GOP: Too Repulsed By Donald Trump To Divorce Him ... by gimleteye

Yesterday a woman -- a friend who supports Donald Trump -- told me not to worry about Donald, "He doesn't mean what he says." That was before the bombshell revelation: a taped 2005 conversation, when Trump was 59, where he talks about hitting on a married woman and being so magnetized by women he just kisses them and "grabs them by the pussy". His new wife, Melania, was pregnant at the time.

GOP leaders scrambled their condemnations like jet planes to defend the national border. Evangelicals fell silent.

Notably, Florida Governor Rick Scott said he was "too busy" to respond, but Hurricane Matthew was already off the Florida border with Georgia. Truthfully, Scott is all-in with the pussy-grabber as his national campaign finance chair. Senator Marco Rubio, who is now stuck to Donald Trump like Crazy Glue, went looking for his weather-vane.

Trump offered a mouthy pout: "I'm sorry if I offended anyone."

We've never met, but I feel like I know Donald Trump. I know Donald Trump from the playground where bullies imposed their will on the younger and more vulnerable. His is the apology of a schoolyard bully caught in the act by a teacher, hauled into the principal's office, apologizes then ordered to "say it like you mean it".

Trump is the bully who had to apologize twice but you knew in your gut, he never meant it. Just like as an adult, he "never meant" to stiff contractors and consultants with whom he had legal agreements. Or xenophobia, racism, misogyny, homophobia or mocking the disabled.

Here is the thing about bullies: they have a scent for weakness. In their wounded view of the world, when they zero in they "grab it by the pussy". That just "makes them smart". That's what Donald Trump did when he belittled Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio in the GOP presidential primary.

America has never elected a schoolyard bully to the White House. I don't believe our nation will elect one, in November.

Piss Poor Two-Faced Union. By Geniusofdespair

Monica Russo: Shame on you!

“Our members proudly endorse Senator Anitere Flores in Senate District 39,” said Monica Russo, President of SEIU Florida State Council.  “Senator Flores understands that too many families in her district and around Florida are struggling to make ends meet, and that no one working 40 hours a week should live in poverty. We will look to Sen. Flores’ leadership on economic reform that will raise wages for low wage workers, as well as tackle issues confronting immigrant families.”

This seat was fought hard for in redistricting and was meant to be a moderate, Democratic seat. How are we ever going to get a more balanced legislature? It has been overwhelmingly Republican and will remain so until the unions muster up some integrity. If they remain cowardly, sweeping up crumbs of promises from candidates, they will soon find themselves trying to claw  their way up from an agonizing decline due to the shenanigans of the very candidates they are sucking up to.

You are putting an endorsement on a self proclaimed conservative Republican. Your union sucks to endorse this candidate.  Flores has done squat for all issues important to us EXCEPT now she is a poser so she can win. I hope she continues to do nothing for unions because that is what they deserve from her. Maybe they will learn something about doing the right thing instead of selling their soul for empty promises.

There is a very good Democrat running for this seat: Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

Traveling Premium Economy? Choose Lufthansa over Air France. By Geniusofdespair

I have traveled premium economy on two airlines: Lufthansa and Air France. It was like night and day. Lufthansa was so superior in every way, i.e. food, service, comfort....I will be sure to avoid Air France in the future. I never saw a Steward or Stewardess on Air France unless they were offering awful food (Lufthansa had REAL food served normally).  The business class didn't look much better than premium economy.  My foot rest didn't work on Air France and no one seemed to care. I don't like dangling legs when the seat is reclined, not that the Air France seat reclined more than a few inches.

I had to call them on Air France when I needed a water and getting ice was a hassle. Luftansa was a joy. There was always a wait person right there to help. My foot rest was broken on Air France, they didn't care one bit. What is your experience with premium economy?  Air France wasn't worth the extra money or was my experience an anomaly?

Hurricane Matthew: Stay Safe ... by gimleteye

Hurricanes are odd beasts, and it has been many years since we've seen one rake the Atlantic coast of Florida. How irritating to watch politicians squeezed together to fit the camera frame on local news, apparently organized to showcase those running for re-election in a few weeks. (Showboaters, know who you are.) Too bad viewers can't add emojis to scroll across the screen at the same time.

Just the other day, I drove the length of the interstate from points north and wondered where this hurricane would make landfall and how the landscape would be changed. It is hard to imagine, early this morning, that Matthew is churning so close to Miami that you could reach it in just a few hours by boat. Stay safe, all.

Miami Dade County: Collective Bargaining Should Not Be Laced With Threats. By Geniusofespair

This doesn't sound like bargaining in good faith:

Tyrone Williams - Threats of Violence by geniusofdespair on Scribd

"Before The Flood", Vote ... by gimleteye

"Before the Flood", a new documentary on the imperative of climate change action by Leonardo DiCaprio and Fisher Stevens (produced by Miami Beach native, Brett Ratner) aired last night on Miami Beach. The day before, "Before the Flood" premiered at the White House. If only American voters were required to view the film before voting in November.

