Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry, Ryan Ray, and Jim Rosica.
With the holiday season in full swing, I am finally off the road from and in front of my favorite computer. It’s much easier to write at the home office than on a laptop. So I’ve been banging out the blog posts, throwing shade in all directions. In case you’ve missed it, here are…
THE 5 MOST DISAPPOINTING FLORIDA POLITICIANS OF 2015 (in ascending order of disappointment)
Alvin Brown – Republican Lenny Curry is now so firmly in control of Jacksonville’s City Hall that it’s easy to forget that Brown, a Democrat with national cred and connections, entered 2015 with a double-digit lead in his re-election campaign. But Brown ran for a second term as he governed in the first, letting down too many of the moderate supporters who propelled him into office in 2011.
Don Gaetz – A case could be made for including the entire Florida Senate on this list. For so many reasons, Andy Gardiner‘s Senate has been so dysfunctional and inefficient, it’s made former Senate Mike Haridopolos‘ look like a modern-day Marcus Aemilius Scaurus. A case could also be made for specifically including Bill Galvano on this list as he has, step after step, bungled or stymied the court-ordered effort to redraw the state Senate districts. But it is Gaetz, a former Senate President, who best symbolizes the worst tendencies of the upper chamber. It’s because of Gaetz that the Legislature finds itself in court over those Senate districts. And when Gaetz took to the floor of the Senate, invoking a point of personal privilege, to personally attack another colleague, he plunged the Senate into one of its lowest points. In the past, we’ve held Senator Gaetz in high regard, but his actions this year remind us that legislative leaders are better off heading off into the sunset than sticking around after they’ve held the rostrum.
The Florida Cabinet – There may have been no sadder moment this year in Florida government than when the Florida Cabinet met at the state fair and did nothing to rebuke Governor Rick Scott for his illegal dismissal of FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey. A lawsuit alleging Scott and Cabinet members sidestepped the state’s Sunshine Law in the way they handled Bailey’s dismissal was settled, which led to one of the year’s best moments: Pat Gleason, the special counsel for open government in Attorney General Pam Bondi‘s office, giving Scott and Co. a 90-minute lecture on Florida’s broad public records and open meeting requirements.
Bob Buckhorn – The day after the 2014 elections, Hizzoner held an impromptu press conference and all but declared that he would run for governor in 2018. In fact, the Tampa mayor entered 2015 as the de facto frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. That was then; this is now. After a series of troubling scandals, including revelations that his police department disproportionately targeted black residents and that one of his chief political advisers, Beth Leytham, is nothing less than the Rasputin of Riverwalk, many Democrats now wonder if Buckhorn will even run in 2018. Meanwhile, his lackluster fundraising for his political committee, expected to be a vehicle for a 2018 run, isn’t inspiring much confidence.
Jeb Bush – Not since Willie Mays stumbled through the outfield during his last season of baseball as a New York Met have we witnessed a modern figure once so mighty laid low by the effects of time. Faced with higher expectations than the Uber IPO but with the financial resources of a small country, Bush went from presidential front-runner to cautionary tale in six months. His downward trajectory is not all his fault, as the GOP electorate appears more interested in electing a carnival barker than a president, but Bush is still mostly responsible for his single-digit standing. At times, the man who once bestrode Florida’s state government like a colossus, has struggled to assemble the most basic of responses, all while getting muscled out of the race by political neophytes (Donald Trump and Ben Carson) and his protege (Marco Rubio). Had Jeb Bush lived during the Elizabethan era, he certainly would have starred in one of Shakespeare’s tragedies.
MORE SCHORSCH SHADE
On Marco Rubio and the early states
On one of the speakers at Barney Bishop’s Smart Justice Summit
On Julie Jones’ ridiculous statement to the Miami Herald
On Matt Gaetz’ latest comments about the Latvalas
FIRST ON FLORIDAPOLITICS.COM — DISPUTE WITH SIGNATURE GATHERING FIRM TO DOOM FLORIDA SOLAR POWER AMENDMENT FROM GETTING ON 2016 BALLOT? via Mitch Perry of Florida Politics – Floridians for Solar Choice … needs to get 683,149 signatures turned in to state Division of Elections by February 1. Currently, the state has verified 262,499, but an additional 212,000 are being held in California and may never make it to Tallahassee, due to a financial disagreement between the group and PCI Consulting, a Southern California based company hired to collect the signatures for the amendment. Angelo Paparella, the CEO of PCI Consulting, claims that Floridians for Solar Choice owes his firm “several hundred thousand dollars,” and says he is preparing to go to court to sue the group for lack of payment.
