Crist and Sen. LeMieux Go After Corruption..Don't Need to Look Far..

Corruption is synonymous with Miami, yet finally Crist has called for a statewide grand jury to examine political corruption. Senator and Seat Warmer George Lemieux has chimed in and decried the "culture of corruption" in South Florida.

Maybe they should clean their own house first.

Miami Herald:

In the past decade, Rothstein -- a Broward lawyer who allegedly bilked investors over bogus legal settlements -- helped steer about $2 million in campaign contributions to political causes, committees and candidates, including Gov. Charlie Crist.

Scott Rothstein seemed to have an endless supply of money, and no one bothered to ask how he got it...including the new champions of anti-corruption.

LeMieux acknowledged he ``didn't understand how he [Rothstein] made all his money.''

The article explains that Scott Rothstein is more than a fundraiser, he is a close friend of both Crist and LeMieux. Rothstein attended LeMieux's swearing-in ceremony in September. He attended Crist's wedding reception--and Crist attended his. Ironically, Crist appointed Rothstein to a judicial nominating panel in Broward. (He was removed this week.)

But all is good when the corruption is benefiting you, I suppose:

``You don't look at someone who's generous and just criticize,'' said LeMieux, who also ran Crist's governor's campaign before taking the job with Crist.

Crist Rejects $444 million In Unemployment Help--Raises Taxes On Small Business

Thanks Charlie! Governor flip-flop, who is desperately trying to show conservatives he is one of them, joined with the Republican legislature and rejected $444 million from the stimulus for unemployment help. All because Charlie appeared with Obama and was given such a hard time about it by his right-wing buddies.

Oh, it gets better.

Because he and the GOP legislature rejected that needed money, the state announced that unemployment taxes on small businesses across the state are going up as much as 983%. You read that right...983%. That is how much small businesses are forced to pay since that idiot and his friends didn't take $444 million in stimulus dollars offered.

That is the largest tax increase in our State's history--coming from a "staunchly conservative" Legislature and State Executive, and at the worst possible time. High unemployment taxes on small business are the last thing our state needs when we are trying to encourage them to create jobs. What conservative principle is this again?

8 Million Children Have NO Health Care Insurance...

So what are the opponents of Health Care Reform offering to solve this crisis?

Sorry, Obama Was Wrong to Bow. So Was Reagan.

As an Obama fan, I can say that he did "royally" screw up. American citizens should never bow to royalty. We are always expected to bend over backwards to not offend other cultures, WHICH I DON'T MIND! After all, we are American. It is who we are. It is one reason the world looks up to us.

We don't have many of our own customs...we are still a young country and very heterogeneous. But one of our very few customs stems from our founding belief that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.

We never bow, we never courtsey.

We don't dip Old Glory either in ceremonies, but you get the drift.

It is entirely respectful for a subject of a monarch to bow, even if the monarch is a figurehead. A British national courtsies to her Queen or a Japaneese citizen bows to his emperor. But Americans do not have, nor recognize, monarchs. That is why it is appropriate to shake hands and smile, but never bow. Other countries should realize that as Americans, we don't believe in monarchs.

Yes, Obama was wrong. But all of these conservatives yelling foul are the same idiots who dismissed Ronald Reagan NOT ONLY BOWING but also BEING KNIGHTED BY THE QUEEN. This is not only wrong, but illegal.

Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution says: "No title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."

Be consistent, hypocrites.

Fox News Caught With Pants Down...Again

Suzanne Kosmas-D, FL-24, Just Lost Her Seat

Suzanne replaced Tom Feeney, the most corrupt, GOP Abramoff scandal-ridden politician in the House: and we were all so excited.

But yesterday, Suzanne said this was a "conscience" decision and that she voted NO because it wouldn't help rein in the costs of helath care. Yes, Suzanne, doing nothing and allowing insurance companies to have free reign is much better.

What irritates me the most is that this woman campaigned on health care reform. I guess she just wanted to ride the Obama's coattails.

Screw you.

The GOP is very happy about this...of course, Suzanne, they aren't going to vote for you. They will have their OWN conservative to run, thank you very much.

Independents overwhelmingly favor this bill with the public option...not sure why they would go for you next year either.

So that leaves the Democrats. YOUR BASE. The people who would actually campaign, donate money, work the phones, and VOTE. And you just pissed them off.

Here was my message to her:

Subject: Your disappointing vote on healthcare reform

Message Text: Mz. Kosmas, Why in God's name are you supporting the GOP effort to block desperately needed Healthcare Reform? We will never have this large a Dem majority and will never again get this chance. Let me be clear...if Democrats fail to deliver on reform that was promised, WE WILL STAY HOME next election. Appealing to conservatives is foolish..they will NOT vote for you! Independents want the public option, and won't reward you for doing nothing. THAT leaves your base. People like me who work for the Seminole Democrats, knock on doors, raise money, and work tirelessly to elect solid Democrats. What is the point if you are going to align with the GOP to shoot down signature legislation?!? If this bill comes back after conference, please rethink your decision, or you will have many loyal Dems like me rethinking ours.

Contact Kosmas with your own message: https://forms.house.gov/kosmas/webforms/contact.html

Local Business Attacks Health Care Reform

The veternarian clinic on Broadway in Oviedo has a sign up that says "Vote NO on Healthcare".

Brilliant. A Tea Party Veternarian. And apparently one stupid enough to think the best way to get his message to a representative is to advertise on a run-down sign in front of a dive.

To be perfectly clear, THOUSANDS of people here in Central Florida don't have insurance. They either don't have jobs, have crappy jobs that don't cover their expenses (although I know that can't be you, Mr. Tea Party Vet.), or have a pre-existing condition.

That means that their condition goes untreated until it gets so bad that they have to go to the emergency room and pray to get seen within 10 hours (which will afford them some time to figure out how to pay the inevitable bill).

That is, until you turn the magic age of 65. (DKos member Hunter put it best... 63 or 64? Socialism. 65? Oh, that's fine then.)

Someone who is this dispassionate about people should probably not be operating on your animal.

Seminole Democrat's Election Endorsements 2009

Longwood Commissioner District 1: Bob Cortez. He's the challenger, and Holt hasn't done much.

Longwood Commissioner District 5: No endorsement.

Oviedo Mayor: Mary Lou Andrews. Darryl Lopez is a right-wing libertarian. We need less of those in Central Florida.

Oviedo Councilman Group 1: Judith Smith. She is the only African-American in any of the races this year. We need more of those in Central Florida--especially Oviedo.

Not to mention, if elected, she would be the first African-American to be elected in Oviedo's 84 year history.

Remember to vote tomorrow...Nov. 3rd.