way to prove it. as far as me ranting about pornography, if you dont think its a problem in america today you havent done your homework. just look at all the guys molesting our kids today. plus i never said that people dont have the freedom to view pornography or read erotic books it just shouldnt be subsidized by the taxpayer. once again the blogmaster should make a poll question. should taxpayer money be used to purchase erotic books and should it be accessable to minors. and ill say it again if fitos would have used the library as her main campaign issue she would have got thumped. lighten up guys. be a little more tolerant of other peoples thoughts. if people have the freedom to read erotic material people have the freedom to say it shouldnt be paid for by the taxpayer.
bobby d
For a County our size, I have been generally satisfied with the selection of the materials that our library carries, and this is from someone with a diverse genre of reading. If I don't find a book I am interested in reading, I request it via interlibrary loan (see the Florida Electronic Library). I am not sure I understand fully the District's purchasing policies, yet I have not necessarily felt a subject matter as being avoided. If I had heard, I would definitely donate a book to the library if it was a title that has received widespread acclaim, but was not being purchased due to the library being afraid to have it on its shelves due to what extremists like Randy Harris thought. I wonder if anyone has noticed any changes in independence or purchasing after the Commission's jerking of their authority?
I wanted to correct an apparent link that bobby d associated in his last post, as his statement could be ascertained as being prejudiced:
Originally published in “In the Family” magazine Fall, 2003
Q: I've heard therapists say that a male adult who sexually abuses a boy isn't necessarily ‘homosexual.' This seems confusing: If he isn't homosexual, then why would he sexually molest boys, instead of girls?
This is a very good question, and there are several ways to respond to it. First, we need to clarify our definitions. When discussing sexual abuse and molestation of children, there's often conflict over terminology. One frequently quoted researchers on the topic of homosexuality and child molestation, Gregory Herek, a research psychologist at the University of California, defines pedophilia as "a psychosexual disorder characterized by a preference for prepubescent children as sexual partners, which may or may not be acted upon." He defines child sexual abuse as "actual sexual contact between an adult and someone who has not reached the legal age of consent." Not all pedophiles actually molest children, he points out. A pedophile may be attracted to children, but never actually engage in sexual contact with them. Quite often, pedophiles never develop a sexual orientation toward other adults.
Herek points out that child molestation and child sexual abuse refer to "actions," without implying any "particular psychological makeup or motive on the part of the perpetrator." In other words, not all incidents of child sexual abuse are perpetrated by pedophiles. Pedophilia can be viewed as a kind of sexual fetish, wherein the person requires the mental image of a child--not necessarily a flesh-and-blood child--to achieve sexual gratification. Rarely does a pedophile experience sexual desire for adults of either gender. They usually DON'T identify as homosexual–the majority identify AS heterosexual, even those who abuse children of the same gender. They are sexually aroused by youth, not by gender. In contrast, child molesters often exert power and control over children in an effort to dominate them. They do experience sexual desire for adults, but molest children episodically, for reasons apart from sexual desire, much as rapists enjoy power, violence and controlling their humiliated victims. Indeed, research supports that a child molester isn't any more likely to be homosexual than heterosexual.
-end-
In fact, some research shows that for pedophiles, the gender of the child is immaterial. Accessibility is more the factor in who a pedophile abuses. This may explain the high incidence of children molested in church communities and fraternal organizations, where the pedophile may more easily have access to children. In these situations, an adult male is trusted by those around him, including children and their families. Males are often given access to boys to mentor, teach, coach and advise. Therefore, a male pedophile may have easier access to a male child. In trying to make sense of an adult male's sexually abusing a male child, many of us mislabel it as an act of homosexuality, which it isn't.
Feminists have argued for years that rape is not a sex act–it is an act of violence using sex as a weapon. In the same way, a pedophile abusing a child of the same sex is not perpetrating a homosexual act, but an act of violence and exploitation using sexuality. There is a world of difference between these two things, but it requires a subtle understanding of the inner motivation of the abuser.
