Friday, October 08, 2010

"A republic, if you can keep it" -- why it's important to "show up" and vote early in St. Augustine and St. Johns County This Year

Ours is a “government of laws, not men,” as John Adams wrote.

Ben Franklin said it is “a republic, if you can keep it.”

We’re keeping it. What do you reckon?

Bill Leary is a thoughtful retired environmental attorney who worked for the Clinton and Bush Administrations, is running for City Commission against MICHAEL GOLD f/k/a "MICHAEL TOBIN." GOLD/TOBIN is a racist, sexist homophobe who publishes hate websites that hold up to public obloquy the people who are trying to promote equality and environmental justice in our town. GOLD is the pupil of SHERIFF DAVID SHOAR, for whom GOLD lovingly raised $250,000 from speculators and developers in 2004. Leary deserves our support and will help heal the wounds of our City, most of which were self-inflicted by former City Manager WILLIAM B. HARRISS, who put 40,000 cubic yards of solid waste in our Old City Reservoir (and 611,294 gallons of sewage in our San Sebastian River).

Former TV news anchor Debra Gianolous is thrashing lobbyist-senator John Thrasher in the race for State Senator. See below. She’s five points ahead, and outclassed Thrasher in Monday night’s debate. Debra Gianolous has earned our support.

Doug Courtney outshone worn-out other-directed State Rep. WILLIAM L. PROCTOR in Monday night’s debate. Proctor is a Heritage Foundation speaker (listed in its guide to public policy bores), Flagler College Chancellor and shill for insurance companies and Big Oil companies – he supports offshore oil drilling within one mile of Florida’s coast. See below. Doug Courtney has earned our support.

Florida CFO Alex Sink is running strong and will likely be our next Governor in her race against unethical crazed billionaire RICHARD SCOTT. SCOTT’s effort to buy the Governor’s mansions is fizzling. People see right through this crook, whose HMO paid $1.7 billion to settle Medicaid fraud charges. (Funny how Republicans claim to be against government handouts, except when they’re getting them – but as former Senator Gary W. Hart put it best, “you won’t get government off your backs till you get your hands out of its pockets,” SCOTT). See below. Alex Sink deserves your support.

Kendrick Meek is running against two Republicans and is running stronger every day. He deserves our support for United States Senator. See below.

Dan Gelber is campaigning against the sewer of slimy corruption in Tallahasee, running for Attorney General against an uninformed, forgettable apparatchik. Gelber’s winning and will do an excellent job reforming the culture of corruption in Tallahassee. See below.

St. Augustine Beach Commissioner Ed George is running a strong race against mendacious millionaire S. GARY SNODGRASS, a former Commonwealht Edison Company nuclear powerplant utility Board of Directors member who brags on his campaign that he “cut healthcare” – while defending an extravagant $16 million annual salary for the EXELON CEO (who got 50 hours of free corporate jet use for him and his family. SNODGRASS was in charge of human resources and was accused of deceiving older employees about their pensions. SNODGRASS was in charge of security and contracted out security to wicked WACKENHUT, an Orwellian anti-whistleblower whose security guards were caught sleeping on the job in Pennsylvania. SNODGRASS is a sleeper candidate -- if elected, he'd be a disaster. See below. Ed George deserves your support.

Cathy Brandhorst is running for the open seat on the Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County. Speaking of aircraft and being asleep at the switch, we don’t need a helicopter at Mosquito Control and we don’t need board members who are somnambulistic. Former Mosquito Control education specialist GINA LaBLANC is other-directed, supported by MARY TARVER WILLIS. They would like to revive the dead proposal for a Taj Mahal building for the Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County, revive the helicopter idea, and consolidate all of AMCD’s operations in one place – that’s going backwards, into the bad old days when MARY TARVER WILLIS ran AMCD like a proverbial 900-pound gorilla, pushing a wastrel’s agenda . Cathy Brandhorst promises to keep mosquito control on the right track with her common sense suggestions on safety, health and environmental protection, rooted in some 30 years of experience in the pest control business.

Republicans believe that they family that “preys together” –as in "preys" on ratepayers, consumers and taxpayers – “stays together.” How revolting.

The choices are clear.

Who wins matters to our town, our county, you, your job, your family, your future and generations yet unborn. Who wins will help determine (in part) whether our economy grows (or dies) whether human rights are respected (and not neglected) and whether/when we get a St. Augustine National Historical Park, Seashore and Scenic Coastal Parkway.

Support Amendments 4,5&6 to preserve and protect our democracy and keep big shot crooks from exploiting us with gerrymandering and comprehensive plan amendments.

As Jimmy Carter said, “I see no reason why big-shot crooks should go free and the poor ones go to jail.”

Remember, “decisions are made by people who show up.”

It’s important to show up at the polls on November 2 – why wait? Do it now. Call for a vote-by-mail ballot now.

As John Adams would say, “what are we waiting for?”

Ask for a vote-by-mail ballot, or go to early voting. starting on October 18, 2010.

Vote like your whole life depends on it – because it does.

What do you reckon?

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