By Sylvia Gurinsky
The look at Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain continues this week with health issues. Note: Medicare will be examined in a separate blog posting. Again, sources are Project Vote Smart and the campaign Web sites.
Sen. Barack Obama
*Health Insurance: Obama proposes coverage similar to what members of Congress get (which a woman once asked of Sen. Bob Dole during one of his 1996 debates with President Bill Clinton). There will also be subsidies for those who do not qualify for Medicaid to buy into the new program. Obama also proposes a National Health Insurance Exchange for those who want to buy private insurance, and as a watchdog group. Coverage of all children will be mandatory. Obama supports portability.
In August, 2007, he voted Yes on the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
*Medicines: Obama supports the reimportation of medicines.
In 2005, he voted Yes on an amendment providing authority for the negotiation of fair prices for Medicare prescription drugs.
*Stem Cell Research: Obama voted Yes on the Stem Cell Research Act of 2007. He voted No on a bill to use only the stem cells of naturally dead embryos.
*Other Issues: Obama did not vote in July on a bill authorizing $48 million to the Global Fund for countries fighting AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. In February, he did not vote on a bill expanding health care programs for Native Americans. In 2005, he voted Yes on an amendment that would adjust future funding for veteran health care according to inflation and population changes.
For information on Obama's plan:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/
Sen. John McCain
*Health Insurance: McCain proposes tax credits for families and individuals to offset the cost of insurance. He supports a Guaranteed Access Plan put together by the states for those who have been denied coverage. Last November, McCain did not vote on the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007. In August, 2007, he voted against the State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization. He supports insurance portability and voted Yes on a 1996 bill relating to the issue.
*Medicines: McCain supports the reimportation of medicines. In 2002, he voted Yes on a bill to provide greater access to affordable drugs.
*Stem Cell Research: McCain voted Yes last year on both bills allowing stem cell research and bills allowing it with only naturally dead embryos.
*Other Issues: McCain supports tort reform in medical liability cases. McCain did not vote in February on the Native American health care bill. He did not vote earlier this year on funding to combat AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in various countries. In 2005, he voted against an amendment to provide funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program in the Health Resources and Services Administration. In 2001, he sponsored the Patients' Bill of Rights. In 1999, he voted Yes on an amendment to expand health care services for breast cancer patients.
For more information about McCain's plan:
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm
CORRECTION
OpenSecrets.org noted, but I didn't, that the business organizations did not donate to the candidates; it was their political action committees, employees and employees' families. So the Lehman Brothers company itself did not donate.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sep. 22: Corporate Welfare, Miami-Style
By Sylvia Gurinsky
MiMo is the Miami Modern style of architecture, generally built in South Florida during the 1950s and 60s. The most famous examples are hotels like the Fontainebleau and Eden Roc in Miami Beach, and the Bacardi building in Miami. Other MiMo structures have included a variety of motels in Sunny Isles and along Biscayne Boulevard in Miami. Once criticized, MiMo has recently been celebrated in books, on the Web and in the press.
However, the City of Miami hasn't joined the party:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/695056.html
To quote the captain in "Cool Hand Luke": "What we got here is ... failure to communicate."
The primary failure belongs to the City of Miami. City employees should have guided MiMo advocates on the application process during the process, instead of pointing fingers elsewhere and saying the applicants didn't get it right.
The city also continues to not get the message that fellow municipalities like Coral Gables and Miami Beach have gotten for years: History sells.
MiMo is part of Miami's magic. For the city to be buddies with condominium developers in these tough times, when people are less likely to buy those new condos, puts some tarnish on the Magic City. Miami's government needs to remember its obligation to all of its citizens - not just the rich ones.
MiMo is the Miami Modern style of architecture, generally built in South Florida during the 1950s and 60s. The most famous examples are hotels like the Fontainebleau and Eden Roc in Miami Beach, and the Bacardi building in Miami. Other MiMo structures have included a variety of motels in Sunny Isles and along Biscayne Boulevard in Miami. Once criticized, MiMo has recently been celebrated in books, on the Web and in the press.
However, the City of Miami hasn't joined the party:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/695056.html
To quote the captain in "Cool Hand Luke": "What we got here is ... failure to communicate."
