No, it wasn't either Barack Obama or John McCain. It wasn't even their vice presidential running mates. But a candidate for President who will appear on the November ballot did pay a visit to Lakeland this evening.Brian Moore is from Spring Hill, and is the Socialist Party USA candidate for the White House. Before coming to the Sunshine State, Mr. Moore ran twice as an independent candidate for Mayor of Washington, DC. Since coming here, he has run twice for Congress from the Fifth District in 2002 and 2004, as well as for the U.S. Senate two years ago. He holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University, and runs his own executive recruitment firm specializing in health related fields.To date, Moore and vice presidential running mate Stewart Alexander of Los Angeles have only been qualified to be on the ballot in two battleground state --- Florida and Ohio --- and their Website notes that they hope to achieve a place on the ballot in as many as a dozen state. Their campaign has filed federal lawsuits seeking ballot status in Louisiana and MississippiMoore was in town this evening as part of the weekly community forum series presented by Lakeland's Uniterian Universialist Congregation, and was scheduled to speak in the topic “How America Can Change from Capitalism to Socialism.”So much for that...One other item of interest: GOP Vice Presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin had planned to hold an outdoor rally at The Villages retirement community on Sunday, but that event has now been scrapped. Tampa Tribune political reporter William Marsh mentioned on his blog Marsh On Politics that the rally was taken off the schedule --- this time because of a 30 percent chance of rain forecast for the area. Marsh also noted that this is the second time that a planned visit to Central Florida by John McCain's running mate has fallen through.
During the first three Tuesday nights of October, the League of Women Voters of Polk County will sponsor three forums focusing on the issues and candidates that you will choose in the November 4 General Election.The forums will take place in the County Commission chamber at the Neil Combee County Administration Building, 330 West Church Street in Bartow.The first event, to be held on October 7, will focus on the constitutional and charter amendments which will appear on the ballot. The following week will feature candidates for the Polk County Commission, with the October 21 forum concentrating on candidates for the United States Congress and Florida Senate.These will be great events to meet and hear the various candidates for office, and an informed electorate helps all of us.
It was not a great weekend for the Tampa Bay Rays, dropping the finale of their series in the Bronx to the Yankees 8-4 and coming away from New York winning only one game of the three game series, and two of the six games the teams have played against each other during the past week and a half.Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox won this afternoon against Toronto 4-3, taking the four game series three games to one and bringing them into one game of the Rays in the race for the American League title.The next three nights could determine that championship, as the Rays and BoSox face off starting Monday at Tropicana Field. Ace pitcher Scott Kazmir (11 - 6)will take the mound for the home team, facing off against Daisuke Matsuzaka (16 - 2).If there is a series where the local baseball fans' support is needed, this is it. Let's hope the Rays' fans pack the Trop for all three games!Meanwhile, the Buccaneers came away with a 24 - 9 home NFL win against Atlanta this afternoon.And congratulations to the South Florida Bulls, who in a nationally televised Friday night matchup of Top-25 teams defeated (some would actually say UPSET) the Kansas Jayhawks at Raymond James Stadium 37 - 34...thanks to a last second field goal by Lake Wales true freshman Maikon Bonani. This weekend will be one of those games where a team just coming off a huge win could be embarrassed easily, as the Bulls help Florida International University open it's new stadium in Miami.Finally, I would be remiss not to mention that my beloved Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles now own a record of 2 - 1 with victories against Louisiana - Lafayette and Arkansas State sandwiched between a loss at Auburn. This weekend will open a three game homestand and the start of the Golden Eagles' Conference USA schedule against Marshall. GO EAGLES!!!
We can give thanks today that Hurricane Ike was not the catastrophic event that many had predicted. While it was indeed a powerful storm that covered an extraordinary area of the Gulf of Mexico, the expected 20-25 foot storm surge did not take place. Of course, that's no comfort to the people on Galveston Island and elsewhere along the coast whose homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed by the force of Nature, but when everything is said and done, they came away damned lucky.One lesson that I'm certain many people in the region came away with --- and one that we here in Florida can learn as well --- is that when officials order an evacuation in anticipation of a hurricane or tropical storm, it's a good idea to take heed and follow their guidance. I can understand the reluctance of many to leave, especially with the chaos that resulted before Hurricane Rita just a few years ago where more people died in the evacuation than in the actual storm. And I can understand many who consider staying behind to protect their home and property. But homes and property can be replaced...lives cannot. Just ask the hundreds of coastal Texans that made the wrong decision and had to be rescued by air or boat in the aftermath this weekend. And consider the men and women who knowingly put their children in harm's way by staying...there's simply no excuse.The bottom line is for all of us to learn from what just happened this weekend. After all, we're only halfway through the hurricane season.