The film lays out the case that the planet is experiencing global warming impacts much more quickly than even the most conservative estimates by scientists. Three years in the making, and still the daily news of abnormal, extreme weather events seems to overtake even the film's latest edit.

Inaction is the result of fossil fuel industries that primarily fund an intransigent Republican Congress and the right-wing echo chamber including Fox News, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. (What can you do? The filmmakers urge viewers to be part of an action movement on climate change, and to start by signing up on its website, here.)

The message and timing of its release (by National Geographic, owned paradoxically by the family of Rupert Murdoch, who earned billions through Fox News' hate and fright media empire) is that American voters are squarely in the world spotlight this November. Among the luminaries interviewed by Leonardo DiCaprio, President Obama makes the case concisely: even if you aren't "a romantic" who believes the wonders of the world should be preserved for our children and grandchildren, the rapid change in climate -- unprecedented in human history -- is an immediate national security threat. Not tomorrow: today.

In the film, climate change deniers in Florida -- Senator Marco Rubio and Governor Rick Scott, Donald Trump's national finance chair -- feature in the negative light they deserve, given the immense costs to Florida and the region.

The film brilliantly uses computer graphics, data-driven animation, and visual imagery that tells the most important story in the history of mankind. Viewers unfamiliar with the subject terrain are likely to be impressed by the concise story through simple and memorable images.

Among the compelling testimonies by world leaders: the energy minister of India who lays out the clear case why, absent immediate leadership by the United States and the industrialized west, the planet is likely to burn to a crisp -- denying economic security to everyone, not just the poor and dispossessed the way climate change impacts are happening today.

The evil actors in "Before The Flood" are the international corporations funding the politics of climate change denial. They include Exxon, BP, Shell and the largest privately-held company, the Koch Brother enterprises. Fossil fuel interests are the key backers of Donald Trump and GOP leaders in Congress blocking the path to a carbon tax -- advocated in the film by George W. Bush's top economic advisor. (Eye On Miami regularly features the crimes against humanity embedded in climate change denialism. Check our archives.)

Last night, at the conclusion of the film, actor and film-maker Mark Ruffalo introduced DiCaprio, Stevens, and a local panel including Miami Beach mayor Philip Levine. Ruffalo told the audience of Florida voters that they should vote NO on Amendment 1 in November. The state's electric utilities are spending $20 million to promote a constitutional amendment that would hold solar power hostage to its interests.

Amendment 1 is designed to confuse voters into thinking it is a positive measure for climate change adaptation. In fact, what the amendment would do is to consolidate the power of solar energy in the hands of the state's electric utilities; the same large corporations like FPL that have obscured and lead the way in climate change denialism.

Along this line, it is worth noting that a GOP member of Congress from Florida (8th District), Bill Posey, recently introduced federal legislation that would protect corporations from requirements to disclose risk from climate change. The New York Times reported: "... at a time when many Republicans dispute the very notion of climate change, the Posey measure has focused the debate over whether it is reasonable — or even possible — to expect companies to put a price tag on the environmental impact of climate change." This extraordinary measure, at face value, sounds like an effort by Florida's electric utilities to stop exactly what I proposed through a SEC-approved shareholder resolution to NextEra Energy earlier this year: that the corporation should be required to report annually to shareholders on the risk to markets and infrastructure through sea-level rise.

In other words, US corporations that fund climate change denialism and elections, primarily through the Republican Party, are already laying out escape routes for their top executives who, one suspects, are planning armed fortresses high on mountain tops stocked with canned goods.

These are just a few ideas of what is at stake in the November election for president, for Congress, and for the state legislature. The science is clear, as "Beyond The Flood" shows viewers. All our treasures, from the sacred to the profane, from law and order to shopping aisles filled with goods we take for granted, is on the line. Not tomorrow. Now.

Marco Rubio sticks to Donald Trump like Crazy Glue ... by gimleteye

The most fateful decision of Marco Rubio's political career has been to support Donald Trump, who belittled him in the GOP presidential primary.

Senator Rubio has reversed position on many issues, including the most basic: whether or not he would run for re-election in the US Senate.

But where there is dignity in Rubio, it is his unwavering opposition to Castro Cuba and political accommodation. Rubio's career owes as much to the hardliner Miami-Dade, Cuban American voter this sentiment represents as to any voting bloc in Florida.

So how does Rubio square that position with the GOP candidate for president of the United States, Donald Trump, who in the late 1990's -- at a time of high tension in the Miami Cuban-American community with respect to Castro Cuba -- made stealth advances to Castro Cuba?

Still Marco Rubio sticks to Donald Trump like Crazy Glue.