The primary failure belongs to the City of Miami. City employees should have guided MiMo advocates on the application process during the process, instead of pointing fingers elsewhere and saying the applicants didn't get it right.
The city also continues to not get the message that fellow municipalities like Coral Gables and Miami Beach have gotten for years: History sells.
MiMo is part of Miami's magic. For the city to be buddies with condominium developers in these tough times, when people are less likely to buy those new condos, puts some tarnish on the Magic City. Miami's government needs to remember its obligation to all of its citizens - not just the rich ones.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sep. 17: Where They Stand: Economy
By Sylvia Gurinsky
This week is the first of my pre-election summaries on where candidates stand on certain relevant issues. I will get the bulk of my information from Project Vote Smart (www.votesmart.org), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that tracks the records of elected officials and candidates. I will also get information from the candidates' Web sites, and donation information from OpenSecrets.org, by the Center For Responsive Politics, also nonpartisan and nonprofit. This week, the focus will be on economic issues.
Sen. John McCain
Note: McCain was on the board of Project Vote Smart, but lost his board seat earlier this year after he did not complete the organization's Political Courage Test.
-Foreclosures: McCain did not vote on a housing foreclosure assistance bill in June.
Here's what his Web site says:
"No taxpayer money should bail out real estate speculators or financial market participants who failed to perform due diligence in assessing credit risks. Any assistance for borrowers should be focused solely on homeowners and any government assistance to the banking system should be based solely on preventing systemic risk.
Any policy of financial assistance should be accompanied by reforms that promote greater transparency and accountability to ensure we never face this problem again."
-Taxes: McCain did not vote on a June amendment concerning tax incentives for alternative energy program, nor did he vote on the farm bill. In 2005, he voted No to reinstate the capital gains tax. He also voted no in 2005 to repeal the tax subsidy for certain companies engaged in outsourcing to other countries. He did not vote earlier this year on farm subsidies. On his site, he supports cutting the corporate tax rate from 35 to 25 percent, and a first-year deduction on equipment and technology investments. He proposes reducing the estate tax rate to 15 percent and permitting a $10 million exemption.
-Consumer safety: McCain did not vote on a Consumer Product Safety Commission Bill in March, April or July of this year.
Bankruptcies: In 2005, McCain voted Yes to approve a means test for individuals wishing to file for bankruptcy.
Trade: In 2005, McCain voted yes on the Dominican Republic Central America Free Trade Agreement.
-General economy: McCain voted Yes on the economic stimulus bill in February. He did not vote on 2004 legislation to change the tax code to make certain businesses more competitive. In 2005, he voted Yes on a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $5.70 six months after enactment and $6.25 eighteen months after enactment . Earlier this year, he did not vote on the Equal Pay Bill.
On his Web site, McCain pledges to balance the budget by the end of his first term. He proposes a one-year freeze on non-military related discretionary spending.
Also from his site:
"John McCain will overhaul unemployment insurance and make it a program for retraining, relocating and assisting workers who have lost a job. The unemployment insurance system created in the 1950s needs to be modernized to meet the goals of helping displaced workers make ends meet between jobs and moving people quickly on to the next opportunity. John McCain will reform the half-dozen training programs to approaches that can be used to meet the bills, pay for training, and get back to work. "-
-Contributors: OpenSecrets.org lists the top contributors to McCain, including Lehman Brothers, which has filed for bankruptcy:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00006424
-McCain's stands on economic issues can be found at:
http://www.johnmccain.com/Issues/jobsforamerica/
The site details his support of the 1993 Family Medical Leave Act and a gas tax holiday.
Sen. Barack Obama
Note: Obama did not provide any responses to Project Vote Smart's Political Courage Test.
Business taxes and subsidies: Obama voted Yes on an amendment requiring that those receiving farm subsidies must be actively involved in farming.
-Foreclosures: Obama did not vote on the June foreclosure bill. His Web site proposes a Universal Mortgage Credit to 10 million homeowners, more accountability in the subprime mortgage industry, accurate loan disclosure and closing bankruptcy loopholes for mortgage companies.