Today, a group of people who are supporting Riverview Democrat Doug Tudor's candidacy to replace Republican incumbant Adam Putnam as the 12th District Congressional Representative gathered at the Lakeland downtown post office with a little help for Putnam: Boxes for the Bartow native to help in what will be his permanant return to Polk County. Each member of the group brought a box to put toogether, which were addressed and stamped to be mailed to Putnam's Washington office. Each box also included a message. In this case, the message read: "Adam, We demand truly clean energy.We demand that our children be born debt free.We demand health care for children.We demand respect from the international community.We demand the RULE OF LAW." Another box included the message: "Mr. Putnam, You're not behind me, so I'm not behind you. I'M YOUR BOSS! YOUR'RE FIRED, PAL!" Members of the crowd preparing to purchase the postage for their boxes. Among the people I got to meet here was Susan S., a regular contributor to the Florida Progressive Coalition Blog who has been a HUGE supporter of Master Chief (Ret.) Tudor. The candidate was also present to send his own box and meet some of the Saturday crowd out getting their mailings out. If you live in the 12th Congressional District, I sincerely encourage you to check out Tudor's position on many of the key issues facing America heading into this election.
I can guess one phrase you'll hear PLENTY of discussion about this weekend...everyone say it together with me..."Lipstick on a Pig". And I'm sure plenty of critique of Sarah Palin's first network interview, too.ABC NEWS / This Week with George Stephanopoulos: U.S. Senator and Obama supporter Claire McCaskill (D - MO) along with former Hewlitt-Packard CEO and McCain supporter Carly Fiorina. Also, a discussion of the state of the economy with former Federal Reserve System Chairman Alan Greenspan. In the roundtable: Democratic strategist Paul Begala, Jay Carney of Time, ABC News' Claire Shipman, and conservative columnist George Will of the Washington Post Writers Group.BAY NEWS 9 / Political Connections: Bay News 9 does not provide advance notice of the guests or topics for Political Connections.CBS NEWS / Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer: As of Friday evening, the guests and topics had not been announced. Please check back for updates.CABLE NEWS NETWORK / Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer: The latest on Hurricane Ike recovery efforts with key emergency management officials in the area, and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator R. David Paulison. Then, back to politics with a full court press of the presidential campaign featuring U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D - CA), Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (R - TN), Governors Tim Pawlenty (R - MN) and Bill Richardson (D - NM), McCain Economic Adviser Nancy Pfotenheuer, Obama Campaign Adviser Linda Douglass, Democratic political strategists Donna Brazile and Hillary Rosen, and Washington Times conservative columnist Tara Wall.FOX NEWS / Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace: Two Alaskan political insiders --- Former Governor Tony Knowles (D) and Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell --- will appear to tell us more about current Governor and GOP Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Also, former White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove and Pentagon Memorial Fund president Jim Laychak, followed by the usual roundtable discussing various issues of the day, including Bill Kristol, co-founder of The Weekly Standard, along with Juan Williams and Mara Liasson of National Public RadioNBC NEWS / Meet the Press: A discussion of the presidential campaign with former New York City Mayor and McCain supporter Rudolph Guiliani and Obama supporter / U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D - NY). Afterward, the weekly political roundtable with NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd and Washington Post Associate Editor and author Bob Woodward.SYNDICATED / The Chris Matthews Show: The questions for discussion: Obama's on defense -- are Democrats worrying too soon about his chances? And how will women view Palin's decision to balance motherhood and the VP job? The panelists: NBC News Senior Vice President and Washington Bureau Chief Mark Whitaker (God, what HUGE shoes to fill...remember, he's taking the position last filled by the late Tim Russert), British Broadcasting Corporation Washington Correspondent/Anchor Katty Kay, Patrick Healy of the New York Times, and Atlanta Journal-Constitution Editorial Page Editor Cynthia Tucker.WEDU-TV 3 / Florida This Week with Rob Lorei: It's a fundraising week for the public broadcasting station. This week instead of the usual roundtable of discussion concerning issues affecting West Central Florida, Rob Lorei does a one-on-one interview with PBS journalist Bill Moyers.WFTS-TV 28 / Flashpoint with Brendan McLaughlin: Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair (R) and election opponent Kevin Beckner (D) will face off in this week's episode. Brendan especially suggests that you "stick around for the second segment where the issue of gay tolerance animates the discussion considerably".
