Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 8, 2008, at 7:25 am
Working off that post-debate drinking game hangover? Here’s your political and media headlines for Wednesday, and that ought to do the trick. Along with some Aleve and another shot of Frangelico. With updates throughout the day in the box to the right:
The review is in forCL Editor David Warner, appearing in Stageworks’ “The Chosen:” He “could not have been more authentic as a fervent Zionist and equally impassioned man of letters.”
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 7, 2008, at 8:49 pm
UPDATE: We’re open for business at 8:49 pm, here just before the start and watching “The Biggest Loser.” Appropriate, huh?
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Just a reminder for you to join us tonight as we live blog our thoughts as Barack Obama and John McCain duke it out in Round 2 of the 2008 presidential debates. This one is live from Nashville.
I’ll put up an open thread just before 9 p.m. Drinking game words: middle class, economy, tax cuts, terrorists, William Ayers (double shot), Charles Keating (double shot), moose (entire bottle or full beer), every time Brokaw mumbles.
The debate setting at Belmont University in the Music City
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 7, 2008, at 7:35 am
Did I just see a tease with Gilbert Gottfried giving The Today Show’s Ann Curry tips on how to be a stand-up comedian?!? Strange days indeed. Plus all the political and media headlines, with updates throughout the day:
What’s worse: consorting with a past violent anti-war activist, or consorting with a fatcat banker who wrecked the savings and loan industry and cost taxpayers billions in the 1980s?
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 6, 2008, at 3:00 pm
Hey, I know we had a software glitch that made the Palin-Biden liveblogging last week just about as unsatisfying as my 1978 high school prom date, but we’re going to try again this Tuesday night at 9 p.m. as Barack Obama and John McCain go at it in a town-hall setting.
Expect McCain to come out blasting Obama’s character and the fact that he consorted with former domestic terrorists. Obama’s job is to keep reminding everyone of the Dow Jones Industrials Average. Expect me to ask the immortal question: Where the hell is Belmont University?
Yummy presidential debate water in preparation for Tuesday's event
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 6, 2008, at 12:43 pm
Today is your last shot at registering to vote in the Nov. 4 election. Florida, being backwards and all that, is like about half the country in its prohibitively long lead time in closing the voter registration books in advance of an election.
To register, you just need a picture ID and a completed voter registration form — and then pray that your spelling and name match those in a government database or you could fall victim to the “No Match, No Vote” law.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 6, 2008, at 9:35 am
Today marks the first day of the Tampa Tribune’s new Mon-Fri one-news-section era. PIck one up and check it out and let me know what you think. In the meantime, here’s today’s top political and media news headlines, with updates daily (box, right, you know):
Pulling apart the Yes on 2 arguments like a roasted chicken from Publix.
The 7th Annual Blogger Boobie-thon (all for a good cause); local Out in Left Field once again bares it all for the cause, but you gotta pay to see it.
Yes, the Tina Fey turn as Palin on SNL was hilarious, but for those who stayed tuned for another 5 minutes got treated to another example of why Kristen Wiig is the funniest player on the show today:
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 3, 2008, at 9:49 am
Blessed weekend relief is just 8 hours away! In the meantime, here’s all the poiltical and media news that matters, with updates throughout the day in the box to the right:
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 2, 2008, at 9:11 pm
We’re liveblogging the debate here for everyone who is having technical troubles (like me) posting comments on The Daily Loaf. If you are trying to post a comment and instead getting a glitch page that says some bullshit about cookies and javascript, I apologize.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 2, 2008, at 6:59 am
Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair has told the St. Petersburg Times that he paid for the billboard on Ehrlich Road that was the subject of our story this week. He produced a copy of a check for $2,500 for the billboard, which was dated Sept. 19.
Blair has sublet the billboard from the company that has a contract for it, North Dale Development, which is owned by developer and Blair supporter Stephen Dibbs.
Creative Loafing began calling Blair and Dibbs on Sept. 23, and, despite repeated attempts, did not receive a response from them about who had paid for the billboard. An August invoice for the billboard, obtained by CL, was sent to North Dale Development, and the billboard itself makes reference to voting for Blair in the August primary.
According to the Times:
Blair’s campaign produced a check stub showing a $2,500, first-month’s payment to CBS Outdoor, owner of the billboard. CBS also provided a computerized copy of the check, along with a copy of a mailing label from the DHL Express envelope in which it arrived.
CBS spokesman Jeremy Murphy said a company called North Dale Development has a contract to use the billboard, and that it has sublet the advertising space to Blair’s campaign. Blair has access to the billboard from the Aug. 26 to. Nov. 4, Murphy said. Those dates span the period from the primary to the general election.