— “Group behind solar power amendment ‘exploring options for 2018’ election cycle” via Michael Auslen of the Tampa Bay Times
***Today’s SUNBURN is brought to you by Bright House Networks for Business, your trusted provider of industry leading communications and networking services for any size business – from startup to enterprise, and everything in between. We offer a full portfolio of products and services, including Business Phone and cloud-based Hosted Voice, Business Internet at speeds up to 325 Mbps to fiber-based Dedicated Internet Access, several tiers of high quality HD Video programming, and an array of advanced cloud and managed IT services. Our solutions are customized to fit your business, your budget, and your industry. We own, manage and maintain our network, which means we are 100% accountable; and we’re locally based, which allows us to be immediately responsive to our customers. Find out why so many businesses in your area trust their communications needs to Bright House Networks. Learn more.***
MARCO RUBIO IS PUSHED TO PICK A MUST-WIN EARLY PRIMARY STATE via Jeremy Peters of The New York Times – As the primary fight becomes fiercer, and Rubio’s closest competitors start zeroing in on a single, must-win contest — like Iowa for … Cruz … and New Hampshire for … Christie … Rubio’s all-things-to-all-people strategy is stretching his campaign thin, posing challenges in focusing his message and raising doubts among his supporters about his seriousness. Some Rubio backers in the first four states to vote — Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada — are voicing concern about whether Rubio is leaving voters there with the impression that he does not need them to win. And some of Rubio’s own aides are now arguing privately that they should do more to push back against the belief that he is running an indifferent campaign before it becomes too widespread.
A CAMPAIGNING RUBIO MISSES A CHANCE TO OBJECT TO A SPENDING BILL via Jeremy Peters of The New York Times – Rubio says he wants to slow down and amend the $1.1 trillion spending bill that is making its way through Congress. The problem? He had the chance to … but didn’t because he was campaigning for president in Iowa. Rubio voiced his distaste for the measure in an interview with Fox News, saying, “We can most certainly slow this process down and force them to go back and make changes to it … There’s no doubt that we can and we should and we will. I think there’s an effort underway now among many conservatives in the Senate and in the House to make that happen.” The interview took place from southeastern Iowa. What Rubio apparently did not know when he spoke was that his fellow Republicans in the Senate had already unanimously agreed to schedule votes on the bill … He could have exercised his right to object, which would have forced the Senate to take more time before voting.
THE STRATEGY AND RISK BEHIND RUBIO’S FURIOUS CAMPAIGN AGAINST TED CRUZ via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times – … a furious attempt to show that … Cruz is not as principled as he sounds … “Immigration flip-flopping puts Ted Cruz on the defensive,” read a tweet … from Alex Conant, Rubio’s top campaign spokesman … Cruz has waffled. In the past he sounded like he supported legalization of some unauthorized immigrants. But Rubio appears to be doing the same, shifting attention from his own immigration views, which he conceded … in his one shaky moment of the debate … still includes a path to citizenship. Rubio’s offensive could prove brilliant. Or it could backfire. Already he has awakened his 2013 critics. Rubio could just draw more attention to his own gyrations on immigration.
JEB BUSH CAMPAIGN MANAGER EXPLAINS WHY THE EX-GOV WILL STILL WIN via Tom LoBianco of CNN – Danny Diaz argued Bush still has time to close the deal. “The reality is this: two-thirds of voters haven’t made a decision, they won’t make a decision until the final week, 25 percent of New Hampshire voters don’t make a decision until the final day,” Diaz said in an interview.
NEW PRO-BUSH AD CALLS HIM ONLY CANDIDATE ‘TOUGH ENOUGH’ TO TAKE ON DONALD TRUMP via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times – A new TV ad from the Jeb Bush Super PAC highlights his role in taking on Trump at the debate.
TRUMP TO HEADLINE PALM BEACH COUNTY GOP’S LINCOLN DAY DINNER AT MAR-A-LAGO via George Bennett of the Palm Beach Post – … four days before Florida’s winner-take-all primary … The dinner will be at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach … the site of the last three Lincoln Day dinners for the county GOP. Trump didn’t attend this year’s dinner, but was on hand in 2014 and introduced keynoter Ted Cruz. More than 600 people are expected for the dinner, with individual tickets going for $300.
