Ever since I acquired the rights to the perfect domain for my efforts — FloridaPolitics.com — I knew that one day, this website would have to be put out to pasture.
Well, after more than 51,000 posts, this is the final one.
Going forward, I am devoting my full energies to the Florida Politics brand, whether it be the website, email programs like “Sunburn” and “Last Call,” or our gorgeous, award-winning INFLUENCE Magazine. Keep Reading
Two days after the St. Petersburg City Council passed an ordinance limiting campaign contributions, which is expected to be legally challenged, Council Chair Darden Rice was still exulting. A former president of the League of Women Voters in St. Pete, Rice was an early champion of the just passed measure that … Keep Reading
Four of the top five teams in the country kicked off their games at noon Eastern on Saturday, which suggests that all were expected to roll. No. 2 Clemson, No. 4 Penn State and No. 5 Georgia all did just that. Then there was No. 3 Oklahoma. The Sooners and Iowa … Keep Reading
After hours of debate, the St. Petersburg City Council approved a campaign-finance reform measure Thursday, which could have national implications. The final vote was 6-2, with Council members Ed Montanari and Jim Kennedy dissenting. Once the final vote became clear, the crowd in city chambers erupted with cheers. … Keep Reading
If there was any doubt about the interest level in the ‘battle of the two Ricks,’ check the latest campaign finance reports for Rick Kriseman and Rick Baker, both of whom raised substantial money during the last two weeks of September. … Keep Reading
This is the astonishing picture which could destroy the career of the greatest competitor in Olympic history. In the photo, Michael Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals for swimming at the Beijing games last summer, draws from a bong.
When Disraeli said “there are lies, damn lies and statistics,” he must have been referring to police reports because if there is one set of statistics that are just damn lies, it’s the bullshit the St. Petersburg Police Department feeds us about crime being up or down. – Supposedly, crime is down in St. Petersburg, at least it is according to the statistics offered by Police Chief Chuck Harmon. Even though robberties and burglaries are up, the overall violent crime…
With the Super Bowl in town this weekend, I suspect I was far from being the only person up at 3:30 in the morning to watch a sporting event, but I may have been one of the only ones who was interested in tennis, not football. After you went to bed last night, Rafael Nadal held off Roger Federer in another five-set Grand Slam final, keeping Pete Sampras’ record of 14 major titles intact for now. – Nadal became the…
Daniel Ruth has worked as a reporter, radio show host, film & television critic and opinion columnist for 36 years, including stints with the Chicago Tribune and Tampa Tribune. Once given a “vigilance in media” award by the Pinellas ACLU, his columns were either loved or hated, but rarely uncontroversial. Yet last November, the Tribune decided it could not afford its “old lion” and fired Ruth after 17 years. Perhaps sensing an opportunity to again point out its relative strength…
Word around the tree-lighting ceremony at Williams Park last night was that Rick Kriseman has decided to remain in the Florida House and will not run for Mayor of St. Petersburg. Still unclear is if this decision was made to clear the way for County Commissioner Ken Welch to make his own bid for Mayor. There was also talk that both Kriseman and Welch have decided to stay in their respective seats and rally around another candidate, such as Jamie…
As we wait with bated breath for Ken Welch’s decision on his political future, I have just learned from a high-level source that Mr. Welch did, in fact, meet with Representative Kriseman today for lunch. This source revealed that they dined at the Wave at the Epicenter in Largo. Was the decision to meet in Largo an indication that Mr. Welch actually prefers meeting outside of the city, and hence, has decided not to run for mayor of St. Petersburg?…
The Poynter Institute, owner of the Times Publishing Company, publisher of the St. Petersburg Times is looking to sell what has become a Washington, DC institution – CQ or Congressional Quarterly. CQ is an inside the beltway publication that is heavily relied upon by Congressional offices, lobbyists and trade associations for update information on what is happening on the floor. As a boutique publication (actually, it is an umbrella for a number of subscription websites and publications) whose clientele are…