Yesterday, I suggested that everyone that is able to do so should fill up or at least top off their gas tanks. That was based on the reality that as Hurricane Ike continues it's rush through the western Gulf of Mexico and it's numerous offshore oil rigs as well as the refineries near the coast and along the Houston Ship Channel, the price will head upward. The idea was not to instill panic or concern, simply to advise that prices at the level we've seen recently are about to be, for a time, a thing of the past.We're beginning to see that reality here.As a point of reference, I direct you to the RaceTrac convenience store located on U.S. 98 just south of Griffin Road in Lakeland. As recent as Tuesday, Regular Unleaded was selling at $3.60/gallon. This afternoon, the price had increased seven cents a gallon. According to NBC Nightly News, one station in the Attractions Area near Orlando had jacked up the price to nearly $5.50/gallon. The Orlando Sentinel Web site this afternoon reported:State officials recorded more than two dozen complaints by Friday afternoon, many reporting prices of more than $5 per gallon.At least two complaints came from Central Florida: A Suncoast near Orlando International Airport charging $5.49 a gallon, and a Murphy's Oil in Osceola County.No one at the Suncoast station would comment, and it was unclear which Murphy's location generated the complaint.The Orlando Sentinel today noted that one retailer, The Pantry, Inc. --- which operates the Kangaroo Express chain --- has posted signs requesting that customers voluntarily limit their gas purchases to 10 gallons. (NOTE: The Pantry operates seven Kangaroo Express stores in Polk County: Three in Davenport, two in Lake Wales, with one each in Haines City and Lake Hamilton). Others are apparantly considering the idea.Jim Smith, president of the Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, said he had heard of some of his members asking customers to ration gas, but his group was not recommending it."It creates the impression there is not enough product, and Floridians do one thing very well, and that is panic," he said.State officials are insisting that Florida has plenty of gas available to last a period of several days, and in a statement released this afternoon, Governor Crist called the alleged price gouging "unconscionable".Please pray for our brothers and sisters in the affected areas of Texas and Louisiana, as Ike's landfall promises to be a catastrophic event. And for those of you who want to keep up firsthand with Ike's landfall and effect on the Texas coast, Tampa FOX affiliate WTVT-TV 13 will simulcast the live coverage from Houston's co-owned KRIV-TV 26 during the overnight period beginning at 1:00 AM tonight.
Fill up or top off your gas tank today or tomorrow.Consider:1) Hurricane Ike's fierce parade through the Central Gulf of Mexico toward Texas, and the probability of damage to many of the offshore oil rigs there which will take weeks to repair and get running again.2) Many of the refinieries along the Texas coast, especially the Houston Ship Channel shutting down in preperation for the storm and the possibility of at least a few sites experiencing flooding.3) OPEC's decision earlier this week to cut production because of the recent drop in crude oil prices.It's a taste of Economics 101 - Supply and Demand. Supply will be down at least for a few weeks, if not longer - see item 1 above. Demand for fuel will also undoubtably rise in the aftermath of the hurricane, in addition to folks preparing for the autumn/winter season with heating fuel. When these two interests - supply and demand - collide, prices will undoubtably rise. Just how high? I will not attempt to guess that, but everyone should prepare for the possibility of a return to $4.00/gal., if not higher.
Right now, it looks as though that island city on the Southeast Texas coast is in Hurricane Ike's bullseye...or close to it. By this time tomorrow, he should have intensified to a Catagory 3 storm, and there are some who are saying Ike could reach Catagory 4 before his eventual landfall early Saturday.Regardless, this could be a devestating event for not only Galveston, but areas of the Houston Metro as well. The area has continued to grow significantly since I lived there nearly three decades ago, especially in the suburbs near the Johnson Space Center near Galveston Bay, areas which the City of Houston added since I left.Pray for these folks and all those along the Gulf Coast.
...and that Pontiaus Pilate was a governor.
Congressional candidate Doug Tudor (FL-12) has been bustin' his chops to get his name out to the voters in what will be a tough contest against Bush-Cheney puppet Adam Putnam. It really makes me feel good to know and see that the Democratic Party has a truly serious contender for the first time in awhile to take back this district along the I-4 Corridor.If you live in the Winter Haven area, here's a chance to meet with and discuss the issues with Tudor, a retired Master Chief in the U.S. Navy. His campaign will be holding a picnic and reception Saturday afternoon from 12 Noon until 4 PM in Martin Luther King Park, located at South Silver Drive and Third Street, Northwest. That's a couple of blocks east of U.S. 17 near the police station, and just north of downtown.Donations to the campaign are not required, but would be appreciated at your discretion. Better yet, if you are truly interested in supporting this patriot's effort to be an insturment of change in Washington, donate now to Doug's campaign. You can do so online through ActBlue or by clicking here to download a printable contribution form.BTW: You'll probably have the opportunity to purchase a Tudor for Congress tee during the event. It's a great way to make a fashion statement while showing your support. I wore mine to work yesterday!
