— REPUBLICAN —
Melony M. Bell:  (Fort Meade /Auditor) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page
Former Mayor, City of Fort Meade
Former Commissioner, City of Fort Meade

Tom Presley:  (Bartow / Pastor) -  Facebook Page

POLK COUNTY COMMISSION – DISTRICT 4
This district covers the northeast area of the county, including the cities/towns of Davenport, Dundee, Haines City, Lake Hamilton, and areas of Winter Haven.
— DEMOCRAT —
Jean Reed:  (Incumbant /Winter Haven) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Commission Bio Page -

— REPUBLICAN —
Todd Dantzler:  (Winter Haven / Realtor) -  Personal Web Page

John Hall: (Auburndale / Retired Polk County Building & Codes Director) – Campaign currently does not have an online presence.

POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD – DISTRICT 3
The winner will replace incumbant board member Hazel Sellers, who is term-limited.
— NONPARTISAN —
Victoria Meares:  (Teacher /Lakeland) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD - DISTRICT 6
The winner will replace incumbant board member Margaret Lofton, who is term-limited.
— NONPARTISAN —
Terry E. Pittman: (Eagle Lake / Former Facilities Managment Director) – Campaign Web Site -

Lynn Wilson, Jr.:  (Winter Haven / Certified Public Accountant) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD - DISTRICT 7
— NONPARTISAN —
Tim Harris (Lakeland /Real Estate Sign Installation Business Owner; Real Estate Investiment Partner / Incumbant) – Campaign Web Site

COUNTY COURT – GROUP 6
— NONPARTISAN —
J. Kevin Abdoney:  (Lakeland / Attorney) -  Judicial Bio Page -

photo credit: a•Andres

Michael E. Arth: (DeLand / Landscape & Urban Designer, Author) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

Phillip J. Kennedy: (Crestview) -  This candidate currently has no online presence.

Farid A. Khavari: (Miami / Businessman, Economist) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page

Anthony “Tony” Knox, Sr.: (Quincy) -  This candidate currently has no online presence.

Jouse LaRouse: (Fort Lauderdale / ) -  Campaign Web Site

Darrin E. McGillis: (Miami / Concert Promoter, Artistic Manager) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

Alex Sink: (Tampa / Retired Banker, Current Commissioner of Financial Services) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Financial Services Bio Page -

— REPUBLICAN —
Tim Devine: (Kissimmee) -  Campaign Web Site -

Paula Dockery:  (Lakeland / Citrus & Cattle Grower) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Legislative Web Page -
Currently Member, Florida State Senate, District 15
Previous Member, Florida House of Representatives

Ed Heeney: (Boynton Beach / Senior Paralegal) -  This candidate currently has no online presence.

Bill McCollum: (Tallahassee / Attorney) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Attorney General Bio Page -
Currently Attorney General of Florida
Former Congressman,

James A. Van Driessche: (Largo / Various Businesses) -  Facebook Page -

— INDEPENDENCE PARTY OF FLORIDA —
Peter L. Allen:  (Riverview / Electrical Contractor) -  Campaign Web Site -

— LIBERTARIAN —
John Wayne Smith: (Leesburg / Awning Installer) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

— INDEPENDENT (NO PARTY AFFILIATION) —
Karl C.C. Behm: (Crescent City / Land Clearing Contractor) -  Campaign Web Site -

Herman L. Giger: (Hollywood / Pilot) -  Campaign Web Site -

C.C. Reed: (Miami / Businessman) -  Campaign Web Site -

Lesther Trujillo: (Miramar / Limosine Driver) -  Candidate currently has no online presence.

