Time is running out to help Charles McKenzie, who is locked in a heated Democratic primary with State Representative Darryl Rouson, whose anti-gay comments started a firestorm on the internet a few weeks ago.
The Democratic primary is next Tuesday, August 26th, and no contributions may be accepted after 11:59 PM on Thursday night.http://www.mckenzie2008.com is the campaign's site where you can contribute online.
The latest news from the race is that a pro-voucher group led by former Michigan GOP Chair Betsy DeVos has weighed in on Mr. Rouson's side with mailings. They are misquoting the St. Petersburg Times and distorting their reporting in a major way.
More info about this is below the fold. Here's a link to the anti-gay remarks by Mr. Rouson.
Many of you may remember my earlier diary about State Representative Darryl Rouson ("D"-St. Petersburg). About 10 days ago, a video of him surfaced on YouTube where he was making homophobic comments. In case you want to see his disgusting anti-gay tirade, which lasted nearly a full minute, you may watch it below.
He is on the August 26th Democratic primary ballot in Florida. His opponent has a good chance to win if we can give him a little help. Charles McKenzie, State of Florida Coordinator for Rainbow-PUSH, is getting a lot of newfound grassroots support from civil rights organizations in the wake of the Rouson comments. Equality Florida, Pinellas Stonewall Democrats, and the FL Chapter of NOW PAC have rallied to his cause. Online contributions can be made at http://www.mckenzie2008.com
Barack Obama is walking a tightrope never before seen in the history of politics. As a Black man, he has to appease a core-Black base, but's he's gotta be true to the needs of all Americans...
http://blogs.uptownlife.net/sonyarose/
As a Black man who is old enough to remember the courageously focused and determined lives of both Malcolm and Martin Luther King and their gruesome and untimely deaths, and educated enough to be cognizant of the painful sacrifices that generations of Black people have endured to make this, Barack Obama's moment–our moment--in history possible, I simply cannot find the words to adequately express my feelings of deep frustration and disgust towards the young brothers who heckled Sen. Obama during his St. Petersburg speech. For the very first time in my life, words completely fail me, but I now have a much better understanding of why the penalty for treason is so severe.
This diary is a response to a diary that was posted earlier today. The author got a bunch of people pretty upset, and I would ask that you take the time to read his diary first before proceeding with mine.
I was not able to attend Obama's town hall in St. Petersburg yesterday. I live in Tampa and didn't have time to drive over to the St. Pete office for tickets. But I read some excellent coverage of the town hall here in diaries like the one from smash artist, which portrayed the town hall as a great event and a complete success for Obama. But as I prepared to read the coverage of the event from our two local dailies, the Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times, I braced myself for some BS coverage, fully expecting to read about an event that bore no resemblance to the one described by smash artist. But after reading the articles I was pleasantly surprised. The reporters seemed to - gasp - report on the event as it really happened, which meant that Obama came off favorably. Surprise of surprises.
I just got back home from Obama's town hall at Gibbs High School today. I was one of the 1500 who was lucky enough to get a ticket to see him speak (the demand for the tickets was enormous). This town hall turned out not just to be another town hall, but quite a memorable one. It included new major policy proposals, protests from an African American socialist group, and a wide ranging Q&A session. And most important of all, it had Senator Obama on the top of his game.
I have to say that IMO, Senator Obama is even better in town hall format than he is giving big speeches. I got to see him live when he came to Tampa in May to deliver a speech to 15,000 people, and it wasn’t nearly as good as this town hall. This event reaffirmed everything I believe about Senator Obama’s candidacy, and why I think he is the best presidential candidate the Democratic party has had in a long time.
Join me below the fold for the full (and fairly lengthy) recap of the event and all of the madness that ensued.
For those of you who don’t know me my name is Bob Hackworth. I am the current Mayor of the City of Dunedin, Florida and a candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Florida's 10th Congressional District. I'd like to take this opportunity to discuss one of my top priorities, the economy.
I was distraught and I despaired that C.W. "Bill" Young -- the 19 term congressman serving Florida's 10th congressional district (mostly Pinellas county, Florida including St. Petersburg, Palm Harbor, Dunedin and the beaches) was getting a free pass this election cycle. He'd be facing Samm Simpson once again come the general and he would likely win in a walk.
That's changed a bit.