To call child molestation of a boy by a man "homosexual” or of a girl by a man "heterosexual" is to misunderstand pedophilia. No true pedophile is attracted to adults, so neither homosexuality nor heterosexuality applies. Accordingly, Herek suggests calling men's sexual abuse of boys "male-male molestation" and men's abuse of girls, "male-female molestation."
Interestingly, Anna C. Salter writes, in “Predators, Pedophiles, Rapists and other Sex Offenders”, that when a man molests little girls, we call him a "pedophile" and not a "heterosexual." Of course, when a man molests little boys, people say outright, or mutter under their breath, "homosexual. Herek writes that because of our society's aversion to male homosexuality, and the attempts made by some to represent gay men as a danger to "family values," many in our society immediately think of male-male molestation as homosexuality. He compares this with the time when African Americans were often falsely accused of raping white women, and when medieval Jews were accused of murdering Christian babies in ritual sacrifices. Both are examples of how mainstream society eagerly jumped to conclusions to that justified discrimination and violence against these minorities. Today, gays face the same kind of prejudice. Most recently, we've seen gay men unfairly turned out of the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of this myth that gay men are likely to be child molesters. Keeping gays out of scouting won't protect boys from pedophiles.
In reality, abuse of boys by gay pedophiles is rare, and the abuse of girls by lesbians is rarer still. Nicholas Groth is a noted authority on this topic. In a 1982 study by Grot, he asks, "Are homosexual adults in general sexually attracted to children, and are pre-adolescent children at greater risk of molestation from homosexual adults than from heterosexual adults? There is no reason to believe so. The research to date all points to there being no significant relationship between a homosexual lifestyle and child molestation. There appears to be practically no reportage of sexual molestation of girls by lesbian adults, and the adult male who sexually molests young boys is not likely to be homosexual." Herek writes, similarly, that abuse of boys by gay men is rare; and that the abuse of girls by lesbians is rarer still.
The topic of female-female molestation continues to be largely ignored. There are few books on female sex offenders, particularly about mothers sexually abusing their daughters. I can find no books on mothers who sexually abuse their sons. There is one handbook by Hani Miletski, M.S.W., entitled, “Mother-Son Incest: The Unthinkable Taboo.” Unthinkable is an appropriate word—so much so that there is nothing else in the literature on this topic, even though female pedophiles and female child molesters certainly exist.
We know so much more than we did historically and yet have a long way to go. We can understand child sexual abuse further when people's bias and prejudice are removed and the evidence is empirical and scientific.
As the saying goes, if it's what the speaker likes, it's "erotic." What anyone else likes is "pornographic."
What's "obscene" is the amount of money we're going to have come up with for roads, one way or another, because of skyrocketing road construction costs during the failed 12-year leadership of Randy Harris.
When I talked to TPO Director Greg Slay recently, he pointed to one project where they had been looking at right-of-way acquisition costs of a $500,000 per mile and are now looking at $2.5 million per mile.
At a recent forum, Slay reportedly said we would be about $100 million better off if the sales tax for roads had passed in 1998. I'm much more interested in the meaning of this "100" than what the library has done with a $100 of its book purchasing budget, but that's probably because I'm a fiscal conservative and Harris is, as one television reporter refers to him, a "head case."
Can you really call yourself a fiscal conservative if you consume 6 years and more than $100,000 worth of county employee time on under a $100 worth of library books? I don't think so.
How Much Does a Broke Promise Cost?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYH5Wx-i_lk
bobby d... you are just venting about Barbara Fitos and the abortion/Catholic issue because she was on the Library Advisory Board that wouldn't appoint you the "expert" on all Catholic reading material to be placed in the library. How arrogant of you to think your word should be final! Fact of the matter is the Commission will not be selecting any book for removal from the library because no County Attorney will allow it because of those pesky Constitutional issues.
It will be real tough for you on Wednesday morning when you have to call her Commissioner!
Mr. Creekbaum, your points are very relevant and right! How hypocritical it is that r harris would find it more important to prioritize his, County Staff, and other Elected Official's time on a fiscally minor item.
I just re-read Harris' campaign piece, and I do not notice what "promises" or goals he is looking to achieve if he is re-elected for another term. Will this mean only the same old soap box, do nothing, and ignore constituents, randy?