-Taxes: Obama did not vote on the farm bill or the alternative energy tax incentives bills earlier this year. In 2005, he voted yes on the Earned Income Tax Credit Amendment and the reinstatement of the capital gains tax. On the Web site, Obama supports a $500 per person, $1,000 per working family tax credit. He proposes eliminating income taxes altogether for all seniors making less than $50,000 a year.
-Consumer safety: Obama did not vote on this year's consumer safety bills.
-Bankruptcy: In 2005, Obama voted no on the means test for personal bankruptcies.
-Trade: In 2005, Obama voted No on the Dominican Republic Central America Free Trade Agreement. On his Web site, he supports fair trade policies, amending the North American Free Trade Agreement, improving retraining, ending tax breaks for companies that outsource and the Patriot Employer Act to provide tax credits to businesses that keep workers in the U.S.
-General Economy: In April, Obama voted yes on the Equal Pay Bill. He did not vote on this year's economic stimulus package. In 2006, he voted yes on an amendment to raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 over a two-year period.
-Contributors: Here are Obama's top 10, and there are those ill-fated Lehman Brothers again:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00009638
-Obama's stands on economic issues can be found at:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/#invest-for-jobs
This week is the first of my pre-election summaries on where candidates stand on certain relevant issues. I will get the bulk of my information from Project Vote Smart (www.votesmart.org), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that tracks the records of elected officials and candidates. I will also get information from the candidates' Web sites, and donation information from OpenSecrets.org, by the Center For Responsive Politics, also nonpartisan and nonprofit. This week, the focus will be on economic issues.
Sen. John McCain
Note: McCain was on the board of Project Vote Smart, but lost his board seat earlier this year after he did not complete the organization's Political Courage Test.
-Foreclosures: McCain did not vote on a housing foreclosure assistance bill in June.
Here's what his Web site says:
"No taxpayer money should bail out real estate speculators or financial market participants who failed to perform due diligence in assessing credit risks. Any assistance for borrowers should be focused solely on homeowners and any government assistance to the banking system should be based solely on preventing systemic risk.
Any policy of financial assistance should be accompanied by reforms that promote greater transparency and accountability to ensure we never face this problem again."
-Taxes: McCain did not vote on a June amendment concerning tax incentives for alternative energy program, nor did he vote on the farm bill. In 2005, he voted No to reinstate the capital gains tax. He also voted no in 2005 to repeal the tax subsidy for certain companies engaged in outsourcing to other countries. He did not vote earlier this year on farm subsidies. On his site, he supports cutting the corporate tax rate from 35 to 25 percent, and a first-year deduction on equipment and technology investments. He proposes reducing the estate tax rate to 15 percent and permitting a $10 million exemption.
-Consumer safety: McCain did not vote on a Consumer Product Safety Commission Bill in March, April or July of this year.
Bankruptcies: In 2005, McCain voted Yes to approve a means test for individuals wishing to file for bankruptcy.
Trade: In 2005, McCain voted yes on the Dominican Republic Central America Free Trade Agreement.
-General economy: McCain voted Yes on the economic stimulus bill in February. He did not vote on 2004 legislation to change the tax code to make certain businesses more competitive. In 2005, he voted Yes on a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $5.70 six months after enactment and $6.25 eighteen months after enactment . Earlier this year, he did not vote on the Equal Pay Bill.
On his Web site, McCain pledges to balance the budget by the end of his first term. He proposes a one-year freeze on non-military related discretionary spending.
Also from his site:
"John McCain will overhaul unemployment insurance and make it a program for retraining, relocating and assisting workers who have lost a job. The unemployment insurance system created in the 1950s needs to be modernized to meet the goals of helping displaced workers make ends meet between jobs and moving people quickly on to the next opportunity. John McCain will reform the half-dozen training programs to approaches that can be used to meet the bills, pay for training, and get back to work. "-
-Contributors: OpenSecrets.org lists the top contributors to McCain, including Lehman Brothers, which has filed for bankruptcy:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00006424
-McCain's stands on economic issues can be found at:
http://www.johnmccain.com/Issues/jobsforamerica/
The site details his support of the 1993 Family Medical Leave Act and a gas tax holiday.
Sen. Barack Obama
Note: Obama did not provide any responses to Project Vote Smart's Political Courage Test.
Business taxes and subsidies: Obama voted Yes on an amendment requiring that those receiving farm subsidies must be actively involved in farming.
-Foreclosures: Obama did not vote on the June foreclosure bill. His Web site proposes a Universal Mortgage Credit to 10 million homeowners, more accountability in the subprime mortgage industry, accurate loan disclosure and closing bankruptcy loopholes for mortgage companies.
-Taxes: Obama did not vote on the farm bill or the alternative energy tax incentives bills earlier this year. In 2005, he voted yes on the Earned Income Tax Credit Amendment and the reinstatement of the capital gains tax. On the Web site, Obama supports a $500 per person, $1,000 per working family tax credit. He proposes eliminating income taxes altogether for all seniors making less than $50,000 a year.
-Consumer safety: Obama did not vote on this year's consumer safety bills.
-Bankruptcy: In 2005, Obama voted no on the means test for personal bankruptcies.
-Trade: In 2005, Obama voted No on the Dominican Republic Central America Free Trade Agreement. On his Web site, he supports fair trade policies, amending the North American Free Trade Agreement, improving retraining, ending tax breaks for companies that outsource and the Patriot Employer Act to provide tax credits to businesses that keep workers in the U.S.
-General Economy: In April, Obama voted yes on the Equal Pay Bill. He did not vote on this year's economic stimulus package. In 2006, he voted yes on an amendment to raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 over a two-year period.
-Contributors: Here are Obama's top 10, and there are those ill-fated Lehman Brothers again:
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00009638
-Obama's stands on economic issues can be found at:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/#invest-for-jobs
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Sep. 16: DVD Insert Should Have Had Another Insert
By Sylvia Gurinsky
Sometimes, the Sunday paper will have an interesting insert one can use. A small box of cereal. A package of dental floss.
This, Sunday, though, the local papers had an insert that was way out of the ordinary - the DVD of "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West." More than 70 publications, including all three major South Florida dailies, included it.
"Obsession" is not exactly objective reporting; it's been featured on Fox News and includes (and has been sustained by) right-wingers. Articles about the movie indicate that it was distributed to newspapers published in election swing states, but it also went to papers like the New York Times.
Some papers have published articles about the DVD. In South Florida, the Miami Herald has an article in today's paper. I haven't found one yet in either the South Florida Sun-Sentinel or the Palm Beach Post, although it's possible to link to the film's Web site from both sites.
Articles aren't enough. The DVD is, at the very least, political advertising, and possibly a method to incite further hatred.
If they had to send it along, which is debatable, the newspapers all should have had something on their Sunday front pages about the DVD. They also should have attached an additional insert to the DVD, indicating that it is political advertising.
Newspapers' revenues have been shrinking, and this debacle is an indication that their standards have done likewise. The advertising money they received for this was ill-gotten gains. What will Sunday readers find next? A box of tissues from the Ku Klux Klan or toothpaste from neo-Nazis?
******************************
Clarification for yesterday's blog: Subpeonas concerning gas gouging are being given by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson. I did not mention him in yesterday's blog.
Sometimes, the Sunday paper will have an interesting insert one can use. A small box of cereal. A package of dental floss.
This, Sunday, though, the local papers had an insert that was way out of the ordinary - the DVD of "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West." More than 70 publications, including all three major South Florida dailies, included it.
"Obsession" is not exactly objective reporting; it's been featured on Fox News and includes (and has been sustained by) right-wingers. Articles about the movie indicate that it was distributed to newspapers published in election swing states, but it also went to papers like the New York Times.
Some papers have published articles about the DVD. In South Florida, the Miami Herald has an article in today's paper. I haven't found one yet in either the South Florida Sun-Sentinel or the Palm Beach Post, although it's possible to link to the film's Web site from both sites.
Articles aren't enough. The DVD is, at the very least, political advertising, and possibly a method to incite further hatred.
If they had to send it along, which is debatable, the newspapers all should have had something on their Sunday front pages about the DVD. They also should have attached an additional insert to the DVD, indicating that it is political advertising.