“There was a letter of assignment, assigning it to the campaign,” Murphy said. “The campaign has paid for the billboard.”
The Blair campaign check has not shown up on a campaign finance report yet. Sept. 19, the date on the check, came after the deadline for the latest report. Blair told the Times it would be included on the report that is due in the mail on Friday.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 1, 2008, at 4:19 pm
The renaming of the Hillsborough County Moral Courage Award in honor of power broker Ralph Hughes claimed another victim today: 1996 winner Eileen Hart gave back her award in an emotional moment at the start of this morning’s county commission meeting.
Eileen Hart wiped tears from her eyes minutes after she gave back her Moral Courage Award at today’s Hillsborough County Commission meeting.
Two weeks ago, the commission voted to rename the award, which is given to citizens who challenge government, for controversial political activist Ralph Hughes. When Hart, who won the award in 1996, learned Hughes was a conservative power broker who helped finance commissioners’ political campaigns, the award lost its meaning, she said.
“It’s pathetic that they would name an award for a person when it’s a nonpartisan award,” Hart said outside the commission chambers. “It should have nothing to do” with politics.
Now, that took moral courage!
Hart is now a contender for our own Moral Courage Award, which CL took over after the county sullied it beyond repair. Here are the details on how you can nominate someone for their moral courage.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 1, 2008, at 4:00 pm
In writing, however. McCain answered written questions in writing back to the Washington Blade, a leading LGBT publication. Here’s an excerpt from the interview:
Blade: What is your reaction to the news that Log Cabin Republicans endorsed your campaign and will the Log Cabin Republicans be welcome in the White House if you’re elected?
McCain: I appreciate Log Cabin’s support. I’ve had a friendly relationship with the organization for almost 15 years. We don’t agree on every issue, but I respect their commitment to the GOP and I thank them for their support. Our party needs to focus on what unites us and I appreciate Log Cabin’s effort to make the GOP more inclusive. I have always been willing to discuss the important issues of the day with Log Cabin members and that will continue if I am elected. This is going to be a close election and we need support from every American.
I hope gay and lesbian Americans will give full consideration to supporting me. The stakes are high in this election. I will have an inclusive administration and I will be a president for all Americans.
Blade: What are your views regarding the Defense of Marriage Act? Do you think DOMA devalues the relationships of gay citizens?
McCain: As a Republican, I am a strong advocate for federalism. States should be able to decide as many issues as possible. That’s certainly the case on the definition of marriage. My home state of Arizona shouldn’t be compelled to recognize a marriage from California or Massachusetts. Those states can decide that issue by themselves.
However, at the same time, my own view is that marriage should be reserved for a man and a woman. That’s what I supported in Arizona. I realize this is a controversial issue and we must conduct this debate in a way that respects the dignity of every person.
Kudos to the Blade for trying to get something, anything from a Republican presidential campaign. Of course, the limitations of the e-mail interview are many, the worst of which is a lack of follow-up and spontaneity and the question of just how much of McCain’s answers came directly from him vs. a staffer paid to write answers for him.
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 1, 2008, at 2:31 pm
UPDATE: Neither Blair nor Beckner has spoken to Creative Loafing about this story, but a Tampa Tribune reporter tells me Blair has now produced a campaign check cut to CBS Outdoor on Sept. 19 and insists he paid for all his campaign advertising himself.
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In the aftermath of my story yesterday about Brian Blair and who is paying for his campaign billboards, several activists showed up at the Hillsborough County Commission meeting this morning, with one reading my story into the record and at least one other demanding Blair resign.
The Kevin Beckner campaign, which is challenging the Republican Blair for his county commission seat, picked up the ball from there, issuing this news release this afternoon:
BLAIR BREAKS LAW
Brian Blair violates election law- Beckner campaign calls for Blair’s resignation
TAMPA: According to a disturbing news article in the weekly newspaper Creative Loafing, it appears that Brian Blair has violated campaign finance laws by participating in an ethically and quite possibly legally challenged campaign activity.
In the news story titled, “Who is behind commissioner Brain Blair’s campaign billboards?” it is revealed that “according to an invoice… controversial and prominent developer” Stephen Dibbs actually paid for the billboard. Contradicting the invoice the billboard’s disclaimer clearly states “Paid political advertisement paid for and approved by Brian Blair, Republican, for Hillsborough County Commission District 6.”
“Throughout this campaign I have focused on the real issues we face in Hillsborough County. I have also expressed that we need real change in our county that focuses on the people and not Special Interests,” stated candidate Kevin Beckner. “This unfortunate indiscretion that my opponent is involved in not only shows a violation of the law and the public trust but is a glaring example of how connected Mr. Blair is to self interest developers.”