Go Sister!
Mr. Creekbaum, your points are very relevant and right! How hypocritical it is that r harris would find it more important to prioritize his, County Staff, and other Elected Official's time on a fiscally minor item.
I just re-read Harris' campaign piece, and I do not notice what "promises" or goals he is looking to achieve if he is re-elected for another term. Will this mean only the same old soap box, do nothing, and ignore constituents, randy?
Go Sister!
Meaning, Sister Barbara Fitos!
anonymous:
catholic books have something in them called an imprimata in them. this is an official mark from the catholic church that the book, in the matter of faith and morals, is without error. my discussion with julie, which was over 2 years ago, was to explain to her that specific issue. so if a book is placed in the catholic section, and is about faith and morals, it is possible that it has incorrect information on the teaching on the church. she explained to me its up to the reader to decide, which is incorrect if it is catholic. i tried to explain that to her but she didnt want to listen. i pointed out to her one book that was explaining catholic doctrine by a gentleman by the name of hans kuns. the book is in the catholic section and has a catholic title but its not catholic, the gentleman has been excommunicated for writing incorrect information about church doctrine. i try to explain to her that we now have a catholic high school in our community and that if they were to use the library for a research paper and used that book as a reference they would get wrong information. julie decided not to take my advice and that was it, i never made a big deal about it. but based on anonymous bringing this private conversation up in public, julie must have took great pride in telling me and and told some of her friends. maybe its time to revisit the issue and think about religious discrimination. maybe the library is purposely putting anti catholic information in the catholic section. roman catholic is roman catholic, it is defined by its doctrines. if books in the library are labeled catholic but have incorrect informantion in them they are not catholic, they should be in the protestant section. by the obvious fact that they are protesting what the catholic church said. i really couldnt understand why julie couldnt understand that simple concept. by the way i never asked to go on the library advisory board and i never met barbara fitos until three weeks ago when she came on my show. the challenge i have with barbara fitos is that she is a eucharistic minister at blessed trinity catholic church. this is an extremely sacred lay ministry. the fact that barbara fitos is pro choice is a serious offense to the roman catholic church and they are very specific on this issue. barbara fitos is in violation of her churches teaching on pro life issues, social issues and should stop being a eucharistic minister, according to the church, not bobby d.
First, all of the library jibber jabber is irrelevant to my voting for a commissioner. I'm looking at qualifications and experience.
Also, it is important for me to know who sponsored or paid for any political ads. If Lund, Glass, Creekbaum or Lutes was involved, that helps me understand any special interest or bias that ad might have.
When it comes down to voting on what is most important, there is no doubt who I will vote for.
P.S.---I would pay to listen to a live Creekbaum and Bobby D radio show!
hey brian:
lets give people what they want, if people will pay to hear us on the radio, lets get some sponsors, promo the event and crank it up. it will be fun.
bobby d
"....if "if's and but's" were candy and nuts" ..... you know the saying.
Sweet justice would be the passing of the road tax and a couple new commissioners.
Yes, it would have been great for the county to go into debt in '95 for $200 million (astronomical then) instead of today's dollars at $6 million a mile!!!
This is why the tax needs to pass. Two options: (1) it doesn't pass and the county goes into debt for $500 million which only 68% of the county taxpayers will pay (study the homestead exemptions in Marion county!!) (2) it passes and nearly $100 million of the money comes from OUTSIDE SOURCES. PEOPLE DRIVING THROUGH MARION COUNTY AND BUYING THINGS!! $100 MILLION. THe only fair and equitable way.
This is what "pay as you go" has brought us.
I think it's interesting that one little comment about the library started this conversation. It seems like Bobby D is the only one out there who thinks censorship is a good thing, even though he tries to cloak it in "spending our tax dollars." A few dollars for a book vs. hundreds of county staff hours wasted. That's efficient.
I was at the commission meeting where the library board was abolished. The county attorney just sat there with an exasperated look on his face. Pretty funny, except for the amount of money it costs us for Harris to have his little rant that did nothing for the county. Those books are still on the shelves and Harris' rightwingers still think he's up for sainthood.
