News
Miami Herald - September 25, 2007
Voters trying to understand the brouhaha over Florida's early presidential primary need only refer to, ahem, the Democratic National Committee's Delegate Selection Rule 20c(1b).
From Hillary Clinton's headquarters near Washington to Bill Richardson's campaign office in Albuquerque, N.M., the arcane precept is being dusted off now that Florida faces sanctions from the DNC for moving up its primary to Jan. 29. The DNC's calendar allows only four smaller states to vote that early.
The penalties become official at 5 p.m. Saturday. Florida delegates will be excluded from the 2008 Democratic convention. And a pledge signed by all of the major candidates not to campaign in scofflaw states goes into effect.
But what exactly does ''campaign'' mean?
That's where Rule 20c(1b) comes in.
It includes a 126-word, rather dense but very comprehensive definition of campaigning: buying newspaper ads, broadcasting commercials, e-mailing voters, calling voters, distributing campaign materials, hiring campaign workers, making public appearances and holding press conferences.
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Palm Beach Post - September 21, 2007
The Republican Party is trying to push Rep. Tim Mahoney into signing a petition that would bring a GOP leadership-sponsored rule to the House floor.
Mahoney's office calls it a “political football” and accuses the Republicans of springing the issue on them and then demanding he support it.
Here's the issue.
Earlier this year, the House adopted new ethics rules that would require provisions earmarking specific spending to be identified by sponsor and subject to debate on the House floor. But the rule only applied to earmarks contained in the annual appropriations bills. It did not apply to earmarks included in bills authorizing federal programs or those related to taxes.
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St. Petersburg Times - September 20, 2007
There's a question from Santa Claus. There's a question from Mr. Potato Head.
And yes, there's another question about global warming from a snowman.
But of the close to 2,000 video questions already submitted for the Republican presidential candidates coming to St. Petersburg this fall, the vast majority are asked by regular people sitting in front of a simple camera.
The St. Petersburg GOP debate and its unusual format caused an immediate ruckus in some Republican circles.
They feared a political ambush. Or some Web-savvy attack. Or just the unexpected.
But, so far, there appears little reason to worry.
A review of the videos submitted on the Web site YouTube reveals there's not much that the candidates aren't already asked on a near daily basis.
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St. Petersuburg Times - September 19, 2007
It's beginning to look like Des Moines, Iowa around here.
Republican presidential candidates have been campaigning so often in the Tampa Bay area lately that it's no longer even a big deal for people to press the flesh with potential leaders of the free world. In smaller states like Iowa and New Hampshire, constant visits by presidential candidates are nothing new, but Florida is getting loads of campaign love since leaders moved the presidential primary from March to Jan. 29.
At La Casa Dolce, a South Tampa Gelato joint, 27-year-old Mike Swenson on Monday night even managed to get a face-to-face brushoff from Rudy Giuliani after asking the former New York City mayor whether he knew ahead of time about the Sept. 11 attacks.
"I wasn't expecting to get so close," said Swenson, clearly impressed.
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Palm Beach Post - September 18, 2007
West Palm Beach--U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., offered a cautiously upbeat assessment of U.S. progress in Iraq at Monday's luncheon meeting of The Forum Club of the Palm Beaches.
"The surge has worked beyond the expectations of most observers," Martinez told the crowd of about 460 at the Kravis Center's Cohen Pavilion. "I believe we have Al-Qaeda on the run."
Martinez is not the first congressman to come under fire for supporting the war, but he's one of the few who's literally been fired on.
On Aug. 30, he and Sens. James Inhofe, R-Okla; Richard Shelby, R-Ala.; and Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Ala., were taking off from Baghdad when their C-130 cargo plane was forced to take evasive maneuvers to avoid three rocket-propelled grenades.
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White House Transcript - September 14, 2007
THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. In the life of all free nations, there come moments that decide the direction of a country and reveal the character of its people. We are now at such a moment.
In Iraq, an ally of the United States is fighting for its survival.
Terrorists and extremists who are at war with us around the world are seeking to topple Iraq's government, dominate the region, and attack us here at home. If Iraq's young democracy can turn back these enemies, it will mean a more hopeful Middle East and a more secure America. This ally has placed its trust in the United States. And tonight, our moral and strategic imperatives are one: We must help Iraq defeat those who threaten its future and also threaten ours.
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Naples Daily News - September 14, 2007
A day after his death, hundreds gathered to celebrate his life.
On Thursday night, the Economic Development Council of Collier County gave state Rep. Mike Davis its highest honor for volunteer members, naming him “Outstanding Volunteer of the Year.”
The group’s leaders had hoped Davis could attend the event and accept the award himself. But as his health worsened over the past few days that began to look more unlikely. Then came word that he’d lost his battle with cancer.
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Orlando Sentinel - September 13, 2007
Florida Democrats were among the recipients of money from businessman Norman Hsu, whose sketchy background has triggered one of the largest givebacks of political money ever.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson received $2,500 from Hsu in December 2005 -- a year before his successful re-election campaign -- and also got $5,000 from associates of Hsu. The Florida Democratic Party received $5,000 in 2004.
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Associated Press - September 11, 2007
Tallahassee--Former Florida State All American and NFL Pro Bowler Peter Boulware turned politician Monday, announcing his plans to seek a vacant House seat in the Florida Legislature next year.
Boulware, 32, was joined by wife Kensy and their three young children along with several key Republicans, including state party chairman Jim Greer, at a sweltering morning announcement held in front of the Florida House of Representatives building.
Republicans are confident Boulware can be successful in his bid to win a seat in the heavily Democratic district that includes parts of Leon and Jefferson counties.
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RPOF Press Release - September 10, 2007
Tallahassee—Following last week’s arrest of Hillary Clinton’s fugitive friend and donor, Norman Hsu, Clinton has enlisted another controversial fundraiser to help her collect cash in the Sunshine State today—the former Mayor of the City of Hialeah, Raul Martinez.
Raul Martinez, who was accused of extortion and racketeering in 1991, is hosting one of Hillary Clinton’s three fundraisers in South Florida today. (“Hialeah Mayor Convicted Of Racketeering, Extortion,” The Associated Press, 3/26/91)
“Considering the controversy that is still swirling from the arrest of Norman Hsu last week, it’s surprising that a politician as calculating as Hillary Clinton would enlist another embattled fundraiser to help line her campaign coffers in Florida this afternoon,” said Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer.
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