What if the 2016 race had been about policy: Mike Grunwald in Politico ... by gimleteye

Miami author and Politico senior writer Mike Grunwald attended the recent Hillary/Gore appearance in Miami, and here is what he had to say about it.

Al Gore lost the 2000 presidential race in Florida where he was poorly served by advisors, some of whom are still on the Democratic scene like Mitchell Berger and Chris Korge.

Al Gore was right about climate change, then, and he is now. If there is an iota of your being that believes climate change is a real and present danger to the economy and to US national security, you must vote for Hillary Clinton in November. Her opponent still believes climate change is a hoax perpetrated by China, and by the way, Trump's proxy in Florida -- Marco Rubio -- is on the same page.

Hudstead: Now Known as the Snake Pit. By Geniusofdespair

Not content with being associated with Hud and Peyton Place,  Homestead is now vying for a 'new' old movie title: The Snake Pit

Snakes are invading Homestead...no not just Wayne Rosen...the actual reptiles.

of course Ethics took no action, the three year period for filing an ethics complaint ran out.

Back to other snakes:

Police caught a 9 foot python at Homestead High School in September.

Also a warning went out in the Keys Gate Neighborhood:

This morning  a resident discovered a five foot boa constrictor cross my back lot by the lake and slither into the philodendron bushes on the north east corner of the property traveling towards North Gate Drive. It's width was the size of a man's forearm. It was too small to be a menace to most dogs, but cats could be at risk.  This has been reported to MM and the authorities.

Other Homestead snake sightings:

Homestead: Real snakes, and also the breeding ground for the political snake pit of Miami Dade County.

Meanwhile, Keys Gate houses are shaking off their foundations from all the rock mining blasting. I have had numerous reports of cracked tile and houses shaking. People are considering installing carpets. Who will help these people? Really, carpets? That is pretty extreme.

Florida City leaders approving the blasting said the economic benefit of the quarry outweighed concerns raised last fall by homeowners as well as environmental and park officials.

What to do, what to do? Have a fashion show of course. Wayne Rosen's wife is helping to sponsor a fashion show to benefit Dade Legal Aid, on February 24th: Fashion Night on Brickell. Wayne Rosen is rumored to have donated $38,000.

Miguel Diaz de la Portilla: How Republican lawmakers dodge blame for Florida redistricting lawsuits that cost taxpayers many millions ... by gimleteye

Senate president Joe Negron (left) needs Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (right) to preserve bullet-proof Republican majority 

Miguel Diaz de la Portilla was progressive before he was conservative before he became a moderate running for reelection to the Florida senate in a newly redrawn, mainly Democratic district in Miami-Dade.

I knew Diaz de la Portilla as an ambitious young county commissioner in Miami-Dade, who proposed the 2/3 Zoning Ordinance that infuriated the Latin Builders Association, before he became a hard-line conservative and lobbyist for members of the Latin Builders Association, and now a moderate.

In an interview in Diarios Las Americas, Miguel Diaz de la Portilla offered the following answer to the question: (sic) "Another point, scandalously, was the theme of redesigning legislative districts in Florida, and litigation that had to be decided by the Supreme Court of Florida. Why was it not possible that the legislature could do Fair Districts without litigation?" Here is how Diaz de la Portilla dodges blame:

(sic) Don Gaetz was the chairman of the committee that conducted the redesign of these districts. He was then the Senate president. We discovered that he was involved in countless illegal talks [on the issue of electoral maps] of which we were not aware. That does not mean that there were people, including the plaintiffs, trying to create districts with the intention of favoring one party or disfavor certain officials.

"We discovered"? To suggest that Republican leaders, including Diaz de la Portilla, neither knew about nor supported litigation that dragged on for years -- squarely in conflict with the will of more than 60% of Florida voters who supported Fair Districts, is plain wrong.  Pinning blame on Don Gaetz, then Senate president: how convenient.

Voters should remember in November: the Florida GOP fought tooth-and-nail to protect its majority including the district in Miami-Dade that was illegally drawn yet sheltered Miguel Diaz de la Portilla as a reliable hard-line conservative vote. That's how political business got done in Florida.

Now that he has to abide by the results, on the losing side of a lawsuit by the Republican leadership in the legislature that cost taxpayers many millions of dollars, Miguel Diaz de la Portilla has redrawn himself and his political beliefs. That's not leadership.

Miami's Most Misguided Person. By Geniusofdespair

Evangelical run amok: Anthony Verdugo

In my opinion, not since Anita Bryant, can Miami boast a more misguided soul. Congratulations Anthony. You win.  

During the Debate Sunday, Raquel Regalado said she would NOT vote for Donald Trump. By Geniusofdespair

Perhaps the Miami Herald DID NOT make it clear enough in its report yesterday as last night at dinner I was asked about Raquel Regalado voting for Trump.

Raquel Regalado said she would NOT vote for Donald Trump. When pressed further on who she would vote for by Jim DeFede Raquel Regalado said I do not think it is appropriate for the Mayor of Miami Dade County to endorse a candidate as they might be seeking Federal support, she spoke about the Dreamers as an example.

A big chunk of her support is with the older Cubans in Miami Dade County. How much further did anyone expect her to go? The fact that she said she is NOT voting for Trump is good enough to surmise who she will be voting for. After all, there are only 2 candidates. Carlos Gimenez said he would vote for Clinton. He has little support from older Cubans and has nothing to lose and everything to gain with his base.

Latin Builders Association endorses Hillary Clinton: Marco Rubio looks even weaker ... by gimleteye

Miami Republicans claim to be voting against Trump but for every GOP candidate on the November ticket. Not so fast.

The Trump debacle is cracking the myths of Lee Atwater, Karl Rove, and Roger Ailes. Meanwhile, those with a deep interest in the outcome have are hedging their political bets with Democrats.

The Miami Herald reports the unprecedented endorsement of a Democratic candidate for president, Hillary Clinton, by the politically powerful Latin Builders Association.

LBA leaders plan to meet with Clinton behind closed doors Tuesday, when she will hold a rally at Miami Dade College’s Kendall Campus with former Vice President Al Gore. “Throughout its 40-year history, the LBA has consistently endorsed candidates who have conservative principles, a pro-business mindset, believe in limited government regulation, and possess strong business ethics and family values that have closely aligned with ours,” LBA President Alex Lastra said in a statement. “In the past, these candidates have tended to be from the Republican Party.”

But, Lastra added, the president should also “possess the right temperament, sound judgment, knowledge of national and international issues and the ability to bring people together, regardless of party affiliation.” “It is clear that, in this election, the candidate whose values best align with the LBA and who possesses these important qualities is Hillary Clinton."

The LBA has a long history of political influence-peddling through a Christmas tree-shaped campaign finance system that normally benefits Republican candidates waiting for gifts under the tree.

While Marco Rubio was a favored LBA politician in the past, there are good reasons that support for him is wavering among segments of the Cuban-American and Hispanic development community.

For example, Jeb Bush was a LBA champion of long-standing in Florida. Rubio's disrespect toward Jeb during the presidential primary was widely noted, if not openly criticized. Trump cracked open the opportunity for self-criticism and introspection by Republicans.

Rubio revealed as a political opportunist willing to kick anyone, including Jeb, to the curb if it helped him race by. Marco Rubio could never wait his turn, and that is irritating to GOP money donors whose fortunes grew from careful planning; planning Trump turned to dust.

Even today, Rubio views his Senate seat as a stepping stone to the next presidential race. Only, Marco didn't race by: he won scarcely 15% of the Florida GOP presidential primary vote. Miami Republicans may want to move on, too.

Without question, Rubio hears Patrick Murphy on his heels, but not just Murphy. With the LBA throwing its support to Clinton, even to Rubio his support for Trump, the man who belittled him, must seem increasingly like political hemlock.

It is an unexpected development in what is a year of unexpected consequences to the GOP amid questions: do Republicans in Miami matter after Trump and Rubio's pandering to his values? If the answer to that question is only 50-50, there are going to be a lot more changes in 2017.

Nate Sliver 538 Forecast Today. By Geniusofdespair

For the second presidential debate, Trump brought the only game he has: savagery ... by gimleteye

There will be plenty of time for the Republican party to self-admit to a psychiatric ward or at least to answer the question: what went wrong in 2016, that Donald S. Trump became its candidate to be president of the United States?

For the time being, there is really only one solution to this Frankenstein-ish invention: to defeat Donald Trump at the polls in November so soundly, he never comes back to haunt U.S. politics.