That YouTube ad is good. Would have been a lot better to run it on TV for the past month or so. Good idea, but poor execution. Doubt it will have any impact at this late stage of the election.
The story of Harris opponents. Too little and too late!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Gee, not that I’m saying Harris has been in office a LONG time, but the TV production guy who worked on the ad you can see on YouTube, and elsewhere in the county, was 9 years old when Harris was first elected to the county commission :-)
I’m interested in the independent expenditures of Dr. Steven Tieche, who has paid for comparative Fitos-Harris ads in the Star-Banner. Here’s a guy using false and misleading advertising to smear a mother and grandmother as not concerned about protecting children who, along with his wife, Jill, didn’t even bother to vote in the school board elections in September according to Supervisor of Elections records.
Barbara Fitos has a 20-year record of unpaid volunteer service to our county, especially with regard to children. She became her employer’s liaison to the magnet school, Madison Street Academy of Arts & Sciences, in 1985 when Mid-State Federal became the first business in Marion County to sponsor a school. She has continued in that role since AmSouth Bank acquired Mid-State.
Barbara also served as president of the Board of Directors of Childhood Development Services. She is co-founder, along with local leader Juanita Cunningham, of Altrusa’s annual read-in for children.
Barbara received an award from the School Board for her volunteer work on tech-prep education for Marion County children. She also serves on the advisory board of the Marion Technical Institute.
A guy who can’t even be bothered to vote in our school board election using children to smear a woman who gets an award from the school board for her work on children’s education. Apparently, having an M.D. is not an impediment to low behavior for Tieche. What a joke.
Boibby D wrote,
" but based on anonymous bringing this private conversation up in public," . . .
Bobby, I believe I heard you discuss your conversation with Julie on your show. At least, that is how I found out about the conversation, and the reason you oppose having that guy's book in the library for TRinity kids to use for reference, etc . . .
--pwf
Yo anon, "That YouTube ad is good. Would have been a lot better to run it on TV for the past month or so. Good idea, but poor execution. Doubt it will have any impact at this late stage of the election.
12:07 PM, November 06, 2006 "
was fun,looking at the technology, but if you hasve been watching, it is just more stuff from harris haters who say anything to beat him. and it reached 115 people when i saw it. big whopping deal.
That "You Tube" Ad against Harris was so good that I watched it 10 times,,,,me and probably 15 other people!
pwf:
i dont recall mentioning that on my show, but if you said that i did, i trust you are right. i just cant recall. but i am happy that at least someone remembers what i say. lol. but this whole library thing wasnt brought up by me, i was just responding. way back when, WCFI days, i was for the compromise and the compromise was good enough for me. as a matter of fact i think i was the one who proposed the compromise on the air and when i did the right went nuts. and i didnt bring up the catholic book thing either. i just said that if fitos was to use the book issue in the campaign she would get smeared. wheres the tolerance for my behavior and beliefs. pwf, my friend, where are your predictions im curious.
bobby d
I'm with Bobby D's predictions except I'd reverse the Fitos and Weesner predictions. Fitos will be the upset victor, not Weesner.
Anonymous 6:15pm; in my opinion you nailed it!
I thought pwf was going to post his predictions or was he competing for the 2008 elections?
Old men have been molesting children since the beginning of time. Girls having their father's
children. It's not new, Booby D.!
Maybe I don't want my public library with filled with Christian books either using my tax dollars. Is that OK?
Maybe we don't need a public library? Or just for certain public?
Moral men preaching their morals
and values again!
Don't pretend you speak for anyone but a very small majority in this
country.
Again where is the Porn? In your head?
