ALERT from Howard Dean About His Support for Kendrick Meek

Please read this message from Howard Dean received via e-mail from the FL Democratic Party.  It clears up a rumor about who he backs for the US Senate race for Florida.

"You may have heard a ridiculous - and completely false - rumor that I'm backing Charlie Crist.

No way, no how.  I am supporting just one candidate in the Florida Senate race: Kendrick Meek.

Another City Council Meeting Disappoints the Public

It can be argued that the only thing that can save our city budget from the projected financial shortfall is prayer. However, is that what Councilman Don Redman was thinking about when he invited Human Rights Commission nominee, name, to pray at the recent Jacksonville City Council meeting? Check out the full story and you decide if the episode was worth the time it took away from more pressing issues facing our city....like the Trail Ridge landfill issue. Oh yes, I forgot. That's no longer an issue. Even with the evidence shared by John Winkler, Chairman of the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County, in a recent news release which seems to suggest some conflict of interest surrounding the matter, Waste Management is back in! For more on John Winkler's position, check out his post on-line at: http://www.jaxtaxpayers.org/?s=john+winkler

But back to prayer-gate. Follow the link below to the full text of the article on the prayer situation and see what you think.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-04-28/story/councilman-don-redmans-use-%E2%80%98jesus%E2%80%99-prayer-leads-legal-questions

I think it's time for a change in who represents the people of Jacksonville on City Council. Go Blue!

Fired UP - Ready to WIN!

Lies Still Happen - They Must Stop!

Did you see this outrage?

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Crooks and Liars
Saturday March 28, 2009 06:45 am

Once Forced to Resign in Massive Fraud Case, Rick Scott Reborn as Leader of Anti-Healthcare Reform Lobby
By Susie Madrak

From the Politico:
The Conservative Patients' Rights Action Fund -- the first group out of the box opposing Obama's healthcare plan -- has launched a second round of its campaign on the issue, a source involved in the group says.
The campaign focuses on Obama's proposal to set $634 billion in the federal budget aside for healthcare reform, and links the issue to the Congress's treatment of bonuses for AIG executives.
“Isn’t it amazing folks in Congress were shocked the plan THEY passed allowed those huge bonuses for AIG?" asks Rick Scott, the former healthcare executive who chairs the group, in a new television ad to be released tomorrow. "Now some in Congress want to raise taxes and spend $634 billion for the President’s healthcare overhaul - - WITHOUT even seeing all the details of his plan. They just never seem to learn."
Ah, yes, Rick Scott. Funny, the details the Politico leaves out of their stories!

From Christopher Hayes in The Nation:
Having Scott lead the charge against healthcare reform is like tapping Bernie Madoff to campaign against tighter securities regulation. You see, the for-profit hospital chain Scott helped found--the one he ran and built his entire reputation on--was discovered to be in the habit of defrauding the government out of hundreds of millions of dollars.

A Reminder of Why We Voted for Barack Obama

Given the easy access to 24-hour news shows, we sometimes limit our sense of what's going on in the world around us to what we hear on the radio, see on TV or the Internet. Given this reality we can miss some substantive information about efforts AND accomplishments of people, programs, organizations, and yes,even our own President. Check out what one media commentator had to say about President Obama's work thus far. It reminded me of why I voted for him. Oh yes, a friend sent it to me via the Internet.....it was released before health care reform was officially passed!

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You’ll NEVER hear this on the NEWS!!!

By: "Robert P. Watson, Ph.D. Coordinator of American Studies Lynn University" Email: rwatson@lynn.edu

I am always being asked to grade Obama's presidency. In place of offering him a grade, I put together a list of his accomplishments thus far. I think you would agree that it is very impressive. His first six months have been even more active than FDRs or LBJs the two standards for such assessments. Yet, there is little media attention given to much of what he has done. Of late, the media is focusing almost exclusively on Obama's critics, without holding them responsible for the uncivil, unconstructive tone of their disagreements or without holding the previous administration responsible for getting us in such a deep hole. The misinformation and venom that now passes for political reporting and civic debate is beyond description.

Stop the Give-a-ways

A quick read of today's Florida Times-Union shows our local and state elected officials continue to have a love affair with giving away our tax dollars to corporations. Even though some of the recent bills have failed - or not moved forward in one or the other legislative chambers in Tallahassee - our State Republican leaders remain cozy with businesses often at the expense of our citizens. According to one article, Rep. Lake Ray (R - Jax) lost his fight to get a $500 million bill to aid expansion of Florida's ports. A smaller, $100 million dollar version which calls for tax credits reducing the premium taxes they would otherwise pay passed the House. Funding would be from State encouraged investments from insurance companies. A Ray-sponsored aviation-related bill to exempt hangars used for aircraft manufacturing and assembly from state laws that pay for road construction when over capacity. See Business Section, front page, above the fold. In another article on the same page, the steel mill tax break move pushed by Jacksonville City Councilman, Ray Holt which would have waived $3.5 million dollars in public service taxes for electricity use will be withdrawn. When the cities and the state need revenue, give-aways seem wrong-headed unless they can generate revenues to off-set the tax loss. If current elected officials can't see that - let's change them. Vote blue!

Fired Up - Ready to WIN!!!

Just Starting

Today I begin my blog. I want to be a voice of reason, hope, challenge and encouragement for those who seek an America that reflects our founding principles that extend to ALL of us, not just some of us. I believe an honest dialog on the pressing issues of the day tempered by fair reasoning and an open mind to multiple points of view can result in best practices every time. I am a Democrat - but am not against Republicans. I am Black - but I value diversity and I practice inclusion. I am not always right - but strive to find truth no matter how difficult it may be. I'm guided by a basic principle that has worked for me most of my adult life. Namely, consider "both-and" vs. "either- or" as a practical approach and solution to problem solving and most often, both sides win!