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF FLORIDA
The winner will replace Republican incumbant Bill McCollum, who is running for Governor.
— DEMOCRAT —
Dave Aronberg:  (West Palm Beach / Attorney) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Legislative Web Page -
Current Member, Florida State Senate – District 27

Dan Gelber: (Miami Beach / Attorney) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Legislative Web Page -
Current Member, Florida State Senate – District 35
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives,

— REPUBLICAN —
Anna Holiday “Holly” Benson: (Pensacola / Attorney) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

Pam Bondi: (Assistant State Attorney / Tampa)  – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

Jeff Kottkamp: (Fort Myers / Attorney) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Lieutenant Governor Bio Page -
Current Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives

Jim Lewis: (Fort Lauderdale / Attorney) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF FLORIDA
The winner will replace Democratic incumbant Alex Sink, who is running for Governor.
— DEMOCRAT —
Loranne Ausley: (Tallahassee / Attorney): – Campaign Web Site
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives

Joshua LaRose: (Fort Lauderdale / ) – Campaign Web Site

Ken Mazzie: (Palm Coast / Certified Public Accountant) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

— REPUBLICAN —
Jeff Atwater: (North Palm Beach / Banker) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Legislative Web Page -
Current Member, Florida State Senate, District 25; Senate President
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives
Former Vice Mayor, Village of North Palm Beach

Pat Patterson: (DeLand / Insurance Agent) – Campaign Web Site - Legislative Web Page -
Current Member, Florida House of Representatives, District 26
Former Member, Volusia County Council

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES OF FLORIDA
The winner will replace Republican incumbant Charles H. Bronson, who is term-limited.
— DEMOCRAT —
Thaddeus “Thad” Hamilton: (Sunrise / Retired Federal Employee; Retired Military) -  Campaign Web Site -

Randy Hatch: (Branford / Agribusinessman ) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -
Former Member – Suwannee County Commission

Scott Maddox: (Tallahassee / Attorney) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -
Former Chairman, Florida Democratic Party
Former Mayor, City of Tallahassee
Former Member, Tallahassee City Commission

O.R. “Rick” Minton, Jr.: (Fort Pierce / Real Estate) – Campaign Web Site -
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives, District 78

— REPUBLICAN—
Carey Baker: (Eustis / Gun Shop Owner) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Legislative Web Page -
Current Member, Florida State Senate, District 20
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives

Adam Putnam: (Bartow / Citrus & Cattle Businessman) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Congressional Bio Page -
Current Member, United States House of Representatives, District 12
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives, District 63

— REAL FOOD PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA —
James Harlin Carter: (Live Oak) -  Candidate currently has no online presence.

FLORIDA STATE SENATE – DISTRICT 10
— REPUBLICAN —
Paul M. Phillips: (Valrico / Attorney, Retired Military):  Facebook Page -

Ronda Storms:  (Incumbant / Brandon / Teacher, Attorney ) -  Campaign Web Site – Legislative Web Page -
Former Member, Hillsborough County Commission

FLORIDA STATE SENATE – DISTRICT 15
The winner will replace Republican incumbant Paula Dockery, who is running for Governor.
No candidates have qualified to run for this seat.

FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 63
— REPUBLICAN —
This district covers much of of southwest Polk County, including Crystal Lake, Lakeland Highlands, Medulla, and Winston plus areas of Bartow and Lakeland, as well as portions of southeastern Hillsborough County
Seth McKeel:  (Incumbant /Lakeland / Real Estate) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Legislative Web Page -
Former Member, Lakeland City Commission

FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 64
This district covers much of northwest and north-central Polk County, including Gibsonia, Kathleen, Polk City, as well as areas of northern Lakeland.
— DEMOCRAT —
Carol Castagnero: (Lakeland / Retired Teacher) – Campaign Web Site

— REPUBLICAN —
C.A. “Neil” Combee, Jr.:  (Polk City/ Realtor) -

Linda Ivell:  (Lakeland / Realtor) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page

Kelli Stargel:  (Incumbant / Lakeland / Investment Property Manager) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Legislative Web Page -

FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 65
This district covers much of north-central and northeast Polk County, including Auburndale, Davenport, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Hamilton, and portions of Winter Haven
— REPUBLICAN —
John Wood:  (Incumbant / Winter Haven / Attorney, Realtor) - Legislative Web Page -

FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 66
This district covers areas of southern Polk County, including Fort Meade, Frostproof, Highland Park, and Wahneta, as well as portions of Bartow and Winter Haven, all of Hardee County and areas in Highlands County.
The winner will replace Republican incumbant Baxter Troutman, who is term-limited.
— REPUBLICAN —
Ben Albritton:  (Wauchula / Citrus Grower) -  Personal/Florida Citrus Commission Bio Page

Gary Newberry: (Winter Haven / Chiropractor) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

Leviticus Reed:  (Winter Haven) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 79
This district covers much of southeastern Polk County, plus areas of Okeechobee, Orange, and Osceola counties
— REPUBLICAN —
Thomas E. Chalifoux, Jr.:  (Kissimmee / Developer) -  Campaign Web Site –  
Former Member, Osceola County School Board

Mike Horner:  (Incumbant /Kissimmee / Chamber of Commerce CEO) -  Campaign Web Site – Legislative Web Page -

front photo credit: sun dazed

There are a couple of items I would like to note here for anyone who has friends who still have not heard from Haitian citizens in or near the quake area.  They should contact the Haitian embassy in Washington, DC at (202) 332-4090.  If you have an immediate family member in Haiti who is a U.S. citizen, call 888-407-4747; this number can be reached 24/7.  For friends and family members of U.S. citizens in Haiti, via e-mail, contact Haiti-Earthquake@State.Gov.  Keep in mind that in the case of the phone numbers, callers should expect periods where you may not be able to get through, or at least note a busy signal due to the high call volumes.  Please be patient and keep trying.

And please note that the American Red Cross is only taking cash donations for Haitian relief.  During Hurricane Katrina or other domestic disasters it is easier to accept items; but it is much more difficult for international situations such as this.    Anyone wishing to donate items should call one’s local Red Cross chapter, as they are likely to know what organizations in your immediate area are handling such and thus able to point you in the right direction.  In Polk and Highlands Counties, you can call (863) 294-5941 or toll free: (888) 220-9118; you can visit the chapter’s Web site at http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org/index.asp?IDCapitulo=9B23PSXU4I.

Of course, as much as the people of Haiti need and are receiving all sorts of aid from throughout the world, the one thing our brothers and sisters there need to be in our thoughts and prayers during what promises to be a difficult period of time ahead during it’s recovery period.

photo credit: United Nations Development Programme

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73.

Christmas Day: Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 65. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Hopefully this helps.  Whatever you have planned, or wherever you go, PLEASE BE SAFE.  As for moi, I’ll be at work both days.

Kevin A. Burns:  (North Miami / Realtor – Broker) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Site
Former Mayor, City of North Miami

Raphael Herman: (Miami Beach) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

Chuck Lynch:  (Fort Walton Beach) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

Kendrick B. Meek:  (Miami / Retired Highway Patrolman) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Site – Congressinal Web Site
Currently Congressman, 17th District

Lawrence Penpek: (Sorrento / Retired US Postal Service) – Campaign Web Site -

— REPUBLICAN —
Bob Coggins:  (Orlando / Former Engineer) -  Campaign Web Site – Facebook Site

Charlie Crist:  (St. Petersburg / Attorney) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Site – Gubernatorial Web Site
Currently Governor of Florida. Formerly Florida Attorney General

Thomas Andrew Mangum:  (Port St. Joe) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

Gwyn McClellan:  (Sarasota / Pastor, Education Professional) – Campaign Web Site -

Belinda Gail Quarterman Noah:  (Tampa / Attorney, Professor) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

Marco Rubio:  (Miami / Attorney) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -
Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives

Robert Clinton “Bob” Smith:  (Sarasota / Banker):  Campaign Web Site -                        Former Congressman, 1st District (New Hampshire), 1985 – 1990, and U.S. Senator (New Hampshire), 1991 – 2003

Shawn M. Teeters:  (Naples) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

Marion D. Thorpe, Jr. :  (Bal Harbour / Physician, Administrator) – Campaign Web Page – Facebook Page

— CONSTITUTION PARTY OF FLORIDA —
Marshall Louis DeRosa:  (Wellington / College Professor ) –  Campaign Web Site -

— LIBERTARIAN —
Alexander Andrew Snitker:  (Spring Hill / Account Representative) -  Campaign Web Site -

— INDEPENDENT (NO PARTY AFFILIATION) —
Bobbie Bean:  (Sebring / Commercial Printer) – Campaign Web Site -

Bernie DeCastro:  (Ocala / Non-profit Organizational Founder) – Campaign Web Site -

Todd Montgomery Oifer:  (Davenport / ) – Campaign Web Site -

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 5
— DEMOCRAT —
James John “Jim” Piccillo:  (Lutz / Mortgage Negotiator) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

H. David Werner:  ( Hudson) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

— REPUBLICAN —
Virginia “Ginny” Brown-Waite: (Incumbent)  (Brooksville / Housewife) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Congressional Web Site -

Jason Patrick Sager:  (Brooksville / Sage) – Facebook Page -

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 12
The winner will replace Republican incumbant Adam Putnam, who is running for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
— DEMOCRAT —
Lori Edwards:  (Winter Haven / Radio Broadcaster) – Campaign Web Site -  Supervisor of Elections Page -
Currently Polk County Supervisor of Elections
Previously Member, Florida House of Representatives, District 65

Randolph “Randy” Edwards:  (Valrico / Retired USMC) – Campaign Web Site - Facebook Page - 

Douglas David “Doug” Tudor:  (Riverview / Retired USN) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

— REPUBLICAN —
Bradley D. Kallhoff:  (Lakeland) - Candidate currently has no online presence. 

John W. Lindsey, Jr.:  (Winter Haven) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

Dennis Ross:  (Lakeland / Attorney) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page -

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – DISTRICT 15
— DEMOCRAT —
Jonathan F. Bull:  (Melbourne / Attorney) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

Shannon Roberts:  (Cape Canaveral) – Candidate currently has no online presence.

— REPUBLICAN —
Bill Posey: (Incumbant) (Rockledge /Realtor ) – Campaign Web Site – Facebook Page – Congressional Web Site
Former Member, Florida Senate, District 24
Former Member, Florida House of Representatives,
Former Rockledge City Commissioner,

“A jobs summit to be hosted by President Barack Obama at the White House next month would be a good forum for such an address. Obama is right when he says, “It’s important that we don’t make any ill-considered decisions – even with the best intentions – particularly at a time when our resources are so limited.”

Daytona Beach News-Journal – From Go-Go To No-Grow:  “It’s no news to Florida lawmakers that they’re in a budget hole — a hole about $2.65 billion deep, by the most-recent figures. And they know they are running out of gimmicks to balance the books.

“But do they understand that after three straight years of budget cuts, they’ve gone beyond cutting fat, to cutting the muscle and bone that give structure to state government?

“In the short term, lawmakers can help make ends meet by making two simple changes, without raising the sales-tax rate. The Florida Senate has already started on the first task, a review of loopholes in the state sales tax that could put an additional $560 million on the table by repealing a range of unwarranted exemptions, including tax breaks on haircuts, chartered fishing boats, dry cleaning, Super Bowl tickets and bottled water. And it could join a national effort to collect sales tax due on Internet purchases — an estimated $2 billion annually that, thus far, legislators have been reluctant to tap, to the detriment of brick-and-mortar businesses that are located here and employ Floridians.”

St. Petersburg Times - Halt Abuses Of Debt Collectors:  “Florida’s leading contenders for governor finally offered fixes for policing debt collectors earlier this month after a newspaper detailed how the state rarely punishes the bad actors — even as the lousy economy has prompted more complaints. ..But Floridians won’t be served unless they work together with the Legislature to find better ways to protect consumers from bad debt collectors.

“Recent reports in the Orlando Sentinel detailed an explosion in complaints to state agencies in the last 18 months about collection agents who, in violation of state law, use obscenities and racial epithets and threaten everything from jail to physical harm. Some even call children of the elderly who have debts and make similar threats.

“The Attorney General’s Office already has received 4,400 such complaints this year. The Office of Financial Regulation — which [Attorney General Bill] McCollum and [Chief Financial Officer Alex] Sink oversee along with the governor and agriculture commissioner — has collected 780.”

Lakeland Ledger – Two Worthy Programs Employing Veterans:  “When our troops leave the armed forces, they have both skills and needs. Society must make sure those skills are being used and those needs are being met. That’s why two federal programs aimed at those who are leaving the armed forces, one newly announced and another getting a push to expand, make such good sense.

“Of course not. So why does Congress operate under an identical system?”

St. Petersburg Times – Scientology Investigation Overdue: 
“When workers for the Church of Scientology sign a contract agreeing to serve in the church’s Sea Organization for “the next billion years,” the church can twist that agreement into a license to harass its workers, track them down if they leave and pressure them to return. What true church, what caring employer, would trample on the dignity and free choices of its own members in such a way? And what are authorities going to do about it?”

Daytona Beach News Journal – Textbook Inflation:
“Young or old, college students are slammed with onerous out-of-pocket expenses that exceed the out-of-pocket health costs of most working-age adults. The reason: textbooks

“In some college courses, textbooks cost more than tuition. Textbook costs are rising so fast (200 percent, or three times the rate of inflation, since 1986) that they can be the deciding factor between those who can and cannot afford a college education. Textbooks should never be that obstacle.

“The average college student pays between $800 and $1,000 a year in textbook expenses. That’s double the amount working adults pay, on average, in out-of-pocket health costs…”

Tampa Tribune – Bucs’ Fans Deserve Straight Answers:
“It’s appropriate the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are donning their old orange and white colors for today’s “throwback” game against Green Bay at Raymond James Stadium. In many respects, this year’s team resembles the “Yucks” of old…

“But the Glazer family, which has owned the team for more than 12 years and helped bring Tampa its only Super Bowl title, should address more than the bad play on the field. They need to face up to fans, who are losing faith in them.

“Many fans question whether the family’s ownership of the Manchester United soccer club has taken precedence over the Bucs and wonder whether the football team’s profits are being used to help pay off the family’s debt on Man U, among other concerns.”

Orlando Sentinel – Too Compelling To Refuse:
“Twice, the Legislature has rejected a commuter rail system for metro Orlando, saying its benefits for the local population don’t justify its cost to the entire state…

“…since the Legislature last rejected SunRail in May, it has become clear that another defeat would cost Florida thousands more jobs. That’s because federal officials say Florida won’t get the $2.5 billion it has applied for to build a high-speed rail system without first demonstrating a commitment to public transit by approving SunRail. That’s why legislative leaders are saying a special session next month to pass SunRail is now a good bet. They need to follow through.”

With Putnam and his significant campaign bank account stepping aside for a run to become Florida’s next Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, six candidates have filed as of today.  The latest to join the fray is Valrico resident Randolph “Randy” Edwards, who is retiring after a 22 year career in the United States Marine Corps.  The Florida Division of Elections’ Web Site notes that Edwards filed qualifying papers last Monday.

The two other Democrats have been busy raising funds and meeting potential supporters for some time now:  Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards of Winter Haven, a former state legislator before being term limited, filed at the end of June.  Another retired military man, former Naval Master Chief Yeoman Douglas David “Doug”  Tudor of Riverview, challenged Putnam unsuccessfully in 2008, but earned 42.5  percent of the vote across the district which entails much of Polk County as well as portions of Hillsborough and Osceola counties.

Meanwhile, three other candidates hope to keep the seat in GOP hands.  Lakeland attorney and former State Representative Dennis Ross filed to run in March, shortly after being term-limited from his legislative post.  Bradley D. Kallhoff of Lakeland and John W. Lindsey, Jr. of Winter Haven have not established campaign Web sites, but Lindsey does have a Twitter presence.

Something tells me that this political season will be veeeeeeeeery interesting.

Bay News 9 – Political Connections:  Bay News 9 does not release advance notice of the scheduled guests and issues to be discussed.

CBS News – Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer:  The guests this week:  White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod, U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe (R – ME), Roger Simon of Politico, and syndicated columnist Kathleen Palmer.

Cable News Network – State of the Union with John King:   White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs will appear to discuss the details of President Obama‘s plan for health care reform.  Then, we’ll hear from U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R – ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D – NH), and Dianne Feinstein (D – CA) with their insights.  And that will be followed by Congressional Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R – VA) with the Last Word.

