His time in Tallahassee is coming to an end. Eight years of triumph or shambles, depending on your point of view. And yet, Rick Scott’s legacy may not be written until his final minute as governor.

For several years, Scott has been plotting a judicial coup that could dwarf every other accomplishment or misstep along the way.

On his final day in office, Scott intends to remake the one branch of government — the state Supreme Court — that has eluded Republican control for the past two decades.

Does he have the law on his side? That’s highly debatable.

Does he have a scheme to pull it off? He just might.

To set the stage, three Supreme Court justices face mandatory retirement on Jan. 7, which is also Scott’s final day in office. Should he get to fill those seats, a court that leans 4-3 toward the left would swing 6-1 toward the right.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/Romano-Rick-Scott-s-do-it-yourself-guide-to-rigging-a-Supreme-Court_171788552

VOODOO only works if you believe in it, just like a lie detector

Ford, (F)a sponsor of the National Football League, has voiced support for NFL players exercising their right to free speech and peaceful protest after President Donald Trump urged fans to consider a boycott.
"We respect individuals' rights to express their views, even if they are not ones we share," the company said on Monday. "That's part of what makes America great."

The company's remarks come amid a dispute between the league and Trump, who has lashed out at players who choose to take a knee during the national anthem as a sign of silent protest over racial and social injustice.

Trump said on Friday that NFL owners should fire players who refused to stand during the National Anthem. In response, players across the country knelt during the anthem before Sunday's games. Some violated the NFL's policy by staying off the field completely during the playing of the "The Star-Spangled Banner."

https://money.cnn.com/2017/09/25/news/ford-nfl-protests/index.html

Mac Stipanovich is a Republican strategist and Tallahassee lobbyist who was chief of staff to former Gov. Bob Martinez.

The early narrative by U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis and his supporters in the governor’s race is that if Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is elected governor, Florida will become another Venezuela. That argument is so preposterous that it is promoted only by demagogues and believed only by dimwits, of which there are, unfortunately, a gracious plenty of both these days.

When unpacked, the argument’s major premise is that if a socialist is elected governor, Florida will become another Venezuela. The minor premise is Gillum is a socialist. And the conclusion is, therefore, if Gillum is elected, Florida will become another Venezuela. The fact that the major premise is false should be obvious to anyone with even a smidgin of knowledge about government in Florida and America, and its absurdity infects the equally ludicrous conclusion. But the minor premise warrants investigation.

Is Andrew Gillum a socialist?

The most often cited evidence of his socialist sins are his support for expanding taxpayer-subsidized health care coverage to everyone, or Medicare for all; raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour; and increasing the state corporate income tax from 5 percent to 7 percent — a 40 percent tax hike is the way it is breathlessly described by the DeSantis propagandists — to fund a $1 billion increase in funding for education.

http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/Column-If-Andrew-Gillum-is-a-socialist-so-is-Ron-DeSantis_171463753

As a journalist, I spend a lot of time traveling Florida’s blue highways and back roads. I am a native Floridian, and I always have been keenly aware of the racism and general intolerance in the state, especially in our rural interior and the Panhandle.

As migrant farm laborers, my parents, my siblings and I lived mostly in Broward, Palm Beach, Lake and Putnam counties. We usually lived outside "sundown towns." These towns were bastions of racism that barred African-Americans and other minority groups after sundown. Punishment was usually severe for missing sundown.

During those years, we knew our place. Our fear of white people and white people’s hatred of us were equally palpable. All around us were Confederate flags and other Dixieland iconography to remind us of racial separation and white superiority.

In many towns, such as Palatka in Putnam County, where we worked, Confederate statues stood guard at official government facilities. The specter of these monuments was intimidating. We always gave them wide berth.

http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/Maxwell-How-Trump-supporters-made-me-feel-like-a-stranger-in-Florida_171381219

I purchased a Red Hen gift card I will never use and now receive email from them.


Dear Friend of the Hen,
It's been a long, strange couple of months. What was meant as a quiet, private act of conscience has turned into something much larger. As a result, we've been challenged in ways we never expected -- personally or as a business. We have also met wonderful people, had many hard but worthwhile conversations, and learned a lot about our country, our fellow Americans, and what it takes to live our convictions. We have been especially gratified by your expressions of support, and wish we had time to respond personally to each one.

We've received hundreds of donations to benefit our local women's shelter, our area food pantry, first responders -- fire, rescue, police -- veterans, our resurgent chapter of the NAACP, and those who suffer from inadequate shelter. It warms our hearts.

We're happy to report that we have arranged to pass along those donations in the forms that meet each group's needs and requirements. Some of them are receiving gift certificates to use as they like. Others requested that we arrange for fundraising events at the restaurant. Our terrific police and fire department -- who kept us safe and informed through some scary moments -- has declined any direct donation to officers for doing their duties, but we are working with local foundations to support their hard work.

Finally, despite the keenest wishes of some haters out there, the restaurant is doing very well. The dining room is filled to capacity most nights with local friends and travelers from all over the country, many of whom end up talking with each other between tables. It's a great, intimate atmosphere, full of positive feeling, warm light, and the scent of delicious food. Those evenings make it all worthwhile.

If you are in our area, please come for a visit. We'd love to meet you.

All my best,
Stephanie