Newspapers' revenues have been shrinking, and this debacle is an indication that their standards have done likewise. The advertising money they received for this was ill-gotten gains. What will Sunday readers find next? A box of tissues from the Ku Klux Klan or toothpaste from neo-Nazis?
******************************
Clarification for yesterday's blog: Subpeonas concerning gas gouging are being given by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson. I did not mention him in yesterday's blog.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sep. 15: Emergency Price Control Needed On Gasoline
By Sylvia Gurinsky
For the last 48 hours or so, we've seen the ridiculousness of gas stations gouging prices on consumers in various states, including Florida.
Both Gov. Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum have called on Floridians to report abuses. Many have, and McCollum, commendably, is issuing subpeonas.
Crist, McCollum and company can and should do more - like a three-month control on gasoline prices.
Free market advocates will carp, but this is not a free market issue. There is an emergency going on in Texas because of Hurricane Ike. Oil companies should not be allowed to take advantage of the emergency by squeezing anyone.
For the last 48 hours or so, we've seen the ridiculousness of gas stations gouging prices on consumers in various states, including Florida.
Both Gov. Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum have called on Floridians to report abuses. Many have, and McCollum, commendably, is issuing subpeonas.
Crist, McCollum and company can and should do more - like a three-month control on gasoline prices.
Free market advocates will carp, but this is not a free market issue. There is an emergency going on in Texas because of Hurricane Ike. Oil companies should not be allowed to take advantage of the emergency by squeezing anyone.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Sep. 10: Enough Of the Silly Season
By Sylvia Gurinsky
It is officially the silly season in the presidential election. I don't want to go into details, and I won't; a look at Yahoo or Google news stories will give them to you.
I do want to say: Enough!
-Enough from Sen. John McCain, a good public servant who is allowing himself to be co-opted by bad guys like Karl Rove.
-Enough from the press, which is more interested in covering political gamesmanship than in telling Americans how Sens. McCain and Barack Obama plan to get them back to work and cover their health costs. Reporters, remember why you got into this business. If you're scared of corporate types leaning on you and that's why you're doing the stories the way you are, maybe you should quit. The job isn't worth it.
-Enough from pundits. That's all I need to say there.
(Yes, I know the First Amendment applies to them, too. That doesn't necessarily mean they know what they're talking about.)
-Enough from pollsters. Do we really need a daily temperature reading? The election is in November. If the election took place today....no one would be ready. There are almost two months (and possibly a few hurricanes) to go.
-Enough from waffling voters. Sit down, go online to a site like Project Vote Smart and start examining the records of these people. Then, on Nov. 4, make your decision.
This country is in the worst economic condition since the Great Depression, and the worst foreign condition since the 1950s. America can't afford silliness in the way it chooses its president.
It is officially the silly season in the presidential election. I don't want to go into details, and I won't; a look at Yahoo or Google news stories will give them to you.
I do want to say: Enough!
-Enough from Sen. John McCain, a good public servant who is allowing himself to be co-opted by bad guys like Karl Rove.
-Enough from the press, which is more interested in covering political gamesmanship than in telling Americans how Sens. McCain and Barack Obama plan to get them back to work and cover their health costs. Reporters, remember why you got into this business. If you're scared of corporate types leaning on you and that's why you're doing the stories the way you are, maybe you should quit. The job isn't worth it.
-Enough from pundits. That's all I need to say there.
(Yes, I know the First Amendment applies to them, too. That doesn't necessarily mean they know what they're talking about.)
-Enough from pollsters. Do we really need a daily temperature reading? The election is in November. If the election took place today....no one would be ready. There are almost two months (and possibly a few hurricanes) to go.
-Enough from waffling voters. Sit down, go online to a site like Project Vote Smart and start examining the records of these people. Then, on Nov. 4, make your decision.
This country is in the worst economic condition since the Great Depression, and the worst foreign condition since the 1950s. America can't afford silliness in the way it chooses its president.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Sep. 9: Pieces on Pundits, Palen, Polls and Bruno Barreiro
By Sylvia Gurinsky
*MSNBC made a good move taking Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann off election-related anchoring. Given that the two men are regular commentators, with interview/commentary shows, they should never have been anchoring in the first place.