“It is obvious that the self interest developers who support Mr. Blair will do whatever is necessary, legal or illegal, to re-elect Mr. Blair and maintain their power and influence over county government,” stated Beckner.
According to campaign finance laws individuals are limited to a $500 maximum contribution by individuals or $500 for corporate contributions. The news article states that the cost of the billboard in question was $2,500.
“Brian Blair should be begging the voters of Hillsborough County for their forgiveness instead of their votes right now,” stated Mitch Kates campaign manager for Kevin Beckner. “Mr. Blair not only broke the law, he violated the public’s trust. If Mr. Blair had any moral courage he would not only suspend his campaign he would step down from his seat on the County Commission immediately.”
Posted by Wayne Garcia on Oct. 1, 2008, at 10:03 am
After the jump I’ve got latest internal memo from Trib news chief Janet Coats on the reorganization of the daily’s newsroom in a combined newgathering operation with the broadcast folks at Newschannel 8 and the digital workers at tbo.com.
Lots of talk about platforms and finishing and such, but the hottest news for you info consumers isn’t in here: On Monday, multiple sources have told me, the Tribune will launch its reconfigured daily newspaper into one section of news/sports/whatever and a second section of classifieds/comics. The first tip about the changes to come in the daily print product came in Jeff Houck’s Food section column this morning:
SO LONG, FAREWELL, SEE YOU SUNDAY
One of my favorite ads on TV right now is the Dunkin’ Donuts commercial that starts with one of the characters singing the line, “You neglected to mention the sleeper sofa,” before breaking into an Egyptian slavelike moan. “I forgot all about the air hockey table,” the second character replies. More painful moaning, followed by images of possessions tumbling down an apartment staircase. The first character then finishes by singing, “Re-LUC-tant-LY hel-PING my friend MOVE!”
What does all this have to do with The Stew? Well, like George, Weezie and Lionel Jefferson, it’s time for us to move to that deluxe apartment in the sky-y-y, so to say.
On Sunday, this column and many of the features you read each week in the Flavor section will join with stories from the At Home section as well as fashion, parenting and pet columns, and articles each week in a new journalism condo we’re calling BayLife Magazine.
Not everything will be the same, unfortunately. As with all moves, (Gosh, this relocation metaphor is getting tiresome), Orlando-based columnists Pam Brandon and Anne-Marie Hodges, better known as The Divas of Dish, end their 20-month run with us. Their playful recipes were like a vacation for the taste buds. Their helping of sass and fun-loving attitude helped us remake the Flavor section earlier this year with a much more lighthearted tone.
We also say goodbye to Tony “Fatso” Siciliano, our king of barbecue and grilling, who joined after the Flavor section switched in March to a tab format. Thanks to his column, I’ve stolen more grilling tips than I’ll ever admit. We thank him for his work and wish him well with his “On the Grill” radio show each Saturday on WFLA 970 AM.
Jaden Hair’s Steamy Kitchen column will continue to appear weekly in BayLife Magazine, but Greg and Michelle Baker’s Culinary Sherpas column will run every other week.
“Recipes Lost & Found”? It’s making the move. “Consumers Ask”? Same. “Greasy Remote, “Cravings” and “Eat Their Words” will still run with the same regularity, too, just on Sunday instead of Wednesday.
All of which means – if I haven’t been clear – that the Flavor section will end its publication with the section you have in your hands today.
We at the Tribune all know it will be hard for you. Routines are always difficult to change, and the Flavor section has run on Wednesdays like clockwork since John McCain was a toddler. Flavor was a section you held on to, read during the week, shopped with on Saturdays and cooked with on Sundays. You and other readers have a relationship with Flavor. Recipes you clipped in 1968 are still in your files, just in case someone needs one they can’t find. As I wrote in March when we changed formats, I’ve always been honored to be a part of a section readers deeply cared about. To that end, we’ve tried to cover your life with food, not just about what was in the pan, on the plate or in your glass.
But this change is not only inevitable, it’s necessary.
While we’re all up in this change thing, feel free to drop into my food blog, The Stew. I’ll be posting items there more often – especially on Wednesdays when you want them the most. And the food channel on TBO.com with the catchy address – www2.tbo.com/static/sections/ tbo-life-food/ – will feature more stories, podcasts and videos as well.
If you want to chat about the changes, I’ll be glad to talk or e-mail with you. I’d also love to hear your ideas about what food stories you’d like me to write.
The Tribune made some cuts this week, four editorial employees that I’ve been able to sniff out so far with the biggest name being editorial page columnist Joe Brown. Embedded in the Coats memo that follows are the names of others who made the latest cut and still have news jobs:
