October 27, 2023
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Deep Something

Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it. ~~Mark Twain

Politics

This category is a main category for post dealing with political issues and politicians at any level of government.

202 Candidates for Hillsborough County Tax Collector
Featured Places Tampa Politics Election 

2020 Election – Hillsborough Tax Collector

B. John 193 Views 0 Comments , , , ,

The two candidates are Democrat Nancy Millan and Republican T.K. Smith. I put out my usual call to both but spoke only with Millan. McMillan has 30 years of experience at the tax collector’s office. In speaking with her she was suggesting some innovative ways to meet the needs of the citizens with some simple common-sense approaches to the many tasks performed by the tax collector. She was open to minor suggestion I made, and I thought she was smart and practical. I’m recommending Nancy Millan based on her years of experience, knowledge of the office and its duties, and her commonsense approach to the office.

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2020 Candidates for Hillsborough County Sheriff
Featured Places Tampa Politics Election 

2020 Election – Hillsborough County Sheriff

B. John 211 Views 0 Comments , , , ,

The incumbent is “married into money” Chad Chronister opposed by Independent Ron McMullen and Democrat Gary Pruitt. Pruitt is the only candidate who returned my calls (and you know my rule). I didn’t expect to hear from Chronister. Chronister is the recommendation of Times Editorial Board, and we could do worse. In my conversations with Gary Pruitt I found him to be genuine and level-headed. He seems to care a lot more about “law enforcement” than about politics. He wants body cams and windshield cams. He also favors an actual “Citizens’ Oversight” function over just an “advisory committee.” I’m recommending Gary Pruitt.

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Photo of Julie Jenkins and Jackie Toledo
Featured Politics Election Legislature 

2020 Votes – State House District 60

B. John 250 Views 0 Comments , , , , ,

This has entrenched Republican incumbent Jackie Toledo being challenged by local Democratic activist Julie Jenkins. I have met with Jackie Toledo a couple of years ago and call her voice to provide input on important issues. Since she and I rarely see eye-to-eye, it’s no surprise she didn’t call in response to my ballot call.  (I should note that I have a long-standing policy of calling candidates for local offices to speak with them directly prior to voting for them. Don’t call, you don’t get my vote, it doesn’t matter where you stand on the issues.) Ms. Jenkins did call, and I highly recommend a vote for her.

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Andrew Warren Hillsborough State Attorney
Featured Politics Election 

2020 Votes – Hillsborough State Attorney

B. John 176 Views 0 Comments , , , ,

Incumbent Andrew Warren (D) is being challenged by Attorney and Former Sheriff’s Officer Mike Perotti. I talked to Warren when he last ran, and again this time along with Mike Perotti. I don’t think there should be some kind of marriage between law enforcement and the judical system. That doesn’t mean I don’t think they have to work together, but one shouldn’t be seen as “serving” the other. I think Perotti’s career is one of law enforcement, not Justice. Perotti also said he wouldn’t enforce the mask mandate in Hillsborough County as the verdict isn’t in on their effectiveness, so you can imagine that’s all I needed to say no to him. I’ll be voting for Andrew Warren.

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Kathy Castor
Featured Politics Congress Election 

2020 Votes – Florida Congressional District 14

B. John 113 Views 0 Comments , , ,

Florida Congressional District 14 is between Democratic incumbent Kathy Castor and Republican Christine Quinn. I am not a huge fan of Kathy Castor. Not that I have opposed much of what she pushes, just that she doesn’t seem to push much, nor very hard. Quinn, on the other hand, has no grasp of major issues. Time and again, in interviews, she demurs and claims to not know much on the topics.  “When asked about immigration, Quinn says she’s not equipped to give a short, succinct answer. But when asked if she supports the wall Donald Trump has proposed along the U.S. Southern border, she backs that idea with enthusiasm, adding her fear is that the undocumented could be bringing over diseases that could compromise our health system.” She reminds me a bit of Louie Gohmert of Texas.

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Featured Places Tampa Politics Courts Society Gay Issues Right Wingnuts Hate Groups 

Judge William Jung-Douchebag of the Day

B. John 916 Views 1 Comment , , , , ,

In 2017, Tampa passed an ordinance that prohibited conversion therapy for children under 18. As they always do, Liberty Counsel and their perpetual “client,” Las Vegas-based Robert Vazzo (not even a resident of Florida), and a David Pickup of Dallas (not licensed in Florida) filed a lawsuit to get the ordinance overturned. However, Republican Trump-appointee William Jung had to bend himself into a Gordian Knot of legal reasoning to give them that win.

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Customs and Border Protection Chief, Carla Provost
Politics Society Crime Featured 

Customs and Border Protection – Douchebags of the Day

B. John 609 Views 0 Comments , , , , , , , ,

This organization and its leaders are no longer even trying to pretend to act lawfully, morally and with integrity. CBP Chief Carla Provost is trying to explain her way out of a racist private Facebook page she and her agents used to post denigrating names about immigrants. One of her deputies, Chief of Law Enforcement Operations for Customs and Border Protection Brian S. Hastings, is rivaling Trump for number of lies.

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Oklahoma Death Chamber (AP Photo, Dave Martin)
Featured Politics Society Crime 

The Death Penalty – Yes, No, Maybe?

B. John 354 Views 0 Comments

The revival by Trump/Barr of the federal death penalty was the impetus for me to finally put into writing how have I’ve been thinking about the death penalty. I hate, during election season, when I get the survey calls, and one of the questions is, “Do you support the death penalty?” They want a “Yes, No, Don’t Know,” but the best I can do is “well, sort of.”

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Liz Cheney
Racism Featured Politics Congress Society Hate Groups 

Liz Cheney-Claims Tweets Not About Race-Douchebag

B. John 488 Views 0 Comments , , , , ,

So how could pass up bestowing a Douchebag Award on Liz Cheney (R[acist]-WY) for going on TV and doing her best to pretend that it is the Democrats who are racist for pointing out the racism of Trump’s recent tweets.  Cheney accused CBS host Margaret Brennan of unfairly bringing race into a discussion after Donald Trump told four non-white Democratic congresswomen to “go back” to where they came from.

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R[acist]) and Donald Trump
Congress Legislature Presidency Society Hate Groups Featured Racism Politics 

DeSantis-Douchebag Award Winner

B. John 474 Views 0 Comments , , , , ,

I hate to keep hitting on Trump’s naked racism displayed on Twitter a few days ago, but the complete lack of rebuke from the Republicans is astonishing and disturbing. One of these Congress members is going to be attacked, and her blood will be on the hands of Republicans who will claim it’s not their fault. Ron DeSantis went out of his way to grab hold of Trump’s coattails in 2016, and he continues to cling. He has been completely mum on the issue.

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Florida U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott
Hate Groups Featured Politics Congress Presidency Society 

Rubio-Scott – Douchebag Award Winners

B. John 386 Views 0 Comments , , , , , , , ,

Rick Scott and Marco Rubio (R(acists)-Florida) have both won individual awards, but will give them a joint award this week thanks to the complicity with Donald Trump’s latest example of naked racism in calling for U.S. Citizen Legislators to “go back where you came from.” I would classify Scott and Rubio as nothing short of medical miracles as they seem able to walk upright without spines.

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