FOX News – Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace:   The guests this week:  U.S. Senators Kent Conrad (D – ND), Orrin Hatch (R – UT), Claire McCaskill (D – MO), and Lindsey Graham (R – SC), followed by President Obama‘s heckler, Congressman Joe Wilson (R – SC).  That will be followed by the usual Power Panel  of  Brit Hume of Fox News,  Bill Kristol of The Weekly Standard , along with Mara Liasson and Juan Williams of National Public Radio..

 NBC News – Meet the Press with David Gregory:   A debate on health care reform with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D – IL) and John Cornyn (R – TX), former Governor and Democratic National Committee Chairman Dr. Howard Dean (D – VT), and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R – GA).  Then,    insights and analysis on how the Obama administration is faring with NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd, Erin Burnett of CNBC, and author Joshua Cooper Ramo.

SYNDICATED – The Chris Matthews Show:  The questions –  Has President Obama regained control in the health care debate?  And what is behind the venom President Obama has faced?  The panelists – New York Times White House Correspondent Helene Cooper, Newsweek Senior Washington Correspondent Howard Fineman, Columnist Joe Kline of Time, and Ceci Connolly of The Washington Post.

WEDU-TV 3 – Florida This Week with Rob Lorei:

Polk School District Protocol For President Obama’s September 8 Speech:

(September 4, 2009) The superintendent’s office has announced its directive to schools regarding the broadcast of President Obama’s September 8 speech.

A determination of whether the speech will be broadcast live in schools is a school-based decision and will be made by principals and teachers at individual schools. The content of the speech, which is to be released Monday by the White House, will be provided to school staffs so that they may determine if the content is appropriate based on students’ ages, curriculum and class schedule considerations. The release of the content of the speech will allow schools to fully analyze the situation.

If schools decide to broadcast the speech live, schools will provide an opt-out provision for parents or guardians preferring that their children not view the speech. Students may be excused from participating and given an alternative activity if parents communicate to the school with their preference of opting-out. If a student indicates an objection at the time of the speech, an alternate activity will be provided.

The text of President Obama’s speech will be posted to the school district’s www.polk-fl.net Web site.

The speech will be recorded and rebroadcast on the school district’s cable and fiber optic television channels at a later time. This will allow parents the opportunity to view the speech in the company of their children at a later time if they so wish. The broadcast time is undetermined at this point and will be provided to schools at a later time. The school district’s cable television channels are Bright House Networks channel 614, Comcast channel 7 and Verizon FIoS channel 45.

ABC News – This Week with George Stephanopoulos:  A preview of the president’s prime time speech to a joint session of Congress next week with .  Then, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs a special roundtable discussion regarding health care reform with former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle (R – SD) and Robert Dole (R – KS), with Representatives Mike Pence (R – IN) and Maxine Waters (D – CA), followed by the regular roundtable featuring New York Times Chief Washington Correspondence David Sanger, Editor/Publisher Katrina vanden Heuven of The Nation, ABC News‘ Matthew Dowd, and conservative columnist George Will of the Washington Post Writers Group.

Bay News 9 – Political Connections:  Bay News 9 does not release advance notice of the scheduled guests and issues to be discussed.

CBS News – Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer:  The guest this week:  U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will be on to talk about President Obama‘s upcoming talk to students, fixing American schools, and the H1N1 flu.

Cable News Network – State of the Union with John King:   This week’s programme will originate from the Minnesota State Fair.  The guests:  Governor Tim Pawlenty (R – MN) as well as U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D – MN) and Ben Nelson (R – NE) will discuss the health care debate, national security, and more.  Then, Centers for Disease Control Director Dr. Thomas Frieden will update us on the spread of the H1N1 virus.  Finally, Congressman Keith Ellison (D -MN) gets the Last Word.

FOX News – Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace:   This week, a panel discussion about Health Care Reform featuring U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R – TN), former Governor Howard Dean (D – VT), former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and John Podesta, President and CEO of the Center for American Progress.  That will be followed by the usual Power Panel  of  Stephen Hayes and Bill Kristol of The Weekly Standard , along with Mara Liasson and Juan Williams of National Public Radio..