Trump needed to show a measure of contrition, an iota of wisdom, a trace of humility at last night's presidential debate. He brought the only game he had, doubling-down on his liabilities.

Trump didn't grab Hillary by the pussy -- his inclination toward women caught on videotape eleven years ago that he now dismisses as "locker room talk". He did guarantee if elected president to throw her in jail. He was a wounded political animal lurking on stage from one canard to another.

If there are voters who are just now tuning in to the presidential election and genuinely undecided or willing to be persuaded, I highly recommend viewing (available, online) the PBS Frontline documentary, "The Choice 2016".

Frontline compares the different career paths of Trump and Hillary. What surprised -- perhaps I betray my age, here -- is how much we knew and forgot about Trump's well-publicized financial problems in the 1980's and 1990's.

The point is that Trump's business career was a disaster until he discovered he could make more money marketing his name than owning real property.

When Trump's real estate empire collapsed, allowing him to take deductions totaling nearly a billion dollars, the banks who held his debt decided he was too big to fail. Don't confuse that with success. As the documentary describes, the banks kept him alive because Trump's devalued assets were worth more if he was out fluffing their value up, than if they foreclosed on his mortgages and debt and had to find new suckers to buy them.

Last night, the only question was whether Trump would self-destruct on camera, and if he did -- what would that look like. What he accomplished was to turn the "Town Hall" into a reality TV-like cage where political and rhetorical savagery was on full display. I hope it is something we never have to see again.

Better, Faster, Cheaper...but Dumber too. By Geniusofdespair

Carlos Gimenez is a big supporter of privatization. He says we must go private if the private sector can do it better, faster, cheaper. He said this over and over: Better, Faster, Cheaper. Is it it in the Miami Herald article today on the debate? I didn't see it. Is this important to me? Yes, I disagree with privatization. I do think the Miami Herald missed some of the negatives on the mayor. Like his insane explanation to Jim DeFede about why Ralph Garcia Toledo (His BFF) was present at a county meeting. This is exactly what privatization will bring us: cronyism. Then we have privatization gone bizzaro, mayor Gimenez wanted to hand over Management of our public golf course to, of all people, Donald Trump. An angry county Commission wouldn't let him.

Regalado said, when asked what unpopular decision she would support, that she would support a raise of the minimum raise. That was not in the Miami Herald article. I like that position. You won't read a lot of the IMPORTANT points Raquel Regalado made in the Miami Herald. Why are they not finding all the jobs that Gimenez's family holds -- connected to the county -- important? Geez, one of his son is/was an Uber lobbyist and wasn't he also a Trump lobbyist? His wife and sister-in-law work for the school system. His daughter-in-law works works for Water and Sewer and his son works for a company with a lucrative county contract. Yes let us privatize!

Gimenez brags about bringing Uber to the County. The Uber drivers are short-changed as independent contractors. You can't regulate the taxi industry and just let the Uber industry regulate itself. Throw out all the regulation if you are going to operate like that. I have been yelled at by an Uber driver for having too much luggage (carry-on bags). Some drivers are pretty nutty.

WATCH The Debate between the Miami Dade County Mayoral Candidates, don't depend on the Miami Herald article. This first half was far more interesting than the second half. Apparently the Mayor's OTHER son works for a firm that has a juicy county contract and his wife now works for the county...I believe Water and Sewer. You won't find that in the Miami Herald!

Mayoral Debate starts in a couple of minutes. By Geniusofdespair

The Debate between County Mayoral candidates is on Jim DeFede at 8:30.

Turtle Caught Near FPL Turkey Point and Homestead AFB: No Eyes, No Jaw, No Nostrils ... by gimleteye

A guide who fishes Southern Biscayne Bay recently sent the following:

"These photos are from a Florida cooter I grabbed as it was washing out into the bay during heavy weather and flow from Military Canal (draining Homestead Air Force Base) which is very close to FPL Turkey Point. I was able to shovel the turtle into my boat with the push pole. The turtle was swimming without any particular direction. As soon as it was in the boat, even with the waves bouncing and storm overhead, it started walking around then straight to me which is very odd behavior for a turtle. Then I noticed the turtle was severely deformed. It didn't have eyes, no nostrils and no jaw ... just a hole. Somehow it had survived. A local zoo agreed to take the turtle. The people in the zoo were fascinated and came to the conclusion that it was injured young and survived. I don't buy it. This turtle is deformed."