The site for ranting and reporting by John Masters
This category is used when the post relates to actions by the Florida Legislature.
As you know, I have a personal policy of speaking with candidates for local office before considering them for my vote. I got set back a week from being out of town at a conference, but I am now back on the trail and reaching out. First up is the race for State Representative, District 65.
Read more
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.
Read more![Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R[acist]) and Donald Trump](https://deep.mastersfamily.org/media/2019/07/trump_desantis.jpg)
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.
Read more
This is the contest between Dana Young and Janet Cruz. I’m not jumping-up-and-down happy with either of these two candidates but they are worlds apart on the issues important to me. Janet Cruz gets my vote for State Senate.
Read more
Well, the time is upon us, so I just as well start blogging about the election. It will come as no surprise that I’m recommending you vote for Andrew Gillium for Governor of Florida. Not only is Mayor Gillium the right choice for Florida right now, but Ron DeSantis is also exactly the wrong choice.
Read more
Florida headquartered Publix Super Markets, has contributed nearly $670k to Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam ($250K of the recently), now the Commissioner of Agriculture. The Tampa Bay Times has recently published an article calling this to the attention of everyone, and Publix’s has been in damage control ever since, issuing the typical PR-written, Lawyer-approved bullshit form letter. I’ve written my own letter in response to the form letter I’ve seen posted all over social media. Let’s see if Publix gets the message.
Read more
Well, Senator Fitzgerald came to our attention when he was mentioned in an article about yesterday’s Douche Bag of the Day winner. Fitzgerald went on an all too common rant on the Kansas Senate Floor about the “Gay Agenda,” as his argument for a bill allowing funding to adoption agencies that object to placing children with LGBT couples.
Read more
This one is just kind of outside our usual realm of notice, but we decided his action was just deplorable enough to warrant recognition with our Douche Bag of the Day award. Republican Tom Cox is a member of the Kansas house of Representatives representing the Shawnee-Lake Quivira district of good old KS, and he underhandedly changed his vote to make it possible for adoption agencies in KS to receive state funds AND discriminate against LGBT people.
Read more
The Swiss argument about gun control gets bandied about with some regularity. There’s this claim that “The Swiss require everyone to have a gun,” or “The Swiss government issues everyone a gun.” Except, no they don’t. And as a matter of fact, when you look into gun violence statistics, Switzerland supports the position: “the more guns, the more gun violence.”
Read moreThe NRA has trained well their minions. One of the most common arguments after every mass shooting is, well a waiting period wouldn’t have stopped; an age restriction wouldn’t have helped in this situation; or a determined person will get a gun. No one regulation will stop all shootings (with the clear inference that means there should be no regulations).
Read more
Marva Johnson. Here’s a name you may not know, but you’d better learn who she is, and what here (and apparently her employer’s) agenda is for public education. She also is chair of the Florida State Board of Education, appointed by Gov. Rick Scott in 2014. In addition, In March, the governor appointed her to the 37-member statewide Constitutional Revision Commission.
Read more