GOP OPERATIVE LAUNCHES SUPER PAC TO SULLY DONALD TRUMP’S RIVALS via Beth Reinhard of the Wall Street Journal – Roger Stone, who says he is no longer working for … Trump but continues to back his presidential campaign, is launching a super PAC to attack leading rivals, particularly … Rubio … Stone said he has not talked to Trump or his campaign about the Committee to Restore America’s Greatness. Trump has been an outspoken critic of super PACs and frequently claims to be self-funding his campaign, though he has received and spent millions of dollars in donations … the new group will not accept money from corporations, lobbyists or special interest but will be funded by “small contributions from average people.” The purpose … is not to advertise on Trump’s behalf but to “educate voters on the records of Rubio and potentially Chris Christie since they are on the move in New Hampshire.”
CHRIS CHRISTIE’S POST-NEW HAMPSHIRE PLAN: A WING AND A PRAYER via Daniel Strauss of POLITICO – The past few weeks have been the best of … Christie’s campaign. He’s bagged important endorsements, gained ground in New Hampshire and his once-moribund campaign is suddenly getting a second look. His investment in New Hampshire, the state that’s pivotal to his chances of winning the nomination, finally seems to be paying off: Powered by his poll numbers there, Christie returned to the main stage of the Republican presidential debate … where his forceful performance quickly started trending on Twitter. But there’s one glaring problem: Christie has almost no campaign infrastructure beyond the first-in-the-nation primary state.
MIKE HUCKABEE CUTS SALARIES OF SENIOR STAFF via Daniel Strauss of POLITICO – … struggling with its low standing in the polls and underwhelming fundraising, slashed the salaries of senior staffers amid the departure of its top communications aide … reductions were limited to senior staff … The salary reductions took place over the past few weeks … reductions were limited to senior staff, according to Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the candidate’s daughter and campaign manager. The abrupt departure of Alice Stewart, Huckabee’s communications director, was partly due to disagreements within the communications shop about the direction of the campaign and partly because of the salary cuts … Huckabee Sanders [said] the salary cuts would help facilitate the campaign’s redirection of resources toward Iowa, where the former Arkansas governor is hoping to replicate his 2008 victory … the campaign has 13 full-time paid staffers in Iowa. It will add at least five in another week or so and tack on a few more in the new year. “Right now our goal is we’re going to put a lot of our resources into Iowa, and that’s what we’re doing … Obviously, if we go to Iowa and lose – well frankly we probably won’t keep going.”
***Today’s SUNBURN is brought to you by Jamestown Associates – Winning tough campaigns. The record to prove it. Jamestown produces persuasive TV, radio, mail and digital advertising that breaks through the clutter and gets votes. We help our clients in Florida and the nation perfect their message, create powerful ads, micro-target the media buy and WIN. Jamestown’s work has been recognized with 50 Pollie and Reed awards. See our work at www.JamestownAssociates.com/work***
POLL: FLORIDA’S GOP U.S. SENATE RACE SHAPING UP AS TWO MAN RACE, WITH DAVID JOLLY LEADING via Mitch Perry of Florida Politics – Jolly has a three-point lead over … Ron DeSantis in a new St. Pete Polls survey … Jolly gets 21 percent of the vote, with DeSantis next at 18 percent … Carlos Lopez-Cantera is third with 10 percent … Todd Wilcox is at 8 percent … 44 percent of the voters say they’re unsure or someone else.
NAN RICH ENDORSES PATRICK MURPHY IN FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC SENATE RACE via Mitch Perry of Florida Politics – “Patrick is a leader with intelligence and integrity who I know will always defend a woman’s right to choose, protect Social Security and Medicare from cuts, and fight to preserve Florida’s environment. In Congress, Patrick Murphy weighs every vote by one standard — how it will impact hardworking Florida families. I urge my supporters and Democrats all across Florida to support Patrick Murphy for Senate,” she said in a statement.
TWEET, TWEET: @Asharock: Someone, a Republican I guess, is polling Charlie Crist’s congressional race. Match-ups against Rick Baker, David Jolly and Jack Latvala … Poll also pushes a question a question about Charlie Crist restoring gun rights to 450,000 convicted Florida felons.
