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Forwarded from Ken's List <Kenneth.Sherrill@hunter.cuny.edu>
To: kenslist@groups.queernet.org
Florida voters oppose any anti-SSM amendment (32-52)
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/15648866.htm
The survey by Zogby International [...] of 803 likely voters was conducted Tuesday though Thursday. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentagepoints. [...]
Asked whether they support amending the state Constitution to ban gaymarriage -- already prohibited by state law -- 51 percent said they opposesuch a ban. Supporters are collecting signatures to put it on the 2008ballot.
[In the newspaper's print edition, a graphic was published showing the details on this question:
"Do you support or oppose a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage?" - 32.1% said "More likely", 52.0% said "Less likely", and 15.9% said "Not sure / don't know".]
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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15657235.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
MIAMI
League resumes voter drives
The League of Women Voters is playing catch-up since a federal judge in Miami ruled that the state discriminated against civic organizations' voter drives.
BY ALDO NAHED
anahed@MiamiHerald.com
After its big legal fight with the state, third-party groups such as theLeague of Women Voters are again submitting voter registrations without thefear of stiff fines for violations.
Mary G. Wilson, the League's national president, said she will be at theMiami-Dade Elections Department today to turn in new voter registrationapplications to elections supervisor Lester Sola.
''To a certain extent, you can never catch up,'' Wilson said. ``There is solittle time left before the Nov. 7 election. We'll never really be able to register all of the voters.''
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http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061001/NEWS01/61001008/1002/NEWS01
Hastert requests Fla. investigation on Foley
Originally posted on October 01, 2006
Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) sent the following letter to Florida Governor Jeb Bush:
Dear Governor Bush:
Former Representative Mark Foley resigned from the House of Representativeson Friday, September 29, 2006, after improper and illicit communicationsbetween Mr. Foley and former House pages were made public. While the Houseof Representatives on that day voted to refer this matter to the Committeeon Standards of Official Conduct for investigation, they do not havejurisdiction over state law or over him upon his resignation from office.
As Speaker of the House, I hereby request that you direct the FloridaDepartment of Law Enforcement to conduct an investigation of Mr. Foley'sconduct with current and former House pages to determine to what extent anyof his actions violated Florida law.
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http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061002/NEWS/210020334/1025&template=printpicart
Sen. Nelson speaks out on Foley
BY MILLARD K. IVES
STAR-BANNER
Nelson
OCALA - Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, on the campaign trail in Ocala onSunday, called it a disgrace that former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., sentinappropriate computer messages to a boy who served as a Capitol Hill page.
"I find it a disgrace that a U.S. representative would try to take advantageof a child," Nelson said.
It was not only a disgrace, he said, but probably criminal.
Nelson stood in the shade Sunday afternoon, talking after a 10-15 minutespeech in front of hundreds at a Democratic rally at the Dancing Horses Farmon West State Road 40.
Foley, who resigned Friday as the e-mail came out, also allegedly engaged ina sexually explicit online chat with an underage former page.
Nelson was critical of Republican House leaders who failed to take actionagainst Foley a year ago, when they learned of the inappropriate e-mail.
"If this is a cover-up by the House of Representatives . . . and they didn'tdo anything to protect the children, they all should resign," Nelson said.
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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15657256.htm
Posted on Mon, Oct. 02, 2006
FLORIDA DEMOCRATS
Democrats' chances are fading, poll finds
With Jim Davis trailing by 21 points in the governor's race, pollster John Zogby says the Democrats have no one on the top of the ticket to deliver party-wide victory.
BY MARY ELLEN KLAS
meklas@MiamiHerald.com
With five weeks left before the general election, only one Democrat on the statewide ballot -- U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson -- is leading his challenger, while Republicans hold double-digit leads from the governor's race to all but one of the Cabinet races, a new Miami Herald poll shows.
The conclusions of the survey by Zogby International spell trouble for the Democratic Party.
With two open Cabinet seats and a popular Republican governor leaving office, Democrats had hoped to seize the advantage this pivotal election year by snatching at least one Cabinet seat from Republicans and regaining control of the governor's office. But the poll shows that prospect may be fading: Democrat Adelaide ''Alex'' Sink trails Republican Tom Lee by 13 percentage points for the Cabinet post of chief financial officer, while Democrat Eric Copeland trails incumbent Republican Charles Bronson by 12 points for agriculture commissioner.
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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15657226.htm
STATE CONSTITUTION
Poll: 5 of 6 amendments likely to pass
A Miami Herald poll of likely voters showed that five of six constitutional amendments on the ballot appear likely to pass.
BY GARY FINEOUT
gfineout@MiamiHerald.com
With just five weeks to go before Election Day, Florida voters appear poised to approve five of six amendments to the state Constitution that would, among other things, force the state to spend more on antismoking programs, give additional tax breaks for senior citizens and veterans, and make it harder to change the Constitution in the future.
