Miguel Diaz de la Portilla Takes Genting Casino Money. By Geniusofdespair

A State Committee associated with one Legislator, Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, recently accepted a donation from Genting New York LLC (9/30/2011) for $10,000. He got a second donation from another Casino out of St. Louis for $5,000 (9/28/11).

Miguel Diaz de la Portilla is a State Senator who will be VOTING ON THIS MATTER. WTF?

What is the mission of this Committee: "...is to identify and support issues and candidates promoting conservative values in Florida. The Committee is empowered to raise funds for the purpose of furthering these principles..."

Gambling is a Conservative issue, a Conservative value? On what planet? Here is a two-faced Pub if I ever saw one.

Norman Braman gave heavily to Miguel's campaign against Julio Robaina, and so did others, including FERRO (see yesterday's post) who wants to move the UDB (Miguel is one of Ferro's lawyers). Here is my list of interesting donors to Miguel's State Senate campaign:

1961 Clip of TV Series About the Everglades. By Geniusofdespair

The South Florida Daily Blog has a great video of a 1961 TV series about the Everglades. Worth checking out...very dated, I found the theme song lyrics very funny. Rick of South Florida Daily Blog reported:

The Everglades is an American crime-adventure television series that aired in first-run syndication for one season from 1961–62.

Fresh Air: Did US Tax Policies Increase Economic Inequality ... by gimleteye

We live in a time unequalled for both complexity and the poor skills of the American public to grasp anything beyond 30 second sound bites delivered for political campaigns. Consider the impasse of the "super-committee" in Congress, meant to shave a trillion from the federal budget. The failure is attributable to the Tea Party/Grover Norquist wing of the Republican party, unwilling to compromise on tax hikes for the wealthiest Americans.

What is needed to evaluate the current debate-- if it can be called that-- is historical context of modern US tax policies. If you have a half hour to spare and care to be educated, listen to the Terry Gross interview with Rolling Stone political correspondent, Tim Dickinson.  (Fresh Air is carried on the local PBS affiliate, WLRN.)

Tax cuts, says Dickinson, weren't always the center of Republican policy. From the end of World War II through the Reagan administration, he says, Democrats and Republicans fought over social spending but largely stayed away from taxes.

"Traditionally, Republicans cared deeply about fiscal balance," he says. "So you fought over balance — and taxes were an otherwise uninteresting mechanism to pay the bills. And tax policy wasn't meant to prod and stimulate the economy because prosperity came from the private sector. So the GOP focus on tax policy was not to give the economy a boost, but to find a nondestructive way to raise the revenue that [the government] decided it needed."

The biggest tax cut during that era, says Dickinson, was made by Democratic President John F. Kennedy. Republicans largely opposed it. "[They] were concerned that this was going to create deficits that werunwieldy," Dickinson explains. "This was consistent with the ideas that Republicans held that their duty in the system was to keep the nation's books in balance."

Move the UDB line? Application in Miami Herald Today. By Geniusofdespair

Threat to the urban development boundary.

Occupy Miami and Occupy Wall Street: what next? by gimleteye

Listening last night to NPR's Marketplace, I was curious about comments / suggestions from business and political professionals about the Occupy Wall Street movement. Grover Norquist, arguably the most powerful person in Washington, slyly suggested that the OWS'ers follow the Tea Party that gained popular support by advocating for limited government. Norquist is one of the main architects of "government-designed-to-fail". The OWS'ers have a different agenda, although the question-- what is that agenda?-- occupied other commenters, who one by one criticized the fuzzy "branding" of the protests.

I came of age in the 60's through the politics coursing through campuses and streets. What we know, today, is that the populist movement of that time energized and focused a conservative movement that eventually cemented the power of leaders like Norquist. Their target--overreaching government--grew from the fear and paranoia of wealthy business interests. So much has changed since then. For one, the false promises of globalization had yet to materialize. In the 1960's, the great middle class was swept along by the military draft and the Vietnam war. 

It is a vastly different landscape today. Most Americans are fed up with paying for wars waged to secure oil supplies, costing billions of dollars per week. The economy has passed through profound structural changes. Only the aspirations of citizens in China, Asia and India seem immune to the ratcheting down of expectations. 