WHO GIVES A FLYING FLIP!!!
hey anonymous: what does men molesting girls have to do what we have been talking about. as far as tax dollars going to pay for christian books, i might agree that we would need to limit them to books that are about the history of the religion or if there is some kind of reference books or historical books which people could use for reference material. books that promotes someones religion shouldnt be paid for by the taxpayer. but arent the books in the library suppose to be representative of the spirit of the community. so if we lived in las vegas and the spirit of the community is gambling you would have tons of books on gambling. the issue of the book has been solved, the commissioners put a restricted library card in place so parents can chose whether or not to let their kids read what they want. it still doesnt change the fact that i, as a citizen of this county can speak out on something i believe hurts america, ie: pornography. as for me speaking about morals, i have formed my conscious on the teachings of my church, Roman Catholic. so if i talk about pornography it is a reflection of what i have learned at church. i try very hard not to make statements about faith and morals that are my personal opionion. sometimes i do and it usually bites me on the dupa. as far as the question of is the porn in my head, sometimes yes, im not jesus. i am a man like all the rest and have been tempted and have fallen to the temptation of pornography. but once again. why is it ok to be pro pornography and i have to be tolerant but you dont have to be tolerant of my beliefs. as far as speaking for everyone in the county dont say i do, but dont forget we dont just cover marion county we cover parts of 29 counties now, check out the coverage map its great.
by the way starting at 7pm election coverage live from the mcpherson comples. with sue mosley
good luck everyone.
bobby d
It's the same tactics they
used in an attempt to smear Ed Jennings.
As if voting against internet
filtering was actually voting to
allow children access to porn.
Where are the parents who are so
"worried" about their children?
I don't ever remember allowing my child when she was young, to frequent public places by herself.
Not even the mall.
Doesn't the county have a computer department that maintains all the county computers, and I think they also filter the public library computers, don't they?
I imagine Homeland Security police them too!
I hear they can do whatever they want these days without a court order.
After all, all those Saudia's who
flew planes into the World Trade
Center visited many public libraries, on their long and winding odyssey though America, and notably Florida.
That should scare you more than porn.
Filtering computers is tricky too--
imagine you don't have a computer, and are scared and maybe you want to do research on breast cancer,
or even rape and venerable diseases.
Good luck with a filtered computer.
It's a scary world out there, with
good people and bad people.
It's like Patsy Ramsey said "hold your children close."
I parented my child well and I did it without anybody telling me how to do it.
I even let her read some books I wish she had not picked up.
Now if anybody on the county commission wants to stay involved in my life, and help pay for college for my kid, I'll be very happy to vote for that.
I pay my own bills and taxes and
I don't appreciate the Christian coalition, or anyone else, claiming they know about what should be in a public library, and what should not.
Don't librarians go to school and get educated to do this job?
Sometimes they even have to buy trash like The Left behind books
due to popular demand.
It's all smoke and mirrors, these
sex issues; to keep the people from seeing just how screwed up this world has really become.
Political and corporate corruption
is what is pornographic.
Isn't freedom of speech just grand? We are allowed to listen to both sides and neither is right on the issue.
Blogmaster, would you capture all identified blogger predictions for a "one shot" comparison?
I’ve posted quite a bit of information to the blog, but I wonder if we could reverse things for a moment by folks supplying answers to a few questions I have.
A local printer named Paul Ferguson, who posts to this blog as “pwf,” has told me he is against the “gay agenda” of the American Library Association. Despite the fact that the ALA supports library collection development policies that are viewpoint neutral, Ferguson alleges that the ALA promotes homosexuality and that this is wrong. Based on his statements on this blog, how many homosexuals is Ferguson supporting this year for local public office in Marion County? How many for higher office?
A local radio personality who goes by the name Bobby D says he disapproves of homosexuality and has spent quite a bit of time railing against some material in the public library that deals with the subject in a way of which he says he disapproves. Based on his endorsements carried on his website at www.bobbydshow.com, how many homosexuals is Bobby D supporting this year for local public office in Marion County? How many for higher office?
County Commissioner Randy Harris has chaired the Republican Executive Committee of Marion County for six years. During this period of time, at least while television cameras are nearby and reporters are scribbling in their notebooks, Harris has spent quite a bit of time railing against some material in the public library Harris says promotes homosexuality, something of which Harris says he disapproves.