WHO’S THAT KNOCKING? IS IT A CHRISTMAS CAROLER? OR ERIC LYNN? via Charlie Frago of the Tampa Bay Times – At a time when most political campaigns go into holiday snooze mode, Lynn has announced a goal to ring 5,000 doorbells … across the 13th Congressional District in the next two months. He and some volunteers started last weekend.
FLORIDA MAN WHO LANDED GYROCOPTER ON CAPITOL LAWN NOW PLANS TO RUN FOR CONGRESS via Kyle Munzenrieder of the Miami New Times – Douglas Hughes … now plans to run as a Democrat in a primary against an incumbent Democrat … actually likes … Kathy Castor, who represents the district he lives in, and wants to take on someone outside of his district. The problem is, he currently can’t leave Hillsborough County as he awaits sentencing. He’s hoping a judge will excuse those restrictions so he can formally announce his candidacy and actively campaign.
RANDY PERKINS SAYS HE’S TRANSFERRED $1 MILLION TO CAMPAIGN TO SUCCEED PATRICK MURPHY via James Rosica of Florida Politics – “I am fully committed to the future of the Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast, and in Congress, I will use my business perspective to cut gridlock that prevents real progress in Washington,” said Perkins. “I will work to get our economy working again to create well-paying jobs, refocus our fight for affordable, accessible, and high-quality mental health care services, protect the Medicare and Social Security you’ve paid for and were promised, and reform the Veterans Administration to make sure the men and women who serve our nation get the quality healthcare they deserve,”
FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS WEIGH IN AGAINST GUNS ON CAMPUS BILL IN LEGISLATURE via Mitch Perry of Florida Politics – Florida’s Congressional Democrats sent a letter to … Andy Gardiner and … Steve Crisafulli opposing … a guns-on-college-campuses bill … In addition to [Lois] Frankel, the letter is signed by … Corinne Brown, Alcee L. Hastings, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Kathy Castor, [Ted] Deutch, Frederica Wilson, Patrick Murphy, Alan Grayson, and Gwen Graham. “We agree that campus violence is a serious problem. Sadly, there have been at least 23 shootings on college campuses just in 2015 … Increasing the number of guns on college campuses is simply not the answer.”
SUPREME COURT OKAYS MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR 2016 BALLOT via Michael Auslen of the Tampa Bay Times – the question can appear on the ballot … if supporters gather enough petition signatures. United for Care … still needs to collect more than 280,000 signed petitions, according to the most recent data from the Secretary of State’s office. And they need to hit a minimum threshold of support in another 11 of the state’s 27 congressional districts.
STATE’S HIGH COURT REMOVES JUDGE FROM BENCH FOR MISCONDUCT via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times – In a strongly-worded opinion, justices said Brevard Circuit Judge John Murphy‘s behavior was so appalling that it became a “national spectacle” and an “embarrassment” to Florida … Murphy threatened an assistant public defender with violence in open court, challenged him to a physical fight, engaged in the threatened struggle in which the two men had to be physically separated … reassumed the bench to handle cases where the defendants were without the presence of their attorney … there is clear and convincing evidence that Judge Murphy engaged in “conduct unbecoming a member of the judiciary demonstrating a present unfitness to hold office.”
***SUNBURN is brought to you in part by Bascom Communications & Consulting, LLC, a top-notch public affairs, political communications and public relations firm. Visit www.bascomllc.com to read about their growing team, success stories and case studies.***
TWEET, TWEET: @SaintPetersBlog: Wedding bells in @FLGovScott’s admin: Chief of Staff Melissa Sellers recently engaged, say multiple sources. #ButDidHeShopAtJareds?
ASSIGNMENT EDITORS: Gov. Scott will announce November job numbers at a 10 a.m. news conference at Azimuth Technology, 10130 Market St. in Naples.
RICK SCOTT APPOINTS DEO CHIEF OF STAFF AS AGENCY’S DIRECTOR via Michael Auslen of the Tampa Bay Times – Cissy Proctor [will] replace Jesse Panuccio as the head of the Department of Economic Opportunity … Proctor has been the chief of staff at DEO, the state’s jobs agency, since last January and previously served as both director of legislative affairs and director of the Division of Strategic Business Development. She will take over … on Jan. 9 after Panuccio officially leaves the job.