What is similar is the energy of young protesters. The higher pitched calls to "smash the system" are part of the amped up hormones we ought to recognize from our earlier selves. Here are two observations: first, removing the OWS'ers from their encampments across the country was a lousy idea. What the mayors of American cities have done is to take away an escape valve for public pressure. It will express itself, one way or another. As a parent, I never expected my children to always behave like angels and I was always more pleased to have them and their friends at home where I could see and hear them than out somewhere, where I couldn't.

The Tea Party started out in a populist direction but was quickly usurped by a corporate agenda and funding by business interests advocating the Grover Norquist line of limited government. The OWS'ers have been adopted by the unions and shell-shocked opposition to the conservative wave that capitalizes on fear and greed. This gets a second observation; the point of a simplified message.

Last Sunday CBS 60 Minutes broadcast an investigation that exposed how members of Congress are permitted by law to trade on inside information of stocks and industries members regulate. Add to this, news that Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich received millions in fees from Freddie Mac, a key corporate player in the debt crisis that is swallowing the US economy.

 

The OWS'ers need to focus on the role of corporations in elections and reform the campaign finance system. I have been on the front lines of the 40 Year War Against the Environment-- one of the gauges of the health of our democracy-- for more than two decades. We are not making headway. Florida Governor Rick Scott set back environmental protection by generations. Corporations are too powerful. Corporations dominate elections. Change the campaign finance system and there is a chance that democracy can right itself. 

Keep it simple. Keep the pressure on. Don't give up.

New Twist on Absentee Ballot Fraud in Florida by a Supervisor of Elections. By Geniusofdespair

Madison County Supervisor of Elections Jada Woods Williams, was charged with 17 counts of neglect of duty and corrupt practices for allowing the distribution of these absentee ballots, contrary to Florida state statute.  --- WCTV News - Madison County, FL -- November 1, 2011 --

And a few days later on Nov. 10 - The NAACP counter charges  the FBI and FDLE with "Voter Suppression" because of the charges filed by them in this school board case.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Tallahassee Regional Operations Center and the Tallahassee office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation today arrested eight individuals in connection with multiple voter fraud violations that occurred in Madison County’s District One School Board race last year.

The investigation began in November 2010 after FDLE was contacted by the Department of State’s Division of Elections regarding possible fraud in the 2010 Madison County election. The complaint noted that the District One School Board race, which was won by candidate Abra “Tina” Hill Johnson, had an extraordinarily disproportionate amount of absentee votes.

The investigation revealed that Johnson and her husband, Ernest Sinclair Johnson, Jr., approached voters and obtained their agreement to vote, after which the voters were asked to sign an “Absentee Ballot Request Form.” Without the voters’ knowledge or consent, an alternate address was handwritten on the form, causing the ballots to be mailed to a third party rather than directly to the registered voters. In 2010, Florida law required ballots to be sent to a voter’s registered address unless the voter was absent from the county, hospitalized, or temporarily unable to occupy their residence. The Johnsons retrieved the ballots from the third party locations, brought the ballots to the voter, waited for the person to vote, and then returned the ballots to the Supervisor of Elections. In some instances, the voters were only presented with the absentee ballot signature envelope to sign and never received the actual ballot to cast their vote.

The Johnsons also secured the assistance of several other individuals to unlawfully obtain absentee ballots directly from the Supervisor of Elections. Despite written notice of penalties of perjury, these individuals signed and submitted an “Affidavit to Obtain Absentee Ballot,” claiming to have been authorized by voter to obtain their absentee ballot. These individuals, however, were unknown to the voters.

Sofia Vergara of TV's 'Modern Family' Fame Running for Nelson's Senate Seat? By Geniusofdespair

Well, she isn't quite running, but her rich boyfriend Nick Loeb from Delray Beach is holding a press conference today at 2pm to announce his candidacy, or not, for U.S. Senate.

Loeb has Roger Stone (Florida Pubs' version of Carl Rove) as his adviser. Coincidentally I wrote about this political operative STONE earlier this week - CornerSTONE was involved in the Gimenez campaign. Roger Stone is bad news with all his dirty tricks. He is believed to be behind the Gimenez campaign's controversial robocall. Here is a New Yorker article on Stone: Called the Dirty Trickster.