************************************************************************************
*Speaking of anchors: The Los Angeles Times has a good piece on the kinds of questions ABC News anchor Charles Gibson could ask VP candidate Sarah Palin:
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-onthemedia9-2008sep09,0,2053631.story
He's likely going to get criticized by someone on one side of the political spectrum no matter what he does, so he might as well take the almost four decades of experience he has and give it his best.
***********************************************************************************
*The Pew Research Center has an interesting study going on throughout the 2008 elections about polling, specifically a group that often gets left out of polls - those who use only cellphones:
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/901/cell-phones-polling-election-2008
Gallup has been trying to incorporate cellphone-only users into its presidential polls. My question is: What's a representative sample, when cellphones are comparitively easier to purchase than land lines? In a family of four, there may be two landline phones, but four cellphones. People can upgrade phones every couple of years, which often means new phone numbers. Heck, even homeless people have cellphones. Are pollsters basing data on last year's information?
And what's the way to ask questions - through standard phone calls, or text messaging? Remember that Sen. Barack Obama first announced the pick of Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate with a text message.
In 2004, Howard Dean, then a candidate for president, used the Internet to his advantage. This year, Obama's been using text messaging and sites like MySpace and Facebook. Polling everywhere needs to catch up.
************************************************************************************
Finally, a hark back to the old "Darts & Laurels" editorials at WPLG-Channel 10:
Here's a dart to Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Bruno Barreiro, who tried a power grab, sponsoring an ordinance trying to eliminate the term limits of his post and expand its powers. A laurel goes to his commission colleagues, who didn't dignify his efforts with even a motion to second it, as Miami Today and The Miami Herald reported.
The same rules apply for everyone, Mr. Chairman.
**********************************************************************************
Next week (assuming there are no more tropical interruptions), this blog will begin a once-weekly look at how the presidential candidates and their running mates stand on major national and international issues. In October, the focus will turn to the issues on Florida's November ballot.
*MSNBC made a good move taking Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann off election-related anchoring. Given that the two men are regular commentators, with interview/commentary shows, they should never have been anchoring in the first place.
************************************************************************************
*Speaking of anchors: The Los Angeles Times has a good piece on the kinds of questions ABC News anchor Charles Gibson could ask VP candidate Sarah Palin:
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-onthemedia9-2008sep09,0,2053631.story
He's likely going to get criticized by someone on one side of the political spectrum no matter what he does, so he might as well take the almost four decades of experience he has and give it his best.
***********************************************************************************
*The Pew Research Center has an interesting study going on throughout the 2008 elections about polling, specifically a group that often gets left out of polls - those who use only cellphones:
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/901/cell-phones-polling-election-2008
Gallup has been trying to incorporate cellphone-only users into its presidential polls. My question is: What's a representative sample, when cellphones are comparitively easier to purchase than land lines? In a family of four, there may be two landline phones, but four cellphones. People can upgrade phones every couple of years, which often means new phone numbers. Heck, even homeless people have cellphones. Are pollsters basing data on last year's information?
And what's the way to ask questions - through standard phone calls, or text messaging? Remember that Sen. Barack Obama first announced the pick of Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate with a text message.
In 2004, Howard Dean, then a candidate for president, used the Internet to his advantage. This year, Obama's been using text messaging and sites like MySpace and Facebook. Polling everywhere needs to catch up.
************************************************************************************
Finally, a hark back to the old "Darts & Laurels" editorials at WPLG-Channel 10:
Here's a dart to Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Bruno Barreiro, who tried a power grab, sponsoring an ordinance trying to eliminate the term limits of his post and expand its powers. A laurel goes to his commission colleagues, who didn't dignify his efforts with even a motion to second it, as Miami Today and The Miami Herald reported.
The same rules apply for everyone, Mr. Chairman.
**********************************************************************************
Next week (assuming there are no more tropical interruptions), this blog will begin a once-weekly look at how the presidential candidates and their running mates stand on major national and international issues. In October, the focus will turn to the issues on Florida's November ballot.
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