For example, at the Board of County Commissioners meeting on May 18, 2004, Harris said:
“When we, the county commission, took over the library, the county took over the library from the City of Ocala, we were brand new in the business, and we approved a recommendation to turn over policymaking authority to a library advisory board. We did that. Since that time, we have policies that are a direct, a mirror image, of American Library Association philosophy and doctrine and agenda and politics. Last year, the American Library Association, and you’ll find a lot of their logo in your policies for the local library. You’ll find their logo in there on all those pages. We know where the policies came from. Word for word copies of the American Library Association doctrine. Last year, the American Library Association gave their most prestigious award to a woman by the name of Barbara Gittings for her lifelong career, over the last thirty years or so, of introducing into public libraries literature on gay and lesbian activity! Their most
Prestigious award, recognizing this woman, one of their own, for introducing over the last thirty plus years, gay and lesbian materials into public libraries! She was the catalyst, in fact, of the establishment of the American Library Association of their Gay Task Force. The American Library Association also challenged the Boy Scouts of America for saying: You know, we really don’t want homosexuals as leaders in the Boy Scouts of America. Now, the Library Advisory Board has been taking policies, philosophy, doctrine, agenda from the American Library Association. That’s what’s happened since the Board of County Commissioners turned over the authority to create policy regarding the public library. And it’s been a failure. It’s been an absolute failure.”
During the six years that Harris has chaired the Marion REC, how many homosexuals has this organization endorsed for local public office in Marion County? How many for higher office?
My questions, of course, are not about the library or homosexuality. They are about hypocrisy. How about it, folks? What are the answers to the questions? Perhaps the blog master would like to post a straw poll so we can see what people think are the answers. Then, we can assess the degree of hypocrisy involved here.
We have only two entrants to our Pick the Winners Contest: PWF and Bobby D.
Anyone else out there who wants to enter, we will give you until 3:00 PM to submit your picks. After that the Polls close!
I will answer one last question of the poster:
He writes:
A local printer named Paul Ferguson, who posts to this blog as “pwf,” has told me he is against the “gay agenda” of the American Library Association. Despite the fact that the ALA supports library collection development policies that are viewpoint neutral, Ferguson alleges that the ALA promotes homosexuality and that this is wrong. Based on his statements on this blog, how many homosexuals is Ferguson supporting this year for local public office in Marion County? How many for higher office?"
First, I have never used the words "gay agenda" in any conversation, so your premise is totally false.
Second, the ALA does encourage collection policies that do include books that I choose not to have my tax dollars support.
Third, I probably had as much influence in selecting library boards members as the poster, and in fact as blamed by the REC and their hacks for keeping one of their people off.
Fourth, you have never been able to understand the issue. It is not about homosexuals. It is about buying books that lead children to accept things when we as parents should have the right to raise our children as we please.
As for whom I may have voted for who is homosexual, I haven't the foggiest. I have never asked anyone their sexual preference.
--pwf
Pink is the New Blog
Actually, how about pretty Rainbows?
hello mr. brian:
im a little confused, but thats not hard to do. is there a gay politician that i have endorsed. please let me know. but since we are on the subject of homosexuality. pwf has it right, its about parents having the right to chose. as far as homosexuality goes, men that have same sex attraction but dont engage in the physical behavior, i have been taught, is not wrong. it is when the physical act happens when it becomes a sin. if people are homosexual that is there busniness and i can only pray for them and hope they understand what they are doing is wrong. i have a problem with the lack of tolerance of the homosexual community to my religious beliefs and trying to promote their lifestyle as normal, when i dont believe it is.
but brian why dont you come on the radio, i dont bite. i promise i will be gentle, i missed you at the mcpherson complex tonight. i wanted to interview you after the election to see what you thought. i new there would be an upset, i just had it backwards. also why dont you ever address me directly, i have posted many blogs personally to you and you always ignore me. you are hurting my feelings.
love bobby d
Bobbyd, I tried to locate you on the dial tonite to hear election results, but your tower's strength must not reach into the forest. Also, I wanted to hear if you sound more compassionate over the radio, than you write in your posts...
Okay, so in your last post you mention how you feel about, and how you describe what your definition of a homosexual is (terms include wrong, not normal, needing to be prayed for, and mentioning only men). Wow, and then on top of that, you complain how homosexuals are not tolerant of your religious views!