Citizens United Not Timid, an anti-Hillary group, known for its acronym - CUNT - It was thought that Roger Stone, known for dirty tricks, was the brains behind the name.

4pm - Loeb not running and no I did not photoshop the Nixon Tatoo on Stone's back.

Genting and Steve Wynn now claim support of Miami churches ... by gimleteye

Genting and Steve Wynn have hired nearly every lobbyist in the state of Florida to promote full scale gambling in Miami. Even mega churches in West Dade are rallying to legalize gambling based on visions that the prophet mis-took the parable of money changers in the temple. The new vision is that Jesu meant to cast out the weak and infirm and those who borrowed more than they could reasonably afford. He meant to increase the value of his church and holdings by inviting only credit worthy customers to his temples and to raise up only those who were positively affirming job creation, personal responsibility, and the authority of His Ministers and Lobbyists.

Lobbyists for Gambling. By Geniusofdespair

I haven't finished my research but considering Gimleteye's post above, here is what I have so far as the lobbyists for gambling in our State. Note, our former County Manager, Steve Shiver is on the list to work the Governor (Steve will be hardly working, it is a given with Scott):

State lobbyists for the Executive (Scott)

Genting East Coast USA, Inc
Case, Chip George, Marnie L. Harrell, Michael P. Hosay, Robert H. Kilman, Jonathan Thornton, Harkley R.

Bayfront 2011 Development, LLC
Balido, Albert; Ballard, Brian D.; Bernardino, Frank S.; Diaz-Balart, Lincoln; Rafael Horne, James W. Killinger, Lee M. Lawson, Al, Jr. Lukis, Sylvester McCann, Joseph M. Pittman, Sean A. Pollock, Daniel W. Texeira, Nancy A. Turbeville, William Gregory

County: Lincoln Diaz Balart, Vicky Garcia Toledo, Jessica Hoppe, Howard Nelson

Wynn Resorts, Limited
Bayliss, Slater W.; Cardenas, Alberto R.; Shiver, Stephen W.; Wiles, Lanny

Bayfront 2011 Property LLC
Niesen Kasdin, T. Specer Crowley, Jesse Manzano

Legislative:
Genting East Coast USA
Chip Case, Marnie George, Michael Harrell, Robert Hosay, Jonathan Kilman, Harkley Thornton

Genting/Bayfront 2011 Property, LLC
Anthony Trey Traviesa

Bayfront Property 2011 LLC
Carlos L. Curbelo

Bayfront Property Development, LLC.
Balido, Albert; Ballard, Brian D.; Bell, Patrick E.; Bernardino, Frank S.; Diaz-Balart, Lincoln; Horne, James W.; Killinger, Lee M.; Lukis, Sylvester; McCann, Joseph M.; Pittman, Sean A.; Pollock, Daniel W.; Schultheis, Roy M;. Texeira, Nancy A.; Turbeville, William Gregory

Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Bascom, Sarah; Betz, Louis G.; Chamizo, Jorge; Dudley, Charles F.;
Iarossi, Nicholas V.; LaFace, Ronald C., Jr.; Pittman, Sean A.; Ross, Scott L.; Schoonover, Christopher M.; Wester, Elizabeth D.; Wester, Gerald C.

Casino Watch, Inc
Kottkamp, Jeffrey D.

The problem with searching out the lobbyists is that the casino principals have so many different variations on their names. Looks like Steve Shiver is working for Al Cardenas now, his name is all over the place with Cardenas on the State Lobbying site. Oops...according to Lobbyist Seth Gordon it is another Steve Shiver, not our former county manager. Should we trust him? Oh, let me improve upon Gimleteye's vision above - I can do better, or should I say Kim's can, can:

My Soap Box Today: The Marlins' require bilingual applicants at job fair. By Geniusofdespar

 Juan C. Martinez, the Marlins’ director of multicultural marketing, acknowledged that with the team’s Spanish-speaking base, seeking out bilingual job candidates this week was a priority. The job fair’s website said the same Tuesday morning. - Miami Herald

 