… GETS WARMER RECEPTION FROM LAWMAKERS THAN PREDECESSOR via Jeremy Wallace and Michael Auslen of the Tampa Bay Times – [Proctor] could boost his chances of getting one of his top priorities through the Florida Legislature in 2016 … “He’s picked somebody we can work with,” said State Sen. Nancy Detert, chairwoman of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee and one of [Jesse] Panuccio‘s biggest critics. “This would be an upgrade,” [she added] … [Jack] Latvala said [that] Proctor has already reached out to him, giving him hope there will be a better relationship with the Legislature. “I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt.”
FLASHBACK TO DEC. 8: “Look for Cissy Proctor to be named new Exec. Director at Dept. of Economic Opportunity” via Florida Politics
NEW BUSINESS COALITION VIDEO CALLS FOR ELIMINATION OF FLORIDA RENT TAX via Florida Politics – the Business Rent Tax Coalition, a group of small businesses and other business interests, calls for lawmakers to eliminate Florida’s 6 percent business rent tax over the next six years, beginning with a 1 percent cut starting next year. “Florida is moving in the right direction,” the video says, “taxes have been cut more than 50 times, which has earned Florida recognition as one of the states with the best tax climate. But one tax is still on the books that no other state charges, except Florida.”
JOE NEGRON, GAYLE HARRELL FILE BILLS TO GIVE $200 MILLION BOOST TO EVERGLADES RESTORATION via Legislative IQ powered by Lobby Tools – HB 989 and SB 1168 … seek to dedicate $200 million a year to Everglades restoration projects. The money, coming from the state’s Land Acquisition Trust Fund, would be part of a dedicated fund for Everglades projects.
***Capital City Consulting, LLC is a full-service government and public affairs firm located in Tallahassee, Florida. At Capital City Consulting, our team of professionals specialize in developing unique government relations and public affairs strategies and delivering unrivaled results for our clients before the Florida Legislature and Executive Branch Agencies. Capital City Consulting has the experience, contacts and winning strategies to help our clients stand out in the capital city. Learn more at www.capcityconsult.com.***
EDGE COMMUNICATIONS BRING GROWTH, NEW HIRES FOR A STRONG 2016 via Florida Politics – … highlighted by the addition of Kay Cook as Senior Campaigns Director … as a resource for campaign management, field, fundraising and coalition building. Previously, she worked with Planned Parenthood in 2013 to enroll individuals in the Affordable Care Act, leading in national performance for most insurance applications, registering more than 1,000 people. Also, EDGE added Geri Pierre as Campaign Coordinator based in Palm Beach County … served as an intern with Planned Parenthood in Palm Beach County.
NEW LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS
Matt Bryan, David Daniel, Jeff Hartley, Jim Naff, Andrea Reilly, Smith Bryan & Myers: Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund
Daniel DeLisi, Delisi Inc.: Lee County Board of County Commissioners
Thomas Dempsey, Gate Way Group: First Rule
Rob Fields, One Eighty Consulting: Absolute Software; Informatica Corporation; Iron Mountain Information Management
William McKinley, Angela Dempsey, PooleMcKinley: Code.org
NEW TAXWATCH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM HONORS KEN PLANTE via Florida Politics – Florida TaxWatch says it’s launching a research internship program for college students, who will assist on projects from “taxation and budgets to education and corrections” … received a $25,000 contribution from AT&T to pay stipends to those who are accepted into the program … internships will be named after the late state Sen. Ken Plante, a co-founder and first president of the organization.
TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT TO LAUNCH NEW POLITICAL MAGAZINE via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – The first issue of “Capital Impact” should be out the day before session — Monday, Jan. 11 — with a 10,000-copy run that will be delivered to all lawmakers and lobby shops, law firms and other businesses, including hotels and restaurants … Democrat Executive Editor William Hatfield said. “In the third largest state in the nation, there’s plenty of influence to go around … The Democrat was honored to be a distribution partner and hand-deliver thousands of copies of INFLUENCE Magazine to our readers … The Democrat’s new Capital Impact represents our continued commitment to covering the seat of power.”
TAXPAYERS, HERE’S YOUR $880/HOUR FINAL BILL via Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel – The city of Orlando had decided to use your tax dollars to hire a lawyer at a staggering rate of $880 an hour … to tell the Orlando Sentinel how to report the news … Mayor Buddy Dyer and City Attorney Mayanne Downs acted like (your) money was no object when they hired George W. Bush‘s former attorney, Barry Richard, to pen a memo to the Sentinel last month, expressing concern about a series we were working on. The series dealt with police use of force. And frankly, no amount of lawyering or spin-doctoring was going to change the facts or data … the city revealed that Richard billed taxpayers $9,337 for approximately 11 hours’ work … It’s enough to buy body cameras — the likes of which usually bring down force complaints and which Orlando has dragged its feet in implementing — for more than a dozen officers.