Simpson does not have a free path to the general election any more. She faces a primary challenge from a candidate who previously had statewide and national exposure from his failed 3rd party gubernatorial campaign in 2006. I'm talking about Max Linn, who has entered the fray with a (D) next to his name.
Today at the White House website! Ambassador Mark R. Dybul, U.S. Global A.I.D.S. Coordinator takes questions... and I just couldn't help but ask my own special one. Can't wait to see if he answers it!
I suppose responses will be made available at the announced time:
Friday at 2:00 PM EST
Ambassador Mark R. Dybul
US Global AIDS Coordinator
Here's my letter:
"How long have you guys been coordinating A.I.D.S.? I was under the impression it was random... didn't realize you had it all organized.
But seriously, aren't you frustrated by this administration's insistence on abstinence programs instead of focusing on safe sex education and condom use? It must be like smacking your head against a wall... or maybe against a Bible. After all, does religious dogma really have a place in the field of public health?"
Good morning and welcome to the third in the series about my trips to Russia. As stated in the previous diaries, the remainder in this series will be little text from me but primarily simply stated trivia/facts about Russians and more photo’s from Russia. The only text from me will be this WARNING to those who have not read prior portions of the series. A link to the first diary is below.
IF YOU DID NOT READ THE PRIOR DIARIES THAT STARTED WED. 10/17, I STRONGLY urge you to start with the first and read the diaries in order.
NONE OF THE PHOTOS OR TRIVIA/FACTS FROM ONE DIARY IN THE SERIES WILL BE REPEATED IN ANY FOLLOWING DIARY. IN THIS SERIES, THE TRIVIA/FACTS AND PHOTOS ARE IN DESCENDING ORDER FROM MOST INTERSTING AND UNIQUE TO LESS. THERE IS INFORMATION IN EACH DIARY THAT THE READER NEEDS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE SUBSEQUENT DIARIES.
(Thefos and bobnbob's most excellent Obama adventure series)
Before I delve into my recent Obama experience, I feel that I must emphasize 3 points. Let’s call them "disclaimers," shall we?
I think about Barack Obama and how campaigning must be taking a toll on him and his family. I think that Barack must be desperately missing his girls and that they probably do not understand the magnitude of what he is doing. They probably just want to sit on their daddy’s lap, maybe read a book together or just play with him. I imagine him trying to balance his job as a Senator with the demands of campaigning and time with his family. I think that his family is getting the short end of the stick; at least temporarily.
Tragedy has struck the State of Florida as the St. Petersburg Times reported that City Councilman and former former finance chairman for U.S. Sen. Connie Mack was found dead of an apparent suicide, after facing accusations of molesting three girls, including two adopted daughters.
Among the horrifying and outrageous effects of the worst presidency ever are "free speech zones," those designated areas in which dissenters, who simply wish to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of speech, are meant to be placed; by implication, surrounding areas are places in which freedom of speech is not meant to apply.
To which I say, along with civil libertarians, that, no, in fact, the entire country is a free speech zone. This is something to keep fighting for.
In Florida, my home state, the combination of rising property insurance premiums and property tax increases is driving the state legislature towards draconian changes in the tax system. The major target is property taxes which are the only source of revenue for local school funding requirements and the major source of revenue for local governments. The state legislature's well intended efforts to provide much needed relief to property owners are about to have some very severe unintended consequences for the quality of life here in Florida.
Caught squarely in the headlights of those unintended consequences are the arts and art education. The arts are always high on the list of the first place to cut funding in times like these. Follow me below the fold to examine why this is precisely the wrong place to start cutting.
As a resident of Charlie Crist's hometown, I can bring an up close and personal perspective. I have known Charlie Crist for over 20 years. One need make no mistake about Charlie - he is a consummate politician. I think he is doing these "progressive" things because he does believe in them. But I'm not so sure he believes in them in and of themselves, but as in where the political advantage lies.
Can Charlie Crist continue to succeed in this political balancing act? The rest of the story after the junp...
Two weeks ago, in Jesus is a housing advocate in St. Petersburg, Fla., I diaried about a "tent town" that crusading Rev. Bruce J. Wright of Refuge Ministry in St. Pete helped organize on the St. Vincent de Paul property in St. Pete a month ago. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker (right) wants St. Vincent de Paul to evict them.
On Friday, St. Pete police raided the tent town. They didn't arrest anyone - they just destroyed the tents and carted away the tops "as evidence," leaving the homeless worse off than they were before.