We are ALL paying for the stadium Juan! I thought it interesting that the Marlins' Job Fair participants were required to be bilingual and that doesn't  include CREOLE. That eliminates large segments of our Miami Dade County population. Commissioner Barbara Jordan rather than just commenting against the practice, in the Herald today, should have gone down there and watched the show and beat her drum. Because they took bilingual off their website doesn't mean it will change the policy. The Black commissioners who voted for the stadium let the Marlins' screw their community twice over: 1) Pay for the Stadium, it will provide jobs 2) Just not for you. The Commissioners could have asked how many jobs would be bilingual before approving the deal. I bet most jobs are part-time too. Did we ask about that ahead of time County Commissioners?

Spanish is not taught in the early years in the schools which hurts the non-Hispanic students' chances of learning Spanish and some Haitians are already trying to master English. Have the Marlins and the Commissioners ever heard of Job Spanish? I don't speak Spanish but I held a job for a year in Puerto Rico because I learned the words I would need at that job. People rarely ask you probing questions at a ballpark:

Where are my seats?
Popcorn?
Where is the bathroom?
Where is the Exit?

You don't have to be bilingual for most jobs within the stadium. Give the hires a Spanish class for the vocabulary they are likely to encounter. My sister knows nurse Spanish... I know bar Spanish -- it is done all the time. Some of these supposedly 'bilingual' people in stores and in other places in Miami hardly have a grasp on English. In Doral I had to ask 3 people at a McDonald's for 'decaffeinated' coffee.  Let's try to help everyone work not just some segments of the population.

Farm Bill 2012 and Big Sugar: here's an interesting link ... by gimleteye

Splendid Table, a program of National Public Radio (carried locally on WLRN) has an interesting interview that captures the problem with Big Sugar, destroyer of the Everglades. Although the interview is not about the sugar subsidy, per se, the segment (about 15 minutes length) does illuminate the massive political problem that sugar exploits to its advantage at the cost of the Everglades: http://tiny.cc/xnhl9

Going Long On Arrogance ... gimleteye

"Going Long On Arrogance" was the lead editorial yesterday in the Palm Beach Post. The Post calls attention to the failure of the hedge fund MF Global, run by former NJ Governor Jon Corzine, and to multi-million dollar bonuses awarded to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives; entities that were at the heart of the speculation that ran rampant through the financial sector tied to housing.

But the arrogance that finds it permissible to lose tens of billions of taxpayer money and still reward executives with income levels that dwarfs the middle class has plenty of company.

The grand theft not only continues, it has accelerated. In Miami, it took the Florida Marlins years to obtain public commitments for its new baseball stadium. The event, though, was a signal to the gambling industry that it could get whatever it wants. Rational economic arguments, pleas based on sound social policies, have vanished in the arrogance.

It has been three years since the financial crisis unfolded in its full scope. Here is what I wrote three years ago about the arrogance that brought such phenomenon as the rise of US Century Bank and its local fleet of entrepreneurs to the fore. Congress cannot even deal with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bonuses, never mind addressing the root cause of so much arrogance. We are no closer to assessing the true costs of speculation by Wall Street bankers than we are, local gamblers aim to put one of the world's largest casinos where The Miami Herald once published its version of the news.

Occupy Miami is Facing Eviction! By Geniusofdespair

Occupy Miami’s participation in Thursday’s action will be taking place on the eve of its possible eviction from the grounds of the Stephen P. Clark Center at 5pm on Friday.  The impending eviction revolves around a dispute between the occupiers and Miami-Dade County officials over the validity of the original permit to occupy the property.

In a strong show of unity by Miami's "99%," Occupy Miami will join many other community organizations in a march and massive show of force on Thursday, November 17, at 4pm from Bayfront's Jose Marti Park to Brickell Village.  Occupy Miami members plan to organize a feeder march through Brickell beginning at 2pm, holding mock trials of several banks before joining the main mobilization at 4pm.

Although the groups represent a variety of political viewpoints, they are united in their belief that democratic processes are being undermined and that the economic future of working people is at risk while the power of the top 1% continues to grow.  "Some of us studied hard, only to be burdened with debt but no jobs, others have worked their entire lives only to see their savings plundered.  People have lost the homes they raised their children in, the jobs they built the city with, but our politicians only seem to cut more jobs and give more welfare breaks to the super-rich!" said Kevin Young of Occupy Miami.

(THEY WERE EVICTED in New York since this was written.)

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg instructed police to forcefully evict Occupy Wall Street from its two-month old Zuccotti Park home.  "It has been said that you can't evict an idea whose time has come.  We are waking up to the fact that our future has been stolen from us, and we are here together and united to get it back."

Hialeah Runoff Election Results. By Geniusofdespair

Waiting...the absentee votes should be in momentarily. I think the absentee results will tell us who won. I hope to be surprised but I don't expect to be. 34.83% voter turnout.
Mayor
Carlos Hernandez - 63.69% absentee
Raul Martinez - 36.31%
Council I
Loudes Lozano - 63.84%
Alex Morales - 36.16%
III
Danny Bolanos - 30.32%
Vivian Casals-Munoz 69.68%
VI
Paul Hernandez - 60.06%
Frank Lago - 39.94%

Another election that will go the way of the absentee ballots. Just saw results. Not much of a change.

Big Protest Thursday, Nov. 17th -The March on Brickell! By Geniusofdespair

Expect lots of traffic on Brickell on Thursday - The March on Brickell is at 5pm...the organizer is an idiot and the unions are behind 1Miami....but it is a good idea nonetheless....

CITIZENS TO STAND UP, MARCH ON BRICKELL BANKING DISTRICT NOV. 17 TO DEMAND FAIRNESS, HONESTY FOR WORKING FAMILIES

A coalition of citizens and community groups organized by 1Miami will hold a Stand Up Florida rally at Jose Marti Park (at 4 pm)  in Little Havana and march on the Brickell  (at 5 pm) Avenue banking district on November 17.

Organizers expect more than 2,000 citizens to participate, with many more possible as 1Miami points to public desperation and dissatisfaction grows with large financial institutions and the practices, policies and politics that have harmed the public.

“It’s obvious that the bankers, big lobbyists and their beholden politicians will first protect their own interests, rather than fairness for working families,” said Jose Suarez, communications director for 1Miami. “But if together the 99% of us stand up, speak up and act up, we can create real change for the better. People are taking to the streets all over the country to demand fairness and honesty, and we’re just beginning to see some results.” 1Miami is inviting other organizations and individuals to join them.

Also joining 1Miami at the November 17 action will be:

Rebeca Sosa Thanks Eye On Miami and We Thank The Commissioner. By Geniusofdespair

Commissioner Rebeca Sosa thanks Eye on Miami for shining a light on absentee ballot voter fraud at the Public Hearing on November 19th. The Ordinance adding a penalty to collecting absentee ballots illegally is in the final phase but since it has 10 sponsors out of 13, it is a sure thing. Commissioner Sosa said she will go to Tallahassee herself to urge the legislature to make the penalty of violating county voter law a felony...the County Commission can only impose a misdemeanor. Here is a video of Sosa thanking Eye on Miami, watch it, you won't see our name mentioned positively very often! It is early in the video so you don't have to watch it for long. Again, there will be a quiz.



This second video is of Shawn Selleck who ran against Willie Gort for the City of Miami Commission. During public testimony, he relates some of his experience with Absentee Ballot Fraud that he experienced as a candidate. On election day Willie got twice the votes as Shawn. In early voting they were 5 votes apart. But in absentee voting Gort slaughtered Shawn. Gort had 1,611 absentees and Sean 617. I guess Selleck didn't play the absentee ballot game.

No to Casinos in Miami ... guest blogger, Barry White

Civic activist Barry White recently wrote to state senator Larcenia Bullard, opposing gambling. His letter is reprinted here.


We are already seeing the result of a multi-billion dollar industry fixing its sights on Florida: a tidal wave of lobbyist money is flowing into the state. The money will sugar coat every elected official. We've seen how this works before: most recently, the new stadium for the Miami Marlins through which taxpayer interest was overwhelmed by lucre. Full-scale casinos are a magic replacement for the Ponzi scheme of the housing boom. Like activist Barry White, more citizens are going to need to write and to visit elected officials. Beyond the matter of economics and the social devastation that will accompany gambling in Miami, from a political perspective, putting casinos in Miami and Miami-Dade County is like letting a child play with a loaded gun.