ON THIS WEEK’S EDITION OF THE ROTUNDA
Trimmel Gomes’ newest episode of The Rotunda features an exit interview with Governor Rick Scott’s most trusted advisor, Jessie Panuccio. The state’s jobs czar tells Gomes about his often-bitter battles with legislators, his accomplishments and the true reason for his departure. U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown’s newly drawn district is attracting a growing number of challengers including former state Sen. Al Lawson who tells Gomes about his plan to get a job in Congress. Also, a quick GOP debate recap as Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio focus their attacks away from each other and First Lady Ann Scott tells all and shares her Christmas traditions with the family and at the ones kept at the Governor’s Mansion.
The Rotunda podcast is available each Friday via iTunes, Stitcher or Soundcloud. Subscribers receive free automatic downloads of episodes to their devices. Follow on @RotundaPodcast for daily updates.
WEEKEND TV
Black Almanac with Dr. Ed James on WWSB, ABC 7 in Sarasota: “Sounds of the Season” with the Trinity Christian Fellowship Gospel Choir.
Facing Florida with Mike Vasilinda: Audi engineer Thomas Mueller on his firm’s newest autonomous vehicles.
Facing South Florida with Jim Defede on CBS-Miami: Political roundtable with Miami Herald reporter Patricia Mazzei.
Florida This Week on Tampa Bay’s WEDU: Community Issues Council President Terry Kemple, Largo-Mid Pinellas Democratic Club President Mary Lou Ambrose, New College Professor Frank Alcock, and Tony Marrero of the Tampa Bay Times.
On Point with Shannon Ogden on WFCN in Jacksonville: FSU President and former state Sen. John Thrasher, City Councilman Bill Gulliford on the Human Rights Ordinance debate and his plan to bring the law to a local referendum, and local Florida Legion 501 officer BJ Savage on the new Star Wars movie.
Political Connections on CF 13 in Orlando: Political operative Roger Stone on his latest book, “The Clintons’ War on Women,” and 2016 elections, plus PolitiFact rates a claim made by John Stemberger, the president of the Florida Family Policy Council, regarding Planned Parenthood.
The Usual Suspects on WCTV-Tallahassee/Thomasville (CBS) and WJHG-Panama City (NBC): Sean Pittman, Gary Yordon and Dr. Ed Moore on this week’s Republican presidential debate and new congressional districts.
This Week in Jacksonville with Kent Justice on Channel 4 WJXT: Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO Nat Ford on the group’s recent Skyway and First Coast Flyer forays which have garnered national attention.
GOSSIP AND SCANDAL LEAD GOOGLE’S TOP SEARCHES IN 2015 via Jonah Bromwich of the New York Times – Americans who went online were less interested in being uplifted than being distracted, preferably by something scandalous … Lamar Odom, who in October was hospitalized in Las Vegas after being found face down in a brothel, was the highest on the list of the year’s trending searches in the United States and globally … followed on the American list by two movies, “Jurassic World,” the highest-grossing film of the year, and “American Sniper.” [Caitlyn] Jenner and the mixed martial-arts fighter Ronda Rousey, whose undefeated streak ended in November came next. Paris was the sixth highest term on the list.
DISNEY, OTHER PARKS ADD METAL DETECTORS FOR THE HOLIDAYS via Kyle Hightower of the Associated Press – Officials at Disney, Universal and SeaWorld’s Florida theme parks said all three parks will be using metal detector screening for guests as they enter … Disney is discontinuing the sale of toy guns at both its Florida and California parks and will no longer allow those items to be brought in … Disney will be randomly selecting guests for secondary screening but wouldn’t say how long the measures would be in place. Universal says its metal detector use is a test and won’t discuss specific future plans. SeaWorld says guests can expect bag checks and wand metal detector checks.
FACEBOOK STATUS OF THE DAY via Gus Corbella: Two things that will immediately and irrevocably get you unfriended by me: 1. Supporting Donald Trump for president (or anything else, for that matter) 2. Providing any spoilers about the new Star Wars movie
HAPPY BIRTHDAY belatedly to the Florida Chamber’s Andrew Wiggins. Celebrating today is INFLUENCE 100 member Carol Dover and our great, great friend, Stephanie Smith.
