Revenge of the weekly live chat, noon Tuesday

Okay, so there's no real reason to run a picture of Godzilla, but I just felt like it. I hope you can join me for our weekly live chat here on TroxBlog from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday. Feel free to bring up any topic you'd like about current events in Florida or the Tampa Bay area, or beyond.

I plan on chatting live from the offices of the Pinellas Supervisor of Elections, Deborah Clark, who's having an open house Tuesday for anybody who wants to watch the sales pitches for new optical-scan voting machines to replace Florida's touch-screen machines. Check out the details at www.votepinellas.com.

Let's hope that we can buy something we won't be throwing out in a few years...

To watch or take part in Tuesday's chat, come back to TroxBlog at noon Tuesday and look for a new announcement with the headline, "The Sept. 25 Chat Is Open." Click on the "comments" link of that item to see what's been said so far or to add your own comments.

As always, you can "pre-file" a question or comment to the comments of this item, and I'll work them in to tomorrow's chat. And if you can't be here live Tuesday, you can always come back after to read a transcript.

Hope to see you!

Comments

[Boo Boo]

Well I guess the big story is the Democratic Primary. I am going to vote and the heck with Iowa, New Dampshire and the DNC. They can either make one primary date for all states or look for other states to start jumping on an early primary bandwagon. I say lets go Florida get out there and vote!

[Schauer]

The Democrats were swept into power on a promise to get America out of the civil war in Iraq. Not only have they capitulated to the Republicans at ever opportunity for meaningful change. They they have turned and attacked the organizations that are against the war.

That added to the fact the the National Committee is about to ignore the Florida voters choice in the primary indicates that the Democrats have lost their way. I am not sure who they represent now but it is clearly not the people who voted for them.

On a local level the democrats also tag along after the republican trying not to rock the boat. Calvin Harris should be leading the call for real reform at the BCC and county level. The silence is deafening!

[Schauer]

On a different topic, is it my imagination or are the streets downtown in St. Pete showing a lot of wear. I drove 4th street the other day and the street was in really bad disrepair. Especially near the St. pete Times building. Who did you guys make mad thins time?

[Pablo]

Boo Boo is saying the same thing I've said for years. Our primary system is broken. Some states have caucuses, some have primaries. Some are open, some are closed. Some are binding, some are non-binding. And the current stand-off between Florida and the DNC brings it all to a head. Howard is calling for a system of rotating regional primaries, but I'd prefer to see a national primary day just as we have a national election day. Whether the primaries should be open or closed doesn't matter as much to me as a uniform date, although I'd prefer closed primaries so nominees would be selected by party members. I'm a registered Democrat and I don't plan to waste my vote, but I've already emailed my favorite candidate and expressed my outrage at the boycotting of Florida by him and most other Democratic candidates during the campaign season. Anyone else as frustrated as I am about this?

How about the latest Pinellas BOCC (Duncan) revalation. These cats need some serious sunshine... and a boot in the rear... out the door of course.

[Pablo]

In my earlier post I meant Howard TROXLER, not Howard Dean. Sorry for an confusion.

[Lucia]

Alert Times readers can't help but wonder, after reading this morning's front-page article about BOCC chair Duncan's skulking around with documents, what else these elected (and probably all UNelected in November '08!), are hiding. We do have Sunshine Laws in this state, people!

[Larry]

Howard, now a Judge has ruled that the proposed super homestead amendment is not clear and understandable. Do you think they will "fix it"? I believer that once folks understand the ramifications of losing that 3% value cap under Save our Homes, they will more clearly understand that the policiticians, Governor Crist included, are only setting them up to get deeper in their pockets in the future, once they can get rid of the cap.

[Elizabeth]

Duncan, like many politicians, is a bold faced liar. I witnessed his callousness toward the truth first hand at the recent Florida Association of Museums luncheon at the Belleview Biltmore last week. He blustered on and on about the great work of museums in Pinellas
County, even congratulating some of the directors, knowing full well that 5 staff people had been cut at Heritage Village. The of course the BOCC axed Access Pinellas effectively obliterating “freedom of speech.” Duncan and his kind do not welcome the truth and will go to any length to make sure it does not see the light of day. IMPEACH is not a four letter word!