Senator Bullard, for whatever it is worth. I am requesting that you oppose the new mega casino legislation for Florida; it is a false and limited fix to any revenue shortfall. As one who has been in the travel industry for overforty years, it is my opinion it will not improve the quality of our travel offerings, rather, it will be a crutch and prevent us from developing and improving basic travel infrastructure.  Miami and most of Florida are rarely seen in the top 100 of anything nation or world wide; restaurants, hotels, museums, tourist attractions. If the proposed project is built here, you will never see our area develop its full potential as a travel destination. We will be branded forever as honky tonk; we will never be a Monte Carlo. Norman Braman will be able to walk across the street for a tattoo or to pawn his watch.  Sticking the proposed carbuncle in downtown Miami will negate the billions we have spent for the Arsht Center, the new Marlin Stadium and other infrastructure improvements and cheapen our character. We do not need carpetbaggers from 12,000 miles away dictating the nature of our cities and state. Without gambling, South Beach is already the hotest destination on the planet. We have too many other reasons for people to come here; we just need to improve and develop them.   Please be sure that any proposed legislation requires full performance bonding for all aspects of any project before a shovel is turned. The full cost of building the project plus the full cost to the city, county and state for any infrastructure costs toward it, should all be irrevocably bonded against their failure to complet the project in case they abandon it midstream and we have to either complete it or tear it down.  Please get involved in this since the pressure to approve it is only being driven by those blinded by dreams of new revenue which really is not enough to merit this insult to our community, especially when the offsets are factored in.  Thank you, Barry J. White

More Commissioner Recalls in Miami Dade County? By Geniusofdespair

Yesterday in the Miami Herald, it was reported that Norman Braman is considering two more recalls of Commissioner Pepe Diaz and Commission Chair Joe Martinez.

Specifically Braman said: they were part of a group "That just do not want to change."

Hello? We call that group the Unreformable Majority of the County Commission. We have at least 17 posts on them. Pepe Diaz and Joe Martinez have been longtime members of the group along with Bruno Barreiro, Javier Souto and Barbara Jordan. I am removing Audrey Edmonson from the Unreformable Majority, without Gimeleteye's knowledge but I hope he agrees. I saw her last week and thanked her for her lone vote against moving the UDB line for the Homestead Auto Racetrack. She looked me squarely in the eye and said: "It was the right thing to do." Yes, Audrey, it was. Thank you again.

I think Norman Braman would recall Barbara Jordan because she won't ever change, but I suspect he must have done some polling there. I think she is too popular within her district although toxic to the rest of us.

Florida Keys -- shifting baselines ... by gimleteye

I received my introduction to Florida politics and the environment in Key West. In the late 1980's, one of my initial forays as an advocate was to help support the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. On Keys-wide cable I hosted a talk show on the Sanctuary with the first sanctuary manager, Billy Causey.

Causey was quoted in a press account last week related to a new study by the Marine Sanctuary: "Condition Report 2011". "Today we know more about coral reefs than ever before in history," Causey said. "We see ['Conditions Report 2011'] as a baseline. We will make it better from here."

I understand it is important to build public interest and support for public investments necessary to protect the Everglades and Florida Bay. But I also strongly oppose sugar-coating the rapid destruction of natural resources in Florida. By sugar-coating, one avoids the facts how the costs of pollution are shifted by industry and legislatures onto the backs of taxpayers.

Causey calls the new study a "baseline", but the marine sanctuary established in 1990 was also supposed to be a baseline. What happened to that baseline? Shifting goal posts is the unavoidable legacy of efforts to restore Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay and the Everglades.

Absentee Ballot Collection in Hialeah: Corrupt, Plain and Simple. By Geniusofdespair

Read Accusations fly over absentee ballots in the Miami Herald today. Reported by Patricia Mazzei and Christina Veiga:

“Our guys will not touch a ballot that’s not signed, that’s not sealed, at all,” fire union Vice President Eric Johnson said.