 NBC News – Meet the Press with David Gregory:   The interview guest this week:  President Obama‘s Senior Advisor David Axelrod.  Then in the political roundtable:  Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R), former U.S. Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. (D – TN), former NBC Nightly News anchorman Tom Brokaw, and New York Times columnist Tom Friedman.  

SYNDICATED – The Chris Matthews Show:  The questions – Does President Obama need to reset the health care debate?  And should the late U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy have shown more public penance for Chappaquiddick?    The panelists – Columnist Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post Writers Group, Washington Correspondent Katty Kay of the British Broadcasting Corporation, CNN Senior Political Analyst Gloria Borger, and Time Assistant Managing Editor Michael Duffy.

 WEDU-TV 3 – Florida This Week with Rob Lorei:  We weren’t able to view the Friday night run of the programme for this preview.

UCF had six months to settle the dispute with Mr. Plancher’s parents before they filed a lawsuit in March. At that point, there already were signs of trouble in contradictory statements among the team’s coaches, trainers and players about what happened at the young man’s last workout…Yet UCF chose to fight the lawsuit. Now, its reputation is on trial in a case that has attracted national media attention.

Whether a court finds UCF liable or not, it handled this tragedy poorly from the start…

Lakeland Ledger:  Winter Haven Commision, Seat 4 -  Openness -vs- Structure – The newspaper endorses Jamie Beckett in the city election September 8.

St. Petersburg Times:  Recommends For St. Petersburg Mayor - “Bill Foster is best-prepared to lead with a steady hand in uncertain times…Foster is a fourth-generation St. Petersburg native who has been active in the city’s civic life for years. The 46-year-old lawyer’s goal has long been to run the city — he once applied to be city manager before he was 30. He served on the City Council from 1998 to 2008, working closely with Mayor Rick Baker and Baker’s predecessor, David Fischer. Foster is their logical successor in a city that prefers steady progress over dramatic changes in direction.”

Tampa Tribune:  Rail System Won’t Empty The Roads – A few answers to critics of commuter rail as the Hillsborough County Commission will likely place a local sales tax increase on the ballot next year to support the idea.

Daytona Beach News-Journal:  First Amendment Stealth – “The Legislature in 2004 aimed to bring ["elections-communications organizations"] out of the shadows by requiring them to register with the state, disclose the identity of all their donors, disclose all their expenses and refrain from spending money in the five days before an election. For a time, it worked. Last year, ECOs spent $16 million in the election cycle, but reporting requirements made clear who the big spenders were. Voters knew who was trying to sway them and could make more informed decisions. Then, ironically just five days before the November 2008 election, a federal judge in Florida ruled the law unconstitutional…

“The Legislature should revisit its 2004 law early next year in time for the 2010 election cycle, preserve its transparency requirements but redefine its reach to ensure that communicating about an election and “electioneering” aren’t confused. The First Amendment should be guarded. But it shouldn’t be a cloak for anonymity that turns the amendment against itself by denying voters the right to be clearly informed about those who seek to influence them.”

As one might imagine, many of the national chat shows will likely focus on the life and legacy of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, who lost his battle with cancer late Tuesday.  But a bit of the conversation will also deal with how his passing will affect the debate over an issue with which he was known to be passionate about, health care reform.

Bay News 9 – Political Connections:  Bay News 9 does not release advance notice of the scheduled guests and issues to be discussed.

CBS News – Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer:  The guests this week: U.S. Senators John McCain (R – AZ), Dianne Feinstein (D – CA), Orrin Hatch (R – UT), and Congressman Barney Frank (D – MA) will discuss the life and legacy of Ted Kennedy, along with Georgetown University sociologist Michael Eric Dyson.

Cable News Network – State of the Union with John King:   A look back at Ted Kennedy’s life with U.S. Senate collegues Christopher Dodd (D – CT) and Orrin Hatch (R – UT).  Also appearing on this special edition:  Boston Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Thomas P. O’Neill, III,  and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

FOX News – Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace:  An exclusive interview with former Vice President Dick Cheney.  That will be followed by the usual Power Panel  of  Fox News Senior Political Analyst Brit Hume and Bill Kristol of The Weekly Standard , along with Mara Liasson and Juan Williams of National Public Radio..