This November, Florida voters are obliged to vote for nation before party. Rubio made his decision: party before nation.

In Donald Trump, America has the least qualified, most dangerous candidate for president ever. Senator Rubio sticks to his side. Florida voters, Democrats and Republicans, should remind Senator Rubio at the polls. "Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you."

For Senate District 39, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell ... by gimleteye

For Senate District 39, first-time candidate and Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell wins our support. We often lament the shortage of qualified individuals to run for political office. That is not the case, this year, in District 39.

Debbie, a fluent Spanish speaker, is a long-time contributor to Miami-Dade's diverse communities. She is challenging the incumbent, Anitere Flores.

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell has been endorsed by Emily's List, Florida Planned Parenthood,  and SAVE PAC.

Flores is against Planned Parenthood and supports restricting access to reproductive healthcare. Off shore drilling is OK with Flores. What the NRA wants, Flores delivers: stand your ground, open carry, whatever.

Flores has been employed by the Trump-like Doral College and voted, while employed by a private college, to hike tuition for public schools. In 2013 Flores pushed legislation that would have made Florida public schools spend $80 million on private tutoring companies like the one run by her employer, Academica.

Today Flores claims to be shocked by FPL's massive pollution of the sole source drinking water aquifer in the district, including South Dade and threatening the Florida Keys, through failed cooling canals at the Turkey Point nuclear reactors, but during the entire term of her service in the legislature, she never once questioned the violations of state law that were known to be occurring. Flores voted to rescind required inspections for septic tanks; in other words, out of sight, out of mind. For this South Floridians in Flores' district are paying a very heavy price.

One of the names that rises as a contributor to the Flores PAC is the Voice of Florida Business, filled with campaign contributions from the state's largest utilities like FPL and polluters like Big Sugar/ Florida Crystals. In 2013 Flores voted to give sugar companies a 30-year no bid lease on critical parcels of Everglades land; lands which are as important to Everglades restoration as inspecting septic tanks is to protecting Florida's badly damaged rivers and estuaries feeding the Everglades and of tremendous value coastal communities. Flores has received over $50,000 from Big Sugar, including a $10,000 contribution from US Sugar in May 2016.

According to FloridaStrong: "Miami has the highest rate of uninsured in the state and one of the highest rates of uninsured among any county in the country due to the legislature’s refusal to expand health care coverage to Floridians." Flores voted to slash the minimum wage for low-wage workers.

"During the 2016 legislative session, Sen. Flores and the Health Policy committee chose to defund Planned Parenthood – which provides important STD testing and treatment services – instead of closing the health care coverage gap. Flores has been a long-time leader in the effort to restrict access to reproductive health, even trying to amend the constitution to block access."

Debbie has spent two decades in Miami-Dade County dedicated to improving the South Florida community, both as a non-profit executive and consultant and volunteer.

As an FIU fundraising professional, she helped raise over $50,000,000 to improve public higher education and community-based healthcare at FIU’s College of Medicine and College of Health and Urban Affairs.

Debbie raised money to improve services to individuals with developmental disabilities at Hope Center. For the past several years, while raising small children, she has been an independent consultant to non-profits and volunteer for the Coral Restoration Foundation, the Zoological Society of Florida and the Florida Aquarium. Debbie is a frequent visitor to the Florida Keys where she snorkels, fishes and dives with her family. She wants to make sure that we preserve our oceans, reefs, sea life and wildlife for our children’s generation to enjoy.

Debbie signed the Now or Neverglades Declaration, calling for land acquisition in sugarcane production south of Lake Okeechobee, to eventually relieve pollution damaging both Florida coasts and the Everglades. Although her opponent, Anitere Flores, has also signed the declaration -- her late conversion to support for this measure is not matched by her record.

The choice for District 39 voters is clear. The incumbent GOP candidate Anitere Flores supports Donald Trump, she has voted to increase costs of public education while taking a salary from private competitors, and her conversion to Everglades champion is opportunistic, based on Fair Districts and reapportionment which she and the Florida GOP opposed, spending millions of taxpayer dollars in the process.

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a Democrat, is an experienced professional with a record of public service, a committed volunteer and leader in South Florida, a young mother active in her community, a voice for choice and a secure economy based on sound values.  For District 39, we support Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

Newsweek smacks down Miami Herald on Trump and Cuba ... by gimleteye

Gimleteye: Shocked ... just shocked. "The competition for worst journalistic decision has been intense during the 2016 election season. But the winner—at least up to now—is no doubt the Miami Herald. It made a choice that horribly deceived their readers about reality—and the incompetence it took to make such a huge error is almost incomprehensible."

Incomprehensible? Readers, tell us.