The wrinkle: State and county laws only allow a person to turn in two absentee ballots — other than his or her own — per election. One must be from an immediate family member. The other must be from a voter who has signed an affidavit designating that person as responsible for the ballot.

“Then this whole city is in violation,” a surprised Johnson said when a reporter informed him about the rules.

You are damn right they are Eric! That is why Eye on Miami blog is following this issue so closely and has lobbied for the changes coming out of the County Commission that the article mentioned.

These boleteros are thwarting democracy in Miami-Dade County. Don't think it is JUST Hialeah. Hialeah votes absentee in such high numbers, that they can change any countywide election, like a mayoral election. Also boletero tactics are contagious, now bridging our ethic and racial divide. Read the article...it mirrors our blog posts in many good ways.

More musings on Penn State and riches of the realm... by gimleteye

For four days, the lead story on TV news has been the Penn State sex scandal. The offenses are horrific and shameful. But haven't we seen this show before and does it belong to be the lead story, four days running?

The Christian church, in the White House or among pages in Congress, or at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch: haven't we all been disappointed in the abuse of power at one time or another. Sex crimes by the high and mighty are like a broken record (it used to be that a scratch in a long playing record would cause the needle to jump to the beginning of the same track, for those who miss the reference).

My indignation is calibrated. I don't expect anything from big-time sports, whether college or professional, except to reveal what our culture masks.

By all means, prosecute the son of a bitch who abused children to the full extent of the law. Prosecute whoever covered up the crimes. So far as I can tell, none of the Penn State brass including Joe Paterno have been charged except in the court of public opinion.

I can think of half a dozen stories-- not to mention the impending implosion of the Euro zone-- that would make the lead story on the Eyeonmiami network news. Not Penn State, four days running. Instead of sex scandals we should be examining other abuses of power and authority on the front page-- how well, for example, did privatizing and outsourcing the functions of war benefit the United State taxpayer in Iraq or Afghanistan? What polluters are making billions by manipulating the Farm Bill and dumping mercury in the Everglades?

I mourn for the loss of innocence, but maybe the violent reaction at Penn State is about our own.

Miami Dade Election Mystery: What a tangled web elections weave. By Geniusodespair

Tova Tabak lives in this house in Bergenfield, New Jersey according to the White Pages. Why should you care?

Maybe you don't but Jose Pepe Hernandez from the Julio Robaina Mayoral Campaign cared. He made a complaint against the PAC 'Common Sense Now'. The complaint was made to the State Attorney's Office, Ethics, the Supervisor of Elections, etc. on May 31st.  The Herald said:

"The complaint by Robaina's campaign suggests that if the Committee for Honest Government is behind the call, it did not have enough funds reported on hand to pay for it. And if Common Sense Now is involved, the complaint raises questions about a consulting firm Gimenez's campaign paid for robocalls -- Cornerstone Management Partners, of Bergenfield, N.J. Robaina's campaign said it could not reach the company, registered to a single-family home in New Jersey and not registered as a corporation with the state of Florida."

Paragraph above from  the complaint against Gimenez Campaign 

 

 

 

Putting the robot call aside, I focused on the PAC. I looked up the address of 'Cornerstone Management Partners' in the white pages. The name of the entity doesn't come up at this address in New Jersey.  It is the address of Tova Tabak (17 Westminster Gate, Bergenfield, NJ 07621). That is the address on the financial report for the PAC 'Common Sense Now.' This is the PAC that Carlos Gimenez was once the Chairman of. This PAC is now headed by Miguel Inda-Romero and Joaquin Urquiola is the treasurer. Cornerstone seems to be Roger Stone and his protege Elnantan Rudolph.

Hard to believe Cornerstone received 25 payments from this PAC totaling half a million dollars ($512.300.00) and it remains such a mystery.  I would like to see who endorsed the checks.  This is why I hate PACs, Committees or whatever else you want to call them. They are not the campaign reports of the candidates. They are an adjunct of the campaign where tens of thousands of dollars can be raised from one donor legally, and as you can see,  spent weirdly.  I hope this complaint doesn't come back to bite Gimenez as he was the better candidate and Robaina had two PAC's doing strange nonsense to Gimenez.