 NBC News – Meet the Press with David Gregory:   An hour-long tribute to Sen. Ted Kennedy — his life and political career. A special conversation with close friends, colleagues and family members including U.S. Senator John Kerry (D – MA), political strategist Robert M. “Bob” Shrum and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. A look at the Kennedy legacy and beyond with Presidential Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. And a special look back at highlights from Kennedy’s 45 years of appearances on Meet the Press.  

SYNDICATED – The Chris Matthews Show:  The questions – Has television forever altered American  politics and changed history?  Also, Chris brings forth his personal memories of Ted Kennedy.    The panelists – Newsweek Senior Washington Correspondent Howard Fineman,  Michele Norris of National Public Radio’s afternoon newsmagazine All Things Considered,  CBS News White House Correspondent Bill Plante, and NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell.

 WEDU-TV 3 – Florida This Week with Rob Lorei:  This weekend’s panel:  Tampa Tribune political writer William March, University of South Florida political science professor Susan MacManus, Republican activist Bill Bunting, and educator/activist Reverand Charles McKenzie (D).

At approximately 1:45 this morning, my son was up watching Last Call with Carson Daly when the picture suddenly changed and the familiar opening strains of John Williams’ NBC News theme The Mission came up.  Then the word that many had dreaded, that Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy had succumbed to the brain cancer which had been suffering from for nearly two years.

Miami blogger Mustang Bobby of Bark Bark Woof Woof put it well earlier this morning:

There will be a lot of tributes, honors, and memories from people around the nation and around the world who are far more important, insightful, and who knew him far better than I. All I can add is that this loss to his family and to the nation is deeply felt and it goes beyond politics. If you are under the age of 60, you never lived a day without a Kennedy representing Massachusetts in the United States Senate. But beyond the politics, beyond the liberal vs. conservative, beyond the mystique of the Kennedy family, he was a true representative of the people of his state and, in a larger sense, the rest of us. He had his flaws — and some people will remind us of them over the next few days — but he always wanted the best for the nation, not for how it benefited him but for how it would make this a better place to live.

I especially feel disappointed that he left us before a solution was found for health care reform for all Americans, an issue which he was especially passioniate about.  The working class of our nation have lost one of the best advocates.  But as Senator Kennedy himself said at the 1980 Democratic National Convention:

“For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.“

TROPICAL STORM CLAUDETTE:  PUBLIC ADVISORY – 5:00 AM MONDAY, 17 AUGUST

— LOCAL STATEMENT / NWS OFFICE TALLAHASSEE – 5:41 AM MONDAY, 17 AUGUST

— LOCAL STATEMENT / NWS OFFICE MOBILE – PENSACOLA – 5:15 AM MONDAY, 17 AUGUST

— LOCAL STATEMENT / NWS OFFICE BIRMINGHAM – 11:46 PM SUNDAY, 16 AUGUST

It looks as though our next tropical visitor will be Tropical Depression Ana toward the end of the work week.  Ana weakened yesterday, and is barely now a tropical depression.  The forecast calls for her to weaken further into a remnant low pressure system as it crosses through the Caribbean islands during the next few days.  The fact that it will cross or come very near two of the more mountainous terrains in the region in Dominica and Cuba should help to prevent any strengthening, which would be good news for us, as Florida is in the five day forecast cone.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION ANA:  PUBLIC ADVISORY – 4:00 AM MONDAY, 17 AUGUST

And then there’s Bill, now the first hurricane of the season.  Bill is still several days away, but he will be worth watching.  According to the five day forecast, this storm should become a Catagory 3 system by late Tuesday or early Wednesday.  The good news is that while folks along the Carolina and Mid-Atlantic coasts will need to keep a watchful eye during the week, it seems as though the only land mass that may be of any major threat would be Bermuda by the weekend.  Let’s hope it keeps to open water.

HURRICANE BILL:  PUBLIC ADVISORY – 4:00 AM ET MONDAY, 17 AUGUST

I left a message on Facebook telling NewsChannel 8 meterologist Jennifer Hill, who returned from a brief mini-vacation this morning, that it was just a special way to welcome her back after having too much of a good time.