A Miami Herald poll shows all but one of the amendments -- a budget and planning amendment championed by Senate President Tom Lee -- would pass by a substantial margin.
The survey done by Zogby International comes before any campaigns have been launched to promote, or defeat, any of the six amendments. That will change soon: A group promoting the antismoking amendment has already purchased $1 million worth of ad time.
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-pferrer02oct02,0,5374324.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
Shock, hurt felt at Delray church where priests accused of stealing $8.6million
By Joel Hood
South Florida Sun-SentinelOctober 2, 2006
Delray Beach -- The mercy of the St. Vincent Ferrer faithful was testedSunday in the first full day of Mass since two former priests were chargedwith stealing as much as $8.6 million in church funds.Hundreds attended Masses throughout the day at the Catholic Church on GeorgeBush Boulevard, services that on the surface seemed like any other.
But these are no ordinary times, Bishop Gerald Barbarito of the Palm BeachDiocese told parishioners. "These are very serious allegations against the priests assigned here,"Barbarito told the 8 a.m. congregation. "There are feelings of hurt, ofbetrayal. The Lord holds high standards for all of us -- most of all, thosewho take leadership positions in the church.
"Barbarito's remarks came at the end of an hourlong service in which littlewas mentioned of the priests or what they've been charged with. The closestMonsignor Leonard Badia came was in an opening sermon on what happens tothose who sin, a speech tinged with sadness and frustration."I hope we have a smile on our face this morning, it's been a difficultweek," he said.
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/orl-nelson0206oct02,0,1058038.story
ELECTION 2006
Nelson's votes: He crosses party lines, rarely takes lead
Mark K. Matthews
Washington Bureau
October 2, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Katherine Harris has a two-step plan to unseat U.S. Sen.Bill Nelson: brand the first-term Democrat as a do-nothing liberal, andrepeat the attack as often as possible.
Proving the label fits Nelson may be more difficult.
In his six years in the Senate, Nelson has projected himself as a centristDemocrat willing to cross party lines, especially on national-defenseissues. Recently, he voted against a Democratic effort to establish atimetable to leave Iraq.
Nelson also has voted consistently to repeal the estate tax, a banner issuefor conservatives. And while he usually votes in favor of abortion rights,Nelson backed a proposal this year to punish those who take minors acrossstate lines to avoid parental-notification laws.
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The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/01/AR2006100100872.html
A Party Without Principles
By Sebastian Mallaby
Monday, October 2, 2006; A19
After years of single-party government, the prospect of a Democratic majority in the House ought to feel refreshing. But even with Republicans collapsing in a pile of sexual sleaze, I just can't get excited. Most Democrats in Congress seem bereft of ideas or the courage to stand up for them. They clearly want power, but they have no principles to guide their use of it.
On Friday, Harry Reid, the Democratic leader in the Senate, correctly denounced a border-fence bill as a concession "to the radical anti-immigrant right wing" of the Republican Party. It's absurd to fence off 700 miles of the border and leave the other 1,300 miles open; besides, the government lacks the manpower to prevent migrants from defeating the fence with tunnels or ladders. But if blowing billions on this symbolism is a sop to right-wing nuts, why did 26 Senate Democrats vote for the bill while only 17 opposed it?
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ArtsUnited will feature paintings by local artist Angela Farinelli in a solo exhibit entitled "Expressions" from October 2 through 31, 2006 at the Stonewall Library and Archives, 1717 N. Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. The exhibit opens with a reception to meet the artist from 6:30 to 8:00 PM on Monday, October 2nd.
Born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Angela's family moved to Florida in 1972 when she was 11 years old. Raised mainly in West Palm Beach, she now calls Oakland Park her home. Her interest in art started from an early age. As a young child, she painted animals, landscapes and cartoons. Her family always encouraged Angela to pursue her interest in art. Ms. Farinelli attended Palm Beach Community College and completed her Associate's Degree in Graphic Design.
For the full article please contact us at rays.list@comcast.net
The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. For more information, go online to www.artsunitedonline.org or call 954-530-2723.
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For Immediate Release
Cong. Etz Chaim holds Synagogue Picnic at T.Y. Park (Oct. 29)
Congregation Etz Chaim, a spiritual home for "Jews of the Rainbow" (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual Jews) will hold its annual Synagogue Picnic on Sunday, October 29, from noon to 5 p.m., at T.Y. Park - 3300 North Park Road (north of Sheridan Street and west of I-95) in Hollywood - Pavilion 6. A $15 donation entitles you to all the food, soft drinks, sports, games and fellowship that you can handle. For more information about the Synagogue Picnic, phone (954) 424-8449 and leave a message for Jesse.
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