Archive for December, 2009
In his Miami Herald column, Michael Putney suggests the Diaz-Balart brothers' ties to Kendrick Meek were a contributing factor to the astounding decision to take back their endorsement of Gov. Charlie Crist.
"There's more to it than pique over a rejected judicial appointment," Putney wrote. "The Diaz-Balart brothers have a close relationship with Kendrick Meek, who has followed their lead and that of Ileana Ros-Lehtinen on Cuba. The brothers were evidently feeling that by endorsing Crist they'd betrayed Meek, who sat on the sidelines instead of endorsing their Democratic opponents last year. So, the Diaz-Balarts met privately with Meek and his mother, former Congresswoman Carrie Meek, before the PAC luncheon and said they'll be sitting on the sidelines during the 2010 Senate race."
In a column on The Huffington Post, Miami pollster Sergio Bendixen argues that the endorsement doesn't matter much anyhow, noting that the Diaz-Balart's "endorsements did not carry much weight the last time they opposed a fellow Cuban American in a statewide Republican primary." In 2004, they sided with Bill McCollum over Mel Martinez – Martinez won more than 90 percent of the vote in majority Cuban American precincts, Bendixen writes — and won the Senate seat.
The Washington Post: "Eighteen months removed from a protracted presidential primary fight, a group of
Democrats gathered by President Obama has recommended that the party effectively eliminate the influence of so-called superdelegates by redefining their voting power.
"The Democratic Change Commission, which was convened last August to examine the nominating process, is recommending that superdelegates — also known as unpledged delegates — be required to vote along with the electoral majority of their state."
Florida Democratic Party chief Karen Thurman says though the changes "unfortunately don't address the issues that put Florida's 2008 primary vote in question, today's action by the Change Commission is the first step in a long process."
Florida and Michigan in 2008 lost votes in the Democratic primary by scheduling their contests ahead of party-sanctioned primaries. Iowa's Quad-City Times reports that state expects to keep its front-runner status and that the commission is "recommending the DNC offer incentives for states to follow the party calendar by offering, for example, preferred seating and hotel accommodations at national conventions."
The Southern Most AIDS/HIV Ride. Starting location is MorningStar Renewal Center in Miami Florida. The SMART Ride is a 2 Day 165 Mile ride from Miami to Key West. In it′s 6th year this event leaves Miami and travels the picturesque bridges and waterways that wind down through the Florida Keys and ends up at the AIDS Memorial on the White Street Pier in Key West. The event is fully supported and travels with SAG Vehicles, Medical Team, Full Pit Stops and meals. Overnight accommodations in the Middle Keys are at Hawks Cay Resort which is covered by the registration fee. Riders commit to raise funds and 100% of that is guaranteed to go to the six benefiting agencies in the State of Florida. Riders range in age from 18 to 72 and all levels of experience welcome. For more information please call 1-866-696-7701 or visit TheSMARTRide.org.
Registration is $85 and you must raise a minimum of $1,250
100% of what you raise goes to charity.
The best I can say about 2010 is that it is a four digit number with two zeros, the two divides neatly into ten to make five and that two added to ten makes twelve, divided by three makes four. Numeroligists and necromancers have a better chance at predicting the next year as pundits. On the other hand, Eyeonmiami hasn’t done such a bad job in the past.Here is my post from a few years ago. It is
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True confessions of a dog trainer…No one would argue that dogs here in the Magic City live differently from the rest of their species on Planet Earth. They are the privileged few. But strip away that Louis Vuitton leash and rhinestone tiara, and you’ll find that deep down in their DNA, they’re still dogs. Like their canine cousins, they have accidents on the dining room carpet, albeit a
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In this 21st century world where even your grandmother’s getting busy with the Facebooks, MySpacies, and Ashley Madisons, there’s something mysterious and exotic and enticing about a young…
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Night Watch is a regular feature about bars and clubs by nightlife columnist Tara Nieuwesteeg. The Isle Casino & Racing in Pompano proved a good place to erase a bad day. After sampli…
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Riptide put up somewhere in the neighborhood of 3,000 posts this year, so before we get started on writing 3,000 more it’s time to sit back and look at some our successes: Our top ten posts …
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Scott Rothstein, the disbarred attorney sitting in federal detention on corruption charges, is still listed as serving on the host committee for the Super Bowl according to an online media guide.
Rodney Barreto, a businessman who chairs the host committee, said that new media guides will omit Rothstein's name and he expects it to be removed from the website today.
Barreto said he invited Rothstein to join a few months ago, and Rothstein agreed but then was a no-show.
"He never came to a meeting, he never wrote us a check, he never sponsored anything,'' Barreto said.
State Rep. Mark Pafford, a West Palm Beach Democrat, is seeking more transparency when it comes to the Florida Public Service Commission.
In
legislation filed for the 2010 session, Pafford wants those who testify
at PSC hearings to disclose any financial ties to the company or its
entities. Pafford, a member of the Public Service Commission Nominating
Council, said his legislation was prompted by the recent PSC
controversies over rate-hike requests. Read his full press release
below.
REPRESENTATIVE MARK PAFFORD FILES LEGISLATION
REGARDING PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
WEST
PALM BEACH, FL – State Representative Mark Pafford (D-West Palm Beach)
filed legislation for the 2010 legislative session to bring testimony
before the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) into the sunshine.
House Bill 533 will require individuals who provide public comment at
PSC hearings to disclose any financial relationship with a utility
company, including any charitable contributions, gifts or any positions
of governance that are held by an employee of a public utility within
the organization represented.
Representative Pafford, a member
of the Public Service Commission Nominating Council, thought of the
idea for the bill while attending a public hearing regarding utility
issues. He was concerned at the lack of transparency of those
testifying before the PSC and wanted to prevent a reoccurrence.
“I
heard employees of utility companies discuss the names of those who
would be testifying and what that person would be addressing before
they even made it to the microphone,” said Representative Pafford.
“This is not in the best interest of our consumers or good government,
and legislation is needed to address this situation.”
A
SunSentinel analysis in September 2009 found that more than a third of
the customers, business leaders and politicians who praised Florida
Power & Light at three forums held in South Florida had financial
or family ties to the company and its employees.
State Senator Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey) has agreed to sponsor the bill in the Florida Senate.