U.S. Senator and former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton (D - NY) made a brief stop Monday in Lakeland, surprising about 60 Barack Obama volunteers at the candidate's campaign office.Mrs. Clinton was enroute from an event in Kissimmee to Tampa. She is making her second swing through Florida on behalf of the Obama campaign since winning the state during the presidential preference primary in February. Lakeland Ledger political writer Bill Rufty noted that Mrs. Clinton walked into the office at Gateway Boulevard and County Line Road as canvassers were preparing for their door-to-door work and while adults and high school volunteers were busy at the phone banks, making her way through the group and shaking everyone's hand.That's the kinda thing that helps gets those hard working volunteers energized to get the work done.
Finally, some good news to report about the tropics. No Gustav, no Hanna, no Josephine...only Ike, weakening as it travels along the spine of Cuba this morning.As I type this, Ike is still a powerful Catagory 2 hurricane, but if he continues along the predicted track it would only be a tropical storm when it departs the island nation in one or two days. However, one the hurricane enters the extremely warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it is expected to rejuveniate into a major Catagory 3 storm by week's end. The good news is that we won't see any of that power, but we will likely experience some of Ike's outermost bands during the next couple of days. So where will he go? The general agreement at this time is that Ike will probably make a landfall in either Western Louisiana (as if they haven't had enough already) or the Texas coast between Houston/Galveston and the Golden Triangle area (Beaumont/Port Arthur/Orange). There's a lot of offshore oil rigs in that area, and this isn't Gustav...it's expected to be more powerful as a C3 storm. Thankfully, the damage from Gus to those rigs was not serious, and prices were not greatly affected. At this point, I can't promise the same this time. If Ike regenerates to what is expected and throws it's weight around, get ready for at least $4.50/gallon gas by Thanksgiving, if not more.
Looking at the information this morning regarding Hurricane Ike, it has begun to dip further south than many of the forecasts had originally predicted. The forecasts now call for "The General" to hug or cross the northern coast of Cuba as a Catagory 4 system after slamming the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Southern Bahamas, weakening to Catagory 2 as it interacts with Cuba's land mass. After that, it is expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico and reintenify to Catagory 3, which is not good news for residents along the coast.The good news is that all of the forecasts now favour Ike to keep away from the Central Florida coast. Again, long term forecasts for these systems tend to be unreliable, and will change often. Remember, it was only yesterday morning that the models were bringing this hurricane making landfall or coming very near the western coast. Also keep in mind that the entire Florida Penisula remains in the so-called "cone of uncertainty" as of this morning.In anticipation of the hurricane, authorities in the Florida Keys asked visitors to leave as of 9:00 AM this morning, with a mandatory resident evacuation of Key West and the Lower Keys at 8:00 AM tomorrow. Also, officials will announce tomorrow wheather to order evacuations of barrier islands and areas east of U.S. 1 in South Florida.Keep a watchful eye...
"From my perspective, what he's trying to do is start a grass-roots movement of people helping people. The problem is that I would prefer he go through normal channels. He just showed up on our front lawn and started helping people without permission."The Rev. Stephen Strader of Lakeland's Ignited Church, talking about the efforts of Brandt Russo, who travels the country ministering to homeless people out of a converted school bus. Brandt was arrested this week at the request of three members of Ignited's staff on trespassing charges while he was visiting with and ministring to a group of homeless people who had been camping out near the church on U.S. 98, North, host church to what has become known during the past six months as the Florida Outpouring Revival. The dreadlocked, tattooed 24 year old runs a nonprofit organization in partnership with a West Virginia-based ministry, and said he voluntarily lives among the poor and homeless as a way of emulating Jesus Christ. Strader and Brandt met Thursday to work in resolving the issue.That said, this sounds to me more like a corporate executive speaking than a Minister of the Gospel. Sadly, there are many pastors who sound and act like this. Maybe they should go back to their Bibles and remember that, in the words of Saint Matthew (from the New International Version):"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."Now, from one extreme to the other...With thanks to WFTS-TV 28 anchor Brendan McLaughlin from the blog for his Sunday morning show, Flashpoint:"I'm a f - - -in' redneck" who likes to snowboard and ride dirt bikes...But I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing, shoot some s- - - and just f - - -in' chillin' I guess.""Ya f - - - with me I'll kick [your] ass," he added.Before you wonder if that's actually excerpts from Brendan's MySpace page (I don't know if he actually has one or not; he's a California cool kinda guy, anyway, although he did work in Austin, Texas for awhile), it's not. The words are that of Levi Johnston, the 17-year-old soon to be parent with Bristol Palin, daughter of Alaska Governor and GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. This is among several excerpts published this week in the New York Post.Rednecks in Alaska??? Huh...
Bio: Robert is a former radio personality, which ended with five years at Winter Haven station WHNR where he eventually rose to become Assistant Operations Manager. For the past decade he has continued to make a living running his mouth, working in the call center industry. Currently he is working as a Customer Services Professional at a local facility representing one of North America's major heating & air conditioning sales and repair companies.
