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The St. Petersburg Times
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/22/State/Crist__a_shrewd_leade.shtml
Crist: a shrewd leader who favors a pragmatic style
STEVE BOUSQUET
Published October 22, 2006
Charlie Crist's leadership style can best be described as a shrewdly timedbrand of populism.
The Republican nominee for governor knows timing is critical in politics.He's often at his populist best when the risk of political damage appearsleast.
In that sense, Crist is the opposite of Gov. Jeb Bush, who has a trackrecord of pursuing strong policy positions even when they do him no goodpolitically.
For Crist, it is a trait that draws anger from critics, who call him a mereopportunist, and admiration from supporters, who see a rare instinct forfinding the acceptable middle.
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To: Sun-Sentinel
From: Leon Van Dyke
Your editorial backing E. Clay Shaw for re-election in District 22 while mentioning his opponent Ron Klein's quoting Shaw out of context in a TV ad, failed to expose Shaw's advertisements as also skewing facts. Shaw's ads claiming Klein as a lobbyist in Tallahassee were patently absurd and your editorial board is perfectly aware of that fact. This should have been mentioned in a fair summary of the circumstances surrounding these two candidates specifically.
Added to Shaw's many credits is his strong antipathy regarding homosexuals. The Sun-Sentinel should recognize that hundreds of thousands of gays, lesbians, bi-sexuals and transgendered persons reside in Palm Beach and Broward counties. Thousands of these whose interests are clearly not represented by "Representative" E. Clay Shaw also subscribe to the Sun-Sentinel. It would behoove your editorial board to think about its subscriber base as being broader than wealthy Gold Coast residents currently and almost exclusively represented by E. Clay Shaw and his ilk in Congress.
Leon Van Dyke
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http://floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/CD/20061023/CAPITOLNEWS06/61023002/-1/capitolnews&template=printart
Democrat group plans debate watch party tonight
By Bill Cotterell
Capitol Bureau Political Editor
With Senator Bill Nelson running far ahead of US Representative CatherineHarris in the polls, Florida Democrats are pretty happy about hisre-election prospects -- but one of the party's debate-watching partiestonight could be a real drag.
The Florida Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Democratic Caucus willhost a debate watch party featuring a Katherine Harris look-alike contest inBroward County. The contest is set for 9 p.m., right after the debate, andis open to both men and women.
The $10-per-person event is scheduled at Rosie's, formerly Hamburger Mary's,in Wilton Manors. Proceeds go to the Democratic Vote Center in FortLauderdale.
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http://keysnews.com/287328182674192.bsp.htm
Key West Citizen
Here's our suggestions for state, federal races
It's unfortunate that Sen. Bill Nelson does not have a formidable opponentin this election. If he did, we'd learn more about Democrat Nelson, whom webelieve has done an excellent job in his six years in the GOP-controlledU.S. Senate.
Despite being a member of the minority party, he has been able to get hisvoice heard as a member of the Senate Commerce, Armed Services, Budget,Foreign Relations and Aging committees.
But since it is difficult to get Democrat-sponsored legislation to thepresident's desk for signing, Nelson has used his office in other ways, toinduce agencies and federal departments to take action outside of thelegislative process.
He has joined with his Republican counterpart, Sen. Mel Martinez, and helpedprevent oil drilling off our coast.
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cpoll23oct23,0,481011.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
Broward voters likely to defeat proposals to raise sales and property taxes
By Buddy Nevins
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
October 23, 2006
Most Broward County residents who are likely to vote oppose a new propertytax for a courthouse expansion and an increase in the sales tax to pay fortransportation improvements, according to a South Florida Sun-Sentinel poll.
"It doesn't look good for these ballot measures," said pollster Del Ali, whoconducted the survey.
The proposal to increase the sales tax to 7 cents from 6 cents to enhancetransportation was supported by 36 percent of likely voters polled. It wasopposed by 55 percent, with 9 percent undecided.
Selling $450 million in courthouse bonds, which would be repaid byadditional property taxes, was backed by 33 percent of those surveyed. Themeasure was opposed by 57 percent, while 10 percent were undecided.
Both proposals would need more than 50 percent of the votes cast to pass.
With early voting starting today in Broward, Ali said time is running out."Any initiative that has under 50 percent support at this point is very hardto pass," the pollster said. "You never say impossible, but it is very hardat this point."
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http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2006/10/23/a5a_govdebate_1023.html
Debate success crucial for Crist, Davis camps
By Brian E. Crowley
Palm Beach Post Political Editor
Monday, October 23, 2006
Jim Davis finally will have a chance Tuesday night to dispel the notion thathe cannot defeat Charlie Crist in the race for governor.
For the first time since becoming the Democratic nominee, Davis will bestanding on the same stage with Crist, the Republican nominee. They bothwill be looking at the cameras. They both will have a lot to lose as theybegin their first statewide television debate.
Those who would be governor debate
Republican Charlie Crist vs. Democrat Jim Davis. Debate No. 1:
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center, Nova SoutheasternUniversity, Davie.
Moderator: Ray Suarez, correspondent for PBS' The News Hour with Jim Lehrer.Broadcast stations: WXEL-TV Channel 42 (West Palm Beach), WPBT-TV Channel 2(Miami), WLRN-TV Channel 17 (Miami), WXEL 90.7 FM, WLRN 91.3 FM and WQCS-FM88.9 (Fort Pierce).
*The debate also can be watched online at beforeyouvote.org.
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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/15825353.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
U.S. SENATE DEBATE
Harris could have choice words during debate
The U.S. Senate race might be a dud, but a debate between the two majorcandidates might not be, thanks to the unpredictable Katherine Harris.
BY MARC CAPUTO
mcaputo@MiamiHerald.com
Though polls suggest Florida's U.S. Senate race is all but over, tonight'sfirst debate between the candidates will be one of the state's moreintriguing political events for this reason: Katherine Harris.
For the past year, the long-shot Republican congresswoman, already famousfor her role in the 2000 presidential election debacle, has created so muchnews and controversy in her bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson thather campaign has become an object of curiosity.
''Here's what people are wondering: Is she going to say something off thewall?'' asked Matt Towery, pollster and race analyst with the firmInsider/Advantage. ``Sad to say, she has become a parody of herself attimes, and all Bill Nelson has to do is keep his head down and not mess upwhile she goes after him.''
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The Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-psacredheart23oct23,0,7995830.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
Empty pews plague Lake Worth church linked to Foley abuse
By Paola Iuspa-Abbott
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
October 23, 2006
Lake Worth · Empty pews in a Sunday Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Churchrevealed the trouble the house of worship inherited from disgraced Rep. MarkFoley, a former parishioner.
Sunday morning, the Rev. Peter Van Nguyen gave his sermon as usual, givingno hint of his disappointment at the poorly attended Mass.
But before dismissing the crowd with a blessing, he paused and confrontedthe Foley issue.
"The Archdiocese of Miami would ask if anyone has been a victim ofinappropriate behavior or abuse by Father Mercieca to please notify us," heread from a statement.
The church in 1966-67 was home to the Rev. Anthony Mercieca, who allegedlyabused Foley when he was a 13-year-old altar boy at Sacred Heart.
Mercieca's identity became public Thursday.
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http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/23/news_pf/Opinion/Insurance_crisis_has_.shtml
Insurance crisis has their attention
A Times Editorial
Published October 23, 2006
As Florida's homeowners insurance crisis continues to dominate theconversation around kitchen tables and political campaigns, the candidatesfor governor have refined their approaches. Charlie Crist and Jim Davisdeserve credit for offering more ambitious, specific proposals than they didover the summer. Neither has the perfect solution, but the direction isclear: Floridians need help sooner rather than later, and state government'srole will have to become larger, not smaller.
Crist embraces an approach that already has broad support. Private insurersare reluctant to write policies in Florida because they can't findreasonably priced reinsurance to cover their losses. The Republican wouldmake it easier for insurers to get reinsurance through the state's HurricaneCatastrophic Fund by allowing them to tap into it when their aggregatelosses reached $3.2-billion instead of $5.3-billion. Then he would force theinsurers to pass their savings on to homeowners. Of course, the easier theCAT fund is to tap, the more likely assessments would have to be added onhome, auto and other lines of insurance after a major hurricane season toreplenish the fund.
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http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/23/news_pf/Citrus/Random_testing_still_.shtml
Random testing still awaits okay
While some have doubts about the program, seeing how it works elsewhere mayhelp.
EDDY RAMIREZ
Published October 23, 2006
OCALA - Colton Tucker was in French class when he was called to the healthclinic. The West Port High School sophomore raised his hand and asked, "Ididn't do anything wrong, did I?"
When he got to the nurse's office, five other students were waiting. Allnervously bit their nails. By then he had figured it out. A member of theschool's cheerleading squad, Colton had been randomly selected to take adrug test.
He was so nervous, he started praying.
"I know I don't do drugs," he said. "But I just felt weird being tested."
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http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061022/EDITORIALS0101/210220321/1097/editorials&template=printart
Is Florida ready for an unmarried governor?
COLLEEN KAY PORTER
Charlie Crist's campaign literature claims that his biography is, "a storyright out of the American dream." At first glance, his resume has all theright credentials, from his first campaign victory as class president at St.Petersburg High School to more recent elections to statewide office.
But he seems to be missing one key ingredient: The typical politicianpictures with his adoring wife and cute offspring. Crist is divorced, withno children.
The Crist campaign tries to overcome the lack of children in his own life byusing ads that stress his concern for the next generation. A recent mailerfeatures a photo of a man's hand reaching down and being grasped by atoddler's hand.
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http://keysnews.com/287328182674192.bsp.htm
Key West Citizen
Here's our suggestions for state, federal races
It's unfortunate that Sen. Bill Nelson does not have a formidable opponentin this election. If he did, we'd learn more about Democrat Nelson, whom webelieve has done an excellent job in his six years in the GOP-controlledU.S. Senate.
Despite being a member of the minority party, he has been able to get hisvoice heard as a member of the Senate Commerce, Armed Services, Budget,Foreign Relations and Aging committees.
But since it is difficult to get Democrat-sponsored legislation to thepresident's desk for signing, Nelson has used his office in other ways, toinduce agencies and federal departments to take action outside of thelegislative process.
He has joined with his Republican counterpart, Sen. Mel Martinez, and helpedprevent oil drilling off our coast.
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http://cgi.jacksonville.com/cgi-bin/printit.cgi?story=ZZNOSTORYZZ
Ex-felons deserve rights restored, candidates agree
Whether it's strictly about politics or more about conscience I don't know.
But in any case, I have to take it as a positive sign that the contendersfor Gov. Jeb Bush's job are on record as wanting to bury perhaps the last,moldy remains of Florida's Jim Crow past.
Those remains happen to be ensconced in the state's felonydisenfranchisement law - a law rooted in one that was crafted 137 years agoto bar any uppity, newly freed slaves from bringing attitude to the ballotbox.
Last week, Republican candidate Charlie Crist did a flip-flop - he calls itan evolution - and said he now supports automatically restoring the civilrights of ex-felons. (Ex-felons have paid their debts to society).
Predictably, that led to charges of wishy-washiness from the camp of hisDemocratic opponent Jim Davis.
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Please forward to any of your friends who like to attend LIVE
entertainment...
Theatre Club Offer
By Paul Harris
PHarris@ourindy.com
This is an offer you would be a fool to miss, and that's no joke! LaffingMatterz, the comedy club restaurant, at 219 South Andrews Avenue is offeringa terrific deal to readers of The Independent as they launch their newWednesday night show this Fall. The Independent Theatre Club evening is onWednesday, November 1 at 7pm. Instead of paying the normal $45 for salad,entrée, beverage and show they are offering readers of The Independent ahalf price deal - $22.50 plus tax and gratuity. If you wish to orderappetizers or desserts from the menu in addition you can. There is also afully stocked bar and extensive wine list. You are not going to find abetter deal in town. Trust me.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/22/AR2006102200998_pf.html
Political Backlash Builds Over High-Stakes Testing
Public Support Wanes for Tests Seen as Punitive
By Peter Whoriskey
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 23, 2006; A03
LAUDERHILL, Fla. -- School exams may be detested by students everywhere, butin this state at the forefront of the testing and accountability movement inthe United States, the backlash against them has become far broader, andpolitically potent.
The role of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT, has becomecentral to the race to succeed Gov. Jeb Bush (R), with polls showing agrowing discontent over the exams, which he has championed and which areused to determine many aspects of the school system, including teacher pay,budgets and who flunks third grade.
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