Continuing, you end by admitting your love (publicly) for another adult male. Also, you mention early it is not being attracted to another male that is wrong, but physically acting on it is. Additionally, you mention that what homosexual people do is their own business.
Concluding, maybe at this point, I could focus how it could be difficult to discuss homosexuality with someone who is already set in their views. Or, I could point out how your last post was contradictory, and that your posts are spreading hate against people who are gay. However, I feel further education could help on the matter:
You mention that you prefer only certain books to be included in the local library district. However, to understand more of what it means to be a gay person, there are books currently in the young adult and adult sections regarding the whole business of "coming out," tips on finding a partner, history of gays in America and literature, etc.
In conclusion, as you are a person in the public limelight, it is especially important to be accepting and understanding of individual differences. Your intolerance could really be impacting more people than you think, especially when those people may need your support the most.
Like it or not, Gay Equality and Civil Rights will not stop moving forward. It can be delayed due to mostly republicans making political homophobia, and pushing the citizenry into a rage over their own sexual insecurities. However, as more people become accepting of their own genes, and as further generational changes emerge, it will be love and understanding that will win over hate and intolerance.
Being Gay is more than an individual being weak and acting on their urges. Being Gay is a part of what makes someone who they are.
I end with the hope and prayer that you will take the time to understand what I have been writing.
Richard.
To Richard: Good for you! I find it interesting that Mr. Dee can speak about homosexuality as a sin when many of his "guests" have had adulturous affairs. Isn't that a sin as well? Why does Mr. Dee continue to endorse those "sinners" when in fact he should be "praying for them" as well. Indeed hypocrical, but not unusual for so many who claim to be "Christians".
Ferguson (Pwf) made his remark about the American Library Association’s “gay agenda” directly to me in a telephone conversation. I’ve always felt the Republican Party in which pwf has registered (despite his unfortunate 1992 vote for Bill Clinton) is about personal responsibility, but I’ve dealt with him for years and am not at all surprised that he’s afraid to take public responsibility for his remark. It’s par for the course.
I find it interesting those, such as Ferguson and Bobby D, who have spent so much of their lives fretting over material in the public library that discusses homosexuality, have apparently spent so little effort ascertaining the sexual orientation of the candidates they support for office on this blog and elsewhere. We’ve got a couple of ostriches here.
I guess it’s real easy to mouth off about books in the public library written by authors who are thousands of miles away and not here to defend themselves, but a little more difficult to turn to a candidate for public office who is three feet away and publicly confront him over whether he’s homosexual, especially if the candidate has money to spend at your printing business.
What a couple of cowardly hypocrites.
Good for you Mr. Creekbaum - I'm so tired of hearing PWf & Mr. Dee preach their morals to everyone. The whole library issue was a fiasco. How dare the county commission have anything to say in the first place about books they feel are unsuitable for a public library. Has nothing to do with their concern for the public but is based solely on their own beliefs and wanting to dictate their morals to everyone else. Mr. Dee's comment re: parents obligation to teach their children - he is right there, however, what if we parents choose to educate our children on diversity and tolerence? Maybe we parents need to be educated as well and where better to learn and research than a "public" library! Not everyone has a computer and not all parents allow their children to run around a public place unsupervised.
Just happened back to this thread today, and once again the truth is lacking in Mr. Creekbaum's posting. Since I have never freted over homsexuality issues in books in the library to anyone, why would I fret over it with someone who I have never trusted like him. I was never before the commission protesting the books in the library, but ratrher defending the operation of the library, urging the library board be retained, and urging commissioners to vote for moderate library board members. And I will trust the accuracy of my memory over his any time, any day. I have turned away far more candidates than I have printed for through the years, but that gives him something to carp over. It keeps him busy since and away from other people, so I guess it is okay.--pwf
pwf said:
"Just happened back to this thread today, and once again the truth is lacking in Mr. Creekbaum's posting. Since I have never freted over homsexuality issues in books in the library to anyone, why would I fret over it with someone who I have never trusted like him."
I'm printing this off for use as a character reference should I ever need such a thing with someone who knows Ferguson and not me.
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