THE SCOOP
MIAMI HERALD DECEIVES READERS ON TRUMP'S 1998 CUBA DEALINGS
BY KURT EICHENWALD ON 10/1/16 AT 4:05 PM

After this article was posted, Jay Ducassi, the metro editor of the Miami Herald, received a message left earlier by Newsweek. Ducassi said, “The Miami Herald often attaches related archived stories to news articles. The day after a front-page article was published about the Newsweek report, the 1999 opinion piece by Donald Trump from our archives was linked to the online version of our coverage. We should have noted that the Trump op-ed was being reprinted solely in the context of the current controversy surrounding his purported 1998 violation of the Cuban embargo."

The competition for worst journalistic decision has been intense during the 2016 election season. But the winner—at least up to now—is no doubt the Miami Herald. It made a choice that horribly deceived their readers about reality—and the incompetence it took to make such a huge error is almost incomprehensible.

This, again, starts with the 1998 decision by one of Donald Trump’s companies to violate federal law by breaking the Cuban embargo during the presidency of Fidel Castro. At the time, there were calls in Washington to loosen or even drop the decades-long trade restrictions, and in an effort to lay the groundwork for new business if the embargo dropped, Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts sent some consultants to Havana. There, these representatives from the consulting firm, Seven Arrows Investment and Development Corp., met with officials from the Castro government, financiers and business people. All told, the effort cost $68,000, much of which was spent illegally traveling to and working in Cuba.

In February 1999, Seven Arrows sent an invoice to Trump Hotels, seeking reimbursement for the $68,000. The invoice makes clear that the people involved knew the trip was illegal—even though the effort was over, it discusses how Trump Hotels needed a government license before the travel to Cuba took place. It also describes a way to make the business trip appear to be part of a humanitarian effort by linking it after-the-fact to a Cuban charity. Some charitable efforts in Cuba were legal, so long as no American person or entity spent the money. No business enterprise solely to develop opportunities was legal—and spending even a dollar in Cuba was a crime. In the end, Trump Hotels did not seek a license, did not obtain an after-the-fact sponsorship from a charity but simply stuffed the records of the crime into a filing cabinet, apparently hopeful they would never be seen publicly. But Donald Trump, according to former company executives, knew about the Cuban trip (“Do you honestly think any of Trump’s top guys would spend $68,000 without clearing it with him?” one executive replied sarcastically when Newsweek asked if Trump knew.)

Soon after the invoice was paid, Donald Trump began planning a run for the presidential nomination of the Reform Party. He decided to first focus his run on Florida, a state with one of the largest number of electoral votes—by targeting Cuban-Americans. At the time, Trump could not proclaim that his company had just paid for an illegal trip to Cuba—at least not without guaranteeing both a loss in Florida and the launch of a criminal investigation. So instead, Trump decided to trick Cuban-Americans.

The first step? Writing an op-ed for the Miami Herald in which he proclaimed his steadfast support for the embargo he had just broken. The opinion piece was published June 25, 1999, just a couple of weeks before it was publicly revealed Trump was readying a presidential run. In his article, Trump wrote:

“Of course, (Castro) would love Donald Trump to come to Havana and build casino hotels. Why? Not to raise the standard of living for the people of Cuba. Quite the contrary. Almost every dollar would go to prop up his police-state. Why? Because foreign investors cannot legally do business with private Cuban citizens. They can go into business only with the Castro government. It is highly illegal in Cuba for anyone except for the regime to employ a Cuban citizen.”

Now, compare those words with the invoice published in Newsweek last week. Look at the date and the purpose given for why the $68,000 in expenses were incurred:

On February 8, 1999, Seven Arrows billed Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts, Inc. for the $68,551.88 it had incurred prior to and including a trip to Cuba on behalf of Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc.

Reasonable people might conclude that the editors at the Miami Herald would be infuriated that the pages of their newspaper had been used to deceive their readers. Yes, you would think that. But apparently not.

Instead, this week, the Miami Herald decided to reprint the dishonest 1999 Trump opinion piece, with no explanation that the newspaper had been tricked into letting a politician-in-waiting deceive their readers about how this man did business. The invoice, which Newsweek has made available to anyone who asks, was not printed. No indication was made that the evidence is incontrovertible that Trump’s secret actions contradicted his public comments.

Newsweek telephoned the Miami Herald news desk and was assured an editor would call back to discuss their decision to reprint the op-ed piece without including the evidence of Trump’s deceit. No one returned the call.

The bottom line: American voters are preparing to decide who will be the President of the United States. This is serious stuff. The media has spent enough time with nonsense like Dr. Oz’s opinion of Trump’s health. Throwing a known falsehood back into the public—and pretending it reflects even a modicum of reality—constitutes journalistic malpractice. Miami Herald: Shame on you.

Following publication of this article, editors at the Miami Herald added a note to the reprint of the Donald Trump op-ed providing a brief mention that Newsweek reported this week that Trump’s company "secretly spent money trying to do business in Cuba in violation of the U.S. trade embargo."